Saving Riley

33

Riley's POV

If memory serves me well, James will be in a class right now which means I can sneak into Lost & Found without accidentally bumping into him
I know what you are thinking. Why are you going there if it isn't to see James. There are two people I need to talk to, one of them being someone I know will tell me the truth and another one I know I never want to speak to her again after this
"Hey" I said walking into the green room, to my luck there sat John, Luke and Theo
They all looked at me and offered me a smile
"How are you?" Theo asked and I offered him the same smile back, I sighed before taking a big deep breath in
"I'm okay" I replied they all nodded
"Can we talk?" I asked John, he looked at Theo and Luke before nodding. The pair of us walked out into the BullPen taking a seat on the leather sofas, this sofa set has been here since Mr T opened this place
"Look Riley, I didn't mean for you to find out like that" John said clearly feeling some sort of guilt about it all
"Hey, I'm glad I found out. Yes it wasn't the most pleasant way but I'm grateful I found out" I said trying to help his level of guilt
"I shouldn't have been the one to tell you though" He muttered
"You are right you shouldn't have, but James wasn't going to tell me now was he" I chuckled
"He should have" John replied and I nodded
"The last thing I want is for you blame yourself John. That isn't fair on you" I said placing my hand on top of his
"But can I ask something?" I then said making him look up at me
"Can you tell me what happened? I'm trying to piece everything together" I replied, John sighed
"Are you sure Riley?" John asked and without a second though I nodded making him sigh again

"We had finished band practice maybe 30 minutes prior. Luke, Theo and I had left until I realised I had left the song book in the green room. We didn't want that in the wrong hands so as I walk back in I see James sat with Marie. I won't lie, James looked pretty uncomfortable with how close Marie kept trying to get. He scooted away but then was blocked off by the wall. Before I could even speak up they kissed. I can't tell who initiated it or what because of where I stood but given what I had seen prior. I doubt James kissed her" He explained. My breath hitched as he started to explain the endeavour 
"And did James push her away?" I asked hoping John wasn't about to break my heart
"I don't know Riley, I really don't. As soon as I saw it I bolted" John replied, I nodded. I got some answers at least that is something...

--

"I think it's about time we spoke" I said looking Marie up and down, she has just finished a class in the Rose Room. Mr T had just left offering me a smile as he left. I'm certain he has no idea what happened, Mr T hates this sort of drama and would never stand for it
"Women to Women, fair play" Marie said sitting on the stage
"Why did you do it?" I asked and she scoffed
"I didn't do anything so terrible Riley. I kissed a single guy" She reminded me
"Single yes but you know for a fact he wasn't interested" I replied and she laughed
"If that is so, how was I able to get close enough to kiss him?" she asked and I rolled my eyes
"look I came here to be civil about this. But you need to back off of James" I warned her causing her to stand up and step closer to me
"Or what?" She said pursing her lips
"You don't want to know what'll happen" I replied
"You do make me laugh Riley" She said loudly, glancing over my shoulder I met James' gaze. Him and the boys are making their way over here
"I've warned you Marie and that is all I came to do. I'm not wasting my breath on you" I replied turning away from her 
"You know, your a piece of work" She said making me stop in my tracks, the boys now in the Rose Room too
"Excuse me" I said turning around to face her once more
"You heard me. You run off to this school in New York completely moving on from your life back home. Completely leaving James behind for that new guy and now you come back thinking it can all return to normal? James deserves a hell of a lot better" She said laughing, I could tell that the boys would be holding James back right now
"And you? Your what he deserves? Marie I know you type" I said crossing my arms. She looked at me with anger written all over her face
"My type? What is that then" she asked and I smiled
"You're a Beth. You fawn over something you can't have and no matter how hard James rejects you, you'll keep coming back" I replied and Marie smirked and confidently nodded
"You bet your ass I will" She said with the upmost confidence
"But guess what Marie" I replied making her confidence alter
"I've beat a Beth before and I won't miss the chance to do it again" I replied before walking out of the Rose Room

I said my piece, I stood my ground and I couldn't be prouder
"Riley wait up" I hear a voice call as I walked toward Riley's Corner
"James, what are you doing" I asked as he finally caught up
"Are you okay?" He asked and I smiled and nodded
"are you sure though? Like I don't blame you if your not like-" He started to ramble making me chuckle
"James, I'm okay" I replied opening the door
"Does this mean we are back on speaking terms" He asked with hope written on his face
"I guess so, but I still need a little of time before we go back to being whatever we were" I replied
"I just need you to remember to talk to me James. How are we meant to build on relationship when we can't communicate" I asked and James sighed bowing his head
"I know, I messed up" He replied and I sighed making him look up
"A wise man once told me, people make mistakes. It's human. And just like he was, I'm willing to work on this and do whatever it takes to get through it" I smiled remembering that those words were what James said to me during the whole Alfie problem
James looked at me and smiled as I took his hands into mine
"No matter how long it takes" He asked and I smiled
"Always James" I replied making him smile more
We're on the road to mending but at least for now, we are good.