Chapter 15

Their bus made a thirty-minute stop at a gas station with a nearby convenience store. One of the professors had informed them that they could take a bathroom break or grab breakfast. Riley nudged Sienna, who was trying to drift back to sleep.

"Sien, Sienna," Riley said, lightly tapping her cheeks. Sienna rubbed her eyes and looked at Riley. "What is it?"

"Do you want to come outside? We can take a bathroom break or buy some breakfast," Riley offered.

Yawning, Sienna shook her head. "No, I want to sleep," she mumbled.

"Riley, come!" Sienna heard Anne's voice call out. "Right, coming!" Riley replied.

Just as Riley was about to move forward, Sienna grabbed the hem of her sweatshirt, making Riley glance back at her. "What's wrong?"

"I’ve changed my mind; I'm going with you," Sienna said, silently cursing Anne for dragging her out.

Riley raised an eyebrow, amused by Sienna’s sudden change of heart. "You sure? You were just mumbling about wanting to sleep."

Sienna yawned again, rubbing her face. "Yeah, well, I’ve changed my mind," she muttered, glancing out the window. "Besides, I could use a stretch."

Riley chuckled softly, nodding. "Alright, let’s go then."

They made their way off the bus together, and Sienna’s gaze immediately fell on Anne, who stood by the convenience store with Mia, waving enthusiastically at Riley. Sienna silently cursed again under her breath, her eyes narrowing slightly. She linked her arm through Riley’s, pulling her in closer as they walked toward the store.

Riley looked down at their intertwined arms, raising an eyebrow but choosing not to say anything. Instead, she just smiled to herself, enjoying the warmth of Sienna’s touch. "You seem a little... clingy this morning," Riley teased.

Sienna huffed, pretending to ignore her. "Just making sure you don’t get lost."

Riley laughed, shaking her head. "Right, of course."

As they approached Anne and Mia, Sienna tightened her grip ever so slightly, making sure to stay close. Anne noticed their sudden closeness, her smile faltering for just a second before she recovered. "There you are!" she said brightly, her gaze lingering on Sienna and Riley’s linked arms. "I was thinking we could grab something quick inside."

"Sure," Riley said casually, glancing at Sienna, "but I’ve got my personal bodyguard here." She winked playfully at Sienna, who rolled her eyes in response but couldn’t hide the small smirk tugging at her lips.

They entered the store, the atmosphere light but with an undercurrent of unspoken tension hanging in the air. Mia couldn't help but stifle a laugh at the sight of Sienna, knowing all too well the reason behind her irritation. Sienna’s glare toward Anne was so intense, it seemed like it could cut through steel.

"This is getting interesting," Mia muttered to herself, amused. If only Sienna knew who Anne really was, would she still be acting this way?

Riley felt a bit confused as to why Sienna kept acting... strange. She noticed Sienna linking her arm with hers, pulling her closer as if she couldn’t bear the distance. Riley glanced over at her, quietly sitting by the window, lost in thought. The bus had already started moving again.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Sienna asked, sensing Riley’s gaze on her.

Riley shrugged with a soft chuckle. "Are you weirded out by me?" Sienna asked, turning to face her.

"Kind of?" Riley admitted honestly. "It’s just... I don’t know. I feel like I need to ask you: what do you really want to happen between us? Are you interested in trying to be in a relationship with a girl, or are you just confused and trying to figure things out?"

Sienna cleared her throat, uncertainty flashing in her eyes. "I don’t know, Riley. I told you before, I want you to help me understand why I feel this way about you. It’s starting to get deeper, and I don’t have the answers yet."

She reached for Riley’s hand resting on her lap, gently placing it on her own. Sienna softly pinched each of Riley’s fingertips as if grounding herself. "I’m scared of what I’m feeling for you. I’m afraid that while I’m trying to figure it out, I might lose you."

"Sienna..." Riley murmured, letting Sienna play with her hand. "You know I’m here for you. You can take all the time you need to find those answers. I’m not going anywhere. If you want me to stay, I’ll stay. And if you want me to leave, I’ll leave."

Sienna paused, her gaze locking with Riley’s. "What are you willing to do for me, Riley? I mean... I’m stubborn, and complicated. How long can you keep up with someone like me? What happens if, in the process, I lose the will to figure all of this out?"

"I’m willing to risk everything for you, Sienna. If that’s what you want from me, I’ll give it."

Sienna’s breath hitched as she turned away, conflicted. "I’m confused, anxious, and everything in between. I want to take a chance on you, but..." She hesitated, unable to voice the real fear that gnawed at her. How can I let myself be happy when my family is the reason your sister is in pain—and vice versa? The words hovered in her mind, but she couldn’t bring herself to say them out loud.

"Is it because..." Riley hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. "Are you scared because of what happened with our sisters?"

Sienna swallowed a lump in her throat, feeling the weight of the question. Riley chuckled softly, a sound that held both understanding and sadness. "It’s hard, isn’t it?"

Sienna lowered her gaze, nodding slowly, unable to meet Riley’s eyes. "I get it, I understand," Riley said gently, giving Sienna's lap a light tap before pulling her hand away. "But the truth is, we weren't part of the decisions they made back then. We’re only caught in the middle because our families are rivals. The choices those adults made belong to them. Our choices... they’re ours to make. It’s up to us whether we want to cross those boundaries or not. They shouldn’t be the ones deciding that for us."

Riley smiled faintly but kept her gaze fixed on her fingers, completely avoiding Sienna’s eyes. "I want to take the risk of loving you, Sienna," she mumbles, just loud enough for Sienna to hear. "I’m willing to risk everything I have to love you. But if I let fear keep holding me back... it won’t be worth it."

Realizing Riley was right, Sienna reached out, gently cupping Riley's face in her hands, her thumbs brushing softly against her skin. "If you're that willing," she began, her voice tender but uncertain, "can I ask you to give me time? Let me find the answers at my own pace. Just... allow me to offer what I can for now until I figure out what these feelings really mean."

Sienna knew deep down she didn’t want to take advantage of Riley’s feelings. In order to avoid that, she needed to find clarity, to truly understand her own emotions before she made any promises. But part of her worried that by the time she figured it out... it might already be too late.