⌗ 32
third person ✎ᝰ
➸ Wednesday
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Denial washes over Riley as she sits across her best friend for the first time in what seems like forever. The morning had dawned and brought upon a new day, as well as a surprise visit.

She pinches the skin of her hands repeatedly, entirely dazed and confused at the sudden happenings. A faint red mark takes shape on her dorsal due to the capillaries bursting under her skin. "Are you real?" Her voice wobbly.

Andy looked different. Good-looking is what ran through Riley's head. The latter looked quite charming. Perhaps the distance had made the older girl seem somewhat unfamiliar given their time apart. It felt uncanny in a way.

"Do I look fake?" Andy chuckled. "I'm real, Riley. Are you really that astonished that I'm here?"

Riley tilts her head slightly. "It's not that." She answered. "I just can't seem to fathom everything now that you're here. That's all." Her voice soft.

Andy reaches for Riley's hand across the table. It's warm and tingly. "I need you to know that I'm real. That I'm here. I wanted to see you."

Those words alone had singlehandedly moved her. Riley was almost sure that the sight and feel of her best friend had caused her brain to release oxytocin. It might even be true to say that this stimulated other feel-good hormones like dopamine and serotonin. Just everything,

all at once.

There's a warm smile that forms on her face. "I thought you weren't flying over till a couple days before my graduation?" Riley questioned. "And what about Koen and Nix? Weren't they meant to be coming too? I wanna see them..."

Andy's hand lingers over Riley's a mere moment longer. "I changed my mind." The latter begun. "At first I planned on flying in with those two idiots but I just got too impatient," She chuckled. "I thought to myself that I had to see you sooner or later so...I got on the next available flight."

"And the other two?"

"Koen and Nix will be here tomorrow night." Andy addressed. "For now it's just you and me."

The latter lifts her hand away from Riley's. It invites a wave of coldness that she detests. The sense of connection and belonging hovers away.

The time and distance had made things difficult for the both of them to establish and keep the connection they once had. The work load and life style they both possessed were evidently distinctive given the cultural differences.

It was a lot more laid back at home. Riley could still remember it all too well. But it's different now. She'd gotten so caught up with her school life and her own relationship with Mason that she forgot her best friends little by little.

Andy most especially.

There was an underlying tension she couldn't quite pin point—but it hovered over them like a nimbostratus cloud. It was so different.

"Do you have plans tonight?"

Riley nods. "I do." She smiled. "I'll be coming over so we can discuss things with uni applications and grad stuff. Just that really."

Andy clicks her tongue. "Is that really plans though?" She laughed. "Seems like you're just doing school stuff outside school hours."

The youngest shakes her head. "I mean it's necessary." She explained. "We'd be leaving it to the last minute if we don't prioritise our preferences. Besides, I'd do anything as long as I get to see Maisie. That's all that matters."

The smile that forms on Andy's lips mirrors that of Riley's. "That's really cute." She beamed. "I'm really happy for you Rye. This—it's so good to see you finally happy with someone special."

The atmosphere felt a lot more gentle than it had been since Riley had first sat down. She figured that all she really needed was some time to finally get used to the idea of her best friend being in her presence for the first time in a long time.

She wasn't sure why it felt weird in the first place, but perhaps it was just her anxiety and nervousness taking a toll. It's normal to feel that way—it's nothing more than nervous excitement.

Andy had always been a sociable person. Her extroverted nature tended to often lead to many friendships in and around their circle.

It was the type of popularity that Riley could not match back home. In fact, Andy's popularity had gotten too overwhelming for her. She felt out of place and often drowned in the kinds of attention that Andy had been so accustomed to.

It all fell quiet when Riley had moved. A new home in a new country—a new school and no friends. All she really had was Mason. How different would her life be now had she not met Maisie on that first day? How different would her life have been leading up this very moment?

It was strange to no longer be in the shadows of her best friend. Koen and Nix were always paired off together somewhere and Riley had been shadow that followed Andy wherever she was.

She felt unseen for most of her high school life. People claimed that her popularity was nothing. Something that she leeched off Andy and nothing more. Riley had always been genuine to the people around her. She couldn't quite figure out why she felt like a nobody in a crowd of people.

People talked. More often than not. People were talking about Andy like she put the stars in the sky. Andy felt like was the Serena Van Der Woodsen of their time. Unreachable, even if she were in the same room. That's how it just was.

Riley, a mere Blair Waldorf trying to live in the shadows of her best friend. Riley, a mere Blair Waldorf trying to claim her place in the world.
Riley, a mere teenage girl trying to reach her aspirations and dreams and live her life.

Riley, who through and through, found her place. In a new town, in a new country, in a new home, a new school, and a new person.

It always comes down to Maisie. It always does. And the mere thought of the girl had brought a smile that could not falter.

And so it never does.

"Marsh." The sound of an all too familiar voice had ultimately turned her face without a second to process it completely.

Mason stands off to the side. She's got her hair down and in loose waves. Her make up is light with a soft pink lip. Riley's heart beats against her chest at the sight of her girlfriend in a white oversized shirt, faded black mom jeans and a black and white cap. She looks so handsome.

Mason hands Riley a brown paper bag. "I couldn't find the book you wanted at The Next Page so I drove to Flipped and—" There's a grin that slowly forms on her lips that tells that she's proud of herself for finding it. "they had a copy."

Riley stands from her chair and pulls Mason into a warm embrace. "Baby, I'm squished."

The brunette takes a small step back. "I can't believe you drove all the way to Flipped. I can pay for gas? Just to make up for the drive."

Mason shakes her head. "No need. I'll take care of it." She reaches for Riley's hand and intertwines their fingers. "If you're happy, which I'm pretty sure you are, then I'm happy."

There's an undeniable look of pure love and adoration that sinks deep into Riley's face. "I am happy," Her eyes turn to crescent moons. "Thank you again for driving all the way there..."

The brown paper bag holds a copy of Last Night at the Telegraph Club—Riley's next read. A story that follows young Lily who explores her sexuality. The book had garnered her attention at her most recent visit to the book store several days prior. The plot reminded her heavily about herself and her journey to discovering herself.

The book was sold out the next day when she planned on finally buying it. The book keeper had promised more stock within the next few days. She just wasn't sure when. Riley just hoped for the best. It seems that they still had none based on Mason's trip to one town over for the book.

"Are things going well?" Mason questioned. Andy is still sitting down at the table. "I hope I wasn't in the middle of anything important."

The latter shook her head. "Nope. You can't ever get in the middle of anything." Riley presses her lips against Mason's for the first time today.

Her display of affection had earned a loud "whoop" from Emilio at the front counter.

"Our biggest fan," Mason chuckled. "Though I do think his spot is wavering. Renz is now determined than ever to pay for our wedding."

A soft chuckle runs past Riley's lips. "Not unless Mama pays for it first." The Marsh family had been so supportive of their relationship. It had brimmed immense happiness for the both of them. All they ever dreamed of was an unwavering support system that loved them through and through—no matter what.

The sound of a chair scraping against the floor garners their attention. "Hi."

Mason shifts her gaze to the unfamiliar girl standing across the table from her girlfriend. The person in question to Mason wasn't exactly all that unfamiliar. In fact, she knew quite a bit.

Mason had kept a decent amount of information about all of Riley's friends whenever the latter had brought up the trio up during their talks.

Andy Perez—the girl that everyone wants to be.

"Hi," Mason smiled. "You must be Andy." She extends her free hand across. "It's lovely to finally meet you. Riley always has nice things to say."

Andy takes Mason's hand in her own and gives it a firm shake. "I am. Likewise, Mason. It's great to finally meet Riley's partner." The smile on her face makes Mason feel at ease.

"I do apologise for interrupting." Mason chuckled lightly. "Riley told me to come pick her up after I bought the book." She points to the paper bag. "We were gonna head over to mine if you wanted to join us? I've got company at home though so it'll be a bit of a crowd if you're into that."

Andy tilts her head. "I'd love that actually. You'd really let me come over though? You barely know me. You might not like me..."

Mason raised her hand slightly to decline. "I don't know you. That's true. But any friend of Riley is a friend of mine. I trust her."

Riley squeezes Mason's hand and smiles. "Come on, Dee. I know you want to." She giggled.

"This is honestly so sweet of you." Andy adds.

"If you need anything on the way just let me know and we can make a quick stop." Mason suggested. "I'm happy to drive wherever."

Andy nods. "I do have one place in mind."