goodbye newport's rose., tag ;; riley

[Marina Lee]

in all of her years, marina lee never thought that she'd want to speak to riley conrad, let alone see her and do what she was about to do. but ever since that ... redhead came back into town, marina had a sinking feeling she was fighting a losing battle. riley was ... well she was the first, and marina was just the sloppy seconds that had cleaned up - but not enough to take the prize. so people thought she was heartless for leaving preston at the altar, but she knew she was doing the right thing. if she was out of the way, fate would take its course. and sure, what she was doing with nick wasn't exactly the right thing to do, but she couldn't stop it. he was infectious, much like the way preston had when they started going out.

but she knew that eventually, the men she had chosen were going to find someone else, and she was going to be alone. all alone, just like she apparently was meant to be in this world. walking into the diner, she didn't see any hidden cameras or anything so she knew that her least favourite redhead had not arrived, so she seated herself in a booth that was slightly obscured from the view of the window, waiting for the woman to arrive.

[Riley Conrad]

riley had been asked to meet marina. why? maybe marina wanted to kill riley. but when the meeting was planned for the diner, she knew death wasn't in the cards. truth was, riley was really interested in what marina wanted. she secretly gave marina major props for leaving preston at the alter. whenever riley thought about it, she went into a laughing fit. riley had gotten all dolled up, then headed out of her hotel room, the papparazzi already waiting for her. riley got into her bmw convertible and drove to the diner. once she arrived, she parked her her and kept her oversized sunglasses over her eyes as they continued to snap away, yelling things at her.

she kept the smile plastered on her face as she walked inside, immediately seeing marina sitting in a booth. she removed her sunglasses and threw them into her purse, slipping into the booth across from marina. "look...if you want to kick my ass or something...this isn't really the place." she said, a small smirk forming on her perfectly glossed lips.

[Marina Lee]

"look...if you want to kick my ass or something...this isn't really the place."

hah, as if. sometimes that attitude of riley's ... it just rubbed marina the wrong way. at least she hadn't done anything stupid ... like she usually did, although it was too early to tell, in truth. sighing, the blonde rolled her eyes at the comment and reached into her purse, taking out the small velvet ring box that held her engagement ring, and then withdrew another box, this one the wedding ring she had bought for preston. "if i wanted to cause you harm, i just would've talked to dan," marina replied as if it was completely obvious. well, it was, because dan scott loved her. at least more than riley, but that wasn't much of a point to make.

"look, this has nothing to do with me, and definitely not with you. it's about preston," she started, figuring she knew what riley was going to say, but stepping in anyway. sliding both boxes towards the redhead, she spoke. "i can't do it anymore. i left preston because i had to. it's never going to be preston and me. as much as i hate to say it, it's you that belongs with him. sure, you treat him like crap, cheat on him more times than he makes a girl orgasm, and overall are probably the worst wife ever, but he loves you. i just ... i settled for sloppy seconds," she sighed truthfully, pushing the boxes over one final time.

[Riley Conrad]

riley looked down at the two tiny boxes, a small pain in her heart. sure, the two girls didn't like each other, but it sucked that she had to get hurt. nobody wished that on anyone. really...she didn't. "he still loves you, marina. i see it in his eyes every day. how do you know i'm the one for preston? we haven't been together for over four years." she pointed out. yes, preston and riley still loved each other...but it was a lifetime ago that they were together. riley could barely remember what it felt like to fall asleep in preston's arms. marina had that memory not too long ago. so how did she know that fate's plan was for riley and preston to be together?

"i'm sorry. i really am...i wish i didn't love him. i wish i could have got him to sign the papers, then go back to new york and let you two be happy." she admitted, shrugging. when it came to preston, it was always complicated.

[Marina Lee]

he still loves her? really, because it was never that clear for marina. no, she didn't need to ask him if he loved her, or any of that cliche insecure stuff, but ever since riley had come back, marina knew that part of preston was still there. how did she know? "my mom and dad were apart for fifteen years. up until he died - my dad was still in love with my mother," she replied sadly, knowing that was how this story was going to end. it just wasn't going to be her that the man was in love with. no, that was the redhead in this triangle.

"i'm sorry. i really am...i wish i didn't love him. i wish i could have got him to sign the papers, then go back to new york and let you two be happy."

somehow, marina knew riley wouldn't mean that statement fully, ever. "he wouldn't have been happy," she sighed quietly. "you never forget your first love, and preston never has really gotten over it. you probably think this is crazy, but if i stayed at that altar, he would've wished it was you there."

[Riley Conrad]

riley sent marina a sympathetic smile. "thanks. i mean...for taking that chance and leaving him. i don't doubt how hard that was for you...but i get it. you deserve better then to be somebody's second...you deserve to be somebody's first. and i guess with preston and i...we will always be each others first." she said, lifting up her glass of water and taking a tiny sip from it. sure, riley wanted preston, but she felt horrible about how marina got hurt in the process. getting your heart stomped on is never fun and marina had a good heart. riley could see the cameras snapping photos through the window, but she continued to ignore them, keeping her focus on marina.

"i guess i can add you onto my list of people who hate me. funny, i think that list is longer then the list of people who like me." she said, attempting to make the conversation a little more light.

[Marina Lee]

collecting the few things she had out that weren't staying with riley, marina ran a hand through her blonde hair, attempting to keep any and all composure she had. she wasn't going to cry, she wasn't going to give in, she wasn't going to lose this battle. sighing, she fought back any and all tears as she started to stand up. "life's too short to hate people riley. i just ... i hope you make him finally happy," she stated sadly as she finally stood up and was towering over the redhead in effect. "he might not deserve you, but he loves you. i just ... i was the best attempt to get over you," she finished before beginning to walk away.

stopping midway between the booth and the door, marina turned around and looked at riley, sighing quietly as she spoke up once more. "let him forget about me. he'll do it soon enough."