Wait For Your Love - Troy Otto // FTWD

2 - ❝ 𝘯𝘰, 𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦. ❞

later that day, the clarks and flores's had their own little family meeting, in the cabin. it ended a bit awkwardly, with madison blaming nick for travis's death. lucas was the first to break the awkward silence. madison soon dismissed everyone. the plan was just to try and integrate within the community. we had to get to know the locals, ask anyone if they needed help or at the very least be seen out and about.

before riley could leave the cabin, madison stopped her. "wait riley."

riley watched as her siblings walked down the porch and then looked back at madison. "yeah?"

"we need to talk about troy again. i think you've noticed the strange infatuation troy has towards you and i?" madison asked.

"yeah and alicia." riley added.

"no, not alicia." madison shook her head. "he's barely paid any attention to her. i'm beginning to think he only pulled her aside at the military base for me."

"oh?" was all riley could say.

"he was in the cabin this morning." madison said. "in your bed."

"what?" the girl almost yelled.

"don't freak out." madison said. "it could be nothing, he could've just randomly picked a bed to wait one of us out in. but then, he said something strange. he said he picked you and i but not nick. he didn't even mention your family or alicia. then i thought back to last night and this morning with the way he was staring at you."

"im beginning to suspect his infatuation with you can be something more, a crush maybe?" her godmother suggested.

"gross." the girl blurted out. "gross and terrifying. that man is a psychopath."

"i know." madison said. "which is why i want you to stay clear of him. if you see him, i want you going the other direction."

"you don't have to tell me twice. that man was more than willing to murder my mother at the gate and possibly my entire family back at the military base. who knows what would've happened if it wasn't for jake stepping in." riley went off.

"yeah, i know." madison thought about how fearful she felt for everyone, especially travis when they got separated.

riley looked at her bunk, noticing how neat her bed was made. riley sucked at cleaning when she wasn't trying, which was like almost every time. the thought of him laying there, under her sheets made her skin crawl. she quickly walked over and yanked the covers off.

"hey," madison grabbed the girls attention. "i'm gonna go talk to jeremiah and jake. troy will be held accountable for what he did back at the military base."

riley sighed as she threw the tainted covers in the laundry hamper. the girl could only nod, not wanting to worry her godmother with doubts. once riley was done changing her sheets and was alone in the cabin, she took a seat on her bed. in another life she could see herself gushing over troy. in another timeline, she could see herself swooning over any glance he sent her way.

in another life, in another timeline.

riley soon came out the cabin, trying to muster up the courage to explore the ranch. if only she could find where her siblings went, this would've made it a whole lot easier. she wondered if the community had a child care center? somewhere where the younger kids could continue their education or somewhere parents could drop their kids off while they tended to their assigned jobs on the ranch.

maybe she could volunteer her time there? "hey, new girl!" riley turned her head, knowing they couldn't be referring to anyone else around. "are you lost?"