Here ya' go 034, last one for today! Next update will be tomorrow.
Chapter 31
The entire week had been the same. She'd go to morning practice and watch Missy freak out every time they got close to one another. Riley would walk to her locker and Lucas would be there with a flower and a note. They'd work together and she would go home and stare at the notes and flowers he'd given her. She was afraid to open them, but the brunette was sitting on her bed Wednesday night and decided to read one, only one. Riley had finally quit crying, she'd ran out of tears so now would be the best time. After a deep exhale she opened the first note and there was a wallet sized photo of them touching foreheads and smiling, this was her favorite picture of them that they took it right after they started dating. Her fingers grazed over his jaw and a grin approached her face. Riley grabbed the piece of paper that was wrapped around it and started to read.
Love Letter #1,
If someone asks me to describe the perfect woman, i'd start by describing you. In you I have found the perfect blend of everything that I was looking for in a woman. You are caring, attentive, loving and protective all the things that make you the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. So, no matter how tough the road ahead gets, stay with me and love. And I will continue to stay and love you, because all my dreams came true in you.
Love,
Lucas a.k.a. your future boyfriend.
Riley swallowed the lump in her throat and laid back on her bed. She looked at the note and after reading it a 3rd time grabbed her phone.
Hi.
Hey beautiful, which one did you read? She wasn't surprised he knew.
Love letter number 1.
That's a good one. Riley giggled. I've missed hearing that.
Can we please just, go back to normal?
Depends on what you mean by normal?
What are my options?
Well option number 1, we go back to the way we were before dating and I try to sweep you off your feet. Option number 2, i'd be waiting outside of your bay window. I'd be sitting outside and staring at you, and i'd notice you were wearing my hoodie. Riley's eyes widened.
How did you know I was wearing-
I took option number 2. Riley sat up in her bed and glanced at her bay window. For tonight. Tomorrow i'll go back to trying to sweep you off your feet.
What are you doing here?
The brunette didn't get up immediately she stared at him through the window. I just, had to see you. Even the simplest things he said hit her in the feels. Pictures just weren't enough tonight.
You saw me at school.
Riley dangled her feet off the side of the bed. What's your point? The exes stared into eachother's eyes, just like they used to, neither could help the grin that approached their faces. The cheerleader walked to the window, set her phone down and opened the window.
"I guess I don't have one."
"So, I have a surprise for you. Wanna come take a look?" He held out his hand and she took it in hers. The pair crawled to the roof and there were a bouquet of flowers, chocolate strawberries and a blanket. She closed her eyes remembering the last time they'd done this. All the memories flooded her mind, all of them good except that one. She swallowed the lump in her throat.
"I'm running out of places to put flowers."
"Which, brings me to this." The green eyed man lifted the corner of a blanket and held a blank book in his hands. "I thought you may be running out of room in your book and need a new one."
"How did you know I was still doing that?"
"I didn't, I only hoped you were." Riley continued to crawl up the roof and sat criss cross apple sauce on the blanket. The running back leaned on one arm and faced towards her.
"So, what's up?"
"I told you I wanted to see you." She didn't answer and took a bite of a strawberry instead. "I'm surprised you didn't burn that." He gestured towards his hoodie. The cheerleader exhaled causing her chest to contract and locked eyes with him.
"It still smells like you." He nonchalantly inched closer as she put the hood on. "You know, i'm in a love hate relationship with you right now."
"Nice to know you consider it a relationship." He inched even closer.
The brunette rolled her eyes. "You completely disregard the word before relationship. I don't think I got a chance to tell you congratulations on winning homecoming king."
Lucas glanced at the blanket. "Thanks, I wish you'd have won though."
"I pulled myself out Monday. Smackle was mad she had to redo the ballots."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want to talk to you." She giggled and moved her head. "My favorite person to talk to and I didn't want to talk to you." Lucas' grin disappeared, he wanted to kiss her so bad.
"You're still my favorite person to talk to." The brown eyed girl looked up at the sky. "Are you going to the parade tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I have to. Cheerleaders have their own float. Do you have your tux?"
He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, Al's Formal came and took my measurements today. I'll have it tomorrow and return it after the dance." Riley tried to hide the fact that she was picturing him in a tuxedo. How handsome he'd look. "Are you going to the dance?"
"Probably not. No offense but I really don't want to see you and Missy dancing together."
Lucas completely disregarded her statement. "Go with me."
"No."
"Why not? We dance well together, i'll get to see you in a beautiful dress that I know from a little bird you bought 2 weeks ago."
"Because we aren't together anymore Lucas." Her words cut like a knife. "It'd be too hard. After what happened between you and Missy why would I willingly put myself into that situation?" She glanced at him and saw how close he was, and her breathing became unsteady. "If I change my mind i'll let you know." His left hand touched her cheek and the brunette closed her eyes, absorbing his embrace. His strong fingers ran through her hair and she felt herself lean in towards him. "Lucas I-"
"Say it." Her eyes were still closed and her body started to tingle as he gently pecked her neck.
"Say what?"
"You want me." The brunette couldn't hold herself back anymore, she pushed herself onto his lips. With his hand on her head Lucas gently laid her down on the blanket, and continued to kiss her. His hand slid down her side and under the hoodie touching her soft skin. Riley's legs wrapped around his waist, he began to peck her neck and unzip his hoodie. "I only want you Riley, please say it." He kissed her lips again, knowing she was about to protest. "Please, I need you." He kissed her ear; chest, Riley got goosebumps on her skin, when she felt his lips kiss her stomach. She opened her eyes and realized what was happening.
"No, no." The running back was gently pushed away.
"I'm sorry." The cheerleader licked her lips.
"No you're not." He grinned and his smile as usual made her bite her bottom lip.
"No, i'm not. There's still something here Riley and you know it."
"I do know that, you don't stop loving someone after 4 days." She sat up.
"You don't have to stop loving me. I'm here Riley, you can have all of me." His arms were out in a 'T' and a tear fell from his cheek onto the red blanket. "You don't have to stop loving me." Riley twirled her thumbs around each other.
"I want to." Hoping he would believe her lie.
"No you don't."
She looked to the ground, Lucas grinned and kissed her again. "But, I need to." He leaned in and they touched foreheads.
"I'm not going to let you." She grinned.
"I figured you'd say that."
"You don't sound disappointed." He ran his fingers through her hair again.
"Not completely."
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Riley was in the locker room getting dressed when Missy started bragging about winning homecoming queen. "I just can't believe it." The brunette rolled her eyes. "Lucas' tux is going to match my dress, i'm so excited to ride in a convertible during the parade." When she pretended to just now notice Riley. "Oh, i'm sorry. I didn't-"
"Bull crap." Darby tried to contain her laughter.
"I didn't mean to upset you." Missy's smirk said otherwise.
"Help me understand why you think that anything you've said was appropriate to say and why I should even respond?" She slid on her BHS Cheer t-shirt and her boots. The cheerleader slammed her locker shut and faced her. "Piece of advice, never miss a good chance to shut up."
"I'm not afraid of you Riley, you wouldn't do a thing. So, I can safely say that Lucas and I will be together very soon." The brown eyed girl chuckled.
"Next time he comes over in the middle of the night and we make out on my roof i'll be sure to tell him that. He's been trying to make it a nightly thing." Riley held a vacant expression and she lunged forward, causing Missy to jump. "Yeah, you definitely aren't scared of me." The brunette grabbed her bag. "Remember what I said about my boot?" She didn't say a thing. "Check out my shoes today."
"Bye Riley!" Darby high fived her on the way out. Riley had taken a different route to her locker hoping to avoid Charlie but he caught on a lot quicker than expected.
"I'm not in the mood Charlie. Me taking a different route to my locker is not code for come find me."
"I just wanted to see how you were doing. You look like your feeling better. How are you?"
"Happier than a cat in a room full of catnip."
"Sarcasm on point." He chuckled. "So, are you going to the homecoming dance?"
"Nope." She approached her locker but Lucas hadn't shown up yet.
"Well, I wanted to see if you'd go with me?" Riley opened her locker and tilted her head to the side.
"So, what exactly do you think is going to happen here?" Lucas heard them arguing and decided to hold off on approaching her. "I'll completely forget about everything you've done to me. When, just a few days ago you were looking for a 'friend'."
"I'm asking you out on a date, and i'm hoping you'll say yes."
"Did Lucas' ass kicking really change you?" The brunette bent down to get in her locker and Lucas' heart sank. The running back didn't like where this was going.
"Yeah, it did. I need to thank him for that." The cheerleader didn't acknowledge him. "So is that a yes, you'll go with me?"
"Sure, i'll go." She watched him get excited and Lucas' heart sank even further. "When hell freezes over." The brunette slammed her locker shut. "Twice. And, Lucas is right around the corner if you'd like to thank him." She walked away leaving the only 2 people she's dated alone with each other, the only 2 people that loved her.
Lucas exhaled. "You're almost as persistent as me."
"Almost. Took a few pages from your handbook." Charlie looked towards the ground. "I do want to thank you, I wasn't just saying that. I um, I quit drinking and started talking to the school counselor. Forced to for awhile, by my parents and teachers after they saw all the bruises."
"That's great. But, I have to ask you, were you part of this whole thing that happened?"
"No, but I was one of the first people Missy let know. I think she was hoping i'd do her dirty work for her."
The running back squinted his eyes. "You weren't going to?"
"No, I wasn't. I know after everything it's hard to believe but I really do care about her. I mean we were together for a year. I know that I will never get her back but it's worth a shot." Charlie started to laugh. "This is so weird the 2 people who really care about her and we're not at each other's throats." The guys shook hands.
"I still don't respect you, or trust you with her."
"Understandable. I'll make you a deal, if y'all get back together i'll do my best to back off." The 2 guys in Riley's life went seperate ways. Lucas walked into the classroom and stood at the entryway watching Riley talk to her father and sit in her desk. She locked eyes with him and he trudged to his desk.
"How was y'alls conversation?"
He chuckled. "We didn't fight, if that's what you're asking."
"That's funny."
"Why?" Riley turned around and looked at him.
"Because i'm probably going to get in a fight with Missy before we go on Christmas break. And, i'm the one who doesn't like fighting. I wouldn't call it a fight, i'd call it a punch."
He grinned. "I think we're rubbing off on each other."
"Guess we need to quit hanging out so much." The brunette raised her left eyebrow. "If only I could find a way to get rid of you."
"Good luck with that." He reached into his bag and held a daisy in his hand. The brown eyed girl tried to hide her smile.
"It's beautiful. Thank you." Class started and Lucas stared at the back of her head. It was getting easier for them to talk to each other. That wasn't enough for him. The green eyed man wrote a note on a piece of paper and passed it to her.
Go with me to the dance.
No.
Why not?
I feel like this is deja vu?
Get used to me askin' you.
Get used to disappointment.
Oh how i've missed our banter.
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"Everyone on the float please!" The squad all climbed onto the trailer and opened up their bags of candy. Riley's stomach was in knots, she was really hoping not to run into Lucas. She'd never seen him in a tux before but, the brunette knew that she was going to love it.
"Hello team mates!" Missy sauntered towards the float in a dark purple satin dress that stopped several inches above her knee with a halter neckline and sequins lining the top. No one acknowledged her. "I wanted to show y'all my dress."
"You look great Missy!" Darby interjected, but didn't look at her.
"Hey beautiful." The cheerleader closed her eyes and turned her head to the right.
"Hi Lucas." He looked so handsome, the dark purple looked great with his skin tone. "Lookin' sharp." Missy glared at the exchange.
"Thanks." He grinned and looked down at his outfit. "So i've been meaning to ask you-"
"I feel deja vu." Riley dumped the bag of candy in a bucket.
"Go with me." She continued to open bags and dump them. "Look at me."
"No."
"Why not?" He chuckled.
"You know why not." Lucas smirked, he knew exactly why, which was the point. "Don't you need to get to your car?"
Missy walked beside him. "We are at the car." The cheerleader glanced behind her and saw a white convertible.
"Oh God." She rolled her eyes.
"Hey Riles, B has been asking about you. If you could keep an eye out for her, she's by Whataburger."
"Absolutely." Riley had missed her so much, she immediately turned to Ally. "Hey can we switch spots? I want to be on the ground."
"No problem." Lucas smiled, seeing her brighten up.
"ALRIGHT GIRLS! WHOEVER IS SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE GROUND GET OFF THE FLOAT!" Missy walked to the car trying to pull Lucas along.
"You really look great." Riley didn't regret saying it, he kissed her hand and walked to his car.
"We're heading out!" The float pulled out and the cheerleader walked alongside it, feeling Lucas' eyes on her.
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