[sub]Collab with [@Snagglepuss89] and [@lovely complex][/sub] As Riley drove down the road to the mall, which wasn't too far from The Queen's Orchid, the radio music was low but still filled the emptiness of the car. The song that was playing softly was "Apologize" by OneRepublic, what a mainstream song. However, music helped make things less awkward between the two friends. The twin was definitely curious about Elliot: how was he, where has he been, why he didn't stay in contact, all the changes in his life that made him... [color=fff79a][center][i]It's too late to apologize (it's too late)[/i][/center][/color] [color=seagreen]"So how you been?"[/color] Holding the steering wheel with one hand, Riley went up to fix his rear view mirror - it was slightly slanted in a way he did not like, which annoyed him to no end. Bringing his hand back, his thumbs tapped on the wheel as he waited for Elliot's response. Curiosity filled Rye's mind, especially on Elliot's game plan on how he was going to fix his relationship with Sophi. After El left, abandoned Sophi, not a single word to give her solace, things changed. Sure, Sophi hid her feelings with a smile, but that doesn't change the fact that Riley was worried. After that experience, Sophi seemed a bit "off". How could he not worry? If Tara just up and left him with no word... well that would just be depressing. Don't get the twin wrong, he was hurt when Elliot left but his pain was nowhere near Sophi's. There's a lot of hurt in her that needs time to heal, but the twin knew deep down his sister still loved this man. Elliot use to be her best friend, how can you forget your love for someone that close? But now it was up to him to make things better, right? Riley would at least try to help. [color=fff79a][center][i]I said, "It's too late to apoligize (it's too late)[/i][/center][/color] His phone vibrated for a bit, it seemed like he got a couple of texts. Digging his phone out of his pocket, he tossed his Nokia X2-01 (pretty low tech for this day and age) to the man sitting in the passenger seat. [color=seagreen]"Can you text people back for me? If it's Soph, Kye, or J, just be like 'K'. I kinda don't want to deal with their shit right now. Plus, James writes fuckin' essays. Ain't nobody got time for that."[/color] He thought to himself on who else could be texting him right now and had an ah-ha moment, [color=seagreen]"Oh! It could be Tara. Be like... almost there! Be by the fountain in ten."[/color] The list of people in his head kept going as he continued, [color=seagreen]"I doubt my girl would text me right now.. though I could be wrong. You can leave that text alone. If it's Oli or Zoe, let me know what's up."[/color] [center][color=6ecff6][i]*Five New Messages*[/i][/color] [b]FROM: [/b]James [color=FF3030] 'Hey man, I figure your busy with the morning rush at the moment so let me know as soon as you can how things are going. How's Ron doing? I know I can just ask shortly when I get there... nvm. How's Kylie doing on her first day so far? Sorry again for not being up to help with breakfast.' [/color] [b]FROM:[/b] Tara [color=0b5fbd][i]Great, I’ll be there as soon as possible. Don’t have too much fun without me ;P[/i][/color] [b]FROM: [/b]Kylie [hider= SWE][img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8nyO01aXNYY/VQqmS-lSVFI/AAAAAAAAAW8/ZM_3TTwomhc/smoke%2Bweed%2Beveryday.gif[/img][/hider] [b]FROM:[/b] Olivia [color=A9D0F5]Did mom really smoke pot with Kylie?[/color] [b]FROM:[/b] Tara [color=0b5fbd][i]Yo, I’m here where you at?[/i][/color] [/center] [hr] [i][color=00FFBF]How could he have such bad taste in music?[/color][/i] Elliot would need to show Riley what constituted real sound some day, however he wasn't going to spend their reunion bitching about his friend's taste. He didn't really have time to answer Riley's first question before a phone was being shoved into Elliot's hands. A mild panic began to set in as he realized he was supposed to be going though the man's texts and replying. This felt wrong. Total privacy violation for the sender. [i][color=00FFBF]Well, I suppose I do owe him[/color][/i] [color=00FFBF]some[/color][i] [color=00FFBF]kind of cooperation for not decking me in the face.[/color][/i] He looked over the messages, torn over what to say. Three of them belonged to the Reese family, and he wasn't sure that he wanted his first words to them to be impersonating their brother. The other two, at least, were simple enough. "[color=seagreen][i]Be there in ten minutes.[/i][/color]" [@Knight of Doom] Done. As for the other three... Kylie he could ignore, and fully planned to. James, he felt like he at least owed some kind of message to. Maybe if he found out ahead of time that he was back in town a punch to the face could be avoided. "[color=seagreen][i]Elliot is back in town, the diner ended up way understaffed. Closed shop early today.[/i][/color]" [@Saint Girralo] Finally there was Olivia. Their mother smoking pot with Kylie? Elliot could certainly see it, that child had always been a wild one. It wouldn't surprise him if they started giving her pot just to get her to chill out. Still, he had no answer for that one, and let it go for the moment until Riley could text her himself. "[color=00FFBF]Anyway, I'm doing all right minus the assault charges I'm going to have to press against your sister...[/color]" Ah, right, Sophia. He needed to find [i]some[/i] way to get her to talk to him. Surely she wouldn't stay mad forever. She was always way more emotional than he was, but she also tended to bounce back quicker too. Then again, he did sorta fuck up on a level he had no data to compare against. Still, a slap in the face [i]and[/i] calling him a liar [i]and[/i] running off? Yeah he was sorry, but he was miffed too. He began looking for her number while talking. "[color=00FFBF]I'm going to message her, all right?[/color]" It wasn't really asking permission so much as vocalizing his plan. With his hands on the wheel there wasn't exactly much Riley could do to stop him at the moment. Calling her crossed his mind, but he decided against it. He already lost one leg, he didn't need to lose an ear to her screaming too. "[color=00FFBF][i]Your brother dragged me off, try to let me talk sometime. ~ The man carrying your handprint on his face.[/i][/color]" [@The Muse] Finally, he let the phone lie in his lap, turning once more to Riley. "[color=00FFBF]By the way, Olivia wanted to know if your mom and Kylie smoked pot together.[/color]" [hr] The twin was too lazy to flip through his stations to find good music. Instead, Riley just stared ahead of him and waited for Elliot to finish texting people. The man brought up "assault charges" and everything became crystal clear. [color=seagreen][i] Ah, so she slapped him.[/i][/color] Riley was tempted to say something, but he wondered if that would be a bit much for Elliot to handle right now... it seemed like the dude was going through one shitty day already. Elliot then brought up he was going to text his sister. [color=seagreen][i]Wait.[/i][/color] A little hesitant that he would say something unpleasant, Riley tried to stop him with his words but when his mouth opened only silence escaped him. [color=seagreen][i]Well.[/i][/color] The text was sent and he prayed to god that Elliot didn't make him look bad in front of his sister then suddenly... Riley's eyes widened. "[color=00FFBF]By the way, Olivia wanted to know if your mom and Kylie smoked pot together.[/color]" Within a split second, the car swiftly made a U-Turn and he snatched his phone back from Elliot hitting speed dial 5 near immediately. In silence, he waited as the ringer went off. Finally someone picked up. [color=8882be]"Good morning, this is Millington Highschool, Linda speaking, how can I help you?"[/color] [color=seagreen] "Hey, my name is Riley Reese. I was wondering if Zoey and Olivia Reese were recently picked up today?"[/color] [color=8882be]"Oh yes! Their sister, Kylie, picked them up. She had said there was a big family accident. Is everything alright?"[/color] Riley's world was going in circles. The phone in his hand was shaking. No... No... No.... With a smile, he cooed calmly, [color=seagreen]"Thank you so much! Next time, can you make sure the girls aren't taken out by anyone else but their brother, Riley Reese? My sister did a favor today but I'm usually the person that picks them up, so I'd like to keep it that way. Just protocol for the future."[/color] [color=8882be]"Oh absolutely! Sorry about the misunderstanding."[/color] [color=seagreen]"Don't worry about it... time to comfort my sisters..."[/color] Before the lady said anything more, the phone line went dead and the twin made another quick U-Turn, Riley was now racing to the mall. Rather than call Kylie, he pressed the number 3 and it sped dial "Olivia" as he approached the mall, the phone rang. The phone went straight to voicemail. The veins in Riley's neck began to show. He pulled up in a parking spot in the mall and called again. [color=seagreen][i]You better pick up.[/i][/color] With worry and anger in his eyes, the twin looked at the other man and muttered, [color=seagreen]"Lets. Go."[/color] He was planning to ask his best friend to help him find three of his sisters... they could be anywhere. [@Emma][@BilboTheGreat][@Viciousmarrow]