Summer of 09'

Riley

I let myself into the shower, the warm spray washing away my worries that my having lunch with Christofer could be taken in the wrong way. I let my hands run the lavender soap over my shoulders and my body, my mind racing. What would Caleb think? What would he assume?

I leaned back into the water as I closed my eyes, just trying to relax for one minute before I'd be thrown under the bus again. I sighed as I leaned forward to turn off the nozzle and I reached around the curtain for the towel on top of the sink but nothing but cold marble touched my hands. I peaked from around the curtain and saw Caleb, standing there with my towel in his hands.

I smiled as he walked forward tugging the curtain aside, his eyes roaming over my naked, wet body. He wrapped the towel around my body knotting it in the front, and I opened my lips to speak, but his finger came to my lips telling me not to. He pulled me forward, my toweled body coming against his clothed body. I tilted my head back and Caleb's lips brushed mine, it was soft, sweet and everything I could have asked for.

It was soft, softer than last night. It was candle, that dim flame instead of the forest fire that consumed us last night.

I pulled back as his arms twined around my waist, "What's all this for?" I mumbled as I let my head fall to the crook of his neck where I planted soft kisses. "Mmm, I just thought I'd surprise my girlfriend."

The word girlfriend make my heart stop, and then start beating fast again, and the corners of my lips turned upward. It was enjoyable to be able to call myself his girlfriend, to be his and him, mine. "Well, I'd stay here and be with you but I have lunch with a friend."

I pulled back a little to pat his cheek, his eyes slightly wide as I started to walk away and then I was being carried bridal style towards the bed. "Caleb!" I hollered his name but he seemed concerned with his own agenda, getting me out of the towel, and giving me a good time.

--

I shut the door behind Caleb and leaned against it, as I ran back towards my bed and jumped on it. My eyes closed as I felt sated, sex with Caleb was wonderful. I was a very satisfied girl and then I rolled to look at the clock and sighed. I had to get ready for lunch.

I moved forward towards my case and pulled at my red plaid tunic, and slipped into my black tights. I pulled on my matching plaid sneakers, grabbed , the strawberry necklace, and my peace one before applying lip gloss, my cell and sunglasses. I smiled as I approached the mirror and sprayed myself, I nodded before walking towards my door and out of it, making sure it locked behind me.

I called Christofer and I heard the ring back, one of his songs, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Hello?"

"Christofer, it's Riley. Where we meeting up?"

"Hotel lobby, sound cool to you?"

"Perfect, be there in a few seconds."

"Okido, Bye."

I heard the click and sighed as I pressed the ground floor button in the elevator, and when the door reopened, he stood there smiling his gorgeous white smile. I flushed lightly as I walked forward and he held out an arm, and I laughed as I let myself hook mine with his.

What was the harm, right?

"You gorgeous as always," His voice was soft enough just so I could hear his words as we walked from the building, and I couldn't help but beam back at him. I could feel butterflies building in my stomach as my phone vibrated in my breast pocket, I picked it up and looked at it.

Caleb.

I ignored it and stuffed it back into my pocket as we walked down the street towards a small cafe. I could tell people were staring as I got my cappuccino and sat across from him, he leaned forward across the table, smiling at me.

He seemed to be enjoying himself.

"So, how long have Caleb and you been dating?"

"I've known him longer than I've been dating him. We haven't been dating long though, so answer your question." I commented sipping from the Styrofoam cup.

Christofer picked at the danish in front of him, and took a bite and smiled. "It's really good, you should try a piece Riley."

I smiled politely as he held a piece to my lips and I opened my mouth to accept it. His one hand moving to cover mine, and I slipped mine into my lap, I really wanted us to be just friends. I ran a hand through my hair as I looked down at my lap, a sigh falling from my lips.

"Christofer, I really want you to know that I love Caleb, and I'm not leaving him anytime soon and I really want us to be just friends."

"I understand that, I know what it's like to be in love. But I also know what it's like for people for fall out of love and fall for someone else."

A frown touched my lips at his words, would he try to make me fall out of love with Caleb? His eyes searched mine it seemed, and a line creased his brow. "Don't frown, be happy."

"I am -," before I could finish a group of girls came over asking for his autograph, maybe Christofer and I being friends wouldn't be a good idea. I pursed my lips together as my phone vibrated again, undoubtedly it being Caleb.

I smiled over Christofer sheepishly as I stood up and looked at my phone, Caleb was calling me.

"I have a call, be right back."

"Don't take too long," Christofer said with a smile as he signed the napkin and turned to talk to the girls.

I walked towards the girl's bathroom and inside, and sighed as I answered the call.

"Caleb?"

"Rye! You didn't answer my text."

I frowned, he almost seemed to sound agitated with me.

"Sorry, I went out with a friend."

"Which friend?"

I bit my lip as I leaned against the sink, contemplating whether or not I should be honest and tell him. Relationships run on honesty and I closed my eyes, knowing I had to be upfront with Caleb.

"Christofer." I muttered into the phone, turning to look at myself in the mirror. I continued chewing on my bottom lip.

"Who? I couldn't hear you."

"Christofer," I said a little louder into the phone.

"Rye, I can't hear you, for a second I thought you said Christofer."

I paused as I gulped, letting it sink in, the silence was painfully awkward and lasted for what seemed like a lifetime but it was probably only a minute or so.

"You went to lunch with Christofer Drew?"

"He's not a bad guy."

"We'll talk when you get back," Caleb's voice going cold and rigid.

"Caleb, this is not a big fucking deal."

"I said, we'll talk when you get back."

"Fuck you, Caleb Turman. Stop acting like a jealous, twit."

"Fuck me? Already hav-"

I hit the end button and huffed out an angry breath and then my phone started vibrating again in my hands. I was pissed that he'd get so upset with me for having lunch with a friend, I couldn't believe it. I wanted to scream.

Just because Caleb and I were dating didn't mean he could dictate my life and who the hell I saw. I moved towards the bathroom stall, my phone continuing to ring non-stop, Caleb's name continuing to show on my Caller ID.

I answered, "Riley, you fucking hung up on me."

"Caleb, I can't hear you, dropped my phone in the toilet."

"No, you didn't, or else you wouldn't be talking to me."

I let my hand slip from the phone and let it fall into the toilet, "Now, it is."

I walked out of the restroom, not even caring about the phone or the wasted money. I saw Christofer smiling nervous while giving me a worried look, his eyes raked with concern as I shoved my sunglasses on top of my head.

"Riley, where's your cellphone?"

"I left it in the toilet."

The couple second pause made me look up towards him, to see a smile across his lips and he started to laugh. "Why is your phone in the toilet?"

"Because Caleb pissed me off so I dropped it in the toilet, I hate him."

"You were just saying 10 minutes ago that you loved him," Christofer commented crumbling up his napkin and standing up, amusement over his face.

"Don't give me that look Christofer Drew, that smug amused look," I commented with a laugh as I hooked my arm through his and he tossed the napkin into the trash. "Do you want to go to the park?"

"I'd love too, Riley."

"Good, because I really want to swing right now."

Our arms remained hooked as we walked down the streets looking for a park but we couldn't find one. I sighed as I leaned against a brick building feeling frustrated and angry.

"Why is it I can never be happy for long?"

The words left my mouth before I had a chance to take them back, Christofer looked at me and pulled me to him. I let my head fall into his chest and started crying. I had come to see Caleb, win Caleb and I did. But now, after only a couple hours everything was falling apart. Maybe Caleb and I weren't meant to be together.

Christofer's arms were strong around me as my body shook against his, and then it started down pouring on us. He pulled me towards a small hotel down the street, and tugged me inside.

"We'll stay here until the rain stops, it's getting too late to walk back."

I nodded as I wrapped my arms around my wet body, the manager looking at us and Christofer handed him a credit card and the room was charged for. I smiled as we walked up the stairs and into the room, I sat on the edge of the bed.

"Do you remember the hotel's address because I can't and I don't even know the number of any cab service's to get back."

I was shaking lightly, what if Caleb called the police or went looking for me and got hurt in the rain? I couldn't help but start to cry a little at the thoughts that continued to run through my mind.

Christofer walked over and rubbed my back gently and I looked at him and smiled. "Thank you for everything," I said and moved forward to kiss his cheek, my lips barely brushing it, then his hands stopped rubbing my back and his hand caught my chin.

"Riley," He whispered as I knew this would instantly be wrong, for me to kiss Christofer, to even be here with Christofer was wrong.

"How much do you love Caleb?"

I squeezed my eyes shut, I couldn't kiss Christofer, the way Caleb's name came from Christofer's mouth snapped me back into reality. "I can't do this with you Christofer, Caleb means the world to me."

"Then why are you here? This close to me?" His breath was now fluttering over my lips, and I pulled back shaking lightly and his hand fell from my chin and into his lap. He sighed as he picked himself up and walked into the bathroom and I felt bad.

I moved towards the bathroom and knocked on the door lightly, "Christofer, please don't take it this way. Don't be mad at me," I fumbled with my words as my hands hit the door.

"Christofer, I love Caleb. I like you, you're a great guy. You're handsome and charming and a talented musician. You don't even know me, I'm a real bitch sometimes. I'm moody and angry half the time, I poured cold water on people, I'm flirty and fun sometimes and I'm not just a body. But Caleb sees past all of that, he sees me. He is my world, he is my everything. Surely, you understand that. Please understand."

Christofer opened the door, and looked at me, a smile touched his lips. "I do, and I'm sorry I've been trying to get in your pants even though you obviously only want Caleb in yours."

I laughed as I tugged him back to the bed, and we sat and talked. I laid on my back staring at the white painted ceiling and Christofer laid beside me, talking about his past, present, and hopeful future.

I smiled as I looked towards the window to see the rain had stopped, "Wanna try and to wander back?"

"Yeah," Christofer said as he tucked his hand into his pockets and we walked from the hotel room and down the stairs and I froze as I saw Caleb and the rest of the gang, his eyes darting from the man towards Christofer and I walking down from the hotel room he had just purchased.

How bad did this look?

Caleb charged forward and before I could say anything, stop anything, Caleb was on top of Christofer and swinging full force. I moved to pry him off, thinking that I was probably one of the boys or someone trying to stop him. He turned around and swung. His fist connecting with my jaw and sending me backwards down a couple the last flight of stairs and onto my back, pain erupted throughout my body and I let my eyes close.