"Where the hell did you go?!" Maya demanded, as soon as Riley walked through the door. She and Farkle had stopped off for coffee and they'd ended up staying out for a good few hours. Riley felt a little guilty that she hadn't thought of texting Maya.
Maya, Lucas and Zay were sitting on the sofa, staring at her.
"And what the hell are you wearing?" Zay asked. "You weren't wearing that a few hours ago."
Riley put her wet clothes in the tumble dryer and put her shoes on the rack, knowing they'd probably dry there after a few days. "It rained, so Farkle gave me his spare clothes because mine were wet."
"You were with Farkle?" Lucas asked, eyes wide.
"People were saying the two of you walked out together." Maya said. "I didn't think you'd actually be so reckless!"
"What are you talking about, Maya? You walked out of middle school and high school all the time!" Riley frowned.
"He's dangerous, Riley!" Maya's voice was raising, the way it did when she was angry and worried at the same time.
"He's not dangerous!" she protested. "Just because people said he's dangerous doesn't mean they're right! You shouldn't always believe what other people tell you about someone."
"Riley, Farkle Minkus is bad news." Lucas said. "I don't think he's ever done a good thing in his life."
"How about him helping me when Isadora wanted a fight?!" Riley demanded. "Or him picking up my books when she tripped me, or him helping me when some creep was hitting on me on the first day?! Those are good things!"
They blinked. "Some creep was hitting on you?" Zay asked.
"It doesn't matter now, because Farkle rescued me! Why can't you understand that he might not be what you all think he is?" Riley sighed in frustration.
"I've known Farkle since middleschool." Zay said. "He's bad news."
"Get out." Riley snapped.
"What?" Zay asked, startled.
"Get out! This is my flat. I saved up to buy this place with my own money. What I say goes. Get out, both of you!" Riley opened the door.
Zay got up and left the flat without a second glance. Lucas wasn't far behind him. Riley slammed the door.
"We're trying to protect you, Riley! Is that so hard to understand?" Maya demanded.
"I don't need you to protect me!" Riley yelled, and then she stormed off to her room, slamming the door behind her and locking it just to be sure.
She couldn't understand why she felt so fiercely protective of Farkle, but perhaps it was the fact that she knew people weren't always what they seemed. Farkle wasn't a bad guy. Something inside her knew that. Maybe he'd done bad things, but that didn't make a bad person.
As if on cue, her phone beeped.
[ sms from ;; Minkus ]
hey princess. wanna go out tonight?
[ sms to ;; Minkus ]
go out? where?
[ sms from ;; Minkus ]
anywhere.
Riley smiled to herself. Going on a night adventure with Farkle? Now that seemed tempting. She had homework to do, but she could do that now. It wasn't a big deal.
[ sms to ;; Minkus ]
pick me up whenever. :)
Riley spent the next few hours finishing up her homework, still wearing Farkle's clothes. She checked the clock. 9:45. She opened her wardrobe and put on her favorite red dress, which was strapless, tight at the top and loose at the bottom. She put on her favorite red heels to go with it and brushed her hair, tying it up into a high ponytail.
She and Farkle might not be going anywhere fancy, yet she felt the need to dress up. She put her phone, her digital camera, and her purse into a small red handbag. As if on cue, her phone bleeped.
[ sms from ;; Minkus ]
i'm outside, princess.
[ sms to ;; Minkus ]
are you going to insist on calling me princess?
[ sms from ;; Minkus ]
yes. you coming?
[ sms to ;; Minkus ]
five minutes.
Riley left her room, knowing full well Maya was watching TV in the living room. She waltzed straight past her and towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Maya asked.
"Out." Riley replied, still angry that Maya didn't seem to think she could take care of herself.
"With Farkle?" Maya prompted.
"So what if I am?" Riley asked.
"Riley, he's..."
"I don't care if you think he's bad news." Riley snapped, cutting her off. "You're wrong about him."
She walked out of the apartment, closing the door behind her, and headed out. There was Farkle, leaning against his car, smiling at her.
"You look amazing." he told her, as she drew closer.
He was wearing a black shirt, and he no longer wore his beanie – which he almost lost in the sea earlier, she remembered fondly – with dark blue jeans and some surprisingly clean sneakers.
"Where are we going?" Riley asked, then shook her head. "Never mind. Just going with the flow?"
"Yeah." Farkle grinned, opening the passenger door for her. "Problem with that, milady?"
"Not at all." she replied, as she sat in the car. He closed the door and got into the driver's side with a grin.
"Good." he said. "We'll get along just fine."
He started up the car and drove off, and Riley found herself staring out of the window, watching all the city lights as they passed them by.
"I think we'll go this way." Farkle mused, taking a random right, then a few random lefts, then another right. They seemed to be at the edge of the city now. He just kept driving.
There was a thrill running through Riley and she was relishing every moment of this. She couldn't help it – something about Farkle made her want to do this kind of thing. It made her want to give into instinct and to hell with everybody else.
They ended up at some kind of forest, probably miles away from the city, and Farkle got out of the car, rushing around to open the door for Riley. She got out of the car and smiled softly. "Let's go this way!" she said, walking in a random direction in the forest.
"Right behind you." he said, getting something from the boot of his car. Riley wasn't paying attention.
They ended up in a clearing by a beautiful lake, which was shimmering with the reflection of the stars. Riley sat beside the lake, a small smile pushing across her lips.
Farkle placed a blanket down beside her and, to Riley's surprise, he produced a picnic basket. Her eyes widened.
"So much for not planning this." she giggled.
"I only planned a little." Farkle chuckled, sitting on the blanket. Riley followed suit.
He'd brought so many different things – chocolate covered strawberries, sandwiches, crisps...all sorts of things that Riley definitely liked. They tucked in.
"I haven't eaten much today." she admitted.
"Didn't you eat when you went home?" Farkle asked.
Riley shook her head. "No. I was too busy..." she paused. A small sigh. "Fighting with my friends."
"Zay, Lucas and Maya, you mean?" Farkle asked.
"How did you know?" Riley asked, blinking.
"I know Zay. I've heard things about Lucas and Maya. But I don't listen to gossip." he shrugged. "You shouldn't either."
"I don't." Riley replied, eyes locking with his. "Would I be here if I listened to gossip?"
Farkle smiled slightly. "No." he agreed.
They finished eating the picnic and then Riley lay back on the blanet, totally relaxed. "That was awesome." she said. "Thank you, Farkle."
Farkle laughed softly and set the picnic basket aside so that he could lay beside her. "You're so welcome, Riley." he replied.
The trees above their heads had a small gap between them, revealing a slither of the sky above them. It was patterned with stars. Riley smiled.
"It's beautiful." she mused.
"Yeah." Farkle said, quietly. "Yeah, it is beautiful."
But when Riley looked at him, he wasn't looking at the sky. His eyes were fixed on her. A small blush set her cheeks ablaze and she covered her face with her hands, shyness taking over.
"Hey." Farkle said. "Don't do that."
He reached over to gently prise her fingers from her face, and even though Riley hardly knew him, she couldn't help the feeling blossoming in her gut.
So when Farkle leaned in, she didn't stop him. She let her eyes close instead, leaning forward slightly to give him permission.
Then Farkle was kissing her and fireworks were exploding everywhere, sparks flying between them. The butterflies in her stomach had intensified and she allowed her hands to find home in his hair, fingers curling around brown locks, as his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to him. One of Riley's hands made it's way down to his back, pulling him on top of her almost out of instinct. The kiss deepened and Farkle's tongue gently slid across her lower lip, asking her permission. She opened her mouth in response, their tongues beginning the battle for dominance.
Their kisses were fast, eager, passionate, and Riley's logical thoughts were thrown away with the wind. She didn't know him, but she didn't care, because he took her on this adventure and that drew her to him, and he captured her in ways nobody else has managed to.
Riley knew what he wanted. She wasn't stupid. Perhaps she shouldn't do anything until she knew him better.
But the moment was so sweet and passionate and beautiful that Riley didn't want it to stop.
So she didn't stop him. And she didn't stop herself.