Author's Note: I unfortunately do not own GMW or Lee Brice's 'That Don't Sound Like You.' But when I heard it, the wheels in my head started spinning. Hope You guys enjoy chapter 1.
Girl, I'm glad you called, first heard you talk
It took me a second 'cause I couldn't hear your draw
That don't sound like you
That don't sound like you
Lucas could not contain his smile when he saw his best friend/ex-girlfriend/love of his life's name pop up on his phone. He was so glad he had decided to stay in on his first Saturday of summer.
"Riles! Hey, how are you? It's been a few weeks."
"Hey Lucas. I know. School has been so busy. I'm sorry I haven't kept in touch. I've got finals coming up this week and I just needed a break so I thought it would be nice to talk to you. How have you been?" Every time they talked, Lucas almost didn't recognize her voice. Her Texas accent became fainter and fainter each time they talked.
"This is Riley, right?" he asked her.
He heard her giggle and she goes, "why wouldn't it be me Friar?"
"You've been in New York too long Riley. You are losing your accent. Since when do you actually say 'you'?" he said.
"That's how you pronounce it." She informed him in a 'matter of fact tone.'
"I think it is time for you to come back to Texas. You need to be retaught how we speak down here."
He heard her giggle through the phone and listened to her stories of her times in New York.
1 Year, 10 Months Ago
Lucas was hanging out at his girlfriend's house watching her finish packing up her bedroom. Her dad had got a principal position at a school in New York City and because her parents were not ready to live in a separate state from their oldest child, they made her apply to New York University. Riley had no problem getting accepted. She had been their class valedictorian, president of their student government and head cheerleader. She was a peer tutor, office aide and completed hundreds of volunteer hours at various places around Austin. It was a given that she would be accepted anywhere. Her original plan had to be stay in Austin and attend the University of Texas with Lucas, but after her dad accepted the job in New York City, her parents changed all of her plans for her. She was devastated, as was Lucas, but they offered to pay for her college as long as she went where they chose. Lucas applied to NYU and was accepted, but unfortunately, his Pappy Joe, his grandfather and best friend other than Riley, became ill and could not take care of his ranch outside Austin anymore. Riley ripped up Lucas's NYU acceptance letter and told him he couldn't leave his Pappy Joe. She knew how much he meant to the blonde hair, green-eyed boy, and knew that if Pappy Joe were to take a turn for the worse, Lucas would never forgive himself if he weren't here to be with him.
"Can you stop packing and come sit with me for a minute?" Lucas asked her.
"No, because I know you want to talk about us and that is not a conversation I am ready to have." She replied and turned her back to him so he couldn't see the tears that were forming in her eyes.
Lucas stood up and walked over to her. He put his arms around her waist and put his chin on her shoulder. He kissed her neck and said, "we are running out of time Riles. We have to talk about us soon. You leave tomorrow."
"What's there to talk about Lucas? I love you. You love me. There is nothing to talk about!"
"Riley, we are going to be 1,800 miles apart. You can't tell me that there is nothing to talk about. I don't want to talk about it either, but we have to face reality."
"Can't we just stay in Rileytown forever? I like Rileytown."
"You know I would love to stay in Rileytown. It's my favorite place to be. But we have to talk about what these 1,800 miles means." Lucas pulled her in tighter and kissed her cheek. He did not turn her around to face him yet not only because he didn't want to see her cry, but also he was having a hard time holding the tears back himself.
They stood like that for a few moments and once they both composed themselves, Riley turned around to face him. "You're right. Let's talk."
Lucas made himself comfortable on her bed and pulled her into his lap. They both sat there, hoping to just pause the moment. This was one of those moments they considered themselves in Rileytown: just the two of them in their own little world. But they knew they couldn't stay in Rileytown forever. She started the conversation and by the end, they had both decided that if they were meant to be together, the distance and time apart would not be a factor. They could overcome the distance and make it work. They just knew they couldn't be without each other. They promised to talk everyday, even if it was just for a few minutes, Facetime at least once a week and take turns visiting each other on breaks. They were positive their love could overcome the 1,800 miles between them.
Unfortunately, 3 months later, after weeks of playing phone tag and week after week of missed Facetime chats, and not being able to see each other over Thanksgiving Break, the couple decided they were both too busy to continue their relationship. Riley was a science major so she could apply to nursing school after her sophomore year and Lucas was a science major so he could follow his dreams of becoming a Vet. They both agreed that no matter how much they loved each other, it wasn't fair to either one of them to keep holding onto a relationship neither one had time for. They both believed that if they were meant to be together, they would be after this obstacle, but both decided it would be best to end things and focus on getting to their future. They continued their friendship because they both knew they couldn't survive without the other in their lives.
Their friendship gave Lucas hope that maybe one day they would end up back together again. That was until Riley changed her relationship status on Facebook to "in a relationship" again at the beginning of their sophomore year of college.