The Puzzle Of Jiley

Travelling

Riley's POV

It was finally time for The Dance Move and I was glad James and I bonded back to what we were before the whole mishap with the one and only Beth. It was Saturday morning and I had already packed some of my stuff the night before. We were heading off to The Dance Move today. We were taking a plane since it was a good length away in the states. James was going to pick me up at noon and I couldn't be more happier. I finished up my packing adding my toothbrush, deodorant, shampoo, a towel, and a hairbrush and another outfit just in case. I took a quick hot shower and decided that I had enough time to blow dry my hair. I whipped it up in a messy bun when I was done and put on yoga pants and a tighter long sleeve shirt along with an infinity scarf because it was starting to get damn cold. I only ate a little because I had just randomly lost my appetite. Emily was coming back to the house to pack her stuff after because she had a later flight with the other half of the troupe. I brought my suitcase downstairs and my phone rang. I answered it without looking at the caller ID.
"Hello?" I asked scrambling through my purse for some cash.
"Riley, it's momma." The sweet sound of my mom sang through the phone.
"Hey mom!" I said, the secret excitement I had, crept out as I spoke.
"Hey baby, I just wanted to see how you were doing?" She said sounding like she was rushing around.
"Yes, I'm fine. Don't worry. Me and James worked it out. It was all just a little mishap that happened at the wrong place and time." I said sounding a little too annoyed.
"Okay," she said taken aback and sounding offended.
"How's Italy? When're you going to Belize?" I asked.
"Oh, we're leaving in a few days, what's happening down there?" She asked.
"The Dance Move is today. I'm finishing last minute things before going to the airport,"
"Oh right! Thought that was next week."
"No Mom. Leaving today." I said too rudely and I regretted it.
"Mhm. I forgot." She said sounding less sweet but her soft voice really couldn't make her sound mad at any time.
"Sorry mom. I'm just stressed out because of this all-" I stopped and took a breathe. I found my cash and stuffed it in my smaller wallet I travelled with.
"That's okay sweet pea. Do you have time to talk to daddy?" She asked totally forgiving me and I smiled, missing her.
"Yeah, you can put him on." I said. Me and my dad got into a huge fight before he left and we still had many holes to patch before we would be back to our old relationship. I felt really sorry but I still had this brutal anger in me.
"Riley?" I heard his deep voice call through the phone and he sounded almost as sweet as my mom.
"Hey Dad," I said and the line went silent. I thought I heard a sob and I was really confused.
"Daddy?" I asked realizing I had called him the childish name I had left behind me years ago but sometimes it would slip out every so often.
"Sorry." He said. He was crying.
"Is everything ok? What's up?" I asked looking at the clock in my kitchens to find out it was quarter to noon.
"It's just...I left us off at a really bad-" I interrupted him.
"Dad, no that was my fault." I said feeling sorry.
"Ah, no it wasn't doll," he said using my famous nickname.
"I don't want to talk about it," I said.
"Yeah, bye Riley." He said and there was some shuffling and mumbling and then the familiar voice soothed me.
"Hello?" It was my mom again.
"Yes hello again, I have to go finish up." I said, really eager to hang up. The whole conversation with my dad didn't sit too well with me.
"Okay. Have fun baby. Can't wait to see James and you when I get back. Tell Em I said hi because she wasn't picking up her phone." She said really fast afraid I was going to hang up.
"Bye," I said lastly and hung up. My dad really brought the excitement out of me for this whole trip but it was just the topic.

"Are you ready?" James asked coming back from the airport bathroom.
"Riley?" He asked waving a hand in front of my face. I must've zoned out thinking about everything.
"Oh yes I'm okay," I said blinking like I had just been out under a spell.
"No," James chuckled.
"I asked if you were ready!" He said and smiled at me as he sat down and he started rubbing my back.
"Yes." I said pushing through a smile. I looked around and saw West, and Giselle who had recovered safe and sound from the previous incident that made us all open our eyes to what life had to offer. There was also Amanda who had been recently welcomed back to the troupe. Chloe and Thalia were also there and I did the math with who'd be back taking the second flight.
"Is something up?" James asked.
"Don't wanna talk about it," I said sounding like I wanted attention or something but I hated attention to be honest.
We suddenly got called to board the plane and we did so. We were glad to see that we were all in the same section. As soon as we had taken off I put ear buds in and turned on Annie which made me smile, reminding me of my childhood.

I woke up to James sitting beside me watching something. I must've fallen asleep because Annie wasn't playing on my tv screen and it was back to the main menu. James looked like he was dozing off but then he caught glimpse of me looking around.
"Hey beautiful," he whispered and I smiled at him and laid my head on his shoulder, watching spider man or something without volume.
"Care to talk to me now?" He asked lifting my chin up and I looked up at him and smiled. I took my head off of his shoulder and yawned before talking.
"About what?" I asked stupidly but I knew what.
"What was bothering you..." James said taking out one head phone.
"Just a conversation I had earlier with my dad but I don't want it to wreck the whole vibe that we have here so never mind it." I said shooing my hand in front of me.
"Are you sure? What happened?" He asked pausing his movie and taking his other headphone out.
"We got into a fight before he left with my mom to travel. It was about my Grandpa's death which was a really soft topic. I kind of bailed him out and kind of blamed him for stuff. We talked today, and he started crying on the phone so we just couldn't talk anymore. I hung up afterwards and it just put me in a down mood." It felt really good expressing what I felt to James and he was all ears for me.
"Babe, it's okay. It's good that you told me about that. We can still make the best of this trip. I'm sure you'll mind will move off of it." He said reassuring me by touching my knee and I smiled and lay my head back down on his shoulder and he put his headphones back in.

"We will be landing in 10 minutes. Please fasten your seat belts if not already done and sit back in your seats. Brace yourself for landing and have a good day!" The peppy person said through the speakers of the plane. Now I was getting excited and my mind was moved totally off the touchy subject. I can't wait for the next few days.