Change Your Mind

28

Riley

Do you ever walk around thinking the worst, like this was the calm before the storm. That something was about to hit hard and there was nothing you could do to plan it, escape it?
"Someone is in deep thought" James said coming to join me in the Library, he took a seat next to me pressing his lips against my cheek

"I just can't help but think something is going on. Like something bad is about to happen?" I offered making James look at me a little concerned
"Like what?" He asked but I shrugged
"I have no idea" I said biting my lip

--

After sitting around for a little, James and I took the trip  to meet the rest of A-Troupe for lunch
"Riley? Can we talk?" A voice said making me turn around. As I did I came face to face with Maggie, I nodded at her moving away from A-Troupe noticing that all of their eyes were on the pair of us

"What's up?" I asked and she sighed looking down
"I wanted to talk to you about Alex" She said making me look at her confused
"I know he is the least of your concerns but he's struggling Ley!" She said making me raise a brow
"Struggling with what exactly?" I asked and she shrugged
"He won't talk to us, he just glares at you and James. It's even at the point he doesn't come to rehearsal if he knows you and James are in the building, he'll sit and watch in the Gallery" She said making furrow my brows

"So what you are telling me is I have a stalker?" I asked and she shook her head frantically
"No no I don't mean it like that" She said
"well what is it Mag? So far you've told me he glares at us and follows us to watch us?" I asked
"That doesn't sound healthy" I explained making her sigh

"I think I went about this all wrong" she muttered
"what were you wanting to gain from this?" I asked and she looked up at me slightly
"I just wanted you two to talk, to try and work something out" she said biting her lip

"Maggie, We are way past that. Alex and I were best friends, sure I didn't tell him about the James situation but with good reason. He was so smitten with Chloe I didn't want to bring him down either" I explained
"I kept it to myself, I worked through it alone and he hates me for it" I said

"I get that Riley I do but I don't think he meant it like that" She said making me look at her like she was crazy
"How else was he meant to mean it? he practically screamed that in the halls yesterday" I said
"I'm not trying to make excuses for him but a lot of us were shocked that you two were dating after everything he did" she whispered 

"At the end of the day Maggie, who I date, who I hang out with. Is nobody's concern but my own, I'm pretty sure I'm not the same idiot I was back then and honestly" I said
"I don't make the same mistake twice" I finished making her nod 

"I think he just doesn't want to see you hurt Ley" She said but I shook my head 
"And what does he think he's been doing recently? I lost my best friend over something he pushed me to do" I said 

"I didn't push you to do shit" A voice behind us say, I turned to see Alex stood there instantly making me roll my eyes

"Really? Who was it that was talking me into auditioning to A-Troupe" I asked
"Who was it who told me I was losing out on all this potential I had?" I asked making him roll his eyes
"I didn't realise that it meant you would hop into bed with the biggest dick we know" He said making me scoff

"you don't get to act like you know him. He did one bad thing in his life but that was the old immature little boy we once knew. Not the James I'm dating" I said making Alex scoff
"don't act so high and mighty Riley. It'll only be a matter of time before he makes you crash again" he said 

"you know what Alex, I'm done with this" I said standing up
"You come near me again, you follow me around or watch me one more damn time and I'll go above your head" I warned him making him narrow his eyes

"What are you going to do? Tell me mother?" he asked making me cross my arms

"No actually I was thinking I'd tell you dad" I said
"Seeing as he's a police officer" I growled turning on my heels to walk away from him

and to walk away for good