A/N: A companion piece to my story "Moments", "Vignettes" is a series of one-shots that further explore some glossed-over scenes. I recommend that you read "Moments" first to get some context of the universe in which these one-shots are set, but it's probably not required. These one-shots are written in no particular order. A sincere thank you to those who read and reviewed "Moments," your comments made my heart flutter. I hope you enjoy this one, too.
Vignettes ~ Ice Cream Battle
This is a state of grace
This is the worthwhile fight
Love is a ruthless game
Unless you play it good and right
("State of Grace, Taylor Swift)
"Okay. Here we are again. Now remember, everyone, standard ice cream duel rules apply. Maya, you are serving as Lucas's second. Farkle, you are Charlie's. Riley, as the trophy of this duel, you will sit there and look pretty."
"Zay, I'm not a trophy!" Riley usually loved ice cream duels. After the initial one with Maya during eighth grade, their friend group have used ice cream duels to solve their conflicts. Zay and Farkle both want to be Batman for Halloween: ice cream duel. Lucas and Riley both want to be Farkle's lab partner in chemistry: ice cream duel. Zay and Lucas each want to go to the Knick's game with Riley: ice cream duel. Riley and Zay have an argument over whether The Nutcracker or The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is better holiday entertainment: ice cream duel. They've become a tradition and Riley normally loves them. But not today.
"Oh, Riley. It will be fun. Besides, this is my first ice cream duel. I'm actually kind of excited." Of them all, Charlie is the most easy-going. As such, he hasn't had reason to get into a duel with anyone. That changed when he asked Riley to the senior prom. And then Lucas found out, and he was planning on asking Riley to the prom.
Maya found the whole situation hilarious. "Hey, Ranger Rick. Remember that time in the eighth grade when you waited ten months to ask Riley to semi-formal. And then Charlie asked her and they went together. Remember that? This just like that!"
"Haha, pancake. You are hilarious," Lucas said with a grumble. As he was handed his ice cream cone, he refocused his attention to Charlie. "Why did you even ask Riley to prom? You're my friend and you know I like her. You know we have an unofficial thing going."
This caused Charlie to break out into laughter. "You guys always have an unofficial thing going – except when you have an actual thing going. Look, Laura just dumped me. I want to go to prom. I want to go with a friend. Riley didn't have a date and she's my friend, so I figured, 'Hey, ask Riley.' Prom is in two weeks, Lucas. You wanna hesitate any more?"
"In my defense," Riley interrupted. "I'm not pathetic. Trent Sylverton and Robert Carter asked me to prom. I just didn't want to end up in a group with either the science club – no offense, Farkle – or the theatre company."
The group pretty much ignored her to focus on the issue at hand.
"Lucas," Farkle said, moving the conversation forward, "Were you really going to ask Riley to prom, or are you just upset that you got beat to the punch by Charlie. Again."
"Oooh, answer the question, Ranger Rick,"
"Dang, Lucas, I think he got you." Zay was really enjoying this whole thing. He hoped it would get Riley and Lucas to stop dancing around each other. They were all tired of the "will they, won't they" dance.
"I wanted to ask her," Lucas claimed indignantly. "I just, I – the situation is complicated."
"Really, cowboy?" Charlie asked. "That's the story you're going with? Complicated? You two have been 'complicated' since day one. This prom situation is not complicated. You want to go to prom with girl. You ask girl. The end. I think Riley should just go with me on the count of I actually asked her."
"I like you, Charlie. You're one of my best friends, but I really want to smash this ice cream into your face."
"Bring it, Friar. I dare you."
"Okay, okay," Zay interrupted. "Let's not let this get out of hand. It's just a dance, not worth losing friends over."
"Exactly!" Riley exclaimed. "Why don't we just not bring dates and we all-"
"Oh, that's not happening, Little Plant. I want to see this. Start the duel, Zay!"
"Maya!" Riley was doing her best to end the madness. She tried a new appeal, "Farkle, tell them all that this is crazy. We should just all go as friends, it would be fun."
"Sorry, Riley." Farkle at least looked a little ashamed. "You, Lucas, and Charlie are the only ones without dates, we couldn't all go as friends anyway. Besides, I want to see how this goes."
"Well, alrighty then." Zay was the Master of Ceremonies for this particular duel. He took the job seriously. "Back to the matter at hand. Standard ice cream duel rules apply: first person to smash the cone into their opponent's face wins a date with the lovely, indecisive Riley Matthews. Let's keep it clean, boys. One hand on the cone, the other behind your back. Verbal sparring is allowed, but nothing that would ruin the group dynamic. On your marks, get set, duel!"
Lucas was an athlete, so he was the obvious choice as the winner and for a while, as the two teenagers chased each other through Topanga's, it looked like he was the clear winner. However, Charlie was sly. He had the benefit of watching Lucas in his games and in several ice cream duels in the past, so he knew what to expect. To the sound of Maya, Zay, and Farkle's cheering, Charlie snuck up behind Lucas, wrapped his arm around the taller blond's head, and smashed his chocolate cone right into his face. The surprise sneak attack always worked.
Cheers erupted amongst the friends.
"Well Lucas," Charlie addressed him while licking the ice cream drips from his arm. "It was a pleasure doing business with you. I'm sorry that you, once again, lost Riley to me. Kind of ironic, right? Since the semi-formal was when we became close friends anyway. Seems fitting to end high school this way. And don't worry, dude, I know about your unofficial thing with Riley – everyone in school knows about it. We're just friends. We're going to prom as friends. Don't hate me." Charlie sauntered out of Topanga's with a head nod and a wink in Riley's direction.
"Thank goodness it's over," Riley sighed in relief. "Sorry, Lucas…I-"
"It's not your fault, Riley, I should have asked you."
"Now he gets it!" Farkle quietly mumbles to himself.
"Well, Ranger Rick. If I were you, I'd go hurry up and find some girl to take to prom that hasn't been asked yet. But whoever you ask, she has to join our group. You can't go off and hang with some random stranger, we want you in our picture."
"Gee, thanks, Maya," Lucas grumbled as he cleaned up his ice cream and got ready to head home.
Just as he got outside, Riley came running up to him. "Lucas, I just wanted to apologize for this whole thing. I would have loved to go to prom with you, but you're right. Our situation is…complicated. I understand why you didn't ask me, I wasn't really expecting you to."
"Oh, princess. I'm the one who is sorry. This whole duel thing was stupid. He asked. You said yes. You should go together. Just, save me a dance?"
"Always." The two smiled at each other.
Back inside Topanga's, Zay, Maya, and Farkle were discussing the most recent ice cream duel.
"Do you think those two will ever figure it out?" Maya asked the two guys.
"I don't know. I hope so, I can't handle them dancing around each other for much longer. I honestly thought their breakup was only going to last a few weeks," Farkle answered. He's been monitoring the LucasandRiley story closely from the beginning. "They're such idiots sometimes."
"Really, though," this time it was Maya. "Like, I feel bad I caused their breakup, that will always eat at my conscience, but I thought they would just bounce back. They are disgustingly adorable and everyone knows it. I'm actually kind of glad Charlie threw this kink in the story, light a fire, you know? Zay, what do you think?"
"I dunno, you guys. I think we're in for a ride with those two. It's going to be an interesting few months before college starts. I can't believe those two are going to be in different states. What are we going to do?"
After a bit of a pause, Farkle answered. "We're going to stay friends, no matter what. We're not going to allow them – or anyone else – to drift. And in terms of the LucasandRiley situation, we're going to stay out of it. We're going to nod on the phone when they call us to vent and we're going to eat ice cream and be comforting when they are upset. That's all we can do."
The three friends took a collective breath before heading out for the day, each one thinking about their lovesick friends. Life may the long game, but the game of love, that one was exhausting.