Chapter 26

"I saw her the other day."

"What?" I tried to keep up as he speed walked down the sidewalk.

"She was in the market in Holly Ridge, we made direct eye contact. I swear it was her, I swear." He kept his pace.

"How do you know for sure?"

He then stopped suddenly. "I lived with her my entire childhood, Jessica. I know what my sister looks like."

He started up again on the sidewalk while I followed shortly after, staring into space. "Don't."

He looked at me, then came to a slow stop. "What?"

"Don't find her." I ran my fingers through my hair. "I mean, if you want to you can. I just don't, at all."

"Jessica," he breathed out. "Don't you have questions you want to ask her? Why she left, where she was? Aren't you curious?"

"No," I started to feel uneasy. "The fact she's even this close to me makes me want to throw up. Keep me out of this, okay?"

"What if it's not about finding her, what if she wants to find you?"

"She knows exactly where I am," I hissed. "If she was determined to see me, she would've done it by now."

He looked at me with sad eyes. "I didn't only see her Jess, I talked to her."__________________________

"I didn't talk to her in person," he brought me a cup of coffee while I sat on the couch in his hotel room, the lighting being dim. "After she saw me in the market, she ran out of there like there was no tomorrow. I tried to catch up, but I couldn't. Then about five minutes later, she called me. I was stunned." He sat next to me and turned his head to the side, looking at me. "We talked about you."

My head shot up. "What?"

"I told her how you were still working the shop, and aren't going to college. She was a little disappointed you weren't going, but she was also okay with you working at the shop for the rest of your life. She kept talking about how proud she was of you."

I smiled faintly, suddenly feeling emotional.

"That's not all though. She also shared some information, and with you being her daughter, you deserve to know."

I felt my heart pace pick up, nodding for him to continue.

"She left because she was hiding from someone."

I widened my eyes. "I thought she left because she didn't want me-"

"No." He shook his head. "She left because she had to."

"Who was she hiding from?"

"She wouldn't say." He leaned back into the couch. "All she said was that this person was threatening her. She didn't say if it was a man or woman, but she said you're aware of this person."

I got suddenly scared. "Wha-"

"She wasn't going to tell anyone, ever. Her plan was to leave and never come back."

"Why would she not take me with her?"

"That's the thing," he sighed. "I guess this person would break into the house at night with weapons, threatening to kill you or her. The only way you would live is if she left without you. This person wanted to break you and your mom apart, just for the satisfaction."

I started to breathe heavy, trying to decipher what I just heard.

"Sick, huh?"

I nodded, staring at the floor.

He rubbed my back in a comforting manner. "She never wanted to leave you, Jessica. She always loved you."

I felt like I couldn't breathe, my head ached from all the information that was shoved into my brain. I stood, not being able to hear anymore. "I'm gonna go home."

He stood too. "Wait, are you okay? I didn't mean-"

"How do I know this person isn't out to hurt me?!" I yelled suddenly. "What if I'm dead by tomorrow morning, huh? I know this person for Christ's sake! I can't trust anyone. I can't be around anyone."

He reached out to hug me, but I backed away.

"What, am I supposed to stay locked in my house for the rest of my life? I can't leave without the thought of me never coming back!" I started to cry, letting my emotions get the best of me.

"Your mom left ten years ago!" He screamed, silencing me. We were both breathing heavy, our faces inches apart. "Don't you think if they wanted to kill you, they would've done it by now?" He whispered.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I nodded. "You're right."

He stared at me, out of breath.

"I'm sorry. Thanks for um, thanks for filling me in."

He watched me as I walked out of the room, shutting the door behind me.

"Jess," he called when I was walking down the hallway. He walked over to me, extending his hand. "Take my car. It's starting to rain, and I won't need it until Saturday."

I looked at him with big eyes, unaware of what to do. "Are you sure?"

He smirked. "Positive."

I took the keys from his hand. "Thank you."

He gave me a nod before heading back towards his room, disappearing behind the door.

I found his car in the parking lot, and boy was he right about the rain. By the time I got in the car, my hair and clothes were drenched. I pulled out of the parking lot, the rain making it hard to see.

I could however make out a figure walking in the rain.

"Oh my god," I whispered to myself. I pulled over next to the person and rolled down my window. "Hey," I called. "It's not safe for you to walk right now. Where are you going? I'll give you a ride."

The person slowly turned around, and I could make out that it was a woman. She walked a little closer, and I could make out her blonde hair. My eyes widened a little, and that's when I knew who she was.

Riley.

She was crying, her mascara running down her cheeks. I opened the door for her from the inside while she sobbed so hard it sounded like she was screaming. She got in, and looked at me with her worn eyes.

"Wh- What happ-"

"Jess," she cried out. "Oh my god, it's you. I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you when I got in the car-"

I grabbed her arm when she tried to get out. "Are you okay?"

"You don't have to help me," she weeped. "I know you hate me."

"I could never hate you." I looked into her eyes to make sure she heard what I said.

Her cheeks were nearly black from all the makeup that was smeared while she kept screaming, making my ears hurt.

"What's wrong?!" I tried to call over her voice.

She shook with fear, slowly turning to show me her bloody side.

I almost passed out from how much blood was pouring out of her body, my brain suddenly in alert mode. I slammed my foot on the pedal, the car swerving onto the road once more.

"Don't take me to the hospital." She cried.

"What? Why?"

"It's too far away, I won't make it." She clutched her side.

"Okay, okay," I sped through a red light. "Hang in there, okay?"

She nodded through her tears, the pained look on her face sickening.

I picked up my phone with shaky hands, almost not being able to dial the number.

It rang twice before the person answered. "Jess, you actually called-"

"I need your help," I said as Riley screeched out in pain.

"What is that? Is that Riley?"

"Please come to my house," I looked at her. "Now."

"What's going on?" I focused on Riley instead of answering him. "Jess!"

"Come to my house!" I yelled before hanging up, placing my hand on Riley's thigh in a comforting manner. I whispered words of encouragement like, "it's okay, you're okay," and "it's all going to be good. Look at me."

I tried to have her focus on something else to subside the pain, but nothing was working. Nothing was working.

She clutched her side, her breathing extremely unsteady. I pulled into my driveway, realizing I had to get her inside somehow.

"I- I can't stand," she whispered in between breaths.

"Okay, um, I'll figure something out," I jumped out of my car and into the rain. I was about to run inside and see if I had anything to lay her on, but I saw a truck drive up. A very familiar truck, in this case.

Justin jumped out, getting soaked in the process. That was fast. I ran up to him, which was a little awkward, considering we ended on a pretty bad note when he left. I explained what was going on, and without a second thought, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her out of the car. I ran ahead of him, dashing inside to get something to lay her on. I laid a few towels on the couch inside, and after a few seconds, Justin came in with her weak body in his arms.

I initiated where to put her. As he did so, she let out loud, painful groans that made me cringe. I ran into the kitchen and started throwing towels in his direction in which he caught them, placing them over the wound.

"I'll go get the medical stuff from upstairs," I said while he nodded, proceeding to hold the towel to her skin. I couldn't help but see the pained look on his face as he watched her struggle, making my heart combust.

They loved each other at one point, and it hurt him to see her hurt.

Once I found the first aid kit, I ran back down the stairs, skipping a few in the process. Once I reached the bottom, what I saw made my heart melt.

"You know what's funny? You just got stabbed, in the rain, and there's all this makeup on your face, but you still manage to look breathtaking." My eyes watered at the sight. I couldn't tell if I was jealous, or just completely stunned at how sweet he was being. "I've been stabbed too. Sucks, huh? Knowing what that feels like, it just proves how strong you truly are. You're so strong Ri." He kissed the back of her hand while she smiled faintly, closing her eyes. "Keep them open," he said as he swept some hair out of her face. "I need to know you're alive. Plus, do you know how beautiful they are? You're best feature." He chucked in this cute way while she smiled once more, both of their hands meshed together on the towel that was stopping the bleeding.

I cleared my throat as I walked in, so they knew I was there. "I um, I think we should wrap her in gauze." I made awkward eye contact with him.

He nodded. "I can do it," he said, not looking at me.

He wrapped it around her torso gently, his fingertips skimming her tan stomach. "Shh, it's going to be okay. You're going to be okay."

I couldn't watch anymore. I got up and walked to the kitchen, brewing some coffee. I still heard him talking to her in his low, raspy voice.

I felt ashamed of myself for thinking this way. She just got stabbed, of course he's going to be nice to her and say those things. He's a sweet guy. I still couldn't help but think that we could never be something, but him and Riley could. He did explain how they are nothing, and how they were pretending to date while he was hiding. But I wouldn't be surprised if they dated again.

I walked over, setting a mug for him on the side table. I was going to get one for Riley but I don't really think she's in the mood to be drinking coffee right now.

"She's asleep," he said as he gazed at her motionless body.

"Would you mind carrying her upstairs? She can sleep in my bed until she's healthy again. I'll just sleep on the couch down here."

"Jess, you don't have to do that. I can just bring her to my place-"

"Are you kidding? It wouldn't be good to keep transporting her places when she's like this. She can stay in my room as long as she needs, really."

He stood slowly, trying not to wake her. "I um," he whispered. "I really wanted to thank you for what you did. And, well, for what you're doing. It means a lot."

I just nodded and ran a hand through my hair, and awkward silence taking over.

"You didn't deserve any of that Jess, but you still helped her anyway." He took a step closer to me. "Thank you."

I stared at him for a second, then nodded again. "Yeah," I whispered while he looked into my eyes.

"I'm um, going to bring her upstairs then."

"Okay."

He lifted her into his arms once more, where she then stirred a little. He calmed her down, explaining where she was and what he was doing. She instantly fell back asleep.

"Shit," I muttered under my breath, running to the stair case. "Let me help you."

I ran up ahead of him so I could clean a few things for her. Once Justin walked in, I helped him get her under the blankets.

"If you need anything, I'll be here. Okay?" He said.

She nodded numbly, half asleep.

I raised my eyebrows at him. When he saw me, he shrugged. "I'm staying here. If something happens, she might need me."

I felt a little aggravated. "Okay."

I jogged down the stairs as he followed close behind. "I can sleep on the floor-"

"No," I said, turning around. "I'll sleep on the floor. You take the couch."

"Jess-"

"It's really okay," I said and faked a smile. "I swear."__________________________

NOTE:

so, how do you guys feel about riley staying in her house? i'm so excited for you guys to keep readingggg

twitter: @avonsshawtyy

next update: sunday, the 10th.