Chapter 35

"Wow! Maya you look absolutely beautiful." Riley finished pinning her blonde hair to the side and smiled at her work. "That dress is gorgeous."

"Thank you, clearance!"

"My favorite word!" The girls giggled and the brunette looked at her dress again. It was floor length with nude spandex covered by red lace. It had cap sleeves and a low v neckline. The red made her eyes pop.

"And, all you have to do is change." The blonde pointed out.

"I will get dressed and leave in like 45 minutes."

"Are you sure you don't want to drive with us?" The brunette nodded her head.

"My mom's going to drop me off. Plus I don't want to run the risk of him seeing me before we want him to." There was a knock on the door the girls jumped up and down and squealed. "Have fun pretty girl, you look fabulous. As usual!"

"Bye Riles, I can't wait to see that dress."

GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW

"Great, thank you so much for letting us take some pictures." The yearbook photographer scurried off, and Lucas tried to follow before getting sucked into the black hole that was Missy.

"Luke! Where are you going?" Lucas closed his eyes, he hated her voice.

"My name's Lucas and I'm going inside to the dance. That's what we're here for." He turned around to walk up the stairs to get to the room Missy's parents rented out.

"Can we talk?"

"Preferably not." Missy rolled her eyes and stood in front of him.

"I hate that you're mad at me." She put on her sad eyes. "We've been spending a lot of time together the past few days."

"I didn't have a choice." The green eyed man snapped.

"I just, I want to get past this whole thing and move on to our relationship." Lucas' eyes widened, causing his forehead to wrinkle and his mouth to open.

"Missy, I was stopped by Riley the other day at the pep rally from telling you how I feel."

"How you feel?" She smiled.

"We are not going to have any shape or form of a relationship. We won't EVER date. Ever." Lucas stepped to the side to leave.

"Riley isn't going to get back with you!" She glanced at him. "I've known her a lot longer than you, and I know she isn't going to cave. It'll make her look weak, and she'd rather die than have that happen."

"Just because you've known her longer doesn't mean a thing. You've seen her defensive side, that you so graciously bring out in her." He pointed out.

"I'm just warning you. Either way, i'll be here when you realize it." The running back rolled his eyes and jogged up the stairs. He opened the double wooden doors and walked down another set of stairs to get to the dance floor. The lights were turned out, with spot lights and an occasional strobe light. He smiled seeing 2 of his best friends.

"Hey y'all!"

"Hi, Lucas. Lookin' sharp." The green eyed man looked anxious and only Maya knew why.

"What's wrong man?"

"I just, i'm metting Riley after this and I want to leave as soon as possible." He squeezed his hands together, the blonde thought this would be the perfect moment to figure out a time.

"Well what time are they putting that crown thing on and you dance with Missy?" Lucas pulled out his phone.

"In like 30 minutes." He bit the inside of his cheek just thinking about being close to her. "I've moved it up as much as I can."

"Excuse me guys." Maya walked away and texted Riley an ETA, then shuffled to the DJ.

"Relax man, you and Riley hang out all the time." Josh cleared his throat. "It's just like every other time."

"I don't know if it is. I feel like 1 of 2 things is going to happen tonight." He cracked his knuckles.

"You can't just say that and not elaborate." The guys laughed at Josh's observation.

"Either she's going to try and forgive me or she's going to kick me to the curb."

His friend looked around. "Did she like, say that?"

"No, of course not. I just, our conversations have been different lately and she couldn't sleep till like 3:30 this morning, saying she had a lot on her mind."

Josh laughed. "Why can't girls just speak what's on their mind?" He scoffed.

"Because Josh, that would be too easy." Maya slid in front of them.

"Lucas, I hope you don't mind if I steal my boy toy?"

"Go right ahead. Hey Maya, have you seen Riley today?" The blonde nodded. "Did she seem okay?"

"Yeah, she seemed at peace. If that makes sense." Josh tore her away and the running back didn't know if that relieved him or not.

GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW

"You ready?" Topanga put her car in park and looked at her gorgeous daughter.

"Very." Riley continued to nod her head, and didn't stop.

"You're going to give yourself a headache if you keep doing that. Shaking your brain." She laughed. "You look beautiful. He's not going to know what to think."

"Well what do you think about all of this?" The brown eyed girl glanced at her mother. "Is it ridiculous?"

"Honestly, this is more clever than anything I could've came up with. But, i'd do it for your father. Lucas is a lucky man." The brunette played with her freshly polished nails. "Why are you nervous? He loves you, he's made that evident. In spite of everything."

"I just, I don't want to make a mistake."

"Oh honey, I know you very well. You're the spitting image of me. And, like me no matter what decision you make, it isn't a mistake. You have never had a problem with confidence, you exude confidence, that's one of the many things that makes you great. Own it, you walk in there, you make no apologies about who you are and the decisions you've made." She could tell her daughter was still nervous. "Ya' know honey, people confuse confidence with arrogance. Confidence isn't walking into a room with your nose in the air, and thinking you are better than everyone else, it's walking into a room and not comparing yourself to anyone else in the first place." Riley smiled. "Be strong in confidence yet courageous in character. You my daughter have mastered the art of both."

Ding Ding

Fixing to dance. Get upstairs. NOW

"I gotta go. I love you momma."

"I love you." Topanga didn't leave until she saw her daughter run up the stairs.

GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW

"Congratulations you two, again on winning Homecoming King and Queen. Please take the dance floor." Lucas walked down the steps of the stage with Missy in front of him. He could only think about seeing Riley as soon as this dance was done. "DJ, if you would please play the song that was voted on by the senior class."

Highway run, till the midnight sun. The wheels go round and round you're on my mind. The king and queen started slow dancing. Restless hearts, sleep alone tonight. Sending all my love along the wire. They say that the road ain't no place to start a family. Right down the line it's been you and me, and loving a music man ain't always what it's supposed to be. Lucas couldn't help but roll his eyes, why is this a romantic song? They weren't even together. Oh boy you stand by me. I'm forever yours faithfully.

Maya clutched onto Josh's hand. "Hey babe, why are you nervous?"

"I'm not." Josh glared at her, and after a few seconds he started to smile.

"What are y'all planning?"

"You'll see in about 30 seconds." The blonde texted her best friend.

Two strangers learn to fall in love again. I get the joy of rediscoverin' you. Oh girl, you stand by me. I'm forever yours, faithfully.

Maya saw the door open and nodded her head towards the DJ. The music stopped, and chatter erupted but was quickly silenced by a song starting. Lucas smiled as soon as he heard it, this was Riley's song. The running back heard whispering and a few classmates pointed towards the door, he looked at the top of the stairs and his mouth slowly opened, she was here. Riley began walking down the steps, his green eyes couldn't believe what he was seeing, she looked stunning. Her hair was in a fishtail braid laying on her right shoulder and her bangs covered up one of her smokey eyes. Her dress was strapless with a sweetheart neckline, the gown was long and white with a slit going up her leg and stopped 4 inches above the knee. Her chest was adorned in sequins, but it was her smile that Lucas couldn't stop looking at.

She's as free as bluebonnets in the summer. She's as hot as the Padre Island sun, most of the time she's as warm and friendly like the hills that surround Austin. She's as bright as the Dallas sky, she always holds her head up high. Lucas left Missy in the middle of the dance floor and sauntered towards Riley, he never once broke eye contact. He continued to fidget with his hands until he could hold onto her. The brunette placed her hand in his, there were no words needed they were going to dance. She loves the company of her family, she has faith in God's greater plan she trusts i'm a good man and that's why i'll always believe. She's like Texas, and she likes me. Lucas felt his body shaking, but couldn't get it to cease. The butterflies wouldn't stop fluttering, and he couldn't stop staring at her. Her eyes are green like the trees in Nacogdoches, her teeth are white as cotton in the fall. When she laughs you'll always take notice. 'Cause her hearts charm will shine right through it all. She's as bright as the Dallas sky, she always holds her head up high. She loves the company of her family, she has faith in God's greater plan she trusts i'm a good man and that's why i'll always believe. She's like Texas, and she likes me. And her moods can change like the weather out in Lubbock, but if you show her love man she'll return it. She's as bright as the Dallas sky. Lucas was locked in on her eyes, Maya had put a white eye shadow in her tear duct following her lower lid, which made them even more captivating. "Riley,you're so beautiful." Riley smiled, but didn't say anything. The cheerleader was expecting someone to stop them, the faculty or even Smackle but, no one did everyone watched them dance across the floor. She trusts i'm a good man.

"I trust you're a good man." He twirled her and pulled her back in. He was so happy, there wasn't another word to describe how he was feeling. The pair touched foreheads, enjoying the last few seconds of the song that was ending. The entire room exploded with cheers and applause. Lucas and Riley smiled at each other and took a bow.

"RILEY!" The brunette grinned and turned around to face Missy. "YOU RUINED MY DANCE!" The DJ quickly started the music again to mask the argument.

"I know. You ruined my relationship, let's call it even. And drop this argument between us!"

"I get a do over!" Riley and Lucas were holding hands and they weren't planning on letting go. The cheerleader squeezed tighter.

"We're fixing to leave. Even if we stayed, and you got your 'do over' than you'd still find something else to complain about." Missy was about to cry.

"Why did you do this? I deserved this."

"I know what I want. That's why I did this. You knew what you wanted and that's why you kissed him when we were together." Lucas' smile spread across his face. "I'm tired of fighting with you Missy, it's exhausting to constantly making sarcastic remarks out loud and in my head, literally all the time. What happened with us Miss, we used to get along? When I came back to cheer sophomore year you hated me, and I never knew why."

"Is this the part where I break down in your arms? We hug it out and become bff's?"

The brown eyed girl realized she wasn't going to make up with her frenemy, or even call a truce. "Well, if you don't want to do that. Then i'd say that this is the part where you put on your big girl panties and get over it. You aren't better than anyone, you don't deserve more than the next person." The brunette smiled. "A wise woman told me that people often times confuse confidence and arrogance. Confidence isn't walking into a room thinking your better than everyone else. It's walking into a room and not comparing yourself to anyone in the first place." Riley looked at Lucas and with a grin the pair left the dance.

GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW

Thanks for reading. Please follow, favorite and review.