foreveryoungxxoo wanted someone to write something angsty for Rucas based on the song Marry Me by Thomas Rhett. (BTW, I love this song now!) I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd give it a go. I had no idea what you had in mind, but this is what I came up with. I hope you enjoy. 3
word count: 2,301
Lucas didn't think his day could get any worse—his truck didn't start in the morning causing him to be late, he spilled his coffee all over himself on his way to work, he stepped in animal droppings, and after work, his truck had a flat tire.
He thought he would be able to relax once he was at home, but his day only seemed to worsen as he looked at an ivory envelope addressed to him. He already knew what was enclosed within it. Lucas had heard from Zay and Farkle about Riley and a recent boyfriend. They hinted that things were getting serious, but Lucas didn't think wedding serious because surely Riley would have mentioned it during their phone calls. Sure, they were becoming less frequent and shorter each time, but it was the only way Lucas could protect himself. Talking to Riley—hearing her voice, her laugh, hearing every little thing she shared with him on their, then hour now twenty-minute, phone calls—he knew he missed his chance with her, and it was something that haunted him, more specifically one day.
Lucas had just graduated from veterinary school, and of course, all of his friends came to Texas to celebrate his accomplishment with him. He didn't know how he and Riley ended up slow dancing under the Texas sky, but he knew this is where he always wanted to be, with Riley. Her eyes were bright but under the moonlight their emulated magic. Magic. The moment was magically for Lucas, something out of a fairytale, and the only way to complete it was with a kiss. A kiss Lucas had dreamt about day after day, a kiss Lucas wished had happened. But, as he leaned in, a flash of panic blinded him. He couldn't do it because there was the possibility that he was taking that step forward alone and to him, it wasn't worth it.
As he thought back on that day (that happened a little over a year ago), he thought maybe it would have been worth it. Because maybe instead of whatever guy's name was inscribed next to Riley's name on the invitation, it would be his.
His phone rang shaking him out of his mind, and he doesn't look away from the envelope as he reached into his pocket to answer it.
"Hello," he said stoically.
"Hi, Lucas." The voice danced in his ear. It had almost been two weeks since he last heard her voice.
"Riley, hi."
She giggled, "Hey."
He cleared his throat trying to calm himself as his body reacted to his favorite sound. "So…I got your invitation, your wedding invitation. W-Why didn't you tell me that you were getting married? I mean, when did you even get engaged?"
"I thought I told you," she nervously said. "It's really not a big deal."
"You're right. It's a huge deal. C'mon, Riley, I know you. Every single time we had movie night and if there was a wedding scene, you went on about how you wanted to get married in a field of flowers so even after the wedding the flowers can still thrive. Or, how you wanted someone that means a lot to you and the person you are marrying to peach the service. Or, how you only wanted your family and closest friends so it's more personal."
"Yo-you remembered that?" Riley fumbled over her words.
"I do. I remember everything about you…and Farkle and Zay," Lucas added and immediately regretted when a deflated "oh" rang in his ear.
"Anyways," he started again, "when's the big day?" Lucas wanted to momentarily slap himself. "Nevermind. I have the invitation in my hand."
She laughed softly, and Lucas found himself smiling to himself as the rhythm in his chest quickened.
"So, can I count on you being there?" Lucas wanted to make up an excuse. He didn't think he could watch her marry another man. He always thought he would have time to make a move, to ask Riley out on a date and woo her, to make her fall in love with him the way he was in love with her.
"It would mean a lot to me if you came," her angelic voice sang, and it was over.
"I'll be there," he said.
"Great. So, what animals did you save today Dr. Friar?" Lucas laughed and dropped the sealed envelope on his counter. He didn't want to think about her walking towards another man in a wedding dress. He wanted to enjoy what short amount of time he had left talking with Riley because they had already been on the phone for four minutes, and he knew if he was lucky, he had twenty-one minutes left. And, Lucas wanted to enjoy it.
It's been a little over three weeks since Lucas learned the news of Riley's wedding, and he still couldn't believe it. He was at the botanical garden were Riley would become a Mrs, and he didn't want to accept it. He saw the small white tent pitched where Riley was with her bridesmaids getting ready for her big day. Lucas saw the groom with his groomsmen standing near the front of the aisle, and the fifty some chairs that were set in neat rows.
Lucas took in his surroundings from a distance. "She got everything she wanted," he whispered to himself. He sighed before he reached for the flask he had tucked away in the inside pocket of his jacket. He knew he couldn't make it through today sober, he just hoped the whiskey would numb him from the pain—but so far it hadn't.
Mr. Matthews wasn't the only giving Riley away today. Today, Lucas was giving away the dream of the possibility of him and Riley ever happening, and he took another swig to forget that very thought.
"Maybe you should take it easy."
Lucas turned to see a blonde smirking at him, and he tucked the flask away. "Riley needs to talk to you," Maya said, but all Lucas could do was shake his head. "No? What do you mean no?"
"I mean I can't see her, Maya."
Maya took a step forward and grabbed Lucas by his necktie, but unlike in high school, he pulled himself out of her grasp. "Okay, Huckleberry what's wrong?"
Lucas dropped his head. He felt the tears building, but he knew if he let one fall he would open the fluid gates. He had to hold it together just for a few more hours. He would be okay—at least that is what he kept repeating over and over in his head.
"Lucas," Maya proceeded, and Lucas heard the caution in her voice, "you love her, don't you?"
He looked up only to be met with the sympathetic look from Maya. "I can't talk to her. It's wouldn't be fair."
"I get it. I'll tell her-"
"Guys," both look to the sound of the voice and see someone walking towards them wearing a dress that matched Maya's, "Riley said it's really important that she speaks with Lucas. She needs him," Smackle said with urgency.
"Actually, Lucas needs-"
"It's okay," Lucas interrupted Maya. Lucas wasn't sure if it was the seriousness he heard in Smackle's voice, or if it was the second time hearing that he was needed by Riley.
"I'll go talk to her. She needs me."
Lucas pushed out his arm moving the flap the covered the entrance out of the way, and that was when he saw her. Her back was facing him, but she looked beautiful. Her hair fell in effortless curls. Her simple lace bodice dress fit her perfectly. It wasn't too much, but it was enough to make the natural beauty of Riley shine.
He cleared his throat, "Yo-you look beautiful, Riley."
She spun on her heels to face him a tender smile on her lips. "Thank you, Lucas."
Neither one said anything for a minute, and it looked as if Lucas was the groom having his first looked at his bride to be. It was in the minute that Lucas took in her entire appearance. Her wedding veil covered her shoulders, and for a second all Lucas could think about how it would feel to inch the fabric away to place a gentle kiss on her skin. Her lips were covered with a warm red lip color. It wasn't powerful like passion, but he knew that's what he would feel with his lips on hers.
Riley looked absolutely perfect to Lucas.
"It's your big day. Congratulations," Lucas tried to sound as sincere as he could, but he wondered if she saw through him. He offered her a smile, and he hoped it reached his eyes.
"Am I making a mistake?" she whispered the question, but it screamed at Lucas.
He wanted to tell her yes. He wanted to tell her that it was him that she was meant for. He wanted to tell her he loved her and he has loved her since he met her, but he couldn't do that to her.
He couldn't take this day from her. She wanted to get married, and as much as he wished he was the person she wanted to marry, he wasn't. All of this—the dress, the ceremony in the garden, the small intimate wedding—was for someone else. Riley thought of her soon to be husband while she made all of these decisions, and that is exactly what Lucas thought when he gave her his answer.
"I think only you know whether this is a mistake or not. I can't tell you what to do. Trust yourself, Riley. No one has ever gone wrong putting their trust in you." Just as the words left his mouth a lady wearing a headset stuck her head in the tent.
"Five minutes." Riley nodded, and the woman left.
"I'm sorry I couldn't be more help."
Lucas took a step back, "I'll see you out there though," he said, but Riley reached out and grabbed his wrist and that is when Lucas felt it—the spark. He felt it even after she had let go.
"I waited for you," Riley said, tears welled in her eyes. "I waited and waited for something to happen between us. I waited for you to tell me you love me. I wanted so badly to confess to you, but I was always scared."
"What did you want to confess to me?" Lucas asked without a thought.
"That I loved you!" she shouted and a single tear slid down her cheek, and neither Lucas or Riley made an attempt to wipe it away. "I wanted you here because you have always been my friend but-but that was a mistake. I think it's best if you leave."
"Riley." Lucas voiced shook.
"You being here, near me, confusing me. So, please just leave." Tears fell freely from her eyes, and Lucas wanted so badly to wipe them away. But, when Riley took a step back, he knew it was over.
He swallowed back the lump that formed in his throat. "I wish you the best, Riley." His stared at her. He wanted to remember the way she looked before the tears that stained her cheeks or the sadness that invaded her eyes. He wanted to remember the way she looked just moments ago.
She shook her head as if she was telling him to leave once again, so he did and that is when the first tear fell, and it was impossible to get the rest of his tears to stay at bay—especially when he heard the sobs of Riley through the tent as he walked away.
Lucas texted Farkle and Zay to tell them he had left, and he would be at Zay's apartment. Lucas wanted to hide from the city until he could escape back to Texas, and as soon as he reached Zay's apartment, he pulled out his flask and finished the remaining contents as he walked inside.
He kept waiting for the whiskey to numb him, but it never did. He didn't think he could be numb to the pain he was feeling, and as he thought back to their conversation in the tent, he only felt more heartache because he never told her that he loved her and still loves her, and he'll never get the chance.
Lucas took off his jacket and tossed it on the countertop. He began to loosen his tie when his phone rang. "Hello."
"Lucas! Riley called off the wedding," the voice shouted at him on the other end, and Lucas wasn't sure he heard them right.
"What?"
"She called it off and left. No one knows where she went."
Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Lucas' heart began to race. He wanted Riley to be on the other side, and he prayed that Aphrodite heard the wants of his heart.
He opened the door, and there she was, still in her wedding dress staring at him. "Zay, I have to go." He hung up and looked at the perfect person in front of him. "Riley? What are you doing here?"
"I said loved," is all she said.
"What?"
"I said loved. As in I did love you now I don't, but that's not true. I love you, Lucas, and I need to know if you love me because I just walked out on my wedding because I couldn't go through with it knowing that there was a possibility that you thought I didn't love you anymore," she rambled with fresh tears that threatened to fall. "Because I love you. I'm in love you."
Lucas didn't hesitate to cup her face and press his lips to hers. It was a longing and passionate kiss that Lucas had waited for, for far too long. And, when they broke apart, Lucas pressed his forehead against hers. "I love you, too," he whispered just loud enough for her to hear.