Monday, August 28th
Riley's POV
"Can I speak to your manager? Uhm, no. You actually cannot, so fuck off." Melody says while mocking someone who was rude to her yesterday at the café.
Melody saw me sitting in the quad while eating some snacks between Bio and Spanish and decided to come join me. I had been avoiding going to Dante's just because I was not really wanting to see that Bella girl again.
"But you didn't say that to her, right? What did you do?" I ask, totally invested in the story at this point.
"I let her dumbass talk to the manager. And you know what? She literally said the exact same thing to her that I did just minutes before. Like I get it... 'the customer is always right' but like... bro... nine times out of ten the customer is not right and they are an idiot." -Melody
I grab a handful of trail mix and pop it into my mouth while nodding along to what she was saying.
"Anyways, if you ever want a job for minimum wage where the customers are idiots and you 24/7 smell like coffee, I got the hook up. Don't you worry." Melody starts laughing while realizing just how unappealing it sounds.
"Yeah, I don't see that fitting in too easily with my schedule. What a shame." I playfully replied.
"Speaking of schedules.... What does yours look like for this weekend? -Melody
"Probably a whole lot of nothing. Why?" -Riley
"I normally work on weekends so I never get to do things, but we are closing so they can do some repairs. I wanted us to go to the frat party this weekend. Pleaseeee. I really really wanna' go." -Melody
"Twist my arm why don't ya'. Yeah we can go. I am sure Autumn would drag me along anyway. She is kinda' dating one of the guys there. Well... kinda'. They have their first date tonight officially. He is taking her to dinner and the movies. The whole shebang." -Riley
"Who?" Melody practically squeals in excitement.
"Louis. They have been talking for a few weeks now and finally he just... asked her out. So yeah." -Riley
Melody was as giddy as I was when Autumn first told me.
"That is so cute. Louis is hot. I am proud of her. Hell yeah team Autumn." -Melody
Melody wasted no time telling me about how she thought Louis and Autumn would be a really cute couple and she could totally imagine them walking around campus holding hands. Meanwhile I was just people watching and still munching on my snacks.
"Earth to Riley. Hello?" -Melody
I didn't realize but I must have been spacing out after a few minutes. Melody was waving her hand in front of me trying to get my attention.
"Oh sorry. I was watching that couple over there. Pretty sure they are in the middle of a fight and it's like free Jerry Springer." -Riley
"Well I asked you if you have started talking to anyone yet!" -Melody
"Hardly." -Riley
"And what does that mean?" -Melody
"I may or may not have totally ignored all the things you told me and I did the one thing I shouldn't have done. Well... more than once... I slept with Harry." I told her in all honesty.
"Oh?" -Melody
"Just oh? Come on Mel', since I have known you I know that you do not know how to keep your opinions in, so lemme' hear it." -Riley
"I just am shocked. Harry doesn't usually go back for seconds." -Melody
Ew. I hate the way she worded it.
I hate the way everyone is treating Harry like some sort of a person that just treats people as disposable objects he gets tired of. First the guys making jokes in the kitchen yesterday and now this. It gets kinda' exhausting to hear about.
"Yesterday we got into another argument though. While he was still sleeping I went downstairs to hang with the guys in the kitchen and grab breakfast. Things were fine, everyone was hanging out, and then he flipped like a light switch and went back to being an asshole. It just gets tiring having to deal with his mood swings." -Riley
"Imagine how much worse they would be if you actually dated him." Melody says with a laugh.
"As if. I don't think Harry and I could ever be in a relationship. He loves reminding me of that. He told me he just barely tolerates me." -Riley
"It's more than just tolerating if he has you staying over and stuff. That's deep... well for Harry it is. Never knew him to do that." -Melody
"So I have been told." -Riley
"Did you use protection?" -Melody
"Melody!" I shriek in embarrassment. "Of course we did, you can't just... say that out loud." I whisper to her.
"Why not? We are literally adults... in college." Melody sits up slightly and cups her hands over her mouth to mimic a megaphone, "HEY ALL YOU QUAD HANGER OUTERS, MY FRIEND HERE HAD GREAT SEX THE OTHER NIGHT, IT WAS AWESOME AND THEY USED A CONDOM!"
I could actually die from embarrassment in this moment I think.
My face turned red and I hid it in my hands trying to avoid any and all people who were looking.
A few people laughed, some gave an encouraging holler, and some even yelled congrats.
"See babes. No one cares. It's college. We are meant to have fun. Don't stress about it." Melody tells me as if that would tone down what just occurred.
"So you approve then?" -Riley
"No not at all. Harry is a heartbreaking asshole and I am sure he has ulterior motives somehow, but if you are happy then that is the biggest thing. I will swallow my jealousy of you bagging the literal hottest guy alive and be happy for you." Melody shoves me playfully to try and make me smile, "You just gotta promise to invite me to the wedding someday!"
"Ha. Don't make me laugh! Harry getting married? Imagine him in a tux. Imagine him having to get through an entire vow without saying the word 'fuck'. Like as if that could happen." -Riley
"Imagine what song he would want to pick as your first dance. It would be like... Bodies by Drowning Pool or something I bet." -Melody
"What kind of wedding cake do you want Harry?" I pretend to sound posh while flipping my hair over my shoulder.
"Fuck I don't know. I fucking want some fucking chocolate cake. For fucks sake why is there so much planning? FUCK!" Melody pretends to have a British accent and deeper voice.
We both burst into a laughing fit that we can't contain.
"Yeah, the day Harry falls in love or gets married will be the day I drop dead." -Melody
"Same girl. Same." -Riley
***Author's Note Below***
You guys reading this means so much to me. I literally didn't expect a single person to pay attention to it... so really it makes me beyond happy! Thank you for any / all comments, follows, shares, votes, reads, EVERYTHING.
I LOVE YOU GUYS AHHH!!! <3
-T
YOU ARE READING
Stumbling (H.S. / A.U.)
FanfictionStarted: April 2023, Completed: April 2024 Riley looked forward to college solely for the chance to start fresh. Healing and growing was Riley's only goal, until she met someone new. Styles instantly caught her attention, but that wasn't the only pr...
