A/N: Ok, this chapter entails quite a bit. TONS of talking...different
people talking to each other at different times....trust me...lots of
talking (hence the chapter title "Take a Breather! Stop Talking So Much!"
Enjoy!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ch 3: Take a Breather! Stop Talking So Much! - 11/3/06 - Friday - 5:46pm
2 weeks later...
Riley and Ray were at home, upstairs, in her room. She was laying on her bed and he was sitting in a chair that he had moved to the end of the bed. He was sitting in it backwards like most guys do.
"I never have understood why people do that..." Riley said.
"What?"
"Sit in chairs backwards."
Ray shrugged, "Don't ask me.."
Silence came over them for a few moments but Riley broke it by quickly turning the subject.
"You like her, don't you?"
Ray looked confused, "Who?"
Riley smirked, "Lily."
"What? No!"
Riley rolled her eyes, "Riiight. That's why she's the one of you're three friends you talk about the most and you stare at her when you think no one's looking, right?"
Ray swallowed. He didn't know he was that obvious. Had it always been like that? Did Travis and Robbie know? Or worse--Did Lily know? "It's not that obvious...is it?"
"Well, to me it was but, you're my cousin, I guess it'd be easier for me to see than others."
"No, Riley, really. Do you think I'm obvious?"
She shrugged, "I think Robbie knows and Travis...well...he confuses me so...I don't know, he probably knows though. But Lily...I have a feeling that she doesn't know just yet."
"So basically it's obvious to everyone except Lily...or...you think so anyway...." He paused, "Right?"
"Yeah."
"You really don't think she knows...do you?"
"No, Ray. She doesn't know...trust me."
"How do you know she doesn't know?"
"Because, we're girls, we talk...about everything."
"Right.."
~*~*~*~
Riley was dialing a number in her phone. She waited for three rings and there was a, "Hello?" on the other line.
"Is Lily there?"
"Yes. Hold on." Riley heard Lily's mother yell for her daughter that someone was on the phone for her.
"Hello?" Lily's voice came over the phone.
"Hey girl."
"Oh, hey."
"You sound kind of disappointed..."
"Oh...well...usually when I get a phone call it's from Ray..."
Riley rolled her eyes. She honestly didn't understand these two. "You know I was just talking to him a little while ago...about you, to be exact."
"What'd he say?"
"I don't know...he bored me, I didn't pay attention really."
"Riley!"
"What? It's the truth!"
"So you honestly have no clue what he said?"
"Nope, I wasn't listening...sorry."
Lily sighed. "Alright, well...my dad's gotta use the phone. Later, kay?"
"Alright, later."
And with that, both girls hung up.
~*~*~*~
11/10/06 - Friday - 6:23pm
Ray had called Travis and, for some weird bizarre reason, told Travis to meet him at the studio. Travis was a bit confused but came anyway.
"So...why did you want me here?" Travis asked.
Ray ignored him, "So, you got the hots for her?"
"Who?"
"Riley."
Travis rolled his eyes, "I told you before. I don't like her. We're just friends...that's all."
Ray grins, "Riiight."
"It's not like we don't all know about you're thing for Lily."
Ray's grin faded and he immediately asked, "You don't think she knows, do you?"
"No..."
Silence came over the room. A few minutes of the silence go by but it's broken.
"Have you even tried to ask her out?" Travis asked suddenly.
"And ruin the friendship we have? Are you completely insane?"
"People have told me I am..."
"Well, whoever they are, they were right."
"Any other reasons?"
"Well...I know she doesn't like me. Why should I set myself up for something that I know will be rejection?"
Travis smirked, "Just ask her out."
"I'm not doing that to myself, man."
~*~
11/13/06 - Monday - 6:23pm
Lily and Riley were at Lily's house, in her room. Riley was on her back, half way off the bed while Lily sat in a chair backwards, leaning backwards.
Riley sighed, "I'm bored." She sat up, flipping to her stomach, facing Lily.
Lily got up and put the chair beside the bed. She sat down and put her feet on the bed. "Wanna play choose?"
Riley shrugged, "Sure, who starts?"
"You I guess..."
"Alright, let's start simple. Cats or dogs?"
"Cats."
"Nah, dogs..."
This type of thing goes on for a while.
"Movie star guys or guys you actually have a chance with?" Lily asked, leaning on the chair's back legs and lightly going back down.
"Chance guys."
"Yeah, me too, but that doesn't mean I can't swoon over the movie stars."
Riley laughed. "Choose: David or Ray?"
Lily stares at Riley for a moment, then hesitates before she answers. "...Ray...I guess..."
There's a few moments of silence.
"I don't wanna play choose anymore." Lily said.
There's more silence but Riley breaks it. "Do you like Ray?"
"Well, yeah, he's one of my best friends..."
"No, I mean like him-like him."
"Oh...well...yeah...I guess..."
Riley sat up, legs crossed Indian-style, and leaned forward, "Yes or no?"
"Yeah..." She waits a second, then quickly added, "You're not gonna tell him, are you?"
"No, but...why?"
"Iii...don't want him to know..."
"Right...Ok..."
~*~
11/13/06 - Monday - 8:16pm
Later that day, Riley was in her room, phone in hand. She seemed to be contemplating weather or not to call someone. She shrugs and dials the number.
"Hello?"
"Is Travis there?"
Travis sounds surprised, "Riley?"
"Yeah, hey..."
"Hi..."
"You probably think it's odd, me calling and all, but I have a reason."
"Ok...what is it?"
"Ok, we both know that Ray and Lils like each other, right?"
"Right..." Travis said in a 'where is this going?' voice.
"So, basically, I was thinking that maybe we could kinda...help them get together."
"I don't know...I mean, I always thought that if it was meant to happen, it would."
"Come on, Travis!" Riley complained, "Ray's had this burning crush on her for two and a half years now and we both know he's never gonna ask her out on his own!"
"Riley, I don't know. I mean--"
"Tra-vis!" Riley drew his name out, "You're always saying we all need to get to know each other better on a one-on-one basis, right? Well...This could be how you get to know me better."
"Well..."
"Please?"
"I don't know..."
"Please?" Riley begged.
"But, Riley--"
"Tra-vis..." She sounded disappointed, "Please?...I can't do it on my own..."
Not only did she sound disappointed, but she was begging him to do something. Travis sighed, "Alright..."
"Thanks!"
"I'm not really doing anything."
"But you said yes! You're gonna help me! You rock!"
~*~*~*~
11/16/06 - Thursday Morning - 8:24am
At school on Thursday, Ray was talking to himself.
"I'm gonna do it...I'm gonna ask Lily to the dance.......next week."
Someone comes behind Ray and puts their hands over his eyes, "Guess who?" Came the girl's voice.
In a somewhat strained voice, Ray managed, "Lily?"
"Yep, that's me." Lily said, taking her hands away from his eyes and walking backwards, in front of him.
Ray raised an eyebrow at his friend, "Are you ok?"
"I don't know. I woke up feeling really good today..." She saw that Ray didn't let the look he was giving her fade. "...And maybe a little hyper."
Ray smirked, "I think I like hyper Lily." How idiotic did that sound? He thought the moment the words had come out of his mouth.
"Are you going to the dance?"
"I don't know...but I've got a week to think about it."
"No...you have today....and some time tomorrow."
"What?"
"It's this week."
"That's this week? I thought it was next week..."
"Nope, it's tomorrow, Friday, the seventh of November."
"Right..." I've only got a day to do this? I think I'd rather die right now that have to ask Lily to the dance that's tomorrow today...
Lily sighed, "Yeah...I wanted to go but..."
Ray looked up at her, "But what?"
"The guy I wanted to go with never asked."
"Who is it?"
Lily glanced over her shoulder to make sure she was turning the right way. "Just..." She glanced up at Ray but quickly looks away, "...Just some guy I know.."
Ray seems a little crestfallen at this, "Oh..."
Lily waited for Ray to catch up to her since she was a few steps ahead of him, then she turned around, "Yeah...I started liking him last year. I thought he liked me too but...I guess not..."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, he hasn't said or...done anything to make me think he likes me, even in the least. I just assume he likes someone else."
Immediately after she finished, Ray said, "Maybe you're wrong."
Lily raised an eyebrow at Ray, he had replied awfully quick. "What do you mean?"
Ray looks at the floor as he speaks, "Maybe...he can't tell you, ya know? Maybe he doesn't know how to tell you or..." Ray glances at Lily, but quickly takes his gaze back to the floor. "...Or...wh-what t-to say..."
Lily either didn't hear Ray stuttering, or chose to ignore it. "How would you know?"
"I've got the same problem..."
"Really?" Lily sounds a little interested.
"Yeah...there's...a girl. I've known her for awhile...I...started liking her a couple years ago..."
"And...you haven't told her, right?"
"Exactly. We're...friends and...I don't wanna ruin our relation--er-- friendship."
Lily smiles a little, "You wouldn't ruin you're friendship with her just because you like, asked her out or something."
"But you don't know...her..."
~*~
11/16/06 ~ 11:45am
Later that day during lunch break, Ray is talking to himself again on his way to the lunch room.
"Alright...I've gotta do it today. It's gotta be today..." He pushed open the door to the cafeteria and scanned the room for Lily. He saw that she and Riley were talking over in a corner. He walked over to their table. When he had arrived, both girls had stopped talking instantly. "Lily, can I talk to you?"
"Yeah. What's up?"
"Uh...no...I...I mean...uh...a-alone."
Riley looked at her cousin with a raised eyebrow. If she wasn't mistaken, he was nervous about something. And if she was correct, he was going to ask Lily out. She smirked at the thought.
"Right, ok." She stood and started to follow him, but before she lost sight of her only girl friend, she turned around.
Riley gave Lily a big grin and two thumbs up, which immediately turned into crossed fingers.
Lily followed Ray out into the empty hallway.
"So, what's up? Something about RFR?"
"Uh..no....not exactly..."
"Oh...ok...well...what is it?" Lily seemed confused. If it's not about the station, then why did he bring me out here?
Lily noticed that Ray looked nervous....really nervous. Wonder why? What's up? What's going on?
"Lily...I..." Ray stopped. "I-I...um..." He swallowed. "I...uh...I wanted to...uh..I..I-I w-wanted to..." He stopped again and closed his eyes.
"Ray..."
"No...let me...let me try and...try and finish this..." He swallowed again and opened his eyes. "Ok. Lily...I.." As soon as he glanced up at her, he lost his voice. This is going all wrong! He thought. "Nevermind..." He sighed and closed his eyes again. I can't believe I just choked like that! Why couldn't I just finish the damn sentence?
"Ray, you're making no sense at all. You come into the lunch room, tell me you to talk to me...alone, it's not about RFR, you look more nervous than I could ever be when I'm playing on the open mike, you ramble on about something which completely confuses me, and then you say nevermind? Ray! Come on! What's with this?"
"Nevermind, ok? Just...nevermind..."
Lily sighed and rolled her eyes, "Fine." She turned on her heel and marched back into the lunch room.
Ray leaned against the wall, slid down, and sighed.
~*~
11/16/06 ~ 12:45pm
Riley was sitting in her Chemistry class, on the verge of falling asleep. She didn't understand why she needed to know about all the chemicals and what they did. She didn't exactly plan on becoming a scientist. She was surprised when the teacher announced the homework and the end of class. Riley put her books and notebook in her bag. She slung the bag over her shoulder and started walking out the door. However, before she got to the doorway, Mrs. Caralosky stopped her. "Riley, I need to speak with you."
Riley closed her eyes. Here it comes... She thought as she turned around, "Yes, Mrs. Caralosky?"
Before she began, Mrs. Caralosky closed the door behind the last student out of class. She walked over to stand behind her desk. "Riley...you need to pick up your grades in my class. If you're not careful, you're going to fail."
Riley sighed. She never had been very good at history but this year she seemed to be worse than ever. Sure she'd failed a test or quiz every once in awhile but Riley had never actually out-and-out failed the entire class. "Alright...I'll study harder...."
"As long as I know you will." She looked at Riley for a moment, as if making sure she was sincere. "You may go now."
Riley nodded and went out of the room. She almost collided into someone but she didn't notice, she was too worried about finding someone she knew could help her with her Chemistry. She knew exactly who she was looking for, she just wasn't sure where he was. I've got to find him before he leaves school.... Riley opened her locker and put her other books in her bag. When she closed her locker door and turned around, she saw Travis at his locker, a few lockers down. "Travis!"
The blonde boy turned at his name being called. Riley was practically running towards him. "Riley, what's going on?"
"I need you're help."
"With what?"
"Chem. Will you come over later and help me for this test? Mrs. Caralosky said if I don't watch it, I'm gonna fail, and I can't fail, my parents will kill me when they find out!"
"Yeah, I'll come over."
Riley let out a breath, "Thank you!" She hugged him, kissed him on the cheek, and ran off. Before she was completely out of sight, she turned and said, "Later, Travis!"
~*~
11/16/06 ~ 4:46pm
Travis was walking to Ray's house to help Riley with Chemistry. He arrived at the house and let out a breath. Before he could knock, the door opened, Riley standing in the doorway. "Hey!" She said, energetic as ever.
"Hi." Travis was a bit surprised to find that she was already there when he had arrived.
"Come on" Riley said. Travis came in and followed her upstairs, down the hall, and into the third room on the left. "This is my wonderful room." She already had her chemistry book and notes out on the bed. Riley walked over and lay down on the right side of the bed.
Travis sat down in the only chair in the room. "What exactly do you have problems with?"
"Chemistry."
"Nothing specifically?"
She shook her head, "No...I just suck at the entire subject."
"Alright, let's get started then."
A few hours later, Travis is now laying on the other side of the book. He had just explained something to Riley but she still didn't get it. "I don't under-stand! This doesn't make sense!"
Travis sighed. This wasn't very hard. "Riley..."
"Yeah?"
Travis was sitting up, legs crossed Indian-style. "There has to be something that you don't understand...one specific thing, or....more than one, but...there has to be something more definite that you're not understanding."
Rily sighed. "I don't know what it is!" She had been sitting at the edge of the bed, Riley leaned backwards, her head ending up in his lap.
It was obvious that this made Travis uncomfortable by the look on his face.
Riley looked up at him, "Can we break?"
"Yeah..."
Riley sat up quickly and went to her door, "Want anything from downstairs while I'm there?"
Travis nodded while rubbing near the center of his forehead, "Tylonol would be great..."
"Alright."
When Riley came back she had two cans of soda, one Root Beer, one Dr. Pepper, a bag of Spicier Nacho Doritios, a bag of mixed chocolate, a 10 pack of Twix, Crunch bars, Three Musketeers, and of course, the whole bottle of Tylenol.
"Plan on the world ending soon?"
"Nope. I just got sodas, chips, and candy. It was just easier for me to bring the whole bottle than one little pill that I probably would have dropped on my way back upstairs." She sat down on the bed, letting the pill bottle, chips, and all the candy fall to the bed, she handed Travis the Dr. Pepper. "I really shouldn't be doing this..."
"What?"
"Root Beer, candy, and chips? You obviously don't know me too well."
"Obviously..."
"You're not gonna wanna see me after I drink this...I'll be really hyper. Just ask Ray. He's seen my sugar high."
"I assume I will be able to witness it today."
"Yep, probably."
~*~
11/16/06 ~ 5:04pm
After Travis left....
Riley called Lily.
"Hello?"
"Hey Lily."
"Oh my GOD! I have to tell you what happened earlier today!"
"What?"
"You know! At lunch..."
"Oh! Yeah, I meant to ask you about that. So, anyhow, what happened?"
"Well...it's really not that great...kinda stupid, kinda boring..."
"Who cares! Tell me what happened."
"Well...you know, he practically dragged me to the hallway, which was completely empty, and...I dunno, it's like he was trying to say something but...he couldn't."
"What do you mean?"
"Well...he was all..." Lily tries to imitate Ray, and does a fairly ok job at it, "" 'Lily...I...I-I...um...I...uh...I wanted to...uh..I..I-I w-wanted to...' and then he stopped."
"Anything happen after that?"
"Yeah. I said, 'Ray...' and then he went on, 'No...let me...let me try and...try and finish this...' He paused..'Ok. Lilly...I..' And he stopped....again.
"Uh-huuh..."
"Then he was all, 'Nevermind...' and I was like, 'Ray, you're making no sense at all. You come into the lunch room, tell me you to talk to me...alone, you look more nervous than I could ever be when I'm playing on an open mike, you ramble on about something which completely confuses me and then you say nevermind? Ray! Come on! What's with this?'"
"Yeah...aaaand?"
" The last thing he said was, 'Nevermind, ok? Just...nevermind...' I rolled my eyes, said fine, and walked off."
"Hmm..."
"Yeah. I'm confused. You're his cousin, you've got to know him better than I do, any clue what's going on?"
"Nope...not...a...clue..." Stupid idiot! What's wrong with you? I need to talk to him about that...
"Well, I gotta go, my mom wants the phone."
"Alright, later Lils."
"Bye Riles."
~*~*~*~
Did you like that? See? Told you there were lots of conversations going on lol!
Chapter 4 Preview:
Title - Ch 4: Blowing Off, Berating, and Other Random Things: 11/23/06 - Thursday Afternoon ~ 1:43pm
Basics: -Travis half-way blows Riley off - Lily berates Travis for this -We see what each of the four are doing that night.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ch 3: Take a Breather! Stop Talking So Much! - 11/3/06 - Friday - 5:46pm
2 weeks later...
Riley and Ray were at home, upstairs, in her room. She was laying on her bed and he was sitting in a chair that he had moved to the end of the bed. He was sitting in it backwards like most guys do.
"I never have understood why people do that..." Riley said.
"What?"
"Sit in chairs backwards."
Ray shrugged, "Don't ask me.."
Silence came over them for a few moments but Riley broke it by quickly turning the subject.
"You like her, don't you?"
Ray looked confused, "Who?"
Riley smirked, "Lily."
"What? No!"
Riley rolled her eyes, "Riiight. That's why she's the one of you're three friends you talk about the most and you stare at her when you think no one's looking, right?"
Ray swallowed. He didn't know he was that obvious. Had it always been like that? Did Travis and Robbie know? Or worse--Did Lily know? "It's not that obvious...is it?"
"Well, to me it was but, you're my cousin, I guess it'd be easier for me to see than others."
"No, Riley, really. Do you think I'm obvious?"
She shrugged, "I think Robbie knows and Travis...well...he confuses me so...I don't know, he probably knows though. But Lily...I have a feeling that she doesn't know just yet."
"So basically it's obvious to everyone except Lily...or...you think so anyway...." He paused, "Right?"
"Yeah."
"You really don't think she knows...do you?"
"No, Ray. She doesn't know...trust me."
"How do you know she doesn't know?"
"Because, we're girls, we talk...about everything."
"Right.."
~*~*~*~
Riley was dialing a number in her phone. She waited for three rings and there was a, "Hello?" on the other line.
"Is Lily there?"
"Yes. Hold on." Riley heard Lily's mother yell for her daughter that someone was on the phone for her.
"Hello?" Lily's voice came over the phone.
"Hey girl."
"Oh, hey."
"You sound kind of disappointed..."
"Oh...well...usually when I get a phone call it's from Ray..."
Riley rolled her eyes. She honestly didn't understand these two. "You know I was just talking to him a little while ago...about you, to be exact."
"What'd he say?"
"I don't know...he bored me, I didn't pay attention really."
"Riley!"
"What? It's the truth!"
"So you honestly have no clue what he said?"
"Nope, I wasn't listening...sorry."
Lily sighed. "Alright, well...my dad's gotta use the phone. Later, kay?"
"Alright, later."
And with that, both girls hung up.
~*~*~*~
11/10/06 - Friday - 6:23pm
Ray had called Travis and, for some weird bizarre reason, told Travis to meet him at the studio. Travis was a bit confused but came anyway.
"So...why did you want me here?" Travis asked.
Ray ignored him, "So, you got the hots for her?"
"Who?"
"Riley."
Travis rolled his eyes, "I told you before. I don't like her. We're just friends...that's all."
Ray grins, "Riiight."
"It's not like we don't all know about you're thing for Lily."
Ray's grin faded and he immediately asked, "You don't think she knows, do you?"
"No..."
Silence came over the room. A few minutes of the silence go by but it's broken.
"Have you even tried to ask her out?" Travis asked suddenly.
"And ruin the friendship we have? Are you completely insane?"
"People have told me I am..."
"Well, whoever they are, they were right."
"Any other reasons?"
"Well...I know she doesn't like me. Why should I set myself up for something that I know will be rejection?"
Travis smirked, "Just ask her out."
"I'm not doing that to myself, man."
~*~
11/13/06 - Monday - 6:23pm
Lily and Riley were at Lily's house, in her room. Riley was on her back, half way off the bed while Lily sat in a chair backwards, leaning backwards.
Riley sighed, "I'm bored." She sat up, flipping to her stomach, facing Lily.
Lily got up and put the chair beside the bed. She sat down and put her feet on the bed. "Wanna play choose?"
Riley shrugged, "Sure, who starts?"
"You I guess..."
"Alright, let's start simple. Cats or dogs?"
"Cats."
"Nah, dogs..."
This type of thing goes on for a while.
"Movie star guys or guys you actually have a chance with?" Lily asked, leaning on the chair's back legs and lightly going back down.
"Chance guys."
"Yeah, me too, but that doesn't mean I can't swoon over the movie stars."
Riley laughed. "Choose: David or Ray?"
Lily stares at Riley for a moment, then hesitates before she answers. "...Ray...I guess..."
There's a few moments of silence.
"I don't wanna play choose anymore." Lily said.
There's more silence but Riley breaks it. "Do you like Ray?"
"Well, yeah, he's one of my best friends..."
"No, I mean like him-like him."
"Oh...well...yeah...I guess..."
Riley sat up, legs crossed Indian-style, and leaned forward, "Yes or no?"
"Yeah..." She waits a second, then quickly added, "You're not gonna tell him, are you?"
"No, but...why?"
"Iii...don't want him to know..."
"Right...Ok..."
~*~
11/13/06 - Monday - 8:16pm
Later that day, Riley was in her room, phone in hand. She seemed to be contemplating weather or not to call someone. She shrugs and dials the number.
"Hello?"
"Is Travis there?"
Travis sounds surprised, "Riley?"
"Yeah, hey..."
"Hi..."
"You probably think it's odd, me calling and all, but I have a reason."
"Ok...what is it?"
"Ok, we both know that Ray and Lils like each other, right?"
"Right..." Travis said in a 'where is this going?' voice.
"So, basically, I was thinking that maybe we could kinda...help them get together."
"I don't know...I mean, I always thought that if it was meant to happen, it would."
"Come on, Travis!" Riley complained, "Ray's had this burning crush on her for two and a half years now and we both know he's never gonna ask her out on his own!"
"Riley, I don't know. I mean--"
"Tra-vis!" Riley drew his name out, "You're always saying we all need to get to know each other better on a one-on-one basis, right? Well...This could be how you get to know me better."
"Well..."
"Please?"
"I don't know..."
"Please?" Riley begged.
"But, Riley--"
"Tra-vis..." She sounded disappointed, "Please?...I can't do it on my own..."
Not only did she sound disappointed, but she was begging him to do something. Travis sighed, "Alright..."
"Thanks!"
"I'm not really doing anything."
"But you said yes! You're gonna help me! You rock!"
~*~*~*~
11/16/06 - Thursday Morning - 8:24am
At school on Thursday, Ray was talking to himself.
"I'm gonna do it...I'm gonna ask Lily to the dance.......next week."
Someone comes behind Ray and puts their hands over his eyes, "Guess who?" Came the girl's voice.
In a somewhat strained voice, Ray managed, "Lily?"
"Yep, that's me." Lily said, taking her hands away from his eyes and walking backwards, in front of him.
Ray raised an eyebrow at his friend, "Are you ok?"
"I don't know. I woke up feeling really good today..." She saw that Ray didn't let the look he was giving her fade. "...And maybe a little hyper."
Ray smirked, "I think I like hyper Lily." How idiotic did that sound? He thought the moment the words had come out of his mouth.
"Are you going to the dance?"
"I don't know...but I've got a week to think about it."
"No...you have today....and some time tomorrow."
"What?"
"It's this week."
"That's this week? I thought it was next week..."
"Nope, it's tomorrow, Friday, the seventh of November."
"Right..." I've only got a day to do this? I think I'd rather die right now that have to ask Lily to the dance that's tomorrow today...
Lily sighed, "Yeah...I wanted to go but..."
Ray looked up at her, "But what?"
"The guy I wanted to go with never asked."
"Who is it?"
Lily glanced over her shoulder to make sure she was turning the right way. "Just..." She glanced up at Ray but quickly looks away, "...Just some guy I know.."
Ray seems a little crestfallen at this, "Oh..."
Lily waited for Ray to catch up to her since she was a few steps ahead of him, then she turned around, "Yeah...I started liking him last year. I thought he liked me too but...I guess not..."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, he hasn't said or...done anything to make me think he likes me, even in the least. I just assume he likes someone else."
Immediately after she finished, Ray said, "Maybe you're wrong."
Lily raised an eyebrow at Ray, he had replied awfully quick. "What do you mean?"
Ray looks at the floor as he speaks, "Maybe...he can't tell you, ya know? Maybe he doesn't know how to tell you or..." Ray glances at Lily, but quickly takes his gaze back to the floor. "...Or...wh-what t-to say..."
Lily either didn't hear Ray stuttering, or chose to ignore it. "How would you know?"
"I've got the same problem..."
"Really?" Lily sounds a little interested.
"Yeah...there's...a girl. I've known her for awhile...I...started liking her a couple years ago..."
"And...you haven't told her, right?"
"Exactly. We're...friends and...I don't wanna ruin our relation--er-- friendship."
Lily smiles a little, "You wouldn't ruin you're friendship with her just because you like, asked her out or something."
"But you don't know...her..."
~*~
11/16/06 ~ 11:45am
Later that day during lunch break, Ray is talking to himself again on his way to the lunch room.
"Alright...I've gotta do it today. It's gotta be today..." He pushed open the door to the cafeteria and scanned the room for Lily. He saw that she and Riley were talking over in a corner. He walked over to their table. When he had arrived, both girls had stopped talking instantly. "Lily, can I talk to you?"
"Yeah. What's up?"
"Uh...no...I...I mean...uh...a-alone."
Riley looked at her cousin with a raised eyebrow. If she wasn't mistaken, he was nervous about something. And if she was correct, he was going to ask Lily out. She smirked at the thought.
"Right, ok." She stood and started to follow him, but before she lost sight of her only girl friend, she turned around.
Riley gave Lily a big grin and two thumbs up, which immediately turned into crossed fingers.
Lily followed Ray out into the empty hallway.
"So, what's up? Something about RFR?"
"Uh..no....not exactly..."
"Oh...ok...well...what is it?" Lily seemed confused. If it's not about the station, then why did he bring me out here?
Lily noticed that Ray looked nervous....really nervous. Wonder why? What's up? What's going on?
"Lily...I..." Ray stopped. "I-I...um..." He swallowed. "I...uh...I wanted to...uh..I..I-I w-wanted to..." He stopped again and closed his eyes.
"Ray..."
"No...let me...let me try and...try and finish this..." He swallowed again and opened his eyes. "Ok. Lily...I.." As soon as he glanced up at her, he lost his voice. This is going all wrong! He thought. "Nevermind..." He sighed and closed his eyes again. I can't believe I just choked like that! Why couldn't I just finish the damn sentence?
"Ray, you're making no sense at all. You come into the lunch room, tell me you to talk to me...alone, it's not about RFR, you look more nervous than I could ever be when I'm playing on the open mike, you ramble on about something which completely confuses me, and then you say nevermind? Ray! Come on! What's with this?"
"Nevermind, ok? Just...nevermind..."
Lily sighed and rolled her eyes, "Fine." She turned on her heel and marched back into the lunch room.
Ray leaned against the wall, slid down, and sighed.
~*~
11/16/06 ~ 12:45pm
Riley was sitting in her Chemistry class, on the verge of falling asleep. She didn't understand why she needed to know about all the chemicals and what they did. She didn't exactly plan on becoming a scientist. She was surprised when the teacher announced the homework and the end of class. Riley put her books and notebook in her bag. She slung the bag over her shoulder and started walking out the door. However, before she got to the doorway, Mrs. Caralosky stopped her. "Riley, I need to speak with you."
Riley closed her eyes. Here it comes... She thought as she turned around, "Yes, Mrs. Caralosky?"
Before she began, Mrs. Caralosky closed the door behind the last student out of class. She walked over to stand behind her desk. "Riley...you need to pick up your grades in my class. If you're not careful, you're going to fail."
Riley sighed. She never had been very good at history but this year she seemed to be worse than ever. Sure she'd failed a test or quiz every once in awhile but Riley had never actually out-and-out failed the entire class. "Alright...I'll study harder...."
"As long as I know you will." She looked at Riley for a moment, as if making sure she was sincere. "You may go now."
Riley nodded and went out of the room. She almost collided into someone but she didn't notice, she was too worried about finding someone she knew could help her with her Chemistry. She knew exactly who she was looking for, she just wasn't sure where he was. I've got to find him before he leaves school.... Riley opened her locker and put her other books in her bag. When she closed her locker door and turned around, she saw Travis at his locker, a few lockers down. "Travis!"
The blonde boy turned at his name being called. Riley was practically running towards him. "Riley, what's going on?"
"I need you're help."
"With what?"
"Chem. Will you come over later and help me for this test? Mrs. Caralosky said if I don't watch it, I'm gonna fail, and I can't fail, my parents will kill me when they find out!"
"Yeah, I'll come over."
Riley let out a breath, "Thank you!" She hugged him, kissed him on the cheek, and ran off. Before she was completely out of sight, she turned and said, "Later, Travis!"
~*~
11/16/06 ~ 4:46pm
Travis was walking to Ray's house to help Riley with Chemistry. He arrived at the house and let out a breath. Before he could knock, the door opened, Riley standing in the doorway. "Hey!" She said, energetic as ever.
"Hi." Travis was a bit surprised to find that she was already there when he had arrived.
"Come on" Riley said. Travis came in and followed her upstairs, down the hall, and into the third room on the left. "This is my wonderful room." She already had her chemistry book and notes out on the bed. Riley walked over and lay down on the right side of the bed.
Travis sat down in the only chair in the room. "What exactly do you have problems with?"
"Chemistry."
"Nothing specifically?"
She shook her head, "No...I just suck at the entire subject."
"Alright, let's get started then."
A few hours later, Travis is now laying on the other side of the book. He had just explained something to Riley but she still didn't get it. "I don't under-stand! This doesn't make sense!"
Travis sighed. This wasn't very hard. "Riley..."
"Yeah?"
Travis was sitting up, legs crossed Indian-style. "There has to be something that you don't understand...one specific thing, or....more than one, but...there has to be something more definite that you're not understanding."
Rily sighed. "I don't know what it is!" She had been sitting at the edge of the bed, Riley leaned backwards, her head ending up in his lap.
It was obvious that this made Travis uncomfortable by the look on his face.
Riley looked up at him, "Can we break?"
"Yeah..."
Riley sat up quickly and went to her door, "Want anything from downstairs while I'm there?"
Travis nodded while rubbing near the center of his forehead, "Tylonol would be great..."
"Alright."
When Riley came back she had two cans of soda, one Root Beer, one Dr. Pepper, a bag of Spicier Nacho Doritios, a bag of mixed chocolate, a 10 pack of Twix, Crunch bars, Three Musketeers, and of course, the whole bottle of Tylenol.
"Plan on the world ending soon?"
"Nope. I just got sodas, chips, and candy. It was just easier for me to bring the whole bottle than one little pill that I probably would have dropped on my way back upstairs." She sat down on the bed, letting the pill bottle, chips, and all the candy fall to the bed, she handed Travis the Dr. Pepper. "I really shouldn't be doing this..."
"What?"
"Root Beer, candy, and chips? You obviously don't know me too well."
"Obviously..."
"You're not gonna wanna see me after I drink this...I'll be really hyper. Just ask Ray. He's seen my sugar high."
"I assume I will be able to witness it today."
"Yep, probably."
~*~
11/16/06 ~ 5:04pm
After Travis left....
Riley called Lily.
"Hello?"
"Hey Lily."
"Oh my GOD! I have to tell you what happened earlier today!"
"What?"
"You know! At lunch..."
"Oh! Yeah, I meant to ask you about that. So, anyhow, what happened?"
"Well...it's really not that great...kinda stupid, kinda boring..."
"Who cares! Tell me what happened."
"Well...you know, he practically dragged me to the hallway, which was completely empty, and...I dunno, it's like he was trying to say something but...he couldn't."
"What do you mean?"
"Well...he was all..." Lily tries to imitate Ray, and does a fairly ok job at it, "" 'Lily...I...I-I...um...I...uh...I wanted to...uh..I..I-I w-wanted to...' and then he stopped."
"Anything happen after that?"
"Yeah. I said, 'Ray...' and then he went on, 'No...let me...let me try and...try and finish this...' He paused..'Ok. Lilly...I..' And he stopped....again.
"Uh-huuh..."
"Then he was all, 'Nevermind...' and I was like, 'Ray, you're making no sense at all. You come into the lunch room, tell me you to talk to me...alone, you look more nervous than I could ever be when I'm playing on an open mike, you ramble on about something which completely confuses me and then you say nevermind? Ray! Come on! What's with this?'"
"Yeah...aaaand?"
" The last thing he said was, 'Nevermind, ok? Just...nevermind...' I rolled my eyes, said fine, and walked off."
"Hmm..."
"Yeah. I'm confused. You're his cousin, you've got to know him better than I do, any clue what's going on?"
"Nope...not...a...clue..." Stupid idiot! What's wrong with you? I need to talk to him about that...
"Well, I gotta go, my mom wants the phone."
"Alright, later Lils."
"Bye Riles."
~*~*~*~
Did you like that? See? Told you there were lots of conversations going on lol!
Chapter 4 Preview:
Title - Ch 4: Blowing Off, Berating, and Other Random Things: 11/23/06 - Thursday Afternoon ~ 1:43pm
Basics: -Travis half-way blows Riley off - Lily berates Travis for this -We see what each of the four are doing that night.