SAVE ME

Ch#24 We're all ears, Riley

Ch#24 We're all ears, Riley

After the little group hug, we rushed to the cafeteria to silence our grumbling stomach. While munching onto our food, I asked Yohan and Beth, "Why did you guys come back to the main room though? Didn't you go for dinner at all?"

"We did go to the cafeteria, but had to come back to get this idiot when we remembered that he didn't have his lunch as well", Yohan replied, pointing towards Ellis. We spoke no more and continued to munch on our food. After dinner, we went back to the main room of the Base. As usual, we sat down in our place while everyone else was minding their own business. I found Riley with Terrence and Matt in one corner of the room. She looked pissed at them. They seem to be having a heated conversation.

"By the way, Alana, the Riley you spoke about, is it really the one that we know?", Beth asked cautiously. I didn't know what to reply. I didn't want them to change their view about her.

"Yes, it is her", I confirmed their doubts by gesturing towards Riley. As if on cue, three of them sighed together.

"I never imagined her to be such a monster."

"I thought she was a good person."

"Do you guys still think I should trust her?"

This is what I didn't want to happen. I shook my head in despair. "Guys, no. I don't want you to think of her by standing in my shoes. Yes, she was a monster towards me, but not with you guys, right? She even went through Dave's abuse to protect the people in this Base. I'm not telling she has changed. I don't know if she has changed. But I have seen guilt in her eyes. She is repenting what she has done. It's not important how she was in her past. What she is doing for us now is what matters. Let's not change our behaviour towards her. Alright?"

They were hesitant. Anyone would be. I didn't want them to know that it's her. But I couldn't lie to them as well. They have been honest with me, they trust me. How could I lie to them?

"Alright."

"Okay."

"I'll try."

I smiled at them for agreeing with me which they returned.

"Has she not recognized you yet?", Ellis raised his doubt.

I shook my head in response. "My appearance has changed a lot in the past five years. I cut my long waist length hair, I stopped applying makeup, I changed my dressing style from pretty dresses to these baggy jeans and oversized t-shirts", I muttered.

A look of pity flashed in their eyes which immediately changed to pride. Yohan caressed my hair with a toothy grin and said, "You still look pretty in short hair."

"You don't need makeup", Ellis reassured with a smile.

"And you definitely pull off the look in these baggy jeans and extra large tee. Who cares about pretty dresses, you just rock the world of tomboys", Beth gushed with a hug.

I choked up with all this love from them. Do I even deserve this?

If there's anything that you deserve, then it's the love from friends, Al.

"Thank you, guys. Sincerely, thank you." I shot them a bright smile in return.

Our sweet little moment came to an end with a banging sound. We followed the source of the sound to find Riley having thrown away the chair on which Louis sits while treating the students. Matt and Terrence shook their head and left the place.

"Did they just fight?" Beth voiced my thoughts.

Soon enough the students went back to minding their own business and we walked towards Riley. I hope these idiots can hide their dislike towards her well. As we came closer, we could hear her sobbings.

"Hey, Riley. You okay there?" Yohan asked, but she did not respond. I walked up to her only to find her tear stricken face. I couldn't help but give her a tight hug as a form of comfort.

Ellis and Beth shot me the 'are-you-kidding-me' look which I just ignored. 'Cause even I don't know why I do this. After all that she had done to me, I must detest her passionately. But I guess my family just raised me this way. 'I will remember and recover, not forgive and forget' was something Aiden always kept telling me during my time of recovery. I would even say that the quote played a major role in shaping me to the person that I have become today. There were times when I wanted to give up everything, but these words stopped me every time. Rather than following the empty words 'forgive and forget' which is easier said than done, I found comfort in reminding myself that I need to remember my past and recover from the trauma. Only then I will be truly able to forgive and forget my enemy.

"Thank you, Alana", Riley replied to my gesture and let go of me, wiping off her tears.

"What happened? Did you guys have a fight?", Beth asked her.

"A little quarrel I suppose", she replied.

We waited for her to continue. "They informed Dave about Alana deleting those pictures and bringing the memory card. Hence Dave wanted me up, but I refused to go with them to Dave. I don't want to repeat the same mistake twice."

"That made you cry?", Ellis blurted.

Riley sighed and replied to him, "You don't even trust me, then why do you want to know about the cause of my tears? Will you even believe me if I tell you the reason?"

"Depends on what you will be telling", he shrugged.

She stared at him for a while and shifted her glance towards us. Without another word, she left shaking her head. But I caught a glimpse of guilt in her eyes with a flash of sorrow.

She is hurting just like how you guys were.

Suddenly, Ellis walked behind Riley and stopped her. "We trust you. We want you to trust us as well. I can see that you are burdened about something. I can feel that you are hurting. We're all ears, Riley."

My eyes widened in surprise. Who is this guy and what did he do to Ellis? Is he really the Ellis that I know? I looked at Yohan and Beth to get some answers but all they did was smirk. I rolled my eyes at them.

"Just wait, Alana. He's testing the rivers. He just heard your side of the story. He wants to know her side as well", Yohan whispered in a hushed tone.

Does he really need to do this? Right before me!? I mean I do not have the confidence to listen to her without tearing up! Ugh! This bloody two faced ox!

Ox? Shouldn't that be-

Shut up!