Fighting for Her

"I really thought you had burned the kitchen down." Riley puffed her cheeks with a makeup brush as Anna fixed her hair. She pinned the front part of Riley's hair to the side, letting the rest of her waves tumble loosely down.

"Well I had to do something drastic, I didn't think Tommy would get you here on time."

Riley froze and debated whether or not to tell Anna about the "kiss".

"So what did he keep you busy with, besides getting that very large tattoo." She zipped up the back of Riley's dress, tattoo bandage free and in plain view. Anna shrieked when she first saw it and couldn't believe Riley would do something so unlike her, but she loved it none the less.

"Umm. Nothing. You called right after." Riley decided to spare her the details, opting to want to finally enjoy her party. As soon as she had said her quick hellos to everyone, Anna pulled her into the bathroom so she could change into her party dress.

"Boring! Okay. I think you're all set Birthday Girl!!!" Anna clapped up and down at her masterpiece. The girl who always wore sneakers or lace up boots was finally in a pair of black Mary Jane pumps and her jeans and leather jacket were replaced with a little black dress. "Are you sure you don't want the tiara?" She wiggled a plastic silver tiara that read "BIRTHDAY PRINCESS" in hot pink.

Riley crinkled her nose and shook her head. "I think the bow on the side of these shoes is good enough, thanks."

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Tommy's ear was being talked off by Stephen, an obvious fan of his, who kept bringing up the video of him beating Mad Dog Grimes. He felt out of place and kept switching his weight from foot to foot, finally deciding to lean on the kitchen counter. Thankfully, Noah came over and introduced himself as Anna's boyfriend and they struck up a conversation about the girls.

A group of people near the bathroom started to whistle and shout with compliments, making the boys avert their attention in that direction. Riley bounced out of the bathroom on her tip toes, twirling around Anna's lifted arm. Tommy's mouth opened slightly as he saw Riley emerge from the crowd. She curtsied in front of him and smiled.

"You look beautiful Ri." He said in a low voice. His eyes stayed affixed on hers, remembering what had happened just a short hour ago. He wondered if she was thinking the same thing he was.

Riley blushed and looked at her feet. "They hurt already." She looked up at him with a pout.

Anna grabbed her from behind and hugged her. "Time to drink Riley Mae!" She grabbed a couple of glasses and poured her some tequila. Riley's liquid courage.

Tommy mouthed "Mae?" to Riley in curiosity.

"My grandmother's name." She started to shout as someone turned the music up. Anna gave her both glasses and smiled wide. The shots went down with a burn as Riley stuck her tongue out after each one.

Tommy laughed and handed her his beer as a chaser and watched as she killed a third of it.

"Ugh. So awful." She frowned at the taste of both alcohols together.

Anna passed her another shot, this time taking the other for herself. "Yes, but so fun!"

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Somehow, a game of charades had erupted in the living room. Riley reached in the bowl and grabbed a tiny strip of paper. She let out a short laugh when she read the messy handwriting. She studied it for a second and raised four fingers in the air when she was ready to start.

"Four words." Anna and Stephen both shouted.

Riley held out her arm and cranked the other hand in a circle.

"Its a movie." Max said.

Riley nodded. She covered one eye with one hand and swung her other hand furiously in front of her. Tommy and Noah started to laugh.

Anna jumped up and said "The Goonies!"

"Its four words Anna!" Stephen said, taking the game very seriously.

Riley dropped her hands to her sides and laughed. She held up a finger while she kicked her shoes off.

"Oh god. Shit's gettin' real." Anna sat up in her seat.

Tommy watched Riley lightheartedly as she began to stagger about the apartments tiny living room, nearly stepping on peoples feet. She lifted an invisible bottle from the ground and brought it up, slinging her head back.

Someone shouted "Drunk" and "The Hangover". She was about to give up when someone said "Pirates of the Caribbean."

"Finally!" Riley shouted, exasperated.

They all turned to see Ryan leaning up against the wall with a small wrapped box in his hand.

Anna groaned a little under her breath, while Riley just stood there staring at him, expressionless.

"Ryan. What are you doing here?" Riley let out the breath she had been holding. Tommy tensed up immediately. Anna got up and raised the music that had been lowered earlier.

"Who wants to take some shots? Yeah. You guys do. Come on." She grabbed Noah and Tommy by their elbows and dragged them into the kitchen. Tommy looked back over his shoulder as he passed Ryan, trying to get a reading from Riley's expression. Her eyes were locked on his as he went by.

"I couldn't miss my girl's birthday, could I?" She looked over to the couch and saw Ryan's two friends talking with some of her old college girl friends. Ryan adjusted his grey blazer and nodded towards his friends.

"I brought Kyle and Jacob along, if that's alright." Jacob already had his foot on her coffee table. She rolled her eyes and sighed out loud. He looked down and noticed the long scripture on her arm.

"What the hell is that?" He pointed at her wrist, his tone now bitter.

"My birthday present." She regretted her choice in words, hoping that he wouldn't ask from who.

"Well I don't like it. Why didn't you ask me first?" He spoke a little louder than a whisper, standing closer to her.

She let out a single laugh. The liquid courage building inside. "Why the fuck would I need to ask you first? For permission? You have got to be fucking kidding me." She stressed the word fuck, pausing after she hit the 'k'.

He looked up, getting some glances from a couple of people in the living room. He put his hand on the small of her back and led her into her bedroom, closing the door behind him. If there was one thing Ryan hated, it was being embarrassed in public.

Riley stood with her arms crossed, staring at him. Before she let him continue, she opened her mouth and spoke surprisingly calm. "Ryan. I haven't seen you in weeks." She sat on the corner of her bed.

He joined her on the bed. "I know. I'm sorry. It's just a busy time right now. It'll slow down once the new year starts." He sounded truly sincere. He brought her head close to his and kissed it.

"Here." He held out the small square box and smiled.

She took it from his palm and began to slowly unwrap the paper. It was jewelry, of that she was sure. Riley lifted the top of the box up, with a slow creak. Her breath fell and her head lowered.

"Earrings." She said flatly. The two square diamonds glistened under the ceiling's light. They were beautiful yet so cliché.

"Do you like them?" He spoke with a proud smile.

"Ryan." She cleared her throat and smiled. "MY EARS ARENT PIERCED!" She yelled out loud, not giving a damn who heard. He grabbed hold of her shoulders and laughed.

"What? Of course they are!" Still unable to be wrong, he chuckled at her.

She threw his arms off of her shoulders and pushed her hair away from her ears. Hidden under her dark locks were two perfectly smooth pink ear lobes. No piercings.

"Just go." She shook her head and fought the urge to curl up into a little ball.

"Riley, I-"

"Please." She leaned back and turned on her side. He leaned over her and smoothed her hair, she laid still. His arm slid under her pillow as he leaned in closer, his knuckles brushing against something unfamiliar.

He pulled out a black baseball cap.

Her eyes grew wide because she knew exactly what it was that he had just grabbed.

"What is this?" Ryan spoke loudly holding the hat up to her back.

She said nothing for a moment and then decided she was tired of everything.

In one high pitched voice, she yelled, "GO RYAN!" She got up and stormed to her door, swinging it open, revealing Tommy standing before it.

"Everything okay Ri?" He kept his eyes on Ryan, noticing the hat in his hand. His hat.

"Yes, Ryan was just leaving." She turned at lifted an eyebrow at him. "Now."

Ryan nodded his head in defeat and walked up to the blocked door. Tommy stood in front of him for a moment. He turned his gaze to Riley who gave him the 'okay' to let him pass. He moved slightly to the left and Ryan walked out. He stopped and turned, pushing the hat into Tommy's chest.

"I believe this belongs to you." He walked out, leaving Jacob and Kyle.

Tommy's eyes winced as he gripped the hat. Riley put a soft hand on his arm, "It's okay." She whispered. He felt tense under her grip but she trusted that he wouldn't do anything rash in her own apartment. His eyes drifted to her own and he saw a glimmer of sadness.

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"But your ears aren't even pierced." Tommy sat on the couch with her and Anna as Riley drunkenly repeated what Ryan had given her for the third time.

"How is it that you knew that Tommy, and Ryan had no idea." Anna shook her head. "Oh right. Because Ryan's an ASSSSSSS."

A lot of guests were still there and Riley had really gone to town on the bottle of whiskey they used to make Irish Coffee on Christmas. She was now leaning on Tommy's shoulder walking her fingers up Anna's shoulder, bottle still in hand.

"Okay." Anna got up and smoothed the pleats in her skirt. "I think its time for Princess to go to bed."

"No." Riley snuggled closer to Tommy as she spoke. "You smell nice." She looked up at him and gave him a drunk smile.

He raised his eyebrows and laughed.

"I'm surprised she's lasted this long." Anna turned the music down. "Can you just bring her into her room? I'm going to get all these people out of here."

Tommy nodded, trying not to stir Riley who was now half asleep. He slid away from her, holding her bobbing head with one hand. Knowing there was only one way to do it, he sighed and cradled her in his arms. He lightly kicked the door open with his foot and stepped into her bedroom. He didn't know where the light switch was but there was enough light coming in from the street lamps outside to navigate with.

She groaned slightly in his arms as he set her down in her bed. He placed a hand softly on her head and turned around to leave. Before he reached the door, he heard her soft voice.

"Tommy." Riley stood behind him. He stared at her patiently. She turned around and pulled her hair over her shoulders. "Zipper."

"What?" Tommy walked closer trying to hear her better.

"Help. The Zipper. Unzipper me. I can't." She swayed as she waited for him to oblige. He grabbed the tiny zipper in his hands and slowly unzipped the back of her dress. She slowly shrugged the dress off, standing in front of him in her black lace bra and matching panties.

"Uh, Riley." He tried not to look down as she turned to face him with dark green eyes. She grabbed his hands and pulled him toward her bed. She stumbled back as her bare legs hit the side of her bed. He caught her before she fell. She wrapped both arms around his thick neck as he set her down. She sat up and brought her face inches from his. He sat on the bed in front of her.

"You have freckles." She trailed down his nose with her pointer finger and stopped when she reached his lips. She brushed both hands over the small stubble he had on his face. He kept perfectly still. As she moved in closer, he backed up a little.

"Ri, you're drunk." He said with a husky voice. The lavender was strong and made him breathe in deeply.

"No." She smiled mischievously.

He couldn't help but laugh. "Yes." He grabbed both of her hands in his and held them in the space between them. "Lay down and go to sleep."

"No." She kept her eyes on his, furrowing her brows.

"Why are you so difficult sometimes?" He chuckled. It was hard for him to leave her like this. She looked like a dream and her smell was intoxicating. But he couldn't do it to her. The last thing he wanted was for her to regret something. He sat there in silence, fighting the urge to leave, and fighting the urge to stay.

"You think too much Thomas Conlon." Her lips collided with his and for just a second, just for her, he stopped thinking.