Her Sister's Boyfriend

12

Riley's POV:

"James, we really need to talk," I say, dropping his hand as we enter the studio, realizing no one was in there.

"About...?"

"You know what about," I sigh. I know he knew. Whether he'll admit it or not, he knows. Our relationship isn't right. It isn't stable. It's not healthy. We need to talk about it. We need to start thinking about telling people, whether we're ready to or not. I know Em will get hurt either way, but the longer we keep it secret, the angrier she'll be when it finally comes out.

"Riley, if we tell people now, it would destroy the team before we even arrive in Miami-"

"I don't care," I interject. I lock my eyes with him and then cup his cheek with one hand. "Whether it makes or breaks the team, whether it makes or breaks my relationship with my sister, it's the right thing to do. And I know that deep down, you know I'm saying the truth. I don't care if you think I'm wrong or if it's not the right time. If we don't say anything then Ella will, do you seriously want that?" I ask, stroking my thumb over his cheek.

"But Ri..."

"If not, then maybe we should just break up. That's if we're even together," I mumble the last part. This is so confusing. I'm betraying my sister. Despite everything James has said in the past about me not being a bad person and me not being the one who ruined their relationship, I know he's just saying that to try and make me feel better. He doesn't mean what he said. He knows it's true. If you think about it, I'm probably being worse than he is right now because I know they were together. And she's my sister. It literally goes against everything I'm supposed to stand for, but I just can't help it. I can't stop these feelings. I don't even know how we managed to get to this stage but we did and now I'm so lost. I feel horrible.

"How are we meant to tell people? What, just come out and say 'oh hey everyone, just one more thing to add to the drama of the next step... us two are dating, okay that's all, have fun'." I roll my eyes. I don't appreciate the fact that he's not taking this seriously because this is a very serious situation. 

"James, I'm being serious right now," I sigh. This then gains his attention and so he begins to run his fingers through my hair, somehow making me feel reassured in a way.

"We'll figure it out, babe. You know we will," he whispers soothingly. Although his voice is calm and relaxing and he's saying exactly what I want to hear, he's not saying what I need to hear. He's not being truthful. He's just trying to wriggle his way out of the situation but that's never going to work. I don't know why he won't be honest with me. I don't know why he's constantly lying over and over again just to find a way to get us out of this mess. I don't like it and I'm not down with the way he's handling things.

"James, can you please be honest with me for once? You can't actually think that we'll get out of this so easily. You know what A-Troupe are like. This isn't something where everyone forgets about it the next day. I know you're just trying to help, but right now, you're doing the total opposite. It's almost like you're afraid of being honest with me. I tell you the truth and how I'm feeling all the time, every day on a constant, but then there's you who treats me like I need protecting or something. I don't. If you actually want us to be together, you can't keep on looking at me like I'm your little sister because I'm not anymore," I snap. 

He stands there, looking unsure of what to say and at a loss for words, and then that's when I hear a bunch of chatter, making us aware that everyone else was now arriving. I shake my head at him, my lips slightly ajar as I look at him in frustration. 

"Nothing?" I ask, hurt taking over me. I wait for a few more seconds, the same length of time it takes everyone to walk in and put their bags in their cubbies. "I can't believe this," I mutter before turning away and then walking over to talk with some of the girls, acting like nothing's happened.

Whilst we wait for Miss Kate, we all have our own private conversations with each other. I was originally talking with Giselle and Chloe, until Cierra walked in my direction, looking very secretive. "Riley, we need to talk," she whispers sternly. I raise an eyebrow as she quickly drags me by the hand, away from everyone else to stand by the cubbies.

"Whoa, what is it, Cierra? Are you okay?" I ask, beginning to get worried. But then I notice how her face of anxiousness slowly transitions to a look of furiousness.

"I know about you and James," she whispers. I raise my eyebrows and glare at her.

"Cierra-"

"What the actual hell, Riley?!" she whisper-yells. I purse my lips and look around at everyone, purposefully avoiding eye contact with James before taking her by the hand and pulling her in the direction of Kate's office. I close the door shut behind us and then turn around to see her watching me with the same dawning look on her face.

"Cierra, you cannot tell anyone," I tell her.

"And give me one good reason why I shouldn't?! Emily's your sister, Riley! How could you do this?" she asks. This is what I needed to hear. I need to be told all of this, which is why I don't choose to interrupt and allow her to lash out at me. "How long has this thing even been going on for?"

"Five or six weeks," I say quietly. This makes her even more shocked.

"So he cheated on Emily?" she asks. I hesitantly nod, biting my lip as I realize just exactly what I've done. I've always known of course but hearing someone else say it, it feels so much worse. "With you...?" I nod again. She deciphers this for a few moments before violently shaking her head. "Riley, give me one reason why I shouldn't just walk out into that studio and tell everyone right now," she says, but this time with a little more softness to her voice as she looks at me directly. I think about this for a moment. Ella already knows and has given us a warning. Cierra now somehow knows as well, however she found out, she knows. James isn't being reasonable and I was going to do it anyway, I just didn't know how to. She might as well just tell everyone now. Get it over and done with.

"You can," I state.

"What?"

"Go. You can tell them. What does it even matter anymore?" I mumble.

"Riley..." She looks at me, trying to figure out what was going on with me. Except nothing was going on with me. I just need to do the right thing. I just need to get all of this fear and anxiety off of me. I can't cope with it. 

I look out of the office window and then see James who was looking straight at me, worry evident on his face. I look back at Cierra and then nod.

"Go on. Just do it. There's not really a point in keeping it a secret anymore," I tell her much more clearly. She sighs but says no more as she turns around to walk out, and then as soon as she does, I rush over to the window and pull the blinds down, then hurriedly walk over to the door, resting my back against it as I sit on the floor. I'll stay in here forever if I have to. I don't need to see the reactions on their faces. Not now. Not ever.