Chapter 13
Riley awoke the next morning and found Maya laying beside her when she rolled over. "It's just me peaches."
"Morning Maya." She started stretching. The blonde inched closer to whisper.
"I know we aren't supposed to mention Z and L but I didn't realize i'd miss waking up to Z until I had to wake up to you."
The brunette scoffed, "rude. But, so true." Their bedroom door slid open and Farkle jumped on top of them.
"Ladies."
"FARKLE!" He nestled in between them and held the girls he's cared for his entire life. "Farkle, you're wonderful. You never leave."
"Where would I go without my girls?"
Riley grinned, "so what do I have to do this morning?"
"You're just rehearsing with the band. Are y'all hungry? It's only 10, so you have 2 hours before you have to be out there." The girls sat up and started to stretch some more while Farkle stood at the doorway. "Oh i'm supposed to remind you to wear a dress." The singer locked eyes with him, when it dawned on her what he was really saying.
"Okay, sounds great."
"Also, Maya as her publicist wear a blazer." He stepped out of the master bedroom and finished whatever he was doing in the kitchen.
"Whatever that means." The blue eyed girl giggled and threw herself out of bed.
"For your taser." Riley whispered and Maya face palmed herself. "There you go. How'd you get in here last night?"
"The bodyguard moved me in here, easier to keep an eye on us apparently." The girls stepped into the living room, passing the empty bunkbeds and landed on the couch. Farkle stood with his arms crossed watching the news.
Riley Matthews' Keep Dreaming Tour starts tonight, 7 pm at Staples Center. Still no word or arrest made for suspect Tommy Higgins. Her manager and publicist have assured us that she is safe, she will do this tour and her security is of the upmost importance.
"That it is." Their skinny friend whispered. "How are you feeling?"
"Great, nervous. But, that's normal. After this tour, i'm going to take a much needed break, you all can quote me." Riley stated, expecting a protest but not getting one, "wait you guys aren't going to fight me on this?"
"No!" Maya snapped, "why would we? You've needed one for a long time. Farkle and I are your best friends before anything." Lucas was right, why did she needed it spelled out for her?
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Riley tightened her holster and put her hair in a side braid, Lucas used to love that. She took a spoonful of honey and started her vocal excercises on her way out the bus. "Do Re Mi Fa So La Te Do."
"Ms. Matthews, we're going to do a run through of the entire concert." The brunette was already almost done with her bottle of water, ensuring her vocal chords were well lubricated. "Obviously Ms. Swift won't be here till 4 so we will run that one last. But, your band is on stage and ready."
"Thank you. We're going to add a song to the end of the show, and that's the one we're going to practice first." The singer couldn't help but feel like she was watched, it could be Lucas but the feeling gave her the creeps. "ADAMS!"
"Yes Riley."
"YAY! You called me Riley." She stated with pride.
"How can I help you Juliet?" Her brown eyes widened, "is everything okay?"
"Yeah, I just um wanted you to be beside me. Kind of got a weird feeling." The brunette whispered, was she talking to Adams or Friar?
"I understand. I'll be waiting for you at the side of the stage and we've got several eyes watching you." Riley smiled, Lucas had definitely gone in depth to make her feel more secure. Having Adams drop hints like that was pretty genius, he was always looking out for her even when she was the cause of the trouble.
"ALRIGHT GUYS, GOOD MORNING! LET'S RUN IT!" Her mind reminisced to the first time she truly performed for an audience.
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7 Years Earlier.
"I can't freaking believe I let you talk me into doing this talent show." Riley adjusted her guitar and fidgeted with her fingers.
"Oh stop it! This is good practice, I love you and you'll be amazing as usual." Lucas' lips touched hers.
"Lucas is right," Maya mumbled while holding onto Josh, "what all have you done, like public shows?"
The brunette bit her cheek, "zero to none. I sang a little in my church choir." Everyone blinked at her, including Josh who already knew that.
"UP NEXT, RILEY MATTHEWS!"
"I hate you ALL!" Her trio jogged off the side of the stage and took their seats up front. Just in time to see her take the stage and adjust the mic.
"Do you know what song she's singing?" Lucas shook his head no and continued to watch her strum on the guitar.
When I was younger I saw my daddy cry
And curse at the wind.
He broke his own heart and I watched
As he tried to reassemble it.
And my momma swore
That she would never let herself forget.
And that was the day that I promised
I'd never sing of love if it does not exist.
Riley kept her eyes on Lucas, knowing everytime she sang romantic songs like this that she dug herself into a deeper hole.
But darling,
You are the only exception.
You are the only exception.
You are the only exception.
You are the only exception.
Maybe I know somewhere deep in my soul
That love never lasts.
And we've got to find other ways to make it alone.
Or keep a straight face.
And I've always lived like this
Keeping a comfortable distance.
And up until now I have sworn to myself
That I'm content with loneliness.
Because none of it was ever worth the risk.
Lucas held a small smile, trying to keep an air of mystery about himself since he was in public. She was worth the risk, Riley is worth all the pain he'll feel whenever she has to leave.
Well you are the only exception.
You are the only exception.
You are the only exception.
You are the only exception.
I've got a tight grip on reality,
But I can't let go of what's in front of me here.
I know you're leaving in the morning when you wake up.
Leave me with some kind of proof it's not a dream.
Oh-oh-oh-ohhh.
You are the only exception
Lucas stood up and ran up the steps to meet her off stage. The brunette fell into his arms, "you're a natural! That was so great baby."
"Thank you."
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"Riles, it's time for you to head to your dressing room. It's 5:40." Farkle repeated with wide eyes. The brunette knew it was soon to be 'show time' and hugged him.
"Thanks Farkle. For everything." Maya was trying to keep her chin from trembling, this was their goodbye in case the worst happened. "I love you peaches. I'm gonna be fine, i'm always nervous before a show." Riley gulped with her lie and was escorted by Adam to her dressing room. "I'll be changing and what not so you can take a break enjoy the free food and everything." Adams nodded and sauntered away, knowing this was part of the plan. The door shut and she sighed while sitting at her vanity, waiting for the curling iron to heat up.
"Hi Riley." Her heart stopped beating when she stood up. She didn't take into account how she'd feel when Riley saw him again.
"What are you doing here?" Tommy emerged from the dark corner to her right. "How'd you get in here?"
He took a few steps forward and hugged her against her will, "I needed to see you again Riley! When Billy told me you do your own hair and makeup I knew this would be the best place to talk to you." The brunette pushed him off.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Her hands forced him off and she took several steps back. "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?"
"Riley, why are you so mad at me? I'm the one that should be upset with you." The crazy look in his eyes became even more evident.
"WHAT?" Every part of the plan she had flew out the window. Her body was in survival mode was she going to fight or fly? She didn't even know.
This guy wasn't stable, one look into his eyes confirmed it. "I know Lucas, your bodyguard but most importantly your ex was staying with you. Did you fuck him?"
"That's none of your damn business." The brunette felt the sting of his hand on her cheek, releasing a few tears in the process she held her cheek.
"Did you sleep with him?" She nodded still clutching her face, "sweetheart I don't want to hurt you. Just don't fight with me, don't argue with me especially because you've been screwing around."
"We weren't together, we aren't together. You were sending me those awful letters."
"NO! That wasn't me, that was Billy's idea." Tommy locked the door, and the brunette panicked in her mind, how was anyone going to get in? Her hands fell off of her cheek and her jaw was clenched, while she thought about her gun. Lucas said not to reveal it unless necessary.
"What does Billy have to do with you wanting me?"
"At first he wanted to ruin your career but, I convinced him that the rumors about the letters would up your publicity which would up your sales which would raise his paychecks. Then he got mad about Lucas, I did too." Tommy's blue eyes pierced through her. "You deserve a better man, Anna deserved better." It was Riley's turn to slap him.
"You don't EVER speak her name." That must have been her motherly instinct coming out, her chin began to tremble at the thought of her.
Tommy chuckled lightly, "where is he Riley?"
Her brows furrowed, "what?"
"Where's Lucas?" Her chest collapsed.
"I don't know, I haven't seen him and I haven't talked to him all day." She wasn't lying and Tommy seemed to know that. There was a bunch of noise out in the hallway, "what is that?"
"I arranged a distraction so we could slip past your new bodyguards." There went the 6 on 1 advantage, they surely thought he'd use that as a means to get in here. "This is complicated, but we can get through this. We can talk all of this out once we get out of here. But we have to go." His strong hands grabbed her wrists as he stepped closer, she noticed the door slowly opening.
"Where?"
"Colorado, there's a place in the mountains. We can runaway together. I know you want out of this life, you told me so." He whispered and got closer. Riley tried to keep him distracted.
"You remembered that?" Mr. Higgins nodded, "wow, so you really do care about me." Lucas slowly crept towards him, he was afraid to shoot for fear of hitting her. The singers lips crashed onto Tommy's, which clearly bothered the marine. Riley pulled away and saw Tommy smile until he heard the gun cock.
"Do not move!" Lucas demanded placing the gun to the back of his head. "Riley, come here." The brunette sidestepped Tommy took advantage of his distraction and turned around, after knocking the gun out of Lucas' hands he pulled his own weapon. Riley instantly pulled her Ruger.
"DON'T FUCKING THINK ABOUT IT!" She yelled while she clicked off the safety, hoping he'd back down since she really didn't want to shoot anyone. "Unload the magazine, empty the chamber and set the gun down." Tommy exhaled, continuing to stare at Lucas.
"Clever Riley, real clever. I would never have guessed you would conceal carry." Her entire body was shaking and he wasn't even looking at her. "You won't shoot me."
"Put the gun down!" She demanded.
"Alright, i'll put the gun down." His right arm slowly moved towards the couch and gently placed it on the cushion, on his way back up the Ruger flew across the room. Lucas immediately tackled him into the couch, making jabs and getting punched once in the process. She heard Tommy scream out when there was a loud crack. Riley slid across the room for the gun and turned around to point it at her stalker.
"It's him or me Riley." The gun to Lucas' head cocked. Tears filled the brunette's eyes, her gun continuing to point at him. Tommy's nose was bleeding severely, Lucas seemed to be untouched. She was confused as to how this happened, he must have gotten to the gun first, "you have 30 seconds. Set down the gun and come with me. Or he dies, then you still come with me."
"Baby look at me. I can't remove his gun without running the risk of hurting you." The gun pressed harder at Lucas' temple. Riley was weeping, and he was trying to stay strong for her. "I love you." Her chin started to tremble.
"20 seconds."
"He's not going to keep me alive either way." The green eyed man mumbled, "I love you so much and i'm so sorry I made you leave all those years ago. I shouldn't have done that and I regret everyday not spent with you. I loved you the moment I saw you." She could hardly make out his expression from the tears, but she saw the gun move away from his temple, only just.
"10 seconds."
"I'll tell Anna how much you love her and how amazing her mommy is. I love you Riley Grace Matthews more than you'll ever know." She sobbed taking short quick breaths, she couldn't lose him too.
She sniffled. "5. . 4. ."
"Tommy-" He stopped counting. "Please, keep him alive. Please, if he dies I will spend every moment of everyday fighting you, trying to kill myself, trying to escape. If you leave him alive i'll go quietly. I'll do whatever you want."
"I can't do that Riley, he'll find us." Riley smirked and pointed the gun at herself, the barrell touching her temple. Her eyes were red, with a tear stained face.
"Time for your own ultimatum."
"NO!" Lucas yelled as he leapt forward, his feet but more importantly his heart pulled him towards her but the gun to his head made him stop.
"If you shoot Lucas, I pull this trigger." She whispered.
"You wouldn't." Tommy laughed.
"I wouldn't? Do you know how many times i've thought about this since Anna died?" Lucas' mouth opened slightly. "I'm ready to die, the only thing that kept me here was Lucas. I'm prepared to meet my maker. And i'm more than ready to see my little girl." She sniffled and a few more tears fell down her trembling chin. "So don't you think for one fucking second that I won't." She exhaled heavily and gritted her teeth.
"So I lower my gun and he attacks me?" Her red eyes moved towards Lucas. The only man she ever loved, the one man that she didn't know how she lived without.
"Lucas, baby look at me." His green eyes locked on Riley, pleading with her to not do this, "don't move a muscle. Don't touch him, don't try to save me. I need you alive for me to keep living. Without you I can't survive, remember?" His eyes closed remembering the song and a few tears fell down his face which made her fall in love even more. "Promise me. And this time, keep it."
"I promise." He held out hope, praying she had a plan, she was always the smart one.
"On the count of 3, Lucas close your eyes and don't move. Tommy you'll lower your gun and we can get out of here. Deal?" She whispered, Tommy didn't answer, "do we have a deal?"
"What about your gun?"
"This stays on me, in my hand until we leave this building. If you try to take it away I fire, it may not hit me but it'll cause one hell of a riot. Making it 10 times harder to get out of here, and it seems the scene you caused outside is dwindling down. So you have 5 seconds."
"FINE!"
"Count of 3. 1. . 2. . 3. ." Lucas shut his eyes, and Riley saw more tears fall. Tommy lowered his weapon and moved towards the door reaching for her hand. "Get the jacket from the closet behind you, if someone sees me or a gun we'll get stopped." He smiled, Riley was his kryptonite. There wasn't a thing she said he wouldn't believe. Tommy turned around and opened the closet to snatch the jacket. The gun moved from her temple to his back. "Lucas," He spun around and his lips seperated, "baby keep your eyes closed." She inhaled deeply and fired to his chest just like she was taught, but felt her arm get jolted at the last second. Either way he was on the floor. The green eyed man opened his eyes and picked up his gun off the floor. Neither one of them moved for the other, Lucas still had a job to do. She inhaled deeply, "it's over." He searched for his earpiece to notify police and the brunette noticed Tommy was moving. "NO!" Tommy's gun fired when she jumped in front of Lucas.
"NO! RILEY! NO!" The brunette collapsed onto him, his left hand held her while his right pulled the gun and fired, this time ensuring he wouldn't recover. "Baby look at me. Stay awake Riley." He touched his earpiece, "AMBULANCE NOW!" His attention turned back to her, "baby look at me." Her brown eyes were open but just, "stay with me." He started to cry and stroke her hair, feeling the blood pool in his hands."Stay with me baby, you're going to be okay. I love you, we're going to be together but you have to stay awake." Riley released a few grunts, he could tell she was going into shock and applied pressure to the wound. "I NEED A FUCKING AMBULANCE!"
Her eyelids fluttered for a moment and she smiled before they slowly closed. She had kept him alive.
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