Pretty Please - Riley McDonough Fanfiction

Chapter 15

Riley's POV

The moment I pulled my car to Avery's yard, I almost ran out of the car. I had reminded myself not to smile too much, not to grin all the time, because I shouldn't show how happy I was that we were hanging out.

I was beyond happy. What was wrong with me? I knew she was going through something. I had to be there for her. That meant that I couldn't spend all my time in my happy place.

I didn't really know what to do. We had decided to meet here, but now that I was here, I had no idea what to do. I looked around, but I didn't see here. I walked slowly towards her front door hoping she would open it before I got there. I was such a chicken, but what if she didn't want me to knock on her door?

So I rang the bell. Smart, huh?

No, I was an idiot.

I put a small smile on my face when I heard footsteps coming. Avery opened the door with a huge grin on her face. I couldn't just smile anymore. Her smile made me too happy.

When I looked at her from head to toes, my smile faded and I swallowed hard. She was wearing yoga-pants and she. Looked. Good. How was I supposed to survive from this if she looked like that? I could have dealt with the messy bun and the tight shirt but...

I tore my gaze from her. Jesus, I needed to calm down. Why was I like this? I focused on her face again and plastered a smile to my lips. I cleared my throat. "Hey. Are you ready?"

"Yeah, let me just fix my hair."

I nodded and watched her letting her hair first fall from the bun and then putting it on a ponytail. One strand got stuck on the lock of her necklace. "Shit." She said, trying to get it off.

"Let me help", I offered.

"Thanks." She turned around and let me carefully take it off of it.

"Are you sure you don't want to take it off?" I looked at the necklace more carefully. It was a silver wing of an angel. It was so pretty, but I was scared she could loose it.

She shook her head and touched the necklace. "No. I don't take it off. I haven't taken it off... in two years." Something dark crossed her features.

Damn. She had been so happy after a couple of days and I had brought her down. "Oh okay..." I didn't know what else to say.

She tried to smile a little bit but failed. "It has a story behind it, but... It's not really a nice one."

"You don't have to tell me. If you want to, you can, but you don't have to." I smiled at her, trying to make her feel better. Was I the absolute worst friend? Weren't friends supposed to make you happy?

Fortunately, she smiled back. "Maybe I will tell you someday but not now. Anyways," she grinned like she would want to forget this conversation, "are we going?"

"Yes." Still, before she had taken a step, I gently grabbed her hand. "I know you have been dealing with something for the past few days", I blurted. "You don't have to tell me, I'm not going to push you into anything, but I hope you know you can tell me anything. I'm always here for you, okay?"

She looked at me for a moment, eyes full of thankfulness. Then she decided that just looking at me wasn't enough, so she threw her arms around me and hugged me.

Hugged me.

I wasn't expecting it so I stood there for a second, completely amazed. When my brains finally started to work again I looped my arms around her and pulled her even closer. I wasn't quite sure why we were hugging, but I was not going to complain. Maybe all she needed was some support. I landed my cheek on her head and smelled her hair. It smelled good, really good. It smelled like her and it was a smell you would like to wake up to. It was a comforting scent.

Wow, I was really not keeping my head on the friend-zone right now.

We stood there like that for moment before I felt her pulling away and I loosened my arms. She looked up at me and smiled. "Thanks." She looked a little embarrassed and looked away. Then, she spoke a lot quieter. "You have no idea what that meant for me. Thank you."

I was a little pulled back but her 'thank you's. She had really needed my support, and I was happy that I had been there for her, even if she decided not to tell me anything.

"So... Are we going?" She nodded towards the street.

"Oh, yes."

We left, running pretty slowly at first, then picking up the pace. Running with her was fun. Usually I was in my thoughts and sometimes a little bored, but now I had someone to talk to. I sometimes went for a run with Toby, but well, after you have spent all day with someone, you kind of need a break. We talked about nothing serious. We talked about tv-shows and music.

She had asked me about my job. I had lied, sadly. I told myself that I was only delaying telling her because she wasn't feeling as happy now, but that wasn't the truth and I knew it. It was because I was scared to tell her. I was scared that she wouldn't think me as her friend anymore. Partly because I was a 'band boy' which I didn't think mattered that much anymore. She had seen the real me, so why would she think I was the same as anyone else? But the biggest part was because I had lied to her and now I had kept lying. I should've told her, but I had been selfish.

I had fun with her. I was extremely tired, because I hadn't been able to sleep, but she was so much to hang out with I didn't feel the tiredness at all.

When we came back to her house, we were both sweaty and hot. I pulled my shirt over my head without thinking it much. I glanced at Avery and saw her looking at me with widened eyes. I grimaced. Maybe I should've asked if she was okay with it. But when I looked at her longer, it didn't seem she wasn't okay with it. A blush rose to her cheeks as she stared at me. She wasn't looking at my face, oh no. She was looking at my arms and my stomach. I felt my lips curve into a smile. I knew I was fit but I hadn't expected her to look at me like that, not that I was complaining.

She dropped her gaze to the ground and her cheeks were as red as a tomato. "Do you want something to drink?" she mumbled.

"Yes, please." I was biting the inside of my cheek to keep me from grinning but it didn't help.

Avery opened her front door and let me in. The house was nice. It was small and looked very Avery-like. There were flowers in the vases on the tables and the air smelled a little bit of vanilla. I followed her to the kitchen and took gladly the glass of water she offered.

As we were drinking water in silence, a strand of hair escaped her ponytail. I immediately raised my hand and swiped it behind her ear. She blushed even more.

That's when I realized that unlike last time, this time it wasn't awkward between us. Something had changed.

I didn't do anything though. I left and drove home. The whole ride I was in my thoughts. I thought everything and nothing at the same time.

When I arrived home, I hopped out of my car with a big smile on my face. I swung the door open and yelled: "New plan, my brothers!"

"Huh?" they both asked, walking from the kitchen.

I grinned at their stunned expressions. "I said that I have a new plan."

"And what might that be?" Connor asked and leaned on the doorframe.

"I'm going to make her fall in love with me."