.:Treasure of the Nile- Cleopatra's Necklace:.

"Riley, how old are you anyhow?" Abigail asked, as Riley typed quickly on the computer, tracking down Ben, "Ben treats you like a teenager," she cracked a grin, "but you don't seem…"

"I'm 26." He chimed, cutting her off. "Don't worry, I get that a lot, my boyish good looks, you know."

"Really? You're only 6 years younger then Ben." She said.

"I am aware of this." Riley said, zoning into computer mode. Abigail turned back to watching out the window, muttering quietly to herself, "and a year older than me…"

He wasn't sure when it had happened- falling in love with his best friend's girl that is, but it had." Riley Poole spared a moment from his computer daze to glance at her from the corner of his eye- he loved her… he hated himself for it, but he loved her. Her subtle accent: normally only coming into her voice when she got worked up, the way her waves fell over her faces, the way her cheeks became tinged peak when the sunlight hit them just right, and the way she cared so much about things…

"Like your best friend- her boyfriend B-E-N?" his inner voice spoke up. He sighed and turned back to the computer- the best money could buy. Riley realized he was being distant from his friends, turning to the computer, it was the only way he could zone out… like taking a nap.

"'how old are you anyway?'" Her voice echoed in his mind. He typed harder on the keys, glaring fiercely. He was thrown from his 'dream' lost in the numbers, as Abigail's phone rang. She held it to her ear.

"Hello?" she asked. A small grin appeared on her face and her cheeks flushed a light pink. 'Ben' he thought. 'It's Ben' she mouthed. Riley gave a large (fake) grin before turning back to his computer; he caught the pained look in Abigail's eyes and felt bad about it. But he had to be sharp, distant… he had to.

"Riley!" Abigail exclaimed for the third time, Riley jumped, "we're done for now- want to come back to the house? Ben's making spaghetti." It had long been determined in Ben and Abi's relationship that Abigail couldn't cook. Riley shook his head.

"Nah, My sister's coming into town today. I have to go pick her up at the airport." He aid with a shrug.

"Oh… you have a sister?" Abigail asked, her voice surprised.

"Yeah. Two actually. Elizabeth, my older sister, is the one who's visiting, my little sister Callie is in college in LA."

"Wow. Does Ben have siblings? He doesn't talk about his family much." Abigail asked, looking excited. Riley got a faraway look on his face.

"That's how we met actually." He said his voice suddenly grim and quiet.

"Really?" Abigail asked, Riley hardly heard her as he started his story.

"I met Rebecca when I was about 14, a freshman. My family had just moved into town… we were the best of friends, then we started dating and by the year we got out of High school… we were engaged.

"What happened to her?"

"She died." Riley said simply. "No one knows… why. Just one day she had a headache and went to bed early… and the next she was gone."

"I'm sorry…" was all Abigail said, her voice quiet.

"Yeah." Riley said, standing as Ben entered the café, "we all were."

"Hey guys." Ben said, his trademark smile on his face, "How do you feel about going to Egypt?"

"Egypt?" Abigail and Riley echoed.

"Yep." Ben said, "Egypt."

End Scene

(an: I don't know how many times this' been done. But I felt serge of creativity. Hopefully I can make it to the next chapter 'eh?)