Off the Tracks

Chapter 77- Twenty Bucks

Riley woke up the next morning to her alarm sounding. Riley left it alone, not wanting to get up this early and go to Church. Even if she knew that Josie would've single handily walked up these stair's and pulled her out of bed. Riley rolled over a few times, waking up and staring at the ceiling, wondering how she could possibly get through this day.

"Riley turn it the fuck off" Sloan said, sitting up slowly from her bed. Riley groaned, rolling over to her nightstand and turning off the alarm.

Riley sat up, wiping her eye's briefly while yawning, she slowly got up from bed, walking over to her dresser, and going through it, looking for a small Sunday dress to throw on, both for church service, and the brunch they were going out for afterwards. Logan's parents were meeting everyone at the restaurant after getting a late start to their drive.

"Is someone in the bathroom?" Riley asked Susan, seeing that the door was closed. Riley pulled a dress out from her drawer, listening to Susan's response.

"I think Charles is" She told her, "The three of them have been in it all morning"

Riley sighed, that was the one con about this room, she had to wait for other people to be done using the bathroom. Riley thought for a moment, checking the time on her phone, she was cutting it too close to when they were supposed to leave.

"I'll change in another room then" Riley said, walking out of the room and across the hall. She closed the door behind her, seeing her reflection in the mirror that was placed up perfectly against the wall. And then; the guitar in the corner.

Riley changed quickly, keeping her back facing the entire room as she was getting dressed. She folded her clothes and only then, did she take in her surroundings. She wanted to leave the room, to get out of the energy that was lingering around still, so she opened the door. She took one last look, seeing the guitar in the corner that hasn't been touched in years.

Riley walked towards it with a heavy heart. She felt all of the weight in the world on her shoulders when she picked up the guitar. She heard something move inside it, and Riley instantly knew what it was. It brought a small smile to her face at the thought. She tilted the guitar around in a couple different directions until the box was within her grasp.

A empty cigarette box

Riley laughed quietly, seeing the box from years ago in her hand. But the smile was quickly removed when she heard someone in the doorway.

"I didn't know you smoke" Liam said, leaning on the doorframe.

"I don't" She told him, setting the guitar down quickly, getting a quick glimpse of Riley and Jonah's names carved on the back of it. "Well not anymore at least, it's an old box" She said, walking towards the door.

"Does Josh play" Liam asked, pointing to the guitar. Riley stopped in her tracks, just wanting to leave the room, but she looked at the guitar again, shaking her head.

"No" She said, hearing Susan call her name after hearing the two of them talking. 

"Coming" Riley said, walking out of the room, following Liam out, and closing the door behind her. Making eye contact with Tristen who was walking up the stairs. Tristen saw the small empty box in her hands, making him laugh quietly, remembering what Jonah has told him once before.