Hershey Kisses

Twenty-Sixth Kiss

Rick let us inside the house as he stayed distant from us. I could feel the awkward aura surrounding us. I have two boys I truly care in one place. Rick's place. Really awkward.

"This is the friend you were talking about?" Bryan leaned against my shoulder. I elbowed his stomach to push him away from me.

Rick continues avoiding eye contact to clear his mind. He grabs a few water bottles from the fridge and sets them in front of us.

"I get a word from Damien that you slipped away from one of the bodyguards." Rick tries piecing up the confusion, "I drove all the way from College Station to search for you and end up seeing you safe.... with that guy."

"It's Bryan. Not that guy." Bryan corrects him, "Didn't you think she was concerned about you instead of being trapped?" Rick covered Bryan's mouth with his hands and glared at me.

"Let me hear it from your words, Sophia." he glares agitated. My throat suddenly feels dry making it difficult for me to swallow. 

"I-I.... I was.... worried...... about you." I responded quietly.

"Speak louder. Your voice is really hard to listen." Rick commands me.

"I.... I was worried about..... you!!" I spoke louder, "You didn't think I'd stay away from you even though you told Damien to separate us?!"

"That was for your protection." Rick scratches the back of his head.

"If you knew Pia longer," Bryan shoves Rick's hand away from his mouth, "you should know better she won't listen to anyone. Including me." Rick shifts to Bryan then back to me.

"Pia?" he raised an eyebrow.

"I said not to call me Pia, Bryan!!!!" I started punching him.

"I can't help it." I can see him trying to hide his smirk, "After all these years, you're still the same Pia I've stuck with."

"You're not making this any better, Bryan!!" I pouted continuing punching his arm.

"Now, now kids." Rick teased us, "Calm down and tell me exactly why you're here. Specifically Pia." My face turned bright red and I changed my target to Rick.

"NOT YOU TOO!!!" I raged in embarrassment.

We all calm down and Sat down quietly before I could catch my breath.

"Rick.. I'm sorry I worry you and Damien." still holding my chest. "I really had to see how you're doing because I didn't want you to do anything reckless."

"Wow you really sound like Juliet." Rick smirks.

"About her...." should I tell him the truth? Should I tell him where she really is? "Did you find her yet?"

"Not yet." Ricks sighs disappointed, "But I know she's close. I just need another hint of where she could be." Suddenly Rick's phone goes off. "I need to answer this. Stay here."

"We're not going anywhere." I said as Rick walks to the other room to answer his phone.

"You don't want to tell him the truth. Do you, Pia?" Bryan whispers to my ear.

"There's a reason she stayed distant from the Rice family." I start explaining, "She felt guilty the family who took her in will be the next victim and she didn't want to be the blame."

"Even so..." he sighs, "Rick has the right to know the truth. Do you want him to continue going on a goose chase when he finds out you hid the truth?" I can feel my skin getting goosebumps knowing the consequences. "You don't want him to feel betrayed like how I betrayed you?" I clenched my hand resisting to cry. I can feel Bryan placing his hand over mine and slightly pat it. "You were only thinking of protecting him too, right? Is that why you didn't want to tell him the truth?" I nod slowly hiding my face on his chest and sobbed quietly. "Now you know how I feel when I abandoned you."