Lost in Time ~ Five Hargreeves

Chapter 13

2002:

Riley strolled down the hallway with the easel in one hand and brushes and paints in the other.

They had recently finished their schoolwork and wanted to finish painting the picture before training in the afternoon.

On the way to the garden, Riley passed the study room, which was supposed to be empty.

But it wasn't.

Luther was still sitting at the large table and seemed to have a problem with something. 

Riley looked at this for a few minutes before deciding to help.

The child put aside the things they had been holding and entered the room.

"Luther?" Riley spoke to the boy. "Do you need help?"

Riley's brother looked at his sibling with a look that was partly desperate and partly relieved.

The child sat down next to Luther and pulled the piece of paper with the math-problem towards them to read through it.

Riley remembered it. It also took them a long time to solve. And wouldn't have been able to do it without Five's help.

Just help– Five didn't want to give them the solution.

So Riley started helping Luther. 

It turned out that Luther misunderstood the math-problem (this could happen when Reginald wrote them down).

And Riley saw the imaginary light bulb above Luther's head start to glow. He wrote down the solution faster than Riley could watch.

Then he leaned back and threw the pen on the table. 

Riley chuckled, "How long did you actually sit on the math-problem?"

"An hour," Luther murmured. "Thanks Rils. You saved my ass."

Luther packed up his things and the two left the room.

In the hallway, Riley grabbed their painting supplies.

They looked at the clock– the afternoon training would soon begin.

"Oh, you wanted to paint?" Luther murmured.

And suddenly he felt bad that Riley helped him.

"It's okay," the child assured. "I still have time to finish painting it."

Riley smiled at Luther and he smiled back.

Little did they know that Riley would be gone before they could finish the painting.

~~~~

Riley woke up the next morning still wrapped in a blanket.

But they didn't remember taking one.

"Slept well?"

Riley looked up.

Five was already awake and reading a book.

"Oh my– you're awake. How are you?" Riley wanted to know immediately and sat up.

"Way better," Five assured.

The other teen nodded, stood up and sat on the bed next to Five.

"That's good," Riley said and punched him in the arm.

"Hey!" Five complained.

"Don't scare me like that ever again."

Five nodded.