acts like summer and walks like rain.
summary: Lucas Friar always knew that Riley Matthews was bound for great things, so he let himself get left behind while she goes and saves the world. / Ten Year High School Reunion Story.
a/n: I loooooove this song. Sort-of inspired by the idea that Riley Matthews changes the world while everyone sits and watches. Anyways, enjoy this cute little three-shot.
Last part! I'm so glad ya'll enjoyed it so far. This was probably my most popular story yet. Do enjoy the resolution. Thank you for everything! If you want more Rucas, please check out my other stories (particularly the 'take me home: the series').
rated T for love/sex.
disclaimer: i do not own girl meets world or train's 'drop of jupiter'.
And did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day?
Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
And did you fall for a shooting star, fall for a shooting star?
Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
And now you're lonely looking for yourself out there.
Four weeks later...
It was a long day for Lucas. He had drove six hours to Oklahoma to treat some horses at a large cattle ranch. After making it to the remote farm, he tended to a fouling mother and several other horse. He spent the whole day at the ranch, and then he drove another hour to city with a hotel. The horse's owner's offered to let him spend the night at their place, but he politely declined.
He was flipping though the channels in nothing but his boxers when there was a knock on the door. He got up easily hoping it was room service. He grabbed his wallet and pulled out a twenty. He hastily opened the door, not caring about his lack of clothing.
"Jesus, I've been waiting—" he says swinging the door open. Instead of room service, he was greeted with a small chocolate-colored hair girl holding a large suitcase. Riley grins up at him with that innocent smile of hers.
After the reunion, he flew back home. He called Farkle and Maya to try to get ahold of Riley. Maya didn't give him her number because Riley told her not too, but she told him she was convincing her to reach out to him. Farkle, however, ngave Lucas her number right off the bat. He called her once three weeks ago and left a voicemail. That message went unanswered until this very moment.
"Is that for me?" Riley smiled pointing at the twenty-dollar bill in his hand.
"Riley? What are you... why are you... how are you here?" He asks incredulously.
"You gonna let me in or what?" She smirks at him. He moves away from the door and she saunters in.
"Forgive me for being confused," he shuts the door. He stares at Riley who puts her suitcase away. She smiles at him.
"It's okay, I'd be confused too," she drops down onto the bed. She crosses her legs and leans back onto her hands.
"Why are you here?" He asks again.
"I think that we left things a little..." she pauses thoughtfully. "Vague," she finishes.
"Vague? You left me alone with two hundred dollars on my nightstand! It seemed pretty clear on what you took me for!" He scolds. He tries not to yell. She looks at him confused before realization dawned on her face to what he meant.
"Oh! I wasn't paying you for the sex. Oh my god," she giggles. "That was for the room since I checked out of mine early and stayed with you," she explains nonchalantly. He scrunches up his eyebrows.
"I felt like a prostitute, Riley!" He say angrily.
"I'm sorry. I should've left a note or something," she waves still laughing.
"Why are you here?" he asks again crossing his arms. She stands up from the bed.
"Look, I got scared. You were saying all these things that, honestly, it was a bit much don't you think. We haven't seen each other in ten years. Yeah, we've talked, but it's not the same!" She approaches him timidly.
"That's not you said in high school!" He clenches his fist and turning away from her. She moves her head to be in his line of sight.
"That's the thing! That was high school! What did we know then? Nothing. We thought we owned the world, but we were just kids. We didn't know shit. We've change so much in these last ten years! You got married and divorced." She points at him, jabbing him in the chest. "I traveled the world," she points at herself. "We're not the same two kids who win Prom King and Queen!" she waves her finger to point to the two of them. She's huffing and puffing following her rant.
"You're right, we've changed." They stood in silence. Lucas sits down on the bed. She sighs running her fingers through her hair.
"I really am sorry for leaving like that," she apologizes sincerely. She joins him on the bed and places a hand on his knee. "I don't know what came over me. I just had to go."
"It's okay. It was a little fast. It was the first time we've seen in each in a long time, and it included mindblowing sex. I didn't want it to end," he forgives her easily. He always did.
"Yeah, the sex was great. It was better than I imagined."
"Thanks," He sighs. "You know, I can never really be mad at you," he says honestly. She smiles.
"I'm glad that hasn't changed." He places his hand on top of hers. "You always loved me?"
"Yeah, I have," he admits.
"Why didn't you ever tell me?" she questions.
"Because... you're Riley Matthews: the sweetest girl in the world and a real life princess."
"I'm only human," she whispers. He squeezes her hand.
"Yeah, but you were born to save the world," he says.
"You're a veterinarian. You do good things too," she assures him. He chuckles.
"I guess, but you were always bound for greater things."
"That's quite a pedestal you put me on," she says softly.
"I'm sorry," he says realizing what he's been doing. He knows how hard it is to be everyone's idea of perfect.
"It's okay. It's nice to know that you think so highly of me." She pauses. "Now I'm asking again, but why didn't you ever tell me?"
"Because... because you're so good. I would have only brought you down. You were destined for wonderful things, and I... I wasn't."
"So you stayed behind so I can live my dream?"
"In a sense, I let myself be left behind. Besides, I was living out my own dream," he defends his choice.
"If you had asked, I would stayed," she confesses.
"Yeah, cause I want to be that guy. 'Oh Riley, I love you. Please don't go to California for college/don't got study abroad/don't be a teacher in Costa Rica and be with me.'" He mocked. "Besides, even then, I was dating Jenna at most of the time anyways. There's no reasonable way I could've asked you to stay for me."
"I guess, but if you always loved me, then why didn't you ask me out during high school?"
"Because of Texas," he muses.
"Texas?" She raises an eyebrow.
"Remember when we were in middle school and we all went to Texas. We were line dancing, and you said that you wanted hold on to our friendship as long as we could. I just thought that if I held back, we would be doing what you wanted."
"So what changed now?"
"We did," he admits. "Not seeing each other for ten years, it changed us. We also changed on our own. I want this be clear, I have always loved you. Even if I didn't see you or talk to you, we're still real friends and our friendship could take something like that. I still love you. The same as I have before, it's just now I'm willing to risk everything for you. I went a decade without seeing you in person. I don't want to do that again."
"I don't either," she gently cradles his cheek.
"I love you Riley, and I mean it," he looks into her eyes and leans into her touch.
"I love you too," she finally admits. It's quiet again. She inhales deeply.
"So what happens now?" he whispers. She smiles.
"We enjoy the summer. Catch up. Have a good time," she says the last part suggestively. She swings her legs over his and straddles him. She wraps her arms around his neck. He puts his hands on her waist. They smile gently at each other. She leans in to capture his lips with hers. She pushes him down on the bed and crawls up on top of him. She pulls away to take her shirt off. He traces her sides and looks up into her eyes. She bits her lips and dives down to kiss his neck.
"Wait, not that I don't want this because I do," he assures her. "But I have one more question."
"Hmm?" she says nibbling on his neck.
"How did you find me?" She pulls back and looks him in the eye. Then she throws her head back and laughs.
END PART THREE