I Found You

Ch9- Turn Your Face

LILLY

I took a deep breath and looked into his eyes with as much sincerity as possible. 

"Riker..." I said. "I love you so so much. And I really don't want to ever lose you... But I can't be your girlfriend anymore."

"Why not?!" Riker said, frustrated. "I love you so much and if you love me, then there's no legitimate reason-"

"I'm moving in two days."

"But we can try long distance. I promise, if it doesn't work out, no loss. We can still be friends."

"No, Riker. My answer is no." I got up to leave and he held onto my hand. I bent down and kissed his cheek softly and walked out of his room. 

"Where were you?" Cassie said when I returned to Rydel's bedroom.

I shrugged. "Washing my face and stuff."

She narrowed her eyes. Of course she saw right through me. She's my sister. "You went to see Riker, didn't you?" 

I groaned and sat down on Rydel's bed next to my sister. "Yeah," I said. "I did..." Both girls leaned in with interest. "He asked if we could get back together..."

Cassie gasped.

"And??" Rydel squealed. "What did you say??"

"I said no!"

Cassie groaned and fell back against the bed. "Whyy?!"

"Because I'm moving across the country in two days, Cass. Did you forget?!"

Rydel looked unamused. "He clearly wants to make it work. Why can't you just try long-distance? You guys are perfect together..."

I groaned. "I dont know... are we really?" 

"Yes!!" They said together.

"I can't take him back," I said, shaking my head.

"Yes you can!" I heard a whisper form behind me. I turned around and yanked open the bedroom door and rolled my eyes. 

"Ryland!" I almost yelled. He had been crouched with his ear pressed against the door. "Can you butt the fuck out please?!"

"But.." He straightened himself out and forced his way into the room- well... not exactly "forced" he just kinda walked in. He's like twice my size, there was no use trying to keep him out. "You guys are perfect. Rydel is right. You've never fought. The fans love you.." Rydel and Cassie were nodding a muttering small agreements. Ryland settled a hand on my shoulder. "Lilly I've seen the way you look at each other. You're in love and you can't deny that. It may not mean much coming from me but I can tell you this for sure- I've never seen Riker look at anybody like he looks at you. And I've seen Riker with a lot of girls." I looked at Rydel. She nodded vigorously. "And I think I can speak for Cassie when I say... it goes both ways."

Cassie nodded. "He's right." 

I sighed and pressed my fingers into my eyes. "Guys I don't need this right now. I'm so stressed already... please let it be."

Ryland was persistent. "But Lilly, we all see it why can't you-"

"Ryland shush." Rydel came to my aid. "She's had enough for tonight. Go bug somebody else." 

The next day I woke up and remembered something.

I was having a going-away party.

I sat up and saw that Cassie and Rydel were already awake.

"What time is my party, Cass?" I said, stretching.

"It's at 5 so we have time to get home and help set up before it starts," She said.

"What time is it now?" I asked.

Rydel looked at her phone. "Two."

"Holy shit, I slept til two??" 

They both nodded. "We were gonna wake you up," Rydel said. "But you looked so cute and cozy!"

I rolled my eyes and stood up. "If you'll excuse me..." 

I gathered my clothes and toiletries and went to the bathroom to get dressed, brush my teeth, and put my hair in a long, black side braid. I pulled my, now pink, sideswept bangs up into a poof on top of my head and then smoothed back a couple stray hairs with Rydels hairspray. I bumped into Rocky on the way back to the room. 

"Oh I'm sorry-" I said. 

He shrugged. "It's cool."

As he walked away, I stared after him. Did he just talk to me? 

I got back to Rydel's room and sat on the bed. " So we should go soon, huh?"

Cassie nodded. "Yeah. Mom texted me. She wants us to come home."

"Okay," I shoved all my things into my bag and pulled out my car keys. "Lets go."

"See you at the party!" Rydel said.

I hugged her before we left.

The party was ridiculously crowded. I was absolutely shocked at how many people turned up. Almost everybody I knew from school showed up, all of Cassie's friends from church and school, my family, the Lynch family, my mom's work friends, my work friends.... My house was full to brimming and there were cars lined up down the block.

I was sitting in the kitchen with a bunch of my highschool friends, laughing and having a good time when Riker came over to me.

"No but remember the time she got so drunk at Kendall's Homecoming afterparty she pissed herself and fell asleep on the trampoline?" Kayla said, laughing uncontrollably.

"Oh my god, guys." I felt my face get hot.

"Hey can I talk to you?" Riker tugged on my sleeve gently.

I looked at him and at all my friends, and then back to him. "Y-yeah sure." 

"In private...." he continued.

I hopped off the counter, where I was sitting, and followed him into the backyard. There were only a couple people out here and it was nice and quiet. The sun had just gone down and it was starting to get chilly. My aunt Lina put out her cigarette and dragged her husband inside. We were alone.

"Riker I-"

I couldn't finish my thought because his lips were suddenly on mine. I kissed him back, realizing how much I'd missed the feeling of his lips. The familiar tingling filled me to my fingertips and I felt like I was floating. His tongue played at my closed lips which I opened slightly to allow him in. He smiled slightly against my lips and slid his tongue into my mouth as far as it would go. 

"Riker," I pulled back. "No."

"But Lilly-"

"I told you, Riker. I can't take you back."

"You don't have to," he said, softly. "But I might never see you again after tomorrow so can you please please just kiss me now. One last time."

He had a valid point. I could kiss him one last time.... or I could spend one last night with him.

"Not right now," I smirked. "Tonight. Come into my room after everyone's asleep and we'll sneak out."

He nodded. "Okay."

We smiled at each other. I pecked him on the lips and went back inside. When I looked back to see if he was coming inside, too, he was staring at the dark sky.

[Chapter Title: Turn Your Face by Little Mix]