Nerds With Tattoos

Chapter 16 - dreams

I wake up with a nasty headache and pain throbbing through my body. I look down and notice the bike is on top of me, there's blood on my hands. I look around and Alec lies on the pavement not moving, not breathing. Using all my strength I drag myself to him, trying to stop the tears coming down my face. Please no. Not him. I think, hoping anyone can me. I reach his body and flip it over. Somethings not right. I hesitate before moving the visor off his eyes. I flinch at the sight. This isn't Alec. Panicking my heart rate quickens, the body moves and grabs my wrists holding tight so that any chance to defend myself will be useless.

'No!' I scream, I try to thrash around to escape, but nothing works, 'NO!' I scream louder hoping anyone can hear me.

'Riles.' His word cut through me like a sharp blade and I stop my movement. I stop breathing, terrified to do anything.

'Riley!' A different voice calls me but I don't break eye contact with the person in front of me.

'Riley wake up!' The voice says again and next thing I know I'm sitting on my bed. My breath is heavy, my body aches and I can't stop the tears even if I wanted to. Someone places their hand on my back but panicking and not remembering who's there I grab it and twist their arm around before looking at them. Logan stares at me in shock, almost horror and I let go of his arm as quickly as I took it.

'Riley?' I hear my dad ask from the door. I look towards him and something in my eyes must have told him what he needed to know. 'Logan you should go.' He says, his voice hard a rock but his eyes never leaving mine.

'I-I don't know if that's a good idea.' He mumbled quietly. I look back towards him and see he has concern written all over his face.

'You should go.' I react my dad trying to mimic his stone hard voice and failing miserably but Logan gets the message. Hesitatingly he gets up and goes to put his top and jeans back on, if this where a different situation I would be embarrassed that my dad is there, but instead I look down at my duvet.

'Riley?' Logan asks after a few minutes.

'I'll talk to you later.' I say, my voice sounding a bit stinger than before. I wait until the sound of the front door slamming shut before looking at my dad again, notice mum standing cautiously behind him.  He moves in and comes to sit next to me, mum hovers by the door in uncertainty looking at everything but me.

'He's not here. He can't come near you, or any of us. He knows the consequences.' My dad starts trying to comfort me. I look down at my duvet and start fiddling with the material.

'What about the others?' My voice comes out like a whisper. I hear my take a sharp breath before her footsteps getting faint letting me know she left.

'The others made their choice a long time ago.' He continues, 'What they do, and what happens to them is up to them, not up to us.'

'Dad. Alec and I are close. He needs my help.' I whisper scared as to how he'll react. We sit in silence for a couple of minutes,

'I told you to not see your brothers.' He says, his voice laced with anger.

'You can't stop me from seeing family who still cares for me.' I mutter, anger seeping into my own at his words.

'Riley, your brothers are dangerous, you know that better than anyone.' He hisses moving further away from me to study me properly. I look up at him in the eyes.

'Alec needs my help.' I state, my voice is crystal clear with no emotion showing in it this time. 'The black rabbit got him.'

'All the more reason for you not to go looking for him Riley. You know they snatch people to pass them on to people who want to kill them!' He sighs, he runs a hand through his hair, clearly stressed about the situation.

'So you're just gonna let your youngest son die without knowing I can help? I can get him back!' I spit.

'I came to terms a long time ago that the next time I see your brothers would be when they're in the graves Riley. I won't let you follow them recklessly because of some hope you have about saving your brothers.' He answers. I'm taken aback by his words and can't help but stare at him in shock.

'Alec is my brother. I'm going to find whether you like it or not dad.' I tell him after a few minutes of silence. He looks down and studied his hands.

'Why do you always do the opposite of what is asked if you? We could protect you if you'd listen.' He sighs before standing up. 'I won't stop you Riles. There's no point, it will only push you away more, but if you do this I don't think I can help you anymore.'

With that he walks out the door and I feel as my world collapses. My dad was always there for when I needed him, but Alec is there to help me. Groaning I flip back onto my bed, trying to do anything but cry again. I close my eyes to debate on sleep but instead I met by another pair of eyes that haunted my dream. Opening them I realise sleep isn't going to be an option. I pick up the phone in my bedside table and look at the screen. There's two missed calls from Iana earlier, a missed call from Chelsea not too long ago, and several unopened messages from Logan a few minutes ago. I go to look at the messages and see him asking if I'm okay and what happened. I debate if I should respond but go against as I figured it's best to talk face to face. I turn my phone off and put it back in my bedside table and then stare at my ceiling.

At some point I must've fallen asleep again cause what feels like a few minutes later my alarm goes off loudly. I jump as my body is still anxious from the night before. I go to stand and groan at the aches and pains that are in my body. I slowly move to the draw in my desk, almost crying at the pain my injuries are causing me this morning. Opening it I look for any pain medication needing something to take this away.

'Fuck!' I mutter as I can't find anything.

'Sorry didn't mean to scare you.' A different voice says from behind me. I jump and hit my desk letting out a small cry from the pain and look over to see Logan climbing through my window.

'What the fuck are you doing here?' I ask in utter belief. He scratches the back of his neck sheepishly avoiding eye contact.

'I was worried about you after last night and you didn't respond to any messages so I thought I'd come see how you are this morning. Given how your dad treated me last night I thought he wouldn't let me in the house.' He says. I move the hair off my face and run my hand through it.

'That's kinda creepy. You'll have seen me at school in a few hours.' I reply feeling slightly guilty from the way I treated him too last night. He looks up with a cocky smile on his face. I roll my eyes and hobble over to my bed.

'Damn you look like you had a rough night, people are gonna think I did one hell of a job.' He says as moves over to sit next to me. I slap his arm lightly, too tired to defend my honour. 'Are you okay?'

'I'm fine Logan. I'm sorry. I had a bad dream, apparently I thought it was a smart idea to agree to date you.' I answer trying to keep the mood light hearted. He doesn't say anything for a couple of minutes, and I look up worries I just hurt him. He has an eyebrow raised as he studies me,

'I think you got it confused. I'm not the one screaming bloody murder in the night.' He says as a small grin forms on his face. I can't help copying the small smile.

'I'm in a lot of pain this morning. Can you help.' I ask. He frowns slightly,

'Are you asking me to undress you?' He asks slyly as his gaze moves to my lips. He leans in slowly so that there's very little space between us. I feel his hand fiddling with the top button on. My shirt I wore last night, but I refuse to look away from his eyes not wanting to be the one to backdown. 'Cause you know I would be more than happy to just rip them off.'

His eyes crinkle at the edges in a smile and it takes all my self control to not copy him.

'I could take you up on that offer.' I answer moving my hands to his to guid him in undoing my buttons. 'But I've already had it rough,' I wink, 'and I'm still not allowed to do any strenuous activities.'

I move away and laugh lightly enjoying this flirty banter after the hell of last night. He smiled at me before taking my hand.

'I guess I'll just be the nurse today and help you out.' He sighs,

'You'd look good in a nurse outfit so I won't complain.' I answer.