Changes- 4

Lucas

I walk into the last period of the day and there she sat. Riley's face gave a look of astonishment that we had another class together. I try to keep from smiling. I didn't want to piss her off. The seat behind her was open so I slide right in, like I had done in all the other class. I know she is wondering how did we get every single class together.

I had to feign ignorance myself but I knew my friend back home Zay pulled the strings for me. I missed him so much. His antics were what caused me to get sent here 5 years ago. Boy when I left there was a rift between us. I couldn't stay mad at him for long. Zay was Zay. One thing for sure he was loyal and even though he got me into trouble. He was always going to have my back. I really couldn't hate him when what he did set me up to meeting Riley.

"We meet again beautiful." I whispered in her ear.

"Stop calling me that." She whispered in a hush tone to me. She turns around quickly and presses her chest against the back of her seat. That floral dress I had been staring at all day was now barely covering her chest. Eyes only Friar. Eyes only. I command myself not to look down. I wanted to get back in her life again. I couldn't scare her away. "How did you do it?" she asked me firmly.

"Do what?" I asked her still fighting to keep my eyes up above the neckline. When her chocolaty brown eyes locked with mine it became less difficult. I could do this all day.

"Fix it that every class we have is together. Then you sit right behind me." Riley said now. Those chocolatey brown eyes had a fire in them I hadn't seen before. I had to say I kind of liked it.

"Just fate." I told her with a smile.

"Lies." Riley remarked before turning back in her chair. I laugh and lean back in my seat.

"Huckleberry don't taunt her." Maya says from the side. I hadn't even noticed she was in the class till now.

"I wouldn't dare." I told them both. She makes eye contact with me one more time. I feel my heartbeat quicken and my palms start to get sweat from the eye contact. Damn this girl couldn't get any deeper under my skin.

"I'll find out how you did this." She retorts before turning back around. I made a note to myself to call Zay tonight and tell him thanks for his mad hacking skills.

I look up and Mr. Matthews walks in. He has a surprised look to see me. He simply nods and smiles at me though before taking a seat at his desk. It's fitting to have our last class be with our most influential teacher and her dad.

I notice that Riley really tries to keep her eyes forward now since her dad is teaching the class. I tap her shoulder and I lean in close to her to whisper in her ear. "Can I borrow a pen? I must have lost mine in the shuffle out there." She sits straight up in her seat after I whisper in her ear like I had unnerved her.

"You don't have a pen on the first day?" She asked me while narrowing her eyes.

"I lost mine in the hall. All the others are in my locker." I told her. I lied I had them with me. I just wanted something of hers.

She digs in her bag before putting a pen on my desk and turning around. The pen is purple so fitting for Riley. I smirk and mouth thank you. She gives me a half smile before she turns back around.

Sitting behind her, I could see her body tenses up. I can tell she is fighting the urge to not look back at all in this class. In almost every class we had together. I would see her sneak a peek back at me while the teacher was talking and she thought I wasn't looking.

It was never long; it was always brief. A few times those chocolaty brown eyes would lock with mine. They were mesmerizing each time. I would feel my breath hitch each time.

"Should we start with the lesson you have been so desperately wanting to hear Farkle?" Mr. Matthew teased while picking up his chalk.

I look over at Farkle and he is already moving around in his seat.

"Don't tease Mr. Matthew." Farkle retorted. He was doing his best trying to pretend he didn't care. He so cared.

I smirk when Mr. Matthews starts to write Belgium on the chalk board. Even though Farkle tried to pretend he didn't care. He started to sit up with every letter that was being revealed.

"Mr. Matthews. I want to know what is the secret of life." Maya teased. Making fun of Yogi's interjection for this lesson years again. Yogi rolls his eyes from the back of the room.

"We learned that lesson already Maya." Farkle practically yelled.

"But does it change with time?" Maya interjected. She turns to Farkle and smirks at him. He just glares back in return.

That remark was just the push that Mr. Matthews needed to change the lesson. I could see Mr. Matthews wheels already spinning. He picks up the eraser and Farkle sinks back in his chair defeated.

"I hate you Maya." He said through gritted teeth.

"I didn't know he would take the bait so easily Farkle." Maya shrugged her shoulders and continues to smirk.

"I promise you I will teach you that lesson." Mr. Matthews tells Farkle.

"What when we graduate?" Farkle asks with a huff.

I can't help but laugh now myself. That will probably be the time we do get that lesson. Mr. Matthews seems to ignore the statement and goes with whatever lesson he is about to teach us. "For those that weren't here for the first lesson. We determined the secret of life was?" Mr. Matthews asked.

"People change People." I answered. I see Riley sit straighter in her seat after I answer Mr. Matthews.

"Good Memory Mr. Friar." Corey said while leaning against his desk. "We saw that throughout history how people could change people. We see it all around us in our lives. Now is there more than one secret in life is the question."

"I believe there is." Yogi chimed from the back of the room. Everyone was surprised by this because Yogi wasn't much of a talker. He still dated Darby after all these years is what I was told last period. That was definitely a shocker to me.

"What else can change people?" Mr. Matthews asked. "Finances can affect people. Feelings can."

"Love." Maya said while looking in Riley's direction then mine. I see Riley shift in her chair. A couple classmates make ooo and aww sounds like we are back in 8th grade.

"Hate." Riley also answered softly.

"How has love and hate effected history?" Mr. Matthews asked the class.

"Hate has effected history a lot. Love hasn't." Riley answered again.

"I beg to differ." Farkle interjected. "Love has had an impact in history. Cleopatra and Casear are a perfect example of that."

"Yes that is one example of love effecting history." Mr. Matthews start. "Class I want you to partner up and you can pick one side of the argument. How love effected history or how hate did. Then you will present your findings to the class tomorrow."

Riley turns to Maya but she has already turned to Farkle. Riley's jaw drops with that move.

"We'll take hate." Maya said with a wink to Farkle.

"Hate it is." Farkle said with a smile.

"Peaches." She said with a gasp.

"What?" Maya asks Riley with a smile.

Riley frowns at her than shifts her direction to the person next to her as soon as she can. She didn't have time to argue with her. She was trying to find a partner quick. The person on her right had already partnered with the person behind them. She starts looking around the room for partners but every was already partnering up.

I tap her shoulder and she slowly starts to turn and look at me.

"So.. partner." I start out and she gives a sigh. She realized she couldn't put up a fight and yes indeed we were going to be partners for another project.

"I choose hate." Riley told me quickly without making eye contact.

"The one person that believes the must in love chooses hate." I said with a raised eyebrow.

"People change people." She told me softly. It felt like a knife went through my heart with those words. She was using the old lessons words against me right now. I hated that I hurt her and that was never my intent.

"Love is something core about you. I don't think any person could change that about you. I hope not." I told her looking deeply in her eyes.

She breaks the look with me. I can tell she is keeping something back from me. She isn't telling me something.

"Fine, Lucas. We will write about love." She said with an exasperated sigh.

"Is that you want to do? I wouldn't force you to do something you didn't want to do." I asked her.

"I know that. I want to do it." Riley told me. "I have to go to cheerleading practice. Can we meet at Topanga's at 6 today for the history assignment? I will cancel my plans with Charlie if you can."

Hell yeah I can make it. Whatever plans I had would have been broken. Anytime I could spend with her alone and explain what had happened. I would make it work.

"Yeah I will meet you there." I try to sound nonchalant as possible when I say it.

The bell rings and she leaps to her feet. She puts her backpack on. Maya follows suit and they start to walk out of class together. I can see she is hushed arguing with her. Probably because Maya did the bold move of picking Farkle as her partner.

I will have to thank her for that later.

The girls don't make it far out of the door before Charlie pulls Riley into his arms and against his chest. This just proves he is a big creeper. He had to leave early to already be waiting on her.

He kisses her on the cheek she smiles at him. He kisses her one more time on the cheek before loosens his grip on her. I pack my things into my backpack. I put her purple pen in the front pocket and head out the door.

"I'll see you at Topanga's tonight Riles." I said with a low drawl on purpose while locking eyes with her. Riley bites her lips and nods her head ok.

Charlies eyebrows furrow with that news. I smile at him and walk down the hall. I can hear him already questioning her about their plans.

I hurry to the locker room for football practice. I need to get changed and on the field before the coach is out there. I hear Coach Miller is not one for tardiness. Much like Coach Stevens was back in Texas. If anyone from the team was late for practice on the first day. He liked to make an example of him and the team. The whole team would have to do suicides until someone either threw up or would quit.

I was going to be on time always.

As I'm rushing into the locker room. I run into Mike Hayes. The most recent QB of Abigail Adams. Not for long is the only thing that crosses my mind. Quarterback was always my position. I planned on getting that position here too.

"Watch it new guy." He practically parked at me. "Definitely don't need you running right into my throwing arm."

"Like it would matter much." I mumble under my breath. He snarls at me so I know he heard every word.

I didn't care at all. There were much tougher boys on my high school team back in Texas. He wouldn't last one practice with them. He was too much of a pretty boy. His blonde hair was perfectly combed into a quiff and not a hair out of place.

"The southern boy has a slick mouth." Mike said to one of his minions. The tall solid guy laughs pretty hard. He had to be almost 250-275 lbs. He must be on the defensive line because of his sie. "Make him not want to get up again after this practice."

He smirks at me. I ignore him and continue to keep looking at Mike. He would have to catch me to hurt me. I doubt he can.

"Scared about your spot?" I asked him.

"Not at all. I know I'm a lock. I have been the QB the last two years." Mike said proudly.

"Good well this time you can be back up QB. The team hasn't won anything in two years" I told him with a smirk. He grits his teeth after this last remark.

"Get suited up guys. We can't be late." One of the players told us. I hadn't gotten his name yet but he was one of the wide receiver.

I follow behind him into the locker room now because he was right. Mike curses under his breathe while walking to the other side of the room.

"Do you think it is wise to make him mad on the deciding practice?" The boy asked me. "He plays better when he is mad."

This practice everyone is supposed to know their spots after. If they are JV or varsity and if they are a starter or not. It was a little late than usual especially since the first game is this Friday night. I'm sure the reason for that is coach might be making drastic changes to the team. He needs a win this year. So the team has to go all out.

"Good I want him at his best when I beat him." I told him.

"Confident, much?" He asked me with a raised eyebrow and laughs before putting on her jersey.

"You have to have confidence in yourself in this game."

"True. Hey I'm Kyle." The brunette said while extending his hand. I take his hand and shake it.

"I'm Lucas Friar." I told him.

"Nice to meet you." Kyle said. "Just keep throwing me the ball the way you have and I think we will have a good season." He picks up his helmet and heads out to the field.

I finish suiting up myself now. The first thing I see when heading out is Mike and Missy wrapped up in a heavy kiss on the field. I felt like my lunch wanted to come back by the way he was all on her.

"You better get out of here girl before you get me in trouble." Mike told her while smacking her on butt. She blows a kiss at him. She turns and looks at me then and waves before running over to the other cheerleaders.

Mike glares at me. Then he looks back at Missy. Mike grumbles before running to the certain of the field.

My eyes follow Missy not because I'm interested in what she is doing. I know that she will lead me to the rest of the squad and Riley. As soon as I thought it. I see her run out of the girls locker room and to the football field.

She lets her hair out of the messy bun and it falls to the middle of her back. She turns and she is looking my direction now. I feel like I can't breathe. She smiles and waves my direction. I give her a dopey smile and wave back. Good move Friar! I know I had to look lame. I try not to gawk at her but I can't help but stare. She looked like an angel.

She pulls her hair back up in a high ponytail. She turns to run to the soccer field. The cheerleading uniform seemed smaller than he remembered. It showed off her killer longer legs. It seemed to barely cover her bottom. I couldn't take my eyes off of her while she went over to the soccer field. The soccer field had to be right next to the football field too. It was going to be hard to concentrate.

I run to the middle of the field it was seven minutes to four. He wasn't go to be the last one to make it over to the start of practice. Most of the guys were doing small talk amongst each other. Most of them had been playing together all three years so he knew that he would have to work harder to get to know the team and gain their respect. That is something he would need as the quarterback. He could get it with the way he chooses to lead.

I look over at Riley one more time. The squad was already practicing cheers. She was much better than when she tried out in middle school. It brings a smile to my face just thinking about that try it. That try out showed me just how much determination and grit she had. She wouldn't give up when she really wanted something. I hope that is the same about us. Once I explain and apologize that there was still hope for us.

Coach Miller joined the field and thank god no one was late. I really didn't want to start practice with suicides. Even though doing suicides here in this weather would be ten times better than when I had to do them in that Texas heat.

This practice was intense. Coach was trying to test the team's endurance and strength. He split the reps evenly between Mike and I. Mike was in a serious funk because of that. I'm sure he thought I'd get one rep and that was it like the first practice. Every practice I get more reps and tries. I see coach put his clip board up to talk to the other coaches each play. He was weighing the pros and cons. I'm sure after this practice Mike knows his position is really at stake.

The coach has been here for 10 years and the team has yet to win a title. He has to win one soon or they will have a new coach. He needs a drastic change this year. So again he is weighing all options.

Every rep I wasn't on. I couldn't help but look over at Riley. I couldn't take my eyes off of her when she was around. She was so beautiful to me.

The coach blew his whistle and it got me out of my trance. I snap my head in my direction and focus. If I were in Texas. I'd definitely be doing suicides with Coach Willis. Coach tells us that practice is over and that the list he is holding is the list of each squad and their positions.

I don't bother to look at the list. I know I'm not on the junior varsity team and Mike is going to let it be known what position I am any second. He was the first one to bulldozer his way over there. For a boy that was secure in his position he sure didn't act like it.

I take my helmet off and start to head to the locker room. I look over to the cheerleading squad and they were leaving the soccer field. Their practice had ended too. I wanted to get to the locker room and shower so I could get back out in time to see Riley. Hopefully we could walk over to Topanga's together. Tonight I was going to tell her why I was gone all this time. I wasn't going to let it go on any longer. I wanted her to know the truth and assume something totally different.

"What the fuck coach?" I hear Mike bellow. This makes me snap my head back in his direction. It was actually happening. The whole football team was in shock.

Coach blows his whistle and gives Mike an intimidating stare. "I guess Mike here wants to prolong practice." He yelled while looking at everyone on the team. We all knew what was coming after those remarks. We all groan. "Suicides everyone."

I make my way back to the middle of the field to join the team. Everyone groaned while they dropped down and started performing the drill. I know my chances to take her to Topanga's is gone now. I might be late. If I'm late I will have to kick his ass. I couldn't help and smirk at him though to piss him off since I'm the new quarterback.

Thanks so much every one for the kind reviews. I appreciate hearing what you're thinking and that you are enjoying the story.