riley giggled at cleo who attempted to mimic one of the mean girls at p.e. the two ended up walking out of the gym, not wanting to participate in volleyball anymore by excusing themselves to the water fountain.

"woah, look." cleo pointed into the weight room. there stood the dolan twins in their natural habitat, lifting weights along with a few other muscular guys.

this whole time she never paid any attention to the weight room and now she planned on doing it more. cleo nudged riley with a smirk. "i see you."

"cleo, he does not want a girl like me." riley shook her head, sitting on the floor in front of the water fountain, leaning her head against the wall.

cleo rolled her eyes at her insecurities. "oh boo hoo. riley, it's the 21st century. anything can happen."

"sadly not to me."

with a sigh, cleo plopped down next to riley. "you're so pretty, riley. the boys here suck but let's face it, you are so good on your own without a guy."

"i know that but it would never hurt to have someone." riley shrugged. everyone in their grade seemed to experience a relationship except for her. she knew she was probably young but what was stopping everyone else from living their life in the moment?

"and you'll have someone but they have to be the right one. they'll come along when you're ready."

"i guess you're right." when riley gets the relationship she wants, she does hope she's with the right person and not some jerk.

"until then keep dreaming over harry styles, my friend." cleo patted her friend's cheek.

"hey, now i have high hopes for harry and i." riley laughed. "but seriously, you're so nice to me, cleo. i see why you have a boyfriend."

"you're my best friend. of course i'm nice to you. i have a boyfriend out of luck. if i never talked to him first we wouldn't be dating."

cleo's boyfriend resembled jake t. austin, the thing that made her crazy to start with. she asked him if he ever gotten told that he looked like the actor which lead to conversation. conversation lead to flirting, then boom, cleo had a boyfriend. pure luck and confidence. riley had neither of that.

just then some of the weightlifting guys came out of the weight room looking all sweaty and pumped. riley searched for ethan throughout the crowd. he draws her in every time.

she seen him walk by as he was in conversation with his brother. all of a sudden ethan turned around, walking back to riley, squatting down in front of her. shocked, riley stared at the boy for what he had to say. him being so close, she noticed the sweat that glistened all over his muscles and how his hair still looked perfect even when it fell in front of his face.

"hey, would you want to interview me today during lunch? i have some things i need to say that might go great."

riley remembered when he told her to look at him when she was speaking. as much as she wanted to, she couldn't. she avoided his eyes, fearing that if she'd stare into them she'd just melt. cleo secretly nudged riley hoping she'd get the hint to say yes.

"yeah sure." riley forced a smile that she felt self-conscious of.

"awesome, you know where to find me." ethan flashed her a bright smile before getting up and walking away.

the two girls waited until he was out of sight before they giggled uncontrollably. "he so loves you interviewing him."

"nuh uh, he just wants his article to look good."

"sure." cleo stood, pulling riley up along with her.

✧.*

at lunch riley hid in her dad's classroom. before going to lunch she had a panic attack just from thinking about the seniors' attention on her when she'd go to the table. for some reason, being alone with ethan was beginning to frighten her more and more, although, she did it the previous day.

"riley, is that you?" riley lifted her head up from the desk seeing the one and only ethan dolan standing in front of the classroom door.

"where's mr. mitchell? i just came to drop off my english essay."

"he's in the front office, said to put them on his desk." she said, reciting her dad's orders to his students.

"got it," he nodded, going over and placing his paper on her dad's desk. "so whatcha doing in here? you never came to me."

"sorry. mr. mitchell is my dad so i come in here sometimes."

"wow, really?" ethan dropped his jaw, making riley giggle at his goofy face. "i never knew that."

riley went over to her dad's desk, lifting up a picture frame with her family, showing it to ethan. "well uh, that's me a-and mrs. mitchell. they're m-my foster parents." she spoke, realizing how close she was to ethan now.

"you guys are such a nice family."

"thanks." she breathed out, a small smile forming oh her face as she placed the picture back.

"so since you never got to me at lunch this now means you're stuck with me after school."

riley didn't know what to think.
it sounded like he actually wanted to hang out with her. who in their right mind would want to hang out with her?

"i am?" she looked up at the brunette boy in confusion.

"yes, riley. you are. what's your schedule like?"

riley bit the inside of her cheek. she didn't have much plans after school like some other people did. today was one of those days. "literally nothing."

"cool. where can i meet you?"

"uhm, well i have to ask my parents first."

"i'll ask them for you, actually. i'll text you before the day is over. i'll see you later, riley." ethan spoke in a rushed tone once he glanced at his watch before going out the door. all not before flashing a smile her way.

riley's cheeks burned. she was really going to hang out with ethan alone. well, that is if her parents said yes. this is something she never seen coming.

++

i have big plans
for ethan and riley (((: