DISCLAIMER: I own nothing, but my lovely laptop and my beautiful LG Dare!
AN: Two updates, one day! I'm proud of myself. Today was just a lazy day, so I decided I'd be productive and write. I like this chapter, and I found myself unable to stop writing about Caleb. So this chapters a little long than the others, but hopefully it'll help strengthen the relationships within the story. I tried to include everyone in this chapter, but did'nt write anything about Megan. But dont worry, I have lots of ideas for her in the next few chapters. Please enjoy, and review! They make my day.
chapter four; hate to see you go
Riley ran a hand though her long blonde hair and shut her locker, before making her way outside. She was almost to the parking lot, when she heard someone call her name.
"Riley! Hey!" It was Caleb.
She smiled, he looked so cute in his navy blue pea coat and his hair all mussed up.
"Hey Caleb, what's up?"
He shrugged, stuffing his hands in his coat pocket, "Nothing really, where you heading?"
"Eh, I was thinking of grabbing some food…you?"
"Oh, nowhere really. Mind some company?"
"Not at all. You can show me around town."
They got into Riley's small red car, and made small talk as she drove into town. As she parked near the diner, she asked, 'I hope you don't mind me asking, but what's on your mind?"
Caleb's eyebrows shot up in surprise, "Are you a mind reader?"
She laughed "No, you just looked like you really need to talk."
He flushed slightly "You don't want to hear me whining."
"You haven't heard whining till you've heard Taryn."
He laughed "You sure?"
"Positive. Now, spill."
He nodded, sighing as he ran a hand though his dark locks "It's Sarah…She's been worrying me lately. She doesn't eat, she barely talks, and she's so distant! I don't know what to do or say to snap her out of it."
Riley nodded "Well, has anything important happened lately that would shake her up? Any fights?"
He shrugged in reply "No, not that I know of."
"Not to be extreme, but maybe a death in the family, or of a close friend?"
"Well, there was this kid who disappeared a few days before I noticed her acting weird. No one knows if he died or if he's just gone. There was a big fire, and the firefighters couldn't fine any traces of him."
"Were Sarah and he close?"
"No, not at all…in fact, Kate was closer to him then her."
"Well, maybe we're just over analyzing this situation. Maybe she's just stressed from school. Didn't you say she wants to get in to Yale? And maybe she misses home, this is her first year at boarding school."
He nodded "Yeah, maybe that's it. Thanks for listening…I don't usually dump my problems on people….you're just easy to talk to I guess."
She smiled "No problem, and thanks. Feel free to dump your problems on me anytime, I don't mind."
He laughed "Good to know. Now, lets eat, I'm starving! My treat!"
"What a gentleman!"
He grinned "What can I say? I was raised right."
trying to waste the energy i'll never spend on you
Taryn sat in the library, leafing through medical journals for her Psych paper, when someone plopped down across from her. As she looked up, she immediately rolled her eyes.
"Garwin, you lost?"
He smirked "I was just about to ask you the same. You don't strike me as the library type. Unless it involves you in some kinky librarian outfit, having a secret tryst with me behind a bookshelf…"
"You're gross. Anyways, I get my grades by actually doing my work, not using Tyler for answers."
He scoffed "Seems like you're the one using baby boy here."
"Really now? How so?"
"It's obvious you're with him to make me jealous. We both know you wanted me from the start."
"Is it working?" she quipped.
Caught slightly off guard, Reid quickly replied "Of course not, Phillips. Don't flatter yourself."
She rolled her eyes "You are so full of yourself. Why would I ever want pompous slut instead of the sweetest, cutest boy I know?"
He smirked "Because, he's not the one that gets you all hot and bothered, right? He's too sweet for you."
She smirked back "Please. If you must know Tyler gets me very hot. As a matter of fact, we just had a great quickie. You should think about washing your sheets, we made a little mess," before grabbing her things and leaving Reid surprised, and a little grossed out.
"What the fuck!" he muttered.
well, i'm gonna hate to see you go
Lia strode the quad, to meet Sam for a quick lunch. As she was walking, she sifted though her bag for her cell phone. Oblivious to her surroundings, she walked smack into something tall and solid. As she looked up, she grinned "Sorry Tyler! Didn't see ya there."
He smiled broadly "No damage on my part. Where you off to?"
"Lunch with Same before calc. I cant focus on anything with an empty stomach."
"Especially something as mind numbing as calc."
She laughed "Exactly. Where are you off to?"
"I was heading to Taryn's room -well, your room too," he said, flushing slightly, "But Riley told me she just left for a run. So, now just gonna grab a sandwich from the hall…"
"Oh, so how are you two?"
"Good…and you and Reid?"
She laughed again "There is no me and Reid."
He looked relieved "Ah, good. You're too good for him."
She smirked "He's not usually my type, I go for someone a little more clean cut and a little more adorable, y'know? Plus, that's more like Tar- I mean, he's just too much of a smooth operator for me."
He didn't acknowledge the slip up and continued "Yeah, well everyone says that, but nearly every upperclassman girl has kissed him. Not to mention half of the underclassmen girls too."
She smiled "Guilty as charged."
"See?! What a disgrace. Well, I better let you go meet Sam, she's an impatient one. See you later?"
"Yeah, definitely…you'll be in my room soon enough."
He laughed and turned to walk in the other direction, before saying "You really are a smartass!"
"It's part of my charm!" She winked at him before walking away.
Tyler stood, watching the dark haired girl continue to walk across the quad, hips swinging subtly as she moved. As he watched, his phone rang, jarring him out of his semi-trance. It was Reid.
"Yo," he answered.
"Dude , where are you? I'm starving." He sounded irritated.
"Do you wanna go grab some food from the diner?"
"I'm at the dorms, meet me at the lot."
As Tyler shut his phone, ending the call, he turned to walk towards the parking lot. When he got there, Reid was propped against the truck with an irritated look on his face.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Tyler asked as they got in his Hummer.
"Nothing," Reid replied darkly.
Tyler scoffed "Really?"
"Really."
"Reid…"
Reid snapped "Tyler, stop acting like a little bitch, and drop it!"
Tyler rolled his eyes, scoffing "I'm acting like a little bitch? Oh, alright Reid," as he continued to drive into town. As he stopped at a light, he noticed a girl in a sports bra and shorts about to run past the car.
Reid grumbled "I think your girlfriend should be a little less naked when she goes for a run though town…"
"What are you talking about," Tyler asked, before noticing it was Taryn. He honked his horn twice, and she looked up and grinned. She immediately walked to the car and hopped in the back. She leaned into the drivers' seat and kissed Tyler on the lips.
Once she pulled away, she smirked "Baby, you followin' me?"
He kissed her again and then said "Reid and I were just gonna grab some food, wanna come?"
She shrugged "I'm not really dressed."
Reid snorted in response. Tyler rolled his eyes "I've got a sweatshirt in the back, if you want."
She smiled, kissing him again, before moving to get the sweatshirt. She rummaged back there before saying "Ty, where is it?"
He shrugged "It might be buried under some stuff, but I know its there."
you decide what you can and cannot take
Reid took a glance back, and immediately wished he hadn't. He scanned her body as she continued to search the back of the car. Her skin was remarkably tan for September in Ipswich, and her stomach was taut and flat. Her legs looked miles long in her black shorts, and her bra stretched across her generous chest. She pulled her hair out of her ponytail, so her shiny dark hair tumbled across her back, dancing down her spine. She was gorgeous, even after a sweaty run.
Reid quickly looked straight ahead, and fiddled with the radio stations. Taryn sighed in frustration "I don't see the damn sweatshirt!"
Tyler laughed "Just hold on, we're almost there."
They finally pulled into the diner and parked. Taryn jumped out and opened the trunk, rummaging for Tyler's hoodie.
She grumbled "I still don't see the damn thing!"
Tyler chuckled, as he moved behind her, putting an arm on her waist, and pushing himself closer, grabbing the sweatshirt with his other hand. Kissing her cheek, he laughed "How blind are you baby? It's bright red."
She smiled, spinning around so she was facing him, and pulled on the sweatshirt. "You could have mentioned that to me!"
Reid called out "I'm starving over here!"
Taryn rolled her eyes and replied "Go get a table then!"
Tyler turned to move towards the diner, but Taryn gently tugged him back. She hoisted herself to sit in the trunk and pulled Tyler between her legs.
He looked at her questioningly "What are you doing?"
"Trying to kiss you…Is that a problem?"
"Well, I mean I have no objections, but Reid's waiting for us."
She rolled her gray green eyes "Reid doesn't wait for anyone. He's a big boy, he can eat without us," before placing hot, open-mouthed kisses along his neck, bringing him closer.
"It's just rude…"
'You're too nice sometimes Ty…Reid's not gonna care. Now, c'mere."
She weaved a hand through his dark hair as she nipped across his neck.
He wrapped an arm around her waist and breathed "What brought this along?"
She pulled away slightly "So now a girl can't jump her boyfriend without an interrogation? Christ."
"Well, no I'm not saying that…"
"Okay then, shut up and kiss me!"
He kissed her gently on the lips and tightened his hold on her waist. She responded by kissing him harder and wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him as close as possible. He pulled away, trying to simmer things down, but she took it in the opposite direction and reached for his zipper. She began to unzip his pants, when he quickly pulled her arms away, zipping himself back up, shaking his head."
She looked up at him confused, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing…I'm just…I just…I don't know."
"Don't know what?"
"This just feels wrong…"
She chuckled softly "I see…obviously not an exhibitionist."
He looked down at her, toughing her face "It's not you baby, I promise."
She shrugged him off "The thought never crossed my mind."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Taryn…"
"Tyler, just drop it! You don't want to hook up, so lets just forget this ever happened and go eat."
He moved to kiss her on the cheek but she dodged it with ease. She stared at him with flashing eyes and murmured "I don't want your pity kiss."
He sighed "Taryn, don't be like that."
She glared at him "Like what Tyler? Annoyed? Sorry, that's the first emotion that pops in my head when my boyfriend rejects me, can't help it."
"It's not like that."
"Then what's it like? Explain!"
"…I don't know what to say."
She sighed "Just say something. Anything at all."
"It's not you…I swear."
"When what is it!?"
"I don't know how to explain it."
She moved away from him and hopped out of the Hummer. "I'll give you some time to figure it out then."
"Taryn!"
promises that you made that you wish you wouldn't break
"I'll see you inside," she said calmly, even though the wheels in her head were spinning out of control. She knew it was as huge of a deal as she was making it out to be, but this had never happened to her before, and she never thought it would happen with Tyler, someone she thought was really into her. She continued to think about the situation as she walked into the diner. She spotted Reid sitting with…Sam and Lia!
She slid into the booth that they were all sitting in.
Sam smiled "Hey girl!"
"Hey! Have you guys ordered yet?"
"No, we were waiting for you and Ty."
Reid interjected "Where is Baby Boy anyways, you fuck him to death?"
She rolled her eyes "Hardly."
Just then, a flustered Tyler walked into the diner. When he sat down, he stared at Taryn, but she averted his gaze.
"Taryn…" he began
"I want to go home." she said abruptly.
He looked relieved. "Good, we can talk in the car."
She shook her head "Actually no. Reid, you think you could take me home?"
He looked shocked, his icy eyes widening "Me? Well, I guess, but… I don't have a car…I rode with you here, remember"
"I know. Get Tyler's keys."
He shrugged, looking at Tyler for a response.
Tyler refused "No, Taryn, we need to talk."
She stared at him, speaking slowly, 'Tyler, I'll talk to you when you give me an explanation."
"But…"
Lia interjected, squeezing his arm. "Why don't you just let him take her home, she'll cool down, and you can apologize later."
He sighed "Fine. Reid, don't crash, or fuck with her."
Reid smirked "Ay ay captain."
"Tyler looked at Taryn again "I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings Tar. You know I didn't mean to."
"Save it Tyler," as she walked out towards the car.
Reid grabbed his phone and the keys and followed her outside.
Once inside, he asked "So, what's got your panties in a bunch."
"The problem is my panties aren't in a bunch."
He raised an eyebrow "So, you're saying…"
"Yeah."
"He couldn't get it up?!"
She rolled her eyes "No Einstein, he didn't want to. He rejected me. Numerous times."
"That's what you're so pissy about? Really? It's not the end of the fucking world."
She looked at him reproachfully, "Uh, hello…I'm not you. I don't get rejected. Ever."
"I'm not surprised. But there's a first time for everything beautiful."
"Not like that! Especially not with Tyler. I thought he was really into me."
"He is; who's not? Ty's just different. Sex isn't everything to him."
"It isn't to me either!"
He looked at her doubtfully.
She sighed "Okay, so I like sex. Doesn't everyone?"
"I know I do…"
"Of course you do. But so what, Tyler doesn't?"
"He does. It's just more significant to him. Have you fucked yet?"
"No, we haven't gotten far at all."
"That's probably it. He probably doesn't want your first time together to be in the back of his Hummer. Plus he'd flip the fuck out if he got stains in it."
"So, he does want me, he just wants it to mean something! He's so sweet!"
Reid rolled his eyes "That's what they all say."
"What are you jealous?"
"Not in the least. I just want you to know I was right."
"About what?"
"That you and Tyler aren't right. This proves my point."
"Oh please Reid, is this part of some idiotic ploy for me to want you? Build up Ty about how amazing he is, and then say he's not right for me?"
"No Phillips, I'm not. All I'm sayin is you'll figure it out sooner or later."
"And then what? You'll be waiting for me?" She asked mockingly.
"I doubt it, you aren't that hot," he said smirking.
She rolled her eyes, elbowing him in the side.
"Hands off baby girl. I don't want you getting any ideas."
"Please, with your dirty mind? Who knows what kind of ideas you have."
"None including you. Now there are some including Lia, what a fox."
Taryn laughed "She'd never hook up with you, you're too sleazy."
"Sleazy, no. Skilled, yes."
"Slutty, definitely. You aren't her type."
"Well, she's mine."
"Not surprising."
They continued their banter, until Reid parked Tyler's Hummer outside of the dorms. Before she got out she turned to Reid. "Thanks for everything. The ride home. Explaining Tyler. Not being a huge asshole today. I know tomorrow everything will go back to normal and I'll want to punch you in the balls, but I appreciate it, Blondie."
"I expect a date with Lia in return for this out of character niceness."
She laughed as she got out "I'll have to work my magic for that one."
He smirked "I'll just work mine and sweep her off her feet."
"You're ridiculous."
"It's all part of my charm," he said as she turned to walk around.
Once she had already begun walking away, he called out "Hey! You lied about your fuck on my bed with Tyler!"
She smirked "I like messing with your head Garwin!"
but i'm impossible, i know.
Meanwhile, Riley was still with Caleb.
She turned to him "Where to now?"
"Why don't we just go to my house now? I'm getting a little hungry."
"Already? You're such a bottomless pit!"
"What can I say? I'm a growing boy."
She snorted "I don't think it's possible for you to get any bigger."
"…you know what? Now, I'm just going to lift weights until I'm humongous."
"Please don't. You wont be able to fit in my car!"
"Maybe you should get a bigger car…this is made for Barbie dolls."
She punched him in the arm "It's cute okay? Just because you're a giant doesn't mean anything to me and my adorable car."
"Just keep driving Barbie."
She rolled her eyes as they drove further and further into the woods of Ipswich. "It's beautiful here."
He looked out the window, into the gray sky and the colorful leaves. It was the middle of November and all the leaves had fallen and were scattered everywhere by the cold wind.
"I love Ipswich in the fall. It's the best time to be here. I wish you were here earlier to have the full experience," he commented
She smiled, and continued driving, until something caught her eye. A burned down farmhouse, that looked so out of place next to the statuesque trees and estates surrounding it. She breathed in slightly, feeling a harsh aura around the area. "What happened here?"
Caleb was engrossed in the scenery, and turned, saying "Huh?" before his face paled considerably.
Riley noticed the sudden change in his emotions, but continued to prod along as if she was oblivious, "What happened here? This looks relatively recent."
"I have no idea. Let's keep going, I'm staring."
She knew something was up, but decided not to push him too much. She'd find out eventually, Caleb was an honest person.
see you are waiting, waiting for me
They finally arrived at Caleb's house. House was an understatement. The looming estate stretched over acres of well manicured lawn and a black gate enclosed the entire property.
She laughed "Small house you have here…"
He rolled his eyes "Let's go Barbie."
As they walked into his house, she glanced at the walls and noticed the pictures on the wall. She stopped at one picture in particular.
"This cannot be you!" she exclaimed staring at a picture of a four year old Caleb covered in mud with Pogue, Reid and Tyler.
He laughed "What is that supposed to mean?"
"That you could have never possibly been that cute! What happened?!" she said laughing
He laughed "Oh yeah? I'd beg to differ!" before walking further down the hallway into the kitchen.
She hoisted herself up onto a counter, and watched him bustle around the kitchen for food. As he moved around, he pulled off his jacket, and his red sweatshirt underneath, leaving him with a thin white shirt to cover his chiseled body. Riley swooned internally, but tried to keep it cool.
He turned to her "Aren't you hot?"
She shrugged, as she took off her jacket, "So Martha, what are you cookin' for me."
"Peanut butter and jelly."
She jumped off the counter, and swatted his arm "That is not what I expected when you bragged about your home cooking."
"Calm yourself Barbie, I'll make you a feast."
She leaned against another counter, while she watched him cook something over the stove. She wasn't used to beautiful boys doing everything for her, so she was enthralled. She stared at the way his tanned muscles moved when he stirred or flipped the food, and how nice his butt looked standing in front of the oven. She was so entranced, she didn't notice him moving towards her. He stared into her blue-green eyes, and the darkness of his eyes took her back slightly.
"What," she choked out.
"I need something out of that drawer," he said, eyes twinkling.
"Oh!" she exclaimed as she dodged out of his way. She remained alert for the rest of the time in the kitchen, and finally he turned to her with a smile "Here you are," passing her a plate with a humongous quesadilla with salsa on the side.
"This could feed three of me Caleb! Are you trying to get me to explode?"
"Come on Barbie, lets go to my room."
but i know you're just waiting
She wasn't surprised to see that his room was meticulous, just like her side of her dorm. A huge bed in the middle took up most of the space, with a large desk to one side and a large closet to the other. A door leading to what she presumed was a bathroom was near the closet door, and picture frames decorated the walls. She stared back at the smiling faces of Caleb's mother, Pogue, Reid, Garwin, and Sarah.
He walked towards his bathroom door, and smiled at her "I'll be right back."
try to waste the energy i'll never spend on you
Once inside his bathroom, he turned to his mirror, to fix his hair, and make sure nothing was in his teeth. He immediately felt guilty. He shouldn't care about what he looks like to Riley, he's Sarah's. But he couldn't help himself when Riley was all he saw. That saying "absence only makes the heart grow fonder" wasn't working for Caleb. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Riley, not Sarah. And he felt like an asshole over it.
He muttered to himself "Don't be Reid. You're faithful, and you'd never hurt Sarah. Riley is only a phase."
A phase that's stuck with him since the day he met her. He just couldn't help himself. The looks she gave him sometimes took of all of his control to keep from ravaging her at that very moment.
He popped a piece of gum in his mouth, took a few deep breaths, a last look in the mirror, and walked back into his room.
He was slightly taken aback by the sight of her sprawled out on his huge bed, legs in the air, oblivious of his presence. He couldn't help but stare at her, imagining different scenarios they could play out on his enormous bed…until she turned over and looked at him.
He immediately snapped back into reality and laughed "Comfortable?"
"Very. This bed feels like clouds. Ready to work now?"
"Yeah," he said, before reaching over her to grab his book bag.
She breathed in quietly, smelling an intoxicating blend of soap, musky cologne and fresh laundry.
"So what's this paper on?" she asked once she composed herself
"We're doing…the anatomy of the shoulder."
"How exciting. Well, lets get to work."
They both lied on the bed vertically, and opened their books to start writing. They began working in silence, before Caleb's phone rang loudly. He reached to grab it, but had to push into Riley slightly to reach it completely.
"Sorry," he said flushing before answering the call.
"Hello?"
"Sup man! Where are you?" Pogue answered
"Home…you?"
"Coming from Baby Boy's house. We're gonna stop by."
"I'm busy now."
"Doing what man?"
"A project with Riley."
He heard a laugh in the back that had to belong to Reid "What? Doing Riley?"
"Really mature Reid."
"She's hot! I commend you."
"Just put Pogue back on the phone."
"Hello? So yeah, we'll be there in like 30."
Reid cackled in the back "Finish up your quickie by then!"
Caleb hit END and looked to Riley. "Sorry about that, it's just Reid being immature."
She smiled at him "No big deal," before getting back to work.
never touch not right now
They worked diligently for a while, and Riley started getting really hot. She couldn't tell if it was just her reacting to Caleb's warm body next to hers, or if it was really that hot, but stopped writing to pull off her top, leaving her in a tank top, before continuing her paragraph.
Caleb's eyes traveled from her neck further down, but stopped himself.
He thought to himself "Focus, focus, FOCUS!"
They worked diligently, and finally they were done with their individual parts.
Riley sat up, running her fingers through her hair "Finally! Done."
He sat up as well, and started collecting all the papers together "I'll put it together tonight if you want? I have this scanner thing, and it really wont be any trouble at –"
She laughed "Sounds good Martha. Thanks. You're a good partner."
Before Caleb could respond, Tyler, Pogue and Reid busted through the door.
"Guys, what the hell?" Caleb said loudly
Pogue smiled at Riley, before turning to Caleb "You weren't answering your door."
"I was busy."
Reid raised his eyebrows, noticing Riley's shirt on the floor "I can tell."
She blushed "You know what, I should be going…I'll see you in class tommrow. See you guys later."
Tyler smiled "Bye Riley."
She grabbed her stuff, and opened the door to leave, smiling at everyone once more before walking out.
Reid smirked and called after her "Please, come again!"
Caleb groaned "Reid, I'm gonna kill you!"
AN: What'd you think? Like? LOVE? Please, tell me!