It was an Adele kind of day and this was slightly inspired by When We Were Young - “And I swore you moved overseas, that’s what you said, when you left me.” It doesn’t exactly mirror the lyric but oh well..
Summary: Daniel’s thoughts about Riley going to Cordonia
The truth was Daniel didn’t really have a date that night. He knew he couldn’t watch her tend to a bachelor party with three guys that were more in her league. The fourth one, the one asking for a wine list, Riley could probably kick his butt if she was given the choice.
Daniel had had a crush on Riley since the day she came in asking for an application three years ago. She really seemed to like him and he had planned on asking her out but right before he could, there always seemed to be some guy there taking her out.
There was just something about her that made all the men who saw her, want to do everything for her. He remembered a term he’d heard from a regular group of customers: Sphere of Prettiness. But these guys didn’t just want to but her drinks, they wanted to protect her and be with her and Daniel never felt he could compete with that.
When she called him in the middle of the night, he wasn’t sure what to expect but when she asked for a favor and mentioned showing someone the Statue of Liberty, he knew he had to help and so he called his brother. He had laid there that night wishing that he could be as confident as the guys who got her time. Later that same night, she had texted him thanking him for getting the boat for her and asked how his date went because that’s how Riley was, always making sure those around her were happiest. Then after he made up a fake excuse for his fake date that didn’t work out, she told him about that prince. He almost tried convincing her not to run off to some foreign country for a random guy but when she told him, he could just imagine she had that sparkle in her eye that could bring him to his knees.
Daniel had kept up with Riley through the news, watching her go around in those fancy dresses made him wish the media could see the real her, not this “pretty princess” version. He enjoyed the real Riley more, the Riley that could make a black tank top and jean look amazing, the girl that could stand up to a drunken biker and remain unfazed and who could lose her temper but still look beautiful. He knew she’d be loved by everyone there, what more could you ask for in a woman but he secretly hoped they wouldn’t so she could come back. Now, he stared at those scandalous pictures that were viral and had been plastered all over social media outlets. He’d give anything to go to her, protect her, to try to make it go away.
If you just told her how you felt, she wouldn’t be hurting like this!
Angrily he shook the thought away and tried to calm himself. He made that sponsor of hers –he never caught his name- promise to protect her. Clearly a man’s word didn’t mean much over there.
Breaking the silence of his apartment, his phone starts ringing. Looking down at it, he sees it was Riley.
“Riley!” He quickly answers.
“I know…I left…” She’s speaking through sobs, “I need a favor.”
“Can you…pick me up…from...airport.” Her tears are causing hiccups in her question.
There’s silence before he heard her trying to catch her breath, “Thanks, Daniel.”
“No problem, that’s what friends are for.”
After he gets more details about her flight, the call ends. He looks down at the notes he’s taken before sighing.
He had kept asking whatever higher power would listen, wished on every star, that Riley would come back so he could have his chance. He just never thought his words would be answered, let alone he’d get her back…in pieces.
I might never have been the one to break her but I’ll spend however long I have to, to make sure she gets put back together.