Thuraya Known, Double thanks to you :))
rOck-bUtterfly91, I was soo happy to read your review! So cute! Thanks! Der deutsche Zusatz war auch toll :D Made me happy :))
BananaPieThiefX, Yeah :( you're right! Thanks for reviewing :)
Masterarcher, Ui, that's cool!! To make somebody love Riley even more is great ;) Thanks so much, glad you liked it ;-)
Second part of Riley's story
Riley's story 2
'Riley, do you anything about computers?' A familiar voice asked. Beg pardon?
I was looking at Ben who closed the door behind himself and sat down beside me. I didn't try to hide my tears. In this little windowless cubical were no lights, except the dim light from the lamp on my desk.
'What?' I asked totally taken aback. To hear his voice was like a dream. When you expect a voice that belongs to somebody who wants to beat you up, such a gentle question was more worth than anything else.
'You said that you are interested in technology- stuff. Do you know anything about it?' He asked gently.
'Yeah, I know quite a bit about that kind of thing.' This was a real understatement, but I didn't want to boast.
'Good, can you hack?' The question surprised me a little.
'Well, I know how to hack. I hacked into the cafeteria database several times to change the purchase list and the dinner menu.' He chuckled at my answer.
'Do you want to join us? You're nearly eighteen. By then, the orphanage doesn't have to keep you anymore and you could end up on the streets. And I need somebody who can use a computer.'
This guy was my new hero. I looked at him with wide eyes.
'Thanks. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks. Thank you so much!' I screamed while I threw both arms around his neck. I heard him laugh and he surprised me by returning the hug, rubbing circles in my back.
'Oh my gosh, I don't know what to say, Mr...?' We broke apart and I looked at him curiously.
'Call me Ben.' He was still laughing.
'Thank you so much, Ben. You're better than any made up hero, because you just rescued me from the beating of my lifetime.'
'I thought it was something like that.' There was real anger in his voice. 'What about your cheek?' He touched exact spot where Mr. Grass hit me. I winced.
'It's okay.' I replied, but jerked away. It would be awhile until it would be okay again, but it was bearable.
'Are you sure?' Was this the feeling of being cared for? Nobody really gave a crap. Yet this guy who I knew for only half an hour, who found me in his car, gave me a feeling of being liked. Of being worth something. It was a great feeling.
'I'm sure.' I half-lied and smiled at him.
'I think you should really pack, if you want to join us.' He ordered nicely.
'It's lucky I'm good with computers.' I shook my head and thanked our janitor silently for teaching me computer stuff.
'Oh no, I would have asked you to join us even if you couldn't use computers. I got the strong feeling you wouldn't have been able to protect yourself.' He chuckled 'This computer thingy is just a good way to make Ian and Shaw agree. But you better improve yourself as a computer specialist, otherwise Ian will kindly strangle us both without raising an eyebrow. That much you owe me.'
I couldn't help but smile. I really liked this guy.
End of Riley's story
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When I finished Sophia was smiling.
"So there was a happy ending." I said with a smile.
"Out of curiosity, did you find that treasure?"
"You'll never know." I teased. "And now I want to hear your story."
"There's not much, it's pretty ordinary. A young woman, whose dream is to become a famous actress, but fails. And now she's one of the best- looking, most amazing, well paid translators, who is now sitting in her great living room with a computer nerd."
"With the most amazing computer nerd. That sounds like a happy ending, too!" I answered with a bright smile.
"Yeah, seems so." She laughed. "Well, you amazing treasure hunter aka thief aka hacker, we should go to sleep."
I made a face before I replied: "Then good night you good-looking dreamer aka actor aka translator."
"Good night. And thanks for your story." She waved one last time and disappeared into her room. I went to our guest room with a smile.
"Everything okay?" I heard Ben's question.
"Yeah. Thanks Ben." I continue to smile in the darkness, feeling really gratitude for him.
"What for?" He asked with a chuckle.
"Nothing." I paused, then I added, much calmer: "Everything!"
He laughed once more and wished me a good night again.
"Night" I whispered back.
This night I would sleep fantastic.
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I woke up when I smelled home-made cookies. That was something I couldn't resist.
It was the first day we slept until ten o' clock in the morning.
I saw Ben stretching in the bed beside mine. Abi was already out of bed. "So what happened yesterday evening with you and Sophia?" This was typical of Ben. He was curious about things that had the potential to hurt me.
"Nothing, Ben. We were talking." I assured him.
"About?" He was sitting on the edge of the bed and I was sitting at of the edge of mine, so that we were facing each other.
"Actually we talked about you." I had to laugh about the surprised face he made.
"What?" He was stunned.
"She thought we were brothers. And I told her how we meet." I smiled at him.
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Ben's Perspective
This was something I really loved to remember, the day I met Riley Poole. That Ian had let the truck stay open was the greatest thing Ian had done. Every time I thought about it, I wanted to thank him.
After the jerk backhanded Riley I knew I was going to ask him to join us. The pain and fear in Riley's eyes awakened a will inside me to protect him. At that moment I promised myself that the kid wouldn't be hurt anymore.
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At breakfast, Riley and Sophia remained silent. Abi smiled sadly at both of them. This would be a difficult goodbye, poor kid.
After an hour of laughing and talking we began to say goodbye.
Riles said goodbye to the German relatives and Sophia said goodbye to Abi and me. After that they both vanished for several minutes.
Abi and waited at the car, the Germans back in the house.
Sophia didn't come again. Riley came back alone, biting his lip, hands in his pockets and gaze downcast.
"Oh Riley." Abi hugged him tight.
"It's okay." Riley smiled a sad smile, that didn't reach his eyes.
"You sure?" Abi asked letting him out of the hug.
"Yeah." He sighed and with a nod and Abi got in the car.
"Are you really sure?" I asked him, a hand on his shoulder.
"I will be, thanks Ben." That satisfied me.
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'Nothing... Everything...' Does anybody know the movie I have the line from? It's my favourite line of this movie... Guess which movie I mean... ;-)