What Are We Now?

(20) Team Josh

Maya, Riley, and Charlie step into the busy subway station, when they catch sight of their friends, Farkle, Smackle and Lucas, waiting for them. Riley stops in her tracks before quickly regaining her composer; because there he was, wearing a fitted burgundy long sleeved shirt, his letterman jacket in his arm. He wore the shirt with black dress pants and fancy brown dress shoes. It was amazing how much effort this group of estranged friends put on their shoes, when they would have to change out of them as soon as they got to the bowling ally. The point though was that Riley was distracted by the mere sight of Lucas, and it took all her will power to seem indifferent in front of Charlie. The worse part was when Lucas turned around and looked up at Riley. His eyes lit up like green emeralds and Riley melted under his gaze, it took everything to look away. Still his image burned in her brain and Riley felt like she couldn't breath; her heart was racing inside her chest like crazy. But there she stood refusing to look at the only boy she'd ever loved. The girls and Charlie walked toward Farkle, Smackle and Lucas. As Riley stood next to Lucas, she could felt the tension in the air, the electricity bouncing between them. What was worse was that Charlie was there to serve as a buffer, meaning he could probably feel the tension too. The warmth between Riley and Lucas was palpable.
"Hi" Lucas said, looking at Riley with a grin on his face.
"Hey" Riley responded, a look of dazed admiration on her face. She could hardly breathe but the pain was delicious... And infuriating. How could this single person have such an effect on her. Do people really get annoyed because they are getting all they want? Because that's how she felt. She craved Lucas but she also wanted to do the right thing. She couldn't even yell at him for flirting with her, he wasn't, he was just being kind.
"Hey."
"Lucas, hello." Riley breathed. It was unnerving to Riley  how Lucas was looking at her, like he was trying to look into her soul or read her thoughts. He smiled.
"So you excited to bowl?" He asked.
"Mmm not really, I'm not even sure I'm going to bowl."
"Why not..." Lucas trailed. Charlie had just slowly twisted his hand into Riley's, a singular and silent she's mine, a back off friar, with out a single word having to be said. This annoyed Lucas, couldn't Riley have friends?
"Well you know me, Lucas, I spend half my life on the floor. So waxy floors and me don't mix" Riley said with her signature smile. She was completely oblivious to what Charlie was doing. She was so used to holding his hand that she'd hardly noticed when he'd taken hers just now. Yet perhaps it was because Lucas was distracting her. He was getting under her skin and she knew why. Today she was going to make him hate her. I know I know. Why would I make the boy of my dreams never want to talk to me again? Because, Lucas held my best friends face. That's a good move, I should know I've done it before. But I would never would have done that to Lucas. I never would have held Zay's face if he had suddenly said he liked me. That's why I have to give him a real shot with Maya, even if he thinks he doesn't need one; he does and so do I. I need to know that if we ever get to be together, that Maya won't be in his heart. There's a reason he went on a date with her and it's not because I stepped back...
Riley though to herself.
"Riley?"
"What?"
"I asked if you wanted to share a strawberry milkshake and fries at the bowling ally." Charlie said looking slightly annoyed. Riley had been staring at Lucas, who had walked away when Farkle called his name. Good. Charlie had thought, Farkle really needs to make up for what he did to me and Riley on New Years.
"Oh of course. I love strawberry, you know that." Riley said.

***

The girls walk into the bowling ally with their dates and a single Lucas trailing in the back.
"This is weird." Farkle said.
"What is?" Smackle asked her beloved-ex-nemesis.
"I mean Lucas is all alone and the rest of us have dates." Farkle says, again perhaps playing devils advocate by hinting that Lucas was single and free to date.
"I'm ok, I don't mind being a... What? A ninth wheel?" Lucas says in an it's-whatever tone.
"Yes, plus Lucas can easily find a date here, there's plenty of fish in this ally." Smackle said, with a death stare directed towards Riley. Smackle knew exactly what she was doing, but Riley seemed to only have eyes for Charlie, though she did seem a bit annoyed.
"Okay class I've payed for each group of 10 to have shoes and three games, so enjoy and have fun!" Cory says to the 8th grade class and the seniors.