Part Ten
"Oh, Riley," Heather said who was completely oblivious to what happened. "Time to open the presents."
She forced her a smile. "Okay, let's do it."
"Damn woman," he growled to himself as he slowly followed the crowd into the living room. Can't even say a simple thank you. He watched her sit on the couch with a smile and everyone surrounded her while he sat on the arm of the chair. A hand reached out from the chair and casually rubbed his legs and he jolted and looked down to see Faith beaming up at him. He grimaced and shifted uncomfortably and watched Riley open her present.
She was a fast opener, which JC preferred since the people who take their time to admire the wrapper annoyed the hell out of him. Riley didn't even look, she ripped each package open the moment Heather handed it to her. He chuckled at her as she opened Joey's present. She looked like a little kid on Christmas morning.
"Joey," she laughed when she pulled out the picture frame which held a picture of him. It was one of his publicity shots that he took for a magazine.
"Ya like?" he asked as he wiggled his eyebrows.
"I'm gonna kiss it every night before I go to bed," she laughed.
Rene leaned forward. "I have your real present in the car," she whispered to her.
She laughed. "Okay, thanks."
"Here's another one," Heather said as she held up the gold bag.
"Okay, who's this from?"
JC cleared his throat. "Um...that's from me."
Riley looked up at JC in surprise. "You got me something?"
He shifted in his seat. "Yeah, it's no big deal, but I mean.... I think you'll like it."
He kept surprising her more and more, she thought with a sigh. She never knew anyone so damn moody. "Okay," she finally said and then rummaged through the white tissue paper. She felt something cold and hard and she quickly pulled it out. She gasped softly and put her fingers against her lips as she stared at the trophy she hadn't seen in years. "Oh my god," she said softly.
"What is it?" she heard Chris ask.
"I don't get it" Justin stated.
Riley looked up at JC who was nervously running his fingers through his hair and had difficulty making eye contact. "Riley, what is it?" Heather asked.
She kept looking at JC and then all of the sudden she felt like she was gonna cry. She couldn't bare to let everyone see her cry. She stood up causing the trophy to fall to the floor and ran out of the room.
JC watched her run off and then looked down at the floor to see the trophy rolling towards him. He stopped it with his foot and then leaned down to pick it up. "I'll go talk to her," he heard Heather say.
"No," he said suddenly and then looked at Heather. "I'll go."
JC flung Faith's clingy hand off his leg and stood up to run after her. He trotted up the stairs and slowly walked down the long hallway full of bedrooms, not having a clue which one she was staying in. He didn't have to guess though, her soft sobs were coming through the guest bedroom down the hall.
He sighed as he peered through the door that was cracked open and saw her sitting on the edge the side of the bed. Her shoulders were slumped over and her head was down while she tried to compose herself. He opened the door a little wider and the door squeaked giving JC away.
Riley gasped at the sound and turned towards the door. "Go away, JC," she said quietly and looked back down at her lap.
Instead of doing what she wanted, he did the opposite. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. He walked slowly up to her and sat down next to her. "The last thing I thought you would do when you saw my gift was cry," he said softly while studying her profile.
"Well, you were wrong," she croaked and wiped away a tear.
"Why are you crying?" he asked confused. "I thought you'd like it and..."
"I do like it," she said quietly. "That's the problem."
He groaned in frustration. "WHAT problem? Damn, Ri you are the most moodiest person..."
"I'M moody??" she exclaimed as she looked at him for the first time. "YOU'RE the one that's moody!"
"Me?? How am I moody? You're the one that just chewed my ass out for helping you awhile ago and then you cry when you get my gift and THEN you tell me you like it after all...I mean.."
"I'm not crying because of the gift," she groaned as she rolled her eyes. "I'm crying because you confuse the hell out of me."
He blinked. "What?"
"You... confuse... the... hell... out... of... me," she said slowly so he could understand.
"Okay, smart ass why don't you tell me WHY I confuse the hell out of you."
She stood up and started pacing the room. "Well, all my life I've thought of you as some arrogant ass hole that always had to be one step ahead of me. You were rude and picked on me. I hated you and..."
"You didn't hate me," he said softly as he stood up as well.
"Yeah I did," she said as she kept pacing as JC stood and watched her continue to pace.
"But then... THEN I got to know a whole different side of that ass hole on the roof, and I liked him. I thought, ‘Hey, I was wrong he's a cool guy,' but noooo, the minute someone found us it was right back to the arrogant ass hole."
"Riley," JC sighed.
"I'm not done," she said as she paused pacing long enough to poke him in the chest with her pointer finger. "Then you come to this party and at first I thought nothing's changed, but then you pulled that heroic shit on me...."
"Which you were ungrateful for," he added.
"I was mad because you cared!" she yelled and then sighed as she sat on the bed. "I don't want you to care about me and then... then you gave me the trophy and I was lost." JC smiled and handed the trophy to her and Riley took it and smiled down at it. "This is probably the nicest thing anyone's ever gotten me and it made me mad that it was from you."
JC sighed and sat down next to her. "Riley, the problem is simple. We've grown up. I'm 25 and you today you turned 23. We grew out of it. And the truth is I don't hate you. I never did, and whether you like it or not, I do care about you, Riley."
She sighed and then looked at him. "I know. I care about you, too."
"I know you do," he said with a smile. "I heard you defend me to that Scott guy."
Her eyes widened. "You heard that?"
He nodded. "Yeah, I did," he said and then stood up and pulled her to her feet. "Thank you, Riley."
"You're welcome," she said with a shy smile.
"Now let's kiss and make up and then go back downstairs and put the past behind us."
"It's about damn time we did that, JC," she said with a smirk.
He grinned before leaning down and Riley closed his eyes expecting him to kiss her on the lips but her eyes flew open when he kissed the corner of her mouth instead. "I'm sorry, Ri," she heard him said as he hugged her. "For everything."
She sighed and closed her eyes again as she reached up on her toes and tightened her arms around his neck. "I'm sorry, too."
After Riley opened her last gift, they moved the party back outside where the alcohol and food were ready to be consumed. Everyone mingled and laughed as the sun disapeared and the stars and moon took over. Lance and Heather stayed close and would sneak a smile when no one was looking. JC and Riley would exchange smiles as well, but they didn't talk much. They both knew that their newly bonded friendship didn't need to be rushed.
The OTHER reason that JC and Riley were apart was because Faith was by JC's side the whole time. If JC was lucky, he could spare a few minutes with out the obnoxious blonde clinging to his side. At one time, during Faith's "special" attention, JC made eye-contact with Riley and he gave her a stern look that read: "Help me!" But Riley just snickered and continued her conversation with Lance.
"CAKE time!" Chris yelled as he walked outside from the kitchen with a large cake decorated with candles.
"Come on birthday girl," Justin said with a smile as she pulled her towards the cake and everyone swarmed around her and started to sing happy birthday.
She laughed before she bent down and blew out every candle with one breath and every one clapped and cheered. "Here, Ri," Dani said as she handed her the knife. "You cut the first piece."
"Okay," she said and then cut threw the white cake and made a nice little square.
"Feed me sweet thang," Joey teased as he opened his mouth and leaned forward.
"Sure SWEETIE," Riley teased and then shoved the piece of cake in his face.
Everyone busted out laughing including Riley and Joey stood there in shock. "Why you little..." he grabbed a handful of icing and cake and threw it at Riley, but he ducked and hit his girlfriend in the face. "Oh shit," he said even though he couldn't help escape a laugh.
"JOEY!" she yelled angrily as she pushed the icing from her face. "You're dead!" she exclaimed and rubbed some cake in her hair.
"FOOD FIGHT!" Chris yelled and then grabbed some cake and stuffed it in Dani's face.
Dani gasped in shock, but threw some right back at him. Justin took a chunk and put down some down the back of Britney's blouse and smooshed it against her back. Britney gasped out a laugh and then turned around and rubbed icing in his newly grown curls. Everyone was out of control, except for Faith. She backed off from this little icing party.
Lance grabbed a squirming Heather and pulled her to the cake. "Lance, no," she laughed but knew she didn't have a chance. Her laughter was muffled into the cake when Lance pushed her head in face first. Heather lifted her face out of the cake and heard Lance chuckling as she grabbed a handful of the cake and stopped his laughter by shoving it in his face.
Lance's mouth dropped in shock and looked at Heather's icing covered face who was now snickering at him. "You look like you need a little dip," he said and then grabbed her again.
Everyone started laughing when they saw Lance threw her over his shoulder and carried her to the pool. "Lance don't you dare!" Heather yelled as he slapped his back.
"Do it Lance!" JC laughed.
"See, I have your brother's permission. I got to," he teased and then stopped at the edge of the pool.
"Lance...don't..."
"Ooooone...."
"LAAAAANCE!"
"Twoooo!"
"Laa.."
"THREE!" he said and then jumped in the pool and brought her with him.
Riley laughed when he saw everyone jump and push their girlfriends in and she decided to join in the fun. She took a chunk of cake and turned to JC who was still clean of icing. "JC, what ya doing over there?"
His eyes widened. "Don't even think about it, Shane."
Her brows raised in challenge and took a step back. "What?"
"I swear one icing that touches me and you're a dead man."
She snickered. "Aww, is JC afraid to mess up that mop of thing on your head that you call hair."
"HEY!" he exclaimed. "I thought we made up."
"Oh, we did," she said and then backed up again and grinned when he backed up into the table. He was trapped. "We're just having some harmless fun."
"Oh really?" He asked and then. "Well then in that case... take THAT!"
Riley gasped in shock when a icing and cake filled hand came from behind his back and plastered her in the face. "You had that all along!" she exclaimed and then stopped his chuckling by stuffing the cake in his face.
"Oh, you're dead," he laughed as he pulled her squirming body against him and made his way to the pool.
Riley laughed as she tried to struggle against him, but he was too strong. "Come join us!" Justin yelled to them right before Britney surprised him and pushed him underwater.
"Don't mind if we do," JC laughed as he lifted her off the ground. He grinned at her. "Hold tight Shane."
Riley squeezed her eyes tight and let out a shriek right before he stepped off the edge.
They both resurfaced still in each others arms while water sputtered from their mouths. "I can't believe this," she laughed as she pushed the water out of her face. "How the hell did this happen?"
"No clue," he laughed and then ran his hands all over her face rubbing the wet icing everywhere.
"Hey!" she exclaimed and then tried to shove his face with his hands but he leaned back and grabbed her wrists. "You are so dead."
"I'm shaking," he chuckled and then tripped her with his leg and watched her fall under the water.
"You jerk," she said once she resurfaced. "I changed my mind, I'm not friends with you anymore."
"Awww, yeah you are," he teased and then ruffled her wet hair.
She tried to keep a straight face but with him standing there soaked to the bone with wet icing and smooshed cake streaming down his face it was hard. "Shut up," she laughed and then splashed him.
He just laughed before he slipped back underwater and rubbed his hands to get rid of all the crap on his face. He resurfaced and pushed his wet locks out of his face. Riley couldn't help but stare. His shirt was soaking wet and it was plastered to his upper body exposing each curve in his stomach and chest. He looked good wet, she noticed. Very good.
"How do I look?"
She turned red and looked up at his face. "What?"
She looked at him weird. "My face... did I get all the icing off?"
"Ooh, you're face... right," she said as she let out a breath. "Um... yeah... no wait not quite."
JC watched her point to the corner of his mouth and then attempted to swipe it away with his arm. "Get it?"
She chuckled. "No idiot, you spread it even more," she said when she noticed the white streak coming from the corner of his mouth.
He sighed. "Dang it, I..."
"Here... you're just gonna make it worse," she laughed and then stepped closer to him which was probably not a good idea considering they were close to begin with. How every time her she breathed her chest brushed against his. She felt his eyes piercing through her as she lifted her shaky hand and cupped his chin softly.
"Ri?" he asked softly as he watched her rub her thumb softly against his rough cheek.
She swallowed hard. "Yeah," she said softly as she kept her eyes on her task. If she looked into his eyes she was a goner.
"Look at me," he said.
Crap. "Hang on I almost got it," she said shakily trying to buy her time to compose herself.
"Forget about the damn icing," he said as he reached up and grabbed her hand to pull it away from him. "Look at me."
She swallowed again and closed her eyes as she turned her head. She finally managed to look at him and the way he was looking at her made her knees almost buckle. "What?" she finally asked.
He licked his lips and then looked at her own and noticed she licked hers as well. God how he wanted to kiss her. "Ever think about the world we left on that roof," he finally said when he finally looked back at her.
She felt her heart racing. She was oblivious to everything else but her heart beating against her chest and the sound of JC's soft voice. The screams and splashes that were happening around them didn't even register to them. "All the time," she whispered.
"Me too," he said, his voice cracked with emotion. His eyes moved back down to her lips that were decorated with water beads which made them even more inviting. He didn't know what he was doing, but all of the sudden his head started to dip towards hers. He saw him close her eyes and wait for the kiss they both wanted and so he closed his eyes as well. He felt her warm breath merge with his and their lips nuzzled and touched briefly causing some of the water beads to melt against his.
"Oooooooo."
JC and Riley froze and then both came back to reality. There was no more splashing or laughing... just silence with a few snickers. They both turned their heads slowly to see everyone in the pool standing there watching them with grins on their faces. "Don't let us stop you," Chris teased. "Go right ahead."
Everyone laughed when JC flicked him off and Riley turned red and buried her face against his damp chest. "All I gotta say is it's about time!" Heather laughed and then jumped on Lance's back. "This calls for another drink."
Everyone laughed, including JC and Riley as JC put an arm around her and pulled her to his side. No one noticed Faith standing at the edge of the pool with daggers in her eyes as she eyed Riley Shane. "Watch it girl," she said quietly to herself. "You're walkin on my turf.... and that's dangerous territory."
The night was getting old and the party started to die down. More and more guests started to leave and only the close friends stayed behind to clean up. JC and Riley didn't leave each others side after what happened in the pool. Every once in a while they would exchange glances, silently telling the other that they couldn't wait to be alone.
Lance and Heather stayed close together too, but everyone saw them as just close friends, except for Riley. Lance and Heather couldn't wait to be alone as well. The after hours started and people started to get sleepy, so they all agreed to go ahead and start cleaning so no one would have to worry about it the next day.
"I'll go around outside and pick up the trash," JC said as he grabbed a trash bag.
"Okay," Heather said with a smile.
"I'll help," Riley said.
"I don't think so," Heather and JC both said at once.
"What? Why?"
"You're the birthday girl," JC pointed out.
"Exactly," Heather said and pulled her to the den and pushed her on the couch. "Sit... relax."
"But I..."
"Nope," she said again and pushed her back down when she tried to get up. "Don't lift a finger unless it's to pick up the remote."
She sighed. "Fine."
JC walked outside and started to pick up all the cups and plates scattered around. "Need some help?"
JC turned sharply towards the voice to see Faith standing there with a sly grin on her face. "Um, sure I guess," he said to be polite but rolled his eyes the minute he turned around.
Faith picked up a plate near her and walked over to him until she was right behind him. "Here ya go."
He jumped again and turned around. "Damn, Faith don't sneak up on me like that."
She giggled. "Sorry," she said and stepped closer. "Here."
He frowned at her and grabbed the only plate she picked up. "Thanks. Don't hurt yourself or anything, I wouldn't want you to strain yourself."
"How sweet of you," she said not picking up his hint of sarcasm. "That's what you are though... so sweet."
JC cleared his throat. "Um, yeah thanks," he said and started to turn around but she placed a hand on his arm. "What?"
"Hey, what's with the attitude?" she said as she stepped closer.
"Faith, I'm trying to.."
She cut him off by jumping in his arms and pressing her lips to his.
"This is ridiculous," Riley sighed as she got up from the couch and decided to go outside to help JC. Besides, she wanted to see him. She walked out the door and froze when she saw Faith jump in his arms and kiss him. Her heart leapt to her throat and she started to turn and run away, but she stopped when JC pushed her away.
"Faith!" JC said in shock as he pulled her away. "What the hell was that?"
She licked her lips and pressed against his. "A kiss silly."
"Well, I never said I wanted it," he said angrily and pried her roaming hands away. "Faith stop, you're making a fool of yourself."
"Why? You know you want me..."
"Wrong. I want nothing to do with you," he said and then sighed. "If you must know I'm interested in someone else, and it's not you."
Her face fumed with anger. "Who? RILEY?"
He cleared his throat. "Yes, Riley."
"Why in the world would you..."
"Faith look," he said shortly. "You're beautiful, okay, yeah I'll admit that. But I've been with someone like you for the past four years and I can't deal with it any more. I've wasted too many years to find out who I really care about and that's Riley. I'm sorry if I hurt you but..."
She snorted out a laugh. "Hurt me?" She laughed again. "Sorry buddy, but I'm not that fragile. You're hot and everything but I don't want a commitment... just wanted a little fling that's all."
He sighed. "Well then go find your fling somewhere else."
She sniffed and cocked up her chin. "Sure thing, hot stuff. You missed out."
He grinned. "I don't think so, but thanks for the offer."
"Whatever," she said and then flipped her hair and strutted out towards the backyard gate and walked out.
"Slut," JC muttered and then started to pick up more trash. He had only picked up one thing when he felt someone tap on his shoulder. He sighed thinking it was Faith and turned around. "What no..."
Once again he was cut off with a pair of lips slamming against his...but this time the pair of lips belonged to Riley.
“Hey, can I help you with anything else?” Lance asked as Heather wrapped his arms around her waist from behind her waist and nuzzled her neck.
Heather smiled softly as she turned off the kitchen sink and started to dry her last plate. “Yes, you can stop doing that so no one will see you,” she said sweetly.
“Let em see, I don’t care,” he said and then kissed her shoulder. “You have the softest skin.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, a mixture of icing and chlorine does wonders to the skin.”
He laughed softly. “It must,” he said as he trailed a finger over her shoulder and down her arm. “So I was thinking…”
“Yeah?” she asked as she put the plate aside and turned towards him.
Lance smiled and pressed her against the sink. “That maybe you can stay with me tonight.”
Heather raised a brow. “Lance, how do you suppose we do that.”
“Easy. I ask Justin if I can crash on the couch and then I sneak into your room.”
“What about Riley?”
“Hmm, since she knows about us I’m sure she’ll help us out,” he said and then kissed her softly. “Or you can come downstairs and couch it with me.”
“Maybe I will,” she said. “But...”
“Hey Lance?”
Heather pushed him away when they heard Joey’s voice from behind the kitchen door and they both smiled when he opened the door. “Yes?”
He looked at him weird. “What’s going on?”
“Uh, nothing, just helping Heather with a few things.”
"Oh, well, me and Rene are gonna head out,” he said as he gave him a friendly slap with his hand and then hugged Heather. “It was fun guys I’ll catch you later.”
“Bye Joe, behave,” Heather teased with a smile.
“Me? Always.”
Heather and Lance let out a sigh when he left. “Ya see!” Heather whispered. “That was another close call.”
He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, better luck next time right?” he asked with a grin as he backed her up against the sink again.
“Lance!” Heather laughed as she tried to push him away. “Stop.”
He didn’t listen. He playfully growled as he ravished on her slender neck. “You’re sexy when your angry.”
“James Lance Bass, I’m warning you,” she said as she pried his hands off. "You’re gonna get it if you don’t…”
He cut her off when his lips pressed against hers. She moaned softly against his mouth as the kiss lingered and she looked up at him when he finally pulled away. “You were saying?” he asked.
“Forget it,” she sighed and then cupped the back of his neck and pulled him in for another kiss.
JC knew who it was right away. He dreamed about the feel of those soft lips on his again every night while he tossed and turned. The taste her still lingered in his mind and the feel of her against him stayed with him all this time. JC dropped the trash bag to the floor, causing the trash to roll back out but neither noticed.
He cupped her face lightly her lips still lingered on his, both waiting to see who would make the initiative move to deepen the kiss. Finally, JC couldn't take it much longer and turned his head slightly and plunged. His moan muffled into her mouth as his fingers sank into her hair and pulled her against him.
Riley let out a desperate moan as she gripped her arms around his neck trying her best to get closer to him. She didn't know what came over him, but the words that came out of his mouth earlier kept going over in her head. 'I've wasted too many years to realize who I really care about, and that's Riley.' When she first heard him say it she knew she was lost to him. She could no longer fight her stubborn pride from running to him. She could no longer act like the tough girl who could care less about JC Chasez. She could no longer deny the fact that she was in love with her long time enemy.
JC nipped at her lips and gentled the kiss before finally pulling away. He looked down at her and she looked up at him. They were both out of breath but they were still pressed up against each other and their hands were still exploring each other. JC's fingers caressed her hair and face, while Riley played with the hair at the nape of his neck. "What was that for?" JC finally asked.
She managed a smile and then licked her lips. "I saw what happened."
"What? With Faith?"
She nodded. "I walked out right when she kissed you."
"Damn, Riley I..."
"No, it's okay," she said as she leaned up and placed two fingers against his lips. "I saw you push her away and I heard everything after that."
His eyes widened. "Epfyfing?" he muffled against her fingers.
She laughed softly and took her fingers away. "Yes...everything."
"I meant every word," he said as he cupped the side of her face.
She closed her eyes and leaned into his warmth. "I know," she said softly.
He sighed and then pulled her against him and developed her with his arms. "When you kissed me I felt like I was back on that roof."
She smiled as she rested her cheek on his shoulder. "Me too. I couldn't tell you how many times I dreamed of that night."
"Every time I had the slightest second to daydream I thought of that night," he whispered in his hair and then laughed softly. "Hell, I thought of that night even when I was suppose to be concentrating on work."
She sighed. "Me too. I'm sorry for how it ended."
"I'm the one who should be sorry, Ri," he said as he started to stroke her hair. "I was a jerk. I didn't know what to do or say after that night, so I did what I do best. I pushed you away."
"We had a deal," she said. "I shouldn't have been mad. The door opened and you went back to Bobbie, but it just... I dunno, it hurt."
He nodded. "I know, baby. I hated pushing you away when all I wanted to do was drag you back up on that roof."
"I miss it," she said and then buried her face in the crook of his shoulder.
"We're there now," he said as he leaned back and looked down at her. He cupped her face again and gazed down at her. "That world we left on the roof is here now, and I want it to stay with us."
She swallowed the lump in her throat. "You do?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I do," he said and then kissed her softly. "I care about you so much, Riley, but I feel like there's a lot about you I don't know, but I want to change all that."
She smiled up at him. "You know plenty about me, Chasez."
He grinned. "Well yeah. I know what pushes your buttons, but I want to know the little things about you. Like what kind of coffee you drink. Or what kind of movies do you like to watch. Are you the kind of person that wakes up early in the morning eager to start the day or do you linger in bed and let the day slowly pass you by. That's what I want to know, Riley. I want to know you."
She tried to fight back the tears, but she felt her eyes begin to shimmer as she smiled at him. She sniffed and pushed away a tear that slid down her cheek and then kissed him softly. "Milk and sugar, romantic comedy, and I'm an early riser all the way."
He grinned and then kissed her back. "Black, action, and I sleep in."
She let out a laugh. "Can't have everything in common I guess."
"I wouldn't change you for the world," he said with a grin and then leaned over and slanted his lips against hers once more.