COLD TO THE TOUCH || RILAYA

S I X T E E N // P A R T O N E

"Why did you do all of this? You're the one who just got out of the hospital," I ask as our faces pull apart.

"I felt horrible for bailing on the party. I wanted to make it up even if it's not possible."

"Riles, you were really sleepy and loopy, it wasn't your fault. You didn't even 'bail' what the hell are you talking about?" I stated with a chuckle.

"Peaches," she started as she tucked some hair behind my ear, "you threw a party on such short notice, I was gonna pay you back anyway."

I laughed and wrapped my arms around her. She does the same and sighs.

"Why the sigh, pretty lady?" I whisper in her ear.

"There's a lot of things. But I feel bad-"

"Shh," I say as I pull our hug away and rest my pointer finger on her lips. "You being here as my girlfriend is enough for me."

"I love you," she answers with a smile.

"I love you too," I replied, pecking her lips.

I hear the door open and turn my head around to see Mrs. Matthews with a smile on her face. I pulled our lips apart as we both shared blushes.

"So how are the two lovebirds doing?" she asks as she closes the door behind her.

"Mom!" Riley yells, walking towards her.

"We're doing just fine," I answer, planting a kiss on Riley's cheek. I turned back to Topanga and smiled.

"I'm glad. Riley was stressing like crazy about how to make it up to you since she came home this morning," she stated, crossing her arms.

"I bet. I found her passed out near the closet."

"I was just tired!" she exclaimed, nudging me with her elbow.

"Well, breakfast is on the table. Eggs and bacon. Better hurry before it gets cold," she said as she walked out of the room.

Riley swiftly turned and ran over to her closet. She pulled out a drawstring bag and tossed it over the bed to me.

"What's this?" I asked as I opened the bag.

"Just a little present I think you'd enjoy," she said as jumped onto the bed and planted a kiss on my cheek.

As I pulled through the wrapping paper on top, I found a white dress shirt with a rainbow tie.

"You like it, Peaches?" she asked in a hyper tone.

"I love it! Thank you so much, babe!"

I heard a loud thump and turned around to find Riley fell off the bed and was shaking uncontrollably.

"Oh my God, Honey, are you okay?" I yelled as I dropped down next to her.

"Y-y-y-"

"Do I need to get your mom or the hospital or-"

"You called me babe."

There was a moment of silence before I stood up and laughed.

"Is that okay with you?" She violently nodded and grew a smile.

"I'm glad. Now get up, you Klutz," I said as I held my hand out for her. She pulled herself up and met her lips with mine.

"Now that better be a nickname that'll fade," she stated as she pulled away.

I touched my nose with hers. "That'll stay forever... babe."

"Girls! Breakfast needs a blanket at this point, get down here!" Cory yelled from the downstairs. We look at each other and laugh as we head out the room.

-- AT CENTRAL PARK --

"So we're meeting the gang here?" Riley asks as we walk down the sidewalk.

"Yeah. Farkle said he's gonna text me when they all get here."

As we walk, I feel Riley's hand touch mine every once in awhile. I break the tension and grab hers, showing I was proud we were a couple, but she didn't seem to give the same response back.

"Riles, what's wrong?" I ask, looking into her eyes.

"I-It's nothing," she answered, turning  her head the opposite direction from mine.

"It's clearly something, babe. Talk to me-"

"Please don't call me that in public," she snapped, letting go of my hand. We both stopped in our tracks, allowing others to pass by.

"What?" I ask sarcastically. "You don't want me to call you-"

"Don't say it."

"Riley what's going on?"

We both were silent for a moment.

"Riley?"

"Let's just walk, okay?" she stated, scurrying away from me.

"No," I persisted as I grabbed her arm and pulled her back, "this is something we both need to discuss. Do you not want people to know about us-"

I stopped as she covered my mouth. She took my hand and dragged me into a secluded area behind bushes.

"Do not publicize our relationship. Do not tell other people other than our friends about our relationship. Now if you care about me at all, you will listen to what I'm saying, understand?"

I focused my attention onto Riley's eyes, which were clearly holding back tears. I feel my own tears forming, but I hold them back, in fear of Riley releasing hers.

"Riley... please talk to me. What's going on, is Missy Bradford saying things again?"

No response.

"Riley."

Nothing.

"Riley!"

"We can't be together anymore."

Riley runs through the bushes, in front of an old couple, and out of the park. I fall to my knees, letting the tears trickle down my face. I hear footsteps behind me and find that Lucas, Farkle, Zay, and Smackle found me. I stand up and jump into their arms, staining their jackets with tears with only one thought stapled in my mind;

Riley Matthews is not mine anymore.

-- END OF CHAPTER 16 PART ONE --