Senior Year

CHAPTER TWO

“UNINTERESTED”

Riley stepped into the basketball court, the buzz of the upcoming inter-school match already filling the air. The hall was crowded with boys on one side in their jerseys, and girls on the other side clustered in groups, most of them already preparing for practice.

“You’re late!” Maddie called out sharply as she walked in, her voice cutting through the noise.

Riley didn’t slow down. “I was with Mrs. Olivia.”

Maddie rolled her eyes like that explained nothing, but said no more.

Riley adjusted her bag and moved towards the girls’ side, just as the energy in the room shifted again.

Adrian walked in.

Not rushed. Not distracted. Just calm, like he had all the time in the world. That alone made people look twice.

He wasn’t supposed to be late.

As he crossed the court, Riley stepped into his path without noticing. The collision was light, but enough to make her stumble slightly.

“Watch were you're going?” she snapped immediately.

Adrian paused and looked up.

In front of him stood a blonde-haired girl, confident, clearly annoyed, arms already folded like she was ready for an argument.

He didn’t respond.

Instead, he simply stepped around her and continued walking.

Riley scoffed under her breath, watching him leave like she was invisible.

“What’s his problem?” she muttered.

Before she could dwell on it, Trisha leaned closer. “You don’t know who that is?”

Riley didn’t even look at her. “I don’t care.”

She grabbed Trisha’s arm and pulled her toward the rest of the girls, already letting the moment go.

***

Across the court, Mason watched Adrian approach.

“What happened?” he asked, noticing the slight tension in Adrian’s expression.

“She’s just paranoid,” Adrian replied casually, like it meant nothing at all.

Mason smirked.

“Where’s Chad?” Adrian asked,

Mason tilted his head towards the opposite side of the court. “Over with the ladies.”

They both laughed.

That wasn’t surprising. Chad was known for talking to girls like it was a full-time job, even if nothing ever came from it.

“I’m not ready for anything serious,” Chad always said.

And yet, somehow, half the school still believed they had a chance with him.

The whistle blew across the court.

Practice was starting.

***

Practice had just ended, and Riley walked beside Trisha tiredly towards the parking lot. They usually followed Jenna’s car or walked down together, depending on the situation of the day. They stood for a moment, scanning the rows of vehicles, trying to figure out where she had parked;

“There she is,” Trisha sighed in relief.

She had been waving at them and so they started walking towards her when Riley noticed him.

Mr. Popular. The one who acted like he owned the world, she thought with a quiet roll of her eyes. He was standing tall with a few other guys beside a sleek car, Chad’s car, laughing loudly about something. In the middle of it all, his gaze suddenly shifted.

And locked with hers.

For a moment, neither of them looked away.

Then he smirked.

And just like that, something in Riley’s chest loosened without permission. The tension she didn’t even realize she was holding faded, and she quickly looked away almost too quickly.

But not quick enough.

Trisha had seen everything.

A grin spread across her face as she hurried ahead to Jenna.

“Little Miss Riley here has gotten herself a man,” she teased.

Riley shot them both a glare. “He’s not my man.”

Jenna laughed as Riley climbed into the passenger seat, still trying to ignore the heat creeping up her neck. Both girls exchanged knowing looks.

“C’mon, Trish, tell me everything,” Jenna urged.

Riley kept denying it on their way home, but Trisha and Jenna’s excitement only grew, their smiles widening with every protest.

“He was kinda handsome ,” Riley admitted reluctantly after a pause.

Then she added quickly, “But I can’t deal with anyone who doesn’t know how to use his magic words.”

Jenna frowned slightly. “Magic words?”

Trisha leaned forward, practically vibrating with excitement. “She means “sorry.”

And just like that, she launched into the story of how Riley and Mr. Popular had clashed at practice earlier, and how, despite all his attitude, he still couldn’t bring himself to say the one word that would’ve ended it all.

***

“What’s your deal with that girl anyway?” Chad asked, glancing at him after everything that had just happened.

“It’s little Miss Paranoia,” Mason replied, brushing it off as he told Chad about what went down during practice.

Chad chuckled, shaking his head as they drove off. “I won’t lie though… she’s pretty.”

Adrian didn’t respond immediately. Instead, his thoughts drifted back to her, the only girl in school who didn’t seem even slightly interested in him. Her curvy figure, blonde hair, and the sharp, almost perfect angles of her face lingered in his mind.

A small smile tugged at his lips. For the first time in a while, he had actually noticed a girl, like really noticed her. And somehow, it had to be the one girl who acted like he didn’t exist.

The house felt unusually quiet when he got home. Normally, he’d find Damian sprawled across the couch, buried in a video game, or in the dining room loudly finishing off a bowl of cereal.

But today, there was nothing.

The silence.

Adrian dropped onto his bed, pulling out his phone to check his emails. Just then, the door swung open without warning, Damian as usual, not bothering to knock.

“Laura’s gone home,” he said casually. “She’ll be back tomorrow.”

Laura, their housemaid, worked most weekdays. She always left before dark but somehow managed to return before anyone woke up. To Adrian, she was more than just a staff, she felt like family, more present than his own mother, who was rarely around.

“I won’t be back tonight,” Damian added. “Don’t wait up.”

Adrian smirked faintly. A party, obviously. And for once, he didn’t mind. The idea of having the house to himself felt… good.

***

“Ugh,” Riley groaned as she walked down the hallway.

She had forgotten her homework at school and it was due tomorrow.

Frustration bubbled through her as she slammed her locker shut, trying to think. Where had she left it?

She paused, retracing her steps in her mind.

Then it clicked.

“The gym,” she muttered under her breath.

She had left it there after practice.

***

Riley spotted her book resting on one of the benches by the court. Letting out a small sigh of relief, she hurried over and grabbed it, clutching it to her chest.

She had just turned to leave when a voice cut through the silence.

“Stalking me now?”

His tone carried easily across the empty gym.

Riley froze for half a second, then rolled her eyes. Of course. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

“Get over yourself,” she muttered under her breath, already walking away.

The nerve of him, thinking everything revolved around him.

Behind her, she heard movement.

“Wait up!” he called, quickly gathering his things before jogging after her.

They stepped out into the hallway together, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly. For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then he broke the silence.

“So… what are you doing here this late?”

“Homework,” Riley replied shortly, her voice flat, clearly not interested in a conversation.

“I’m Adrian,” he said anyway, unfazed. “And you must be ?”

“Seems you like practicing alone?” she cut in, glancing at him briefly.

He let out a small breath, almost amused. “Nah. Just needed to clear my head.”

There was a pause before he added, a little more sincere this time, “Hey… about earlier, I should’ve apologized after I bumped into you. That was on me. I hope we’re good now.”

Riley slowed slightly, then looked up at him properly for the first time.

“I’m Riley,” she said.

It wasn’t exactly forgiveness, but it wasn’t rejection either.

And just like that, the tension softened.

They continued walking down the quiet road, side by side, the silence between them no longer as heavy as before.

***

“Hey, Riles!”

The voice echoed down the hallway, casual, almost familiar. Like they’d known each other for years.

Riley paused mid-step, a small crease forming between her brows. Slowly, she turned, spotting him leaning against the lockers like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Adrian.

Still confused, she gave a small, hesitant wave.

Beside her, Jenna let out a quiet laugh. “Well… looks like someone’s made a new friend.”

“And a handsome one at that,” Trisha added, not even trying to hide the way she stared.

Riley felt heat rise to her cheeks. “Can you both relax?” she muttered, though she didn’t dare look back again.

Not that it stopped them.

Across the hallway, Maddie had seen everything. The wave. The look. The attention.

Her jaw tightened.

With a sharp exhale, she turned and strode towards the boys.

***

“Seems you two are finally getting along,” Mason said, nudging Adrian lightly.

Adrian’s gaze lingered in Riley’s direction for a second longer before he shrugged. “She’s cool.”

Mason smirked, about to say something else, until Adrian’s expression shifted.

Maddie.

Walking straight towards them.

Adrian pushed off the lockers, grabbing his bag. “Let’s go.”

There was no hesitation in his voice this time.