Riley Mania!
Chapter 1- Sweet Like Me
Riley Poole sat in his apartment, concentrating carefully on the twelve boxes of doughnuts in front of him. He gorged on a custard one, moaning as the contents dripped onto his chin. He paused, licked it off, and turned his attention to a strawberry one, mixing the flavours and savouring them.
Ben Gates watched him from the doorway, shaking with laughter. He snorted aloud as Riley's new blueberry doughnut smudged on his nose.
"Ben?" Riley mumbled, his mouth stuffed with doughnut.
Ben stepped out, reaching for a cloth, still laughing, and mopped Riley's face.
"You know, Riley, if you eat too much, you won't be able to find treasure anymore! The plane won't carry you!" he stood back, a grin etched on his cool face, waiting for Riley to swallow.
"But I like doughnuts, Ben!" Riley whined cheekily, eyeing up a fat apple doughnut, perfect and sugary, by Ben. He noticed, and munched it up, teasing Riley with satisfied grunts.
"Okay, Ben, what do you want?"
Ben smiled. "Okay, Riley,' he mocked. "Now I have your attention… I was thinking. Why don't you come move in?"
Riley glanced up with a blank face. He stared around the white-washed walls of his apartment, the dozen empty junk food containers, his little cave of computers and gadgets. It was small and cheap- but for a famous treasure hunter like Mr. Riley Poole, it wasn't enough.
Riley frowned. "Sure, Ben?"
Ben laughed. He moved over to Riley and knelt down, looking at his big brown eyes. A little smudge of jam was on his nose. He brushed it away gently.
"Riley. You'd have loads of space. Latest technology. All the doughnuts you can eat! A maid, even! Plus, well, Riley, we've talked about this, haven't we? I want you to move in with me."
Riley rested his head on Ben's shoulder, smelling strongly of candy.
"Sure you won't break my heart, like with Abigail?" he whispered.
"Riley, I couldn't, and wouldn't." Ben answered. He kissed Riley softly on the lips, then stood up, pleased.
"So, shall we start packing?"