Chapter 7
I broke from the kiss and gazed into Riley's eyes for a brief moment, smiling at her. I turned to Lucas. So did Riley.
"What're you smiling about, Ranger Rick?" I asked, noticing the grin that had spread over the Texan's face. "I just stole your girl."
"She's not 'my girl' any more," he said.
"Yeah, Maya," Riley said. "I'm all yours now."
The next day at school, Riley and I walked together everywhere, we were inseparable, even more so than we were before. We'd spent the entire previous afternoon working on our project and we were ready to present it today. Even though the due date wasn't until Friday, Riley had convinced Mr. Matthews to let us present it early, so that's what we were going to do, third period today.
We went into English, our first period class and sat down beside each other. We'd been studying 'The Fault in our Stars' by John Green. My favourite quote from that book was "I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once." I felt like that quote was relevant to my relationship with Riley. How I'd gone so long without realizing I liked her, but as soon as I did, I indulged in the feelings. Slowly and then all at once.
We spent most of the class reading the book. Some students took notes and worked on our novel study assignment. I just read it slowly. Reading some paragraphs repeatedly, relating the situations from the book to how I felt about Riley. By the time class was over, I was less reading the book and more deep in thought.
Once third period came around, it seemed as though Zay and Farkle were catching on that Riley and I were together, and I think our presentation confirmed that for them. We stood up in front of the class, the word Loyalty still printed on the board behind us.
"We believe that loyalty is important," Rilay said.
"But only in the right circumstances," I added.
"If you are loyal to sombody or something, but then decide that being loyal to that person or thing doesn't feel right, you don't have to be loyal anymore," Riley explained.
"As long as you're doing what you think is right, it doesn't matter what you're loyal to," I continued.
"Like the loyalists during the revolutionary war," Riley said. "They believed that being loyal to Britain was the right thing."
"But the other Americans thought it was a better idea for America to become it's own independent nation," I added. "They were once loyal to Britain, but then moved on to something new, to what they believed was right."
"So if you are loyal to one thing but then decide against it, it's not necessarily betrayal, it's doing what you believe is right," she said.
"You are your own individual and you have the right to be true and loyal to your own beliefs," I concluded. Riley and I looked at each other, sharing a grin. The class applauded as we held hands and took a bow before returning to our seats.
At lunch, Riley and I sat with Lucas, Zay, Farkle and Smackle as we always did.
"I like what you guys did with your presentation," Lucas said.
"Somehow our lives always reflect history," Riley remarked.
"So, would that make me Britain?" Lucas asked. Riley nodded. "I guess that means I'm Mortimer Twigglebottom Smythe!"
"Stop!" I shouted, before he could continue.
"Yeah, man, don't even start," Zay agreed. "So are the two of you like, a thing now?" he asked, directing his attention to Riley and I.
"Wait, I feel like I haven't been informed of an event in our lives," Smackle interrupted.
"Long story," I said. "But yes, Riley and I are a couple now." Zay grinned.
"So how did this even start?" Farkle asked.
"I had a dream that Riley kissed me, and it made me realize that I like her," I told them, even though it was far more complicated than that.
"That's sweet," Smackle commented.
"So, Lucas, Zay, does this mean the two of you are gonna get together now?" Farkle joked.
"Oh, totally," Zay said, playing along and kissing Lucas on the cheek. We all burst out laughing.
