chapter twenty two !
❪ my new best friend ❫

THE BLACK nail polish made contact with riley's nail and star continued to apply it carefully so that she wouldn't mess up.

enid was reading a book beside them, laying down. she didn't want to do her nails, no matter how many times star begged her to do it.

riley sighed with her legs crossed and her eyes speculating the room. star's room was like every teenage girls room, very bright.

riley had guessed that star's been living here for awhile since the room was decorated well. the smith girl didn't want to decorate her own room since it didn't matter to her.

"so," star began, pulling riley away from her thoughts. "anyone you like? guys? girls?"

riley let out an awkward chuckle. "i'm into guys," she confirmed. "but i'm not really into anyone here."

star furrowed her eyebrows. "what about carl?"

enid's attention peeled away from the page that she was reading and looked at riley for her response.

the smith girl noticed her change of demeanor and gave enid a little snarl look before looking back at star. "me and him are friends but..."

"but what?" star smirked, eager for her to continue.

"i don't really know," riley laughed. "i get really excited when he's around me but i also get a little nervous sometimes." she explained, "i don't know how to explain it."

riley tried to shake it off but star grinned at the girl. "you like him." she pointed out.

"do i?" she cocked her head to the side.

"the feeling you get when you see him... it's called getting butterflies, girl." enid rolled her eyes at star's comment and riley smiled.

"seems like you and jack are getting close," enid spoke up, causing star and riley to snap their heads at her. "he likes you."

"well, i don't like him." riley admitted.

"you sure?"

"yes." she snapped.

enid and riley glared at each other while star glanced between the two with raised eyebrows. the tension in the room was interrupted by a tap from the window.

star let out a tiny scream since the sound startled the girls. billy, her boyfriend, waited to come in with his famous smirk.

the redhead rolled her eyes and walked over to her window, opening it. "billy, this is a girls night only." she stated.

"oh come on," he whined. "i will act like a girl if you let me stay."

riley sucked her teeth at his response and billy noticed the brunette. "hey riley," he gave her a nod.

"gross," she mumbled and ignored him.

star narrowed her eyes and closed the window, shutting it on billy's fingers. he hissed in pain and rolled down her two story roof before hitting the grass hard.

the girl sticked her head out and billy gave her a deadpan expression. "talk to me when you aren't a pervert."

"star!" he called out but she already had locked her window shut.

star turned back around to the two girls, who had shock expressions on their face before they all erupted in laughters.

star giggled and walked towards riley. she grabbed both her hands that were still unfinished. "now where were we?" she grabbed the nail polish.

"you are my new best friend."

RILEY LAID on her bed, reading a comic book that she borrowed from carl. she huffed as she got bored from reading it and sat up, slipping on her sneakers.

she went out the house, meeting a daryl that sat on the porch. "still haven't taken a shower?" riley inquired.

daryl gave her a simple shrug in response. she shook her head with a small grin and walked down the steps.

she made her way towards rick's house that was 2 houses down from hers. the door to the house was already opened and riley decided to just walk in.

the brunette walked upstairs and stormed into carl's room. his head snapped towards the door and riley gave him a puzzled look. "are you busy?"

"no," he shook his head and stood up. "you just startled me that's all."

"oh," she gave him a small smile. "i'm bored and i wanna go walk around the neighborhood. you want to come with?"

carl shifted between his feet. "um," he stretched out and kept glancing at the window.

"is something wrong?" she tried to look at the direction that he was staring at but he spoke up.

"not today," carl told her. "i have to go meet with my dad for something," he lied. "but later we can hang."

carl grabbed his hat and shoved his way past her before she can even respond back.

riley stood there, confused on his actions.

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AUTHORS NOTE:

well... look who's back from hibernation... ME!!! 🎀

sorry guys... school started and i'm already tired and i also moved which was VERY stressful but i'm hoping to get back to my routine and start writing for this book again

and the love triangle is love triangling this chapter 🫢 HEHE

please vote for the next chapter and DONT BE A GHOST READER <3