âFIRST DATE.â
With the last of the pictures in place, Jax and I stepped aside. We watched the little flames from the candles flicker, casting an orange hue on Riley's memorialised picture. We set it up in our Town's Central, ensuring that he was never forgotten.
Almost everyone from our tiny town was standing with us, mourning the loss.
Riley was one of those people who you'd hate just because of how impossible it was to hate them. Everything about him was admirable. The town knew it and everyone was already feeling the absence of his presence.
"You ready?" Jax nudges me after placing his candle on the ground.
I nod, placing the candle next to his, watching Riley's picture. "Let's go." I breathe out as the rest of the townspeople took their turn to place candles at the memorial.
We went to an old diner that had been here for years. I sat in silence as Jax came up to me with two burgers.
The silence persists as we ate and I hated it. "Thanks for yesterday," I smiled but it just comes off as sad.
He brought me home to change after the funeral then drove the both of us out to this diner where we had a decent meal. It was mostly silent but we understood it.
"Don't worry about it," he brushes it off, setting his burger aside. "How's Lina doing? It's been a while since I've heard from her." Jax asks and I can tell he's trying to get our minds someplace lighter.
"She's okay. She's doing well in her fine arts class." I say as I start feeling guilty. I haven't spoken to her much these couple of days.
I haven't spoken to Archer too. My dad told me that Archer had told him to keep me here as long as I needed and to not worry about classes. He sent me a message too but I haven't read it yet.
I couldn't bring myself to worry about something so mundane like the status of our relationship or what we were when Riley was the only thing on my head.
"She's following her parent's footsteps, huh?" Jax nods as he wipes his lips with a paper napkin.
Lina's parents were very art oriented people and after their passing, she dedicated her time to doing what they loved, to honour them. I looked up to her for it.
As I nod he starts chuckling, "what?" I question as he shakes his head.
"I still can't believe you told her that I had feelings for her. I told you that in confidence." He crosses his arms over his chest as he stared at me with a smirk.
I mock gasp, "I did not!" I totally did.
Jax had started falling for Lina during our senior year of high school. I had no idea why since Lina clearly put out the fact that she didn't do relationships.
After high school, when Lina and I left, Jax had stayed in touch with her for a bit but due to the distance, that faded off. Which kind of propelled Jax's friendship with Riley. They met through me and I guess their friendship became stronger in my absence.
"You're a horrible liar, Red." He chuckles and I follow after him but our laughter dies down in seconds.
It felt wrong, having moments of happiness like this under such horrible circumstances. "I missed this," I whisper, setting down my burger now. I had barely eaten it but I couldn't stomach the rest.
"Me too." Jax sighed, rubbing his hands over his face. "I'm just glad Luca's out of your life now. He's moving away too which means you don't have to worry about the break-ins anymore."
"Luca's moving? How do you know that?" I wasn't even aware of it.
"Riley called him when you asked us to come over. We knew things were going bad and he wanted to speak to Luca before seeing you. Riley said Luca was remorseful and planned to move away before things got worse between the two of you." Jax explained, playing with the fries on his plate.
His words sink into me and my brows pinch together. Luca? Remorseful? He was anything but remorseful the last time I saw him.
Jax must see the look on my face because he steers us away from the topic of Luca. "Anyway, how long are you going to be in town?"
"I was actually planning on leaving today." Even though Archer told me to take my time, I knew missing too much of school would add on to my stress. I didn't want to be back in the clueless bubble I was in at the beginning of the first semester.
"Oh, you got a ride back home?" He asks, eyes fixed on his plate and I wonder if he was hoping that I'd stay.
"Yeah, my dad offered."
At that, his eyes dart up to meet mine. "He's talking to you again?"
I shrug, "not much. I take what I can get though." I smile but Jax's face falls to a frown. I knew how he felt about my parents blaming me for the accident. "It's okay," I assure him.
"We better get going then." Jax stands up and before we exit the diner he pulls me to him, pressing me to his chest. "Promise me you'll stay in touch this time." He whispers and my heart sinks with his words.
"I promise."
⢠⢠â¢
The drive back was silent. My father barely peeped a word and when he did, he asked about Archer.
"So," he cleared his throat, passing me a quick glance. "This professor of yours, he's-?" He trails off and I don't know where he's getting at.
"He's nice." I finish for him, eyes focused on the road before us. "He's been helping out a lot with literature."
My father nods and then we enter into mutual silence which lasted until he stops in front of my apartment. I got out of the car with a quick thank you and before I could close the door, he speaks. "Elreda."
I bent my head slightly, looking through the window and at my father would looked nervous. "I'm sorry," he said with a soft voice and I had no idea what he was apologising for.
Riley? Our ruined relationship? The accident?
Maybe it was for all of it.
"Me too," I breathe out a sigh, walking away from the car and into my apartment complex. I couldn't do any more emotions. This was the worst time for reconciliation so I wasn't having it.
I stopped in the hallway, standing between my door and Archer's, unsure of which door to go to first.
I took a deep breath and knocked.
The door creaked open.
"Red," he let out in relief, instantly pulling me into his warm arms.
I let myself soak in his comfort for a bit, wrapping my arms around his neck. But then I feel the sting of tears against my eyes and I wasn't going to welcome this new wave of emotions.
I pulled away because I knew if I didn't, he wouldn't let go. He just wasn't the type to pull away from a hug first. A weak smile played on my lips, that being the biggest smile I could muster in a moment like this and I looked up at him.
That's when I notice his eyes were tired and red, like he hadn't been sleeping much since I was gone and my brows furrow.
He leans down and presses his lips against the top of my head as soon as he notices the frown on my face. "Do you want to see Lina first before coming in?" He asks as he cups my face, his eyes constantly searching mine.
"Yeah. I'll be back." I said and he nods, his thumb leaving a final caress on my cheek before pulling away.
He stood by his door, waiting for me to enter my apartment. The moment I stepped foot into my apartment, I heard a commotion from Lina's room.
"Red!" I hear her scream as she ran out and charged at me.
She jumped onto me, swinging her arms around my form as she hugged me.
"I missed you, oh my god." She said as she squeezed me.
We've become a part of each other's everyday lives. Even though it's only been about three days, I missed her too. I wrap my arms around her tiny form and hated that the tears were back and pooling around my eyelids. "You're suffocating me." I joked, trying to get my mind away from the hurt and she pulled away.
She hit my arm slightly, narrowing her eyes at me. "You seriously can't stop joking, can you?"
I laugh lightly upon seeing her reaction, plopping myself onto the couch.
"I know it's dumb for me to ask, but how are you?" She sat down next to me on the couch, cocking her head to the side.
"I'll be okay," my voice only reached a whisper and lacked the conviction I was aiming for. But I realised I hadn't gotten a third panic attack which was a good sign and I guess in a way, proves I eventually will be okay.
"I reconnected with Jax by the way," I said and her eyes light up. I didn't want to talk about Riley just yet. I wasn't ready.
"Really?" She squeaked.
"Mmhmm," I hummed in agreement. "He looks the same. Big built but soft features." I stated and she laughed.
"Him and his cute little bunny smile." She scrunched her nose at that thought.
"I can't believe he used to like me." She sighed, "missed an opportunity, huh?" I laugh at that because there was no way she was serious.
And just as quickly as it came, my laughter dies off and I'm staring at the ground wondering if wherever Riley was, he'd be able to smile. If he was okay.
"Have you seen Mr Kane?" Lina asked and it takes me a second to nod. "He was worried sick. He came here every day to check if you came back or if you called."
Heat settles on my chest at that realisation. He cared and wanted to know if I was okay. "I should go. I think he's expecting me." I say and she nods.
The next second, I'm standing in front of Archer's door. I really hoped he wouldn't bring up what happened because I was still trying to accept it. With one hesitant knock, the door swings open. "Can I come in?"
A small, almost nervous, smile spreads across his lips and he moves out of the way.
I stepped into the apartment and noticed the dim lighting.
"W-what is this?" My lips stretch and a ghost of a smile graces my lips as I stared at the candles that dotted the living room. Archer watches me, adoration in his eyes as his voice lowers. smile growing into a huge grin as I stared at the candles that dotted the living room.
"Our first official date." He licked his lips, approaching me.
My smile grows into a huge grin because, damn, he really knew how to make me smile even when I felt undeserving of it.