Chapter 7
Over the next two weeks Riley and Lucas saw each other 3 times a week. They went out to dinner, went to Topanga's twice, spent a beautiful day at the Central Park Zoo, and went to the movies twice. Of course, when questioned about the movies, neither of them could describe them since they made out the entire time. They also saw each other every second they could at school, which is why Riley found it odd that she hadn't seen him all day on the first Monday in April. That is, until the end of school, when Riley turned around from her locker and jumped a mile to find Lucas right behind her. "Lucas where have you been?" she squealed. She started to pull him in for a hug and noticed Lucas had an odd smile on her face and both hands behind his back. "Lucas, what's going on" she asked suspiciously. Without a word, Lucas handed started handing her roses one by one:
A lavender rose with the word WILL written on a tag
A white rose with the word YOU
A lavender rose with the word GO
A white rose with the word TO
A lavender rose with the word PROM
A white rose with the word WITH and
A lavender rose with the word ME
Lucas looked down on Riley, waiting for an answer. "Well, will you?" be asked anxiously. Riley looked up with tears in her eyes, then threw her arms around him and kissed him hard. "Of course" she answered. Lucas sagged with relief. "Oh thank God, I was worried that you would want a bigger ask, but this seemed right." "Lucas, this was perfect" Riley assured him as they left school hand in hand.
Riley was still glowing when she let herself into the apartment to find her mom sitting on the couch. "Mom, you're home early, is everything ok with Auggie?" Topanga smiled and patted the seat next to her "sit down Riley, no Auggie's fine, he and your dad just left for ice cream, come and sit with me". Riley eyed her suspiciously, "sure mom, just let me put these in some water". Riley found a vase and then sat next to Topanga. "The flowers are beautiful Riley, from Lucas I presume?" Topanga began. Riley blushed, "yeah, he asked me to Prom this afternoon with roses". Topanga smiled and took Riley's hand, "you and Lucas have gotten really close really fast, and now you are going to Prom together". "Yeah, and" Riley looked confused. Topanga nibbled on her lip and turned away for a second. "You know that your dad and I went to Prom together, but you don't know that we got a hotel room that night, that I was willing to sleep with him that night." Riley looked curious and a bit creeped out. "Mom why are you telling me this?" Topanga looked her firmly in the eye, "your dad and I didn't have sex that night, we decided to wait. Actually your uncle Josh had something to do with it". Topanga laughed at Riley's confused face. "Long story" Topanga continued, "the point is we decided to wait until we got married and I never regretted it. I see how close you and Lucas are, I just want to make sure you understand that it is a lot easier to wait if you limit how physical you two get in the first place". Riley pulled her hand away embarrassed. "Mom, I'm not you, I don't need to wait until my wedding night, when I'm ready, I'll be ready. In fact, I wanted to talk to you anyway; I want to go on the pill." Topanga groaned and leaned against the couch. "Mom, I could just go behind your back, I'm trying to be honest". "I know" Topanga murmured, "but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Fine, I will make you an appointment to see my doctor, but keep in mind the pill isn't effective for the first month". "I know" Riley responded kissing her mom on the forehead before she started to head to her room, "I'm in no hurry."
A few days later Riley sat in a hospital gown nervously waiting for the doctor while her mom sat in a chair nearby flipping through a magazine. "Mom, I appreciate you making the appointment, bringing me down here, and helping me fill out the paperwork, but you really don't need to be here for this part." Topanga laid down the magazine. "Riley, you are 17 years old, still a minor, and your first exam is going to be a lot more uncomfortable than you think. Even though I don't agree with why we are here, I still need to be here". Riley huffed impatiently, "mom, just because I want to go on the pill doesn't mean I want to have sex tomorrow, I just want to be prepared for when I am ready. Aren't you the one who always taught me to be prepared?" Topanga sighed and answered "yes I am happy that you came to me and want to be prepared, just remember if you do decide to have sex, the pill isn't 100% effective, you'll need a backup method." At that moment the doctor and nurse walked in to perform the exam and Topanga moved to Riley's head. As embarrassed as Riley had been to have her mom there, she found herself gripping Topanga's hand. The exam was extremely uncomfortable, even a little painful, but when she got dressed and left, it was with a packet of pills and a prescription for refills.