I know that this is only Riley's POV so I am sorry but it is building into a really fun cute Rucas thing so bear with me. Okay so this was a really fun chapter for me to write and I hope you like it. Oh and SibuanaMockingjay I literally cried I kid you not, thank you so much! And for all of you that did the questions your reviews are coming soon!
Kisses,
Em
Riley's POV
The next week was boring but uneventful. I had to stay at the hospital for observation and then was forced to stay home as long as it was necessary that my hand be in a cast per my Moms request. Lucas stayed home one day with me but couldn't miss too many days. So, I spent five days at home in my bay window with my TV and the rain. It was scary how much the weather has been mimicking my mood. When it actually happened there was a downpour, you can figure how I felt. Then there was a month when low-pressure storms were in and out and sunny days were few and far between. Then our weather cleared up for spring until summer storm season hit. Either it was copying me or vice versa, I find it difficult to believe that my inner psyche was urging me to follow the weather patterns.
That was all that I did for that one week. Have these strange inner monologues about the weather and my inner psyche, also about the fact that me getting a month ahead in English was probably going to be detrimental when it came to what to do in class. English was the one class that I didn't have with anybody that I knew. I had started High School in junior year English; I was even a year ahead of Farkle the STEM genius. That mean's that I and a group of about five students that I didn't know very well from JAHS were bussed over to NYU to take English 202. It also meant that when I walked in yesterday with a giant bandage wrapped around my right hand I was going to get some questioning looks.
But let me back up and explain. Yesterday had been my first day back to school and it was interesting to say the least. Nearly constant looks of pity and words of sympathy were thrown at me, it was all over the school. And the news too, but the police had withheld my name for fear of backlash. So after three painstakingly awkward periods I grabbed a salad from the Cafeteria with Lucas and jumped on the bus to NYU.
The first questioning glance came from my teacher, who quickly exclaimed,
"Oh my Ms. Matthews, what did you scrape your arm on so badly to have it wrapped up like that?" And with this question I froze.
"Oh, um- I fell against the folded up bleachers in the gym during the scuffle at the school two weeks ago and had to go to the hospital because they were worried about tetanus." I lied.
It was scary how easy lying had come to me these past several months.
Almost every classmate asked the same question and the same lie slipped through my teeth time and time again that I had started believing myself.
After that annoying period of "Let's ask Riley repeatedly what she did to her arm even though we can all hear her response!" Ended I stole onto the bus and waited to be driven back to school.
After I got back to school I had AP World History with Lucas then study hall with him. Study hall was always interesting mainly because it was lead by Harper who let us do anything as long as she could tell it wasn't "Detrimental to us as human beings". Lucas and I had talked about things from prom to abortion to baby names. I mean, it was a weird day if I did homework. That led us to just another weird conversation,
"I think I get the bandages off tomorrow morning before class." I said with the words rushing out of my mouth.
"Really!" He exclaimed excitedly, I could hear Harper chuckle in the background.
"Yeah. " I said with a nod of my head.
"Does it look better?" He asked. Only my parents, Lucas, Maya, and Farkle had seen the red rip left on my skin from the bullet. Farkle had educated me on the scientific property of skin and why it rippled that way. Maya had drawn it for a sketch assignment based on the word "unfair". And Lucas, well he said it was a strangely beautiful battle scar. Just like the stretch marks I knew would form on my hips and legs soon enough.
"The same."
"You know it isn't really that bad," He said, "I'm sure that no one will even ask you about it." He finished as he threw his arm around my shoulder.
"Well they'll ask about it after Saturday at twelve o'clock." I said looking up to meet his eyes.
"Why?"
"I am going to get a tattoo." I said with my jaw set, repressing a smile. We had talked about this sophomore year during a lock down; we debated who would be the first to get a tattoo. We all said Maya. It seemed to make sense at the time that Maya in an act of rebellion would get one as soon as she turned eighteen. But as that time rolled around she concluded that she'd rather wait for a meaningful one rather than one fueled by fun. No one knew that I already had one. Even as I talk to Lucas. I got it when I was seventeen, my Grandma passed away. She had this thing with pearls, she was like obsessed so on the inside side of my left middle finger is a very small white circle. I honestly forgot about it until I made the decision to get my next tattoo.
"What?" He said looking down at me with a smile tugging at his lips.
"Yeah like a super simple arrow, no designs at all, no fancy tail, just lines from just below my elbow to halfway up my pinky." I said, laughing at his disbelief.
"Who knew goody too shoes Riley Matthews would get a tattoo. Especially a big one." He said displaying his full-length smile.
"I know, and guess who is totally coming with me for moral support?" I asked. The first time I went I went with my mom and it was done in less then two minutes. It went by so fast that it didn't even hurt. I knew better this time. One this long on this area of skin was going to be a long and painful process.
"Me?" He asked.
"Who else has a hand strong enough that I won't break it?" I asked jokingly.
"Okay but when I get mine you are coming with me." I he said.
"Deal." I shook his hand.
This was going to be a fun appointment.
What do you think about Riley getting the tattoo?
