imcginationstation:
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Riley wouldn’t have been able to protect herself even if she tried. On the ice she could take a check to the boards but this was different, this was real life. “I think the stick could’ve done at least a little damage, right?” She tilted her head, looking down at her weapon of choice. “I’d be toast… Wouldn’t I?” The girl exhaled then as she accepted the fact of the matter.
She didn’t know what to say. She’d been caught red handed, he knew something was up. As much as she wanted to hide it all she was discovering this was a secret she could only stretch so far. “It’s just….” The girl kicked the ground and sent her stick skidding across the dirt. “It’s hard to explain.” Riley sat down on a stump while her hands scratched at her finger nail to distract her brain as it overthought. “I messed up pretty bad. It’s because of me the house flooded…” She felt the tears coming again, trying to blink them back. “They’re real upset, it’s going to be a lot of damage.” An exhale into a whisper. It was more for her than him. “And it’s all my fault…”
-
“No, I would have saved you,” Dashiell said confidently without hesitation, resting his hand on her back as he bent down beside her where she sat on the weathered stump. He listened to her, tensed slightly as he focused to keep himself still to give her his full attention. “I’ll help you guys clean,” he volunteered, rubbing the back of her shoulder, “I don’t get how it’s your fault. Did you bust a water pipe or something? That sounds more like an accident than anything.”

















