A/N: Ok first off, Shawn Mendes is on a roll with this music. This song Treat You Better is amazing! This fic is based off of it.
Charlie has become infatuated, a Gideon-esque (if you've seen Gravity Falls) version of himself since winning the girl he liked. She needs a hero, and Lucas wants to save her.
When I found her crying in the hallway, in the hole no less, I knew that was the last straw.
She didn't see me coming, as I walked carefully down to her, where she sat on the floor, sobbing into her hands.
"Riley," I whispered, taking a spot directly in front of her. It was our lunch period, so we were completely alone, in the quiet halls.
"I'm fine Lucas." She lied, wiping the tears as quickly as her small hands would allow her.
"I know that's not true. Is it-"
"Charlie is not the reason, ok?" She lashed out, staring up at me with glossy eyes.
"Riley. I know you. You know me. We both know that this isn't 'ok.' I will fix it for you. He needs to leave you alone." I continued, taking her into my arms. She relaxed against me, but I knew she wasn't going to give in so easy. This hadn't been our only conversation on Charlie, and his recent infatuation with his girlfriend. We both knew it was unhealthy, but she didn't want to let him down. She refused to see what was right in front of her.
"No, he likes me Lucas. And I…" I knew she didn't return those feelings. She may have liked him at first, when he swept her off her feet at the semi-formal, and proclaimed his love at graduation, doing the things I should've done for her. But now? No, Riley doesn't deserve this.
"You don't like him Riley. But you know what? I like you."
"You keep saying that Lucas. But I'm with Charlie. He's my boyfriend. Not you. Remember? You chose…You chose Maya." She averted her eyes.
She was right. I had chosen Maya. Until we both realized what we had done wasn't right for either of us.
Maya had broken things off with me, and begun a relationship with Josh.
"I made a mistake. We both did. I know I can treat you better than he can."
"Lucas…I'm with Charlie."
"You deserve a gentlemen. Something he is not. Not anymore." I kept going.
"Tell me I'm wrong Riley. Look me in the eyes and tell me. Because you've yet to do that, throughout any of our conversations about him. You tell me, tell me you don't like me back anymore. Tell me that Charlie will always have your heart, tell me he isn't hurting you. And I'll back off." I took a deep breath.
"I refuse to see someone I care about being treated like this. You deserve so much better, Riley. And I won't ever let you down like he has."
She looked up at me.
"I can't do that Lucas." She shivered. "I can't lie to you."
"Then I will get you out of it." I decided. She leaned her head against my chest.
"Lucas, he will come back. He always does. He refuses to let me out of his sight. These few minutes, this is all I have while he's in class…"
"We'll talk to a counselor. Your paren-"
"We can't tell my parents. They don't know what Charlie's become. They don't know how attached he's become. Lucas whenever he's around them he puts up this show. He becomes the old Charlie. And when we're alone…When we're alone…"
I could feel my hands ball into fists. He's been making her feel uncomfortable.
"He's never actually hurt me." She assured me quickly, though her rapid heart doesn't say much to prove it. "He never even speaks to me. He just watches me. He sits and watches me. He stares into my eyes, and he sits there, silent. I always worry. I worry he's there, in my window at night, just watching me. He has this smile. That smile…" She trailed off.
"Riley you swear to me he hasn't physically abused you?" I probed her. She sighed, her eyes drooping.
"He hasn't Lucas. But…I always wonder if it's coming to that. I worry, one day he'll be there, sitting and staring, and he'll just attack me out of nowhere. No one would know. He's always so careful no one is with me…"
"I won't ever let that happen to you. It's my fault. I should've never let him anywhere near you. I should've come to you on New Years. When you first rejected him, I should've taken you in, when I found out that you loved me. I allowed this to happen…"
"Riley?" We heard him call out. The bell hadn't rung.
Riley's breathing hitched.
"I always had lunch…He's never found me at lunch." She whispered shakily, nearly hyperventilating in my arms.
She crawled out of my embrace, and back into the darkest corner of the hole.
Enough was enough.
I stood.
"Oh, hi Charlie!" I shouted excitedly, walking out of the hole, towards him.
He plastered a smile across his face. "Hey Lucas? Have you seen Riley, I know she's been spending…a lot of time with you."
"She's done being your doll Charlie. I will not see her in your arms anymore. You are not the guy we all knew in middle school. You're obsessed, and its wrong." I explained, crossing my arms.
His smile only widened.
"Oh Lucas, she's been telling you stuff about me? She's just a bit confused is all. Big misunderstanding. Riley likes me and I like her. We sit, and watch each other. It's just what makes us happy. I send her a new bouquets of flowers every morning and night. Send her cards, and muffin baskets. When she's at home, I call her, so I can listen to her breathe. To make sure she's safe. When she's at Topanga's, I watch from the windows to be sure she isn't being stalked." He said slowly.
The last comment made me explode.
"You are her stalker! You need to leave her alone, Charlie. You will not call her again, nor will you watch her at Topanga's or her house or even here in school. You're done. I'm going to speak to the student counselor." I declared, coming closer.
"I don't think you will Lucas. You see, Riley and I have nearly every class together other than lunch, she loves me. You will not keep us apart." He tried to side-step me, a mistake.
I grabbed his arm.
"You won't scare her anymore, Charlie. She doesn't like you anymore. She doesn't want to be your girlfriend anymore." He yanked away from my grasp, but I held still.
"Riley! Lucas is trying to keep us apart, sweetie! Please, tell him to give it a rest," He called.
No one responded. She was staying put in the hole, where she was safe, thank goodness.
But then…
"Charlie?" her voice, barely audible came out from her spot. She rose slowly, facing the both of us.
I was so shocked I let go of his arm.
"Hey, Riley. I was calling yo-Are you alright? You've been crying, has Lucas hurt you?" He accused, as she stepped out in front of us.
"Lucas would never hurt me. But…I'm not sure I could say the same about you. I'm done. Charlie, it's over. We're over." Her voice rose steadily, her eyes narrowing.
"You deserve someone better than me."
"Ril-" I tried to stop her, but she continued on.
"We've been dating for nearly a year, and I still can't return your feelings. I don't enjoy sitting and staring as much as you do. It's unfair, with all the gifts you've given me. You deserve so much better."
"We can fix it Riley, you'll learn to love me the way I love you. I can give you more gifts, more flowers, I can visit you more often!"
She sighed.
"No you can't fix this Charlie. You can't. But maybe your parents can help you." She finished, lowering her head.
I turned around as Mr. Matthews and a counselor came our way.
"You called your dad?" Charlie realized, turning to face them himself.
A spark of the old Charlie flashed in his face. I could tell he'd never thought he was causing such damage.
"Charlie, we need you to come with us. We've called your parents, and they're coming to pick you up." Mr. Matthews began, glancing over at me with a look of pure thankfulness. He probably felt terrible he hadn't noticed what was going on with Riley.
This time, Charlie lowered his head.
"Yes sir." He said simply, following the counselor and Mr. Matthews, back down the hall from which they came.
I waited until the footsteps were gone, before I ran over to take Riley in my arms.
"He's gone Riley. He's going to get therapy, and you'll be safe." I whispered, as she cried on my shoulder.
"Give me your hand, Riley." She sniffled, and obliged.
"We'll be fine Riley. I promise."
She nodded.