Author's note: thank you so very much for your feedback on the last chapter, guys! Also, I'm sorry for that cliffhanger, but hopefully it was worth the wait! Please let me know what you think about this chapter, I truly hope you like it!

CHAPTER TEN: Some Things Never Change

"Hi."

Lucas held his breath as he waited for Riley to speak.

Somehow, she looked even more beautiful than he remembered. She was mesmerizing in every memory, breathtaking in every dream, but none would ever do justice to what it felt like to actually stare into her eyes and lose himself on their hypnotizing melted chocolate. There was a magic to Riley, one Lucas had always known, but could never quite explain. Her mere presence warmed his very soul; silenced every one of his demons. God, he'd missed her. More than words could say, way more than Lucas would admit to himself for his sanity's sake. He'd missed her with all of his heart and a little bit more with his every breath.

When Riley Matthews first walked into his life she turned his world upside down. Over two years ago, she did it again, walking out of it. And now here they were, what felt like a few lifetimes later, two completely different people. Long gone were the kids who fell in love in middle school. They were grownups, ex-lovers and possibly strangers at this point. For most of his flight, Lucas tried to prepare himself for the worst, he pictured Riley walking away or yelling at him for daring come after her. But as the blonde stood before the only girl he ever loved, seconds ticking by painfully slow while she refused to grace him with a single word, Lucas had to face just how unprepared he was to experience her rejection again.

"Hey." She finally breathed out.

"Hi." He smiled to himself, relieved by the familiarity of the scene. Maybe some things would never change.

"You're here." Riley whispered in disbelief, closing her eyes for a second and shaking her head, as if expecting Lucas to vanish, and looking even more confused when he didn't "What are you doing here?"

"Home for the holidays. Just touched down."

"Oh." Was all she managed to say, still too stunned to speak.

"I stopped by your house. Your dad said you'd be here." Riley simply nodded and, breaking eye contact for the first time since Lucas walked in, she looked down. He wrecked his brain for something else to say, anything. Did she even want to talk to him at all? "So, how have you been?"

Riley didn't have the chance to answer. The bell echoed around Topanga's once again, a cold breeze blowing through the bakery as the door swung open and in walked a man.

"Are you trying to make me freeze to death out there, little Matthews?" The guy chuckled, his smile faltering the second his eyes fell upon Lucas.

The Texan frowned at the stranger, looking back at Riley who didn't seem the slightest bit fazed by his arrival. Little Matthews? This couldn't be happening. Could they possibly…? No. Lucas forced the thought away as Riley cut through the awkward silence.

"Sorry, Chris." Her voice sounded hoarse, like it used to when Riley was trying not to cry. Lucas felt his chest tighten. Was it because of him? Was she this upset to see him again? "This is Lucas. An old friend of mine." She added, avoiding his stare. An old friend. Was that all he was? Or more accurately, could he even say they were friends still?

"Oh, hi! I'm Christopher." A pleasant smile grew back on his features. The man extended his hand for Lucas to shake, which the blonde took numbly "I'm sorry, I hate to interrupt, but it's getting late and I should really take you home, Riles."

"I can give you a ride if you want." Lucas blurted out.

He couldn't help the eagerness of his tone. He hadn't seen her in two years. He'd kept his distance and respected her wishes and hated every second of it. But now they were both here, face to face for the first time in forever. He'd dreamed of the day he'd see her again more times than he could count. He flew two thousand miles for this. He hadn't even had the chance to talk to her yet. Lucas wasn't about to stand back and let what's-his-face ruin the very moment he'd been living for.

His eyes pierced into Riley's as he waited for her answer. This was it. If she wanted nothing to do with him, she'd say no. Coming here, he knew it was a possibility, but Pappy Joe was right, he had to at least try. Lucas wouldn't know peace until he'd done everything in his power to save his relationship with her. When she broke up with him, Lucas had been clear, he told Riley they didn't work as friends, not as just friends anyway, and he still believed that with every fiber of his being. But he missed her. Scratch that, he needed her. So even if they could never be more than friends again, Lucas was sure now, more than ever before, he needed Riley Matthews in his life.

"Okay." She said so faintly he nearly missed it. Her expression was unreadable.

"Are you sure?" Christopher walked over to the brunette, his hands resting on her shoulders. She just nodded "Alright, call me when you get home." He pulled Riley into a hug, kissing her forehead. Lucas failed not to look away. He couldn't bear watching, nor did he want to think about what it meant "It was nice meeting you, Lucas. Happy Thanksgiving!"

"Back at you." He mumbled as Christopher walked past him, patting Lucas's shoulder. It was only once he heard the door shut that the Texan managed to speak again, his voice more bitter than intended "Your boyfriend seems nice."

"He's a great guy." Riley folded her hands; crushing Lucas's heart between her palms, only the actual damage was done by her words. He wasn't ready for this. How many times did he have to lose her to understand it was over? Lucas was about ready to leave with whatever was left of his dignity when Riley took a hesitant step forward, looking up at him through her eyelashes "He's just not my boyfriend."

Lucas didn't bother controlling the grin that spread through his features. In the back of his mind, Lucas knew this didn't mean anything for him, for them, or at least that it shouldn't. Just because Riley wasn't dating Christopher it didn't mean she wasn't seeing anyone else and even if she were single, it had nothing to do with him. Even so, watching Riley's smile grow and mirror his own, Lucas's chest was filled with something so foreign it took his heart a second to recognize it. Hope.

The abysm between them seemed to shrink as his stare and Riley's intertwined, saying everything and nothing much like before, back when they were able to read each other's hearts. But too soon the moment was gone. Riley was the first to look away, on a hopeless attempt to ease the intensity of the atmosphere, Lucas being too entranced in her eyes to notice how long they'd just been standing there, surrounded by the silence of a thousand words unsaid.

"Are you hungry?" She hurried behind the counter, making herself busy "We were hosting an event tonight. There's still some food, drinks…"

"I could use something to eat." He took a stool on the counter, his eyes following Riley's every move while she fixed them some snacks "So what kind of event?"

"A fundraiser. For Pet's Haven." Riley looked over her shoulder to find a worried look painted all over Lucas's face, urging her to explain "Two companies withdrew their donations; we thought they might have to close the place, so we decided to help. And we had a great turnout tonight, so hopefully it'll be enough to keep it running for a while, at least until they can find some new sponsors." She tried to sound positive.

"We? We as in…?" He played with the tiles on the counter, his aspect carved with a frown.

"Christopher and I. He's been a volunteer there for a few years." Riley put a plate filled with various canapés before him, turning around to grab them something to drink "We still have some wine, would you like a glass?"

"No, thanks. Water is just fine." He noticed her curious look, but Riley didn't ask, pouring them two glasses of water before walking around the counter and taking the stool next to him "So the fundraiser, it was his idea?"

"No… It was mine." It may have been the way she looked at him or her knowing smile as she sang the words, but right that second Lucas could swear both their hearts wandered back to the same memory. Oh, how he longed to have her in his arms again.

"I miss you." Lucas thought to himself. Except… except he didn't just think it, Riley's widened eyes told him so a second after his confession.

"So… how's A&M?" Riley shifted in her seat, changing the subject, to Lucas's relief.

"Good. Yeah, the veterinary program is incredible; really, it's everything they said it would be and more. And I'm playing too, football. I'm quarterback. And I'll start working at the animal hospital soon. So yes, A&M is very good." He spilled the words nervously, rubbing his sweaty palms against his jeans. Had he really just told her he missed her?

"Lucas, that's great!" He watched surprised as Riley's smile found its way back to her lips seamlessly, while the brunette turned on the stool, facing him completely "You have no idea how happy that makes me. I'm…" When her hand reached for his shoulder, they both held their breaths. It was a simple, soft touch, still it felt like her fingertips set his skin on fire "I'm so proud of you!" She beamed at him, her eyes shiny with tears.

"Thank you." He said breathlessly "Thank you, Riley, that means the world to me." She gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze and Lucas could swear for a split second her stare traveled to his lips. On his next heartbeat, however, Riley's eyes were glued to her shoes and her hand was gone, his shoulder cold from its absence.

Was she really proud of him? Was her skin burning like his? Because if that was so, if he could be good enough for her this time around, if she could feel the same fire he did whenever they touched, didn't that mean they had a chance? Before Lucas could dive any deeper on his wishful thinking Riley hopped off her stool. He ran a hand through his hair as he tried to focus back on their conversation.

"What about NYU?"

"Hum, good, yeah, it's… it's good." She put away their empty plate and glasses "I'm a journalism major."

"That's great!"

"Yeah, took me a while to decide, but I like it so far. I don't know, I just love the idea of getting to know people's stories and helping tell them. I've also been taking photography classes. Turns out the saying it's true, sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words."

"What about these? Did you take them?" Lucas got up from his seat, looking around the picture covered walls.

"I did." She admitted shyly.

"Riley, they look great!"

"Thanks! Let's face it though, it's hard to take a bad picture of a cute puppy." She chuckled; thankful Lucas was too distracted with the photos to notice the blush coloring her cheeks.

"Pet's Haven… I miss that place." He sighed, nostalgic.

"You can always visit." Riley offered, walking over to Lucas until she was only a couple steps behind him.

"Would you go with me?" He looked back, rising a brow at her, a smirk on his lips.

"Sure, why not." Riley half smiled, rocking on her heels "How long are you staying?"

"I fly back the day after Thanksgiving." Lucas answered, stepping closer.

"Oh, right." She looked down, her voice barely a whisper. Lucas had always hated to see her sad, but he'd be lying to saying there wasn't a small part of him that enjoyed the thought of Riley wishing he would stay longer. Aware he could be pushing his luck, he took another step, closing even further the space between them.

"I'll be back for Christmas though." Her head shot up, Riley's mouth agape with surprise, her eyes shining with content. Lucas bit his lip, trying to hide his grin.

"That's nice. That's really nice." Riley shook her head, smiling to herself, only now acknowledging the fact they were standing mere centimeters apart.

She did it again. This time Lucas was certain he hadn't just imagined it. He could feel his lips tingle under Riley's stare. Against his better judgment, his gaze traveled down to hers as well. He'd give anything to know what she was thinking, considering the only coherent thought his brain could muster was 'kiss her'. The softness of her lips, their warmth and sweetness, Lucas recalled every detail about her lips and he wanted so badly to taste them again.

He knew he shouldn't. There was history and there was pain, but there wasn't room neither on the few inches that now stood between Riley and him. Lucas closed his eyes as his heart took over. He felt himself leaning in, a smile curling his lips as he felt Riley's breath tickle his skin. He was a second away from closing the gap between them completely when a loud buzzing sound echoed around the bakery.

Lucas blinked as he tried to steady his heartbeats, watching Riley fish a phone out of her purse and read through the inconvenient text message. She typed a quick reply, returning her attention to him.

"It was my mom. It's pretty late, she was worried." Lucas looked down at his watch, surprised to see it was almost one in the morning already "We should probably go home."

"Yes, of course. I'll get us a cab." He reached for his phone readily, requesting a car on his taxi app.

"A cab? You said you could give me a ride home." Riley folded her arms, rising a brow at him, amused rather than disappointed.

"I did, didn't I?" He chuckled apprehensively, rubbing the back of his neck "I just, I really wanted to talk to you. I was afraid if you left I wouldn't get the chance… I'm sorry I lied."

"I'm not. I'm glad you did."

In a couple of minutes their car arrived. They closed the bakery, stepping out into the cold November night. As Riley shivered on her way up the stairs, Lucas had to refrain from wrapping his arms around her. It was second nature to him, muscle memory if you will, but it wasn't his place anymore. Besides, he'd done enough of a bold move back at Topanga's, he didn't want to overstep. The boundaries between what they were once and what they were now had been blurred and Lucas would rather not risk whatever progress he hoped they'd made tonight.

He opened the door for her and Riley hopped on the taxi, giving the driver the directions to her parent's place.

"I'll be with my family the whole day tomorrow." She stared at her hands as they fidgeted with the buttons on her coat.

"Me too." Lucas said gently, wondering why she suddenly sounded anxious.

"Yes, of course." She laughed nervously "But I, hum, I'd like to see you again before you leave… if that's ok."

"I'd like that." He admitted, sheepishly.

"What time to does your flight take off?"

"Seven." When Riley mouthed an 'oh' he felt his smile waver "Yeah, I'll have to be there pretty early…"

"Why don't I give you a ride to the airport then?" She interrupted him, smiling expectantly.

"You have a car?" Lucas inquired, surprised by her suggestion.

"Of course not, I'll get us a cab!" She rolled her eyes, like that was the obvious answer.

"Oh, I see." He nudged her playfully, both laughing at their own inside joke. It was amusing how easy it was for them to fall back into rhythm, to talk and laugh as if nothing had changed. Except everything had. But Lucas would gladly ignore that for a night.

Soon they were pulling over in front of the Matthew's building and after insisting he'd pay for the taxi, he escorted Riley to the door.

"Home, safe and sound." He buried his hands on his pockets, trying not to think about how many times they stood at this exact same spot, only then he'd been holding her hand or kissing her goodnight.

"Thank you for the ride and for the talk."

"It was my pleasure." He said honestly, nodding at her. She unlocked the door, holding it open, but still facing him.

"Well… Happy thanksgiving."

"Happy thanksgiving, Riley." He turned around, walking back to the car.

"Lucas." She called just as he'd opened the taxi's door. He looked back to find Riley gripping at the door, half hidden by it already. She coaxed her head, smiling at him sweetly "I miss you too."