This Old Coffee Shop - A Before You Exit Fanfiction

Chapter Ten; Opening Up

-Carter’s Point of View-

The faint pitter patter of light drizzle sounded among the windows of Riley’s glossy black mustang; I stared out the window to avoid eye contact or any for of the unwanted conversation I did not desire to have.

Every so often I could feel his gaze fixated on me, I crossed my arms over my chest, huffing.

“Turn left here.” I muttered, not even lifting my eyes to look at him. The car turned left, the view of mine and Clara’s apartment coming into view. I sighed in relief as he pulled into the driveway.

Shutting his car off, he took the key out, staring at me.

Although I should have just unbuckled my seatbelt and left I found myself staying there, in my seat, glancing over for the first time.

Riley’s mouth was curved into a faint smile, his hair shining from the porch light turning on, showing the spectacles of rain sparkling in his newly cut hair.

His chest rose and fell, his black tee shirt hugging his body nicely, barely showing behind his leather jacket.

His eyes burned amber, gazing at me curiously.

I tore my gaze from him, reaching for the door.

“Wait,” He began, sounding desperate. “let me stay. I don’t want you being alone.”

I turned to look at him, trying to believe I heard him right.

“You want to stay? At my house.. Shouldn’t you have taken me to dinner before sleeping at my house?” I joke, my lips pulling into my usually sarcastic smile.

“I’m not even kidding. Just incase one of Jordan’s psycho friends decide to show up, I can protect you.”

I threw my head back and started laughing. A bit comical but needed. “I can protect myse-”

“Stop doing that.” Riley demanded, sounding annoyed. I cocked my brow, confused by his tone. “Stop acting like you can ‘control’ every-fucking-thing, you can’t defend yourself from man-child adult thing who’s drunk and pissed and wants revenge, I don’t care how strong you think you are. I saw what happened to you. To Clara.”

Those words stung, reminding me, I was completely helpless, watching my best-est friend in the whole entire world being choked to death as I laid defeated on the floor.

Anger boiled over in me. “Stop acting like you know EVERYTHING about my life. You know NOTHING!” I yelled.

He sat, unaffected by my outburst, his eyes locked on mine. “I want you to let me in. I want to be the one you tell everything to, and there’s nothing I don’t know. And until that happens, I’ll never leave you alone.” He grinned this time, his hands balled up by his waist.

“Well good luck with that.” I muttered, sounding bitter. “Because I’ll end up getting a restraining order or something.” His hands took mine when I attempted to leave again, our fingers fitting annoyingly perfect together, like a puzzle piece. “But you wouldn’t do that.” He whispered, his and mine eyes locking. I felt my walls crashing down, I felt the need to tell him everything and anything.

“I don’t want what Clara’s has had her entire life. Abuse. Physical, mental, verbal, you name it. I’ve watched her go through it all. That’s why I’m living with her.” I began. Riley rubbed his thumb over the back of my hand, listening. “My dad was an alcoholic, he always was, but once my mom passed away, that’s when it really it.” I grimaced at the memory, biting my lip to hold back tears. I felt a squeeze on my hand and continued. “He’d hit me every day. When I finally had enough I packed a small draw strap bag and just left. I never even said goodbye. I was living on my own for awhile, a different park bench every night, Clara knew something was up in school, she ended up sneaking me into her house.” I smiled at the memory of that awkward day when she brought me into her room and we just pointed out facts about her room. “Once we turned sixteen we left. Her parents are the type of, ‘everything about my daughter has to be perfect’. She went through so much shit trying to impress her folks, when everything about her was amazing from the beginning. They never appreciated her. The only reason we got this apartment was because Jordan, Clara’s “boyfriend” co-signed the lease.” I shuddered at the thought of him. “I knew Jordan was abusive and hit Clara and took advantage of her, and a al-alcoholic, but every time I tried to get Clara to dump him she’d cry and tell me I don’t understand. I don’t and I never will. She doesn’t love him. And she never has. She’s afraid of him. That’s the only reason he was around for so long. And I hate myself for never trying hard enough to do anything. But that basically brings us to right here, tonight, me pouring my heart out, to someone, you, that I don’t even know what their last name is. I don’t know anything about you, yet I told you things no one else know.” I sat, sucking in a breath of air, feeling relieved to have gotten all of that off of my chest and what happened surprised even me.

Riley’s face inched towards mine, my eyes burned on his, our hands still gripped in each others and he lightly brushed his lips across mine, not kissing, but still touching.

My lips went numb with tingles shooting through my veins and inner core and my eyes snapped closed. I parted my lips and he kissed me. Gently, softly, lightly, slowly. Any adjective you could use to express blissful.

I found myself kissing back. My heart hammering against my chest as my entire head fuzzed, his one hand lightly cupped my cheek, his thumb rubbing over my jawline.

I tangled my fingers through his partially damp hair, breathing lightly as our lips danced against each others. We pulled away slowly and he leaned his forehead against mine.

His eyes still shut.

My lashes fluttered as I opened my eyes, my breathing slow and at ease. His eyes open to stare into mine and he pecked my lips softly.

“Thank you for opening up,” He whispered. “I would never judge you. You and Clara are two of the strongest girls I have ever met.”

I bit my lip softly, my hand still locked behind his neck, playing with his hair softly. “Are you coming in?” I asked, smiling.

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(A/N) Hey, I hope you enjoyed this Chapter.

Ep, I am kind of happy with it.

Let Alicia and I know what you think! (:

-Updating again soon-