People Don't Talk That Way
Riley and I still walked into Urban Outfitters the same way we left the park across the street from the institute.
In some twisted way, I had become use to Riley and I guess Riley just was stunned and has gone into a robotic state of mind, since I doubt he had ever head a girlfriend who put her hand on his ass like this in public.
I then glanced around the store, not seeing Abigail and Ben, but I heard the voices, over in the changing room area.
So, with a reluctant sigh, and murmured," We should probably find a seat and wait for them to finish changing, you know?"
I glanced up at Riley, who gulped once again, before nodding in agreement.
So, I reluctantly unhooked my hand from his back pocket, and began walking towards a bench, where people waited for other people, while they shopped.
I kept walking, so Riley' arm slid off of me, and I took the lead to the bench. I sat down, only to see Riley trailing behind me.
I leaned back into the leather loveseat, sitting upon my side, only to have Riley sit on his side, noticing like he was trying to keep distance between us, but trying to act normal as if our little "date" thing hadn't happened.
I sighed loudly, enjoying the peace and quiet of the store, and the lack of fear of Ian finding us.
Things were silent between Riley and I for a moment, before Riley cleared his throat and questioned, in an off handed manor," So, why is it that your dad, when he saw Abigail, instantly assumed she was pregnant?"
I sighed and explained, as I let my head roll over to face Riley," Well, my father believes that Ben has been a little too careless with his personal life."
"How so?" Riley questioned, obviously liking he was digging up some dirt on Ben, actually putting both of us back at ease.
I then smiled and explained," Let's just say Ben has said, more than once, 'I love you' to many different persons, who aren't part of the family."
"Really?" Riley smirked, beginning to think was a player.
"Yep," I nodded, letting my head roll back, so I was facing forward and looking at the unamused brunette, who was working to cash register.
Riley then whispered, changing the subject," So has Ben always believed that this treasure is real? Or was it just a hobby thing for him to do with your grandpa?"
I began to reminisce about my old childhood memories with my grandfather and Ben, who he would tell us the old stories and legends, feeding our imaginations and need to become historians. "Ben has dreamt its real, since our grandfather told us about it. You know-"I rolled my head back over and looked directly up into Riley's big blue eyes"-he wants to hold it. He thinks he is so close, he can taste it."
Riley chuckled and nodded in agreement, still looking back into my eyes.
"Anyways, he just wants to know it's not just something in his head or in his heart, to represent our grandfather or the love he lacks for our father."
"What about you?" Riley smiled, but as if to comfort and reassure me," Why don't you believe in it?"
I lost my smile, but still starred up at his eyes. "At one point in everyone's lives you have to choose if you are going to follow in the family's footsteps or crave a new path out for yourself. And I chose to crave a new path, separate of the Gates family."
Quietly I confided further, as I looked down at the scarf hanging from my neck," To be honest, when I was a child I didn't want to have anything to do with history in my career, but it's in my blood. So the next thing I did to distance myself from my family was to move far away for college. But my parents divorced and my father lost his good health, then my grandfather suddenly died, and I was forced to come back here and attend college here. So no matter how hard I try-"I paused and looked up at Riley's eyes"-I seem never able to distance myself from the Gates family."
"But that didn't answer my question." Riley murmured, with a slight frown.
I sighed," I chose not to believe in the treasure, just to be different and not part of the Gates family history. But really, even as a child, I always hopped that Ben was right and that there was a treasure somewhere waiting to be found."
Everything was silent for a couple of seconds, when Riley blurted out," People don't talk that way, Dra."
I giggled," I know, but they think that way."
Riley smiled and chuckled at me, when we noticed Ben and Abigail walking towards the cash register in front of us.
So without a second thought, both Riley and I jumped up.
Too bad, I really wished I could have continued that conversation with Riley.
