Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Aura's ROV I didn't know how my mother would have reacted, but all I knew was that I was the mother figure that Riley had. And unlike my father, we had a teen been decent while my mother was alive, she had never hated me. Until she got pregnant with Riley, I had been the apple of her eyes. And it made me feel sad all over again that Riley never got to know what a wonderful person she was. I waited for about five minutes for the noodles to bloom before removing the lids and bringing them to the table. But as soon as I placed the cup in It of Riley, his entire face changed from sulky to wonder. "We have noodles?" he looked up at me through big blue eyes filled with hope and I almost felt sorry for making him skip school with me almost "Yes." I gave him a warm smile. "Eat up." Riley immediately picked up his fork and dug in, blowing on the noodles to cool them down before stuffing his mouth. I couldn't help but smile at his puffy cheeks and I had the urge to pinch them...so I did, much to his protest. "Did you sleep well?" I asked, looking down at my noodles instead of his adorable face. "No." Came his gloomy reply. Surprised, I looked back at him to find him looking up at me with his wide blue eyes. "What's wrong?" I wiped away at his lips where he had some soup. "Did you eat it while it's hot?" He shook his head, making his long hair fall onto his forehead. "No." Another sniffle as he looked up at me through long lashes. "L..had a bad dream." "Oh? Then why didn't you ring the bell?" I asked as I pulled him closer to me, wrapping my arms around him to provide him some comfort. "I didn't want to make you sad." He sniffed. "I know you were sad yesterday...something had happened, but you didn't tell me, so I didn't want to make you worry." "Oh...Riley." I hugged him to my chest, feeling tears well up in my eyes. How had he known? I thought I had hidden it to the best of my effort... "Are you okay, Aura?" Riley asked in his little voice. "I dreamed that you were gone, and that I couldn't reach you. You wouldn't answer me even when I started crying." His sniffled out words broke my heart. He wasn't just scared; he was worried that I was gone. Poor Riley...how could I ever think to leave him alone in this cruel, cruel world? "You won't leave me, will you?" His voice broke and as I held onto him tighter, I knew he was crying as well. "Never," I promised. "No matter how tough life gets, I will never abandon you. I promise. So next time, if you have a bad dream, ring the bell, okay? So we can sleep together for the night and I can protect you from all the bad dreams." "Alright." He nodded and we both turned back to our food before it became cold, rubbing at our eyes to wipe away at the tears. Suddenly, the second half of the egg that I had given to Riley plopped into my noodles, startling me. I turned to face Riley in surprise to see why he had done that. "Don't you want it?" I asked, picking it up with my spoon so I could give it back to him. "Yeah..." he trailed off, but when I went to give it to him, he shook his head vigorously. "I want you to have it more." I fought a smile as my heart warmed at his words. "That's alright. I'll get groceries tomorrow." "Then we can both have whole eggs tomorrow!" Riley replied triumphantly, gleefully digging back into his cup, but still refusing to take back his egg. 1/2 Chapter 42 It made me relieved to see him happy once again. Maybe, for one day. I could bring something tasty from the motery store? Bret would ke chicken? Maybe even pork? If it was a smaller portion, I think I could afford it. And then I could cook him a meat with the same recipe that int to make on special occasions. I think I still had mom's old recipe book somewhere in the storage. "We have fish for lunch," I told him as I too dug into my noodles. "Really? His smile widened, his eyes sparking with excitement. "Yes." I smiled. "Let's cook it together, shall we? It'll be fun." "Yayyy!" And that's how I spent the day with my brother, laughing and giggling and nearly burning our fish but at the end of the day, we ate it with pride since I was the one who caught it and Riley had helped me cook. Maybe...skipping school once in a while wasn't so bad after all. **#*#*# Hey guys! So sorry for the mistakes and the chapter continuation errors. Everything is now fixed! Hope you enjoy the story! Chapter Comments 9 POST COMMENT NOW Title: ReelTalk Episode 32 - Rekindling Memories with Kiki Frags and Samantha Drews Author: CrushReel Genre: Romance Status: ongoing In the latest episode of ReelTalk, two beloved characters from the ReelShort universe, Kiki Frags and Samantha Drews, come together to reflect on their initial encounter and share behind-the-scenes anecdotes. As they delve into their past experiences on set, a wave of nostalgia washes over them, evoking both laughter and poignant moments. Exploring themes of friendship, love, and the unpredictable nature of relationships, this episode provides a deeper insight into the personalities of Kiki and Samantha. Their dynamic chemistry and genuine camaraderie shine through as they reveal untold stories that give fans a peek into the inner workings of their on-screen personas. What sets this episode apart is its authenticity in portraying the complexities of human connections within a romantic context. With humor, warmth, and relatable experiences, Kiki and Samantha's interaction captivates listeners, creating a sense of intimacy that resonates long after the episode concludes. For those eager to immerse themselves in this heartwarming journey down memory lane with Kiki and Samantha, ReelTalk Episode 32 is available to read at CrushReel. Join them as they navigate love, friendship, and the joys of reminiscing about the past in a narrative that is as touching as it is entertaining.