ASHER

I'M CHECKING MY PHONE FOR ONE REASON.

0 messages from Riley.

It's my third time looking.

I know her hearing started at 10am this morning but I messaged her way before that and she hasn't replied. She definitely won't now because I'm sure she's killing it in the Dean's office.

Hope still lingers in my chest that she'll magically respond and tell me that she's not going anywhere. I don't want her to leave.

My financial accounting professor proceeds to the last topic but I'm barely listening or writing anything. My mind is elsewhere.

I don't notice that the class is over and Professor Whitman is packing up the screen projector until I see my classmates jumping up from their chairs and stepping into the aisle for the exit. I follow suit, throwing on my backpack over my shoulder and getting the hell out of there.

Still no text from Riley. How long do hearings take?

I check the time, wondering if she could still be in the office. Then I shove my phone into my backpack and step outside into absolute chaos. It's raining big ugly drops.

Running in the direction of the parking lot is the sensible thing to do in this situation but I'm not going to do that. Instead, I breeze towards the building where the dean's office is located on the other end of campus. I'm struggling against the strong winds, rushing past the colorful umbrellas fortunate students are using to shelter themselves.

Rain splashes against my face. It's cold as ice and falling so heavily I can barely see where I'm going. But I persevere and power through. When I get inside the building, I'm breathing heavily and I'm completely drenched. Curious eyes land in my direction the moment I skate through the doors. The looks I'm getting doesn't bother me one bit, whether good or bad I'm used to being looked at.

"Did a dark-haired girl come in here? I'm talking hair as black as night,"I try to describe for someone to respond. Anyone. "About... I want to say an hour ago? Big green eyes, around this tall."I use my right hand to measure Riley's height to the best of my ability.

One of the staff and faculty members with blazing red hair looks at me and shakes her head. "Sorry I haven't seen her. What's her name?"

"Riley Becker."

I scan the occupied floor. Riley's nowhere in sight. There are students waiting and faculty members all around. I spot the directory of different department offices. Shit. Should I text her again? Will she answer this time? I won't get lost if I decide to search the building top to bottom though at the same time I can't go any further. I'm drenched from head to toe, water dripping all over the floors and everyone's looking at me like I've stolen kids candy on Christmas.

Red head gives me a sad smile. "Oh. I don't know. She was at the dean's office but I'm not sure now."

"Thanks." I mutter. What the hell does that even mean? She didn't see her leave?

I turn around and head for the door. Looks like I'm gonna have to make a run for the parking lot after all. I exit the building just in time for the rolling thunder. This fucking storm. It's disrespectful. It's the type of weather that calls for sleeping in bed with the covers over my entire body without a care in the world. The weather makes anyone feel lazy and want to stay in bed all day.

I'm about to start running and attempt to beat a few drops when a voice calls out to me. "Humphrey?"

My heart stops beating. For a second.

I turn around.

Riley pushes back the hood from her head exposing her gorgeous dark waves. She's completely dry and I'm... a New York rat. I knew it was her from the familiarity in her voice. I know her face, she didn't need to do all that but it's kinda cute that she did.

Surprise laces her tone. "What are you doing here?"

"You weren't answering my texts so I decided to take matters into my own hands. I wanted to support you and well, I got worried a teeny tiny bit." I admit, holding up my thumb and index fingers with the smallest bit of room between them. "Tell me you're not getting expelled."I desperately search her eyes for the answer. I'm close to rioting if she's not going to be staying here. Riley deserves to be here more than the next person.

She grins and I'm wondering if I should take that as a good sign? "You ran all this way to find me? I'm touched," She presses a hand to her chest. "I mean, look at you. Your eyes are all red for me?"

"Riley." My voice is begging her.

The longer she takes to give me an answer, the more it feels like someone's squeezing my throat.

"I'm staying."

"Really?" The words bring a wave of relief over my body. I knew she'd be staying. At the same time I couldn't predict what the Dean would've done. I could only hope for the best and stay positive. It's paid off.

"I'm serious,"She nods and I know she wouldn't lie about it. "I'm not getting expelled. The craziest thing happened and you wouldn't believe Jade and the Dean—"

Her voice comes to an abrupt halt when I walk right up to her and scoop her up in my arms. I'm so happy I could kiss her. "Fuck yeah."

With the fire that sparked between us, I just can't lose her.

Riley squeals with her feet off the ground, not caring that I'm possibly getting her wet. Her body's pressed up against mine, I'm holding her with my hands behind her back and her legs are automatically wrapped around my waist. I really don't care who's looking. She's not going anywhere. I give her a victory spin and she loops her arms around my neck, enjoying the ride.

To stop her from getting dizzy, I put her down and she grabs my arm. "You're so happy,"She laughs, recovering from how swiftly I lifted her. "It makes me happy."

"Of course I am, you get to stay and I don't have to burn this school down."Then I cup her face in my hands, capturing her lips in a gentle caress. It feels natural. Us. Like this.

She smiles against my mouth. "You'd burn down the hockey arena too? For me?"

"That's pushing it,"I joke, planting a soft kiss against her jaw. "But yes I would. That's how much I want you here." She inhales and I only pull her closer. "You deserve to be here just as I am. I hope Jade learns her lesson. She can't go around copying from people who work tirelessly to make sure they're on top of their game."

Her cheeks brighten. "I'll tell you all things Jade Driscoll but first can we get out of here?"

"We're gonna have to make a run for it." I'm not sure she's prepared for that. Watching the rain is different than being in it.

She nods and pulls the hood over her head. I step out first, and stretch my hand to grab hers. Riley's fingers are as cold as mine. She comes forward, testing the waters. The droplets sprinkle over her puffer jacket.

"Wait."She grabs a hold of my upper arm, stopping me from moving any further.

We're standing in the pouring rain.

"Are you good?"Droplets fall from the point of my nose.

"I want to kiss you."She says, shoving the hood off her head.

Did she just get an idea to make out in the rain?

I don't ask about it because it's clear that she could care less about raindrops now. She's out here getting soaked already, hair sticking to the sides of her face.

This girl.

Cold fingers rake through the back of my head and I press my mouth to hers. Man, I could kiss her forever. These plump, sexy, perfect lips. The kiss becomes wet and cold and I could tell that she doesn't care and I don't either. She's happy and so am I. We stand there, bodies pressed together with the rain being the least of our concerns. Nothing compares to her. To this.

But as expected, all good things come to an end. So we end up running to the parking lot. Soaked.

Ever since the thanksgiving trip and the night I spent with her when we got back, if I'm putting our trip to get tested too— we've gotten closer.

When we make it to the comfort of my vehicle, Riley's buckling her seatbelt. My clothes feel sticky against the leather seat. I look over and she's giggling, eyes smiling. "I see why rain make outs are in the movies."

"Yeah. Do more of that." I give her a small encouraging grin. I'm addicted to the way her hands rake through my hair when we kissed. She does it every time.

"For you? Of course."She kisses my ear and leans back into the seat.

Soon, she's sending a voice message to someone and by the sound of things I'm guessing it's a classmate of hers that she's begging to take notes for her.

Subject: Art History.

Then she proceeds to tell her friends that she's not going anywhere. I don't know what their responses are but I'm sure they're happy.

On the way to my place, we stop to get a bottle of wine where Riley tells me all about the Dean and Jade as we cruise through the aisles. Who knew they'd be Aunt and niece?

"That explains why she's gotten away with everything." I can't say I'm surprised. Things like this happen often, especially with rich people. We walk among scammers and dangers every single day without knowledge.

"Right? Apparently the pressure of her parents wanting the best is something she isn't capable of. I guess she saw cheating as an easy route." She shrugs her shoulders.

"Do you think things worked out the way they should?"

"I think so because maybe if I did get into more evidence that I had, Jade or the Dean or whoever would've found out that we snuck into her room. I've thought about it now and with camera evidence from the hall or eye witnesses, who knows what they'd attach. I don't know so maybe it's for the best Jade admitted. Do you remember the two girls outside Jade's room?" Riley might look like she's about to burst out laughing any minute but she's serious as a judge too.

"Yeah,"Now that I think about it. She's right. The two girls outside the room did know something was up. I still remember how they looked at us. Did they buy what I told them? No idea. "We just have to see what else happens to the Dean now."

If the school's journalism department gets a hold of this story, it'll spread like wildfire.

"Yup. If we could report her I would but our closet isn't empty, you know." She says and I hum in thought.

Wheels are turning in my head though.

"She also tried to be scary and pointed at me saying 'are you threatening me?' You should've seen her Humphrey." Riley re-enacts the scene in the aisle earning a few stares from nosy customers. "It was exactly like that."

I get what she means with the closet thing.

I throw an arm around her shoulder, interested in everything she's saying. "Did she think she'd scare you? What was the purpose?"

I'm listening to her the entire time, the way she talks, how her eyes glow when she's on about how she handled the situation.

When we're back to business, I debate between getting a celebratory gift or two other than the Pinot Noir. The wine Riley's fingers are curled around. When I like someone, I just want to get them stuff. My life would've been different if I didn't have a scholarship and a hefty college fund that covers my expenses.

In the end, I purchased a bouquet of pink tulips (Riley's choice) and two ceramic mugs for our consistent hot chocolate consumption.

By the time I pull up in the driveway of my place, the enormous warlike droplets reduce to drizzling. My teammates aren't home which explains the empty driveway. The first thing I do when I unlock the front door is get out of my shoes. My toes don't look like mine as I walk through the living room into the kitchen to clean the mugs.

Riley follows behind and sets the wine bottle and bouquet of flowers on the counter. "I'm putting them here. We can use them whenever you want." I refer to the mugs, pointing to the cabinets above.

I let the warm environment push the cold out.

When I hang the mugs up, Riley takes damp her puffer jacket off and runs a hand through her wet hair. "Thank you for the flowers. Between you and me, no one's ever had me pick out flowers for myself. Actually, no one's ever bought me flowers. You're cute, you know that?"

My heart soars. "You're welcome. You deserve them."I mean the words I say.

She thrusts damp hair out of her face. "Have you gotten a call about our results?"

I grab two glasses from the cupboard and pop the wine bottle open, tilting it over one of them. "No, I didn't. It means we're clear."

"I'm still going to call to make sure, you know, just because."She insists. I'm not opposed to it.

I pour her a glass of wine. "Okay. Put it on speaker, I want to hear."

I watch her shuffling around for her phone. Ripping it out of her bag, it's miraculously full functioning as she taps on the screen.

The phone rings and rings and rings.

Just as she's about to hang up, a woman comes on with her best customer service voice.

But I'm tuned into Riley's. It's impressive how she gets into a mode. "Um, hi. I'm calling to find out about my results. I haven't received a call and I know the nurse told me that it means I'm negative but I still want to make sure."

"I'm going to transfer you. Hold on a second."The woman says.

"Yeah. Transfer me please, thanks." Riley nods as if the woman can see her. It's cute.

A second later, someone else comes on the phone. She explains the situation again.

"Alright ma'am, I'm going to need the date you came in, your name and date of birth."

"Hi,"Riley tells the woman the date and she hums, resorting to typing. I can hear the keyboard. "It's Riley Becker. My date of birth is November 17th, 2002."

The background becomes silent.

Riley looks at me and I look at her.

Then a voice booms through the phone. "All of your tests are negative."

Riley exhales, gleaming, hand on her chest. "Whew! Thank you, that long pause was frightening."

"Haha. I understand, didn't mean to scare ya and you're welcome," the woman chuckles softly. " Is there anything else I can do for you?"

Riley peers at me again. "Yes, I have Asher Humphrey here. He'd like to know his results too so I'm passing the phone."

"Alrighty,"The woman utters in a sing-song voice.

I take the phone from her grasp. "Asher Humphrey here, date of birth September 9th, 2002."

A few clicks later, "Looks like your results are all negative as well."

A grin spreads across my face. "Thank you. What's your name again?"

"Daniella."

"Have a good day now, Daniella. God knows I will." I end the call, heart pounding.

Setting the phone aside, I'm unto my glass of wine finishing it in one go. "Do you know what that means?"

Riley swallows, mimicking my actions by putting her glass of wine on the counter too. "What does it mean?"

"It means—"I lift her up and she wraps her legs around me, laughter spilling out of her. "You're going to take your clothes off—"I kiss the corner of her mouth and head south. "I'm going to slide my tongue in and out of you—"I trail my lips along the column of her neck. "and you will paint my face—"I work my way to her ear, swirling my tongue around the lobe earning a whimper from her. "in your cum."Nibbling on her ear, I watch her skin turn pink in response to my hot breath, the feel of my tongue on her body and my way with words. "What do you say about that?"

Her fingers touch my stubble and I'm more than knowledgeable of the fact that she loves it which explains why I haven't shaved it off yet. "I say, I'm down. So down."

My mouth crashes into hers.

We kiss like we're fighting.

From the kitchen, to the stairs then outside my door. We only release each other to push the door open and rip our wet clothes off. Afterwards, I kick the door shut and attach my lips to her smooth skin, gripping the side of her face as her moans fill every corner of my room. It's never sounded better here. She's already panting against me and I can't wait to hear her say things she never thought she'd say.

—-
Author's Note:
Thank you guys so much. Wow. I remember when I had five readers. Now, when I open the app I drown in notifications. Thanks for 357K and 2K followers! Thank you all for supporting my little story it means so much to me🥹 also I should probably change the name of the book to paint my face 🤭
—You guys are my next pair of eyes, let me know if there are mistakes so I can correct them thank you!