A/N: Shipper names are between Riliel and Gabrey at the moment so unless someone has another suggestion which one do you all like best?
The incessant knocking continued and Riley knew without a doubt that it was Gabriel. Ever since she moved in next door he had taken to coming over at insufferable times of day with the lamest excuses (I ran out of milk, can I borrow a cup of sugar and her personal favourite my TV stopped working.)She was pretty sure he was trying to drive her away and she was determined not to let him. She could always ignore him but he was oddly persistent (as she had come to learn) so once again she gave in and opened the door. She was greeted with a knowing and somewhat cocky smile as he walked inside.
"Please come in Gabriel" she said sarcastically.
"Don't mind if I do" he replied, matching her tone. She sighed, realising this wasn't getting her anywhere.
"What do you need now a new light bulb or a cup of water perhaps?" she asked, her tone mildly less sarcastic.
"Actually I came over to ask if you wanted to go out for a run with me?" This caught her completely off guard. He was asking to spend time with her? It was then that she noticed the worn old t-shirt and shorts he was wearing.
"Um, sure. Just let me go put on some workout gear" she replied, gesturing vaguely in the direction of her room as she made her way there. Once the door shut behind her she let out a breath. Was he playing her? As much as she would have liked to believe he was genuine she had her doubts. Her thoughts still a jumbled mess she mechanically went through the motions of getting changed. Once that was done she didn't have any more reason to stay in her room so she made her way out, noticing the way Gabriel eyed the form-fitting tank top she was wearing as she did so.
"Ready?" he asked and she nodded, grabbing her keys and locking the door on the way out. His eyes followed her movements as she tucked them away in the pocket of her shorts and she was torn between feeling flattered and analysed.
Gabriel set the pace, not bothering to do any warm-up stretches as she would have preferred but never the less she followed at his side. They settled into a comfortable silence, the rhythm of their feet mixing in with the usual city sounds. After a while he turned off the streets and onto a pathway that ran alongside a river, dotted with trees. She hadn't even known it was there, a local secret perhaps but it was nice and she made a mental note of the location so she could include it in her normal routine.
After a while Gabriel broke the silence, asking her "so how are you settling in?" The question took her by surprise a little but she was gradually becoming used to this side of him.
"Fine" she replied nonchalantly.
"Riley" he said and she sighed.
"It's fine, really"
He gave her a knowing look and she wondered when it was they had begun to know when the other was lying.
"It will take some getting used to, like any new place I guess" she replied and he sent her a re-assuring smile, pleased with her answer.
"You know, there is a nice café not too far from here, you should go sometime" he said. She sent him a side-ways glance but he was looking straight ahead. This side of him was completely new and she was struggling to keep up with all the changes.
They continued on in silence until the trail ended and she was surprised to find that they had looped around. It was only a few more streets back to their respective apartments and Riley smirked slightly.
"Race you" she said, not waiting for a response as she bolted down the street. She could hear Gabriel behind her and she sped up. She was nothing if not competitive and the chance to best him was too good to pass up. It wasn't long before he caught up to her and she was pleased to note the smile on his face. They stayed fairly even through the last street and up to the apartment block, much to Riley's dismay and Gabriel's delight. Just as they were about to reach his building she shoved him slightly, not too hard but it was enough to send him off balance for a moment and she used that to her advantage, running in front of him and tagging the corner of the building in victory.
"That's not fair, you cheated" he said, mock-glaring at her.
"We never said anything about rules" she replied, smirking at him. His eyes narrowed and she realised a second too late what he was doing as he picked her up around the waist, throwing her over his shoulder.
"No rules huh?" She could practically feel him laughing.
"Put me down" she said firmly, refusing to give in and act like a child.
"Hmm, let me think about that for a second. Nope" he replied.
"Gabriel, this is childish" she said, her voice not nearly as firm as she would have liked. While she had been busy arguing with him he had made his way down the street to the house at the end that belonged to a friend of his whom he knew was on vacation and better yet owned a swimming pool. The moment Riley realised this she went completely still.
"You wouldn't" she said. He merely continued towards the water, increasing his grasp on her. If she really wanted to get away he knew she could have.
"Afraid of getting a little wet?" he asked.
"Gabriel, this is completely unprofessional" she replied. She was not under any circumstances admit just how close she was to begging.
"Now you sound like Lillian, come on loosen up a little" He replied. They were getting dangerously close to the edge.
"Since when does that entail dumping me in a stranger's pool?" she said incredulously.
"Ok first of all I know the people who live here, I swim all the time and secondly what kind of a person would I be if I didn't help you cool down after a run on a hot day?" He replied, way too smug for her liking.
"So that's your excuse huh?" she said.
"Yep and I'm sticking to it" he replied just as they reached the edge. She knew there was no way out of it and she resolved that if she was going in then so would he. He expected nothing less of her as he released his hold only to have her grab onto him and they both went in together. The water was cool and rather refreshing and they both came up for air smiling.
"Are you mad at me?" he asked sheepishly. She was quiet for a moment, letting him stew.
"No" she replied smiling at him.
"Good" they were quiet for a moment before Riley, ever the practical one asked "so now that we are dripping wet does that mean we have to go back like this?"
He hadn't thought that far ahead having been too determined to get Riley back. Looking at her now, so happy and carefree he didn't regret a moment of it.
"Live a little" he replied and she immediately splashed him. He just laughed at her so she dove under, pulling him down to the bottom before climbing out and bolting in the direction of her apartment. He quickly followed suit and managed to catch a glimpse of her form as she ran inside past a very bemused looking elderly couple. He smiled and shook his head as he continued on to his own, deciding that they needed to have more days like this.