Across the Railroad Tracks

Chapter 16

It’s been a week since I’ve spoken to Riley. Everytime I look at him I see his father. Whenever he tries to speak to me I ignore him and look the other way. Jane is the only one I talk to and she has become a mediator between the two of us. My grandma has been working with a lawyer to help get this decision overturned. I don’t think it makes sense though.

I sat in my room alone. I didn’t feel like heading to the tree house at all. I stared blankly at the wall. I heard the cell phone that my grandmother had gotten me a few days ago ring. I forced myself to look away and at the screen. It was Jane. I picked up the phone and answered it.

“Hello?” I asked as I got out of bed.

“Hey Lilly.”

“Hey Jane. What do you need?” I asked as I opened the door and headed down the hall.

“Can you please just talk with Riley? I don’t like being in the middle of this. It fills…strange.” She said. I went into the kitchen and grabbed an apple. I then leaned against the counter.

“I’ll try tomorrow…but I don’t think I could bring myself to do it. Whenever I see Riley I just…see his dad.” I said as I took a bite out of the apple.

“Please just try. Anyway I’ll talk to you later. I gotta go eat.” She said. I said bye and hung up. I walked out of the kitchen and was about to head towards my room when I herd the door bell. I walked towards the door and opened it to see Matt standing there.

“What do you want? Just here to call me names like you always do?” I said sorta annoyed. He looked at me and…he didn’t look like he was here for that. I let him in and he sat down on the couch. I walked over to him and sat down next to him.

“I’m not here for that…” He said after a minute of awkward silence. I looked at him in confusion.

“I’m here…because I want to apologize.” He said.

“Why?” I asked in confusion.

“Because I’ve been horrible to you for so long…It’s just that you have been grandma’s favorite since you’ve been born. I was jealous and…it wasn’t right. I just…want you to forgive me.” He said. He looked me in the eye.

“Fine…I forgive you…” I said after a few minutes. He smiled slightly and wrapped his arms around me.

“Thank you…” He said. He then got up and left. I got up after a minute and walked to my room. 

*****

I got up and did my morning routine. As I headed out the door Jane’s car pulled into the driveway. I got in and Jane pulled out of the driveway.

“You’re going to keep your promise right?” Jane asked as she drove towards the school.

“I will Jane…I just think that his dad got in my head.” I sighed.

“Matt stopped by yesterday.” I said after a few minutes.

“Did that jerk call you names again?”

“No he actually came by to apologize. He said that he’s just been jealous of me.”

“Jealous? Why?” Jane asked. She looked at me for a moment then looked back at the road.

“Because I have been my grandma’s favorite since I was born. He said that it was unacceptable. He actually looked me in the eye and he genuinely looked sad. It was a little weird to see from him.” I said. We pulled up to the school and got out. When we got to the front of the school Riley was waiting for us. He smiled at us and closed his note book. He walked into the school with us with the notebook under his arm.

“Hey Guys.” Riley said.

“Riley, I’ll see you and Lilly in class I have to use the rest room.” She said. She then looked at me.

“Talk to him.” She whispered. Riley and I walked into the class room and the two of use took our seats.

“Riley.” I said after a minute. He looked at me.

“Listen…I’m sorry for not talking to you for the past few days. It’s just…your dad got in my head. Whenever I saw you I only saw your dad.” I said and he sighed.

“I understand. He wasn’t always like this. He used to love the job and didn’t do it for the money. But one day he changed and he became obsessed with money. Just finding ways to save money and earn more. I just don’t know.” After Riley finished talking Jane walked in and the bell rung. The day went on like any other normal day. After school Jane, Riley and I decided to go to the mall. We pulled into the parking lot and walked in through the food court entrance.

“My god I’m starving! School food isn’t that filling.” Jane said as we looked around. Jane then ran off to one of the many options that they had. Riley walked off to a different place and I went to the Japanese place that was next to the door. I ordered a bento box and after getting my food I walked off to find Riley and Jane. I eventually found them a few minutes later and sat down next to Jane. We messed around while we ate and after we finished we threw our trash away and wandered around the mall. We went to one of the lower levels and saw a big screen in front of one of the electronics stores that had a dancing game on.

“Oh! Come on guys!” Jane yelled and dragged the two of us to the tv. We The three of us went against each other for twenty minutes, I won, and we continued to wander around. Jane dragged both of us around to various clothing stores and made me buy a few things. We spent a good few hours in one of the stores because of how indecisive Jane is. Riley and I had to drag Jane out of there after twenty minutes. We then walked around again till we walked past a jewelry store. I saw an idea pop into Riley’s head and he ran off towards the store. Jane and I looked at each other and shrugged. We walked into the chocolate store that was next to it and I felt like buying the whole store. Jane and I looked at each other then smiled. We ran around the store and after a few minutes Riley came in and dragged us out.

“No I want chocolate! Let me go!” I yelled as I struggled to get out of his grip. When we were a good distance away Riley let us go. My phone rang and I took it out of my purse. I then answered it.

“Hello?”

“Hey honey. Where are you?” My grandma asked.

“Soon. We’ll leave in a few minutes.”

“Ok. Dinner should be ready by the time you get home. See you soon.” She then hung up and I looked at Jane and Riley as I put my phone away.

“Looks like I need to go home.” I said and Jane pouted.

“Fine…” Jane said. We then walked out of the mall and we walked to Jane’s car. Jane drove me home and when we got there Riley walked me to the door.

“I had fun today.” Riley said and I smiled.

“I did too.” I replied. We kissed and he placed something in my hands. He then backed away and walked back to Jane’s car. I looked down and saw a box.

I opened it and inside there was a necklace with my birthstone.