Riley

Chapter 20

Peters POV
We sit and play cards in silence with and occasional sigh, or conversation. This girl is really boring. It's so quiet here that I can hear Riley next door humming and singing to herself! We've been playing cards now for about 30 minutes, but Melody or whatever her name is looks content . My stomach growls.

"Do you wanna go get something to eat?"

"But I was just about to win." She smiles.

"You thought you were just about to win about fifteen minutes ago." I mumble more to myself than her.

My stomach growls louder. She laughs. "You hear that? I'm starving."

"Okay, you know they are having a dinner this afternoon at 7 in the main hall, then there is a dance afterwards."

She twirls a lock of her hair. I think she's waiting on me to comment but when I don't she continues. "Would you like to go with me."
She looks down and blushes.

"Sure." I force myself to hold in my sigh.

I wonder if Riley has heard about this dinner. I still need into get clothes to wear and everything. I'd love to go to dinner with Riley. "Friends" have dinner together don't they? Even if they both know that they want to be together.

Yea, dinner is a very "friend" thing to do. I should have thought about that before I agreed to go with Mel- or Malorie- I'll call her Em. Now I have to get clothes. My stomach growls again. But the clothes can wait until after I get something to eat.

"I'm going to order go and order room service, you coming with me?"

"You can order from your room."

"Yea I know but I need the walk." I sigh

"Actually after I eat I will go to sleep. And I think I'll just meet you later at the dinner thing."

She looks at me and then smiles. "Okay."

Grabbing all her cards she slides them messily into to the box. Spilling cards over the sides and having to straiten them out again. Slightly irritated at this, I grab the rest of the cards and he box from her hands and help her. I give her a friendly smile and show her out. "It starts at seven, okay. Don't forget."

"Okay I won't," I reply forcing a smile closing the door. I need Riley.

Cards with Riley would have been way more fun. I grab two bananas off the fridge and eat them quickly then flop on the bed, dozing off into a sleep.

When I wake I turn the tv on. It descends from the ceiling and I flick through the channels. Nothing is on tv, it never is anymore. Chanel 8 had the news on, the time tells me it's 6:15. Hmm that event that what's-her-face told me about is less than an hour and I have yet to get any type of clothing wear. I suppose I should actually do that...the duffle by the bed lay closed, I grab it and pull out 200 dollars and stuff it in my shorts pocket.

I grab the room keys and leave to go find a store of some sort. I press my ear to Riley's door and see if she is inside. The shower water is running, she must be getting ready to go to the event also...who told her. Well she doesn't have a date, so maybe I can make her jealous. Smirking I remove my ear from the door and skip outside. People stare strangely at me and the blonde women behind the receptionists desk glares at me.

"No running in the hotel!"

I turn and smile at her. "I'm not running, I'm skipping."

They are probably wondering why a six foot three shirtless boy in cut off shorts is skipping around the hotel. I push the door open and continue skipping down the street to find a store.

Just my luck, there is one right across the street. Entering I see there is men's section on the left and women's on the right. I pick a few white button down shirts and grab some black jeans.

"Do you need any help?" A deep voice says

I turn and see a tall boy though not as tall as I am, standing there. "Nah man I'm good, thanks. "

"Okay, well I'm Daniel and I work here. If you need any help you'll find me walking around."

"Sure, thanks." I nod in appreciation.

He leaves and I continue my search for a nice outfit for later and just for clothes in general. I grab more pants and a few shorts. There's a gray hoodie which I also pick up even though it's summer...it gets cold at night. What I need is some new shoes. I go look for Daniel.

"Do you guys sell shoes here?" I ask getting his attention.

"Yea, what kind. Dress shoes or regular shoes?" He asks leading me towards the back of the store.

"I may need both. I'm staying at this hotel and there's this even at seven today that I'm attending."

"Oh cool. I'm going over there later. I have a date sort of with the most beautiful girl I've ever seen."

I immediately think of Riley and how bad I want her to be my date instead of Em. She probably doesn't have a date. She will be the most beautiful person in room, dateless. It will be tons of guys lined up to eat and dance with her. The thought makes me uncomfortable.

"Yea, I wish I were taking the most beautiful girl I've ever seen but... I don't know. I have a date though. " I sigh

"Okay, here are the dress shoes. And you seem in satisfied with your date." He chuckles

"Thanks man, and I mean she's pretty and all. But she's not at all who I really want to be there with."

"I totally understand. I consider myself lucky that the girl I get to go with actually accepted my invitation to go. For a second I thought she'd say no. " he laughs again.

"I'll be at the register when your ready to pay. The other shoes are on the other side of the room, but still in the back." He adds

"Thanks. Hey what time is it?" I grab a black pair of dress shoes and a pair of chucks.

"It's 6:45"

I go to pay. "Okay I'll see you later. I'm Peter by the way."

He waves and walks towards the side where the suit jackets are. I exit the store with 18 dollars. I rush to get inside and to the shower. Opening the door I toss the bag of clothes on the bed and strip down to nothing. "Shoot! I forgot a toothbrush!" I run into the bathroom and hop in the shower washing my body with the hotel soap.

I rinse my hair out with the hotel shampoo and conditioner and hurry to dry. Looking in the mirror I decide to leave my hair curly as it is. Turning my head to the side I discover that I have a strip of blonde hair going across the nape of my neck, that's pretty cool. It's looks like it's been predigestion ally dyed that way or something.

My date will think I look hot, but more importantly Riley will think I look hot. Opening the sink drawer I see unopened packages of soap, toothpaste, mouthwash and toothbrushes.

Yes! I brush my teeth and put go into the bed room. I grab a white button down from the bag and a pair dark pants. I dress and put on the dress shoes. I turn the tv and look at the time, 7:03. Good I'm not that late. I head to look for Em.