Unrequited [ON HOLD]

1.9

// chapter nineteen. //

The music was too loud and the room was too crowded but I was too drunk to care. I has lost Riley about thirty minutes ago and I wasn't sure how to find her. I circled the room four times before Adam stopped me.

"Duuuuude? Where's Riley? If she's done with you I'll gladly keep her company." Adam slurred, he was way past wasted now.

"F.uck off Adam." I pulled his hands off me and continued my search.

Soon I saw a familiar face, Ian. He was dancing with a tall brunette. Their bodies were swaying together and when her hair was moved out of her face I suddenly felt one hundred percent sober.

Riley. Dancing with Ian. Riley was dancing with Ian. Ian knew Riley was mine. My thought process soon brought everything together as I marched over to the duo.

"Riley what the hell?" I demanded as soon as I reached them. She stopped her movements and looked at me.

"Lukey!!! Oh my god I've been looking for you everywhere!!" She squealed and wrapped her arms around my neck. Ian gave me a wink as he walked off to find his next victim.

"You've been looking for me? I've been looking for you!" Riley burst out into giggles and I realized that she was totally trashed.

"Okay come with me we are going upstairs so we can call a taxi and get out of here." I said, my mind was still clouded due to the alcohol but earlier events had brought me back. Now I remember why I hate drinking, I'm already feeling the after effects.

"Are you sure you don't just wanna get me upstairs Lukey?" Riley batted her mascara covered lashes.

"You're right, I've changed my mind we are going to the kitchen and you are chugging a gallon of water." I guided her to the kitchen where I forced her to drink three glasses of water. Meanwhile, I called a cab.

"Lukey, I can't go home like this they'll-he'll freak out." She hiccuped a little, sobering up a bit but still undeniably drunk.

"It's okay, you can stay at my house." I said reassuringly. I guided her through the crowd again until we reached the front lawn where the Taxi was waiting.

I told the driver my address and leaned back in my seat. Riley rested her head on my shoulder and hummed along to the radio. I knew I had to tell her tonight, about everything. And I knew that she would hate me after it so I closed my eyes and just enjoyed the last peaceful moment before the storm.

--

Riley climbed into my bed and I sat next to her. "Thank you for finding me earlier. That guy was really handsy." I laughed as she talked about Ian. "Really though, thanks for helping me. I could have ended up with a real creep tonight." My head was still buzzing so I knew hers was too.

I brought my hand to move a strand of her hair out of her face. As an excuse to touch her one last time. As I did so I whispered just loud enough so she could hear me, "Why do you waste your time on me?"

Riley rolled her eyes. "Are you serious? You're like the coolest person ever. You help me on my math homework. Do you know how many people would voluntarily help someone with math homework? You're so nice to Claire. Do you know how many people would not be nice to a spaz like her? You're great Lucas, and I'm sorry I judged you at first. I was wrong."

This was too much, I had to tell her. So I did. "No Riley you don't get it, you were right.." I begun and went on to explain to her the game and how she had been pulled into it and how I had tricked her. "...and I totally get it if you hate my guts."

Riley looked at me with no emotion in her eyes, the old Riley was back. But soon after something flashed in her eyes, anger. "Are you f.ucking kidding me? This was all for some game? Some f.ucking game that sounds like it's made for ninth graders? So that's what it was huh? All those times you were nice to me and helped me with things it was just to get me into bed? What about tonight huh? Was your master plan to get me drunk so you could take me home and f.uck me then go run and tell all your delinquent friends about it?" She was standing up now and heading for the door.

"Riley please don't leave just stay here tonight we can talk about it in the morning, I promise." I begged we she descended the stairs faster than I thought she could in her mind set.

"Oh so now you care about my well being? Since when do you give a f.uck about MY well being. You know what f.uck you. I'm walking home if you try to follow me I swear to god I'll call the cops and tell them you are harassing me." She said, venom in her every word. She grabbed the door handle and jerked it open but before she left she had one thing to add. "You know, I was actually starting to like you but I guess I was wrong. I was wrong about a lot of things actually. I hope you have a nice life Lucas." With that she slammed the door.

I watched her walk down my driveway and take a sharp turn in the direction of her house.

Now she knew the truth, I was relieved because I didn't have to lie anymore. I was nervous because no one had never lost the game before. And I was heartbroken because Riley wanted nothing to do with me. And it was only midnight.