Summary: Random snapshots of Riley and Lucas over the course of their lives. To be honest, there will be no overarching story here. This whole thing is purely selfish and therapeutic. Warning: FLUFF. ALL THE FLUFF.

Vignette One – Picnic

"Riley, I can't believe your father let me take you out on a date with just the two of us. It seems like just yesterday that we were seventh grade and your dad was trying to keep me out of his classroom," Lucas says wryly as they walk towards the patch of grass in Central Park he painstakingly chose for their picnic. In his left hand, he carries a large wicker basket containing all the picnic essentials. In his right hand, he firmly but gently holds Riley's much smaller hand.

Riley wrinkles her nose at the memory of her father then giggles, "Yeah, dad can be a bit protective. But I think he was just threatened by the idea that another guy might take his place as the most important man in my life."

Stopping abruptly, he turns to her in mock seriousness, "Riley, I tried being your brother and it was horrible. I can only imagine how much worse it would be as your father!" When she punches his arm, he adds, "Please tell Mr. Matthews that he has nothing to worry about."

Riley rolls her eyes then gestures for him to continue to lead the way. Internally, her stomach is churning. Partly because she is hungry but mostly because all the build up of the last two years has finally led up to this moment. For two years, they tip-toed around the idea of being a couple.

Finally, in their freshman year of high school, on the brink of a new adventure, they are finally holding hands as a couple. How she managed to contain her squeals of joy is a mystery for the universe.

When they get to the spot, Lucas sets up the picnic. When she offers to help, he stops her and says, "How about when you plan our next date, I let you do all the work then? Right now, I want to do this for you. Is that cool?"

A huge grin spreads across her face, "Next date?" His heart flutters at the sight of her smile.

"Riley, did you really think this would be the last?" he asks with a raised eyebrow.

Folding her arms playfully she replies, "Well, we'll see if you survive this one first. Hmph."

Standing upright he squints his eyes in challenge, "Well, if I can survive being thrown off of a bull, I think I can survive you, Matthews!"

"Be afraid, Friar. Be very afraid," she pronounces with a slightly raised chin.

"Oh, I'm shaking in my boots, ma'am," he drawls.

"Now that's settled, I'll let you finish," she says with an exaggerated eye flutter.

Lucas shakes his head and continues. Riley quietly enjoys the sight of her gorgeous boyfriend moving about quickly.

When he's finished, he sits on one side and pats the spot beside him for her to sit. He watches warily as his notoriously klutzy girlfriend sits down. To be fair, over the last few years, he's begun to notice that her clumsiness is subsiding and she's becoming much more graceful. She still trips over her thin limbs from time to time, but the frequency of those incidences has lessened since the time he first met her on a train when she flopped into his lap.

Out of his wicker basket he first pulls out a single red rose and hands it to her. Her eyes light up and she accepts his first token of affection. He then proceeds to set up their lunch of two large sandwiches, ginger ales, and cake.

When Riley picks up her sandwich, her eyes nearly pop out of their sockets. "Um, Lucas, I don't know if I'm gonna be able to finish this! It can barely fit in my hands! It's bigger than my face!"

Lucas laughs and says, "Sorry, Texas portions. My mom warned me that the sandwiches were huge while I was making them. If you don't finish, I'm sure I know a growing 16-year-old guy who can help you out."

"You made lunch yourself?" she says in genuine surprise.

Nodding shyly, "Yeah, I wanted to make sure that everything about this date was special. Sorry in advance if the cake isn't great, I made that too."

"Lucas, I love it," she says in awe at his thoughtfulness.

He shrugs and says, "I can't take credit for originality. My dad told me that when he took my mother on their first picnic together, he wanted to make sure that she was fed and that he made it all. Granted, he had the bigger challenge because my mother can eat her weight in food!" When she laughs, he adds, "My dad said that you know you've found someone special when fulfilling their basic needs becomes important to you. When wanting to make sure they've eaten well or slept enough becomes a daily concern."

Riley's heart speeds up and blush fills her cheeks. "Lucas, thank you. I don't know what to say other than I feel the same way."

For a moment, they get lost in each other's eyes. Both of them secretly memorize every detail about the other. Lucas commits to memory the way her dark hair frames her face perfectly. Riley focuses on his whole expression, which she knows to be the one only reserved for her.

When the moment passes, they slowly eat Lucas' offerings. Between bites, they talk about random topics ranging from their friends to whether or not fish have feelings. By the time they start on the cake, they are talking about future plans.

"Where do you see yourself in ten years?" Lucas asks Riley as she cuts a piece of their shared cake together. He knew he could have brought two pieces of cake but couldn't resist wanting the intimacy of sharing food with her.

Tipping her head to the side, Riley answers, "Hmm, I would be about 25. By that point, I will have graduated from college and maybe working on a Master's. Or working full-time somewhere… T-to be honest, Lucas, I still don't know what I want to do in the future. I don't think I'm really good at anything. Right now, I'm trying to figure out my place in the world." Looking down at her hands and feeling slightly embarrassed at her confession, she continues, "What about you?"

To Lucas, this was unacceptable.

Lifting her chin with the crook of his index finger, he gently raises her eyes to meet his, "Riley, you are the most open and generous person I have ever met. You have more passion for life than anyone. Ever. Not good at anything? You are the best problem solver. Those schemes of yours usually turn out well and improve people's lives. I don't think Maya's mom and Mr. Hunter would've gotten together without you. Not good at anything? You can get a complete stranger to open their heart to you and reveal their dreams! Sherpa Boy and I can testify to that! Not good at anything?" He drops his hand from her face in order to pick up her hand and place it over his heart.

"Riley, you tamed the heart of a boy who was known for raising his fists instead of using his head. When I first got to New York, I was so angry that I had to leave Texas. I thought that it was only going to be a matter of time before I did something and got kicked out again. I was, well, not in a good place. Then this angel fell into my lap in the subway and changed my life. You changed me because I wanted to be someone worthy of you."

Riley sits silently trying to process his words. Her eyes never drift from his. Unbeknownst to them, their heartbeats synchronize.

"Lucas, I am going to kiss you right now." And as if perfect mirror images of each other, they simultaneously lean closer, shut their eyes, and meet at the lips in a chaste but soulful kiss.

After their kiss, they just talk and lose track of time. As the people around them come and go, Riley and Lucas stay in their spot both refusing to let the date end. It isn't until the sun sets and both of them are forced by impending curfews that they pack their little world away into a wicker basket.

When Lucas drops her home, he kisses her good night and promises to text her when he gets home. When he leaves, Riley thinks about the secret of life: people change people. Every moment matters. For anyone else at the park, a young man and woman were having a simple picnic. For Riley and Lucas, they were laying down the foundation for a future.