What Are You Waiting For?

I walked down the hall into Riley’s room, opening the door quietly. I looked at him and he was half asleep.

“Hey Nick.” He said, smiling a big smile at me.

I couldn’t help but smile at him back. “What are you so happy about?”

“Ethan came here. He actually came here because he wanted to know how I was doing. He actually cared. And when I was almost asleep, Ethan got up and he kissed my forehead before leaving. You should’ve seen my face when he closed my door. I could’ve been classified as the happiest person in the world. I think he actually likes me, Nick.” Riley explained, sitting up slightly.

I sat down on the bed. “Do you like him back?” I asked, kind of afraid of the answer. I don’t know whether I want him to get together with Ethan, especially with their past attempts, most of the faults being Ethan’s.

“Well yeah. Just because he was a douche bag to me after Christmas break last year doesn’t mean that all my feelings for him are gone. It’s not that easy to let someone go.” Riley said, sounding like he was admitting something to me, and to himself.

I sighed and looked at him, smiling a little bit. “I want to stay that I still don’t trust him, I really do.”

“I know, but…just let this run its course. Maybe something will come out of this.” Riley said, smiling a little.

I leaned in to hug Riley. “I trust you and your judgment. Hopefully Ethan isn’t messing with you again.”

“I hope so, too.” Riley said, leaning away from me.

“How are you feeling?” I asked.

“A lot better, actually. I think I can eat something other than crackers.” He said, laughing a little.

“That’s good! What do you want?” I asked, willing to make him something for dinner.

“You don’t have to make me anything, I’ll come and get something when I’m ready.” Riley said. “Thanks, though.”

I smiled at him, hugging him again before getting up and leaving Riley’s room. I saw Ian, but no Ethan.

“Where’s Ethan?” I asked, sitting next to Ian.

“He just left.” Ian said, kissing me.
“Oh, I didn’t get to say goodbye.” I said.

“You’ll see him tomorrow.” Ian said impatiently, attaching his lips to mine again, scooting closer to me, practically on top of me. I placed my hand on his neck while his hands started going up my shirt.

I pulled away from the kiss and Ian looked at me, confused.

“What?” He asked.

“Not when Riley’s parents are gonna be home soon.” I whispered, smirking.

He sighed, slowly sliding his hands from under my shirt, teasing me with how slow he was going, then squeezing my hips, making a moan pass my lips without my control. I sent him a glare, my lips on his once more.

I heard the garage door open, meaning his parents were home. Our lips came apart, and we smiled, giving a quick kiss before they walked into the house.

“Hey boys, how’s Riley doing?”

“He’s sleeping yet. That’s basically all he’s been doing all day.” I said.

“Well I’m gonna go and check on him. Hopefully this is just a twenty four hour thing.” His mom went toward his room and opened the door. We heard a big “Hi honey” when she got in there. I smiled when she said that; she’s so happy and bubbly.

“I love his mom.” I said, cuddling with Ian while we leaned back on the couch.

“She’s practically your mom, too.” Ian pointed out.

“It’s weird to call her Mom, I don’t know, it just feels awkward for me, since she’s not my mom.” I said. I tried calling her mom for a little while, but stopped because it was too weird.

Ian cuddled into my shoulder, wrapping his arms around me, kissing my cheek. “I love you.”

I smiled, kissing his temple. “I love you, too.”

Our lips met, but we were interrupted by Ian’s phone. Ian’s forehead rested on mine and he sighed. “Sorry, it’s my mom.”

“Well answer it!” I said, pushing him softly.

He smiled and grabbed his phone out of his pocket, pressing the little green button. “Hi Mom.” He said.

I heard his mom’s voice mumbling through the ear piece of his phone. He looked at the clock, and his eyes widened.

“Oh wow, um, you could come get me now, if you want.” He said, looking at me and pouting. I tried pouting back, but I couldn’t help but smile.

“Okay, bye, Mom.” He ended the call and looked at me. “I don’t wanna go home.”

“I don’t want you to go home, either.” I said, hugging him tightly.

“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow. And I’ll bring something for you.” He said, smiling.

“You don’t have to.” I said, stroking his cheek with my thumb. I always feel bad whenever he gives me something and I never give him anything in return.

“I want to, sweetie. Don’t worry, I won’t be staying up too late.” Ian said, kissing me, sliding his tongue passed my lips. I responded almost instantly.

“I love you, Nick.” Ian said, getting off the couch with me, kissing me again.

“I love you, too, Ian. I‘ll see you tomorrow.” I said, kissing him, hugging him tightly.

We heard his mom’s car horn, and we parted from our hug.

“Bye.” Ian said quietly.

I pressed my lips to his once more before letting him go. “Bye.”

I watched his mom pull out of the driveway, a smile never leaving my lips.

“Ian left and I didn’t get to say bye?” Riley asked, coming out of his bedroom.

“He just walked out the door, sorry.” I said, smiling at him.

“It’s alright, I’ll just have to hug him that much longer tomorrow morning.” Riley said, going into the kitchen.

I followed him and leaned against the counter. “What do you think I could do for Ian to pay him back for everything he does for me?”

He looked at me. “He told you not to get him anything.”

“I know, but I feel bad.” I said, thinking about everything he likes. “Would you want to come with me to look for something?”

“If I can shower first. Don’t you think Mom and Dad would want us home, though? We do have school tomorrow.” Riley said, making himself a sandwich.

“We won’t be gone that long. I just want to go to the store a couple blocks from here.” I said, smiling. He said he liked flowers. Everyone likes flowers. Twenty bucks can get me a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolate, hopefully.

“Alright, give me like, a half hour. I won’t do my hair, I can just wear a hat.” Riley said, wolfing down his sandwich. I don’t think it’s a good idea, but he’ll figure that out later.

He jumped in the shower and got dressed in a record time, at least for him. He threw on one of his many beanies and we left the house, not bothering to tell his parents; they were probably already sleeping.

We made it to the store in a little under ten minutes, and we went by the flowers.

“Roses?” Riley asked, picking one out of the holder, smelling it.

I nodded, smiling, picking out eleven of them, then going to the holder next to it and pulling out a chocolate rose, one of those roses where the chocolates are wrapped in red foil and shaped like a rose.

“Are you putting that one in the middle?” Riley asked, holding the other eleven roses.

“Yeah, do you think he’ll like this?” I asked, also grabbing a box of chocolate from the shelf underneath the roses.

“He’ll love this.” Riley said, smiling at me.

“Good. Lets go check out.” I said, going up to the counter and paying for everything. I lucked out when the total came to $19.50. I handed him the twenty and accepted my fifty cents in change.

Riley and I walked out of the store, stopping at the little candy vending machines outside the exit door. I put my fifty cents in one of them and got a handful of Runts. Riley stole all the green ones, since I don’t like those.

When we got home, I arranged the flowers in a vase I found underneath the sink, bringing it into our room so Riley’s parents wouldn’t think that it was for either of them. I fell onto my bed, falling asleep almost instantly, not realizing how exhausted I actually was.