m.h.
I slipped under the blanket next to Riley.
"Night," I smiled, pecking her cheek.
A blank expression sprawled across her face. She turned to face the other way after mumbling, "Goodnight."
I furrowed my eyebrows. She always kisses my cheek in return, what changed? I missed her soft and comforting touch.
She was acting really strange, but I shrugged it off. She's moving in a month, why wouldn't she act weird?
My eyes drifted off and I fell asleep with my arm draped around her. (super straight content)
~~~~~
"Riles?"
She stopped eating her cereal and looked up at me.
"We should go somewhere," I said. "The six of us. Before you...you know, go."
"Yeah," she agreed. "How about the beach?"
I nodded and before she sent a message to our group chat, I stopped her. "Wait, did you tell them that you're moving?"
Her eyes widened and she shook her head. "I should probably do that in person, right?"
Riley texted them to meet in an hour at Topanga's so we could talk. We quickly finished our breakfast and left her house. I held my hand out to her, and she hesitantly took it.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing," she shrugged as we strolled along the sidewalk. "I'm just nervous. What if they get mad or something?"
"Don't be," I told her. "They'll be happy for you, why would they be mad of all things? Sure, sad, but definitely not mad. This is a great opportunity and you'll have the time of your life, okay?"
"Will I, Maya? What if it's absolutely terrible there? I mean, you guys won't be there so it's already pretty shitty. What if I make no friends? Wh-"
"Riley, calm down," I rolled my eyes. "You'll be fine. You'll have friends left and right, you're such a wonderful person, you know? I'm not friends with you just for your good looks."
Her face went red and she looked down at her feet.
I raised my eyebrows at what I just said. That's new. I let out a nervous laugh to show her I was just messing around. Not that she isn't good looking, she's the prettiest girl I've ever seen.
We walked into the bakery, finding the rest of our friends sitting at our hangout area. We said our hellos and sat on the couch.
"So, um," Riley hesitantly began. I gave her a smile to urge her to go on. "We're moving in a month."
The room went silent. I glanced at Farkle, mouthing at him to say something.
"Oh, um, that's amazing for Mrs. Matthews! She'll be amazing at her job," Farkle smiled. "Are you excited?"
"No!" Riley shook her head as if he said the most ridiculous thing a genius like him could say. "Why would I be excited? I'm leaving my friends, my best friend! Farkle, this is the worst thing that could ever happen."
"You're actually going," Lucas repeated, frowning.
"Yeah," Riley quietly sighed.
"Don't be sad," Smackle tried to cheer everyone up. "Think about the opportunities you'll be met with!"
"But we just became closer friends," Riley said. "You and Zay completed our friend group, without you guys it felt like a huge part was missing. So now what? Am I gonna be replaced or will you all drift apart or-"
"No one could ever replace you, Riles," I told her. "You're one of a kind. The five of us will always remember you when we hang out, okay? We might even get closer, who knows?"
"Great, now I'm gonna feel left out," she pouted. "Why can't you guys just come with me?"
I smiled and poked the tip of her nose. "That would be amazing, but we can't all go...you know that."
"Riley, don't worry so much about this," Zay added. "People come and go no matter what. Just think of this as a way to meet new people, almost like a new life!"
"I don't want a new life! My life is perfectly fine right now," she groaned.
"Things change," Farkle simply said. "But one thing that won't ever change is the fact that all of us love you. Always remember that, okay?"
She nodded, not meeting any of their eyes. "I love you all, too."
"God, I'm gonna miss you," Zay sighed after a while. "I know you ate my cookie, but wow...I never thought that one day our lives would lack the ray of sunshine that you are."
"Great," Riley quietly laughed, wiping her eyes. "Now I'm crying."
I half smiled and leaned on her shoulder.
"We're going to the beach," I remembered. "Preferably before Lucas goes off to Texas?"
While munching on muffins, we decided on when we were all free and planned the day out.
"So, tomorrow's good?" I clarified with my mouth full.
"Close your mouth," Riley rolled her eyes, putting her hand on my chin.
I smirked and kissed the palm of her hand, making her face flush.
"Tomorrow's good," Farkle nodded.
We said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. I went home with Riley. There's no way that I'd go to my house if she's leaving in a month. I'm spending every second with her because they'll be the last seconds I'll really get.
I'll visit her, of course, but it just won't be the same. If anything, visiting her will hurt even more because I'll see her for a short period of time and the next day she's gone, just like that. I might not even see her every year because I'm not going to be able to pay for a plane ticket each time, especially not with our financial status.
I shoved the thought aside as we entered her house.
Auggie and Ava were watching TV, so we joined them. Ava was determined on going with the Matthews. Honestly, if I were her age, I would be, too. Even though I'm dying to go, I'm old enough to realize that not everything happens in my favor.
I cuddled up next to Riley and tried to push away the fact that in a month, I'll wish that she's the one near me. Only she won't be, she'll be halfway across the world.
Riley looked down at me and tilted her head. "What's wrong? You seem out of it."
I put on a smile and shook my head. "Nothing, I'm fine."
She slowly nodded. I kissed her cheek, making her face go red again. I didn't know why she was so blushy lately, but strangely, I kind of liked the effect I was having on her.
We continued watching TV. I cherished every second I was with her because when she's gone, I'd regret it forever.
