Fifteen // Semi-Normal

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by neptuning

by neptuning

[Disclaimer: the following chapter includes some swearing]

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"Riley it's a day until the semi-formal!" Maya exclaims to Riley at her locker. "I know, but I don't think I'm gonna go. Dances aren't really my thing." Riley replies to Maya truthfully. "How are dances not your thing? They're everyone's thing. Plus, you might dance with a little someone." Maya says trying to convince her friend. "Plus it's way better than any show!" Maya exclaims. "First, I doubt that. Second, I don't know, I'd much rather binge watch One Tree Hill instead." Riley retorts. "It's going to be great and you don't need a tv show to make you happy. You have Lucas." Maya says nudging Riley. "Lucas? No. We're just friends. Plus, I don't want to be in a relationship after Sebastian." Riley says recalling that horrible name. "Lucas is not Sebastian. Sebastian is one boy who did something stupid, like really stupid. Lucas will treat you like a princess." Maya fires back. "I don't know Maya." She says shutting her locker and walking away.

"Luke!" Maya calls out seeing Lucas talking to Farkle. "I need you to ask Riley to the dance like now." Maya says, more likes demands. A confused look appears on Lucas' face. "You were going to ask her right?" Maya asks. "Yeah, maybe. Look, It's not that easy." Lucas says occasionally stumbling on his words. "Say this: 'Riley you wanna dance the night away at the semi-formal?' And then she'll hesitate and say: 'Sure Lucas, I'd love to!' And you guys dance the night away." Maya explains as if it was easy. "If you don't she'll spend the night binge watching American Ninja Warrior instead of slow dancing with you." Maya continues. "What? She's not going to the dance?" Lucas asks now shocked. "Yeah, so go ask her." Maya demands pushing Lucas towards their homeroom.

"Sure, here's the notes from yesterday." Riley says to a boy then then he leaves.

"Hey Riley." Lucas greets her at her desk. "Sup Lucas." Riley jokes. "I was wondering...umm..." Lucas trails off. Riley raises her eyebrows in curiosity. "If you would like to go to the dance-" Lucas gets cut off by Missy Bradford. "Hey Luke. Want to go to the semi-formal with me?" Missy asks smirking. Lucas scoffs and Riley's face saddens. "Uh... Missy..." Lucas tries to say no, but gets cut off again. "So it's a yes. Kay thanks. Oh hey Riley." She says and Riley scofs. She plants a kiss on to Lucas' cheek and walks away satisfied.

"Farkle, we should go to the dance together. I mean we're best friends, so it wouldn't be weird." Riley says to Farkle as he walks in the room. "Uhh... Okay." Farkle says confused. Riley needs to keep an eye on Missy.

"Luke, I thought you were going with her?" Farkle whispers to him. "I was in the middle of it, until Missy came in and asked me." Lucas explains. "Dude, just say no." He says. "I couldn't Missy is rotten and didn't give me the chance." Lucas further explains. Farkle's mouth performs an "O" shape signaling his understanding.

"Hey Maya, I'm going." Riley tells her friend. "Really did he ask you?" Maya asks curious. "No, I asked Farkle." Riley explains. "YOU WHAT?" She asks, practically shouts.

The next night, the night of the semi-formal, Riley is in her pajamas binge watching American Ninja Warrior. "Screw that dance. Screw boys. Screw life. All I need is American Ninja Warrior and food." Riley says to herself chewing on some popcorn she made for herself. Riley sighs and checks the time. "He should be coming through the window soon." She says talking about Farkle. "Oohh! bungee road seems to a problem for everyone!" The host speaks about an obstacle on the course. Riley makes oohs and aahs seeing people fall into the water or failing on the dreaded warped wall.

"Riley! What are doing get up!" Farkle says through the window seeing Riley in bed. "No, I'm not going. This is way better than that stupid dance." Riley replies to her best friend.
"I am dragging you to this dance in pajamas or a dress you're going." Farkle says as he tugs on her arm. He drags her making her fall off the bed. "Okay stop! I'll go. Make me drown in misery? I don't care." She says as she stands herself up. They head off out the window to the dance Riley with bed head and a wrinkled outfit from earlier today.

"This is such a lame theme." Riley says as she enters the gym. "'Spring into Love!'" Riley says sarcastically reading the poster above. "Ugh, I hate love." She continues to speak. "Have fun or I'll do that neck thing where you pass out." Farkle threatens her. Riley scoffs, then sighs. "Whatever, let's dance I guess." Riley says as she runs off to the dance floor.

"You should thank me." Missy says as she drags Lucas to the gym. "Why would I thank you?" Lucas asks Missy confused. "You would have to go to the dance with Riley. You know, before you came here she was a total nerd. Her only friend was that Minkus kid, and he didn't have great social status either. I saved you from social suicide." Missy explains. Lucas scoffs, blood boils through his body. He snatches his wrist from Missy's hand tugging him. "Look bitch. I'm glad I have real friends like Riley and Farkle. Your friends are probably payed hundreds by your parents." Lucas says angrily, Missy scoffs. "No one likes you. You are literally the spawn of satan. Hell practically follows you around. Have fun at the dance alone Missy Bitchford." Lucas says and leaves satisfied with his words.

"This is so not fun." Riley says grimly to Farkle at the food table. "I feel ya." Farkle says taking a sip of orange soda. "See, you shouldn't' have dragged me here. I could be enjoying myself watching American Ninja Warrior and One Tree Hill." Riley protests. "We should just go. Like honestly." Farkle says crushing his plastic cup and throwing it away. "Sure." Riley says as she walks to the exit of the gym, but bumps into the one and only Lucas Friar.

"Hey Riley! What are you doing going out?" Lucas asks. "I was just leaving. Dances aren't really my thing. Farkle and I were just going to go to my place and watch American Ninja Warrior with some lemonade and hot Cheetos." Riley answers his question. "Oh. Well, see ya Monday I guess." Lucas says sadly. He was really hoping to dance with Riley. Riley exits the gym with Farkle trailing behind.

"I don't get how you like this shit. It's just a bunch of muscular people trying to finish a course." Farkle says as he watches Riley's favorite show. "It's not shit, it's inspirational. American Ninja Warrior helped these people, the show itself inspired them. Some people wait a whole week just to get the chance to run a course." Riley explains baffled by Farkle's telling. One of the outstanding performers from last season comes on the screen. "WOO! He was one of those walk-ons I'm talking about. Look where he is now, he is considered one of the elite performers." Riley continues to shout occasionally putting the bull sign up.

"Shit, I have to run Riley. My dad just texted me." Farkle says, then rushes out the house. Riley doesn't notice she's too immersed in the show.

Someone knocks on the door. "It's open!" Riley shouts as she munches on some Cheetos. The knocker comes in. "Wow. This is better than the dance. Cheetos, lemonade, and American Ninja Warrior. This is totally bitchin'!" Lucas jokes as he sees the living room of Riley. "It is better than that stupid dance." Riley says. "It was a pretty good dance. It was missing one thing though." Lucas says giving a half grin like Finn Hudson from Glee. "What was that?" Riley asks curious. "A slow dance with you." Lucas says pointing to Riley. "I think I could make that happen." Riley says blushing. She mutes the TV (gasp!) and puts on You Are In Love by Taylor Swift. She stands up puts her hands around his neck as he puts his hands around her waist. They look at each other and smile. Dancing the night away, like Maya said.

"We did well." Maya says from the fire escape seeing the two dancing. "We did really well." Farkle says. They fist bump each other and watch the two dance.

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THIS CHAPTER WAS NOT PROOFREAD/EDITED

Longer chapter than usual (over 1400 words worth of chapter)

This is has been one of my favorite chapters to write. More cute Rucas too. It was really fun to write this and adding ANW made it way better.