Hello, It's Me.

Part 5

Lucas took a taxi all the way over to Riley's Greenwich Village apartment on Minetta Lane. He remembered how she told him a long time ago that she wanted an apartment near Washington Square Park, she loved that park and it wasn't far from NYU which she had attended.

He waited for her to open the door, it was late but Maya had insisted she was awake.

She opened the door, dressed in sweatpants and a lilac sweater, her hair was pulled back in a bun and her face brightened at the sight of Lucas.

"Hey," He felt his throat constrict at seeing her beautiful, glowing face.

Suddenly he felt like he was back in middle school, nervous and dumbfounded. She had that effect on him.

"Hi," She smiled, she gestured inside her apartment, "Please come in."

He awkwardly walked in, remembering the last time he had been here he had stormed out in a angry haste all due to Charlie Gardner.

"Want something to drink?" She asked timidly.

"Water is fine." He needed something pure, not as harsh as the assortment of alcoholic beverages he had guzzled at the bar.

She nodded and went into the kitchen as he started walking around her apartment. It was for the most part homey and bright, but very elegant at the same time. She had small plants and colorful flowers around all with hand painted flower pots, all drawn by her he assumed. She had drawings Maya had gifted her with and many pictures of friends and family on her shelves.

His eyes were drawn to one in particular. It was of them back in high school during a snowy walk in Central Park. They were standing on long stretch of glimmering snow, laughing as Riley blew snow onto Lucas's face. Her eyes were sparkling with amusement, crinkled from being caught in the midst of laughter. She had snowflakes clinging to her hair and eyelashes, he remembered capturing that moment to memory as he had never seen her so happy and beautiful.

What threw him off was his own face. He couldn't remember the last time he was as happy as he had been when that picture was shot. He was positively glowing and grinning ear to ear. They looked so happy and in love. They had been. Shortly after, everything fell apart.

The calm before the storm, he thought bitterly.

His eyes wandered past the pictures she had with everyone else and onto one that made his heart twist. It was her and Charlie in a luxurious restaurant. They were happy and Riley was showing her engagement ring to the camera and Charlie was kissing the side of her head lovingly.

They looked like the perfect couple.

"That was in Florence, Italy," Riley said walking towards him with a glass of water. "He had just proposed to me in this upscale restaurant. It took him a while to get it out, because according to him nothing went as planned." She smiled fondly at the memory.

He felt so uncomfortable that he wished Mr. Matthews was here to kick him out of her apartment like old times, going as far to even have one show taken away from him.

"That's...nice." He grunted, slurping his water. "You two look happy."

Her mouth twisted into a firm line and she nodded once. "It seems so."

"What's that supposed to mean?" He tossed her an inquiring look.

She sighed and sat crossed legged on her couch. Lucas followed suit, placing the cup on the coffee table.

After a moment of silence she said, "It means it's complicated."

"Does it have to be?"

"No," She bit down on the side of her lip. "He's always gone on business trips. I get kind of lonely here. It's gotten to the point that even when he's here..." Her face went blank and realization dawned in her eyes, as if she just had this extraordinary epiphany. "It doesn't feel right. When he holds me and kisses me, it feels off. I shouldn't feel cold and lonely but I do."