Chapter 29

This week had been relatively uneventful, you know except for that fly I want to smash in between my hands, Amber. Her and Lucas have a few classes together and unfortunately I am not in them. She's very sneaky which is playing it smart but either way she's not playing it safe. We're on Christmas break now and I have been racking my brain on what to get Sparky I have an idea but he wouldn't be able to open it till after the fight. I wonder if he'd be opposed to that. Well even if he is, I don't care because I am going to give it to him. I know he'll love it, so that is one thing off the list.

Currently Maya is doing my hair for tonight. I have no idea what she is doing up there, I told her not to make me look like a poodle or anything ridiculous, so we'll see where this goes. "Your hair is so soft. Do you ever style it?"

"No. What for?"

"I guess you have a point, whenever your hair falls into curls like yours you don't need to. Either way I'm having issues getting curls to hold because your hair is so soft and clean." I chuckle lightly and cross my legs in the chair. She already did my make-up and I was pretty much dumbfounded. It looks great, I'm just very wary of covering my face with this shit. But I want to look pretty for him and I actually do look nice. For the first time in a long time I feel pretty. I don't have any bruises, there are a few tiny, minute little scratches but nothing noticeable.

I really have no idea what to expect tonight, I've never been to a high school function besides that football game and I've really never been to an athletic banquet. As long as Sparky is there I don't mind. I told him I want him to hang around more. He can stay over whenever but since his dad lives across the street that can be difficult. We still are not on good terms, so Lucas keeps me away, but can you blame me for not officially meeting him? It isn't like he's fucking sunshine and rainbows, and neither am I so two very hot headed personalities getting in a room together is never a good idea.

My phone vibrated so I moved towards it and click on my messages.

Unknown.

NYKO, it's going down rounds start at 7 o'clock on the 31st. Let's ring in the New Year with new champions. Be there bitches!

"Who was that?"

Bitch, who the hell do you think you are? "No one. Unknown number." I mean I didn't lie. I brush it off and was about to toss my phone when it went off again.

Sparky

Can't wait to see my girl. I love you. 20 minutes.

If I find us annoyingly cute than I can only imagine what other people think. Sparky says that I have a low tolerance for this shit and that's why I find it annoying and hell maybe he is right but we are pretty damn cute. "Done." Thank fuck! I lift my gaze from the text message and stop reading 'I love you' over and over again, to look towards the mirror. "What do you think?"

My hair looks great, she didn't go effing crazy like I was afraid she would. My long brown hair cascades down my right shoulder, she kept my bangs straight and shoved them to the side. "I love it, thanks."

"Don't thank me yet, because you're about to hate me."

"What?" I question in disappointment.

"Lipstick."

"Nope." I reply back as I move to change into my dress.

"Come on." A slow smile crept to her face, "I know how to get you to wear it." Like hell you do. "Give Lucas a lipstick stain. Mark your territory, I hear Amber is going to be there tonight." I start to laugh, mark my territory? Pretty sure I did that last night.

"Round 2?" He questions with a smile and before I can reply he's back on top of me. I crash my lips against his and begin to sit up with my arms snaked around his neck, his back facing my mirror. For whatever reason I opened my eyes, I know it's fucking creepy while you're kissing but it slipped. "SHIT!"

"What's wrong?" I spin him around and release a sigh. "Baby what's wrong?"

"There are fucking red marks all over your back. That must have hurt."

"The claw marks?" He questions, "That's what we're talking about?"

"Yes that is what we are talking about. I'm sorry." Vinegar, 'I'm sorry' tasted like vinegar.

"Don't be sorry they are fucking sexy. I love them."

I chuckle lightly and kiss his shoulder. "You do?"

"Yeah, I hope everyone sees them. To see that I belong to you. You staked your claim on me and I'll wear them fucking proud." Such a dirty mouth, tsk tsk. Where did he get that from? "In fact I plan on getting some more."

"Fine." To get her off my back because as soon as the replay from last night went into my mind she began to beg me. Literally she's on her fucking knees. "Give it to me."

"YAY!" She tosses me the tube of lipstick and she was right about it making my smile nice. It makes my teeth look whiter. I slide my dress on and step into my heels before I blankly stand in front of the mirror. Wow. I don't even recognize me. I don't have a ton of make up on just some smudged eyeliner, highlighter, mascara and a little bit of white something in the corner of my tear ducts. "You look beautiful. Zip me up."

Bold move blondie. Normally she would have asked, seems as if she's been hanging out with me too much. I do as she says, though she shouldn't get used to that and we both stand in front of the mirror. "You don't see yourself like this a lot do you?"

"What gave it away?" I whisper, still not tearing away my gaze.

"It's like you're in shock of yourself. You really are a gorgeous girl Riley." I smile and let my right ankle cross over my left before my arm goes over her shoulder. I don't have to say thank you because apparently she got what I was trying to do with the whole arm on the shoulder thing. "Picture." I dawn a closed mouth smile as she takes a selfie in the mirror.

The doorbell rang and the blonde started squealing. Is that what I'm supposed to do? Not gonna happen. "You're sure you'll uncle will take a few pictures."

"JOSH!"

My bedroom door fly's open. "What? Did you not hear the doorbell?"

"Take some pictures of us as a group and individually." I demand and he starts to growl.

"Josh." I turn my head to blondie who decided to speak up, "Would you mind taking some pictures of us before we go?" A light smile cascades his face, huh I need to learn some manners, maybe that'd help his moody ass.

"I don't mind at all thank you for asking." He puts emphasis on the word 'asking' and goes to get the door. I snatch my phone off the bed and follow Maya out into the living room where the guys are talking. Well whispering, I'm assuming about knockouts. Things quiet down when they hear our heels and Maya instantly hugs Zay. I hang back at the end of the hallway to see his reaction since he's never seen me this way before. His lips separated and I can watch his eyes rake over my body. From my bright red heels all the way up to my curled hair.

"What's the matter Sparky?" I was more than satisfied with his reaction especially as a smile approached his face as he moved towards me, but I wasn't expecting him to say this next.

"You come out here looking like God's gift to earth there is nothing 'the matter'." Who says shit like that? Not even Shakespeare could come up with something that good. "So fucking beautiful." He places me up against the wall and his lips press against mine.

"I'm wearing lipstick." I reply against him.

"I don't care." His hands caress my sides and I won't ever forget the way he looked at me. Like he couldn't take me all in, like I was the best looking thing he'd ever seen. We ignore the throat clearing and the coughs but Sparky doesn't ignore the pen to the back of his head.

He pulls away reluctantly and instantly wipes his mouth. I help get a little bit of the lipstick off and finally get a good look at him. He looks so handsome, he is wearing dress pants and a blue button up long sleeved shirt. Somehow the blue makes his eyes an even brighter green. His hair is in his controlled mess state that I love to turn into just a plain old mess. "Alright we'll take a few snapshots individually and then you all can get together. Maya and Zay first."

He turns back to me and keeps studying my face. "I'm trying to remember you like this."

"Yeah it isn't often I dress up." I reply. His fingers fell from my jawline and made their way down my neck. He felt the lace run over his fingertips.

They stop where the open lace does and he continues to stare at the revealing part of my dress. His left hand is leaning against the wall and he finally looks up at me. "This is very low cut ma'am." I giggle and spin around revealing the open back. "Damn girl, what're you doing to me?"

"Anything and everything. Do you not like it?" Why the fuck did I throw in that last part? Of course he likes it, he fucking loves it. This here, the words that just fell out of my mouth are the reason I hate being a girl so much. It's like I'm digging for compliments.

"I literally cannot believe that you are here right now." He whispers and Lucas can tell my eyebrows are covered in confusion, "God let loose an angel for the night." I press my lips against his but pull away when we're being tugged to take a few pictures.

"Alright niece say cheese."

I flash a smile and say, "Eff you."

GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW

We saunter into the hotel ballroom where they rented out a space and I have no idea why I'm nervous but it must be noticeable. "We'll catch up." His thumb caresses my cheek, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." That came out less confident than originally anticipated.

"Don't lie to me." Or I'll get punished later I thought. Focus Riley! "Come on we had an agreement to not lie to each other."

"I'm just nervous, I don't do these sort of things. Ever. Plus I'm not the easiest person to get along with. Pretty sure I've told half the football team to blow themselves at one point and time." His lips find my forehead as he laughs. "So I'll probably get jumped sometime tonight."

"Trust me, there are no hard feelings between the guys and you. You may not be the easiest to get along with, but you're still hot as hell and the talk of the locker room. When I'm gone of course, they don't do it in front of me. Just in front of Zay." I roll my eyes, and take his hand to go inside. "Just be your usual self."

"Bitchy. Got it."

"Be your usual self with Maya and Zay around."

I don't really know the word for that so I don't say anything. Lucas saunters around, giving handshakes to some of his teammates. Talking about how this was the last year they'll be playing football together. "Luke if you don't mind me saying, your girl looks gorgeous tonight."

"Thanks." I mumble before he kisses my head.

"No I don't mind, now if you try to take her away I will mind." Like that would ever fucking happen. We continue to move around the room and I never really realized how popular he was. Yeah I mean this is a football function so everyone here knows him. But everyone genuinely likes him. And he's incredibly great at networking and getting along with others. A trait I wish would rub off on me a little bit. Either way he'll make a great doctor or vet whichever he decides. "Want a drink baby girl?"

I hesitated for a moment thinking about what kind of beer I wanted but oh yeah I forgot. "Water please." He kissed my cheek and left me at the table, just in time for me to see Amber. I think she got cocktail and formal confused. Not like I know the difference between the two but Maya used those two words when comparing dresses. A light pink poofy ball gown. Hideous. Absolutely hideous. But that's probably because I don't like the color pink, or long dresses, or poofy dresses, or her in general. I rise from the table hoping to go find Maya to avoid drama for the night but his ex finds me first.

I really don't want to ruin this night for Sparky, I know he was excited for tonight though, I don't know why. "That dress is a little inappropriate don't you think? But then again that is you."

"Just because you can't pull something like this off isn't my problem. Go back to your date Amber, let's not ruin this night." What the fuck have you done to me Sparky? I love trash talk, I love demolishing people with my words, like WTF?

"That's awful noble." She snaps with disgust.

"What can I say? I made a deal with the devil and he gave me back my soul."

She laughs maniacally. "Did you have to whore yourself out to get it back?"

"No I just promised to send you to hell." That's more like it. Lucas walks up and I can feel him staring directly at me, as his arm wrap around my waist. "Thank you." I open up the water and take a sip, "would you knock it off. You keep staring." He rolls me into his chest.

"I'm sorry baby girl you're just so goddamned gorgeous. I can't stop myself. I have overheard several comments about you." He gives me light butterfly kisses all over my face causing a giggle to erupt through my mouth.

"I'm right here." I flip her off before I begin to kiss him. Everything melts away when I'm here, when I am in his arms and when I am kissing him. "Classy."

Lucas and I both pull away. "Go away." We quickly gaze at each other, the answer is yes we just said that in unison.

"I think we've been spending too much time together Sparky."

He brushes my bangs out of my eyes. "I don't think that's possible."

GMWGMWGMWGMWGMW

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