Author's Note: Hey everyone, thanks again for reading my story, and for all those lovely reviews. Words can't express how much they do mean to me. Again, thanks to my editor FallingWith Grace. Okay so this chapter may make some of you...annoyed. It will get better. Have no fear. Enjoy!

Chapter 4: Play date or Real Date?

All week long was spent in preparation for Friday, from what Riley and I would do, to most importantly, what I would wear. Never had I been as nervous about anything as I was for Friday. Not even the State Championship or auditioning in front of Mrs. Darbus compared. I wondered if Ryan was nervous at all. What was I saying? All I was doing was watching his daughter for an hour. Here I was making it out like I was watching Ryan himself for crying out loud.

Luckily, I had relaxed some when it was finally Friday. I did spend a little longer doing things like shaving and showering. Hey, I wanted to look perfect. I had also figured out what Riley and I could do that didn't relate to school. It had to be fun for her too. Besides, I taught her all day, and eventually she would get bored. I think. Then again, this was Riley. I may need to scrap some of my ideas.

Once the final bell for school rang, I dismissed my class. They left a lot faster than normal because I hadn't assigned any homework for the weekend, and they didn't want to leave anytime for me to change my mind.

"Okay Riley, what do you want to do? Your Dad said he'd be here at 4:30 so we've got an hour to kill."

She skipped up to my desk and pulled something out of her back pocket. It was a deck of cards. Apparently she had thought of things to do as well. "Can you play Crazy Eights with me?"

I looked at her and smiled. "Sure, you start to deal out our hands okay?" She nodded, sat cross-legged on the floor and started shuffling the deck. I stared at her for a minute. She really was a cute kid. She was small for her age, the shortest in our class, but what she lacked in height she sure made up for in spirit. She was such a happy go lucky kid. Last Friday was the first time I had ever seen a frown displayed across her beautiful face. Her smile could light up a room, just like her dad's.

"Mr. Bolton?" she said interrupting my thoughts. "Are you gonna play, or sit there and watch me play by myself?"

"Sorry Riley. I got caught up in my own thoughts." I replied sitting down on the floor with her. She tilted her head at me expecting me to continue. When she realized I wasn't going to add to it, she picked up her cards and studied them before placing down her first card.

We played four full games, to which she beat me every time. I swear I was on a losing streak, first Ryan at basketball and now this. "Mr. Bolton, did you let me win?"

"No. I swear." I said with a laugh. I lost to a seven year old. I looked at my watch; Ryan should be here in ten minutes. Just thinking about seeing him made the hair on my neck stand up. I shook it off saying, "So, now what?"

"Can we listen to music?"

"I don't see why not," I said, standing up and dusting off the seat of my jeans. "Do you have something you want to listen to?" I would learn to not ask that again. She pulled out a CD her dad must have made her. It had a lot of Disney stuff along with some odd songs from musicals. Riley started singing along to them and dancing around, almost as if she had forgotten where she was. Oh yeah, she was definitely an Evans.

I leaned against my desk and watched her. I just enjoyed watching her be happy. I sang a few songs under my breath, quiet enough so that Riley couldn't hear me. Or so I thought.

"Mr. Bolton you sing nicely. Just like my Daddy," I looked at her sheepishly.

"Really?" She nodded her head vigorously. "Thanks." She continued spinning around and singing along. I kept checking my watch. Ryan was late by ten minutes. I decided to stop worrying and joined Riley in dancing around.

It seemed almost suddenly that Ryan showed up practically running into the room. He stopped at the sight in front of him; I was twirling Riley around as she sang "Some Day My Prince Will Come."

"Daddy!" She ran up to him and hugged him. I stopped the music and looked at my watch. It was ten after five, he was really late. I took in his disheveled look, realizing he looked exhausted; it must have been some meeting. "Hi Peanut, did you miss me?"

"No." I could see his heart sink at that. Definitely not something he wanted to hear after a long day. He closed his eyes and sighed. "I had too much fun with Mr. Bolton. We played cards, and danced and sang."

"Yeah it was fun. I take it the meeting was not." He stood up and ran his hands through his hair. Damn. I wish I could do that.

"Yeah listen, I'm so sorry I'm late Troy, the one guy was late and then there was an argument and then-"

"Ryan, you don't have to explain. I understood the second you walked in. You look like a mess." He just gave me a look. "It's cool Ryan, no sweat. We had fun and didn't even realize you were late." I could feel the temperature begin to rise in the room, and I could feel a sweat begin to break. Maybe it was just me.

"Yeah. Listen, I feel guilty. You want to join Riley and me for dinner? I'm too tired to cook, so we'll probably just pick something up on the way home?"

"Actually, you know what? How about Riley and I go pick something up, and meet you at home after you have a nice long shower. Relax a bit, forget about the meeting, and think about the weekend." He looked at me, a questioning look in his eye. I could see him weighing the odds. "Come on Ryan. You know it's a chance for a quick break."

"I don't know."

"Come on, Riley will be fine." I slung my bag over my shoulder, and handed Riley's pink knapsack to him. "Take this home, we'll meet you there. Come on Riley." I called to her. Okay, so I was really determined for Ryan to relax. Riley came up to me and I picked her up and balanced her on my hip. "Tell your Dad that you love him, and we'll see him at home."

"I love you Daddy," she said waving her hand for him to come closer to her. He grinned as she kissed him on the cheek. "See you at home."

He let out a loud sigh and shook his head. "See you at home Riley." Then Riley and I left my classroom and into the deserted school hallways, as Ryan stood there watching us leave. In all honesty, I can't believe he let me do that.

Riley and I showed up at their home about half an hour later with a pizza in my hand. We walked in and saw Ryan sitting in the kitchen. He look a lot more relaxed in his t-shirt and jeans. I wouldn't have thought it was him except for the hat he had on his head. It matched his shirt.

"Look Daddy, I made dinner." Riley said climbing up on of the island barstools. He chuckled.

"I see that, nice job Peanut." He kissed her on top of her head, and padded over to the cabinet and pulled out three plates. He handed one to me and placed one in front of Riley. We all dove into the pizza, like we hadn't eaten in a week. "Thanks Troy."

"No problem." I said barely audible with the food in my mouth. He laughed and continued eating. Once we were done I started to do the dishes.

"Okay Riley, homework time," Ryan said wiping his hands on a towel.

"I don't have any homework Daddy." He looked pointedly at me. I wasn't sure if it was a good look or not. "Can I watch TV Daddy? Please?"

"Sure Peanut," he answered her without taking his eyes of me. "Disney Channel only Riley!" You could hear her sigh as she went to the family room and turned on the TV immediately being entertained.

Ryan took his hat off his head and ran his fingers through his hair as he sat down on one of the barstools. He really needed to stop doing that, I could see the water moving because my hand was shaking as I cleaned off the last plate. He also needed to stop staring at me. I was starting to get freaked out. His piercing blue eyes seemed as if they could see right through me.

"You did that on purpose."

"Did what Ryan?" Okay, maybe that meeting caused him to lose his mind. I was not following him at all. I drained the sink and leaned against the counter and looked at him as if he had two heads.

"You didn't assign homework today on purpose."

"I can't assign homework every Friday, the kids would hate me." I said giving him my patented 'I'm cute' look. No one can get mad at that face.

"That was your only motive, so the kids wouldn't hate you?" Damn. Apparently the face didn't work on him. I was dead. "Look Troy. I don't know what you're planning, or trying to do but it won't work."

"Ryan, what are you talking about?" I looked towards the family room to make sure Riley was being occupied. He followed my gaze.

"Come on Troy. We need to talk." He got up from his seat and motioned for me to follow him down the hall and into the living room. We could still hear Riley if she needed something, but otherwise it was a place to talk one on one. He sat on the couch and made enough room for me to join him. I didn't want to sit there, knowing it was going to be my demise, but wasn't about to piss him off any more. I sat down beside him and folded my hands in my lap, if only to get them to stop shaking a bit.

"What do you want?" Wow, he got right to it didn't he? I sat there a minute trying to figure out how to word it. "Listen, Troy. I appreciate what you did for me today and before, and I'm thankful for how much Riley has taken to you. But, I don't know what you're expecting or hoping for."

"I'm honestly not expecting anything Ryan." I could at least muster enough courage to say that. I was not telling him I was hoping to become a stronger part in both of their lives. No way was I telling him that.

He looked at me again, trying to read me, trying to find the answer out on his own. I tried to hide it as best I could; I knew that if I wasn't careful that he'd know without me uttering a word. I looked straight at him. I was memorizing his features. How his eyebrows furrowed when he concentrated on something that was puzzling him, how his pink lips were pressed into a straight thin line. I noticed I was slowly leaning towards him, and caught myself before it became obvious. I looked at him and smiled. He sighed again, and looked at his feet. Good, he gave up.

"Good. Because Troy, I can't do that." Do what? I'm not following again. Damn, should have paid attention. "I can't just jump into a relationship. Not with Riley in the picture." I snapped back into reality as the weight of what he just said landed on my shoulders. It took everything I had not to look crushed. "Besides, I don't want to jeopardize your job, which you are obviously very passionate about. You're still Riley's teacher, first and foremost."

"You're right." I nodded my head, not in agreement, but only because I couldn't think of anything else to do. We just sat there a minute in awkward silence.

"Daddy!" Riley called from the family room, breaking the tension abruptly. Did I tell you how much I loved that kid? Because I really do, she's got an excellent sense of timing.

"Looks like your needed, Ryan. I'd better go and let you take care of her." I said standing up.

"Yeah." He followed me into the kitchen where I picked up my bag. I called out good bye to Riley and she came running up to both of us. She hugged me a quick goodbye, which I cherished, and then she went to her dad and asked him a question. I didn't stay to hear it. I just waved to Ryan as he tended to her and showed myself out.

It was the longest weekend I ever had, and I spent it all by myself.

-Disney-Kid