steal my breath: a riley/zane fanfic

chapter five: want to fill your hair with flowers

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I realized I haven't been giving credit for the lyrics in my chapter titles. So. Number one was When You Were Young by the Killers,

number two: Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don't) by All Time Low,

number three: Come On Get Higher by Matt Nathanson,

number four: I Won't Say (I'm in Love) from Hercules. Duh.

This chapter title is from Sammy Decter by Eve and the Ocean (you know, the one from Try Honesty Pt. 1?)

ALRIGHTY. Enjoy!

Riley fussed with his hair a little bit more—maybe some gel? More fluffing?—as he stood in front of the mirror. He wanted to look perfect for Zane. He'd heard through the grapevine (read: Anya after he'd begged her) that Zane liked natural hair on guys, along with those button-down shirt things and jeans. So, naturally, Riley was wearing a light brown button-down shirt and jeans. He was a sucker for Zane's…well, his everything. His smile, his soulful brown eyes, his fluffy black hair…god.

Just then, his phone buzzed with a text from Anya.

good luck, ri! I just know you and zane are gonna have tons of fun 3 tell me everything!

Riley smiled. Anya was many things—a cheerleader, Sav's ex-girlfriend, Holly J's ex-best friend—but most of all, she was a really, really good friend.

thanks anya :) but I'm so nervous :(

it's okay. that's usually how it is. but you're going to be fine. I gotta go now! love you!

you too.

Riley shut off his phone and walked the block and a half to Zane's house. His mom answered the door.

"Hi, Mrs. Park," Riley said politely. "Is Zane here?"

"Hi, Riley. He's upstairs, getting ready," she answered. "Where are you two going?"

"The arcade," Riley replied. "It's relatively football team-free, since it's out of the way a little bit."

Zane's parents were overprotective; they had reason to be. Zane was out of the closet long before Riley even knew he was in it, and Riley knew Zane had faced his fair share of gay-bashing. The Degrassi football team was not the most forgiving group, and Riley suspected that once they saw him and Zane together, all hell would break loose. He figured that their philosophy was something along the lines of proof or it didn't happen. Riley wanted to protect Zane from the backlash they would inevitably get.

"Riley?"

He snapped out of his train of thought. "Yes, Mrs. Park? Oh, uh, sorry."

"Oh, it's okay. Come inside, won't you?" she asked him, giving him a warm hug. "I just baked some pumpkin bread, if you wanted some."

"That sounds awesome, Mrs. Park, but I had a bunch of food at home before I came over here."

She nodded understandingly. "Got it. Riley, I don't think I've ever met your parents; do you live with them?"

"No, I don't," Riley replied with a shrug. "My mom wasn't exactly…accepting when I came out. She wasn't really accepting at all. My dad wasn't much better. They both just wanted grandchildren so badly, and I think the realization that their only son was gay didn't sit well with them at all. She and my dad are travel writers, too; they go to all kinds of places, so it made sense, kind of. Between the awkwardness and the moving around a lot, I figured it'd be best if I just moved out and lived on my own. I'm only about a block away, actually. My sister travels with them, still, but comes to visit me when she can." Riley could feel his eyes watering; he loved his family, despite everything they'd gone through, respectively and together. He always would.

Mrs. Park looked at him sympathetically. "I'm so sorry, Riley. That must have been so hard for you. If you ever need anyone, just know that Zane's dad and I are here for you."

Riley smiled almost as wide as he had the first time he kissed Zane. "Thank you so much, Mrs. Park."

"Call me Linda, darling."

"Okay, thanks, Linda."

"Mom, is Riley here—oh."

Riley and Mrs. Park both looked up, startled. Zane stood in the middle of the staircase, and whoa. Riley did a double take. I thought I was going on a date with my new boyfriend, not a male model! Translation: Zane looked gorgeous times twenty. He was wearing a plain black v-neck and regular worn-in jeans, and his hair was natural and fluffed.

"Hey," he said shyly.

"H-hey," Riley stammered. God, he mentally scolded himself. I'm always doing that!

"Shall we?" Zane offered, smiling that smile Riley loved so much.

"We shall. Bye, Linda! I'll have him home by eleven!" Riley called.

"Bye, Mom! We'll be safe, and always look both ways before we cross the streets!" Zane said with a completely straight face as they shut the door behind them.

"I'm so excited," Zane confessed, curling himself up in Riley's embrace. "You look amazing."

"Me, too. And the first thing I thought when you came downstairs was who is this gorgeous guy? Wait, it's my boyfriend!" Riley laughed.

"Aww. I feel so loved," Zane joked.

"You are loved, my darling," Riley said, looking into Zane's eyes. Suddenly-well, to put it bluntly? The shit got real.

• • • • •

The two boys arrived at the arcade and paid for a card with ten thousand points on it. They knocked themselves out playing skee-ball, shooting hoops, and making a killing at the games where the token goes down the slide and into the slot.

"Hey, Ri?"

"Yeah, Zane?"

"Bet you can't beat me at trivia."

"Oh, it's on!"

Alrighty, guys! I'm going on vacation for three days, starting tomorrow, and I don't know if I'll be able to post. So, this is it, if only for the next three days :) The rest of their time at the arcade will be in the next chapter, as well as a confrontation. Ooh, scandalous.