Lost and Insecure {Rucas}

Maroon Jeans

Riley skipped down the hall, humming a tune to herself that she couldn't quite place a name on, but she liked it.

She opened her locker, pulling out everything she needed for her dad's class. She looked around for her best friend, Maya, but she was no where to be seen. She figured Maya was already in the classroom.

She stuffed all her things into her bag, looking at the clock. She decided to she had enough time to use the restroom before class, and hurriedly walked in there.

She did her business, and washed her hands. She pushed the door open, to see the hallway deserted expect for one student.

He looked to be in her grade, but she'd never seen him before. He probably didn't have classes with her.

"Riley Matthews, is it?" The boy asked, leaning on the lockers.

"Yeah. Who are you?" She asked smiling, her bubbly personality overflowing.

"No one you need to know," He waved her off. "But if I were you, I wouldn't wear those pants."

Riley looked down at her jeans. They were a dark maroon color, and she absolutely loved them.

"And why not?" She asked, oblivious as always.

"Because they make you look fat." The mystery boy simply said simply, walking past her.

Riley stood there, stunned by his comment. She shook her head, deciding not to let some class A bully's comment effect her.

Besides, Maya said these jeans looked fabulous on her this morning, and Maya wouldn't lie to her.

She pushed the door open to her father's classroom, to see that she was the last one there.

"Riley, your late." Her father pointed out, stopping writing whatever he was writing on the chalkboard.

How long was I out there for, Riley wondered. Everyone in the class turned to her, and Riley suddenly felt very self-conscious. She wanted to cover up her legs up with a large sweater or something.

"Sorry, I got caught up, out there." She said with half a mind, gesturing weakly towards the door.

She slipped into her seat, pulling out her Lucas and Riley forever notebook and a pencil.

"Why were you really late Riles?" Maya asked Riley, not bothering to pay attention to Mr. Matthews.

"I just told you." Riley lied to her best friend, pretending to be confused.

Riley never lied, you see, but she decided that it wasn't worth the trouble to worry her friends over some stupid comment that wasn't even true.

"Okay." Maya said, not believing Riley's act.

Maya assumed it wasn't worth asking about in front of the whole class. Besides, she figured she'd have a better chance of pulling the truth out of her at the bay window.

"Belgium 1831." Mr. Matthews said, turning around from the chalkboard.

"Is this really happening?" Farkle asked excitedly from his desk.

"It's really happening." Mr. Matthews said with a wide grin across his face.

"I'm getting tingly." Farkle squealed, gripping the edges of his desk.

"Can anyone tell me what happened in Belgium in 1831?" Mr. Matthews asked his class.

Maya raised her hand.

"No you cannot." He told her, point blank.

"Riley?" He asked her, snapping her out of her daze.

She had been sitting motionless at her desk, replaying that scene in the hallway over and over again at her desk. Did these jeans really make her look fat?

"In Belgium in 1831, the Netherlandians discovered the Ancient Pyramids." Riley said, folding her hands over her desk like so.

"No." Mr. Matthews shook his head, as if he almost couldn't believe the words that came out of his daughter's mouth.

"Friar?" He asked, looking hopeful.

"I don't know sir, because you always interrupted before you can tell us." Lucas said, grinning widely.

"Yes, which is why you're going to do it now before something happens." Farkle growled.

"Well, in Belgium in 1831, the-" He was cut off by the sound of the bell.

"No!" Farkle cried, falling out of his chair.

People began to get up leave, glad that the school day was over with. Riley sat there at her desk, staring at her thighs. Maybe they weren't as thin as they should be.

"Riley?" Lucas asked, her head snapping up.

"What-who-where-Belgium." Riley said, words stumbling out of her mouth.

"Class is over." Lucas informed her, trying not to laugh at the adorable girl in front of him.

"Oh, right, I knew that." She said nonchalantly, beginning to pack up her stuff.

"Sure you did." Lucas said, letting out a chuckle.

"Why weren't you focused in class today Riley?" Maya asked.

The four of them, Riley, Maya, Lucas, and Farkle, stayed behind in Mr. Matthews class. It was Friday, and they were going to Riley's house for game night.

"I guess I just didn't get a good nights sleep." Riley shrugged.

Maya gave her a disbelieving look.

"I spent the night at your house last night Riley, you were passed out by 8:30, tops." Maya said.

"Guess I didn't sleep well then." Riley came up with another excuse.

Maya, Lucas, and Farkle shared a look, but didn't press on.

The whole way home on the subway was antagonizing slow for Riley, the whole world seemed to be staring at her legs. When they got home, she immediately rushed in her room and locked the door, ditching her friends.

She stared at herself in the mirror, pinching at her thighs. Maybe she wasn't as skinny as she thought.

The knob jiggled, and Maya called out,

"Whatcha doing in there Honey?"

"Nothing Peaches." Riley answered, opening the door.

She hid herself behind it, smiling at the trio.

"You want a snack?" Maya asked her, a little concerned for her distant friend.

"Sure." Riley smiled, even though food sounded terrible to her right now.

She walked out of her room, giggling at some joke Farkle told. Hopefully no one would notice when she had a blanket spread across her legs the whole night in the warm apartment.