Chapter 42
"Alright y'all, now that we ate it's movie time." The front door swung open, Cory and Topanga entered the home.
"Oh look honey, we have more children." Mr. Matthews shut the door. "We can't return 'em, i've tried." Riley's jaw dropped at her father's comment.
"Well that hurts." Topanga rolled her eyes.
"Of course we didn't try to take you back. You're our special little girl." Mr. and Mrs. Matthews made their rounds hugging and kissing each young adult. "What are y'all planning on doing slash, what did you do today?"
Josh cleared his throat, "We took the girls to the zoo, cooked dinner for them and now we're going to watch a movie. You in?"
"That sounds fun, but no thank you. Shawn convinced us to start watching The Walking Dead." Maya giggled.
"Great, so now you will be hooked on that show too."
Cory glanced at his watch. "Guys, we'll need you gone by-"
"Daddy?"
"Yes daughter." She put on her pouty face and he immediately fell for it. "You'll need to be gone by midnight. Deal?" The guys grinned happily accepting the extra hour.
"Yes Mr. Matthews. Good night." The parents left them alone in the living room. "Alright, so girls why don't you get comfortable." Lucas looked at the clock and saw it was only 7, they had 5 hours of time to spend with their girls. "We'll be here when you get back." Riley smiled, she loved the idea of that. After some help the girls entered the brunettes bedroom.
"Riles, what do you want to wear?" Maya was kneeling down at her dresser drawer.
"Maya, we're very lucky." The blue eyed girl smiled.
"Yeah, we are. But, that doesn't answer my question." The cheerleader giggled.
"My fleece pajama shorts and tanktop should suffice. Your pajamas you left here are in there also." The blonde stood up and tossed the clothes on the bed to change. "Our guys would do anything for us."
"Yeah, they would. Girls would kill for the men that we have." Riley struggled to put on her shorts.
"We need to do something for them." The blonde cocked her head. "They're always doing cute little dates for us and we take it for granted."
"Well, when you come up with an idea let me know." The girls sauntered back into the living area where the guys were already sitting on the couch. Terminator was already on the main menu, popcorn was popped and in Lucas' lap which wasn't a suprise since it was his favorite snack.
"ICE CREAM!" Riley hopped on one leg across the living room to get to it faster, and Maya jumped over the arm of the couch.
"Eww cookies 'n cream." Her wide blue eyes narrowed to a glare when Josh pulled her down into his lap.
"Ladies, ladies let's play nicely. We've had a wonderful evening." Lucas divulged with a smile as Riley took the lid off of her container.
"Fine." They both agreed with reluctance.
"Shall we start the movie?" Riley snuggled into her boyfriend and laid her leg along the couch.
"You 2 spoil us." The brunette was tired and he could tell, mostly because she was being sweet in front of other people. The running back started stroking her hair.
"Yeah, we were discussing that while we were changing." Josh kissed her head.
"We love spoiling y'all."
Lucas smiled. "Yeah, that's what a boyfriend is supposed to do." The cheerleader sighed.
"We want to do something for y'all."
"Peaches I kind of assumed that was going to be a secret." Everyone laughed.
"I'm going to start the movie now, before she reveals anymore secret plans." He kissed her forehead and after pressing play wrapped his arms around her. Lucas didn't think this day could have gone any better, he was sitting on the couch with the love of his life, holding her as she fell asleep in his arms.
GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW
Lucas stared at his girlfriend while she slept. He wasn't thinking anything, the running back just kissed her head and lightly scratched her arm. The green eyed man looked at the clock in the kitchen it was 11, but everyone was asleep. He decided to carry her to bed and head home. "Sweetheart." Riley slightly blinked, but he stroked her hair, which only made her fall back asleep. "Baby girl, i'm gonna go ahead and go." The brunette didn't open her eyes; but her brows furrowed, her forehead creased and she started to pout with her bottom lip.
"No." Lucas smiled, she knew he wouldn't leave if she made that face.
"I can carrry you to bed." Her face was buried into his chest.
"No, don't leave me!" Riley looked so adorable, he thought. He hadn't really seen this side of her too much, but it showed just how much she loved him.
"I will have to leave eventually though."
"No." She was starting to fall back asleep.
"I'm going to take you to your room, but I won't leave okay." Riley nodded her head and was carried into her bedroom. "Here we go." The running back laid her down and pulled the comforter over her chilled legs.
"I love you." She whispered, he smirked and stroked her hair.
"I love you too baby."
"I'm so happy." He chuckled, but didn't say anything to help her fall asleep. Her eyes started to open slowly and when she caught a glimpse of him a smile approached her lips.
"Hi beautiful girl."
"Can I ask you?" He was waiting for her to finish the sentence but after seconds of silence he shook his head. "Do you wanna get married?"
His eyes were genuinely confused. "I do, one day." Her brown eyes closed again and she smiled.
"Kids?" The cheerleader mumbled.
"Hundreds." Riley laughed and it made him smile. "I would love to have kids."
"I hope I can make you happy."
"You do sweetheart. Very, very happy." She let out a yawn and rolled her head.
"I meant as your wi-" The cheerleader was out cold now, even whenever he whispered her name and caressed her cheek. Lucas stood up and thought about what she just said, 'Riley wasn't going to say wife. Was she? She doesn't think like that, or has she thought about it with me? They haven't even been dating that long.'
"I love you Riley, i'll see you at work tomorrow morning."
GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW
Lucas walked into work, tucking in his shirt and he saw Riley checking. He smiled and winked at her while he went to clock in. "Friar, what's up man?" He high fived the newer CCM Travis and scanned his thumb.
"Not much. Getting ready for a short day, I was only scheduled 6 hours."
"Congratulations, you're one of the few. Riley picked up a double." He furrowed his brows and glanced at his girlfriend.
"Why? She shouldn't have done that her knee is jacked up." Travis nodded.
"Beverly's son was admitted into the ER last night, he's a pretty sickly kid. Because of that she's called in a lot and she only has one more time before she, well gets the boot. No one would cover her shift and Riley said she'd take it so Bev could be with her son." Lucas stared at her and smiled, she didn't realize it but she was sweeter than she wanted people to see.
"Well, that's my girl. If I need to work later let me know. Does she have a permanent bagger?"
"No, we've been slow this morning so I haven't had to assign one. You can be though, if that's what you're hinting at."
"Thanks man." Lucas jogged to her register and waited at the end for a customer. "Hello gorgeous."
"Hey you." The brunette was excited to see him.
"I heard you were picking up a double today?" She shook her head.
"Can you believe no one would take it? Her son is in the freaking hospital, and this is her only job." Her brown eyes rolled. "People can be so mean sometimes."
"You are the sweetest girl." Riley leaned backwards and laughed until she saw he wasn't laughing with her. Lucas had a permanent smile on his face.
"Oh, you're serious?"
"Yes, I am. Even though you don't want people to see it, you have a soft spot." Her nose scrunched.
"I'm weak."
"No you aren't. That sweet side of you only makes me love you more, you shouldn't be afraid to show it more often." She was holding back her smile. "Why are you? You were being so sweet last night." She started scanning items but continued to stare at him.
"I don't really remember what happened last night." He raised his eyebrows and bit his lip.
"You don't?" She put up her finger and finished scanning the items.
"No, not after you carried me to bed. I mean, I took that medicine. Did I pout some more?" Lucas held a mischevious grin.
"Thank you very much m'am you have a wonderful day!" Geez, even his fake smile made her heart beat faster. "Yes, you did a little bit. But, that wasn't all."
"Okay?" He smiled. "Are you gonna tell me?"
"No, probably not. It's more fun this way." He chuckled. The rest of their shift together seemed to be that way. Besides the flirtation and occasional winks he would hold what she did over her head. He was making it seem like she did something embarrassing, to her it would be, to him it meant the world. Lucas went to clock out and walked back to her register.
"Baby, what time do you get off?"
"Your total is 79.58." The brunette turned her attention to him. "8."
Lucas checked his phone. "Okay, 5 hours. I'll see you then." Riley smiled and watched him leave, no matter how much she tried to hide her sweet side, he always brought it out in her.
GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW
"Riley, get out of here!" She put her fist in the air and flipped her light off.
"Thank you Devin!"
"Thank you Riley, that was very nice what you did for Bev." The brunette grinned.
"Anytime. I know she'd do the same for me." Riley hobbled off her chair and clocked out, but was stopped on the way to her car. "Charlie?"
"Hey Riles." His hands were in his pockets she could tell he was nervous, but he seemed, different than what she remembered. "I wanted to check on you." He glanced at her knee. "I heard about what happened, i'm sorry."
"It's okay. It wasn't your fault. Wait, are you just now hearing about it? And, how did you know I was working?"
"Yeah, I am. I'm being home schooled. And, you always work on Sunday's I remembered that. I called and asked if you were working." She nodded her head, neglecting to think that it was a little weird.
"Why are you being home schooled?"
He sighed. "I uh, I wanted to get away from the people who helped me do things that weren't good for me. I got a new phone number and I am trying to start over fresh." Her expression lightened.
"That's really great Charlie, i'm glad to hear you're doing so well."
"Really?" He smirked. Even though Riley felt nothing for him, she acknowledged he looked cute, sober and of sound mind. She remembered him being this way when they first started dating.
"Of course. I never wanted anything bad to happen to you. Even after everything you did."
"I'm really sorry, about that entire year. I know that those words will never make up for what I did to you, and quite honestly I would hate me for a lifetime, so i'd understand if you did." She smirked and limped to give him a hug.
"I forgive you Charlie." He returned the embrace and smiled.
She took a step backwards. "You were in a bad place in your life, and so was I. Even after we broke up, I should've tried to help you get to where you are now. And, I didn't, so i'm sorry."
"Riley, I never expected that from you. I understand why you stayed away, I understand that I put you in that bad place, and I can't ever forgive myself for what I did." He looked to the ground to hide his red eyes.
"Hey, stop. You can't go back in time and erase your mistakes, but you can learn from them, and forgive yourself for not knowing better." Riley genuinely smiled and he relaxed. "Come on let's go sit on the bench outside, my knee hurts."
"So, what happened? What'd you hurt this time?"
"Technically I didn't hurt myself. Missy didn't catch me when I was flying and I landed on my damaged knee. Which, made me strain my PCL."
"Wow, I don't know what that means but it sounds painful." They laughed. "Hey Riley are you-"
"No, i'm not single." He laughed.
"I guess Friar finally fixed things between you two huh? Deals a deal."
"What do you mean by 'deals a deal'?" He exhaled.
"I said i'd leave you alone if he worked things out between you two. So, now I should get going." He looked towards the ground.
"You don't have to leave me alone, flirtaciously yes you do but, maybe I don't know how this is going to work, but after leaving all your friends behind at school, you may need some new ones. Friends that will lead you down the right path." He stared at her listening intently. "With some strong convincing maybe we all can hang out some time."
"I'd really like that!" He exclaimed, they sat in silence for a few moments longer. "What happened to you?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, i've never seen you this, happy and forgiving before." She grinned and looked towards the ground.
"I've had some help changing." The cheerleader smiled even bigger thinking of Lucas. "I've learned to forgive and be nice. It's pretty cool, it has its perks." They laughed. "Hey, you know you'll have to give a sincere apology to my friends if they agree to hang out right?"
"Yeah, i've been saying that a lot here lately. I don't mind doing it again."
"I'm going to go ahead and go home now, I worked a double and i'm pretty tired." She stood up and he mimicked her actions. "Text me your phone number and I will talk to the guys. I'll see you later." They hugged and he exhaled.
"Do you think we just didn't have the timing right? You know with us?"
The brunette chuckled. "I don't think you and I were meant to be Charlie, but as long as you stay off drinking and drugs, you'll find a very lucky girl." They parted ways and she immediately drove home. Riley exited her car and found Lucas standing by his truck.
"Hey beautiful girl, where you been? You got off like 20 minutes ago." His smile shown through the dark, it guided her to him on the way to give him a hug.
"I ran into a familiar face." He cocked his head to the side and kissed her lips. "Charlie came to see me." The running backs jaw clenched. "Before you get all protective, can I just say thank you?"
"What'd he do?"
"It isn't what he did but what you do and did for me. You're right, I have a sweet side, even though I hate to admit it. I forgave Missy, I even forgave Charlie." His lips seperated. "I couldn't have done that without you. If I didn't forgive them then I would have spent the rest of my high school career tied up in drama with Missy and fighting with Charlie. You've changed me, and I really love who i'm becoming."
He smiled. "I loved you the way you were."
"I'm still here, just a little more compassionate." Her beautiful head laid on his chest. "Charlie is home schooled now, he left all of his friends behind and changed his number so he could continue to work on himself." Lucas let out a heavy sigh. "He apologized to me, it wasn't like all the other times, it was genuine."
"What are you getting at sweetheart?" She leaned back and bit her lip. The brown eyed girl loved it when his accent came out, and he just laid it on thick.
"I told him that he couldn't flirt with me and we wouldn't be getting back together but, maybe if I get everyone's approval then he could hang out with us sometime." The green eyed man closed his eyes and his chin dropped to his chest.
"I don't know babe, I know you forgave him but I don't trust him."
"I know you don't trust him, and I don't whole heartedly either. But, that's why I won't hang out with him unless you're there. You'll protect me, won't you?" She kissed his cheek.
"Don't do that to me. It isn't fair, we're talking about your safety here."
"Look, you changed me for the better. Why not give him some people in his life that can change him too?" The running backs hands were on her back, preventing her from leaving. Not that she would, even if he was letting her.
"You are one extraordinary woman." She smiled. "He can only be around you when I am. That is my condition."
"Deal."
"He knows we're back together right?" She giggled and he kissed the top of her head.
"Yes he does. He asked if I was single and I told him no. But, whenever I said I forgave him his face lit up. I enjoyed that, making someone happy." The green eyed man smiled remembering their conversation from last night.
"You make me happy."
"I'd like to hope so." She grinned.
"Do you want to know what you did last night?" Riley leaned off of his chest and smiled.
"Please, and don't say just kidding like you did all day. You've made me nicer but i'm not afriad to punch you in the arm." He laughed.
"You asked me about marriage and kids. Then you asked if you made me happy."
"Asked you about marriage and kids how?"
"You just asked if I wanted them." She smiled.
"I thought it was like a lot worse." He chuckled and looked towards the ground, thinking if he wanted to freak her out about the whole 'wife' thing or not.
"Um.."
GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW
Thanks for reading. Please follow, favorite and review.