"It's not like there's anything here to steal…" she gestures in the air. She walks towards him timidly, shivering under her coat. Putting an arm around her, he keeps her balance as he closes the door over behind them as best he can.
Riley uses her hand to shield herself from the sun, as it burns her eyes and points with her other hand, "there's a nice Greek place two blocks away…" Drake raises his eyebrow and looks at her questionably… "Brooks, do you think I came here to get food that I can get at home? Let's get some proper food." Shyly smiling, she beckons him to follow her, "I know just the place…"
They walk quietly through the streets, neither of them speaking as they are both lost in their thoughts. Drake keeps the pace slow as he knows her body has taken a beating in the last week, mentally and physically. He's seen her rock bottom. She's unguarded, she knows she has nothing to lose, especially in New York.
They arrive at a diner called Frank's. Wearily smiling back at Drake, she opens the door. "Frank is like an uncle to me… so be nice!" An older Italian man greets them at the door, squinting as he looks her, "Riley? Is that you?" She nods enthusiastically, "Yeah Frank it's me…" she turns to Drake, "… and this is my friend Drake." Frank reaches out to Drake and shakes his hand. He looks back and Riley and gives her a squeeze. Chuckling, Frank teases "Are they not feeding you out there? Where have you gone?" She blushes and looks down at the floor. "Ok, well I won't keep you guys… I've got a table away from the crowd, so you can get some peace and quiet." Drake thanks him for his generosity.
As they are seated, Drake looks into Riley's eyes - he sees a reflection of himself in there. The same lost feelings; he could feel her hurt. He broke the silence, reaching out for her hand, "I… I'm sorry I didn't try harder or come sooner to get you…" placing her hand in his, she uses her other hand to fix a random strand of hair into place, then slowly cups the side of his cheek. "You didn't have to… you're not the person who should be sorry…" her voice breaking, "I… I… I should be saying sorry. I didn't mean what I said… I was angry…"
A waiter comes to the table and they break apart. "Can I take your order?" "Yes, two New Yorker burgers with extra fries and a bottle of the best single malt that you got…" Drake looks at her frowning, "Is whiskey a good idea?" She hisses, "it's 5pm somewhere Drake!" He nods at the waiter for him to leave with the order as is.
Riley folds her arms and rests her head on them, "You know… I might be better off here…I won't get in trouble, I can't hurt anyone and no one can hurt me…" Drake felt his heart sink. Those words stung him to his core. He knew how he felt about her. He couldn't see the woman who was so self-assured and confident breaking in front of his very eyes.
The whiskey is served to the table along with two tumblers. Drake pours a little into both and hands one to her, "Promise you'll go a little easier?" Raising her head from her arms, she laughs a little, "We'll see Mr. Walker…" Smiling at her chuckle, "See that's the Riley I… uh… we love. The person who is annoyingly and irritatingly happy all the fucking time…" she rolls her eyes at him, finally producing her dazzling wide smile.
Grinning from ear to ear, she finally closes her eyes and shakes her head.
Her stomach flutters… she doesn't feel sick, so it's not that… her hangover is gone, so it's not that either. It's when she looks at him, a weight feels like it's been lifted off of her slender shoulders. He aggravates her, but he's here. He's here for her. Raising her tumbler,
"Mr. Walker, I propose a toast… to alcohol, the source of all life's problems and solutions." He reluctantly clinks his glass with hers and they both take a mouthful of whiskey as their food arrives.
Riley barely touches her food, a few bites here and there, her stomach has shrunken since she came back to New York, so can't tolerate anything too heavy - it's the first thing she's eaten in over a week. Drake on the other hand… he's content. She laughs as he devours his meal… "Hey Brooks, leave it out… not every day I get this delicacy…" The waiter comes to take their plates as they finish. Riley extends her hand to Drake, he holds her gentle hand as he watches her fingers intertwining with his.
"Brooks… I… I don't know if this is a good idea…"
She pulls her hand back and clenches her jaw. "Fine!" She throws down a couple of bills to cover the tab and grabs her bag… staring into his very soul, she angrily retorts, "Don't follow me!"
Reaching for his jacket from the back of the seat, he runs out to catch up with her, grabbing onto her arm to stop her. She pulls back turning to face him, "You said I was the same as them… the same…as them…" he hears the venom in her voice being projected at him, "I have a fucking heart Drake… you know what… actually no I should be like them… at least they get what they want… and they don't get hurt in the process."
This isn't where he thought this trip was going to go. He didn't realise she was so far gone, so embittered. Blinking at her in shock, "…and what do you want?" Her eyes filled with rage, she screamed and pushed him "… you… I want you, you fucking idiot!" Breathing heavily, Riley begins to calm down, a lump forming in her throat, "You've been my rock throughout this whole thing, you've always been there for me, you never made me…" trembling as tears run down her face, "….feel like I was abandoned."
He takes a stride to her, cupping her face in his hands. He never noticed how petite her features were, how soft her skin was, how blue her eyes were. He gently moved one of his hands, running it through her golden blonde soft curls. Like most of this trip, he knew it wasn't right… he knew he shouldn't…but he did it anyway. Pulling her closer he hungrily kissed her and she pulled on his jacket, wrapping her arms around him.
They stepped back, breathless, staring into each other's abyss and blushed. They were anonymous in the land of opportunity and had nothing to hide here.
Their blissful moment hijacked by Drake's cell phone. It was a text from Liam.
"Have you talked her around yet… when you're ready to come back, let me know and I can arrange something."
He didn't speak and just showed her the text. Stuttering as she was scared, "I… I…don't want to go back…" and shook her head profusely. "Are you only here to take me back there…"
Saddened, Drake takes her delicate hands in his, "Please believe me… I did come to find you to make sure you were ok, but I'd never force you back… The Riley I know is strong, fiercely competitive…" he chuckles, "…and would stab a bitch if she had to. So I was going to ask… not demand… but only when you're ready"
Blushing… she catches his eye, "Can you stay for a little longer?" Pulling her in for a cuddle and kisses the top of her head. As he runs his hands down her back, he feels her shoulder blades and spine and tries to hold back tears - he has to be strong for her. "I will be here with you always…you take as long as you need…" she nods in agreement, holding him tight against her… "As long as I have you… I can do anything."
They both found the missing piece of their puzzles… for they had each other's missing piece without realising it. Fate always found a way of reminding Riley why she came to Cordonia; but now she realised - it wasn't to be Liam's Queen, it wasn't about the suitor competition; it was always for Drake.