Sorry this took a while, I was at their concert last night in Sydney and I didn't know how to approach your imagine. I didn't know which direction you wanted, so I kept it safe and the reason for your beat up is left open. I'm sorry if this isn't what you had in mind, but I hope you like it still! :) x.
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Tick tock, tick tock. You stare at the clock on the wall, wishing it would go faster. The ice pack is slowly melting, and the pain is starting to come back. You just want this day to be over. DINGGGG. Finally! You run out of the class room, ignoring the snickers from other students in your class. You’ve had enough of them, enough of this place. You sprint out the gates and down the street. You run further and further, one place in mind. No, not home. The other home. You don’t know if anyone will be there, you hope they would be, at least Stormie should be home, but you don’t care. That place is better than anywhere else.
Up their drive way and to the door, out of breath and tired, you knock on the door with all your strength left. You wait. It is only now that you realise you’ve been crying. You try to get yourself to stop but you just end up crying harder. The door finally opens and the last thing you see is Riker’s shocked face.
You’re not lying down on something soft and warm, a hand stroking your hair while something cold is place against your eye. Everything slowly comes back to you. School, the argument, the pain and running home. Suddenly you jump up and turn around. The confusion and concern in his eyes makes you start to cry again. He pulls you in, into a tight embrace and hold you there ‘shh, Taryn, it’s okay. I’m here. Talk to me? Please? Tell me and I’ll help you’. You continue sobbing into his shoulder but you try to calm yourself down. Eventually, you tell him the whole story, right from the beginning, the stupid teasing and being different.
A gentle knock interrupts your conversation with Riker, and it is only then that you realise you’re in his room. Stormie walks in with a plate of food and a bottle of water, sitting next to you and Riker. ‘Sweetie, are you okay? You gave us such a fright. Riker was almost in hysterics’. You glance up to see a faint ting of pink on his cheeks and you give him a quick peak, before giving Stormie a hug.
Slowly, the rest of the siblings start coming into Riker’s room, because, apparently they were all there in the living room when you collapsed. Rydel, runs in and hugs you, never letting you go while the rest of the boys look at you with concern etched on their faces, asking you if you’re okay.
Eventually, Mark comes in, holding a new ice pack for your eye. You finally tell them what happened and before you know it, Rocky and Ryland jumps up, anger gracing their faces and saying ‘That’s not right, we’ll get them back for you Taryn’. Stormie tells the boys to calm down and that while they want revenge for hurting you, it isn’t right. You agree with her saying they’re not worth it.
Riker squeezes your hand, and pulls you into another hug. Rydel and Stormie join the hug. The rest of the boys also join the hug, smothering you while also telling you how awesome and loved you are.
And In that moment, nothing else matters and the black eye doesn’t really hurt anymore. Because that’s what love can do. You are loved Taryn!