Riley's Box

Part 53

I felt my heart warm at the compliment. 

"Aw, Ira. That's so kind of you," I said. "You can be so sweet, sometimes," I added and when I determined that nobody was around, I took a step closer to him to plant a gentle kiss upon his cheek. 

"Alright, hang on, Hell boy. Don't steal my girl," Jason said, as he started to walk towards the two of us with a chocolate croissant in hand. 

I felt my mouth twitch at the comment. 

After that, my heart warmed as I realised what Jason had said. 

My girl, huh? 

I couldn't help but smile at that. 

"I'm going to have a look around the school for the shadow spirit," Ira said. 

I really, really, hoped that the shadow spirit wasn't actually on school grounds. I didn't want to begin to think what it would do to my fellow students if it was. 

"I'll come with you," Adina said, as she joined the three of us. 

"I think that would be wise," Ira said. "Smarter to go together." 

Adina gave a nod of agreement. 

"I like your outfit today, Ira," she commented, then. 

Ira's cheeks appeared to grow a little warmer. 

"Thank you...Anyway, we really must get going. I'll see you soon, Jason and Riley," he said kindly. 

"Bye for now," Jason and I said in unison. 

Ira and Adina commenced their search for a shadow spirit on school grounds. 

In the meantime, it was time for me to get to my first class. 

Before I could do that, though, I turned to find that Susie Caern was stood right in front of me. 

"Oh, hi Susie," I said with a small smile. 

"Hey Riley," she said. She looked as though she had a lot on her mind. 

"Hi Susie," Jason said. 

I tried to not feel jealous. This was ridiculous. He needed to tell her how he felt. 

"Hey Jason," she replied. She didn't move to hug him. Strange. "I actually wanted to talk to the both of you." 

We nodded, waiting for her to continue. 

"Now, don't ask me how I know this- I'm relying on pure intuition- but something's going on here, isn't it?" she asked. Her eyes then studied the two of us with interest. 

I swallowed. 

Jason stood up straight and tilted his head towards her. 

After what felt like the longest ten seconds in history, he nodded his head. 

"Susie, I wanted to come and talk to you. I had a feeling that you weren't really happy with me, either. At least, not in the relationship sense. We definitely work out better as friends," he said. His eyes searched hers then, as if trying to detect an answer. "I can tell that this isn't exactly what you wanted to hear, but I have a feeling that it's necessary," he went on to say. 

Susie bowed her head. 

"I knew something had to be there, between the two of you," she said. Her voice didn't sound annoyed, though. "I'm glad you two worked it out," she said. "I can understand you two liking each other, of course. You've been best friends for so long, now. It makes sense. Besides, it means that there's someone else out there for me and that's okay, too." 

After she had said this, she extended a hand towards Jason. 

"Friends?" she asked him. 

Jason's mouth twitched upwards at a corner and he shook her hand. 

She then turned to me, with some warmth behind her eyes. 

"Riley, I know you wanted head girl. If I had realised how much, then I would have argued for you to have the title instead of me," she said. 

"Don't be silly, Susie! You worked so hard for it. You deserve it. I'll admit it, at first I was a little upset and envious of you but...you're my friend. I should be happy for your success. Besides, I never want us to feel animosity towards each other. I want you to be able to talk to me," I replied with sincerity in my voice. 

"I had a good think about it and I realised that you're right, Riley, I do deserve this," she said. Her expression then shifted to a more thoughtful one. "I also realised that I've been so preoccupied with my own thoughts recently that I didn't really pay you much attention. I haven't been a great friend. I may deserve head girl, but you deserve to be more than just a regular member of the student council. That's why I spoke to Eric by his car, this morning," she said. 

My eyebrow shot up in response to that. 

"I asked for him to make you my assistant head girl. You're not mad, are you?" she asked me. 

No. Susie was too kind. 

"Really?" I asked. 

"Yeah," she said. 

"And you're alright with that?" I continued. 

She nodded her head. 

"The assistants work together a lot of the time, anyway. I know that you and Whit get along, so I thought it made sense." 

I smiled at that. That much was true. 

"Then I'm alright with it, too," I said. 

Susie exhaled, as her shoulders relaxed. 

"I'm so glad!" she said. "Anyway, I need to get to my first class. I'll see you two later?" she asked. 

"See you soon, Susie," I said. 

"See you around," Jason said with a smile. 

After that, Susie turned and made her way towards her next class. 

Meanwhile, Jason reached out to give my hand a gentle squeeze. 

"I'll miss you, in my next class," he said. 

"I always miss you," I replied. "See you soon." 

He nodded and then stepped forward to press a gentle kiss to my cheek. 

After that, it was time for him to go to his class. 

My own legs carried me in the direction of mine, too. 

I walked into class and promptly sat down next to April. 

I was only a couple of minutes late. 

Fortunately, the teacher didn't say anything about it.