oxygen (e.d.)

chapter eleven

{riley}

wyatt places a bowl in front of me, not saying anything.

i stare at the yogurt and berries, not really having an appetite.

"come on, riles." he sighs, sitting next to me, "why are you in a funk."

i rest my chin on my knees and look at him, still silent.

"i'm your brother so tell me."

"i don't know, i guess," i shrug, swirling the spoon in the yogurt.

"you were okay yesterday?"

"yeah," i frown.

"did sloane do something?"

"no,"

"did i do something?"

"no,"

"mom and dad?"

"no," i say, annoyed.

"jeez okay," he reasons, "i think you should tell me."

"i already texted paige about it so why does it matter?" i ask, shoving a spoonful of the yogurt in my mouth.

"it matters because it's clearly upsetting you. you're my little sister and i love you, so tell me what's wrong and what i can do to help."

"it's..." i start, struggling to find the words, "him."

"him?" wyatt asks, cocking an eyebrow.

"him," i reiterate.

"oh, really?" wyatt says, "why?"

"i heard you guys talking last night," i mumble, staring into my bowl.

"riley," his voice softens and face falls, "i'm sorry. that sucks."

"yeah," i sigh.

"i don't think he's over you."

"why?" i ask, getting annoyed at everything, "he said i'm 'a chapter' that he's over and done with. i'm starting to think he never loved me."

"don't do that to yourself. i don't know if he's being truthful when he says he doesn't love you anymore, but i still see it, riley. i see through him when people talk about you. it still hurts him."

"how do you know!" i raise my voice out of pure frustration, tears pricking my eyes.

"because i know." he says firmly, fiercely locking with my eyes.

"wyatt," i whisper, "i can't keep doing this. i'm ruining my mental health. sloane was right."

"about what?"

"i need to move on," i wipe my eyes, drying tears, "maybe go and meet some new people."

"you know what they say," wyatt says, and i groan, knowing whatever comes out of his mouth next will be insanely cringe-worthy.

"— if you love something, let it go. if it comes back to you, it's yours."

"cheesy f*ck," i tease.

"wish you got rid of his lingo when you dumped him," he laughs and grabs the now empty bowl, rinsing it out and placing it in the dishwasher.

"i dumped ethan dolan," i mumble, suddenly feeling empowered.

"hell yeah you did!" wyatt hypes me up.

i laugh, feeling better. wyatt can do that to anyone.

"so do you want to do something today?" he asks.

"yes please. get me out of my room," i groan.

"we should go to-"

"anywhere but the beach. he seems to be there a lot."

"i was going to suggest the fair."

"oh," i relax, "okay."

"let's have a day without ethan talk,"

"but he's your friend?" i ask, curious about his sudden bias change.

"i'll always be on your side, riley," he says, "and also he's been a real douchebag lately. he's back to how he was before he met you. i guess people never really do change."