6.
Damn, damn girl, you do it well
And I thought you were innocent
Took this heart and put it through hell
But still you're magnificent
The smell of alcohol hits him strong as he enters the party. It was a typical college party scene, with people dancing, drinking and making out everywhere. He's there to have a good time, along with several of his NYU friends.
He laughs as Justin hands him a cup, and they drink. An hour and a half later, he's dancing it out on the floor, having a great time.
That's until he sees her. The world stops spinning and everything else falls away.
She's here.
He hasn't seen her in a long time. Four months, to be exact. Four months since life had torn them away from each other, leaving fresh wounds in his heart that had yet to heal.
Seeing her there, more radiant and beautiful than ever… it ripped those wounds right open.
She's wearing a halter dress, mottled with pastel pink, yellow, blue and white, that he recognises. She stands out in the crowd of edgy clothing. Her hair is straightened, and somehow she's looking more stunning than usual.
But what takes his breath away is her smile. It lights up her face, and in the back of his mind he can see the thousands of times he's seen that smile. He hasn't seen it in so long, but the moment he does, he forgets about his pain and his self-loathing for just a while.
That's until he sees who she's beaming at. He feels the smile he didn't even realize was on his face fading.
It's some other guy, who he doesn't know but suddenly hates. He's a handsome guy, and he seems to be engaging Riley very well. They're laughing and dancing, and Lucas feels jealousy and rage rising up like a terrifying wave inside him. He had no right. How dare he talk to her like that, how dare he try to take her away from him-
The realization that she was no longer his hits him the same time he realizes that this innocent man didn't take Riley from him. It was him who drove her away. He had no right to be jealous anymore.
The rage subsides, and Lucas watches quietly. Riley is happy. She's happier than he had seen her in months of watching her from afar. It wasn't the guy dancing with her who had no right. It was himself.
He had no right to take happiness from her again.
He feels a strange calm watching her laugh. Somehow, knowing that she's happy gives him a sense of peace, even if it's not with him.
For a moment, her eyes sweep over him, but when they flicker back, he's already gone.
