Chapter 22

Riley leaned back in her seat, trying to focus on the demo for the first aid and CPR activity. Beside her, Sienna nestled against her shoulder, her fingers gently massaging Riley's hand, seemingly absorbed in the presentation.

"The last time I checked, I really am a fashion management student," Sienna mumbled, prompting a soft chuckle from Riley.

Sienna sighed, sitting up straight but still keeping her fingers intertwined with Riley's. She found herself being unusually touchy with Riley, a feeling she couldn't quite grasp, yet she loved the warmth of their closeness.

"What's wrong?" Riley glanced at her before shifting her attention back to the demo.

"Nothing," Sienna replied, a playful smile creeping onto her lips as she tightened her grip, pressing their hands together lightly. She caught sight of Riley's arms, and an unexpected urge to bite it playfully flickered in her mind.

Shaking off the thought, Sienna redirected her focus to the demonstration, though her heart raced as she continued to hold Riley's hand. Riley returned the gesture with a gentle smile, lightly squeezing Sienna's fingers, and for a moment, the world around them faded away.

The activity had concluded, and BioSynthix had provided everyone with a first-aid kit. They also catered food for the students as a thank-you for participating in the session. The crowd seemed to enjoy the meal, as the hall was filled with laughter.

Afterward, Riley and Sienna exited the hall and walked over to the small playground near the parking area. Sienna rested her head on Riley's lap while scribbling something on the ground. Riley ran her fingertips through Sienna's hair.

"What would you do if your parents found out about us?" Sienna asked, still focused on her doodling.

Riley chuckled, glancing at Sienna. "They already know I like you. What's there to be surprised about if they find out about us?"

Sienna stopped and sat up, turning to face Riley. "Didn't they get angry? Like, hello? I'm the daughter of their rival—"

"You're their daughter, so what's there to be mad about? Business is business, Sien. We shouldn't let it get in the way of our feelings or decisions. My parents aren't mad at you or anything; if anything, they want to know how you are after the, uh, you know..." Riley said, reaching for Sienna's hand.

"I'm sure they'll understand my decisions," Riley assured her, giving a warm smile.

"I honestly hope for the same result with my parents," Sienna replied bitterly, knowing how her parents thought. If they truly understood this kind of love, they wouldn't have reacted the way they did twelve years ago. Now that everything was sinking in, she feared her parents were homophobic.

"We can work it out. In the long run, we can help them understand," Riley said, focusing on their intertwined hands.

Sienna was about to respond when she spotted a familiar figure. She hitched her breath and gulped before standing up. "Mrs. Pierce," she said, nodding.

Riley's mother, Maggie, approached with a soft laugh. "What are you doing?" she asked, moving closer.

"Mom," Riley stood up and cleared her throat.

"Why are you acting tense? Ease up, the two of you," Maggie waved her hands, trying to lighten the mood.

Sienna lowered her gaze. Riley glanced at Sienna before looking back at her mother. "Mom, this is Sienna. Do you remem—"

Maggie walked past Riley and gently cupped Sienna's face, smiling warmly. "Wow, you've grown up so beautifully," she said.

"What—" Riley couldn't finish her thought as her mother continued talking.

"How have you been? I heard Riley likes you. Do you also have—"

"Mom, stop!" Riley exclaimed, covering her face in embarrassment. Realizing how she was acting, she laughed and let go of her hands.

Sienna blinked in surprise before scoffing at Riley's cuteness.

"It's nice to see you, Mrs. Pierce," Sienna said, smiling this time.

"Oh, dear, you can just call me Auntie Maggie, or you can also call me Mom," Riley's mother winked at Sienna, causing her to fluster. Mom? Sienna thought to herself.

"Mom!" Riley said, her face turning an even deeper shade of red.

"What? I'm just giving Sienna an option on what to call me. Besides, her sister used to call me Mom back then," Maggie replied, throwing a sweet smile at Sienna.

During the second session of the event, the organizer announced that there would be a performance by a band provided by BioSynthix. Knowing full well what that meant, Riley groaned in frustration. It turned out her suspicions were correct—this was exactly what her sister Nyx had hinted at earlier.

Riley squinted at both of her sisters. "You'll both need to pay me if you want me to perform," she said, holding her palm out expectantly.

Nyx laughed, tapping Riley's palm. "Wow, for someone who's the daughter of a wealthy family, you sure are a bit poor."

"Say, why don't you just do this to earn extra love points from Sienna?" Nyx teased, wrapping her arm around Riley's neck and whispering.

Riley scoffed, "Ha! You're just making excuses so you don't have to pay me. Guess I won't perform with you two, then," she said, rolling her eyes dramatically.

"Ugh, you're impossible," Nyx chuckled, before pulling out her phone. "Fine, there you go. I've sent it to your bank. Happy now, kiddo?" She showed Riley the bank transfer confirmation.

Riley smirked, patting Nyx on the head. "See? That's a good girl right there."

Nyx playfully smacked Riley's head in return. "Alright, you're on electric guitar. Harriet's on the keyboard, and I'll handle bass and vocals."

"No drummer?" Riley asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm here!" Anne piped up, appearing with a pair of drumsticks in hand.

Riley scoffed, nearly forgetting her cousin played with them. "Oh, right."

"So, how many songs?" Harriet asked, casually leaning her arm on Nyx's shoulder.

"Five should do," Nyx replied. "And for the last song, we're going with this one." She showed them the setlist, then looked directly at Riley. "You'll do a solo riff on the last one."

Riley growled in disbelief. "Of course I am... fine!"

Sienna sat in the front row, flanked by Mia on her left and Riley's parents on her right. Riley's mother had insisted they sit beside them. Engaging in small chit-chat with Riley's parents somehow eased Sienna's nervousness. It felt like she had been legally accepted by them, and the feeling was overwhelming.

"Where did Riley go?" Mia nudged her, whispering.

"I don't even know," Sienna shrugged. She hadn't seen Riley since returning to the event hall with Riley's mother.

Suddenly, the mini LED display on the stage lit up with an animated video effect, and the lively sound energized the room. The students erupted into cheers as excitement filled the air.

A host introduced the band, Rebel Anthem. Sienna froze for a moment—that name sounded familiar.

"Do you remember that band?" Riley's mother, Maggie, leaned over and smiled. "Isn't that the one where your sister was the previous vocalist?"

Sienna's eyes widened in realization, turning to Maggie. "Wait, are they...?"

Maggie smiled knowingly and nodded. "Yes, they're performing today. And Riley's with them."

Sienna gulped. This was the first time she would see Riley perform in a band. She remembered hearing about how her sister and the Pierce sisters used to perform in music bars, but she never imagined witnessing it firsthand—although she remembered attending their practices.

"Wait, isn't that Riley?" Mia pointed toward the stage, where someone was walking confidently under the lights.

Riley.

She was wearing a vintage graphic muscle tee paired with ripped black jeans and chunky combat boots. A choker accentuated her look, and her hair fell in loose waves, giving off a rugged, effortless cool.

Sienna's heart skipped a beat. She instinctively covered her mouth, her eyes glued to Riley's every move. Wow, she's damn hot, she thought to herself, feeling her pulse quicken.

"She's such a badass," Sienna whispered, her voice barely audible. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't tear her eyes away from Riley—it was as if Riley was a magnet, pulling her in completely.