Authors Note: This chapter and possibly on is where i'm going to take my own twist in the story. It will probably have similar story line with the original but I wanted the reveal to be different.
Lauren POV
"Junk. Junk. Junk. Useless. Ju-" I stop as I come across a packet for Princeton University. No this is not good. I tear open the packet and quickly read the letter. "Accepted. No, this won't do." I hear the front door open and quickly hide the letter.
"Hi, Lauren. Anything for me?" I hear Riley question behind me. Crap.
"There's a letter here that says you won a million dollars," I state handing her a junk letter. She rolls her eyes and heads upstairs. I uncover the letter and a million thoughts come running through my head.
Amanda POV
I open the door to Riley's bedroom. "Riley." She jumps in her seat and turns around quickly.
"Can you knock next time?"
"Sure whatever. Can I have that off-shoulder shirt you have? I need it to match my outfit tomorrow."
"Sure," she gets up from her desk. "I'll be right back. Just give it back when you're done." She walks out of the room and I storm through her closet trying to find the shirt. I move a hanger to the side and see a bunched up dress in the back of the closet. I pull the dress out of it's all and shake it out. It's a nice dres- wait a minute. I've seen this before. Oh my god. It's the dress from the dance. Riley is Cinderella?!?! I quickly grab the dress and run out of her room and towards Sara's.
"Sara!" I burst in her room looking like a crazy woman and close the door behind me.
"Amanda! What's wrong?" She jumps off her bed.
"You won't believe what I just found." I hold up the dress in front of her. Her eyes widen and her jaw drops.
"Shut up. Where did you find this?"
"I'm Riley's closet. She's Cinderella!" I squeal. "We have to do something. Do we confront her? Or do we-"
"Amanda." Sara stops me, "I have a better idea."
Lucas POV
I look at the acceptance letter for Princeton. Holy shit. I got in. I hear a knock outside my bedroom door and I shove the letter away. "Come in." I turn and see my dad with a smile on his face.
"Hey son." I assume I have a weird look on my face because the smile on his drops. "Are you okay? Are feeling unsure about University of Texas?"
"Yeah, dad. Actual-"
"Don't be," he cuts me off before I have the change to get a word out. "U of T is a great football opportunity and you can get great scholarships," he smiles before he closes the door, leaving me alone in my room again. I groan and rub my head.
I just want to be a veterinarian.
Riley POV
The smell of windex and salmon fills my nose as I continue wiping down at the counter. I look up and see Shawn at the counter counting money in the register. It's a quiet, slow day today as sappy music plays in the background. The door opens to the diner and another costumer sits in front of me. I continue wiping down the counter since it isn't really my job to take orders. When I look up from the counter, I notice Lucas Friar in front of me glancing at the menu. I quickly walk away and place the rag in the sink. I look up and see Shawn asking who that was. "Maddog," I mouth to him.
"That's him?" he mouths back. He scans his body and holds up his thumb. "Talk to him."
I take a deep breath before I approach him with a notepad, pen and small smile. "Hello, welcome to Lauren's," I state with a nervous smile. "Can I get you anything?"
He looks up from he menu with a stern look on his face, "You know what I hate?" he questions angrily.
My eyes widen, "People taking your order?"
"No taking people's orders." He shakes his head a bit. "Sorry, I um. Just get me a coffee." I nod, flipping over a coffee mug and pouring the coffee.
"Is there something that you want to get off your chest?" I ask. He remains silent. "I know I'm just Diner Girl, but I'm a good listener."
"My dad is really set on me playing football on in college. He sent in my college app to University of Texas and is really positive I'll get in and get a scholarship."
"But that's not what you want to do." I furrow my eyebrows.
Lucas lets out a big sigh. "I'm going to tell you this, but you can't tell anyone. I want to be a veterinarian." I don't laugh, but crack a small smile.
"Then just tell your dad."
"It's not that simple," he takes a sip from his coffee.
"Just say to your dad 'This isn't me. This isn't who I want to be. This is who I want to be. This is the real me and I am going to be a veterinarian'."
"You make it sound so easy."
"Then what's the issue?"
"My dad is not the persuasive kind. He failed as a professional football player, so he wants me to be one. He's been set on it ever since he found out that his first child was a boy."
"Then you need to tell him. Or you'll never pursue what is actually important to you. You can become a great veterinarian one day, Lucas Friar. But you'll never know if you coward away because of your father." Lucas smiles at me and I feel the butterflies in my chest fluttering. Do it. Tell him. "Lucas, there's just one more thing I need to say."
"What is it?"
I gulp nervously, "I'm C-"
"Riley!" I hear someone call my name. You have got to be kidding me. I bow my head in defeat and push down the anger in my chest.
"You know what," Lucas starts, "it's fine. I have to go anyways." He throws $5 on the counter and walks out.
"Riley," I turn to face Amanda. "Mom wants to see you about something." That's it?! With that she walks out. Once the door closed, I threw the towel onto the counter and started cleaning again.
