Silent Runner

That night we pulled into the driveway of one of the cheerleaders. I couldn’t remember her name, but she almost always had a rager going on. I was still wound tighter than normal and barely noticed that Riley was trembling when we entered. She grabbed my hand as I led her into the kitchen

I filled a solo cup from the keg and turned. “You want some?”

She shook her head and signed ‘water’ in response. Guilt prick at my neck then. I took a swig of the warm beer and sighed.

“We could leave if you want.” I had to shout over the music.

Riley physically jumped as someone bumped her from behind. I glared after them but didn’t say anything. I watched her questioningly but she shook her head smiling stiffly. I knew she had already had a shit day and this wasn’t ideal to her. Suddenly I had an idea.

“Follow me.” I shouted, grabbing her hand and pulling her out the back door.

It wasn’t nearly as chaotic outside and we went to a corner of the yard we’re nobody was around. I plopped down on the ground draining my cup. She sat cross legged next to me.

“Shit, I forgot your water.” I stood quickly.

Her eyes widened and she signed, ‘it’s fine stay.’

“I’ll be right back.” I assured her calmly.

Back in the house I located a water bottle and refilled my beer. On the way back out I ran into Marcus.

“Hey, man! Where have you been.” He asked with a knowing grin. “How’s Ry?”

“She had a rough day, actually we both did. I decided we need to come out and relax a bit.” I shrugged.

“Dude, I heard she broke Britney’s nose.” Marcus’s eyes widened.

“That’s my girl.” I smirked, “Britney totally had it coming though.”

“Where is she?” He glanced around curiosity. “This doesn’t really seem like her scene.”

“Who, Britney?” I asked stupidly.

Marcuse slapped me on the back of my head. “No, Riley.”

“Oh right. She said she wanted to stay. She’s outside. I was just grabbing drinks.” I wasn’t sure if it was due to me being a total lightweight who never drank, the fact I hadn’t eaten or slept in 24 hours, but I felt like my brain was muffled.

“You left your sexy mute girlfriend alone around a bunch of horny drunk teenagers? Come on Ethan you are not that stupid.” Marcus looked seriously disappointed.

“I’m sure she’s fine, but I should get going.” I admitted, suddenly uncertain.

I rushed past back out to where I had left her, but Riley was gone. I set our drinks down next to an empty cup I hadn’t remembered being there before. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to not panic. Maybe she decided to take a walk.

“Riley?” I called out, looking around.

Stupid she couldn’t respond! Panic seized my chest but I bit it back. I just had to walk around and find her. It wasn’t a big deal. I knew she wouldn’t go towards the crowd so I turned heading deeper into the trees that bordered the yard.

I thought I heard a familiar laugh. Sinister and dark. I couldn’t be sure though if it was real or just another demon from my past coming to haunt me.

“Can’t say no if you can’t speak.” It was just a whisper in the wind but I was sure that it was real.

Just then I saw them. Dakota with the same boys from the track meet. They stood with their backs towards me circling Riley who had her back pressed against the wall.

They hadn’t seen me yet but Riley did. Without drawing attention to me she stood a little straighter. She seemed more confident just know I had her back. Pride welled in my chest, quickly replaced by guilt. She would have never been in this situation if it hadn’t been for me.

“Come on pretty girl. Talk to me.” Dakota sneered.

Riley spat in his face in response. To my surprise she didn’t manage to dodge the slap to her face he retaliated with. She seemed groggy and slower than usual. How did they even get her out here willingly? She was such a good fighter.

I didn’t have time to ponder that before rage overwhelmed the concern. I grabbed a rock bashing it over Dakota’s head and he fell like a sack of potatoes. One of his friends fought back, but even dropping the rock, I was too well trained and it was too easy to win. The third guy turned to run and I was about to follow when a voice stopped me.

“Ethan.” Her voice was somehow so familiar even though I had never heard it.

I turned back to Riley in utter shock just as she fell to her hands and knees. She vomited on the forest floor and I rushed over to help. I held her hair till she finished retching. I lifted her chin to see that her face was slightly clammy.

“Shit, Ry what did you take?” I helped her get up and we started back towards the house, and my car.

“Water. He had water.” Her voice was weak from lack of use.

I had researched selective mutism a lot, since she had told me that was what she had. I knew that it was a severe form of anxiety that made it impossible to speak in front of people you didn’t know and trust. That people with it could often only speak when they were with their family or closest friends.

The fact that she had bounced from house to house, unable to trust anyone enough to speak had made it worse. Now she trusted me, of all people.

Only then did I remember the empty cup.

“Did you drink it all?” I asked, desperate for some information.

She was back on her feet and looking better. As she shook her head. She signed the next thing but I didn’t mind.

‘He said something that pissed me off and I threw it on him, but I was halfway done and already feeling dizzy.’

I sighed relieved. I had seen my mom overdosed on almost everything and I knew when it was bad enough to call for help. Riley was lucid and functioning. She was definitely dizzy though so I wrapped my arm around her waist and she leaned into me willingly.

“I’m so sorry I talked you into coming.” I said honestly. “Then left you alone like a grade A douchebag.”

She chuckled and nodded sleepily as I opened my car door for her. I climbed in only to find her buckled and staring down at her lap. I waited in case she wanted to sign something.

“I wasn’t sure you would come.” She admitted.

“I’ll always come, Ry.” I comforted before stating the elephant in the room. “You’re speaking to me, out loud.”

“I guess I feel…” She paused, meeting my gaze. “Safe.”

I couldn’t even begin to express how much that statement meant to me. It meant absolutely everything.