The Music In Me (boyxboy)

6

(Riley's POV)

I was engulfed in my Papa's arms as soon as I stepped into the cramped, little house of mine.

"Oh, my dear boy!" He whispered as if I'd been lost for days. He stroked my hair, kissing my forehead. "What's that you got?"

I held up the basket that Mrs. Nickson had given to me. In it were various medicines, bars of soap, and an envelope. "Nathan's mom gave it to me."

He looked skeptical as he accepted the basket with a nod. "Alright, I'll look through it. Are you alright? Why are you wearing those clothes?"

I'd almost forgotten I was decked out in expensive clothing. My skin and hair were the cleanest they'd ever been and I smelled like a flower bed. "I took a bath."

Papa tilted his head, but he didn't inquire further. With a solemn sigh, he tousled my hair with affection. "I'm sorry, Riley."

"What for?" My eyes widened in surprise.

"I let you down. I let you all down." He stared at the basket. "I managed to get some food. Go ahead and eat; the rest is yours." Before I could inform him that I'd had a hefty meal already, he retreated into his room where Momma lay sick. Still. I prayed one of those medications worked for her.

I walked into the room that I shared with my siblings. Ricky was asleep on the makeshift bed on the ground. The twins were on the mattress slab on the other end of the room, covered with thin blankets. Ryan was awake, rocking eight-year-old Ria to sleep. Her eyes were half open.

When Ryan saw me, his eyes lit up happily. "Oh, thank God you're back," he quietly rejoiced. I dropped my backpack, still standing in the doorway.

"Are those Nathan's clothes?" Ryan asked, squinting his eyes.

"Yeah, he let me have them. Two outfits actually."

"Did he... did he give you food?"

I nodded and Ryan smiled. "Did you bring any home?"

Guiltily, I rubbed my arm up and down. "Not exactly..."

His eyes saddened in understanding. "Oh... s-sorry, I thought..." He was disappointed, I could tell. I couldn't bear to look him in the eyes. "We ate, but the twins are still hungry. All they can do to fight it is to sleep and I've had to hear their stomachs rumbling."

I bit my lip to keep it from trembling because I was indeed going to cry. It wasn't new for us to slumber through our hunger. I shouldn't have eaten all the food Nathan gave me. What was I thinking?

"I'm so sorry, Ryan. I let you down." Those words hit me harder because Papa had said them to me just minutes ago.

He sighed. "No, you didn't. You have nothing to be sorry for. You know, how come it takes Ria centuries to fall asleep with me, but two seconds when you rock her?"

I smiled, my blue eyes shining at our sister who was now asleep. "Because unlike you, I sing to her."

"Show off," he teased, a light playfulness in his boyish voice. I smiled softly.

"We should all get some sleep. I'm exhausted." As I settled down for bed, my mind drifted to Nathan. I'd gone to his house under the impression that I would be helping him make party invitations. I never got the chance to ask him why he said I was the reason he couldn't throw a party.

But that was the least of my concerns. I had learned too much about him today, about his life at home. I wondered how this would affect his actions toward me. Unfortunately, I knew I had no choice but to wait and find out.

**

"I'm happy to see you so bright and early, Riley!" exclaimed Ms. Daisy, a cheerfulness in her voice. She was wearing yet another pretty dress, embracing her slim, petite figure.