Changes

Eight

Chapter Eight

*Riley’s POV**        

We pulled up at Nonna’s. I saw Beau’s car there already, he must have gone home to get it. We got out of the car, Jai walked beside me as Nonna opened the door letting us all in. I walked inside to see Beau and Nonno at the table. As soon as I saw Beau, he got up and come over to hug me; I wrapped my arms around him, he whispered “You ok?”, I nodded in reply, he then said “there’s some fresh clothes in the bag in the spare room”,  l looked at him and nodded again. I let go of him and stepped back. I noticed that everyone was sitting at the table and watching me. I suddenly felt uncomfortable and I pulled the sleeves of Luke’s sweater down further over my hands. I quickly said “I’m gonna change then go sleep if that’s ok?” before turning around heading for the spare room not waiting for a reply. I walked into the room and found the bag with my clothes, I grabbed out the clothes and my toiletry bag and walked to the bathroom. I changed and washed then went back to the room and curled up in bed closing my eyes. Truthfully I didn’t want to sleep but I didn’t want to talk either. I felt safer though especially as I was still wearing Luke’s sweater; it was comforting.

As I was lying in bed, I could hear everyone talking and I knew it was about tonight. About an hour later, Beau, Luke and Jai came into the room. They were careful not to disturb me even though I wasn’t asleep, they got ready for bed then fell asleep pretty quickly. The silence only left me to think and process the night.

I’d been lying awake for ages listening to the only noise in the silence – the boys breathing. I’m sore and I feel tired yet I can’t sleep. I look at the clock and it reads 2:46am. I decide to get out of bed, being careful not to wake anyone, and go out to the lounge. I walk out to the kitchen, getting a glass of water and an apple from the fruit bowl, and then go lay on the couch and turn the television on.  I start flicking through the channels until I find the movie 50 First Dates playing. I lay watching the movie and slowing eating the apple. The movie finishes so I started flicking the channels again until I came across Spongebob, I realise its 5:10am.

It’s just after 5:30am when Beau comes out to the lounge.

He says “Hey, how long have you been up for?”

“A while” I reply then ask “What are you doing up anyway?”

“I couldn’t sleep then I realised you were gone, so I thought I’d make sure you are ok.”

“Yeah, I couldn’t sleep either. I’m ok, a little sore. Wanna watch Spongebob with me?” I asked as a smiled at him.

“Yeah”, he said as he sat down beside me pulling me in for a hug.

We sat for a while watching Spongebob in silence when Beau asks “Riley, don’t get upset please but why did you ring Skip and not me?”

I sat up and looked at him, “Beau I only called Daniel because he texted me earlier seeing how my drawing was going and I hadn’t gone out of my messages. When I unlocked my phone, his messages were on the screen and the call button was there and I…I just pressed it. I’m sorry.” I mumbled while looking at my hands. Beau quickly pulled me in for a hug and said “I’m sorry. I’m glad you called him” he paused “and I’m glad you are ok. I love you Riley.” “I love you too Beau. We’re all going to be ok”, I replied hugging him tightly. He looked at me strangely as I said that nut just left it.

After watching a few more cartoons, Nonna and Nonna came out. I went and got showered while Nonna cooked breakfast even though I wasn’t hungry. Once I returned to the kitchen I saw everyone and said “morning” and got various replies. Nonna wouldn’t let me do anything until id eaten all of my breakfast, luckily my brothers helped me, every time her back was to us they would grab something off my plate. After everyone had finished, we all got ready and packed the cars up, ready to go home, which scared me a little.