A Friendly Face Ch. 02

But then I heard the faint sound of a toilet flushing from inside the toilets, and since Riley was the only person in the toilets I could assume it was her flushing the toilet. I leaned my head against the wall, and looked sideways to watch the door. It opened soon after, and Riley stepped out. Her hair was still matted to her face, and head but she seemed better in some way; being given the decision to make herself.

I looked at her, and she stared at me for a few seconds before showing me the empty tablet bottle.

It's contents were gone, flushed down the toilet.

"You made your choice." I said, more of stating a fact than questioning her.

Riley nodded.

"They're gone, I flushed them all." She said.

I nodded, and stood up straight.

"No more Riley, if it becomes too much for you then you come to me. I'm your friend, and I'll help you. But no more second thoughts, of ever doing this again. Promise me?" I said sternly. Riley shivered, but nodded.

"Good, why don't you go back and wash yourself. I'll walk you to your class, when you're ready." I said smiling, and she slowly smiled back.

Riley went back inside the female toilets, and I could hear a sink inside running, and knew Riley was washing the orange juice from her hair and face. A few minutes passed, in that time I heard the hand dryer turn on, and the image of Riley drying her hair with the machine entered my mind. She looked beautiful, and cute with her hair out and wild. Soon enough Riley stepped out, and even I had to chuckle to myself seeing her.

"What?" Riley asked smiling.

Her beautiful brown hair was flowing, curled and free around her face; framing her features and stunning smile. The orange juice was gone, and she stood there looking far more beautiful, than Connie could ever wish to be; I sensed jealousy on Connie's part in her torment of Riley.

"Nothing, you look perfect." I said simply, smiling.

Riley smiled, and pouted.

"Yeah right, like I believe that. You're a bad liar." She said giggling, dismissing the notion I had just spoken of, and we walked towards her Art class. We waited together outside the classroom for the bell to toll, and classes to begin.

Eventually the bell tolled, and her teacher opened the door for her and the rest of the class who were coming.

"Well, I'll see you after class. Outside of school, I'll walk you home again." I said smiling, holding my bag over my shoulder by only one of it's two straps.

Riley nodded, slowly walking into class.

"I'll see you there." She said before turning, to walk further into the classroom out of my line of sight.

I smiled, and ran at full speed to my History class just making it in time to apologise to Mr Samson, for being late. He excused me, and I sat down to start my lesson.

After School, Outside Main Building

I exited the main building of the school, and saw Riley waiting for me near the school courtyard. She looked perfect, standing in her overalls with her dark brown hair flowing in the wind. Connie hadn't won this time that was for sure, Riley was perfect and Connie was never going to bully her again, I wouldn't allow it.

I saw Riley smiling as she saw me approach her, and she turned to face me. Her olive skin shone perfectly in the sunlight, and her body was perfect; as womanly as any man could dream a woman to have, no skin or bones there with a perfect personality to boot as well.

"Sorry, I guess I wondered if you were going to stand me up. I just always fear the worst in any situation." Riley said giggling, as she walked alongside me quite closely against my arms.

"You don't ever have to fear me showing you up, you're my friend. I told you once, I keep my promises." I said smiling as we walked the same route as on the first day we met to Riley's house. We walked together, and eventually I brought up Connie as a talking topic.

"Tell me, what did happen between you and Connie? I just have to know, why it got so nasty between you both." I said as we passed through a park, that was on the route to Riley's house.

Riley looked as if she was thinking of what to tell me, about her and Connie's relationship.

"We were once friends, we had been friends since Pre-School and went through school together. About two years ago, we fell out. It wasn't the fact that Connie became a cheerleader, it was the fact that we both liked the same boy. He was a foreign-exchange student from Puerto Rico, and we both liked him. His name was Hector, and we both really liked him. But she claimed she didn't like him, and told me that I was free to ask him out. When I was about to ask him out in the canteen, she beat me to it and asked him out. He said yes, and they began to date. It should have ended there, both of us going out separate ways but she became nasty. She said I was ugly, and that no one not even Hector would have asked me out. I guess I believed she was right, because no one has been interested in me. Hector left the school soon after." Riley told the story to me, and I found myself hating Connie even more than before I knew the whole story to her and Connie's relationship.

"The more I hear about that bitch Connie, the more I fucking hate her." I said as we passed through the park, and crossed a street.

I knew we were only a few more streets away from Riley's house.

"She said no one would ever like me, that I was ugly and fat." Riley said looking away from me, as if she actually believed Connie in some way.

"Hey, you're not ugly nor fat. You're a woman, you've got a woman's body. You're not skin and bones, but that's a good thing. You're a healthy woman." I said smiling.

Riley smiled slightly, but still seemed unsure.

"Well forget everything that bitch has ever said to you, it's all lies and bullshit." I said. Riley laughed, and gently nudged me in my arm with her own as we turned a corner.

We walked down the street, and stopped outside the garden fence of Riley's house.

"God, how did I ever meet a good friend like you? Seriously, you just won't stand for anything from Connie, or any bullies. I don't have that confidence." Riley said grinning.

"Just lots of experiences in my life." I said smiling as we looked at each other.

Riley just stared into my eyes, and smiled gently.

"You're an amazing man, James. I just wanted to thank you, for being there for me today. I would have given into those feelings, and taken those pills I think. I don't want to lose our friendship, I want to see where our lives go." Riley said, and without warning she leaned in and pressed her lips against my cheek, but I moved slightly and her lips moved onto my own and there they stayed for a few seconds. She pulled away, and her face was a mix of surprise and shock.

"I'm sorry, James. I shouldn't have done that, I don't know why I even kissed you on the cheek." She said stammering her words, and leaning against the gate on her garden fence.

She was fearful of the consequences of that innocent kiss, and she turned and quickly shoved open the gate.

"Riley, wait--." I started to speak when Riley spoke over me.

"I'm sorry, James. I'm really sorry." She said walking quickly up the path to her front door, and stepped inside looking at me once more before the door shut behind her.

I didn't even have the time to tell her that it was just an innocent kiss on my cheek, to thank me and that there was nothing more to it. The bad thing was it was Friday, and we both had the weekend to over-think what had just happened between us both. I had her phone number, as she had mine; I wanted to tell her that this was not a big deal.

I slowly made my way home, but not before I looked back and could have sworn I saw Riley watching me from the top floor window, of her bedroom. This would take some explaining, because I didn't want to lose Riley as my friend. I cared too much about her, for that to happen.

*

(Well again everyone who is reading, and enjoying this series I want all feedback, comments and any ideas you have for the next instalment. As I know this is a well liked series, and characters I want to know where to take the next chapter; those wanting to see it continue down a romantic road, leave comments, and those wanting it to take to a more sexual route let me know. I'll then decide depending on feedback, what direction to take the next instalment in. Hope everyone enjoys this instalment. Thanks.)