Chapter 32
Lucas sat beside Missy in the convertible and would occasionally wave. It was kind of awkward having stop and go traffic, so he would randomly sit in front of some strangers for several minutes. He didn't mind too much, the running back enjoyed watching Riley interact with people. She had a sassy side, that's something no one could deny but he knew a side of her no one else did, Riley was so genuinely sweet and caring. She cared for people and her demeanor made it more obvious than she cared to admit.
"Lucas, i'm so glad we are doing this together." Missy placed her hand on his lap and he removed it.
"New rule, don't touch me unless absolutely necessary."
She glared. "Like when we dance together on Saturday? Or when we walk down the 50 yard line together tomorrow night?"
"Exactly." He scoffed. "I'm curious, are you doing all of this just to get under Riley's skin?"
"No, that's just a fun bonus. I have my sights set on something much bigger." Their car turned right and Lucas continued to wave and smile, pretending to be happy.
"I sure hope you aren't talking about me." He noticed the Whataburger and looked for his family, Lucas saw Riley flip and start waving.
"Of course I am."
"You're really full of yourself. You ruin my relationship with Riley and you think we're going to get together."
"You kissed me back. You don't know it yet, because you are infatuated with her. But, you want me." She rubbed his leg from his knee to his upper thigh.
"Negative ghost rider. Rule Missy! Get your hand off of me." She did as instructed sensing his tone.
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"GO ELKS!" Riley was keeping a particular eye out for Brinley, and quickly found her when she heard her name. "Hey Brinley!" The brunette ran over to hug her quickly. "I've missed you so much!" Lucas watched the exchange and smiled, one of the many reasons he loved her. She turned around and saw the float. "Can I take her on the float? Lucas is right behind us."
"Of course, go!" The cheerleader smiled at Taylor and snatched Brinley up, taking off towards her float. Her blonde curls blew in the wind and her giggle filled Riley's ears.
"Sit right here pretty girl." The brunette set her next to Darby and passed her a piece of candy. "Make sure you wave okay. Everyone's here to see you." B smiled and started waving. Lucas' heart fluttered, he loved seeing both of his girls happy. He let out a loud whistle, Riley turned around and lagged behind to meet up with him.
"Thank you for doing that." Riley looked at his sister and smiled.
"Anytime. I've missed her." Missy scoffed. "Problem?"
"Shouldn't you be with the cheerleaders?"
"Shouldn't you get a personality?" The brunette glanced back at Lucas who was laughing. "I'll see you later, if I don't kidnap your sister."
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Riley sauntered to her locker, she was wearing her senior jersey and eye black underneath her eyes. No Lucas yet, but he always showed up. The brunette enjoyed this morning, Missy was doing a homecoming thing so she missed practice, and Charlie didn't stalk her, so far everything was smooth sailing. The cheerleader entered her combination and opened her locker to find a beautiful mum. Her mouth opened and her hand covered her lips. She took the mum out of her locker to get a better look. It was gorgeous, it had a white fluffy heart with a teddy bear attached at the top and long strands of white and silver ribbon hanging from beneath it, with the name Riley on one ribbon and Lucas on another. There were bells and different ribbons had different patterns of silver and designs. "You can come out now!" Lucas turned the corner and took a picture.
"How do you always know?"
She dodged his question. "I'm going to avoid the fact that you broke into my locker, but what is this?"
"It's a homecoming mum, the guys in Texas traditionally give their girls a big obnoxious-"
"Lucas." He chuckled.
"What?"
"I'm not your girl anymore." His grin faded.
"To me you are, that's all I need." No matter how much she fought to fall out of love with him, she couldn't, because of crap like this.
"Lucas, you are making this so extremely difficult!"
"That's the idea." He smirked. "I told you i'm not leaving you alone. This isn't over between us and i'll wait, we both plan on going to Austin so i'll wait years if I have to." Riley's shoulders dropped and she looked to the ground. "Tell me you want me to stop and if I believe you then I will." The brunette looked at him and smirked, she secretly loved that he was fighting for her.
"I don't have a garter. I'm sorry."
"It's not a problem you beautiful girl you." The brunette looked at her mum and smiled.
"I've never had one before."
"Put it on." He bit his lip, hoping she would.
"What about all my other gentleman suitors? This would hurt their feelings." Lucas chuckled.
"You don't love your other gentleman suitors." Riley locked eyes with him. "I like your jersey." He winked.
"I um, I didn't have another one and we're cheering in them today. Plus, you're my friend." Lucas grabbed the hanger with the mum on it and slid it off.
"Put it on." Riley made the mistake of looking into his eyes and immediately clipped it to her shirt. "I tried not to make it too extravagant, or heavy."
"You made this?" She laughed.
"My mom, but I put the letters on." She smiled. "They miss you. I miss you."
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"ALRIGHT THIS IS THE LAST PEP RALLY OF THE SEASON Y'ALL GIVE IT UP!" The school started to scream, and Riley clapped her hands. It was a black out pep rally, there were flash lights and the cheerleaders wore glow sticks. All the football guys had a flashlight so Riley would get a glimpse at Lucas every now and then. "BE RESPECTFUL AND COURTEOUS SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO BLACK OUT PEP RALLIES! ENOUGH WITH THE RULES LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR OUR VARSITY CHEERLEADERS."
Lucas watched Riley take the center spot of the arena, and start to dance when Break a Sweat came on.
Break a Sweat, baby break a sweat, don't get tired yet. The running back loved watching her cheer, Josh stood right next to him clapping. Can you take me to places i've never been, never been before? I just can't take it, take it anymore. The song changed and a strobe light came on, revealing Riley in the air. The school started to cheer them on when she did a scorpion.
Girl walk in the spot she stop traffic, she blowin' your mind with her asset, so Jessica Alba fantastic. Instant classic boys like oh. Riley dropped to the floor, after a few dance moves, she ran to the other end of the gym. We don't need a mother, he said she said. Lucas knew she was about to do something intense, she took a deep breath and ran. Riley exhaled and held her breath as she did a roundoff back handspring layout. Lucas shouted as soon as she landed and Riley's smile was that of relief, it had taken a lot for her to focus and she was worried. He said girl you with it. She said boy where you been. The brunette was only a few feet away from Lucas and it took everything she had to not stare at him. Just like that they, he said you're amazing she said than why you waiting? The music clapped several times in a row, Riley expanded and contracted her chest with each pump of the bass. She flipped and with a loud boom the music ended. She jumped around, trying to get the school to get louder, and did a toe touch. The running back winked at her, hoping she'd see it. He was obsessed with her, and he had no shame admitting it.
After another 40 minutes filled with skits, cheers and performances from the band, color guard, and drum line the pep rally ended. Lucas immediately walked to Riley and hugged her. "You did amazing."
"Thanks." She loved hugging him.
"What are you doing right now?" The brown eyed girl looked at him and smiled.
"Um, noth-"
"LUCAS!" Missy clutched his arm.
"Remember our rule." She rolled her eyes and let go of his arm. Riley chuckled. Lucas continued to look into Riley's eyes. "What do you want?"
"I was wondering if you wanted to go grab a bite to eat?" The brunette broke eye contact and glanced towards the floor remembering their predicament.
"I better get going. I guess i'll see you later." Missy chuckled trying to hide her amusement. "I'm sorry I didn't realize i'd said anything funny."
"Your desperation is funny." Missy snapped.
"Her desperation?" Lucas responded before Riley had a chance to. "You've been all over me since the first day of school, and you're calling her desperate? You and Chase hatched a plan to ruin our relationship, you kissed me when I was drunk and she's desperate?" He was getting worked up, she was continually ruining everything and he was sick of it. "Let me make something perfectly clear-" He stopped talking and looked at his wrist, Riley was using her X-Men powers.
"Easy. She's not worth getting angry." Missy stormed off. "Let's get something to eat." He smiled and it took her breath away.
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The pair of friends were sitting across from eachother at the booth. Riley had her back up against the brick like she always did and she was laughing. Lucas cleared his throat. "I've missed this a lot."
"Yeah me too. Thank you for standing up for me earlier. It's nice not having to do it for myself."
The running back took a drink of his tea and smiled. "Anything for you, anytime." The brunette rolled her eyes and turned around when she heard Maya's voice.
"Hi honey. Wanna sit?"
"This is an interesting development!" Maya winked.
"We're here as friends. Right Lucas?"
"No." He chuckled, when the brunette reached across the table. "Refill?"
"Please!" He grabbed her cup and walked to the front. "What are you doing?" She nudged her best friend with her foot.
"Getting food before the game. Are you going to the pit tonight?"
"No, i'm not going there when i'm single. No, no way." Maya picked a fry off her plate.
"Take Lucas."
"Nope, I shouldn't have even come here with him. But, he defended me in front of Missy." The blonde slowly nodded her head. "Are you going tonight?"
"No, i'm not. I wanted to go to the dance and the pit. Josh said to choose one, so I chose the pit. And then he said 'the dance it is'." Her beautiful blue eyes rolled and she laughed.
"Sleepover?"
"I thought you'd never ask!" Riley placed her hand on her knee. "What's wrong?"
"My knee is acting up again, it's starting to get colder." She reached into her purse and pulled out her brace.
"That's attractive." Maya joked. Lucas slid back in the booth and saw Riley putting it on.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?" Riley looked at him like he was crazy.
"Cool your jets turbo, an old knee injury acting up. No big deal." The cheerleader laughed.
"I didn't know you hurt your knee." Maya's eyes widened.
"YOU DIDN'T? I actually am not sure why I sound so surprised, she hates this story."
"So then you probably shouldn't tell it right?" Riley mumbled.
"It was awful, freshman year Riley was on the floor cheering during a pep rally and as she was doing a dance move thing she collapsed." Lucas looked at his future girlfriend.
"I tore my ACL and Miniscus. I put all my weight on one foot and when I went to turn around my knee buckled. Completely blew it out, surgery and recovery of 6 months."
"Oh my God that sounds terrible." The brunette shrugged her shoulders.
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger! But, our coaches will kill us if we don't get back on time. So i'm going to head out."
"I'll walk you out." Lucas stood up immediately as Riley slid out of the booth. They walked in silence till they got to her car. "Wouldn't it have been easier if we just rode together?"
"Yes, it would've but why put us in situations that are going to cause feelings." He hugged her.
"Because it is so much more fun than ignoring our feelings." She rolled her eyes. "What are you doing after the game?"
"Going home, and having a sleepover with peaches. I've missed her this week, i've been busy and distracted. You?" She pulled away and opened her drivers side door.
"Going home, and trying to convince you to go with me to the dance."
"I'm not going to the dance." She giggled.
"Why not? You wore my mum I got you."
"Yes I did, I had never gotten one before and we're friends. If I go to the dance with you it will be considered a date and there will be dancing. You and I both know what happens when we dance together."
He raised his eyebrows quickly and reached for her hand. "Yes, I do!" He kissed her fingers. "I'll see you at the game, be careful beautiful." He turned to walk away and turned back around, preventing Riley from closing the door. "I miss you Riley." She was fixing to interrupt him. "I love you." She stared at him, not knowing how to respond, but she felt tears fill her eyes. "You don't have to say it back, I know you love me too, but I really miss you and felt you should hear that." Riley looked at her steering wheel and took a deep breath then slowly nodded while he gently closed her door. She watched Lucas walk away and a smile approached her face.
Riley put her car into reverse and whispered, "I love you too."
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