Saving Riley

21

Riley's POV

It's time like this I remember what my dad used to tell Emily and I growing up. Whenever we were upset, sad or overwhelmed
Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver then you believe, You're stronger then you seem and You're smarter then you think 
It's like our father knew that in the long run, that would be something we needed. And boy was her right
"Alright Miss Raymond, is this all of the forms?" The Lady from the courtroom asked, I looked down at the papers in front of me before nodding once more
"okay, well Judge Brian will review this and will be in touch no later then Monday morning" She continued, it was Monday too so I could be waiting at least a week. 
But this was the first step that I knew needed to be completed. I knew I needed to do this, I'm just surprised I had the courage to do this all on my own

Walking out of the Courthouse, I couldn't help but smile.
I was taking control of my life once more and I couldn't be prouder
"Hey!" Miss Kate said as I walked into The Next Step. I had asked for the day off to which Miss Kate happily gave me
"Hey" I smiled walking into her office
"What brings you here? I thought you wanted the day off?" She laughed
"Yeah, I managed to get everything I needed to do done so I thought I would pop in, see you, see Lost & Found etc" I replied earning a grin from her making me roll her eyes
"Are you okay though Riley? You've taken a few days here and there recently" She replied. Miss Kate has always been very laid back when it comes to all of us but if something is wrong she can and will smell it out like a sniffer dog
"Yeah, just some baggage following me from New York. Nothing I can't handle" I smiled at her, she looked at me for a moment as if she was trying to see if she should believe me
"Okay, I'm here if you need anything, you know that right?" she asked and I nodded
Miss Kate has been a mother to every single child that has walked these halls and it seems even as adults, the love she has for us doesn't lessen 
"Same for you Miss Kate" I smiled making her smile back 

I walked into Lost & Found to instantly see James making a coffee in the green room, his back to the door. After the day I had the only thing I wanted was one of his hugs
As I made my way over I saw he was in there alone so I wrapped my arms around his torso from behind. He jumped at the initial touch but his frame softening moments after
"Hey Ri" He chuckled putting his mug on the counter, I sighed placing my head on his back
"Hey what's wrong?" he asked now turning in my arms so my face was in his chest
"Nothing" I mumbled and he chuckled lightly 
"Clearly isn't nothing Riles" He said moving my hair that was covering my face
"I just needed a hug" I replied and he smiled, wrapping his arms around me this time making me smile
"You can always have a hug" He replied and I squeezed his again closing my eyes
This boy. This boy helped me grow as a person, I don't remember a time where James wasn't in my life and in all honestly I don't think I want to
He's my best friend and will always be the first boy I ever loved. I messed up moving away to New York, it hurt us more then I think either of us care to admit but at the same time, He's bloomed. He got his life together, he did everything he had planned to do his entire life. He wanted to tour with his band, he wanted to work in the Music industry. He did it all 
I couldn't be prouder of him
"What are you thinking about?" he whispered kissing the top of my head
"You" I whispered back making him smile
"What about me?" He chuckled
"You did everything you always wanted to do" I replied making him furrow his eye brows at me
"What?" He asked 
"I went off to New York and in those three years you did everything you told me you wanted to do. You moved out, you went on tour, you got a job in music" I replied making him smile
"You remember that?" He asked and I nodded. How could I not?
"Do you remember everything you wanted to do?" James asked and I shrugged as we both pulled away after the worlds longest hug
"you always wanted to see the world, you wanted to continue to dance and when the time was right" James started
"I'd come home" I whispered making both of us smile. I guess in a sense that is what I did, I went away to New York, got to travel with the school and then came home
"Sometime you have to go away to come back stronger" He said and I nodded. I reckon if we ever made a comeback, we would be unbeatable 

"Do you remember Nationals?" James asked and I smiled and nodded
"It was so much more then any of us where expecting. The Next Step hadn't made it to Nationals in 15 years, none of us knew what we were expecting" I replied
"God remember the Awards? When the boys were late" He asked making me burst out laughing
"you on the stage by yourself stood in front of LOD" I laughed making him chuckle and nudge me
"And then when they eventually show up, Eldon bloody waves to the crowd like it was no biggie" I replied still in hysterics
"It was an eventful weekend" James continued and I smiled remembering something else that happened that weekend
"Do you remember what else happened then?" I asked earning a look from James
"That was also the first time I told you I loved you" I replied turning that look into a smile from James
"Was that before or after we kissed in front of the entire audience and your turned into a giant tomato" He said making me narrow my eyes at him hitting him with a pillow on the sofa we were sat on 
"It was before" James continued with the same cheeky smile
"It's crazy to think about everything that has happened since then" I replied and James nodded
"It's crazy to think about everything that happened during the time we were together" James added
"Whatever happened to Beth?" I asked, I hadn't heard anything about her since she gave James the Four Leaf Clover
"She moved away to California with her dad I believe" James shrugged
"You know, I will always regret putting you through that right?" he asked earning my attention again
"I know" I smiled, he laid back on the sofa opening his arm allowing me to cuddle up to him a little
I don't know what the situation between us is but I couldn't care. Right now, I'm happy being just being us