Rivals And Lovers

Chapter 27

"24 hours until we're finally done with high school" Maya said when they left their last class. "I can't believe tomorrow's graduation" Riley said sighing deep and looking around. "I'm gonna miss this place" she said. Maya scoffed. "You can miss whoever and whatever you want. I'm not gonna miss anything that has to do with high school" Maya said. They reached their lockers and opened them. Riley opened her extra bag and started stuffing her stuff in it. "But still, they say the best time of our life is here and it's about to be over" Riley dreamed. "I think they mean college, college is gonna be awesome! Parties, freedom" Maya said looking foreword to it. "Maya, collage isn't only about parties and freedom. You need to study real hard and go to your classes" Maya rolled her eyes. "Blablabla, way to take all the fun out of it" Riley stuffed the last item in her bag and looked at the empty locker."should we engrave something in these lockers? Just to let the freshman know they're ok here" Riley wondered. Maya shook her head. "We had our share, they'll have plenty of others to help them out" she slammed her locker close for the last time and a scream came from the other side of the wall. Maya sighed satisfied. "I'm gonna miss that sound" Riley chuckled and closed he locker as well. With locked arms they started walking towards the exit.

On their way they passed the art class room and Riley stopped her tracks. Maya frowned confused. "I'll be right there" Riley said when she unhooked her arm from Maya's.  Maya shook her shoulders and made her way to the parking lot. Riley waited until Maya was gone to place a soft knock on the door. Ms. Tanner looked up from the works she was stocking. "Riley, what a pleasure to see you" Riley smiled and leaned against the doorframe. "What can I help you with?" Ms. Tanner asked putting her stuff down. "I just wanted to....thank you" Riley said. Ms. Tanner knitted her eyebrows confused. "Thank me for what?" She asked. Riley felt another hand being laced with hers and she looked up into her boyfriends eyes. He pecked her temple and wrapped and arm around her waist. "Hey babe, ready to go?" Lucas asked. Ms. Tanner smiled now understanding. "Thank you for partnering us up in the beginning of the year." Riley said. Ms. tanner chuckled and walked up to the happy couple. "I recognize  a good couple when I see them. You guys can have a great future ahead of you" Ms. Tanner laid a hand on Lucas his shoulder. "Protect her, love her an everything will be alright" Lucas smiled and tightened his grip around Riley's waist. "I will Ms. Tanner" Lucas promised. Ms. Tanner sighed and walked back to her desk. She took out two pictures from her box. "Here, keep this" she handed the pictures to Riley and Lucas. "Our first project" Riley said smiling. She looked at the picture taken months ago. Ms. Tanner smiled and nodded. "Have a great life" she took her box off her desk and left to the storage room. Riley and Lucas stared at the picture in their hand and then up to each other. With a smile they left the art room and walked outside.

"Have you guys decided on the collages yet?" Farkle asked when they were al gathered in his room. The group shook their heads. "Nope, no idea. I got into Columbia and NYU and I'm still waiting for Yale" Riley said. "You should definitely go for Yale if you get in" Farkle encouraged Riley. Lucas looked up from his laptop and looked over to his thinking girlfriend. "That's kind of far don't you think?" Lucas asked. "But it's one of the best collages in the country" Maya added. Lucas nodded. "Have you decided babe?" Riley asked scooting closer to Lucas. "I'm still doubting between UT or NYU" lucas confessed. Riley nodded. "Well, at least we have the chance to go to collage together. But is our mind gonna agree?" Riley wondered. Lucas took her hand. "I hope so" she smiled and leaned in to peck his lips. Farkle and Maya gagged. "Get a room!" They yelled. Riley and Lucas giggled and Lucas wrapped an arm around Riley's waist.

"GRADUATION DAY!" Cory barged into Riley's room. "Wake up honey! you're graduating today!" He jumped onto her bed. Riley growled into her pillow while she was swung up and down by her dad. "Get out" She grumbled. Topanga walke into the room and laughed. "Cory get off that girls bed" She demanded. Cory got off Riley's bed and Topanga sat down at the edge. "We've got everything ready sweety, you have to be at school in two hours" Topanga moved a strand of Riley's hair aside. "Can you please get him off my bed?" Riley grumbled. Topanga chuckled and pushed her husband of Riley's bed. With a small screech Cory fell on Riley's carpet. "Thank you" Riley thanked her mother. She hit the covers off her body and stepped onto her carpet. "I'll get ready and come down." Riley assured her mother. Topanga smiled and pulled Cory up. "Of course honey, take your time" Riley smiled thankful and her parents left her room.

"Darby Walker" the pricipal Anounced. Darby walked up the stage with a proud smile and accepted her diploma. "I can't believe we graduated!" Maya whispered. "This is so cool!" Riley giggled to her best friend and looked over to the stage where Darby was giving her speech. "I'm gonna miss this though" Riley whispered back. Maya chuckled. "You can miss whatever you want, I'm not gonna miss a thing about school" Maya said looking around. "Youre on repeat" Riley whispered making Maya chuckle. The blonde tucked in her lips while she saw all the memories flash by. "Having second thoughts?" Lucas asked. "Shut up huckleberry" Maya snapped. Everyone chuckled and Maya's name was called. Beaming with pride she walked up to stage to gladly except her diploma. Riley applauded and cheered loud for her best friend. Maya walked back to her friends and Farkle was next with the highest grades of course. Riley's palms were sweaty and she was looking around nervous. Lucas noticed and took her hand in his. "Hey, you ok?" He asked. "Yeah, I've just got the feeling somethings not right" she said. Lucas pecked her cheek. "Hey it's ok, nothing's wrong. After this we'll meet up before we go to my party" Lucas said. Riley smiled and nodded. "Ok" they shared a small kiss before the pricipal called out Riley's name. "Go up there princess" Lucas muttered his lips still lingering around her's. Riley smiled and pulled away and ran towards the stage.

Riley dangled her feet in the water while Lucas took some drinks oit offers truck. She looked over the water and closed her eyes. She imagined her life in front of her. Go to collage, take over the bussines. Marry the man of her dreams have a few kids. Graduating was only the beginning. A grape juice box was held in front of her. "Your favorite" Lucas said with a smirk. Riley smiled and took it out of his hands. "Thanks" he sat down next to her and turned off his shoes. After he dropped his feet im the water he scooted closer to Riley and wrapped his arm around her. There was a long silence where the both of them were just thinking. They had to be at Lucas his place in an hour because Emily wouldn't be able to host the party filled with teenagers who just graduated on her own. Eventually Riley spoke:

"I got into Yale" she said. Lucas looked down at her. "That's great" he tried to be exited but he knew what would happen if she'd decide to go there. "With a little help of my father of course, but I'm trying to think that thought away" Riley felt Lucas shift in his seat and getting nervous. "But I don't know if I should go" "why?" Lucas asked confused. Riley sighed and say straight. "I just don't want to leave everything and everyone here" she confessed. Lucas sat up as well. "My family, my friends, my life, you" she said fiddling with her fingers. "You're not gonna pick me as a reason to stay away from Yale right?" Lucas asked putting a hand on the back of her back. Riley sighed and felt the tears sting in her eyes. "Of course not, but you're a big part of the reason!" Riley said. A small sob escaped her and she quickly wiped the tears away. Lucas looked at the sunset and back at his sunshine. "You should go, it's a dream of yours" he encouraged her. Riley looked over to her boyfriend. His green eyes where piercing into her brown ones. "How am I gonna be sure we're not gonna forget about each other?" She asked. Lucas digged in his picked and took out a small box. "Because...I promise you" he opens them to show two rings. "That I will forever love you, no matter what happens to us. I promise to support you with every decision you make. And I will never ever forget about you" he took one of the rings out and slid them threw a necklace as a chain. He hung it around his neck and tucked it behind his shirt. Then he took out the other one and held it out. "Riley?" He asked. "Promise rings" she said smiling wide. Lucas nodded. Riley nodded. "I promise" Lucas smiled and slid the ring with the eternity sign on it around her finger. He wiped the last few tears away from her cheeks before pressing his lips on hers. "I love you" he muttered against her lips. "I love you too" riley said pressing their lips together again.