Chapter 21
It was 8 o'clock and his friends were fixing to leave. They had spent the day together, swimming, cooking food and enjoying their company. Now, he had to break the news to Bailey. "Hey, Bailey. Can we talk real quick please. Zay go away." After Zay gave a look of insult, his friend walked back inside and they took a seat on the table in the backyard. "So, um we need to talk about whatever is going on here."
"Yeah, we need to make a schedule on who goes where, when." She looked so happy.
"No, that's not what I meant. I broke up with you."
"Yeah, because you moved. But, if we work at it, we can be together again." He dropped his head and sighed heavily.
"Okay, I wasn't 100% honest with you before. I broke up with you because I was moving. But, that's not the only reason. Several months before I moved, I was looking for a way out or a reason to break up with you. It wasn't anything you did, I just wasn't happy anymore. We were planning our futures together before we knew what we wanted out of it."
"So, you're breaking up with me again?"
"Not really. Because, we never got back together. I'm more like reitterating our original break up." He beared his bottom teeth, realizing what he said was a little rude.
"Gosh darn it Lucas! Is it Riley? The drunkard from the diner and last night?"
"She only got that way because of you being there, she's not normally like that. But yes, we were talking about getting together."
"And, the flirting with your best friend?"
"She was trying to make me jealous." The pair sat in complete silence, and normally this would be awkward but Lucas was just thinking about different ways to get Riley back. Bailey's pink dress moved as she stood up.
"Have fun with your delinquent!" Lucas laughed.
"Bailey, I know I have no right to tell you this. But, you have to relax. You have no idea what she's gone through to make her the way she is, and I like her the way she is. You're a great girl, I am just not the same guy I was when we first started dating. I'm sorry."
"As a lady I accept your apology, as your ex girlfriend you should know I want to shove you in the pool." Lucas stood up and smiled.
"Free shot." He was in his swimsuit anyways, so he didn't care. Bailey hesitated. "Come on. It feels good to be bad." She glared and pushed him in, then regretted it since she got slightly damp from the splash. Bailey stood there as he climbed out of the pool. "Come here." They hugged and after telling his friends goodbye, he changed with haste to go see Riley.
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The brunette hopped out of her shower and after getting dressed started towel drying her hair. Riley started to sing.
If I had just one tear rollin' down your cheek. Maybe I could cope, maybe i'd get some sleep. If I had just one moment at your expense maybe all my misery would be well spent, yeah! Could you cry a little, lie just a little? Pretend that you're feeling a little more pain. I gave, now i'm wanting something in return. So cry just a little for me. The cheerleader opened her door still singing. If your love could be caged, honey I would hold the key. And conceal it underneath the pile of lies you've handed me. And, you'd hunt but those lies they'd be all you'd ever find and that'd be all you'd have to know for me to be fine. She tossed her towel and grabbed the brush on her vanity. Yeah. And you'd cry a little, die just a little and baby I would feel just a little less pain. I gave now i'm wanting, something in return. So cry, just a little for me. She was using the brush as a microphone. Give it up baby, I hear you're doin' fine. Nothing's gonna save me, I see it in your eyes. Some kind of heart ache honey, give it a try. I don't want pity, I just want what is mine. She turned around and jumped up in the air. "Holy crap Lucas!"
"You sounded beautiful. I didn't want you to stop." He was in his relaxed jeans and signature black t-shirt, sitting on her bay window.
"What are you doing here? How did you get in here?"
"To talk to you. And, you should really consider locking your window. There are some real creepers out there."
"Yeah, i'm lookin' at one." The cheerleader tossed her brush on her vanity and looked at his clothes. "I see you're back to normal."
"Yes m'am. They left, I told Bailey that we weren't getting back together." She made circles with her pointer finger in the air and sat down at her vanity.
"Whoopty doo basil." He smirked. "So, what was that all about? You change who you are to appeal to her?"
"I changed the way I dressed to avoid a silly argument."
"You drank lemonade." She started putting on lotion.
"So, I do that sometimes." The brunette rolled her head and widened her eyes.
"Lucas, you and I have worked together, gone to school together, and hung out together for the past month. You have never once ordered a lemonade, or drank one. We haven't been to Chick Fil-A."
He looked down at his hands. "So what does that mean?"
"Chick Fil-A has probably the best lemonade. So, if we went there i'd understand but we weren't at Chick Fil-A." Lucas started laughing.
"Oh, I missed your sarcasm." He stood up and reached out the window.
"Really? Well good news, it's coming back full throttle." There were a bouquet of roses in the mirror and she turned around to see them in Lucas' hands. "What are these for?"
"To apologize. For everything that you went through last night." Riley's heart fluttered, she hated he could do that.
"What do you think I went through last night? I'm curious as to what you think i'm upset about." The brown eyed girl straddled the chair and looked at him while she brushed her hair.
"For Bailey coming into town, her kissing me, and having her arm around my waist-" Riley chuckled and turned away towards the mirror. "What?"
"Lucas, yeah that stuff bothered me. But, in the end she thought there was something going on, that according to you wasn't. You didn't know she was coming into town and if you did, I definitely wouldn't have been at the Pit, or you would've taken them elsewhere."
The running back had a look of confusion on his face. "So, then why are you still mad at me?" The brunette dropped her brush and stood up.
"Because, for the first time since I met you, I felt like you were ashamed of me. You tried to hide me away from your friends and that can do some damage to a persons self esteem." Riley didn't seem remotely bothered by what she was saying. But Lucas was, his eyes looked like they had glass over them. "Good news is, that i'm used to that feeling. So no damage was done here, but if I wanted to feel that way I would just go back to Charlie." She pulled a petal off a rose and walked to the book at her bedside table. After writing the date she placed the petal in the book and turned back to Lucas. "I understand that you had no idea what to do. I probably wouldn't have either. But, no matter the circumstances you would be the first person I introduced old friends to." Riley sauntered back and stood in front of him.
The brunette kept looking at her crush, hoping that he would just leave. "I'm really sorry Riley. I never would do anything that intentionally hurt you. I thought keeping her away would prevent you from hurting." She put on a fake smile.
"Like I said, no damage done."
"Cleary there is." He put his hand on her face, and as always Riley melted like butter.
"I think you should go. Before my dad hears you." He hugged her. She knew she shouldn't, but she hugged him back.
"I'll go, but this, what we have isn't over." He kissed her head, and she forced herself to pull away. Lucas was halfway out the window when he turned around. "That's what you do with them?"
"Do with what?"
"Your flowers I give you. You said that you don't throw them away, so you press them? That way you can keep them." Riley looked at the ground trying to hide the fact she was blushing. "That's how I know it isn't over."
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You're already wanting to forgive him aren't you?
A little but only because I knew he didn't mean to hurt me.
Wait? Why aren't you being pessimistic? Is Lucas changing you?
Maybe. It may not be a bad thing, as long as I don't end up wearing slacks.
Like a pant suit? Those can make a powerful statement.
They can, but so can fitted jeans. As long as you have the backside for it.
So, what are you doing now?
I just got home from work, you?
Josh and I are hanging out, we work similar shifts today so we're just gonna go up there together.
I love having early shifts on Sunday. Most of your shift isn't busy because it's so early, and you get a bunch of busy work done. And if you don't get cut, you're out of there by the time the crowds get there after church.
I just want money. You're thinking about this too much. But, we're fixing to eat. So, i'll talk to you later. Bye.
Riley hung up the phone, and started thinking about what she was going to do the rest of the day. The brunette shrugged her shoulders and went to change clothes, she hadn't worked out in awhile and since she had nothing better to do, why not?
The brunette put on spandex shorts and a dri-fit tanktop and walked into the living room. "Hi loving parents."
"Wait? Our daughter is alive? And living in this house? I was beginning to wonder." The cheerleader rolled her eyes and hugged her mom.
"Hi momma. I missed you too. And, i'm sorry about not being around. Senior year is incredibly busy."
"Honey, I just graded your powerpoint." The brown eyed girl glanced at her father, hoping that it was good enough to keep her GPA up. "Did you make it or did Mr. Friar?"
"I thought you graded those during presentations and Lucas did."
"What can I say? I'm lazy. And, I figured."
"You can't say I figured and not elaborate." She leaned over to tie her tennis shoes.
"Well, you got an A sweetheart but it didn't seem like your work. There was a lot more effort put into it." Her draw dropped.
"First that's rude, secondly I obviously put enough effort in my work to be 3rd in our class. 2nd if Smackle was back at the other school and 1st if I could prove Farkle is a robot."
"I think we're all trying to prove that honey." Everyone laughed at Topanga. "So, what has been going on in your life?"
"School, senior pep rally practice, morning practice, work-"
Riley was interrupted by her mother. "Lucas."
She should have known that this was coming. "Lucas and I are friends."
"Apparently, and that's why he asked your father for permission to date you."
"He got my father's permission. Not mine. But, Lucas, Maya, Josh and I have all become very good friends." Riley's heart raced, she was hoping her mother wouldn't see right through her.
"So, where are all of your close friends now?"
"Josh and Maya have to work later, and Lucas got to work an hour after me. So, i'm assuming he will be off soon. But, i'm headed to work out." The brunette stood up and snatched her headphones off of the side table in the living room. "Bye, love you guys." She turned around to open the door and ran into Lucas' chest. His arm was up like he was about to knock on the door, but somehow caught her before she fell.
"Hi." His smile warmed her heart.
"Hello, what are you doin' here?" He stood her back up.
"I was coming to see you." The running back looked up and into the house. "Hello, I have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Matthews," The green eyed man trudged into their home and Riley's eyes got wide. "But, I haven't met you. Hi, i'm Lucas Friar." He held his hand out and Topanga accepted the shake.
"I've heard a lot about you Lucas, and please call me Topanga."
He smiled and looked towards the ground. "All good things I hope."
"Very good." Riley cleared her throat.
"Hi, me again." She waved to the group. "So, you're coming to see me? For what?"
"Well, really just to give you this." Lucas passed her a flower. "And, to see what you were doing."
"Thank you for this. And, i'm heading to work out." He grinned and turned around to look at her parents.
"Sir, Topanga do you mind if I steal your daughter for a few hours?"
"I'm going to work out. Bye mom, dad love you guys." She walked out of her home and more importantly away from Lucas, for like 5 seconds. She went to open her drivers side door and saw Lucas running towards her.
"Why are you running away?" She looked at the driveway and back up at him.
"It's really hard to get you out of my head if you are always around."
"That's the point, why would I let you try and forget about me?" The sunlight hit his eyes just right and made them even more gorgeous.
"Because, that would be the decent thing to do? I'm not your type anyways." He tilted his head. "I'm not inflatable." He laughed.
"You can be as sarcastic as you want. It isn't going to turn me away from you. I'm extrordinarily patient, especially when I know things are going to work out my way." He was wearing the cologne, and his black shirt she loved so much. It always hugged his muscles, and she wanted to be wrapped up in his arms. "You look beautiful."
"Why are you doing that?" He looked at her confused. "Why are you wearing that t-shirt, and cologne. Telling me i'm beautiful and making me just want to come unglued!"
"Because, I know you love this shirt and cologne. And you are beautiful."
"Just be mean to me. Make it slightly easier to be mad at you." He wrapped her in a hug.
"I don't want you mad at me. Can you just put your armor away for one second?"
"No." She closed her eyes as he stroked her hair. "I can only please one person a day, today isn't yours. Tomorrow isn't looking good either." He giggled and lightly touched her neck.
"Please, just for a minute." Riley sighed heavily.
"Now what?"
"Come to my house and hang out with me."
"If I say yes?"
"I won't disappoint." She glanced at the ground and with reluctance in her eyes she nodded her head.
"I'll go get my swim suit." He watched her walk inside and smiled. Lucas had a few tricks up his sleeve for this afternoon, especially since his family left for the day.
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