"Isadora tells me you attacked her." Mrs Dunham said, as Riley sat in front of her in the office. "Without reasoning."
"Yeah." Riley muttered. "Of course she said that."
"She had two eyewitnesses to confirm it." Mrs Dunham added.
"Her two best friends. Of course they were going to agree with her. Did you really think they'd tell the truth if she didn't want them to?" Riley said furiously.
"Watch your tone, Miss Matthews." snapped the principal, eyes narrowing. "You don't have much to prove your innocence here."
"Then don't prove my innocence." Riley said, rising from her chair. "Just believe everything Isadora Smackle tells you. You're no better than the people in the corridors who believe every bit of gossip anyone throws at them."
"Riley Matthews, sit back down immediately!" Mrs Dunham snapped.
"No thanks. I've heard this lecture before." Riley snapped back. With that, she grabbed her bag and stormed out of the principal's office. Two days in, and she was already in trouble. Could things get any worse?
Izzie and her friends were sitting outside when Riley stormed past. They got up, attempting to stare her down as she walked by.
"Take a picture!" she snarled. "It'll last longer, bitches." she said the last word scathingly before walking on. Izzie soon caught up with her.
"What did you just call us?" she hissed, grabbing Riley by the arm. Riley whirled around to face her, quick to shove her backwards. Izzie stumbled back in her heels, eyes narrowing.
"I called you bitches, Isadora, do clean out your ears." Riley snapped. She was all fired up, and she had no idea why. A lioness had unleashed from under her skin and there was no taming her.
"Don't call me Isadora!" Izzie screeched, pushing Riley. She wasn't very strong, and Riley barely moved.
"I'll call you whatever I like." Riley smiled sweetly.
Izzie reached up to slap her, but Riley dodged it. "Get over yourself." Riley muttered, and turned away. Izzie stuck out her foot and tripped Riley, but the brunette went forward and straight into someone's arms.
Riley looked up and, of course, Farkle Minkus was looking down at her, a small smile on his lips. He set her upright. "You alright?" he asked.
"Yeah." Riley replied, nodding slowly. "I'm okay."
He turned to Isadora. "I told you. Leave her alone." he snapped.
"She started it!" Izzie whined, playing the victim.
"I'm not an idiot, Isadora. Don't play me as one." Farkle replied. He turned to Riley. "Wanna get out of here?"
Riley knew it wasn't a good idea, and yet something inside her told her it was. She nodded, with a grin. "Love to." she replied.
Farkle's arm found it's way around Riley's waist and he led her away from the crowds.
She and Farkle found it stupidly easy to walk out of college. He led her to his car and that was when Riley hesitated.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
Farkle shrugged, getting into the driver's seat. "Anywhere."
He noted that Riley was hesitating. "I shouldn't..." she began.
"I know." Farkle replied. "But just because you shouldn't...does that really mean you won't? I think you should live a little, Riley Matthews."
A grin worked it's way up onto Riley's features and she got into the passenger seat, fastening her seatbelt. "I think you might be right, Farkle Minkus."
He drove off at an incredible speed, and although Riley's heart clenched in her chest at first, she realized that he was right – maybe she should live a little.
As they drove down the streets, Riley turned up the radio. I Took A Pill In Ibiza started playing. Riley's guilty pleasure song.
"Turn it up." Farkle requested. "I love this song."
"Me too." Riley replied, and she turned it up to full volume. Farkle gave an approving nod.
They shouted out the lyrics with the windows down, and for the first time in her whole life, Riley didn't give a damn that this wasn't the good girl thing to do. She was tired of being the goody two shoes. With Farkle, it felt like she could be a whole different version of herself. It was a feeling Riley was in no hurry to get rid of.
Once the song finished, Riley turned the radio down and closed her window, a wide smile on her face.
"That's the biggest I've ever seen you smile within the past three days." Farkle noted. "You look good with a smile on your face."
Riley looked over at him. "Hey, Minkus?"
"What?" he asked.
"Why me?" she inquired.
"What d'you mean?" Farkle's eyebrows furrowed, though he kept his gaze on the road.
"Why'd you pick me? What's so great about me that you decided to start standing up for me?" Riley asked. "I bet you don't take every girl on random roadtrips like this."
"Only a rare few." Farkle joked, and Riley couldn't help but laugh. "You're different, Riley. I like different."
He looked across to meet her gaze, and she couldn't help seeing how serious he looked. So he meant it. But then his eyes were on the road again and the moment was over.
"Any idea where we're heading yet?" Riley asked.
"Yeah." Farkle laughed. "We're going to the pier."
"The pier?" Riley raised an eyebrow. "Farkle, it looks like it's about to rain."
"Exactly." he said, a mischievous grin curling the corners of his lips. "C'mon, Riley. Let's swim in the rain."
"With our clothes on?" Riley blinked.
"Why the fuck not?" was his reply.
Riley let out a soft giggle, and he paused for a moment. Then, "I think that giggle is my new favorite sound in the world." he announced, and Riley's cheeks flamed pink.
"I think I'm okay with that." she replied, and they shared a smile as Farkle parked up. Sure enough, there was the pier – and beyond it, the sea, that looked absolutely freezing. "Are you sure about this?" Riley asked as he was getting out of the car. She put her phone in her bag and left the bag in the car, closing the door and going to stand beside Farkle.
Farkle looked over at her. "Nope." he replied. He reached out a hand to her.
Riley should have said no. She should have walked away. But did she do that?
Of course not.
She took his hand with a child-like grin and allowed him to pull her along as he took off running. Riley ran alongside him as fast as she could, laughter escaping her lips as they ran.
They were getting closer and closer to the end of the pier, but Riley shut all her fears away, because Farkle was right beside her and she decided that this was what living felt like. The rush of fear and the rush of adrenaline pounding through her. The undeniable excitement.
They got to the end of the pier and they both jumped, without hesitation, at the same time, just as rain started falling from the skies.
Riley hit the water still holding Farkle's hand. It was freezing, sure, but the adrenaline was still coursing through her. She surfaced a few moments after Farkle, and when she looked over to meet his gaze, he was grinning at her goofily and her heart was pounding in her chest, though not because of what they just did.
"See?" Farkle grinned, as rain fell all around them. "This is what living feels like, Riley."
Riley laughed softly, splashing him with her free hand. "Maybe I should live more often." she replied.
Farkle was giving her that intense look again and her heart was leaping in her chest. Then he splashed her and swam away, laughing, and Riley took that as a challenge. She swam after him, and soon they'd started a splash war. Riley had never laughed so much in her whole life, and that she was sure of.
She wasn't sure how long they'd been in the water for when thunder crashed overhead.
"We should go." Farkle said.
"Yeah." Riley replied, though honestly, she wouldn't mind staying here.
After staying in shelter till the rain stopped, they headed back to Farkle's vehicle.
"I have some spare clothes in the car you can wear." Farkle said.
"What about you?" Riley asked.
He waved a dismissive hand. "I'll be fine. It's whatever." he fished the clothes out of the boot and handed them to her.
"And where do you suggest I change, genius?" she asked.
"Right here." Farkle shrugged. "Who cares?"
Riley paused. Then, "This is so embarrassing." she peeled off her wet clothes, keeping her underwear on, and changed into Farkle's clothes. He'd given her a blue plaid shirt and some jogging bottoms. She didn't mind being barefoot, at least for now. She was struggling to button up the shirt when, suddenly, Farkle appeared in front of her.
"Here." he gently buttoned up the shirt for her, and their eyes met. Riley's breath hitched. He was so close...
"I'll put your wet clothes in the boot." Farkle said softly, taking them from her and moving to the back of the car.
Riley couldn't help the slight disappointment.
She'd wanted him to kiss her.