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All alone I watch you watch her, like she's the only girl you've ever seen. • (Written in Riley's POV)
She's a rebellious blonde. He's a good-natured cowboy.
She's your best friend. He's your ex-boyfriend.
It started with some harmless teasing and light jabs. He even wore a cowboy hat for her at the school dance and brought a rose for her, even when you were his date.
You told yourself that it's just a part of their game and to just keep smiling.
On your first date, he was staring at her and he only looked away when he realized that you're the one he was supposed to be dating.
You kiss him on the subway and he smiles. Maya ha-hurrs him in History class and he smiles even wider.
Sometimes she does this thing where she grabs his shirt and pulls him close to her and talks real low. They're so close to kissing, doesn't she notice that?
Sometimes there are moments where they stare at each other without saying a word and you feel like you're invading a private, intimate moment between the two of them.
You wonder why, why doesn't he stare at you like that? Why doesn't he stare at the back of your head like some lovesick puppy and why doesn't he stare at you like you're his whole world?
You feel this tightness in your chest when she stares at him like that too because you've known this girl since you were little and you've never seen her look at anyone like that, not even at your uncle Josh.
It's the same way your parents stare at each other.
And you wish you had something like that, you wish that you were able to speak to someone just by looking at them. You wish you had that same connection with someone.
So when the day comes and Lucas tells you he doesn't love you in that way anymore, you're not surprised because you already know. You know you're not the one, and you never were the one.
And you cry on the one's shoulder as she holds you close and rubs reassuring circles on your back. For once, you don't say anything because if you did, it might start a fight and you don't want to have any disagreements with her because she's your best friend and you don't want to be jealous of her, because she's your best friend. It's frustrating.
They don't talk much anymore after the breakup.
Sometimes you will catch one of them looking at the other longingly, sometimes you'll see them try to avoid eye contact with each other.
And you know that it's because they want each other but they know they can't have each other. You wonder if you're a horrible person for being their obstacle. For being in their way.
It's New Year's Eve and you decide to give them your blessing because you love the both of them and you want them to be happy. And they're each other's happiness.
You know you had done the right thing when fireworks erupt in the New York night sky and they're kissing and smiling.
Across the rooftop, you see Farkle smiling at you with a look in his eyes.
And you learn that the answer was right there all along.
