R. I. L. E. Y.
I decide to walk home to avoid Lucas for the rest of the day. I'm probably never going to forget that embarrassing moment. Why of all people, did it have to happen to me? I sigh loudly and breathe in the soft air.
I was getting stares from everyone at school today. Uncomfortable was what i was feeling half the time.
Even if the light is still out, i hate walking alone. Maya suggested that Lucas and i spend some time together and i said yes, because we have our art project due next week.
Lucas is coming over tomorrow, i think. I don't want him to and I certainly think my dad wouldn't want him to.
I look up at the clouds and blue sky and think of all the memories i had before Lucas messed everything up. I think about how happy i was and how loneliness never invaded my life.
I'm nearly at my house now, and I don't have to worry about walking alone. I smile quietly to myself.
I hear something behind me. A shiver runs down my back and i shrug it off like nothing happened. I turn around once but nothing is behind me. I walk faster. Now I'm scared.
I walk faster and faster but i keep hearing noises like footsteps. I stop in mid air. I breathe deeply and gulp. I'm not scared, i keep telling myself.
At this point i feel someone right behind. I shut my eyes for 3 seconds then open them again biting my lip. I take a deep breath and start to turn, slowly.
No one is there. I let out a sigh in relief. I feel like my heart stops. But that's when i hear it.
Snap.
A twig.
I scream and find a hand over my mouth. I shriek and struggle to get the hand off of me. I keep screaming and my head hurts.
The hand comes off of my mouth and i turn around
Lucas.
What a douche. I though i was getting kidnapped. I thought i was going to die. He's going to pay.
"It's ok, it's just me." He says trying to calm me down. Just him? He does understand that i hate him, doesn't he?
That's when i don't think. My hand flies across the air and slaps him in the face. Oops. Reflex I guess.
He holds his face and my hand is red. That's what he deserves.
"You son of a bitch! I thought i was getting kidnapped!" I yelled. I could see his face reddening. It felt good to slap him, then why do i feel so guilty?
"Sorry! I was going to ask if you wanted to do the project now. I have baseball practice tomorrow." He shrieked in pain. I rolled my eyes.
"So you think the best way to ask me is to scare the shit out of me?!" I ask really loudly.
"My phone is dead and i put my hand over your mouth because there are people in their houses. They'll obviously be annoyed." He said taking his hand away from his face. It wasn't as red as before but it's still bright as ever.
I look at him in disgust and give up. "Fine, but if you do it again you're dead," i say deadly. He better watch his back.
He nods and the rest of the 2 minute walk is silent. No body brings up what just happened.
+
We're finally at my house and i open the door for us to enter. It's almost always open since my dad forgets to lock it. Typical.
My mom observes Lucas. Eye to eye. She then speaks after i put my bag on the couch.
"I'm Topanga. We haven't met before, have we?" My mom says, reaching her hand out for Lucas to shake. He gladly does, and gives her the cheesiest smile.
"You must be Riley's friend. She never really brings any of her friends over. Anyway, you're welcome here anytime. Our home, is your home." She said happily. Why would she do that? This is going to be great.
"Mom!" I shout. She Just rolls her eyes. I grab lucas' arm and guide him to my room.
My room has changed over the years. I have plain white sheets and white walls with my black desk. I don't have any posters except for the New York Knicks one I've had for ages. I have a couple of plants to make my room complete as well as a mirror, a dresser and cupboard.
"Nice crib." Lucas says as he sits down on my bed. I just shrug because it's not everyday when someone compliments me or my bedroom.
"We better get started. Our project is to do an abstract portrait of each other and find out deeps secrets that we can express in the painting." I state and get out the sheet that the art teacher gave all of us. It shows us the questions that we need to ask each other so we can put it in our painting. He nods.
"Ok, the first question is 'why do you love school?'" I say and raise an eyebrow and re-read it. "These are the questions they want us to ask?" I say like it's a joke.
He looks at me weirdly. "What?" I ask. He sits on the floor with me like he's going to give a big speech or something.
"Okay, first of all: if we need to act like a couple the first thing we need to do is get along. And in order to do that, we have to try and become friends." He says briefly. I look at him like he's crazy, then I decide to tell him the truth.
"I've never really been good at friends." I say truthfully, putting my head down. He smiles. "Really? The always happy Riley Matthews?" He asks laughing a little. I frown and he notices. "I'm not that girl anymore." I say bluntly. He shuts his mouth. Finally.
We sit in silence for a second when the paper gets torn out of my hand. "Lucas? We need that." I state. He's such a dumbass.
"We'll have our own script. Okay, first question: what's your favourite colour?" He asks. I let out a little smile.
"Well now you've stepped over the line." I smile. He chuckles, "seriously though, what is it?" He asks.
I hesitate at at first but then answer his question. "Indigo or violet. What's yours?" I say, trying to make a conversation. He smiles, "blue, like the ocean." He says openly. It makes sense that he loves blue. He wears it almost everyday.
"Now you ask me a question." He says patiently. I arch an eyebrow. "Didn't i tell you I wasn't good at this stuff?" I asked rhetorically. He grins, "fine: what are your worst fears?"
I gulp and put my head down. This is one of the things i hate telling people. He notices.
"You see Riley, the way to become friends is to tell each other the deep stuff." He says knowledgeably. I let out a wide smile. "The deep stuff?" I ask. He nods.
"I'll tell you mine." He says. I raise my head and smile at him. Wow. We're actually getting along, what a surprise.
"I fear of anything happening to my family. They mean the world to me. I also fear heights and I'm claustrophobic." He says as he scratches the back of his neck. I don't know why he's so ashamed.
I take a deep breath hoping to trust him. I don't really even trust Maya anymore, let alone him? Oh, what the heck. You only live once.
He glares at me and waits. Then i let it out.
"I'm scared I'll be left alone and no one will care about me. Whenever Maya left me I..." He looks at me like his sorry. As if.
I stumbled off, moving onto my next answer.
"My other fear is drowning. I'd rather not die that way. I'd want to die in a beautiful way, if you know what i mean." He chuckles, knowing that that's something I would say.
"Another one is getting kidnapped and walking alone as you already have seen me react." He nods and smirks.
Here comes the last one.
"I also fear....um... Intimacy, i guess." I say. He's curious now. I can see it in his eyes. "What did you just say?" He questions. It's something i hate talking about.
"I'm scared of falling in love. The last time i did it didn't end up so well." I say letting out a little laugh. He bites his lip.
"Oh and I'm afraid of crows sweeping me until i die. I know, stupid but it could happen." I say confidentially. I'm not really intimidated by him. It's good to let your thoughts out in A while.
We talk some more and surprisingly, I haven't attacked him. He's actually trying to get along with me.
What happened to bubbly Riley Matthews? I ask myself. I remember when i wanted to be everyones friend. Now i just need one friend to be there for me but i guess I'm living my fear.
Maybe having Lucas as a friend and as a brother is a good thing for me.
/////
Ok so this is very simple and just a chapter to get Lucas and Riley from being enemies to becoming idk.... more...
Lol try figure out the references i put in there....