A/N: okay, to my readers. I am sorry it took so long to write chapter two...i was distracted, so i wrote chapter three pretty quickly for you all, so i hope you enjoy it. Also, i'm writing a few other stories and they are in third person, so sometimes i forget what tense or person...i'm writing in so the last line in chapter two was meant to be in first person, i'm just too lazy to go fix it sorry...but anyways, enjoy this chapter, hopefully chapter four wont take as long...

When i wrote this chapter i was listening to : 'So Much Love' - The Rocket Summer

Chapter Three – Slow Dancing and Star Gazing

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So now Riley and I were on good terms, actually being friends. Not just being nice to each other because of a deal anymore. I decided to forgive him and give him a chance to prove that he actually regretted what he had done in the past and wanted to start over again. We were allowed a mean joke every now and then, sarcasm was something neither of us could live with out and all the ridicule was good-natured.

I was worried though; Alex hadn’t called me back since that night. I didn’t want to call him back first because I was doing nothing wrong, he was the one that was being a bitch about the situation. I had simply made a new friend and now he was jealous because Riley was now his rival in more than just the category of good looks. Now they were fighting over my heart, or at least Alex was, I wasn’t sure whether or not Riley liked me, even though John was sure he did, and when I told Tabby the situation she voiced her opinion saying that the only solution was that Riley was in love with me. And Alex seemed to be getting jealous because he was starting to pick up on it as well. But still I remained unconvinced, at least for now.

But I had to admit, something was stirring between the two of us, every time he got close or our hands brushed against each other, my heart started pounding like thunder. Like one day I had tripped and landed on top of Riley. Our faces were so close our noses touched and I swear my heart never beat that fast before. He had rolled over though, switching the positions. He’d grinned when he saw my flushed face and then he pulled me to my feet.

But anyways Riley made work fun. Between his fruit juggling and can stacking skills. The day after we’d agreed on being real friends, at work we had to stack cans in some odd fashion to draw customer attention. Riley and I decided to try and make it into the Eiffel tower. Cause it was some type of French food. It didn’t work. Because of him mostly, he made everything fall over constantly, I thought that football jocks were supposed to be good at things involving depth perception and hand eye coordination, but I guess not in all things.

We ate lunch together everyday in front of the store at that small table in the shade of the overhang. We both brought bag lunches. As dorky and childish as it seems sometimes we even traded things.

“So what did you bring today?” he asked me taking his seat on the other side of the table. He put his brown paper bag on the table and pulled out a sandwich.

“I got tuna.” He said.

“Mm. I got grilled cheese.”

“Oh man. That’s sounds delicious.”

“It is. Trust me.” Is aid and took a big bite and closed my eyes making it look like I had just tasted a little piece of heaven. He laughed and took his sandwich out of its zip lock bag.

“Yeah? Two people can play at that.” He said and took a bite of his tuna. “Mmm. Delicious.” He smiled revealing some tuna through his teeth. We both broke out in laughter.

“Are we trying to seduce each other using sandwiches?” he asked. I gave a slightly suggestive smile. “Maybe.” A grin spread across his lips and he brushed his leg against mine. I hadn’t expected that and my face flushed.

“What else do you got?” he said when we finished our sandwiches. He pulled out a Capri sun. I pulled out a bottle of POM pomegranate juice.

“Pomegranate juice.” I said and took a sip.

“Aww, lucky, I love POM.”

I poured some into the cap of the drink and handed it over to him. “Enjoy, it’s on the house.”

“Why thank you.”

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One day Riley brought in a boom box, claiming that work was boring and that music was needed to spice things up a bit. Allen didn’t like the idea, but thankfully Greg told him to let us have or fun.

“Alright lets see, here is a mix CD that I made, it is composed of all my favorite crap.” Riley said and popped it inside.

A song I recognized began to play, I’d forgotten the name though. Riley started to dance weird, throwing up the rock sign with the thumb and pinky finger up and putting on his thizz face. I couldn’t help but laugh his face was hilarious.

“Alright, alright.” he said, “Let’s see if we got something you can dance to on here.” He began to go through the songs, letting a little of each play before going to the next one.

“Wait!” I said, “Go back I love that song.” I recognized a song from my favorite bands new CD. Wait, is what it was called. It started out slowly but then sped up. It said, “Just give me sometime, you’re not being fair, just wait, wait for me please, just wait. I promise it’ll be worth it, give me one more chance and wait, just one more night, I’ll be there I promise.” That was the chorus of the song and I knew it well. I began to sing along and Riley looked impressed.

“You’ve got quite the voice,” he said. I blushed and looked away. “Thanks.” I continued to put away the produce.

“No wait, keep singing.” I sighed and shrugged, and I continued to sing the song, I knew the lyrics to the whole song. And again he looked impressed. I sang out and I kind of lost myself in the lyrics.

“I like what I’m hearing, perhaps you’d be interested in singing a song with me? I’m writing a new song on my acoustic.”

“Yeah,” I said, “Sure, I sing for John all the time.”

“Ah, yes, our friend John the musician.”

“He’s really good you know? He’s at a camp learning more as we speak.”

“Well isn’t he the lucky one.”

“Quite.”

The song ended and another one came on. I recognized this one as well. It was a slow song, one that you might dance to at Prom. But it was a good song, romantic and sweet.

“May I have this dance?” he asked and bowed. I smiled. I don’t know why, but I said yes and took the hand he had extended out to me.

Suddenly my heart was pounding. His hands were warm and strong. I really hoped mine didn’t get all sweaty, because when some people got nervous their hands get all sweaty and it seems like it would be embarrassing. Luckily they weren’t yet. He placed his hands on my hips and I put my arms around his neck. I’d been taught how to dance by my dad when I was in first grade because the senior Prom was my dream back then, not so much now. But still it would be cool to go. Maybe with Riley. I thought and then I mentally slapped myself, Riley wouldn’t want to go with me. I know I wasn’t supposed to think this anymore, but some part of me still thought that when we went back to school at the end of the three months things would go back to normal. He would ignore only acknowledge me to ridicule me and this whole summer of friendship would be forgotten.

“You seem nervous to be this close.” Riley said. And I was, I’d never danced with anyone seriously before, I had danced with Alex before but that was just silly fun.

“Shut up Riley.”

“You never danced with anyone before?”

Embarrassed, I shook my head, no I hadn’t. How could he tell? Well, he was a lady-killer and always had a date to dances. Alex always got asked to dances, but he wouldn’t go because he would hang out with me.

“Then this is my pleasure.” He said. Our bodies were so close, they were touching and I could feel his body heat, as the song continued we danced slowly and I don’t know what came over me, but I laid my head on his chest and I relaxed a bit. He rested his chin on my head and it was simply bliss to be so close to him, to be held tightly and feel like he actually wanted to be dancing with me and like we both felt like we wouldn’t rather be anywhere else in the world. But that was until Allen came and yelled at us, and told us to get back to work.

I was pretty sure my face remained flushed for the rest of the day, and a smirk remained on Riley’s face for the rest of the day. He seemed to like being able to make me blush. But it wasn’t very hard considering how fair my skin was, but still, I’m pretty sure my face was the reddest it’s ever been and he seemed to notice that.

Gosh, sometimes Riley was so perceptive and other times he was the most oblivious person on the planet.

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I called Alex when I got home. He was my best friend; I wanted things to be okay between us. He didn’t answer the first time, but I knew it was because he didn’t want to talk to me. Alex carried his phone everywhere with him. He didn’t go anywhere without it. So that’s why I called again. He answered the third time

“Hello?” he sounded irritated already.

“Hey cutie.” I said. I could practically see the smile on his face when he spoke again.

“Hey Aubrey.”

“Alex, are we okay? I mean like, I know you don’t want me to hang out with Riley, but I really don’t have anything else to do. And you know, like I was about to kill myself because I was so bored, so it’s really I can do as a suicide prevention.”

He laughed and said, “Aubrey, why can I never be mad at you? It makes no sense.”

“Because you love me.” I said meekly.

“I do.” He said. And for a while it was silence, I didn’t know what to say and I don’t he knew either, I was pretty sure he wasn’t admitting it to me yet, just as a friend thing, but just knowing that he actually did was …

“So, how is the old crew?”

“Ah, they’re fine. We’re about to head out and catch some waves.”

“Then I guess I shouldn’t keep you.”

“Yeah, I’ll call you later though, okay?”

“Hey Alex?”

“Yeah?”

“I miss you.”

“I miss you too.”

We hung up after that. I missed Alex. A lot. If he was here Riley and I wouldn’t be friends, so I guess its kind of better he’s not because I think that its good Riley and I are finally friends. We have laughs and he makes me smile a lot, but I feel like something is going to happen between Alex and me, and we wont be as close as we used to be. I would hate for that to happen, no one could replace him ever, but I really enjoy hanging out with Riley and if I had to choose I’m not sure who I would pick, right now probably Alex still, but things have a way of changing, whether its for better or for worse.

Tonight was supposed to be a family night. So I couldn’t go anywhere. Not that there was anywhere to go. But still, I liked having my options. So anyways, on family nights we watched a movie and played board games.

“Alright, what movie should we watch?” my dad asked. I hadn’t really talked to him much since he explained everything. I guess I could see where he was coming from, but still, I think he should have given me the letters. I still think I should have been clued in with everything. It wasn’t fair to me. To my mother, to know she still sent me cards every year. To know that she still wanted to be apart of my life. I wanted to write her. To let her know my father had explained everything, but what would I say? It would be difficult and I would want to say exactly the right thing. And I don’t always have a way with words. Sure I get told I have quite the enhanced vocabulary every now and then, but it doesn’t mean I know how to put the words to good use. But what would I write to her, I mean, seventeen years. That’s a pretty long time. ‘Hey mom, it’s been a while, how ya been?’ Maybe one day I would just go see her, show up out of nowhere at her doorstep. I mean she’d be happy to see me right? Seventeen yeas she’s been trying to be apart of my life, why not let her know that she was a part of my life even if I didn’t get her letters. Because not a single day has gone by since I was old enough to actually think, that I haven’t thought, what happened to my real mom?

We played monopoly, and that took hours, we started at six finished at nine. I was surprised how long Jessica and Josh stayed in the game; they were rather good at it. They lasted longer than I did and Jessica won. Nine thirty was their bedtime though so after that I was free to use my phone and as soon as I got in my room Alex called.

“Hey there.” I sand answering.

“Hey.”

“You know, I never get tired of hearing you sing Walking on Sunshine.”

He laughed and said something to someone; I couldn’t make it out though. He coughed and laughed at something that was funny thousands of miles away.

“So there’s a three hour time difference and I still hear the waves crashing hard dude, what time is it over in the beautiful sunshine state?”

“Ooh, correction there Missy. California is the golden state, not the sunshine state.”

“Oh, well pardon me.”

“Ha, it’s okay, but anyways, it’s coming close to six thirty.”

“And you’re still surfing? Isn’t the water a bit cold by now?”

“We aren’t surfing anymore, we stopped around four. But we’re having a beach bon fire, we probably wont head back home till around one, maybe two.”

“In the morning?”

“Yeah. Course.”

We were quiet for a minute and then he asked, “Did you hang out with Riley again today?”

“Yeah, because we do work together and I mean like I said, right now he’s my only suicide prevention.”

“Yeah…why can’t I be your suicide prevention?”

“Well, your not here right now, but I assure you, you are normally my suicide prevention, Riley is just your substitute for a while, till you get back, or John or Tabby.”

“Okay. But cant the thought of just seeing your best friend again be enough?”

It was obvious he was envious of Riley. Really obvious. I didn’t know what to say though. I needed to be preoccupied waiting for him and Riley kept me occupied he kept me amused.

I could hear a guy in the background yelling for him to get off the phone and he was saying, “You can talk with your girl friend later, come party!” Had he told them I was his girlfriend? Flattering as it maybe I wasn’t and he didn’t really have aright to call me that.

“You told them I was your girlfriend?”

“No, they just assume things.”

“Oh, alright. Well I guess I should let you go…”

“Okay, but I’ll call you later.”

“Okay.”

I lay on my bed for what seemed like forever and I just stared at the ceiling. I didn’t even really think. Well, unless reciting lyrics to your favorite songs counts as thinking, then I thought.

Then my phone rang again. I answered. “Hello?” I didn’t know who it was since the number wasn’t in my phone; my caller ID would have identified them.

“Hi Aubrey.” Now this was something I hadn’t expected. It was Riley. Why was he calling? And I didn’t recall ever giving him my number….

“Riley? How do you have my number?”

“Last year in math, Mr. White made us exchange numbers with everyone in the class remember?”

“Oh yeah. I threw yours away.”

“Well, gee, thanks.”

I laughed. “So why are you calling me at eleven o’clock at night?”

“I’m bored.”

“So am I.”

“Ooh, you know what would be fun?”

“Hmm?”

“Star gazing.”

“Oh? You’re right. There’s this awesome place to stargaze I know about.”

“Where?”

“The roof of my house.”

Riley laughed. “You serious?”

“Yeah, come over, you know where I live?”

“Yeah, I figured it out, I mean we’ve known each other and lived in the same neighborhood for how long?”

“You’re right, come over I’ll wait for you outside.”

“Alright.”

I grabbed my jacket and slipped on my shoes. I tip toed out of my room and down the hall, I tried not to make a sound as I went down the stairs. My parents were already asleep, and I wouldn’t want to wake them and be caught sneaking some boy they didn’t know in the house. The only way to get on the roof was from my room.

The front door squeaked as I opened it. I winced at the sound; Sam was a very light sleeper. I don’t think she woke up. So I sat on the steps in front of my house and shivered, it wasn’t that bad outside, it was just warmer in my house.

I didn’t have to wait long for Riley. He came bounding down the street a smile blessing his lips and a twinkle in his eye. Why he was so happy, I didn’t know.

“Hey.” He said.

“Come one.” I said and motioned for him to be quiet. “But be quiet.” I led him up the stairs to my room. And he didn’t make a sound. The light was on when we reached my room and he took a look around. He looked at my poster, mostly of bands and a few here and there of movies. He saw the picture frames on my dresser and looked at them, more than half were with Alex.

“You sure do have a lot of pictures with Alex.”

“Yeah, but come on.” I said and motioned for him to follow me out the window. There was something in his voice when he mentioned Alex but I couldn’t really put my finger on it.

I took the screen off my window and leaned it against my wall, and then I climbed out. I was clumsy so being on the roof I had to be careful, I didn’t want to fall down and die. Once I was steady and balanced I climbed farther up on the roof and sat right in there middle of the roof, Riley was right behind me and he sat down next to me.

“Wow,” he said, “this is awesome.”

“I told you.” I said. But then I decided to change the topic and get Riley’s opinion. “You know, Alex is very jealous of you.”

“Why is that?” He asked using sarcasm and curiosity.

“Well, I think you might have noticed Alex has a thing for me, and he doesn’t like the idea of me hanging out with you. He thinks you’ll steal my heart.” Riley didn’t respond to that; he just looked up at the sky.

We sat there and it was quiet. The sky was dark, dark blue; I now knew where they got the color ‘mid-night blue’ from because that’s exactly what it looked like. And since this wasn’t exactly a big city and there wasn’t much to pollute the air around here we could actually see stars. The stars were amazing. I hadn’t sat up here in so long, I’d almost forgotten how beautiful it was. I loved it up here. I used to spend every summer night up here and I would stay up here and watch the sun rise. Sunrises were amazing to watch, if you’ve never watched one, I recommend it. The sky gets all pink and it starts to get brighter slowly. Well I guess it depends on where you live, that might affect the way the sunrise looks, but even if they aren’t like the ones I watched, they are so definitely worth watching. I had never shared this view with anyone besides Alex before, and he probably wouldn’t be happy to know I was sharing it with Riley, but I never felt so good sitting up here with someone.

“A shooting star!” I said getting excited; I hadn’t seen one in so long. I felt like a child getting so excited but it was awesome seeing one, its only there for a second and then just like that it disappears into the night. Riley was laughing lightly, minding the fact people were sleeping.

“It’s cute how you get so excited over simple things.”

I blushed. Riley called me cute. I could feel the heat in my cheeks. My heart started racing, just as it had the day we’d danced in the store. It was going crazy; I might have just had a heat attack. And this seemed like the perfect scene, like in the movies. The couple would be sitting on the rooftop and something like that would happen and then the guy would lean over and kiss the girl.

But riley and I weren’t a couple, he wasn’t going to lean over and kiss me. He wasn’t going to caress my cheek; he was going to say something cheesy and romantic. Or was he? He was looking at me with this intense look in his eyes and I felt like my skin was boiling. And ever so slowly he inched his face closer to mine.

“What is Alex afraid of again?” he asked, whispering in my ear, he was so close I could feel his breath. It sent a shiver down my spine.

“That you might steal might heart.” I said, my voice quivered. I could feel him smirk, he was that close.

“So am I.” I whispered.

And then he brushed his lips against mine. And I was embarrassed to say it but that was my first kiss. He smiled and kissed me again. But this time it wasn’t just a brush of the lips, he pressed his firmly against mine and his hand went to my cheek. It only lasted a few seconds, but he remained close to me, I could feel his breath on my cheek still.

“That was my first kiss.” I said embarrassed.

He’d backed up a little bit and I could see the surprised look on his face. “Really? A pretty girl like you hasn’t been kissed before? Not even by the envious Mr. Alex in California?”

What was it with everyone and calling me pretty all of the sudden? “I’m not all that pretty.” I said. “Everyone’s been telling me that lately, but I don’t see why.”

“You should take a closer look in the mirror.” He said.

“Is it just recently that I’ve become pretty or something? No one’s told me it before.”

“They’re tired of your denial.” He said in a serious voice. “The truth Aubrey? I’ve thought you were beautiful for a while now. A secret crush, you could say, that I’ve had.”

I blushed harder. Why had everyone decided to wait so long to tell me I was pretty? Riley took my hand and he kissed me again. I smiled, I realized then, that I never felt so right with anyone before, not with Alex, not with John, not with anyone, just Riley.