Solid Ground

♔ Chapter 6

//This chapter goes to the amazing thehiddenwriter819. Guys, she is really friendly so... Follow her! Thank you for supporting every chapter I write. Hope you like this one.

Riley

"Riley Alison Hathaway! What did you do this time?!" Marcus waved the two flight tickets in front of me.

I tried to hide myself behind Elizabeth, but obviously that failed. He continued scolding.

"Riley! I don't have time for you little games!!" He said stepping nearer to me.

Elizabeth sensed the tension between both of us. She quietly excused herself and went to her room. I stood near the kitchen counters, backing up slowly. Marcus gave me a death stare, forcing an answer out of my mouth.

"That c-came from the mail." I stuttered. All of a sudden I remembered the secret weapon I had. "Give me a second." I took out my phone from my pocket and started texting.

I could see Marcus roll his eyes at me. He crossed his arm in front of his chest. Staring at me as though he was an arrow and I was the bullseye.

I punched in the last few letters, and sent the message. "Okay, I only have four words to say. It wasn't my idea." I looked back at Marcus. You could see rage running through his veins. His eye were two pools of blue frozen ice. Not a sign of compassion.

"Riley!! Stop pulling these tricks. I'm not gonna..." Before he could finish his sentence his phone rang. He turned around, back facing me, and answered the phone. He looked at me from the his corner of his eye, still giving me the death stare.

After a while, he put down the phoned. He looked even angrier than before. Probably texting his mom to convince him wasn't my best idea. "Riley!...."

"Why don't you have a pet name for me? Like baby, or honey, stuff like that." I was trying to joke my way through this very heated up predicament.

"You think this is funny?! I have two medical meetings schedule next week. I have to meet two inspectors that are going to visit the hospital. And now you give me this?!" He said while holding on to my wrist, the other hand throwing the tickets onto the kitchen counter.

My eyes started to water. I was scared. I've never seen him this angry. But, those tickets... It really wasn't my fault. But then again, why didn't Marcus want to spend time with me?

I looked downwards trying to hide away the tears from Marcus. The tears rolled across my cheeks, and accidentally onto Marcus's hand that was gripping my wrist. Marcus let go of me, and took a few steps back. He took a deep breath controlling his anger.

"Rile..." Before he could continue I stopped him.

"You know what, I'm sick of this! Burn the tickets if you want. I know you could always buy another! But I'm tired of you treating me like this. I know I'm not as good as you. I know that when I walk hand in hand with you, girls criticize me for being not good enough. Well, this is what you're getting, if you can't even spent a week with me... Just burn it."

I've had enough.

I walked past Marcus, swiped the car keys, and went out of the door. I pressed the buttons on the elevator to ground floor. I wasn't sure where I was going, but the destination would be, anywhere but here.

I got the car and drove down the streets of New York.

There wasn't much traffic on the road. I drove with one hand, the other was vigorously wiping the tears off my face. Just arguing with Marcus torn my heart apart. I know work was always very important to him, but I never knew it was so important that it was worth an argument that fierce, that fiery.

I parked the car in front of a night club. Loud music was playing through the club. Girls in short skirts and tight dresses danced on the dance floor. The smell of beer filled the place. I've never been into a place like this before. This seems so wrong. But where was I to go.

I sat there for a little, but the overwhelming beer smell made me nauseous. I left subsequently and sat on the side walk. Alone.

Marcus

Riley slammed the door and left the house. Yes I was pipping mad, but all of that didn't matter when she left the house. It was night already, definitely not safe for a girl to be driving alone.

"Elizabeth. Call me if she gets back. Please."

I took my keys and left the door. I ran to fetch my car and speed down streets of NYC. I felt anxious. The feelings of anger subsided when Riley cried. My heart crumpled when she cries. She meant everything to me, yet I made her cry. How could I be so stupid.

Riley please be safe.

I speed down the streets till I saw a girl by a lamp post. The girl was cornered by another man. The man kept inching nearer and nearer to the girl, eventually using his hands to pin her down.

"Get away from her." I stepped out of the car. I've seen enough. The man let out a grin. He pushed the girl hardly against the lamp post, making her let out a squeal. She was in pain. I walked towards the man and pushed him away, making him loose his balance and falling onto the cold hard cement street.

I picked up the phone. "Hello 911, a man about 6 feet tall, wearing a black hoodie just tried to harass a girl outside..." The man picked himself from the ground clumsily and ran back in the night club.

"Riley does anywhere hurt?" I rubbed her back softly. Seeing slight bruises. Thank god she wasn't hurt badly.

Riley fell into my arms. Crying. I hugged her, kissing her head lightly. "Your safe now." Riley buried her face in my shirt. I heard her sobs and cries, her pain and her sorrows. I rubbed her back softly. I know the bruise are just temporary and nothing serious. But those slight bruises on Riley's back cut a hole through me heart.

I am so sorry Riley.

I lead her back into my car and drove back home. She didn't lean back on to the car seat. Afraid that it was going to pressure against her bruises. The pain I felt for Riley was tremendous. My heart ached for her. Regretting having that argument with her. Nothing was more important than Riley's happiness.

When we reached home. She sat on the bed side while I applied ointment on her bruised back. I softly applied the ointment against her bruises, trying to make it as painless as possible. I felt my heart enduring a ten foot drop. When I was done I zipped back Riley's dress and gently laid her on the bed.

She scrunched her body into a ball, pulling the blanket over her head, sleeping on her side of the bed. I slept next to her. Wanting to hug her but afraid of hurting her. I kissed her cheeks through the blanket, whispering to her "I'm so sorry Riley."

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Hey guys! *takes a box of tissues*, who's heart died along with Riley's? Well I sure did. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. This chapter was a surprise for me too. This chapter wasn't my initial plan for the story. This chapter just happened because of an argument I had with my mother. At that time, I was furious, mad, upset and angry all at the same time, and all of a sudden this idea came into my mind, and this chapter became what it is. *Crosses fingers*, hope you guys liked it... Maybe:) thank you for all your votes and comment!! You guys just make me speechless. Way too awesome^^ I really hope this chapter did not disappoint.

#1 Marcus found Riley through the GBS tracking system he had on his car. He pin point the car's location and speed towards it.

#2 When Marcus was calling 911, it was fake, he just wanted to frighten then man and acre him away. (Not a bad plan if I do say so myself)