ANOTHER LONELY DECEMBER, Riley Johnson

Smooth like Butter

🎧: Why Am I Like This? - Orla Gartland

I never thought I would stand over my luggage tying my brain into knots over what outfit to wear for tonight, but there I was. I didn't expect us to attend this sort of event so I had nothing to wear. I considered not going but I couldn't abandon Abby in this crowd of judgmental privileged rich people. I glanced at my phone: 1.36pm. I still hadn't ate anything for lunch so I decided to go to the mall. They had small coffeeshop where I would easily find something to snack on and stores where I might find an outfit. After googling the directions, I grabbed my phone and wallet and shoved them into my purse. I walked out of my room and locked the door behind me, carefully placing the key in one of the pockets of my little bag.

"You're just everywhere" Riley's cheerful voice came from behind me.

"Hi" was all that left my mouth as the sight of the brown-eyed woman made the image of my recent fantasy pop in my mind.

"Hi" she chuckled. "Where were you headed?" she asked slightly tilting her head to the side.

"To the mall, I haven't had lunch and I don't have anything to wear for tonight" I sighed. I didn't hate shopping but I didn't like it either. I found it all really confusing, how the sizes didn't match from a brand to the other, how you somehow never looked like yourself in the mirrors... it was really overwhelming. I only shopped for clothes when I had to. In that case, I couldn't afford to embarrass myself in front of Harper's family.

"That's not a problem" Riley thought out loud. "But you're not having lunch at the mall" she said, leading the way towards the exit of the building.

"I'm not?" I asked slightly confused.

"I'm taking you out to my favourite place to have a brunch" she smiled proudly before opening the door and holding it for me.

"And I don't get a choice?" I raised a questioning eyebrow watching as she looked for the best answer.

"Well, if you're here for a short time I might as well show you the best things this town has to offer. If you prefer frozen tasteless pastries go ahead" she shrugged. I didn't want to offended her by refusing the offer... Actually, I really wanted to spend time with her, maybe it would help me understand a few things.

"No, you had me at brunch" I smiled letting her lead the way to her car.

During the car ride, Riley showed me around the small town, we drove past her former middle school and high school, the park she used to sneak out to, the Church her mom forced her to go to every Sunday... Her voice echoed in the car with a mix of nostalgia and sadness. She obviously missed some aspects of her life in those places but not all of it which completely made sense. We reached the end of the town and started seeing less and less buildings and houses. She took a turn following a small muddy road until we reached this sort of cabin, covered in fairy lights and Christmas decorations.

"Not a lot of people know about this place because it's quite far from the centre but the trip is definitely worth it, you'll see" she reassured me as she parked the car and got out. It wasn't as far as she made it sound as the drive was only 25 minutes long. But I wouldn't have found that place on my own even with the right directions that's for sure. La Tour de bois was written on a large sign hanging over the door.

"La tour de bois means-" Riley started.

"The wooden tower, I took French in high school" I cut her off, a proud smirk growing on my lips as she shot me an impressed look.

"Is there really anything you can't do?" she chuckled. I didn't like to brag but I did know a certain amount of stuff, some more useful than others.

"Oh, I don't know. I've had 27 years of hyper fixations so I did learn a terrifying amount of things" I joked. Riley walked through the front door, again holding it for me. An elderly lady walked up to us; she seemed to be familiar with Riley.