Guess who finally finished their Corney story? This took longer to write than I wanted it to (mainly because writing songs is hard). I put it on tumbr first (thatuntalentedloser is forever my true self), and it seems to be averagely liked, so Now it's off to the Larrieness! But for now, enjoy this drabbly thing from my mind.
It only took five words, five simple words, "I love you, Corey Riffin.", yet she couldn't say them. So many times she had the chance, and clammed up. So many times she thought she could say it, and then made up a lame question. So many times she thought he might say it first, and he just walked away.
Three years she had dealt with those words, and not one time did they become easier to say. In her dreams, she would say what she felt, and everything was perfect. But this was reality, far away from her sugar-coated dreams of a better world.
Every time she thought she was ready, his smile made her heart race. His sparkling eyes made her knees weak. His charming smile brought a stuttering sensation to her speech. She could never bring herself to utter those words to such a wonderful person.
He was kind, lovable, and always willing to help those in need. True, he wasn't perfect. He had a one-track mind, was stubborn, and hopelessly competitive, but those flaws only drew her closer to him. She loved every single thing about him.
But he never noticed her in the way she noticed him. She was the best friend, or even worse, best bro. They would compete in video game challenges, have water-gun fights, and race against one another for first dibs at choices for movie night. She loved being with him. They got along very well; they were best friends, the very best of friends. And she would never escape that.
Laney sighed angrily and abruptly sopped strumming on her bass. Thinking about her depressing love life was not the best way to start her summer vacation. She had enough to think about without Corey on her mind.
This summer her parents had promised not to pester her about her music so long as she entered The Miss Sweetie-Pie of Peaceville pageant. She decided she could always throw the pageant and walk away with some of her dignity in tact, and took the bargain. It was going to be torture for sure, but it would be worth it when her parents would finally shut up about her band.
Don't get her wrong, she loved her parents dearly, but they constantly pestered her to be girly, to wear pink blouses and white shorts with flowers. They despise her love for rock and roll music, and they hated Grojband even more. Luckily, they let her stay because she and Corey's parents were close friends.
So more than often, Laney would try to get out of the house. Whether she was at the park, zoo, or even a shoe store, it didn't matter so long as she was away from their judgment. But most commonly, Laney found herself right next to her best friend's side, playing games and jamming out to their latest music.
As if her anger signaled the heavens, her phone buzzed on her counter. She picked it up and scanned the words.
Mom made fresh cookies to celebrate you're pageant thing. You should get here quick, Kon's eaten half the plate already.
!-.:TheRiff:.-!
Laney smiled and shoved the phone her pocket. She snatched her bass from its position on her bed, and opened her door. She was greeted by her mother smiling unnaturally wide with a giant box in her hand.
"Laney-dear, I bought this for you, and you must try it on." She pushed Laney back into her room, and opened the box. From it she pulled a (how Laney could only describe as Barbie Sparkle Happy Nightmare) pink dress.
Laney gave a fake smile, "Mom, I appreciate this, but Core's mom made me some cookies to celebrate the pageant, and-"
"Wonderful!" He mother exclaimed, "You can wear it to Corey's house! I'm sure everyone there will love to see you out of your usual dark attire."
"But mom-"
"No buts. You're 15, and ready to wear cute things. I want you in this dress and at the Riffin household in no later than twenty minutes." Her mother shoved the dress in her face and left the room. Laney glared at the dress as if she could burn it with her eyes.
It was bad enough Corey and the band were coming to watch her perform at the pageant, but now she had to wear the disgusting, sparkle covered cloth in front of her crush and bandmates in addition to whatever horrid thing her mother made her wear to the pageant.
"I don't hear changing." Her mother called from the door. Laney sighed in defeat as she quickly changed into the dress. Surprisingly, it fit her like a glove, defining her figure which was usually hidden by her loose clothing, and complimented her her eyes nicely.
She still hated it. Not only was it pink, sparkly, itchy, and looked like a butterfly puked rainbows on her body, but it was also the complete opposite of who she was. It was who her parents wanted to be, and an embodiment of everything she liked to make fun of. It made her feel disgusted and self-loathing, but if it means her parents will never dress her up like a doll again for the rest of the summer, she'll bare with it.
So, with her teeth tightly clenched, Laney clutched her phone tightly in her hand and opened the door. Her mother's eyes lit up.
"Sweetie-kins, you look perfect! But those shoes need to be changed too. Combat boots and beautiful clothing do not mix."
"Mom, the shoes stay." Laney seethed.
"But Honey-"
"They stay!"
Her mother held her hands up in protest, "Fine, look like a hooligan in front of the public, but don't come crying to me when they point out you clash."
Laney rolled her eyes, strapped her bass around her body, and walked down the stairs with her mother close behind. Her father's eyes lit up.
"Look at my adorable baby girl." He rubbed her head, "You look so cute."
Laney's eye twitched, "It's not cute, Dad." Her father rolled his eyes.
"Whatever you say, sweetie. Try not to be out too late with Corey and your," He paused to cough out his disgust, "band, The Tromageband."
"Dad, it's Grojband."
"Sure it is, sweetie-kins!" He smiled an obviously fake smile. Laney took in a deep breath and rolled her eyes.
"Whatever, I'll be back before curfew." She mumbled and walked outside her door and grabbed her skateboard. Before her mother could protest, she took off down the sidewalk. She only lived two blocks away from the Riffin home, so she reached it fairly quick.
She stopped herself at the door. She was actually going ot do this, walk into a room full of her best friends and crush looking like something from a hideous Barbie make-over. Maybe she should go back? No, her parents would be even more on her case. She could just go to the park. No, even more people would see her there.
She clenched her mouth and eyes shut as she thought it over. Each idea seemed terrible, but she didn't know which one was the worst. She kept pondering over it when the door opened. In front of Laney stood a beautiful, thirty-seven year old, blue haired woman known as Jannet Riffin.
"Laney! It's nice to see you could make it." She exclaimed before noticing her clothing, "Oh my, did Wanda do this to you?"
Laney's eye twitched, "Yep."
"Come inside, dear. I'll give you some of Corey's old clothes to change into while your here. I'll put your bass and phone in the garage." Jannet laughed and pushed Laney inside, and took her items.
"Thanks, Mrs. Riffin. You're the best." Laney smiled. She always liked Corey's mom. Jannet actually understood her unlike her real parents.
"Obviously, I'm a Riffin." Jannet replied as she walked into another hallway. Laney awkwardly stood at the doorway shifting her weight, nervous Corey would see her.
As if the heavens wanted to spite her, Corey Riffin walked through the kitchen doorway, "Hey mom, did you say Lanes was-" He stopped as he looked his best friend, "Lanes, is that you?"
Laney rolled her eyes, but failed to stop her blush, "Yes, Core. Mom wanted me to dress all girly in this horrendous outfit when I came over."
"Oh, th-that must be terrible." Corey eyes shifted around the room as if he was avoiding her. Did she really look that bad?
"It is, and this isn't even the pageant dress! Man, I'm almost regretting this. I look awful." She groaned. Her family was bound to be the death of her.
"You don't look awful, Lanes. You just look different is all." He smiled awkwardly, "You look nice."
Laney smiled through her blush, "Thanks for the pity, Core, but I know how I look, and it is definitely not pretty."
Corey was about to object when his mother walked back from their storage closet holding one of Corey's old shirts and shorts in her arms.
"Here you go, Laney. You can change into these while you're here." She smiled as if Corey weren't in the room.
"Thanks, Mrs. Riffin. I know I've said before, but you rock!" Laney hugged the woman before carrying the clothes to the bathroom. As she walked away, Jannet put her hand on Corey's shoulder.
"She should just call me 'mom'. I mean, it's only a matter of time before she's my daughter-in-law anyway, right son?"
Corey's face flushed, "M-Mom!"
"What? I'm just saying." His mother laughed and walked back to the kitchen, "I'm going to get the last batch of cookies from the oven, dear. Have fun with you're girlfriend."
Corey stared at the ground, trying to stop the redness from reaching his face. His mother had always done this to him since he and Laney met in kindergarten. It hadn't really gotten to him until a few months ago. Now, his mother's teasing caused him to behave strangely around Laney.
He really hoped he wasn't starting to like her. He couldn't imagine liking someone who would never like you back. Not to mention she would leave the band and his side forever, and that was something he could not handle. If he lost Laney-
He shook the thought from his mind. No, he would not lose his best friend just because he thought that she was sweet, beautiful, cool, had killer skills on the bass, the most gorgeous hazel eyes that he could just lose himself in, a smile that could light up any room, and when she got mad she crinkled her nose in the cutest-
He caught himself and pushed the thought away. He placed his sweaty hands to his face and sighed, "This can not be happening to me." He mumbled.
"What's wrong, Core? You look kind of out of it" Laney came back, now wearing Corey's clothes from a year ago, a faded, black GB t-shirt and basketball shorts. A smile graced her lips after being able to take off the unappealing dress.
"It's nothing, Lanes. My mom saved you some cookies in the kitchen." Core quickly looked away from her. The mere thought of Laney wearing his clothing only made him blush harder. It was almost like they were married.
Laney shot the boy a confused glance, but walked to the kitchen. She stopped half-way when Corey wasn't following, "You coming, Core?"
"Y-Yeah, I just gotta…." He paused, "go to the bathroom!" He ran off into the hallway.
"Okay? It's official, he's cracked." Laney sighed and walked to the kitchen by herself, "Wonder what's up with him?"
Corey opened the bathroom door and splashed water on his face, "Cool it, Corey. You do not like Laney Penn. She is your best friend, and that's it. She'd never like you anyway. Deal with it." He told himself in the mirror. He re-opened the door and walked out, mentally preparing himself to see Laney again.
What he didn't see was Trina standing at the top of the staircase.
OMG! TRINA'S AT IT AGAIN TRANSITION!
"Hm, so fromaj band will be, like, uber killed if I crush Corey's dumb little heart and stuff? I can totes do that. MINA!" She paused, remembering that her faithful friend was not here at the moment.
She smirked, "Oh well, she's too weak for this job anyway. I can start up this mathematical formula all alone." Her phone buzzed, "Oooh, no way. Jessica and Chester! Oooo."
And so she walked away, typing on her phone as if it were her lifeline, but her wicked smile stayed at the thought of her soon to be heartbroken brother. She would just have to start her plan after Paris found out about Jessica dating her ex.
