Always

Still Complicated

Farkle

Everybody left us, I stood beside her. It wasn't easy playing Cupid. On one hand, I was giving Riley advice, and then there's Smackle asking me every now and then what I thought about how I was treating her (Riley). And then there's me, still crazy about Riley.

"Farkle, why did you say that?" Riley started to speak, she's looking into my eyes.

"Why not?" I replied I'm a little bit selfish. It's like I only used Smackle, to forget Riley.

"You can't just say that in front of your girlfriend." She said I can't hide my feelings anymore.

"Can you just listen to me?" I almost shouted, still trying to act normal.

"What?" She asked I know that she's starting to fall for me.

"I love you, okay? I get so flustered when I'm around you, I feel like I'm going to burst all these feelings clamped up inside me." I said we're always stuck in a wrong situation.

"Farkle I--" I cut her off.

"And you know what the worst part is? When I know we're both stepping back for the people we love." I added I wish this would stop.

"So you--"  She began, "Yes. All this time." I answered, she stepped back and looked around.

"What about Smackle?" She asked, which made me feel guilty.

"We broke up. She knows that I still love you." I answered I don't deserve Smackle. Smackle deserves better.

"I'm sorry."She said, then walked away. What was that? What does she mean? I'm confused.

Riley 

Christmas break was over, it's back to school again. I haven't seen Farkle, after what happened on New Year's Eve. I got calls and text messages from him, but I didn't reply. It's awkward because I'm going to see him again.

Once classes were out for the day, I headed to my locker to get my book and saw Farkle standing by it. I took one look at him, then opened my locker.

"Riley," He began.

I ignored him and continued rummaging in my locker even though I already found my book. I didn't know what to feel or how to feel about his break up with Smackle. On one hand, I felt terrible, because I was the one who helped them get together in the first place. On the other hand...

I shook my head. I can't let myself feel happy, not while Smackle is out there feeling miserable.

"Look at me, will you?" He asked.

I stood in front of my locker for a few more minutes, rearranging the contents just so I had an excused not to look at Farkle. When I couldn't do anything more with my locker. To my surprise, Farkle was still right where he was.

I shut my locker and made to turn away, but before I could, Farkle spoke up.

"I broke up with Smackle." He said.

"I know. You've told me that already." I responded, trying to stay cool.

"I know you did so much to help me win Smackle." Farkle went on. "But I couldn't lie to myself anymore." He stepped a little closer to me. "We're graduating soon, Riley. It's time for me to be honest about how I feel. I had to break up with Smackle because I know who I really love."

I took a step back and looked the other way. "I don't want to hear this,
Farkle," I said, my voice cracking a little. My heart was beating hard like never before, even in all this time I've been in love with Farkle.

"You know who she is, Riley," Farkle said. "Every time I see her, my heart feels like its going to burst. No one's ever made me happy as she has. When I look into her eyes," he continued, putting a finger under my chin and tilting my face up; I had no choice but to look into his eyes. "When I look into your eyes, I just know that I want to get to know her better."

"Farkle..." I began, even though I had no idea what I wanted to tell him.

He smiled a little and continued. "I did it because I realized... That you are... The one for me..... And that my heart... Beats for you... I love you, Riley."

Then we kissed.

©: [548 heartbeats book]