Chapter Text
Riley couldn't believe her luck when she learned her school was organizing a field trip to Toronto. It was a chance to explore a new city, escape the routine of high school back home, and, most importantly, get some breathing room from her parents who seemed to be extra in her face lately.
••(Skip to when they get there cause idk man)••
As the group wandered Toronto's vibrant streets, Riley couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement as she walked beside Val.
Her heart skipped a beat as the captain's hand brushed against hers, the contact sending a shiver up her spine. She stole a glance at Val, but the older girl didn't seem to notice. She was too busy gazing at the city lights.
The tour guide led the group down a quieter side street, the chatter of fellow students slowly fading away. It was just Riley and Val now, their footsteps echoing against the cobblestone.
But then, as they passed an interesting temple, something - someone, rather - caught Riley's eye.
Standing at the temple entrance was a girl, shorter than Riley, with short, reddish hair and sparkling brown eyes. She looked like she was straight out of a fantasy movie.
Riley couldn't help but stare, her heart hammering in her chest for reasons she didn't quite understand herself.
The tour guide called out, urging the group to keep moving, but Riley's feet were rooted to the spot. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the girl at the temple entrance.
It was only when she heard Val calling her name that she was jerked back to reality.
"Riley? You coming?" Val called out, looking over her shoulder with a bemused expression.
Riley hesitated for a split second before tearing her gaze away from the temple. She jogged to catch up with Val, her head spinning with confusion.
"Everything okay?" Val asked as Riley fell into step beside her, trying desperately to act natural.
"Yeah, fine," Riley responded, her voice hoarse. She cast one more quick glance back at the temple. The girl was gone.
•••
As the day wore on, Riley found her thoughts constantly drifting back to the girl at the temple. She tried to focus on the scenery and the tour, but her mind kept going back to the image of those sparkling eyes and the sensation of her heart racing.
By the time they got back on the bus that evening to head to their hotel, Riley was a bubbling mess of nerves.
"You sure you're alright?" Val asked again, settling into the seat next to her. "You've been out of it all day."
Riley forced a smile. "Yeah, just tired."
Val gave her a skeptical look, obviously not buying her explanation. But she didn't press further.
The bus ride back to the hotel was long and dull. Riley tried to sleep, but her mind was too restless. She kept seeing those sparkling brown eyes, feeling her heart flutter inexplicably.
She must be losing her mind.
When they finally arrived back at the hotel, Riley was desperate to be alone for a while. She was itching to process her weird, confusing emotions.
She made an excuse about jet lag and quickly hurried to her room, closing the door behind her with a sigh of relief.
Riley leaned against the door, taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart.
She could not, for the life of her, figure out what was going on. Why had that random girl affected her so much? Why was her heart still beating so hard at the mere thought of her?
She pushed off from the door and flopped down onto the bed, determined to sort through her thoughts.
Laying sprawled on the bed, Riley closed her eyes, trying to conjure up the image of the girl at the temple.
Every time she saw her face in her mind, her heart rate spiked, her stomach fluttered. It was such a random, intense reaction to someone she'd only seen for a moment.
Riley sat up, frustration mounting.
Why was this so confusing? Why was she letting some random girl affect her like this?
She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to make sense of her emotions. But the more she tried, the more tangled her thoughts became.
It was maddening.
The sound of her phone buzzing jolted her out of her thoughts. She reached over and picked it up, her heart skipping a beat at the preview text on the screen.
Val 🏒: U alright?
Riley's heart fluttered again.
She didn't know why, but seeing Val's name on her screen right now sent a wave of excitement coursing through her.
She quickly typed out a reply. Yeah, I'm good. Just tired.
Almost instantly, the reply came through. U sure?
Riley couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. Of course Val would worry.
Yeah, just need sleep, she texted back.
Val 🏒: Okay. Lmk if you need anything.
Riley's heart skipped. Val was such a good person, a good friend. Why did her stomach do a little backflip when she read her text?
Riley sighed, setting her phone down next to her. She really needed to figure out her emotions.
Hours later, Riley had yet to figure out anything. She'd tried everything: music, meditation, deep breathing. But all she'd achieved was making her thoughts even more jumbled.
Finally, exhausted and frustrated, she decided to give up for the night.
She closed her eyes, hoping sleep would bring clarity. But as sleep tugged at her, one last thought flickered through her mind: those sparkling eyes.
•••
When Riley finally drifted off, dreams of brown eyes and red hair swirled through her mind.
In the morning, she woke up feeling just as confused as the night before. She groaned, rolling over to face the wall.
This was ridiculous. She shouldn't be this hung up on a girl she'd only seen once.
Riley dragged herself out of bed, trying to shake the lingering effects of her strange dreams.
As she washed up and got dressed, her thoughts kept drifting back to yesterday. The girl at the temple, her own weird reaction. She still had no idea what any of it meant.
•••
Breakfast with the rest of the team was a blur. Riley picked at her food, her mind distant. She tried to follow the conversations around her, but her focus kept slipping.
A few of the girls at her table tried to draw her into conversation, but she shrugged them off, her mind still preoccupied with the girl from the temple.
And during the day’s activities, Val stayed close to Riley. She noticed the younger girl's distraction, her distant smiles and half-hearted attempts at conversation. But she didn't press her for answers.
By lunch, it was clear to Val that something had to be bothering her.
“You've been quiet today,” she remarked as they sat down for lunch. “Everything okay?”
Riley started, brought out of her thoughts. "Yeah, everything's fine," she hastily lied, not meeting Val's gaze.
Val raised an eyebrow. "Come on, now. I know something's up. Spill."
Riley hesitated, reluctant to admit what was on her mind. Would Val think she was weird?
With a deep breath, she finally said, "I... I saw someone yesterday. A girl. At the temple."
"She was... so pretty," Riley continued, her voice soft. "I couldn't stop thinking about her all night." She looked up, finally meeting Val’s gaze.
Val's eyes widened slightly, surprised. She hadn’t been expecting that. "Seriously?" she asked, incredulous.
Riley nodded. "Yeah. I know it probably sounds crazy, but... I can't get her out of my mind." She laughed weakly, feeling a sense of shame. "I don't know why I'm so hung up on her. I barely even saw her."
Val watched her silently for a moment, her expression thoughtful. Then she said, "You don't think... it might be more than just a random girl at a temple? Maybe you're a little... intrigued by women?"
Riley's cheeks flamed. The idea hadn't even crossed her mind.
"I... I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's just... she was gorgeous. And she looked at me, and my heart just... fluttered." Her cheeks burned even hotter as the words left her mouth.
Val chuckled, clearly amused. "Sounds like you've got a little crush," she teased, elbowing Riley lightly.
Riley groaned, burying her face in her hands. "It's so weird," she mumbled.
Val laughed again. "It's not weird. Everyone gets crushes. It's completely normal."
"Not on someone you saw for like five seconds," Riley protested, her voice muffled. "I'm a mess."
Val reached over to pat her on the back. "Nah, you're just human. It happens."
Riley peeked out from between her fingers. "You really think it's normal?"
Val nodded. "Totally. Besides, who knows? Maybe you'll run into her again."
"God, I hope not," Riley sighed, her heart giving another flutter in her chest. She'd probably combust on the spot.
But then, an idea occurred to her. "Actually..." she said, glancing at Val. "Maybe we should go back to the temple today."
Val raised an eyebrow in intrigue. "Oh? Hoping to run into a certain mystery girl again, are we?"
Riley's cheeks burned, but she didn't deny it.
Val chuckled again. "Alright, then. Let's do it."
•••
After finishing lunch, the girls got permission to split off from the group and wander.
Riley's heart was hammering in her chest as they went, the memory of the girl's sparkling eyes fresh in her mind.
As they approached the temple, Riley's pulse quickened. What if she was there? Or what if she wasn't?
She was a bundle of nerves as they entered the temple grounds, her eyes scanning the visitors desperately.
But the girl was nowhere in sight. Riley tried to hide her disappointment, feeling a bit foolish. What had she expected, anyway? This wasn't a movie.
Val, watching her carefully, saw the flicker of disappointment on her face.
"No sign of your girl?" she asked gently.
Riley shook her head, frustration and embarrassment mixing in her chest. "I don't know why I thought she'd be here," she muttered. "It was stupid."
Val wrapped an arm around her shoulders comfortingly. "Hey, don't feel stupid. No harm in taking a shot."
Riley sighed, leaning into Val's embrace. "I just... I can't stop thinking about her. It's like she's under my skin."
She paused, a realization striking her. "You know, I didn't even get her name."
Val laughed. "You're really obsessed, huh?"
Riley groaned again, slumping against the wall. "I'm so pathetic," she mumbled.
"Aw, come on," Val reprimanded gently. "You're not pathetic. You're just smitten, is all."
"Smitten," Riley repeated, the word bringing a smile to her face. "You say that like it's normal."
"It is," Val insisted. "You're young, you're allowed to crush on people until your heart's content."
Riley laughed weakly. "Yeah, but usually on someone you know."
"Hey, sometimes love at first sight happens in the real world, too," Val countered. "You can't help who you're attracted to."
Riley looked up at her, her eyes wide with surprise. "Love at first sight?" she repeated, her heart fluttering yet again. "That's a bit extreme, don't you think?"
"Is it?" Val asked, her tone playful. "You're the one practically dying over a girl you saw once yesterday."
Riley swatted at her half-heartedly, feeling her face burn. "Shut up," she muttered, but there was no venom behind her words.
Val laughed and hugged her one-armed again. "You know I'm only teasing."
Riley huffed, trying to act annoyed. But she couldn't help but secretly enjoy the teasing. It was almost as if Val was encouraging these weird feelings she had about the girl.
"Besides," Val continued, her voice nonchalant. "Maybe your girl is just as smitten as you. It might be love at first sight for both of you."
Riley's heart skipped a beat. The thought of the girl having a crush on her was tantalizing and overwhelming. She quickly shook it off. "That's a stretch," she mumbled.
"Is it, though?" Val asked, her voice sly. "You never know. Maybe she's been thinking about you all day, too."
Riley groaned, burying her face in her hands again. "Stop," she said, her voice muffled. "You're only feeding into my delusions."
Val laughed. "And what if it's not a delusion?" she pressed. "You can't just sit here, pining for some girl. You have to take action."
Riley opened her mouth to speak before she shut it. There she was. Her mystery girl.
“Oh my god.”
Riley's heart stuttered in her chest.
There she was. The girl with the short, red hair, rounded glasses, sparkling brown eyes and radiant smile.
"It's her," she breathed, her eyes glued to the girl, who hadn't noticed them yet.
Val followed Riley's gaze before her eyes widened in surprise. "Wait... Is that her? The girl you saw yesterday?"
Riley could only nod. She was frozen in place as she stared at the girl. Her heart was doing cartwheels in her chest.
Riley couldn't tear her eyes from the girl. The sunlight hit her just right, illuminating her face in a way that made her even more beautiful.
Val nudged her slightly. "You going to go talk to her?"
Riley looked at her in surprise. "What? I can't-" She stumbled over her words, her stomach roiling with nerves.
"You can," Val insisted, a note of encouragement in her voice.
Riley's heart rate quickened. Could she? Could she just go up to that girl and start a conversation like some kind of normal person?
She swallowed thickly, her palms sweating.
Val gently pushed her forward. "Just go," she urged gently.
Riley took a deep breath, summoning every ounce of courage she had. Her legs felt like jelly as she slowly walked towards the mysterious girl.
The girl was showing a group a statue of a large red panda when Riley reached her. She took a moment to just watch her, taking in her features from this closer distance. Those sparkling eyes, the way her red-tinged hair just touched the base of her neck.
Riley's heart thumped erratically as she hovered just a few feet away from her.
The girl's eyes flicked over and met hers in that moment, sending a jolt to Riley's heart. A small smile formed on her lips, making Riley's breath hitch.
For a moment, time seemed to pause as they just stared at each other.
The girl said something quietly to her group before excusing herself, allowing them to move on to the next area and walking up to Riley. Her gaze was fixed firmly on her, making Riley's pulse quicken even more.
"Can I help you?" the girl asked, her voice sweet and soft.
Riley's throat went dry as she gazed down at her. How was this girl so captivating?
She opened her mouth, intending to speak, but all that came out was a soft "Um..." Her brain had stopped functioning altogether. Nice going.
The girl tilted her head slightly, her eyes studying Riley quizzically. "You look a bit red," she commented, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Are you alright?"
Riley managed a shaky nod. "Yeah, fine," she croaked, her face burning. She wanted to slap herself. Why was she being such a mess?
The girl's eyes lingered on her a bit longer before she spoke again. "I haven't seen you here before. Are you a tourist?"
Riley swallowed, trying to regain control of herself. "Ah, yes," she managed to respond. "I'm here with a school group." Saying more than a few words at a time was proving to be a challenge.
The girl smiled again. It was a lovely smile that made Riley's stomach flutter.
"I see," the girl said, her voice still gentle. "And what's your name?"
"Ri-Riley," she fumbled over her own name, feeling like an idiot.
The girl's smile widened slightly at her response. "Riley," she repeated, as if testing it. "That's a pretty name. Mine's Meilin”
Meilin. Even the sound of her name was beautiful.
Riley repeated it softly, loving the way it felt on her tongue. "Meilin," she said, a smile tugging at her lips.
The girl - Meilin - continued to watch her, her eyes seemingly studying her closely.
The air between them felt charged, as if there was some hidden tension. Riley's heart was thundering in her chest, the feeling of Meilin looking at her almost overwhelming.
She was saved from whatever she would have fumbled out next by Val's voice behind her.
"Having fun over here?" Val asked, making Riley jump.
Meilin's eyes flicked to Val, then back to Riley. Riley could see a hint of something in her expression that she couldn't place.
"I see Riley's found someone to talk to, finally," Val teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Riley shot her a glare, her cheeks reddening further. She loved Val, but the girl had abysmal timing sometimes.
Meilin chuckled at Val's words, the sound sending a thrill through Riley's chest. "Is that so?" she asked, not taking her eyes off Riley. "You two traveling together?"
"We're in the same school group," Riley explained, finding her voice again in the face of Meilin's unwavering attention.
Val butted in again, clearly reveling in Riley's flustered state. "Yep. She's very bad at striking up conversations normally."
"Val!" Riley protested, casting her a betrayed look. Meilin chuckled again, the sound musical and sweet.
"Is that so?" Meilin asked, amusement dancing in her eyes. "You're shy?"
Riley's cheeks turned fiery at Meilin's question. She didn't know how to answer that. Shy was probably being generous. Awkward and embarrassed at the slightest provocation were more like it.
“Um, well,” she fumbled, her brain having apparently given up all functioning. “I—“
Meilin’s smile widened slightly at her response. She seemed to be enjoying this.
“No need to be nervous,” she reassured, her voice gentle. “I promise I don’t bite.”
Riley gulped, her heart in her throat. Meilin was so calm and cool, while Riley felt like her heart was about to beat out of her chest.
“Uh, right,” she managed to respond, her cheeks still hot.
Val, who had been watching the exchange quietly, decided to chime in again.
"She's not normally like this," Val insisted with a smirk. "I promise she has a personality usually."
Meilin laughed softly at Val's words. "I see," she said, her gaze flickering back to Riley for a beat before returning to Val.
"She seems a bit on edge," she commented, a hint of curiosity in her tone.
Val chuckled, clearly enjoying the exchange. "Yeah, you're making her all nervous."
Riley's face reddened further at Val's words. She shot her another betrayed look, silently pleading for her to stop.
Riley wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole.
Just as she was thinking about that she heard a voice call out behind her.
“Mei! Is your shift over yet?”
Riley turned around to see a girl, around her height maybe a bit taller, running over to the small group.
The girl came to a halt close to them, her eyes studying the group curiously.
Meilin's expression changed minutely as she looked at the new girl. "Just ended, yeah," she said, her voice cool and casual.
Riley was surprised at the shift in Meilin's demeanor, but it went unnoticed by the newcomer.
The girl nodded and then looked at Riley and Val. Her eyes flicked between the pair before settling back on Meilin. "Who are they?" she asked, casually hooking an arm around Meilin's shoulders.
Riley couldn't help the pang of jealousy that shot through her at the casual gesture.
"Tourists," Meilin answered, seemingly unbothered by the arm around her. "Part of a school group, I think."
The girl hummed, looking back at Riley. "Cute," she said, her eyes studying her appreciatively.
Riley felt her cheeks heat up again under the girl's frank gaze.
"A little shy too," Val chimed in from beside her, making Riley's skin prickle. She did not need to add fuel to the fire.
The girl laughed, leaning a bit closer to Meilin as she did so. "Shy, eh?" she commented, her tone amused. "That's adorable."
Riley's face was burning now. She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, feeling more self-conscious than ever.
Meilin, however, didn't look particularly bothered. "She's harmless," she countered, a slight edge to her tone.
The girl snickered. "Harmless, huh? Well, you sure know how to pick 'em."
Riley stiffened at the girl's words. They seemed to carry a hint of something more to them.
Val, who had been watching the interaction with interest, cleared her throat loudly, breaking the slightly charged air.
The newcomer turned her gaze to her, arching a brow. "Something you'd like to add?"
Val smiled sweetly, a hint of snark in her eyes. “Nothing much to add. But we should probably get back to our group.”
Riley was immensely grateful for Val's intervention. She didn’t think she could stand any more of this conversation without imploding from embarrassment.
She watched Mei, as the girl attached to her had called her, adjusted her glasses a seemingly disappointed look on her face.
The newcomer patted her arm in a friendly gesture. "Well, it was nice meeting you," she chimed, her tone almost dismissive.
With the newcomer's attention focused elsewhere, Riley took a deep breath and gathered all her courage.
“Hey, um, before we go…” she began, her voice a bit shaky.
Meilin looked back at her, her eyes searching. “Yes?”
Riley swallowed, feeling her palms grow sweaty. “Would it be alright if I, uh…” she began, pausing to take another deep breath.
Val discreetly jabbed her in the ribs, spurring her on.
Riley sent a glance Val’s way before turning back to Meilin.
“I was wondering if I could get your number?” The words came out in a rush. It was a bit of a miracle she’d been able to articulate it at all.
For a moment, Meilin just stared at her, her expression unreadable. Riley's heart hammered in her chest as she waited for an answer, half-expecting to be turned down.
Finally, Meilin spoke, her voice soft. “Sure, of course. Give me your phone.”
Riley blinked, surprised that she agreed. She fumbled to pull her phone out of her pocket and handed it to Meilin, who quickly typed her number in.
As she handed the phone back, their fingers brushed ever so slightly, the contact sending tingles up Riley's arm.
“There you go,” Meilin said, handing the phone back with a small smile.
Riley felt like her heart was going to explode. She clutched the phone tightly, feeling like she had won some kind of huge prize.
Val made a stifled sound in the background. She was clearly holding back a laugh.
Meilin shot a glance at Val before returning her gaze to Riley.
“I guess you probably need to go now?” she said, her tone just slightly reluctant.
Riley managed a shaky nod. “Yeah, probably,” she agreed, feeling strangely reluctant herself.
“Right.” Meilin rocked on her heels, the action oddly endearing. “Well, it was nice meeting you, Riley.”
The way she said her name made Riley’s stomach flutter again. “Yeah, you too,” she said, silently cursing herself for not being able to say more.
Meilin smiled again, the expression still making Riley's heart skip.
Val, seemingly unable to contain herself anymore, stepped closer, a mischievous smile on her face.
“Yeah, Riley had a great time talking to you," she said in a sing-song voice, her eyes dancing with mirth. "It was the highlight of her day, really.”
“Val!” Riley hissed, her cheeks flaming as Meilin stifled a chuckle.
Val just ignored her, continuing to address Meilin directly.
“This girl here is normally such a mess around people she likes,” she explained sagely. “I’m proud of how composed she was.”
“Oh my god. We’re going now.”
She said her face flushed a bright red, grabbing onto Val’s shirt and pulling her away.
Val just laughed, looking entirely unapologetic. She gave a wink to Meilin over her shoulder before allowing Riley to pull her away.
•••
Meilin stood watching them retreat, a small smile still on her face.