Chapter 20: The pacing heart

The sun passes through the thick curtains, Riley squints his eyes his long lashes untouch his cheeks. He squeezes his eyes shut and opens again to get a clearer vision, his eyes widens in horror when he comes back to reality. His body fixates as he examines her, Aiden who is sleeping beside him, her body turned to his direction. He remains baffled unknown of what happened, he shuts his eyes immediately acting asleep as he doesn't know how to react when she wakes up and he finds it awkward to be awake first, his mind loading up with wild imagination. He stays motionless for a while waiting till she opens her eyes but his wait is only getting longer. He lifts his eyelids slowly peeking a glance at Aiden, his eager hand touches her face, the finger tips caresses over her skin when he pushes the strands of hair from her face. The corners of his lips slightly moves upwards when he rubs his thumb at the corner of her eyes, he moves closer to her as he swallows the lump in his throat, his ears turn red when he hears her soft snores, his heart pounds like a hummingbird's wings. He bites his lower lip and slides himself even closer. Slam! Riley sits straight immediately when Aiden's eyes shoot open at the sound of the room door, she turns and sits on the bed, her jaw drops to the ground. Blake and Lisa stands by the door astonished their widened eyes forgetting to blink. Aiden jumps off the bed "It's not what you are thinking," she explains aloud yet her tone dry. She stares at them for a moment and follows their gaze to Riley, he looks at Aiden still not knowing how to react "What are you doing? Tell them," Aiden whisper yells. "Yeah, it's not what you're thinking," he blurts calmly and gets off the bed. She turns to the doorway again, the four them remain quiet for few seconds. "Sorry for disturbing," Blake states as he steps forward and grips the door knob, Lisa holds in her smile when he closes the door. "Riley," Aiden shouts the very next second, she turns around and steps forward towards him, her eyes throwing daggers at him. He gulps down his saliva, her deadly stare enough to bury him, she points her index finger in the air furiously, her nose flares in anger "Don't ever drink again," she grits her teeth, if countenance could kill Riley will be six feet below the ground right now "If you do, I'll chop you in pieces," with that said she walks out, slamming the door shut. Aiden stomps to the dining area, she grabs her coat and turns around when Lisa clears her throat aloud. Lisa moves her arm around Blake's waist and places her cheek on his shoulder, a charming smile playing on her face. "We are together," Lisa informs. "Wow that's great," Aiden says dryly "But sorry, I'm not in a mood of ecstasy," she trampers out. Riley rushes out the room "See yah," he says aloud as he grabs his belongings and runs out. Aiden starts the car, before she sets her foot on the accelerator Riley yanks the door and gets in. He buckles up the seatbelt immediately when she drives fast. The air in the car tenses when they are stopped by the traffic light. Riley passes glance at Aiden when she tightens her hold on the steering wheel. He gulps down his saliva numerous times to moisten his dry throat, he takes a deep breath in and lets it out to calm himself and then says in a low voice "Last night....," "Riley," Aiden snaps aloud, he purses his lips flat zipping his mouth "I just did it under circumstances to help you out at that moment because you were sick of what people think about you," she turns to her left facing him " I didn't know that it will effect you," she continues her voice loud enough to pass through the tinted glasses "It was unintentional," she finishes and holds her breath in until he replies. He knits his brows as he looks at her for a while baffled, unknown of what she is talking about, unknown of what she is referring to, unknown of what effected him. "What are you talking about?," He asks curiously. Aiden lets out a loud breath, she runs her hand through her messy hair and looks straight "Never mind," she sighs. The two of them never utters a word until they depart to their rooms. The volume of the television takes the surrounding along with the noise of the dishes. Aiden walks out the room when she hears the mention of the name Kim. "Kim is arrested," she says standing in front of the television. "What are we going to do next?," Riley asks, he places the plates on the table and takes his seat. Aiden sits opposite to him "We should open lawsuit against AIM'S company," she rolls the noodles around the fork "That will bring everything to flow," she eats and continues "What do you want to do with Kim," she questions dryly. "What do you mean?," She chews the food in her mouth and sits straight "He was the one who killed your father, don't you want to punish him?," "He is already being punished," Riley answers as he continues to stuff his mouth. "Do you think he will be locked in life long for his sin?" her words take Riley's attention, his movements stop as his eyeballs move up away from the plate "Tira will get him out." "Why do you think so?," "They will" she moves forward "And they have their ways to get him out," "So," he stays in the same bent position looking at her. "So, if he is out I'm going to kill him," his fork drops which creates a loud noise, he sits straight astonished. "Isn't that a crime?," He asks. "What he did was a crime as well, do you want the murderer of your father to go around free," He remains silent for a moment, his heart rages for revenge yet afraid of the outcome, he sure doesn't want the murderer unpunished as he is guilty of his doing. "As your dad wished, I'll destroy them," she says dryly and lowers her head to eat. "What ever you do, I'll be with you," he clicks his tongue as he shows a thumbs up and passes a wink, he hisses when he drags the left corner of his lip upwards. "What's wrong?," Aiden asks as she looks up at him. "There is a bruise on my cheek," he turns his head facing sideways, displaying his cheek to her "It hurts but I don't know what caused it," he blurts as he rubs against his skin. Aiden purses her lips to a flat line her brain recalling the scene when she punched him. "There is nothing," she blurts looking away. "Is it? I saw in the mirror," he moves his head, his cheek in her view, he points at the bruise "Here," he asks. "There is nothing," she blurts without taking a look at it. "Why are you behaving like you caused it?," He questions casually. "What?," Aiden looks straight. "I didn't mean it, I was just kidding," he scratches the back of his head "Maybe I knocked onto something," he laughs awkwardly. "I did it," she declares dryly. Riley stares at her for a moment, his mind loading on her expression but still she wears the face which no one can predict, he moves forward and scowls "What? Why?" "You were annoying," "Was I?," Aiden arches a brow questionably, he leans back "Maybe I was," he says softly. After breakfast Aiden dresses up and walks out the room, Riley lays in the sofa playing video games. She promised to meet up with Chloe today as they didn't have much time yesterday. Riley sits straight immediately when he hears the creek of the door, he cancels the game for the first time in his life as he hadn't quit until he is dead. "Going somewhere?," He asks. "Yes," "Where to?," "To meet a friend," she replies as she sits on the stool beside the rack and ties the shoe lace. "I'm coming too," Riley stands and walks to the door. Aiden's action pause when he stands in front of her, he squats down and ties the lace of the other shoe, he then moves his hands to the next shoe "This is how you tie a lace," he states softly as he unties the knot made by her and twists the lace in slow motion. Aiden moves her hands away looking down at him, she curls her lips in, her heart pounding in each breath. Sometimes just little gestures mean a lot. She stands abruptly as her cheeks heat up at little gestures "Why are you coming?," She snaps averting her gaze when he stands. "Drop me off to the office, I'll file the lawsuit," "My destination is the opposite direction," she blurts, her eyes looking everywhere except him. "That's okay, we can go after your meeting," he takes the car keys and walks out.