Dead or Alive
 

   Riley was taking forever in the kitchen, so I excused myself and met him by the oven. He was still a little pink. 
   "What the hell was that?!" I asked teasingly. "You completely froze up!!"
   "Yeah, I know."
   "You liiiiiike her!" I said, shoving him playfully on the arm.
   "Shut up." But his cheeks were beet red.
   "Hey man, I don't blame you. She's pretty, huh?"
   He was staring out the door window with a little smile on his face. "Yeah." He said dreamily.
   "Ok, let's go."
   His face whipped around to look at me like I was crazy. "Are you insane?! No way!"
   "Aww, come on Riles! You gotta!!"
   "No I DON'T gotta."
   "Oh, so you don't want to meet her?"
   He paused. "I already blew it. Did you see how I dropped all those dishes out there? She probably thinks I'm a freak. I have no chance."
   "Come on, yeah you do. And hey, even if you did blow it, it could always be practice flirting!"
   He gave me a look.
   "Ohh, come on. What's the worst that could happen?" He opened his mouth to speak, so I said, "Rhetorical question, dude. Come on."
   He groaned and shuffled toward the door with me. We walked outside and I made him go in front of me. Halfway to the table, I tried to fix his hair, but he slapped my hand away.
   Oh, kitty likes to scratch.
   We made it to the table and I made Riley sit right across from Skylar. He gave me another look. After an awkward silence, I gave Riley a look right back that said, "BE. A. MAN."
   He rolled his eyes and cleared his throat. "I'm Riley." He said to Skylar, giving her a crooked grin.
   She smiled shyly and said, "Skylar." I look over at Cameron for help. He's cracking up.
   Once he gets himself together, he says to Skylar, "Sky, tell Riley how handsome he looks." They both just blush bright red.
   Another awkward silence passed. "And Riley," I said. "Doesn't Skylar look pretty today?" 
   "OH MY GOD." He says exasperatedly. "Skylar, you wanna get away from these two weirdo's??"
   I can see Riley beaming when Skylar laughs. "Definitely."
   I hold back a fit of laughter and try not to smile as they climb out of the booth.
   "You do look pretty." I hear Riley say as they walk to another table.
   By this time, me and Cameron are cracking up. He reaches out to give me a fist bump, and I meet him halfway.
   "Those two are gonna get married someday." He says between fits of laughter. 
   "Agreed!" I say. 
   A moment of silence passes before he asks me, "So tell me about the scars on your arm."
 
 

/// Part Seven