Chapter 20
Riley woke up the next morning in Maya's bedroom, with her arm draped over her eyes and for a good reason. As soon as she moved her forearm the light was like a sledgehammer on her head. "Maya?"
"Shhhh..." The brunette sat up and ran to her bathroom to take advil. She laid back down and grabbed her phone to check the time. Her eyes widened to see the numbers on her screen straight.
"23 messages? 5 missed calls. Ugh. 11:30?" All of a sudden like a rush of wind, she remembered what happened last night. She placed her hands over her face and lifted her phone again. "All from Lucas, how convenient."
I'm not gonna stop.
I didn't lie to you Riley. She was wanting to start things back up again.
You know I wouldn't do that to you sweetheart.
Please, respond.
Please, please call me back. I need to talk to you.
I'm only going to be more persistent now, you aren't going anywhere.
Riley rolled her eyes, reading his arrogance, continuing to scroll through the messages. All of them similar to the ones she had already read, except for the last one. "2:00 in the morning, wow."
You're probably asleep by now, but i'm going to talk to Bailey tomorrow before they leave. I didn't want to embarrass her in front of a bunch of people she didn't know. You thought I was relentless before? You just wait. Goodnight beautiful, sweet dreams, I hope you aren't hurting too bad when you wake up.
All 5 missed calls were from Lucas, she set her phone down. And twirled her hair, with her eyes closed. She quickly fell asleep again.
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"Good morning Lukey." Bailey slept in his bed last night and he slept on the couch.
"Hey. Mornin'." He checked his phone and saw that he had nothing from Riley. Zay was sleeping on the other couch and Lucas tossed a pillow at him to wake him up.
"Come on man!" Zay opened his eyes wide and started stretching. "Hey, do you have Riley's number?"
"Yeah. Why?" He put on his shirt and stood up. The creases on his forehead as he looked at his friend made him even more attractive.
"I've missed those." The running back turned his back to the blonde, not acknowledging the compliment.
"When I asked for it, Riley said you had it." He blinked for awhile, knowing what she was trying to do.
"So babe, what are we doing today?" Taylor walked into the living room, more like ran.
"Zay, hi!" She hugged him and turned around to see Bailey standing in the kitchen. "Bailey. I didn't realize you would be here." Taylor sauntered into the kitchen and gave her a hug, his mothers eyes were glaring and Lucas felt even worse. "What are you doing here? I was only expecting Zay. I should've been notified if a girl was staying the night in my house."
"Lucas and I are going to try long distance." Taylor's eyes widened and she put on a fake smile. But when Bailey turned away, his mother shook her head and closed her eyes. Lucas felt the disappointment from his mother, he knew she really liked Riley.
"Well, we need to talk about that."
"Where can I find Riley on a Saturday?" The running back rolled his eyes and exhaled. He felt like he was dodging bullets from Zay and blocking blows from Bailey.
"She's probably still sleeping. I don't know." His mother was so confused. She took Brinley's breakfast to her room and left the drama behind her.
Zay sat up. "So, what are we doing today?"
"I hadn't really thought about it, to be honest. I can show y'all around town and then go get food at HEB to grill out here."
"Sounds great man." Everyone started to get ready, Lucas checked his phone. Still nothing from Lucas and her words from the night before rung in his head, 'this tonight, hurt me more than Charlie ever did'. He scratched his head and texted her again.
-Good morning. I hope you aren't feeling too terrible. Zay and Bailey are leaving tonight, I wanna see you. Please don't ignore me.
Ding Ding
This is me not ignoring you. He couldn't help but chuckle, she's probably hating life right now and still being sarcastic.
-I wanna see you.
Ding Ding
Go to my instagram.
It's as if he started all over again with her. Riley's walls were back up and stronger than before.
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"I need food Maya. Can we go to the diner?"
"Yeah. We can walk." Riley stood up and after putting her hair in a messy bun she put on her shorts from last night and a t-shirt of Maya's.
"Come on. I think I may try coffee. I have a headache from hell, and everyone drinks coffee when they're hung over." Maya literally rolled out of bed and put shoes on. "Maybe it's like a cure."
"Let's go." Riley chuckled and they started their walk to the diner. "How are you feelin' this morning?"
"Like death." The blonde looked at her and even though she was wearing sunglasses, Riley could tell she wanted more. "Frustrated, with myself. I let him get too close, and then I let everything get under my skin. But, I was being fed jell-o shots. Thanks for that by the way."
"No problemo. Has he tried to call you?"
"Total of 25 text messages and 5 calls."
"That's pretty impressive. I'd give him a high five if he were around."
"Eh, he could do better. Knowing Lucas, if Bailey wasn't around it would be a visit to my house and a million voicemails. He's just that way. But, I only have myself to blame. I depended on him, and as usual got let down."
"You're my world's favorite pessimist."
"Maya, can I just marry you and be done? You've never made me angry. Unless you don't return my clothes." The girls giggled and walked into the diner. The friends sat at a booth in the back, it was darker and quieter. Riley ordered a coffee and a sweet tea, in case she didn't like coffee. "Just make it taste good, I don't know. I'm a coffee newb." Maya was texting Josh.
"He says he'll be here soon."
"Boys are bleh."
"Yep. I have a boyfriend I love and I think he is bleh too!"
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"This is called Old Town, this was the center of town when it was smaller. It was redone a few years ago to look more modern."
"How quaint." Lucas had been around Riley so much, he rolled his eyes at every goodie two shoes comment his ex made.
"Are y'all hungry? The Elk Diner has some great food." Zay opened the door for his friends and Riley immediately saw them.
"CRAP!" Riley slid down in the booth, knocking her head on the brick. "MAYA, they're here. They're here!"
"So, you didn't do anything wrong."
"I may have flirted with his friend, Zay. Just a little bit, hoping to make Lucas jealous." Maya cocked her head and smirked. The brunette clutched her head from the quick movement.
"Inspiring. Now, sit up. You look hot for a hungover girl. Don't look at them and if they come over, it's no big deal, if they don't you never saw them. Keep your composure."
"Why is Lucas wearing slacks? He hates slacks."
The waitress set down the drinks, and Zay caught sight of his dance partner from last night. "Riley, hey!" The brunette closed her eyes and smiled when she opened them. "How are you feelin' this morning sugar?" Lucas walked up with Bailey right behind him.
"Like death, thank you for asking." She took a sip of coffee then shoved it away. "Nope, no thank you. Tea it is." Lucas giggled and stared into her eyes, hoping to find some sort of feeling.
"Well, you did awesome last night. Even though you were drunk. Your cheering is impressive."
"Thank you. I can't believe I did that, I feel so obnoxious."
"Don't worry about it." Riley had her back up against the brick wall and her knees bent in the seat. "You look pretty fine this morning."
She rolled her eyes "Joy, I was truly hoping I could pull off a hangover." The brunette looked Lucas up and down. "Since when do you wear slacks? On a Saturday? In the summer?"
Bailey clutched his arm and smiled. "I always loved it when he wore slacks, so I bugged him until he changed." The brunette scrunched her nose and smiled bitterly.
"That's so cute!" She put on her sunglasses to hide her eyes, that were exuding obvious sarcasm. "Bailey, Zay this is my other half, Maya."
"Oh, are you two together? I thought you said you were single?"
"I only wish we were. And, I am." Zay raised his eyebrows again and slid into the booth. Lucas exhaled and looked at the cracked tile.
"Hey why don't y'all get us a table, i'll be right there?"
"I found my seat." Zay sat down beside Riley's feet and she instantly straightened her legs out, knocking him out of the booth. Lucas started laughing. "Oh girl, the more you fight me the harder i'll try."
Bailey was clearly skeptical to leave Lucas, but followed Zay to a table. "You look like you're going to church."
"You look beautiful." Riley took off her sunglasses and stared at him. She knew he meant it, no matter how much of a lie she thought it was.
"What do you need Lucas?"
"What are you doing tonight?" He bit his lip hoping for a decent reply.
Riley started laughing. "Avoiding you." Lucas didn't get that decent reply.
"Zay's right, the more you fight the harder i'll try."
"I wish I was better at avoiding you. I just think I need more practice." Maya was trying to contain her laughter.
"It's a misunderstanding. We aren't together, and before they leave tonight i'm going to tell her that."
"It doesn't matter Lucas, something must have been going on because she's here and kissing you. Changing the way you dress and how you act. I don't think i've seen you hardly talk like that. It's extremely unattractive," Riley cleared her throat, "even though i'm mad at you I wouldn't change you because you're pretty great." Lucas swallowed the lump in his throat. "Anyways this is a moot point because, we aren't getting together."
"Starting from the beginning again, are we?" He smiled.
"Sort of with a major difference." She took a sip of her tea.
"What's that?" She sat herself up, leaning on the table.
"It was a clean slate before."
"It's a misunderstanding, that's all. I'm still me, you're still you, except hungover. And, we will be together. Despite what you may think."
"Luke!" He walked backwards.
"I miss you!" She had to look away when he smirked.
"That's nice, how can I miss you if you won't go away?" The running back turned around to his table.
"Good job Riles." They air fived and Riley leaned back up against the brick. The brunette could tell her best friend was thinking something.
"What?"
"What if it is a misunderstanding? I would still be all over Josh if he broke up with me to move away."
"Ugh, feelings. I hate 'em."
"I think that's your hangover talking."
"I think I like hangover Riley. She seems to hate feelings and men more than sober Riley does." The blonde threw her straw wrapper at her.
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"Luke, what's her deal?" He scooted his chair closer to the table.
"Uh, she's a lot to handle." Lucas chuckled. "A lot. Her last boyfriend was a POS."
Bailey raised her eyebrow. "Why are either of you so interested?"
"I've never met someone like that before. She fascinates me."
"So, you aren't staying here. Besides, who acts like that? Rude and sarcastic." Lucas rolled his eyes again.
"Neither are you and you're back with him." Lucas' shoulders dropped and he closed his eyes.
"Well, I for one think it's hilarious. You never know what kind of mood she's going to be in."
Zay spoke up. "First of all Austin is only a 2 hour drive. I could come up here more if I wanted to. And, I agree that it's funny. It's better than being a goodie goodie." Josh walked into the diner.
"Hey Luke. Why aren't you sitting with the girls?"
Zay raised his hand. "Oh, Riley kicked me out of the booth." Josh wasn't too surprised. He looked at Lucas then at Bailey, who had her arm on his lap.
"Yeah, that sounds about right. Let's see if I have better luck. So, you two?" He was staring his friend down. Lucas mouthed the word 'no' and Bailey was nodding yes.
"Hey, Josh right?" Riley's uncle nodded his head at Zay. "Do you have Riley's number?"
"You want my niece's number?"
"I didn't know she was your niece. That's different." He laughed.
"I do and no you may not. Lucas, i'll be seein' you." Lucas dropped his head, taking it as a threat as he watched Josh slide into the booth at the back of the diner.
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"What's that about?"
Maya started talking before Riley did. "That's his ex, she surprised him and thinks they are getting back together. But, our feelings hater friend over here thinks they never broke up."
"Okay. Okay. Riley?"
"Yes dearest uncle?"
"Would you like for me to kick his ass? It's in the uncle handbook."
"No, that's okay. My words will do that." She smiled and inadvertently took a drink of coffee. "Seriously, I don't know how people drink this stuff." The cheerleader glanced back at Lucas' table. "Why is he drinking lemonade? He gets, tea or dr. pepper or water."
"Why do you care?"
"Just because I am mad at him, doesn't mean I don't like him. I still do, and unfortunately he knows that."
"How?" Josh asked.
"Because I am being sarcastic."
"But, you always are."
"Or is cynic the right word?" Maya interjected.
Riley cleared her throat. "A cynic is hated by most, sarcasm is enjoyed by all."
"So, whether you are a cynic or sarcastic genius wasn't the question. How does he know you still like him by you being sarcastic?"
"It's a little game we play." She took a sip of her tea. "Let the games begin."
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