"Okay, can you just run through what I'm supposed to do?" Riley asked truly confused out of her mind.

"My parents found out I have a boyfriend. They would not like Felix so you will pose and pretend to be him. Just so they can get off my back about it." Aurora explained.

"You know this isn't gonna work," Riley complained relentlessly. "I don't understand why it has to be me though? You have tons of other guy friends."

"Yes, but Felix will get mad when I invite them. Please, please please, Riley!" Aurora pleaded and was giving Riley the saddest puppy eyes, that she couldn't say no to.

"Fine," Riley stood up as she packed her bags getting ready to leave. "But, I have one rule. No matter what, you can't fall in love with me."

With that said, Riley left the school and headed home leaving Aurora to ponder what she meant by it. Fall in love with her best friend? Of course, she wouldn't.

Friday finally came and the doorbell rang. Sophia, Aurora's mom, opened the door to find Riley standing there, in semi-casual attire with a bouquet and a small penguin plushie.

"Hello," Riley said as she bowed a little bit showing the older woman respect. "The bouquet is for you, Mrs. Owens." 

"Oh, thank you, dear. That is so sweet of you. Please come in." Sophia responded as she took the bouquet and let Riley inside.

Riley thanked her but slipped off her shoes before walking inside. Sophia noticed and wondered why she did so but let it slide for now. Sophia led Riley into the living room where Rodger, Aurora's dad, was.

"You must be Felix," Rodger said as he held out his hand out for her to shake. 

Riley did so and bowed slightly as she did with Sophia. "It's a pleasure sir, and must I say you have a very lovely home." 

"Well, thank you, my wife and I worked hard on it when we were renovating the place," Rodger said before he noticed that Riley wasn't wearing her shoes. "Might I ask why you aren't wearing any shoes in my household?"

"Oh, sorry about that sir. It's a force of habit. I grew up with my grandmother, who's Filipino. She's very strict about traditions and culture. One of which is leaving our shoes outside. If it bothers you, I could always put them back on." Riley hurriedly explained. 

"No, it's alright," Rodger replied and was interrupted by Sophia saying that she needed to finish dinner. 

The couple was, however, shocked to hear Riley offer to help out. Sophia told her to just relax but Riley insisted so Sophia let her help. Rodger sat on one of the island chairs as he continued to converse with Riley.

"So tell me more about yourself, Felix," Rodger asked straight away.

"Um, well I'm sure you'll be interrogating me all night sir. May I ask questions about you and your family as well?" Riley asked uncertainly.

"Bold and straightforward. You are different from all of Aurora's friends and past boyfriends. I like you." Rodger decided.

"Thank you, sir, I like you too," Riley responded which made Aurora's parents laugh along.

Aurora finally came down the stairs, finishing face time with Felix, when she saw that Riley was in the kitchen helping her mom and her dad was laughing as they talked. 

"...so that's when my teammates poured Gatorade all over me. " Riley finished her story when she locked eyes with Aurora. 

Rodger began laughing at the story and Sophia couldn't help but chuckle along. Riley cleaned up her station before going to greet Aurora. She took the plushie and gave it to Aurora before leaning in by her ear.

"You look ravishing darling," Riley told her before kissing her on the cheek.

Aurora blushed deeply at her best friend's action that was until she heard snickering from her dad and scolding from her mom. Riley smiled softly and led Aurora to the island where her dad was before heading back to help Sophia.

"Oh, sweetie, I'm nearly finished with dinner. Could you set the table instead? Rodger go help him find where the silverware is." The two nodded and went to set up the dining table leaving the mother and daughter.

"You picked a good one, Aurora," Sophia told her daughter as she put the food on serving plates. "That Felix is a gentleman and your father seems to like him a lot."

"I think it's because there's another boy in the house, mom," Aurora responded.

"Nevertheless, Felix is a good one." Sophia then told Aurora to help her with the food. "You best not let him go. They're so rare nowadays."

Auror couldn't help but think if she made the right decision to have Riley pretend to be Felix. They were far too different people. Felix was the typical jock that had all the popularity but Riley was the school's sweetheart. The mother and daughter then carried the food out to the dining room where everything looked fancy. 

"Wow, dad. I didn't think you would be able to fix the table up so nicely." Aurora chuckled as she set the food down. 

"As much as I'd like to say thank you, sweetheart, your boyfriend did all the work. I just showed him the cabinet where mom kept all the silverware and he did all of this." Rodger explained as Riley just smiled finishing a pyramid fold for the table napkin.

When they all went down to sit, Riley hurriedly pulled out the chair for Aurora and helped her settle before sitting down herself. As they began to eat, Aurora's parents continued to ask more and more questions which got Aurora even more nervous. Riley saw this and placed Aurora's hand in hers trying to calm her down. Just with a small touch, Aurora felt at peace, even more than with Felix, especially when Riley rubbed her thumb across Aurora's hand to comfort her.

"So you and my daughter huh?" Rodger started as he noticed Aurora's hand in Riley's.

"Yes, sir. I love your daughter with all my heart and will always be by her side as long as she lets me." Riley confessed and brought Aurora's hand to her lips to kiss them before continuing. "She's my everything."

Aurora was shocked to hear Riley's answer. Was she telling the truth or was she just playing a character? Riley was almost always the lead in the school plays and sometimes Aurora had a hard time figuring out if how Riley was acting real or not. This just made everything more confusing.

Aurora looked over at Riley to see that she was enjoying herself as she conversed with her parents and she couldn't help but see her best friend in a different light. This was still the same girl that always came to her rescue, day in and day out. The same girl who was friends with nearly everyone in school yet chose to stick by Aurora's side. The girl beside her was her best friend but could she be more?

"...then he punched me first so I fought back." Aurora heard Riley say as she zoned back in. 

"Did you win at least?" Rodger asked interestedly in the story. 

"Rodger!" Sophia slapped her husband's arm. "Felix, honey, we don't agree with violence but we understand, it was clear it was self-defense so we'll let you off okay?"

"Of course, Mrs. Owens," Riley responded before nodding to Rodger's question.

Aurora couldn't help but admire Riley for getting along with her dad. Rodger had always been so tough on her friends and even more when it came to her boyfriends but Riley broke through him so easily. It made Riley seem more different and intriguing. Then Riley's rule came back to her. Why would Riley say something like that? And to throw it so casually. 

"So, Felix tell us more about your family. Seems like you kept dodging the question about it." Sophia observed and Aurora panicked at what Riley would say.

Just as before Riley slipped her hand in Aurora's to calm her down, giving her a reassuring smile that said it was okay before taking a deep breath in.

"Um, my family life is kinda simple. My parents passed away when I started high school so it's always me and my little brother Martin." Riley then felt all the pity stares that she hated to receive. "Please, stop with the pity. I've come to terms with their death and I'm alright really."

"Who's been looking after you and your brother, sweetie?" Sophia asked as she wiped away the small tear that escaped.

"We don't have any other family that lived around here, so Martin and I lived with my Godfather. He didn't have the means to look after us so I had to pick up jobs to send Martin to school. I was riding on a scholarship so I only had to keep my grades up." Riley explained as if she'd rehearse this over and over again.

This only confused Aurora even more. Was what she said really true? Aurora knew that Riley had different jobs she worked at but she never knew her parents died or that she had a little brother.

Aurora looked over to Riley to see if she really was telling the truth but Riley wouldn't meet her eyes. Something Riley had always done when she knew Aurora would be able to see past her mask.

When they finished dinner, Sophia pulled Felix aside. "Felix, may I speak to you in private?"

Riley nodded and kissed Aurora's forehead before following her. Rodger then went to fix up what they ate with the help of his daughter.

"He seems to be really in love with you, Aurora." Rodger started as he began to wash the plates.

"He does, and I love him," Aurora replied but she could only think. 'Or do I really love her?'

Soon enough, Sophia and Riley came back into view and acted as if nothing happened. Time flew by and Riley had to go home.

"Thank you for having me tonight," Riley said as she bowed down to Aurora's parents.

"Boy, you can stop with the bowing. Your family now, so please, stop. It was a pleasure to meet you and we'd like to meet you again." Rodger said as he shook hands with Riley.

Aurora looked horrified by what her dad just said but was even more confused when Riley agreed.

"Of course, sir. If there's nothing else, I'll head home now." Riley said as she gave Aurora a kiss on the cheek goodbye before she walked out.

"Take care of yourself, Riley!" Sophia called out.

"I will!" Riley yelled back.

Aurora's head spun back and forth between her mom and Riley but before she could stammer out an explanation her mom nudge her to follow Riley.

"I knew from the moment she came in that she wasn't Felix. It was hard to tell who she really was but I know that look she gave you. It was the same one your dad had when we were going out. She tried her best to hide who she was for your sake but I could tell, sweetie." Sophia explained to her daughter.

"That girl loves you, Aurora, she will continue to love you even if you won't. Riley is something else and it won't be long until someone else sees that."  Rodger looked down at her daughter, seeing a confused look on her face form he chuckled.

"We're not saying that you made a wrong decision on who you should date but the fact that you brought her to meet us instead of Felix says a whole lot to her, to us, and to you. You don't know it but a part of you loves her for doing this and that part isn't the platonic love. Now go after her." Sophia finished and ushered her to follow Riley.

Sophia and Rodger watched as their daughter ran to her best friend, hoping that everything would be okay. Aurora ran after Riley as fast as she could. She just couldn't let her leave without an answer. 

"Riley wait!" Aurora yelled out. Riley stopped in her tracks but didn't move to return.

"Seems like, I couldn't get out fast enough huh?" Riley wondered to herself out loud.

"What did you mean I can't fall in love with you?" Aurora asked the question that ate at her throughout the night.

"Aurora, not tonight," Riley responded but she still wouldn't look at Aurora.

"No!" Aurora yelled as she ran to where Riley stood and held the older girl in place. "I won't let you go until you answer me"

"Heh, you were always stubborn." Riley chuckled slightly as she turned to face Aurora. "That's one of the things I always loved about you."

Aurora was frozen shocked at Riley's words and to see tears in her eyes. Her dad was right, Riley was in love with her. Riley took Aurora's hands in hers and brought them up to her lips as she kissed them gently. 

"I have always loved you, Aurora," Riley said as she held Aurora close, something that she had always wanted to do. "But you've never seen me like that and I've grown to accept it. You can't fall in love with me because that would be unfair to me, to you, and well to Felix."

Aurora stammered to say something but Riley acted quicker and leaned in to kiss her. Savoring this moment knowing that things would change forever. Once they broke apart, Riley wiped a tear from Aurora's face. Aurora hadn't even realized she was crying until Riley wiped it away.

"Hey, don't cry. I will always be here with you. I'll always come running when you call. I'll always love you from afar but you and I will never happen and I'm okay with just being by your side. Besides, I will always have tonight." Riley said as she tried to cheer Aurora up.  "I'll see you tomorrow at school okay?"

Without waiting for a response, Riley kissed Aurora's cheek before walking away. Walking away from the love she could never have.