The Truth Hurts

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Riley lies down with his arms crossed behind his head as he leans against the short headboard of his bed. His room is small and bland, except for a few posters of alternative rock bands and video games. Muted on the television mounted above his game collection is a news reporter as she stands outside Cesar's apartment complex, the scene still surrounded by caution tape.

He can hear the shower running, and turns his head to see steam slithering into his room from the cracked bathroom door. Staring at it, he reminisces about the fire. He pictures the black smoke as it fills the bus, slipping out through the broken windows as the fire spreads across the undercarriage. Garrett's hand slams against the front windshield, slowly smearing blood as it drops behind the dashboard. Screams fade out as sirens grow louder.

The shower turns off and he snaps out of his daze. He can hear someone step out of tub and, a few seconds later, Casey steps out with a towel wrapped around her. Her skin is still moist, glistening in the dim light, and she dabs at her wet hair with a small towel.

He smiles. "Hey beautiful."

"Hey." She smiles back, leaning down to kiss him. As she pulls away, she can tell by the look in his eyes that something is on his mind. She glares over at the television. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah."

"I still can't believe this is happening. First Julia. Now Cesar and Randy." Dismayed, she shakes her head as she continues to dry her hair with the towel. "I don't understand why someone would do this. I mean, they weren't saints but did they really deserve that?"

"No one deserves that." He says, flicking the television off with the remote.

A few weeks ago, Riley and Casey had made a deal that each one of them would have their own drawer in each other's room. That way they could store their clothes whenever they spent the night at the other's house.

She looks at his dresser and grabs at the first drawer, pulling it outward. "Now, where are my clothes..."

He nearly knocks the sheets off as he jumps up from the bed. He quickly slams the drawer shut before she can fully open it and turns to her, smiling nervously. "Third drawer down."

Looking at him as if he's crazy, she reaches for the third drawer. "Ahh. Thanks."

He backs away, but keeps standing nearby, so she can pull out the drawer of her clothes. As she picks out a shirt and pair of jeans he turns around to allow her privacy to get dressed. It's not like he's never seen her naked before, quite the contrary actually, but he wants to be nothing less than respectful. Especially when he's around Casey.

He hears the towel drop to the floor and waits patiently, staring at the wall ahead of him, as he waits for her to finish dressing.

"Hey." She says softly.

Riley spins around to see Casey, standing bare nude, with the towel on the floor behind her ankles. She flips her wet hair over to the side, smirking flirtatiously.

"Uhh, hi." He stutters anxiously.

She steps forward to lightly run her fingers against his arm and gazes into his eyes. "You know I love you, right?"

"I lov—"

Casey cuts him off as she leans in to kiss him, grabbing his neck as she gently shoves him back onto the bed.