After school I drove back to my apartment, still mildly angry with Bex and slightly annoyed by the actions of March and Jackson over the past few days.  When I got home I plunked myself down on the sofa, unsure of what to do,

I don't have any upcoming tests. And I don't have any homework. I'm not working tonight either. I guess I have the night to myself.

I thought happily as I pulled out my sketchbook and started drawing. I had been working on this one for a while and I was almost done. I was about twenty minutes in when I heard my phone buzz. I picked it up and saw that it was from an unknown number

Hey. This is Riki. Bex gave me your number. Hope you don't mind. Would you mind if I came over to talk with you?

I tilted my head in thought before responding,

No problem. Here's my address

I gave him my address and he responded a few seconds later,

Thank you. I'll be there shortly.

He wasn't kidding. Within half an hour I heard a soft knock at my door. I opened it and saw Riki standing there. He had on a thin black hoodie, a navy blue v-neck, black skinny jeans, and high top black converse. My (E/C) eyes met his lilac ones as I opened the door for him,

"Come on in. Is everything alright?"

I asked kindly. He shook his head slightly and gestures to my sofa,

"May I sit?"

"Of course, go ahead."

I responded as I moved my sketchbook and pen onto the small coffee table. I turned back to him as he sat down,

"Would you like something to eat?"

He shook his head,

"I can't. My modeling agent wouldn't like it."

I tilted my head in confusion and sat down next to him,

"What do you mean by that?"

He bit his lip in thought before responding,

"I've been a model ever since I can remember. My parents got me into the business when I was very young. That's how I met Senri. He wasn't full time like I was, but we started talking nonetheless."

He turned to face me,

"Senri is too proud to ever admit his weaknesses to anyone, so I think I should let you in on a little something about him. After the nightmare incident, I trust you know about his father?"

I nodded,

"Yes, he told me that he corrected one of his fathers mathematical errors in front of a group of executives. He didn't say what happened after that though."

Riki nodded in understanding,

"Senri's father always hated how much smarter Senri was than him. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it's true. That night when Senri was five is when the hatred started. His father beat him, then locked him in the closet. He would leave him locked away for days. His sister, Lisa, would often sneak him food. She was eight at the time. Often times she would take the abuse from their father so he wouldn't have to."

My eyes widened in shock,

"What about his mother? Did she allow this?"

Riki shook his head,

"No. She didn't. Unfortunately she did not live long enough to do anything about it."

"What happened to her?"

"According to Senri's father she fell down the stairs."

"And according to Senri?"

I asked, already knowing the answer. Riki answered with a pained expression,

"She fell down the stairs all right, after her husband snapped her neck."

My hand flew to my mouth in shocked horror,

"How could he get away with such a despicable act?"

Riki sighed, his tone quiet and distant as he responded,

"You'd be amazed what money will make people turn a blind eye to, (Y/N)."

I leaned back on the sofa slowly,

"So that's why he's so cold. What about his sister?"

Riki laughed bitterly,

"It would seem the universe has it out for him. She, too, is no longer with us. Senri loved his sister dearly. Five years ago, he and his sister were on their way home from school. Their chauffeur had picked them up the same as he always did, but what neither of them saw was the men sitting in the seats behind theirs in the car. From what Senri remembers, they placed a rag over his mouth as well as Lisa's. He was thrown from the car. The last thing he saw was the black car speeding away as he lost consciousness. When he woke up he was in the hospital. A missing persons report was filed, but Lisa was never found. Before you ask about the men who did it, they disappeared as well. No one knows where they are. The body of the actual chauffeur was found a few days later."

Riki sent me a pained smile,

"And what makes it worse is that you look just like Lisa. That's why he's so cruel to you. He doesn't know how to process that. He loved Lisa dearly and was shattered when she was taken."

My mind was spinning as I processed the information. I looked at Riki who was smiling sadly,

"I just thought I should explain that to you. Senri is... troubled. Just like Jackson and March. You seem to have a calming affect on them, though. I just wanted you to know that about him. I don't want to see you get hurt."

I nodded in understanding,

"Thank you. I appreciate this. I won't tell him that you've told me this. I don't want him to think that you've betrayed his trust. I understand why you're telling me this."

Riki smiled in appreciation at me, his amethyst eyes shining with relief,

"Thanks, (Y/N). I knew you'd understand."

I laughed slightly,

"That's what I'm here for. He was an ass to me in the beginning, but I feel like he's starting to lighten up with me. And when he wanted me to stay with him that night, he just looked and sounded so broken and vulnerable..."

I trailed off as Riki nodded in understanding,

"That's his true persona. He's actually a very caring person, but his father took that from him. Now he's so guarded. He hides behind his intelligence and doesn't let anyone in. You seem to be different. Even though you look just like Lisa, he seems to be slowly warming up to you. Just be a little careful. He does need a loving, gentle touch."

I smiled,

"You can count on me. I do care for him. Just like I care for you and the others. I'll do what I can to help him."

Riki smiled politely and gently grasped my small, pale hand in his larger, slender one,

"Thank you, (Y/N). You're such a good person."

I smiled at the raven haired teen kindly,

"You're welcome. So are you."

Riki smiled and went to stand, but failed as he held his head in his hands and stumbled. I quickly caught him and set him back down on the couch. My eyes widened in alarm,

"Riki! Are you okay??"

He nodded weakly as he laid down,

"I'm gonna get you something to eat, and you're going to eat it."

I said sternly, pulling a blanket over him as I went over to my kitchen area to make him something to eat. Eventually I came back with a small fruit bowl and some water. I set it down on the coffee table and looked at him,

"Riki, you need to eat. You looked pale when you arrived. I figured you hadn't eaten anything. I don't care what your modeling agent says, I want you to eat."

His violet eyes met mine and I smiled warmly,

"Eat, please?"

He nodded weakly, grabbing the bowl and slowly eating the contents of it. I watched him carefully as he ate. He looked almost... afraid. I gently squeezed his hand,

"Riki, it's okay. You can eat all you want. I'm not judging you."

His eyes snapped up to meet mine as he stopped eating,

"I know you won't. My agent will though."

I arched an eyebrow in question as I responded,

"Why?"

Riki shrugged and said nothing. He had eaten half the contents of the bowl before setting it down on my coffee table,

"It's late. Would you mind if I stayed here?"

I shook my head,

"Not at all. I wasn't about to let you leave anyway."

Riki smiled slightly and laid down on my couch. I grabbed a blanket and put it over him,

"Get some rest. I'm gonna give you something more to eat tomorrow."

Riki nodded in understanding but his eyes were stoic. He didn't say anything more as he laid back down. I turned off the lights and proceeded to go to my own bedroom. I climbed into bed and closed my eyes, slipping into sleep.