Rescue

Chapter Eight: Riley

        I looked up from the computer as the bedroom door opened. Astrid walked in and fell onto her bed and sighed happily.

“I guess you had a good day with Calum?” I asked.

        Astrid grinned and nodded.

“What happened?” I asked.

“Nothing much,” she said. “We just talked about our project and little things like that.”

“Well I’m glad you’re happy.” I said, trying to smile.

“What happened with you and Ashton?” Astrid asked.

        I stared at the computer screen, not saying anything.

“Riley.” Astrid said.

        I blinked.

“Riley!” Astrid shouted.

        I jumped and turned to face my sister.

“What?” I asked.

“How did it go with you and Ashton?” she asked.

        I shrugged.

“Good, I guess.” I said.

“What happened?” Astrid asked.

“He kissed me.” I said.

“You fucking moron.” Astrid mumbled.

“What?” I asked.

“Not you, Ashton.” Astrid said.

        I sighed and turned my attention back to the computer.

“He asked me a few things about you after lunch today and I told him not to take advantage of you and to be careful and I told him not to do the exact thing that he did.” Astrid told me.

“You told him not to kiss me?” I asked.

“No, I didn’t say that. I just told him to be careful because you’ve been let down before. I told him not to hurt you and not to let you down. I told him that you needed a friend and to be that before he was anything else.”

“Thanks for looking out for me.” I said quietly.

        Astrid nodded and sat up.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

        I shrugged.

“I don’t know. I thought I liked him, but after that, I just feel weird. I thought I wanted that, but now that it happened and with him saying he had wanted to do it since we met, I’m just not sure.” I told her.

        Astrid nodded.

“Why don’t you sleep on it?” she asked. “Just sleep on it and try to figure out what you want, but also try not to think about it took much. I know that’s hard for you to do, but I think that’s what you need to try to do. Don’t talk to him this weekend either, don’t have any contact with him until school on Monday, at least. If you don’t want to have anything to do with him then either then don’t talk to him. If he’s so desperate to find out what’s wrong or why you aren’t talking to him or anything like that then I’ll tell him and if he has a problem with it then he can just take it up with me and if we have to, we can always let Tiny go after him.”

        I laughed.

“Yeah, I don’t think Tiny will do any damage. He’s too much of a sweetheart, though, he may scare Ashton though so that’s not a bad idea!”

        Astrid laughed.

“So are you gonna be okay?”

“Probably,” I said. “Not right now, but eventually.”

        Astrid half smiled.

“That’s better than nothing.” She said.

        I nodded.

“I just don’t want to deal with him right now.” I said.

“That’s understandable.” Astrid said.

“I just don’t get it… I really did like him, but then he does that and kisses me and I freaked out and I haven’t felt the same. Nothing has felt right and I don’t really want to be around him or talk to him or anything. It scared me, I guess… especially because it was so unexpected and he said he’d been wanting to do it since I first ran into him, but nothing happened then, I mean, we only fell on the floor in the restaurant and then he left with the other guys after I apologized for running into him.”

“So do like I told you,” Astrid said. “Don’t answer his texts or calls or anything like that. He’s only been here once so the chances that he remembers where we live is slim to none and you won’t see him again until Monday.” Astrid said.

“What about the concert tomorrow?” I asked.

“If you feel up to going then we can go and if not then we’ll skip it and find something else to do.”

        I shook my head.

“I don’t want you to miss it just because I don’t want to go.” I said.

“Are you sure?” Astrid asked.

        I nodded.

“Go see Calum.” I said.

        Astrid blushed and I smiled.

“I’ll stay home and write some more. I’m sure some great poetry can come out of this.”

        Astrid laughed.

“Yeah, that’s definitely the case.” she said. “And I’ll just tell the guys you weren’t feeling well and couldn’t make it.”

“Sounds good to me.” I said.

        I stood up and put the laptop on our desk before returning to my bed and laying down. I stared up at the ceiling and replayed the moments from the day in my head. I sighed and put my hands over my face. I’m still so lost, so confused with everything going on and why I don’t seem to feel the same about Ashton anymore. I thought that I liked him. I know I liked him. The only question is… why don’t I like him now?