When Monday rolled around and all I'd heard from Tori was a message saying she was home and going to do some homework on Saturday, I was a little worried.

I saw Trina as soon as I got to school, normally I'd rather swallow rusty nails than have any form of communication with the older Vega, but I needed to know Tori was okay.

Something just didn't sit right in my gut.

I slammed my car door shut and made my way over to Trina as she waited in line at Jet Brew.

"Annoying Vega," I said, gaining her attention.

"What?" She asked, a little wary that I approached her.

"Where's your sister? I need to talk to her."

"She's sitting her test before she goes back home. Our father brought her to school."

Nodding, I grabbed her coffee as she was about to get it passed to her before walking off, ignoring her shouts as I raised a hand up behind me, sticking a finger in the air.

I navigated my way through the halls, bypassing our friends and people asking for me to come see them before I stopped out the front of the examination room.

David, Tori's dad, and her teacher were talking by the doorway quietly between themselves as the teacher kept an eye on Tori.

"Mr Vega," I said, gaining both his, the teacher, and Tori's attention.

"Jade, how've you been?" David asked and I nodded, looking over at Tori who just dropped her head back to her test.

"I'm doing alright, I was just wondering how Tori was."

"She's not feeling so well, but wanted to take the test, so I called the school and convinced them to allow her to take the test now."

"Well, any and all homework, I can bring by this afternoon if you'd like?" I offered, keeping my eyes on Tori as she raised her head quickly.

"Thanks, Jade. Why don't you stay for dinner tonight? I'll get the Mrs to cook up something good, cause I'm only good on the barbecue and take-out." He gave a small laugh.

"I'd actually love that, but I have to go pick my brother up from his father's. I don't think you want a seven year old running around."

"Hey, it's hot out, supposed to get to ninety-five today, bring him over and he can hang out at our pool," he said and I looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, it'll be nice to have a little kid running around, I'd prefer that to two screaming teenagers," he said, laughing softly.

"Okay, I'll call my mother and let her know we won't be home, thank you. I'll see you later on."

Even though she would be away till Friday, my mother would still need to be kept in the loop with things involving Riley.

The rest of the day was uneventful without Tori around, quiet.

It was like the whole school's mood had changed without her cheeriness.

She seemed to be friends with everyone.

By the time lunchtime came around, I'd given up hope that anything would happen that was going to lift my spirits let alone the rest of our group.

I glanced to the empty spot that was left for her at our lunch table, the chatter between everyone was quiet, mostly about everyone's upcoming break plans.

With summer break approaching quickly, usually everyone would be excited.

Beck's hand slipping onto my knee which brought my attention back to him, I smiled weakly and pressed a soft kiss to the edge of his lips before resting my hand on top of his.

Something felt odd about kissing him, and I couldn't figure out what.

"You okay?" He asked, just as the bell rang.

"Yeah, I'm just a little out of it. The heat is bothering me."

He stroked his thumb gently across my knee before standing, "Are you going to come to class?"

"Actually… I think I might go pick Riley up from school and take him to the beach," I said, looking at the time on my phone.

His lunch break would be starting in a moment, so if I hurried across town, I'd be able to get him before his classes started back up.

"Do you want me to ditch with you?"

"No, I have plans after that, I have to take him straight to an appointment, so it'll be a little out of the way to drive you all the way back here to get you to your car, then go all the way back to the appointment. Besides, I know you're not a huge fan of kids, so I wouldn't subject you to dealing with him."

He almost looked relieved at my words, giving him an out to hanging with my autistic brother.

He moved to kiss me, and I allowed it, a short peck, before we parted ways.

I signed myself out at the office before making my way to my car, as I tossed my bag onto the passenger seat, I started my car and pulled out of the parking lot, using the buttons on the wheel, I scrolled through the contacts on my phone that connected to the cars Bluetooth and called Riley's school.

"Northridge Special Education School, how may I assist you?"

"Hey, this is Jade West, Riley's sister. I need to come pick him up from school."

"Sure, just remember to bring your ID in with you when you come get him."

"I'll be there in a few minutes, can you make sure he's got his bag ready and his water bottle and lunch box? Apparently his father left his bottle there on Friday when picking him up."

"We'll get right on that and have him waiting in the office for you."

As soon as I'd tossed Riley's bag in the back beside mine, I climbed into the driver's seat and smiled over at him. "Hey, Riles, my friend has invited me over for dinner tonight, and they've asked you to attend also. So, are you okay with meeting Tori's family?" I asked him.

He looked up from his hands, smiling up at me as he nodded, making me hold my hand up.

He high-fived my hand, letting out a noise of excitement before I started the car. I made sure the music was turned way down before I got out to retrieve him, and when he had turned his attention to his iPad, I raised the volume on the music a little, being wary of his unease around noises.

"So, I'm going to drive us home, we can change into our swimwear and grab a spare change of clothes. Then we can go see Tori, okay? I know you like Tori."

He made a noise of acknowledgment and I smiled, my heart skipping slightly.

The few times Tori had been around him, Riley had been very playful and aware that the new person wasn't a threat.

She treated him like a normal seven year old boy, inviting him to play games and watch movies with us.

Riley had always been my top priority whenever someone new came to the house, or I'd bring a friend over. He was very special to me.

When my mother had told me she was pregnant, I was thrilled. I remember it clear as day, her and her at-the-time boyfriend had taken me to get ice cream after school, they announced it as I sat down and taken my first bite.

The next day they took me to see the ultrasound, she was far enough along that I could hear the heartbeat- the doctor looked concerned and told them so.

I put my hand on my mother's stomach and promised I'd love this baby forever.

They got married when she was seven months pregnant.

Divorced shortly after Riley was born due to his father sleeping with someone else.

But they both were still civil enough, and friendly enough, I honestly don't think it'd be long before they started fucking again with the way they flirt with each other.

I looked up at our home as I pulled into the driveway and parked the car by the door.

"Go inside and change, Riley. Don't forget a change of clothes okay?"

He nodded, and although he never spoke a word, I knew he knew what to do. I knew he understood me.

I grabbed both our bags and locked my car behind us before walking through to the kitchen, setting his bag on the counter and mine on the stool, I sent cat a quick message asking her to bring both mine and Tori's homework to my house after school was done and went about prepping Riley's lunch for tomorrow.

"You're home early," I heard Rose say.

"Yeah, I picked Riley up, we're going to be out for dinner so you don't have to worry about cooking his meal."

"Oh?"

"Tori's dad invited us," I said, my hands shaking a little as I cut up his carrot into sticks.

"And your mother approved?"

"I called, she said to have fun. She's out till Friday anyway, so she couldn't stop us."

"New people around Riley," Rose sounded hesitant. Just how I felt.

"I trust them. I trust Tori."

"I'll keep my phone on me incase you need me to pick him up."

"Rose, you never get time to yourself. Don't worry about it. I can take care of my brother."

I knocked on Riley's door not long after Cat had left, he was playing on the Wii in his boardshorts with a towel and a change of clothes sitting on the bed beside him.

"Come on," I said, packing his clothes into the bag on my shoulder along with my change of clothes.

He quickly switched his tv off and stepped up beside me as we made our way down the stairs to the front door, slipping out flip-flops on.

He grabbed my arm and looked at me with wide eyes before running back upstairs.

I waited, watching the stairs as I heard him back in his room before he came running back with a toy car, his iPad, and the controller for the car tucked in his arms.

"Ready?"

He nodded, making his way to the car while I locked the house up.

I took the car and it's controller, tucking them in the bag before putting it on the back seat.

I made sure Riley's belt was on when I had put mine on, and once he was clicked in properly and was playing on his iPad, I started the car and pulled out of our driveway.