Then I Found You

Chapter 14

Okay so this is the road trip thing (which btw has a purpose), this chapter is basically kind of a filler.

So this chapter is pretty light compared to the others.

So Emily and Ghost banter is kinda just for comic relief

“Why did I agree to this? I don’t even talk to Jayden” Nick grumbled making Riley chuckled as he chucked another shirt into his duffle bag. It was the day before New Year’s and she had finally convinced Nick and Ethan, who had been unwilling to go considering they didn’t know each other that well and they didn’t know Jayden, Ghost and Remy at all.

“Because you love me” she teased. “And besides if you come with us you don’t have to spend time with Ms Twist.”

Ms Twist had been getting worse and worse. Riley went to school with bruises almost every day and kept having to find ways to conceal them by wearing turtle necks, hoodies or a lot of make -up which she didn’t enjoy. Before she would have minor bruises which she could brush off if someone asked her and say she’s clumsy but she was getting more brutal.

“Good answer” Nick said, sending her a grin. “And it will get you away from Donovan” he said with a serious look on his face. Riley sighed in annoyance, she didn’t trust Donovan but she agreed to be his friend because she’s afraid of him but Nick didn’t see it like that.

“C’mon don’t be like that” Riley said, wrapping an arm around Nick’s shoulder. “You know I did that so he won’t try anything.”

“Whatever” he said with a sigh. He looked up at her and she grinned when he caught her looking at Jayden’s hat which was she was wearing proudly. Ever since he gave it to her, she wore it everywhere. It made her feel like he was always around, which she wished he was.

Just then there was a knocking on the door and Emily appeared holding a huge suitcase. Riley sighed and shook her head. Ghost said they would only be out for a week while school was out and of course Emily packed her whole wardrobe.

“You do know it’s only a week right?” Nick asked her, giving her a suitcase a pointed look. Emily waved a dismissive hand and leaned against her suitcase.

“Yeah but things could happen” she answered with a shrug. Nick chuckled and shook his head at that answer. Since Emily and Ethan didn’t know Nick well, Riley had decided to find a way to get together before the trip to make sure there wouldn’t be any awkwardness so she had decided to invite Emily and Ethan to the roller rink where she worked and it worked out well since Nick and Ethan developed a close friendship within minutes by poking fun at Emily’s lack of skating skills and Nick and Emily probably weren’t as close as Nick and Ethan but they were friends none the less.

The big thing was trying to get Nick, Emily and Ethan to become friends with Jayden, Ghost and Remy. Emily and Ghost already had chemistry so that was one person out of the way so Riley decided to just simply introduce them to each other which worked out although Emily and Ghost argue a lot more than humanly possible but it was easy to see that they liked each other.

Just then a car horn sounded outside and when Riley opened the door she saw a slightly beaten down minivan waiting outside. She headed outside with Nick and Emily in tow, she couldn’t help but wonder where the boys got the minivan from in the first place.

Ethan; who had been leaning against the minivan, waiting impatiently, helped put their bags in the trunk. Riley couldn’t help but feel excited. Jayden was inside the van which meant that she would get to see him. Her stomach twisted in knots and her heart beat faster as she opened the door to the minivan and saw Jayden, Remy and Ghost. Ghost was the one driving while Remy was on the passenger side which left six seats left in the van. There was one free seat next to Jayden who was smiling at her.