This is a one-shot based on the song Thoughts by Michael Carreon
Sorry if it seems a little rushed towards the end. I wrote it in my two hour time gap between classes, and I started to run out of time.
Riley have been friends for years. I met her when I moved to New York in the 7th grade, and now we're seniors in high school. She is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. I dream about her practically every night. She has the kindest heart; always making sure everyone around her is taken care of. She is the goofiest person I know; she always makes me laugh. The type of laughing that you let out that embarrassing snot.
I'm lost in my thoughts of Riley when I hear a familiar voice and it pulls me out.
"Huckleberry?" I turn around and Maya is standing in front of me. "Were you daydreaming about Riley again?"
"W-w-what?" I stutter out. "I don't know what you're talking about Maya."
"Sure you don't Huckleberry. When are you and Riley finally going to stop being stupid and just confess your love to each other? I mean you guys steal glances-"
"We are just friends." I stopped her.
"You and Cotton Candy Face are way more the friends." Zay walks up to me and Maya from the other end of the high school hallway and intertwines his fingers with Maya's. "You're always staring at the back of her-"
"Okay that's enough Zay."
We stand by the lockers a few more minutes talking before a certain someone comes and joys us. Riley. My Riley. I want to call her mine. "Lucas!" She speaks loudly and hugs me.
"We'll just leave you two alone." Maya says walking away while pulling Zay with her.
I pull away and lock eyes with Riley. She has beautiful brown eyes. She has sadness written all over her face. "Lucas, you were right about Evan." Evan, the guy that Riley was currently talking to. They weren't together, but the were working towards it. My heart drops to my stomach just thinking about.
"What happened Riles?"
"Nothing, just the fact that he was talking to me along with two other girls. Basically telling us all the same things." I had told her to watch out for him because of the things that I heard about him. That he is a player and only ever wants one thing from a girl. Riley deserved better. "At least I found out now, rather than later. I am a little hurt. I had really started liking him." There goes my heart.
I wrap my arms around her and pull her into a hug. I breath in her strawberry scented shampoo, my favorite. " You'll be okay Riley. I'm here for you."
"Thank you Lucas. This weekend if it's okay can you come over and keep me company. I would ask Maya, but she is going away with Zay and his family for the weekend. So, I need you. I need my best friend." She looks at me and I can see her eyes pleading with me.
"Of course Riley." I pull her in even tighter. "I'd do anything for you." I say quietly.
"YAY! We can have a movie marathon with lots of junk food. I have four days to play the perfect list of movies to watch. I can take both days right? Saturday and Sunday you are mine?"
Did she just say I'm hers? She did. "Hello? Lucas?" She says waving a hand in front of my face.
"Yes I'm all yours this weekend. You need me and I'm there."
"Thank you! You are the best you know that?"
"So I've been told." It makes her laugh and it's music to my ears.
The week dragged on probably because I'm excited for this weekend. Riley and I have been talking all week about what what movies we are going to watch and what snacks we are going to eat. She gushes over her favorite red gummy bears. Those are her absolute favorite. Maya and Zay are throwing in their comments the two of us being alone together and anything can happen. Why did Farkle and Smackle have to go away on the foreign exchange student program. They would have stopped it. Who am I kidding? They would have added onto it.
I get Riley all to myself, what more could I ask for. That gorgeous girl and me it's a dream come true. Literally. I have dreams where we lay around all day together watching movies talking. Although in my dream cuddling and a couple of stolen kisses are involved. A guy can dream. I want to tell her how I feel, but what if she doesn't feel the same? I rather have her in my life as my best friend than not in it at all. I need Riley Matthews in my life.
It's Thursday now just one more day. The final bell rings for the day. I gather my english book and notebooks and walk out of class. When I get to my locker the beautiful brunette is there waiting for me. My heart starts to speed up. I get nervous whenever she is around me. It's only gotten stronger the effects she has on me as we've gotten older.
"Hey Lucas. I was wondering if maybe we can start our weekend tomorrow after school since it's Friday. My list of movies turned out to be longer than I had anticipated."
"Yeah we can do that." More time with Riley, better for me.
"Perfect! Can't wait!" She hugs me before she skips off down the hall. Yes, skip and it's adorable.
It's ten o'clock and I can't sleep. I am way too excited for tomorrow for sleep. I get out of bed and go down to the kitchen to get a cup of cold water.
Just relax Lucas. You hang out with Riley all the time. Yes but not like this. This is different. Why is this different? If something was suppose to happen it would have happened, right? I can't tell her I love her. What did I just say love? Yes I did. I LOVE RILEY MATTHEWS.
"Honey?" My momma's voice gets my attention.
"Oh hey momma. I was just getting some water." I say showing her my glass of water.
"Do you want to talk about what you were just thinking about? Well should I say who you were just thinking about. Heck who you are always thinking about."
I stare at her how did she know? "Momma I don't know what you're talking about?"
"Okay boy. Come sit down." She pats the stool next to her. I saunter over and sit.
"This is about Riley isn't it?" I look at her. "Yes I know. I also know that you are probably up right now because you can't sleep because you are excitement running through you along with nerves. I see the way you look at her, but I also see the way she looks at you. Do you love her?" I don't say thing. "You can talk to me honey."
"Momma, I'm in love with her. I know she's the one for me. The way I feel about her can never be explained. The sound of her voice can turn any frown on my face into a smile to an instant. She's constantly on my mind. I'm scared momma. I want to tell her, but what if she doesn't feel the same way. What if I tell her and it scares her off? Then I lose Riley. I can't risk it. I won't. I love her momma. I don't ever want to be without her."
"Oh, Lucas. That girl loves you. She steals glances at you whenever she is over. Her eyes beam with light when you are around her. The way she has spoken to me about you is a girl in love." Riley talks to my mom about me?
"What does Riley say about me?" I ask.
"Just really sweet things. Tell her Lucas. You guys have built a beautiful friendship because of that it will lead to an amazing love. Don't lose your chance." She gets up from her stool. "Get some rest honey. You have an exciting weekend ahead of you." She kisses my forehead, "Goodnight."
"Goodnight momma."
Can I tell Riley I love her? I want to. I want to really bad.
School goes by fast today faster than what I would have liked. Which I know makes no sense because you would think I would want today to go by fast so I can be with her, but I'm scared. Do I tell her? I don't want to ruin what me and Riley have going on.
I pull out my phone and call the only person I know who can possibly help me. It rings and rings and finally I hear a voice.
"Hey Lucas. What's going on?" Farkle ask.
"I need help. Like real help. I'm going to be with Riley all weekend. I know we've hung out before, but this time feels different and I don't know why."
"Probably because you love her, and you've finally brought yourself to realize it." Did he say that? How does he know?
"How do you know?"
"Lucas, it would take an idiot not to see how you feel. As for me knowing you barely realized it. Zay says you've been acting nervous about your weekend with Riley. So I kind of put the piece together."
"Riley doesn't see it. So does that make her an idiot?" I say maybe a little too harshly.
"No she isn't an idiot. She is just scared. Riley is blind to things that scared her, and I think she is scared because she feels the same way about you."
"W-What?" I manage to let out.
"Lucas, Riley loves you. You don't see it because you don't think someone as amazing as her can love you. She does though. I just know."
"How?" I need to know if she really does love me before I risk losing her.
"I just do. Tell her. You two need to be together. You two are meant for each other. I have to go. We are going site seeing. Tell her. Bye." Before I can beg how he knows he hangs up. Does she really feel the same? Can Riley Matthews really love me, Lucas Friar?
"Okay so we can start with the Harry Potter movies." Riley says looking at me as we enter her apartment. "And yes we are watching all of them. Maybe not in order though. I like to watch them backwards."
"Whatever you want Riley." She grabs my things out of my arms and walks to her room to put mine and her school bag away.
"You know I could have done that myself right." I tell her as she walks back into the living room.
"Yeah I know, but I did it." She sticks her tongue at me and I laugh. She is completely and utterly adorable, and she doesn't even realize it.
She doesn't waste anytime putting in the Harry Potter movies. "So I guess we are going in order then?" I ask seeing she put in the first one.
"You know I have decided yet." She lets out a light laugh. "I'll see how I feel after we finish this one."
"Well okay then."
She goes to the kitchen to pop the popcorn. She is so beautiful, I want to tell her. Maybe then she can be mine. I walk over to the kitchen, "Do you need any help?" I ask her.
"If you want to get the drinks from the fridge that would be lovely. I got the rest."
I get the drink and walk over to the couch and plopped down. I place the two Dr. Pepper cans on top of the coffee table in front of me.
"So I have popcorn and chocolate for you," she hands me a big bowl. "And my red gummies that I had to order for me."
"So let's press play and let the movie marathon begin." I say and it makes her laugh. I did that I made her laugh.
I love watching how lost she gets into the Harry Potter movies. It's cute and mesmerizing to watch. Before I know it the first one ends and she's getting off the couch and putting in a new Harry Potter movie. The screen comes on and it reads Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows: Part 1.
"So I guess we aren't going in order then." I laugh.
"No we are not. This one was just calling out to me to watch next, so I had to. I hope you don't mind."
"Like I said early it's whatever you want." She presses play and sits right next to me. Closer than what she was sitting before.
This one makes her sad because this is the one where Dobby dies. Heck it makes me sad. The first time I watched it a tear escaped from my eye.
Riley starts to get more comfortable and more lost into the movie. Ahalf through the movie she lays her head down on my lap and I run my fingers through her hair.
"That feels good. If you keep doing that you are going to put me to sleep." She says laughing lightly.
"Oh if that is the case. I'm not going to stop then I'll be out of the torture." I joke. She laughs and my stomach gets butterflies.
The death scene is coming up and I see Riley clur herself into a ball. She's going to cry. I know Riley. I keep running my fingers through her hair and each time I can smell her strawberry shampoo. It smells nice. I can breath this in all day.
The death scene happens and I can hear her sniffle. Soon the movie ends "Riles you okay down there?" I joke putting my head down to look at her.
"I'm fine. It just gets to me everytime."
"You are to cute." I let slip out, but I see a blush wash over her face. She laughs and nudges me.
"Come on, we can take a break. I went and bought things to make a pizza. You hungry?"
"The real question when am I not hungry?" I laugh and she laughs harder. Music that's all I'm hearing.
In the middle of making the pizza, Mr. Matthews walks in and behind runs Auggie with two of his friends.
"Hello Lucas."
"Hello Sir."
"Riley, you and Lucas are going to have to finish your movie marathon for today in your room."
"What why?" Riley questions.
"Auggie is going to have a sleepover out here in the living room, so that pushes you and Lucas out." Mr. Matthews laugh.
"Fine, but I'm closing the door." Riley says a little sassy that's cute.
"Go ahead. If Cha Chi here was going to try something he would have done it by now." He's right. It's been years. Mr. Matthews use to chase me out of her room, now he is letting her close the door with me inside. Maybe Riley doesn't feel the finish making out pizza and after it's cooked we take it to Riley's room to eat.
We sit in silence at her bay window eating, but it isn't uncomfortable silence. It's a nice silence. I can get use to this. You know being with Riley like this.
"Sorry about my dad." She says breaking the silence.
"Don't be. I know he was just joking."
"Yeah." She almost looks dare I say disappointed.
We finish our pizza and Riley takes our dishes back to the kitchen. I get up from the bay window and walk over to her bed. I take off my shoes before I lay down on the left side since the right is hers.
"So I see that you just made yourself comfortable." She laughs walking into the room.
"I have to get comfortable. I have to sit through five more Harry Potter movies. The torture."
"Oh stop it. You enjoy them."
"If I get to spend time with you, then I guess I do." Maybe if I keep saying sweet things she'll notice that I see her move than a friend.
"Chambers of Secrets next."
"Oh you really are just picking the ones that are calling out to you, aren't you." Again she laughs and nods her head. I feel like I have heard nothing but her laughter today. I don't mind at all.
She comes and lays down next to me and cuddles in close to me. "Sorry, I didn't-"
"It's okay." I stop her and pull her closer to me.
"This is nice."
"Yes it is."
We watch the next two Harry Potter movies like that. He in my arms. I love it. I have to stop myself from leaning in to give her kisses on top of her head. She is amazing. I should tell her right now how I feel. Tell her I love her. That I'm in love with her.
"Hey Riley." I say. You can hear the nerves in my voice.
"Yeah?" She looks at me with her big brown eyes. I almost get lost in them. Say it now. Just say I love you, Riley.
"I, uhm, I," she keeps looking at me, "I'm really happy I get to spend this weekend with you. That it's just going to be the two of us."
She smiles the biggest smile I've seen her smile. "Me too Lucas."
I wanted to tell her how I felt. It would have been the perfect time, but I couldn't. I can't risk losing her and never talking to her if she didn't feel the same. I can't. I rather her be my best friend for the rest of my life, than nothing at all. For now, my feelings stay to myself.