Hello, again! Sorry I haven't updated in so long! I've had writter's block for a while, but I'm okay now.So, to make it up, I've posted two chapters!I don't have that solo anymore (I was just filling in) but it's going to become a duet, so it's not completely lost to me. I'm not sure, but the end of this chapter might kinda ramble on a bit, but be sure to read it because it's the only way to know what's happens at the begining of the next chapter! Also, if you haven't read my new story (The True Confessions of Charlotte Gates), then you might not have realized that I have changed my penname to RileyPoolefan. Also, if you haven't read the new story, than you probably haven't heard about the upcoming joint project between Sarahofearth and I. All I can tell you now is that it's a National Treasure story based on "Just Like Heaven". Read and enjoy!
Chapter 9:
Confessions
"We're not far, according to this map." Abigail said. Riley had moved to the back seat to let Abigail have a seat. She and Alexis were pouring over the map, trying to find the fastest way to the Old North Church.
Rain began to fall from the dark clouds. "That's going to help." Ben growled.
"Turn right!" Alexis said. Their path was taking them into the heart of Boston.
"Okay, go straight at the next light." Abigail instructed.
They didn't need to instruct him the rest of the way. They began to see historical markers that pointed the way.
Alexis gave a sigh of exasperation. "They're not open on Sundays!" She said in dismay, seeing the locked gate and lack of visitors.
"That won't stop Ian." Riley said.
Ben picked up his cell phone. "I don't think he'd be that much of an idiot." He said as he dialed Sadusky's number. "But I want to be sure the clue will be safe." Ben heard Sadusky answer.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's Ben. We think Ian might try to break into Old North Church again. You might want to keep a patrol out here tonight."
Sadusky agreed. "Thanks for all your help, Ben." He said. "I don't think I've had a chance to say that."
Ian contemplated how he would get the next clue. "No doubt Ben will have tipped off the FBI again." He thought. "I guess I'll have to outwit them.
"So we have to stay until tomorrow?" Riley asked.
"None of us brought any extra clothes!" Alexis said.
"Unfortunately, we have to say." Ben said. "But we can go find another outfit for tomorrow."
"Where are we going to stay?" Abigail asked.
"There's a nice hotel not far a few blocks from here." Ben said. "There's also a mall. We can get some clothes there." He turned to his father. "You don't have to stay. The FBI will fly you back to D.C. and you can take my car back to the house."
Patrick shook his head. "It's a nice offer, son, but I'm going to stay and see this through."
It was still raining when Ben pulled into the hotel parking lot. The five rushed inside, shielding their purchases from the rain. Ben approached the lady at the font desk. She was busily typing something into a computer. Ben and Patrick stopped at the counter as she looked up. She smiled. "Can I help you?"
Riley flopped into a chair in the lobby across from the front desk. Another man was watching the weather channel.
Alexis and Abigail were looking at a brochure rack. Abigail found a brochure about Old North Church.
"I need two rooms for one night." Ben said.
The lady typed something into the computer. "Okay, that will be sixty-five dollars."
Ben handed her his credit card.
Alexis picked up a brochure on historic New England landmarks. She took it to show Riley, but found that he appeared to have dozed off in the chair. "Riley, wake up!" She said, playfully smacking him on the forehead with the brochure.
He ignored her.
"Riley!" She laughed. "I know you can hear me!"
"What if I don't want to?" He asked.
"Then I'll pull you out of this chair myself!" Alexis said, still laughing.
Riley turned around defiantly, shifting his attention to the TV.
"I know you don't think that's interesting, Riley." Alexis said.
Riley pretended to ignore her, but smiled inwardly. "This is kinda fun!" He thought.
Abigail joined Ben and Patrick at the front desk as the lady handed Ben the room keys.
Alexis grabbed Riley's arm. "Come on! You're getting up!"
Riley felt a sudden longing for her course through him as she grabbed his arm.
"Get up!" She said, tugging on his arm.
Ben turned around to see the battle of wills. He rolled his eyes. "Great. He's found a place to crash. Now we'll never get him up!"
Abigail laughed. "Yes we will. He'd rather sleep in a bed than in a chair. Tell him we're going to our rooms."
"What's she doing to him?" Patrick asked.
Ben walked over to Riley and Alexis. He looked down at them and asked, "What tour group are you with?"
Riley and Alexis looked innocently at Ben.
"We're going to our rooms." Ben said.
Riley jumped up. "Cool!"
"Ha!" Alexis said triumphantly. "I told you I'd get you up!"
"You didn't get me up." Riley said, thoroughly enjoying her 'game'. "He did." He motioned to Ben.
Ben rolled his eyes. "Only Riley." He thought.
Abigail knocked on the door of the guys' room. Ben opened it.
"Hey, Alexis and I are going downstairs to the spa." She said.
Ben smiled. "Okay, have fun." He had to admit both women looked really good in their bathing suits.
Riley was sitting on the bed, reading a tourist's guide to Boston. He looked up and saw Abigail standing at the door, and behind her, Alexis was trying to keep the towel she had fashioned into a skirt from falling off her small waist. He took off his glasses, just to make sure he was seeing her correctly. Indeed, the picture was the same. He sighed.
Ben waved good-bye and shut the door.
"Wow." Riley whispered.
"Wow what?" Ben asked, expecting some sarcastic remark about how long his dad had been in the shower.
"Nothing!" Riley said defensively.
"Riley…" Ben said in a knowing tone, "tell me."
"No." Riley said stubbornly and went back to reading the book. Suddenly, a pillow hit him in the side of the head. He looked over at Ben, who was pretending to not be the one who had thrown the pillow.
"It's mine now. You aren't getting this back. Ever." Riley said.
"Riley, I'm your best friend, and I think I know you pretty well. But I never would have expected you to fall for someone so fast. It's not like you." Ben said.
"I'm not falling for anyone." Riley said, without meeting Ben's stare.
"Riley, I've seen how you look at Alexis." Ben said.
Riley sighed. Ben had it all figured out, as usual. He put the book down and took off his glasses. "Is it really that obvious?"
Ben shook his head. "To someone who didn't know you, no. But to me, yes. Riley, I know you better than I know anyone else."
Riley looked past Ben into some distant vision that only he could see. "Ben, I think I love her."
"I still don't know why guys don't like hot tubs." Alexis said, dipping her toe into the bubbling water. She was wearing a pink halter-top bikini.
"I don't think all guys hate spas. Ben and Riley have never been much for swimming." Abigail explained, then slipped below the water's surface to get her hair wet. She was wearing a dark blue spaghetti strap tankini.
Alexis stepped into the hot tub. She was smiling. "Riley's really shy, though. He probably thinks women would rather see Brad Pitt without a shirt, and that he should keep his on."
Abigail was stunned by how well Alexis seemed to know Riley's character.
For a few moments, there was silence. Then, Alexis spoke. "It must be so weird for you guys. I've been all over the place with you guys trying to find this treasure and you've only known me for four days. I just kinda fell into your lives out of the blue. You've all been so kind to me, especially Ben. He offered safety at his place because he thought I might be in danger. For that, I'm thankful. But there's one thing I can't tell him."
"Where is she going with this?" Abigail thought. "What?" She asked.
Alexis hesitated, then spoke. "I -," She paused, not sure what Abigail's reaction would be. "I think I'm falling for his best friend!"
"Riley!" She asked in an amused tone. "That's so sweet!"
Alexis blushed. "At least she doesn't think it's ridiculous." She thought. "So what kind of things does he like?" She asked. "Well, besides his Ferrari and computers."
Abigail thought for a moment. "Music, food, and complaining."
Alexis giggled at the last one. "Anything else?"
Riley sat alone on the end of the bed, flipping through the channels. He heard a knock at his door. Slowly, he rose to answer it. He heard Abigail's voice.
"Ben?"
Riley opened the door. "He's in the lobby getting dinner reservations." He explained.
"Oh!" Abigail said. "I guess I'll go talk to him after I change! Bye Riley!"
Riley closed the door and went back to his channel surfing. Finally, he settled on a showing of "Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again".
Abigail walked excitedly to Ben's side. She took his hand. He looked at her with a smile and they both said to each other, "You won't believe what I have to tell you!"
Patrick raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so now my son can read minds! When will the surprises end?"
Abigail laughed. "Okay, you first, Ben."
"It's about Riley." Ben said.
"Oh, really!" She said interestedly.
"He's falling for Alexis!" He said happily.
"Alexis told me that she likes him!" Abigail exclaimed. "This is great! They both love each other!"
"It's about time!" Patrick said. "I was starting to worry that the kid was gay or something!"
Ben rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, Dad. Riley's far from gay."
Abigail sighed. "But he's so shy! He'll never ask Alexis out or anything."
"Not without a push." Ben said. His eyes had gotten that look that meant he was forming a plan. "What if we play 'matchmaker' for them?"
"You mean set them up? Sounds good, if we can pull it off with out them guessing what's going on." Abigail said.
Patrick was skeptical. "It's never good to meddle in the affairs of others." He said.
"Dad, we aren't meddling, we're simply…speeding up the inevitable." Ben said, using his famous ability to rephrase words and make his actions sound more agreeable.
"The lady at the desk said they were expecting a crowd at the hotel restaurant tonight." Patrick said.
Ben smiled. "And I have an idea to get that to work for us."