Just Beautiful
Riley walked into school and saw Lucas walking into school with his headphones on. Riley sighed and ran to catch up to him; she playfully hip checked him and smiled up at him.
Lucas took off his head phones and smiled, "I didn't think you were ever going to talk to me again," he said.
"I shouldn't have been so…" Riley began, "So, I don't know, but whatever I was I shouldn't have been it," she said as Lucas laughed, "Brooke really cares about you…"
Lucas sighed, "Usually when people ignore you that means they hate you…"
"She told me last night about how much she cared about you," Riley said, pushing the subject.
"How many drinks did she have?" Lucas asked and then continued walking.
Riley groaned and caught up to Lucas again, "Okay, she had like seven shots and maybe a beer or two, but what she was telling me was real!"
"I screwed up Riley," Lucas said, "Brooke knows that, and I know that…I don't want to make the situation worse."
Riley sighed, "You're being so stubborn, Luke!"
"And you're being pushy!" Lucas retorted, "Look, Brooke was just talking nonsense because she was under the influence…"
Riley stopped and looked at Lucas in disappointment, "She was speaking from her heart Lucas…If anybody, you should be the first to understand that," she said and then walked away from him.
xxx
Brooke walked down the hall and saw Peyton coming her way. Brooke focused her gaze on the ground and walked past Peyton. Peyton sighed and turned around, "Brooke," she said pleadingly, "Can we please just stop doing this?"
"Do I know you?" Brooke asked as she turned around.
Peyton sighed, "Look, I know that the only thing you want is to see me get hit by a bus, but you're my best friend!"
"Correction," Brooke stated, "We're ex-best friends."
Peyton crossed her arms, "God Brooke you don't know how sorry I am! If I could take everything back I would!"
"Well you can't," Brooke said, "You're a pathetic, fake, lying bitch!"
Peyton felt the words cut deep, "I might be," she said; holding her ground, "But I never stopped being your friend."
"Maybe you should," Brooke said, "Because it's pretty pathetic…" She said coldly and then stormed off.
Riley walked out of the girls' bathroom and saw Peyton standing at one end of the hall and Brooke storming off. She and Peyton looked at each other, and Riley went after Brooke, "Brooke!" Riley screamed after her.
Brooke turned around and smiled, "Hey."
"Peyton really cares about you," Riley pointed out.
Brooke's smile fell, "Did you just come out here to defend her, because if you did I suggest you just go back inside…"
"Why are you so defensive?" Riley asked.
Brooke scoffed, "Two people I trusted went behind my back! I don't have a best friend anymore, and I don't have a boyfriend anymore!"
"But Peyton's trying!" Riley exclaimed, "I mean, at least give her the benefit of the doubt."
Brooke rolled her eyes, "I don't want to, and I don't have to! God, whose side are you on?"
"I'm not on anyone's side," Riley said, "That's the thing; I'm trying to help you both!"
"Well don't!" Brooke yelled, "Peyton might need your help, but I sure as hell don't!"
Riley sighed, "Brooke, you're a really good friend…I'm sorry okay? But I just think your making a mistake with this whole Peyton thing…And your making a mistake by not telling Lucas how you feel."
"That was a drunken stammer," Brooke muttered.
Riley ran her hand through her hair, "You have to start following your heart, Brooke," Riley said and then walked back into the school.
xxx
Peyton sat in her room and drew in front of her web cam. She looked up at the web cam; it was the same web cam that Brooke had caught her and Lucas on. She heard a knock at the door and Peyton looked up and saw Riley standing in her doorway.
"You cut out early," Riley said and then sat down on Peyton's bed.
Peyton nodded, "Yep…"
"I tried talking to Brooke," Riley said with a small laugh, "Didn't go over as well as I thought it would…"
Peyton laughed and walked over and sat beside Riley, "Brooke is Brooke…"
"God and I thought I was screwed up," Riley teased.
Peyton chuckled, "You seem to know what to do in every situation…Bad experiences?"
"I've had a few," Riley said, "But who hasn't?"
"You weren't raped were you?" Peyton asked apprehensively.
Riley laughed and shook her head, "No…Oh my god no!" She exclaimed, "I've just had some bad experiences that have made me learn a few things."
"You're probably the bravest person in Tree Hill," Peyton pointed out, "Everyone puts on this front, and it seems like you're the only one that's real."
Riley shrugged, "I could easily be putting on a front," she said.
"Are you?" Peyton asked.
"No," Riley said as she shook her head, "But don't think that I don't have problems of my own…"
Peyton gave her a comforting smile, "I know…With your mom and everything."
"Yeah," Riley said as her smile faded, "And everything," she said softly.
Peyton looked at her in confusion, "Is there something you're not telling me?"
Riley smiled and patted Peyton's knee, "I'll talk to you later Peyton," she said and then started to walk out of the room.
"I'm here for you, you know," Peyton said.
Riley turned around and winked at her new friend, "Yeah…I know."
xxx
Riley sat down at the river court and looked up at the grey sky. It was going to rain, but she didn't care. She just sat on the bench until her ass got numb. Nathan sat down beside Riley; she didn't even hear him.
"It's going to storm," Nathan said as he looked up at the sky.
Riley shrugged, "I know…"
"Are you okay?" Nathan asked as Riley looked away from him, "You don't seem like yourself today…"
Riley looked at Nathan, "I'm a happy person Nathan," she stated, "I don't cry…Ever…The only time I really ever cried was at my mom's funeral," she began.
"Wait," Nathan said, "Your mom died?"
Riley looked down at the ground, "Yeah," she said in almost a whisper.
Nathan put his arm around Riley, "I'm sorry," he said sincerely, "I really am…"
"It's okay," Riley said as she looked up at him, "I just…I'm not used to feeling so weak less, defenseless, and sad."
Nathan looked into her eyes, "I'm not used to seeing you without a smile on your face," he said.
"I'm not having a good day today," Riley said as she felt the tears form in her eyes.
"It's okay to cry," Nathan said; almost reading her mind, "You're a girl, you're allowed to do emotional shit like that."
Riley laughed softly, "I'm glad you didn't call me a 'chick', or else I would've had to beat your ass," she threatened.
"Do you miss her?" Nathan asked.
Riley nodded, "Everyday…"
"What happened to your dad?" Nathan asked as he let Riley lean into him.
Riley rested her head against Nathan's chest, "He cheated on my mom when I was, like, 13…"
"Wow," Nathan said softly, "I'm sorry Riley."
Riley shrugged and wiped a tear away, "I don't think about him much…Not as much as my mom."
"His loss," Nathan said as he kissed Riley's forehead.
Riley smiled and looked up at Nathan, "Who would've guessed I'd be having this conversation with you?"
"I'm glad I came down here…" Nathan said sincerely.
"I am too," Riley said as the raindrops slowly fell, "We're going to get soaked!"
Almost on cue the rain started pouring down; Riley screamed and jumped up from the bench and ran out on the court and looked up at the sky, "Nathan!" She screamed, "It's raining!"
Nathan laughed, "I noticed," he said as he stood and watched Riley. She was so beautiful and graceful.
"Come here!" Riley screamed; Nathan rolled his eyes playfully and ran out onto the middle of the court.
Nathan stood there and looked down at Riley as the rain dripped from his forehead down to his chin, "Is there a reason you wanted me out here?"
Riley bit her bottom lip and nodded; she wrapped her arms around Nathan's neck and pulled him towards her. She kissed Nathan passionately as the warmth of their tongues clashed. The kiss broke and the two looked at each other with complete love in their eyes. Nathan smiled and leaned in and kissed Riley again.
I wanna be with you, if you wanna be with me…
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