Chapter 7
Riley laid in Maya's lap like she had all weekend. She wasn't crying, she didn't think she could anymore. She just laid there, in silence while Maya stroked her hair. This continued on for several minutes until Riley broke the silence.
"I don't want to go to school tomorrow." she whispered
"Then don't, take a 'you' day." stated Maya
The brunette thought about it but decided not to, "No. Then he wins. If I don't show up he will know that I had feelings for him if he didn't already, and he gets what he wants."
"Oh Riles, you deserve better."
The brunette sat up and locked eyes with the blonde. Riley's eyes weren't the same anymore they lost the glisten and they were puffy from all the crying. "I wish I could believe that, but Lucas was pretty great. He didn't do anything wrong. I'm upset because I let myself continue to like him and spend time with him knowing that nothing would happen. And like a foolish little girl I still held out for hope." Riley threw her face into her hands and sat there.
"You weren't foolish, you were optimistic. Which, if you ask anyone that is something everyone loves." Maya kept trying to cheer her up. "It's like 'Oh no, Riles the word is ending!' and you would say 'don't worry atleast we can be together'."
Riley let out a laugh and looked at Maya, "yeah, at least I know that I have you peaches."
"Come on, let's get you into bed. I will get you some cucumber for your eyes. You have to look beautiful tomorrow."
Riley fell asleep before Maya even got back. She felt so tired, all she wanted to do was rest.
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Riley sauntered into first period terrified to see Lucas, but when she finally made it to the cold doorway he wasn't there. She stood at the entrance and thought 'he was always there maybe I should text him, maybe he is sick?' She went to get her phone and stopped herself. He quit texting me yesterday at noon, I won't be the first to text him. All these thoughts continued running through her head and she didn't know how to sort them out.
Riley continued the school day with as little effort as possible. Moving slowly and not really doing anything. The brunette was putting things in her locker when it slammed shut.
"How's Lucas?" Missy delivered with such disdain
"Excuse me?" questioned Riley
"I think you heard me correctly. You don't know do you?"
"I think that you need to back off my girl before I make you." Riley turned around to see Maya walking towards her. Maya was little but tough, and was completely over Missy. "Haven't you done enough damage to last you a lifetime?"
The blonde had a fire in her eyes that Riley rarely saw and it clearly frightened the witch. "Not even close." Missy whispered as the sound of her heels followed her down the hall.
"Come on honey, it's lunch time."
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The week continued on, it was Wednesday and still no Lucas, the brunette actually enjoyed getting more than a weekend away from him. She didn't need to see him, she was trying to get over him.
Lucas was staring at his phone while he laid down on his bed. "Riley." he whispered
He heard a knock on his door, and with a hint of anger the quarterback yelled "go away, I don't need anything."
"This isn't your mom." a familiar voice echoed through the door
The quarterback grinned and turned the doorknob. Zay and Josh walked into the room.
"Well, clearly you have done a lot with yourself the past few days." conveyed Zay in his normal sarcastic tone he looked him up and down, "nice sweatpants, but throw on a shirt, i'm losing confidence."
"I've showered." Lucas joked, "what do you guys want?"
Josh looked around the room and saw the curtains closed and the new hole in the wall "You haven't been at practice all week and we were starting to worry about you bro, Coach is worried about ya'. What's going on?"
"You know what's going on. Come on Josh, you're dating Maya and living with Riley." He looked to the ground at the sound of her name. "I appreciate y'all coming over it's nice to know someone cares, but I can't talk about it." Josh noticed the necklace he was fiddling with in his hands and looked at Zay.
Zay nodded his head, it is true they both knew what was happening they just didn't know how to fix it. They continued to stare at Lucas until he finally spoke up. "She's gone." he punched his hand as a tear made its way out of his eye.
Josh put his hand on the broad shoulder of the quarterback, "man, it will stop hurting."
"Don't tell me that," he threw his arm removing Josh's hand "I have tried to tell myself that a million times. But, I don't think it will." Lucas snapped
Zay was always lighthearted and funny and with a joking tone he said "Come on, a girl ain't worth this." Lucas raised his head and stared at him with rage in his eyes, the quarterback stood up and grabbed him by the shirt.
"YOU DON'T KNOW HER LIKE I DO! You won't understand until you fall in love. You don't know what we have been through Zay, that girl is my best friend." The quarterback shouted, he had so much agony in his voice. He let Zay go and turned around as he continued on. "She's the only thing I need," the green eyed boy rubbed his fingers through his hair, "I can't get those eyes out of my mind, and I don't know how to handle this, I do know that she is the only one that can help me." Lucas walked over to look at a picture he had of her on his desk, "It's like she stole my way to breathe. So, don't try to tell me it stops hurting, and don't tell me she isn't worth it. Because, the pain won't stop and she is worth every ounce of pain I will ever have to go through."
"Did you say love bro?" asked Josh, completely ignoring the rest of his speech he had a big smile on his face.
Lucas stood there, and for the first time in awhile a genuine smile made its way to his lips. "Yeah, love. I know it's crazy, I know we haven't known eachother long at all, and we are only 16 but I love Riley Ann Matthews."
"Then you have to fight for her bro. Don't give up." suggested Josh
"I'm going to need something great to make up for everything." whispered Lucas
"Like breaking up with Missy?" Zay offered
"No, I did that. At the dance."
The pair looked shocked, "that isn't what she has been telling people." said Josh
"I will handle that." replied Zay
"Of course you will, you're the school gossip." laughed Lucas "Josh, I need you to get Maya over here, this needs to happen tomorrow. I can't be without her anymore. We need to make a plan."
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Ding Ding
Hey Riles, get on your homecoming dance outfit and meet me outside of your place at 7.-Love Maya
Riley replied back; I have dance class tonight. I can't.
Ding Ding
I have already handled that, this is important.
Okay, I will hurry.
Why would Maya cancel my dance class, that is like my salvation. Why does she want me in my dress? She was probably going to have a girls night, Lord knows I need it. The brunette turned around and started walking home, she had plenty of time it was only 4:10.
2 hours and 50 minutes later
Riley was waiting outside in the dark for Maya and she was feeling very anxious, where could they be going? All of a sudden Josh's truck pulls up and with Maya sitting in the middle waves Riley in.
"Where are we going guys?" Riley asked
"Oh just to a familiar place, we need to make you happy again Riles. And, we have a way of doing that."
"I'm fine you guys. Seriously. I don't need this." The brunette started unbuckling her seatbelt.
"Riles, do you trust me?" the blonde asked
Riley looked at her like she was kidding, "Maya, more than anything."
"Then I am going to ask you to envoke your trust." Her blue eyes were piercing and with Riley's head nod Josh started driving.
As Riley looked out the window she saw some familiar landmarks. "Guys, where are we?"
Josh made a sharp right turn and pulled into a parking spot.
"Why are we here? How did you two even know about this place?" Questioned Riley
"Come on Peaches let's take a walk." persisted Maya
Josh stayed in the truck while he watched the pair locked arm in arm walk through the park. It was silent and Riley started crying. "Maya, how did you know about this park? I never told you what park we went to."
Maya pulled Riley into a hug and said "honey, I love you. Let's walk a little more."
They continued their trek, and Riley was mad that she wore heels, they kept sinking into the ground. She stopped to take them off and once she looked up she saw the familiar bridge.
"Hi Riley." pronounced a passionate Lucas
Riley turned angrily at Maya, and the blonde just looked at her. "Do this, listen to what he has to say."
Riley looked at the bridge again, there was a small round wooden table with a candle for light and one chair. She glanced at Lucas who had a strap around his chest.
"What is all this?"
"I'm going to ask you again to just listen to what I have to say to you. And I am going to state again that if you don't like what you hear or want what I have to offer then I will leave you alone. I will even transfer classes." Lucas articulated
Riley nodded telling him to proceed as she sat down in the chair.
He grabbed the strap and started strumming on his guitar. He had a big smile on his face that Riley couldn't stop looking at.
I'd sell my soul just to see your face
And i'd break my bones just to heal your pain
In these times I need a saving grace
But time is running out and i'm starting to lose my faith
If I told you I loved you would it make you want to stay?
I'm sorry for the way I hurt you and making you walk away
And if I wrote you a love song and sang it to you every day
Would it ever be enough to make you wanna come back home and stay
I can't go another day with out you
Riley's eyes were filled with tears and while Lucas strummed his guitar the brunette saw Maya walk up behind him and start singing background.
Would it make you, make you wanna stay?
Girl you gotta know I love you
My hearts on my sleeve but it's turning black
I guess I know what it feels like to be alone
Without your touch i'm not gonna last
I know you know that I need you just to carry on
It feels like my walls are caving in
You'd always hug me before I left you hanging on
And i'll do anything to have you here again
If I told you I loved you would it make you wanna stay?
I'm sorry for the way I hurt you and making you walk away
I should have took the time to tell you
And if I wrote you a love song and sang it to you everyday would it ever be enough to make you wanna come back home and stay?
I can't go another day without you
Yeah, the days are cold the nights are long and I can't stand to be alone, please know this is not your fault.
And all I want...
Is to tell you I love you and make you wanna stay
There's gotta be a way because going on without you is killing me everyday
And if I wrote you a love song and sang it to you everyday would it ever be enough to make you wanna come back home and stay?
I can't go another day without you
Would it make you, make you wanna stay?
Girl you gotta know I love you
Would it make you, make you wanna stay?
I can't go another day without you
Would it make you, make you wanna stay?
Riley couldn't catch her breath she was crying so hard and smiling so big, she barely saw Maya leave.
Lucas walked over to Riley throwing his guitar behind him. He squatted down and grabbed her hands in his. "Riley, the past few days have made me realize I can't lose you. You are my best friend. I can't promise that every moment will be easy but I can promise you that I would rather spend every day fighting with you than pretend to be happy with anyone else. I shouldn't have taken so long to be with you, I realize that now. I also realize that we are young, still in highschool. I know that we have known eachother three weeks to the day and it may be completely insane to even say this, but love makes you do crazy things right? Even talk to you like this. You once told me that a love like your parents is once in a generation and, I want us to be the once in a generation kind of love. I love you Riley." He paused for a moment to take everything in and continued, "I love your big brown eyes and your laugh. I love how when you look in the mirror you shrug your shoulders like you don't realize how beautiful and perfect you are. And when you are dancing, you take everyone with you. When your friends are upset so are you and you'd do anything to prevent that. Lastly, I love how you make me feel; like I matter, you make me a better person and I love you for it"
Riley literally had no words, the tears were falling down her face like they were having a race and Lucas' gentle hands wiped them away. He continued to stare at her, clearly waiting for a response and she knew what she was going to say. The brunette stood up and while clutching onto his hands started singing;
Now that you're listening I'll, i'll tell you that I-I will love you for you
Not for what you have done or what you will become
I will love you for you and I will give you a love, a love that you never knew
The guitarist reached into his pocket and pulled out the heart necklace he had given her and placed it around her neck. Then Lucas grabbed the brunette by her waist and spun her around. Riley threw her arms around his neck, still crying happy tears. He stopped spinning and slid her down his body, he grabbed her face with his left hand, gently pushing the hair out of her eyes with his right and pulled her into his lips. Riley's first kiss, gentle, sweet and passionate, she didn't want it to end. They continued their embrace as Lucas lifted her off the bridge. The butterflies in her stomach were fluttering so fast and her foot slowly lifted off the ground.
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Thanks for reading this chapter, keep reading to see what happens next. Follow,Favorite, Review
Songs:
JJ Heller- What Love Really Means & Stay by Florida Georgia Line