16. Saturday Week Five

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Huge thank you to @edexhell for my new cover which I absolutely LOVE. She is soooo talented, not only with graphics but with words too. Be sure to check out her Hunger Games spin-off series which is incredible!

Lots of Love Babe ❤️

16. Saturday Week Five

The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the empty space beside me and the throbbing in the back of my head.

Gradually, I sat up straight and leant against the headboard of Eli's bed, releasing a groan as the room span around me, I would say that I'm never gonna drink again but we all know that would be bullshit. My hand against my forehead, I looked to the left of me and noticed something on the bedside table. A bottle of water, a box of painkillers, some sweats and a jumper; nice.

Slowly, I perched myself on the edge of the bed and took three of the painkillers because holy hell it felt like there were tiny little people stomping about in my brain. After the pain subsided slightly, I pulled on the sweats and jumper before making my way to the bathroom, brushing my teeth and throwing my mass of curly hair into a bun. My phone informed me that it was already past noon, guess I had a little lie-in. I made my way downstairs and into the kitchen to be greeted by the sight of Rosemary cooking away at the stove.

"Afternoon dear," she turned around briefly to face me, "pancakes?" she asked, "Ryker told me you'd be hungry when you woke up and that I should give you this with your pancakes."

Her lack of confusion about why I was here was displaced when she placed the love of my life on the counter in front of me: Nutella.

I smiled, Eli had discovered my love for Nutella during one of our movie's with the twins (after a session with Riley) when I had made him try my Nutella sandwich. Safe to say, he hated it; further proof that he was a weirdo.

"Thanks, Rose. Where is Eli by the way?"

It was Debbie's voice that answered coming from behind me as she walked into the kitchen, "he's in the gym darling. Why don't you go down after you've had something to eat?"

"Okay, thanks, Mrs Ryker." I smiled in thanks to Rosemary as she placed a Nutella filled pancake in front of me. I prayed I wasn't drooling in front of them.

"Please, call me Debbie, I was never married to the kids' father anyway," she informed me.

"Okay, sure. Thank you," I agreed, sending her a small smile before taking a bite of the blissful pancake. "Oh my god," I felt my eyes roll back in my head, "these are so good Rose."

She chuckled and gave a 'thank you' in response.

"You're welcome sweetheart," Debbie returned my smile, "okay Rose, I'm off, I'll be back around 6 ish. I'll see you Tuesday maybe Rei?"

My face was full of pancake so I nodded at her in reply and then she strode off out of the house. The pancakes were so good that I probably consumed about 6 more of them before placing my plate in the sink.

"Um, Rose? Where is your gym?"

"Downstairs honey," she told me. WTF? They have a downstairs. "The whole basement was converted into a workout space for Ryker." She gave me directions and I made my way down the stairs in search of Eli.

The gym was pretty much like the one at Maxon's, there were mirrors all around the room and it was painted white. I spotted Eli in the back corner punching a bag. Transfixed, I stopped and leant in the doorway, just admiring how his body moved and how his muscles rippled.

"You just gonna stand there?" His deep voice made me jump and he turned around to face me. His hair was wet with sweat and he had boxing gloves on his hands rather than just tape. He bent down to pick up his water bottle then squirted some water into his mouth before walking over to me. His eyes scanned up and down my body and he let out a slight smirk when he took in my attire. Probably because I looked like a hobo wearing sweats and a jumper which were about 10 sizes too big for me; safe to presume they were his.

"I-uh," I pulled the sleeves of the jumper down over my hands nervously before stepping into the room, "um, thanks. For last night, my Nan would've gone apeshit if I went home like that so uh, yeah. Thank you."

More water sprayed into his mouth before his shoulders lifted in a careless shrug as he peered over at me, "now we're even, tigru."

My eyebrows furrowed and I cocked my head to the side. "Even?" I questioned.

"You patched me up. I brought you home." His eyes were still fixed on my face making me feel nervous under his stare.

"Ohh, you don't owe me for patching you up Eli," I smiled at him, "we agreed that's my job now."

His face remained completely impassive as he replied, "it's not your job tigru. You can't do that again."

"What are you talking about?"

"It's not that complicated, Rei. You can't help me with that patching up shit anymore."

I rolled my eyes at him, "are you being serious? We are really going to do this again? We already agreed on this Eli. Twice."

"Do I look like I give a shit. You can't do it anymore."

Annoyed, I narrowed my eyes at him, "I can't? What do you mean by I can't? I'm perfectly capable Elias!"

This time he rolled his eyes, "I know, that doesn't mean I am going to let you."

"Eli, we agreed!"

"Why do you even care, Rei?" He stepped towards me, his anger making itself known on his face, "and don't give me some bullshit about your hair."

I sputtered for a moment, "I-I," my hands rose to my hair and tugged at the roots in frustration. "Because I'm the only one who knows you fight. I have to make sure you look after yourself."

"Maxon knows too Rei."

"You and I both know he only cares about you winning fights." Don't get me wrong, Max was lovely but when it came to fighting, that was all he cared about.

"So what?!" He yelled, arms rising and then falling, "why does this matter so much to you?" He was running his hand through his hair now, likely getting as frustrated as me.

"I don't know Eli!" I screamed back.

Only I did but I couldn't bring myself to admit it to him. The last boy I cared about broke me. Completely obliterated my entire being. Admitting I cared about Eli was the first step down the path of getting my heart crushed and losing myself all over again.

"Yes, you fucking do Rei," Eli called me out but no matter how badly I wanted to tell him at that moment, I just couldn't bring myself to say it — to admit I cared.

"Urgh," I grabbed at my roots again and then said more calmly, "I'm sick and tired of arguing with you Ryker."

Me referring to him as 'Ryker' seemed like the last straw for him.

"I'll take you home as soon as I've showered." And with that, he stormed past me without another word or glance back. A defeated sigh escaped my lips before I turned on my heel and followed him back up the stairs.

Tired and still hungover, I went into the kitchen and sat on one of the barstools, closing my eyes and putting my head in my hands.

"Well, that sounded intense." My head whipped up at the sound of an unknown voice.

The girl from the photos around the house, Eli's older sister, stood in front of me peeling an orange — it looked like a lot of effort to put into eating fruit of all things. Her hair was dyed pink and she had stormy grey eyes, confusing me because Eli had blue eyes and the other Ryker siblings had greeny brown eyes.

A weak smile was sent her way, "growing up with Eli, you probably understand better than most."

At my statement, her blonde brows rose into her dyed pink hair, "Eli, huh?" Her tone of voice informed me that she was equally surprised and confused by me calling Eli by his first name. At my nod, she continued, "you know about me?"

"Eli mentioned you were his sister last night, but only because I had to borrow your bike jacket."

Her eyebrows rose impossibly higher, "you rode his bike?"

"Yeah," I nodded my head but then winced at the sharp pain that lanced through it, fucking hangovers.

"Those his clothes?" She tilted her chin in the direction of my outfit and pointed up and down my body.

"I had a rough night last night so he brought me back here. He's gonna take me home when he gets done in the shower."

"Mm," was her only response and I was way too tired and drained from both my fight with Eli and last night to try to make conversation with her. Neither of us said anything for a while, me with my head back in my hands, eyes closed, her leaning against the counter, munching on her orange.

"Do you wanna borrow some clothes?"

I look over at her, "I'm good, I'm not going anywhere so I don't care in all honesty."

"You sure? Cause that is a total disaster," her finger motioned up and down my body. Instead of being offended by her words I found myself quite amused, she clearly wasn't one for beating around the bush.

Again, slowly, I stood to my feet, "sure, that would be nice."

She smiled, "follow me." I trailed behind her as she led me to her room. "I'm Raven by the way." She looked over her shoulder at me briefly, "I'm not related to the Ryker's by blood, their Pops kinda took me in." I chose not to pry, if she'd wanted to tell me more, she would've. It explained why she looked nothing like any of the siblings though.

"I'm Reillyn or Rei for short. I go to school with Eli and tutor Riles."

We make it to her room which is black with posters, CDs, DVDs, albums everywhere. It was a mess and as I looked around I decided maybe I should at least try and converse with her.

"So, when did you get back?" I asked her.

She stopped flicking through her closet long enough to look over at me confused, "back from where?"

"Um, college? Eli said you were a few years older than us."

"Oh, college, right, yeah. I got back last night before you two came in."

I responded with a nod and she turned to me holding out a plain black top with a scooping neckline and a pair of black leggings.

"Simple and comfy," she stated.

"It's perfect."

She pointed me in the direction of a bathroom to change and when I did, I found that everything fit fine but like her jacket last night, her top was a little tight around the chest. The scoop neck combined with her smaller sized clothes made my larger cleavage very visible like I wouldn't even show this much boob on a night out, visible.

From my place in the bathroom I heard Raven call out to Eli that I was in her room and I rushed out to ask her for a new top before he could get here. My lips parted to ask her just as he stomped through the door.

He looked at Raven but didn't notice me yet because I was to the left of the door, outside Raven's ensuite. "Where is she then?" He asked her in a grumble.

She pointed in my direction and he turned to face me. When he caught sight of what I was wearing he froze and his eyes widened slightly before scanning up and down my body and then landing on my very visible cleavage. I felt a shiver run down my spine at his look and my tongue unconsciously flicked out to wet my lips, Eli caught the action and his eyes darkened considerably.

As quick as the look of desire formed, it disappeared only to be replaced with another burning emotion. His eyes narrowed, his fists clenched at his sides and his nostrils flared, "What. The. Fuck. Are you wearing?" He growled.

My heart skipped at his tone and I crossed my arms across my chest as if trying to conceal my racing heart, all it did was cause his eyes to flicker to my chest again which in turn made me blush. I raised my chin at him, "your sister kindly let me borrow some of her clothes."

"I kindly let you borrow some of my clothes," he growled again, "so where the fuck are they?"

As I was already holding his clothes in my hand, I threw them at him, "here. Thanks."

Annoying bastard caught them before raising an eyebrow and demanding, "put these back on now Reillyn."

Who did he think he was? I mean, sure I wasn't going to wear the top out anyway but what right did he have to dictate what I wore?

I rolled my eyes before meeting his glare head-on, "bite me, Elias."

He growled before stomping over to me, stopping directly in front of me and holding out the jumper. "If you put this on, I will keep up my end of the deal." He negotiated through gritted teeth.

I cocked my hip out and raised a brow, this just got interesting. "And you can't argue with me about it again."

"Yes, fine. Whatever Reillyn. Just put the fucking jumper on."

Ecstatic that I was getting what I wanted, I snatched the jumper out of his hands and pulled it on whilst trying to conceal my smile.

He scowled at me when he noticed but he still reached down to grab my hand when I was 'dressed' before pulling me out of Raven's room.

"Bye, Raven!" I shouted over my shoulder, "thanks for the clothes, it was nice to meet you."

She stuck her head out of her room, "bye," she waved before giving me a wink, "keep the top." She had to raise her voice so I could hear her because Eli had already dragged me down half the stairs. "It would be great on a night out." She shouted.

"No, it fucking wouldn't" Eli grunted causing me to let out a loud laugh. Why was he acting like this?

He opened the door to Noah's Pontiac for me once we made it outside before stomping around, still in a huff, and getting into the driver's seat.

The drive to Noah's was silent but I enjoyed the silence. It was comfortable and after a crazy night like last night, it was just what I needed. We arrived at Noah's in no time and he got out before tossing me the keys and giving me a head nod as a way of goodbye before striding off in the direction of his bike. I don't think so, buddy.

"Eli!" I called out to him. He stopped and turned around, I jogged over to him and stopped when I was right in front of him.

"What," he grunted out, still salty about both our arguments I presume.

Before I could over-analyse or talk myself out of it, I threw my arms around his neck, got onto my tiptoes and pulled him into a hug. He didn't do anything for a moment, likely shocked. But then his arms banded around my waist and his head burrowed into my neck as he lifted me off the ground slightly so he was no longer bent over. A small squeal escaped me at his actions causing his chest to rumble underneath mine as he chuckled. We stayed like that for a second and I realised that this was the most relaxed and safe that I had felt in a very long time.

"I want to help you because I care about you Eli," I decided to tell him as I hugged him. There, I said it.

His arms tightened around me and he moved his head slightly to place a kiss against my neck. A shudder travelled through me at the action and I expelled an unsteady breath of air through my lips. His lips quirked into a smirk which I felt against my neck, arrogant twat.

He pulled back slightly but kept his arms wrapped around me so I kept mine around his neck as my dull green eyes met his bright blue ones. He leant forward and placed a second kiss against my forehead, his lips lingered and brushed against my skin as he whispered, "I care too, tigru."

As soon as the words left his lips he pulled away completely and gave me a soft smile before making his way over to his bike. He swung his leg over and started the bike up before pulling his helmet on with the visor still up. He looked over at me and sent me a wink before driving away.

It was safe to say: I was fucked.

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2866 words^

Edited

I am so sorry for the late update, it's my aunt's 50th birthday so we did a Zoom call with her. Was so nice to see everyone but wish we could've done more for her :((( weird times guys...

Not too pleased with this chapter, something about it is dislikable 😂 I'll probably end up rewriting it tomorrow instead of doing all my overdue school work 😬

Who else is really shitty with deadlines?

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