Chapter 43
"Riley!" She turned around to Adam and limped her way towards him. "You cool to do this, this weekend? It's going to be insanely busy."
"As long as I have a stool i'll be good. You talked to the manager there right?"
"Yup. Here's the per diem. Lunch will be provided there, this is for breakfast, and dinner as well as gas. Keep all receipts, the reservation is under HEB Burleson at this address." He handed her a confirmation page, with the hotels address. "Please behave yourselves, we're trusting an 18 year old-"
"17 year old."
"Ugh, that makes it worse. When's your birthday?"
"January 1st."
"Interesting, anyways we're trusting a 17 year old to handle this. You can handle this right?"
She scoffed. "As right as rain." His eyes closed. "Seriously though, i've got this. Promise."
"Great, now I believe you. Your shift is the same everyday, 8 to 4:30." Adam looked up to the other 3. "Have fun all." Riley took a deep breath and turned around to face her friends.
"Alright losers, let's go!" They all jumped into Lucas' truck and after inputting the address into the GPS they left for Granbury. "Hey babe, do you have the receipt from filling up your tank?"
"Yeah. I'll get it to you once I hit a red light. I trust you with it more than me." She laughed.
"Yeah, me too." Maya leaned over her friend and grabbed the auxilary cord. "Oh, hi Maya. Were you not getting enough attention? Josh, do your job."
"Haha very funny peaches. Get ready for a throwback!" Riley giggled and turned up the volume.
"Oh no you didn't!" She cringed at how she sounded.
I'm beginnin' to feel like a rap God, rap God.
All my people from the front to the back nod, back nod.
Now who thinks there arms are long enough to slap box? Slap box?
They said I rap like a robot so call me rap bot!
"GO RILEY!" Lucas started laughing at his girlfriends rap skills. She wasn't half bad.
But for me to rap like a computer must be in my genes, I got a laptop in my back pocket.
My pen'll go off when I half cock it. Got a fat knot from that rap profit.
Made a livin' and a killin' off it, ever since Bill Clinton was still in office with Monica Lewinsky feelin' on-
"EDIT!"
I'm an MC still as honest, but as rude and indecent as all hell syllables, skill a holic, kill 'em all with.
This flippity, dippity-hippity hip hop.
The running back was still shocked that he continued to constantly learn new things about her. He had no idea and was consistently laughing at her hand gestures and dance moves. After another 4 minutes of random rapping, and Riley laughing at the fact she was messing up Lucas turned down the radio. "Hmm, I don't really know what to say about that."
"Yeah, there's not much to say when you're in the presence of a rap God." He started tickling her while he drove. "NO! PLEASE STOP!" She screamed, and laughed while trying to get away. The emerald eyed man stopped and focused on the road. "Hey I actually wanted to talk to you two back there." The brunette positioned herself where she had a decent look at all 3 of them.
"Is everything okay Riles?"
"Everything's great actually. I just had a few run in's this past week and I wanted to talk to y'all about them." Maya started to glare, having a feeling where this was going. "Missy and Charlie."
"NOPE!" The blonde exclaimed. "Heck no techno."
"You don't even know what I was going to say." The blue eyed girl didn't say anything. "Point proven. Look, i've gotten sincere apologies from both of them this past week and I told them that after they apologize to y'all, then maybe we can all hang out sometime."
"Peaches, they both hurt you. Really bad. How could you forgive something like that." The cheerleader clutched her boyfriends hand.
"I've changed and for the better. I could've spent my entire high school career hating both of them, but what would that have gotten me?" No one spoke. "It would have made me resentful, angry and bitter. I don't want to be those things. Charlie is homeschooled now, willingly. He changed his number and lost contact with all of his friends so he wouldn't fall back into his old ways anymore. Missy, cried on my shoulder, i'm not kidding y'all. Instead of leaving bridges burned I am trying to mend them. Lucas, and you two have made me a better person and I want to help make a difference in someone else's life too." Still no one was speaking, they held a vacant expression on their faces and since Riley couldn't figure out what that look meant she continued. "Especially Charlie's, he has no one, and if I can share with him my great friends at least once he'll know that there are better people out there than the ones who constantly got him drunk and hooked on drugs." The brunette turned her attention to Maya. "You remember, he wasn't always like that, you two got along for like a month." The girls giggled and Lucas tried to hide his look of jealousy, he wasn't sure why he was feeling that way but it was definitely there. "I'm sure you also remember that I was good friends with Missy. Just give 'em a chance. If I can forgive them so can you."
"That's where she got me." Lucas interjected. Josh and his girlfriend glanced at each other.
"That's where she got us." Her uncle muttered.
"Don't sound too excited y'all. Try to be nice. I figured we could all go to a movie, somewhere easy where we wouldn't have to talk a whole lot and it wouldn't be awkward."
"I promise to be nice, and so does Josh."
"So does Lucas." Riley glanced at her boyfriend and felt like something was off.
GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW
"HEB Burleson checking in, here's the confirmation number." The rest of her group was several feet behind her.
"Why all of a sudden does she want this to happen?" The blonde whispered to Lucas.
"She wants to mend some bridges, she doesn't want to spend the last few months of high school in a constant battle. I respect that and i'm extremely proud of her." Josh walked towards another HEB Burleson group. "Maya, do you think she still cares about Charlie?"
"I think that you're crazy."
"No, i'm serious." Her blue eyes scanned Riley.
"Not in a loving way. In a protective way, is what it seems like." She glanced at Lucas. "You don't have anything to worry about, i've never seen her happier than when she is with you. And, you should hear some of the things she says about you when you aren't around." He lightened his smile.
"I know i'm being dumb, there's just been a lot of talk about him and it kind of got under my skin for a moment."
"No worries. I understand. I'm starting to see glimmers of middle school Riley and this is how she was. Looking out for everyone's best interest, and feeling guilty if she doesn't help out. It's not as strong but it's a nice balance. When before it was constant witty comebacks. I'm proud of her for deciding to forgive, could you do it?" Riley sauntered to the group and handed the guys their room keys. Lucas got to thinking about what Maya said, and no probably not. Charlie abused her and Missy intentionally injured her, it takes a big person to forgive them and an even bigger one to apologize back. He was so caught up in the idea of her hanging out with her ex, he completely disregarded the fact she swallowed her pride to be able to do so. As soon as he finished his train of thought he grabbed his girlfriend and kissed her.
"Whoa! Um, what was that for?" Riley blinked several times to bring her out of the trance his lips put her in.
"I'm really proud of you." The brunette smiled, thinking it was because of her leading the group.
"Thank you, but all I did was check us in." He chuckled and let her believe whatever she thought. He was being silly and knew it. "Alright, let's go upstairs. I'll order pizza, guys meet us in room 304 in like 30 minutes?"
GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW
The girls changed into comfortable clothes and the brunette plopped down on her bed. "Hey Riles."
"Hm?"
"You don't still have feelings for Charlie do you?" The cheerleader lifted herself off of the bed.
"WHAT?" The blonde laughed.
"I'm just curious. You seemed to really be fighting for him in the car." Riley slowly laid back down.
"I don't have feelings for Charlie. In fact, if he stays clean I was going to try to hook up him and Missy. They're both wanting to change and they could hold each other accountable." Her brown eyes locked on Maya's. "I love Lucas, so so much. You know that. I make jokes all the time but, honestly Maya I could see myself with him. Like long haul." The blonde stood up and immediately sat on her bed.
"When did that start happening?"
"Um, the morning we went to the zoo. I was laying in bed, and he woke me up sweetly and said I looked beautiful when I didn't and I thought, 'man, I could get used to seeing his face in the morning'." Riley covered her eyes. "It's so stupid I know."
"No honey! It isn't! Back in July you told me that you probably never wanted to get married it was a stupid piece of paper and now you're telling me that you do, because of him."
"It probably won't happen. I mean the odds are slim to none."
"Awe, there's my pessimist." The girls giggled. "Don't over think it, but maybe talk to Lucas. I have a feeling he may have gotten a little jealous." The brunette looked at her bestfriend.
"What did he say?"
"Nothing, he just asked if it seemed like you still had feelings for Charlie and I told him no. And, then he completely snapped out of his daze and that's when he kissed you." Riley didn't know whether to be upset by the fact he didn't talk to her about it or happy he quickly pulled himself out of that stupid notion. She'd always care for Charlie, he was her first boyfriend and they were together for a year, no matter what happened. And, no matter what circumstance, she could only see herself with Lucas in the future. Which, was a big thing for her considering she could only tolerate most people in small doses. There was a knock on the door and Maya let the guys in, present company was of course excluded from her low toleration.
"Hi baby." He laid down beside her and kissed her tiny nose.
"Hey." Maya and Josh made some excuse for them leaving, something to do with drinks and left the couple alone. "So, I heard from a little birdie you may have gotten slightly jealous?" The quarterback pushed his face into a pillow. "You know that is super silly right?" He nodded. "You know I love you with all of my being, right?" Lucas showed his beautiful green eyes after turning his head.
"You do?" The brunette smiled, and came to the realization that she joked with him so much that maybe he didn't.
"Yes. I do. I know I kid with you all the time about 'loving you enough' but you should know that you're my favorite person. That includes Maya, but i'll throat punch you if you tell her that." He laughed.
"I know you love me. I know that."
Riley didn't stop there. "You should also know that I only picture a handful of people in my life 5 plus years from now. That includes; my parents, my extended family, Josh, Maya and you Mr. Friar, congratulations." The green eyed man immediately kissed her, placing his hand on the back of her head so she couldn't pull away and climbed on top of her. "Baby, let's calm down. We have no idea when they're coming back." Lucas shook his head up and down and rolled off of her quickly.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I loved it!" She exclaimed. "I love it when you take charge." Lucas' laugh warmed her heart. "Be honest, am I affectionate enough for you?"
"Yeah, you are. It's just nice to hear, in a non joking term that you can see us together after college." The running back winked.
"Do you?"
"Of course. As long as life doesn't get in the way, I can definitely see you there."
"You got yourself a deal." The couple continued to stare into eachother's eyes in silence, this was secretly one of Riley's favorite things. She'd never done this before him and took advantage of it whenever she could.
"We got the drinks. Did you guys pick a movie?" Lucas didn't look away but answered.
"Nope, sorry we got a little-"
"Distracted." Riley smiled after interrupting him and kissed her boyfriend before she pulled herself away. Lucas decided he'd ask her about the whole 'wife' thing from the other night, he avoided it out of fear of scaring her away. But, perhaps she was thinking about it, and then maybe he wouldn't be the only one.
GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW
Thanks for reading. Please follow, favorite and review.
Song: Rap God by Eminem **Y'all should listen to this song. There is cussing but I grew up in the era of Eminem and he truly is a 'rap God'.**