I hold in my anger fueled scream and clench my fists together. I try to wipe my eyes clean but that only worsens the effects on my vision. Why me? WHY ME? God is this my punishment for stealing that pack of gum when I was 5? I JUST WANTED CANDY! I WAS A CHILD! I hear laughter and footsteps. Not just any laughter, and not just any footsteps. But Lucas Friar's laughter and footsteps coming from the second floor. "Oh sweet cheeks how I missed you!"
I'm sure you're probably thinking he can't be all bad, he has a cute nickname for you. Wrong, that nickname is not cute. He came up with it when he would squeeze my 'baby fat cheeks', needless to say I'm not the fondest of him, or that damn nickname. "Wait a minute." I lift my head off of the ground and try my best to glare at him. Though things are fuzzy I can tell he's still slowly meandering down the steps, something must have caught him off guard. "You aren't my sweet cheeks."
I knit my brows together in pure frustration and squeal, "You are absolutely right. I was never 'your' anything. And you, you are a Russian toad!" I snap and stomp my foot.
"Oh my stars." I can't help but scoff at his statement, "It is you. Riley 'Sweet Cheeks' Matthews has grown up."
"It's called time you nincompoop." I shake out my hands in an effort to get the goop off.
"Oh come on. It's all good fun. This way."
I release an angered squeal and practically yell, "I can't see!"
He shuffles back towards me, at least that's what it sounds like and I instantly smell his earthy cologne. That hasn't changed. He's worn the same stuff for as long as I can remember, and that's one of the few things I like about this brat. "If you wanted me to hold your hand you could have just said so… sweet cheeks."
I cock my head to the side in confusion, "But you aren't-"Oh there it is. His large, calloused hand envelops mine and leads me to only God knows where. "Lucas Gabriel Friar I swear to the heavens that if you prank me when you should be dragging me to a bathroom to clean up I will castrate you!"
"Bathroom it is, I'm rather fond of my boys."
"Peas is more like it." I whisper to myself but it doesn't go unheard… to my dismay.
He sighs and pulls me into a different direction. "No welcome back Lucas, or I've missed our fun?"
I snort and continue to shuffle my feet across the floor. I can't believe I'm trusting him right now, but it seems as if the goop is starting to dry and it's burning, so I'll take any help I can get. "So did you eavesdrop on your mom's conversation and find out that I was coming over so you instantly made Jell-O to torture me with?"
"You know me too well. I'm flattered." I can practically hear him smirk. Right at that moment a door opens, at first I was relieved until I can smell the outside world as a gust of wind blows in.
"NO!" I immediately try to pull away from his grasp but it only tightens and before too long I'm lifted off the ground. I bang against his chest with my fists. "CASTRATION! SOMEONE GET ME A KNIFE!" I scream at the top of my lungs. That's when I hear the waterfall… to their pool.
I continue to fight until I realize, first it's a lost cause and second he quit moving, meaning he's waiting on me to chill out so he can thoroughly enjoy my next dramatization. "You done?"
"Do I have a choice?" I question in hopes I can get out of this. I bounce slightly when he shrugs his shoulders and after a long sigh I pass him the envelope. "Important files. They can't get wet." Hopefully they aren't too damaged from the Jell-O.
"Thank you." He takes it out of my hands and the next second I'm in the air while gravity does its job to pull me back down to this hell hole I call earth. Water invades me and all of my senses, luckily it is salt water so I can open my eyes without it burning but the red cloud that surrounds my form informs me that it's doing its job to wash the Jell-O off. I swim away from the red cloud and come up from the pool. "Now, I think you can refrain from calling my balls, 'peas'." Only out loud, I think to myself and continue to wipe my face and body clean.
At this point my sight has fully come back to me and I take advantage of it to glare upon the man who has tortured me. Well isn't he sexier than what I remember, dang it Lucas! He's still got that sandy blonde hair that is up in its natural quiff. His jaw line and cheekbones are sharp and covered with his naturally tan skin and a light stubble. His nose is only slightly crooked from when he broke it in 4th grade. Funny story, he fell off the jungle gym… on his face. Moving on, his deep green eyes are bright and twinkling and that's the moment I quit eye raping him… why?
Because I have realized the reason why his eyes are bright and twinkling is because he's witnessing my pain that he caused. "Are you sure you're my sweet cheeks?" The glint of mischief escapes him again and a look of wonderment is replacing it. I don't look that different, do I?
I wish I could lie and just say no, sorry you have the wrong girl. But in the long run that will only get me in even more trouble. I've tried switching places with Maya, yes we wore wigs and no I'm not ashamed. "If only I wasn't then my life could be complete." I snap before trudging out of the pool. My tee shirt is hugging tightly too my skin and my jeans are having a hard time staying up.
"Yup that's my girl." I roll my eyes at the notion of being 'his' anything. "Long time no see."
"Yeah, yeah enough with the foreplay." I lift my head off the grass and make eye contact with him. Something I used to be terrified to do, "A towel would be nice."
"Tsk. Tsk. Say please."
"LUCAS GABRIEL FRIAR!" I smile at the sound of his aunt's voice coming from one of the upstairs windows. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?!"
"JUST TOOK HER FOR A SWIM!" He announces with a coy smile.
She leaves and moments later comes back with a towel in hand. "RILEY I'M SO SORRY SWEETHEART! CATCH!" I meander towards where the towel will fall and intentionally run into his shoulder. But in reality I feel like that hurt me more than anything else. The towel lands effortlessly in my arms and I wrap it around myself in a desperate attempt to dry off.
"THANKS MRS. GARDNER!" I yell up to her. "I HAVE THAT LETTER FROM MY MOM!"
After telling Lucas to bring it upstairs we saunter back inside with silence filling the time. I don't mind, the fewer words that are spoken the less sexual innuendos and pranks I will hear and receive. I made it to the foyer undetected. So much for my get in, get out plan. "Riley." I freeze mid-step, not even my left heel connects to the floor.
"Charlie?" Please no.
"Yeah. What happened to-"And that's when it all came together for him, "Lucas!" He snaps and Lucas throws his hands up in surrender.
I glare at him as he takes my towel to wipe the Jell-O off of his leather jacket. "It isn't my fault she played in Jell-O and needed to get cleaned up." YES IT IS! That's what I would say if I didn't want to remain calm and stress free this senior year. "I simply helped her into the pool."
Yeah, 'helped'. "Do you want a change of clothes Riley?" Charlie asks.
My eyes widen but before I can respond Lucas does for me, "No that's okay. She can borrow from me, wouldn't want your girlfriend to claw her eyes out now would we?"
I was about to say, 'Charlie wouldn't let that happen' but one glance in his direction I knew the opposite to be true. Everyone has flaws, and confrontation with the opposite sex was his. Well confrontation with Missy was his, he didn't really congregate with any other females. "I will not be borrowing clothes from either one of you. Thank you very much." I say with determination so there is no argument.
But of course, Lucas has to argue. "You'll catch a cold!"
"It is August!" I point out and before I make my way to the door I throw my towel at him. The jerk. I'm thanking God I didn't have my phone on me. "Consider your 'boys' gone." I hear slight laughter before I shut the door and meander towards my car. My saving grace from this place, I can't believe it. 1 minute in of seeing him again, and I'm drenched in Jell-O then carelessly tossed into a pool. I was inside for 15 minutes tops. I grimace as I shut the car door and try to start my car.
Key word being try…
You guessed it, that dang check engine light didn't like being covered up so he's proving a point. Yes I'm talking as if an inanimate object can possibly have emotions and thus have plans to torture me. Well mister check engine light you suck! You chose the best and most opportune moment to make my car stop working! I rest my head on the steering wheel and sigh in utter exasperation. As soon as there is a knock on my window I know exactly who it is, which only makes me even more heated. "What Lucas?" Did the no good son of a gun break my car? How would he have time? Oh, he has accomplices? Or is he just that sneaky?
NO I'm just that paranoid. "It seems sweet cheeks that your car isn't working."
"What gave it away? The fact I'm still here, or the fact my car isn't on?" I retort before leaning back in my seat and giving him a passing glance. "I blame you. You probably had nothing to do with this, but you're to blame."
He chuckles and opens the car door, that's it! I'm exhausted. "Leave your car here, I'll take a look at it later and give you a ride home now." I open my eyes, no doubt they are wide with shock… or is it fear? I manage to squeak out a 'what' before he unbuckles my seat belt for me, because 'safety first'. "When I was away I worked at my uncle's shop I'll take a look and see if I can fix it but right now I'll take you home. Unless you want to go for another swim?"
And that ladies and gentleman is how you get me out of the car. I pass him my keys and waste no time to saunter towards his Camaro. This car is hot, let me just say that. "Get on in."
I glance at the seats and back to his emerald orbs, "Um I'm wet."
I instantly face palm myself as a warm redness fills my face and neck, "Oh sweet cheeks the things I do to you." And now I don't care if I mess up his seats, I slide in after a small groan of annoyance and buckle up. "Good girl, safety first." If I was okay with flipping someone off, I'd do it to him. "Lead the way." The drive is silent except for the occasional, 'turn here' or 'stop, STOP there's a stop sign there'. Just like any other rule or law, it means nothing to Lucas Friar. "So Riles, anything weird going on with your car that you've noticed?"
I keep my gaze fixated on the rushing trees as we pass by quickly. I'm sure we're going over the speed limit, "The check engine light is on." I give him a small glance and his jaw is open in pure shock. I like the feeling of surprising him like he always does to me, let's see how far I can push this. "I put duct tape over the light."
His grip on the steering wheel tightened, and I noticed his tan knuckles were turning white from the force. "Don't ever do that again. You could've died."
"But I didn't." Not like you'd care anyways. "And if I did just know my dying wish would be for you to never torture someone the way you do to me."
His pouty lip makes an appearance as he tries to toy with me, "Oh. I thought you enjoyed our little game. I sure do, it's like our thing."
"Right here." I point to the apartment building and unbuckle my seat belt. "Thank you. Though I think after what you did today, my politeness is rendered unnecessary."
"Always a feisty one." I close the door to his car while getting out and to my surprise I hear it again. I turn around in the middle of the road… yes I'm aware that's dangerous- and notice him following me up. "I know I'm nice to look at, but in the middle of the street? Really?"
I grit my teeth and scurry to the sidewalk, "What do you think you're doing?"
He smirks and stands beside me in all of his glory. No matter how much I despise him, he's no doubt attractive. "I'm seeing the lady to her doorstep. That's the gentlemanly thing to do."
Since when do Lucas and gentleman belong in the same sentence? Either way I'm too tired to protest from the events of today, I have to save my energy for… the rest of senior year. We're silent, as usual as I make my way home and out of his burning gaze. Yes, he's staring at me and I can't help but fidget underneath his scrutiny. So as soon as the steel elevator doors opened I'm rushing to my apartment and opening the door. "Thank you for the ride and absolutely nothing else."
He's about to respond with nothing more than a smart Alec comment when the sound of my uncle's voice echoes throughout the apartment. "LUCAS!"
"JOSH!" They embrace one another in a 'bro hug' and I glare at Maya. I know she's the cause of this. "Long time no see brother."
"Not my fault you fell off the planet! You back for good?" Josh questions before looking at me, "What happened to you?"
I cross my arms and kick the door closed, "I'll give you one guess." I snap before trudging to my bedroom to change out of these sopping wet clothes. After slamming my bedroom door shut I hurriedly change into a pair of shorts and my oversized sweat shirt. Ah warmth, invade my bones. I don't even bother to fix my mop of a head and begin my destination back to the living room. Well, kitchen.
You caught me!
I ignore the conversations of Lucas and Josh while grabbing a bag of grapes and sitting at the kitchen table. My brother Auggie held out his hand for a fist bump and I obliged, I don't even question him anymore. "Do you want me to take him down?"
I chuckle and stare at my brother who is my biggest cheerleader. His curly locks falling helplessly in his face and his big brown eyes pleading with me to deny his offer. It's the thought that counts. "No Aug, it's okay. I'm sure things are going to be different this time around." If only I believed what I was saying.
"Already?" I glance at my best friend who tugged the grapes towards her. I was confused until she gestured to myself, and that's when it clicks.
"Already." I repeat in affirmation, "actually 1 minute in of me being there. I consider today an epic failure on all accounts."
"And to think sweet cheeks. It's only the first day of school."
It isn't until he pops a grape into his mouth that I was aware he stole from me. I slap his hand and effectively watch the other grape roll on the table. "Oh yes Lucas I can't wait for what the lovely senior year brings."
"Ah, thank you for joining us Mr. Friar." The grip on my pen gets impossibly tight as I refrain from looking up at him. It seems as if the lovely Lucas and I have every class together so far. I wonder how he pulled that off.
"Pleasure is all mine sir." Flattery won't work, I sing to myself. I wish I could toss my hoodie up but he's like a T-Rex, if there is any sudden movement he'll attack. So I keep my head down in a desperate attempt to remain invisible in his gaze. But, that whole plan fails miserably when I can feel his sweltering gaze burning into the side of my face.
Well at least there are no empty seats beside me. "Mr. Livingston do you mind if I switch seats with someone. I can only concentrate in one specific place in a classroom." What a load of bologna.
"Whatever helps you concentrate Mr. Friar. Go ahead." And that ladies and gentleman is how he is now sitting beside me, in every single class.
I glare at him and look back towards my book, "Is this some sick twisted game you are playing?"
"Oh Riles, it is 5th period. I haven't done anything to you yet. Relax" Realization hit me like a lightning bolt on water. It is 5th period and he hasn't done anything to me… yet being the key word. I grunt and continue the bookwork that was so graciously given by Mr. Livingston on the second day of school. "I need help with this bookwork." He whispers to me.
I snort and take a peek at his desk, "Probably because you haven't even opened your book." Then I take a closer look, "You don't even have a book."
"Great it's settled. I'll be at your place after school so you can tutor me."
My mouth is agape. Did he just invite himself over? Not just invite himself over, but invite himself over for me to tutor him? "It is the second day of school." I whisper yell, "You do not need tutoring you're extremely smart." I snap and realize I accidentally gave him a compliment. Yes he truly is smart, at least he used to be. Before he can reply I cut him off, "Besides aren't you supposed to be working on my car?!"
"Oh yeah, it's in my garage. Just waiting on the parts and then it will be as good as new."
I'm taken back, he is actually doing something out of the kindness of his heart. "O-okay how much do I owe you?"
"On the house." My relief and gratitude was short lived when he adds, "If you tutor me."
The price I pay for a running car. I'm weighing the options right now, either I tutor the man who 'pranks' me at any opportune moment or pay roughly thousands of dollars to get it repaired and thus spend less time with him. Why is this so hard? My forehead lands on the thick textbook and I hear a snicker beside me. "Seems as if you've made your choice. I'm assuming we have the rest of our classes together." Oh yeah? You 'assume', what'd you do to get all these classes? How did you know my classes? "So I will take you home like the kind soul I am."
I cock my head to the side and let the pen cap rest against my bottom lip, "I don't think the words 'kind' and 'soul' should be in the same sentence when referencing you."
"Just as sassy as I remember." He playfully winks and starts to play candy crush on his phone. That game is older than time itself. Good night nurse.
I have to look at the positives. He is fixing my car for practically nothing, and he hasn't pranked me… yet… today.
And those 2 are the only positives as of right now.
Let me know what you think!
I hope you all enjoy this as much as I enjoy writing it!
