Big Softy (Closed)(One-on-One)

Riley Richards was on the top of the world, figuratively and literally. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone bigger than the 6 foot 3 inch basketball prospect, considered the best 16 year old in the nation. Everyone knew him from the crazy highlight video released after his 2nd season on varsity. But then everything changed.

A drunk man T-boned the family SUV one day driving to practice, sending the car tumbling 50 feet down the road. When the dust cleared and the car came to rest on its roof, the only survivor was the young Richard. A quick examination revealed he suffered a torn Achilles tendon, ruining his dreams of basketball. A wealthy celebrity learns of the story and takes Riley in as soon as he's cleared from the hospital. When a romance begins to bud with the celebrity's daughter, will Richard's be able to get over his past and accept the future?

Ooh this is cool! May I?

(Indeed! I would prefer to be Mr. RIchards, if you don't mind)

(Sure, I don't mind.)

(So, do you want to go in blind or use a template?)

(I'm honestly okay with either. I have a good character to use so I'm good.)

(Blind it is! Luckily, I also already have a starter)
4 days. That's how long it took for Riley to say his first word to Aliana. The first day it seemed acceptable, considering the poor guy's story. He just sulked around the home, his light brown hair overgrown to the point where it fell over his eyes. And there was a lot of space to sulk in the large, 3 story home. He barely ate the entire day, only having a single apple that he nursed for hours. By day 2, he didn't even leave the room. Periodically, someone would check in on him, and he'd always be sitting cross-legged on the bed, for comforter over his lap and his eyes shut tight. The third day went the same, which is when people became concerned.
"We'll give him one more day," Father reasoned. "Only then will we get worried."
But there was no need. He walked out the next morning, suddenly looking like a new man. His hair was combed combed and his were brushed teeth brushed. His crutches were nuzzled firmly underneath his armpits and his left ankle wrapped tightly in a large, bulky brace. His efforts to get down the stairs from the second floor could be heard all the way in the kitchen, where the rest of the family was eating breakfast.

(Wait you gave my character a name already?)

(OOoooooooof, I have no clue why I typed that, sorry)

(oof that's okay. My character's name is Aliana by the way if you wanted to use it.)

(Thank you)

Aliana hadn't noticed the absence of the fourth new member to their family. She was a lone child, and was mostly used to being alone. So she wasn't concerned until Father had mentioned it to her worried mother.
"He will be fine," Mother just assured her as she gently ran a brush through Aliana's long, blonde hair. "And do not worry, my girl. Once he gets out of his rut, he will love you." She turned her daughter around to gaze at her. Aliana had soft blonde hair that sparkled softly in the light, with brown eyes that gleamed. She smiled up at her Mother with rather crooked teeth, but they were white and shiny.
"I do not doubt it, mother."

And she had no right to, as she wiped her hands off after enjoying some shrimp and heard the clicks of crutches on steps. She perked up a little as he entered the room, and joined them at the table, his new hair and cast all. It was a flurry to get him a plate of the shrimp and asparagus from the chefs, and a small portion was set down in front of him.

Riley blinked a couple of times, his hazel eyes widened slightly at the haste his meal was prepared for him.
"Uh….thanks," he said, recovering enough to give them all a grateful smile, the left canine on his upper set of teeth missing as a result of the car crash.
He eased his way into the empty seat next to Aliana, careful to not bump his injured left leg into anything that would cause him harm, and picked up a fork. After a single bite of shrimp, he set the fork back down beside the plate and folded his hands in his lap.
"I'm sorry for my behavior for the past 2 or three days," he said sheepishly, a slight Southern drawl twisting his words before they left his lips. "I really do appreciate y'all doing this."

Aliana watched him curiously as her mother wiped her mouth, sighing softly and giving him a smile back.
"That's alright, Riley. You are welcome as a guest to family no matter your behavior," She responded graciously in a thick British accent. The whole family came over from Britian and had their mansion built. They might be fancy but they're not American fancy.
Aliana glanced around the table before starting on her shrimp, her left hand relaxed on the napkin in her lap. Her leg bounced a little as she listened to the conversation, absolutely exploding with curiosity. She wanted to know more about the person they had introduced into their family.

He left the fork where it lied on the table, rubbing the back of his neck. Overall, he seemed so much more awkward than anyone would have guessed. On the basketball court, his confidence never wavered, nor did his focus and intent. Yet, sitting at the table with this other family, he looked as if he wanted to be anywhere but there.
"I'm….sure you guys have questions," he mumbled, rubbing his nose as he spoke. "I'm willing to answer anything you ask."

Aliana didn't ask any questions like she wanted to, and her Father just bit his lip a little. "My dear boy, you are welcome to ask us any questions, too. Surely you barely know anything about us. It is only polite of us to answer any questions, since you'll be staying with us." The man smiled warmly across the table to him. Her mother nodded her agreement, setting down her fork. Aliana went on nibbling her asparagus, keeping her gaze down as she wriggled and bounced under the table. Usually she was the chatter box at the table, and the silence was clearly bothering her parents.

"Um…." he frowned slightly as he tried to form a question in his head, "Why did you take me in? It's not like we knew each other."

"We just couldn't not take you in, my dear boy," The man said gracingly, smiling even more. "We also wanted Aliana to have someone around her age. We're starting to bore her."
"You are not, father!" She protested softly.

He smiled slightly at the joke, taking another bite of shrimp before asking his next question; "What is it that you guys do on a normal day?"

The woman answered this time with a soft: "I usually play the piano, Arthur goes to his study and works, and Aliana is mostly with me. She likes our library, too."

"You play piano all day?" He asked, raising his eyebrows in surprise. "Just thinking of that makes my fingers hurt."

"Well, not all day, dear." She laughed softly. "On good days such as the past few, I've been going out to the gardens and tending to the house."

"Oh, gotcha." He smiled, slightly embarrassed. "Well, what is it that Mr. Arthur does that got him so much money?"

"I own an air and water company back in our home country," He answered gently for his wife. "I work with them over the internet."

He nodded, satisfied.
"Well, I don't think I have any more questions," Riley said. "I'll ask if anything comes to mind."

The pair of adults nodded. Aliana finished with her food and excused herself, standing and folding her napkin neatly on her plate before straightening her dress and hurrying off to her room. She couldn't stand silence.

He watched Aliana walk away with a slight frown. She doesn't seem to like me much.
"Is she alright?" Riley asked in a quiet voice, turning back to her parents.

Her parents looked at each other once before looking to him. "She is quite alright, dear. She's just not used to newcomers," The woman assured with a smile.

"Hm," he responded, which could have meant essentially anything. "Well….how do we make her comfortable?"

"Well, you can go up and say hello. You can try and make some conversation, she's always a very talkitive girl."