Riarkle One Shots

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"I got in!" I scream rushing into Riley's room through the bay window as usual.

She looks up from some work that she's doing on her bed and smiles as me. "Got into where?"

I carefully, to avoid all the papers, sit on the edge of Riley's bed and show her the paper with my acceptance. The girl takes a few moments to read it, and I notice her usual happy smile falter.

"You got into UCLA? I didn't think that was in your top five," Riley tells me.

I take the paper back and try to smile to keep this from getting too awkward. "Well, it wasn't because I didn't think my dad would ever let me peruse film. Now that he will let me I want to get into a good program. This is one of the pest ones."

"Oh..."

We stare silently at each other. Neither one sure of what to say next. This person is my best friend and I don't want to leave her.

Not now.

Not ever.

But how do you pass up on an opportunity like this?

Riley sighs and says, "As much as I want you to stay near here, I know that it's best if you go. This is your dream, and I don't ever want to hold you or anyone back from their dreams."

My timid smile fades as I look into her sad eyes. I reach for her hand and we stay in that moment hand in hand. Why does this college have to be so far? Why does life seem to want to pull us apart?

"I still have other colleges that I applied to," I explain trying to keep myself from accepting that I might be leaving this place for a very long time.

Riley nods with such sadness. "But if you get accepted into those places, will you have the same happy reaction as the one you had coming here jus now? Will you be even happier than that? I don't want you to go, but this is what you want?"

"But I don't want to leave this place." I mumble, "I don't want to leave you."

As soon as the words escape my mouth Riley tears up. She tries to keep the tears from falling, but they fall out and down her face.

"I want you here. You're my best friend and my whole world and I don't want you to ever leave my side. I need you here, you're my voice of reason and I'll be lost without you," she sobs.

A single year escapes my eye and I wipe it away. Then I gently wipe away Riley's many tears so that she can see me. "I still have to accept you know?"

"But you will? I mean you'd be a fool not to," she rambles to me calming down.

I think to myself if I want this. I wonder what is the most import thing to me in this life. Is it Riley and all the great people here or do I want to better me future and career. What do I want out of life.

"I'm not sure what I'll do," I answer honestly. "Whatever I decide, I'll talk to you and the rest off our friends first. I'll talk to my family and everyone. I'm going to take the time I need to figure this out. What I do know, is that whatever happens next in my life I want you to be there for me."

"I'm always here for you," she whispers.

I grin and nod. "Good."