The Mysterious Messages

Old Friend

Riley headed out the door, the sound of the crisp autumn leaves crunching under her feet. She took her keys out of her purse and slung it back over her shoulder. The letter was still in the back of her mind, no matter how much she pushed it away. She felt foolish for making herself put so much thought into something that was probably just a silly prank. Riley sighed as she flopped into her car seat and turned the car on. She had been very new at driving since she had always used her personal driver when she needed to go somewhere. Now that she was shunned by her parents, she was only left with a modest car and some money for food. She still needed a job to keep her on her feet, but the savings her parents lent her will do for a couple months.

Riley had been going out on just a simple morning errand to the store to grab some things for breakfast and dinner. This was the first time she was leaving the confines of her house to actually interact with the real world. (can't relate tbh)

Riley drove off, down her winding pathway and pressed the button on her controller which was sitting in her cup holder. This opened the big gates, which intimidatingly towered over her car. Sometimes she thought the new house was a bit too dramatic, with its gates and winding pathway that led up the hill which the dark mansion sat upon. The thick woods that surrounded it made it even worse and led the children of the town to call the house haunted when Riley stayed there some summers. It came off a bit extra sometimes, but Riley still kept an open mind. At least she has a place to stay.

She continued to drive through the small town's pathways until she arrived at the Rite Aid convenience store. Riley drug herself out of her warm car and walked through the parking lot. She walked in, as the sliding glass door opened. Right as she was heading in, as she looking into her purse for her phone her face slammed into a chest. She stepped back, rubbing her nose, to look up at a pair of caramel brown eyes. They seemed familiar. Riley refocused her eyes to see she had run into a young man around her age. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Her eyes glazed over him to discover he was fit, tall, and attractive. His skin was tan and warm and his long brown hair stuck up in some places as if he had just woken up and had bed head. Omg, look at that freaking jawline! That could cut me it's so sharp... Where were boys like this in England? New life tip- Move to Colorado to find the good looking boys... Riley smirked to herself and looked back into the man's eyes.

"I'm so sorry, I- I should have been looking where I was going," The nervous man said. He looked so familiar for some odd reason.

" No! It's totally fine, I was the one that wasn't looking ahead." I laughed nervously. He seemed to be studying me, and I started to walk past him to be on my way until he stopped me.

"For some reason, you look so familiar to me, and I don't why...Oh yeah, my name's Daniel" He reached out his hand, trying to juggle all of his bags. I laughed and shook it.

"Nice to meet you, Daniel," I said gazing into his alluring eyes, "And you know what's weird too? You also look extremely familiar to me."

"That's really weird. Are you new to the town, because I haven't seen you around, and this town is small. Actually wait you probably are new, aren't you? You have a british accent so I'm guessing you're from England..." Daniel rambled and laughed playfully. His smooth laugh echoed through my ears and then a memory flooded into my mind.

***

"Haha, you can't catch me, Riley!" A boy ran through the trees of the forest, hair flying back along with the gusts of wind as his laugh echoed through the dense woods.

"I'll get you Danny, I always do!" I said, out of breath, but still laughing as I chased after him. I finally caught up with him and toppled over him, dying of laughter. I looked into his brown eyes, heart still beating, but not from the running. That was my first kiss when I was 14. So young, and full of life. That summer when I stayed over my grandparents' house was the summer I found out what fun was. When I met Daniel...

I looked up, shock obviously showing in my eyes, since Daniel asked, " Are you okay, you look a bit surprised?"

"The summer of 2012. When I met you, Danny.." My shaky voice let out, with a mix of confusion yet fondness.