Just Friends?(BWWM)

Housewarming

Chapter 12: Housewarming 

(Riley POV) 

6:50 

"If you don't come out of that bathroom and hurry up, I will go in and drag you out myself!" Jasmine yelled outside of the door. I huffed and puffed and reluctantly opened the door, "Do I have to go?" Jasmine looked at me sideways and yelled "Yes you do! If you don't go your just giving Jaceyln permission to take away your life. You lost Logan and I will not let you loose Caspian too." I slumped my shoulders and whined "I already lost him, he let her move in. My fate is sealed Jasmine, he chose her!" Jasmine looked at me then hit my shoulder and said "He didn't even know he had to choose! Every time you get close to spilling your heart out to him Jaceyln comes to steals your moment!" I rolled my eyes and shouted "Exactly! She steals the moment because there isn't suppose to be one, He is happy and I was too and I let my past with him ruin my happiness. I am not that selfish to ruin his too. I made my bed and now I have to sleep in it." Jasmine laughed and said "You could be sleeping in your bed with him, instead of that stupid stuffed bear!" I laughed and whined "Puddles is a good cuddlier, don't hate on him." She laughed and said "Come on let's go, you don't want to be late." I looked in the mirror and asked "How do I look?" Jasmine looked back at me and said "hmm girl I think you need my help tonight." I rolled my eyes and mumbled "fix it." The next 10 minutes Jasmine picked out an outfit for me, did my hair and my makeup.

Jasmine looked me up and down and said "Riley I think you just might get your moment tonight." I turned around and looked in the mirror, I was stunned at the sight of myself. I was wearing a tight halter dress that hugged my curves, my hair was curled and parted down the middle and my makeup was light with a pop of bright red lipstick. Jasmine knew exactly what to do with me and it gave me a pop of confidence, since the night Logan and I broke up I hadn't been feeling like myself but now I feel a little bit better. Jasmine watched me look in the mirror and asked "Are you ready to go Riley?" I looked at her and nodded my head yes.

We walked outside of my door and knocked on Caspian's, I heard the door open and there he was. I swear that man could take my breathe away just with a glimpse. He had his hair slick to the side, he had a five o clock shadow and he was wearing a tight black v-neck. He looked at me and I looked at him, we both just looked into each others eyes trying to communicate without really communicating. The moment was interrupted yet again by Jaceyln, she opened the door more to reveal the party inside and said "come on in guys, sorry we started without you." Caspian broke the stare and returned his attention to Jaceyln, he kissed her cheek and walked away from the door. Jasmine walked inside and I followed behind her, the party was filled with Caspian's work friends and Jaceyln's bartender friends and childhood friends who I knew as well. I scanned the room and I saw my old friend Chadwick and walked over to him. Chadwick was surprised to see me, he hugged me and wouldn't let me go. I laughed and said "Chad you can let go now." He let me go and we both laughed, he looked me up and down and said "Wow Riley you look stunning." I smiled and said "Thank you Chad, you look the same as always." He smiled and mumbled to me "Honestly Riley, I thought this would be you and Caspian." I looked down at the floor and said "So did I." Chadwick picked my head up and said "He loves you Riley, he is just settling for her. You need to tell him how you really feel, before he makes a mistake with her." I bite my lip and said "I don't know what to say to him." He looked over at Caspian and Jaceyln, then back at me and said "Say she's not the one, I am. Just see what he says to that." I laughed and said "I am not that bold." Chadwick laughed and said "But she is, and that's why she has him right now and that's why you don't." I stepped back and said "Ouch." Chadwick hugged me and said "The truth hurts. Now go get your moment." I walked over to the couch where Caspian was sitting drinking wine, I sat across for him and asked "Do you want a drinking buddy?" He smiled and said "I couldn't ask for a better drinking buddy than you." I looked down and smiled while he poured me a glass, I took the glass and said "I can see you let her decorate your place, it looks so much better." He laughed and said "So your saying I have no taste?" I smiled at him and said "Yes that's exactly what I am saying." He grabbed his heart and said "I'm hurt Riley." I winked at him and said "You will get over it." He leaned in closer to me and said "What if I can't." I could feel the tension between us, so I grabbed the glass of wine and downed it. He smirked at me and continued to sip on his glass while staring at me. I bite my lip and asked for another round, he grabbed the bottle and poured me another glass. He looked up at me and asked "Is everything okay Riley? Did I say something?" I looked away from him and said "No, no just a long day." I grabbed the glass and downed it again. The only way I was going to survive this night was by getting completely drunk. Caspian raised his eyebrow at me and said "Can I tell you something?" I answered quickly "sure." He got up from his seat and whispered in my ear "You look absolutely gorgeous." I held my breath and just grabbed the bottle of wine and started to drink it. He laughed and before he could say anything else Jaceyln walked in the room and yelled "Okay everyone it's time to make a toast! Everyone gathered around her and Caspian with their wine glasses, Jaceyln started talking loudly so everyone could hear her "Thank you everyone for coming, it means a lot to Caspian and me. We are entering a new season in life and it's amazing to have your support." She stopped for a second and drew her attention to me, she looked me in the eyes from a far and continued "Caspian means the world to me, he is family and I am his. It's our season together as one, we are in love and happy and that's all I could have ever wish for. Now that we are living together our lives sync, our friendships sync now more than ever. Caspian is my forever and I am his, and I am thankful for everyone who is here and I am excited to start this new season with him and only him. So toast!" Everyone clinked their glasses and Jasmine whispered in my ear "That whole toast was a message to you, she just put her mark on Caspian." I just nodded my head and drank the bottle of wine that was in my hand. The night went on and Jaceyln stayed right by Caspian's side, I watched them the whole time until I had it.

I grabbed another bottle of wine and found Jasmine and Chadwick talking, I interrupted them and said "I can't watch this anymore, i'm leaving I am going to go take a walk and get really drunk." Jasmine grabbed my hand and said "I am sorry you didn't get your moment, I will call you tomorrow." I noticed Caspian watching me so I turned around and walked out of the door. 

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I walked outside of the apartments and walked to the park across the way, I just stared at all the glass and drank from my beautiful bottle of Stella Rosa. I kissed the bottle and took another sip, I heard something behind me but I just ignored it. A voice said "I think you have had enough." I turned around to see Caspian standing over me, I got up from the floor and asked "Don't you have a housewarming party your suppose to be at." He laughed and sat next to me and said "It's no party without you there." I chuckled and drank more from the bottle, and Caspian looked over at me and took it away from me. I slouched my shoulders and said "I was drinking that." He laughed and said "And now your not."  I sighed and laid down on the grass, and he joined me. I looked over at him and just stared him in the eyes, he returned the stare and for a slight moment I felt connected to him again...

Jaceyln wasn't around to break up the moment between Caspian and I, but I ended up doing it. If I didn't break the connection between us, the anticipation of the moment would have got the best of us. I looked him in the eyes on last time and turned away from him, I got up from the grass and started to walk away leaving Caspian confused. I heard Caspian get up from the ground too and chase after me. I walked away faster and Caspian yelled "Where are you going Riley?" I turned around to face him and I said "Away from here, away from you..."  He looked at me confused and asked "Why? Why do we keep having these moments where you and I almost connect and right before we actually do, you pull away." I looked down at the floor and quickly blurted out "Because I love you. I love you Caspian and I can't believe how many years I've ignored this. Seeing you with Jaceyln opened my eyes to it, and I didn't say anything because you are with her but I can't take seeing you with someone other than me. There I said it, I love you and you love her and if you don't mind i think I've handled enough rejection for one day so just leave me alone!" Caspian looked conflicted and I could tell that he was... 

I slowly turned my back on him and walked away, I had so many thoughts racing through my mind but the one that stood out was he rejected me.. He choose Jaceyln over me again.