Hello, It's Me.

Part 2

Lucas walked the streets in a daze. He hadn't realized he had walked to a familiar place. A place that made him both happy and sad. Topanga's.

He walked into the bakery, his nose being assaulted by all sorts of wonderful smells. He instantly recognized a familiar tall blond with a sparkly a diamond ring on her left hand and a smile her daughter definitely inherited.

She caught his eye and smiled warmly, ushering him to take a seat by the window.

"It's been a while, Lucas," She told him.

"It sure has." He said weakly.

She told him she'd be right back with a smoothie and an eclair. He watched as a group of middle schoolers came in laughing merrily and complaining about homework. A tall, slender brunette with wide innocent eyes and a somewhat muscular boy with green eyes and charming smile waited behind by the door.

The girl looked at the boy timidly, holding out her hand. The boy took it, grinning widely at her before leaning down to press his lips softly onto her forehead. There was something so innocent about them, so sweet and tender, and so achingly familiar that Lucas had to look away.

"Here you go, pumpkin," Katy brought him his smoothie and eclair and set it down on the table. She opened her mouth to say something, but instead she looked at the door with alarm.

Lucas, confused and intrigued, looked towards the door. Surely the innocent couple wasn't doing anything less than innocent.

His eyes didn't fall on the couple, but instead on a face he had once been accustomed to seeing regularly. Her brown hair was longer than he remembered, glossier and thicker too. Her face had certainly matured, but her eyes still held that childlike wonder in them that made them sparkle like jewels. She was still very fond of floral print and bright colors, her spring dress showcased that well. Her hand reached up to tuck back her hair and that's when he saw it.

It was big, shiny and every bit as lovely as she was. Her engagement ring glimmered underneath the light and he could feel his throat constrict at the sight of it. Sure, the wedding invitation had been a huge blow, but seeing her happy and the sparkly diamond ring on her finger made it all seem so tragically real.

He couldn't stop the name that tumbled out of his lips like a forbidden sin, "Riley."

Her eyes flew towards him, all trace of happiness gone and Lucas could feel every bit of hope he still had for them shatter at the way she looked at him. He had never felt so distraught, embarrassed and furious in his entire life as he felt in that moment.

She had moved on, he had seen Charlie successfully ask her to be his girlfriend in college, but even then she only agreed to a couple of dates not an official label. Now she was to be branded with the biggest label of love and commitment and it hurt to know it wasn't with him.

"Lucas," She gasped. She turned to Katy with a stoic expression. "Can we have a moment?"

Katy nodded and left, Riley took a seat immediately after. Her expression was unreadable and Lucas had never seen her eyes so dull.

"I heard your voicemail," She smiled weakly at him, wringing her hands as she continued, "I want to thank you for your congratulations. Charlie and I are glad you can make it."

He winced at the mention of Charlie. He felt a strong, hot feeling bubbling in the pit of his stomach and he clenched his jaw knowing full well what that feeling was. He could allow himself to be jealous. She had moved on and would see be a married woman, and he would only blend into the background again. Maybe they weren't destined to be anything but friends. Except now they didn't feel like friends, but strangers.

"I'm glad to be here," He winced at the broken tone of his voice and the clarity of how it was obvious it sounded that he was lying. "You two deserve each other."

She nodded mutely, trying to collect her thoughts. "I know the announcement was sudden and you were probably busy, but I really appreciate you coming to my wedding. I'm glad your sticking around for a while considering it's a couple of weeks away."

"I'm not just here for you, Riley," He watched her flinch at his harsh tone, but she remained calm. "I have friends and family, too. I miss everyone and the city. It's my home."

"Of course," She bit her lip glancing down at her watch. "Listen I have to meet with Maya for lunch. We're all getting together at my place later for our monthly dinner and movies tradition. You should come by. I know you're staying with Zay, he told me he'd ask you if you'd want to come but I figured I'd ask right now. I hope you can make it. Charlie really wants to see you."

She got up, brushing the skirt of her floral dress and beaming at Lucas. She abruptly pulled him into a hug. He tensed up at the feel of her arms wrapped around him but he quickly softened into her touch. He could smell her flowery perfume and feel her warmth radiating off her and onto him. The hug was too brief for his liking as she was already pulling away.

He felt like he was being shoved into a tub full of ice as she let go. Her eyes were misty and a weak smile graced her lips. She gazed at him tenderly, and he felt the onslaught of butterflies fluttering in his stomach as she stared at him with those hopeful eyes. He suddenly felt like he was in middle school again and like everything was right in the world.

Until a sparkle flitted through his peripheral vision. Her ring. The harsh reality of it all came crashing on him like an icy avalanche. She no longer was his to love.

"It was nice seeing you, Lucas." She smiled at him, before strolling to the exit.

He watched her go. He always watched her go and just like every other time, she took a piece of his heart with her.