Chapter 8: New Year

Riley's POV:

It was finally New Year's Eve and I was helping my parents set up around the house. "Okay, hopefully your mom goes easy on me this year." My mom said to my dad. "Of course she will," my dad said as he comforted my mom. "You promise?" she asked. Cory made a face. "Well, let's just hope and pray she goes easy on you, I mean she went easy on you last year." he said. "That was the only year." My mom said. We finished putting up the decorations and my mom got started on the cooking. Suddenly the door buzzed. "It's Shawn, Katy and Maya!" they said. "Shawnee!" my dad yelled as he ran to the door and opened it. They gave each other a big hug. "All the time." Maya groaned as she walked in.

"Maya," I said as I gave her a hug. "You know I'm not big on affection, but since it's New Year's." she said as she wrapped her arms around me. "So, your whole family is coming?" she asked as we walked into my room. "Yup." I said as I sat down at my desk. "Even your uncle Boing?" Maya teased. "Oh, Maya are you ever going to let him go?" I asked. All of a sudden my door flew open, "Riley!" My Uncle Eric yelled as he ran over and pulled me into a hug. Without letting me go, he saw Maya. "Moesha, get in here!" he said as he pulled her in. "It's Maya," she said as we all pulled apart. "Okay, Malala. So, Riley are you ready for college?" he asked. I shook my head. "Not so much, I'm still waiting on Columbia." I said. "Eric!" my dad yelled from downstairs. "We will finish this conversation later!" he said as he ran out of my room.

"Wow, Riley you look amazing." Maya said. I gave her a quick spin. "Thank you, this dress screams new to me. It's going to be a new year and I want to ring in the new year looking amazing." I said. I was wearing a short black long sleeve dress, with glitter all over it. Then I topped it off with silver dangling earrings, and for my makeup, I gave myself a smoking eye and put on red lipstick. Maya was wearing a short red turtle neck dress, with black belt around her waist. We walked downstairs and Farkle and Lucas had arrived.

Lucas's POV:

We were standing outside of the door, I was trying to stall but couldn't. "Are you okay man?" Farkle asked. I'll admit I was a little nervous to see how Riley looked, she always looked amazing and always manages to take my breath away every time. "Yeah, it's just been awhile since I've been here. I'm just a little afraid of what Mr. Matthews might do, considering everything that had happen." I said. "Don't be nervous and if anything happens, I'm here for you." Farkle said as he gave me a pat on the back. Here goes nothing, I pressed the button and Topanga buzzed us in. "Lucas, Farkle so glad you guys can join us, come on in." she said.

"What if I have nothing to say?" I asked Farkle. "Lucas, you'll be fine. You and Riley are just friends, remember?" he said. "Yeah, just friends." I said as I lowered my voice. All of a sudden, I felt my heart skip a beat, my knees began to weaken, and I started to feel an indescribable feeling all over my body. I felt like I couldn't breathe, and I was lost for words. "Lucas?" Farkle said. Then he turned around and saw Riley and Maya coming downstairs. "Hey, guys!" Riley said as she walked over to us. I stood there speechless. "Wow, you look amazing." Farkle said. Riley didn't look just amazing, she looked so absolutely breathtaking, absolutely stunning. I felt like an idiot for letting someone like her go. "Yeah, you do." I managed to get out as I kept my eyes on Riley. Farkle walked over to Maya, who was talking to Eric, so that Lucas could be alone with Riley. "I'm glad you made it." she said. "Me too." I said. I still couldn't get myself to talk. Then I felt someone's hand on my shoulder. "How ya doing?" Mr. Matthews said. "Really, dad?" Riley said as she gave him a look. "Riley, just-okay," he said. "Mr. Friar, over the years, I have watched this thing between you and my daughter, and I want you to know that I am still watching you." he said. "I understand, sir." I said as he walked away.

The party was going great, I stayed by Riley's side the whole time, but I really wanted to be alone with her. "Lucas, come with me I want to show you something." Riley said as she gestured me upstairs. We walked into her bedroom, then she walked over to the bay window and climbed through it. "Are you coming?" she asked. I climbed through the window, and followed every step she took. Pretty soon we found ourselves on top of the roof, "The view is amazing up here." she said. "Yeah it is," I said but I was talking about her. We stared at the view for a moment. Then I looked at her again. Her face was glowing, she had a little smile on her face and her eyes were shimmering.

I looked at my watch and it was 11:45pm. "Shouldn't we head down?" I asked. She looked at me and smiled. "No, I want to ring in the New Year right here, I've always wanted to come up here on New Year's, you get a new view of it all." She said. "What do you mean?" I asked as I took a step closer to her. "See all those people down there, I've always wanted to come up here and see all the madness, besides being in the madness again, I was always with my family and don't get me wrong I loved it, but I've always wanted to come up here on New Year's, where there's no pushing, shoving, no madness, I have all this room to be free, seeing everyone cheer, and see all the confetti falling, the couples. I wanted to have a different view on New Year's this year, I know it doesn't really make sense but I wanted to see the ball drop from a different angle. This angle." She said as she took a step closer to me. We locked eyes for a moment.

"Riley," I said. "You know how the other day we were talking about a fresh new start this year and starting over?" I asked her. "Yeah, why?" she asked. I looked at my watch it was now 11:50pm. "Being here with you right now, is one of those moments I will remember forever. I know we just got back to being good friends, But It's going to be a New Year and I'm ready to start over, with you." I said. "With me?" she said as she looked deeper into my eyes. I took a step closer to her and we were now an inch apart from each other. "Yes, with you. Riley, I thought that I could let you go, but I can't and I don't want to. I've made so many mistakes and one of those mistakes was losing you. I'm still in love with you and I still want to be with you." I said. She looked down and said "A lot has happened between us and finally, after all of it, were good friends again." I gently lifted her chin up. "Everything is going to change after we graduate, but so what? Life is full of uncertainties. But if you have one thing, that you know is true, you hold onto it. I know were only seniors right now, but the one thing that I am sure of, is that you are the love of my life, Riley Matthews. We can get through anything together because like you said, we make a good team. So will you please give us another chance?" I said.

To be continued….

Chapter 9 is coming soon xx