Hello my beautiful readers!
I recently got a comment about not updating this story quick enough or with long enough chapters. While I'm sorry to see that my update frequency dampens your enjoyment of this story, please know that I update all my stories as much as possible! However, to be completely honest, the reason this story has had such long breaks in between updates, aside from my working on other stories, is that I wasn't sure if people were still interested in reading it or not and I base that assumption strictly on the comment section. Most people seem to be focused on my werewolf stories, which I'm happy for, but it does mean that I tend to focus more of my attention on the stories that are being asked for. Thank you so much for expressing interest and I've done my best to write a long chapter this time. I thought it would be fun to write the chapter going through the holidays as well to make time pass a little more quickly for our two pining love birds. Because of this, the chapter is split between three sections: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Eve. I hope whoever reads this finds it enjoyable and is happy to finally see some real progress in the Thomas and Riley relationship! Please forgive any editing mistakes.
P.S. If you would like to set the mood for this chapter, please refer to the song I left in the chapter description. It gives me serious Thomas and Riley vibes.
Much love, xx
~Thanksgiving~
Thomas's Pov:
I woke up early the next morning, dressing in dark denim jeans and a collared navy blue shirt, wanting to look nice for Riley. On the way to the coffee shop I stopped at a florist's and picked up an order of two dozen roses, hoping the gesture would make him see that he was right. I hadn't meant it when I said I wanted him to leave. I was just being an ass.
When I arrived at the coffee shop I ordered his favorite drink and arranged the flowers next to it, in what I hoped was an aesthetically pleasing way. Then I waited. After an hour passed, I texted Riley, asking him if he was still asleep and then got a refill of my coffee and a fresh order of his drink, setting it right next to the first cup. When I didn't get a text back after two hours, I texted again.
Me: Hey Riley, I'm still here. I hope you'll meet up with me soon. I'll wait as long as you want.
Then I waited, once again ordering a fresh drink for Riley. After I'd been waiting for four more hours, I finally called him. His phone was off. That's when it finally hit me. I was being stood up. So, I'd completely destroyed everything I'd tried to build with Riley and all because I was jealous of Scott and forced a kiss onto him. I felt tears sting at my eyes but quickly went to the counter to collect two drink carriers and ordered a fresh drink for Riley. I put it, and all the others I'd ordered, in the carrier and collected the roses that had wilted a bit, then I drove to Riley's dorm. When I got to his room, I didn't knock. I simply left the things I'd gotten him in front of his door with the note telling him how sorry I was for making him leave and could he please forgive me. Then I left.
That was nearly four weeks ago and I'd barely heard from Riley since. After he failed to show up at the coffee shop, I decided to give him space, like Scott suggested, though it killed me to do so. Now I only saw him at the gym and when I did, he treated me like a regular customer. It hurt. It felt like I'd gotten my heart broken without even having a relationship to show for it, on top of losing one of my closest friends.
My other friends noticed that I'd changed after the halloween party. I was less talkative and I didn't want to do anything with anyone, even Heather. I couldn't find enjoyment in things and it struck me once more how completely lost I'd felt ever since Riley stopped being in my life.
I replayed our kiss in my head, over and over, holding on to how much he seemed to want me in that moment.
I asked myself why I hadn't just kissed again him when he was practically begging for it? I regretted that I hadn't and thought about texting Riley for the hundredth time today. He had never texted me back after the party and he never mentioned the flowers or anything during the few times I caught him at work. It felt like I was invisible to him now and I hated it. Why couldn't I have just been a little more patient?
I was just sitting down to thanksgiving dinner, with all my relatives, when he finally called. My phone vibrated in my pocket and I was tempted to take the call but I knew my mom would flip if I got on the phone while at the table. She was big into family time and I was lucky to be sitting with it at all, considering for Sunday dinners she usually took everyone's phone away.
When my phone rang for the fifth time in a row, it being Riley every time, I became concerned and got up from the table. My mother gave me a look that asked what the hell I was doing and I gave her a worried look in return. I then left the room and went outside, despite the frigid temperature, so nobody could hear me. When my phone rang for the sixth time I answered.
"Riley? Is everything okay?" I asked, extremely concerned.
"Please come," he whispered and I could hear furniture smashing in the background as well as a high pitched scream that didn't come from Riley.
A moment later my phone buzzed and I saw that he had texted me his location.
"Alright Riley, I'm coming. Just stay safe," I told him as I quickly ran inside to grab my keys.
After I hurriedly informed my mother that a friend needed help, I kissed her goodbye and was on my way. I plugged the address he had given me into my gps and sighed in relief when it told me I was only ten minutes away from Riley's location. I drove quickly, careful to watch out for cops so I wouldn't get caught speeding, which would only slow me down even more, and ended up making it to my destination in six minutes.
I entered a shabby trailer park that I had never noticed before and pulled up to a run down looking mobile home. The aluminum shell was covered in a coat of yellow, cracked paint that did little to hide the corrosion it had collected over the years and most of the windows contained broken glass. Because of this, the moment I stepped out of my car I could hear screaming.
"Leave him alone! Stop it! Please daddy stop!" A girl screamed.
I ran to the front door of the trailer and yanked it open, finding Riley curled up on the ground and an older, fatter version of the screaming girl kicked the ever living shit out of him. The man stopped when I rushed in and gave me a look of complete surprise before my fist met his jaw. The piece of shit wasn't ready for me to punch him, he seemed very drunk and I'd landed a good blow. He went down, tripping on the edge of a frayed rug, causing him to fall much harder than he previously would have and his head smacked against the cheap, pealing tile. Thankfully he didn't get back up and I was free to examine Riley.
I gasped when I saw his face. Purple bruises were already forming in various patches across his skin and a bit of blood was dripping from the corner of his mouth. I turned to look at the girl but she was already on the phone with 911. Good. I put my attention back to Riley and tried to wake him as I tenderly stroked his brow. Thankfully he was still breathing. He just seemed to be unconscious. He looked so small and helpless and I partially blamed myself for his injuries. If I hadn't kissed him then maybe he would have asked me to come over tonight. Maybe I could have protected him.
"The paramedics are on their way along with the police," she informed me, the exhaustion in her eyes making her look much older than she probably was. "So, thanks for saving my brother and everything but who the hell are you?" She asked, sounding suspicious as she watched me stroke Riley's brow.
"Thomas Smith," I replied, offering her my hand.
She shook it thoughtfully and then gazed at the way I was cradling Riley's head in my lap.
"Oh!" She brightened up immediately. "Are you his new boyfriend? He talks about you all the time!"
"Does he?" I asked, blushing happily at the discovery.
She nodded with a smile but then she gave me a very serious look. "You better be nice to him," she threatened. "His ex was so mean to him, all the time! I wasn't surprised when-"
"Abby!" Riley suddenly whispered before coughing violently, causing the girl to stop with her chatter as tears filled her eyes.
"Riley, I can't do this anymore," she suddenly said as she gripped her brothers hand.
"But your school, your friends?" He gasped, sounding like it was difficult to speak. "I c-can protect you. I did better this time didn't I?"