Today was finally the day, the day where it was just me and Riley. A day where there would be no interruptions. A day where no one could say nothing to me, a day where everything I wanted would go exactly how I planned. It was going to be perfect.
I wore the new coat Riley had bought me and I stood in front of her house to pick her up. Soon the front door opened and Riley rushed out the door and hooped off the steps right in front of me. A man in all black was standing at the door with a warm expression,"If anything happens to my daughter I'm coming for you." He said as he pointed with me. His face wen from warm to cold in an instant. I just smiled awkwardly at him while Riley laughed at my stunned face.
"So shall we get going?" She said as she practically skipped toward the passengers side of my car. She looked extra happy today and that only made me happier."There's so much to do at the carnival and were only staying for the weekend."She said with a bit of disappointment in her voice as she stared out the window. "Guess you'll have to live there." I said and she playfully hit my shoulder.
"I won't live there, but I'll make the most of it." She said and smiled to herself. I was so excited I could hardly hide it, after everything that has happened, we both deserve at least a little bit of fun. We arrived to a motel that was relatively large in size. We checked in the an available room, but when we got to the motel there was only one bed instead of two.
I did not think this through.
"There's only one bed.." Riley said as she examined the room with her dark eyes."It's okay, you can take the bed and I'll sleep on the floor tonight." I said as I brought our suit cases into the room and set them next to the table."No I'll take the floor you take the bed." She said and looked at me frantically."No ladies need to be comfortable you should sleep on the bed, I prefer the floor anyway."
"Liam.." Riley said in a slight whiny voice."Riley.." I said as I mimicked her."You can't sleep on the ground, you'll wake up with a sore back, then you'll be walking around like an old man." I looked at her sternly,"And so will you, so just sleep on the bed."
"Then--Then sleep with me!"
My eyes have never gone so wide before. I turned my head slowly to look at Riley and she was just as surprised as I was."I didn't mean it that way, you know what I mean." She said and waved me off. She reluctantly went to place her suit case on the bed. I obviously knew she didn't mean it that way, but I couldn't help but make the situation way more dramatic than it actually seemed.
So in conclusion, I was just messing with her, nothing serious. After resting in the motel for an hour and a half we made our way to the carnival. It was decorated with Christmas colors and decorations. The air was even cold enough to where we could see our breath. Riley lead me towards a place where they had people throwing fake snow, of course the snow isn't real this is Alia California, where the heat can decide to be unbearable, but the summers are always nice.
So she wants to challenge I on a snow ball fight?
"If I win then you have to make banana pudding for three times a week." I said and she rolled her eyes."And if I win than you have to let me meet Eli, he seems like a fun person." My face instantly dropped. She wants to see my older brother, because he seems like a fun person? Absolutely not, I am never letting her near them, especially Eli.
We stood in a long and watched as people threw snowballs at each other, once it was our turn to play I rushed in immediately. I gathered and threw snowballs at every person on the other side, I even hit Riley a few times. There was a score board for how many snowballs were thrown on each side.
Soon is was finally over and by that time my arm had gotten sore. I checked the score board and frowned. Even with a head start I didn't win. I looked over at Riley who had a giddy smile on her face."I win." She said as she looked at the score board again."Fine you won, now why do you want to see my brother's?"I made it obvious that I was sulking. She laughed slightly and shook her head,"Well it's a surprise, now let's go do something else." She grabbed my arm and pulled me away from all of the fake snow.
After some time we had done pretty much everything, we ate Christmas cookies, and we even watched Christmas Carolers sing Christmas Carols. We did every generic Christmas thing you could think of. It was getting darker and the wind began blow calmer. It was like a fresh breeze.
"At midnight they'll set off fire works, we should see them." She said and looked at me with a smile proudly on her face."We can see as many fireworks as you want." I said as I stepped closer towards her."Great because I know just the spot." She grabbed my hand and lead me away from the festival.
"Where are we going?"
"Just trust me."
I let her lead me farther and farther away until we reached a hill. The hill was right behind the festival so we could see everything from up here."You surprise me every day." I said as I walked towards the edge of the hill and sat down. I let my legs hang from the edge and watch the many people pass by. Riley eventually sat next to me.
"How often did you come here?" I asked as I kept my focus on the crowd."Every year with my parents," She said as she smiled a little. Her dark eyes reflected the bright lights from below."How old were you when she passed." I watched as her expressions changed with my question.
"I was thirteen years old, I was ten years old when we found she was sick."
She shrugged her shoulder's and looked at the sky. I turned my head to look as well. The stars began to appear in the sky as it was now completely black in the sky."She's in a better place now, she's giving Pluto company." I said and her smiled appeared faintly. I looked up at the sky and cleared my throat.
"Hey Riley's mom, Uh Merry Christmas. My names Liam, I'm 23 years old, and I have four older brothers. A lot has happened recently and a lot of people have been hurt," I looked at Riley who watched me silently. I knew there were millions of questions running in her mind. I looked back at the sky and focused my eyes on one star.
"You've probably seen what's been happening down here, and you probably already know what I was going to say, but I really like your daughter. She's confident, brave, and beautiful. She makes me feel happy and I love to see her smile. I think I'm in love." I looked back from the sky to see Riley's expression. Her eyes had tears falling down her face and I instantly panicked.
"W-Why are you crying?" I said as I raised my hands towards her face, but I didn't touch her. She used the back of her hand to wipe her tears,"I'm sorry I--I just never knew I could deserve something like this." I tilted my head at her,"What do you mean?" I finally rose my hand to wipe her tears.
"For a long time it felt like I was trapped in a bubble that would never pop. When I realized it wouldn't pop I tried everything to get out, but nothing would work. I was afraid, everyone was afraid. Then one day a random curly headed boy bumped my tray all over my clothes," She laughed slightly and I watched as her smile grew wider.
"You made me realize what I wanted and that I was worth way more." She looked in my eyes, I have never felt this way before."All I want is for you to be happy, I never meant to loose my friend along the way or even get punched in the face, but I just want you to know," My breath caught in my throat. My words were piling up in my head.
"I love you Riley."
Her eyes widened and I panicked." I'm sorry I said that, um you can ignore that--" Suddenly she used her hands to bring her face close to hers. Then suddenly I felt her soft lips press against mine."Riley.." I said as she pulled away. It felt as if I was on cloud nine.
"I love you too Liam, but you have to promise me that you'll give yourself some worth too." She said and her eyes moved rapidly to study mine."I promise," I said as I leaned in to activate the kiss again. As if right cue the fire works had sounded in the background and for the first time I didn't feel heavy.
My heart felt light and my head filled with the thought of Riley.
I felt, happy.