Her Lost Soul 2

Chapter 3

When I wake my first thought is Riley. Is she okay this morning? Did she get some sleep? She needed rest but she won't get a lot of that without me. I shower and get dressed. I walk into the living room to make a coffee and I groan when he's fucking the brunette on the couch. "Bro, a little warning," I moan.
"Oh, you're awake." I continue to the kitchen and I make a coffee. After a few minutes, I hear the front door go.
"You know I'm always awake at this time," I sigh.
"Yeah, my bad. I didn't realise the time, make me one," I roll my eyes and I grab him a cup from the sink. Someone needs to do some washing up, it's overflowing. I rinse it and I make him a coffee. I turn around and thankfully he's fully dressed now. I walk to the couch with our coffees and I sit down. I hand him his coffee. "Thanks, bro."
"Yeah," I sigh.
"What has you in a bad mood?"
"The usual and how many times? Keep it down, for god sake."
"Usual? As in my sister? She will be fine this morning, you'll see," I sip my coffee. I do hope so. When we finish the coffees I head to the bathroom and brush my teeth. I hope she's coming to Duke today, I need to see for myself that she's okay.
We wait outside her apartment and we aren't waiting long. She locks her apartment and she looks awful. She's wearing more makeup than she's ever done before. Her eyes are more distant and she's wearing clothes that cover every inch of her. She normally wears tops that show off her perfect tits that drive me crazy.
"You look like shit, Lee. What's up?" she looks at us with grave eyes. She searches the hallway and then looks back at us.
"Nothing, nightmare I guess." She'd know if it was a nightmare. She isn't normally affected this much by a nightmare. Tyler puts his arm around her shoulder and she flinches slightly. He didn't seem to notice and walks to the elevator. I press the call button and we walk onto the elevator.
"What are you up to tonight sis?" Tyler looks down at her. Hell, she is acting so strange. Every time I see her something feels so wrong.
"I'm working," she shrugs. Working? Since when has she got a job?
"Working? What?" Tyler stands back and looks at her.
"I got a job a week or two ago. It's no big deal," her voice croaks and she holds her throat. Is she poorly?
"Have you got a sore throat? Did the rain give you a cold Ri?" she nods but I can't help but think she's lying to me.
"Well, hopefully, that will teach you to not sit in the rain. Why do you have a job, Lee?" We step off the elevator and walk towards Tyler's car.
"Yeah," she agrees. "I don't want to be the rich kid. I want to support myself, besides, you always moan about me in my apartment too much." I think she understands me more than I realised about money.
"So where do you work?" Tyler asks as we reach his car. She scans the car park before getting in the car. Why is she so edgy? I climb in the front and buckle up.
"At Sullivan's Ice Rink," I look at her in the rearview mirror. "Ty, can I ask you something?" she seems afraid. What the hell is going on, baby?
"Did you see his dead body? Did you go to his funeral?" she must have lied to Tyler. She's still seeing him.
"No, but he's dead Lee. Have you seen him again? Maybe we should get a professional  opinion."
"No, I haven't I just wanted to know. I'm fine, I promise," she insists but I don't believe her. She looks at me in the mirror. Let me in baby, I don't know what is going on with you? Tyler starts the car and drives away.
"Are seeing Miley soon?" I need alone time with her.
"I was thinking tomorrow. I have no classes," I nod. I'll have to skip classes tomorrow to go with her. I hate that I had to ask her, if I hadn't she would have gone alone.
I look at Tyler whilst he drives, "I need your car mate," he glares at me.
"I still don't know what's wrong with your car." Tyler groans. "You want to go to mad hatter cafe this morning?" I shrug. I'm starving and I get to spend more time with her.
"Sure," I say. I feel something touch my side and I look in the mirror and Riley is frowning and withdrawing. Did she try and seek comfort in me? She must be really afraid right now. What has her so rattled? I slide my hand through the gap and I watch her. She's confused and she feels conflicted. Just take my hand baby.
I see a tear escape her eye, why is she crying? She finally takes my hand and she feels freezing cold. Colder than I expected and I hear a faint gasp. Her bottom lip trembles, what the hell? She's normally so strong. I squeeze her hand and she bites her bottom lip to control herself. I'm here baby, I promise. Tell me what's wrong.
When Tyler pulls up she withdraws and we get out the car. I follow behind her as I normally would but her light, her aura is fading. She used to shine so fucking bright and now she's dull. She doesn't walk with the same confidence, she's always looking around her.
We walk into the cafe and she walks to the back corner as if she's trying to hide. I slide in next to her and we scan the menus. "I'll have usual, bro," I say and he nods.
He looks at Riley, "Sis? What are you having?" he touches her wrist resting on the table and she flinches.
"Just an English breakfast and a coffee." Tyler nods and goes to order the food. Did he notice her flinching?
"What is going on, Ri? I know you, something is wrong," she shakes her head denying it. She can't fool me.
"Nothing, I'm just feeling under the weather. I guess," I sigh. Will she let me in ever again? I rest my hand on her thigh and she jumps and screws her face up.
"I hate that you've started keeping things from me. You used to tell me everything."
"I hate that you are staying away from me. We don't always get what we want do we?" if I weren't keeping my distance would she tell me what is going on? I glare at her.
"It's for your own good, Ri. I'm no good for you," she rolls her eyes. Why can't she see?
"So you keep saying," she snaps and quickly holds her throat. This doesn't seem like a normal sore throat. She never complains when she's in pain a sore throat shouldn't be that painful.
"Maybe we should swing past the chemist if you're feeling that poorly," she shakes her head. "You are more hard work than usual." Tyler sits down but I keep my hand on her thigh. Maybe if my touch can burn her she will snap out of this.
"Hi, I'm Ruby your server. I've got the decaff coffee," Riley puts her hand up with a sour face and Ruby passes her the coffee and then places ours in front of us. "Two americano's," she announces. "An orange juice?"
"That's hers," Tyler says looking at the girl. Wait, he's looking at her funny. I've seen the look he gives girls and this isn't it. Something is different.
"Can I get anything else for you?" she says as she places the cutlery on our table next to each person.
"Yes," Tyler says as he gets his phone out his pocket. "There's something wrong with my phone and I was wondering if you could help me with it," he places it in her hand and she frowns.
"How could I help you with it?" she says timidly. "What's wrong with it?" she asks and then blushes when she looks at him again. She's cute but eh, my girl is cuter. I look back at Riley and she's frowning at the waitress.
"Well, it doesn't have your number in it," he says confidently. Riley rolls her eyes. So, Tyler is interested in the girl.
"You want my number?" she asks awkwardly.
"Yes, you are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. I'd be a fool if I didn't get your number." Oh, he seems genuine. Has he finally fallen for a girl? I thought he wasn't capable of loving someone. She's pretty, black hair, blue eyes, nice body but she has nothing on my girl in front of me.
Riley looks at me with pain in her eyes and then looks back at the waitress. "Ruby! Get your arse over here, we are busy!" The man behind the counter shouts. She quickly grabs the tray and scurries back to the counter and Tyler doesn't take his eyes off her. What an arsehole for speaking to her that way.
I look at Tyler and smirk, "Get in there mate, she's a diamond," he looks at me instead of the girl and smiles. I look at Riley and she's frowning deep in thought. She's not jealous, is she? I squeeze her leg.
  "Fuck man, is there such thing as love at first sight?" Tyler says but I don't look at him. I keep watching my girl.
"Yep, I'd say there is," I loved my girl when I first saw her but I didn't know it back then. I didn't know what love was. She literally looked like an Angel and everything drew me to her.
"I need a piss and I need to talk to her again," Tyler says and gets up. I laugh silently, maybe if he is infatuated by this girl he will back off from me and Riley. Riley puts her elbows on the table and rests her forehead in her hands. She's not normally this openly emotional.
I rest my hand on the back of her head, "Hey, why are you so sad today? You aren't jealous are you?" I stroke her hair comforting her.
"She's hot. Like to die for hot, even I'd tap that and I'm not interested in girls," I laugh loudly. She's being ridiculous. Firstly, she's mine. She's not tapping a girl or a guy. Secondly, I'm not interested in anyone else.
"Maybe she is but she has nothing on you, Ri. You don't see yourself clearly. Is that why you're sad? You think I want her?"
"It doesn't matter what I think. At least you could be with her. She could give you something I can't," I cup her face and she flinches again.
"Why are you so jumpy today?" I make her look at me and she's still trying to tell me a story but it's whispers. Her eyes aren't shining and it pains me. "Let me in," I demand softly. "Nobody would be as perfect as you. We can't be together but no woman will turn my head like you do." She smiles feebly and I rest my face on her shoulder. Don't leave me baby, I'm still here with you.
I notice Tyler coming back and I pull away. He sits down and Riley sips on her juice with shaky hands. I don't understand! Ruby comes back with the breakfasts and Tyler stares at her, "Enjoy, can I get you anything else?"
"Brown sauce, please," Tyler asks. Since when has he ever had brown sauce with his food? I dig into my food I'm starving. "Damn, look at that ass," he says biting his lip. Yep, I could look at my girl's ass all day. I grin, he's getting it thank christ.
I watch Riley as she sorts the food on her plate. She stacks up the hash browns on the bread and then she plays around with it rather than eats it. She fucking frustrates me and I don't understand her behaviour. "Lee?" Tyler demands her attention and she blinks looking at him. "Are you going to eat? We need to get to Duke." We have nearly finished ours.
She nods and starts eating but again it's not her usual way. "What are you. . ." Tyler says and we both look at him. "You haven't eaten like that since him." I glare at him for bringing him up again.
"Carbs are bad. He doesn't like me fat, I mean he never used to." The hell! He doesn't like me fat? She was never fat to begin with! She corrected herself in the end but it seemed more of a lie than the first bit.
"Did he used to call you fat? You've lost a lot of weight since then. You don't need to be watching your diet." I told him he said she was smoking thick.
"Well, not directly. Does it matter?" Tyler sighs.
"I just don't want you to go back to how you were. I never used to notice back then but he controlled you. The food, the isolation, he was always with you, he wouldn't let you breathe, the clothes you started wearing."
"You don't know anything. He didn't force me to do it, I wanted to do it, for him." Technically he did force you, baby. You wouldn't have done it on your own accord. Why can't she see that? I thought she could see what he did to her?
"But he still asked you right?"
"Can you stop? He's dead, get over it. Can we go?" she stands up and Tyler rolls his eyes.
"I'll see you in the car, I won't be long." He chucks me the keys, I guess he's going to speak to the girl. He has it bad. I get up and slide out of the booth. I walk out of the building and I take her hand. She scans the car park but doesn't withdraw.
I lead her to the car and I cup her face and she winces. Is she in pain? "Let me in, Ri. Something is wrong," I place my forehead on hers. Maybe I should have gone to the hospital when she asked. "Really wrong and you won't let me help you."
"I'm fine, Flynn. I'm not your problem anymore. I'm not yours anymore." Is she trying to piss me off? She's always going to be mine. She doesn't believe that or she wouldn't still be wearing my ring and bracelet. I will always try to protect her even if I fail miserably. I will always be here.
"You'll always be mine Ri. Don't say that to me." Let me in, please, I beg you. Tell me what's wrong. I'm here.
"Maybe I never was yours, maybe I'll always belong to him." I stroke her cheeks, no she was never his. Why does she keep bringing him up recently? I hate that he's in her head all the time. I want to consume her but she's pushing me out.
"No, you're looking at it all wrong. You were made for me, you never belonged to him. He was an unfortunate stop-gap until we met."
"You think?" she asks hopefully. Is this what she's worried about? We belong together, I'm sorry that I haven't reassured her enough. I told her that even though we can't be together, I will always want her. I look at her whilst I continue to rest my forehead on hers.
"I don't think, I know Ri. Is that what you're worried about?" she opens her sad eyes and looks at me. I see the light in her eye trying to shine. She wants to trust me, I can pull her back from this. I just don't know how. I pull away from her and I unlock the car. We climb in and wait for Tyler. I slide my hand back to her and she takes it without hesitation.
Tyler opens his door and climbs in, "Man, she's amazing," he says as he pulls his belt on. I pass him the keys and he starts the car and drives towards Duke. I laugh and he smiles as if he hasn't got a care in the world. I hope he falls hard for this girl and then he may understand how I feel about his sister.
I use my thumb to stroke her hand. No one says anything as we travel to Duke and he pulls up all too soon. I haven't even got close to heating her up. She withdraws her hand and gets out of the car. She walks away without saying anything again and all I can do is watch as she goes. "She's so moody lately," Tyler says.
"Yeah but then she always is," I shrug. "Just more so, catch you at lunch?" he nods and I walk to my class. Clara sits next to me but she doesn't say anything. I catch her glancing at me now and again. Hell! I was so stupid. I was hasty and I didn't think before I acted. I don't want Riley hating me and I can't have her withdrawing any more.
I meet Tyler and Regan at the usual place for lunch. "We are going to Riley's work, right?" Tyler asks. I nod and get my phone out and message Mac for a couple of days off. Riley needs me right now whether she will admit it or not. He happily accepts my time off, he's such a good boss to me.
I look up when I feel Riley walk in. Nathan pulls her to our table and I glare at him. He pulls a chair out for her and she sits but she looks frustrated. "I've got a date tomorrow night with the hot chick," Tyler says.
I laugh but keep my eyes on my girl. "That didn't take long, what you doing about Britney?"
"She was a good fuck but I'm over her." He was never into her, he was sleeping with her best friend. Riley rolls her eyes and Nathan sits next to her and takes her hand. How can she not see that he wants more than to be friends?
"How hot is this chick?" Nathan asks. "You going to introduce us?"
"I only met her this morning. She is fucking priceless man, but I claimed her first. Don't get any ideas buddy."
"Hey, I've already got my eyes on someone else," he tucks her hair behind her ear and watches her but she's looking at me. Keep your hands to yourself! He's just said it and she still doesn't see!
"Gross, man," Tyler groans. "Sis, are you ordering food?"
"I'll just have a salad," he frowns but gets his phone out. Just a salad? Really? She's not dieting for real is she?
"Tyler!" a girl shouts and we all look up at Britney. She looks really pissed and she walks towards us. "You didn't invite me to lunch yet here you are!" God can he break up with her already?
"Maybe he just doesn't want to listen to your annoying voice anymore," Riley mutters and Britney glares at her. Tyler gets up and drags her out of the building. Our drinks arrive and Riley sips on her drink. I watch as her lips wrap around the straw. Christ, why do I even watch when I know what she does to me. It's like I can't help myself, she's addictive.
Tyler returns a few minutes later without Britney. He sits down and the doors open with a bang and Riley jumps. Why is she so jumpy? "I'm going to kill you Tyler! You used me!" Britney shouts. Her make up has run down her face as she cries. "I love you!" Pfft, she's an idiot if she thinks Tyler ever loved her.
She grabs a beer bottle off the bar on her way to the table. She breaks it on the bar and I roll my eyes. She's psycho too? Where does he find them? "How could you do this to me?" she cries. Riley stands up and puts herself in front of Tyler protecting him. I literally jump from my chair.
"Riley," Tyler and I say together. Is she crazy? Riley grabs Britney's wrist, the one she holds her bottle in. Everything is happening in slow mo. My heart stops and I hold my breath. Riley puts her hand around Britney's neck and slams her against the bar.
"Threaten my brother again and I will kill you," Riley threatens. Damn, she's pretty scary.
"You never liked me, you must have something to do with this," she screams and Riley laughs.
"No I didn't but that doesn't mean I had something to do with it. You're crazy! My brother just wised up," Riley prizes the bottle from her hand and throws it over the bar out of her reach and it shatters on the floor. I sigh with relief, "If I see you within ten feet of my brother I'll kill you."
I sag in my chair. Riley releases her and moves away. Britney stands up straight. Riley looks at us and Britney screams and launches at my girl and I'm on my feet. She slaps Riley and I growl as I make my way to her. Riley punches her and she falls to the ground. Tyler and I get to Riley at the same time.
Tyler pulls Britney off the floor and pulls her outside. Good, because I literally want to kill her right now. She's made my girl bleed, "Can I have a towel?" I ask the barman and he nods. He throws me a tea towel. I dap her cheek to wipe away the blood, "Are you crazy? She could have seriously hurt you."
"Oh come on, she's harmless. I'm not having her threaten my brother like that. You guys wouldn't hit a girl, I sure as hell have nothing against it. I've wanted to do that since I met her." I don't understand her, she's not fazed by this but something is rattling her. She can be so strong with somethings but not with what's bothering her.
Tyler walks back to us, "Are you okay Lee? I'm sorry she did that. I didn't know she was capable."
"It's fine, Bro. Honestly, I fight dirty. Slaps won't get you anywhere." I pull her back to her chair and I continue to clean her wound. Nathan holds her hand and I glare at him. She's mine! He did fuck all to help her. Tyler starts eating his food as though nothing happened.
She pulls away from me and I grab her chin to bring her back to me and she winces. "Does it hurt?"
"No," then why did she wince?
"Good, now can you eat please?" she nods and I walk back to my seat. She picks at her salad and I pick up my burger and take a mouthful.
The barman walks over and puts his hand on my girl's shoulder and I frown. She flinches and looks up at him, "You okay Honey? Shall I call the police?" the barman says.
"I'm fine, I don't need the police. I can handle her," yes she can handle Britney but she can't handle what has her flinching at everything.
"You have a good punch little lady," back off! He smiles at her and walks back to the bar. A phone rings and Riley pulls her phone out of her pocket.
"Hey Honey," she smiles. Must be my sister but seems a bit early for her call. Her face falls, "What's wrong baby?" she stands up and leaves the pub. What the hell?
I look at Tyler and he shrugs, "I need to make sure my sister is okay," he nods and I get up and follow her out of the building. She hasn't gone far, she stands a few feet from the door. She's crying when I reach her.
I wipe her tears away, "Honey, it won't be forever. Flynn and I are coming to see you tomorrow okay? And you'll be soon coming home for the weekend. Please don't talk like that because you are worth a thousand Katie's." Who the fuck is Katie?
I hug her and she cries on my shoulder, "Baby, please. I'm doing everything I can. I love you so much. If I could take you home right now, I would." After a moment she puts her phone away and sobs into my neck.
She wraps her arms around me and I rock her gently, "Shh, Ri. What's going on?"
"She hates me!" she cries. Unlikely, my sister loves her unconditionally.
"No, she doesn't. She's just upset, baby. She loves you so much, why is she so upset?"
"I think she's getting anxious about Christmas coming up. She's going to be alone. She hates me for not saving her yet. She said she'd rather die than stay there any longer." It's not the first time my sister has used that card and I hate that she does it.
"Fuck, Ri. She's just lashing out. She's a troubled kid, it's not the first time she's used that card. There's nothing you can do about it, Ri. She will be fine. We will see her tomorrow, it will cheer her up."
"Yeah," she whispers. She pulls away from me and wipes the remaining tears with the back of her hand. "I'd better call Dr Faye. You go back inside, I'll be in shortly," I nod. Is it a good idea to leave her? I kiss her forehead and I walk back inside.
I take my seat and I start eating my food again. "Well?" Tyler asks.
"My sister is upset that she's going to be alone at Christmas and she's taking to out Riley."
"Your sister has serious attitude. Is my sister okay?"
"She's upset but she's okay. She's ringing her therapist now," Tyler nods and I continue eating my food. After a few minutes, I start getting anxious that she hasn't returned. I stare at the door and I stop eating.
"Bro, you are predictable, eat, I'll see where my sister is," I nod and keep eating as he leaves the building. Why hasn't she returned yet? I finish my food by the time they both return. She seems more distant again! Riley takes her seat and Nathan takes her hand and she pulls away. Good!
"I need to tell you something," Riley says. We all look at her. Tell us what exactly? "I have a boyfriend." My heart stops, the hell did she say! I must have heard wrong. There is no way she's telling me she has a boyfriend! It's unacceptable!