Riley was nervous. Theo and Zay who found out about the trip from Theo had finally convinced her to talk to her parents about it. Riley was okay with putting it off until she had at least half the money but Zay threatened to dress up as a mime and follow her around everywhere until she asked. "I don't know about this Theo my stomach is acting funny. Maybe we should cancel dinner?" Riley tells him holding her stomach. While Theo stirred the stir fry on the stove.
"Love we put this off long enough and your stomach is hungry you didn't touch your lunch today. And Dave told me you didn't touch your snack he brought you." Riley leans on Theo's shoulder as he stirred and chuckles when he hears her stomach growl. "How was your tutoring session?" Riley asks him taking a piece of broccoli and blowing on it before popping it into her mouth.
"Lucas was on his best behavior. I guess my little speech worked." It was true after Theo chewed him out in the library Lucas started taking their tutoring seriously although he did make little comments about loving Riley still. But it didn't bother Theo as much as he knew Lucas wanted it to. "That's good. But I'm still not sure about this dinner we're making?" Riley says laying down on the couch.
"Come on you promised. Also Zay already bought the mime outfit." Theo tells her kissing her forehead. "Let's finish dinner I'm sure your parents will be here any moment." Riley pouts but gets up helping Theo finish and setting the table. "Something smells delicious and since your mother is with me I know she didn't cook." Her dad announces as he walks through the door gesturing at her mom.
"Cory Matthews unless you want to be eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches the rest of your life I suggest you apologize!" Topanga shouts placing her hands on her hips while Cory smiles sneaking a piece of broccoli. "Topanga come on the kids made dinner." Cory smiles at her grabbing a plate.
"Riley where's Auggie?" Topanga asks grabbing a plate. "He's at Ava house having dinner I guess Ava's mom made chicken fingers and Auggie couldn't pass up chicken that looked like fingers." Riley tells her giggling at the explanation her brother gave her when he came home earlier. "So it's just us for dinner."
Cory and Topanga exchange a look just as Riley and Theo do the same. "You know topanga as someone who wants to travel around Europe for the summer you think she would make something french." Cory says with a mouthful of stir fry. Riley drops her fork and looks at Theo in shock. "You told them?" Theo widens his eyes waving his hands and says "no love I didn't say a word to them I swear."
Cory and topanga start laughing and the young couple look at them. "Sweetheart Theo's parents asked us last week if it was alright. We just been waiting for you to say something." Topanga tells her. Riley smiles getting ready to bounce with excitement when her dad holds up his hand. Riley frowns and says "you aren't going to let me go?" "Well we've discussed it and as much as we love for you to go we just can't afford it. I'm sorry Riley."
Riley bows her head nodding and Theo grabs her hand and smiles at her before turning back to her parents. "Mr and Mrs. Matthews my parents are more than willing to pay for the trip. They adore Riley as much as I do. Money won't be a problem I promise you." Riley couldn't help smiling at Theo as he pleaded on her behalf to her parents.
"That's very sweet Theo but we couldn't ask that of your parents. It's to much money." Topanga tells him with a smile. "What if I work at the bakery after school and babysit on the weekends?" Riley pleaded giving her parents her best and saddest puppy dog eyes she had ever given. Her dad smiles shaking his head and looks at topanga. "We will discuss it later okay?" Cory tells her.
After dinner Riley and Theo clean up the kitchen and Theo sees the sadness in Riley's eyes. "They technically didn't say no Riley. If it helps I'll give you my allowance for the rest of the year." Riley couldn't help smiling at him and his willingness to do anything to make her parents say yes. She puts her arms around his neck and kisses him. "What was that for?" Theo asks grinning at her.
"For always thinking of ways to make me smile when I don't want to." Theo wraps his arms around her and says "well what kind of boyfriend would I be if I let you walk around with your sad face?" She smiles and says "not a very good one." He chuckles rubbing her cheek and kissing her once again. "Okay this is not helping in your favor." They turn their heads and see Cory standing there.
"Hi daddy." Riley says smiling at him. "Does this mean you and mom are considering it?" She asks going and hugging him. Cory chuckles looking at her and says "we are discussing it but no more of this." He gestures at her and Theo. "If you want to spend the summer in Europe." Riley bounces throwing her hands in the air yelling yay.
"Thank you daddy!" She says hugging him tighter. "Honey you know we didn't say yes right?" Her dad asks shaking his head at her. Riley pulls back and smiles saying "I know daddy but the fact that you're even discussing it makes me happy. So thank you." Cory smiles at his ever optimistic daughter and kisses her head. "Don't stay up to late you both have school." He looks at Theo who was smiling at Riley as she stood there bouncing lightly on her feet.
"We won't sir. Goodnight Mr. Matthews." Theo tells him chuckling as Cory gestures at him saying he was watching him. "Okay love I'm going to head home now. I'll pick you up in the morning." Riley smiles walking Theo to the elevator and he couldn't help but mirror her smile as well. He presses the button waiting for the elevator and puts his hands on Riley's waist. "So you think we have a chance of touring Europe together and eating crossiants and drinking hot chocolates?"
Riley giggles putting her arms around his neck and says "and taking pictures of all the sites and dancing under the Eiffel Tower?" Theo looks at her weirdly and says "dancing? I don't know." Riley smiles and says "we will dance under the Eiffel Tower and you sir will enjoy it." He smiles putting her hair behind her ear cupping her cheek and says "if it's with you then I'm certain I will."
Riley smiles looking down as her cheeks turned red as a ripe tomato embarrassed by how red she gotten at Theo's words. The elevator doors open and Theo chuckles kissing her forehead and says "don't be embarrassed love I find it completely adorable." Riley looks up holding her cheeks so he couldn't see them and Theo takes her picture making Riley giggle.
Riley blows him a kiss as the doors close giggling when he pretends to catch it and placing it on his cheek. Riley woke the next morning giddy with excitement she knew her parent were still discussing the trip and wouldn't make a decision right away but she couldn't help feeling a little hopeful they would say yes. She walks downstairs and greets them with one of her happy smiles grabbing a muffin heading for the door.
"Riley we want to talk to you." Her mom says causing Riley to pause her happiness and prepare for what sounded like not so good news. She turns back around and see her parents sitting on one side of the kitchen table and she felt her happy level reaching a 2 on her happiness meter. Riley takes a breath and walks towards the table sitting down with her hands folded closing her eyes tightly.
Maybe if she didn't see them the bad news wouldn't be as bad. "Sweetheart what are you doing?" Her dad asks with humor in his voice. Riley just shakes her head and says "just rip the band aid off I can take it." She waits for one of them to speak but she is met with silence. Riley opens an eye and says "well?" Her parents exchange a look and topanga smiles saying "honey what band aid? You aren't wearing one."
She sighs opening both eyes and says "I know you're going to say no so please just do it already." Her parents look at her and then each other quietly chuckling. "Okay what's going on?" Riley asks looking at both of them like they lost their mind. "Your mother and I had a long discussion last night and into this morning and if you could raise at least half the money we would consider letting you go." Cory tells her gesturing to topanga to cover her ears.
Riley smiles and starts bouncing in her seat and yells yay at the top of her lungs. She gets up throwing her arms around her parents and squeezes them until they complain. "Thank you thank you. I'll ask Katy if she needs help at the bakery or even somewhere else. Thank you!" Riley cheers grabbing her bag and heading for the door once again.
Theo sees Riley practically running out the door and barely has time to brace himself before she leaps into his arms and pulls him into another passionate kiss. "Well I don't know what has you so happy but if this is how you plan to greet me then I welcome it." Theo tells her smiling at her. Riley puts her arms around his neck and says "Bonjour, je vous saluerais comme ça tous les jours en Europe (good morning theo i'll greet you like this everyday in europe)"
Theo's eyes widen and he says "they said yes?" Riley smiles shaking her head and says "no but if I can raise at least half the money they will let me." Theo picks her up excited that they might get to spend the summer together. "Well I guess I chose the right day for this?" He tells her when they get in the car. Theo puts the box he had in the backseat in her hands and watches as she opens it giggling putting it on her head.
"Well how do I look?" Riley asks fixing the beret on her head and turning to Theo who had one on his. "Like someone who is going to Europe this summer with her extremely hot boyfriend." Riley looks at him and jokingly says "well I just hope he likes wearing hats when we go." Theo shakes his head and starts tickling her.
They arrive at school talking in french as Theo twirls Riley listening to her giggle. "Nice hats guys." Zay says tapping their heads. "I'll have you know babineaux these are called berets." Riley tells him twirling around him. Zay looks at her with a confused expression and turns to Theo who was smiling at her. Zay nods smiling and says "parents must of said yes to Europe huh?"
Riley stops twirling holding her head to make the room stop spinning and says "nope. But they did say if I could raise half the money then I can." Riley continued her twirling even though she was dizzy but couldn't help but be over the moon that she might be going somewhere where it required a passport. "Cotton candy face unless you want to end up in the nurse office with a bump on your head I suggest stopping." Zay tells Riley after grabbing her from twirling into open lockers.
Josh paces in front of Cory's classroom and loosens his tie. He couldn't believe he agreed to teach the class. Technically he didn't agree since Cory and him got into a weird back and forth calling each other Mr. Matthews in front of everyone. Confusing the class and themselves and somehow Cory managed to get him to admit he was going to teach today.
"So Mr. Matthews you ready?" Cory asks smiling and placing his hand on Josh's shoulder. Josh glares at him and points his thumb behind him and says "no I think I'm not feeling well and should see the nurse." Cory chuckles shaking his head and pushes josh into the classroom. "You'll do fine. These hooligans barely listen anyway." He tells him gesturing at the class and waving them off. "Thanks Cory that's very reassuring." Josh tells him rolling his eyes.
Riley walks in class smiling and sitting down humming and swaying side to side. Josh looks at her weirdly and couldn't help laughing. "Riley why so happy?" Riley looks up and stands grabbing his shoulders and giving him air kisses. "Oncle josh comment allez-vous cette belle journée? (Uncle Josh how are you on this beautiful day?)" Josh looks at her and then turns his head to Zay and Theo turning Riley around and says "okay is she broken?"
Theo and Zay chuckle and Zay tells him. "No cotton candy face is just in a good mood that she may end up in Europe with her people." Riley sticks her tongue out at him and turns back around facing the front. "So Cory gave the okay?" Josh asks Riley. She shakes her head but smiles grabbing Theo's hand and says "you never know I may end up in Paris with Theo dancing under the Eiffel Tower."
Zay chuckles looking at Theo and says "dude you promised her Paris and dancing?" Theo blushes smiling at Riley while Lucas sits at his desk with his jaw clenched. Mr. Matthews sees him and to keep him from doing something he regret he tells Josh to start the lesson plan ending the Paris talk and momentarily calming Lucas.
Maya and Lucas walk to lunch with Lucas still a bit angry at the fact he wasn't the one taking Riley to Paris. "Huckleberry what is your problem?" Maya asks noticing the distance angry look in his eyes ever since Mr. Matthews class. He shakes his head and stops outside the cafeteria with his hand on the door. "Maya we need to talk." Lucas tells her seeing that anger flash over her face.
"And what is it we need to talk about huh? Because if it's to break up then you can forget it." Maya crosses her arms looking at Lucas waiting for him to say something. "Be serious Maya it's obvious we don't really like each other." Maya goes to interrupt but Lucas goes on. "I see you watching Josh this whole week Maya." Maya shakes her head and says "that means nothing I like you not him. He's just a fantasy and you don't date a fantasy."
Lucas rubs his neck and says "Maya you know that's not true." Lucas sits down on the bench outside the cafeteria and Maya stands in front of him. "Come on Huckleberry just like Josh is a fantasy for me so is little miss sunshine and rainbows. If you really liked her wouldn't you have chose her over me and I would have done the same with josh." Maya sits next to him looking at him as he mulls over her words.
Maya stands feeling her stomach growl and walks towards the cafeteria doors once again. She turns to look back at Lucas who still looked deep in thought. She shakes her head and walks back to him and says "Huckleberry you know I'm right but since you clearly won't let it go let me show you what you would miss if we broke up?" Lucas looks up at her with a confused expression and has no time to react when Maya pulls him up by his shirt and kisses him.
Lucas snakes his arms around Maya's waist and Maya tangles her hands in his hair and knew all thoughts of Riley were wiped from his mind. They pull apart and Lucas smiles at her and pulling her back to him kissing her once again forgetting all about breaking up and lunch.
Riley closes her locker walking out to the parking lot still with the same smile she had on her face from the beginning of the day and sees Theo laying on the hood of his car with one of his arms folded underneath his head with his eyes closed. Riley walks towards him and watches him. It's only been a month and a half but every time she sees him or even thinks about him she breaks into a huge smile and she feels those family of butterflies flying around in her stomach.
She wasn't sure if it was love just yet but she was sure she was very much in like with him a lot. "Hello boyfriend." Riley greets him kissing him and making him smile. "Hello. We should hurry my other girlfriend will be out any second since I'm driving her home." Theo tells her knowing Riley was smiling and shaking her head. Riley smiles and says "well come on then." Theo opens one eye and smiles at her before sitting up and helping Riley sit on the hood with him.
He cups her cheeks planting light kisses on her face making Riley blush and giggle. "So what would you like to do my dear? Make out and then food? Or food and then make out? Or just make out? I'm good with either." Theo tells her playing with her fingers. Riley taps her chin and smiles saying "hmm some tough choices. Why don't we order some food and then make out waiting for it?"
They get in the car when Riley's phone goes off. "It's my dad they're leaving for the weekend again and my mom talked to Katy and jobs mine if I want it also my Englishmen can have one too." Riley giggles while Theo looks at her weirdly as she reads the text her dad sent her. "Oh and I'm starting early tomorrow morning since Katy and Maya will be gone for awhile apparently her mom slipped in the tub and they are going to look out for her."
Riley looked out the window she feeling bad. She loved Grammy hart. She was like a grandmother to her. Riley knew she would send a get well card to her since she lived in Florida to be closer to her new boyfriend which Riley couldn't help smiling remembering when Maya found out and bleh for an hour thinking about it.
Theo seeing Riley with her sad smile again and grabs her hand kissing it. Riley still looking out the window smiles feeling her cheeks heat up. "How about we text our friends and have an impromptu slumber party at your place?" Theo asks intertwining their hands. Riley looks his way and as soon as they pulled up to a redlight gestures for him to come closer and kisses him making him grin.
Yup definitely more than like him Riley thought watching as the smile never left his face and not knowing Theo was thinking the exact same thing about her.