Senior Year

CHAPTER FOUR

“THINGS CHANGE“

Riley lay on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

That heavy feeling sat in her chest again, the same one she hadn’t felt since her dad died. It crept in quietly, settling deep, refusing to leave.

And somehow… it was because of Adrian.

They had walked home together in silence at first, until he finally spoke. Really spoke. He told her everything going on at home, the tension, the weight he’d been carrying alone. The way it was starting to mess with his head.

Riley hadn’t said much.

But every second, all she wanted to do was pull him into a hug and never let go.

“Thanks for understanding, Ryles.”

His voice echoed in her head.

She had watched him turn and walk away toward his house just a few blocks from hers. Funny how they had lived so close for so long and never noticed.

Not until now.

Not until they became something.

Friends.

The word lingered in her mind.

Riley let out a small breath, almost a smile forming.

Yeah… Adrian Reid was her friend now.

***

You wanna hang?

The notification lit up her screen.

Riley blinked.

Of all people… him?

A smile spread across her face before she could stop it.

***

“Going out with the girls?” Julian asked, pausing at the bottom of the stairs.

Riley walked down slowly, and for once, she didn’t look like herself. No oversized sweatpants, no loose tank top. This time, she looked like she had actually tried, like it mattered.

“…Nah,” she replied.

Julian narrowed his eyes, studying her.

They stared at each other for a moment.

“There’s something you’re not telling me.”

Before she could respond, the sound of a car pulling up cut through the air.

Both their heads turned toward the door.

Riley’s heart skipped.

He was here.

Julian didn’t waste a second, rushing to the door with a grin. “I knew it,” he snapped.

Riley grabbed her bag, already halfway out.

“I’ll tell you everything when I’m back!”

“Mom! I’ll be back by eleven!” she called, stepping out into the night.

And there he was.

***

“Mom! I’ll be back by eleven!” she called, already reaching for the door.

The cool night air hit her the second she stepped outside.

And then; she saw him.

Adrian leaned casually against the car, but there was nothing casual about the way he looked at her. Like he’d been waiting… like he wasn’t sure what to expect.

For a second, Riley just stood there.

She suddenly became aware of everything, the way her heart picked up, the unfamiliar effort she’d put into her outfit, the way his eyes lingered just a little too long.

“You… different,” he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Her breath caught.

“Good different?” she asked, trying to sound normal, failing just a little.

He pushed himself off the car, stepping closer.

“Yeah,” he said softly. “Good.”

The space between them felt smaller now. Charged. Like something unspoken was sitting right there, waiting.

Riley swallowed, her fingers tightening slightly around her bag.

For a moment, neither of them said anything.

Then he opened the passenger door for her, breaking the tension but not completely.

“Ready?” he asked.

She nodded, slipping into the car, but her pulse hadn’t slowed.

Not even close.

As he walked around to the driver’s side, Riley glanced at him through the window, a small smile forming on her lips.

Yeah…

Something had definitely changed.

***

They sat side by side on the park bench, the night stretched wide above them, stars scattered like quiet secrets waiting to be told. For the first time in a long while, he felt at ease. Like he wasn’t carrying everything alone anymore. Like someone finally got it.

He glanced at her, his voice softer now.

“So… that was your brother?”

She gave a small, almost shy smile.

“Oh Julian? Yeah. That’s him.”

The conversation drifted on, effortless. One topic melted into another, laughter slipping between pauses, silence no longer awkward but warm. Time didn’t just pass, it disappeared.

Then she checked her phone.

Her eyes widened.

“Wait, shoot. It’s midnight. I have to go.”

She quickly gathered her things, and he stood with her, reluctant but understanding.

“Thanks, Ryles,” he said, a quiet sincerity in his voice. “For listening… and for being a really good friend.”

She smiled, something soft, something real.

***

“You’re late.”

The words hit the moment she slipped in through the back door.

Her mom’s voice.

Busted, she thought, her heart skipping.

But as she leaned against the door for a second, catching her breath, a small smile crept onto her lips.

Yeah… it was worth it.

***

The café buzzed softly with chatter and the clinking of cups, the kind of lazy afternoon noise Riley had grown used to.

Riley sat between Trisha and Jenna, her drink resting untouched in front of her as she half-listened to whatever story Jenna was telling.

The conversation flowed around her something about practice, something about a teacher but her mind wasn’t fully in it.

“…and then she really thought Mr. Collins was going to cancel the test,” Jenna scoffed. “Like that man has any mercy.”

Trisha laughed. “Please, he probably enjoys watching us suffer.”

“Riley, are you even listening?” Jenna nudged, raising a brow.

“Hm? Yeah, yeah, I am,” Riley replied quickly, offering a half-smile.

Before Jenna could press further, the door chimed lightly.

And just like that, Riley’s attention snapped.

Adrian.

He stepped in casually, hands tucked into his hoodie pocket, scanning the room like he wasn’t really looking for anyone… and yet somehow, his eyes found hers.

For a brief second, everything else faded.

Riley lifted her hand slightly. “Hey…”

It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t meant to be.

But he saw it.

Adrian paused, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he gave a small wave back, simple, almost effortless.

Then he kept walking.

That was it.

Nothing more.

But somehow, it lingered.

Trisha’s grin slowly spread as she leaned forward. “Okay… what was that?”

Riley frowned, immediately defensive. “What was what?”

“Oh, don’t do that,” Jenna chimed in, crossing her arms. “That little moment just now? We saw it.”

“It wasn’t a moment,” Riley muttered, looking down at her drink. “I just said hi.”

“Mm-hmm,” Trisha dragged out, clearly unconvinced.

Before either of them could continue, a chair scraped against the floor.

“Well, well… this looks interesting.”

Maddie.

She dropped into the empty seat beside them, crossing her arms as her gaze flicked between Riley and the direction Adrian had gone.

“I see what’s going on here,” she said coolly.

Riley frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Maddie leaned in slightly, her voice lowering just enough to feel personal.

“Let me save you the trouble,” she said.

“He doesn’t like you,” Maddie continued bluntly. “And honestly? He’s not in your league.”

Riley’s expression hardened, the warmth from earlier fading quickly.

The table fell quiet.

“You should just leave him alone.”

Without another word, Maddie stood up, grabbed her bag, and walked off like she hadn’t just dropped a bomb on the table.

For a moment, none of them spoke.

Then,

“What is her problem?” Trisha snapped, watching her leave.

Jenna shook her head. “Seriously. Where did that even come from?”

Riley forced a small shrug, though something about Maddie’s words lingered longer than she wanted to admit.

“I don’t know,” she said quietly.

But the mood had already shifted.

***

By the time lunch ended, they went their separate ways, heading off to different classes.

Riley adjusted the strap of her bag as she walked down the hallway, weaving through the crowd toward her locker.

Just as she reached it,

“Hey, Riles!”

She turned.

Adrian, again…this time with the boys.

They gave her casual nods.

“What’s up?” Mason added.

Riley smiled, lifting her hand in a small wave. “Hey.”

The bell rang sharply, echoing through the halls as students began to scatter.

Adrian stepped a little closer as he passed by her locker, just enough for his voice to reach her.

“Hope I’ll see you at the party.”

Riley looked up at him, caught slightly off guard.

Then she smiled.

“Yeah… maybe.”

He held her gaze for a brief second, just long enough to mean something before walking off with the others.

Riley lingered there for a moment, her smile still faintly present as she turned back to her locker.

She grabbed her books, closed it softly, and headed to class.

Maddie’s words still echoing somewhere in the back of her mind.