Homecoming

Chapter 3

Lissa hung up with a smile, then ran to her room to get ready.  She changed out of her comfy Saturday morning sweats to wear high-waisted button fly jeans and a soft salmon pink sweater that came down to the top of her jeans. It showed a teasing glimpse of her skin if she lifted one of her arms. Matching pink scrunch socks and her white high tops completed the look. After letting her hair loose from it’s ponytail, she powdered her face and put on lip gloss. All set!

On the way out the door, Lissa glanced around the large front yard and finally spotted her mom in the flower garden.

“Mom, I’m going to town to have lunch with Riley.”

“Okay hon. Can you pick up some milk on your way back home?”

“Sure thing. See you later!”

“Drive safe.

Love you.”

Lissa hopped into her car, cranked up the radio and headed off to town. Riley’s pickup was already in parked when she pulled up to their favorite fast food taco place, so she pulled her car next to it and went in. She spotted him at a table in the far corner, laughing with Dan. Ok, so not a date then. She was a little disappointed, but tried to hide it with a smile. Riley smiled and waved for her to join them.

“Hey guys! Did you order yet?” she asked.

“No, we were waiting for you,” Dan said. “If you both tell me what you want, I can put the order in for all of us.” They each listed off what they wanted and handed him some cash, then he went to the counter leaving the two of them alone for a few minutes.

Lissa was sitting across from Riley, looking down and fiddling with her hands in her lap

“So I was thinking,” he began. She looked up hopefully and met his blue gaze. He took a deep breath and continued sheepishly, “I think we’re better as just friends.”

Her heart pounded as thoughts raced through her mind.

What?!! Why? After pining over him all summer? He said he wanted to date! And he kissed me! What happened?

Ok get a grip…just put on a brave face. It’s not like this is an actual breakup. I mean, seriously. We've never really been more than friends…except in my dreams. Ugh!

She blinked her eyes a couple times, and bit her lip. “Um, okay. Sure.”

Just then Dan came back with the food and sat down next to Riley, who immediately asked

“Did you remember the hot sauce?”

“Duh,” he laughed and tossed a pile of packets in the center of the table.

The guys kept teasing and joking while they ate. Lissa laughed and actually had a good time in spite of her disappointment.

Once the food was gone, they decided to spend the afternoon at Riley’s house.

They were all out on the porch, listening to a cassette of the Red Hot Chili Peppers on a boom box and talking about the their favorite music groups. Lissa was standing, leaned back with her hands against the rail, while the boys sat on some lawn chairs.

“Next week is homecoming at my school. I was thinking it would be more fun if both of you could hang with me for some of the activities. Especially the dance on Friday.”

“Haha, I don’t know…I’m kinda over high school you know.” Riley said.

Just then the tape came to an end, Riley jumped up and went in the house to get another cassette. Dan stood up and walked over to Lissa.

“Don’t beat yourself up over Riley,” he said softly. She looked down at her feet and shoved her hands in her pockets.

“Whatever…”

“Seriously, he doesn’t know what he’s missing.” Dan leaned back on the railing right next to her, leaning closer and brushed his arm against hers.

Lissa breath caught in her throat, as she felt electricity rush through her body at his touch. She glanced over at Dan and found his grey-green eyes watching her intently.

Her heart started racing, as he held her gaze. In her mind a battle had begun, as she was trying to reconcile her emotions. She had never considered Dan as anything other than a friend. But, wow! That was intense.

Just then, Riley appeared with a Metallica tape in hand, and Lissa turned her brown eyes his direction.

“Sorry, I really need to get going,” she said. “Gotta stop at the store for my mom.”

“No worries. Catch ya later.”

As she drove away, Lissa couldn’t stop thinking about how Dan had looked at her, and how her body reacted to his touch. She had never felt anything like that before. In fact, when she thought back to the other night when Riley kissed her, there weren’t really any sparks.

Maybe she had just been too obsessed with the idea of being with Riley. Maybe he was right about them staying “just friends” after all.