My Best Friends Hart - A Rucas Story

Chapter 5: The Library

Okay Riley. You can do this.

I told myself as the final bell rang. I gathered my things while internally freaking out.

I could faintly hear Maya saying goodbye to Lucas, but I wasn't paying much attention.

"Alright Farkle let's go. I've been waiting to get my hands on those paintbrushes of yours all day."

"Bye guys!" Farkle yelled at us as him and Maya left.

Then it was just me and Lucas.

"Ready to go?" He asked with his usual half smile.

I just nodded my head and clutched my books tight as I followed him towards the library.

We walked in silence for the most part. It had been too long since we were alone and I guess we've forgotten how to be together. That's the last thing I ever wanted.

The library was quiet and empty like usual. We sat on a table sorrounded by book sheleves.

"Alright so we need to find anything we can on Lancelot, Arthur, and Guinevere" I finally spoke. "How about you search the books on the left and I'll search on the right."

He nodded and our search began.

After about half an hour of searching we came back to the table. He had 4 books in hand and I had 3. We read through them in silence, but it was comfortable silence. The kind of silence that two friends who are working together share.

I was so wrapped up in the book that I hadn't I was leaning on a stack of books. I only realized it when they all hit the ground with a loud thud.

I reached down to pick them up and so did Lucas.

"Thanks" I said smiling genuinely.

"No problem" he smiled back as he placed the books on the table.

"Can we take a little break because I swear my eyes are about to fall out of my head." He said while he stretched.

"Yeah sure. Have you found anything yet?" I asked.

"Yeah. It's really kind of heartbreaking." He said, his smile slowly fading.

"Guinevere never meant to betray Arthur, she never really loved him. She was with him out of duty but her heart always belonged to Lancelot. She tried to ignore his feelings for him, but she couldnt." Lucas said slowly, sympathizing with Guinevere. "What about you? Did you find anything?" He asked.

"Yeah. Lancelot loved Guinevere more than anything, but he knew he couldn't betray Arthur. He tried to keep his distance, but in the end he couldn't do it. He couldn't watch the one he loved be with someone else." Poor Lancelot. I know exactly how he felt.

"So what do you think? Was their love worth the price? He lost everything and she nearly lost her life. Was it worth it? Or should they have kept it to themselves and suffered in silence instead?" He asked intently, looking directly at me.

"I don't believe Guinevere loved Lancelot. I think she loved Arthur, but she was confused. She was afraid of her love for Arthur so she tried to hide from it. She confused her affection for Lancelot for love and that is why they affair began. Not out of love. I don't believe Guinevere loved him." I said staring back just as intently.

"But you believe Lancelot loved her?"

"Yes. He loved her very much. He watched her be with Arthur for years before everything got messed up. He watched her be with him because he loved her." I said. I felt a tear stream down my face.

"Riley, you okay?" He said as he reached his hand to wipe my tear away.

His hand felt warm on my face. I closed my eyes and leaned into the touch for a moment before realizing what I was doing.

"Yeah I'm fine." I said pulling away from him and looking back down at my book.

"So how should we paint this?" I asked avoiding his gaze.

"I don't know. We seem to disagree on a few things."

I looked at him confused, "like what?" I asked completely unsure of what he was talking about.

"I believe Guinevere truly loved Lancelot. I believe she loved him more than Arthur, and while I do think she cared for Arthur, her heart was always Lancelot's." He said staring at me.

We sat there for a while just staring at each other not saying anything. I was trying so hard to understand what he was saying.

The more we stared the closer we got.

I couldn't tear my eyes away from him.

His beautiful emerald green eyes that were getting closer and closer.

Before I knew it both our eyes were shut, but I could still feel us moving closer. When suddenly his phone rang.

Whatever trance we were under was broken and as he answered his phone I started packing my things as quickly as I could.

I heard his mother asking how long until he was home, and the second I was done getting my stuff together I ran out the door.

"Riley wait'" I stopped in my tracks but refused to turn around. I couldn't look at him.

"I'll walk you home." He said almost pleadingly.

"No! No. It's okay ...it's not too far from I'm home I'll be okay." I said not turning to look at him and ran out the door. Ran away from the library. Ran away from him.

LUCAS

I stood there in silence. Staring at the door she had just run out of. I wanted to chase her, but for what?

I packed my things and walked home. Staring up at the night sky, watching all the beautiful stars and thinking of Maya's eyes and Riley's eyes.

My Arthur and my Lancelot. But who was who?