Chapter 35: XXXV

Chapter 35: Back to Us

Riley sat on the worn couch in the living room, the sunlight streaming through the windows and casting soft rays across the floor. Her phone buzzed in her hand, a message from Elena flashing across the screen. A smile spread across her face as she quickly typed back.

Elena: “Hey, wanna meet up? Just the usual?”

Riley: “Of course. I’ll grab us some coffee on the way.”

As soon as she hit send, Riley threw her phone onto the couch beside her and stood up, stretching. The thought of spending time with Elena always made her feel lighter, like the weight of the world could be put on pause for a little while.

She grabbed her jacket and headed out, the crisp air welcoming her as she walked toward the café they often frequented. The familiarity of the place made her feel at ease; the same barista, the same scent of freshly brewed coffee, the same cozy corner where they always sat. It was their spot, their routine, and for the first time in a while, Riley felt like things were falling into place.

When she arrived, Elena was already waiting for her, leaning against the wall by the entrance, her arms crossed and her expression relaxed. At the sight of her, Riley’s heart gave a little flutter, but she quickly pushed it down. Today, she was determined to enjoy the time with Elena without overthinking things.

“Hey,” Riley said, grinning as she approached.

Elena’s face lit up when she saw her, the soft curve of her lips making Riley feel like the luckiest person alive. “Hey, you,” she replied, pushing herself off the wall and stepping forward to greet Riley with a gentle hug.

Riley wrapped her arms around Elena, breathing in the familiar scent of her perfume, something light and floral that always made her feel at home. They pulled away just as quickly, but the smile on both their faces lingered.

“So, what’s the plan today?” Riley asked, leading Elena inside the café.

“Same old, same old,” Elena said with a shrug. “I was thinking maybe we could just grab coffee, walk around for a bit, you know, whatever feels right.”

“Sounds perfect,” Riley agreed, ordering their usual drinks and then making her way to the small table by the window.

They sat down across from each other, the silence comfortable between them as they sipped their drinks. Riley watched as Elena absentmindedly traced the rim of her cup with her finger, her gaze distant but content.

“I like this,” Riley said softly, breaking the quiet. “Just... hanging out, you know? No pressure. Just... being with you.”

Elena’s eyes flicked up to meet hers, and for a moment, it felt like the whole world stopped. There was something unspoken between them, something that had always been there but felt so much more pronounced now. It was a comfortable kind of tension, the kind that Riley had learned to live with over the past few months.

“I feel the same,” Elena said, her voice quieter than usual. “It’s easy, isn’t it? Like we don’t even have to try, and it just works.”

Riley nodded, feeling a soft warmth spread through her chest. “Yeah, it really does.”

There was something in Elena’s eyes then, something that made Riley’s breath catch in her throat. Elena wasn’t saying anything, but the way she looked at Riley, so open, so honest, made Riley feel like she was standing on the edge of something she couldn’t quite grasp yet.

“So, have you thought any more about that project for class?” Riley asked, trying to distract herself from the unexpected surge of emotions.

Elena tilted her head slightly, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “You’re changing the subject,” she teased.

Riley’s heart skipped a beat. “I’m not! I’m just... making conversation,” she stammered.

“Uh-huh,” Elena said, raising an eyebrow. “Sure, you are.”

Riley let out a nervous laugh. “Okay, maybe I was,” she admitted.

“Uh-huh,” Elena repeated, but there was something warm in her voice that made Riley feel more at ease. “You’re cute when you’re flustered.”

“Stop,” Riley said with a laugh, feeling her cheeks heat up.

Elena chuckled, clearly enjoying the effect she had on Riley. “I’m just saying,” she said, her voice teasing. “You should stop hiding it. We both know what’s going on here.”

Riley raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Elena leaned in a little closer, her voice lowering slightly. “You like me, Riley. It’s not a secret.”

Riley’s heart raced at the words, but she kept her expression neutral. “Yeah, well, you’re not exactly hard to like,” she said, her tone light.

Elena smiled, a hint of mischief dancing in her eyes. “I like you too, you know that, right?”

Riley froze, the words hanging in the air like a delicate thread. She wanted to say something—anything—but the right words felt just out of reach. She swallowed hard, unsure of what to say next.

Before she could formulate a response, Elena leaned back in her chair, her demeanor shifting slightly. “So, do you have any big plans this weekend?”

Riley nodded, grateful for the shift in conversation. “Yeah, actually. I’m going to go home and visit my family for a bit. It’s been a while since I’ve seen them.”

“That’s nice,” Elena said with a smile. “I haven’t seen my parents in a while either. It’s hard to find the time with everything going on.”

Riley smiled sympathetically. “I get that. College is a lot to juggle.”

“It really is,” Elena agreed, her expression softening.

For a few moments, they simply sat in the quiet, sipping their coffee and watching the world go by outside the window. Riley felt a sense of peace settle over her, as if nothing else mattered in that moment but the two of them and the comfort they found in each other’s presence.

“So, when are we going to do something crazy?” Elena asked suddenly, breaking the silence with her usual playful energy.

Riley chuckled, the tension in her chest easing. “What do you mean by crazy?”

“You know, something spontaneous,” Elena said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Something fun. I don’t know. Maybe we could go skydiving, or maybe just run around the city like maniacs. You never know with me.”

Riley laughed, shaking her head. “Skydiving? I think I’ll pass on that one.”

“Pfft,” Elena teased, “you’re no fun.”

“Oh, I’m fun,” Riley said with a grin. “Just not that kind of fun.”

They both laughed, the sound filling the quiet café and making Riley feel more alive than she had in a long time.

As the afternoon wore on, they found themselves strolling through the nearby park, their laughter and light conversation flowing easily. It was a perfect day—no pressure, no expectations. Just two friends enjoying each other’s company.

By the time they reached the park bench, Riley couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment. The idea of taking things further with Elena was still looming over her, but for now, she was happy just being here, in this moment, with Elena by her side.

Elena sat down on the bench first, patting the spot beside her. Riley sat next to her, their shoulders brushing lightly.

“You know, I think this is the part where we’d usually make some grand declaration about our feelings for each other,” Elena said with a playful grin.

Riley laughed. “Yeah, but I’m not exactly great at those grand declarations.”

“Maybe not,” Elena agreed, “but you’re good at just being you.”

Riley smiled, her heart fluttering at the words. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” Elena replied, her voice softening.

For a long while, they sat there together, the sounds of the park surrounding them, and Riley couldn’t help but feel that, no matter what happened next, she was exactly where she was meant to be.