So a minute ago I wrote a story called Vision that was solely about Jazmine and Huey. I rarely write anything about Riley and Cindy, so this is going to be their story. It's happening during the same time as Vision, so there are some conversations/instances that are basically identical to stuff that happens in that story. This is going to be a least a two-part story, but if y'all like the first two parts I might make it into a mini-series. As of right now, I'm thinking about giving Vision another part, and maybe making that one into a mini-series as well.
It was snowing. Normally, she loved the snow, but seventeen year old Cindy McPhearson had other things on her mind, which was disappointing to say the least. Normally, she'd be curled up by her window, snuggled under her blankets, watching the snow fall onto the ground as she drank hot chocolate. Then, she'd transition to her bed, where she'd pull up Netflix on her laptop and watch the Nightmare Before Christmas and other holiday movies before eventually falling asleep. Wintertime was her favorite time of the year, and it wasn't just because of Christmas.
Cindy loved the coldness of the air, she loved the way the snow felt on her face, she loved making snowmen and snow angels, and most of all, she loved that feeling of being warm when it was really cold. She loved getting to snuggle with her blankets and pillows and fall asleep cocooned in her own little fort. But today, Cindy was lying flat on her bed, her phone to her ear, and tears threatening to fall down her face.
"He texted me, "Cindy said over the phone to her best friend, eighteen year old Jazmine Dubois. The two were trapped in their homes that snowy day; it was December, and school was closed due to a large snow storm that covered practically all of Woodcrest. Cindy was barricaded in her home, and she knew that Jazmine was, too.
"What did he say? "Jazmine asked. Cindy sighed, "He wants to meet up when all the snow dies down. "she heard Jazmine scoff, "And why? Didn't he break up with you a few days ago? "Cindy smirked, "Yeah, yeah, I know, "she leaned back into her bed, savoring the feeling of her plush blankets and pillows against her bare skin; she wore a pair of night shorts and a thin night top with fuzzy socks. "Are you going to go? "Jazmine asked pointedly. Cindy shrugged, "I dunno…, "
Jazmine groaned, "Cindy, we both know that means yes, "Cindy rolled her eyes, "Well, what do you think I should do then? "she asked, even though she already knew the answer, "Uh, ignore him! "Jazmine exclaimed, "You've been "dating" him since last year and y'all have broken up how many times? "Cindy sighed, "I dunno…, "
"Fifteen, "Jazmine answered for her, "fifteen times. And how do I know? Because every time y'all break up, you call me in the middle of the night. I've been keeping track Cindy. "
Jazmine was right; this was how the conversation always went. Every time something happened, Cindy went running to Jazmine for emotional support and advice...but always ran back to the one person she shouldn't. But she couldn't stay away from him, not for very long at least. She was always running back...no matter what. That boy was trouble, and so was she.
Ever since the two were young, they had always gotten into trouble. It was like a default consequence; no matter what happened, or what they did, there was trouble lurking in the shadows, waiting for them to let their guard down. It had been like that since they first met as children; when she first laid eyes on him on that basketball court when she was nine years old, ready to kick his eight year old ass in a game, she practically saw the future, and knew exactly what was to come of their relationship: they would be inseparable.
Of course, Cindy McPhearson was no pushover, that was the one thing she wasn't. In her home, she was Cynthia, the daughter of a wealthy lawyer and a wealthy fashion icon in the upper part of Woodcrest. At home, she was their good little girl who spoke clearly and correctly and always addressed her family with respect. She wore simple and pretty clothes, and she never stepped out of line, especially with her mother, who was already planning her future. It was amazing that she was even allowed to be in basketball, but when her father saw her knack for shooting hoops at an early age, he insisted that she be placed onto a team and trained to become something big; a basketball star.
This was when she was introduced to the other side of her, her true side, Cindy. As Cindy, she was a hard ass, no nonsense, gangster girl with a tough attitude and a mean glare. As Cindy, she was feared by those around her, and she reveled it in. She loved knowing that everyone knew who she was, and what she could do, especially on the court. On the court, Cindy was a beast. She could single-handedly beat an opposing team with little to no help at all, and she was regarded as a basketball prodigy in her early youth. She was regarded as a prime example of what hard work and motivation could lead to.
So when Cindy was beaten by eight year old Riley Freeman, that awoken something inside her. It wasn't anger or hatred or resentment; it was curiosity.
Cindy had never met someone who could easily sway her emotions, and that's exactly what Riley had done. Like most people, he couldn't beat her on skill alone, which is when he deployed his tactic of bashing and name calling her and her family on the court, feeding her anything to make her insecure and throw her off her game. Cindy had gone through that before with countless others before Riley, and they were always met with the sound of the buzzer dinging for Cindy's team after she'd make the majority of the shots. But for some reason, Riley's words, his tactic, it hurt.
It hurt way more than the other boys she'd gone up against, and they all pretty much used the same tactic against her. But for whatever reason, Riley's little game of emotional breakdown hurt more than Cindy had ever experienced. It wasn't because of what he was saying, because Cindy knew it was all probably true, but it was the way he said it - his voice was what got to her, and it left her both frightened and awed.
Cindy tried to ignore him after that, but she was curious; how could this eight year old newbie from Chicago know how to push her buttons by just using his voice? Cindy was amazed that someone could hurt her with their words, and she would soon grow to resent that in time.
Middle school came and went, and she ruled the basketball court. However, she was always on the opposing side of Riley, who wanted to beat her on skill alone, but never could. She knew that he had heart, and she knew that one day, he would beat her at a game just with his skills. She knew that he could grow up and become a good player, but not as good as herself, of course.
Naturally, it wasn't just his ability to get into her head that attracted Cindy to him, it was his lifestyle, too. Riley lived the life she could only dream of living and tried so hard to emulate. Being the youngest of two, Riley was able to get away with a lot more than his older brother, Huey Freeman, who radiated nothing but seriousness and calmness. Cindy always wondered how her best friend, Jazmine Dubois, was able to fall for that unmoving machine of anger and stubbornness, but she did. But Riley could do almost whatever he wanted and get away with it, and he lived a hard, fast, and crime ridden life that Cindy only saw on TV and in the games she played. The two quickly became partners in crime, and now eight years later, the two were becoming something more.
It wasn't surprising to Cindy when Riley asked her out his freshman year of high school, when she was a sophomore. The two had always had that connection, that spark, that undeniable fire. Cindy liked Riley, she admired him, and she would do anything to help him with his shenanigans. Riley had also expressed his feelings for Cindy, claiming that she was the only 'down' female he'd ever met in his entire life, and that no one could compare to her. The first few months were nothing short of pure bliss.
When they broke up that first time, Cindy was quick to take Riley back. The second time came around, and once again she jumped at his call when he asked her back out. The third time was the same, then the fourth, then the fifth…
Soon, the two were constantly breaking up, ending the relationship over the littlest of things. Cindy would get mad when Riley would hang out with too many girls over long periods of time, and Riley would get mad when she'd have boys in her DMs trying to holla at her, even though she ignored them. During their breaks, Cindy knew Riley was seeing other people, so to combat the hurt she was feeling, she'd do the same. But every time he came calling, Cindy came running.
The first time Jazmine noticed this cycle, she confronted Cindy. Cindy explained it away, saying that the two were just going through a rough patch in their relationship, but that excuse quickly became old. Jazmine knew that something was wrong if they were constantly breaking up, and Cindy eventually began to consider that possibility; was something wrong?
It was then that Cindy began noticing the problems. Riley only seemed to be interested in being with her whenever he wanted to do something, like go party or cause trouble. He'd stay with her for the weeks or even months that they'd be out causing trouble, but the moment she calmed down, the moment she came down to earth, he would bounce out of her life again. It was then that Cindy realized what Riley's problem was; he couldn't think of the future because he was always wanting to be up high. Riley always wanted to be doing something bad because he loved the feeling of it, he loved the feeling he'd get when he'd steal or drink or smoke. The moment he lost that feeling, he needed it again, and if she couldn't give it to him in the moment, he was gone.
It took all Cindy had to come to the conclusion on Riley, because when she finally pieced everything together, it broke her heart; Riley wasn't a forever person, he was someone who lived in the moment. And while Cindy liked that lifestyle when she was young, things changed as she got older.
Now, Cindy's seventeen. She's almost about to be a senior in high school, she has to think of the future. But Riley?
Riley's still living in the moment.
The snow had finally lessened, which meant one thing for Cindy: she could drive again. As soon as she woke up in her disorganized bedroom at nine in the morning, she peered out her bedroom window to scan the outside and make sure she could go somewhere. Cindy hated to stay inside, because staying inside meant she had to stay with her less-than-friendly parents, who were always at each other's throats, and their screaming matches could wake the whole neighborhood up. She pushed a loose strand of her blonde hair that had come undone from her braids out of her face as her phone buzzed from the nightstand beside her bed, but she ignored it.
Cindy casually made her way to the bathroom to brush her teeth and fix her hair, which only amounted to her undoing her braids and running a hairbrush through her slightly tangled hair, making the waves that the braids had created overnight less defined and frizzy. She washed her face and did a little makeup, fixing up her brows and throwing on some concealer and mascara before heading back to her room to find something to wear.
As she searched her closet, her phone continued to buzz, but she did not turn around to look at it. She finally decided on a pair of dark denim skinny jeans, a red long sleeved shirt underneath a white Champion hoodie, and a pair of black snow boots. As she pulled on her shoes, her phone began to ring.
Cindy groaned inwardly as she finally made her way to her nightstand to pick up the phone. Glancing at the screen, she sighed before answering it, "Hello? "
"So you was really gonna ignore me? "he asked; his usual thick 'gangsta' accent was replaced with one of annoyance. Cindy cringed, "I was getting dressed, "she replied as evenly as she could. She and Jazmine talked about this; she wasn't going to give in this time, she wasn't going to agree to anything.
He only scoffed, "What're you doin'? "he asked casually. Cindy sat on her bed, "Nothing right now, "she bit her bottom lip as she was met with a moment of silence, "You down to have a snow day? "he then asked suddenly. Cindy sighed, "Riley…, "
Sixteen year old Riley Freeman could hear the hesitation in her voice. He sat on his bed, pausing for a moment from dressing himself in order to converse with Cindy, "C'mon Cin, what else are you doin' today? "he smirked, "I know ya not doin' anythin'. "Cindy rolled her eyes, "Oh? And what if I was? "she furrowed her brow, and Riley only scoffed, "C'mon, Cin, "he continued to plead, ignoring her question, "I wanna see you. "
"You wanna see me after all those days of pretending like I didn't exist? "she heard him grunt in annoyance, "Cin…, "
"No Riley, not this time, "Cindy was trying to be firm, but her voice quavered slightly. Riley heard this and gave a small grin, "Cindy…, "his voice chained pitch slightly, meaning he was going to start begging, "C'mon baby, you know ya wanna see me, it's been too long. "Cindy sucked in a breath, "No, you're just gonna ignore me again. "
"Baby, I miss you, "his damn voice, it always got to her. Riley could be yelling at her for an hour straight, make her cry, and he could still reel her back in with his soft, charming voice that made her feel warm and fuzzy inside. His voice was one of her weaknesses, and he knew that. He knew that as long as he started talking, she'd melt and give in.
And even though Cindy tried, she just couldn't do it, "Alright, "she said, her voice cracking. She could practically see Riley smirking to himself, "Come by my place in fifteen? "she sighed, "Yeah, I'll be there. "she was about the hang up when Riley spoke: "Hey, you heard from Jaz? "
Cindy rolled her eyes, "You asking for Huey? "She asked. Riley scoffed, "Nah, I was just wonderin'. I know she been down ever since…, "he trailed off, and Cindy sighed, "She's probably at home right now, crying her eyes out still over your dumbass brother. "Riley chuckled, "Damn Cin, what he ever do to you? "Cindy gave a low growl, "Only fuck with my best friend, "she shot back defensively, "I can't believe he fucked Lela in his damn car, he knows damn well that Jaz likes him. "Riley chuckled again, "Calm down Cin, we ain't talkin' 'bout Jaz and Huey right now. "she could hear his tone change again, "We talkin' about us. "
Cindy bit her bottom lip, "I'll be there soon, "she said quickly, "but we ain't gonna be alone, we gotta find someone else to be with us. "She could see his eye roll, but then he spoke, "Fine, "
Riley hung up the phone, somewhat satisfied. He finished dressing himself, wearing full winter gear now -blue jeans, a long-sleeved black shirt, a black Adidas hoodie - and exited his room. Riley passed by a mirror mounted in the hallway and caught a brief glance at himself before continuing on to the stairs. He looked just like his brother; he was tall, at 6 feet with a muscular build, and had his afro slicked back in neat cornrows. His wine colored eyes were just as mesmerizing as Huey's, and he kept his face clean shaven for Cindy, or at least he claimed he did.
He entered the living room, where his older and more sophisticated brother, Huey Freeman, sat on the couch. From the looks of it, he had just finished eating breakfast, and was drinking something hot from a mug, probably coffee. Huey was an inch taller than Riley at 6'1, with a slightly larger build than Riley. He kept his large afro loose, but well kept. His wine colored eyes were slightly darker than Riley's, and he occasionally grew a beard. Today, it was more stubble.
Huey eyed his brother as he retrieved his snow boots, "Where are you going? "he asked in a rich, deep voice.
"Out with Cindy, "Riley replied quickly. He pulled his black boots on and grabbed his gloves and warm hat, shimmying on his winter coat, "Tell Granddad I'll be home later. "he said. He glanced at his phone, waiting for a text from Cindy that would let him know that she was waiting for him outside.
"Hey, "Huey called out, stopping his brother, "have you heard from Jazmine lately? "Riley scoffed, and then he laughed, as if in disbelief, "Nigga, are you really asking me that? "he arched a brow. Huey scowled, "Seriously, Riley, have you? "
"Nigga why do you care? "Riley shot back. Huey rolled his eyes, "Well she is my friend, Riley. I haven't spoken to her in a week, though, and she hasn't told me why. "
"Huey, why would she talk to you? "Riley chuckled; he couldn't believe that his brother was asking him about this, didn't he know better? "After that rumor went around school about you fucking Lela, I'd avoid you too. "
Huey furrowed his brow slightly, "Riley, you know we never had sex. We made out in my car, but I never had sex with her. I don't know why she insists on saying that we did. "
Riley rolled his eyes, but he knew his brother was being honest. A week or so ago, Huey's friend, Lela Danner, spread a rumor about them sleeping together in his car, and as soon as Riley heard about it, he didn't even believe it. He knew his brother wasn't smooth enough to talk a girl into sleeping with him, he could barely hold a conversation with Jazmine, and they'd known each other since they were kids. Of course, Riley told Cindy, and she in turn told Jazmine. Riley knew Jazmine was ignoring Huey because she liked him, and hearing that he slept with another girl probably broke her heart, "Either way, y'all got chemistry, "he retorted, "and Jazmine's a smart girl, despite what you think. "
"What I think? "Huey now arched a brow, "Yes, nigga! We all know you think Jazmine's dumber than a rock. All anybody gotta do is listen to how you talk to her. She's probably fed up with your dumbass by now. "Riley shrugged, "Like I said, you and Lela have a little thing going on. It doesn't involve Jazmine, so she's probably just…staying away. "Riley turned back around to leave, "From what Cindy tells me, she doesn't wanna speak to you at all, so don't even bother trying my dog. "
Riley looked down at his phone just as Cindy texted him, signaling that she was outside. Without saying anything else to his oblivious brother, he flew out of the door and down the driveway, where Cindy sat in her brand new car. He jumped in, "Let's go, "he said as soon as he closed the door, "Huey keeps tryna ask me about Jazmine. "
At this, Cindy rolled her eyes, but she obliged. She backed out of the driveway and sped away, and Riley settled into the passenger's seat.
He looked Cindy up and down subtly. She wore tight, form fitting dark denim jeans and a large white winter coat over a slightly exposed white Champion hoodie and black snow boots. She had a large, white, fluffy headband that acted as protection against the cold for her ears, and she also had on a red scarf. Her hair was frizzy and was halved and rested on either side of her head, in the front of her body. She gripped the steering wheel with bare hands, her gloves in the cup holders in between the seats, with her knuckles turning white.
"Why'd you wanna meet with me? "she asked, "What did you tell Huey? "Riley sighed, "Just told him I'm gonna be with you. "he eyed her, "Can't I be with my girlfriend? "she had to laugh aloud at this, "Girlfriend? So now I'm your girlfriend? "they came to a stop light and she turned to glance at him, giving him a look, "Couple days ago you didn't know me, remember? "Riley clenched his jaw slightly, "You know how we are, Cin. "he wanted to end the conversation, but Cindy didn't: "No, that's how you are, "she replied in an icy voice, turning onto another street, "Who we picking up? "
"No one, "Riley replied, "I need to talk with you, alone. "she smirked, "I'm right here, you can tell me as I drive to someone's house. "
"No Cindy, "Riley's voice rose slightly, and it was a lot harsher than before, "We goin' to park somewhere so we can have an actual conversation. "Cindy narrowed her eyes, "And who the fuck you think you talkin' to? "she demanded, her own gangster accent flaring up, "You in my car, you ain't about to raise your voice at me! "she hit her brakes a little too hard at a stop sign, causing Riley to lurch forwards slightly, "Don't disrespect me in my own car. "
Riley sighed, exasperated, "Alright, alright, "his voice lowered slightly, and Cindy instantly recognized the way his tone was changing, "Riley, no, "she said again, but Riley was already talking, "Please baby, "his voice wrapped around her, suffocating her. When he got like this, Cindy felt like she couldn't think properly. Everything around her seemed to melt away as he spoke, "Can't we just park somewhere for a little bit and talk? "
Cindy knew she needed to say no, she needed to stay strong, she needed to prove to Jazmine that she wasn't wrapped around Riley's finger.
But she was, and that was why she didn't say no.
Cindy pulled into the Wuncler Park parking lot, parking under a tree. She kept the car own, allowing the warm air from the vents to fill the car. She shifted around uncomfortably in her seat, glancing over at Riley every few seconds, waiting for him to speak. He only sat there, his eyes directly on her, which only made her squirm more. She knew this was what he wanted; he wanted to make her sweat.
"What do you want? "she asked, trying to make her voice harsh and firm. Riley sighed, "I just want you back, Cin, "his fingers toyed with hers, but she pulled away quickly, "You should've thought about that before you broke up with me, again. "he clicked his tongue, "You know we were having issues…, "
"Okay? And what do other couples do when they have issues? "she now turned to look at him fully, "they work shit out! They argue, talk, make up, and they stay together, "she emphasized the last two words, trying to make them sound louder and more drawn out than the others, "Every time we get into some kinda argument, you break up with me! And then you come running back and begging me to take you back, and my dumbass does every time! "she threw her hands up in exasperation, "I'm getting real tired of this game, Riley. "
Riley smirked slightly, "Game? This ain't a game, "Cindy narrowed her eyes, "Then why you treating it like one? "Riley shook his head, "I ain't treatin' this like a game, Cin, "Cindy scoffed, "You treat me like a game! You're only with me when I wanna do bad shit with you, but you never wanna stay when I just wanna be your girlfriend, not your accomplice in crime. "she crossed her arms over her chest, "Our wild days are behind us, Riley. We've already gone through enough schemes, it's time to start growing up. "
At this, Riley's eyes narrowed, "What you mean? I am grown, "Cindy rolled her eyes, "Grown people don't keep breaking up with their girlfriends over dumb shit, Riley. Grown people don't go looking for trouble. Grown people stay outta trouble and make money, "she felt her face grow somber, and her hands fell into her lap, "I'm about to be a senior in a few months, "she went on quietly, "I'll be eighteen next year, Riley, "she bit her bottom lip, "I need to start thinking about the future, I can't keep fucking up. "
Riley didn't know how to respond. He felt the anger inside him boiling up the more she spoke, and all he wanted to do was yell. He hated when she talked like this, when she talked about the future, "Why are you so worried? "Riley asked icily, "Why can't you just roll with it? "Cindy groaned, "You can' just 'roll with it' all the time, Riley, "she shot back angrily, "I can't just keep living like this. I want a future, "she turned to him with the most hardened blue eyes he'd ever seen, but they were full of sadness, "but you don't. "
"Of course I want a future, "he tried, but Cindy cut him off, "No, you just wanna fuck around and hope for the best, "she shook her head, "I can't live like that anymore, "she could feel the tears coming on, but she refused to cry, not right now, "I can't keep living like this, I can't keep waiting for you to hit me up when you want me back, and spend days or even weeks crying over you. "she placed her hands on the steering wheel, gripping tightly, "I can't be who you want me to be, Riley. I can't be nine year old Cindy anymore, because I'm not. "
Riley grew quiet, which Cindy knew was a bad thing. Cindy could feel the tears slipping down her face, but she wiped them away quickly. Cindy was waiting for Riley to say something, anything, but he seemed caught. It seemed like he had no idea what to say, which wasn't a good thing.
Riley had no idea how to respond. He knew this was going to come up eventually, and he always told himself that he'd deal with it when it came up. Now that it was coming up, he had no idea what to do.
It wasn't that Riley feared commitment, or that he didn't know how to, because he knew exactly how to. Riley rarely ever admitted it, but he loved Cindy. He loved Cindy with all that he was. Cindy had been his ride or die since he was eight years old, since he first met her on the basketball court during a game where he insulted her and won. Since then, she was his main go to, the one person he could count on to help him with his schemes and plans. Cindy was the one person he never wanted to lose, and the one he never thought he could lose.
Riley just didn't want to be committed. He was still young, young and reckless, and he loved that lifestyle. He loved not knowing what was going to happen, he loved living the wild life, the high life. He wanted to live in the moment.
But Cindy couldn't do that anymore.
"What do you want? "Riley asked dryly, breaking the silence. Cindy turned to look at him, her eyes now glimmering with tears, "I-I want a real relationship, "she said slowly, carefully selecting her words, "I want something real. "she looked away from him, staring outside, "But if you can't give me that, if you really just can't stay committed to me...then leave. "
Riley's ears perked up, "What? "she turned to look at him, giving him a hardened stare, "You heard me, "she said, her voice slightly faltering, "If you don't want to stay committed to me, then leave. "she sounded so sure, so strong, so independent. She sounded like the Cindy he knew and love, but at the same time, she didn't. He knew that she was being serious, and that she wasn't going to bend to his words, not now. She wanted answers, needed answers, but Riley wasn't sure if he could give her any.
Without saying anything, Riley leaned in and grabbed her face with his hand. Her eyes grew wide as his lips crashed down onto hers, trapping her in a heated kiss. Immediately, her eyes closed, and she kissed him back, moving closer to him. His lips were warm and welcoming, and his tongue trailed along her bottom lip until she opened her mouth slightly, allowing him to intertwine his tongue with hers. The kiss was so intense it took Cindy's breath away, and she felt her face heat up slightly.
As soon as it started, it ended. Riley pulled back slightly, his lips leaving hers, his hand still holding her head close to his. They were both breathing heavily, and Cindy looked into his wine orbs with her confused crystal blue eyes, searching for answers, anything. But all she could see was the fire she'd fallen in love with.
Riley released her and leaned back, his eyes still on her. She pulled back as well, still breathing heavily. Then, still silent, he reached over and grabbed the handle to the door. He pulled it once, then twice, and the lock automatically clicked to open, and with the third tug he opened the door. He then pushed the door open, allowing the cold air to sweep into the car, "Riley…? "Cindy said his name, but it was barely audible. She was still looking at him with confused eyes, eyes that wanted answers, but he had nothing to give her.
Riley stepped out of the car, and she immediately felt tears falling down her cheeks. She had no idea what he was about to do; was he really just going to walk away and find another way home?
However, Riley merely closed the door and made his way around the car. He pulled at her door handle, signaling her to unlock it, and she obliged. He opened the door, "C'mon, "he said, speaking for the first time in what felt like forever.
Cindy wiped her eyes as she turned her car off. She pulled on her gloves and kicked her legs out of her car. Riley held out a hand, and she took it. She felt her back pocket for her phone before closing the car door and locking it, turning on her car alarm. She then pocketed her keys and turned to Riley, who extended an arm. Gingerly, she interlocked her arm with his, and the two began walking.
"Where are we going? "she asked in a hushed voice. They made their way into the park and found themselves on the park's trail, which wound around the entire area, "I wanna walk with you, "Riley replied in an even voice, "I can't walk with my girlfriend or what? "
Cindy bit back a smile, "What does this mean? "she asked as they walked. Riley sighed, "You're right, "he replied back, "Right about what? "she arched a brow, "I can't think of the future, "he sounded extremely sad and distant, like he was really thinking about it, "I don't know why, but I don't want to. I don't wanna think about what I need to do, I just wanna think about what I wanna do. "he turned to look at her with sincere, honest eyes, "But I do know...I want you. "
They stopped along the trail, allowing another couple to walk by. He stared out at the frozen lake in the center of the park, which sparkled against the sun's dim rays, "You're the only person in my life who's never switched up on me, "he went on, still staring at the lake, "Even though I don't treat ya right...you've never tried to fuck me over or switch to another side. You always been loyal, even when I wasn't. You always been there for me, even when I didn't deserve it, "he looked down at her, staring into her beautiful eyes that could stare into his soul, "You deserve so much better. "
"Riley-, "Cindy tried, but he shook his head, "I mean it Cin, you deserve better than me, "he looked away, staring at the snow covered grass, which was barely visible, "You deserve someone who treats ya right, and you can definitely pull someone like that. All I ever done is hold ya back, "he averted his gaze back to her, and realized she'd moved closer to him, her hands placed softly on his chest. Carefully, he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her firmly in front of him, "I don't deserve ya, "he smirked slightly as a tear fell down her face and onto her jacket, "But I'll be damned if I lose ya. "
This was enough for Cindy to lean up and plant another warm, heated kiss on his lips. She grabbed at the collar of his jacket and pulled him downwards, closer to her. Riley grunted slightly at the action, but his arms tightened around her waist. One hand traveled from her waist to the side of her face, gently caressing her cheek as he continued to kiss her. This kiss lasted longer than the first, and they became lost in each other. They didn't care who was watching or what anyone else was saying, if anyone even cared.
Cindy pulled away when she needed to breathe. Riley grinned at her goofily as he stared into her eyes, and he pulled her in for another heated and electrifying kiss.
Riley was not expecting to spend his Friday night away from home, but as fate would have it, he was. He wanted to stay home that night for once and sleep or play video games, but Huey came into his room that Friday morning and relayed to him that their grandfather was going off on another online date, and was actually staying in a hotel downtown with said date. Riley didn't think anything of it, but when Huey requested that he leave for the night on account of Jazmine coming over to stay the night, Riley was more than shocked and somewhat annoyed.
Huey told him about what happened between him and Jazmine at her place a few days previous, but Riley didn't tell him anything about his conversation with Cindy. He wasn't one to tell his business to people, and even though Huey was his older brother, he still didn't feel comfortable doing so. Coincidentally, Riley got a call from his friend, Tyler, about going to a party. He texted Cindy about it, and although she was very hesitant at first, she eventually agreed to going for at least an hour or so.
Right now, as it neared the late afternoon, Riley was finishing up cleaning with Huey. Huey made Riley clean up the house with him in order to prove to Jazmine that they weren't total slobs, and during the process Riley had been slowly packing an overnight bag to take with him.
He sat down on the couch in a huff, completely tired, "Damn, why couldn't ya do this yourself? "he asked Huey, who only sat down next to him, equally tired, "Cause it would've taken me forever by myself, "he replied simply, "I needed an extra pair of hands. "
"Well I need to get goin' before ya make me do somethin' else, "he pulled out his phone to beg Cindy to show up as soon as possible. He glanced at the time as he did so; it was nearly six-thirty.
Absently, he stood up and made his way towards the kitchen as Huey began putting something away in the living room. He was only able to rummage around the pantry before he heard the doorbell ring. Without much thought, Riley exited the kitchen and headed towards the front door, opening it, "Hey Huey! Someone's here for you! "he teased. Huey came from the living room, and spotted Jazmine as she walked in, her large bag slung over her shoulder, and her scarf wrapped securely around her neck.
Cindy came in after her, and her eyes fell on Riley as a smile spread across her face. She reached up and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. Jazmine rolled her eyes, but she didn't say anything as Cindy turned to her to offer her a comforting arm squeeze. Meanwhile, Riley had pulled on his boots and winter coat, grabbed his bag, and was shoving his hands into his gloves as Cindy opened the door for the two to walk out of. As the last one out, he turned to close the door, but just before the door shut he caught the attention of Huey. Riley winked at his older brother and smirked at his eye roll, and he shut and locked the door behind him.
Cindy jumped into her car first, starting it up. Riley climbed in and the two waited a moment, waiting for the car to heat up. "We pickin' up Tyler? "she asked nervously. Riley shook his head, "Naw, he's gonna meet us there, then I'ma catch a ride wit' him to his place. "Cindy nodded, "We ain't stayin' long. "she reminded him, and Riley nodded, "I know, Cin, I know, "he took off his gloves and grabbed ahold of her hand, giving it a squeeze.
Cindy finally backed out of the driveway and started down the street. She didn't drive too fast, and was avoiding hitting any icy parts of the road. As she drove, Riley got a text from Tyler. Cindy noticed him staring at his screen, "Who's that, Tyler? "Riley nodded, "Yeah, he's already there. "He typed out a response, but Cindy only stared at the road in front of her.
Riley knew Cindy was somewhat on edge. A few days ago, Riley vowed to be committed to her and to her alone, but asked her to attend this party, which was the scene she really didn't want to be in right now. He knew she only agreed to go to keep an eye on him, and he was glad she even said yes to going.
"Don't worry babe, "Riley assured her, "we're just gonna make an appearance, don't gotta stay the whole time. "
Cindy sighed quietly; she was hoping that he could keep to this promise he was making her.
Fifteen minutes later, Cindy pulled up to the address, "I'ma leave my stuff in here for now, "Riley told her as she turned off the car. She nodded, "Yeah, okay, "she pulled on her gloves and headband before climbing out of the car. Riley adjusted his coat as he stood up, shutting the door behind him. He heard the familiar car alarm, and then Cindy was at his side.
They were in a whole different part of Woodcrest. Although it was still a suburb, it was a good twenty to thirty minutes away from Riley's home. Not surprisingly, it was a nice neighborhood. There were lots of houses that resembled Cindy's and Riley's, and the one they were headed towards was no exception. Riley was actually surprised that there was a party even going on, but that's how kids in Woodcrest were, apparently.
It was around seven when they approached the home, the front lawn covered in snow, the sky growing dark with the setting sun. Tyler said that the party was being held by some guy from their school whose parents were gone for the weekend. The guy, whose name Riley couldn't remember, was a senior at their high school, and apparently knew Huey somehow. The outside of the mini mansion looked just like every other home there; clean, well kept, and full of snow. The inside looked dark, but Riley could see lights flashing every once in a while, and he could hear faint music coming from inside.
Riley knocked on the front door, and as soon as he had, it opened. A young girl, probably his age, opened it, and she smiled when she spotted the two, "C'mon in guys! "she greeted them warmly and stepped aside, allowing the two to enter the home. Once inside, she closed the door, not even bothering to lock it. She wore a pair of jeans and a purple cropped long sleeved shirt with grey boots, and had long black hair that was curled and wore ample makeup. She carried a red plastic cup in it, and Riley could smell the alcohol coming from inside it, "There's drinks over there, "she gestured to the back, near the kitchen, "I know someone's got weed somewhere, "before Riley or Cindy could say anything, she sauntered away, rejoining her friends in the living room.
This wasn't supposed to be a big party, but there were at least fifteen other people there already, and it barely started. Most of them were in the kitchen and living room area, milling about as they drank from red cups and smoked blunts side by side. As Riley shimmied off his coat and hung it up on an empty coat rack, he headed deeper into the house. Cindy hung hers next to his and followed quickly, trying to stay by his side as much as possible.
The first person Riley spotted was Tyler, who was sitting beside two other girls. Tyler was this laid back white guy; he had fair skin, dark green eyes, and blonde hair that he kept spiked up most of the time. When he spotted Riley, he instantly smiled and stood up, "Riley, glad you could make it! "the two fist bumped, "I see you brought your girlfriend, "he winked at Cindy as he took her hand and kissed it, and Cindy smirked, "Nice to see you too, Ty, "
Riley glanced around, "Anythin' happenin' in particular? "he asked. Tyler shook his head, "Nah, Brandon went to go get more alcohol before what we have runs out. Y'all want some? "Riley hesitated, glancing over at Cindy. Cindy, however, nodded, "Yeah, sure. Bring me some vodka or something, "Riley nodded and followed Tyler, while Cindy sat down next to the girls Tyler had been with.
"Heard she's tryna go straight, "Tyler commented once the two got out of earshot of Cindy. Riley nodded, "Yeah, I know why though. She's growing up. "he poured a mixed drink for Cindy as Tyler poured two glasses of Hennessy for himself and Riley, "What do you wanna do, though? "Tyler asked. Riley shrugged, "I dunno, I wanna be with her man, "he took his glass of Hennessy from Tyler, Cindy's cup in his other hand, "and if she wants to do this whole adult thing, then I'm gonna do it, too. "
"You shouldn't have to do anything you don't wanna do, "Tyler remarked, but Riley shrugged, "This'll be good for me, bro. "Tyler only shrugged, "Listen, the girls I'm with right now, "he gestured to the two who sat by Cindy; a brunette and a blonde, "they're totally single and ready to mingle, "he gave Riley a playful wink, "no strings attached. "
Riley rolled his eyes, "I'm not about to cheat on Cindy, Tyler, especially not in front of her. She's sittin' right there! "Tyler chuckled, "Just leave her for tonight, man, you do it all the time. "
Riley sighed, "I'm not gonna do it, "he replied firmly, "I promised Cindy...I'm not gonna break up with her over dumb shit anymore. She's right, we too grown for that shit. "Tyler whistled, but to Riley's surprise, he patted him on the back, "Damn, Riley ain't a kid no more, "he grinned, "Proud of you man. "Riley nodded, but he blushed slightly.
The two returned to the girls, who had been waiting for them patiently. Riley sat beside Cindy and handed her cup to her while Tyler retook his spot in between the brunette and blonde. The brunette eyed Riley, which Cindy noticed quickly. However, before she could say anything, there was a loud noise that echoed throughout the house, like a bang, followed by cheers and a round of applause.
Coming in from the front door was a young teenager, like themselves, with dirty blonde hair and caramel eyes. He was tall and well built, and wore winter gear covered in snow. He entered the living room area and grinned at his audience, who only cheered in response. In his arms and in the arms of helpers he carried liquor: beer, vodka, Hennessy, tequila, and a bottle of red wine. They made their way over to the kitchen area, where they set the drinks down on the counters.
Tyler took a swig from his cup, "That's Brandon, "he explained to Cindy and Riley, who looked confused, "He's the one hosting the party. This's his house. "he gestured around them. Riley grunted as he finished off his drink, "Well, since he bringin' more, I'm takin' some, "he stood up, cup in hand, and made his way over to the kitchen. Brandon passed by him with two of his friends, but he didn't pay Riley any mind, which didn't concern Riley.
Cindy, however, grew incredibly uncomfortable as Brandon made his way over to where she was sitting...and sat right where Riley had been. Before she could tell him anything, he began a conversation with Tyler while they sipped on their alcohol and laughed. The brunette, who noticed Cindy's confused expression, grinned to herself as she carefully slipped out of view, going unnoticed by Cindy, and made her way into the kitchen area.
"Man this was all a bitch to get, "Brandon chuckled as he drank some more, "the girl behind the counter almost didn't give me anything. "Tyler smirked, "And what did you do about that? "he asked jokingly, although he already knew the answer. Brandon's only response was a wink.
He then turned to his right, where Cindy was sitting, and gave her a large grin, "Well hello, "he said, drawing out the hello a little too long, "I'm Brandon, what's your name, princess? "Cindy cringed at his attempt to flirt with her. Tyler shook his head, "Nah, that's Riley's girl, "he explained, but Brandon didn't seem interested in listening to what Tyler had to say; his eyes were solely on Cindy.
"Don't think I've ever seen you at school, you a senior? "he asked her. Cindy shook her head, "I'm a junior, "she replied simply, hoping that would end the conversation. Brandon, however, seemed to just be getting started, "So Tyler says you're Riley's girl, huh, "so he was paying attention, Cindy thought, "Yeah, we been together for a...while, "she didn't want to have to go into details on the on and off aspect of her relationship, so left it at that. Brandon didn't seem convinced, "I've heard of Riley, he's Huey Freeman's younger brother. "Cindy nodded, "How do you know him? "she asked.
"Huey and I met at a party, "he explained. Cindy arched a brow, I didn't know Huey actually partied, "I have Jazmine for a class, and I met both of 'em at a senior back to school party. "Cindy nodded, that explains why I've never seen him party, underclassmen weren't invited.
"It's a shame, "Brandon went on, forcing Cindy to pay attention, "What is? "she asked. Brandon shrugged, "that you're with that player, Riley. "at this, Cindy felt her face heat up in both anger and embarrassment, "Wh-what are you talking about? "she tried to play it off, but her voice wavered. Brandon smirked, "Yeah, I know about Riley cause I heard about the games he plays with girls. He fucked around with my best friend's sister a few months back, "Cindy clenched her jaw tightly.
Tyler, realizing the situation was going south, promptly interrupted the two: "Man, y'all thirsty? "he asked loudly, catching their attention. He then reached over and grabbed Cindy's arm, pulling her up, "We're gonna grab some more drinks, "he explained quickly to Brandon. He didn't even let him respond before he dragged Cindy away.
Cindy felt her face burning with embarrassment and anger as Tyler pulled her through the crowd, towards the front of the house, "Is that really what these people think of Riley? "Cindy asked as soon as they'd gotten away from Brandon. Grimly, Tyler nodded, "Look, Riley's a pretty notorious guy, especially with girls, "he glanced around, "we should find him. "
Cindy, however, pulled away, "No, I don't wanna see that man whore, "she spat back angrily. Tyler sighed, "Don't let Brandon get into your head like that, he knows bringing up Riley's past will get you pissed. Half the shit he says may not even be true, he's not the most honest person ever, "he scratched his head, "besides, I thought you knew? "
Cindy nodded, rubbing her cheek slightly, "Yeah, I did, that's why I tried fuckin' around with other guys while we were broken up, "she sighed, "but it always felt wrong. I always felt like a bad person afterwards. "Tyler sighed, rubbing the back of his head with a hand, "Look, let's just get to Riley before Brandon finds him. All Brandon wants to do is start up some shit for entertainment, he doesn't care about your feelings. "he grabbed Cindy's arm and began dragging her behind him, and this time, Cindy obliged.
The brunette that had followed Riley to the kitchen returned to her spot in a huff. Brandon, who had been talking to the blonde, noticed her discomfort, "What's wrong, baby cakes? "he asked the girl. The brunette rolled her eyes, "Riley's being a total ass. He completely ignored me in the kitchen, on some shit that he can't betray his girlfriend, like he's never done that before! "she threw her hands up in the air. Brandon arched a brow, but he smirked.
He stood up and made his way over to the kitchen, hoping he could catch Riley. As fate would have it, Riley was exiting the kitchen at the same time...and bumped right into Brandon on his way out.
"Hey, Riley, right? "Brandon asked smoothly, giving him an award winning smile. Riley arched a brow, but he nodded, "Yeah, you're Brandon, right? "Brandon nodded, "Yeah, man, glad you could come to this party, "he gave Riley a once over, "but...I do feel bad for your little girlfriend, "his voice was laced with venom, and Riley's brow furrowed in response, "What? "
"Yeah, you know, she's here with you, "he smirked at Riley's confused face, "and we all know about you, "he gestured around him to the people. Riley now made a face, "And what do ya know about me? "he demanded, giving Brandon a glare. Brandon shrugged, "Just how you take Cindy for granted and cheat on her like nothing. "
At this, Riley scowled angrily, stepping closer to him, "Watch it, "he said in a low voice, "I've never cheated on Cindy. "Brandon rolled his eyes, "What about all those little 'break ups' then? "he smirked as Riley's face fell, "You're nothing but a player, "Brandon said icily, "And that's all you'll ever be. "
"Where's he at? "Tyler mumbled to himself as he and Cindy went from the front of the house to the dining room area, then the kitchen, before making their way towards the living room, "I thought he was-, "
He was interrupted by a chorus of loud 'ohs' as the sound of something breaking filled the air. Cindy felt her stomach drop. She turned to look at Tyler, who only made a face, "Oh no…, "the two pushed through the thickening crowd, trying to get a better look at what was going on. Cindy was able to make her way through faster, and when she came out on the other side, she groaned inwardly.
Riley was looming over Brandon with this look in his eyes, a look of anger and mortification. Brandon was lying on the floor, face down, his hands on his head trying to shield himself from Riley's deathly kicks. There was blood splattered on the once clean tile floors, and Cindy watched in horror as Riley continued to ram his foot into the back of Brandon's head as everyone else watched.
"Riley! "Cindy shrieked.
Riley heard his name and stopped, turning around, panting. He spotted Cindy standing a few feet away, eyes wide, mouth agape. In an instant, Riley's facial features softened, and he pulled himself away from a bloody and bruised Brandon. Coming up next to Cindy was Tyler, whose jaw dropped as soon as he scanned the scene.
Without saying anything, Tyler ran over and grabbed Riley by the arm, dragging him away from the scene. A few people had gone over to Brandon to see if he was still alive, but Riley wasn't paying attention to that. His eyes fell on Cindy, who looked embarrassed, horrified, angry, and confused all at once.
They were pushed towards the front door, where Tyler hurriedly made them pull on their coats. Tyler also pulled his on, and another, unfamiliar young boy approached the three, "You leavin'? "he asked Tyler, and Tyler nodded, "Yeah, we gotta get outta here. "
"I'm comin' too, I don't wanna get asked a whole bunch of questions since you decided to intervene. "the boy opened the front door, and Riley and Cindy were pushed outside into the cold night air.
Cindy could barely process what was going on, but she was able to find her way to her car and jump into the driver's seat. Riley took the passenger's, and Tyler and his friend hopped into the back. Cindy was on autopilot; she turned on her car and backed out of her parking spot and took off, but everything around her was a blur. She could hear Tyler giving her directions, and she was following them, but she had no idea where she was going.
Eventually, she found herself outside of an unfamiliar house. Slowly, she began to come back to reality as she became aware of her surroundings as she put her car in park.
Tyler and his friend hopped out of the car; they were at Tyler's house. "You coming in? "he asked Riley. Riley turned to look at a dazed Cindy, "Gimme a minute, "he replied, and Tyler nodded. He and his friend rushed into the house.
Riley turned back to Cindy, who was staring at her steering wheel, her eyes searching for something that wasn't there. "Cindy? "Riley whispered. He reached over to touch her, but she flinched at his movement. Riley's face was filled with worry, "Cindy, are you okay? "
"He talked...about you, "she replied in a low voice, her eyes trained forwards, "He talked about...you cheating on me. "Riley blew out some air, "Cin, you know I've never cheated. "
Finally, she turned to look at him, anger in her eyes, "But you fucked with someone Brandon knew, right? "she glared at him. Riley blew out some air, "No, Cindy, I've never fucked with someone he knows, "Cindy arched a brow, "So you've fucked with people? "
"Yes, okay! "Riley threw his hands up in the air, exasperated, "You know what our deal was! We'd break up, do our own thing, and get back together. But I never, ever fucked around while I was wit' you, "he gave her the most serious, honest expression he could, "I never cheated on you, Cin, on everything I am, on my goddamn parents! "he reached over, and Cindy immediately shrunk away. However, he pressed on, and grabbed her face firmly with his hand and forced her to look at him, "Never Cindy, I swear to you. "
Cindy felt tears bubbling up in her eyes as Riley looked at her. Riley could see how hurt and angry and scared she was. Riley's facial expression softened, "God, I know I've fucked up, "he whispered hoarsely, "I know I've taken ya for granted and done ya wrong too many times. But I swear Cin, I'm not tryna do anythin' to fuck us up. "
Cindy looked at him with her big blue eyes, and Riley almost lost it. She still hadn't said anything, and he was afraid she'd tell him off for being so bold. Cindy may have been sad and scared, but she was still a tough girl; she'd kick his ass without even thinking twice.
Cindy sighed, "How am I supposed to believe you? "she asked softly. She gazed into his eyes with hers, "How am I supposed to know that you won't break up with me again, that you won't walk out my life over and over like how you've been doing since your freshman year? It's been over a year, Riley, "she pulled away from him, "over a year with you screwing me over and putting us on hold to go run off with your little hoodrat friends. Your brother thinks I'm crazy cause we're always arguin', but if you didn't do half the shit you been doing we wouldn't be arguin'. "
Riley sighed, but he nodded, "I know, Cin, I know I'm in the wrong. "they sat in silence for a moment before Cindy spoke, "I can't trust you to not leave me again, Riley, I can't trust that you'll be loyal to me. "she sounded sad and upset, and Riley looked at her just as she looked up at him, "T-then lemme prove it to ya, "he said suddenly. Cindy arched a brow, but he continued, "Lemme prove to ya that I won't be who I used to be. I can change, Cin, I really can. "
Riley was begging her, and Cindy knew he was. But she didn't know if she could do this; this was all that she had wanted, Riley to stay with her. But, she couldn't even believe him when he said he would, she couldn't take his word for it. For a year and a half, he treated her like she would always be his constant, no matter what he did.
"...okay, "Cindy said after a long pause. Riley felt his heart leap into his chest, but before he could say anything, she spoke again: "One last chance, "she looked him dead in the eye as she spoke slowly and carefully, "but you gotta promise that you'll really try and make this work, or we're really done. "
Riley cracked a small smile, "I know it'll work, "he replied confidently. Cindy rolled her eyes, but she couldn't stop a smile from escaping her lips.
Riley leaned in a planted a kiss on her lips; soft and delicate. Cindy felt her face heat up as she kissed him back, unable to control herself. She always got lost in him whenever he kissed her; when he kissed her, she felt like everything around them would just melt away, and nothing else mattered. She felt his fingers caress her cheeks lovingly, carefully, and Cindy loved feeling his calloused touch against her smooth skin. It reminded her that even though Riley was tough, like herself, he had a soft side that only she saw.
Gingerly, Riley wrapped his arms around her waist and hoisted her up, although Cindy wasn't really paying attention. He gently pulled her over the center console and into his lap, where she sat down comfortably. She wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him closer, and he responded by holding her waist firmly, wrapping his larger arms around her. She felt warm in his embrace, secure. Their kissing grew heavier as his lips trailed from hers to her chin, then down her neck. Cindy gave a low moan at the touch of his warm lips against her cold skin. There was no one in the world who could make her feel this way.
"Can I come by your place tomorrow? "Riley asked in a low, husky voice. Cindy grinned as he picked his head up to stare into her eyes, and she nodded, "Yeah, you need a ride? "he shook his head, "I'll have Tyler drop me off. "
Cindy managed to pull herself off of him and landed back in the driver's seat. Riley reached behind him and pulled out his bag, setting it on his lap. He turned to Cindy and leaned over, placing another kiss on her lips, "I'll call you, "he whispered, and Cindy nodded.
Riley opened the passenger's door and swiftly jumped out, closing the door behind him. He walked up the driveway to Tyler's house, and once he made it to the opened front door, he turned around to wave at Cindy. Cindy waved back, and watched as Riley disappeared into the house.
Cindy pulled out, looking up her location on her phone. She set her GPS to get her back to her place, and listened to the woman on the maps app guide her home as she thought about the events that had unfolded the past few days.
Had she made a mistake? Maybe. Was Riley really going to stay loyal and committed to her? She had no idea. All she had was his word, if that meant anything. But she couldn't stop thinking of his wine colored eyes, the way he said her name, the feeling she'd get every time they kissed. It set her world on fire, she felt happy, she felt whole.
And if all they had was one more moment together, Cindy could live with that.
This part is rated T, but the next part will be rated M, like Vision, so ratings will change. Let me know what y'all think and if I should make this story and Vision their own little series of basically just random events with the couples. R&R
xoxo, Queen