Chapter 3- Making up is Hard to Do

"Riley." Her mother was standing over her bed, gently shaking Riley's leg. "Riley, you have to get up for school." Topanga looked concerned. Riley was an early riser and she never snoozed an alarm. "Are you okay, cupcake?" Riley took in a deep breath and stretched. She nodded at her mom.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just couldn't sleep last night." She lied. "I'll be okay." Appearing to be satisfied with her answer, Topanga headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Auggie. Riley stretched again and slowly rose from her bed. She shuffled to the bathroom and almost had a heart attack when she looked in the mirror. She had fallen asleep and forgotten to remove the makeup that she applied last night. Her mascara and eyeliner had smudged, and she had serious raccoon eyes, and the lipstick she was wearing had smeared across her face and she resembled a clown. After last night's events, she was mortified, and would rather not show her face at school. Riley groaned and started the water for the shower. Maybe a shower would make her feel better. It usually helped her think. As she washed her face and her hair, she chastised herself. How could she have thrown herself at Lucas like that? Neither of the them were, to put it bluntly, the loose types. She had promised Lucas and he had promised her to save themselves for each other until marriage. It seemed like a silly promise to make at such a young age, but she wanted to remain pure for whoever she was going to marry. And she wanted that person to be Lucas. Maybe he would understand if she explained it to him? She finished her shower and set off for school, barely making the school bell. 'Great way to start the day.' She mumbled to herself as she walked into her first class.

Riley did not see Lucas in their next class, nor did she see him at lunch. As the day went on, she became more depressed. She felt like he was avoiding her. All she wanted to do was apologize and explain. As she was gathering her books from her locker for her last class, she spotted Zay walking in her direction.

"Zay! Zay!" Riley shouted, motioning him over. "Come here for a sec!" Zay smiled broadly and headed toward her.

"What's up, Riley? How was your Christmas vacation?" Zay asked. Riley was speechless for a moment, before realizing that Zay would not have any knowledge of the incident on the mountain.

"It was…good. Lots of family time." Riley glossed over the details. "I actually have a question."

"Shoot." Replied Zay. Riley nodded.

"Have you seen Lucas today?" Zay's smile faltered and he looked down.

"He said he was not ready to talk to you yet. I have no clue what kind of fight you guys had, but he won't give me any details." Zay tapped his chest and grinned again. "And I'm his boi!" Riley laughed nervously. Well, that plan went out the window. They talked about Zay's Christmas vacation for a few more minutes until the warning bell for class rang out, and they went in separate directions. Riley shouted after him.

"Tell Lucas I am sorry and I need to talk to him!" Zay waved in acknowledgement and disappeared around the corner. Riley sighed and walked sullenly to her next class. She wished she didn't have to make Zay the go-between but Lucas was avoiding her. Hopefully, Zay passed the message along and he would forgive her. Apparently, the message was received because while in class, Riley received a text message on her phone. She peeked at her phone while the teacher's back was turned, and it was a message from Lucas.

"You want to talk. We'll talk. After school." That was it. No term of endearment. No affectionate emojis. 'Ok. That's a start.' Riley thought to herself, as she put her phone back in her backpack.

After school, Lucas was waiting by Riley's locker, but he did not look overjoyed to see her. Riley, still ashamed, slowly walked up to him and placed a hand on his arm, which he promptly shook off. As taken aback as Riley was at this blatant display of rejection, she understood. Lucas stood, stonefaced, staring straight ahead at a wall, with his back leaning against the lockers. Riley cleared her throat and began to explain herself.

"I'm sorry, Lucas. I panicked when you told me you were leaving. I didn't know what else to do." She looked up at him for a response.

"You thought you would, what, keep me here, if we had," he lowered his voice to a whisper, "sex?!" Riley shook her head quickly.

"No, Lucas. That's not it at all. I was trying to give you a going-away present." Riley replied, defensively. "In case, you didn't come back." Her eyes filled up with tears at the mere thought of him not returning. Lucas looked down at Riley and realized she was crying. He wiped the tear away that was rolling down her cheek.

"Nothing would keep me from you. I would come back every weekend and on holidays. I don't want that present until we are married, Riley. That is precious. And I would not feel right about taking it from you. Or giving my own away, until we are ready." He grabbed Riley in a hug and rubbed her back while she sobbed into his shirt. "I love you." Riley stopped crying and looked up at Lucas' chiseled jaw.

"Really?" Riley was surprised. Lucas took one finger and tilted her chin up.

"More than anything in the world." He gently kissed her lips. "Just don't do that again. That was, for lack of a better word, insulting." Riley nodded in agreement and hugged him tightly, breathing him in.

"I feel like we haven't hung out in forever." Maya was playing with her nails in the bay window. "What was going on with you and Lucas this week?" Riley feigned innocence.

"What do you mean, Maya?" Riley replied, playing dumb. Maya looked up at Riley and rolled her eyes.

"Ok. Play stupid, Riley." Maya laughed. "All I know is the first part of the week, you guys weren't talking at all, and now, I am surprised he is not here sitting on your lap." Riley flopped back on her bed, with a heavy sigh.

"Everything is good, Maya. So good." Riley confessed. "I made a stupid mistake, thinking it was a good idea. He got super pissed at me, but we are good now. Better than ever." She hugged a pillow on her bed. Maya, having no idea what she was talking about, shrugged and went back to her nails.

"Well, if you ever want to give some actual details, I am here to listen." Maya offered. Riley nodded and sat up.

"Tell you what Maya. It's the weekend and I am bored. Let's go to the mall." Maya groaned in playful protest.

"Not the mall. All those…stores. And…food. So boring." Riley laughed and tossed Maya her jacket.

"Let's go, Sourpuss." Riley pulled her best friend up from her seated position and they headed off to make trouble at the mall.