Summary: Riley Matthews walked out of her own wedding when she realized that the man at the altar would never love her the way she deserved to be loved. Since then, she has guarded her heart. And she does it well – until the day she meets Lucas Friar.
A/N: This fic was loosely inspired by 1 Girl Nation's song 'Guard Your Heart'.

1 year ago…

"Do you, Jordan Miller, take Riley Matthews to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love and to cherish her for as long as you both shall live?"

She furrows her eyebrows at the way his eyes flit to the right. He takes in a subtle breath of air before he looks back at her, giving her a smile that does not reach his eyes. She turns her head slightly in the direction that he was previously looking at, and her breath hitches.

Sitting in the third row is a beautiful blonde woman, her own eyes filled with sorrow as she gives Riley a sad smile before she looks down. It is as though she cannot witness what is supposed to be the best moment of Riley's life. And Riley knows why.

The bride looks back at the man who is supposed to be her husband in a few moments. All he has to utter are two words. Two words, and she will be his wife. Two words, and she will be enough for him. Two words from him, then two words from her, and she will be his and he will be hers forever.

"I do," he says, and with those two words, she knows.

"And do you, Riley Matthews, take Jordan Miller as your lawfully wedded husband? To love and to cherish for as long as you both shall live?"

He will never be hers. His heart will always belong to that woman in the third row. Riley will never be enough for him.

She takes a deep breath before she says, "I don't."

Gasps resonate throughout the hall, and Riley gives Jordan a sad smile. Behind her, her best friend asks her if she is sure while her parents walk towards them.

Hurt clouds her when Jordan looks at her in confusion but his relief is evident. Once again, his eyes flit to the woman in the third row, and Riley knows that she has made the right decision.

She turns to face Farkle, her childhood friend who is supposed to ordain their marriage. Instead of the bright smile he always gives her, he nods at her somberly but also encouragingly. He has been trying to tell her for months, and he is glad that she has realized before it was too late.

"I don't," Riley repeats more confidently.

"Riley – "

"It's always going to be her, isn't it?" she asks as she steps forward. Jordan blinks at her, seemingly lost for words as her parents and their friends gather around them.

"Riley, honey, now is not the time to let your insecurities – "

"It is," Jordan cuts her mother off, and her heart breaks at how sure he sounds. He steps forward and takes her hand, squeezing it as he continues, "I'm sorry, Riley. I didn't want to hurt you."

She pulls her hand away and laughs humorlessly, "How's that working out?"

He sighs, apology masking his handsome face, unable to say anything. She feels her best friend's hand on her shoulder, not feeling relieved at all when Maya squeezes her shoulder.

"Riley," Maya says softly and she turns to her best friend.

"I'm tired, Peaches," she smiles through the tears that are threatening to spill.

"I know, honey," her best friend takes her hand and pulls her gently away from the altar. Riley is aware of the whispers that are echoing through the hall as they leave, and she stops at the third row.

The blonde woman stands up as Riley regards her. Riley swallows the bile in her throat, and once again, blinks back the tears in her eyes. Her voice shakes as she addresses the woman, "Don't let him go again."

The woman shakes her head and starts, "Riley – "

"I wish you both the best," Riley gulps. "And I hope that you both live happily ever after, Clara."

"Riley," his voice stops her and she purses her lips.

"I wish you both the best," she repeats, not looking at either of them.

It hurts because for the first time in her life, she does not mean what she says. It hurts because she hopes that they never get their happiness, and that they will feel at least a fraction of the ache that she is feeling in her heart right now. It hurts because as much as she knows that Jordan will never love her as much as he loves Clara, there is still a hope in her that wishes that he would.

There is still hope in her that he will say something – anything – to make her stay and walk back to the altar so that they can spend the rest of their lives together. There is still that hope that he will assure her that she, Riley Matthews, is the one for him. There is still that shred of hope that she is desperately clinging on to that is begging her to believe that she is worthy of his love.

Instead, he says, "Thank you, Riley."

And just like that, she lets go of the hope of any future that they will have together.

With her head held high, she walks out of the wedding hall with her best friends and family by her side.

A/N: Do you guys think I should continue this? I've enjoyed writing it so far but I have been afraid of not getting the characterisation right. Gahhhh