Answer Me

Chapter 11

Since that day, Riley had slowly filled the blankness that Sam had left behind. He slowly gave me a new strength that Sam had accidentally taken away with her. The insecurities and low self-confidence that I had been facing all this while still lingered in my thoughts but, at least I didn't feel so bad as before. Whenever I saw Julie, I had always had this scene in my head when I just harangued at her saying "Yo, bitch. Riley McDonough told me I'm perfect." Excuse the obscene choice of word. I couldn't help it.

Riley would call every day at random times just to check whether I was okay or not. They weren't long dragging phone calls. Sometimes, we talked for about five minutes only. There were days when I had unstable emotion and there were days when I just didn't feel bad, mundane and expressionless. Riley made me think that I was someone in this world even though it was only him.

I kept my friendship with Riley as a secret even Ann didn't know. Riley was my confidante although I was mere friend to him. I didn't spill all the beans to him but, my rantings on the first call were enough to tell him that I had an issue with myself. I had never told him about my mom or Sam. What he knew was suffice already. We had lunch together once and he discovered a new thing about me.

"Are you serious? You don't eat greens?" He asked, watching me picking out the lettuce in my burger and putting it aside. I shook my head, ignoring his unsatisfied face.

"Not just greens. Anything that is classified as vegetables." I corrected him, nonchalantly.

"Not even carrots?"

"Ne'er." I nibbled on the bread of my burger, avoiding his phonily intimidating stare.

"Erin! It's good for your skin, you know," he shot back. This boy was hard.

"Stop it, Riley! I know."

He stabbed his fork into the lettuce in his plate and held it out to my mouth. I pursed my lips harder and gave the disgusting green in front of me a hatred glare. "Yikes. I -" He saw his opportunity when I opened my mouth and stuffed the lettuce into it. I chewed it unwillingly, rolling my eyes at him. The lettuce tasted slightly bitter when it reached the opening of my throat. I still hated it.

"Girl, you need a nutritionist," he said then bit his lip as he watched me biting a big chunk of the burger. I couldn't chew my food well when he did that lip-biting.

"No, I don't."

"Yes, you do. I volunteer. Ryan taught me enough about preparing healthy meal. I'll do the consultancy for free just for you," he offered with smug tone.

"Health freak," I muttered.

"I know. Toby told me the same." I looked up at him and giggled at the thought of Toby saying that. He matched my laughter and the atmosphere echoed with our bonhomie.

Riley decided to spend the whole evening with me, just chattering. He drove us to the beach and there we sat on the hood of his car, sipping our coffee while enrapturing our minds with the serene view of the beach. I inhaled the fresh air. Riley's eyes were concealed by his Ray Ban shades but, from my place, I could see him immersing into the calmness of the breezy evening. The wind lashes a few strands of his hair and they fell down his forehead. They might felt ticklish on his forehead that he immediately ran his fingers through his hair but still, there were some strands didn't want to obey his fingers. My breath hitched as he did that. I tried to stay put and not to shriek like how I used to do every time he tweeted hot photos of him.

"How was Europe?" I asked, breaking the silence.

He took a sip of his coffee first before answering me. "It was so great. I thought I was dreaming but, I'm so grateful of how far we've been through." He leaned back with a gracious smile on his face. "I thanked Connor and Thomas for that. For starting the band. And I really want to tell that to Braiden. Without them, I don't think we could get this far," he went on, never taking off the smile from his face. Then, he turned to me.