Rucas AU | The Bet [12]
[ Part One - Part Two - Part Three - Part Four - Part Five - Part Six - Part Seven - Part Eight - Part Nine - Part Ten - Part Eleven]
Prompt: After damaging $1000 worth of private property on a dare Lucas needs a quick way to make the money to pay the guy back. When Charlie Gardner suggests a bet Lucas takes him up on his offer. And what is the bet? Get into the pants of Riley Matthews, the schools very own goody two-shoes princess. Word Count: 2,623 Chapter: 12 (Final Chapter)
AN: Trigger Warning! This chapter does include graphic description and does mention death. HOWEVER I do promise it doesn't end as sad as it starts.
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Riley wasn't stopping for anything and she sure as hell wasn't waiting around anymore. Her eyes stayed glued to the back of his head as he darted through the house and out onto the sidewalk where Zay was standing while the party blurred into a cloud of red and white lights.
The hiss of the tires over the smooth tarmac was lost under the pounding bass of the house music. But the second her foot left the door frame she barely had time to scream before the oncoming car slammed into Lucas as he pushed Zay out of the way. She watched his body hit the hood of the car and let out a deafening scream as his torso and head smashed up against the windshield while his arms and legs were flailing, searching for somewhere to hold.
Her screaming felt never ending as her lungs contracted with such force that she was afraid they would fold in on themselves. “No!” was all she was able to say as she ran through the crowd of party goers all huddling around to see what had happened. Zay wrapped his arms around her, trying to keep her away from his lifeless body that now laid limp in the middle of the cold, wet street.
All she could hear was the distant sound of herself screaming, she knew it was incoherent, she knew no matter how hard she tried nothing that came out would make any sense. She was in shock, her body trembled as Zay held her tight against his chest, trying to hold back his own tears as Riley sobbed into his chest. She heard someone yell ‘call 911’ and felt hands on her body, attempting to restrict her but nothing could keep her from him anymore.
Riley broke free of their grip and hurled towards the battered boy. When she finally reached him she could see very shallow breaths escaping his lips as his eyes fluttered around. He was covered in glass and had copious amounts of cuts and scrapes covering his body.
“Lucas.” She breathed, pulling his head onto her lap. “Hey it’s going to be okay, everything’s going to be okay.” He opened his mouth to speak but she shook her head, keeping her eyes locked on his. She feared what he might’ve said, she wasn’t ready to say goodbye. It was too soon.
“Riley, I’m sorry.” He grabbed hold of her hand, his voice raspy and barely a whisper. “I’m so sorry I hurt you.”
Her bottom lip quivered as she used the back of her hand to wipe the blood away from his mouth. “I know - I know you are. Lucas, I forgive you.” She smiled weakly at him, he was able to smile back for a brief second before his eyes slowly shut. “LLL-Lucas…did you hear me?” Her voice was shaking, “I need you to open your eyes – Lucas, open your eyes!”
His once vibrant emerald eyes are a dull almost black color as he looks up at her face again, he nods his head, trying to regain his strength, “How’s Zay? Is he hurt?”
“He’s right over there. He’s fine.” She let out a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “Y-you saved him.”
Another smile creeps up on the boy’s face and a soft chuckle escapes his lips, “At least I did something right.”
More tears surface in her eyes as she takes in the sight of him. She wasted so much time being angry, she refused to believe this was how their story ended.
“Shh, its okay.” He assured her, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “It doesn’t hurt. Besides, you’re here with me. That’s all I could ever want.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” She promised him, “I won’t leave your side.”
She interlocks her fingers with his and caresses his hand with hers, watching as he slowly drifts away. “Lucas…” She whispers knowing deep down that he wouldn’t answer. With a heavy heart and lump in her throat she strokes the hair out of his face, leans down and gently kisses him on the cheek.
The flashing lights of the ambulance are blinding as they pull up in front of the house. The medics race over to where Riley and Lucas were and immediately they begin to ask her to leave. “Miss, please you have to give us some space.” One of them pleaded, nudging her away from him.
“No.” She protested trying to fight her way back to him. “You don’t understand I promised I wouldn’t leave him.” In a split second Zay is at her side again, attempting to comfort her to the best of his ability.
“Riley,” He grabs her face in his hands, forcing her attention on him, “You have to let him go. They’re trying to help.”
“No!” She slams her fist against his chest but he doesn’t budge, “I didn’t even get the chance to tell him.” Her heart breaks into what feels like a million pieces as the realization sets in. She never got the chance to tell him that she felt the same way. That she loved him in spite of everything.
“I didn’t get to tell him, Zay.”
Silence.
She snaps her head around, noticing everyone around her was gone. The paramedics, the party goers, Zay and Lucas. All of them were gone.
All that was left was this loud noise. It sounded like the horn of a juggernaut. Blaring. Unceasing. Crippling her thoughts and assaulting her ears.
“What the-“
Riley’s eyes flew open as the rambunctious blaring of the small alarm clock jarred her out of her sleep and jolted her up, smashing the snooze button as hard as she possibly could. “It was just a dream.” She said to herself, a sense of relief flooding through her body.
Slowly and reluctantly, Riley uncovers her face. She blinks, closes her eyes, and blinks again, wanting to make sure she was in fact awake. She needed to make sure that awful memory replaying in her head was only a sick nightmare devised to shake her to her core. Streaks of sunlight penetrate the window and the morning light trickled in through the blinds.
Shedding herself of the remaining glimpses of a dream, her eyes were still shut as she soaked in the warmth of her covers before letting her brown eyes see the sun's early morning rays. She sits up, drags her feet off the bed, and rubs her knuckles into her eyes.
She was officially awake and had one thing and one thing only on her mind. She had to see Lucas.
--
“Come on Babineaux, you’re making it easy on me!” Lucas teased, effortlessly maneuvering around the boy as he made another basket.
Zay had stayed over last night knowing if he went home as drunk as he was his parents would’ve had a fit. They both had just woken up and Lucas thought it would be a good idea to challenge him to a game of hoops. He knew Zay was too hungover to play well but he also knew Zay was way too competitive and would never step down from a challenge.
“You’re forgetting I’m hungover.” Zay huffed trying to steal the basketball away from the tall blonde.
“Sounds like a personal problem.” Lucas laughed checking him the ball.
Zay took his shot, barely making it in the basket. He does a goofy dance around Lucas causing them both to burst into laughter. While Zay’s distracted Lucas steals the ball, swiftly passing his best friend and making several shots before turning to see why Zay had given up so quickly.
The dark haired boy stood with his back to the basketball court staring out towards the front of the yard where someone was approaching, a small smirk playing on his lips.
“What is it?” Lucas asks, not able to catch a glimpse. Zay purses his lips together and grabs the basketball from his hands, “I’ll give you two some privacy.” He winks before jogging over to the back door, disappearing into the house.
Lucas furrows his brows together confused as to who could be visiting him at such an early hour. His parents were working and the only real friend he had was already there at his house. He walked closer, willing to meet the unknown person half way until she finally appears from around one of the trees.
AS he realized who it was he was suddenly very aware of the fact that he was not only shirtless, but sweating profusely. He picks up his t-shirt from the ground and uses it to wipe the sweat off his face, tossing it back to the floor once he was finished.
Lucas took her in, he took in how soft her features seemed. He couldn’t help but wonder how he never noticed how she had the kindest pair of coffee brown eyes he had ever seen. Only 24 hours since he last saw them and still he was completely mesmerized that it was impossible for him not to be held prisoner by them. They were trimmed by long gorgeous lashes and somehow they always held a tiny warmth within them. The closer she got the more out of breath he felt.
The deep curve of her lips makes his world stop around her. She smiles that kind of smile that brings back a million memories in the blink of an eye. When she smiled at him it was like for a split second everything stopped and her smile pierced through all the bad in his life and all was well again.
“I want to move past this...” She steadies her breathing as she walks closer, “together.”
“That’s all I want.” He smiles, meeting her half way. “You are all I want.”
“You’re the first boy I’ve ever had real feelings for. That’s a big deal for me.” She pauses, “Are you worth it? Tell me and I’ll believe you - I want to believe you.”
“Believe me when I say I will do everything in my power to show you that I’m worth it.”
Finally they’re face to face. Neither one of them saying a word but she reaches out first, intertwining her fingers with his. Lucas stares down at their hands afraid to say or move out of fear she’d pull away.
Riley moves her head closer to Lucas as he stands frozen, from both fear and excitement. She leans in, so her forehead rests against his. They close their eyes. Both their breaths are shaking. "I love you," she says in barely more than a whisper.
"You do?" He replies, his voice low and husky. She nods her head slightly, unable to peel her eyes away from him.
"You have no idea how much I love you.” His voice wavers, exhilarated from the tension between them.
Riley gently leans in and kisses Lucas’ warm lips. They pull apart, taking shaky, shallow breaths.
He kisses her again and the world falls away. It was slow and soft, comforting in ways that words would never be. His hand rested below her ear, his thumb caressing her cheek as their breaths mingled. She ran her fingers down his spine, pulling him closer until there was no space left between them and she could feel the beating of his heart against her chest.
“Lucas.” she whispers slowly, prolonging each letter as if to savor them. He smiles, his heart fluttering at her voice as he clasps his hands on either side of her face, “Riley.”
“About the bet…” Her voice trails, a small smile playing on her lips.
“Yeah?”
“What exactly were the terms…”
--- [Epilogue] ---
Two Months Later...
“Are you sure about this?” Riley asks, biting down on her lip as she secures Lucas’ bow tie. “I wouldn’t mind if you lied.”
“A bet is a bet.” The green eyed boy smiles back, kissing the stunning brunette on the cheek. “Although I have a feeling Mr. Matthews isn’t going to be too pleased with my attire.” He chuckles, placing the lilac corsage on Riley’s wrist.
“We better get going, you don’t wanna be late for your big entrance.” She teases, walking towards the door with her clutch in hand.
“One last thing,” Lucas calls out, spinning her back into his arms, she raises her brows expectantly. “You look beautiful.” He smiles, leaning in to give her a soft kiss. “Thank you for being my prom date.”
“Thank you for being worth it.” She smiles back. “Now let’s go!”
~~
As they pull up in front of the restaurant where senior prom is being held Riley can see the anxious look on Lucas’ face. His fidgeting and nerves disappear the moment she grabs his hand. “You ready to face the music?” She gives him a playful nudge.
“With you by my side? Absolutely.”
Once they’re out of the limo, the faces of the employees outside helping with the event are a mixture of amusement and horror. Riley and Lucas could tell they were unsure of what to say, surely it wasn’t every day that a guest turned up wearing nothing but a bow tie, boxers and dress shoes.
Riley can’t help but giggle as wide eyed glares are tossed their way. She pulls Lucas forward, pushing through the double doors where they come into view of the entire senior class.
The music was so loud that it made her skin tingle and his lungs feel like mush. Over the roar of music, a distant, hazy chatter could be heard. Neither one of them could make out any words, but laughter rang in their ears and wouldn’t seem to stop.
Zay is the first to approach them, hunched over hugging his sides to help sustain his laugh. “Oh my god you really did it.” He cackles, pulling the taller boy in for a hug. “You actually showed up to prom in your underwear. Holy shit dude.”
Charlie walks over, Annette under arm, a big smile on his face. He and Lucas came to agreement that although there would probably always be some tension between the two of them, they liked each other a lot more when they weren’t beating the shit out of each other. “Didn’t think you’d actually show, Friar.”
“And miss the chance to dance with my beautiful girlfriend at our senior prom? Not a chance.” Lucas smiles.
“What can I say? You’ve got balls, man.” Charlie laughs, offering a friendly handshake.
“Figuratively and literally.” Zay chimes in causing everyone to burst into laughter.
After a while the shock of it all wares off and Charlie agrees to let Lucas throw on at least his blazer. Riley and Lucas spend the entire night on the dance floor in each other’s arms, under the shimmering lights, swaying back and forth to the music.
“So, how does it feel knowing you lost the bet?” Riley teases, linking her arms around his neck.
“I couldn’t care less about losing the bet…losing you however, that I wouldn’t be okay with.”
Riley caresses his cheek, grinning from ear to ear.
“So I was thinking” Lucas starts, pulling her closer to his chest, “We should make a bucket list of our own. You know, of things we want to do together.”
“Oh yeah?” Riley giggles, “Like what?”
“Liiike go to prom together.” He muses.
“We’ve already done that.”
“Okay, how about graduate together?”
“That’s right around the corner.” She plays along.
“Okay, fine…” His lips press against hers with love and affection as his warm hands roam over her bare arms leaving a trail of sparks in their wake. “Let’s fall madly in love.” He whispers so she feels his warm breath in her ear. Riley wrinkles her nose in protest.
“Too late.” She whispers back.