"I've been waiting for a long time
For this moment to come
I'm destined
For anything...at all
Downtown lights will be shining
On me like a diamond
Ring out under the midnight hour
No one can touch me now
And I can't turn my back
It's too late ready or not at all"
Waiting, Green Day
Mr. Santiago groaned to himself, as he watched the couple walk into the school. He smiled at them, noting that Riley looked like her father.
"Hello. Who are you?" Riley's mother asked
"Mr. Santiago, Latin and English teacher. And you?" He responded politely holding out his hand to Mrs. Smith
"Riley's mother." She responded looking at him with distaste.
"Hi. Riley's told me a lot about you" Riley's dad, said shaking his hand
"Well? How's she doing in your class? And where is she?" Riley's mom asked
"She's a wonderful girl. She helps me out a lot in class, and gets all A's. Even on the midterm which she complained about." The teacher said, causing Jackie to laugh. Their midterm had been all short answer questions, had to be answered in full sentences. There was over 50 questions, and Riley had bitched for days about it, as did the whole class, just Riley had been more blunt about it. He as a...what was it, oh yes "Mother fucking son of a bitch who had no mother fucking life" as she had put it.
"See, she hasn't been slacking off" Mr. Smith said to his wife
"Where is she?" Riley's mom asked, narrowing her eyes at the teacher.
Mr. Santiago sat there, silent, considering what to say. "She isn't here" he answered finally, avoiding Jackie's gaze.
"Where is she?" Riley's mother asked again, louder this time, causing people to look. Mr. Santiago looked at Ms. De, Ms. Jameson, and other teachers.
"She left. To the city" He answered, and watched as Riley's parents stormed out of the school
"What in the…"Jackie began, ready to lay into the teacher
"It's my job!" He protested
"Your job is to educate us, and look out for us. Rating Riley out to her parents, isn't looking out for her!"
"They are her parents." He said looking at Ms.De who nodded in agreement
"And Riley needed Randy." Jackie defended her
"Riley hasn't seen her parents in months"
"By whose choice?" Jackie asked, nodding her head when the teachers remained silent.
"She could have waited." Ms. Jameson said
"Would you have?"
Ms. Jameson opened her mouth, and then closed it again.
"Look…" Mr. Santiago began…
"No." Jackie said, not wanting to hear anymore. "Riley was going to stay. I don't know what happened, all I know is that she left, and she's in a world of trouble right now."
At the arena
"Whats up with the look man?" John asked Randy as he watched his friend hang up his phone yet again, this time with an elated look on his face
"Riley's coming!" Randy said
"Wasn't she always?" John asked
"I dunno, something with her parents coming home came up or something…" Randy trailed off at the look on John's face.
"Her parents are home?"
"Yes"
"And she's coming here instead of being with them!" John half screamed
"Well, yes" Randy said, puzzled
"WHAT THE FUCK" John screamed and pulled Randy out of the room.
"Ok, this has got to stop, right fucking now" John said, beginning to pace
"What?" Randy asked, confused
"This whole, plan thing, it has to stop" John said, concern written all over his face
"What the fuck are you on?" Randy asked his friend
"She's ditching her parents! Riley has never, ever done that. Oh for the love of God, Riley's always been the girl that does what her parents want. What they think is best for her. And all of a sudden she's ignoring them for YOU!"
"Whats wrong with me?" Randy asked, slightly insulted.
"Nothing…Everything…this whole plan shit is wrong man!" John continued ranting
"Cena!" Randy said, trying to stop him
"No. Look, I fucked up. She hurt me. Why I'm trying to get revenge on an 18 year old, I don't know." John continued
"Cena…"
"Look Orton, I appreciate the help and everything, but I think its best if we stop this now. I have her back, and that's all I wanted." John said
"No John" Randy began
"When she gets here, just send her to me please" John said and walked away, feeling hopeless.
Randy wordlessly stared at John's back as he walked away. He could still remember when John first came to him with this whole idea.
Flashback
"I have it!" John ran into
Randy's lockeroom, and slammed the door causing Randy to jump
"What in God's name are you on?" Randy asked his best friend
"Remember Riley?"
"Hot Riley?"
"Yes…ew man" John said
"Well she was…is…is she?" Randy asked
"I wouldn't know. I haven't spoken to her since before I started training" John responded
"And that was how long ago?" Randy raised his eyebrow
"Over five years. Man she put my whole family through hell and just vanished"
"I'm sure she didn't vanish." Randy said
"We did everything for her. Treated her like one of our own. And she just fucking ups and leaves like she owes us nothing." John said looking at his friend
"John…"
"No man. I want you to date her" John said, causing Randy to choke on his water
"Excuse me?"
"Date her." John reiterated, rolling his eyes
"Ok right, and how am I supposed to find her?" Randy asked, still thinking John had lost his mind
"I have her phone number" John replied, holding up a piece of paper triumphantly.
"Argh" Randy said, holding his head in his hands
"Amen. So you'll do it?" John asked
"Yes I'll do it. You've bailed me out way too many times for me not to." Randy said reluctantly.
End Flashback
Randy silently walked into his locker room and sat down on the hard bench. Resting his head in his hands he allowed himself to think about everything he hadn't allowed himself to think of before…
The fact that Riley didn't deserve this.
That perhaps she had her own reasons for leaving John and his family without a word.
That she had been through a lot shit these past few months.
That everyone was abandoning her. Friends. Teachers.
That perhaps he shouldn't have helped John.
That there was more to his relationship with her then just lies.
That he was falling for her, and he had just fucked up. Big Time.