A/N: Seems like you people have finally caught up to me. There will be one more chapter after this one but that WILL be the last one. There will be no sequel and actually there was supposed to be a prequel but that was just a thought when I was writing like the 6th or 7th chapter. So a LONG time ago. Thank you guys so much for reading and this will be the last time you will get to review and that I will get to acknowledge so make them count. Thank you so much for reading. And on a side note, remember that time I asked you guys to vote on a song? The songs were Leave Me Lonely by Ariana Grande and Bust the Windows Out Your Car by Jazmine Sullivan, do you remember? Like a long time ago. Well that was during the time I was this chapter. A long time ago. Secrets will be revealed in this chapter so let me know what you think of them.
amymayy2003: I'm gonna cry too. I think I'll miss you the most. Thank you for constantly reviewing and just being there. I really means and meant a lot that you read this. I appreciate it SO MUCH. And I feel like I don't tell you that enough.
Softball: There will be a fair share of arguments just as there will be forgiving and accepting. These characters have grown a lot, they've been through things, they've felt things and they'll grow from them. Not sure Maya and Riley will physically fight but they'll definitely struggle to understand the other.
naelacy: It's human nature to deal with things as you grow. As you move on. I didn't really wanna tell you what was happening until it started consuming my life and affecting my writing. I missed updates and sometimes I didn't wanna update but did it either way to make you guys happy. Writing was for fun, but what I'm going through is serious and not really anything you guys should worry about. It's not life threatening, physically i'm fine.
And I know, Tyler just disappeared. But he will make an appearance in this chapter. And Maya will for sure piss some people off. And YES! FINALLY! Sorrell is gone. We are free from worry. He's gone. "He's been stopped." Thanks so much for your review.
Karkoolka: YAY! A new reviewer. Where you been girl? And, well, yeah but there's…who am I kidding? Everything in your review was spot on. You basically summarized the entire chapter. And I know. Tyler just…poof. He's gone. Lowkey feel like I should explain why. ;)
KillEmWithKindness02: My journey has been going on for eight months. Ten, if you count the two months I spent writing the very first chapters. Thank you so much for your reviews. And I'll definitely be around to read what you have up your sleeves. And I read Broken Bough…loving it.
P.S Whatever it is [the new story] an October release. 100%.
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Maya hopped out of the shower feeling nothing but heated. As she slipped out of her towel and into her clothes, her phone rang. When she saw who the caller was, Maya answered it after a second's pause. "Tyler?"
"Chloe, hey."
"Hi," she said, skeptical about why he was calling.
"Hey, listen, there's this ball at Lucas house and his mom is hosting it. I, on the other hand don't have a date and I know it's last minute, but would you like to go with me?"
Maya blinked at the question before an answer could jump out of her, "Yes. I would like that."
"Great. What time should I pick you up?"
"You don't need to," she told him. "I'll meet you there. If that's all right?"
"That's great. I'll see you there."
Maya hung up the phone before she ran towards her closet, searching for the perfect dress. When she found one she laid it on the bed and dialed Riley.
When she heard Riley answer the phone, the memory of slamming the door on her face hit her. She had totally forgotten about that. She wanted to hang up but she was still too angry for that.
"I'm going to tell Lucas," she informed Riley. "...the truth. About why you were with him. I know he won't be convinced easily, so I'm showing him the picture we took together."
"Maya," Riley warned. "Don't."
"It didn't have to be like this."
Riley argued but Maya had already ended the call. She held onto her phone as she ran inside Farkle's house. She opened the door to the guest room and ran towards her luggage.
She wasn't going to let Maya do something like that.
When she unzipped it, Riley remembered that Lucas had previously bought her a dress with a necklace. He did this because he hoped they could go together to the ball. Of course, that was before she broke up with him.
She knew she had to get to Lucas before Maya did. And as much as it killed her, she had to tell him the truth.
Before Maya could.
Dangerous Woman
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Riley walked through the opened doors in a vintage size cap Anna Campbell lace dress just in time to hear Katherine commence the first dance of the night. Riley's once balayage bob was now in a crown braided updo with little white cosmos sticking out.
"Thank you for joining us," Katherine began as she stood in the center of the staircase. "Whenever we are gathered here, on a special night such as this, it is tradition to commence the evening with a dance. So if all of you can find yourselves a partner, join us in the ballroom...also known as the dining hall."
"I'd be rude not to dance, you know?" Tyler told Maya as he recently found her in the hordes of people. She looked absolutely stunning in the magenta taffeta ball gown dress.
"I was beginning to think you stood me up," she told him.
"I would never," he said as he arched his arm. "Dance?"
Maya smiled, "Only because it's tradition."
He smirked as they proceeded to walk towards the dining hall. Shortly afterward, they found their place in between two couples and waited for the song to start.
Dangerous love
You're no good for me, darling
Yeah, you turn me away
Like I'm begging for a dollar
Danger, oh, how you hold me
I get a chill inside
And nothing frightens me, baby, oh
"You look gorgeous," Tyler complimented as his hands grasped Maya's waist, his right hand holding her left hand.
"Thank you," Maya replied as she looked around the room in search for Lucas.
Is it love when so easily said goodbye?
Is it love when we've given up before we tried?
Is it love when you stole my peace of mind?
Is it love when you cry and cry and cry?
"I'm glad you came," he pulled her close, his eyes on her.
"Well, it was either staying home alone binge watching the third season of The Vampire Diaries or painting on a canvas for no one to see so..."
"I didn't know you paint?"
"I do," she confirmed. "But lately I haven't found the right inspiration."
"Why is that?" Tyler eyed the many participants before he turned to look at Maya, "Lack of time?"
"I wish, but there's this thing where time falls nowhere near the spectrum of betrayal," Maya said surprised at her own bitterness.
He raised a brow, "Can you explain?"
"I'd rather not. We're here to have fun, remember?"
He nodded, "Well, in that case, would you like to head out back?"
"That would depend on many things," Maya said. "You're not planning on kidnapping me, are you?"
"I would never," he smiled. "Just as long as you don't leave me when the clock strikes midnight."
"I suggest we hurry then," she smiled.
"After you," he gestured towards the empty hallway and followed her once she passed him.
...
"What are you doing here?" Lucas asked Riley as he pulled her towards him. The dance required to switch partners and it just so happened to be Riley. She sighed in relief as she stared into his green eyes. She just hoped she found him before Maya did. All she needs to do now is talk to him alone.
You're a dangerous love
And baby, you're no good for me, darling
'Cause if you're gonna love me and leave me hanging here
Then I'd rather you leave me lonely
Even though it hurts
You're a dangerous love
"We need to talk," Riley stated while Lucas and her swayed to the music and followed other people's example."Alone."
He gulped and blinked the threatening tears away as he listened to her angelic voice. He had spent the past minutes getting frustrated and angry at her and now, all those emotions were replaced with the treating sob torturing his throat. "Why?"
"Because you deserve an explanation, Lucas. I didn't exactly give you one."
"I deserved and explanation," he said as Riley stared at him. "I don't think I need it anymore."
She furrowed her brows in bewilderment at the sound of his voice. She stared at him and then it hit her, "You're mad," she answered herself.
"Of course I am!" he silently growled.
"...and you have every right to be," she looked around to see if Maya was near, she wasn't. "I thought I was doing the right thing."
He scoffed, "That's bullshit!"
Her hand went to his cheek, "Can we please talk?"
Lucas clenched his jaw and blocked out every emotion he was feeling. Tonight was supposed to be a good night and it wasn't exactly heading there. He forced a smile, a completely broken smile. "I see you're wearing the dress I bought you."
"I didn't have another one."
"And the necklace?"
"You can have it back," Riley said as he dipped her. "I saw how much it cost."
"I don't care about the necklace, Riley."
She looked him in the eyes and gulped. If she wanted to talk to him, she had to get his attention. And doing that, meant she had to reveal part of the truth. "I've been lying to you."
Dangerous love
You're no good for me, darling
Yeah, you turn me away
Like I'm begging for a dollar
Danger, oh, how you hold me
I get a chill inside
And nothing frightens me, baby, oh
He looked at her in complete surprise, but before he could say anything the song ended and so did their dance.
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"All right," Maya began as she turned to face Tyler. He was currently following her out the house. "Now that we're alone, what was it that you wanted to talk about?"
"I think we've known each other for a decent amount of time, don't you think?" Tyler asked.
Maya smiled, "A month isn't much."
"Why not?" he said in a questioning chuckle.
"Because you spent half of that time speaking fondly over Riley," Maya deadpanned. "And then crushing on this girl."
"That was only the first week-"
"And then you kiss me, tell me you made a mistake, invite me here and flirt with me for what? To have a good night?"
He scoffed, "C'mon. I know you know me just enough to know that's not true."
"Do I?"
"Yes, you do. And as of matter of fact..., I'm still a virgin."
Maya was taken aback by the news he presented to her, "Most guys are embarrassed to admit something like that."
"Why should I? I mean I'm not embarrassed to admit I'm not in love, or that I haven't met the right girl."
Maya smiled throughout all the turmoil she was in, "That's a nice way to put it."
The night was peaceful as he couldn't help but be memorized by her effortless beauty. His eyes were only on her, after a while he couldn't help but chuckle. She had fooled him all this time and now, knowing the truth, he couldn't help but notice how impossibly easy she made it. "I know who you are Chloe...I mean Maya."
She turned to look at him immediately. "You know?"
"Yeah," he chuckled. "I do. I've known for the past week. I just didn't know how to talk to you about it. I mean the makeup and the hair plus your clothes... it all made you look completely different."
"I-"
"I just don't know what Riley is here for. I mean at first she seemed like she was interested in me, but then a day later, she's all over Lucas and Lucas is this different person. I mean the dude posted a pic of her with a heart," he chuckled, "But, it did become his most liked Instagram pic."
"I don't wanna talk about him-"
"You don't wanna talk about it," he stated. "Riley's trying to seduce Lucas, isn't she?" Tyler didn't need Maya to answer the question, he already knew. "Talk about a crazy ex."
"You don't know the things he did while we were dating," Maya retaliated.
"And you don't know how much it'll hurt him."
Maya stared at Tyler in confusion, anger lingering loudly within her. "Please. You and I both know Lucas is incapable of feeling even the slightest bit of guilt."
"He stayed up all night drinking the day you guys broke up. I had to drive him home that night-"
"Right, because I, Maya Hart, broke Lucas Friar's, heart."
"That's exactly what you did. He actually liked you, Maya."
She scoffed, "The fact that you had to use an 'actually' in that sentence only proves my point. Lucas is a horrible person, Tyler. He uses girls. You wanna know what he is? A misogynist. That is who Lucas Friar is."
"You don't know him, Maya. He pretended like it didn't hurt him. But it did. I saw it, Farkle saw it..."
"Then he sure as hell get's over a break up pretty quickly. He goes around sleeping with girls and then "accidentally" sends you a video of him sleeping with someone else."
"That's who he is, it's what he does. It's what he's probably gonna do when he finds out about Riley."
She scoffed, "Yeah don't tempt me. Riley's leaving soon."
"So that's it? She's not gonna say goodbye to him?"
"Not if I tell him."
"Don't you think that's Riley's job. You've done plenty of damage."
"Riley won't tell him. For all I know she's leaving in a few hours."
"Where is she?" he asked hoping there was still time.
"I don't know. A motel...?"
"Why would she be there?"
Maya stared at her feet before she stared back at him, "I sort of kicked her out."
"You did what?!"
"I know," she breathed and placed a hand on her forehead. "She really hates me right now."
"Yeah, I can see why."
"No, I, I told her I was going to tell Lucas the truth," she breathed. "That's why she's not replying."
"But...you haven't, right?"
Maya shook her head. "I was going to, but then you asked me to dance and then we came here...and...I don't think I could do it."
"That's why you agreed to go with me," he said in realization.
That was part of it. She really wanted to tell Lucas but she focused more on the time she spent with Tyler.
"Is there a chance she could be here?" he asked.
"I don't know and I don't care anymore. I just want to forget about him, I think it's best if you take me home."
Tyler nodded. "Yeah. It's probably for the best."
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Lucas opened the door to his room and let Riley in first. He didn't know if he chose the right place to talk to her especially since they were in the same room she broke his heart in. He could have led her to another room but the anticipation killed him, he wanted to know why Riley did what she did.
When Riley walked into the room she was both nervous and relieved when Lucas agreed to talk to her, but when she turned to look back at him, her eyes grew wide. The wall right by his door had holes in them. She didn't know why at first but when Lucas tucked his right hand in his trousers, she jumped to one conclusion.
"Did you do this?" she pointed to the wall behind him.
He looked over his shoulder and turned back to Riley with a nod. He sauntered towards his mini bar and poured himself a drink in a clear glass cup. He turned to face her and drank from the glass.
She sighed knowing all to well what he intended to do, "I get it. You're mad-"
"I'm mad?" he questioned. "I'm pissed!"
"It hurt, Lucas," she tried to explain herself. "It hurt to see you practically break in front of me." She waited for him to stop staring at the cup but he never did, "And now you can't even look me."
He took another swig from his drink.
"How do you do it?" she began. "Act like you don't care? Because I can't do that. I...feel. I feel everything. I feel when you look at me or...or when you hold me-"
"Stop-"
"I'm not going to stop because I don't believe you don't feel anything."
"You think I like being this type of person?" he questioned, his eyes finally on hers. "I hate you for what you did."
"Then show it. Show me. Do something, anything! Anything is better than trying to convince me you don't care-"
"If I let myself care," Lucas sighed. "All I feel is pain. A pain that you caused."
She gulped.
"And when I show the slightest bit of worry...you get scared."
Riley closed her eyes because his words contrived everything inside her. She knew what he meant. She knew he was trying to remind her of the way he acted towards the guy who tried to hurt her. But she forgave him for that just like she's forgiven him for the other mistakes he's made.
He scoffed, "Just ask her out they said. She'll make you happy, they said."
"I'm sorry."
"You're sorry? You're sorry?" he added a questionable tone. "Well, so am I."
She bit her lips in order to suppress the sob threatening to escape.
"Should've slept with Missy the minute she came onto me."
She stepped back from him and raised a brow. She understood he was mad at her, but what he said took her by surprise.
"I guess I did deserve to get my heart fucked with," he disclosed. "By the one and only, Riley Matthews." He clapped. "How does it feel...?" He consumed his drink in one quick gulp. "...to break the breaker?"
Riley made her way towards Lucas and took the glass from him, "You've had enough."
"Not yet. I can still hear you talk."
"Okay, stop!" she denounced. "I - there's something I need to tell you and you need to hear it from me."
"Go ahead. Spill."
Riley sighed and stared into his emerald eyes. She had imagined this moment since the very beginning, but she didn't remember feeling this scared. Was she ready? Could she do it? She didn't know. The feeling was new to her. She made a promise to seduce Lucas and break his heart not to fall in love with him. "I..."
Lucas didn't know what Riley wanted to tell him. But he wanted to know why she was acting the way she was acting.
"I promised Maya I would seduce you and break your heart."
It felt as if the room grew thick with the truth. It was silent and unnerving. Seconds passed before Riley got a reaction from him. And it wasn't at all what she was expecting.
He just laughed and turned his back on her to pour himself another drink.
"You're funny," he began and laughed. "But that's stupid excuse."
After a few seconds, Lucas' laughs grew quiet. He looked at her expecting her to give him the real reason, but it seemed like she already had.
"Think about it," her voice was hoarse and her eyes were filled with tears. "I just randomly showed up at the party you were at. I never liked talking about my family, you don't know where I live..."
"That's because I never bothered to ask-"
"Because I didn't tell you, Lucas," she said with clarification in her tone.
He stared at her in absolute confusion, part of what she was saying made sense, but the other half just seemed like a credulous lie. "It still doesn't make sense. I mean the things you told me, about your dad and Sorrell..."
"I didn't lie because we already knew each other so well. It didn't feel right to lie. I know what I did was wrong - "
"What about your feelings?" he questioned. "For me...were they just a lie - "
"No," she informed. "Of course not. I just...what I told you, Lucas. I feel the same way you said you felt for me. I started to really like you and that's when I realized that I was doing something wrong. It was a horrible mistake, and I'm sorry."
Lucas grabbed a glass cup from the stand behind him and traced the outline of the design with his finger. His expression twisted as if he was ready to release a sob, but before he could, Lucas had thrown the glass cup towards the wall. Riley flinched at the sound of the glass shattering but she understood this was going to happen. Farkle had warned her.
He clenched his jaw along with his fists as if he was ready to punch another wall, but then his eyes found hers and he calmed himself down. He paced the room back and forth, unbuttoning his shirt as if the room was getting hotter and as if he couldn't breathe.
His teeth were gritted and the vein popping out his forehead was clear evidence that he was angry.
"Lucas, I'm sorry," Riley said through tears. Her hand went to reach him so he could stop pacing the room, but he removed his hand in time, his gaze still on her.
As he stared at her, his hurt took a hold of every memory they shared, every kiss, hug, and smile and turned it into a cloud of antipathy. His mind still couldn't wrap around the fact that their relationship wasn't built on the foundation he thought it was. In lieu, it was built on lies and a pact that would eventually break his feelings.
He moved the table that was in his way in a hostile manner, almost tipping it over alongside the expensive flowers. Every single memory he had of her, happened because of one big lie.
He thought they were real, honest, and understanding but they were nothing like that.
He tried to keep his anger in check, but he couldn't handle it anymore. The lies were piling up and it was too much for him.
"Lucas," she stood in front of him.
"Don't touch me!" his voice was hoarse and roar-like. "You lied, Riley."
"I know," she nodded. "And I regret it. I regret being angry at you for breaking her heart."
"Who's heart?" he questioned, his voice loud and inattentive as to what her answer would be.
"Maya's," she told him impatiently. "Maya Hart."
It finally made sense to him; how he always thought he'd seen Chloe before. He just didn't realize that it was Maya. There was so much betrayal happening at the moment that Lucas couldn't handle. "You made the pact with her?" his voice started to rise.
"Lucas she told me all these horrible things about you. And looking back at it, I think they were lies. She told me these lies just so I could get more angry at you and follow through with the pact. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have believed her."
"I'm so mad I could choke her," he muttered under his breath. "What kind of lies?"
"Something about a girl drowning...I don't know," she ignored his look of shock. "Lucas, I am sorry. Please, please forgive me."
He stepped back from her. His look of heartbreak at her recent confession was enough to drain Riley from hope, from knowing that their relationship would be okay. She stepped towards him as he stepped back and when he put his hands out to stop her, Riley pressed her lips against his. He was too close to her and she couldn't help it. She wanted the kiss to show him that she really liked him, that she cared for him just as much as he cared for her. She wanted to show him they were perfect, even though the odds said otherwise.
He wanted to stop her. But he wanted to savor the moment because he knew this would be the last time he would get to feel Riley this way. He wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her closer, he knew the feeling felt right, but the moment wasn't. He pushed away from her and turned his back on her, his hands clenched knowing that he still cared for her even though he didn't want to at the moment.
"It's true," he said immediately.
"What is?" Riley asked as she raised a brow. She had no idea why Lucas would pull away from the kiss so quick when he seemed to be enjoying it.
"The girl," Lucas answered but Riley was still confused. "It was my fault she drowned."
Riley felt her body go into shock as his confession hit her. When Maya told her about the girl drowning, Riley had tried to deny it because Lucas and she weren't on good terms but there was part of her that thought she was telling the truth. Through time, when Lucas had talked to his dad, showed her that he didn't cheat on her and make her realize that she might love him, Riley had come to a conclusion that it was possible Maya said those things to get her angry enough to defame Lucas.
But as his words still lingered in the air and his stare was stripped with pain, Riley had known the truth.
A girl drowned because of him.
Lucas saw her take one step back. And the sudden look of fear which Lucas had dreaded came to view.
"It happened a long time ago, Riley," he said.
She understood the past was the past and she hadn't gotten the whole truth. She couldn't hate him from what seemed like something he couldn't control.
"I know that what happened will always haunt you, but Lucas, I don't care about the past. You might have done some things that I might've not like from you. But what right do I have to judge your past when mine isn't so perfect either?"
Her hands went to her cheeks and in that moment she knew this couldn't be their goodbye forever. "I...cant hate you...no matter how hard you try."
She wanted this to be their invitation for a better future for them, but Lucas couldn't. He couldn't accept what would potentially break them. He stepped back from her and stuffed his hands in his pockets before he sniffed his nose intending to remove the tears trailing down his cheeks. "I'm not perfect," he began. "I am what I am, Riley. And I know you won't like it."
She hated the threatening sob that lingered in her throat alongside the chattering going on outside his room. "I'm not perfect either, Lucas. I've kept secrets from people when I shouldn't have. I kept one from you and that is the biggest mistake I've made. I will do whatever you want me to because I am so sorry. Please..."
When Lucas couldn't hold back the tears, he took his hand from his pocket and wiped them away. He didn't look at her as he walked towards the door and opened it. "You should leave," as soon as he said those words, Lucas knew what Riley would take from them. He knew she would see this as a goodbye...but he didn't do anything to change her thoughts.
Riley stared at the door before she looked at him. Every step she took towards it felt like a piece of concrete was tied to her feet. She was tempted to stop many times and shake her head no, but his heartbreak taunted her.
When she reached him, Riley looked in his eyes for the last time. Every memory hit her.
•
Lost in his gaze, Lucas caged her in with his right hand, their lips only an inch away. "Do I make you nervous, Riley?"
"In your dreams," she managed to say through a beating heart. He caged her in with his left hand and Riley was at loss for words.
Their lips met instantaneously and Riley felt herself kissing back. Lucas was amused with this as he fought with her for dominance, sending them into a voracious kiss. When he pulled her closer, Riley felt the bulge in his swim shorts and in return she settled her hand on his neck.
His hands went down to her hips, then slowly running to her ass. Pressing himself against her, Lucas groaned at the friction created by his move. Riley suppressed her moan and tilted her head to get deeper into the kiss. Grasping her, Lucas picked her up and settled her down as he climbed on top of her. Never had she expected that this was the place they'd kiss for the first time. In a cave with sand next to the beach on a sunny day.
•
"There was broken glass on the floor, the TV was knocked over and my mom was nowhere to be found. It wasn't until I walked into her room when I found her. She was unconscious and...and she was..."
Riley felt her own eyes tear up. She couldn't believe a guy like Lucas had a past she would've never expected.
"She was covered in blood. You should've seen her, she was so still I thought she was dead."
Riley pressed her forehead against his and caressed his cheeks with her thumb, but his eyes still wouldn't meet hers.
"I walked towards her but I stopped when I saw him. The only reason I even noticed him was because of the blood dripping from his fists. I was so scared of him that I couldn't even move." He shook his head in distress and proceeded with the story, "When he saw me, he started laughing. He asked me why I was home so early and other questions that I can hardly remember. He wasn't acting like himself; then again, I didn't really know him. So I ran towards the kitchen so I can get to the phone...but before I could round the corner, he caught up to me and...he dragged me back towards the hallway. He took the phone from my hands and placed his hand over my mouth so I couldn't yell. I bit his finger and he booted me in the stomach, he slapped me for a bit but my mom was conscious enough to grab my baseball bat and hit him over the head with it. She wouldn't stop until she knew he was out."
Lucas finally looked at Riley and breathed, "My mom called the police and my dad was arrested. When we realized he was only going to jail for a few months we moved here...to forget and to start over."
•
Riley giggled softly as she felt Lucas' hands touch her waist. He positioned himself on top of her and pressed his lips gently against hers. He slid off his shirt and stared at her, lustily. Riley's gaze trailed down his divine torso and smiled at what was laid out before her. When Lucas went down to kiss her, Riley noticed a small mark on his rib cage.
"What's this?" she asked as she placed her hand on it. "Is this a tattoo?"
He looked at it and smiled, "Do you like it?"
"What is it? What does it mean?"
"It's the Roman numeral for two," he informed. "To remind me that even though there's only one me in this world, there's two of me in my mom's heart."
Riley smiled, "It's beautiful. Now, tell me about the cave you took me to see."
"Well, when I was three my dad took my brother and me to see it for the first time. It's sort of the only memory I have of the three of us," he sat up and so did Riley. "That same year my brother died and...everything spiraled downward from there. Not long after, my dad became an alcoholic and an abuser."
"I shouldn't have asked, I'm sorry."
"It's been nine years and you're the first person I've met who has bothered to ask. Thank you." He smiled at her, "Now, I was promised a two-minute make out session."
•
Ten minutes passed and Lucas finally stopped his truck. Riley looked to her right. A beautiful coat of crocus flowers planted over a large grassy meadow came to view. A yellow blanket and picnic basket rested amidst lush green trees and as her feet touched the gravel Riley turned to Lucas.
"Nothing," he said immediately. "Nothing," he took out a sandwich and placed it in front of him. Getting ready to take a bite, Lucas felt a pair of daggers fall on him. "What?"
"Where's mine?"
"Where's my kiss?"
"Oh really?"
He nodded.
Riley stared at him and tried to maintain a straight face, but he was too cute to be mad at. She really did want that kiss just as much as she wanted that sandwich. She could've easily shook her head no and not eat for the rest of the time but she couldn't get over the fact that a guy as handsome as Lucas, wanted a kiss from her. Leaning in, Lucas didn't hesitate to kiss her. She was taken by surprise but as time settled in Riley found herself loving it even more.
Lucas was the first one to pull away, "Here's your sandwich."
A silence fell upon them merely because Lucas was swallowing a bite he took from his sandwich. Riley observed him for a few seconds before she was finally able to break the silence, "My dad cheated on my mom."
He looked at her and swallowed the lump of food, he was caught off guard and he didn't know what to say. Let alone how to comfort her. For seconds he debated on whether saying I'm sorry or asking what? He finally settled for, "How do you know?"
"I caught him," she answered his query. "I had my suspicions at first, but what really answered my question was a text message he got. He even abbreviated her name to Ms. H."
"Have you talked about it with - "
"My mom loves him and I love her. I don't know what I would do if she ever found out."
"Hey, Riley..."
"Yeah?" she turned to him.
"Did I ever tell you're the most beautiful person I've ever laid my eyes on?"
•
Lucas inhaled then exhaled. He scratched the back of his head before his eyes met hers. "I like you."
She smiled.
"And it feels like you like me too," his eyes couldn't leave her's. "We've been spending so much time with each other that I look forward to it. I like talking to you, Riley...and I really want you to feel the same way."
Every time they're together she forgets about the real reason she's with him and she only thinks about wanting to be with him, as something more. She crossed her hands and joined him, Lucas turned so they're both facing the same direction, the stars.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
He nodded, knowing all too well the only 'beautiful' he knows is her.
"I like you, Lucas." The smile he gave her was enough to make her chuckle. "You make it so much easier to be honest with you. There's no one I know who re-reads Sense & Sensibility more than I do, of course, that was until I met you." Her tone grew serious. "You're a good different."
His hands went down to hers, "The important talks, the one's we share, promise me we'll have more of those."
Riley's hands snaked around his neck as his hands rest on her hips. She smiled because Lucas had managed to say everything she's been wanting to hear. Everything she's wanted in a relationship has somehow been what their friendship with was all about. When they were together he provided her with attention, care, affection; the list goes on for a lifetime and that was all she ever wanted.
He cared for her, and she cares for him.
"I don't know Lucas, how would we do that?"
His forehead leaned against hers. The smell she radiated, of pear blossom and jasmine, made it impossible to think straight. He loved it. "Instead of seeing each other as...friends, maybe we can see each other as...more?"
Riley nodded. "I see."
"So what do you say? Give us a try?"
Riley grinned while Lucas touched her cheek, his slid his fingers into his hair and smiled. She leaned in to kiss him. This time, the kiss was more passionate than the previous ones. He clasped both of his hands behind her back and pulled her impossibly close.
"I'll take that as a yes."
•
"I never realized there were so many stars," Riley said as she looked up. She rested her head on Lucas collarbone as his hand played with hers.
Lucas had drove her to a place in the woods near his home that sat under millions of stars.
"There's many of them," he said into her ear. He rested his forehead on the back of her head and took in the smell of her hair, nothing had ever smelled better. Lucas lived off of Riley's happiness, and right now he was high. He loved seeing her this way, flabbergasted by the beauty of things. She looked up at the stars while Lucas looked at her. It could've been anything and his eyes would've been on her. The world could've ended and he wouldn't have cared. As long as she was with him, nothing else mattered.
"See that right there, those group of stars. How they kind of look like a pan? That's the Big Dipper."
Riley looked at Lucas and smiled, "I see it."
"Move your eyes to the right and then up to that bright star..."
"Uh-huh," Riley nodded.
"That's the Polaris," he informed.
"Who knew you knew so much about stars?"
He chuckled, "When my mom and I first moved here I was so thrilled to find a get away place. This is it." She smiled at him, "And one night when I was fourteen, my science teacher gave me this paper with all the constellations and I stared at them for so long that I started to remember them."
•
"Hold on a minute," Riley told him. She brought out her phone and walked towards the stone railing at the end of the balcony. She pressed play and set the phone down before she returned to him. Lucas smiled as the song began to play, he stared at Riley as he placed his hand on her back. Her hand intertwined with him as they danced to the song.
And you got me like, "Oh, what you want from me?"
(What you want from me?)
And I tried to buy your pretty heart, the price too high
Baby, you got me like "Oh"
You love when I fall apart
(fall apart)
So you can put me together and throw me against the wall
Riley rested her head on his chest. She listened to the song as she silently muttered them to him. She couldn't help but remember how long ago it was since she sang to Tyler. Back then she wanted to break Lucas Friar, she made it her mission to twist her way into his heart, but ever since then...she's fallen in love with him.
She placed her hands on his cheeks and stared at him as she sang the next part:
And babe I'm fist-fighting with fire
Just to get close to you
Can we burn something babe
And I run for miles just to get a taste
Must be love on the brain
That's got me feeling this way
It beats me black and blue but it fucks me so good
And I can't get enough
Must be love on the brain
•
She felt like none of that mattered anymore. All those perfect memories, the times they said they'd remember these moments forever, it was all gone. They lost their meaning.
She placed her hand on his cheek and blinked back the the tears..."Goodbye, Lucas."
She walked out of the room, down the stairs and through the front door.
She wished the cold air was enough to distract her from the heartbreak, it wasn't. But it was enough to keep her walking. It was enough to keep her moving; until eventually...
she was back in New York, 3,000 miles away from him.
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A/N: The End.
Just kidding. I gotta say, I really liked how Riley goes back to remember the important memories. There will be more added to the story but you guys will need to be really, really patient. I don't want the story to end here, and I know you guys feel the same way. The next chapters will give this story it's official ending so I wanna take time to work on it - which unfortunately will take some time. If I don't have the next chapter finished by the time this chapter is up, you guys will have to wait. And if I do, then you will find out sooner than expected. But, this has been an amazing journey. I started writing this story, I believe, October - November of last year. I posted the story on December and that has led us here. Thank you guys so much, leave your reviews and I'll see you on the next chapter. And make them count, pour out yours hearts and your thoughts because that will only inspire me to get the chapter out sooner.
The next chapter should be up before the ending of September. FOR SURE! And guys, let's try and get this story to 200 reviews. Thank you guys so much for reading.