"Daddy. Please." I ground out for the gazillionth time.

He shakes his head before taking a bite of his sandwich. "No Riley. You will not stay over there with your boyfriend. It isn't happening."

"Why not?"

At that moment my mom steps into our humble abode that is currently filled with tension. Correction, filled with unnecessary tension if my father wasn't being such a butt head. One look from my father to myself and Ms. Lawyer lady already knows something is wrong. "What's going on?"

I relinquish a closed mouth smile that is loaded with sarcasm and pent up anger before glancing at my father, "Just the fact I want to karate chop my father in the neck. No big deal."

My dad rolls his eyes, taking another bite of his sandwich. All I want to do is stay over at Farkle's for the movie night, everyone and I mean every one of my friends got the clear to stay over. "Riley, we've discussed this before. Your ninja skills should not be used on family and friends." Stupid rule. "Now, if you would like to calmly explain to me what you and Cory are arguing about maybe I could be of some help."

Taking a seat on the chair, I fold my hands together and place them gently on the table. "Tonight myself, Lucas, Darby, Yogi, Maya and Josh are all going to Farkle's for a movie night. Farkle said his dad didn't care if we stayed over, so I'm asking to stay the night over at Farkle's house tonight." My mom glanced towards her husband, waiting for something and after a few seconds I know what. "Oh he already got the screech and the fake heart attack out of the way. Now, he's just ignoring this conversation all together." Now my parents are doing that weird telepathic thing where they are silently having a conversation. I hate it when they do that. I need to plead my case, "I'm 17 years old. Soon to be 18, I'm in my first relationship with a guy that you both approve of. All of my friends will be there, and so will Farkle's parents. If I were any other teenager I would have come home by curfew and snuck out again. But I'm being responsible and asking you for your permission."

"Wait, Farkle's parents will be there?" I vehemently nod my head, which is another reason why this won't be a big deal. Apparently we're all sleeping in the movie room and there will be 'hand checks' quite often. "Cory, what's the big deal? I get it if there wasn't going to be parental supervision but Riley's right. Parental supervision plus the fact she's a good kid, times Lucas being incredibly respectful equals a safe combination."

My dad rises from the table and washes off his plate before sauntering down the hallway. My mom and I just sit there for a few minutes until I decide to break the silence. "Mom, I'm not apologizing I didn't do anything wrong and I really want to go tonight. Plus, Lucas' friend is flying into town and he'll be there tomorrow morning. Lucas and I were going to go pick him up from the airport first thing in the morning."

"I wasn't asking you to go apologize Riley. But you also have to see this from his perspective."

I roll my eyes and immediately regret it when my mom throws one of her arched eyebrows in my direction. I hate it when she does that, my resolve crumbles. "Sorry." I murmur under my breath. "I just – I know that I'm his little girl or whatever but honestly it's a harmless sleepover. I swear I won't get drunk, have sex, and get eloped tonight."

That seemed to break her calculating look, a wide smile spreading across her face. "That's good. What about drugs?"

"I can't swear off everything mom. YOLO!" I retort, obviously kidding. "Can I go?"

She nods with a small smile, "I need to go talk to your dad now. His happy and melodramatic attitude is long gone and has been replaced with a grumpy butt." I chuckle and rise out of my seat to go pack for the night. Sauntering towards the hall, I stop in my tracks and turn around. Before I can even speak, my mom knows what I want to say. "I'll tell your dad you love him."

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"Raise your hand for Harry Potter series."

My hand is up in the air. It's freaking Harry Potter. Hurriedly, I lift Lucas' hand as well before he has even registered what has been asked. Glancing around the room everyone has their hands up. "Harry Potter it is." Farkle chuckles and picks up the first movie from the stack to stick it into the Blu-Ray player.

"Hi." I whisper to Lucas before pecking his cheek. He got here slightly late, his nap ran a little longer because he blindly turned off his alarm instead of just silencing it. He still has bed hair and it's absolutely adorable.

He nuzzles his face into the crook of my neck, his hot breath fanning against my neck. I sigh in complete and utter happiness. "Hey princess." I love this room. It actually works out perfectly. The seating area is leveled, with stairs running through the center. The seats are actually mattresses yup there's 4 queen sized mattresses in this room. There just so happens to be one area for each couple. The screen is just like a movie theatre and the best part… a popcorn machine. "I can't believe you convinced your parents."

I shrug and kiss him, "My dad was still pretty iffy but my mom didn't see a problem with it. We're surrounded by friends and his parents will check on us. Plus she trusts you and I."

"Alright popcorn time." Lucas kisses me and goes to the opposite side of the room with the rest of the guys. The girls scurry to my mattress and embrace me in a hug, "Nope." Glancing back towards the boys they are all shaking their heads. "All ladies must go back to their respective mattresses as soon as the popcorn is done."

I just roll my eyes and lay my head on Smackle's shoulder. "I'm glad you were able to stay." Darby whispers as if this is really a private conversation.

Hesitantly I smile, though I know my dad is overreacting I still feel bad. "Your dad gave you a hard time didn't he?"

Maya knows all… don't tell her I said that. "Yeah but, I don't feel like I'm doing anything wrong. I'm just a people pleaser that's all. He still sees me as 7 and not 17." Even though I still consider myself young and know that I have the ability to make mistakes, I really don't think this is one of them. I'm not one of those prideful teenagers who thinks that I'm an adult and think I'm in the right at all times. A smart man learns from his mistakes, a wise man learns from others.

"It doesn't help you're just now getting a boyfriend." Smackle chimes in. I want to frown, she just started dating Farkle like a month and a half ago and that was her first relationship. Oh well, she got her man sooner than I got mine.

"Hey! I happen to love the fact I'm her first boyfriend." My heart flutters as his piercing green eyes gaze into my own. He has a way of pouring so much of his feelings into his words, I don't know how he does it but let me tell you I love it… a lot. "Scatter. Give me my girl." All my friends giggled and went back to their original spots. Me? I'm being tackled into the mattress by my boyfriend who is relentlessly tickling me. "Say that I'm the best boyfriend ever."

"NEVER!"

A loud squeal resonates through the room and I realize it's from me. "Come on sweet cheeks. Let it out! Speak the truth!"

"LIES MAKE BABY JESUS CRY!"

"What's going on in here?" All of our heads snap towards the door to the movie room. Farkle's dad, Mr. Minkus is leaning against the doorway looking utterly amused. Luckily for me, Lucas stops torturing me and I'm able to escape. "Hand check." All of our hands reach for the sky, "Good. That will be at random points during the night. Smackle and Darby on one mattress, Maya and Riley on the other once you all go to sleep."

"Yes sir." I salute and again he just laughs.

The lights flip out, the movie starts and Lucas sets the bowl of popcorn down. He rests his back against the cushioned wall and places me between his legs. Immediately he massages my shoulders. "I love you princess."

The theme song for Harry Potter rings in my ears. The butterflies in my stomach forces a smile on my face without my consent. Not like I'd stop it. "I love you handsome."

"HAND CHECK!"

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I woke up early enough to get myself cleaned up to meet Zay. I'm so excited! His time in Texas was pretty vague and even though he suffered a tragedy, I want to get all the juicy details. MWAHAHA! I ended up tying my hair up in a messy bun and swiped some mascara on my lashes. Wanting to make a good impression, I put on a pair of dark skinny jeans with my ankle boots… okay you got me they're Maya's. But they are so cute, they have little studs on them and everything. Okay back on track, I put on a black v neck with a red flannel tied around my waist.

Luckily, I didn't wake anyone up and Lucas was ready and waiting by the front door. "You look gorgeous." His hands snake to my hips to tug me into him. Gingerly his lips press against mine, I hum in happiness and peck his lips. "Let's get some food and we'll go to the airport."

Intertwining our fingers he leads me towards his car and opens the door for me. What a gentleman! He takes me for donuts and buys me sausage rolls galore, and just like when we were younger he got himself the chocolate sprinkled donuts. Love that man, but he's such a man child sometimes. Eh, who am I kidding! I am very much a child a good portion of the time. "Does Zay know about me?"

"Yes sweet cheeks, of course. You're the love of my life."

I beam proudly and nibble at my food while sipping on my chocolate milk. Lucas warned me again and basically told me he's a man whore. I just laughed at him, I'm sure he's super nice and funny. Speaking of funny, Ryder sent me a video of him pranking Missy. Apparently he used the old trip wire trick and once she was coated in water, flour somehow magically fell on top of her. I know I shouldn't have laughed because of how often I was picked on, but it was funny. According to Ryder, that one was dedicated to me for all the hell she's caused.

"Are you excited for the dinner?"

He nods and finishes his bite before actually speaking. "I am. It'll be fun learning the business. My uncle is right I have to prove myself since I'm so young. But with you by my side and that sweet smile of yours, you'll calm me and effectively win over investors at the same time."

"I feel so used." Gingerly my hand is placed over my heart. "That's why you wanted me, wasn't it? I could win people over?"

"Of course sweet cheeks. It isn't because of my love for you or anything." I just roll my eyes whenever he winks at me. He interlocks his fingers with mine and kisses the back of my hand. "You'll definitely make things easier for me, I'm very lucky to have you princess."

I smile, both inwardly and outwardly because who couldn't smile at that. Life has a funny way of doing things, I can't help but chuckle at the way my relationship with Lucas has panned out. Coincidentally, our parents were friends, Josh had befriended Lucas who befriended me and we were pretty much inseparable except when Maya entered the picture when I was in the third grade. We went from close friends and apparently flirty friends to enemies within a blink of an eye. Glancing at Lucas, a small smile approaches my lips. Even after my infatuation with Charlie he never gave up – aside from the whole leaving for 3 years thing but we can ignore that for now. What I hate is that I know how he felt. When he'd look at me, while I was looking at Charlie – I felt that, but with Missy in my triangle. It was a terribly, awful feeling and you can't really seem to get rid of it.

It's like a flea, easily multiplies and relentless when you try to exterminate it. I remember asking myself, why wasn't I good enough? Or, if I changed would he notice me? In the end, I didn't change myself because if Charlie wasn't interested in me for who I wanted to be then screw him. Lucas, loved me before I started dressing to impress. Piece of advice that I've learned, never change yourself for a guy, change yourself because you want to be better when you're with the guy.

That should be copyrighted. But in all honesty, it's my truth. That's exactly what happened to me. Lucas didn't care that I wore jeans that were baggy or tee shirts that didn't hug my form so much where it would look like I'm suffocating. Nope, he couldn't care less he still thought I was beautiful. But still every morning I get up earlier – that's the sucky part – to make myself look better for him. A silly thing, it really is but when he sees me every morning the expression on his face is worth it.

Who cares that I'm wearing Maya's clothes more often that I wear my own?

"You princess are thinking awfully hard about something over there."

Grinning, I lean over and peck his cheek. "Just thinking about how crazy it was. How we were once enemies and here we are now. I'm here, holding your hand, kissing your cheek and driving to the airport to pick up your best friend and bombard him with questions about your time in Texas."

Lucas chuckles, the light in his eyes igniting ever so slightly. "Yes well, let me just say you were never my enemy." Right when I'm about to ask what I was, he continued. "You were always my sweet cheeks." We got a little mind reader on our hands, ladies and gents. "Even though pranking you all the time was incredibly idiotic and childish, I still got to see you smile, you know after you killed me with your glare." It's true, if looks could kill he would have been 6 feet underground after his first prank.

"I was always such a good sport." I commend myself with a giggle.

"Yes, you were. That's why I'd prank you in the morning. By the time lunch came around you'd be telling your friends and laughing about it so I'd get to see your metal filled mouth."

"I'm going to bypass the 'metal mouth' comment and move on. You knew a lot about me, even then."

A beautiful smile approaches his lips as we pull into a parking garage at the airport. And I mean, it's gorgeous. His dimples cave in, that left eyebrow of his arches, his meadow like orbs sucking me into a trance that only Lucas Friar could cause. "Because even then, you were my life."

GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW

His flight landed 10 minutes ago.

10 MINUTES! He should be here by now, now normally I would be a little timid to meet someone new. However, Lucas and Zay are best friends and even though he might be a little bit of a man whore he has to be a good guy. So that eases my worries a little, the other thing worrying me is making a good impression. I don't want him hating me, his opinion could affect Lucas' and – don't do that Riley.

"Sweet cheeks. Quit your pacing, you're making me nervous."

I just roll my eyes and sit down beside him on a bench. "Sorry I annoyed you with my friendship."

Lucas laughs and pecks my cheek, "I will take that show away again." My lip pokes out, I can't help the fact that 'The Office' has amazing quotes that you can use in everyday life as comebacks to destroy others with words. "Why don't you get you some hot chocolate from Starbucks princess? On me." That is tempting, "A hot chocolate with extra whip cream. I can hear it calling your name already."

And I'm off.

I hear my boyfriend laughing at my childishness as I make my way to the little café. There's a little line and my nerves of meeting Isaiah Babineaux mixed with this line, let's just say my patience is a thin thread that will snap at any moment. "Hey sugar, how are you doing?"

Craning my neck, I glance at the man behind me. He's tall, he's dark, and he's handsome. Not as handsome as Lucas obviously… but he is attractive. I can tell from the laugh lines of this man who can't be more than 20 that he's definitely a jokester or the life of the party. Probably both. "I'm fine thank you." Relinquishing a hesitant smile, I end the conversation there because hello, stranger danger.

"Have we met before?"

Shaking my head, I keep my focus straight ahead. "Nope. I don't think so."

He huffs and stays quiet for a few more moments. I manage to get up to the register and order my hot chocolate – all the while ignoring the judgmental stares for my childish drink. What can I say? What's good is good. The man behind me orders his drink and now I'm just standing there, my back resting against the countertop as I await my delicious goodness. I wonder if Zay and Lucas have reunited yet. Awe man, I hope not I wanted to get a picture. "Sugar, I know I've at least seen a picture of you before. Are you a model or something?"

This guy.

"Is that a pick-up line?" Before he has a change to answer I continue, my patience has snapped. "I'm not being sarcastic, I'm just really not sure because until recently I had no idea that someone liked me for 5 plus years so you could say I'm oblivious. But if it is, you're an attractive man, surely you can come up with something better than that. But, please don't." I hurriedly tack on, "I have a boyfriend that I love very much and I am here to ease my nerves with well ultimately chocolate, because his best friend is flying in today and I need to make a good impression."

Inhaling deeply, I'm afraid to even meet his gaze that I'm sure is more than amused. And the only reason I know that is because I hear him laughing. "Sugar you need to calm down." He has a slight Texas accent, which makes sense, since a plane from Texas arrived today. Hurriedly, I glance out the window but frown when I see Lucas still sitting by himself. Come on Starbucks, you're supposed to pride yourself on your speed. "You could say it was a mixture of a legitimate question, a compliment and a pick-up line."

"Riley."

Finally. Thanking the woman behind the counter I take my drink from her hands. "Well, it was nice talking to you … guy. But I need to go sit back with my boyfriend."

"Riley? As in Riley Matthews?"

Stalker. Stalker. Stalker.

This is okay Riley, don't freak out. You are in a public place, in an airport for that matter. There is security everywhere. "Nope. Not Riley Matthews, Riley Friar." I try to lie convincingly but from his laugh apparently I didn't do a good job. And why the hell did I steal Lucas' last name?! Luckily this will never get back to him.

"Sugar, let me first apologize." He takes a step forward, I take an equal one back. "I didn't mean to scare you by saying your last name. Secondly, you're a bad liar. Third, it's funny you chose that last name. My best friend's last name is Friar…"Uh oh. "It's even funnier because he's dating a woman named Riley." I just made a complete ass out of myself. "And now I know where I remember you from."

This is, "Isaiah Babineaux. You can call me Zay."

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So, how does everyone feel about Riley and Zay's first meeting?

And their fluff moment in the car. Ah, so sweet!