Just an upload from a drabble I posted on Tumblr.
He tells anyone who will listen that he has loved her since the first grade. Everyone, including her.
"I love you Riley."
It goes from a meaningless sentence to a feeling so profound he can't remember his life before her. But every time he says it and she doesn't say it back kills a tiny piece of him. He has hope that one day she will say it back and that day will be the best day of his life.
At least that's what he's used to think.
It's the end of the day and he's taking some books he needs for his homework out of his locker.
He hears them before he sees them, their voices loud and echoing in the empty halls. Finally Riley and Maya appear around the corner, where their own lockers are.
He barely gets a hello in before Riley starts gushing about the guy she's been in love with since the seventh grade.
Lucas.
They're official, and apparently they're going to last because high school relationships last longer than middle school relationships. Or so she says.
"He's the one Farkle, he's the one I'm going to spend the rest of my life with."
He glances over her shoulder at Maya and he's pretty sure they both look the same, sucker punched. It seems as though this is news to Maya as well. She gives him a sad smile before she turns on her heel making a beeline for the exit. She doesn't sling her bag over her shoulder because well, she's Maya and she still doesn't have one.
He focuses once again on Riley and how the light is hitting her perfectly causing her brown eyes to sparkle, they glitter even brighter every time she talks about Lucas.
She's finally out of breath and it's his turn to speak.
He steps forward pulling her into a hug.
"I love you Riley and I want you to be happy."
"I know.
They stand there in the middle of the empty hallway holding onto each other.
Surprisingly, she's the one who speaks first.
"Promise me things will never change between us."
"Riles…"
She pulls back tilting her head up to look at him, something she's not used to yet even though they're sophomores and he's been taller than her since the eighth grade.
"No Farkle, promise me."
"I can't Riley. Things already have changed, you've just been too caught up in Lucas to notice."
"That's not true."
"Yes, it is."
He hugs her again, this time tighter.
"I love you Riley."
Farkle Minkus has loved Riley Matthews since the first grade and he'll tell anyone who will listen. But at that moment, as he walks away, he's finally said it for the last time.