Hey everyone. I hope you are enjoying the story. Welcome to any reviews good or bad. The chapters will usually alternate between point of views of Riley and Lucas. Later chapters you will get POV's from Maya and Josh. This chapter we get Lucas' POV.

Changes-2

Lucas POV

Seeing Riley tonight for the first time in three years it was a feeling I can't even describe. It felt like my heart was literally going to explode it was beating so fast. She looked the same, but boy had she changed too. I know that statement is confusing as ever but believe me it's true. She was still tall, slender, and her skin was still that ivory color and creamy silky smooth as he remembered. He wanted to reach out, and touch her. From the I got from her tonight. I know that is definitely off limited for tonight and maybe many nights from now. I'm prepared to wait as long as it takes.

She still had that long brown hair that cascaded down her back in soft curls that would make any man weak in the knees. The dress was wearing tonight. Woo really showed off more her new found curves. Her breast were fuller and the dip in the dress showed that off. Her bottom was curvier and more defined and the dress hung to every new found curve. It was hard to look away from her but I did. I didn't want to creep her out the first night.

One thing is for sure, she still gives me that same feeling I felt when she fell in my lap 5 year ago. Seeing her tonight he knew he still loved Riley Matthews and probably always would.

When Charlie put his arm around I had to fight to keep my resolve. It felt like someone had punched me in the gut. That old feeling of regret creeped up on me and was sweeping in just envying that he was so close to her. That he was the one that got to hold her and talk to her all night. The things he missed the most about being gone.

I don't know how I thought that she would still be single after all these years. Look at her. She was the definition of beauty to me. It just sucked that Charlie Gardner of all people had to end up with her. That creepy creep has always been lurking her in the wings. He should have put him in his place at the semi-formal and let Riley knew how he felt then. Maybe things would have been different.

I run my hand over my face. I couldn't keep thinking about the things I could have done or should have done. I have to deal with that cards are dealt for me. I can only try to fix the mess I made.

It had been three long years since I had gotten the call that I had to come back to Texas. I packed my bags and left that night. It was the night I was supposed to make the decision. The night I was supposed to let Riley and Maya know how I felt and who I wanted to be with. I had thought about what I was going to say so many times while packing my bags. I wanted it to be perfect. I never imagined I would have gotten that call and everything could change so quickly.

"Lucas." Maya said while waving her hand in front of my face. I jump a little and I look back at her and smile. She just shakes her head at me. I was so lost in thought I hadn't heard what she was saying.

"Sorry what were you saying?" I said with a smile.

"Where did you just go Huckleberry?" she asked me while crossing her arms and staring at me.

"That's one things I didn't miss the nicknames." I smile and take a sip of the punch they brought me.

"Oh you know you missed them." Maya teased me. She pinches my cheek for good measure. When she does that. I look out at Riley out of the corner of my eyes. I see her chocolatey brown eyes get inflamed from that simple move. I know she still cares even if she won't come near me tonight or says it. I have come to New York to let her know it always has and always will be her the girl that drives me crazy.

"Maybe a little." I told Maya. Which just made her smile wider.

"Are you going to tell us what happened, and why you left?" Maya questioned him.

"Yes, but I want to tell Riley first."

"Then we might not know for at least a month now. Riley has a bit of a stubborn streak now." Maya teased him.

"As long as it takes then." I told her while continuing to look her way.

"Well I'm glad you said that, and that you are back Huckleberry." Maya teases me.

"So how long with you and Josh? He's been giving me the eye since you came over here." I informed her. She just smiles brighter.

"Like just today. I asked him to end the long game and let's become official. He said he wanted that too." Maya said while staring back at Josh and smiling. This made me smile. Maya deserved happiness. I hope that she has found it would Josh.

"I'm happy for you."

"Thanks, Lucas."

"I think that is the second time you actually used my name."

"Miracles do happen." Maya teased me. "Tell her soon though. You know Riles if you don't tell her soon she will have this whole story made up in her mind. Then it will be hard to change that story."

I laugh whole heartedly because I know Maya is right about that. That was one of the things he loved about Riley was her passion. If I could just get her alone I would tell her everything right now if she would listen to me.

"I know you wouldn't leave without a good reason. Those 3 years hurt and changed her Huckleberry." Maya told me. I try to swallow the lump in my throat after that comment. I never wanted to hurt Riley that was the last thing I intended to do. I nod my head to her to let her know I heard her. She walks back over to join Josh now on the dance floor who was with Riley and Charlie.

I try to hold back the anger that was brewing in me every time I saw them dancing. I know I don't really have that right but I can't help the way I feel. I hate seeing his hand rest on the small of her back. All I can think of that it should be my hand.

"It's good to see you again Lucas." Farkle said. He leans against the wall of the building.

"It's good to see you too. I've missed all of you guys so much." I told him.

"It was hard to tell." Farkle admitted. I expected to hear that from him and many of them. It wasn't going to be easy gaining everyone's trust again. I went to speak but he already started rifling off the questions. The questions I knew I'd get all night. "Why didn't you keep in touch? If you had to leave we would have understood but you could have kept in touch."

"When I left I was in so much of a hurry. I was just focused on the issue back home. So much so I broke my phone." Lucas said with a slight laugh. He remembers rushing out of the airport when he hit Texas and dropping his phone and crushing it with his cowboy boots. "By the time I got a new phone I didn't have my contact information. When I tried to reach out in social media you guys had blocked me out in all forms."

"Then why did it take you three long years to come back?" Farkle asked me. He was a scientist. He needed facts and information for every judgement. I can see he is studying my every move and my facial reactions to process his judgment. I turn and look him right in the eyes.

"I want to tell Riley first. I promise you I didn't want to stay gone that long. I came back as soon as I could. Staying away this long I had no choice in the matter. As soon as I did. I came right back here." Lucas told him.

I can see that Farkle is contemplating what I told him. He looks over at Smackle and smiles then back at me.

"I can understand that. If I were in your situation I would want to tell the girl I loved first."

"Yeah." I just reaffirmed with him.

"So Riley was your choice." Farkle said with a smile.

"Always." I told him. Farkle nods his head and starts to walk back over to Smackle. He looks back at me and mouths you owe me. I look at him confused. He takes Smackle's hand and takes a drink off the drink table. He whispers something in Smackle's ear and she looks back and smiles at me.

They start to walk over to where Maya, Josh, Riley, and Charlie are dancing. Farkle pretends to trip and bumps into Smackle. They both end up pouring their drinks on Charlie and Josh's shirts.

Smackle and Farkle both start apologizing and taking the two men away to get them cleaned up. It leaves Riley and Maya alone on the dance floor. This is what Farkle was talking about when he said that I would owe him. I start to walk toward the two girls. Riley looks away from me immediately. She had been doing that the whole night.

All I have wanted to do for the past three years is to stare in those beautiful brown eyes and she keeps denying me of that tonight.

"Hey." I said to the two of them.

"Hey Ranger Rick. I'll be right back I'm going to check up on the boys and see if they are all cleaned up. We want to keep dancing. Maybe you can keep dancing with Riley while I go get our partners" Maya told me while slapping me on the back before heading off.

"Maya." She yells at her in annoyance.

"I'll be right back peaches." Maya yelled from the door to the roof.

"I should go with them." Riley told him and moving to walk away with me still not making eye contact.

"Riley wait." I tell her. I reach out and touch her arm and I feel my whole body tingle from just one touch. She still has that effect on me. It is even stronger than before. Those beautiful brown eyes finally connect with mine and this feeling multiples if possible. I feel her shudder from my touch too. I know I still have some sort of effect on her too even if she won't say it.

"I'm waiting." She said while biting her bottom lip. Damn. If only she knew how sexy she looked to me right now when she did that. All I wanted to do was kiss her firmly on the lips. I couldn't concentrate.

"You look beautiful tonight Riles." I told her. I run my hand through my hair to try to calm my nerves. I had to initiate some sort of small talk to keep her here with me. Telling her what I felt seemed the best thing right now.

"Thanks." She mumbled. She steps back to move away from my touch. My hands felt the cold when she walked away.

"I know you said you didn't want to talk about what happened tonight. I need to tell you as soon as possible." She breaks eye contact with me now. I wanted to take my hand to her chin and have her look back at me again. That might have been too heavy of a small talk item to keep her here with me. I wanted to let her know I had every intent to let her know what happened. I couldn't let that linger on for weeks. I need her to know as soon as possible.

"Maybe I should make you wait three years. Then you might know how it feels." Riley told me. This time when she looked at me and I could see the pain in her eyes. I never want to see that pain again. I hate that I'm the one that caused it. I still needed her to know I was going to tell her soon.

I step closer to her so she can hear me loud and clear on the next thing I say. I can see from the look in her eyes that she wasn't anticipating that. She doesn't move back to create space. She tries to hold her ground with me. She looks up at me and stares in my eyes waiting for me to make the next move.

"Riles, I never meant to hurt you." I say firmly. She looks away from me. This time I do take my hand and lift it to her chin and slowly lift so she is looking back at me. Her lip is trembling and I can see that she is fighting back the tears. It is breaking my heart seeing her like this. I had to tell her. "I would never initially hurt you. Ever."

I can see she is fighting to believe my words. I need her to know that what I'm saying is true.

"You keep saying that but it's hard for me to believe that Lucas." Riley said while continuing to blink back the tears. She steps away from me now trying to create that space again. I wanted to step closer but I kept the distance for the time being.

"Riles the day I left was right before I was going to end that mess we were in. I had made my choice long before then. It was time to end it. I can admit I was wrong for not ending it earlier. You always made me promise no one would get hurt. I was trying my best to ensure that didn't happen. I think it hurt all of us in the long run by keeping it going. Then I got word that Pappy Joe had fallen gravely ill."

"Pappy Joe, is he ok?" She asked me very concerned now.

"No he's passed away." I finally choked out. She reaches out and touches my arm. I feel that same electricity as before. This time I also feel her love and warmth.

"I'm so sorry to hear that Lucas." She told me. She hesitates before saying the next thing but she still says it. "It still doesn't explain to me how you could be gone for so long. I called you for almost 6 months. 6 months no response. I would have been there for you if I would have known. Why didn't you trust me with this?"

Trust.

I trusted her with everything. That wasn't the issue.

"Riles-." I was cut off from finishing my statement. I was never more upset to be interrupted. Charlie had come back up and wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her close against his body. She smiles at him as he kisses her cheek. He looks back at me in the eyes and smirks. As it was his way to tell me too late she is already mine.

Not for long.

"Sorry Friar but I'm stealing Riles back." Charlie said with a smile.

"We were having a private conversation." I said through gritted teeth.

"I'm sure you can pick it up another time." Charlie said smugly. "I want to get back out there and dance with you." Charlie told her.

"Riley can we finish our talk. There is so much more left to be said." I told her. She still hasn't said anything since Charlie has come back. She looks back and forth between us. She didn't know what she really wanted to do at the moment.

"I'm sure it can wait." Charlie told me. "Tonight is supposed to be fun not about old broken promises." He said. I see Riley's face fall after his statement. This makes my heartache. I never meant to have any broken promises. That is why I'm back to rectify that. Charlie takes Riley's hand and going back to the dance floor.

I breathe in deeply trying to keep my cool. All I wanted to do was punch Charlie in his smug face. I couldn't let my temper or my old self shine. That is exactly what he wants. I won't give that to him.

Charlie could prolong the conversation for tonight. I am going to tell her why I was gone. I'm going to let her know how I feel about her. How I have always felt about her. I came back to fight back for her love.