Chapter thirty one: Noisy
RILEY'S POV
I stood there, watching him enter his room before my hands flew to my already hot cheeks.
I inhaled… then exhaled, turning quickly and walking back into my room.
I stopped in front of the mirror.
My face was still red.
Ugh.
I grabbed a white hair tie, pulling my hair up into a high ponytail.
I paused.
Examining myself.
Then frowned.
…I did look better.
I narrowed my eyes at my reflection.
"What right does he even have to tell me which hairstyle I look better in?" I muttered under my breath.
I stared at myself for a second longer before turning away.
Whatever.
—
By the time I got downstairs, Amber and Harleen were exactly where I left them.
Amber was on her phone, while Harleen looked up the moment she heard me.
Her eyes landed on my face.
"Why is your face red?"
I paused for a second. "It's not."
Amber looked up, squinting slightly. "…It is."
"It's hot," I said quickly.
Amber glanced around. "…It's not that hot."
"Well, it is to me," I muttered.
Harleen held my gaze for a moment longer, like she was trying to figure something out.
Then she looked away.
Amber shrugged lightly. "Okay"
Harleen picked up her bag. "We should go."
Oh.
I grabbed my things quickly. "Yeah. Let's go."
—
We headed toward the door, the conversation already shifting to something else.
As I stepped outside with them, I couldn't help it—
My hand briefly went to my hair.
Just for a second.
The mall was loud.
Too loud.
It wasn't the same mall we visited with Cleo.
"Why is it this noisy?" I muttered.
"It's a mall," Amber replied.
"That doesn't explain anything."
"It does."
—
"Come on," Harleen said, already walking into a store.
I sighed and followed.
—
Inside, Harleen immediately grabbed a top and shoved it into my hands.
"Try this."
I looked at it. "…No."
"Try it," Harleen repeated.
"Don't," Amber said from the side.
I frowned. "You're both confusing."
"Just go, Lily" Harleen said, pushing me toward the changing room making me roll my eyes at her.
—
A few minutes later, I stepped out.
Harleen looked at me.
Paused.
Then—
"No."
"I told you," Amber said.
"It's not that bad," I argued.
"It is," Harleen said.
Amber nodded slightly. "It's the outfit, not you."
"Next," Harleen said, handing me another one.
—
I came out again.
Harleen looked.
Then nodded. "Better."
Amber glanced up. "Yeah. That works."
I blinked. "You both agree?"
"Don't get used to it," Harleen said.
"Now enough about me, let's find something for you two"
"We haven't even started" Harleen said already grabbing another outfit.
—
After a long while, we stepped out of the store with more than a few bags.
"You said you were paying," I reminded.
"I am," Harleen replied.
"just confirming."
—
We stopped briefly near a mirror.
I glanced at my reflection.
Then quickly looked away.
"Let's go," I said.
Harleen frowned slightly. "You're rushing."
"I'm not."
Amber didn't say anything.
She just looked at me.
—
"Food," Harleen said.
"Yes," I replied immediately.
Amber nodded. "Finally."
XANDER'S POV
I stared at the ceiling.
My thoughts drifting back—again.
Guilt.
Anger.
Hatred.
A time when I had no choice.
Back when I was younger.
Sometimes, it felt like the hatred had faded.
Leaving only the anger behind.
—
My thoughts shifted.
To bright hazel hair I hadn't seen in almost two years.
Then—
Back to the dark one now occupying my former room.
For some reason, the anger didn't last.
A part of me—small, but there—felt… relieved.
Someone else was in that room now.
—
Now, whenever I passed by, I didn't see—
A boy sitting near the bed, trying not to cry.
Instead—
I saw an annoying black-haired girl.
Bad taste in music.
Doing weird things.
…
My lips twitched slightly.
—
My phone started ringing, snapping me out of it.
I picked it up, glancing at the screen.
"Max."