steal my breath: a riley/zane fanfic
chapter four: at least out loud
"Mmm, Ri, this spanakopita is amazing," Zane marveled. "You never told me you could cook!"
"I can't, really," Riley admitted. "Only Greek. My mom taught me."
"Well, she taught you awesomely," Zane concluded.
"Hey, whaddaya say we take this to the couch? What movie do you want to watch?"
Zane hemmed and hawed for a little bit before deciding on a '90s Disney movie.
"I have Hercules and Aladdin," Riley said. "I'm partial to Hercules, just 'cause the guy is hot."
"You have crushes on cartoon characters?" Zane asked incredulously, smiling.
"Not anymore," Riley cooed. "Now I have a crush on a very real boy sitting next to me."
"He has a crush on you, too."
They popped in the movie, brought over a few of the plates of Greek desserts, and started watching.
The two of them laughed, kissed, and cuddled through the first half—then Meg came onscreen. She started singing "(I Won't Say) I'm In Love," and the tension between the two boys increased to an unimaginable level. Zane stiffened at "I thought my heart had learned its lesson / It feels so good when you start out. / My head is screaming 'Get a grip, girl, / unless you're dying to cry your heart out.'" It applied, even though he was not a girl.
Riley's hand ventured slightly away from Zane's shoulder when Meg sang "At least out loud / I won't say I'm in love."
• • • • •
After the movie, Zane said he had to go home; "My mom and dad made me promise I'd be home by nine-thirty to take care of my little brother."
"Oh, uh, okay," Riley stammered. "Want some, uh, baklava for the road?"
"Sure, why not?" Zane laughed—awkwardly, of course—and walked with Riley over to the kitchen island, where they packaged it up.
Then, it was awkward stand-at-the-door time. Riley looked into Zane's brown eyes and figured hey, why not give him a kiss to remember?
So, without further ado, he grabbed Zane's shoulders, pulled him close, and initiated a rough, desperate makeout that made both of their hearts race.
"um, just IM me and let me know you got home okay," Riley said, hoarse-voiced, when it was over.
"Will do. I only live, like, a block away." Zane smiled that crooked, cute smile. "Ri, I felt it too. The thing between us. Night."
• • • • •
zanesays: hey Ri. Got home in 1 piece.
QBRiley: glad to hear it. So…sorry 4 awkward times back at my place.
zanesays: oh the song?
QBRiley: what song?
zanesays: oh umm nvm
QBRiley: I meant the standing by the door and molesting your face bit
zanesays: my face liked it ;)
QBRiley: my tongue did too, apparently
zanesays: our tongues like each other
QBRiley: they do. hey let's play a game
zanesays: ooh game. keep talking
QBRiley: basically one of us asks a question & we both have to answer
zanesays: k. fav plant?
QBRiley: anything i can eat. im partial to strawberries
zanesays: aww. i like venus fly traps :D
QBRiley: aw you're cute! Ok how many guys have you kissed
zanesays: two. you and my ex. douchebag. his name was darby!
QBRiley: ha wtf darby?
zanesays: ik, stupid name right? he was hot but there's only so much ego a man of my stature can overlook :P you?
QBRiley: one. best thing I ever did
zanesays: AW ok. what color are the sheets on your bed? ;D
QBRiley: ooh ;) navy blue. et tu?
zanesays: green. the color of those olives you practically fed me :)
QBRiley: sooo olive green? but lighter? haha.
zanesays: oh bite me
QBRiley: *bites you* ok favorite riley?
zanesays: the other one, now
zanesays: hehe
QBRiley: ow zane. that stings. :)
zanesays: jkjk. you know I adore your GUTS.
QBRiley: my guts? spending too much time with eli, darling?
zanesays: ohhoho! you're highlarious. okay my turn. do you like arcades? on Saturday nights? with cute boys who like you a lot?
QBRiley: well that depends. do you enjoy dates with quarterbacks who like you more?
zanesays: i enjoy dates with Riley Stavros. 8 pm?
QBRiley: i enjoy dates with Zane Park! :D at 8! on Saturday! tomorrow!
zanesays: i gtg, but i can't wait. call me later?
QBRiley: you bet
zanesays has signed off
anyamac has signed on
anyamac: sooo…how'd the date go?
QBRiley: you mean the one at the arcade? TOMORROW? :D
anyamac: EEP! Riley, i'm so proud of you :D did you kiss him?
QBRiley: i did kiss him in the woods, in my house, at the door—i could kiss him anywhere :) we watched hercules
anyamac: aw i love that movie
QBRiley: SO much awkward during "i won't say". wanted to sex him, tbh, which sounds really weird, but i think i might. you know.
anyamac: be IN…you know?
QBRiley: not IN love. stuck in the like-a-lot-a-whole-lot quicksand BEFORE the love
anyamac: oh, Ri. you and Zane are meant to be. i swear.
QBRiley: thanks, girl. i think so too. he has olive green sheets on his bed.
anyamac: …whaat
QBRiley: haha! we played questions. his ex was named…you ready for this?
anyamac: darby
QBRiley: DARBY! wait, he told you?
anyamac: yup! txting him right now
QBRiley: aw yay :D don't tell him about the quicksand thing PLEASE
anyamac: won't
QBRiley: one day i hope i can tell him the OTHER part of why i moved out
anyamac: your mom?
QBRiley: yeah. ok anya my darling, i must leave. love you!
anyamac: night, Ri. love you too.
QBRiley has signed off
anyamac has signed off
• • • • •
"Zane?"
"Yeah, Riley?"
"Darby!"
"Oh, shut up."
Riley shut up. Nothing could stop him from laughing out of Zane's earshot—the phone mic—though. Darby was a seriously funny name.
"Talk to me, baby."
"You excited?"
"Yes. Extremely."
"Me, too. So excited about our first-and-a-half official date."
"You're adorable." Zane yawned. "I'm so tired."
"Me, too. It's like, midnight. We've been on the phone for two hours!"
"I love your voice, though."
"Aww. I'll stay on the phone until you fall asleep."
"Aw, yay."
"Night, Zaneykins."
"Zany what?" Zane laughed into the phone.
"Just go to sleep, beautiful."
"Oka…zzz…"
-click-
As Zane drifted off to sleep, he wasn't thinking about the awkwardness during the movie. He wasn't thinking about Riley's gorgeous muscles.
He was thinking about the one thing he couldn't say. Not yet.
At least out loud / I won't say I'm in love.
ahh, four chapters done! everyone, please please please tell me what you think. 3