Unknown Beginning

Part 38

After Christmas Eve and then Christmas Day had passed with celebrations with her mom's side of the family and then her dad's side, Riley started to return to reality. She still had not heard from James despite wishing her a merry Christmas eve and day. Kenny had responded but was vague regarding her post-Christmas plans. For her part, Riley was focusing on spending time with her family and friends while balancing rest time. Following a few lazy days of reading, tv, movies, and board games with her family, Riley had plans to hang out with an old childhood friend, Naomi.

Once settled on Naomi's couch, they started to catch up on how their past semester was going. Naomi had taken a gap year before going to college so she just completed her first semester as a first year. Recounting the adjustment to college life and how it felt to be back home, Naomi asked if Riley was going to the New Year's Eve party a few of their friends were having.

"Yeah Ben's going so I figured I should too even if I don't want to" Riley explained.

"Why don't you want to go? There won't be that many people, I think only 10-15 people and you'll probably know everybody."

Anyone who knew Riley knew parties weren't her favorite place to be. But Ben would be at this small party along with other friends so that wasn't what was deterring Riley this time. "Well...I'm just worried it's going to be awkward depending on who is going..." Riley trailed off.

"Wait, who are you worried about?" Naomi asked, intrigued.

"Uhh do you remember Sana?"

Naomi nodded in confirmation.

"Well we kinda had a thing on and off for years."

Naomi's mouth fell open, "Sana? Cheerleader Sana? You had a thing with her? Since when??"

"Do you remember how you invited her to your Bat Mitzvah?"

"YOU'VE HAD A THING WITH SANA SINCE MY BAT MITZVAH?! We were 13! What happened??" Naomi squealed.

"I kissed her." Riley shrugged.

"No way! When?" Naomi was clearly amazed at this newfound news.

"We were dancing in a group but then we jokingly slow danced together and when the song ended she went outside and I followed her. Then when she complained about her dress or something I told her she looked beautiful and when she looked at me in a certain way... I dunno, I just kissed her. And she kissed me back."

"Oh. My. God. This is insane" Naomi exclaimed.

"Yeah well she kind of avoided me for a bit after that but every now and then through the years, she'd come back and we'd hang out, make-out, and get close and then the cycle would repeat." Riley replied, unenthused.

"Well that part kinda sucks"

"Meh. I didn't mind most of the time. I made out with everyone all through middle and high school so that part didn't feel as significant and therefore didn't bother me too much. Plus it's not like she was ever mean to me around other people or anything, we just didn't interact" Riley explained. "But then senior year we started talking and hanging out as friends in school and such so her friends and parents knew about me in that sense. They didn't know all the sexual stuff we did though. And we almost got caught once at her house. Her parents are kinda conservative so I think that freaked her out and things got kinda distanced after that. She had even told me she loved me at one point. But I haven't seen her since we graduated."

Naomi, being the type to comfort with touch, rubbed Riley's back and said "That must have been rough, I'm sorry."

"Yeah senior year certainly wasn't my favorite experience" Riley agreed. "I thought I was over it but then I heard she would be at the party and... guess I'm not over it."

"Well I'll be there too so I can run interference for you if you want" Naomi offered.

Riley smiled and replied, I might take you up on that" before changing the subject and asking Naomi how her family was doing.