A/N: All of these reviews are so encouraging, thank you. Please read and review! 3
It's Sunday morning. Riley wakes up in her bed with the curtains open and her comforter on. She sits up and stretches, noticing a hoodie that she doesn't remember owning. Then last night comes back to her. The last thing she remembers is leaning on Lucas. He must have carried her inside. She should take his hoodie back today and thank him.
She gets up and goes to the bathroom but then lays back down and picks up her book. Thanking him can wait until her parents are gone.
About two hours and seven chapters later, she hears the car leave the driveway and checks to make sure that both of her parents went. After concluding she hears nothing downstairs, she changes into jeans and a Black Sabbath shirt, putting the hoodie on. She then braids her hair to the side and finds a pair of converse. After the mess of eyeliner she had to clean up this morning, she foregoes it all together.
She walks out the door and is thankful for Lucas's hoodie. It's almost 50°. She walks down the sidewalk to his house, or the house she assumes is his, considering that's where they played basketball the day before. She looks up at the house when she reaches the mailbox and sees Lucas holding a basketball and watching her. She walks up to him and is careful to hide all emotion. For some reason, this boy seems to bring out the real Riley and she doesn't know if that's good yet.
"I just wanted to say thank you for everything last night and I assume you put me to bed." She begins to take off the jacket, saying, "Thanks for letting me borrow this."
When she finishes he reaches out and touches her arm, causing her to tense up a bit, so he releases her. He says, "No, no, you can keep it. Besides, it looks much better on you anyway."
Eyeing him for a second to make sure he isn't kidding, Riley slides the hoodie back on and zips it halfway.
"Thank you Lucas. For everything."
"You called me Lucas."
"What?"
"You've never actually called me my name before." After a seconds hesitation, he says, "I like the way it sounds when you say it."
Riley blushes and looks down. She hasn't been flirted with in a while. If she was, it was always some sleazy weirdo, not your classic, all-American, boy next door. She didn't think she would ever feel these butterflies in her stomach again after the first time.
Wait, butterflies?
Oh no not again.
"Do you want to take a walk or something?" he asks.
"Um... Sure I guess. A walk sounds nice."
They head off down the sidewalk in silence and almost make it to the park before Riley stops in her tracks. She doesn't think she can go back any time soon.
Lucas notices the look of true fear in her eyes and says, "We can go a different way. Just pick a direction."
Riley points to the left and they turn and walk down the sidewalk. "What's this direction?" Riley inquires.
"Town. Is that okay?"
Riley just nods, hoping she doesn't encounter any people.