AN. Quick note, I am considering bumping up the rating of this story. Please let me know what you think. Should I move up to M with warnings for M sections so T readers can still enjoy or keep in the T section? Please review or PM me your thoughts.
"Okay, then what happened?"
It was nearly midnight. Riley and Maya sat cross legged across from each other in the bay window, an annual night before first day of school ritual.
"Then he asked what if he needed someone to show him around the town." Riley gushed. She had been replaying the day over and over in her head, she didn't want to ever forget a single detail.
Maya scoffed. "Show him around the town? We live in Cold Springs. It's not like it's that complicated. There's the town. There's the river. Done. Is that too hard for Huckleberry to remember?"
Riley glared at her. "He's not a Huckleberry. He's from Texas. You don't call Zay a Huckleberry."
"That's different"
"No it's not!"
"Agree to disagree." Maya dismissively waved her hand in the air. "What did you do next?"
"Well I said I know somebody and then I wrote my number on his school map."
"Riley Matthews!" Maya gasped. "That was smooth AF! I'm so proud!"
Riley pretended to brush dirt off of her shoulder. "Thanks"
"And then he messaged you right?"
Riley's eyes gazed off dreamily, "Yeah"
"Lemme see!"
Riley opened the message and showed it to Maya. They both squealed.
"Riles, he is so into you!"
"You think so?"
"Yes! You need to text him back!"
Riley hesitated. "Would that be too weird?"
"No! Not at all!"
The girls were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. Josh poked his head in the room. "What are you two squealing about?"
Riley dropped the phone and answered, "nothing!" as Maya answered "Riley's new boy toy!"
"Wait you're talking to a boy?! Gimme that!" Josh raced into the room. Riley shoved her phone down the front of her shirt, the only safe place for it.
"Who is it Riley." Josh demanded.
"You're not her father." Maya snapped.
Josh's face softened. "Riley you know I'm just looking out for you right?"
Riley nodded. "I know Josh. I just don't want you to scare him off yet. I just met him."
Josh sighed. "Okay fine. But if things go any further you have to tell me who it is."
"Deal." Riley stood to give her brother a hug.
"I'm serious Riley, if anything happens, come to me." Josh whispered into her ear.
"I will. Love you bro."
"Love you sis."
"Wait where's my hug?" Maya called from the bay window.
Josh laughed. "Come here." He pulled her into a tight hug as Riley sat back down.
"My door will be unlocked." He mumbled into her hair. Maya discreetly nodded and pulled away.
"Okay we all need to get to bed. It's already waaay late." Josh said as he left the room.
Riley fumbled with her phone in her hands. "What should I say back to Lucas?"
"Whatever you want Riles. How about 'see you at school' with a smiley?" Maya suggested as she climbed into the bed.
"Is that too lame?" Riley questioned, getting into the bed as well.
"For you? No, it's just flirty enough."
"Okay I'm gonna do it…..I'm doing it…." Riley's fingers rapidly tapped away on her phone. "...it's happening...and sent!" Riley flopped back onto the pillows. Her stomach was twisting with nerves, as if she were in the midst of defusing a bomb. I need a distraction. She thought
"I saw you with Zay in the art room, anything going on with you two?"
Maya shrugged. "Don't know."
"Are you actually going to the stay the night with me tonight?"
"Don't know"
Both of their phones dinged.
Riley's heart pounded. She was practically dizzy with nerves. That's it. He's going to tell me I'm a freak. A smiley face? What was I thinking, that was way too bold. Riley's hands trembled as she checked her phone.
Lucas: Looking forward to it beautiful ;)
Riley grinned, her heart soaring.
Maya checked her phone. She had two messages, the first from Zay.
Zay: Goodnight Sugar. I had a great time today, sweet dreams.
The second message was from her mother. Maya had texted her hours ago to tell her she would be staying over at Riley's house for the night.
Mom: Have fun baby girl. I'll be out tonight too.
Maya rolled her eyes. Big surprise. She thought and opened a reply to Zay.
Maya: Maybe we can do it again sometime, goodnight handsome!
Maya put her phone down and laid in the darkness until she was sure Riley was asleep. She quietly climbed out of the bed and tiptoed out of the room. She doubled checked the coast was clear before slipping into Josh's room. She locked the door behind her and slipped under the covers next to him.
"Took you long enough." Josh whispered, pulling her into his arms. He placed a lazy kiss on her cheek and buried his nose into her blonde mane. Maya snuggled into his bare chest. "Does Riley know you're in here?" Josh's fingers played with a few strands of her hair.
Maya shrugged. "Probably."
Josh chuckled. "Come here Kitten." He tugged her chin up and found her lips with his in the darkness. His pace quickly picked up and Maya matched his desperation. She rolled him onto his back and pressed against his chest, her legs straddling his waist. "You know Kitten…" Josh ran his hands over her thighs as he took a breath. "...This is my last year here before I go away to college. We probably don't have many of these nights left."
"Then you better stop wasting time." Maya pushed her lips back against his.
"Are you really mad at me Riles?"
They were in Riley's car on the way to school.
"I'm not mad Peaches. I'm just tired of you spending the night and ending up in Josh's room!"
Maya felt a small rush of guilt. "I'm sorry Riley. He was just comforting me."
"I'm your best friend! I can comfort you too!" Riley exclaimed.
"Not like this Riley." Maya laughed.
"ACK! Maya!" Riley shouted. Maya shrugged and they both laughed.
"I'm sorry Riles. It was nothing really. You know how I am" Maya explained.
"I know, you're a free spirit. You go wherever the wind takes you." Riley sighed.
"Yes and the wind just so happened to take me to Josh's room last night."
"Exactly. That's why I'm upset with you Peaches. I don't want to see anyone get hurt." Riley stated as she pulled into a parking spot.
"I know." Maya mumbled. "So are we good now or what?" She added, climbing out of the car.
Riley sighed then held out her arm. "Thunder?"
"Lightning!" Maya grinned. They both hugged. "Time for the first day of school selfies!"
They both laughed and pulled out their phones.
"YAAS! Queen! Werk!" Riley called as the two made various poses.
"Fierce. Fierce. Fierce." They both chanted, too wrapped up in their own world to notice the group of cheerleaders approaching.
"Freaks." Missy viciously hissed. Her minions cackled.
"Devil spawn." Maya snapped back. "I'd offer to take your photo, but it seems your demon face broke my camera." Maya feigned disappointment.
"Hilarious." Missy sneered. "I'm pretty sure Smiley's hideous outfit is what ruined your camera." Her minions laughed and followed Missy into the building.
"Don't listen to her Riles." Maya turned to her suddenly quiet friend.
Riley looked down at her outfit. She was wearing a gold and black short sleeve fitted turtleneck, tucked into a high waist denim skirt that fell just above her knees and her chunky black booties. Her hair was pulled in a low braided bun on the back of her head.
"I thought I looked pretty decent." She mumbled.
"More than decent. Honey you look beautiful. You're gonna knock Huckleberry's boots right off! Okay? Don't let that sea witch ruin your day." Maya gave her friend a quick hug.
"You're right. Today is a good day. Everyday is a good day!" Riley's smile returned and she held her head up high.
"That's right! Let's get inside." Maya linked her arm with Riley's and lead her into the school.
"I guess this is goodbye Peaches." Riley dramatically sang as they entered the doors.
"You're memory will never fade from me" Maya joined in.
"But alas! We must part ways for these retched…." Riley glanced up at the clock, "...180 minutes!"
"I will miss you dearly darling! Until fourth period…." Maya dramatically threw her arms around her best friend. "Farewell."
They both giggled and went their separate ways.
Riley quietly made her way through the halls enroute to her first period, AP Physics. She turned down into C hall and took in the sight before her. Lucas Friar stood, quite tensely she noted, at his locker. He was wearing a light blue v-neck with a denim jacket and dark boots barely noticeable under his jeans. She giggled as he continued to fumble with his locker and crossed the hall to greet him.
Lucas Friar was extremely frustrated. He had entered his locker combination a million times, but it refused to open. He restrained from punching the stupid metal door out of pure frustration.
"God…..damnit…..stupid piece of…" The lock refused to work.
"Need some help Cowboy?"
Riley's voice caused him to jump, but he was too angry to care.
"No. I just can't get this stupid damn thing open." Lucas violently shook the lock.
"Lucas stop." He felt a calming hand on his shoulder. His tense body calmed under her fingertips. He felt goosebumps, as if a cool wave had rushed over him.
"Breathe…" Riley soothed. Lucas took a breath, his mind drifted from the frustration of the locker to the new sensations Riley's small hand created.
"Good. Now try again."
Lucas entered his combination and the lock sprung open. Riley removed her hand from his shoulder. Lucas opened the locker and murmured a thanks as he shoved his books in and pulled out the ones he needed.
"You're welcome. First day nerves?" Riley questioned.
"Yeah I guess s…whoah." Lucas finally turned his head to face Riley and took in her appearance. "You look amazing today Riley."
Ha! Suck it Missy! "Thanks. You look great too. It's funny how everyone dresses their best on the first day back to school." Riley blushed as his eyes glanced down her body.
Lucas didn't notice her pink cheeks. He was too busy taking in her legs. No. Lucas not right now. Think of anything but her legs. Her long legs...long legs wrapped...no!
Riley cleared her throat. "We should probably get to class."
"Right class." Lucas echoed. "We have first period together right?" He finally snapped out it. Nice job, could you be any more of an ass? He scolded himself.
"Very good, you remembered!" Riley beamed at him.
"After you Miss." Lucas motioned for her to lead the way.
Lucas held the door open for Riley as they entered the science lab. Riley took a seat in the back of the room. Lucas followed to sit next to her at the lab table, but hesitated as a tall gangly dark haired boy immediately approached Riley.
"Wifey!" the boy exclaimed, pulling Riley into a hug.
Lucas nearly dropped his books.
"Farkle." Riley hugged the boy back. Lucas began to see red. He awkwardly took a seat at the open table in front of Riley. Not so patiently waiting for this kid to get his hands off of her. The boy took the open seat next to Riley.
"I missed you this summer! Did you get any good research while on your father's yacht?" Riley asked the boy.
"Yes ! It was amazing. I tracked a new migration of sea turtles off the coast of…." the boy trailed off, feeling Lucas's eyes on him.
Riley followed his gaze. "Oh! I'm so sorry, Lucas this is Farkle. Farkle, this is Lucas Friar, he's new this year from Texas."
"What the hell is a Farkle?" Lucas blurted out before he could stop himself.
"I am! Farkle Minkus." Farkle stuck his hand out to Lucas. Lucas shook his hand tentatively, but still firm. He noticed Farkle wince. Oops.
"Welcome class! Welcome to another exciting new year!" An older graying teacher entered the room. "Does anyone know what a new year means? That's right a new seating chart!"
The class groaned.
The teacher put on a large pair of glasses and began calling out names and pointing to chairs. Much to Lucas's dismay, he ended up sharing a lab table with Riley. Before his new found knowledge of Farkle this would have thrilled him.
"Now class, your table-mate will also be your lab partner for the semester! Let's get started!"
Riley glanced at Lucas and gave him a small smile, but his face remained stone and focused on the teacher.
"Well Peaches. I already blew it." Riley blew out a long breath.
"You did not ruin anything Honey."
Riley and Maya took a seat next to each other in the art classroom for their fourth period, Beginners Art. Maya conned the art instructor, Mrs. Creo, into letting her take the course as a teacher's aide. Maya was slightly shocked when Mrs. Creo agreed, but then again maybe she wanted to ensure Riley had a personal babysitter for the class.
"He was probably just paying attention to the lesson." Maya suggested.
"He wouldn't even look at me Maya! He bolted as soon as the class was over and completely avoided me in second period too!"
"Maybe he is just anxious for his first day. Aren't they, like, posting the football roster tonight or something? Maybe he's worked up about that?"
"Doubt it." Riley muttered, blindly reaching for the closest paint she could find.
"No! No! No! Honey…" Maya pulled the can of paint thinner out of Riley's hand. "Here use this one, see it's purple!" Maya soothed, handing her a tube of acrylic paint.
"Oh Maya, can't you see! I'm distraught!" Riley flung the tube open and smeared paint straight onto the canvas with her fingers.
Maya chuckled. "I know honey. Let it go, paint it all out" She handed Riley a cloth for her hands.
Mrs. Creo entered the room, "Miss Matthews! Seriously?" She cried, "It's only the first day!"
"A true artist cannot limit their creativity to negligible subjective concepts such as time Mrs. Creo." Riley replied, already elbow deep in purple paint.
Mrs. Creo let out an exasperated breath. "Maya…"
"Already got it covered."
"Well, don't just stand there students! This is an art class. Take a lesson from Miss Matthews here, create something!" Mrs. Creo addressed the class. She began her rounds, observing the students to get an idea of their levels. She arrived at Riley's easel. Maya shook her head and darted her eyes from Mrs. Creo to Riley. Mrs. Creo sighed and moved on.
"That's a beautiful painting Riles…" Maya looked at the painting closer. "...of a purple cat?"
"Thank you. I call it Gerold."
"I love it Riles."
Oh no! Looks like a little bump in the road for Lucas and Riley! Thank you so much for your positive feedback! I love being able to interact with the readers so please please leave reviews! Shoutout to the guest reader to caught on to the title, I was very inspired by Locash's song "I know Somebody." In fact most of this story will be inspired by various songs, especially in the country genre. Review, favorite, follow, all the things! The more feedback I see the more inspired I am, which means faster updates for you!
Lilly.