Family Traditions

Chapter Two

This place was mental, I was far too out of my depths for this. I was never supposed to be in a situation like this at all. My life has always been black and white, but this.. this seems almost golden

"I don't think we have had the chance to meet sweetheart" A voice said as I stood by the buffet. Eldon was off with the boys and as much as they seem like a lovely bunch, their conversations were dry. It was hard to keep them going or at least be involved in them 

"Hi, I'm Riley. I'm sorry for crashing the party, Eldon invited me last minute" I said offering her a small smile that was instantly returned 
"I'm Rose and you do not need apologise. A friend of Eldon is a friend too all" She smiled picking up a small pastry from the buffet
"Tell me a little about yourself Riley, your face is not one I've seen around here before" Rose said making me nod, that same phrase seems to be on repeat tonight

"There isn't much to tell if I'm honest, I grew up in a small town hours away but moved here when I was 15. Since then I've been working alongside obviously education" I explained
"What do you do for work?" She continued to asked
"I took over an old rec centre from an old teacher of mine. She still owns it and helps with some funding but it is very much my responsibility" I explained
"Is it something you enjoy?" She asked making me nod
"It's sort of my baby, my safe place. That rec centre helped me out a lot when I moved here and now I have the chance to do the same for thousands more people" I smiled 

When I moved here, it was the one place that I truly felt like I belonged, that I could be myself. It helped me grow independence and the resilience I have today

"What is it that you do there?" Rose continued 
"It's hosts a lot of dance classes, there is a music base across the block. It's a safe place for young people to go. It stops then ending up on the streets causing problems, not all of them dance or play music, some of them just need that safe place away from home" I explained
"Was that what you needed? A safe place from home?" Rose asked making me look at her this time wondering why she was digging so deep

"It was the only home I really had, when I moved here I moved here alone. I didn't have any of my family and if I'm honest, that place taught me that family is all about blood. We are all handed the same cards at birth, through life they all change but we have to work through them the same." I said with a confident nod

"It sounds like you have made a beautiful place Riley. I would love to come and have a look, this is exactly the type of business' I like to help out with funding" Rose said making me widen my eyes slightly. Honestly if Rose was able to give us any kind of funding that would help us out more then anyone would understand 

"You can come anytime. Tomorrow we have a lot of out classes in and rec groups in from 4pm if you want to see the kids in action. Without being biased, they are rather good" I smiled making her nod
"Tomorrow at 4pm it is. I'll bring the family too, lord knows they would love a place like this too. It truly is beautiful what you are trying to do Riley" Rose smiled one last time 

--

 "You did what with Eldon last night?" Michelle laughed as we sat having breakfast the following morning
"He took me to some sort of event. I don't really understand what it was for but it was a nice change" I shrugged taking a bite of my toast
"So Eldon's magical friends really do exist?" She asked with another laugh making me nod
"I reckon you would have been in your element last night Michelle, it was like a full on ball or something" I explained
"For what though?" She asked making me shrug again, I really didn't get the reason behind last night
It didn't appear to be anyone's birthday, not a baby shower, not a wedding. It was merely just a bunch of families all dressed up in one room

"El's family has always been involved in weird shit. I'm convinced one day he'll pop up telling us he's being put in an arranged marriage or something" Michelle quibbled making me laugh
Arranged marriages surely aren't a thing anymore?

"So now we have a bunch of people showing up tonight?" Michelle asked putting her dish into the dishwasher
"They shouldn't be a bother, I'll show them around, talk to them and they'll either help or they won't" I answered
"And if they don't?" Michelle said looking to me
"Then I'll have to take out another-" I started
"Riley you can't keep putting yourself into debt for that place. I get what it did for you but still, it isn't fair for it all to be put on you" she explained but I shrugged 

"That place is my responsibility Michelle, I'm not about to start failing the kids now" I continued before walking back towards my room knowing Michelle would not follow 

The rec was in a sinking hole at the moment, in a situation even I can't seem to figure out. But I'm not about to give up on it 
That isn't an option