Purer than Gold and Lovely Like Lilies
Chapter 1
There was something in the air that made the day seem ominous. She wore a purple dress and pumps. Her hair was loose and curly. She looked a little wild and reckless. He felt a churning in the pit of his stomach as he watched her walking in his direction. The blonde beauty beside her with her hands shoved in the pocket of her blue jean vest; wearing a flared mahogany skirt with silver rhinestones and a silver blouse looked irked. Lucas remembered the lilies he held in hands behind his back as the two girls approached him. He smiled cordially and said hi to the blonde before giving all his attention to the gorgeous brunette. "These are for you." He smiled as he handed her the flowers. She returned the smile and thanked him for the flowers. The blonde interrupted at that moment. "Okay Hopalong, you got about three hours before I have to get her home so don't screw this up or you will not see the end coming." Lucas ignored the nicknames and threats and gave his simple reply, " Anything you say ma'am." "Where is Farkle, Smackle, and Zay?" Riley inquired distracting Maya from retaliating. "They are over there waiting for Maya by the coffee house." Lucas answered. "Well Maya you shouldn't keep them waiting. I'll meet you back here at the appointed time." "Alright, I'm outta here." Maya replied as she made her way over to the coffee house. Lucas looked at Riley and smiled. "Are you ready?" he asked. "Yes, I am definitely ready." Lucas takes Riley's hand and the two get into an awaiting car.
Maya approached the trio standing outside the coffee house and greeted them in the usual Maya way. "What's up losers?" Farkle grimaced and taken Smackle by the hand went inside the coffee house. "What'd I do?" Maya asked Zay as she watched a perturbed Farkle lead his girlfriend into the quaint little coffee shop. "It's not you, It's this whole situation." Zay replied.
"Oh, you mean lying to the Matthews and our parents and planning this whole night behind our families back." "Yeah, that. Farkle is not pleased with this plot at all of course you already knew that." "But what other choice did we have, Mr. Matthew left us no other recourse but to deceive them." Maya argued. "Doesn't matter now anyways Sugar the deed is done and the plot thickens." "Do you know what Lucas has up his sleeves?" Maya asked. "Not a single clue. Sorry he has not said a word since Mr. Matthews forbid him from seeing Riley." "Let's go inside and find out what the genuses know." Zay followed Maya inside the shop. The group were in for a long night and none of them had any idea where Lucas and Riley were going and what they were doing. Avoiding the elephant in the room was the only strategy. After all they could not face their families without causing an all out war.
Inside the Coffee House
Farkle and Smackle sat at a large booth at the back of the shop. They had ordered everyone's favorite expressos. Maya and Zay joined them sitting opposite the couple. "Let's just not talk about it okay guys?" Farkle spoke before Maya or Zay could interrogate him on what he knew about what was happening with Riley and Lucas. They didn't even know why Mr. Matthews was so furious with Lucas that he would forbid him to see Riley. "That is actually not okay Farkle, I want to know what is going on with my best friend and why she just snuck off in the middle of the night with Lucas." "If she did not tell you believe me she has her reasons." "But you know don't you?" "Not because she told me Maya. Believe me she would not have shared this with me if she had a choice." "So how'd you find out?" "Because I was there accidently when it all went down okay. I wish I'd used the door that day." Smackle squeezed his hand comfortingly. "My beloved has not even shared what he knows about the Lucas, Riley, and Mr. Matthews debacle with me. Maya, you must understand that some things have to remain private until the involved parties are ready to divulge said private matters." "Smackle, she's my best friend and don't know if what I help her do tonight was the right thing or not. Mr. Matthews is her father; if he stopped Lucas from seeing Riley it has to be for her own good." "I think Farkles right we should just stick to the plan and avoid discussing the couple that must not be named for the rest of the night." Zay concluded closing the discussion on Lucas and Riley. The foursome paid for their coffee and headed to the movies. It was going to be a long and interesting night.
The Whereabouts of the Couple that Must Not be Named
Lucas pulled up outside the cabin. He got out of the car and helped Riley out of the car. Lucas was really nervous. He loves Riley more than anything what he is about to say to her could literally be the end of his happiness. Her father has forbidden him from dating Riley. Lucas cannot blame Mr. Matthews for his decision. He respects him and knows how much he loves his daughter. Lucas knows if he had a daughter whose boyfriend had done what Mr. Matthew believes Lucas has done, he would do the same thing or worse. Lucas leads Riley inside. The place is beautifully decorated. There is a fire in the fireplace, candlelights, and a picnic basket on the table. "Lucas, what is all this?" Riley ask. Lucas swallows hard as he looks into her pleading eyes. " At the moment I really don't know. It could be our last date or if I can convince your dad I didn't do what he thinks I did it could be a fresh start." Lucas closes the space between them. "Riley, I love you and I don't want this to be the end for us." "Why does it have to be the end. I am eighteen. I am old enough to make my own decisions. I believe in you Lucas and I believe in us." Lucas give Riley a gentle kiss on the forehead. "I am glad you trust me but without your
dad's blessing I can't keep dating you and I can't ask you be my wife someday." " You had me dress up and brought me here just to break up with me." "I am not breaking up with you. I'm just asking to take a break until I can fix things with your dad. The first step is honoring his request that I not see you anymore." "I disagree. Lucas, I believe you that's all that matters. I know you did nothing wrong. I know you would never hurt me or disappoint me." "Riley please don't make this harder than it already is; I need to do this for us." " No! My father has been running my life for far too long, he said I was supposed to live in his world until I make it my own; well I have made the world my own and I want you to be a part of it." "Even if it means losing your relationship with him?" "It won't come to that." "Riley, it already has. Look at us we had to sneak out tonight to be together, you lied to your parents, our friends are lying for us. Maybe the old Lucas would be okay with this but I'm not Riley. I'm not okay with your dad not trusting me or respecting me. I can't be with you knowing he thinks that I am capable of hurting you of using you." "Then maybe we should just leave there's no point to any of this." Riley swings her arms around pointing to the lovely environment Lucas created for them to share. "I need this to last me until I can be with you again; until your father believes I am the right man for you again." Lucas pulls her into his arms and holds close as tears fall from his eyes. They sway as if dancing as he holds her and she whispers into his ear, "I'll be waiting for that day. I love you Lucas." "I love you too, so much."
Meeting to Go Home
Maya held Riley in her arms as the brunette cried softly. "What happened?" Maya asked with worry. "It's over we broke up." "What!" Maya exclaimed. "I am going to kill that Huckleberry Hound Dog and bury his bones where even the dirt he's buried under won't know
he's there." "Maya, don't it's for the best. It's what we want." "Then why all of this trouble? The lying and the secrecy? Huh?" Riley looked at her best friend as she wiped the last of her tears away. "We wanted one more date, one more kiss, and one more chance to say how much we love each other." "Riley I am so sorry; but if you guys love each other why aren't you fighting for each other? It's not like either one of you to give up without a fight." "Maya, we are fighting just not in the way that is expected." "But you just said that you are over." "Just for now until Lucas can prove himself to my dad that he is not capable of what my dad thinks he did." "What does your dad think Lucas did?" "He thinks he cheated." "Why?" "He thinks he has proof, a video, pictures, and a witness." Smackle who had been silent throughout the entire conversation adds, "What if Lucas can't prove he's innocent? What happens if Mr. Matthews never believes Lucas? What are you guys going to do then? I mean odds are with that much evidence that he either has a doppleganger or he's guilty as sin." Maya shouts exacerbated at Smackle, "Smackle! We think it, we don't say it out loud." "Sorry." Smackle replies. "Come on Riley let's get you home before the clock strikes midnight." "It's almost midnight but that means we're late." "Riley dearest it is not midnight, I think Maya was trying to use alliteration. Am I right Maya?" Smackle divulged. "Yeah, Yeah lets get you home Cinderiley." The girls head towards Riley house.
The Boys Meeting
Farkle was irate. "You broke up with her! You idiot you put us through all this just to break her heart." "Yeah, man I am your best friend but Riley is special. You cannot break a girl like Riley's heart without some repercussions. I think Farkle and should get to whip your butt." Zay added on with his usual charisma. "Guys calm down, I may have caused Riley some discomfort but I swear I didn't break her heart." "But you just said you broke up. Riley loves you with all her
heart she defied her father to be with you tonight and you dumped her. How can she not be broken hearted?" Farkle demanded angrily. Lucas answered as honestly as possible given the situation he was up against, "Because I love her and she knows how much I love her. She believes in me despite all the evidence she was made privy to tonight. This break is temporary; until I can convince her father that I am innocent." "But what if you can't" Farkle and Zay say in unison. "I have to, I don't have any other choice. Riley means everything to me I can't lose her." Lucas sighs frustratedly. "This is really complicated Lucas, as your best friend…" Farkle starts but is interrupted by Zay declaring that he is Lucas' best friend. Farkle shakes his head at Zay dismissively and continues, "My point is that I want to be there for you but this situation is going to drive a wedge between all of us if we don't fix it quick." "What do you mean Farkle?" Lucas inquires with a puzzled look on his face. "What Farkle is saying is that this situation is even more screwed up the the triangle business." Zay interjects. "Eloquently put Zay." Farkle concludes sarcastically. "It has to work out guys for all are sake I have to prove the Mr. Matthews that I did not nor would I ever cheat." Zay mouth drops open and he exclaims with over dramatized shock, "You cheated on Riley! Shame on you Lucas Friar I will never ever forgive you for breaking the heart of Cotton Candy Face."