What Are We Now?

(14) The truce

"The arcade?" Charlie asked Lucas incredulously.
"Well, where do you suggest we go?" Lucas asked Charlie. The two boys were sitting on a subway train trying to figure out where they would conduct Riley's prize and as promised it was Lucas and Charlie alone.
"We could go to the park and play" Charlie suggested jokingly.
"Ok." Lucas said
"Ok."

The boys get off the subway train and make their way to the park.
"How about a race?" Lucas asked, a mischievous look in his eyes.
"Mmm..."
"Or we can do something else..." Lucas said, hinting at something. Charlie knew exactly what it was, Lucas was insinuating that Charlie wasn't game to compete with him on out-door activities. Too bad Charlie was game.
"No lets race. From here to the play ground and back." Charlie said to Lucas, "Hello sir, could you tell us who gets back first?"
The magazine vendor Charlie was talking to nodded.
"All right on your marks, get set-" Lucas said.
"Go!" Charlie finished.
Lucas and Charlie ran side by side, running over grass and concrete combined. Lucas was pushing past Charlie, jumping over dogs and stepping over benches. But Charlie wasn't having it, he used speed over strength to hold his own. It surprised Lucas that Charlie was giving him a run for his money, but when Lucas suddenly though of Riley and Charlie alone together...He felt a pang that pushed him passed the man selling magazines.
"I'll be honest Gardner you almost had me.." Lucas said.
"I wasn't even trying." Charlie answered drenched in sweat.
"Yeah me neither... So push-ups next?" Lucas answered.
"Yeah." Charlie said breathlessly .

***

Mean while in another part of town Riley and Maya were sitting at a certain bay window. Riley gets up sits on her bed and lazily falls backward.
"What's wrong Riles?"
"I'm tired.."
"Bored of me already? I thought I had at least until after freshmen year when you'd be fed up with me." Maya said sitting down next to Riley.
"Stop that! I would never! Scary even thinking about trying to survive high school without you." Riley said quickly sitting back up.
"Yikes, I know. So what do you think the guys are doing now?"
"I have no idea. Charlie doesn't like anything sporty or umm competitive... He's more into book stuff.. Ya know.."
"Right..."
"Darn it Maya, what could they be doing?"
"I have no idea Riles.." Then both girls fall back on the bed together.
"When did everything change so drastically peaches?" Riley asked quietly
"I think it started when I pointed out Lucas to you on the subway."
"Mmm I should have realized you thought he was cute, you spotted him." Riley sighed.
"Yeah I did, but I didn't like him like that right then and there Riles...it happened when he wouldn't let me play with him. He never let me win him over and I guess that made me more and more curious about him..."
"Yeah I noticed that..."
"Riles?" Maya asked, turning her body toward Riley.
"Yeah peaches?"
"I have to tell you something and I'm hoping that you don't get mad at me..."
"Maya I don't think you can make me angry I mean unless you tell me you're done with me and Rileytown..."
"No, it's not that. Please don't get mad, but I think I'm confused about how I feel about Lucas. I don't think I like him as a guy or... ugh I just don't know. Sometimes I feel things when I'm with him and sometimes I see him with you and it's like what I feel doesn't matter because when I see you two together... You guys are bright..."
"Maya you and Lucas are pretty bright too and me and him..? We aren't even a thing anymore."
"But you are Riley, or at least he is still is pining for you because I can see it. When you talk to him he lights up and when Charlie walks in, there's this storm... I don't think it's me imagining things..."
"Stop it. I know what you're doing. It's called self-sabotage and I'm not going to allow it. He likes you alright and you like him." Riley said as she turned around on the bed to lay on her stomach.
"Jeez Riles who knew you were this fierce..." Maya said with a nervous laugh.
"I did." Riley said with a grin as she flipped into the magazine that she'd grabbed from her floor.

***

"56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61" Charlie said.
"87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93" Lucas said at the same time. The boys where doing sit-ups and Lucas was in the lead.
"100! So we raced, did push-ups, did sit-ups, do you want to go to the park and do pull-ups?"
"Huh? What?-No I think I'm done. You win Lucas, I mean of course you were going to beat me at everything." Charlie said breathlessly as he leaned over, hands on his knees. As he stood up straight he said, "Lucas I hope when I say this, I don't sound cruel. I don't really care if you beat me in all of these games... Because I still beat you. I have Riley's heart. I got the girl."
Lucas looked up at Charlie calmly but in a second his expression changed. Lucas's faced morphed into one of anger and then he did something he would always regret. He lunged at Charlie. With Charlie on the ground beneath him, he was about to through a punch but instead of wincing Charlie smiled. Lucas slowly put his fist down and sat next to Charlie.
"What's so funny?" He asked.
"Nothing, it's just...because of Riley you almost turned into the Lucas she hates... It's kind of ironic isn't it?" Charlie said without mirth.
"Yeah. I guess you're right." Lucas sighed, "look I'm sorry for going Texas Lucas on you... You just clearly hit a nerve. I still believe what I said to Riley at the dance... You're a good guy and we could be friends..."
"Could being the key word. Maybe if we didn't like the same girl." Charlie said getting up and holding his hand out to help Lucas.
"Yeah, but hey don't worry, I won't do anything to mess things up for you and Riley ok. I know now that she likes you too and I care too much about her to ruin her happiness." Lucas said taking Charlie's hand and then dusting himself off.
"Thanks. Don't worry I will do right by you. I won't hurt her. Riley is my world and the last thing I want is for her to be unhappy."
"Well ok then."
"Ok." Charlie said. It was an unspoken truce. Maybe it didn't happen the way Riley wanted but she unknowingly had the boy she loved and the boy she was going out with, agree to peace.

***

"You think they are ok?" Riley asked Maya, she had begun pacing ten minutes ago.
"Riles they're fine. It just became five, they are allowed to be a little late-"
"Oh!" Riley said when she heard the buzzer.
"See it's probably them." Maya said jumping off of Riley's bed, Riley was already at her door. She stopped in the kitchen. Auggie had opened the door for Lucas and Charlie, but he quickly left since he was playing in his room with Ava. Riley just stood there and then she did a double take. It was strange but Charlie looked handsome... Not that Riley didn't think he was before but something about how disheveled he looked made her stomach drop a centimeter. Then he looked up at her and she could tell he noticed. He saw the change in her. Riley knew as Charlie walked toward her that he was going to kiss her, that he wanted to. And she wanted to let him but she could feel Lucas's eyes on her and Charlie. She refused to kiss somebody in front of Lucas. So she grabbed Charlie's face once he was close enough.
"Riley.." He said breathlessly. Riley looked into his eyes and then she kissed him on his cheek. Letting go of his face, she looked down nervously and laughed.
"Sorry"
"You have nothing to be sorry about my pretty girl..." Charlie whispered before grabbing her and spinning around.
"Put me down! Put me down!" Riley said laughing hysterically.
"Ok ok."
"Will you two stop being adorable?" Maya asked with a laugh.
"Yeah. Do you want something to drink? You two look tired." Riley said looking from Charlie to Lucas and Maya on the couch.
"Yes please." Lucas said raising a hand coolly. Riley turned around and got two glasses from the cupboard. She didn't know why but her heart hurt. Lucas didn't look uncomfortable, annoyed, or anything really... And that hurt her because it meant that it was finally over. Lucas was happy with Maya and she, Riley would have to become happy with Charlie.
"So what did you guys do that the park?" Riley asked Charlie after handing the boys their drinks.
"Oh just guy things... Races, push-ups, sit-ups.. Stuff like that."
"What? Really why?"
"Seemed like fun."
"Well you're a mess" Riley said with a small laugh as she fixed Charlie's hair.
Lucas had been watching them and half listening to Maya. He could feel his heart breaking, it was over. He had been so confident that he would win and he did, only he just lost the war... Lucas should have realized that of course someone would like Riley, but no that wasn't it, he was fully aware that was possible because of Farkle liking both Riley and Maya. What he didn't realize was that Riley could like someone else too. So because he was such an idiot he had to sit here with his crushes best friend, holding her hand because he didn't speak up when Riley said she was his sister. He knew the moment it came out of her lips it was a lie... Well at least it was from his end. Everything changed and now he so regrets going to Texas.

So hey guys! Don't be alarmed, Rucas for life ok🤗 AnyHoo on a random note, I was at in-n-out yesterday and I swear I saw Charlie Gardner! Well at least I saw some kid with his hair and style of clothes lol😸 Ok so I have a challenge for y'all if you guys get me at least 20 stars and 20 comments on this chapter by New Years I'll give you guys some new juicy chapters within a week😁 and just remember when reading Rucas is endgame so don't be super sad about what happens!
As always please star✨ and comment💬 and thanks  for reading💜 Ilysm🤗