Riley POV
“I think that Theo and Noah noticed that Ethan likes Lucy.” Aiden said as we sat down at our table in the cafeteria.
“It took them long enough.” I said, rolling my eyes. “I’m just surprised that they didn’t bite his head off already. I was sure that we wouldn’t have a sibling once they figured it out.”
Aiden snorted and looked down at his plate.
“Maybe they are okay with it.” Aiden shrugged, moving the food around with his fork.
I furrowed my eyebrows. Was he going to eat his lunch? He barely ate lunch yesterday.
I was so worried about him. He was constantly scared and tense. I did what I could to help him, but it wasn’t enough.
I wished that he would just go talk to somebody. I wished that he would understand that worrying this much wasn’t healthy for him.
“Eat, Aiden.” I said, picking up my fork. “And I’m sure that Theo and Noah aren’t okay with anyone liking Lucy.”
Aiden looked up at me and sighed.
“Probably not.” he mumbled.
He furrowed his eyebrows and bit his lip.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, reaching over the table and taking his hand in mine.
“How do they do it?” Aiden mumbled.
I furrowed my eyebrows, trying to understand his question.
“How do Theo and Noah stay sane with everything that is going on?” Aiden continued. “I just think about something happening to you, and I can’t fucking eat. How do they do it? How do they go on?”
My heart broke.
I stood up and walked around the table. I sat down next to Aiden and took his hands in mine.
The broken look in his eyes made me want to scream.
“I am okay, Aiden.” I said softly. “Nothing will happen to me. I am safe. I have you. I have Ethan. I have our parents. I am safe.”
Aiden gulped and tightened his jaw.
“I will get hurt if you get hurt.” I continued. “So I need you to be healthy and safe. I need you to eat. I need you to breathe. I need you to stop worrying so much because you won’t be okay if you continue like this.”
“I just...” Aiden spoke, but I interrupted him.
“I know Aiden.” I said as I caressed his cheek. “I would die if something happened to you. I know how you feel. But I feel so scared seeing you like this. I can’t lose you, Aiden. You need to be okay.”
By the time I finished talking, I was out of breath and so close to bursting into tears.
Aiden pulled me into a hug.
“I know.” he mumbled. “I am sorry. I am so sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize.” I said, trying to stop my voice from shaking. “I know why you worry so much. I just don’t want you to get hurt. I can’t let you get hurt.”
Aiden kissed my temple and tightened his arms around me.
“I won’t get hurt, Riles.” he said. “I promise.”
I nodded and let him go.
Aiden cupped my cheeks and looked into my eyes.
“I love you.” he said quietly.
“I love you too.” I said, giving him a small smile.
Aiden moved his hands from my face and pulled my tray toward me.
“Are you going to Lucy’s after school?” Aiden asked me as he finally started eating.
“Yes.” I nodded, picking up my fork. “Will you pick me up after practice?”
“Of course.” Aiden nodded. “If you want to leave early, just call Ethan.”
I nodded and continued eating my lunch.
The rest of the school day flew by, and before I knew it, I was standing at my locker, picking up the homework and the assignments I needed to take to Lucy and the guys.
“I will see you at Lucy's, okay?” Aiden said as he kissed my temple. “I have to go. I’m running late.”
“Okay.” I said, giving him a small smile.
He returned the smile and rushed toward the football field.
I continued to put papers into my backpack.
“So, where is your pretty friend?” I heard an unfamiliar voice behind me.
I turned around and saw a tall, dark-haired guy standing close to me. He had a smirk on his face. His arms were crossed over his chest, and he looked intimidating.
He looked familiar, though. Was he one of the seniors?
I looked around the hallway. It was just the two of us. It was already late, and most of the students and staff went home. I stayed with Aiden to keep him company while he waited for his practice to start.
“Sorry, I don’t know who you’re talking about.” I said, trying to stay calm.
He laughed and took a step closer to me. I wanted to move, but my legs wouldn’t listen.
“Sure you do.” he said, eyeing me up and down. “Lucy Smith, you know her, don’t you?”
I gulped and glanced toward the exit to the football field.
The guy closed the distance between us and leaned on the lockers next to me.
“You won’t make it to the field, Riley.” he said quietly. “I am faster than you.”
My heart raced, and I could swear that my blood turned into ice.
“What do you want?” I asked, trying to stop my voice from trembling.
The guy smirked and caressed my cheek.
“Well, Lucy has been a bad girl.” he sighed. “She told her brothers about the notes I left in her locker. She didn’t come to school yesterday or today. She gave her phone to the police. She made it impossible for me to reach her.”
I was sure that my heart would jump out of my body.
This guy left the notes in Lucy’s locker? He sent her the text? Why? Who was he?
“So, I started thinking, what better way to reach her than through her best friend?” the guy continued talking.
The ice in my veins made my body hurt.
I couldn’t move.
“I overheard that you are on your way to her house.” the guy said. “Give me your phone.”
“No.” I said sternly. “I am not letting you get to my friend.”
He moved before I could do anything.
He grabbed my hair and pulled my head back. He placed his hand over my mouth to stop me from screaming.
“I said, give me your phone.” he gritted his teeth. “Now.”
I still refused to do anything. I narrowed my eyes at him and tried to move his hand away from my mouth.
“You are feisty, aren’t you?” he smirked, pinning me against the lockers. “I will have so much fun with you, Riley. It will be nice so to return you to your brothers broken and used. Well, if I decide to return you.”
My eyes widened. Return? Was he going to take me? Was he going to…?
“Do you want to come with me peacefully, or should I use force?” he asked, smirking at me.
The panic made me move.
I couldn’t let him take me! What would happen to Aiden? Aiden would freak out! Aiden would get hurt!
I started trashing, and fighting against him.
It was useless, though. His arms on my body felt like two steel rods. He was so much taller and stronger than me, and I knew that I didn’t stand a chance.
“Force it is.” he said, smirking.
He moved his hand from my mouth, giving me a chance to scream.
“Aid...” was the only thing I managed to scream out before his fist flew into my face.