young hearts. // riarkle & lucaya

☾Crashing into Stardust.☽

Along the crowded streets of Greenwich Village Riley ran through, being as gentle as she could as she moved along pass the other civilians. Was she in a rush? She didn't know. Because she didn't know if the time she arrived would even matter in her case. All that mattered was that she got to where she needed to. Riley held her fists tightly dug into her coat pockets, running as quickly, and gracefully, as she could. Her brown eyes scanned every street for his house, even though she knew it wasn't on this block. 

Slowing her pace just the slightest, the brunette turned the corner and took a deep breath, thinking over everything that she was about to do. This was a lot. And a lot so soon. Riley glanced at her shoes before looking up again at the streets before her. And what was the first thing her eyes caught sight of? A couple. A happy one. Ones who where probably friends before their relationship sparked. At least she could hope. Smiling down once again at her feet, she started once more than the street. She was almost there, almost there...

She saw the house.

Her heart stopped momentarily. Was she really about to do this? Riley hesitantly blinked. She had to do this, didn't she? Without saying this, she'd explode. Just like he had once taught her. She had to share her feelings or else they'd never be known. 

Approaching the steps of the house, she breathed heavily. Then she sighed. It's just a knock on the door and a couple words. What does it matter? Riley's hands gently brushed against the door. With another sigh, she knocked against the wood. Before she had any time to take back her decision, the door slowly swung open. 

"F- Farkle!" Riley forced a somewhat-normal smile. 

He cocked his head to the side. "Riley?" And she could tell that he, for some reason, was nervous too. "What... are you doing here?" She saw him smile. 

Another deep breath. 

"I have to- to talk to you." Riley admitted, avoiding his gaze.

"Oh." Farkle looked over his shoulder. "Do you want to come in?"

"No, I- I want to do it out here.. If that's okay." That way, if something went wrong, she could just run away, back to home. Much less work than navigating out of his house. 

"Of course it's okay." He now closed the door, turning back towards her. "Come on." Farkle offered his hand, which she hesitated to take, and then he sat down with her at a bench that was sitting around the side of their house.

Riley sat beside him, turned just slightly, just enough to see him without turning her head. Momentarily, she closed her eyes. She felt Farkle take her hand, and then his eyes were studying her. She bit her lip and smiled. "Hi."

"Hey." Farkle nodded his head, scooting closer to her. "So.. You needed to tell me something then?"

"Yeah.. I-- I do."

"It must be pretty important..?"

Riley blinked. "Why would you say... that?"

"Well, it's hard for you to say, isn't it?" While he was rambling, Riley knew that it was the right time for her to tell him. Maybe he wouldn't hear her properly and she could just up and leave... If it came to that. "I know you, Riley. And when something's--"

"I like you, Farkle."

"hard for you to--" Then he stopped. Her heart stopped. "What?"

"I-- Nothing!" She jumped up, her hands covering his face.

"Ri--" He tried to push her hands aside, but she was persistent. "Riley--! What are you doing?"

"Making sure you didn't hear me!"

"How does that make any sense?"

"Shh!"

Yeah, this was something big. Something bigger than he knew. And she planned to keep it that way. Quickly taking her hands from off his face, she tightened her coat around herself, clearing her throat. "I've got to go." She told him finally, nodding with a smile. This was where she was leaving the subject. And, God, it hurt. But she knew, now, that perhaps it'd be better if he didn't know. He has a girlfriend who loves him. That's all he need. He doesn't need Little Miss Riley Who-Took-Until-Forever-To-Realize-She-Liked-Him. 

"What?"

"I said, I've got to go." Riley silently shuffled down his driveway, her eyes on her feet. Eyes on her feet. Don't look up, and don't look at him.

"But you said you had to tell me--"

"Farkle, I--" She turned her head to look back at him. Goddammit. "I'll talk to you later." She avoided eye contact again. Her feet were the best thing to look at. That and the open road in front of her. Just not him, not him, not him. Anything but him and his big, blue eyes. 

He grabbed her arm.

Crap.

Riley closed her eyes, mentally sighing and holding her breath. 

"Riley, what did you say?" He asked once more. "I want to be here for you. I need you to talk to me." 

She breathed quietly. "I know."

"Please talk to me."

Riley turned herself around, his gentle hold on her arm had not ended. She pressed her lips together, studying his face. He was really concerned about her. She couldn't imagine that he didn't hear one word of what she had said. Maybe he was only asking to confirm what he now knew. Riley sighed, her brown eyes eventually meeting his blue. "Farkle.."

His eyes searched hers for an answer. He was peering into her soul and she learned to love that feeling. But this time? Riley tried to push it back as well as she could. 

"I like y---"

Farkle kissed her. He kissed her just for one moment, just long enough to have her question everything about herself, himself, and their friendship. Just long enough to have it mean everything and have nothing else matter at that very moment.

For that second, everything faded away. And it was just them.