Chapter Seven

Sorry for the wait, I had to re-write everything since it was all deleted. I may not be able to post as often as before, for me school starts on Tuesday, September 2nd. I have a couple chapters already written, that's why it took so long to post. Anyway, here's chapter seven and please comment to tell me what you think! =]


Coasting Down Memory Lane;
Chapter Seven.

“He’s what?” Sidney asked bitterly.

“He’s...he’s right,” Riley answered with some fear of his reaction.

“What do you mean he’s right?!” Sidney shouted.

“I’m your ex-girlfriend!”

“Why didn’t you tell me before, scared of how I might react?” Sidney exclaimed.

“I didn’t know...” Riley said her voice barely above a whisper.

“What do you mean you didn’t know?” Sidney said with disgust in his voice.

“In Australia I--”

“You what, forgot about me? Forgot about us?” Sidney asked with hurt and anger evident in his voice.

Riley knew that he was not going to take what she had to say easily. She knew that there was going to be a lot of shouting, which is not what she wanted. Riley was furious of how Sidney would accuse her of forgetting about him when she left for school. She had assumed that he had moved on and dated other girls. But he made her out to sound like the bad guy.

“How could you say that? You know I loved you...” Riley said the last part quietly.

“I guess not enough to stay then, huh?” Sidney said in a rude tone.

“Sidney, I loved you but I wasn’t in love with you,” Riley said, trying to put it the best way possible.

“You don’t get it do you? You left and you broke my heart,” he said with hurt in his eyes.

“I’m sorry that I broke your heart and mine, but I am not sorry that I left,” Riley said.

“Of course you’re not,” Sidney said bitterly.

“Excuse me?” Riley said as she crossed her arms.

“You’re selfish.”

“Oh, of course,” Riley said sarcastically.

“Everything always has to be about you Rye, always was and always will,” Sidney said with an angry laugh.

“If you would just let me explain this time, since last time you didn’t want to hear it...”

“No, I don’t want to hear what you have to say. Maybe we should just stay away from each other, you know. We had a past and probably no future together.” Sidney said as he stood up.

“If that’s what you want, but I will be at the practices, games and other events that deal with the Penguins. After all, it is my job. So I will be there whether you like it or not,” Riley said, showing no emotion.

Sidney didn’t say anything so Riley just showed him the door. But as he was leaving he said, “Looks like you were just meant to be my ex.” Riley shrugged her shoulders without saying a word as he made his way down the street. Riley was angry that Sidney didn’t allow her to explain why she didn’t know it was him at first. He never did want to hear what she had to say, no matter how important it was to her. During her time in Australia Riley had learned to find inner peace and how to enjoy life, even with all the little curve balls it may throw you.

On Saturday, the next day the Penguins would be having their first practice. No more working out and those things, this was an actual practice like one they would have during the season. They had been on the ice for a few days in the past week but that was more for getting used to the ice surface again.

That night Riley tried to focus more on her job and her new life in Pittsburgh than about Sidney. After all, this was their second break up and probably their last. At around 8:15pm Riley was getting a snack when she realized that she was out of milk. “Damn it, this always happens,” she grumbled as she got her keys and left the house to get milk.

As she was locking her door she heard footsteps behind her, thinking that it was Kaylan she didn’t bother to turn around. When she eventually turned around to head to her car she was startled by a young man standing in front of her. As she looked at him up and down she noticed how attractive he was. He had short blonde hair, beautiful blue eyes, sparkling white teeth, nice build, and overall drop dead gorgeous.

“Um, hi...” Riley said still amazed by him.

“Hey,” he said with a slight wave.

There were a few seconds of silence that felt like seventeen years. It was kind of an awkward silence. Until finally the mystery man spoke up.

“Uh so... I’m, uh, I’m Cooper,” he said extending his hand.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Riley,” Riley replied shaking his hand.

“So, where are you going?” he asked as he looked deep into her eyes.

“The store,” Riley said with a smile.

“Well, I’ll let you go then. I just wanted to come and check out the new neighbour since some people were saying that she’s pretty hot,” Cooper said with a sly smile.

“Right... well I better get going...” Riley said, trying to brush this guy off.

“Okay, have fun sexy,” he said as he winked and walked away.

“Oh god...” Riley mumbled as she rolled her eyes.

She spent fifteen minutes or so at the store getting some other things before heading home. Riley never liked going to stores late at night, fearing that the store might get robbed. On her way home she couldn’t stop thinking about Cooper, he was creepy. ‘No, you’re just saying that because of things with Sidney’ Riley said inside her head. He lived across the street so she had to deal with him, whether he freaked her out or not.

When Riley arrived at her house she saw Kaylan talking to Cooper. Great. She tried her hardest not to be noticed but Kaylan and Cooper both saw her. “Hey Rye,” Kaylan said with a smile. “Hey Kay and Coop,” Riley replied as she waved to them. As Kaylan went inside Cooper made his way over to Riley, she noticed this and tried to find her keys faster.

“So I was thinking...” Cooper said as he leaned up against the outside of Riley’s house.

“Do you have any plans for lunch tomorrow?” he asked as Riley turned to look at him. Suddenly he didn’t look so... pervert-like.

“Nope,” she replied looking at his beautiful eyes shine in the light.

“Well then, why don’t you and I have lunch?” he asked.

“Sure.”

They exchanged numbers and Riley went inside and Cooper went to do whatever. When Riley got inside she noticed that it was 9:30pm, there goes the snack. So instead she sat on her couch and worked more on the report about the Penguins. She was thinking of making a video about them and presenting that to Paul and company. She was deep in thought and her work when she noticed that it was nearing one in the morning, and with that she made her way to bed.

The next day she woke up and did her morning ritual except she didn’t go for coffee, she didn’t feel like running into Sidney or worse, Troy. As she was leaving she ran into none other than Cooper again. They chatted for a little bit and then Riley had to go to work. She was actually excited for her lunch with Cooper; it took her mind off of Sidney.