What Are We Now?

(6) Meeting The Parents

"Riley?"
"Yes daddy?"
It was after school and Riley was sitting on the couch with Auggie watching TV.
"Honey I think you should invite Charlie over for dinner. Auggie and your mom haven't met him officially yet and since you jerks went ahead and made it official-"
"Daddy!"
"Okay okay." Cory says raising up his hands.
"But your mother really does want to meet him."
"Ok I'll tell Charlie to come over tonight."
"Well that was fast!"
"I'm sure he'll be ok with it." Riley says with a smile.
"He better be nice to you Riley!" Auggie says looking away from the television to look up at his big sister, " or else!"
"Or else what Auggs?" Riley says with a smile. Auggie shrugs.
"I don't know. I'm only this many!" He says lifting up his hand.
"Well Charlie is very nice, I think you'll like him."
"Do you like him Riley?"
Riley looked at her little brother. For someone so young, he really did ask the important questions. No one else had asked her yet if she really like Charlie or not.
"Of course I like him.
"As much as you like Lucas?"
"Auggie!"
"What? I'm just askin'! You said that Lucas was your brother, and that's not true. So is Lucas really just your friend?"
"Yes Auggie he is."
"Ok."
"Ok."
"Charlie better be as cool as Lucas or I won't believe you."
"Auggie!"
"What?" Auggie says with a giggle. Riley shakes her head.

***

"Hi"
"Hi"
"Hey"
"Hey"
Riley and Charlie were sitting across from each other in her mothers cafe. They'd been saying hello to each other for five minutes now.
"Charlie?" Riley asks.
"Yeah?" He replies with a dazed grin.
"I wanted to ask you something?"
"Shoot."
"Would you like to come over for dinner? My mom really wants to meet you and so does Auggie."
"I would love to"
"Yay"
"Yay. So will you let me buy you a milkshake?" Charlie asks.
"Yes please! Strawberry, two straws" Riley says holding up two fingers.
Charlie gets up to order the milkshake when Lucas walks in.
"Hey Riley."
"Lucas, hello."
"Hi"
"What are you doing here?"

There it was again. Riley's refusal to play that hello game with him... Why was he surprised? He was never her boyfriend, he only ever dated the girl. Perhaps he just though that because he was the first boy she ever liked, dated, and kissed, he was important, then again he probably slept to long. You snooze you lose, that's the saying isn't it?

"My mom wants donuts" Lucas laughs.
"It's nice of you to get them for her."
"Yeah, so what are you up to?"
"Just here with Charlie, he's getting us a milkshake."
"Oh"
"Yeah"
"Friar hey!" Charlie says in a stiff happy voice.
"Hi, you guys have fun I gatta get going. Riley, Charlie." Lucas says with a nod and to the counter pays for his donuts and leaves.
"Well that was weird." Charlie says.
"Yeah just typical Lucas."
"Really? I thought he was Mr. Perfect?"
"Oh goodness no..." Riley looks away feeling awkward.
"Riley?"
"Yes Charlie."
"Why do you like me?"
Riley looked down, feeling caught and so she decides to say what she would say if it was Lucas who'd asked her the question.
"I like you because you're different. The way you look at me makes my heart flutter. You're so bright Charlie, I love it."
"I love it too." Charlie said putting his hands on top of Riley's.

I love it. Three words that had made Lucas's heart swell when Riley first fell on his lap on the subway. It certainly was too good to be true. Who found their soul mate this young anyway? And wasn't he, Lucas bright too? It didn't matter though, people can be similar in every way but there is always that something that sets them apart from each other. It's the reason it had to be Riley. Maya was as bright as any star but she just wasn't Riley, that's all there was too it. Lucas walks anyway from his hiding place right outside the cafe and goes home.

***

"Hello, Mrs. Mathews." Charlie says with a shy smile. He hands Topanga a small bucay of flowers and extends his hand so he can shake her hand.
"Thank you for the flowers Charlie, that is very sweet of  you."
Charlie just smiles in return.
"Mom you're embarrassing him" Riley says.
"It's ok really. I'm just quiet, that's all."
"And I love that about you. I really really love it!" Cory says.
"Settle down honey. Anyways Charlie I'm glad you could make it to dinner so last minute." Topanga adds.
"Anything for Riley." He says.
"Awww" Topanga says.
"Hey no awww no awww yet." Says Cory.
"Ok you, sit down and eat." She say to Cory, " I hope you like lasagna." Topanga says to her daughters date.
"I love it." Charlie and Riley say at the same time. Her heart seems to beat a little faster. Wait was she starting to actually feel something for this quiet boy? She looks down shocked and Charlie grins at his blushing girlfriend.
"Let's get down to business!" Auggie says, " why do you like my sister?"
"Auggie!" Topanga and Riley say together.
"Cory? Your not ganna say anything?" Topanga says.
"Why would I say anything, I wanna know too, the kid asks good questions!"
Topanga considers what her husband said then nods in agreement.
"Well Auggie I like your sister because she is kinder than anyone I know. She is so selfless it's mind boggling, and she would do anything to protect her friends and loved ones and I think that is pretty special of her." Charlie says looking shyly at Riley instead of at Auggie.
"Ok you win Riley."
"Yeeeah that's what I thought!" Riley says in triumph, " wait what I win?"
" oh I also love her innocence, which Riley so kindly has reminded me of " Charlie says with a laugh.
"What is that? What's going on here? What is that?" Topanga asks.
"Auggie just thought that maybe Charlie wasn't good enough for me, I said he was..." Riley shrugs.
"You're adorable Auggie, protecting your sister, that's really smart!" Charlie says.
"I love em already" Auggie says.
"Me too!" Cory raises his hand.
"Me first"  Riley whispers, resting  her head on Charlie's shoulder.

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