Chapter 12
"Why are you crying? I thought that was supposed to be something every girl wants to hear?" Riley was in Lucas' chest, crying quietly, but with the occasional sniffle.
"That's why i'm crying you dope!" The quarterback chuckled lightly and kissed her head.
"Do you want to kiss me some more? I mean, i'd be okay with that." The brunette's lips touched his. "We still aren't together." The jade eyed man kissed her again.
"No, absolutely not." She whispered as he lifted her off the ground and continued their embrace.
"Yeah, not until after competition." He mumbled while her fingers ran through his hair. "I love you so much."
"I love you too." Lucas' stomach fluttered, with her breathy response. His phone started to ring.
"Hold on one second."
"No." She whined, feeling her feet touch the floor, they kissed one more time before he answered, never taking his eyes off of her.
Hello?
Hey Lukey.
LINDSEY!
Riley's eyes widened, she assumed he'd already broken up with her. Yes, is everything okay?
Not really. I have something to tell you.
Yeah, I heard about you getting kicked out. What happened?
Technically I left before I got kicked out.
The dancer left the room. Why? What happened?
I'm going to be 100 percent honest with you Lindsey. Because you're a great person and you deserve that much.
I really hope this isn't going where I think it's going.
When I called you to get back together, that wasn't by my own will. That wasn't what I wanted.
Oh.
I'm sorry, my dad wanted us to be together, and eventually get married, so I could have your land.
Wow. This really sucks.
I really am sorry. I was tired of using you that way because you are perfect and you deserve someone who will love you.
You don't?
I was going to fly out there to tell you, but I realized I had no place to stay since i'm sure my whole family has disowned me.
Lindsey sniffled. I appreciate you being honest with me. But, you aren't speaking the whole truth.
What do you mean?
I see the way you look at her Lucas. You haven't given me that look since the first month we started dating. Even then, it wasn't like that. When I ran off with Maya at the party, you went after her. You stopped her from punching that Britney girl. You snuck out in the middle of the night, i'm sure to go see her. He didn't know she knew about that.
I didn't break up with you for her. I broke up with you for me. We've just become familiar with each other, we deserve to be happy.
I agree. I'm also kind of jealous. Lucas got confused and very quickly.
Why?
I really loved all your new friends.
Who's to say we couldn't still hang out with each other?
That'd be weird, wouldn't it? Me flying out there to see your friends, and you with your new girlfriend?
They liked you too, so if you ever do want to come out. I'm sure you could stay with Maya.
Which brings me to my next question. Where are you staying now? Do you need anything?
Riley's parents took me in. I planned on staying with Josh but they're pretty great people. I don't need anything though, but if you could occasionally drop by and check on my family. Let me know how they're doing, that'd be great.
Of course. Good luck to you and Riley and thank you for being honest with me.
Bye Lindsey. Call me when you need me.
Lucas hung up the phone and let out a small smile. "Now Riley." He stepped out of the garage and meandered towards the kitchen table, and there she was eating strawberries and sugar. "Hey beautiful."
"Hey, how'd it go?"
"Great, she never gets mad so I wasn't expecting much." The brunette dusted off her hands.
"I assumed you had already broken up with her. If I had thought it through, I guess when would you have had the time? You've been busy." The dancer took another strawberry.
"Is that why you're binge eating strawberries." Her eyes rolled.
"I hate that I said I love you while you were still dating someone. I feel like a bad person." The quarterback slid beside her on the bench.
"You aren't a bad person. You're a wonderful person, which is why Lindsey still wants to see y'all." Riley's eyebrows caused creases. "Yeah, that's exactly what I did. She really got along with you guys." The lovers sat in silence for a few minutes while she devoured what was left of the strawberries. "So, what now?" His lips touched her cheek.
"Now, you won't be seeing me a whole lot."
"No!" His bottom lip came out.
"I love you Lucas, but Auggie was my first love." He nodded his head. "I have to do this, for him. Screw Winwood, screw Britney Fredrick, this is for him."
"That's pretty inspiring." They both giggled. "Just Sunday's?"
"Maybe, I might practice a little then too." His forehead landed on her bony shoulder.
"If I wasn't living with you then this'd really suck. Right now it's just 'suck' no very."
"Just a little over 3 weeks." Riley was used to competition mode, but the newly attached Lucas was not.
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"Why are you wearing jeans?" Riley lazily shrugged her shoulders and shut her locker. "No, Riley you are seriously wearing jeans? Was this a mistake?"
"No." Her brown eyes brightened seeing Lucas down the hall.
"Oh, lover boy huh? Trying to impress huckleberry?" The brunette giggled and nudged the blonde.
"I'm still wearing spandex underneath so I can dance at anytime." The green eyed man hurriedly walked down the hall, his eye was only slightly bruised now, that was the only indication he'd gotten into a fight.
"Hey beautiful." His arms wrapped around her, every part of him wanted to kiss her, but knew he couldn't.
"Hey." Maya smiled at their exchange.
"Hey huckleberry, it seems that Riley has an ass, she's been hiding it. What do you think?"
"MAYA!" The dancer snapped and put her back towards the locker.
The quarterback laughed. "No, seriously let's just take a quick look." Her best friend and her future boyfriend were trying to pull her off of the lockers, the brunette couldn't help but laugh to the point of it hurting. Riley was slowly coming back to normal and the blue eyed girl was glad to see it. "Oh yep, she sure does."
"See Riles, you should wear jeans more often." The blonde hopped on her best friends back. "Now mush! We have to get to class."
"Bye." He whispered.
"Later hater." Riley winked and walked away with Maya still on her back. Lucas knew she wasn't going to be as affectionate now that she was in competition mode, but it didn't bother him.
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"So how's Rlies today? Haven't seen her much." Josh jumped to put his jeans back on.
Lucas smiled. "She's slowly going back to normal. She laughed, like a lot this morning and didn't have guilt in her eyes after she did it." Her uncle grinned and put on his shirt.
"How are you?" The dark haired man leaned up against the lockers with his arms crossed.
"Pretty well actually. Especially considering the circumstances, getting kicked out and all." Josh raised an eyebrow. "You have nothing to worry about Uncle Josh, just because i'm living with Riley doesn't mean anything is going to happen."
"Mhm."
The quarterback started laughing and buttoned up his shirt. "I'm serious. We aren't even going to kiss until after the competition. We're staying in seperate rooms-"
His friend interrupted again. "Mhm."
"You know I wish Maya had an uncle who could patronize you. I know you two have." Riley's uncle laughed and shook hands with Lucas.
"I'm just messing with you man." They laughed.
"I should've known. Hey did you get those shirts ordered?"
"I've got them made but I haven't gotten them ordered." Josh mumbled.
"Good, Auggie's friends aren't going to be able to make it. It sucks but I understand, the CF organization that put on the auction are going to send 2 people." Lucas divulged.
"I don't know if Maya told you but she's going to use an actual picture of Auggie. Topanga showed her one on her phone and she loved it. She's afraid she won't be able to capture the true emotion or some artistic nonsense like that."
"That's fine, I understand. Even if she doesn't win, which she will, this will be her best routine yet."
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"10 into a triple?" Hillary questioned.
"And a triple into a calypso." Riley corrected. Her coach looked concerned. "I can do it!"
"Alright, you ready to try it? Let me see what it looks like." The dancer nodded and got ready. " prep 7 8." Hillary continued to saunter around her, checking her form. "Faster! 5 6 7 8! GOOD 9, 10, TRIPLE!" The brunette landed on her heel on the last turn and calypso'd out.
The brown eyed girl took a deep breath and exhaled heavily. "How was that?"
"You start losing your momentum after the 8th, you landed on your heel on the last pirouette, and instead of landing on your feet after the calypso, I want you to roll on the floor." Riley's eyes traced the ground, feeling a little defeated. "But, not bad considering the technical difficulty. This song is slower, you're going to have to have a lot of control for all those alesecondes. Practice it for 30 minutes, we'll run it a few times and end this 5 hour long session."
"5 hours?" The dancer looked at the clock.
"Yeah, i'd charge you more but I really enjoy working with you." Hillary winked and started to walk towards her office. The brunette smiled, trying to hide her blush. "Hey, get to work!"
Riley started practicing the combination and felt a pair of creepy eyes watching her. "Missy? What can I do for you?"
"Just doing some stuff for Hillary. What are you working on?" She sat down in front of the mirror.
"Why would I tell you? You'd run off and tell Britney. In fact, can you go ahead and leave? Please and thank you." Missy held a mischevious grin on her face. "Do you just like doing conniving things? Or do you just not like me because of something I did?"
"No, nothing you did. Family first, i'm sure you can understand." She stood at the doorway and watched Riley practice, Missy had already gotten what she needed anyways.
"HILLARY! Come watch real quick."
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Riley opened up her front door and fell onto the couch. "Hey honey, how was practice?" She put up a thumb and dropped it just as quickly. Cory laughed, "maybe you need to eat something else besides strawberries and sugar, like some protein. Just an assumption though."
"Yeah, that's how you're going to keep up your strength." The dancer was startled and rolled off the couch, landing on the hardwood. She almost forgot Lucas was staying there. "Oh my God." Lucas laughed. "I mean, are you okay?"
The wind had gotten knocked out of her, so her voice was more of a squeal. "Yeah."
"Shake it off Riles." Topanga demanded, the quarterback found it hilarious. "Yeah, we used to worry about her when she'd fall and hurt herself but, it just happened so often." The brown eyed girl stood up and after coughing a few times took a deep breath. "You good?"
"Yep."
The green eyed man smiled. "Speaking of protein, I made chicken. You hungry?" The brunette took a seat at the bench and munched on some green beans.
"How's Hillary?" Questioned Mr. Matthews.
"She's good, she's worried about my combination though. She doesn't want me to see it but she is." Lucas sat beside her.
"Well, how do you feel about the combination?"
Riley glanced into his gorgeous eyes. "I feel pretty good about it. I know I can do it, but i'm not practicing that combo up there anymore."
Topanga cleared her throat. "Why not honey?"
"Missy, Hillary's new assistant is Britney Fredrick's cousin."
"Isn't that like a conflict of interest?" Riley shrugged her shoulders.
"Whether it is or isn't doesn't matter, Britney is a better technical dancer." Everyone went to protest. "Stop! I've accepted that, that's why I never 'battle' her. She's a better technical dancer but she's arrogant and this time i'm going to be emotional." The dancer rose from the bench grabbing a few more green beans and waltzed into her garage.
"So much for protein." Joked Cory.
"Why does she do that?" Questioned the quarterback. "Why does she talk down her own skill?"
"It keeps her humble." Topanga smiled. "She doesn't do it to talk herself down, Riley does it to push herself more. Britney always talks about how wonderful she is, when really her dancing should stand on its own."
Cory picked up where his wife left off. "Arrogance requires advertising. Confidence speaks for itself." Mrs. Matthews took a bite of his chicken.
"This is delicious. Where'd you learn to cook like this?"
"My parents were never home, so it was either learn how to cook or eat out all the time." Topanga placed her hand on top of his. "I really like this though, sitting down with family and talking."
"We're really happy to have you Lucas." The jade eyed man couldn't help the smile that overwhelmed his face.
"I'm happy to be here."
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"Aug, I did 12! Oh yeah!" Riley started jumping. "I should probably be doing my combo but, eh I don't care."
"You're so cute." The brunette turned around and saw Lucas leaning against the wall.
"How long have you been there?"
"Long enough to see your happy dance." The quarterback laughed and sauntered towards her. "Your parents went to bed and I got bored watching TV."
"Wait, what time is it?" The dancer searched for her clock, but she took it down to not be distracted by the ticking hands.
"Midnight." His hands wrapped around her waist.
"I thought we agreed to-" She stopped herself, feeling his lips on her neck. "We said we weren't going to be together until after the competition."
"It comes and goes." He pecked her neck again. "It's midnight, can't we hang out together for a little bit?" He gently placed his forehead on hers.
"Someone doesn't like the lack of attention."
"No, I don't." She smiled and kissed his lips. "We can watch The Holiday, or whatever movie you want to watch."
"Fine, I guess i'm in your room anyways." He nodded his head and kissed her again, his large hands holding the back of her head. "I love kissing you."
"I love you." He whispered. "Everything about you, and your family." He lifted her off the ground and laid her on the air mattress she pushed aside. His soft lips crashed onto hers, but he pulled away when Riley tried to remove his shirt. "I'm going to start the movie." Lucas kissed her cheek.
"Boo." His laugh was adorable as he sauntered away.
"I respect your father, i'm not going to do this in his home." His green eyes moved to look at her laying on his temporary bed, with nothing but spandex and a sports bra, he bit his lip. "No matter how bad I want to"
"Ugh, at least take off your shirt." Lucas pressed play on the dvd player and unbuttoned his shirt on the way back to her. "Thank you!" The brunette laid down on his chest and followed the lines of his abs. "So much for not distracting me."
"You let love in, once you do that it's hard to stop youself." He whispered.
"Maybe that's why they say 'falling in love', you can't force yourself to fall, and you can't stop yourself from doing it either." His lips touched her head.
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"Where's Riley?" Josh asked.
"I told her to not come and practice instead. If she wanted to." Lucas divulged, while he was getting ready to go on the field.
"She's been practicing non stop. Literally, my entire life i've never seen her practice this much."
The quarterback laughed. "Yeah, she wakes up at 6 to practice and kicks me out. She goes to the studio after school and works with Hillary till like 7 or 8. Then, after eating goes to practice until midnight. I'm thinking about just sleeping on the couch. I don't know how she survives with that much practice and that little amount of sleep." Josh chuckled.
"Yeah, I don't know. You can stay at my place for awhile if you want." The jade eyed man shook his head. "Yeah, I figured not. 1 more week dude, can you hang in there?"
"Oh yeah, that is not something you need to worry about." Lucas stood up with his helmet in hand. "Ready to play?"
"LET'S GO LIONS!" Josh exclaimed and Lucas led the team out of the locker room.
"WELCOME TO THE FIELD YOUR CHS LIONS!" The team busted through the sign and took the field , jumping up and down, some were falling over and others were too cool to do any of those. Josh peruzzed the stadium to find Maya, he couldn't find her beautiful blue eyes.
"Josh, come on." Lucas dragged him to the center of the field for the coin toss. "Heads." Demanded the quarterback.
"LIONS HAVE POSESSION!" The friends ran back to their team, but not before Josh saw his girlfriend.
"Luke, I thought you said Riley would be practicing." The jade eyed man continued stretching his arm.
"She is. Why?"
"Well then, my niece has a twin I don't know about. Stop stretching and look dude." Lucas' helmet flew off to search the stadium. "Right there, follow my finger." Riley's hair was blowing in the wind, and her hand flagging him down.
"She came." He whispered. The dancer blew him a kiss and his heart exploded, along with his smile.
"Well he was surprised." Joked Maya.
"Yeah, that was the plan. I haven't been taking Sunday's off, I figured I could give him one night. Plus I missed you guys."
"Translation, you missed Lucas." The brunette dropped her head.
"I missed all of you, I miss Auggie a lot." She swallowed back the tears. "Wow, i've uh talked to him a lot but I haven't cried in awhile."
The blue eyed girl wrapped her arm around Riley's shoulder. "I know, you've been burying yourself in dance."
"It's still hard to believe he's gone." Her brown eyes found Lucas on the field, and it helped steady her breathing.
"What about Lucas reminds you of Auggie? I've been wanting to know but haven't had a chance to ask you."
A small smile approached the dancer's lips. "His outlook on life." Her brown eyes glanced at her blue ones. "The 'yeah things suck, i'm being kicked out of my house, forced to be with someone I don't love but things are going to work out' kind of attitude. The rely on people you love and those who love you attitude." Her chin touched her chest. "Auggie had a disease that was going to kill him, I was mad a lot but he would always tell me 'it'll be okay, i'm going to be okay'." Maya smiled and laid her head on Riley's shoulder. "I love them both."
"If I mention a double date will you run off again?" Riley giggled and moved her shoulder.
"Have you heard anymore from Aiden?"
"No, thank the Lord." Maya mumbled. "Can I tell you something?"
"Of course."
The blonde bit her cheek. "Josh and I made out before I broke up with Aiden."
"Ooo, Maya!" Joked the dancer. "So, he's liked you for years. And I had a strong disdain for Aiden so I don't really care."
The blue eyed girl smacked Riley's boob. "Why didn't you tell me he had feelings for me?"
"OW! Damn it! Josh told me not to once I confronted him about it. He wanted you to figure it out on your own." It just so happens that Lucas and Josh watched the punch and were laughing hysterically. "Congratulations Maya, I didn't know it was possible but I think you bruised my boob."
"Free shot." The blonde put her hands behind her back and the brunette swung. "OW!"
The guys glanced at each other with a smile, and look of confusion. "Why did Riley just punch my girlfriend?"
"Why did Maya punch Riley to begin with?" They both shrugged their shoulders and turned around to face the field. "I love her."
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Thanks for reading. Please follow, favorite and review.
Sorry this chapter was a little tedious, I wanted to show their 'relationship' growing. And how she's starting to smile, and laugh and actually wear jeans :O!