Discovering Riley

Chapter 11: Answers

Chapter 11

Riley’s POV

“I couldn’t have. I…” I trailed off, remembering how I’d somehow healed myself in the nurse’s office. Or, to be exact, the necklace healed me.

“Did something else happen?” Adam asked me.

“When I was in the nurse’s office after the Shadow witch attacked me, my necklace healed me.” I told him. “All of the cuts, everything was gone.”

He shook his head.

“You don’t believe me?”

“It’s not that.” He started, running a hand through his hair. “It’s just that that necklace couldn’t have healed you because it doesn’t work like that. It only protects, supposedly against me.”

“Then how was I healed?”

“You healed yourself, Riley.” He told me like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “You’re a witch.”

I took a step back, shaking my head back and forth. “I’m not.”

“Yes you are.” He said, mirroring my steps. “Is it that hard to believe?”

“Yes! Because I’m not a witch!” I shouted at him.

Anger flashed in his eyes. “Well, you better accept it or you aren’t going to be anything. You’ll be dead.” He snapped and started to walk away.

When I processed what he said, I ran in front of his and rested my hands on his chest to get him to stop. I felt him shiver under my touch and I couldn’t help but shiver myself. The feel on his muscles under my palms was nerve-racking.

“Move out of the way, Riley.” He growled at me.

“No.” I said defiantly. “What did you mean about me ending up dead if I don’t accept it?”

“I meant nothing.” He said sternly. “Move your hands.”

I dropped my hands, but didn’t move an inch. I looked up at him and this close, I could see that he was exhausted. He had dark bags under his eyes and his naturally bright blue eyes seemed so dull now.

“Where have you been?” I asked him softly.

I hadn’t seen him at all after last night. After I came back from Sunny Robins, I’d run into Liz and she’d told me that she hasn’t seen Adam at all today either.

He didn’t answer.

I pressed my lips together and looked at him. What was wrong with him? I spoke the first thing that came to mind. “Is this about what happened last night?”

He still didn’t answer.

I took that as a yes.

“You don’t have to worry about it.” I assured him. “We can just forget it ever happened.”

“You can.” He glowered at me and stuffed his hands into his pockets before he started to walk away again.

I grabbed his arm quickly and forced him to turn back around. “What is wrong with you? It’s like you’re a whole different person, Adam. I thought you wanted to forget we almost kissed!”

He took a step closer, never taking his eyes off of me. His hands slowly rose to touch my cheek. I noticed his eyes flickering to my lips briefly before latching back onto mine. I couldn’t speak. He was as close as he could get and I couldn’t help but lean into his warm touch. I shut my eyes, enjoying that moment we had. I felt his breath against my lips and I already knew I wouldn’t be able to stop him this time. I wanted him to kiss me. And Liz couldn’t stop this.