Solving Riley

❄Chapter 9

"Venture outside your comfort zone.
The rewards are worth it."
-Rapunzel

Riley's POV

Surprisingly, I was the first one to be awake before anyone else the next day. It was Christmas Eve today. Tomorrow was going to Hazel's Birthday and of course, Christmas. It took me a while to register that I had to buy too many gifts in less than 24 hours. My stomach growled, demanding food. I decided to make breakfast for everyone before they wake up.

I brushed and went straight towards the kitchen. It was seven in the morning and everyone was still fast asleep. My eyes fell on a plate on the dining table. It had delicious mouth-watering brownies with melted chocolate. I don't remember seeing them here last night. Maybe Hazel kept them here for me, knowing I'll be hungry when I'll wake up.

I tried turning away to distract myself, thinking that I'll wait until others wake up but I couldn't control. They looked too delicious to leave it there. And so, I ate just one. It melted in my mouth, with its perfect taste blowing my mind away. Why was it so small? Would it be too bad if I eat one more? I guess they wouldn't mind. And so, one by one, I gobbled up all of them and went back to my room to check some Instagram posts. I'll make the breakfast later. They probably won't be up till eight.

***

Violet's POV

We were getting worried. It was eight thirty and Riley didn't even step out of the guest room once. I'd always know she loves to sleep, but knowing that we were early to bed yesterday, she should've woken up by now. It had been half an hour since we were waiting for her at the breakfast table.

"It's okay. She's probably tired from yesterday's journey. Don't put your hands in the jar Lily!" Mom ordered. Lily removed her hand from the jar and licked the jam sheepishly. She got up and ran towards her room.

"Wash your hands!" I screamed.

"Violet, I don't think we should wake up Zohac. Just let him sleep for a while." Mom said while adding cornflakes to my milk.

Wait, Zohac?

When?

How?

Why?

"Why the hell is Zohac here?"

"Language, sweetie. Oh, I forgot to tell you. You know how tomorrow is Christmas and both the families have decided this year to celebrate it together." she said, as a matter of factly. "Xavier won't make it here as he has an important conference meeting with some Japanese people. He sincerely apologized me. Instead, he sent Zohac here to celebrate Christmas and my birthday too, if you remember. I know you hate him for what he did last time. But please forgive your brother." she said, patting my shoulder.

"I won't ever forget what he did to me." blood rushed to my cheeks as I became furious, remembering the last time Zohac was here. "He gave me fucking hash brownies, can you believe it? I better hope he didn't bring some today. And by the way, when did he arrive?"

"I checked the kitchen when I woke up. There are none of them. At last the boy has grown up and stopped fooling around with his new tricks." she sighed. "He arrived at 4 in the morning looked severely tired. He directly went to sleep. I think he'll be awake in a few hours"

Just when we are about to finish our breakfast, Lily came back with her soft toy Bunny.

"Mommy! Is Iileyy not well?" she asked, yawning.