One Second: Chapter 4 - Too Little Too Late

Angel had his bags packed into the trunk of Bobby's car, ready to head off to the airport. Everyone was there, Riley, Jack, Bobby, Jerry, Evelyn and Sofi, all waiting to say goodbye. Sofi had been holding onto Angel for a good five minutes, crying for him to stay safe and not do anything stupid.

As soon as Sofi let go, Evelyn gave him a quick hug before taking Sofi in her arms to comfort. Jack and Bobby just hugged him quickly, Jerry hugged him long enough to whisper 'stay safe' in his ear and Riley, last but not least, lunged at him.

Angel rocked her back and forth. He was going to stay in contact with her as often as possible. She wanted to tell him everything that happened, he would certainly stay if she did. As much as she wanted to, she didn't. She just cried loudly into his shoulder as they held each other.

It wasn't just losing a best friend for Riley. It was losing her other half. When she needed someone to talk to, he was there. When she looked for someone to turn to, he was there. When she was searching for someone to drag along with her, he always gave in. He was her protector. He watched out for her. He knew her better than anyone else.

Angel squeezed her shoulders gently and she let go, pulling back. She stood in front of him, looking up at him, her eyes red from crying, tears still streaming down her face.

"Riles, I'll be back, don't worry." He said with a cheeky grin.

"I know." She replied with her own small smile.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do." Angel looked at her with a warning glare.

"Well fuck that leaves her pretty open doesn't it?" Bobby broke in, trying to lighten the mood.

Angel shook his head in amusement before reaching his hand out to pat Riley on the shoulder. She gave him a full smile before taking a step back to join the rest of his family.

Bobby made his way to the car, hopping into the driver's side. Angel took one last look at his mother, two brothers, girlfriend and best friend. His eyes stopped on Riley, wondering if she was ever going to tell him what happened at the party. He was leaving in two seconds, her time was running out.

Angel hopped into the passenger side and motioned at Jack to come closer. Jack leaned down, Angel's head poking out of the window.

"Watch her back Jackie boy." Angel whispered.

"Yeah." Jack nodded.

"I mean it, if anything happens to her I'm going to be looking at you."

"No problem, I'll watch her."

Angel nodded with another smile. Jack backed up as Angel stuck his hand out the window and waved. Sofi waved back, stepping closer to the car. Bobby pulled out of the driveway, Sofi stepped onto the driveway and stood where the car had just been, she then waved, shouting her goodbyes. Riley coughed back a sob before walking across the driveway. She kept walking, towards the sidewalk.

"Riley!" Jack called out.

Riley turned stopped walking and turned around to face him.

"What Jack?"

"Want to hang out tomorrow?"

"I've got work until six but I'll come by after." She yelled back.

"Alright."

Jack was going to make good on his promise to Angel. Riley wasn't going to be hurt that summer, at least, not if Jack had any control over it.

XxxxxxXxxxxxX

It was three in the afternoon and Riley was growing antsy. She enjoyed the job, that wasn't the problem, but lately she had been seeing people from her school walking into the café. It was just a matter of time before one of the customers was Kevin Mackenzie.

Riley filled up a cup of coffee and handed it to the young girl standing in front of her, holding a five-dollar bill. She knew the girl. She was at the party that Riley was at. The last party Riley had been to. Riley vowed that the next party she went to, she wasn't going to be taken so easily, she'd make sure she was going with someone who wouldn't leave her side.

Now Riley looked at the girl, she was no Gigi Devers but this girl, this Madison Fauver, was pretty close. She was known as the girl with the Colossal Keggers or the Banging Beer Fests. To be invited to a 'get together' meant party of the century. Riley handed Madison back her change before smiling, the girl was about so say something.

"So Riley, a few people are coming over tonight for some drinks. You're welcome to come." Madison nodded.

"I can't."

"Why not?" Madison asked, almost accusing her of being a bad friend.

Riley bit her lip, her mind went blank. She didn't have an excuse, or did she.

"I'm hanging out with a friend." Riley shrugged. "Sorry."

"Bring them along, the more the merrier." Madison grinned.

"Yeah, okay. Sure."

Riley caved. She had told Madison she'd be there. Simple solution, she wasn't going to go. If she didn't go, then Madison wouldn't talk to her anymore, which was how she worked. If you pissed off Madison, life became hell. Riley would just have to drag Jack along.

"See you tonight, my place." Madison grinned, waving a hand at Riley.

Riley sighed to herself before stepping away from her lineless till. She untied her apron at the back and tossed it under the counter. Only three more hours and she'd be with Jack, at a party she was scared of going to.

XxxxxxXxxxxxX

Riley turned her car off; it was parked in front of Evelyn's house, on the road of course. The driveway was full; Evelyn's car and Bobby's car were both at the house, which meant that everyone was home. Riley pulled the key out of the ignition and stuffed them into her pants pocket. She slowly climbed out of the car, locking the doors behind her.

Her feet felt like anvils, heavy and hard to move, as she walked up to the front door. Her stomach was full of butterflies. She was terrified of that night. Madison Fauver was not a girl who liked to be ditched.

Riley's knuckles rapped on the door. It felt like hours as she waited for the door to be answered. It was only a minute later when Bobby jerked the door open and smirked at her.

"Little Riley, here to pick up your girlfriend Jackie?" He asked with a laugh.

Riley smacked him on the shoulder before walking into the house past him. He closed the door behind her and made his way back into the living room. It wasn't fun for Bobby if she ignored him.

She headed right for the kitchen, spotting Evelyn and Jack at the table, sitting and snacking on a plate of chocolate chip cookies. Riley took a seat beside Jack, not saying a word, not wanting to interrupt their conversation. When Evelyn finished her story about Bobby when he was younger, she looked at Riley and smiled warmly.

"How are you today Dear?" She asked.

"I'm okay and you Evelyn?"

"I'm quite alright."

The older lady went to stand up, Jack also standing up, only because when a lady leaves the table, it's only polite and she was his mother after all. When Evelyn was out of the room, Jack flopped back into the chair and looked at her. She made eye contact with him but immediately turned her head away.

"What are we up to tonight?" Jack asked, trying to brush off her awkward behaviour.

"Maybe we could just hang out, gotoaparty." She tried to say it as one word so Jack wouldn't quite hear her, she was hoping he'd just agree.

"What was the last thing?"

"Uh, go to a party." Riley replied, her voice shaky.

"Only if you want to go."

"I wanna go!" She retorted, not for the fun of the party but for her own well-being.

"Fine we'll go."

"Good." Riley nodded.

Jack stood up from the table and headed up to his room. Riley remained sitting still, she looked straight ahead and stared at the wall. Six months after she was raped, she was going to a party, praying to God that Kevin Mackenzie wasn't going to be there. It would make for an interesting night if he were.