A/N: Major Rucas development as follows. Hold your breath. You have no idea what is happening next.
PLEASE READ! Also, maybe you've noticed my change in icon, this picture was submitted by: staybeautifulllx This is such a talented member of our fan base and I hope that you will also enjoy picture, because I feel so blessed by all of these compliments. I also wanted to acknowledge JoshayaShipper2001 who also submitted another icon to me as well, and while I forgot to upload that when you sent it to me, I was reminded when this one was sent to me. I thought about it for a few days and I decided to use this one. Yours was stunning, just the same, and I am sorry that I chose to use this one instead. I hope you can forgive me.
Thank you for the continued support, this story has more than 200 reviews! Isn't that amazing. We are well on our way to climbing the fan fiction ladder.
Enjoy!
Chapter 8: Princess of the Moon
The days that past by next were dark and slow. It would only turn to fate that the storms which followed caused an endless fall of rain. Riley saw it fitting, as she sat in her bay window, watching the droplets kiss her window pane in the devastation of such a beautiful lost soul, forgiven by the heavens. It nearly brought her a sense that the universe might be paying attention.
She sat in alone for hours, watching a few more of the videos in saga, which Farkle had emailed her. Many of which he captured of little Luna, teaching herself to skate, all of which, brought tears to Riley's tired eyes.
On the evening of the second day of wallowing, her mother found her way into Riley's room of despair, and Riley knew that she couldn't stay alone in the room forever.
"Hey sweetie, how are you feeling?" Topanga asked, holding in her hand a small bag and a plate of spaghetti.
"Better now that you brought food," Riley replied, forcing the light words out of her mouth.
"I also found this dress in a store this afternoon and I figured you would need something to wear to Luna's funeral tomorrow afternoon, I didn't think you had much black."
"Well I do like colours," Riley replied looking back out the window to the blurred city and she sighed. "Thanks mom. I didn't even think of what I would wear."
"That's why I am here," Topanga replied, taking a seat next to her daughter.
Riley weakly smiled, and looked back down at the plate of food, still steaming.
"Mom?" she said, looking back up at Topanga. "I'm not sure that I can go tomorrow."
Topanga shook her head and moved closer, putting an arm around the still heartbroken girl. "You can. And your father and I will be with you through everything. If you don't go, you might regret it for the rest of your life."
"There are going to be a lot of people there. All with their own versions of Luna. How can I even be this sad? I'm not family. Can you imagine what Luna's parents are going through? This is going to destroy their marriage."
"Your pain is real Riley. You love Luna, just like a sister, and she loved you. That is real and justifiable. You are allowed to be as sad as you let yourself," Topanga assured, curling Riley's hair with her fingers. "As for Luna's parents. Losing a child is the most horrifying thing in the entire world. Children should outlive their parents. It is going to be so difficult for them and they may never recover, which is why they need as much support as possible. Hopefully their marriage will beat the statistic, but you never know what will happen."
Riley breathed out slowly, and then inhaled just as slowly. Her pain was justifiable, and her heart hurt for those whose pain in the world was worse than hers, because God knows there was worse pain.
"Thanks Mom," she whispered. "Thank you for sitting with me."
"Anytime," Topanga replied.
X
The next morning, Maya woke up to the sound of the phone ringing, as it often did as of late. When her mother informed her that Riley had failed to show up for morning practice for the second day in a row, she took it upon herself to begin her manhunt for the lost girl. There were numerous places she could have been, but Maya started with the basics; Riley's bed, Riley's house, the fire escape, Topanga's bakery, surprisingly Farkle's, and then the arena, because maybe Riley had just been running late.
But Riley wasn't in any of her usual hide outs, and she was troubled because it was 8 in the morning and the girl had been up and doing something for the past two hours. Something which was even a mystery to Maya.
Just as Maya sighed in defeat and began to leave the arena, she noticed a familiar figure standing in the observation room at the arena, obviously confused and looking for something, just as she was.
Lucas Friar.
The boy was smitten and Maya couldn't believe his persistence to make sure that Riley was actually okay.
"Riley's not here," Maya finally said. Lucas almost jumped in surprise and turned to see Maya.
"Oh, I'm not-" Lucas tried to defend himself
"I know what your not doing, Huckleberry. Please, I mastered the art of excuses and you aren't fooling anyone here." Maya rolled her eyes, and firmly set them on the ice rink behind his back. "She's not here," she repeated. Lucas nodded, the gears of his brain turning as Maya watched him intently.
"Where is she?" he asked. She almost laughed, because she had already anticipated his words, but she could not forget the worry that still shook her bones at the thought of Riley.
"We're not sure. She says that she's been coming to morning practices. But when I show up I can never find her. It's like she's falling off the wagon. We're not sure what to do."
"She can't just stop," Lucas stepped forward, his eyes wide with an emotion Maya could not pinpoint. "Stopping for just a few days alone came mean everything in her line of training. She stops now, she might never be able to claim that Nationals title."
"I know," Maya replied exasperated. "I can't let her do that to herself. She will never forgive herself and neither will I."
"So let me help you."
"Let you what?"
"Let me help you find her. I might know how to convince her that she can't give everything up over this."
"How are you possibly going to help? You've hardly known her for a month."
"I know," Lucas said, compassion, sincerity, and even a little bit of fire driving through his eyes. Lucas retreated to pick up his coat hanging against the bench. Maya stepped back and knew there was no stopping him, he would help whether she let him or not, and in her heart, she knew that he would be the one to bring Riley home. "And I also know that Riley is going to get through this. So, you can stop worrying about her and know that you are a good friend to her. In the end, that is what she is going to know. Riley is going to be just fine."
Lucas's shoulder barely brushed hers as he passed by with such confidence that she actually believed him. He was admirable, she would admit, and Riley had truly struck gold.
X
Lucas had a hunch that he knew exactly where Riley might be, so he drove. He drove is rusty old black pick up truck up the freeway with the window open. The the rain finally stopped, even the city smelled of freshness and opportunity. The day would be a good one, he could feel it in his heart.
He found himself pulling into the practically empty parking lot of Greenwich East Community Centre. Despite his hunch, his heart still pounded as he slammed the door of his truck, and looked up at the old building. He shook his head, trying to erase the thoughts. But if Riley wasn't here, he wouldn't know where else to look.
The building was quiet and seemingly abandoned, as he walked in. While a receptionist sat in the front desk, she hardly looked up from her game of solitaire.
He found himself crossing his fingers in the hope that Riley was exactly where his mind as picturing her. Lucas had been in this building countless times before since he began his life in New York, and he hoped, or rather he prayed that had done the same.
Rounding the corner, he came to a glass wall, transmitting the complex idea which was Riley Matthews. But instead of the painful effort and angst she was normally putting into her morning practice, she seemed to be in her own world, void of the rest, carelessly maneuvering her way around the roller-skating rink.
He opened up the door separating the two of them, letting himself onto the hardwood surface which was the rink. What he failed to see from farther away were two things. One, a large navy hoodie, with a small crest on the front right shoulder he recognized from his high school. The sweater hung loosely at her hips which he presumed to be lost somewhere in the sweater he hadn't even realized he misplaced. Second, the ear buds providing the comfort of music to Riley.
She still hadn't noticed him travelling across the floor, when she pulled out her iPod, swinging it to the beat Lucas couldn't hear. She slowed her pace to a glide and then to a stop, just before moving to skate backwards, and pivoting back to forwards.
It was only then, when she finally noticed Lucas and the two of them stopped in their tracks, wondering what on earth was supposed to happen next.
"Lucas," Riley spoke first, softly, curiously and kindly, removing her ear buds and stuffing them in the pockets of his sweater. He smiled to himself. Her brows rose in confusion. "What are you doing here?"
"You family is worried about you," Lucas began to explain.
"So they enlisted you to help," her voice full of surprise.
"I volunteered."
She moved forward one stride, confusion still obvious on her face. "And how is it, that you were able to find me. No one I know has ever known that I come here."
"I knew that you wouldn't be so reckless to quit skating altogether. You told me yourself, Nationals are far to important. You told Maya that you've been coming to practices, you wouldn't lie to your best friend," Lucas explained. Finally, he let himself smile because of the circumstances. He shook his head as Riley waited for him to say what was on his mind. "And," he began, "this is exactly where I would have come."
Riley's mouth popped open, written speechless. She never thought anyone would find her in the rollerskating rink, let alone Lucas. How was it that he felt the need to volunteer himself and his time to her? Maybe she would never understand. She couldn't even understand the next words that came out of her own mouth.
"Put on some skates," she said as she moved forward to him, stopping only a foot in front of him and taking his breath away. It was getting difficult to avoid the magnet in between them.
"Yes ma'am," Lucas replied and he saw something he wondered if he would ever have the pleasure of seeing again; Riley's smile.
X
When he returned, skates tied, Riley was no longer skating, and he began to panic for a short second, until he stepped past the barrier blocking his view and he finds he lying on the floor, with her hands behind her head.
Lucas almost thought she was sleeping when he stood at her head, looking down with such a grin, he's afraid what will happen. Riley laughed, covering her eyes momentarily. When she reopened them, Lucas was lying beside her, watching her intently.
"I was just thinking about how the rafters looks when the disco ball is going and the black lights are on. It makes the stars on the ceiling glow, and sometimes I need the stars to glow," Riley admitted.
"When was the last time you saw the actual stars?" he asked.
"Years. I can see them when we go to Philly, but I haven't been in a long time. My grandparents either always come to New York, or when we happen to go, it's cloudy, or it doesn't work with my schedule. I am severely lacking in that department of my life."
"Well," Lucas said dusting off his pants and one his feet once again. "What do you say we go flip the switch and turn on the stars?" he asked.
Her mouth opened in shock of his suggestion, but she loved the idea nonetheless. She broke into a smile and there was once again a sparkle no one could have anticipated in her eyes.
Lucas offered his hands to help her up. She folded her legs and accepted both hands, lifting her up into the air once again.
"Have you ever considered a partner skating career?" Lucas joked. She kept her eyes on him and laughed.
"Shut up," she laughed and released his hands, putting them on his chest and pushing him backwards.
The two teenagers found the control system in the observing deck's private room, conveniently left unlocked. Lucas sat in the chair in front of the panel while Riley watched both him and the rink. Both equally full of surprises.
His eyes lit up when he found the correct switches, and the rink in front of them erupted with 80's music and the disco dropped for the ceiling. The lights dimmed and the room began to glow from the light of the stars from the rafters.
When Riley looked back at Lucas, he was waiting for a reaction, but once again she was speechless, so she shook her head and turned on her feet.
"Come on," said in excitement, not waiting for Lucas to follow, although he was only two steps behind.
Back on the hardwood floor, Riley skated in small circles, listening to the music and letting it become her. She lifted her arms into the air and stretched, finally feeling like herself for the first time in a while.
"What are you thinking?" Lucas asked her. Riley paused and briefly looked back at Lucas, before hugging herself and spinning on her feet.
"I'm thinking that I know how much Luna would have loved this. And I haven't felt this close to her since she died. It's like she's right here with me on my shoulder. Enjoying this moment with me." Lucas smiled at the satisfaction on Riley's face. "Thank you Lucas. For doing this. It means more than you will ever know."
He skated towards her, closing the gap between them and grabbing her hands in his, and he heard her take in a quick breath. "I am here for you," he reminded her.
"Thank you," she said sincerely, watching his eyes.
"How about a dance?"
"This is Take On Me. It's such a fast song," Riley protested, signalling to the music which had just begun.
"You don't think you can keep up?"
Riley laughed out loud and shook her head. "Oh you know I can. I was worried about you."
She folded their fingers together and brought them in front of their chests, just to push him harshly backwards, but not releasing his hands.
She gave him a look reminding him that she was in charge, but when Lucas curled their fingers tightly, and pulled her back closer again, coming nearly nose to nose.
"You are wearing my sweater," he whispered into her ear. She gasped and looked down quickly, not realizing what she was wearing, and almost bumping foreheads with Lucas.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize," she tried to apologize, blushing pink on her cheeks. Lucas did everything he could not to reach up and touch the burning blush.
"It's okay, Riley. It looks far better on you than it ever could on me. You keep it," Lucas whispered back sending shivers up her spine.
"I was never going to give it back," Riley admitted mystery and confidence once again back in her voice. "It's the most comfortable sweater in my possession right now."
"Oh really?" he asked amused, releasing their hands and putting a hand around her slim waist and the other on the hem of the shirt. "Then maybe I do want it back if it is the most comfortable."
"No way," she taunted, her arms finding their way around his neck, smiling right back at him. A moment of silence between them passed as the music played on. She found herself wondering what might happen if she was bold. "Hey Luke?"
"Yeah," he whispered, eyes dropping to her lips briefly.
"We aren't very good dancers," she told him.
"Hmm, I guess we aren't," he noted, lost in her eyes.
"Maybe you should make a move?" she suggested.
Their eyes froze on each others, a curving smile present on Riley's face as her brows rose in anticipation. But Lucas was a different sight altogether. His hand from holding her hem, moved to her face, pushing back the hair which had fallen from behind her ear. His hand stopped behind her head, and neither of them could have stopped what was going to happen next.
Something passed through the both of them, and suddenly their lips were connected and everything was right in the world. What was supposed to be a patient relationship was now proven to be equally hungry and passionate as their lips moved in sync and their bodies pressed together.
They got lost in time and space. They got lost in each other.
"Wait," Lucas pulled back, cursing himself for stopping such a perfectly imperfect moment.
"What?" Riley asked, catching her breath.
"Maybe we shouldn't," he said, crashing their cloud, and causing Riley to step back immediately, retreating to the wall she had just tore down. "No!" he stopped her, grabbing her hands once again. "It's just that you're still grieving. I don't want to take advantage of you in any way. I never want to take advantage of you. And I don't want any false feelings from you, or feelings coming from those grievances."
"No," Riley assured. "This is not like that. Nothing like that. I haven't felt like myself since I found out about Luna. And this: you. You make me feel like myself. I'm not grieving right now, because I can still sense her presence. You did that. You aren't taking advantage of me, and if you do, I will surely warn you. My feelings for you are just as they always have been."
"What's that?"
"Clear and confusing just at the same time. Mysterious and obvious. Curious and terrifying."
"Those are a lot of different feelings," Lucas admitted.
"Scary?"
"No," he promised. "Exciting."
Riley couldn't keep it in any longer, so she laughed and it baffled her entire body.
Lucas grabbed her face and once again pulled her lips to his as she smiled against them and wondered how on earth any of this happened.
The two of them pulled apart and laughed together, neither of them quite able to understand everything that had just happened.
Riley's eyes dropped to a black spot, capturing her attention. Just along Lucas's neck line, underneath the rest of his shirt, was the beginnings of a tattoo.
"What's this?" she asked, pushing the fabric slightly to the side so she could see the rest of the tattoo.
"Oh, that? It's a tattoo," he replied, focusing on the touch of her fingers against his skin. She chuckled, that much was obvious.
It was a black bird. A raven?
"A bird?" she inquired.
"A mockingbird," he corrected.
"What's the significance?" Her fingers traced the black ink and proceeded to cover it back up with his shirt.
"My Pappy Joe actually. It was kind of his thing, and when he passed away, I still needed something of him with me all the time. It seemed fitting."
"Wow," she remarked. "That's incredible. That's a great way to remember him."
"That's what I thought," Lucas replied, reached for her hand and lacing their fingers together where they belonged. The two of them skated across the floor over to the benches and sat down.
"You know, my biggest fear with Luna is that eventually I will forget the memories I have of her. I never want to lose the image of the smiling girl I have in my head. Those memories are too precious."
"I think as long as you need to remember, you will remember."
"You do?"
"I do."
X
The rest of the day passed far to quickly for Riley's liking. Lucas brought her out for coffee and the two of them talked and laughed over hot drinks and cinnamon buns. It was everything Riley needed in preparation for the funeral that afternoon. The relief before the storm. Lucas drove Riley back to her apartment, only a short drive from the Community Centre, and outside of her apartment the two of them sat in silence.
"Are you going to be okay this afternoon?" he asked her. "If you need me there I can come."
"You're so sweet and I would love if I could have you at my side. However this is something I think I need to face on my own. I also think it might pose a few questions for my family and my dad isn't that welcoming of boys."
Lucas chuckled. "No?"
"We may need to introduce you to each other slowly. He can be very protective of me."
"I get to meet your family?"
"Didn't you meet them at Sectionals?"
"As Josh's friend. Not as whatever we are." The two of them pondered to their own thoughts for a brief moment.
"We can figure that out some other time," Riley assured. "We have all the time in the world."
"All the time," Lucas repeated, smiling to himself looking ahead out of front window of his truck.
Riley leaned across the truck bench and pressed a chaste kiss on Lucas's cheek. "Thank you," she said honestly. Lucas might have been the only person who was able to get to her on so many levels, and she was suddenly sure that her grieving wasn't going to be as challenging as she once thought.
"Hold on," his hand stopped hers where it sat beside his thigh pressed against the seat. He kissed her sweetly one last time. "Thank you," he intercepted, causing her to blushed. "Just remember to breath this afternoon, okay. Breath and take it one minute at a time. You are going to be just fine."
Her eyes softened, and she found it in herself to give him one last smile. "Goodbye Lucas."
X
Riley avoided the looks and questions of her family as she entered the apartment, and went directly to her room. She not only didn't want to see their concerned looks, but she also didn't want them to see her flushed face. She knew that one look from her father and he would immediately know that she'd been with a boy. So Riley got showered and got dressed, curling her hair exquisitely. If her heart still ached and broke for the small girl, she had to show the world that everything was just fine, so she set the goal to look perfect, not a hair or thread out of place. She wore a shall over her petit black dress and matching heels and sat in her room, awaiting the call of her parents.
Katy and Maya arrived to travel with the Matthews family and Maya immediately directed her attention to the girl in the room with the stunning bay window.
"You ready?" Maya asked, not bothering to knock. Knocking would have been unordinary, and it would have been to acknowledge that things were unnatural and should be treated differently. Maya didn't want that for anyone.
"I am," Riley replied from the window. The rain had finally let up that morning. In fact Riley wasn't sure she had ever seen such a clear blue sky.
"Then come on, they are waiting for us in the car."
What happened next was slow and awkward. The drive and the commencement. Riley found herself stuck in the middle of awkward small talk, she was so generously left out of as the five of them drove through the city to the church.
Then was entering the church with the realization that this was Riley's chance to say goodbye properly to her favourite young skater. The realization that she had to make the goodbye worth it and meaningful, was something Riley had yet to consider. She was so focused on what had happened and what was no longer that she forgot that today was the day devoted to Luna and celebrating her short life. Today was the day the world would say goodbye to her beautiful soul.
When the music began to play, and the casket was pushed down the church aisle. Riley couldn't help the wind blow through her, her hand immediately grabbed Maya's as she watched the box holding the little girl she loved.
Maya squeezed her hand in support and acknowledgement. The ceremony coming was going to be bearable because of her best friend and her family surrounding her. Everything was going to be okay.
After the ceremony, Riley and her family watched the people slowly exit the church, prepared to travel to the grave yard. Riley and Maya found themselves at the front of the church, observing all of the pictures so beautifully displayed on easels for the world to see. Each and everyone of them only some memory of Luna. A thought had been on her mind since her left Lucas, and she needed to tell Maya.
"Maya," Riley asked, voice weary of the reaction she knew was destined to follow. Maya immediately looked up from easel of pictures, her eyes soft and a smile tugged at her lips.
"Yeah?"
"There is something I want to do, and I would really like it if you were at my side."
Maya nodded, promising to what ever corner of the earth Riley was going to lead her to. They looked back at the crowd of people talking in soft murmurs, just as expected, all careful not to wake the sleeping child in the closed casket.
X
Maya had know idea where Riley would be bringing her the next morning, when they walked into uncharted territory in NYC.
"A tattoo parlour, Riley? What the hell are we doing here?" Maya whisper shouted in Riley's ear as the two girls observed the decorations and products around the room. It was true, Riley led Maya to a tattoo parlour, and the place was far darker than she could have imagined. But Riley had done her research, these people were accountable and did the job right, she would have no trouble other than Maya.
Riley smiled in spite of herself. "You know, I always thought it would be you dragging me into one of these places, but here we are."
"And you know that your parents are going to kill you when they find out that you got a permanent tattoo behind their backs. And then they are going to kill me afterwards," Maya swore.
"Your life is safe, and they will get over it."
"You've lost your mind," Maya cursed. "I can't believe I let it get this far. Riley, have we lost you?"
"Lost me?" Riley chuckled, shaking her head. "You people think I am as fragile as a China doll, so that is how you handle me. But I'm stronger than you think Maya." Riley walked to the other side of the store and saw the tattoo artist behind the curtain working on another person.
"I'll be with you in 10 minutes," the woman shouted when she noticed the to girls in her main room.
"Take your time," Riley shouted back.
"We know you are strong Riley. But you have to admit, that when something changes, you tend to, react," Maya said cautiously choosing her words.
"I react the way I do. I am surprised you haven't gotten used to it. We've been friends for all our lives. It's part of who I am Maya."
"And is this part of who you are, Riley? A sketchy tattoo parlour?"
Riley shook her head once again, slight disgust publishing on her face. "You would think that after all this time, that you of all people would know who I am," Riley said, sitting on a bar stool and flipping through an album of tattoos, turning her head away from Maya.
Maya took another deep breath in, pushing down her frustrations. "It's my job to warn you against all of this stuff. It's permanent Riley, you can't wipe it away in two weeks when you don't want it anymore. It's going to get all saggy when you are old and wrinkly. It'll stretch and it won't look pretty forever. Not to mention how unprofessional it looks. Riley are you listening to me?"
Riley continued to flip through the book of tattoos in front of her, and Maya could only shudder in frustration, she stepped back.
"I am getting some air," Maya announced. "I'll be back in a few."
When the bell of the door finally dinged signalling her departure, Riley finally looked up and hoped that eventually Maya would come around, because there was no stopping the decision she had already made. She didn't want to fight with Maya about this, Maya was just as stubborn as Riley, and Maya could learn to accept that Riley was certain about this decision.
Riley knew that Maya would stay true to her word and return. Neither of them would leave the other behind, not when they asked the other to be there. Maya would not call back up, because that would have been betrayal, and Riley would only return on her own. She would never execute Riley that way.
So when the parlour finished with his current client and Riley became acquainted with the woman behind her painted body. Riley was amazed that tattoo's used to scare her so much, and seeing a heavily painted person, she would turn her nose up, almost thinking better of herself.
Her judgement was far from right, and it opened her eyes.
"You can go sit in that chair while I prep the materials, love," the woman smiled.
"Thank you," Riley said to the woman who already turned her back, and entered the room behind the curtain, taking her seat.
The curtain swooshed open after a minute of solitude, and Riley looked up to see Maya and a weary smile, not quite sincere.
"If I am going to sit here with you through this with you, I might as well try to appreciate the moment," Maya sighed and moved into her best friends peripheral vision. "What tattoo do you think you want to get?"
Riley grinned, and the smile almost made Maya question everything about this situation, it was one she hadn't seen since Riley had won Sectionals and before they dropped the bomb of Luna's death on her shoulders. She wasn't sure if she would ever see such a sincere smile again.
Riley sat up in the chair and pulled one of the books sitting on the small table next to her logging some of the tattoos. She flipped through the book, obviously on a mission to find one tattoo in particular. Riley's finger stopped on what seemed like a random page, and suddenly Maya didn't doubt Riley's state of mind any longer.
Riley tapped the page with her index finger and looked up with a smile. "This one."
A half moon. Barely the size of two square inches, detailed with such precision and beauty Maya was practically rendered speechless.
"A moon," she whispered.
"La lune," Riley corrected, speaking in french. "It's the only way I can think to honour her. And I want it here," Riley slide the strap of her tank top off her shoulder, and pointed to her collarbone, touching it carefully. "I want her right on my shoulder. My Luna, always watching over me."
Maya didn't say anything for a while as she processed the information she was finally handling. Riley was her own person, and she would grieve. But she would grieve in her own way and there was no stopping that. Riley hated confrontation and would avoid it like the plague, but on her own terms, Maya saw that Riley could move mountains.
When Maya met Riley's eyes, tears wet Maya's cheeks and her eyes glistened through their glass.
"Oh Maya," Riley scrunched her nose, lifting her hand to wipe away the tears with her fingers. "We are going to be okay. I know we are."
A/N: What did you think of Rucas? La lune? Is Riley recovering?
