Silent Runner

The way back was slow and more than once Riley tried stepping and groaned. Part of me felt guilty for running off, and part of me was frustrated she followed. When I took the time to realize that before our conversation in the woods, she wouldn’t have let me help her like this, I was glad she had. Something had changed, I wasn’t sure what, but I was glad it had.

When we wandered into the clearing the man I had seen with Mrs. Meyers earlier ran up looking concerned.

“Are you okay Riley?” He asked, reaching out for her. “Here let me carry you.”

Riley flinched away slightly before smiling embarrassedly, ‘No, I’m fine.’

When we made it to the bleachers Mrs. Meyers surprised me.

“Riley,” she sighed, kneeling on the ground. Mud soaked her designer jeans as she gently checked out Riley’s ankle. “I know you aren’t super comfortable with it, but I need you to let Tim take a look at this.”

Riley stiffened meeting the gaze of the man I assumed was her foster dad. She glanced at me before nodding stiffly. I wasn’t sure what to make of that quick glance. Meanwhile Heather beamed thanking Riley before standing and taking her weight from me.

“Thank you for helping her back Ethan.” She smiled sincerely.

I followed them back to the bleachers that were now mostly empty. I hadn’t noticed how long we had been gone. Martha and Theo approached me frowning slightly.

“I know.” I sighed.

“What happened?” Theo asked grimly.

I glanced at where Riley was sitting only a foot away watching nervously and her foster dad tentatively removed her shoe. She seemed so vulnerable, but had held her own and helped me in that fight. She was stronger then she looked, probably stronger then she believed.

“He threatened to hurt her.” I admitted quietly.

My aunt’s eyes widened and my uncles narrowed. It was quiet for a second before Theo nodded slowly, “Then good job.”

I looked up, surprised. “That’s it?”

“I told you when I started training you that you only fight to protect yourself and others.” Theo shrugged. “I didn’t teach you for myself.”

“But.” Martha cut in. “Next time you need to know when to stop. You could get into serious trouble if you let your anger control you like that Ethan.”

“Yes Aunty.” I smiled nervously.

“Also you are both benched for two weeks.” Theo shrugged. “Coach is taking it easy on you because he knows that kid is trouble and trusts you had your reasons.”

I nodded before glancing back to where Riley was sitting.

“How is she?” Martha asked after walking past me with a nod to where Riley and the Meyers sat.

“It’s just a minor sprain, but we’ll still have to take her in to file a report. CPS doesn’t like kids getting hurt.” Tim said with a sigh.

‘I’m fine!’ Riley signed frantically.

Her fear was obvious on her face, as she looked back and forth between Tim and Heather.

“Riley, it’s okay. Accidents happen. As long as we are honest and seek out medical attention it’ll be okay.” Heather kneeled next to her again, comfortingly.

Riley stiffened her jaw and turned away letting her hair fall in front of her face.

“Riley,” Heather spoke gently, laying her hand on Rileys knee. “You’re not going back, honey.”

“Riley, I’m sorry.” I trailed off unsure of what to say next.

She shrugged, meeting my eyes with a false smile. ‘Not your fault. I tripped.’

“She said…” Heather started before realizing I was already responding.

‘I’m still sorry it happened. Let me know if I can help you.’ I signed stiffly.

She smiled for real then nodded before signing thank you.

Riley missed the next week of school and I was growing more concerned by the day. Almost to the point of missing the fact that Theo wasn’t leaving. He worked over the phone, sent his partner on trip, and late at night talked in urgent whispers with Martha.

I didn’t ask what was going on; afraid of the possible answer. Instead I focused all my energy on Riley. The days dragged and I worried I had made her lose the closest thing she had had to a family in ten years.

I didn’t have her number, or even know if she had a phone. Martha was at a loss but insisted thatI shouldn’t push boundaries and go check on her. The weekend drug by slowly.

Theo wasn’t the only one who was suddenly omnipresent. My mother couldn’t take a hint. She had gotten a hold on my phone number and messaged me regularly. When I blocked her I started getting messages from random strangers’ phones.

Friday when Martha finally took me in to get my phone number changed, my mom decided to go a step father. Several times over the weekend she showed up at the house. She threatened to get a lawyer and I heard Theo snarl that it better be a damn good one. I had never seen my uncle so mad.

Despite the stress and pain her sudden reappearance caused, I now knew for a fact that Martha and Theo would fight for me. After the lawyer threat on Sunday Theo called his own lawyer.

“Just in case.” He told me with a stiff smile when I caught him talking on speaker late that night.

That however was when everything got quiet. I knew nothing had changed but they were not telling me what was happening. I surprised myself by not prying. I wanted to know, but at the same time I wanted to pretend it wasn’t real.

I shuttered thinking about it now. It was Tuesday and I had decided that if Riley wasn’t at school I was going to her place. As the day drew to an end, there was still no sign of her.

“That’s it.” I said to Marcus as he hefted his football bag over his shoulder. “I’m going to check on her.”

“Okay, let me know how she is. I have to get to practice.” He grunted.

“I will.” I agreed before heading to my car.