Double Life

7

Riley

Walking upstairs to my room after successfully avoiding my dad and step mum I can't be bothered to deal with Marie's bullshit this afternoon. Once in my bedroom I sigh and slump on my bed I wish I could turn off my feelings for James or even be able to talk to someone about this whole situation but I have to deal with it all alone.

A few hours have passed and I've just finished a self care evening and I can hear Beth and James laughing outside and James' car pulling out of Beth's driveway.
James didn't get even get to the end of our road before my phone starting going off.
I declined his call which only made James send me a text asking
'why are you ignoring me? '

I scoffed and sent back
'you have a girlfriend James I can't do our deal '

A few minutes had passed before I got a reply
'she isn't my girlfriend remember'
James replied completely ignoring the part where I don't want to do this anymore.
I replied
'your actions say otherwise'
hoping James would drop it and leave me alone.

FLASHBACK-

'Me and James are practicing our duet and after going through our routine for what felt like the hundredth time we're left standing side by side with his arms around me, he turns to face and leans in completely forgetting I'm not Beth.

I put my hand up to his chest and lean back scrunching my eyebrows
"James you have a girlfriend you shouldn't be trying to kiss me" making James' face drop
"Me and Beth have a deal, just like me and you" James whispered making me even more confused and that feeling only grew more as James wouldn't explain this any further

--

It's been a few weeks since I called off the deal with James however that doesn't stop him from parking in our agreed spot to take me to the next step every week, I've managed to avoid him so far but this time I see I've already missed my bus since I was in a train of thought so James might be my only option to be on time. James pulls up to the bus stop and asks
"please can you let me drive you" with a hint of sadness in his eyes making me look to the floor before agreeing.

"How've you been Ri? I've not seen you around lately" James asks breaking the silence,
"I don't wanna talk to you" I mutter quietly making James ask me
"why not?"

I sigh whilst saying
"you lied to me about the deal with Beth just cuz you wanted to kiss me" James' eyes widen
"I promise I didn't lie to you Riley, meet me after dance practise and I'll explain everything" James replied with a slight glimmer of hope
I agreed making him smile slightly before heading into the next step