A New Beginning

Valentine's Day

Lucas POV:
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. I want to do something really special for Riley, especially because she has been through too much in the last few months.

I had a necklace specially made for Riley. It is a heart locket that has "You're my favorite hello" engraved on it. Inside is a picture of us from prom last year. It's my favorite picture of us, there is a soft, orange sunset in the background and we have our foreheads lightly touching each other.

Riley and I put our kids to bed and then laid in bed ourselves. We lay on our usual sides, and I wrap my arms around Riley as she faces me and buries her head in my chest. "I love you more than you can imagine; you know that?" I say to her even though I can't see her face at the moment.

She turns her head so she can see me and replies, "I love you too Lucas." And she returns to her position with her head on my chest.

I can tell she fell asleep not too long after that. I on the other hand, stayed up a little longer; thinking about life in general. All the "what ifs" went through my mind.

What if I never moved to New York? What if Maya hadn't pushed Riley on that subway? What if I never fell in love with her? What if I never had this project with her? What if one day she leaves? What if I make a stupid mistake that wrecks our relationship? What if there was no Riley?

In conclusion; I am beyond thankful for Riley. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be the person I am today.

Riley POV:
I wake up to the same old alarm. "Do I have to go to school?" I whine to Lucas as I feel him wake up. "Mhmm yes baby, you do." He says in his cute morning voice.

I sigh and roll out of bed literally and basically sleepwalk to my closet. I pick out black high waisted jeans and a red and white flannel that I tuck in my pants. I put my hair in a high pony tail and put on white converse. As I walk to the kitchen I realize what day it is and I rush back to my room to get my special gift for Lucas.

"Hey Lucas! I have something very special for you!" I yell from our room. I'm not worried about waking anyone up because the kids are already eating breakfast.

I give Lucas the bag with my item in it. He unwraps it and reveals a picture frame. The frame itself is black and says "R + L" and the picture is of us on our first date in 7th grade.

"I love it Riles, thank you so much." He gives me a short but meaningful hug and then rushes to our room to get my present I assume.

He comes back with a gold squared box. Lucas has the biggest and cutest smile on his face as I open it. Inside is a locket. I open it and start crying. "T-thank you L-Lucas" I stutter out with tears down my face. But it's okay, they're happy tears.

He pulls me into a hug and says, "Baby I never want to lose you, you make me a better person. And thank you for that."

I wiggle out of the tight hug just enough that I can peck his lips. He smiles and kisses me a little longer, maybe 20 seconds.

We turn back to our kids who look rather disgusted. "Eww." Josh says plainly and we all laugh. "One day you're going to find someone that you want to spend your life with and they will make you happy all the time. Then you are going to be like this." Lucas says smiling. 

I think Lucas and I have the same idea in our head. I think I want to marry him.

When we get to school Maya is skipping around and happier than usual. "Hey Maya, how's your day been?" I ask as I approach her.

"It's been wonderful! For a Valentines Day present, Farkle is taking me to the beach this weekend!" She exclaims.

I smile and hug her. "I'm so glad you found someone who makes you happy Peaches."

Farkle comes up to us and Maya and him walk away hand in hand. I smile at how cute they are. "Hey Babe." Lucas says in my ear from behind me, which makes me get chills down my spine from his breath against my ear.

"Hi Babe!" I reply and grab his arm. I run my fingers down his arm until I reach his hand and I then intertwine my fingers in his. You know, this whole getting married thing is something I'm getting used to.