Who: Riley & April What: A text and a tour When: Saturday, April 13 Where: Her place; all over New York who knows Rating: Low Status Complete
Hey you Riley texted. He knew that their last interaction had gone well enough and he didn’t want to impose, but he couldn’t get the lovely, funny woman out of his brain. Whatever the rules on dating were he wasn’t sure, he didn’t chase people very often, not that he had any desire to do anything that someone else might not want, but this sort of felt worth pursuing. Worst case he was out a few months of time - best case …. well …
Hope you’re doing ok. You free? Wanna hang out? That didn’t sound imposing, did it?
The day was cool but it was warmer than it had been in weeks prior, the sun was out and the day was his to seize. Converse sneakers tapped anxiously against the pavement. He’d just stepped out of a small book store, looking at nothing in particular, and in his boredom he figured texting April sounded more appealing.
btw it’s Riley, you know, the dummy from the subway with the dog he knew that she knew it was him but what if she had forgotten about him? Everyone remembered the dog.
Cool. Anyway, LMK He added a smiling face emoji on and then waited for a reply.
April hadn’t forgotten about Riley, not by a long shot. But when she mentioned meeting him to a few girls in the ballet, they told her to play it cool and not act to eager. April didn’t understand that at all. If you liked someone, didn’t you want to spend time around them? She certainly couldn’t ask her brother about this, he’d be furious that she was texting with someone he didn’t know.
So when she got Riley’s text, April ignored the “advice” and just responded immediately. His text made her smile, so she wasn’t going to be rude and leave him hanging.
Hi! I’m good, how are you? I would love to hang out! I’m free!
As an afterthought, she sent another message followed by a string of nonsensical emojis. You’re not a dummy! How is Ace?
Instantly he was doing a good number of fist pumps in response - celebrating the fact that she did want to hang out and that he wasn’t coming on too strong - before texting back.
Doing good! Glad you’re ok too.
That was lame. Probably. And at the string of emojis he laughed, unable to help himself. You don’t know enough about me yet the text was playful, and a winking emoji was sent to make it playful.
Ace is good, he’s rocking and rolling. Left him at home today. Wanna meet up somewhere or I can meet you at your place and we can go from there?
The text response made April smile more than she had been. She responded right away, texting him her exact address. You can come here!
Not waiting for his response, she set her phone aside to go change her clothes and fix her hair in preparation for his arrival.
The reply came faster than he’d expected which made him grin a bit foolishly. Looking at the address, he plugged it into the app to see how far it was and opted for an Uber. Great! On my way!
After that he got a bit nervous without understanding really why. She seemed eager, was cool as all get out, and way prettier than was considered in his league. But hey, when opportunity came knocking you’d better answer the door, right?
Uber came. Riley piled in, gave the address and they were off. Before too long he was in front of her place and another short journey would carry him to her doorway.
Knocking gently Riley waited like a child might wait up to catch a glimpse of Santa.
Hearing the knock on the door, April rushed to answer it with a bounce in her step. Flinging the door open without even checking the peep hole, the petite blonde greeted Riley with a brilliant smile. Outfitted in a happy pink blouse and skinny denim jeans, she was ready to explore. “Hi!”
“Hey,” he managed, nearly breathless by the sight of her. A hand raked through dark curls and he managed one of those odd winks he was known for (at least in his mind) before he made himself quit drooling. “Sorry, I uh — hey!” A laugh and Riley smiled. “So you wanna take a second to figure out what you want to do or do you have an idea?”
There was bound to be something for them to get to, get into, or do in the city that neither of them had done before. Compare bucket lists? See what stuck? Honestly, whatever he was doing was good with him as long as April was there. He’d settle for being a lump on her couch if that was what made her that vibrant.
April beamed at his funny little wink, stepping aside to let him come in. Her place was small but bright and homey, flooded with sunlight and decorated with fresh flowers and plants.
Laughing a little, April shook her head. “I have no idea, but I’m always up for exploring. You know fun things to do around here? Or just walking around is nice too.”
Other than dance, April hadn’t done all that much outside of it since moving to the city, so she was eager to see all the exciting things New York had to offer.
At that invitation Riley accepted. He crossed the doorway of her apartment and instantly was warmed by the sight of the colors in her place. The flowers added to the ambiance. A good way to glean insight about a person was to get a feel for what the interior of their apartment looked like - hers did not disappoint nor did it surprise him at all. She was about as sunny and warm as the decor they were surrounded by.
“Well, we could walk around a little and see if something looks cool enough to do?” New York was a vibrant place filled with all sorts of things - there was bound to be something which would catch their eyes.
Worst case, between the both of them, they had apps to help them find something to do. Just being in her company was pleasing enough.
April nodded in agreement, still smiling excitedly. “Okay, that sounds like fun. Did you want a drink or anything or to sit and talk a little first?” She didn’t mind either way, she was just happy to spend time with him.
That was a fantastic idea. Drinking, sitting, talking. “Oh! Sure,” he nodded, a bit sheepishly. Clearly manners weren’t a common practice at the Kip household. “If that’s fine with you, of course.”
He waited for her to move before he found a comfortable seat, relaxing against the cushions of the chair. There was no pressure for any type of drink, she could’ve placed a coffee in his hand and he would’ve drank it.
April motioned for Riley to have a seat and moved off into the little galley kitchen. “I’ve got water or lemonade, which do you like?”
After he made his choice, April brought the drink out to him, handing it over carefully so not to spill. Dropping into a seat adjacent from him, she moved a worn teddy bear out of the way and looked to Riley with a smile. “Did you have any trouble finding the place?”
“Oh, lemonade please,” he replied. Lemonade was on par with sweet tea, the temptation of where he was raised. It was also akin to Dr. Pepper - you weren’t Texan if you didn’t like DP (according to the local yokels, anyway) so the obvious choice was lemony sugar water.
He took the glass and sipped from it, a soft sound of appreciation escaped his lips. Nodding, he swallowed and set the glass aside (after a search for a coaster) to offer back his attention unburdened.
“Nah. Google Maps is a blessing. Plus the dude driving the Uber knew the area.”
Tucking her long muscular legs beneath her, April grinned. “How long have you lived in the city? What types of fun things have you done here so far? Anything I should avoid?”
“Few years,” he replied. As if he would reconsider the answer his face contorted in thought, brow furrowed as if he was mentally counting the last few years of his life in effort to deliver true information. Satisfied, he nodded and once more smiled, “Yeah! A few years.”
“Central Park has a lot of cool stuff, the warmer months will bring a lot of outdoor activity. I dig the Farmer’s Markets, honestly.” Nothing beat fresh vegetation.
“And New York itself has a ton of stuff to do. Broadway, people watching, places to go to relax and get into nature. Really it kinda just depends on what you wanna do. You got a bucket list or something?”
April straightened a little with a grin. “I love parks. And the outdoors! I don’t think I’ve ever been to a Farmers Market. I can’t wait for the spring, when the butterflies come.”
She didn’t have a bucket list, she didn’t even know what that was. So she asked, “what’s a bucket list? Oh I would love to see a Broadway show though!”
Riley almost literally sat upright in his chair if he had been shocked with electricity “Holy smoking mountains,” he gasped, eyes widening, “We should go camping. Camping.” Outdoors was all he was about. He loved camping - most of his childhood was spent outside to get away from his parents.
“A bucket list is like a list of things to do in your life, you know like take a trip or do something unique and cool.”
Broadway was totally on his bucket list.
April blinked in surprise but smiled at Riley’s enthusiasm. “Camping? In the city? Is that a thing? I’ve never been camping. And I don’t think I have a bucket list.”
When she thought about it, there were lots of things that April wanted in life. She wanted to be a Prima, but at 22 if it didn’t happen soon it might never happen. Beyond that, she wanted friends and a family. But that last part seemed too hard to manage because of her abilities. It was best not to think of it.
“There have got to be places in New York that are good for camping,” He explained, a finger coming to rest upon his chin as he considered the options. “Or we could always build a fort out of pillows. Not as nice but probably cozier? And convenient.” He was now officially taking her camping.
“We are starting your bucket list right this second, first thing to put on it is Camping.”
And now the consideration came for what else to add to the list. “Alright. Bucket list one oh one,” He began, leaning forward slightly, “You have to add stuff to it that is sort of realistic even if it’s not attainable right this second. You know like….see another country, or graduated from college, get a dog…”
April squealed at the idea of a pillow fort, but actual camping could be fun too. “I want to do all of those things! Well, I already went to Russia, and I’m not smart enough for college, but the rest, yes!”
April had no idea what else to add to the list. “What’s on your bucket list?”
“What do you mean you ain’t smart enough for college?” He inquired, amused. She seemed perfectly capable and smart to him. Maybe a bit naive but that was part of her charm. “Okay, let’s add those to the list if they aren’t already there.”
He was going to really have to start writing some of that down if they were going to keep adding to that nonexistent list.
“To see the world, to fix up my motorcycle, to have a family some day…” the last part stirred up a dreamy look which he held for a minute.
“What’s Russia like? That’s so cool.”
April wrinkled her nose. “I was terrible in school. I couldn’t sit still, and reading and math and writing were so hard I always felt miserable. I was so glad to just get out of high school, but I had to beg my parents to let me focus on dance instead of other things.”
When he got that dreamy look, she smiled. “I’d like to do that last one too. But..” April didn’t like to focus on bad things, so she just left it at that to answer his question.
“Cold.” She giggled, even though it was true. “It was very different, I don’t know how to describe it. I didn’t like it much, but I went there with the ballet, and the dancers there are incredible.”
“Oh, yeah, that makes sense then.” It didn’t mean she was bad at it, that just meant her heart was set on different things. She seemed like she had a good idea as to what she wanted in life which was more than a lot of people could say for themselves.
And his eyebrows arched when she mentioned wanting to have a family someday too. Though that but sort of lingered out there between them. He wouldn’t pry, however he was curious to know the rest of that thought.
Laughing, he nodded, ‘Yeah, seems like it would be cold.” He listened with the fascination of a child, eager to know more. “That’s still freaking amazing. Great experience for your dancing career.”
April saw the look that Riley gave her when she didn’t finish her thought. She liked him a lot, and trusted him. So despite all the warnings her brother gave her, April decided to confess. “I’m one of those mutant people. I know a lot of people don’t like them, and bad things happen. I don’t even know if mutants can have families or if they’re allowed to.”
She’d rather talk about dance or bucket lists or anything. But after putting that out there April knew there was a chance Riley might not want to talk or hang out anymore.
Riley almost snapped his neck at the double take he’d done. It was nearly a comical action - everything in his life was humorously exaggerated in one circumstance or another. “You are?! Me too!” Wait. They couldn’t have families? How did you explain mutant kids?
“Of course they can have families. We are people too, April. We have the same rights as anybody else.” He wasn’t brash about it, just the opposite. His words were straightforward but kind. The idea that they’d be banned from procreating was frightening.
April was surprised at the response, but happy to hear it. She knew she was right to follow her heart and tell him. “Really? What can you do?”
April listened more intently. She wanted to believe what Riley said was true. “But… my brother always tells me how dangerous it is for mutants. Just because we have rights, some people still hate us.”
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“Yeah, but you can’t live your life in fear,” he replied softly. When you stopped fighting you let them win and then you lost your voice. “Sure it’s dangerous, but things are dangerous for everyone.”
And then Riley leaned forward a bit, hands pressed against the fabric of the chair. He began to absorb the color, causing the fabric on the seat to dim. When he’d soaked up enough to coat the fingers and palms of his hands he held them up to April to show her, grinning like a damned fool.
“Colors!”
April frowned a little. She didn’t want to live in fear or hide, but she didn’t think her brother would steer her wrong. But still, she nodded to Riley. It seemed like he was trying to make her feel better, and she appreciated that.
April’s eyes grew wide as Riley showed off his ability to her. Smiling, she offered him a round of applause. “That is so cool! Does it feel weird?”
At her applause the apples of his cheeks flooded with color. Sheepishly he set his hands back down, onto the arm rests, and put the color back where it belonged. The poor chair now looked as pristine as it had been before his tampering. He had painted an entire room for a friend a week or so ago without opening a single can of paint.
“Not really, but then I guess so? I mean, I don’t feel anything that I notice.”
He looked down at his hands, studying them as if to inspect for damage or oddness.
“How did you learn you could do that? Do you use it for things?” April wasn’t sure how that ability could be used, but she was sure Riley had it all figured out. She was just happy that her new friend was more like her than she realized. It only made her feel more comfortable and trusting of him.
“I can do something like that. Sort of…” Reaching up, April ran her fingers through her hair, the locks she touched turning from blonde to auburn.
“It sort of just happened one day,” he explained, shrugging his shoulders. Saved his parents a ton on art supplies which his Mama had been thankful for. “Sometimes with my students during art class, or if someone needs something changed or updated. I painted the walls of a friend’s room the other day.” Painted was the only term he could think of that created the image he was going after.
And then his eyes widened at her as her hair changed, “Woah! Can you do that to other people? Only yourself? That’s amazing!” The rapidfire questions came with a sheepish look.
April was still amazed, watching Riley and wondering at all the fun things he could go with his ability. At his questions, she giggled and nodded. “I can do it to other people if they want me to. I can change anything about the way they look. I can even do this…”
The full transformation took less than a minute, but the petite young blonde shifted into a curvaceous brunette, a good 15 years older than April had been just moments ago. Some of the key features were the same, her nose and big eyes and lips, but now she only bore a vague resemblance to the girl she used to be.
Riley blinked. His eyes widened and he tried not to look entirely shocked. She had aged. Not that it was a bad thing at all he just wasn’t sure how to process the transformation. Similarities were present - her facial features for instance were striking and they stood out to him. “Wow.”
He got up out of his chair and tottered over to April, touching her hair with a sense of awe and wonder. “So cool. Really. This is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.” Not that he had a lot of experience with other skill sets.
Feeling a bit sheepish he backed up and sat down carefully, nodding, “Blows me out of the water.”
Regardless of her apparent age, April had the same bright smile and the same mannerisms. When Riley touched her hair, she just grinned, glad that he thought her mutation was cool. She always worried about the reaction, which was just another reason why she hid it. “You really think so? I can be little too, if I need to. I can make other things age too but I try not too.”
“Little too?!”
More of that shock and awe. How was this woman single? Was she single? He hadn’t seen any indication of a boyfriend or a husband - wife? Girlfriend? - anywhere in her apartment but then again things weren’t always apparent.
“I think you take the cake on powers that are super amazing. That could be so useful.” His mind whirred a bit over the pros and cons and then he decided he didn’t care about cons. All of her ages were pros.
April nodded with a smile and shifted once more to a young child of about eight or nine years old. Smaller in her seat now, she swung her legs that no longer touched the ground. Even her voice seemed smaller, but had the same familiar cadence. “Really? But how? I never really use them for anything, except for hiding sometimes.” Or trying to be more attractive, but she wouldn’t admit to that out loud.
“You could help kids who don’t have a friend to play with,” he began. She would have been valuable like that to himself when he had been around that age, desperate for someone who understood and didn’t judge him the way his own family had. It struck him a bit odd that she would use her abilities to hide, but then who was he to tell her otherwise?
“Do you ever use your abilities at work? You know, when you’re dancing or trying out for a role?”
Blinking, April hadn’t thought about it like that. She liked kids, and when she was little everyone treated her like a child anyway. Which wasn’t necessarily a good thing. She understood how it felt to be a kid in the world, so many adults forgot that too easily.
She wrinkled her nose and shook her head no to his question. “No, silly. There’s not much work for kid dancers, and after a certain age, you’re too old to be a ballerina. Maybe in the future I could, but it would feel wrong. I worked so hard for this, this is when it all needs to happen, now. And if it doesn’t… well maybe then I’m not good enough and it’s not meant to be.” Even the words were a little sad, her tone was matter-of-fact. It took a moment or two longer than she wanted, but April gradually turned back into her normal state of appearance.
He wasn’t phased in the least that he was speaking as such to a child - there was no fear, unease, oddness about it - because he knew April was more than she appeared. Riley lived for kids. Watching them grow, helping guide them.
And then he smiled at the way her nose wrinkled up. “Hey that’s fair, but I think you’re going to do fine. You’re passionate which is a good sign. You’re dedicated. And so what if you don’t make it?” He knew that was probably not what she wanted to hear, “Life has depth, like the ocean. There’s always something out there waiting for you to find it.”
April smiled slowly. She liked Riley’s optimisms, it was something she shared. He just seemed a lot more eloquent in expressing it than she did most of the time. “Thank you! I hope you’re right.” April wasn’t really sure what she would do once her dance career ended, but she tried not to get ahead of herself about things.
Taking life as it came was his motto lately. For all of the bad in his past there were moments of shimmering glory that outshined the darkest shadows. He would have been a terrible bad guy, too optimistic and bright to damped a doorstep and far too personable and kind to hurt anyone intentionally, but for a moment or two back when he hadn’t quite been sure.
“I promise that good things will happen to you, April. You’re a good person. Sure, we all have bad days but I figure we get more good ones than bad ones to help us balance out.”
April beamed, happy to hear the vote of confidence from Riley. “You’re a good person too, that’s why I like hanging out with you.” She was pretty pleased with her new friend, glad that he, or his dog, had approached her in the subway.
She watched him with a smile with before blinking. “Oh! We’re supposed to go do something! Where should we go?”
His cheeks flushed red; she was pretty and dropping compliments on him, how was he supposed to not blush at the very utterance of her words. People often weren’t kind or if they were it was only to save face. Truly genuine people like April were hard to come by and he hoped she knew just how special she was. “Thanks,” he replied, grinning like a fool.
And then Riley blinked too. They’d gotten way off track from the original plan. A glance at his wrist (who was he kidding, he didn’t have a watch) and he studied the bare skin there playfully, “Oh goodness, where has the time gone?” His brow had furrowed, he glanced up at April and smiled.
“Anywhere, you want, ma’am,” that drawl lilted from his lips coupled with a shrug of a shoulder, “I could eat an entire horse right now. I’d never really do that, but you know….”
April stood up quickly, ready to go just at the mention of food. “We should go eat something then! I am always hungry.” She wasn’t kidding. Something about her abilities made her constantly feel like she was starving. Luckily, her metabolism was also very fast, so she never had to worry much about gaining weight. Then again, dancing six to eight hours a day helped that along too.
Almost jumping out of his own seat, Riley popped up and onto his feet. An elbow was offered to April politely, “My lady, I will find you the finest buffet in New York!” He cried, pointing up at the ceiling as if to declare his point. There was no playing around, things were serious. If the lady wanted food, she would get food.
Riley lead April toward the door to her place, opened it up for her, and closed it for her once she was out in the hallway. It didn’t take long to get to the lobby of her building and up to the sidewalk. He held up a finger, dove for his phone which was tucked into a pocket and it was then he began to search his plethora of apps for Uber.
“Okay, so…” He began, securing the ride. “...there are a few buffets around here...that one...no, no….not good ratings….wait! Here’s a good one. It’s got a little of everything. My treat.”
Giggling, April took the offered arm. Moving along with him, she was just happy to be out and exploring, and getting food along with that was even better. When he offered to pay, she smiled and nodded. “Okay, that sounds good. Thank you.”
April was not picky about things like this, and she was secretly just very happy to be spending time with Riley. She definitely liked him as a friend, but when he did and said silly things, or gentlemanly things, she liked him ever more.
Their car pulled up and idled at the curb before too long; the bright blue Volkswagen Beetle had been an interesting chariot but he opened the door for April regardless. When she was in and comfortable Riley squeezed into the tiny car after, and the door swung closed. “I feel like a clown,” he murmured to April after giving the driver the address of the place.
Out of the windows the cityscape passed by offering views otherwise unnoticed. People of all types were moving back and forth, busy and casual, animals. Birds flew into the trees, he saw a child making a hopscotch game on the sidewalk in front of a brownstone.
Finally the car pulled up to the front of the nice looking place. Riley flung the door open, got out and helped April, and then bade the driver farewell with the closing of the little door. “Alright. Food!”
April covered her mouth with her hand to hide the giggle at the reference to it being a clown car. As the car took them to their destination, she looked out the window too, but kept stealing quick glances at Riley as well, curious about what he was thinking.
When they arrived, she got out with his assistance. She looked up to the building and then back to him with a smile. “Can’t wait. You haven’t been here before, right? What do you like to start with at a buffet?” She knew some people, mostly her brother, had a very specific approach to the all you can eat situation. April was much more impulsive about things.
“Nope. Haven’t been here before,” came the reply. He peered up at the building, reached for April’s hand in a friendly way, and lead her in through the doors. The place was homey, not too busy but enough to be inviting. The scents were enticing, his stomach suddenly was growling.
“Honestly,” he laughed, “I have no idea where to start. Everything sounds good all at once.” That was the trouble with buffets, there were too many choices. “I guess I’ll just start in the middle and work my way to the end? And then back the other way?” There was no way he was putting back that much food but he would try.
After their meals had been paid for he grabbed a plate and offered one to April, waving a hand at the buffet, “Ladies first.”
April nodded and laughed a little. Following him along, she took the plate with a nod of thanks. “My brother always yells at me when we go to places like this. He says I pick all the wrong things. But I like pasta and veggies and things like that.”
Walking along slowly, she looked over the offerings, choosing small amounts of several different things so she got to try a good selection. Some things she wasn’t even sure she would like, but it was good to try something new.
“Get what you want, that’s what this is all about,” Riley assured her, waving at the array of options. The decision as to what he wanted was challenging. In the end he took a chance and piled the dish high with a bit of everything as appropriate, before leaving to find a table for them.
He picked a small, two person table which would accommodate them comfortably for the occasion.
Sitting after April, Riley dug in and grinned. “Oh my god I’m having a foodgasm.”
Moving to the table with Riley, April settled in to eat her meal. She wasn’t one of those girls who was afraid to eat around others, despite a usually strict diet and her small frame. Enjoying her meal happily, she paused to finish a bite before responding. “This is good. Good choice. What other things would you like to do?”
He was glad to see that she was eating. Experience had taught him that most women (and some men) picked at their food or got something that would only make them hungry again later and with a feeling of dissatisfaction. Hearty eating was important and clearly she was up on that tidbit of information.
“Oh, lots of things,” he said, mouth empty of food before he spoke to April. “Dancing, I like Karaoke, uh, shooting guns, reading.” He was a pretty simple person. Ace was high up on that list of favorites, too.
A few bites were taken and he savored them.
April smiled, of course she loved dancing too. That went without saying. “I’ve never gone to karaoke. Or shooting guns, but my dad would take my brother hunting sometimes back home.” She made a little face about reading, but made no comment. Riley was smart, of course he would like reading.
“I like dancing too. And being outdoors. I’m glad that it’s going to be warmer and nice out soon. I love the spring, when the butterflies come and the birds are out and everything is blooming.” Her name was fitting, then.
“Whaaat?!” Came the answer. He was adding both of those things to the April’s bucket list list. Maybe they had time for karaoke that particular evening, but he would see how things were going before loading April down with a ton of things she might not have interest in.
“Yeah, spring is great. I’m ready to be done with all of the cold.” In Texas the weather was sporadic, like a bipolar toddler at times and the unpredictability became old news and you just trudged through.
Another forkful of food was shoveled into his mouth. Cheeks full akin to a chipmunk, Riley ate until his plate was empty. Seconds would be had once he took a minute for the food to settle.
April grinned at his reaction. Riley was so silly, but she liked it. She liked people who were fun and light- hearted and she didn’t know nearly enough people like that.
“But, don’t you like the snow? Snowball fights and snow angels, and just watching it fall so peacefully?” Just because the spring was her favorite holiday, April could find something she enjoyed in all the seasons.
It took her a bit longer, but April did finally finish her plate. She couldn’t remember the last time she ate this much, but it was a good feeling. “I’ll have to go for an extra run tomorrow after all of this, but it’s worth it.”
“It doesn’t snow where I’m from,” he explained, as if she didn’t already know that. “So being here as been a change. I reckon the first time I experienced the snow I thought I was freezing to death but now I don’t mind it so much. But I don’t like being cold that much. Warm is preferrable.”
He liked her optimism. “I haven’t had anyone to have snowball fights with?” It was the truth. Maybe it was better when you had a friend participating.
“Oh man, me neither. I’m going back for seconds, just need a second to find the room.”
April just blinked and shook her head. “Are you serious? We have to have a snowball fight!” But it was getting too warm for that. She would have to remember during the colder months, or think of some other way to make it happen.
April laughed and shook her head. “No seconds for me. But maybe some dessert..” She looked over again at the food at the tables, wondering if there was anything really good there or if she should wait for later.
A grin spread across his lips at the prospect of snowball fighting with April. It sounded cute, endearing. He wanted that suddenly more than anything. The cold, the coats and scarves, everything about it seemed desirable. “Why can’t it be winter again!” He proclaimed, hand coming to rest over his own heart.
Dessert sounded way better than seconds now that she mentioned it.
Doing the same thing, Riley lifted a single finger, “Wait! I see something delightful,” and then he was off to get them something more than Jello or meringue.
Riley returned with two slices of chocolate cake. He set one down in front of April.
April laughed and shrugged. “It will be, sooner or later. We can find fun things to do in the other seasons too. Like going to the park for a walk in the spring and the fall, the beach in the summer.”
When he returned with the chocolate cake, April clapped in excitement. “Thank you! Are you sure you didn’t want more food first?”
Upon mention of the other things they could do in various seasons he felt a renewed sense of hope. He liked, too, that she was planning ahead for them, thinking of the things they could do together. It was interesting, intriguing. Riley wanted to do all of those things with her, too, and many more.
A fork plummeted into the rich, dark cake and he laughed softly, “Nah, if I eat anymore I might blow up like a balloon. Hard to fit into an Uber when you’re that big,” He teased, taking a bite of the cake from the fork. A soft sound of satisfaction escaped him, “Oh my heavenly stars, this is good cake.” His mama had been known for her chocolate cake, amongst the many various other things she could do. His shoulders slumped a little at the memory.
April did think of something that might make Riley happy, but she didn’t want to mention it until she was sure she could make it happen. But maybe they could still have a snowball fight in the off season, with a little help.
Digging into the cake, April couldn’t resist dessert, no matter how full she felt. Enjoying the treat almost as much as him, she noticed the change in his body language. Furrowing her brow in curiosity, she peered at him. “Is everything okay?”
A little bit of a wiggle happens in his seat; the cake was delightful and he couldn’t help the tiny dance he was doing. No shame at all. Shoulders rose and fell, elbows, arms moved from side to side. He had pushed aside whatever distress had brought him down, offering April a grin, “Yeah, of course. Why?”
Another bite of the cake was taken. And then another.
Smearing chocolate across his mouth on purpose he looked at her, “How do I look? Satisfied?” An eyebrow wiggle.
“You seemed… not okay for a minute. Just checking.” If he didn’t want to talk about it or dwell on it, April would not push the issue.
When he made a little mess, April fell into giggles again, making a face. “You look silly. But I like it.” April was tempted to do the same, but it would be a shame to waste such good cake.
Once they were both finished with their dessert, April wiped her mouth and hands on her napkin before setting it aside. “What should we do now?”
Riley bit at his lips. “My uh…” he scratched at his head, “My mama died about three months ago she made the best chocolate cake.” He wasn’t trying to bring April down but it was what it was. His face was covered in chocolate by that point and he couldn’t help but laugh at her expression. A napkin was taken up and brushed across his face to rid himself of the chocolate.
He finished a bit later, satisfied with the choice.
Face contorted in thought. “Want to go to Central Park?”
April frowned slowly at his confession and sighed. “Oh.. I’m so sorry.” She reached across the table to take his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. She wasn’t sure what else to say or do to offer her condolences.
At the change of scenery, April nodded with a smile. “Yes! But.. this time I will try not to get lost there.”
That squeeze at his hand was comforting. He didn’t want to face any of it - the circumstances had been suspicious and he had his own theories about her death - but he was glad for her sympathy. “Thanks.”
And then Riley was standing, his hand still holding onto hers as the action was done. “I won’t let you get lost.” He promised, tugging gently at her fingers. “Come on.”