My Neighbour

twenty one

Riley

I left for school the next morning and to my surprise, James had already left. Clearly someone wanted a head start on the day
Neither of us have really spoken since we got in last night. Turns out we had been out for quite a long time
"Good morning!" Thaila said hip bumping me at my locker
"Good morning" i chuckled smiling at her
"If it isn't my favourite girls" Giselle said flinging her arm over mine and Thalia's shoulder as she joined us 
"How was our weekends?" Giselle asked as we all started to walk to our lesson
"Mine was good, I spent most of it at my grandma's" Thalia smiled
"I had a good one too" I smiled 

We continued to walk through the hallway until I came across what I'm going to assume is Beth's locker. James stood in front of it with her
"Did you hear the latest on Mr Williams?" Giselle asked giving me the perfect time to zone out of that conversation
I couldn't help but glance back at James and Beth. I can't help but feel a little guilty that something happened between James and I while that poor girl is still fawning over him
"Give me a sec" I said pealing away from the girls

"Hey Beth!" I called making her turn around, James looked in my direction and the look on his face made it real. He was feeling just as guilty
"Hey Riley" She smiled
"What's up" She asked making me glance at James before looking back at Beth
"You've got something on your shirt" I said pointing to her top, she looked down and groaned
"Trust me to! Thanks Riley" she smiled hugging me 
I looked back over at James before shaking my head and heading back to the girls 
"What was that about?" Thalia asked
"She had something on her shirt. That's all" I said making them nod and smile as we finished our journey to class

--

"Hey" Someone's voice said making me turn around. I had left Thalia and Giselle to fend for themselves this lunch while I caught up on some work in the Library
I looked up to see James stood there, instantly rolling my eyes I looked back down at my book
"Can we talk?" He asked and I shook my head
"come on Ri please" He whispered, I put my pen down looking up at him
"I told you I was done with any games James. I didn't want to be in the middle of an even fucking bigger one" I warned him and he looked at me shaking his head
"There is no game I swear. I'm trying Riley" He said and I shook my head grabbing my things to head out

"Will you please just trust me!" He yelled as we got into the hallway
"Trust you James?!" I yelled back
"Where has that ever gotten me?" I asked and he bowed his head
"Exactly" I replied turning my back on him once more leaving him behind 

--

It didn't take long for me to get home but as per usual. Nobody was here, Mum's gone from this stay at home mother to someone who is never home during one move
"Hey Riley!" Piper said coming out of the car as her and Mario got home
"Hey P" I smiled as she crossed the road to come sit with me
"How was school?" She asked and I shrugged
"What about you?" I replied
"same old same old" She laughed

"Where is James?" She asked and I looked at her
"How am I supposed to know that?" I asked
"Didn't you two go to school together?" She asked again and I slowly shook my head
"Oh, I thought you had. He seemed pretty darn happy when he left" She said making me sigh.

He wasn't happy because of me. It's all been this giant facade but in fact he was happy because he was going to school and he got to see Beth
It's about time I learn to accept that