Game On, Pretty Boy. ♕ RUCAS

♕ Chapter TwentyFive ♕ - Haunting Memory.

"Leave me alone!" I screamed, pushing them away. "AHH!"

The crying started to grow and soon I was panicking. Still pulling my hair with one hand but used the other to punch the ground. 

I felt goosebumps on my arms as the memory of that night haunted me. I knew I was safe with my family, but I always go back to that night and think, 'what if?'. 

What if, that night, I–

The noise of something cracking behind me brought my attention away from my current thoughts, making me jolt up and turn around to look behind me, my hands still shaking. I felt the tears burn in the corner of my eyes, threatning to roll down my chin. 

"L-Lucas?" I stutter out the words with the little hope I had left. The hope that this time, I would see his face in front of me, his arms around me, keeping me safe and at home. 

But all I got was another cracking noise.

I fell to the ground, weak and scared for what would happen next. I'm just going to let it happen this time, I'll just cry quietly as it happens. 

I close my eyes, shaking, my heart beating aganst my chest. I felt five again. I wanted to pull my hair, scream loudly in hope of anyone to save me from the nightmare of that day. I wanted Lucas. 

I needed him.

My heart started racing at the sound of footsteps from a distance and the tears started to roll down. I felt the same stank as I did last time; wood with a mixture of oil. I felt just as weak as I was back then. Just that this time, I was alone. 

"Riley?" I recognized the voice but I didn't dare to look back. It's my mind, tricking me. It must be.

The footsteps came closer, hurriedly. Soon, I felt a hand on my should and I cried out a cry for hepl. 

"Leave me alone!" I cried at the top of my lungs. "Leave me!"

"Riley, what's wr–"

"Leave!!" My voice was hoars but I didn't stop. I felt the panic kicking in once he grabbed me by my shoulder. I started pulling my hair, breathing heavily. 

"St-stop p-playing with my mind, ple-please!!" I cry out through gritted teeth, my hands shaking as I close my eyes harder. 

I felt him drape his arms around me, pulling me closer to him. He was hugging me, caressing my back just like dad did to mom that night. 

"Shh," he cooed. "it's okay. You're safe with me, princess." 

As he said those soothing words I started to breath slower, my heart not beating as fast as it did before. I was still shaking as we sat on the street, me in his arms. 

I opened my eyes and meet a pair of green, forest eyes. The eyes of the boy i was longing to come and rescue me in this moment. The pair of green eyes that held that little safe spark in them, telling me everything was going to be alright for as long as I stayed in his arms.

He kisses my forehead gently, closing his eyes. "It's okay. I'm here."

"I-I'm sorry." I choke out. "I di-didn't mean to s-scare–"

He shakes his head, stopping me from continuing. "Shh, don't speak. It's okay, Riley."

I close my eyes as I try to steady my breathing. 

"Breath with me, okay?" He says as if reading my mind. 

I nod and follow him. He placed my hand on his chest.

"Open your eyes," I did as I was told. And there they were, green forest, just as beautiful and soothing as always. 

"Now," he says calmly in a low, deep voice. "Just follow me. Okay?"

I nod. 

He didn't tear his eyes away from mine, but kept the eye contact. I wasn't going to complain, it was helping me a lot to control myself. Just looking into his eyes made me feel much safer than before.

He started breathing and I felt the vibration with my hand on his chest. I followed his lead and slowly inhaled. We kept going for awhile, our breaths in sync with one-another. I felt better, I felt safe. 

Soon, when we were done I let my head fall over to his shoulder. I bury my head in the crock of his neck adn throw my arms around his neck. Hugging him, tightly.

He hugs back without any hesitation. He lifts us both up so we were now standing on the road and no longer sitting down. He buried his face in my hair, holding a tight grip around my waist.

"Lucas.." I start but he cuts me off.

"No. Riley, don't." He looks me in the face. "You are not supposed to say sorry. I should. I left."

I shook my head. He was trying to be a gentleman, it was all too cute of him but it wasn't right. 

"No, Lucas. It's not your fault." I say, caressing his cheeks with both my thumbs. 

"Yes, yes it was." He tries to keep his voice as calm as possible. 

"No. Listen," I start, grabbing his face with both my hands and locking gaze with him. "I should've gotten out of the car the minute you told me to. I should not have said no and I should not have been as stubborn as I was. I'm sorry."

He keeps shaking his head throughout everything I said.

"No, Riley. I left you. Okay? I shouldn't have done that. But I thought, since you didn't want to get our of the car I could go look for wood in the forest nearby. I wanted to make this night special for you. Make a fire and just sit cuddled up next to each other. Watch the moon, count the stars; whatever you wanted to do. I'm sorry, but I shouldn't have left you alone like that. It was a stupid move."

He finishes his little apologise-speech and I saw in his eyes that he was genuinely sorry about it. I knew he was, I didn't have to know by looking in his eyes. It was clear from the moment he started to speak to me. Calmly and soothingly.

I smile weakly at him as I lean in to rest my forehead against his. "It's okay."

He breaths out a breath that he had been holding in and closes his eyes. He was worried. 

"Hey," I say smiling up at him. "Don't worry, I'm good."

He was searching for the truth in my eyes, looking if I was telling him the truth or if I was just lying to make him feel better. 

But I smile and draw my thumb over his lower lip, "Lucas. Thank you." 

He furrows his brows, confused. "For what?"

I tilt my head to the side, smiling up at the beautiful boy in front of me. "For saving me."

He smiled. "I'd go to hell and back for you, Riley Matthews."

"I'd do the same for you, Lucas Friar." 

He leans in and our lips meet. It was a gentle kiss. Not fired up or heated. It was sweet and kind, like his eyes. Warm and giving me goosebumbs, like when he drapes his arms around me. Everything felt better. No worries, no nightmares, nothing. It was as if it was just me, Lucas and the moon. Nothing could destroy us in this moment. Nothing can break us in any moment. 

I felt as if nothing could break me as long as I was in his arms. Safe and far away from danger. He was my safety. 

___________The End Of Chapter TwentyFive!_________

Ohmygod!! You guys this chapter involves over 4000 words!? WHAT?! This is seriously the longest chapter I have ever written. EVER!! But, I guess I kind of owe it to all of you guys. I haven't been good at updating lately but like I always say; school is eating me alive. Literally. 

BUT I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!! It's a little different at the end with Riley and her past. Not my safe spot, but I felt the need to spice things up for the grand finale , *wink* *wink*. Also, you will not get any Lucas' POV for a while. Thought we could all stay in Riley's mind for a while, hehe.

Anywaaaays, if you enjoyed this chapter, please;

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