Chapter 31 31

Chapter 31 31
Riley's POV

Lila squeezed my hand a little tighter. She looked up at me with big hopeful eyes full of innocence.

“So… are you going to be my sister one day, Riley?” she asked quietly.

Her words hung in the air and made my heart feel full and confused at the same time. I sat there frozen on the chair, still trying to catch my breath from everything that just happened with Easton.

I smiled softly at her and pulled her closer into my embrace. My arms wrapped around her small body carefully.

“Lila, that is a very big question,” I answered quietly. “I do not know what will happen between me and your brother. But I will always be here for you no matter what.”

Lila hugged me back tightly. I liked how her little arms felt around me. She rested her head on my shoulder for a moment and did not ask any more questions after that.

The next day at school, Cass's friends picked on me even more. They waited for me near my locker in that morning. Three girls stood there with mean smiles on their faces.

“Look who is here,” one of them said loudly.

“The girl who thinks she can take away Easton from Cass.”

Another girl laughed and pushed my books, making a loud sound as they hit the floor.

I bent down slowly to pick them up. I could feel my anger boiling up a little but I tried to stay calm.

“Why are you guys doing this?” I asked quietly.

One of the girls crossed her arms and looked down at me.

“Because you moved into his house like you belong there,” she replied. “Cass was his girlfriend, even though they have broken apart. But that doesn't give you the chance to move closer to him.”

The other girls laughed and nodded. “Yeah, stay in your place, fatty,” one added.

I picked up the last book and stood up straight. “You guys keep getting it wrong, I only went there for a job,” I said firmly. “Not for Easton.”

“Whatever,” they all chorused and rolled their eyes before walking away laughing. Even though what they said hurt, I kept my head up and walked towards class

From across the hall, Blake saw what happened and he quickly ran over and helped me carry one of my books.

“Here, Riley,” he said softly. He gave me a small smile and handed me a chocolate bar from his bag. “I thought you might like this. You always look tired everytime I see you.”

I took the chocolate for a second but gave it back immediately. My voice stayed kind but firm. “Thank you, Blake,” I replied. “But I cannot take this. I have told you before, I can't be with you.”

Blake looked sad but he nodded slowly. “I understand,” he said quietly. “But I will do everything I can to show you I care. I really like you, Riley.”

Seeing that the conversation wouldn't go as I wanted, I walked away without saying another words feeling even more confused than before. His words were nice but they only made my heart heavier.

Deep inside me, I knew Easton was somewhere watching everything even though I didn't see him but I felt his eyes on me many times that day.

In class he sat at the back and didn't say anything. But when Cass’s friends tried to trip me in the hallway later, Easton walked past them and said loudly.

“Don't you dare do that,” his voice was cold but protective.

The girls stopped right away and moved back.

At home that evening Easton became cold again like he didn't just stand up for me today at school. He came into the kitchen when I was making dinner for.

He opened the fridge and took out a drink without looking at me. His shoulders was stiff.

“Food is almost ready,” I informed him.

Easton only nodded. “I will eat in my room,” he answered. His voice was flat and distant. It left me feeling confused and hurt inside.

I kept thinking about his song lyrics. Did he really feel those things about me? Or was I just overthinking everything like he said?

Deep down something inside me wished I was right. And I started wondering if I was beginning to fall for Easton.

The thought made my cheeks feel warm. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't answer the question on my own.

The following days were the same. Blake kept trying doing some small nice things for me. He left notes in my locker saying he was sorry for the past and that he wanted to make it right.

Easton saw most of them and he became more protective at school. When some boys laughed at me during lunch, Easton stood up and gave them a hard look. They stopped immediately.

But at home he was cold. He barely spoke to me and ate dinner in his room most nights. The more I thought about it, the more confused I became every day.

But everything changed one afternoon during a school event in the gym. Many students gathered to watch different performances and speaker.

I sat quietly at one side near the back watching the show, then Cass walked on to the stage with her cheer friends. She smiled sweetly at first but then pointed straight at me.

“Some people think they can come into rich houses and steal boys,” she said loudly into the microphone.

“But we all know Riley is just a charity case who is trying too hard to level up her standards by forcing herself on Easton and Blake.”

The whole gym went quiet for a moment then became filled with whispers and some laughter. The students turned to look at me and my face burned hot with shame.

I wished the ground would break open and swallow me up, saving me from the embrassment. Easton was standing near the back of the gym then he started walking toward the stage. His hands clenched into fists at his sides as he took several steps forward with his eyes fixed on her.

Then he stopped suddenly in the middle of the aisle. His body looked tense and ready to snap but he turned around slowly and walked away without saying anything.

His shoulders was stiff as he walked out of the gym. As I watched him leave, my heart broke a little. Tears burned in my eyes but I held them back.

For a moment, I thought he was about to help but it seemed I had forgotten who he was.

I stood up slowly after the event ended. My legs felt heavy as I walked out of the gym.

Outside, the fresh air hit my face but it did not make me feel better. I kept thinking about Easton walking away.

I stopped near the gym door and took a deep breath. Then I heard a subtle footsteps behind me, I turned to look and found Easton waiting there in the shadows.

He looked at me with eyes full of conflict and pain. “Riley…” he started, his voice rough. He stepped closer, his hand reaching out like he wanted to touch my shoulder, then dropped it again.

“I'm sorry I couldn't do anything earlier. I wanted to stop her… but I couldn’t.”

He turned his head away for a second, his jaw tight.

“I don’t know what I’m doing anymore,” he whispered.