Lion Hearted

She’d been reading for about ten minutes when she heard the clicking of heels. That in itself was weird. No one should be up at midnight, not even to go to the bathroom since everyone had a small en-suite. She shrugged it off, figuring it was none of her business. She couldn’t help but notice, however, when the clicking stopped and was replaced by voices. 

She slid out of bed, pulling a hoodie over her head to cover the raggedy old t-shirt she wore to bed. She listened to the conversation outside. Without thinking about what she was doing, she opened the door.

Mr. Compton's expression did not change. "It seems we have, Miss Hunter." He did not look amused. 

"Mr. Compton, I do believe it's quite rude of us to have done so, don't you think?" 

Mr. Compton nodded. 

"I'll see you tomorrow Mr. Compton." Becca wiggled her fingers as a goodbye, turned on her heel and made Hannah do the same. 

He rolled his eyes at the dare, looked around, and furrowed his eyebrows. “That’s that best you can do?” he grinned, narrowing his eyes at the girl before getting up, wiping the grass off his pants. Grabbing his phone from his pocket Samuel handed it to Becca. “You can start the clock whenever you want.”

"I can't believe you!" She called out to him giggling, still not able to get over it. Becca took in a deep breath, trying to remind herself to breathe. As "Connor" walked back casually to a beaming Becca she couldn't help but tease him. 

"I think you enjoyed that a little too much." 

It suddenly hit the senior then that this was probably the most fun she's had with anyone in this school for awhile. She wasn't a loner or anything, hell, she was pretty damn popular but she never truly enjoyed the company of the weekday warriors. She hated how they treated other people! 

Becca sucked at dares and therefore she was hoping he didn't choose dare, although she knew he would. She called it. Still, she racked her brain for the best dare she could think of.

❝Set the date and I’ll see you there,❞ he replied in reference to the archery, truly interested in seeing the feat.

It made him happy to hear the giggle that came from her, and he let out a laugh himself. Riley continued on and brushed aside the low-hanging branches that blocked the path and through a few trees until finally they had arrived. Honeyed rays of sunlight were still streaming down reflecting upon the surface of the water, and for once it seemed in the history of Alabama, the number of bugs flying around their heads was low.

He took a seat on the decrepit old bench that sat nearby and dropped the guitar case at the side of it. There was just but a little room between the two with knees nearly touching. Pulling from his jacket pocket, Riley took a cigarette for himself and clenched it in his teeth — jaw line stiffening — as he drew another for her and offered it towards her. ❝I like to read — classics and sci-fi and poetry and all that.❞

The mention of poetry perked Becca up. "You like poetry?" She asked. Becca nodded her thanks for the cigarette and took it from Riley. "All my friends hate poetry! But I love it!" Because she was so excited she noticed she was now sitting straight up, totally intrigued. Becca made sure she was aware of how close they were. Becca didn't have any personal space issues, but she noticed that people often had a much bigger "bubble" than she did so she tried her best to respect it. "Who is your favorite?" Becca waited until then to put the cigarette in her mouth, waiting to ask Riley if she could use his lighter for a second.

 ❝My dad? Well I never really knew him, see. But there’s no need to apologize or anything like everyone thinks they have to. He was a good guy from what I hear — went here as well as a kid.❞

Becca giggled at the accent, knowing he was trying hard at it. She found it cute, in all honesty. But considering Riley's blank face the last time she told him something was cute or that he was cute, she decided to keep the thought to herself. 

Riley lead her down a path which she assumed would lead up to the smoking hole and Becca took in the scenery change, eyes alight with curiosity. 

Riley’s lips turned to a smirk telling as she was a bit flustered by the compliment. She shouldn’t have been. She was very pretty after all, and she should have been used to it, but perhaps not.

At her question, he was already ahead, slinging the guitar off his shoulder and locking it away in the old ratty case he carried with him. ❝I don’t mind carrying this old thing around,❞ he said with a grin and held it in his other hand opposite her and motioned for her to follow along.  

❝So Miss Becca, tell me about yourself.❞

Miss Becca. She liked that. Maybe, she thought, everyone should be proper like that. Go back to the Mister and the Miss-es. 

Becca fell into line beside Riley, heels clicking all the way as she walked on the pavement. "Hm," She sighed happily in thought. "Well, I live here in Alabama. My family lives about 20 minutes away from here. My dad's in the army and my mom works from home. I don't have any brothers or sisters." She smiled, thinking of her father. "My dad is like my best friend. He's the one that got me into archery and I can proudly say I think I'm almost a better shot than he is." Becca looked back up at Riley. 

"I, well, I’m not sure. I’m not very creative, so whatever you want to do." He smiled, trying to be open to whatever she wants to do. 

Surprisingly he managed to beat Becca though, even if it was only ten seconds. And leaning his head to the side Samuel folded his arms as he faced Becca, lips curled into a smirk as he held the bottle out in front of her, opening it fast. “Loser gets first drink.” Samuel teased laughing softly before he rolled his eyes again teasingly. “That head start never happened.”