It's a Nightmare

Chapter Nineteen

Riley

"Are you sure that you'll be okay?" I asked Lucas for about the hundredth time. After the episode he had a while back, I wanted to be one hundred and ten percent sure that he was okay with going to Oaken Home.

He took a slow breath, "I'll be okay Riley. Let's just go in."

"Kids. We're here."

We entered a massive lobby, floors polished to perfection and free of any dust. A desk was placed against the back wall, next to a solid-looking steel door.

Mom strode over to the desk. I placed my fingers over Lucas'. We wrapped our hands together.

"You ready?" I asked.

"No," was his honest response.

Mom was talking to the stern-looking woman behind the desk. "Hello. We are here to see Matthew Frier. I'm Topanga Matthews; I'm his guardian. This is my daughter Riley. This is the son of Matthew Frier."

"Okay..." The woman at the desk had a very nasally voice. "Now, visiting hours are over, but since you called ahead, we will let you in. We don't normally do this. Remember that."

She started typing something into the computer. "Now, why was he admitted?"

I shared a glance with Lucas, who was biting his lip. He hung his head.

"Why do you need that information?" Topanga demanded. "We told you the name of who we want to see."

"My condolences." Said the woman. "But we have more than one Matthew Frier and I would like to make sure that you are going to see the right person."

"How many Matthew Friers do you have?" I asked.

The woman- who I was starting to dislike strongly- typed some more things into her computer.

"Three. One in the Depression wing; one in the Schizophrenia wing and one in the... Addiction wing."

Topanga glanced at me, silently urging me to take Lucas away. I obliged with a small nod.

"Come on Lucas," I urged. We quietly walked away from the desk, leaving Mom to argue with the desk lady.

Once we were out of earshot, I pulled Lucas into a hug. My hands brushed over the thick bandages that covered his shoulders and his back. Making a mental note to change them later, I pressed a light kiss against his cheek. My lips came away wet with salty tears.

"Hey," I whispered. "Don't cry. It's alright. It's all going to be alright. We'll stick together. I promise."

There was a moment of silence. Lucas pulled away from me and rubbed the back of his neck in a nervous manner.

"Riley. I..." Lucas stumbled over his words. "I know that I could've... I could've pick a better... A better place to tell you this, but I need... I need to tell you this. I... I think I love you."

Did I just hear what I think I just heard? Did Lucas actually tell me that he loves me? I froze; my body literally wouldn't move.  He loved me. He...actually loved me.

"Even though you barely know me, you still supported me and rescued me from the person I despise most in my life. And I love you for it. I love everything about you." I reached up and brushed Lucas' soft blond hair out of his eyes.

"I love you too Lucas." There, I said it. Yes, it was true. I loved Lucas. I loved the broken, battered boy I had rescued from his abusive father. I loved everything about him, especially his sweet, caring personality and his willingness to push through life, even though he had experienced things no child should ever go through.

A massive smile cut through his face, stretching from ear to ear.

"Do you actually mean it?" He asked, as if he were afraid to get his hopes up.

"I do. I wouldn't lie about something like this. I mean it; Lucas, I love you." I kissed his cheek again. "Come on. It should be safe to go back to the desk now.

Lucas reached for my hand. "Riley, if I love you and you love me, does that mean we can be us?"

I met Lucas' eyes; his beautiful sea-green eyes. Eyes that had seen so much in their short life.

"Nothing would make me happier." I replied gleefully.