The Girl They Met Online [Editing]

Chapter 16: Why?

Riley's POV

"We need to talk..." Tony's head shoots up, and he looks really nervous. He leads me to an empty table, I look back at Harry and he gestures me to sit. I sigh, when Tony looks at me something triggers. I just start sobbing, and crying and shaking. Harry runs toward me, "What's wrong!? What did he do?"

I shake my head, "N--no--nothing. I j--just can't believe you did this to me Tony! I saw you as my big brother, why!? Why would you take away my innoccence like that, huh? Why?" I shove my face into Harry's shoulder, and he rubs my back. I look back up at Tony, who is also crying. Why is he crying he got everything he deserved.

Harry looks at Tony, "Why the hell are you crying? You're the one who hurt her, she should be crying not you." Tony quickly wipes his tears, "There is nothing to say that will justify what I did but I--" I cut him off, 

"Tony, you scarred me! I was depressed, I cut myself, I have a fear of..wh---w---whispering! I have a freaking fear of whispering, how pathetic is that!? And it's all because of you."

Tony bites his lips, "Rye-Rye just let me explain." Rye-Rye was the nickname him and James gave me as a little girl, I stop him. "Rye-Rye? That little girl died a long time ago, she died when you did that horrible thing..."

"I am so sorry, I am sorry...Riley you don't understand how sorry I am. I would cry every night in my tiny jail cell knowing that I hurt someone I love. Like I said before nothing, and I mean nothing justifies the messed up shit I put you through. I know how messed up this sounds, but when I--when I did it once, I got scared that you would tell James. So I did it again, and again. And the more I did it, the easier it became. But that doesn't excuse my fucked up behavior. Riley, you won't forgive me and I know that. Shit, I don't forgive myself. I never will, and these fucking scars will remind me what I did to you, everyday for the rest of my life. I'm sorry Riley, I'm so sorry..."

He starts sobbing full out, I look at him and he has scars on his neck, wrist, and arms. Did he really do that because of his regret? And do I seriously feel sorry for him? I sigh, and I hesistate at first but then I put my hand on his back and rub it softly. He gasps between sobs, and he looks at me.

"Hurting you was the biggest regret of my life. I told myself that I could never face you or James so I moved out of state after I was released. But I honestly had nothing left in America, so I moved out here in the UK. I started fresh and new. I wasn't Tony the horrid monster who hurt his best friend's little sister. I was Anthony, the guy from America who moved to the UK. But that didn't stop me from remembering why I did what I did. I was young, stupid--"

"Horny!" Harry added it, I couldn't help but chuckle. Tony looks at me and half smiles, "I thought I'd never see that smile or hear that laugh ever again. Riley, I just want you to know how sorry I am..." I look at him his eyes full of tears again, I sigh "Why, Tony all I want to know is why did you do it?" 

"I--I don't know, I--i have no idea. I had fucked up thoughts as a teen, I did drugs, I drank a lot. My life wasn't as perfect as it seemed..."

I get a bit upset, "Tony my parents fucking died! They got killed, don't you think my life was messed up enough, and you took the one thing I had left, my innoccence!"

He starts crying again, and I honestly feel bad. Because I can feel regret in his tears and in his voice, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, sorry. Okay, I'm sorry--sorry..." I stand up, and I hug Tony. I feel his hug, and I feel the sorrow in his hug. He looks at me and backs away, "Why? How could you be so forgiving after all the shit I put you through?"

"Tony, I needed closure and you gave that to me. You may have taken my innocence, but I forgive you. I do."

He smiles, "W--what about James. He's so protective of you I'm suprised that he let you even talk to me let alone come over here to beat me up...again."