A Fool in Love

2. The Hard Way

Riley sat in her office, wondering what was the best way to break up with James. Suddenly, she heard a knock on the doorway, and James himself came in.

“Yo, Riles. Do you have lunch plans already? I was thinking- Hey, what’s wrong?” he suddenly noticed her reddened eyes. “Were you crying?” he asked softly. “What happened?”
Riley shook her head and refused to answer.

“Tell me,” James implored, sitting down in the only other available chair in the room.

Riley took a deep breath. Better just to be straightforward. “I kissed another guy.”

His face darkened. “What?” 

“I cheated on you,” she clarified. “With another dancer here.”

James took a deep breath, collecting his thoughts. Just break up with me already, thought Riley. Get it over with. Finally he spoke. “You forgave me with Beth,” he began, steadily. “So, now I forgive you.”

Riley’s mouth involuntarily opened in shock. Not what she had been expecting. While it was sweet, she knew that as long as Alfie’s love for her still burned, she could never be with James. She tried again. “I like him. A lot.”

James looked so hurt, Riley wanted to tell him that she didn’t mean it, and that she loved him with all her heart. But she couldn’t. “So you’re breaking up with me, Riley?” he asked softly. She didn’t want to be the one to initiate it. Not again. “Say it,” he demanded.

“Yes.”

James shook his head, angry and confused. “Why? We had everything. Why would you throw it all away?” He stood up and turned to go. Riley stood as well, but as she did a wave of dizziness swept over her, and she had to lean on the desk in order not to fall.

“Goodbye, Riley,” said James softly, completely unaware of her predicament.

Riley felt all of her senses sharpen at once. She could smell James’s cologne as strongly as if she was rubbing it in her face. She could hear James’s heart beating unnaturally fast because of the emotional state he was in. She looked down and could see the individual details of her wooden desk. She looked back up at James, and then her vision suddenly turned red.

KILL HIM

She felt, rather than heard the command. 

KILL HIM

More by instinct than anything else, she reached for the letter opener on her desk. James didn’t notice, as he was turning to leave. The door to the office suddenly slammed shut. He tried to turn the doorknob, but it was locked. James turned around in time to see Riley slowly advancing on him with the letter opener in her right hand.

KILL
   
“Ri? Riley, what are you doing?” James had pressed himself flat against the door.

KILL HIM

Riley lifted up the letter opener and brought it towards him. His eyes widened in fear. “Riley, stop. This isn’t you. I know you. I love you,” he pleaded, still trying to reason with her.

Riley blinked in surprise, coming back to herself. “I love you, too,” she whispered. She slowly lowered her arm, and turned away, not wanting James to see the tears that had suddenly sprung to her eyes. She sank down into the chair at her desk.

“Riley. What just happened?” James demanded, confusion written all over his face.

“You wouldn’t understand.” She went over to the door and unlocked it for him.

“Try me.”

“It’s none of your business. Just go.”

“You just tried to stab me! I’d say that makes it my business!”

Riley hesitated, wondering if she could tell him. She knew exactly what had just come over her, and she also knew that James had just saved her from doing something terrible by reminding her of what he meant to her.

“Riley, you know you can tell me anything,” pleaded James. “I just want to make sure you’re...” he paused. “...okay.”

If she didn’t tell him, he might call the mental asylum. Of course, he might do that even if she did reveal what was going on.

“You can trust me.”

James was right. She could trust him.