From the Big Time Reunion chapter of Big Time Reunion.
Leigh's sudden appearance triggers an unexpected flashback for Riley XD Just for AbbyMasrai!
The sound of heels clicking lightly against the hard wood floor brought the Irish teen's attention to the stair case. Had he known that merely looking up would completely cause him to loose track of reality for a second he would have avoided it, however some higher force had a sick sense of humor and did not alert him of what was to come.
As soon as masked, hazel eyes fell upon the figure of his teammate they froze. Were he able to register how stupid he looked at the moment he probably would have clamped his mouth shut and stood there coolly, collected and apathetic like any other day - but that was just the issue here, he wasn't able to really register anything. In this moment a sudden memory was called to the surface, one he had long since forgotten.
"Mum, what are angels like?"
The older woman looked up from the black pudding she was preparing to turn towards her son, who was sitting at the small dining room table and gazing out into the rainy night. Her little boy had such a mess of black hair and wide hazel eyes that contrasted his pale skin so much, he almost looked too innocent to be a fifth grader who towered over the rest of his classmates. She raised one fine black brow at him, a small smile coming over her face.
"Well, angels are very beautiful. They wear glowing white robes, have large feathered wings, golden halos over their head, and bright, sweet eyes."
Riley had turned to look at her, his legs crossed up in the kitchen chair with his elbows propped up on them, resting his chin in his palms as he listened to her. She made her way over and pulled out a chair, sitting directly across from him and using her hands to tell more about angels - his mother had very expressive hands.
"They are very kind beings that will watch over you and keep you from harm, and they have absolutely beautiful singing voices- "
"I knew it!"
Riley chimed in suddenly, sitting up straight and causing his mother to stare at him oddly.
"Knew what?"
At this point little Riley was grinning from ear to ear, as if he had correctly answered in a spelling bee.
"There's a girl in my class who is an angel, Mum! I knew it, I knew it!"
At this she laughed lightly under her breath and leaned back in her chair, resting her hands in her lap and staring at him with soft eyes.
"Oh? And how do you know she's an angel?"
Riley looked all too ready to describe this 'angel' to his mother, because at that moment he sat up straight and raised his hands into the air to exaggerate on his story just as his mother had done.
"She's really, really pretty, Mum! Her hair goes all the way down to her waist, and its gold and looks like it's made out of silk. She smiles all the time and her eyes are really bright green."
In all his excitement he had to reach up to brush back his mass of bangs from his eyes a few times, all the while his mother was patiently listening to him with a smile in place.
"She has the prettiest voice in the whole choir, and sometimes when I play the piano with just her singing it's better than bells. Oh and angels must be very graceful too because she never trips, at all!"
"Oh yes they are, very, very graceful. They float, you know?"
His hazel eyes grew wide.
"I bet she floats!"
His mother laughed once more, full of amusement which just made Riley grin again. He loved when he could make his mother laugh.
"So, tell me, what's this angel's name?"
Riley's face fell visibly and he glanced to the side. He reached up to rub the side of his nose with his index finger, something he had done since he was very young whenever he was embarrassed.
"Um... I don't know."
This time her eyes grew wide, but then a grin came on her face and she laughed again, clapping her hands lightly as she leaned forward to rustle his hair.
"All of that and you don't know her name, Riley?"
"Well I...I never asked! Besides she's in a different Sunday class than I am and I only see her when I play the piano!"
The young boy defended quickly, crossing his arms at his mother's question.
"Well, how about tomorrow you ask her name before you both head to class?"
"I will!"
He said with a bright grin. She smiled and patted his cheek before standing up once more and returning to the pot on the stove.
"And you know what else I'm gonna do, Mum?"
"What's that?"
"I'll walk her home after class and make sure she's safe the whoooole way!"
Once more her son's rather mature words caught her off guard, and she turned to look at him with a hand on her hip and a small smile.
"Protect her?"
"Yeah! I'll protect her with my life!"
She laughed lightly once more, a laugh like bells and returned to her cooking.
"You clean up nice."
A voice snapped him back to reality, and his gaze fell back to the girl who had triggered the memory. Not wanting to show any sign of said relapse a smirk quickly came over his lips.
"So do you."
