Chapter 3: Always in My Heart
Riley's POV:
My whole world was collapsing around me, I felt nauseous, and weak to my knees. I didn't know what was going on. The entire room was spinning. Before I got that phone call, my world was full of color, now everything seemed to be black and white. I remember running through the halls of the hospital, I saw my family surrounding each other. My dad ran over to me and pulled me into a hug. He told me what had happened. I was in denial. I kept telling them that he was going to wake up but they just looked at me with deep sadness. I didn't want to believe it. But then I looked through the window and I saw him lay there, so colorless, so lifeless. I remember falling to the floor, yelling, and sobbing. I remember punching the walls, and hearing everyone scream and cry, I was surrounded by so much noise. Now, I'm sitting alone in a dark corner. There's no sound at all. I just couldn't believe it. He was gone. My grandpa was gone.
It had been two weeks since my grandpa had passed of stroke. Every day seemed to go by slower and slower. I kept looking at the locket he had given me the day before he did. I kept smelling the handkerchief that he gave me, it smelled just like him. I held those two items close to my heart because that's where my grandpa is now. I knew that I had to be there for my family, I had to be strong. We all had to be strong. For the past weeks, I've been grieving by my family's side. I looked down at my phone again, I had text messages, and missed phone calls from Maya, Lucas, Farkle and Charlie. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I was tired of reading of the same messages, and hearing the same words all over again. "I'm sorry for your loss, he's in a better place, be strong," I was tired of it because nothing was going to bring my grandpa back. All I wanted was for someone to listen. I put my phone down and closed my eyes.
All of a sudden I heard a knock on my window. It was Lucas. I remained in my little corner. Then he knocked again. I finally got up and opened the window and let him in. "Wow, your room looks like it can be in twilight." He said trying to get me to smile. "What're you doing here?" I asked. "Well, I haven't seen you for two weeks, you haven't been returning my calls, or replying to my texts. I wanted to see how you were doing." He said as he joined me on the floor. We sat in silence for a while. I rested my head on his shoulder and he rested head on top of mine. Then I finally spoke. "I feel numb, my grandpa was my best friend. He was someone I looked up to. I didn't get to see him that much but I cherished every moment I had with him. I didn't think I would lose him so soon. We did all of my favorite things together. You know the last thing he said to me was that no matter where I go, I'll always have everyone in my heart. So now wherever I go, no matter what I do, I won't have my grandpa physically here. But I'll have him in here." I said as I placed my hand on my heart.
Lucas was silent. He was doing what I've been wanting someone to do. He was listening to me. It felt nice. We continued to sit there in silence. I felt a new connection to Lucas. I always have but this was deeper. I looked up at Lucas and he was staring at my lips. We started to lean in towards each other. But then I quickly got up and adjusted my clothing. "Well it's getting pretty late, you should probably go. But thank you for listening. Actually, thank you for being my hero." I said as he got up. Then he pulled me into a hug and then he whispered in my ear. "It's all I ever wanted to be. I'll always be here for you, Riley Matthews." He said as he held me tightly.
Maya and I were walking back to my apartment afterschool, she understood where I was coming from. "I've missed you, Riles. You know I'll always be here for you. Even if you just want me to listen. "Maya said as we walked up to my floor. "Maya, I know that. Were sisters." I said as I gave her a soft smile. I opened the door and I saw my dad sitting in the kitchen looking at photos of him and my grandpa. "Hey dad," I said. "Hey girls, go on upstairs, I'll call you when dinners ready." He said. My father was trying to be strong because he didn't want me to see how destroyed he really was inside.
Tonight was the night of the senior bonfire. Maya and I decided to be match a little. We both put on our John Quincy Adams Highs school t-shirt and on the back it had our grad year on it. I put on dark denim shorts and black converse. Then Maya put on light shorts and black converse. We curled our hair and headed off to the beach. Once we got there, Farkle had begged Maya to dance with him. So I was sitting on our blanket watching them dance. "May I join you?" a voice said. I looked up to see that it was Charlie. "Of course." I said as I scooted over. "So how are you?" he asked. "I'm okay, I decided to distract myself from all the pain at home." I said. "I'm really sorry for your loss, Riley, I know you probably heard that a lot. But if you need anyone to talk to, or just for someone to listen. I'm here." He said. He put his arm around me and I started to feel this connection between Charlie and I. Then they started playing "Flawless" by Beyonce. It was my favorite song.
"Hey, do you want to dance?" I asked him. He said yes and we joined everyone else on the dance floor. In that moment, I forgot everything else that was going on the world. I was smiling, laughing and having a good time with everyone.
Lucas's POV:
I was talking to some of my friend and we were watching everyone dancing on the dance floor. Then I noticed a cute little brunette dancing with the biggest smile on her face. I couldn't figure out who she was dancing with. Farkle was in the way. Once he moved, I realized she was dancing with Charlie. I was suddenly filled with so much anger. I took one last sip of my drink and went to go dance with them. As soon as I got on the dance floor, I jumped in front of Riley and started to dance with Riley. Then all of a sudden he pushed me to the side and went back to dance with her. Before you know it, Charlie and I were having a dance off. I brought my best moves out on the floor and everyone started to cheer. Then Charlie started to break dance and I couldn't compete with that. Then I noticed that Riley was gone. So I decided to go find her. But then Maya came up to laughing. "Wow, Ranger Rick! I figured you would've started to square dance with him but I guess not. You guys really made fools of yourselves in front of Riley. Just letting you know." She said as she continued to laugh.
I wanted to know where she went. After looking for her for an hour, I saw her walking by the water with Charlie. Of course he beat me to her! I felt my body start to boil and my hands started to sweat. I wanted to go over there and take her from him. But then I realized that Riley has been smiling and laughing all day. I shouldn't ruin her mood because of my feud with Charlie. So I went back to talk to my friends.
This is the end of this chapter. The next chapter is where the guys asks Riley to prom and now Riley has to choose who she wants to say yes to. Also, the feud between the two guys continue and in this chapter you will see them fight. There's always twist in the next few chapters about who Riley chooses. But then someone comes into the picture, Riley reacts and it makes her decision easier on who she is going to go with. Stay tuned for chapter 4 xx