“Lucas, are you ready?” I hear Riley shout from down the hall.
“I’ll be right there,” I yell back as I grab a tie lacing it around my neck and walking towards her voice. My hands are trying to tie it, but the back piece always ends up longer than the front. I let out a frustrated groan, and I hear a laugh come from the woman I love.
I look up and there is a hitch in my breath. Riley looks breathtaking. Her hair is straight with the front framing her face. Her make up is bare minimum, so it doesn’t hide her natural beauty. She has on a black dress that flares out at her waist matched with a pair of red heels.
Riley walks over to me pushing my hands out of the way, “Let me do this.” My eyes watch her face. There is a crinkle in her forehead as she concentrates, and I can’t help the small chuckle that falls from my lips.
“Nothing. You’re just beautiful.” She laughs as she pulls the tie through the loop pulling it up and tighten it.
“There you go,” she pats my chest, “Now, are you ready?” I nod my head, and Riley grabs her coat and her purse and walk out the door. I follow suit making sure the door is locked behind me.
We walk up the steps to our high school, and a big banner that reads Welcome Back! Class of 2020 Ten Year Reunion hangs over the entrance. I take a deep breath as we reach the top and tighten my grip on Riley’s hand. When I look at her, she is already looking at me with concern written all over her face.
“Are you okay?” she asks and I slowly nod my head, “Are you sure?” I sigh, and she pulls me off to the side, “Okay, tell me what’s wrong,” I shake my head, “It really wasn’t a question. Remember we don’t hide anything from each other.”
I let out a deep breath, “I don’t know. I just, I don’t have the best memories here,” she cocks her head slightly to the side, “We were broken up for the last half of senior year,” her face slowly drops, but I lift her gaze back up, “I’m sorry for doing that to you, but I thought it was best. I didn’t want to hold you back.” She opens her mouth to say something, but I continue to speak.
“Being here, that’s all I think about; my stupid mistake.” It’s me who tries to drop my head, but she stops me. My eyes getting lost into her chocolate brown orbs.
“Listen to me, okay?” I nod, “Yeah, you made a stupid, dimwitted, moronic-“
“Okay, we get the picture,” I cut her off making her giggle softly, and warming my heart.
“But we found our way back to each other that summer. We’ve been married for six years, and have two beautiful twin girls,” she interlocks our hands, “When I look at this school, I think of the first time you told me you loved me,” she laughs, “We were walking out of my dad’s class, and you had to hurry and speak to a teacher. You leaned in to kiss and said “I love you”,” she starts chuckling more, “You didn’t even know you said it. I was about to say something, but my dad beat me to it.”
I can’t hold my laughter back anymore, “He faked a heartache, and yelled we were too young. And he chased me off.”
“He did, and I yelled I love you back. We earned some looks from our classmates in the hall, but it was worth it,” she smiles shyly at me, “That is only one amazing memory here. There are plenty more. Don’t let that one tainted memory ruin the rest.”
Riley eyes lock on mine, “I wouldn’t have married you if I didn’t. Now, come on. We are already an hour late.” She moves towards the entrance pulling my hand behind her.
We walk into the gym, and I’m hit with nostalgia. We go to the table set up in the front to check in.
“Oh, Riley! You’re here, I was worried you were going to miss it!” Darby says as she looks through name tags and hands Riley hers. She turns her attention to me, “Hi, Lucas,” she switches her gaze between Riley and I, “It’s so nice to see Rucas together! I knew true love had exist.”
Riley gasp, “What no Yoby?”
Darby shakes her head, “No, the distance between here and Washington was too much for us.”
“I’m sorry, Darby,” Riley’s voice is filled with sympathy.
Darby shrugs her shoulders, “Eh, don’t be. It was hard when it happened, but I met someone in college. We’ve been married now for two years. I’m honestly the happiest I’ve ever been,” and the smile that lights up her whole face showed that.
“Well, I’m happy to hear that,” I say.
She nods her head, “Oh, Sarah has been waiting for you to come,” she looks at Riley, “She’s been waiting to reunite our prom king and queen.”
Riley looks at me, and I try my best to muster up the best smile that I can. I was hoping the “king” would decide to skip out on the reunion, but I should have known he wouldn’t.
“I’ll let her know you’re here,” Riley nods, and we maneuver through the gym.
For the first few minutes Riley and I are together, that is until Zay and Farkle pull me one way and Smackle and Maya pull her another. I watch her disappear into the crowd, and the three of us move around catching up with some old classmates. That is until Zay gets pulled away by Vanessa, and Smackle comes to take Farkle away.
I talked to Yogi, who tells me the same thing Darby did; the distance was too much. He also met someone, Karen. They’ve been together now for four years, and engaged for one. They have a two-year old son name Michael. The three of them move backed to New York a few months after Michael was born, and Yogi got a job at the high school as a math teacher.
I also talk to Billy and Missy, who ended up together; a little surprising. Billy works as a sports reporter, one of the best to be exact, and Missy is a stay at home mom to their three children; two boys, Hayden and Brian, and their daughter, Grace. They seemed to be really happy and bring out the best in each other. Missy is actually really nice; she told me she was happy that me and Riley worked everything out and wished us the best.
I continue to move through the crowd when I bumped into Dave.
“Lucas! How have you been?” he asks holding out his hand.
“Hey Dave, I’ve been good. How about you? What’ve you been up to?”
He smiles, “I’ve been really good. I’m on the police force, I’m married, and have a beautiful baby girl.”
I pat his back, “Congratulations man! Who’s the lucky girl?”
I watch as his eyes scan the gym and stop when they land on a brunette who is talking to Riley. A smile slowly starts to form on his lips, “She’s right over there,” he gestures in their direction.
“You married Sarah?” he nods still smiling.
He tells me the story of how they met. She’s an event planner, and a party she was working out was crashed so the police was called. They haven’t spoken since the high school, but that night he said there was this connection he couldn’t explain. He didn’t need to, I knew exactly what he was talking about.
Dave wanted to ask her out, but he was too nervous. He was leaving, feeling completely defeated, when Sarah came walking towards him. She handed him a piece of paper with her number written on it.
“She told me I’d better call, but I didn’t. I was way too shy,” a small laugh escapes. “A few days later she went to the station and asked me out on a date, and everything kind of fell into place.”
I smile, “You’ve always been on the quiet side.”
He nods, “So, what about you and Riley? It’s nice to see the two of you back where you belong,” I smile. “When did that happen?”
“The summer after we graduated from high school. She had left to California to start summer school, and I chased after her,” I glance over to Riley and then back to Dave. “I spent the summer with her, and we worked everything out.”
“Well, that’s good to hear. Everyone knew things would work out between you two. Except Charlie, he swore up and down that he was going to win the heart of Riley Matthews. Everyone tried to tell him he was wrong, but he wouldn’t listen.”
I scoff. I open my mouth to say something, but Sarah’s voice bounces off the walls of the gym. I turn and see her standing on the stage. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go get a better look at my wife,” Dave smiles, and I laugh.
He walks away, and I look over to Riley. Her eyes are already on me. I slowly start to walk towards her, when I hear Sarah’s voice again.
“Now, for the reunion of our prom king and queen. Can I have Riley Matthews and Charlie Gardner to the dance floor,” Sarah says from the stage, and the only thing I can think is that it’s no longer Matthews; it’s Friar.
I can feel jealousy start to bubble inside me. I thought I was over this, but when it comes to Gardner I don’t think I ever will be. It irks me that he was the one who took Riley to our senior prom, and that he was the one to be crowd king with her being the queen.
Riley and I lock eyes, and she gives me a soft smile. I really don’t want her to go and dance with him, but right now I don’t think that matters. I watch as she slowly moves through the crowd of our old classmates to the dance floor where Charlie is waiting for her. He holds out his hand, and she gives me a quick look and hesitantly takes it.
The light shines over the two of them as they dance to You and Me by Lifehouse. My eyes stay glued on them, and I’m almost certain my green eyes are glowing with envy. Charlie looks over at me and gives me a smug smile, and I want nothing more than to walk over there and pull Riley away.
I see his hand start to slid down her back, and my blood starts to boil. Charlie fucking Gardner knows exactly what to do to get under my skin. I start to take a few steps forward, when an arm is placed in front of me.
“Don’t, Riley can handle it,” Maya says, but her words just go in one ear and out the other. I turn my attention back to them, and I see the friendly smile on Riley’s face disappear as she moves his hand higher, “told you,” Maya whispers. “Don’t let cheese souffle ruin the night. He just wants what he can’t have. She’s a Friar now,” a smile spreads across my lips.
They finish the dance, and Riley instantly pulls away and turns on her heels right to me.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know we were going to have to do that,” she says the smile that once had place on her face completely gone.
I grab her hand, “It’s okay. I’m-“
“Riley!” Sarah’s voice pierces through my ear cutting me off. Riley and I both turn to her, “Can I get a few pictures of you and Charlie?” Sarah looks at me, “Is that okay? It’s just a then and now type picture.”
I try my best to muster a smile, “Yeah, that’s fine.” Riley looks at me, and I know she can see right through me.
“Give me a minute, Sarah,” Riley says not once peeling her eyes away from me. I pull my gaze away from Riley and look in the direction where Sarah was standing, but all I see if her walking away. “Lucas,” Riley’s voice calls my attention, “if it really bothers you, I won’t take the picture.”
I sigh, “Of course it’s going to bother me, but really it’s fine.”
“Okay, I’ll be back as soon as possible,” she presses her lips against mine and walks away.
Twenty minutes go by and still no sign of Riley, that is until I see her in the distance, with Charlie. I have to tell myself to calm down. I see the two of them talking to a few people that I don’t remember. My feet start to move without me realizing it, and I stop once I’m in ear shot.
“So, Riley what is it that you do,” the short red head ask.
“Oh, she’s a children books author,” Charlie answers for her. I look over, and I see confusion written on Riley’s face as to why he answered for her.
“Oh, that’s amazing,” the red head smiles.
“Yeah, Riley is amazing, and beautiful, smart, caring.”
“Aw, how long have you two been together?” the tall blonde asks.
Riley coughs a little, “Oh, we-“
“We’ve been together for a year now. We reconnected after high school,” I watch as Charlie wraps his arm around her waist. Riley instantly pulls herself away, and I’ve had enough.
“We are not together, I’m-“
“She married to me,” I pull her close to me, and the two girls look between the three of us. I can feel anger starting to boil inside me. I turn my focus on Charlie, “What the hell is your problem, Gardner?”
He smiles, and it’s taking a lot out of me not to snap. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I huff, “You’ve wanted Riley since we were in middle school, and you’ve hated the fact that she didn’t want you back.”
“Did you forget that I had her? In eighth grade and senior year,” I start to laugh, he can’t be serious.
“You were a rebound, Gardner. That lasted for what minute.” The more he talks the more aggravated I get. I look over at Riley who doesn’t look happy with Charlie, but most importantly with me. I know I should stop, but I don’t. I don’t know if it’s Charlie or the green-eyed-monster that has been with me all evening, but the fire is lit; and once it’s lit, it’s hard to put out.
“Friar, think what you want to think. Riley had feelings for me.”
“Yeah maybe, but it was years ago. Get. Over. It. You’ve been goggling her all night,” my voice rises more than I have liked.
I feel a familiar touch on my arm, and it calms me down to some sorts. I turn my attention, and Riley has her hand on my arm, “Come on, let’s just go. It’s not worth it,” she gently pulls me away.
“It’d be so easy to steal her away from him. He’s a lousy veterinarian. I’m a real man,” Charlie says to the two girls the second Riley and I start to walk away.
Something inside me snaps, and I stomp back. Without thinking I grab him by his shirt, and I feel my fist start to ball up. “Is there something you want to say to my face, Gardner?” I see fear wash over his face, but at this point I don’t care. He doesn’t know when to keep his damn mouth shut.
My hand slowly starts to rise, but I’m pulled away from him by Farkle and Zay.
“Not here man. This is not the place,” Zay says, but I’m too blinded by anger to listen.
“Yeah, Friar listen to your little friend,” Charlie says with a smirk, and I try to squirm my way out of their grasp.
“Charlie shut the hell up!” Farkle yells over the music. Farkle tries talking to me, but my anger sometimes traps me in my own mind. I hear both his and Zay’s voice try to calm me down. Billy comes and takes Charlie away. Why did I let him ruin the night? Ten minutes go by, and my anger has subsided a little as well as the audience that was formed.
“Riley left,” Maya says walking over to us. I can hear the anger in her voice, and I want to punch myself for making a scene.
“Shit,” I whisper to myself, “I messed up.” It takes me less than a second to pull myself together and walk out of the gym.
Once I’m outside the school, I pull out my phone and see that I have a voicemail from Riley.
I went to go pick up Scarlett and Stella from my parents’ place. I’ll meet you at home.
I wait for an I love you, but there isn’t one. I really messed up.
When I walk inside our home, I see Riley in the living room with too sleeping little girls. My beautiful Scarlett, she has my green eyes, but Riley’s beautiful brown hair. As for my beautiful Stella, she has my blond hair with Riley’s sparkling brown eyes. I close the door softly behind me, not waiting to wake either of the girls and ruin this picture-perfect moment.
I take a step and the floorboard squeaks, and Riley looks up. “Can you help me take them to their room?” Riley asks in a hush tone. I nod, and move to grab Stella.
I follow behind Riley down the hall to the girl’s bedroom. Riley lays Scarlett in her bed, and I lay Stella in hers. Scarlett shuffles a little, and I’m praying she doesn’t wake up. But after a minute or so she stops.
“I’ll meet you in the bedroom,” Riley whispers brushing passed me, and I give her a soft smile.
Every night, I stay in their room a little bit longer and admire them. I thank god for whatever I did to deserve these perfect little girls. There are getting so big so fast. In just a few months, they’re going to be turning four. I give Stella a soft kiss on her forehead and whisper I love you and walk over to Scarlett and do the same.
When I get to the room, Riley has already changed into one of my t-shirts. Her hair is in a messy bun, and her face is cleared of any make-up. This is when she is the most beautiful, and I can’t help but smile. She looks up at me, and my smile slowly vanishes. She isn’t too happy with me.
I take the open spot next to her on the foot of the bed and listen as she takes a deep breath.
“What was that all about?” she asks.
I sigh, “I don’t know. I lost it. I’m sorry.”
“I get it. You were jealous, but that turned to anger quickly.”
I groan, “It’s Charlie. I don’t know what it is about him. Maybe it’s the fact that he had certain moments with you that could have been mine, or the fact that he has always wanted you.”
Riley huffs, “And you don’t think I wasn’t jealous of Maya when I find out about the moment at the campfire scene,” my eyes go wide, “I was. That moment should have been mine, but it wasn’t. It took time, but I moved on from it.”
My head drops, “I’m sorry.”
I shake my head, “H-how did you move on from it?”
Riley lets out a deep breath, “Honestly, I talked to Maya about it. Not everything I said were kind words,” she lets out a small chuckle, “but I needed to get certain things off my chest.”
“I think I kind of did that tonight, although, there was way more that I wanted to do,” Riley looks at me, “I’m sorry for letting him ruin tonight. We were supposed to have a good night and catch up with some old friends, but I couldn’t get passed my jealousy, and maybe I was a little insecure too.”
Riley grabs my hands in hers, “I know that feeling all too well, but you don’t need to feel like that. You are an amazing man, and there is no one that I’d rather spend this lifetime with than you and our daughters.”
My eyes meet hers, “Are you still mad at me?”
“No, but you really need to control that anger of yours. Sometimes yes, I’m not going to lie, I find it very attractive, but other times it does the opposite.” I slowly start to lean in, and she pause but eventually closes the gap.
“And I love you,” she smiles, “Now, go change.”
I move to our walk-in closet to change out the semi-formal clothes. “Can you believe Darby and Yogi aren’t together?” I say.
“Oh, I know, and what about Sarah and Dave? The way she looked at him was the cutest thing.”
I laugh, “You should have seen the way he was looking at her. Oh, and Billy and Missy. Can you believe Missy is-“
“Nice,” she finishes for me, and we both laugh, “But they seem to be doing good and that’s all that matters.”
“Yeah, but Rucas is the ultimate love story.”
“Yes, it is,” I hear the smile in her voice.
I finish undressing, and quickly grab a pair of basketball shorts and throw them on. I walk in the room turning off the closet light behind me. I see Riley lying in bed underneath the covers.
I smile, “You look beautiful,” a blush runs up her cheeks.
She slowly sits up pulling my oversize t-shirt off her small frame, “Why don’t you show me how beautiful you think I am,” she smirks.
“I’d be happy to,” I move to turn off the bedroom light and crawl into bed with my wife, and the last thing on my mind are lost moments.
