boundaries | e.d

E i g h t

Riley

It's been eight days since they've locked me away in this stupid apartment with nothing to do. My technology was taken away to an abandon warehouse so I couldn't be tracked. Therefore leaving me with only tragic excuses of entertainment; our outdated TV, webbed boardgames, and my guitar. I guess the guitar was a good thing. It's always meant a lot to me since it was my mothers.

Once and while when I'd get too bored, I'd stroll down into the lobby and talk to whoever was on the lookout for Ronaldo's gang. We've had a few scares here and there, thinking we saw a member. The other day Mike mistook a pizza delivery guy and picked me up so fast to run; I got whiplash.

Every night I've been praying for all of us to stay safe, and for the only death to be mine if need be. So far, it's been all in my favor and every day has been clear for everyone.

I try to avoid asking about Ethan more than anyone else. Every time I bring up his name, Jake rolls his eyes and Ryder gets into an argument with him over liking the guy who saved my life. I just hope neither of them catch onto the extremity my likeliness has reached with him.

Ryder

Riley was complaining to me that if I was gonna keep her locked away like a princess, I might as well feed her like one. So, I trusted Jake to watch her while I went out to buy her pizza bites, bagels, and ice-cream.

My hands were full of bags, aching by the time I made it to the lobby. I slowed down when I saw Ethan pacing back and forth in front of the revolving door.

"So you're on Riley duty today huh?" I called over to him with a smile growing on my face. For some reason, I liked the guy - which is rare for me so I embraced it.

"Yeah," He gave me a short nod, looking around before staring back at me, "How is she?" He cleared his throat with an arch to his brow.

"Hungry." I chuckled as I held up the bags to share the laugh with him.

He took a deep breath then turned around to grab a bag. "I brought some stuff for her," He nervously told me without meeting my eyes. "In case she's too bored. It's a movie, some snacks-"

I squinted my eyes at him with a cocky smirk, appreciating his care for my sister. He paused for a second as he watched my reaction, then gulped upon handing me the bag. "In case she wants it."

"Does it look like I could carry that?" I jokingly remark, embarrassing him slightly as he took the bag back. "How about you bring it to her yourself?"

"Really?" His face lit up instantly but he cleared his throat and looked around. "Who will be on lookout?"

"I'll call someone to get here soon. No ones showed up in over a week, and Natasha and I need some alone time. Riley and you could use some too-"

"What?" He cuts me off, dumbfounded at my response.

"Stop staring at me like I'm an idiot and help me with this shit." I didn't give him a choice as I handed over the bags to him.

"Thanks," Ethan genuinely thanked me as we walked into the quiet elevator. I gave him a nod and looked ahead at the doors in front of us with a soft smile. His relationship with Riley reminded me a lot of Natasha and I's.

"Just make sure she has fun." I pat his back, leading him towards the front door while a smile grew on his face behind me.

"Just not too much fun-"

"Of course not." He nodded with a serious face, and with that I opened the door to surprise my whole world with a gift.

Riley