The week of finals was typically a week of stress for most students. Yet Riley couldn't see past her happy exhilaration to worry about tests. Her perpetually studious habits meant she was well prepared for finals and could turn her focus onto spending time with James instead.
After the party where they had publicly kissed, Kenny had said to Riley the next day "You and James, huh?" with a smile.
"Yeah. Me and James." Riley said, returning the smile.
"I like it" Kenny nodded.
"Me too."
"Just don't break up or our team will be screwed next year."
Riley scoffed, laughed, and then playful tackled Kenny as she replied "Oh I don't think you have to worry about that."
And now that the secret was out, Riley and James didn't hold back one bit. Whether that meant blatantly checking each other out or commenting on how good the other looked in a bathing suit at the beach on campus. Or kissing at a bonfire with their group of friends. Or walking hand-in-hand around campus. Living their truth felt like freedom and there was nothing that could change that now.
The only downside to the end of finals week meant it was time to say goodbye. Kenny was going home with Riley for a week and then flying out to California to be with her mom and sister for a month. She would then potentially fly back to the east coast to stay with her dad for a while. Kenny had pinky promised she would visit Riley as soon as she was back in the area which had successfully reassured Riley.
Fortunately, Riley and James didn't live too far away from each other and thus planned to spend any chance they could visiting the other.
"This isn't really goodbye" Riley said, face buried in James' chest.
"Then why are you crying?" James asked jokingly.
Riley squeezed her eyes shut and sniffled "I'm not".
"You definitely are." James said, wiping a tear from Riley's cheek.
"Ok maybe a little, " Riley mumbled sheepishly.
James laughed again, "You're silly. I'm going to see you in three weeks as soon as I get back from my sister's place. Besides, you'll be so busy with Kenny next week and then hanging out with Ben, you'll barely even think of me."
"Not true." Riley said grumpily.
Tilting Riley's chin up with her hand, James said, "I'll see you soon, ok?"
Riley nodded sadly.
Looking into Riley's big melancholy eyes, glistening with tears, James whispered "I love you, Riley O'Neill."
And despite the previously forlorn look on Riley's face, her eyes brightened and a smile pulled at the corners of her mouth as she processed what James had said. Feeling shy, but certain, she whispered back "I love you too, Jamie Jameson" and began counting down the days until they would see each other again.
The End
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Unknown Beginning
General FictionRiley has just started over at a new college and is trying to navigate relationships with her new best friend, Kenny, while integrating to a new disgruntled hockey team. One particular captain seems to hate Riley and she doesn't know why but she's g...
