Chapter 2
The brunette scanned the room there were 3 people, just like Devin had said. But, she didn't mention Lucas being a new hire. Riley's heart stopped, she couldn't believe she had forgotten. She took a deep breath and acted nonchalant. "Hey everyone. Congratulations on getting hired. My name's Riley and I will be your mentor for the first few weeks." She grabbed a chair and sat down. "I have worked here since we opened about 2 years ago and I am 17 fixin' to be 18 years old. Why don't y'all introduce yourselves then we will get started with the Q & A session."
"Hi, i'm Ashley. I'm 16 and a junior."
"Welcome Ashley." She turned her attention to the next hire.
"Paden. I'm 17 and a senior."
"I thought you looked familiar." She turned to the familiar green eyes that she had spent most of the day with.
"Lucas Friar, i'm 18 and a senior also."
"Yeah, I know you. You're the new kid right? I saw a pretty awesome girl giving you a tour."
"You're right, I just moved here from Austin. And, oh that girl? Definitely awesome." He ignored the fact he sounded like an idiot and waited for her to pick up the conversation.
"In case y'all were wondering I gave him the tour." The new hires started laughing and it eased Riley's nerves. "So, questions? You can ask me whatever and I will do my best to answer it."
"Yeah, what exactly is a mentor? How are you going to help us?"
"The way I understand it is, the next few shifts I will be working with one of you. I will train you to bag or check whatever you were hired for and show you the in's and out's of the company. So, if I am checking Lucas would bag for me and i'd talk him through it. If Ashley were checking i'd be at the end bagging and be there for you guys whenever you needed."
"So basically our destiny here is in your hands?"
Riley turned to Paden. "I'm here to help you succeed, your destiny is completely up to how much work you put into it." Lucas grinned and leaned back in his chair, he was impressed with that answer. "I'm going to be honest with y'all, I like to think i'm good at my job. I have worked in other departments besides the front end and I know this store pretty well. The managers know that, they think I can help you. And I will."
The running back leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. "Cocky or confident?"
"A healthy dose of both never hurt anyone." She raised her eyebrow and turned her head to Ashley who had another question. Lucas continued to smile at her, she was very attractive when she was cocky or confident, whatever it is she wanted to call it.
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Riley was walking towards the front end to clock out of work when she heard footsteps running behind her. "Hey Riley."
"Hey Lucas. Congratulations again on the job."
"Thanks. I start Wednesday, i'm working with you?"
"Yeah, for at least 2 weeks." She entered her partner number and scanned her thumb.
"What's that?"
"That is how we clock in and out. It cut back on people abusing time, and having others clock in for them."
"Fancy." He raised his eyebrow. "So what are you doing now?"
"I'm going home. Why? You going out to celebrate?" She chuckled.
"I was thinking about it. Going to get some ice cream, this is my first official job."
"If that is a general statement I hope you enjoy yourself. If that is an invitation, i'll have to think about it."
"Oh, that was an invitation." The friends were standing by the sliding door and occasionally heard the buddy buck machine talk. Riley couldn't help but think he would consider this a date.
"I think i'm going to pass since my ride is here." Her father pulled up outside and honked his horn.
"Are you sure? I can take you home." He inched slightly closer to her.
"I'm sure. But, how about we celebrate on Wednesday? Since we work together. If you suck, the ice cream will cheer you up and if you do great, then the ice cream will be a celebratory thing. Deal?" Lucas was slightly disappointed but he was excited about scheduling something.
Riley began walking backwards to her dad's car, "Deal." Lucas exclaimed, "but don't break my heart!"
"I'd never." She turned around and sauntered to her father's car. The cheerleader opened the passenger door, "I'll see you tomorrow." Just like that she was gone, and Lucas was finally able to relax.
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"Hey Luke, how was your day?" Lucas bent down and picked up his little sister.
"Hey Brinley, what are you still doing up?"
"She wouldn't sleep, so i'm letting her play a little more. You didn't answer, how was your day?" His mother took off her reading glasses and set them on the kitchen table.
"Where's dad?" He kissed his little sister and set her back down.
"He ran out to get food, I didn't feel like cooking. Answer me, it's like you don't want to tell me something." Lucas sat down on the couch and ran his hands through his hair. "Lucas Friar, who is she?"
"I don't know what you're talking about mom. Are you taking drugs?" He sat up straight on the couch. "Mom, give me your drugs!" He chuckled.
"I'm serious Luke, you haven't had that look in, well I was going to say awhile but I don't think you've ever had that look. So, I will ask again who is she?"
"My tour guide, my classmate, my mentor and co-worker. Riley, Riley Matthews." He was picturing her face while his eyes were closed.
His mom started laughing and rolled her eyes. "Why don't you go to bed honey. It is clear you need to process everything that happened today. But, I am glad it went well."
"Not before Brinley goes to bed." He got down on the floor and started blowing raspberries on her tummy. "Hey pretty girl, you wanna go night night?"
"No."
"Of course you don't. Not even if I put you to bed?"
"Yeah."
"Come on, let's go night night. Go give mommy hugs and kisses." Brinley ran to her mom and kissed her goodnight, Lucas followed her lead. "Night momma."
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The next morning Lucas was in the locker room getting cleaned up after morning practice. "Hey Josh, thanks for that interview man. I appreciate it."
"No problem, i'm assuming you got it?" Josh was touching up his hair in the mirror.
"Yeah! I start tomorrow. Riley is going to shadow me for the next couple weeks so i'll have the same schedule as her."
"So, it's your first week and you have the entire weekend off? I'm jealous." He laughed.
"I didn't know that."
"Yeah, we're all going to my girlfriend's parents lake house this weekend on PK. Maya, I think you met her. She said Riley could invite you."
Lucas looked blindsided at this piece of information. "She never mentioned it. I don't think that'd make her boyfriend to happy."
"Probably because she just met you. But, if you wanna come i'm inviting you. I love Farkle but uh, it'll be nice to have another man there." He put on his shirt. "And, Riley doesn't have a boyfriend, she has a Charlie. They aren't technically together and I think she is starting to realize what a tool he is." Lucas processed the information and pryed a little more.
"Oh that's good, yesterday it seemed like there was something there."
"Nah, he cheated and, I think talks to her terribly. Riley was going to put up with it until Maya straightened her out. You gotta love that girl."
Lucas smiled at the thought of Riley being single. "So, what's goin' on this weekend?"
"We try to go to Possum Kingdom Lake a few times before it gets to cold to swim. Maya's step-dad Shawn has a lake house, a boat and jet skis and it is an absolute blast. Her parents will be there so there will be chaperones, if your parents want to know. We leave Friday night after the game and stay till Sunday. You don't want to miss it, if you can't go this time we will probably go again. But, this'll be a fun way to start the year."
"Yeah, I think I may. You don't think Riley would mind?"
"I wouldn't say mind, she'd definitely be distracted, but I invited you and what's she goin' to do? Ignore you all weekend?"
"She could." He laughed. "I'd hate to lose one of my only friends here."
"No worries man, Maya and Riles are the only 2 girls around here that won't hold a grudge. And they couldn't care less what you do, that's what makes them so great."
Lucas pulled his shirt on and grabbed his back pack. "So, hypothetically if I do go. Should I tell her?"
"I don't see why not. You're going as my guest, not to get after her right?" The green eyed boy laughed and looked at the seat in front of him. "That's my niece dude, at least lie to me. I will wish you good luck, she's not really looking for a boyfriend right now. I'm not saying give up, because if eventually she does want a boyfriend and her only prospect is Charlie that'd be terrible. But, remember she's my niece and i'll kick your ass if you hurt her. It's part of the uncle handbook." They shook hands and took off to first period.
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The brunette entered her locker combination and grabbed her books out of her locker. "Good morning partner."
"Oh God, don't call me that unless we're at work." She laughed and leaned up against the lockers. "How are you?"
"I'm great. You?"
Riley pursed her lips together and replied. "I'm good." Lucas took her books from her.
"No you aren't." The brunette rolled her eyes.
"No, i'm not. Charlie's just being a jerk, same ol' same ol'. How did you know something was bothering me?"
"Oh easy, your eyes. Dead give away. And, i'm sorry that sucks. Guys can be real jerks sometimes." They both started walking towards their class.
"Yeah, why is that? What does that accomplish?"
"Oh, I wasn't talking about me. But, in Charlie's case I would say he wants what he can't have." Lucas knew the feeling. Riley slowly nodded her head.
"Hey, how did you get my stuff?"
"Oh, sorry I didn't even realize I did it. Do you want them back?" She slowly stacked each book in her arms.
"I'm not helpless, and you are too nice. You probably got a few phone numbers already didn't you?" They sat down in their desks.
"2." He started laughing. "How'd you know?"
"Well, the locker room this morning was filled with 'oh my gosh Lucas is so hot' and 'did you see the new kid'. And like I said, you're too nice. It can be misconstrued for a sign of weakness for girls to walk all over you. And, girls are pretty brutal so keep that in check if you go on any dates."
"Nice to know i'm talked about."
"Cocky or confident?" She raised her eyebrow.
"I've heard a healthy dose of both never hurt anyone." Riley started laughing and faced the front so she could pay attention in her fathers class.
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"Hey dad." Lucas tossed his backpack by the front door and started playing with Brinley.
"Hey Luke, how was school today?" The father was in the kitchen cooking something for dinner and his mom was sitting at the kitchen table.
"Great, actually. My friend Josh invited me to a lake house this weekend." His dad turned around from the stove.
"That's awesome, son. I told ya' you'd have friends in no time. You're a pretty good guy."
"Yeah, I like to think so." He laughed. "So, would it be okay if I went?"
"What lake? Are there chaperones? Who's going? When will you leave and when will you be back?"
"Possum Kingdom Lake, there are chaperones going, we leave Friday night after the game and get back Sunday, probably afternoon." He intentionally didn't answer the who was going question in fear of his parents saying no.
"Well, I don't see why you couldn't go." He had a huge smile on his face and continued to play with Brinley. "If you tell me who's all going?" Lucas' heart sank.
"A few friends. Josh, and his girlfriend Maya, Farkle, Smackle and Riley." His mom turned to her son and grinned.
"So, this is a boy, girl thing?" His mother said.
"Yes, but like I said there are chaperones. And, nothing is going to happen." The parents looked at each other. Lucas' gorgeous eyes were pleading.
"Well, technically you're 18 so you can do whatever you want right?" His dad winked at him and Lucas saw his mother's hands go over her face. The green eyed boy gave his parents a hug and walked to his room, pulled out his android and texted Josh.
-Is the offer still good for this weekend? The running back set down his phone and looked up at his ceiling, day dreaming about spending the weekend with Riley.
Ding Ding
Absolutely, you'll have a lot of fun. How many seats does your truck have?
-6.
Ding Ding
Can we take your truck? We will obviously pitch in for gas.
-Sounds great.
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It was 8 o'clock in the morning and Riley had just been let out of practice. She hurriedly ran to the locker room to get cleaned up.
"Hey Riles. How are you?"
"Hey Missy, not bad. Just trying to get ready before class." Missy was on the squad with Riley and she had a tendency to be fake. She always played nice with Riley until she got what she wanted. The brunette pulled out her phone and saw a bunch of messages from Charlie and Maya, she rolled her eyes and put her phone back in the bag.
"Um, so you know Lucas right?"
"Yes and I don't think he is taken. If you want any information, go up and talk to him yourself. He just got here, so he may not be interested in dating." Riley fixed her eyeliner and touched up the curls in her hair.
"I may do that. You know I can be very persuasive." The brunette rolled her eyes as Missy walked away. She hurriedly got dressed and checked her messages from Charlie on the way to her locker.
I'm sick of this Riley, I cheated on you. I said i'm sorry. I'm not doing this again.
Is there a particular reason you aren't responding to me?
You're starting to piss me off Riles. She looked up from her phone and ran into Charlie.
"WHERE WERE YOU?"
"Practice. Just like every morning." The brown eyed girl side stepped and continued to walk towards her locker.
"I've beent texting you all morning. Why haven't you replied?"
"I think i've made it clear I was in practice and when I am practicing i'm not responding. Please leave me alone." She jogged up the stairs and unfortunately felt Charlie follow her.
"I'm not taking no for an answer Riley. We've been together too long. So, I cheated on you? I apologized. Get over it." The cheerleader rolled her eyes and started to enter the combination.
"I'm getting over it." He slammed her locker shut as soon as she opened it. "WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?!" She shouted.
"I've told you, i'm not taking no for an answer!" He stepped really close to her and grabbed her forearm, it made her uncomfortable.
"And, I don't give a damn what you're going to take for an answer. I'm still going to say no." She yanked her arm away.
"Is there a problem here." Riley looked straight through Charlie to Lucas.
"None that concerns you." Charlie snapped.
"Actually, i'm headed to class." She walked away grabbing Lucas' arm. "My answer is no. Get over it."
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"Are you okay?" Lucas stopped her from entering the classroom.
"Yeah, i'm fine. He just is very persistent."
"Riley, that's not persistence. I don't really know what to call it, but no one needs to treat you like that. Do you know that? I have known you for what, 3 days and I know you deserve to be treated with more respect than what he can give you." The pair locked eyes and Riley's stomach began to turn.
"Thank you Lucas. Don't worry, i'm not going to get back together with him." The green eyed boy smirked and followed her into the classroom. "But, I feel like I should warn you."
"Uh oh. About what?"
"Missy Bradford. She's a cheerleader with me and she has voiced a particular interest in you!" The brunette raised one eyebrow and grinned.
"Oh yeah?" Lucas was a little uncomfortable talking about other girls with her. "I'm not really interested."
"Do you know her?"
"No, but if I am being warned about her, I am just going to assume she's bad news." The friends started laughing.
"She's just," Riley paused to find the right words, "A handful. And, high maintenance. But, don't let my opinion persuade you. You can date whoever you want!"
"Whoever I want?" He gazed into her eyes hoping to find something indicating she may be interested in him.
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