kenopsia | the society

18. what's for dinner

a/n: somewhat smutty towards the end? not really sure how else to put it

The teens seemed to be going crazy, at least from what Riley could tell as she sat behind the locked door of Grizz's house. They were running around with baseball bats and sticks that were sharpened to a point. Others were on bikes, and tensions clearly seemed to be running high. No one felt safe, and with good reason. Someone had a gun, and they didn't know who. Someone shot and killed Cassandra, and they didn't know who. Their lives as they knew it were turning into a shit show. 

People weren't showing up to their posts for work, walking around in packs. Staying home for dinner instead of heading to the cafeteria for the communal meals and it scared the shit out of Riley. 

Normally, she could be strong, would be strong. The face of strength when faced with adversity, but she was scared and she couldn't hide it. No one could. 

Riley was brought out of her trance at the sound of the doorknob rattling, a key entering, and then clicking. She jumped up as the door swung open, clipping into her shoulder. 

"What the..?" Grizz grumbled, going quiet when he saw the smaller girl standing by the door. 

A small blush crept up her neck, from embarrassment more than anything else. "I just wanted to be here when you got home." Riley murmured softly, avoiding his eyes. 

Grizz frowned slightly, he knew that Riley was scared of losing the people she cared about, and he understood where she was coming from. "I told you, I'm gonna be okay. We're gonna be okay, Fifi." 

Her nickname rolled smoothly off of his lips, and that was all the confirmation Riley needed before she gave him a crushing hug, catching Grizz off guard. Grizz sighed and hugged her back, not used to seeing his usually goofy best friend like this. The two stood like that for a minute before Riley let go, "I think I'm gonna go talk to Becca." She said, that familiar blush creeping up her neck again. 

"Oh, you're gonna go talk to Becca?" Grizz replied, a small smirk on his face. "You're not really one for talking, Ri." 

It was Riley's turn to grumble, "oh whatever Grizz, hop off my dick, okay?" 

The somewhat hostile reply had Grizz putting his hands up in the air, trying to calm her down. "Geez Ri, okay. Just be careful okay, I don't want to see you get hurt again." The implication was clear. He didn't want her to lose another person, and it also showed that he didn't think any of them were truly safe. 

"I'll text you when I get there" was all Riley said in response as she sidestepped him and walked out the door, still wearing the same light blue crew neck Becca had given her a few days ago. 

. . . 

It took a few moments of a silent pep talk for Riley to get her courage up to knock on Becca's door. She almost pussied out, her heart hammering in her chest. The ding of a text message let her know that Grizz had replied to her letting him know that she had gotten there, so there really was no excuse now. 

After a long moment of her not breathing, Riley did it, her knuckles rapping against Becca's door. It took another long moment before she heard footsteps approaching, and then the door cracking open. 

"Riley?" Becca asked, somewhat confused that the girl was just standing by her front door. 

Riley bit her lower lip for a split second, sucking on it. "That's my name, don't wear it out Becky-Boo." Riley regretted the words almost instantly, but it was too late to take them back.