Finding Myself

20: Riley

Even though Quinn is making me incredibly nervous, I try my best to focus on the night sky. I can't look at her, if I do I'll get lost in her eyes and I don't want to explain why I'm staring at her.

"Why are you looking at the sky so intensively?" Quinn asks.

"I'm just looking at the constellations," I reply.

"Can you show me them?" She asks.

I point up at one and try to outline the constellations then I tell her the names. However I still don't think she can see them. I try to come up with a better way to show her and an idea pops up.

I grab her hand and extend her index finger and make her trace out the constellation. "Ohhhhhh, I finally see it now. What's that one called?" She asks.

"The one we traced is called Pavo, or the peacock," I reply. "Want to see another one?"

She says yes and we spend the next thirty minutes just tracing all the constellations with her fingers. She's so curious and giggling like a child and it's so incredibly cute.

"Are there more?" She asks.

"No, those are the only ones visible for this month," I reply.

She nods and looks at our intertwine hand and asks, "So, then why are you still holding my hand?"

I immediately let go and try to explain, " Oh I'm sorry. It's just that I forgot I was still holding your hand..."

Quinn starts laughing and I look at her in shock. When she finally calms down she gives me a mischievous smirk and says, "I'm just teasing you Riley."

"Oh fuck off," I say while playfully shoving her.

"Anyway, what else do you know about astrology?" She asks trying to change the topic.

"Astrology? You mean astronomy?" I reply.

Quinn looks dumbfounded for a few seconds then the realization hits her. She covers her face and says, "Ignore me I'm so stupid."

I chuckle and reply with, "It's okay. You're not stupid, it was just a small mix up. Don't worry. And by the way, I'm a pisces."

"I'm a leo. Nice to meet you," she adds extending her hand for me to shake. I shake it and we start laughing again.

Then after a while I notice that we are still holding hands again. She does too because she slowly caresses my hand. It feels so good and right. I want her to continue, but she stops and I look at her. She's staring straight at me and we are just centimeters away.

Quinn glances at my lips then back to my eyes and it makes me crazy. The small action ignotes something in me and my heart starts pounding like crazy and there is a frenzy of butterflies in my stomach. For some reason I want to lean forward. I suddenly get the urge to kiss her, but I can't. That's wrong. I have a boyfriend.

Oh my god, is Mason okay? I haven't checked up on him and it's been a while. I need to make sure he isn't passed out somewhere.

I immediately sit up and blurt out, "We should go inside." I stand up and extend my hand to a very confused Quinn. She hesitates a bit before taking my hand and I help her up.

I refuse to look at her as we walk towards the house. I just can't face her right now. I'll just start blushing or thinking about her lips again and that's wrong. She's my friend and I have a boyfriend. I'm not gay. I can't be. I love Mason. I want to be with him. Right?

As we enter the house I look around for Mason to make sure that he is okay, but I can't find him. Quinn is trying to keep up behind me, but it's tough with the crowds of people.

"Hey there beautiful. Want to dance?" I random guys says. I turn around and notice that he is facing Quinn, he's talking to her. However, Quinn doesn't look interested in him and I'm so glad.

"No thank you," she says trying to get past him so that she can stand next to me. However, he moves in front of her again and adds, "Come on, just one dance and then maybe we can hang out somewhere else. Just me and you."

"Take a hint dude, I'm not interested. So, take a hike," she retorts. The guys isn't backing away, so I walk over to them and push my way next to Quinn. The guy has a beer bottle in his hand and he looks pretty rough. He's been drinking for a while.

"Hey there, I think it's best that you leave her alone," I say to the guy then I focus on Quinn and motion for her to take.my hand so that we can get out of this room.

"I wasn't fucking talking to you beaner," he slurs out.

Quinn and I look at him in shock and I reply, "Excuse me, what the hell did you say."

"You fucking heard me, get the fuck out of my country and leave this girl to me," the drunk guy adds. I stand there in complete shock and fear. I don't know what today or how to react to his words. The only thing that's keeps repeating on and on are his words in my mind. Then I snap out of it when he moves forward and shoves me back while trying to grab a hold of Quinn.

Then out of nowhere someone comes charging past the crowds of people and punches this guy in the face. He comes crashing down and Mason stumbles over him to the ground as well. Everyone stares at us in shock and the drunk guy tries to hit Mason and lands one on his eye. Next thing I know, an all out brawl is happening on the ground between Mason and the other guy. One of Mason's friends comes in and tries to help, while other people get involved and start throwing punches.

Quinn quickly pulls me down so that we can duck a few punches that people are throwing in the air. We try croughing through to get to Mason. I find him still punching the other guy, yelling, "Don't ever fucking disrespect someone like that again because of their race, you little piece of shit!"

I try to pull Mason of off the guy, but he is hell bent on beating the heck out of the guy. It takes both Quinn and I to pry Mason off and we drag him out the door while chaos is happening around us. Quinn and I half carry and half drag a drunk Mason to the car. We out him in the back and I look in his pockets for the keys. Once of find them I take it out so that I can get in the driver's seat and drive out of there.

After a few minutes we make it back to his house and I park in the driveway. I turn of the car and just sit there in silence. No one says a single word and silence overwhelms us. Ten minutes pass before Quinn speaks up to say, "How are we going to get him inside?"

"That's a good question," I reply as I try to hide my shaking hands by taking them of the steering wheel and putting them by my side. A while has passed and I'm still scared to my core. I'm scared and angry and I don't know how to calm down.

Thoughts of my brother come into my mind. Was he this scared? No, he was probably more terrified. He was all alone. No one was there to help him, but I had Mason and Quinn by my side. I shouldn't be acting like this, right? Or is this justified?

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Author note: Well you all asked for the next part because of the cliffhanger. How did this chapter make you feel? A lot happened.

Also sorry for all the grammar and spelling mistakes that I've been doing lately. I'm writing all the latest chapters on my phone and autocorrect isn't my friend.

The astrology part was just for fun. Enjoy. I'm a leo. What are you?

I'm sick, will update when I get better.