The Bad Boy(Dare me)

CHAPTER 6:Fun Day Out

“Look at you all dressed up for Val,”Riley's mom says as he jogs down the stairs. He just laughs and grabs an apple off the kitchen counter,”Very funny mom. See you later,”he says as he heads out the door.

He speeds off to Valerie’s place.

Valerie's mom gets the door,”Oh my Riley, you've grown so much,”she says engulfing him in a hug.

“You look as pretty as always Sarah, these are for you,”he says as he hands her some flowers. Sarah blushes profusely,”Your prince charming is here Val!,”she shouts out.

Valerie enters the kitchen with an empty glass,”Mom, every guy is my prince charming to you. Let me guess, he got you flowers?,”she laughs. Riley laughs,”Oh come on, I'm a rare die hard romantic. You're wearing pants? How romantic! Not,”he says with a wide grin.

“Whatever Rile, let's go,” she says as she finishes tying her laces. She looks simple really, a white cropped turtle neck and some black torn high waisted skinnies. She then finished off the look with some black and white nike air max 270.

Riley on the other hand has on a navy blue muscle tee and some black skinnies. He then went for black Air Jordan 11 Retro.

“So where to first?,”she asks buckling up.

“First,we get breakfast,not just any breakfast,the best around,”he says as they drive off.

“Well this looks fancy and expensive,”Valerie says as they enter Zoe’s café.

“Come on, I'm paying,”says Riley as he leads them to their table.

A waitress attends their table,”Hello guys,I'm Hope and welcome to Zoe's café. What can I get you?,”she asks with a seductive look hinted at Riley.

“I'll have a vanilla latte and a slice of chocolate cake, thank you,”Valerie says politely.

Hope turns her attention to Riley,”What about you Mister?,”she asks flirtatiously.

“Well I'd most definitely enjoy pancakes with a lot of syrup and a cola,”he says as he flirtatiously brushes her hand.

Valerie notices the interaction and clears her throat,”I believe that will be all,I'm starved,Hope,”she says popping the “p”.

Hope averts her eyes from the duo and quickly walks away.

Riley is left in a fit of laughter,”Well that was just rude.”

Valerie just shrugs,”No,she's basically throwing herself at you. That's mean and degrading”she says in all seriousness.

Hope returns with their order and flashes yet another seductive look towards Riley causing Valerie to gag.

“Come on Val, she's not that bad. She's actually not bad at all,”says Riley as soon as Hope leaves their table.

“Of course not. If anything, she's super pretty. I just don't get what she and other girls see in you,”she says as she sips on her latte.

He just throws his head back in laughter,”They? What do you see in me?,”he asks with an arched brow.

Valerie just shakes her head,”Every time I look at you I just see a mixture of mischief and goofiness and that's a disaster on it's own,”she slurps her drink.

Riley just smirks,”Well then girls are totally attracted to this undeniably hot, brewing disaster,”he says wiggling his brows.

Valerie just smiles,”No Mr Downs, only gullible girls head towards disasters,”she says with a wide grin.

“Come on, next destination,”Riley says as he leaves the bill, tip and his number on the table.

“Just get out already,”says Valerie as she adjusts her top.

“You think looking this gorgeous is rushed?,”Riley jokes as he locks the car.

“Carnival? How thoughtful you,”Valerie says sarcastically.

They walk around eating lots of cotton candy and catching up.

“You have no right to judge me dude. You stick to The Weeknd and I'll most definitely keep Juice WRLD,”says Valerie as she gives Riley a slight shove.

He just smiles,”Yeah whatever. We all got different tastes in music,”he says with a shrug.

Valerie smiles weirdly,”Rile, can we go on that ride next?,”she asks excitedly.

He just shrugs,”Alright. But after the ride, we're going to the haunted house,”he says as he pays for the tickets.

They chit chat throughout the ride and raise their arms whenever they reach the peak.As promised, they head towards the haunted house.

“If you get too scared, just know you got my back,”Riley says as they enter the haunted house.

Valerie hops on his back as soon as some zombie prop jumps out of nowhere causing Riley to laugh hysterically.

“So Val, what more should I know about you?,”asks Riley as he tries to keep balance of their combined weight.

She just smiles,”I guess I'm still the same old Val, simple and care free. Although I seem to not know you anymore,”she says putting her head on his shoulder.

“Well there's a few things that might've changed. I no longer believe in love, sometimes up to no good and I've become really good with the ladies. All in all, I’m no longer that awkward nerdy coward,”he says proudly.

She sighs,”Did you really have to change?,”she asks with a hint of disappointment evident in her voice.

Riley just keeps quiet for the remaining distance, she does the same.

“Come on, we're off to our final destination. Saved the best for last,”Riley says as he drags her to the car.

“Oh my word,Fred’s hangout? As in childhood Fred?,”Valerie asks in bewilderment.

Riley just laughs,”Yes, childhood Fred. He’s now like the closest thing Tony has to a parent.”

Valerie looks at him intently,”Doesn't he have parents?,”she asks sympathetically.

Riley just looks a bit sad,”He does. They're just absent, like some parents,”he says with some resentment audible in his voice. Valerie engulfs him in a short warm hug.

She smiles sadly,”That’s sad to think about. Not to come out as insensitive but I'm so starved,I could eat an elephant,”she says with an apologetic smile.

Riley just laughs,”Wow woman! You're very insensitive,”he says wiping away a fake tear.

She just smiles,”Whatever dork, please just tell me Fred’s pizza is still good,”she says as they walk towards the counter.

“You'll find out yourself. Hey Fred, look who's here,”Riley says in a chippy voice.

Fred turns around and is shocked to see Val,”My goodness V, you look good. Give me a hug,”he says with widened arms.

“Hello Fred, you look really good as well,”Valerie says as she tightly hugs him back.

They make small talk then Valerie and Riley head to their table.

Fred delivers their pizza,”One large chicken and barbeque sauce pizza, on the house. This is for you V, you're welcome here anytime,”he smiles and walks away.

“Man, I should always bring you along as my meal ticket,”says Riley picking up a slice.

Valerie just laughs and kicks him lightly.

“So how are things between you and your dad?,”Valerie asks as she sips her juice.

“Same old, rocky,”Riley says briefly.

Valerie arches a brow,”Come on,talk to me.”

He just sighs,”He's always super busy. Always ha something negative to say, and still believes I'll join the army like he did.”

There's silence, Valerie breaks it,”I feel like you're not telling me everything,”she stares directly into his eyes.

He stirs uncomfortably in his seat,”Mom says that he's trying, that he's changing. He calls more frequently and says he'd like to spend some time with me.”

She stares deeply into his eyes,”What do you think Rile?”

He looks deep in thought,”I don't know Val. I mean yes, he's trying but some scars are worse than others.”

She grabs his hand,for a moment,they exchange no words.

She clears her throat,”I don't know Rile, seems to me like he's really changing. Maybe give him a chance that sone of us can't give to our dads. I know it's not the same.”

Riley just smiles and rubs her hand reassuringly. They are startled by a notification alert on Riley’s phone. He smiles weirdly as he reads the text causing Valerie to look at him attentively.

She sighs,”Please tell me it's not that girl, Hope. I saw you write down something back there,”she says casually.

He smirks,”Well aren't you nosey? Let's get you home.”

They say their goodbyes to Fred and drive off to Valerie’s place. He accompanies her to the door and hugs her before walking away.

He shouts,”Hope you enjoy your night. I know, no, I hope I will,” causing Valerie to laugh her lungs out.

“Valerie, is that you princess?,” her mom calls from the lounge.

“No, I'm a trained assassin looking for some snacks. You got some?,”she asks jokingly as she walks to her mom.”Why are you still up? Please tell me you weren't waiting for me mom,” she says doubtfully.

“What? No,well maybe. Okay, yes. So how was your date?,”her mom asks sounding jumpy.

She looks away for a second,” It wasn't a date. It was a fun day out that I enjoyed very much,”she says dismissively.

Her mom looks at her intentionally,”But?”

“But nothing,”she says with a sigh.

“Val,did you want it to be a date?,”her mom asks sweetly.

She shakes her head dramatically,”No, that would break the friendship code. Besides, he's spending the night with someone right after spending the whole day with me.”

Her mom pulls her in for a hug,”Honey, we've all broken our rules for someone at some point.”

She pulls away from the hug,”Not this time around mom. He's not worth the trouble,”she says as she walks towards her room.

“He's changed mom. He's no longer the Riley I knew and loved.”