My chest relaxed as if it were innocent in my struggles, while my lungs filled several times before I opened my eyes. Tears clung to my lashes, and Riff smiled tenderly while moving his thumbs to wipe away the ones under my eyes. Without speaking, he placed another kiss on my forehead, and even my shoulders relaxed this time. I warily stared at this boy who appeared to have some power over me with fearful awe, and his smile became rueful. When my emotions twisted like angry vines within my chest, he shook his head and kissed my brow once more. A shuddering breath escaped my lips while the storm within me calmed.
Before I could back away, he pulled my numb body into a gentle hug, and I shuddered. The next moment, I buried my face in his chest and held him as tight as I could. Something about our embrace soothed my soul, and I grew peaceful. When I raised my head, Riff’s eyes were full of gentle concern, although he smiled when I met his gaze for several moments. Upon dropping my eyes, it surprised me to discover that my skin didn’t crawl like I expected.
“Why?” I asked on an exhale. I doubt I made any sound, but Riff cocked his head to the side, and his expression grew thoughtful.
“What if I told you your soul recognizes something within me it craves? Not romantically, but what my soul carries completes yours. Or at least a part of it. Claire’s does the same, just like the rest of our choir. You’ve wandered around all your life, mostly empty without realizing it. Matty is the reason you live, but Marcus completes you in a way the rest of us cannot. Save one, but he chose not to. Selfish, immature bastard. I wish I could explain, but one day, Marcus will. Until then, please try to be patient, Angel. I promise this isn’t an awful thing. It’s wonderful for us and you, I swear. But I understand that you are skittish and unsure, sweetheart. So, I’m not angry or upset, nor disappointed. Just hopeful that someday you’ll smile without shadows of pain in your eyes. And, if it’s possible, I’d love to meet Matty and tell him how amazing his big sister is, although I’m sure he already knows,” Riff murmured.
With a slight smile, I became immersed in a memory of Matty sprinting towards me with a smile a mile wide, and his arms open for a hug. Nobody hugs like Matty. He puts his entire body into it and crushes you in the best way. Even though Marcus and Riff make me feel like I’m home, I know without a doubt I am when I receive one of Matty’s hugs.
“All right, let’s get food into that stomach of yours because I know you skipped breakfast. Every spare penny goes to Matty, and you can survive with only one meal a day, hmm? No longer, but we’ll work on that,” Riff decreed with a slight smirk.
Before I could protest, his arm was around my shoulders, and my feet obediently headed towards the cafeteria. I swallowed nervously upon realizing the halls were empty. Which meant everyone would see us enter like this. Did Riff stop us on purpose? I believed he did. It wasn’t out of malice, but to declare I was under his protection.
Everyone stared when we entered the cafeteria. I had my arm behind Riff’s back, and my fingers clenched in his shirt, where no one could see. Chuckling, he kissed my forehead without pausing, and my cheeks heated while I tilted my head to meet his gaze. He led me toward a table full of our classmates from choir, albeit he noticed when my feet faltered while we passed Zach. Smirking, he grabbed the collar of Zach’s shirt, jerking him to his feet before giving him a gentle shove between his shoulders. Snorting, Zach grabbed his lunch and backpack before giving Riff a two-fingered salute. He took a seat next to Claire with a rueful smile, which she responded to by patting his head with a wide grin. Riff indicated the chair beside Zach, then sat next to me.
Riff pulled a bag out of his backpack, which he emptied to reveal a hefty sandwich, a bag of chips, and a small container of grapes. I blinked, and the fruit was in front of me. Before I could protest, everyone at the table placed a minor part of their meal before me. Each student nonchalantly returned to eating or conversation while I stared at the plethora of food. Even Zach contributed a yogurt.
“Eat it, or it goes in the trash,” Riff murmured after taking a big bite of his sandwich. “It brings us joy to provide you with food, Angel, you are an important part of our dynamic. You don’t have to eat it now, save some for a snack later, or even breakfast tomorrow. But if you don’t eat it, we won’t either, and it’ll waste.” When I met his gaze, he gave me a broad smile, then took another bite of his sandwich, looking pleased with himself.
Swallowing nervously, I reached shaking fingers towards the grapes he gave me and pulled them closer to eat them. His pleased approval radiated from him in waves. Next, I munched on the carrots Claire gave me, before eating Zach’s yogurt. I still had several granola bars to go, all distinct flavors, a peach, a few
