Mine *don't read: being rewritten*

Chapter Twenty-Two

Three weeks later, and we're visiting my grandpa for probably the last time. I feel like I'm holding up okay, but I'm slowly breaking on the inside, and Riley can tell. Maybe I say I hate my grandpa. I say my whole family does. But you can't simply watch someone die, and not feel anything.

We're here for about thirty minutes before he goes. And I'm sitting by his bed, talking to him. Holding his hand. When I let go of his hand, I stand up, tears already gathering in my eyes. I walk past my mom and brothers and sister and the rest of my family, and go to Riley. My arms go around her waist, and I bury my head in her neck. She stands on her toes so she can wrap her arms around my shoulders.

A sob escapes my lips, and I'm no longer aware of anyone in the room but the girl holding me in her arms. "Hey, shh, Hunter," Riley says softly. She's quiet for a second, then she says, "I'm not gonna tell you that it's okay, cause we both know that it isn't, right?" She rubs my back as se talks. "But, it'll be okay, at some point."

I nod, take a breath, and pull away from our hug. I wipe the tears from my eyes, sniffle, and then say, "Okay. Yeah, okay." I try to smile at Riley, and she tries to smile back.

~

"I mean, yeah we didn't like the guy cause he was a prick more than half the time, but he was part of the family. Now he's gone. It just seemed like he was the guy what would stick around for a long time," I tell Riley after the funeral.

I lay back on my bed. Riley sits next to me, then slowly, she unties my tie. Then, she takes my jacket off. She takes my shirt off, too, before I ask her what she's doing. "Well, this can't possibly be comfortable," is her reply. Once I'm stripped of everything but my boxers, Riley lays down next to me. "Isn't that better?" She laughs.

"Are you trying to turn me on, Riley Ann?" I chuckle.

"No." Riley giggles. I rub her back, and she rests her head on my bare chest.

"This dress can't possibly be comfortable for you," I mutter. My hands move to the zipper, but Riley stops me.

"You take this dress off of me and you won't be walking for five days." She closes her eyes as she speaks.

"This is why you're my favorite," I whisper, kissing the top of her head.

When I know that she's asleep, I unzip her dress and slowly take it off of her. I slip a t-shirt over her head. I climb back into bed with her, and she unconsciously cuddles closer. I drape an arm around her waist, and drift off to sleep.

"I told you not to take my dress off," Riley says in the morning.

I laugh. "You looked so uncomfortable, though," I say, kissing the tip of her nose. "We're leaving in three days." I smile. She nods.

"Yes we are." Riley laughs. I kiss her forehead, then get up. I'm bent over the sink, and Riley jumps onto my back, almost making me fall. I catch my balance, then laugh, acting like she isn't there. "Hey," she says, giggling softly in my ear.

"I'm gonna go get breakfast, but I'd like it if you put shorts on cause I'm not too thrilled about my brothers seeing you in your underwear and a t-shirt," I tell her.

"Kyle has a girlfriend." Riley laughs.

"But Jake doesn't, Riley Ann," I remind her.

"Hunter, I put shorts on don't worry. I wouldn't go out in front of your family without pants on." She laughs, her legs locking around my waist.

"I know you wouldn't." I laugh at her. I walk out of my room as if she wasn't even on my back.

"Good morning," I say to Kyle when we get to the kitchen. Riley rests her chin on my shoulder, giggling lightly.

Kyle gives us an odd look, then shakes his head. "Good morning." He sighs, laughing a little. Riley hops off my back, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "When do you leave again?" Kyle asks.

"Well at least I don't live at home still. You're twenty-four and still live at home. How does that feel?" I joke, hitting his shoulder.

"I moved out a while ago, I just came back because you're home and I wouldn't wanna miss that," Kyle says, standing up and punching my chest. "And I wanted to meet the Riley that you never shut up about." He wraps an arm around Riley's waist from behind her. She shrieks, but realizes that it's Kyle.

"Oh, hey Kyle," she giggles. "Can you let go of me please?"

"Nope." He lifts her up easily, then sits back down, sitting her in his lap.

"Hunter," Riley whines, unsuccessfully trying to get up.

"You said it yourself, he's gotta girlfriend." I shrug, sitting down. Riley sticks her tongue out at me. "You're cute."

My mom walks into the room, followed by Brooke. I pick up a newspaper, now ignoring Riley altogether. "I feel like this should be the other way around," Brooke observes. I glance over at Riley, she's given up on trying to get up, and her head is rested back on Kyle's shoulder.

"What are you talking about?" I shrug. Brooke laughs, and sits next to me.

"Kyle, let the poor girl up," my mom says, walking past them. Kyle lets go of Riley, and she sits down on my other side. She nudges my arm.

~

"Bye, Mom." I hug my mom goodbye then turn to the rest of my family. Kyle wraps his arms around Riley's waist. We finish saying our goodbyes, wave one more time, then start going through security.

Riley falls asleep while we're waiting to board the plane. Her head rests on my shoulder as she sleeps. I shake her when our flight is called. "Hey, Riley Ann, get up," I whisper. Her eyes open sleepily. "Come on. Time to get on the plane." I stand up, and pull her up after me. I wrap an arm around her waist and guide her to our gate.

We find our seats, and Riley takes the middle seat. She didn't want to sit by the window, or by the aisle. A guy probably about thirty sits by her, and she gives me an uneasy glance. I squeeze her hand. "You're okay," I whisper. Riley nods.

She falls asleep again, her head falling on the man's shoulder. "Sorry," I say, laughing. I try to move her over so she's leaning against me, but she doesn't let me.

"It's fine." He shakes his head.

Riley wakes up about an hour later. I laugh at her, but she looks scared out of her mind. "Why didn't you move me?" She mutters, her cheeks growing red in embarrassment.

"I tried. You wouldn't move." I laugh some more, but she just hits my arm. I wrap an arm around her shoulders, and she relaxes, getting as close to me as she can on a plane. Riley rests her head on my shoulder, and I rest my head on top of hers. We talk in whispers until she falls back asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N

This chapter is short and crappy and all over the place I'm sorry.

I have the worst writer's block so i just wanted to do my best to give you an update so here it is

Vote if you liked it and please please please comment feedback!!!! I love you all(:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~