CHAPTER 30 – THE TUSSLE WITH RILEY

Riona is in the school library, she was trying to complete her biology assignment which she intended to

submit before the close of school. She was trying to be fast as she has another class in less than

fifteen minutes.

She was so engrossed in her task that she was not paying any attention to her environment and

whenever any of her classmates or acquaintance passed by and greeted her, she responded without

bothering to look up to see who it was.

Even when Riley had passed by her side with her friend, Davina and they had both said hello to Riona,

she responded without even knowing that they were the ones greeting her.

When she was done, she stood up and put all her books into her school bag except for her biology

textbook which she had earlier kept inside the drawer of the desk she was using. After that, she rushes

out of the library as she does not want to be late for her class.

……………………………………………………

“Riona” a voice called.

It was the close of school and Riona was carrying her school bag and walking along the school

premises when she heard someone calling out to her. She looked back and saw that it was Riley that

was calling her, and she was running in her direction.

She hesitated before finally agreeing to stop and wait to see what she was been called for. She was

sure that Riley was not calling her so they could go home together because they have never gone

home together before. So she felt that whatever would make Riley dare to stop her must be very

important.

“Hey, Riona,” Riley said.

“You are already here, Riley, why still call my name? Say whatever it is that you want and stop wasting

my time” Riona retorted.

Riley ignored her hostility and dips her hands inside her schoolbag and brought out a textbook. It was

Riona’s textbook, and she hands the textbook over to Riona.

“You left this in the library Riona. I was hoping to bring it home for you but since I saw you now, I decide

to hand it over now” Riley said.

Riona collected the textbook from her and she saw that it was her Biology textbook. She must have

forgotten it in the library when she went to do an assignment and even when she packed her books into

her school bag, she had not noticed that she had left it.

“So why not just bring it back home rather than stop me here to give it to be?” Riona asked.

Riley hated the fact the Riona was not appreciative but was still been aggressive to her despite her act

of goodwill. However, she decided to ignore her harshness and answer her.

“I am not heading home immediately Riona, I and Davina are going to pick up some stuff at the

grocery. See she is standing over there” Riona said.

She pointed to where Davina was standing and waiting for her so that Riona would see her for herself

but Riona did not even attempt to look in the direction she was pointing to.

“I would not want you to be worried and start looking for it when you get home so that is why I brought it

to you now that I saw you,” she said.

Riona listened to all of Riley’s explanations before putting the book inside of her school bag.

“And I was wondering if you would like to go with Davina and me. She can take you home first if you

want her to” Riona offered.

“Thanks,” Riona said.

She was completely nonchalant towards Riley. She did not bother to wait for Riley to respond but left

her still standing while she walked out of her.

“You are welcome,” Riley said.

She watched as Riona leaves and was not sure whether to be happy or angry for Riona’s attitude.

……………………………………………

Riona was sitting at the balcony upstairs and looking over the garden where Maeve and Riley were.

She watched as both of them were relaxing and both had a lot of fun in the garden.

As Riona looked on, she wished her mother was still alive and that it was the both of them that were in

the garden, playing and having fun.

She hated them for the absence of her mum. And even though this doesn’t make any sense to her, she

felt she had to hate them still. To Riona, someone’s got to be blamed for her mother’s absence, and

since Maeve and Riley had willingly made themselves available, then they must be blamed for what

she suffered from her mother’s death.

Maeve and Riley were not aware that Riona was watching them from the balcony. Maeve had wanted

to ask Riona to join them, but knowing how she would react to that, she never bothered to.

She comes out to have some fun and relaxation with Riley whenever she is at home and free from

work. It has always been this way between her and Riley as she believes this act strengthens their

bond.

“Let’s go to the swing, mummy” Riley said.

“Okay dear, that would be a good idea” Maeve concurred.

They both got up from the ground and went to the swing and they both sat on it and started to swing.

“How high do you think you can go with the swing today mum?” Riley asked as they both began to

swing.

“Not too high, I think I would just maintain a low level” Maeve responded.

“Okay mum, I think I will go low too,” Riley said.

“That would be great darling, we can actually have some discussion then,” Maeve said.

“Cool mum” Riley replied.

She felt this would be a great time to ask her mother about her last visit to her grandparents.

“What about your visit to grandma and grandpa, I noticed you have not told me about that?” Riley

asked.

“They are all fine dear, and moreover, nothing much happened. You know I did not stay there for too

long” Maeve replied.

“Anyways, they all send their greetings and wish to see you soon”. Maeve added.

“Cool mum, so when are we going to visit? I can’t wait to see everyone. It’s been such a long time. I

can’t remember being away from them for this long?” Riley said.

“You are right dear, but there would be no need going to see them,” Maeve said.

“But why mum?” Riley asked.

“Because they promised to come to see us soon” Maeve responded.

Riona was still watching them although she could not hear what they were saying from where she was

seated.

She was beginning to miss her mother over again as she remembered that it had always been the two

of them in the garden, together with her father as one happy and indivisible family and now Maeve has

come to spoil all of that and take away the one that she holds dear.

Riona wished she could walk up to them in the garden and ask them to leave as they have no right to

be there. This whole house belonged to her family, her mum, her dad, and her. Maeve and Riley were

nothing but intruders, and very soon they would find their way out as they have already overstayed

their welcome. Riona thought.

She looked over at them and saw that Maeve was now standing and pushing Riley who is sitting on the

swing. She hated to see how they were both laughing as the sound of their laughter was already

getting to her. She hates to see them happy as they remind her of her pains.

When Riona felt she could not bear the sight of Maeve and Riley anymore, she stood up and walked

out of the balcony and into the house.

……………………………………………

Riona came out of her room and as she was walking along the corridor, she saw Riley standing in front

of her mother’s room. It appeared as if Riley was trying to enter the room.

“And what do you think you are doing there Riley?” Riona asked.

Riley was startled by Riona’s voice. She did not know that someone was around. She turned to look at

Riona, she wanted to reply, but as a result of the shock, she could barely form any word.

“Are you also deaf now, what are you looking for over there, what do you want from my mum’s room?”

Riona asked.

On hearing that the room was Evolette’s room, Riley became relaxed and she heaved. She has been

curious to know why this particular room was not in use and has been locked since they moved into the

house.

“Oh, I am sorry Riona, I had no idea that it was your late mum’s room. I was only wondering what was

inside and I decided to check it out myself” She apologized.

However, Riley's apology did not seem to get to Riona as she was ready to create more trouble.

“I see, did either I or my dad complain to you that our house is been hunted by a ghost, ghost catcher?”

Riona asked.

Riona went and check if the door to her mother’s room was still locked. She discovered that it was still

locked but however continued in her trouble.

Seeing that Riona was only ready for trouble, Riley who apparently was not in the mode for any trouble

refused to respond to her.

“I still don’t understand why you go about sneaking around here, you have a room to yourself and you

are allowed to use other rooms, why must you still come over to this particular room?” Riona asked.

She was beginning to get annoyed with Riley’s silence; nevertheless, she decided to push her farther.

“You know what you are Riley, opportunists, that’s what you and your kind are. All you guys do is to be

going about and taking advantage of others' misfortune” Riona spat.

“Please Riona, I would appreciate it that you don’t talk about me in such a demeaning manner,” Riley

said.

Riley felt she was beginning to get to her breakpoint, and if Riona does not desist from her torment, she

was not sure of what her reaction would be like. However, she was quite sure that no one, not even

Riona was going to like what she might be forced to do.

“And if I decide not to stop, what will you do?” Riona asked.

“I don’t see any reason for all of this, Riona,” Riley said.

“There is every reason for it Riley. What are you looking for here?” Riona retorted.

Riley decided that the best thing for her to do at the moment was to walk out on Riona so as to avoid

any more trouble with her. As Riley was walking away, Riona dragged her with both hands by her dress

and drew her back to her.

“Let go of me Riona” Riley screamed.

Riona let go of her and Riley raised her hands and gave Riona two slaps.

Riona was not expecting such a reaction from Riley and she quickly grabbed Riley by her legs and

since Riley was taken by surprise, she fell on the floor.

After struggling for a while, Riley was able to get up from the floor and grab Riona by her hair and this Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

evolves into a fierce battle between both girls.