The Silence Within

Rivalries Unfold

A/N: Yo! Sorry for the long wait between updates. I hope you guys enjoy what we've come up with for this episode; we'd hate to disappoint the readers we love dearly. Your support so far means so much and we are very thankful for everything.

It had been a long time since Riley Quint had despised having to go to school, besides the whole Oliver and Skye fiasco. She had always been the most hardworking out of all her friends, when they were off partying and getting drunk school had always been her main priority thanks to her loving Grams who pushed her to succeed.

Today was different, after being bombarded by Kennedy Edwards, the head writer for the school's newspaper and daughter of Principal Edwards about Oliver's death and Skye's disappearance, it was hard to go anywhere without fear of being attacked for answers on what really happened to the both of them. It was even harder to not know the answers yourself, to be completely in the dark about the details of that fateful night, that night that had changed hers and her friends lives forever.

Instead of dwelling on that particularly sensitive subject, Riley maneuvered her fringe into it's correct place and attempted to flash a pearly white smile in her mirror before jogging downstairs to see her Grams before she left for school. "What's up with you this morning? Besides the obvious of course." Patricia, Riley's Grandmother had asked.

Riley let out a small sigh and threw her body onto a small wooden stool like she was nothing but an empty sack of potatoes. "Nothing's wrong."

Grams rolled her eyes and smirked whilst also cutting up slices of toast. "You don't have to pretend with me, I know when my baby is bothered by something. You can tell your Grams." The two of them had a close bond that was practically unbreakable. Riley had always been closer with her grandmother, more so than she was with her parents who had split up a long time ago; they both wanted to focus on their careers, and so looking after a child as a single parent was a big inconvenience for both of them. That's when Grams stepped up.

Riley explained the entire situation and how Kennedy seemed determined to find out the truth of what happened that night at the lake house party, no matter the cost. It was hard not to break down in tears every time she mentioned Oliver and Skye's names, but she knew she had to be strong.

Grams slid the plate of toast to one side and strolled over to Riley's stool, placing her hands on her granddaughter's shoulders, showing her that everything would be alright. "I know how awful this must be." offering a look of empathy.

"That girl is looking for answers, and if she finds them, you better make sure your conscience is clear." Her Grams warned.

Riley nodded her head, she didn't know anything about what happened that night that she hadn't already told the police. But that didn't mean that she felt her conscience was clear. In fact, she felt more guilt about the entire situation than she had ever felt her entire life.

_____

Finley decided that he'd walk to school. It would give him a little fresh air and some time to think before he entered the deep waters. Armed with broken confidence and very little ambition, he tried to look like he had purpose.

Then a voice broke the silence he'd grown accustomed to. "U-Uh, Finn - wait up!" It was Charlie. The boy jogged across the street to meet him, giving an awkward smile when he matched his pace. "Hey," he greeted less-than-enthusiastically.

"Hey." Finn nodded once and shoved his hands into his pockets.

"When'd you start walking?" Charlie asked. "We could've gone together."

Finn shrugged. "Just needed space."

The boy lagged a little. "Oh."

"N-Not from you," Finn felt a grin pulling at his lips. "Gullible."