Fifty three

Moving day.

"Have you told her yet?" Drew asked Levi, as he and the guys stood outside Riley's house. Riley's dad was packing up the car, in and out with a couple of boxes and Riley's things.

Levi looked at him. "Dude! You have too" He sighed. "What difference is it going to make?" Levi asked. "Um, hello! ... " "Drop it! It wont, cant make her stay" Levi sighed as he looked away. Austin half smiled at him, as he patted his shoulder.

"Right, we ready?" Riley asked, as she grabbed her purse and phone looking around her room. "Nope" Harper sighed. "I know" Riley nodded, admitting. She turned to the girls. Scarlet had been quietly sobbing for a while now. Harper was building it all up inside, you could tell.

"Lets go." Riley smiled. Scarlet sighed, as she sniffed before putting an arm around her. Harper put her arm around her too, making the three of them link together. They walked out her room, and down the stairs carefully, as they met Penny in the hallway.

She was being strong too.

"Got everything?" She asked Riley, as she soothed a quite emotional Scarlet. "Yep..." Riley nodded, as she took a breath. The three girls walked out, with Penny behind them and Riley saw the guys standing.

She stopped, as her heart jumped into her throat.

They all looked at her with caring smiles, but Levi didnt really have an expression. "Guys, I didnt think you'd be here" Riley smiled, as she walked over to them with the girls. Scarlet gripped onto Nate, still teary. "Of course, you werent leaving without saying goodbye to us dorks" Austin chuckled.

Riley laughed quietly, as she hugged him. "Awh, I'm going to miss you" She sighed. "You too sweet pea" He nodded, hugging her back. "We'll keep in touch with you" He told her as they let go. "Yeah!" She nodded. She turned to Nate, as he smiled and shrugged at her.

"Ah...stop bleaching your hair so much" She told him, making him laugh. "I'll try that" He nodded, as he put an arm around her and hugged her. "Missing you already" He smiled. Riley sighed as she looked at Drew. "Tell Jess I said goodbye. I'll keep in touch with her, she's great Drew" Riley nodded.

"Of course" Drew smiled, as he hugged her. "Miss you" He told her, before they let each other go. Riley smiled, as she then looked at Levi. He stared at the ground before he locked eyes with her. "Dont" He then spoke up. Riley stared at him. "Please dont..." His voice cracked a little. Riley's eyes began to sting as she watched Levi beginning to crack.

She took his hand, as he looked away. He looked back at her. "Dont go" He whispered, his eyes now glistening in the light. Riley put her hand onto his neck as she rested her head to his chin. "Oh gosh" She sighed, as her eyes became watery. Levi wrapped his arms around her tight, as they hugged each other.

"I need you to stay" Levi told her into her ear, his voice trembling a little. "I'm going to miss you so much" She told him. He kissed her neck, before he moved his head and instantly kissed her on the lips. Everyone stood, staring at them quite emotional themselves.  Levi and Riley looked at each other.

"Dont bite your nails" She giggled, as she began to loosen her grip. Levi held her tight, as he broke a small smile before he began to loosen his own grip. "You know...I realized something last night..." She began. Looking up at him, she wiped under his eyes with her thumb. "I..." She began.

"Riley...honey, it's time to go" Her dad interrupted her. Riley stared at Levi, as his eyes became hopeful waiting for her to finish her sentence. "I'll miss you" She whispered. It wasnt what she wanted to tell him. She kissed him softly, as she closed her eyes before she let go of him and sniffed, wiping her own eye.

"Hey..." He took her arm. He took a neck chain from the back of his pocket before he took off his ring band and slid it onto the chain. He put it around her neck, and clipped it. "This is your...favorite" She told him. "You're my favorite" He sniffed with a smile. "I dont think you'd want a zelda chain" He chuckled.

"It would still be you" She nodded, as she touched the ring around her neck. She leaned him and kissed his cheek. She turned and waved to everyone and blew them a kiss before she hugged her mom tight and kissed her cheek before she walked down the pathway to the car.

She got in, and looked back at them all and sighed before getting in. She closed the door, as her dad started up the car.

"That was painful..." Riley told him, as she waved as the car drove away. "I know. You'll be fine once we're at the airport" Her dad nodded. "No, I wont be. I wont be when we get back to Wisconsin, and I still wont be settled in.  Ever, this is my home now" She told him, as she stared ahead.

Her dad sighed, as he drove slowly.

"Your mom told me on the phone last night about everything over the past few weeks" He told her. "Good, so you know I dont hate you. I just think you're being stupid and extremely unfair" She looked at him. "I just want whats best for you honey. I want you to be happy" He looked at her, as he slowed down at the traffic lights at the end of the street.

Riley looked at him too and sighed.

"I am happy." She smiled. "My friends make me happy, here makes me happy...Levi makes me happy" She looked at her dad. "Yeah well...once we get home, everything will get back to normal" He nodded. "Dad...nothing is normal anymore" She told him. They both looked at each other, as her dads eyes softened. "I love you honey, you're my daughter and I just...want whats best. I'm sorry if I've been an asshole" He sighed.

Riley nodded, with a weak chuckle. "Dad...you do know, no matter where I am in this world...I'll still love you, and when I'm not happy I'd let you know straight away" She put her hand onto his.

He nodded.

"I'm growing up dad, and you need to let me live my life now...but I'll always be your daughter" She smiled. Her dad sighed, before taking a deep breath. He looked ahead then back at her. "I'm really being unfair and irrational" He nodded. "Will...you come visit me once we get money together?" Her dad asked.

"Dad! Of course I will" She nodded. Her dad smiled, as he nodded. "Well...I better help you home, before I miss my flight" He told her positively. "Thank you dad" Riley whispered as she leaned over and hugged him.

"Look, do you remember that heart bracelet you got me for my sixteenth birthday?" She asked him, and he nodded. "It looks more young, with the heart and pearls but I kept it in my purse because I refused to leave it around..." She took it from her purse, and handed it to her dad. "You're my dad, I'll always love you" She told him.

She sighed, as she turned and opened the car door. Her street was empty, and she turned back to see Austin look back at the sound of the door. He frowned confused, but tapped Drew. Drew turned, and tapped Harper which made her look and grab Levi by his shirt.

He stopped and turned, and looked at Riley down the street. "What's going on?" Scarlet sniffed, as she turned with Nate. Riley smiled, as she closed the door and walked to the sidewalk. Levi frowned, before he mindlessly barged past everyone as he headed towards her.

Riley ran towards him, before they grabbed each other into their arms.

"What are you doing?" He asked her. "There is no way I'm leaving you" She smiled. "You're staying!?" He grinned, happy. "You dont get rid of me that easily" She smirked. Levi held her tight in his arms. "I also...forgot to tell you something important" She began. "And...and I think you need to tell me the same thing" She nodded.

Levi smiled widely.

"I love you" He sighed, it sounding like he got  huge weight lifted from him. "I love you!" Riley nodded, smiling. "Yeah?" Levi nodded happily. "Yeah, you nerd" She giggled. She leaned up, and kissed him making him kiss her back.

Everyone headed over to the both of them.

"Are you staying?!" Harper grabbed her a little, and held onto her. "I can't leave you all!" Riley smiled, tears in her eyes. "Awhh, come here!" Austin hugged her. "Group hug!" Nate joked. "Hey, that's serious, dont kid" Drew laughed. They all held onto each other hugging.

Penny stood at her front door, smiling at her daughter and everyone just outside her pathway. She looked over to the car, and saw Daniel putting the last of Riley's things on the side walk at her small fence before he looked up and stared over. "Thank you" She mouthed, as he nodded. He pointed to her, before holding his hand to his chest with smile.

Penny nodded, as she did the same. Even though they werent in love, they would still love each other.

"Levi!" Daniel then called out, making everyone turn to him. "...Take care of my daughter" He smiled. Levi smiled, as he nodded. "I'm guarding her with my life" He hugged her. Daniel smiled, giving him a positive nod before getting back into his car.

He started it up, honked the horn and drove off.

"I think we need to celebrate!" Austin grinned. "Yeah, what?" Harper smiled. "Skate park!" Nate joked. "How about spin the bottle?" Riley then joked, as she smirked at Levi. He laughed. "I think we should grab lunch" Scarlet suggested. "Yeah, that will be nice. Come on" Harper took Austin's hand and began to walk off.

"Hey Drew, give Jess and call and tell her to meet us" Riley nodded. Drew smiled as he walked off with Austin and Harper and Nate and Scarlet behind them also hand in hand.

Levi stared down at Riley, making her sigh.

"How did I end up with you?" She then giggled. "I have another important thing to say" He told her. "What?" She smiled. "...Be mine." He told her. Riley smiled widely, as she nodded. "Yeah, I'd love that" She told him, before she kissed him.

"Hey you two! Come on, you got plenty of time to kiss in the street later" Harper called and waved, before she laughed.

"Come on" Levi chuckled, as he wrapped his arm around Riley as they both headed towards everyone.

Perhaps moving to California, didnt turn out such a horrible idea after all.

...The End...