Chapter 13 ; For blue skies
Riley awoke the next morning to see Mason was still fast asleep. She had to admit she was a little relieved. She got up, got dressed and was ready to step out the door when she suddenly paused. She slowly crept back to her bed and lifted her pillow and glanced at the gun Amelia had given her the night before. She didn't know why but she had a feeling she should keep it with her just in case.
"Good Morning, sis." Amelia greeted her with a smile when Riley stepped out for break feast. Belle was making some pancakes and Andrew was helping her. Amelia, Jacob, and Lucas were already enjoying their break feasts.
"Good morning" Riley said smiling and taking a seat next to Lucas. "How'd you sleep last night?" she asked smiling at him.
"Pretty good" Lucas said smiling.
"Yeah, I slept amazing too" Jacob jumped in "thanks for asking."
Riley gave her best friend "the look " and rolled her eyes. She then turned back to Lucas, "So listen sorry about totally just leaving last night, I was exhausted. I didn't mean to be rude."
"Oh, no don't even worry about it."
Amelia suddenly got up, "UGH, I'm stuffed! Good breakfast!" She screamed out to her best friend. She then turned to Jacob and Lucas, "You two done?"
"I am!" Jacob exclaimed. Amelia grabbed Jacob's plate and took it into the kitchen, while Jacob went to the living room to watch some TV leaving Riley and Lucas alone at the table.
Lucas turned to Riley and smiled at her, "Here try this" he said grabbing maple syrup and blueberry syrup and putting them both down on Riley's pancakes.
Riley gave him a questioning look, "Mixing syrups?"
"Trust me" Lucas smirked, "It's worth it."
"Okay, if you say so!" Riley said taking a big bite in her mouth and suddenly having a face of pleasure, "OMG you're so right, this is delicious!"
"I told you!" Lucas said laughing, "And you got syrup all over your face you big dork!" he said laughing even harder and grabbing a paper towel to wiper her face off with.
"Looks like you two are pretty cozy." a voice suddenly came from behind.
Riley turned around in shock to see Mason looking at them with anger in his eyes.
"Oh, this was..", Riley didn't have time to finish her sentence when Mason'd walked out, but she ran after him, trying to keep up.
"Mason, wait, that was nothing! We were just fooling around! We're friends!" Riley shouted out.
"Yeah? Well, that's kind of hard to believe. Why does he look at you like.. like I look at you? And you know what?" Mason paused. "You look at him like you're supposed to look at me."
"That's not true", Riley said quietly. Maybe he was right, but what else was she to say? She was so confused.
"Right", Mason scoffed. "Well, I think I'm done here-"
"Mason, wait!" Riley shouted out, but that was when Belle walked into the room, stepping in between them.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Nothing", Mason snapped. "I'm out of here."
"No, you are not", Belle grabbed him by his collar. "Or do you want to die? Because Alaric will come after you."
Mason released himself from her grip. "I don't care."
"Oh, don't be an idiot", Lucas had suddenly walked into the hallway with his arms crossed over his chest. "You can't be that suicidal just because your girlfriend doesn't care about you anymore."
"You son of a-", Mason didn't even finish his sentence before punching Lucas across the face.
"Oh my God!" Riley shouted out.
"What the hell is going on?" Amelia shouted as she walked into the room, trying to pull the guys away from each other.
"Hey, hey!" Andrew came in, pushing Mason off of Lucas roughly, staring at them both in confusion. "What's going on?"
"You ask this genius", Mason snapped, meaning Lucas. "He seems to have all the answers", with that he walked out of the room, heading for the bathroom or something to cool off.
Amelia took a breath and turned to Riley. "What did you do?"
"Nothing!" Riley shouted. "Why is everyone blaming me?"
Everyone went quiet.
"Lucas, go to the guest room", Andrew said. "Now."
"Yeah", Lucas walked past them and no one gave him a second glance.
Riley groaned. "I cannot believe that just happened.
"Well, tough love, babe. You do know Mason can't leave?" Belle asked.
"Yeah."
Amelia eyed her sister for a moment before saying: "Leave them both alone for a little bit. Let's just all... Calm down."
She had to watch as her little sister stormed past her into her room, slamming the door closed.
Amelia leaned against Andrew's shoulder, sighing. "I do not miss being a teenager."
"Yeah, being a teenager definitely sucked." Andrew said agreeing.
"I should go talk to her" Amelia said starting to go inside, when Jacob stopped her.
"I don't think that's a good idea." he said slowly, "Trust me Amelia, the last thing Riley wants is to talk to an adult. She'll just go off on you and it'll cause more problems, let me talk to her." Jacob said.
Amelia really wanted to talk to Riley, but she knew Jacob was right. "Yeah, okay. Go talk to her."
Jacob was walking towards the room when Andrew stopped him, "here" he said throwing a box of tissues towards Jacob, "You might need these."
Jacob eyed the tissues and then Amelia and Belle, and then looked at Andrew again, "Dude, you clearly don't know Riley as well as I thought you did." he said laughing and walking towards Riley's room.
Andrew looked at Amelia confused and Amelia just rolled her eyes, "Babe, you crazy? Riley crying? She's my sister after all."
Andrew sighed and went to go watch some TV.
Jacob slowly entered Riley's room, not bothering to knock, knowing that if he did she would just scream at him to go away. He entered the room to see his best friend watching, Now I know your mother, a spinoff of some old show called How I met Your mother. "Hey, Riles." He said smiling and taking a seat next to her.
"Sup"
"Watcha doing?"
"What the hell does it look like I'm doing?"
Jacob smiled and rolled his eyes, typical Riley defense mechanisms.
"Dude, turn off the TV and talk to me" Jacob said grabbing the remote control and turning the TV off.
Riley whipped her head around and glared at Jacob, "Jacob, I will kick your ass so hard, if you don't get the hell out of here right now." She hissed out at him.
"Riley."
"WHAT?"
"Do you like Lucas as more than a friend?" Jacob asked getting straight to the point.
"You really wanna know?" Riley asked. She figured there was no point in denying.
"Yes", Jacob said seriously.
"I do. I don't know how much, I feel drawn to him. I care about him. I don't know what to do", Riley sighed.
Jacob pulled her in for a hug and listened out for tears, but he had been right. Riley wasn't going to cry.
"I'm gonna be ok", she said after she pulled away. "I just feel bad for Mason. I don't know what to do."
"Are you gonna actually break up with him?" Jacob asked in confusion. "Just like that?"
"I think he basically just broke up with me", Riley said.
"But if he hasn't.. What will you do?" Jacob urged.
"Shut up. I don't know."
There was a knock on the door and they turned around to see Amelia looking at them.
"Does anyone want lunch?" she asked carefully. "We're gonna order in some chinese."
"Sure", Riley smiled. "Is..?"
"Mason is still in wherever he went to pout. And Lucas is in the guest room", Amelia said.
Riley nodded. "Thanks", she and Jacob stood up, following Amelia out.
Amelia watched as Jacob led Riley into the kitchen before turning to Andrew, who was standing by the living room.
"Despite Riley's love trauma, I think we need to focus on what really matters. Getting rid of Alaric."
Andrew made a strange face, but Amelia didn't have time to pay attention when the doorbell rang.
Andrew's eyes widened as Amelia pulled out a long knife from her belt and walked to the door.
"I can do it", he said.
"No. I don't need anyone's help", Amelia snapped, opening the door. It was just the food delivery guy.
"That'll be 40 bucks", he said in a bored voice, and as Amelia grabbed the food, she threw a 50 dollar bill in his hands.
"Keep the change", she said, closing the door. When she looked up, she saw Andrew looking at her.
"What?"
"You're something else, aren't you?"
Amelia suppressed a smile as she walked past him, carrying the food to the kitchen.
Riley and Jacob came into the living room and joined Amelia, Andrew, and Belle who were watching Wheel of Saturn.
Riley plopped on the floor and held her out to Amelia "Orange Chicken." she said.
"Orange Chicken please?" Amelia said laughing and handing her sister the chicken.
Riley rolled her eyes, "Whatever" she muttered.
Belle rolled her eyes, "Riles, be nice."
"NO." Riley said bluntly.
Amelia just looked at Belle and smiled rolling her eyes.
"Riley, you really should be nicer to your sister" Andrew said sternly, "I don't like you talking to her this way."
Riley looked up at Andrew and gave him an annoyed look, "And WHO are YOU to tell ME how to talk to MY sister." Riley said roughly, "Besides when have you ever gotten in between me and Amelia?"
Andrew shot up, "Hey now listen to me---" he began roughly giving Riley a rough look before Amelia interrupted him,
"Hey" she said shooting up as well, "what's wrong with you?" she said looking at Andrew, "you do not talk to my sister that way, besides you know how Riley is. This is why you adore her so much." Amelia said shooting Andrew a questioning look.
Andrew sighed, "Yeah listen, sorry Riley I'm just having a rough day, I'm going to go lay down." he said leaving the room.
Riley looked up at Amelia giving him a questioning look and Amelia just shrugged her shoulders.
"That was really weird" she muttered.
"You're boyfriends a freak" Riley retorted back.
Amelia just looked on confused.
"He's probably just stressed with everything that's been going on" Belle said smiling at her best friend reassuring her.
"Yeah" Amelia said not looking to sure and sitting down next to Belle.
"I'm surrounded by freaks" Riley muttered. Jacob gave her a look. "Not you." she said smiling at him.
Riley got up and sat down next to Amelia and put her head down on her shoulder. "I think your boyfriends PMSing" she said annoyed.
"I know" Amelia said. "But give him a break, yeah?"
Suddenly the door to the bathroom opened and Mason stepped out. Riley looked up at him and dreaded the conversation she knew they had to have.
Riley walked over to Mason and sighed. "So.. We need to talk."
"Yes, we do", Mason said and gestured for Riley to follow him into the room that Amelia sometimes used as her study.
"I'm sorry about Lucas", Riley said as soon as she closed the door. "But you had no right to pick a fight with him."
"Oh, so I'm to blame?" Mason asked sharply.
"No. You're not. I don't know what's going on", Riley sighed. "I don't know what I feel."
"That's great, Riles. You don't know what you feel. You know, last week things were absolutely great between us. Now this has turned into some freaky love triangle?"
"I'm sorry", Riley whispered.
Mason froze. "You're sorry.. Does that.." He looked at her, but she refused to meet his gaze.
"Are you breaking up with me?" he asked.
"I'm gonna go check on Andrew", Amelia said quietly, walking over to her room. She knocked on the door, got a small sound that indicated that Andrew was indeed inside and then she slipped in.
"I'm sorry", he said, but he didn't look at her. He was lying on the bed, his head in his hands.
"I know Riley can get a little tough sometimes. Trust me. But.. you never act like that around her, and I'd rather if you didn't, because I'm quite fond of you as a part of my life", Amelia said as Andrew sat up to look at her.
"I get it. I just.. the way she talks to you."
"Don't feel like you suddenly need to protect me because we're together. You don't look out for me. And I've never asked you to."
Andrew looked at her in confusion. "I'm sure that's.. I mean. That's not true."
"I know you're here for me, as my partner, but like that night with Alaric at the docks. You were ready to kill him. Even if it'd mean something'd happen to me", Amelia said.
Andrew sighed. "I was.. angry."
"Yeah, you were. Look, I love you. And I don't need you to save me. Ok? So let my relationship with Riley be my relationship with Riley. Ok?" Amelia asked.
"Mason, do you really think we can stay together after everything that's happened?" Riley asked.
Mason sighed, "No I guess not. So it's over?"
Riley looked at him hard, "I'm sorry---"
"No don't" Mason said interrupting her "Just don't. The worst part is, I can't even leave." He muttered leaving the room and slamming the door.
Riley sighed and sat down.
"I get it Amelia" Andrew started, "But Riley needs to learn----"
"Riley needs to learn nothing from you" Amelia said sharply. "What's your problem? You've never had a problem with Riley before. Actually, you usually side with her."
"It's just---hard I guess."
Amelia sighed, "Listen Andrew I love you, but if I have to choose between you and Riley it would be Riley in heart beat. She's my responsibility. So please don't make me choose."
Andrew nodded. "I get it."
"Do you?" Amelia sighed. "Because this does not mean that I don't.."
"Love me? Yeah, I heard that", Andrew snapped as he got up.
Amelia just looked at him. "What's wrong with you?"
Andrew shook his head. "Nothing."
Amelia walked closer to him, extending her hand, but he walked away from her.
"So this is how it's gonna be?" Amelia asked quietly. "You get mad at me and I'm just gonna have to accept it. Am I right?"
"You just.. You..", Andrew really didn't know what to say. "I guess I just changed."
"Then change back", Amelia snapped angrily, walking out of the room, slamming the door closed.
"What's going on?" Belle asked as she saw both of the Grace girls sitting around the kitchen table five minutes later, pouting.
"Nothing", Amelia snapped.
"Yeah, nothing", Riley said.
Amelia looked up at her sister. "Can you do a favor and be a little less annoying for the next two days?"
Riley looked at her in disbelief. "Seriously?"
"Listen to me. I am always going to defend you. But.. Maybe you are a little out of control."
"I cannot believe he's putting these thoughts into your head!" Riley shouted.
"Hey!" Amelia shouted back, which made Riley quiet down. "This is not the time to be reckless, selfish or stupid. We have to work together, all of us. That means you too."
"I know that", Riley hissed, getting up from the table and walking out.
Amelia groaned, laying her head on the table.
Riley awoke the next morning to see Mason was still fast asleep. She had to admit she was a little relieved. She got up, got dressed and was ready to step out the door when she suddenly paused. She slowly crept back to her bed and lifted her pillow and glanced at the gun Amelia had given her the night before. She didn't know why but she had a feeling she should keep it with her just in case.
"Good Morning, sis." Amelia greeted her with a smile when Riley stepped out for break feast. Belle was making some pancakes and Andrew was helping her. Amelia, Jacob, and Lucas were already enjoying their break feasts.
"Good morning" Riley said smiling and taking a seat next to Lucas. "How'd you sleep last night?" she asked smiling at him.
"Pretty good" Lucas said smiling.
"Yeah, I slept amazing too" Jacob jumped in "thanks for asking."
Riley gave her best friend "the look " and rolled her eyes. She then turned back to Lucas, "So listen sorry about totally just leaving last night, I was exhausted. I didn't mean to be rude."
"Oh, no don't even worry about it."
Amelia suddenly got up, "UGH, I'm stuffed! Good breakfast!" She screamed out to her best friend. She then turned to Jacob and Lucas, "You two done?"
"I am!" Jacob exclaimed. Amelia grabbed Jacob's plate and took it into the kitchen, while Jacob went to the living room to watch some TV leaving Riley and Lucas alone at the table.
Lucas turned to Riley and smiled at her, "Here try this" he said grabbing maple syrup and blueberry syrup and putting them both down on Riley's pancakes.
Riley gave him a questioning look, "Mixing syrups?"
"Trust me" Lucas smirked, "It's worth it."
"Okay, if you say so!" Riley said taking a big bite in her mouth and suddenly having a face of pleasure, "OMG you're so right, this is delicious!"
"I told you!" Lucas said laughing, "And you got syrup all over your face you big dork!" he said laughing even harder and grabbing a paper towel to wiper her face off with.
"Looks like you two are pretty cozy." a voice suddenly came from behind.
Riley turned around in shock to see Mason looking at them with anger in his eyes.
"Oh, this was..", Riley didn't have time to finish her sentence when Mason'd walked out, but she ran after him, trying to keep up.
"Mason, wait, that was nothing! We were just fooling around! We're friends!" Riley shouted out.
"Yeah? Well, that's kind of hard to believe. Why does he look at you like.. like I look at you? And you know what?" Mason paused. "You look at him like you're supposed to look at me."
"That's not true", Riley said quietly. Maybe he was right, but what else was she to say? She was so confused.
"Right", Mason scoffed. "Well, I think I'm done here-"
"Mason, wait!" Riley shouted out, but that was when Belle walked into the room, stepping in between them.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Nothing", Mason snapped. "I'm out of here."
"No, you are not", Belle grabbed him by his collar. "Or do you want to die? Because Alaric will come after you."
Mason released himself from her grip. "I don't care."
"Oh, don't be an idiot", Lucas had suddenly walked into the hallway with his arms crossed over his chest. "You can't be that suicidal just because your girlfriend doesn't care about you anymore."
"You son of a-", Mason didn't even finish his sentence before punching Lucas across the face.
"Oh my God!" Riley shouted out.
"What the hell is going on?" Amelia shouted as she walked into the room, trying to pull the guys away from each other.
"Hey, hey!" Andrew came in, pushing Mason off of Lucas roughly, staring at them both in confusion. "What's going on?"
"You ask this genius", Mason snapped, meaning Lucas. "He seems to have all the answers", with that he walked out of the room, heading for the bathroom or something to cool off.
Amelia took a breath and turned to Riley. "What did you do?"
"Nothing!" Riley shouted. "Why is everyone blaming me?"
Everyone went quiet.
"Lucas, go to the guest room", Andrew said. "Now."
"Yeah", Lucas walked past them and no one gave him a second glance.
Riley groaned. "I cannot believe that just happened.
"Well, tough love, babe. You do know Mason can't leave?" Belle asked.
"Yeah."
Amelia eyed her sister for a moment before saying: "Leave them both alone for a little bit. Let's just all... Calm down."
She had to watch as her little sister stormed past her into her room, slamming the door closed.
Amelia leaned against Andrew's shoulder, sighing. "I do not miss being a teenager."
"Yeah, being a teenager definitely sucked." Andrew said agreeing.
"I should go talk to her" Amelia said starting to go inside, when Jacob stopped her.
"I don't think that's a good idea." he said slowly, "Trust me Amelia, the last thing Riley wants is to talk to an adult. She'll just go off on you and it'll cause more problems, let me talk to her." Jacob said.
Amelia really wanted to talk to Riley, but she knew Jacob was right. "Yeah, okay. Go talk to her."
Jacob was walking towards the room when Andrew stopped him, "here" he said throwing a box of tissues towards Jacob, "You might need these."
Jacob eyed the tissues and then Amelia and Belle, and then looked at Andrew again, "Dude, you clearly don't know Riley as well as I thought you did." he said laughing and walking towards Riley's room.
Andrew looked at Amelia confused and Amelia just rolled her eyes, "Babe, you crazy? Riley crying? She's my sister after all."
Andrew sighed and went to go watch some TV.
Jacob slowly entered Riley's room, not bothering to knock, knowing that if he did she would just scream at him to go away. He entered the room to see his best friend watching, Now I know your mother, a spinoff of some old show called How I met Your mother. "Hey, Riles." He said smiling and taking a seat next to her.
"Sup"
"Watcha doing?"
"What the hell does it look like I'm doing?"
Jacob smiled and rolled his eyes, typical Riley defense mechanisms.
"Dude, turn off the TV and talk to me" Jacob said grabbing the remote control and turning the TV off.
Riley whipped her head around and glared at Jacob, "Jacob, I will kick your ass so hard, if you don't get the hell out of here right now." She hissed out at him.
"Riley."
"WHAT?"
"Do you like Lucas as more than a friend?" Jacob asked getting straight to the point.
"You really wanna know?" Riley asked. She figured there was no point in denying.
"Yes", Jacob said seriously.
"I do. I don't know how much, I feel drawn to him. I care about him. I don't know what to do", Riley sighed.
Jacob pulled her in for a hug and listened out for tears, but he had been right. Riley wasn't going to cry.
"I'm gonna be ok", she said after she pulled away. "I just feel bad for Mason. I don't know what to do."
"Are you gonna actually break up with him?" Jacob asked in confusion. "Just like that?"
"I think he basically just broke up with me", Riley said.
"But if he hasn't.. What will you do?" Jacob urged.
"Shut up. I don't know."
There was a knock on the door and they turned around to see Amelia looking at them.
"Does anyone want lunch?" she asked carefully. "We're gonna order in some chinese."
"Sure", Riley smiled. "Is..?"
"Mason is still in wherever he went to pout. And Lucas is in the guest room", Amelia said.
Riley nodded. "Thanks", she and Jacob stood up, following Amelia out.
Amelia watched as Jacob led Riley into the kitchen before turning to Andrew, who was standing by the living room.
"Despite Riley's love trauma, I think we need to focus on what really matters. Getting rid of Alaric."
Andrew made a strange face, but Amelia didn't have time to pay attention when the doorbell rang.
Andrew's eyes widened as Amelia pulled out a long knife from her belt and walked to the door.
"I can do it", he said.
"No. I don't need anyone's help", Amelia snapped, opening the door. It was just the food delivery guy.
"That'll be 40 bucks", he said in a bored voice, and as Amelia grabbed the food, she threw a 50 dollar bill in his hands.
"Keep the change", she said, closing the door. When she looked up, she saw Andrew looking at her.
"What?"
"You're something else, aren't you?"
Amelia suppressed a smile as she walked past him, carrying the food to the kitchen.
Riley and Jacob came into the living room and joined Amelia, Andrew, and Belle who were watching Wheel of Saturn.
Riley plopped on the floor and held her out to Amelia "Orange Chicken." she said.
"Orange Chicken please?" Amelia said laughing and handing her sister the chicken.
Riley rolled her eyes, "Whatever" she muttered.
Belle rolled her eyes, "Riles, be nice."
"NO." Riley said bluntly.
Amelia just looked at Belle and smiled rolling her eyes.
"Riley, you really should be nicer to your sister" Andrew said sternly, "I don't like you talking to her this way."
Riley looked up at Andrew and gave him an annoyed look, "And WHO are YOU to tell ME how to talk to MY sister." Riley said roughly, "Besides when have you ever gotten in between me and Amelia?"
Andrew shot up, "Hey now listen to me---" he began roughly giving Riley a rough look before Amelia interrupted him,
"Hey" she said shooting up as well, "what's wrong with you?" she said looking at Andrew, "you do not talk to my sister that way, besides you know how Riley is. This is why you adore her so much." Amelia said shooting Andrew a questioning look.
Andrew sighed, "Yeah listen, sorry Riley I'm just having a rough day, I'm going to go lay down." he said leaving the room.
Riley looked up at Amelia giving him a questioning look and Amelia just shrugged her shoulders.
"That was really weird" she muttered.
"You're boyfriends a freak" Riley retorted back.
Amelia just looked on confused.
"He's probably just stressed with everything that's been going on" Belle said smiling at her best friend reassuring her.
"Yeah" Amelia said not looking to sure and sitting down next to Belle.
"I'm surrounded by freaks" Riley muttered. Jacob gave her a look. "Not you." she said smiling at him.
Riley got up and sat down next to Amelia and put her head down on her shoulder. "I think your boyfriends PMSing" she said annoyed.
"I know" Amelia said. "But give him a break, yeah?"
Suddenly the door to the bathroom opened and Mason stepped out. Riley looked up at him and dreaded the conversation she knew they had to have.
Riley walked over to Mason and sighed. "So.. We need to talk."
"Yes, we do", Mason said and gestured for Riley to follow him into the room that Amelia sometimes used as her study.
"I'm sorry about Lucas", Riley said as soon as she closed the door. "But you had no right to pick a fight with him."
"Oh, so I'm to blame?" Mason asked sharply.
"No. You're not. I don't know what's going on", Riley sighed. "I don't know what I feel."
"That's great, Riles. You don't know what you feel. You know, last week things were absolutely great between us. Now this has turned into some freaky love triangle?"
"I'm sorry", Riley whispered.
Mason froze. "You're sorry.. Does that.." He looked at her, but she refused to meet his gaze.
"Are you breaking up with me?" he asked.
"I'm gonna go check on Andrew", Amelia said quietly, walking over to her room. She knocked on the door, got a small sound that indicated that Andrew was indeed inside and then she slipped in.
"I'm sorry", he said, but he didn't look at her. He was lying on the bed, his head in his hands.
"I know Riley can get a little tough sometimes. Trust me. But.. you never act like that around her, and I'd rather if you didn't, because I'm quite fond of you as a part of my life", Amelia said as Andrew sat up to look at her.
"I get it. I just.. the way she talks to you."
"Don't feel like you suddenly need to protect me because we're together. You don't look out for me. And I've never asked you to."
Andrew looked at her in confusion. "I'm sure that's.. I mean. That's not true."
"I know you're here for me, as my partner, but like that night with Alaric at the docks. You were ready to kill him. Even if it'd mean something'd happen to me", Amelia said.
Andrew sighed. "I was.. angry."
"Yeah, you were. Look, I love you. And I don't need you to save me. Ok? So let my relationship with Riley be my relationship with Riley. Ok?" Amelia asked.
"Mason, do you really think we can stay together after everything that's happened?" Riley asked.
Mason sighed, "No I guess not. So it's over?"
Riley looked at him hard, "I'm sorry---"
"No don't" Mason said interrupting her "Just don't. The worst part is, I can't even leave." He muttered leaving the room and slamming the door.
Riley sighed and sat down.
"I get it Amelia" Andrew started, "But Riley needs to learn----"
"Riley needs to learn nothing from you" Amelia said sharply. "What's your problem? You've never had a problem with Riley before. Actually, you usually side with her."
"It's just---hard I guess."
Amelia sighed, "Listen Andrew I love you, but if I have to choose between you and Riley it would be Riley in heart beat. She's my responsibility. So please don't make me choose."
Andrew nodded. "I get it."
"Do you?" Amelia sighed. "Because this does not mean that I don't.."
"Love me? Yeah, I heard that", Andrew snapped as he got up.
Amelia just looked at him. "What's wrong with you?"
Andrew shook his head. "Nothing."
Amelia walked closer to him, extending her hand, but he walked away from her.
"So this is how it's gonna be?" Amelia asked quietly. "You get mad at me and I'm just gonna have to accept it. Am I right?"
"You just.. You..", Andrew really didn't know what to say. "I guess I just changed."
"Then change back", Amelia snapped angrily, walking out of the room, slamming the door closed.
"What's going on?" Belle asked as she saw both of the Grace girls sitting around the kitchen table five minutes later, pouting.
"Nothing", Amelia snapped.
"Yeah, nothing", Riley said.
Amelia looked up at her sister. "Can you do a favor and be a little less annoying for the next two days?"
Riley looked at her in disbelief. "Seriously?"
"Listen to me. I am always going to defend you. But.. Maybe you are a little out of control."
"I cannot believe he's putting these thoughts into your head!" Riley shouted.
"Hey!" Amelia shouted back, which made Riley quiet down. "This is not the time to be reckless, selfish or stupid. We have to work together, all of us. That means you too."
"I know that", Riley hissed, getting up from the table and walking out.
Amelia groaned, laying her head on the table.
Chapter 13 ; For blue skies
Riley awoke the next morning to see Mason was still fast asleep. She had to admit she was a little relieved. She got up, got dressed and was ready to step out the door when she suddenly paused. She slowly crept back to her bed and lifted her pillow and glanced at the gun Amelia had given her the night before. She didn't know why but she had a feeling she should keep it with her just in case.
"Good Morning, sis." Amelia greeted her with a smile when Riley stepped out for break feast. Belle was making some pancakes and Andrew was helping her. Amelia, Jacob, and Lucas were already enjoying their break feasts.
"Good morning" Riley said smiling and taking a seat next to Lucas. "How'd you sleep last night?" she asked smiling at him.
"Pretty good" Lucas said smiling.
"Yeah, I slept amazing too" Jacob jumped in "thanks for asking."
Riley gave her best friend "the look " and rolled her eyes. She then turned back to Lucas, "So listen sorry about totally just leaving last night, I was exhausted. I didn't mean to be rude."
"Oh, no don't even worry about it."
Amelia suddenly got up, "UGH, I'm stuffed! Good breakfast!" She screamed out to her best friend. She then turned to Jacob and Lucas, "You two done?"
"I am!" Jacob exclaimed. Amelia grabbed Jacob's plate and took it into the kitchen, while Jacob went to the living room to watch some TV leaving Riley and Lucas alone at the table.
Lucas turned to Riley and smiled at her, "Here try this" he said grabbing maple syrup and blueberry syrup and putting them both down on Riley's pancakes.
Riley gave him a questioning look, "Mixing syrups?"
"Trust me" Lucas smirked, "It's worth it."
"Okay, if you say so!" Riley said taking a big bite in her mouth and suddenly having a face of pleasure, "OMG you're so right, this is delicious!"
"I told you!" Lucas said laughing, "And you got syrup all over your face you big dork!" he said laughing even harder and grabbing a paper towel to wiper her face off with.
"Looks like you two are pretty cozy." a voice suddenly came from behind.
Riley turned around in shock to see Mason looking at them with anger in his eyes.
"Oh, this was..", Riley didn't have time to finish her sentence when Mason'd walked out, but she ran after him, trying to keep up.
"Mason, wait, that was nothing! We were just fooling around! We're friends!" Riley shouted out.
"Yeah? Well, that's kind of hard to believe. Why does he look at you like.. like I look at you? And you know what?" Mason paused. "You look at him like you're supposed to look at me."
"That's not true", Riley said quietly. Maybe he was right, but what else was she to say? She was so confused.
"Right", Mason scoffed. "Well, I think I'm done here-"
"Mason, wait!" Riley shouted out, but that was when Belle walked into the room, stepping in between them.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Nothing", Mason snapped. "I'm out of here."
"No, you are not", Belle grabbed him by his collar. "Or do you want to die? Because Alaric will come after you."
Mason released himself from her grip. "I don't care."
"Oh, don't be an idiot", Lucas had suddenly walked into the hallway with his arms crossed over his chest. "You can't be that suicidal just because your girlfriend doesn't care about you anymore."
"You son of a-", Mason didn't even finish his sentence before punching Lucas across the face.
"Oh my God!" Riley shouted out.
"What the hell is going on?" Amelia shouted as she walked into the room, trying to pull the guys away from each other.
"Hey, hey!" Andrew came in, pushing Mason off of Lucas roughly, staring at them both in confusion. "What's going on?"
"You ask this genius", Mason snapped, meaning Lucas. "He seems to have all the answers", with that he walked out of the room, heading for the bathroom or something to cool off.
Amelia took a breath and turned to Riley. "What did you do?"
"Nothing!" Riley shouted. "Why is everyone blaming me?"
Everyone went quiet.
"Lucas, go to the guest room", Andrew said. "Now."
"Yeah", Lucas walked past them and no one gave him a second glance.
Riley groaned. "I cannot believe that just happened.
"Well, tough love, babe. You do know Mason can't leave?" Belle asked.
"Yeah."
Amelia eyed her sister for a moment before saying: "Leave them both alone for a little bit. Let's just all... Calm down."
She had to watch as her little sister stormed past her into her room, slamming the door closed.
Amelia leaned against Andrew's shoulder, sighing. "I do not miss being a teenager."
"Yeah, being a teenager definitely sucked." Andrew said agreeing.
"I should go talk to her" Amelia said starting to go inside, when Jacob stopped her.
"I don't think that's a good idea." he said slowly, "Trust me Amelia, the last thing Riley wants is to talk to an adult. She'll just go off on you and it'll cause more problems, let me talk to her." Jacob said.
Amelia really wanted to talk to Riley, but she knew Jacob was right. "Yeah, okay. Go talk to her."
Jacob was walking towards the room when Andrew stopped him, "here" he said throwing a box of tissues towards Jacob, "You might need these."
Jacob eyed the tissues and then Amelia and Belle, and then looked at Andrew again, "Dude, you clearly don't know Riley as well as I thought you did." he said laughing and walking towards Riley's room.
Andrew looked at Amelia confused and Amelia just rolled her eyes, "Babe, you crazy? Riley crying? She's my sister after all."
Andrew sighed and went to go watch some TV.
Jacob slowly entered Riley's room, not bothering to knock, knowing that if he did she would just scream at him to go away. He entered the room to see his best friend watching, Now I know your mother, a spinoff of some old show called How I met Your mother. "Hey, Riles." He said smiling and taking a seat next to her.
"Sup"
"Watcha doing?"
"What the hell does it look like I'm doing?"
Jacob smiled and rolled his eyes, typical Riley defense mechanisms.
"Dude, turn off the TV and talk to me" Jacob said grabbing the remote control and turning the TV off.
Riley whipped her head around and glared at Jacob, "Jacob, I will kick your ass so hard, if you don't get the hell out of here right now." She hissed out at him.
"Riley."
"WHAT?"
"Do you like Lucas as more than a friend?" Jacob asked getting straight to the point.
"You really wanna know?" Riley asked. She figured there was no point in denying.
"Yes", Jacob said seriously.
"I do. I don't know how much, I feel drawn to him. I care about him. I don't know what to do", Riley sighed.
Jacob pulled her in for a hug and listened out for tears, but he had been right. Riley wasn't going to cry.
"I'm gonna be ok", she said after she pulled away. "I just feel bad for Mason. I don't know what to do."
"Are you gonna actually break up with him?" Jacob asked in confusion. "Just like that?"
"I think he basically just broke up with me", Riley said.
"But if he hasn't.. What will you do?" Jacob urged.
"Shut up. I don't know."
There was a knock on the door and they turned around to see Amelia looking at them.
"Does anyone want lunch?" she asked carefully. "We're gonna order in some chinese."
"Sure", Riley smiled. "Is..?"
"Mason is still in wherever he went to pout. And Lucas is in the guest room", Amelia said.
Riley nodded. "Thanks", she and Jacob stood up, following Amelia out.
Amelia watched as Jacob led Riley into the kitchen before turning to Andrew, who was standing by the living room.
"Despite Riley's love trauma, I think we need to focus on what really matters. Getting rid of Alaric."
Andrew made a strange face, but Amelia didn't have time to pay attention when the doorbell rang.
Andrew's eyes widened as Amelia pulled out a long knife from her belt and walked to the door.
"I can do it", he said.
"No. I don't need anyone's help", Amelia snapped, opening the door. It was just the food delivery guy.
"That'll be 40 bucks", he said in a bored voice, and as Amelia grabbed the food, she threw a 50 dollar bill in his hands.
"Keep the change", she said, closing the door. When she looked up, she saw Andrew looking at her.
"What?"
"You're something else, aren't you?"
Amelia suppressed a smile as she walked past him, carrying the food to the kitchen.
Riley and Jacob came into the living room and joined Amelia, Andrew, and Belle who were watching Wheel of Saturn.
Riley plopped on the floor and held her out to Amelia "Orange Chicken." she said.
"Orange Chicken please?" Amelia said laughing and handing her sister the chicken.
Riley rolled her eyes, "Whatever" she muttered.
Belle rolled her eyes, "Riles, be nice."
"NO." Riley said bluntly.
Amelia just looked at Belle and smiled rolling her eyes.
"Riley, you really should be nicer to your sister" Andrew said sternly, "I don't like you talking to her this way."
Riley looked up at Andrew and gave him an annoyed look, "And WHO are YOU to tell ME how to talk to MY sister." Riley said roughly, "Besides when have you ever gotten in between me and Amelia?"
Andrew shot up, "Hey now listen to me---" he began roughly giving Riley a rough look before Amelia interrupted him,
"Hey" she said shooting up as well, "what's wrong with you?" she said looking at Andrew, "you do not talk to my sister that way, besides you know how Riley is. This is why you adore her so much." Amelia said shooting Andrew a questioning look.
Andrew sighed, "Yeah listen, sorry Riley I'm just having a rough day, I'm going to go lay down." he said leaving the room.
Riley looked up at Amelia giving him a questioning look and Amelia just shrugged her shoulders.
"That was really weird" she muttered.
"You're boyfriends a freak" Riley retorted back.
Amelia just looked on confused.
"He's probably just stressed with everything that's been going on" Belle said smiling at her best friend reassuring her.
"Yeah" Amelia said not looking to sure and sitting down next to Belle.
"I'm surrounded by freaks" Riley muttered. Jacob gave her a look. "Not you." she said smiling at him.
Riley got up and sat down next to Amelia and put her head down on her shoulder. "I think your boyfriends PMSing" she said annoyed.
"I know" Amelia said. "But give him a break, yeah?"
Suddenly the door to the bathroom opened and Mason stepped out. Riley looked up at him and dreaded the conversation she knew they had to have.
Riley walked over to Mason and sighed. "So.. We need to talk."
"Yes, we do", Mason said and gestured for Riley to follow him into the room that Amelia sometimes used as her study.
"I'm sorry about Lucas", Riley said as soon as she closed the door. "But you had no right to pick a fight with him."
"Oh, so I'm to blame?" Mason asked sharply.
"No. You're not. I don't know what's going on", Riley sighed. "I don't know what I feel."
"That's great, Riles. You don't know what you feel. You know, last week things were absolutely great between us. Now this has turned into some freaky love triangle?"
"I'm sorry", Riley whispered.
Mason froze. "You're sorry.. Does that.." He looked at her, but she refused to meet his gaze.
"Are you breaking up with me?" he asked.
"I'm gonna go check on Andrew", Amelia said quietly, walking over to her room. She knocked on the door, got a small sound that indicated that Andrew was indeed inside and then she slipped in.
"I'm sorry", he said, but he didn't look at her. He was lying on the bed, his head in his hands.
"I know Riley can get a little tough sometimes. Trust me. But.. you never act like that around her, and I'd rather if you didn't, because I'm quite fond of you as a part of my life", Amelia said as Andrew sat up to look at her.
"I get it. I just.. the way she talks to you."
"Don't feel like you suddenly need to protect me because we're together. You don't look out for me. And I've never asked you to."
Andrew looked at her in confusion. "I'm sure that's.. I mean. That's not true."
"I know you're here for me, as my partner, but like that night with Alaric at the docks. You were ready to kill him. Even if it'd mean something'd happen to me", Amelia said.
Andrew sighed. "I was.. angry."
"Yeah, you were. Look, I love you. And I don't need you to save me. Ok? So let my relationship with Riley be my relationship with Riley. Ok?" Amelia asked.
"Mason, do you really think we can stay together after everything that's happened?" Riley asked.
Mason sighed, "No I guess not. So it's over?"
Riley looked at him hard, "I'm sorry---"
"No don't" Mason said interrupting her "Just don't. The worst part is, I can't even leave." He muttered leaving the room and slamming the door.
Riley sighed and sat down.
"I get it Amelia" Andrew started, "But Riley needs to learn----"
"Riley needs to learn nothing from you" Amelia said sharply. "What's your problem? You've never had a problem with Riley before. Actually, you usually side with her."
"It's just---hard I guess."
Amelia sighed, "Listen Andrew I love you, but if I have to choose between you and Riley it would be Riley in heart beat. She's my responsibility. So please don't make me choose."
Andrew nodded. "I get it."
"Do you?" Amelia sighed. "Because this does not mean that I don't.."
"Love me? Yeah, I heard that", Andrew snapped as he got up.
Amelia just looked at him. "What's wrong with you?"
Andrew shook his head. "Nothing."
Amelia walked closer to him, extending her hand, but he walked away from her.
"So this is how it's gonna be?" Amelia asked quietly. "You get mad at me and I'm just gonna have to accept it. Am I right?"
"You just.. You..", Andrew really didn't know what to say. "I guess I just changed."
"Then change back", Amelia snapped angrily, walking out of the room, slamming the door closed.
"What's going on?" Belle asked as she saw both of the Grace girls sitting around the kitchen table five minutes later, pouting.
"Nothing", Amelia snapped.
"Yeah, nothing", Riley said.
Amelia looked up at her sister. "Can you do a favor and be a little less annoying for the next two days?"
Riley looked at her in disbelief. "Seriously?"
"Listen to me. I am always going to defend you. But.. Maybe you are a little out of control."
"I cannot believe he's putting these thoughts into your head!" Riley shouted.
"Hey!" Amelia shouted back, which made Riley quiet down. "This is not the time to be reckless, selfish or stupid. We have to work together, all of us. That means you too."
"I know that", Riley hissed, getting up from the table and walking out.
Amelia groaned, laying her head on the table.
Riley awoke the next morning to see Mason was still fast asleep. She had to admit she was a little relieved. She got up, got dressed and was ready to step out the door when she suddenly paused. She slowly crept back to her bed and lifted her pillow and glanced at the gun Amelia had given her the night before. She didn't know why but she had a feeling she should keep it with her just in case.
"Good Morning, sis." Amelia greeted her with a smile when Riley stepped out for break feast. Belle was making some pancakes and Andrew was helping her. Amelia, Jacob, and Lucas were already enjoying their break feasts.
"Good morning" Riley said smiling and taking a seat next to Lucas. "How'd you sleep last night?" she asked smiling at him.
"Pretty good" Lucas said smiling.
"Yeah, I slept amazing too" Jacob jumped in "thanks for asking."
Riley gave her best friend "the look " and rolled her eyes. She then turned back to Lucas, "So listen sorry about totally just leaving last night, I was exhausted. I didn't mean to be rude."
"Oh, no don't even worry about it."
Amelia suddenly got up, "UGH, I'm stuffed! Good breakfast!" She screamed out to her best friend. She then turned to Jacob and Lucas, "You two done?"
"I am!" Jacob exclaimed. Amelia grabbed Jacob's plate and took it into the kitchen, while Jacob went to the living room to watch some TV leaving Riley and Lucas alone at the table.
Lucas turned to Riley and smiled at her, "Here try this" he said grabbing maple syrup and blueberry syrup and putting them both down on Riley's pancakes.
Riley gave him a questioning look, "Mixing syrups?"
"Trust me" Lucas smirked, "It's worth it."
"Okay, if you say so!" Riley said taking a big bite in her mouth and suddenly having a face of pleasure, "OMG you're so right, this is delicious!"
"I told you!" Lucas said laughing, "And you got syrup all over your face you big dork!" he said laughing even harder and grabbing a paper towel to wiper her face off with.
"Looks like you two are pretty cozy." a voice suddenly came from behind.
Riley turned around in shock to see Mason looking at them with anger in his eyes.
"Oh, this was..", Riley didn't have time to finish her sentence when Mason'd walked out, but she ran after him, trying to keep up.
"Mason, wait, that was nothing! We were just fooling around! We're friends!" Riley shouted out.
"Yeah? Well, that's kind of hard to believe. Why does he look at you like.. like I look at you? And you know what?" Mason paused. "You look at him like you're supposed to look at me."
"That's not true", Riley said quietly. Maybe he was right, but what else was she to say? She was so confused.
"Right", Mason scoffed. "Well, I think I'm done here-"
"Mason, wait!" Riley shouted out, but that was when Belle walked into the room, stepping in between them.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Nothing", Mason snapped. "I'm out of here."
"No, you are not", Belle grabbed him by his collar. "Or do you want to die? Because Alaric will come after you."
Mason released himself from her grip. "I don't care."
"Oh, don't be an idiot", Lucas had suddenly walked into the hallway with his arms crossed over his chest. "You can't be that suicidal just because your girlfriend doesn't care about you anymore."
"You son of a-", Mason didn't even finish his sentence before punching Lucas across the face.
"Oh my God!" Riley shouted out.
"What the hell is going on?" Amelia shouted as she walked into the room, trying to pull the guys away from each other.
"Hey, hey!" Andrew came in, pushing Mason off of Lucas roughly, staring at them both in confusion. "What's going on?"
"You ask this genius", Mason snapped, meaning Lucas. "He seems to have all the answers", with that he walked out of the room, heading for the bathroom or something to cool off.
Amelia took a breath and turned to Riley. "What did you do?"
"Nothing!" Riley shouted. "Why is everyone blaming me?"
Everyone went quiet.
"Lucas, go to the guest room", Andrew said. "Now."
"Yeah", Lucas walked past them and no one gave him a second glance.
Riley groaned. "I cannot believe that just happened.
"Well, tough love, babe. You do know Mason can't leave?" Belle asked.
"Yeah."
Amelia eyed her sister for a moment before saying: "Leave them both alone for a little bit. Let's just all... Calm down."
She had to watch as her little sister stormed past her into her room, slamming the door closed.
Amelia leaned against Andrew's shoulder, sighing. "I do not miss being a teenager."
"Yeah, being a teenager definitely sucked." Andrew said agreeing.
"I should go talk to her" Amelia said starting to go inside, when Jacob stopped her.
"I don't think that's a good idea." he said slowly, "Trust me Amelia, the last thing Riley wants is to talk to an adult. She'll just go off on you and it'll cause more problems, let me talk to her." Jacob said.
Amelia really wanted to talk to Riley, but she knew Jacob was right. "Yeah, okay. Go talk to her."
Jacob was walking towards the room when Andrew stopped him, "here" he said throwing a box of tissues towards Jacob, "You might need these."
Jacob eyed the tissues and then Amelia and Belle, and then looked at Andrew again, "Dude, you clearly don't know Riley as well as I thought you did." he said laughing and walking towards Riley's room.
Andrew looked at Amelia confused and Amelia just rolled her eyes, "Babe, you crazy? Riley crying? She's my sister after all."
Andrew sighed and went to go watch some TV.
Jacob slowly entered Riley's room, not bothering to knock, knowing that if he did she would just scream at him to go away. He entered the room to see his best friend watching, Now I know your mother, a spinoff of some old show called How I met Your mother. "Hey, Riles." He said smiling and taking a seat next to her.
"Sup"
"Watcha doing?"
"What the hell does it look like I'm doing?"
Jacob smiled and rolled his eyes, typical Riley defense mechanisms.
"Dude, turn off the TV and talk to me" Jacob said grabbing the remote control and turning the TV off.
Riley whipped her head around and glared at Jacob, "Jacob, I will kick your ass so hard, if you don't get the hell out of here right now." She hissed out at him.
"Riley."
"WHAT?"
"Do you like Lucas as more than a friend?" Jacob asked getting straight to the point.
"You really wanna know?" Riley asked. She figured there was no point in denying.
"Yes", Jacob said seriously.
"I do. I don't know how much, I feel drawn to him. I care about him. I don't know what to do", Riley sighed.
Jacob pulled her in for a hug and listened out for tears, but he had been right. Riley wasn't going to cry.
"I'm gonna be ok", she said after she pulled away. "I just feel bad for Mason. I don't know what to do."
"Are you gonna actually break up with him?" Jacob asked in confusion. "Just like that?"
"I think he basically just broke up with me", Riley said.
"But if he hasn't.. What will you do?" Jacob urged.
"Shut up. I don't know."
There was a knock on the door and they turned around to see Amelia looking at them.
"Does anyone want lunch?" she asked carefully. "We're gonna order in some chinese."
"Sure", Riley smiled. "Is..?"
"Mason is still in wherever he went to pout. And Lucas is in the guest room", Amelia said.
Riley nodded. "Thanks", she and Jacob stood up, following Amelia out.
Amelia watched as Jacob led Riley into the kitchen before turning to Andrew, who was standing by the living room.
"Despite Riley's love trauma, I think we need to focus on what really matters. Getting rid of Alaric."
Andrew made a strange face, but Amelia didn't have time to pay attention when the doorbell rang.
Andrew's eyes widened as Amelia pulled out a long knife from her belt and walked to the door.
"I can do it", he said.
"No. I don't need anyone's help", Amelia snapped, opening the door. It was just the food delivery guy.
"That'll be 40 bucks", he said in a bored voice, and as Amelia grabbed the food, she threw a 50 dollar bill in his hands.
"Keep the change", she said, closing the door. When she looked up, she saw Andrew looking at her.
"What?"
"You're something else, aren't you?"
Amelia suppressed a smile as she walked past him, carrying the food to the kitchen.
Riley and Jacob came into the living room and joined Amelia, Andrew, and Belle who were watching Wheel of Saturn.
Riley plopped on the floor and held her out to Amelia "Orange Chicken." she said.
"Orange Chicken please?" Amelia said laughing and handing her sister the chicken.
Riley rolled her eyes, "Whatever" she muttered.
Belle rolled her eyes, "Riles, be nice."
"NO." Riley said bluntly.
Amelia just looked at Belle and smiled rolling her eyes.
"Riley, you really should be nicer to your sister" Andrew said sternly, "I don't like you talking to her this way."
Riley looked up at Andrew and gave him an annoyed look, "And WHO are YOU to tell ME how to talk to MY sister." Riley said roughly, "Besides when have you ever gotten in between me and Amelia?"
Andrew shot up, "Hey now listen to me---" he began roughly giving Riley a rough look before Amelia interrupted him,
"Hey" she said shooting up as well, "what's wrong with you?" she said looking at Andrew, "you do not talk to my sister that way, besides you know how Riley is. This is why you adore her so much." Amelia said shooting Andrew a questioning look.
Andrew sighed, "Yeah listen, sorry Riley I'm just having a rough day, I'm going to go lay down." he said leaving the room.
Riley looked up at Amelia giving him a questioning look and Amelia just shrugged her shoulders.
"That was really weird" she muttered.
"You're boyfriends a freak" Riley retorted back.
Amelia just looked on confused.
"He's probably just stressed with everything that's been going on" Belle said smiling at her best friend reassuring her.
"Yeah" Amelia said not looking to sure and sitting down next to Belle.
"I'm surrounded by freaks" Riley muttered. Jacob gave her a look. "Not you." she said smiling at him.
Riley got up and sat down next to Amelia and put her head down on her shoulder. "I think your boyfriends PMSing" she said annoyed.
"I know" Amelia said. "But give him a break, yeah?"
Suddenly the door to the bathroom opened and Mason stepped out. Riley looked up at him and dreaded the conversation she knew they had to have.
Riley walked over to Mason and sighed. "So.. We need to talk."
"Yes, we do", Mason said and gestured for Riley to follow him into the room that Amelia sometimes used as her study.
"I'm sorry about Lucas", Riley said as soon as she closed the door. "But you had no right to pick a fight with him."
"Oh, so I'm to blame?" Mason asked sharply.
"No. You're not. I don't know what's going on", Riley sighed. "I don't know what I feel."
"That's great, Riles. You don't know what you feel. You know, last week things were absolutely great between us. Now this has turned into some freaky love triangle?"
"I'm sorry", Riley whispered.
Mason froze. "You're sorry.. Does that.." He looked at her, but she refused to meet his gaze.
"Are you breaking up with me?" he asked.
"I'm gonna go check on Andrew", Amelia said quietly, walking over to her room. She knocked on the door, got a small sound that indicated that Andrew was indeed inside and then she slipped in.
"I'm sorry", he said, but he didn't look at her. He was lying on the bed, his head in his hands.
"I know Riley can get a little tough sometimes. Trust me. But.. you never act like that around her, and I'd rather if you didn't, because I'm quite fond of you as a part of my life", Amelia said as Andrew sat up to look at her.
"I get it. I just.. the way she talks to you."
"Don't feel like you suddenly need to protect me because we're together. You don't look out for me. And I've never asked you to."
Andrew looked at her in confusion. "I'm sure that's.. I mean. That's not true."
"I know you're here for me, as my partner, but like that night with Alaric at the docks. You were ready to kill him. Even if it'd mean something'd happen to me", Amelia said.
Andrew sighed. "I was.. angry."
"Yeah, you were. Look, I love you. And I don't need you to save me. Ok? So let my relationship with Riley be my relationship with Riley. Ok?" Amelia asked.
"Mason, do you really think we can stay together after everything that's happened?" Riley asked.
Mason sighed, "No I guess not. So it's over?"
Riley looked at him hard, "I'm sorry---"
"No don't" Mason said interrupting her "Just don't. The worst part is, I can't even leave." He muttered leaving the room and slamming the door.
Riley sighed and sat down.
"I get it Amelia" Andrew started, "But Riley needs to learn----"
"Riley needs to learn nothing from you" Amelia said sharply. "What's your problem? You've never had a problem with Riley before. Actually, you usually side with her."
"It's just---hard I guess."
Amelia sighed, "Listen Andrew I love you, but if I have to choose between you and Riley it would be Riley in heart beat. She's my responsibility. So please don't make me choose."
Andrew nodded. "I get it."
"Do you?" Amelia sighed. "Because this does not mean that I don't.."
"Love me? Yeah, I heard that", Andrew snapped as he got up.
Amelia just looked at him. "What's wrong with you?"
Andrew shook his head. "Nothing."
Amelia walked closer to him, extending her hand, but he walked away from her.
"So this is how it's gonna be?" Amelia asked quietly. "You get mad at me and I'm just gonna have to accept it. Am I right?"
"You just.. You..", Andrew really didn't know what to say. "I guess I just changed."
"Then change back", Amelia snapped angrily, walking out of the room, slamming the door closed.
"What's going on?" Belle asked as she saw both of the Grace girls sitting around the kitchen table five minutes later, pouting.
"Nothing", Amelia snapped.
"Yeah, nothing", Riley said.
Amelia looked up at her sister. "Can you do a favor and be a little less annoying for the next two days?"
Riley looked at her in disbelief. "Seriously?"
"Listen to me. I am always going to defend you. But.. Maybe you are a little out of control."
"I cannot believe he's putting these thoughts into your head!" Riley shouted.
"Hey!" Amelia shouted back, which made Riley quiet down. "This is not the time to be reckless, selfish or stupid. We have to work together, all of us. That means you too."
"I know that", Riley hissed, getting up from the table and walking out.
Amelia groaned, laying her head on the table.