Nichole sat in her room with her laptop watching Clifford and Rosita pacing restlessly, finding every means to get through to their daughter's line.
"Oops...poor you..." she murmured, smiling in satisfaction
"I will make you all regret for treating me like trash some years back." said Nichole with a disdainful look
*****************************
Riley ran out of fear on seeing how fast the stranger was approaching and hide herself at a corner to escape from him. She picked her phone to call for help then realized it has gone off
"Oh...shit..." she cursed underneath her breathe
Just then, she heard foot steps approaching her hideout and suddenly came to a halt. She got startled and held her breath
"We've lost her.." she heard the voice say to someone over the phone
"Okay ma'am.." the voiced said and turned away and left.
She peeped from her hiding spot to be sure he was totally gone and sighed in relief
"Oh...my...God, that was so close. What the hell was that all about?" she said to herself trying to compose herself.
Just when she was about to move from her hideout, someone crossed her
"Lionel...., you scared me.." she exclaimed, startled
"Sorry.., are you okay?"
"Yes I am but what are you doing here?" she asked with a confused look
"I was taking a stroll when I saw you got off the bus. I was about calling you when I saw a suspicious person tailing you so followed up. Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes..., thank you but do you leave around?"
" Yes..., just some few drive away from here."
"Oh...okay" she answered, slowly speaking
"But what kept you in town to make you return home this late? It's very dangerous out here."
"I went for some errands.."
"Okay..., let me walk you home."
"No..., I'm okay. I don't want to be a bother."
"You're at not Riley..., I insist, let me walk you home."
"Okay...Okay.., let's get going. My parents may be worried sick because my phone has gone off." she said, swinging her phone.
*******************************
CLIFFORD'S APARTMENT
Rosita and Clifford rushed out to the car and was about to get in when they saw their daughter approaching with a man
"Riley....?" they said in unison and rushed over to her.
"Why are you coming back so late dear?" questioned Rosita
"Sorry..mum.., I had to complete my assignment. Also, I went to the grocery store to get some things."
"We were worried sick dear.., why didn't you give us a call?" asked Clifford
"I didnt know I will be this late. My phone also went off."
"Okay dear, Thank God you are safely back. And who is this young man over here?" asked Rosita
"Ha..., this is Lionel, a friend from school. Lionel...., these are my parents Mrs Rosita and Mr Clifford Hollands."
"Nice to meet you Mr and Mrs Hollands." he replied, stretching out his hand to greet them."
"Nice to meet you too Lionel..." they answered in unison
"Thank you for bringing our daughter back safely." said Rosita with a smile.
"It's my pleasure, mum..I will take my leave now." said Lionel
"Okay dear..., get home safely." said Rosita
"Thank you." he replied
" Okay..mum.., I will see him off and come back."
"Okay dear...Lionel.., bye.." said Rosita as she left with her husband back to the house.
Riley and Lionel walked few steps away from the house and stopped
"I think you should go back Riley, I can go alone."
"Okay...see you tomorrow."
"Okay...."he answered, waved Riley and turned to leave. Just then, he stopped and called back to Riley who was about to enter the compound of her house
" Riley....."
"Yes..." she answered turning to face him
"Would you mind if I come and pick you up for class tomorrow?"
Riley stood quietly for a well and nodded with a smile
"Yes....!" he murmured to himself, smiling sheepishly
"Okay..., then see you tomorrow."
"Okay..." she answered and went into the house.
Riley went to the kitchen, dropped the things she bought and went straight to her room.
She dropped her laptop on her study table and tossed her bag on the chair. She went to her bed and slammed herself on it with a sigh, feeling exhausted. She laid quietly on the bed having flashbacks of the chase from the suspicious stranger
"That was so...scary." she quivered and lazily dragged herself up to the washroom to freshen up. Within few minutes, she was done. She was dressed up and laid on her bed reading a novel when she heard a knock on her door.
"Darling..., are you asleep?" asked Rosita from the door
"No mum..., please come in"
Rosita opened the door and stepped in with Clifford following after. Riley sat up as they approached her bed. They sat beside her, looking concerned. Riley, seeing how concerned they looked, took their hands in to hers
"Mum..,Dad.., you don't have to worry about me. I'm really fine. Moreover, I can take care of myself." she assured
"Okay dear..." replied Clifford
"Okay dear, but don't be this late again. I was so scared. I thought something had happened to you." said Rosita
" Nothing is going to happen to me mum..." she answered with a smile and hugged her parents.
"Now.., you two should go to bed now. It's already late."
"Okay dear.." they answered in unison, pecked their daughter and left.
Riley watched on as they left and shook her head smiling. Just then, she heard her phone rang. She checked the caller and it was Lionel
"Hello...Riley.."
"Hello..,gotten home already?"
"Yes.., I got home a while ago and I'm calling to let you know."
"Oh.., that's great."
"So what are you doing now? he asked
" I was lying on my bed, reading a novel when your call came."
"I'm sorry if I have disturbed you."
"No problems Lionel..., I'm okay."
Riley and Lionel stayed on the phone for long hours, chit chatting and giggling. Forgetting the whole incident that happened earlier. The call went deep into the night and Riley unconsciously drifted off to sleep.
********************************
It was 6am, Riley was still sleeping. She was woken up by the heavy knock on the door
"Riley....? Are you up."
"Yes...mum" she answered still in a daze and left to the washroom
"Hurry up and come downstairs dear, else you will be late again for school since you have to pass by the hospital." said Rosita and leaving to the hall
"Okay mum..." she answered from the washroom
After few minutes of waiting, Rosita saw her daughter descending the stairs.
"Where is dad..?" she asked
"He has already left for work."
"Okay..." she answered, sitting around the dinning table.
"I have packed some fruits and snacks for your grandma so hurry with your meal and send it over to her. I don't want you to be late for school today too."
"Okay..mum..." she answered and dug into her meal. She was about to clear the table when she heard the horn of a car outside. She moved to the window and peeked through
"Lionel..." she murmured with a smile
She quickly rushed to the kitchen and took the package prepared for her grandma
"I'm leaving mum..." said Riley and landed a peck on her mother's cheeks
"Okay dear...." she replied but before she could say more, Riley has already walked out of the door.
Lionel smiled as he saw Riley approaching
"Hi...." said Riley on getting to the car
"Hi..., can we go now?
" Yes...but please pass by the hospital first. I need to drop this package for Grandma before leaving for school." said Riley as she sat beside Lionel
"Sure..., as you wish." she replied with a smile and drove off.