The Bet

I'm Ready

Riley's lashes flutter as her eyes adjust to the bright florescent lights above her hospital bed. She wasn't sure what time it was, or how long she had been asleep. Her mind was a bit groggy and for the life of her she couldn't remember what day it was.

The sound of her mother's voice catches her attention. She could just barely see who she was standing with. It wasn't her father or anyone from her family. This person towered over her but sported the same dirty blonde shade of hair on their head. She listened intently as her mother spoke.

"The doctor explained to us that sometimes severe cases of pneumonia can cause confusion as well as other more expected symptoms. According to him, people like her who have weakened immune systems are more at risk for having bacterial pneumonia. Apparently, the infection quickly spreads through the bloodstream and invades the entire body." Topanga sighs, reaching for the handle of the door.

In a haste Riley pulls the blankets up to her face, and shuts her eyes. For whatever reason she wasn't ready to talk to her parents and she especially didn't want to speak to whoever this mystery guest was that accompanied her mother.

"She's still sleeping but you can go ahead and take the seat next to her." She can hear the politeness in her mom's voice.

"Thank you, Mrs. Matthews." The stranger says. Except it's no stranger at all. Despite the raspy, almost hoarse tone it had, she knew for a fact it was Lucas. "I'll call you if she wakes up."

Her mom reaches down and kisses her on the temple before exiting the room, leaving the two teens by themselves.

Riley could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she laid there praying he would leave. The last time she saw, let alone spoke to him was a week and a half ago. After their fight she didn't want anything to do with him and there he was sitting across from her, trying to steady his breathing.

"I'm glad you're getting better." He says in a whisper. She could tell he was trying not to wake her. "Doc says they're letting you go tomorrow morning so that's a plus..."

She can hear him fiddling with something in his hand and it takes everything in her not to give in to her curiosity and open her eyes to see what it is.

"I don't know if they told you but I've been visiting you every day during my lunch period while your dad is still at school. Your mom is surprisingly cool about it." He chuckles to himself, reaching out to touch her hand.

"Riley...you need to know I never wanted any of this to happen." He whispers again, this time leaning in closer to her face. "I never wanted to hurt you and I never wanted you to get sick – I know you probably hate me but –."

"Lucas." Her mom's voice cuts him off, "it's almost 1, you should start heading back."

He nods his head and stands from his chair, giving her hand a quick squeeze before letting himself out.

Riley can't help but think about the last time she saw him.

She and Lucas had successfully avoided his ex-girlfriend and her snooty friends at Charlie's party. They spent most of the night dancing, although not sure you could call what they were doing dancing. His hands rested on her hips and her arms were draped over his shoulders, behind his neck. They swayed to the music but really they were just lost in their conversation.

At some point Lucas dips away to grab a drink and as Riley's scanning the crowd she notices one of her friends, for lack of a better word, Izzy.

She spots the girl sitting alone in the corner and decides to walk over and see if she was doing okay. She and Isadora aren't the closest of friends but they have almost every class together, and they occasionally talk and almost always sit together.