"Ri-ley," I sung out, from where I sat on the kitchen island-bench, my legs swinging beneath me. It was 8:30 pm and I hadn't eaten since our Oreos. I was now officially starving and despite having ransacked every inch of the kitchen for food, I found nothing.

I watched as he descended the staircase and almost laughed when his eyebrows rose in a 'what do you want now?' sort of manner. I had no idea what he'd been doing up there but I was probably just saving him from more inspections. That's all he'd been doing since we got here.

"I'm hungry. And this place has no food," I explained, motioning toward the pantries I'd left open.

"Right. I've got to feed you," he said, more to himself than to me and I wasn't sure whether to take offense or not.

"You say it like I'm a puppy," he didn't respond to that, instead walking toward me and reaching for his keys where they laid next to me. I didn't move, forcing him to step closer, really close.

He seemed to notice our proximity as well and looked down at me; I smiled and raised my eyebrows, waiting to see what he would do.

Reaching around me, he snatched up his keys and stepped back immediately, growling in irritation. He stormed toward the door, all but stomping his feet. I trailed behind, amused by the reaction I had caused.

"Where are we going?" I asked him, not sure if the supermarket in Remington would be open at this hour.

"Remington has a small Italian restaurant behind the fresh-food market. It will be open. Tomorrow I will take you shopping for food."

He opened the door and stepped through into the dark night outside, not even waiting for me before trumping down the steps and standing at the door of his car.

I smiled at his little temper tantrum and joined him at the car, just as he unlocked the doors and stepped in.

-

Riley wasn't kidding when he said this Italian restaurant was small. It actually looked really creepy, hidden in a dark alley behind the food market. I stood close to Riley, enough to feel safe without looking like a wuss.

He hadn't really given me any information on the way over, turning the radio up in a clear sign of 'don't talk to me.' He was still sooking about my stunt on the counter and I had no idea why, it wasn't even that big of a deal.

We approached the door of the seedy restaurant and Riley opened it, stepping though himself.

"So much for ladies first, huh?" I commented, pushing the heavy door out of my way so I could follow him.

He was examining the room, searching every possible corner and every diner's face. He hadn't even heard me. Typical.

I looked up and joined his search, but for completely different reasons. The door to this place may have been seedy, but it was still packed, with a good thirty people cramped into the tight space. The walls were covered in maps of Italy and red-white-and-green flags, I also saw a few pictures of the Colosseum and leaning tower of Pisa.

Riley seemed content with his examination and led me to what had to be the last table, a small, two-dining spot stuffed into the back corner.

We sat and I picked up a menu, beginning to browse through the options. I was starving- as in, I could eat the whole kitchen, starving- so I tried to find the biggest meals possible.

When I got bored of barely being able to understand what some things meant, I looked up to my guard, only to see him still checking the room.

"Do you ever not constantly look around every room we are in?" I asked, raising my eyebrows as he glanced back toward me, as if shocked I had spoken.

His brow clinched and I nearly laughed at the concentration that seemed to be going into his answer.

"Apparently not. Sabine, a danger could pop up at any second, especially in such a public place and I need to be assured you are safe," he answered before again glancing at our surroundings.

I rolled my eyes at him and tried to return to the menu but most of the dishes had Italian names and I didn't know what any of them meant. In front of me, Riley closed his and lent back in his chair, obviously having decided on his meal.

I looked at him to find his eyes already on me, dancing with a laughter that hadn't happened yet.

"You know what you want?" he asked, being a smartass. Of course I didn't.

"No," I growled at him, irritated by his amusement at my inability to know what an Italian menu meant, "care to interpret?"

He smirked his 'I'm freaking amazing' smile, and yes, he has one of those, and leant forward. He pointed to the first sections of the menu labelled entrata and began taking through what each dish was and the ingredients in them. I only half paid attention, deciding to go with something I actually did understand- Pizza. Wood-Fire cooked and everything.

A waitress appeared about three seconds after I decided, like she had know exactly when we were ready.

She was pretty, with long dirty-blonde coloured hair and a round face. She only looked a little older than me but lacked any sign of teenage awkwardness, whatsoever.

As soon as she walked up, I immediately saw her eyes settle appreciatively on Riley. He had changed out of his uniform and was wearing dark jeans and a plain black shirt that clung to his arms and chest like a second skin, highlighting every dip and definition.

I suddenly sat up straighter, overcome by an extremely sudden burst of jealously. I had no right to be jealous, or no reason, but I was.

I cleared my throat and brought her attention to me, making it quite evident I'd caught her checking out the man across from me. She didn't even try to hide her distaste for me when she came to the conclusion that Riley and I were together, together.

I smiled in a way that confirmed her suspicions, despite them being the opposite of true.

She seemed to realise, then, that she had to do her job and pulled out a notebook and pen.

"Hi, my names Bella, and I'll be your waitress this evening, are you ready to order?" She asked, looking only at Riley and completely ignoring I even existed. I suddenly really hated Bella.

Even worse was that Riley seemed to be eating it up, smiling back at her.

"It's nice to meet you, Bella. Yes, we are ready to order, if that's alright," he replied and all I could do was sit back in my seat and shake my head.

Bella might as well have drooled and crawled into his lap, the way she was looking at him.

"Of course, what can I get you? Would you like to start with drinks?" again, directed only at Riley.

"Drinks would be great, I will have a bottle of water... and, Sabine?" he turned to me and I couldn't pass up a chance at irritating him.

"Oh, I'm actually being included now? Damn, sorry if I'm interrupting the drool-fest," I smirked at Riley before returning my attention to the waitress, who looked absolutely appalled, "I'll have lemonade."

"Sabine," Riley scolded and I nearly rolled my eyes at him.

Bella gulped loudly and scribbled my order onto the piece of paper. She seemed hesitant to speak again but eventually worked up the nerve.

"And what would you like to eat?" Her voice was quieter this time, glancing cautiously toward me. I so wanted to say 'well, we all know who you would like to eat' but decided Riley's temper wouldn't be worth it, so I shut my mouth.

"I'll have a small bowl of bolognaise pasta, and Sabine will have the margarita pizza." Now he wasn't even letting me say my own order.

Bella nodded and wrote down our orders, taking both menus from Riley.

"That shouldn't be too long," she said, before hurrying off without a single glance at me.

I settled further back into my seat, satisfied with my attempt of scaring off Bella the Waitress. Riley, however, wasn't so pleased.

"What was that about, Miss Greyson?" He asked, turning toward me with a stern expression. I nearly laughed at his attempt of threatening me with my last name.

"Oh, please, Mr Martin, like you didn't notice her practically falling at your feet," I replied nonchalantly, "She wanted to crawl into your lap and drool."

"Do not be ridiculous, Sabine."

"Oh, and now you're acting like you didn't notice? You were leading her on like nothing else," I argued.

"I was doing no such thing," he growled and I took guilty pleasure in the annoyance on his face.

"Whatever you say, hot shot," I say with a smile in my tone and he notices it, struggling not to grin with me.

When our conversation halts, I choose to do a 'Riley', looking around the room and observing the people and their behaviours.

In the table across from us sat a family of five. Two little girls that looked about five and had to be twins sat on either side of their father, looking across at a teenage boy and their mother. The dad was twirling one of the girl's locks of hair around his finger, playfully tugging at it whenever she spoke. The boy was leaning across the table, engrossed in what his other little sister was saying. I'd never had that, that sibling bond, or the protection of an older brother.

Riley shifted beside me and I looked up from the family, he had his eyebrows raised and a smug smile on his face.

"Who's the people watcher now, huh?" he inquired, clearly pleased with himself. Yep, still an arrogant asshole.

I ignored his question, looking back toward the family, "You have an older brother right?" I asked, directing my question toward Riley but not taking my eyes of the boy, who had gotten out of his seat to tickle the little girl until she was gasping for breath.

''Yeah, I do," Riley replied. I know he's looking at me funny, but I don't care, I need to know.

"What's it like? Having a brother?" I turned back to him, not looking him in the eye as he studied my face. His eyebrows scrunched forward before realisation dawned on him and his expression softened.

"It's a pain in the ass," his eyes danced with laughter and I lent closer, "Nate loved annoying the crap out of me. He would tackle me all the time, embarrass me in front of girls and ruffle up my hair," he fingers ran through his hair for effect.

I smiled and tried to imagine big, strong Riley being pushed around by his big brother.

"Did he ever protect you from stuff?"

"Yeah, all the time, especially when I was little. Then when I got older we would team up against anyone stupid enough to mess with us," he winked at me and I smiled. I loved it when Riley winked.

"I wish I had a brother or sister... then I wouldn't be alone right now," I hadn't meant to say it like that, but I couldn't take it back now.

Riley lent across the table and lifted my hand into his. I looked up into his green eyes and tried not to cower from the determination I saw in them.

"You're not alone, Sabine. Don't say that. I'm here," he said without a waver in his voice.

I wanted to believe him. I really did. But I knew what he said wasn't true.

My hand was still placed in his, and his eyes still locked on mine, but then Bella returned with our drinks and I pulled myself free of the hold he had over me.