at the people around me when I
talked, so I kept my head down. "I've never blamed anyone for my dumb
luck, I guess you could call it, but I also never gave anybody a real chance to
get to know me or even help me. That was until I met you all. I’ve listened to
each and every one of your stories over the last few weeks and I've come to
realize, that I'm not the only one who has been burned and tarnished by the
things I have been through. I've learned to take responsibility for my actions
and not to blame other people, but I honestly think the most valuable thing
I've learned, is that you sometimes have to let people in. Not everyone is
going to treat me the way the bad people in my life have and I can accept that,
but I've also learned that secrets will tear you apart. Anyways, I've taken up enough of all your time. Thanks for
listening." I quickly sat back down in my chair. It was silent for a long
second before the entire room erupted in applause. I slowly looked up at each
and every one of the faces looking back at me. They were all smiling at me and
cheering me on. It was the first time in as long as I could remember that I felt,
appreciated. I gave a small smile in return and the applause slowly started to
die down.
"Riley, I have to say, I'm proud of you.
That's the most you have opened up since you've been here. It's nice to see how
far you've really come."
"Thank you, Mr. Rollins."
"Alright group, that'll do it for today. I'll
see you all bright and early tomorrow morning. Great job today, everyone."
I gathered my empty coffee cup and started making
my way towards the doors.
"You're not trying to ditch me are you?"
London's voice caught me off guard and I jumped a little, which in turn caused
him to let out a chuckle.
"Do I amuse you?" I laughed.
"A little. Shall we?" He extended his
elbow for me to loop my arm through his. I hesitated for half a second before I
shrugged my shoulders and placed my arm through his. "So I made a
reservation at this amazing new place in town."
I quickly pulled him to a stop, "London, you
know I can't leave." I was beginning to panic.
"Calm down, Riley. I was talking about the
cafeteria. I was just trying to be funny. Remind me never to try that
again." He laughed as he placed his hand on top of mine.
His touch sent a small, excited jolt through me. I
looked up at the man next to me, wondering just how much I was willing to let
him in. I had done it with Tristan and look where that got me.
"Whatcha thinking about so hard over
there?" He playfully elbowed me.
"Nothing." I whispered back.
I was starting to realize that opening your heart
back up could be dangerous. I was quickly walking the line between dangerous
and safe. I was confused about my feelings, but couldn't help myself from
exploring every new emotion I was feeling. I was just hoping that I wouldn't
break while doing so.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Tristan
I lay back on the warm sand, letting every pebble
nestle in around my wet body. I closed my eyes as I soaked up every bit of the
sun that I could. The waves this morning had been epic. It felt amazing to get
back out in the water and just let myself go. It had been awhile since I had
surfed, but this morning something inside of me was urging me to take advantage
of the gorgeous day.
My entire mind was consumed with thoughts of Riley
and I knew if I didn't take a break from seeing her that I was only going to
make the current situation with her worse. Every perfect wave I caught this
morning had reminded me of her. How amazingly beautiful she was inside and out.
Just the smell of the salty ocean below me reminded me of her. I knew how badly
I had screwed things up when I saw the look of fear on her face when she had
found out the truth. We all had demons hiding deep down. I just wanted a chance
to get to know hers.
She had started to open up to me and instead of
being honest from the beginning, I tried my luck at hoping she would just see
me, for me. I don't regret for one
talked, so I kept my head down. "I've never blamed anyone for my dumb
luck, I guess you could call it, but I also never gave anybody a real chance to
get to know me or even help me. That was until I met you all. I’ve listened to
each and every one of your stories over the last few weeks and I've come to
realize, that I'm not the only one who has been burned and tarnished by the
things I have been through. I've learned to take responsibility for my actions
and not to blame other people, but I honestly think the most valuable thing
I've learned, is that you sometimes have to let people in. Not everyone is
going to treat me the way the bad people in my life have and I can accept that,
but I've also learned that secrets will tear you apart. Anyways, I've taken up enough of all your time. Thanks for
listening." I quickly sat back down in my chair. It was silent for a long
second before the entire room erupted in applause. I slowly looked up at each
and every one of the faces looking back at me. They were all smiling at me and
cheering me on. It was the first time in as long as I could remember that I felt,
appreciated. I gave a small smile in return and the applause slowly started to
die down.
"Riley, I have to say, I'm proud of you.
That's the most you have opened up since you've been here. It's nice to see how
far you've really come."
"Thank you, Mr. Rollins."
"Alright group, that'll do it for today. I'll
see you all bright and early tomorrow morning. Great job today, everyone."
I gathered my empty coffee cup and started making
my way towards the doors.
"You're not trying to ditch me are you?"
London's voice caught me off guard and I jumped a little, which in turn caused
him to let out a chuckle.
"Do I amuse you?" I laughed.
"A little. Shall we?" He extended his
elbow for me to loop my arm through his. I hesitated for half a second before I
shrugged my shoulders and placed my arm through his. "So I made a
reservation at this amazing new place in town."
I quickly pulled him to a stop, "London, you
know I can't leave." I was beginning to panic.
"Calm down, Riley. I was talking about the
cafeteria. I was just trying to be funny. Remind me never to try that
again." He laughed as he placed his hand on top of mine.
His touch sent a small, excited jolt through me. I
looked up at the man next to me, wondering just how much I was willing to let
him in. I had done it with Tristan and look where that got me.
"Whatcha thinking about so hard over
there?" He playfully elbowed me.
"Nothing." I whispered back.
I was starting to realize that opening your heart
back up could be dangerous. I was quickly walking the line between dangerous
and safe. I was confused about my feelings, but couldn't help myself from
exploring every new emotion I was feeling. I was just hoping that I wouldn't
break while doing so.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Tristan
I lay back on the warm sand, letting every pebble
nestle in around my wet body. I closed my eyes as I soaked up every bit of the
sun that I could. The waves this morning had been epic. It felt amazing to get
back out in the water and just let myself go. It had been awhile since I had
surfed, but this morning something inside of me was urging me to take advantage
of the gorgeous day.
My entire mind was consumed with thoughts of Riley
and I knew if I didn't take a break from seeing her that I was only going to
make the current situation with her worse. Every perfect wave I caught this
morning had reminded me of her. How amazingly beautiful she was inside and out.
Just the smell of the salty ocean below me reminded me of her. I knew how badly
I had screwed things up when I saw the look of fear on her face when she had
found out the truth. We all had demons hiding deep down. I just wanted a chance
to get to know hers.
She had started to open up to me and instead of
being honest from the beginning, I tried my luck at hoping she would just see
me, for me. I don't regret for one
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