Eyes On The Prize

5 | James

The gang and I were at the bar again. It was Friday night where else were we going to be, Michelle was working alongside Eldon who was more displeased about that then anything
"You get fucking sacked and I have to pick up your slack?" Eldon whined handing me an empty glass
"Why do I want that?" I laughed
"Because James you know this bar better then anyone, like hell am I fucking serving you" He warned
"You want something. You get it yourself" he said making both West Hunter and I laugh

It wasn't long before Michelle approached all of us looking exhausted
"What's up buttercup" Hunter teased her
"Table 18 would like another round El" Michelle said making Eldon nod as he started

"Are table 18 a problem?" I asked looking over at the table to see it full of the usual Barnard yet. I would have thought those pricks would have graduated by now
"no James, they aren't. Don't go getting yourself in trouble again" Michelle said taking the tray from Eldon

Before any of us could say anything else, our attention was grabbed by two girls walking into the bar, two girls who certainly did not belong here
"Come on your highness" One of them said before allowing light to finally hit the second girl 

"Oh would you look at who just fell straight into your lap" Hunter smirked nudging me as we watched Riley and her friend make their way over to the bar 

Riley was rolling her eyes at her friend while attempting to pull her dress down but I'm not surprised. That didn't seem like the type of thing that little boyfriend of hers would let her wear 
She looked completely different to the girl I had seen the other night on the beach

"Two vodka and lemonades please" Riley's friend said placing her card down on the bar 
It wasn't uncommon for us to take someone's card to add to a tab for the night, but that only usually happens when someone plans on staying a while
"Evening ladies" West said making Riley and her friend smile our way
"Evening? Are we in some high and mighty place?" the friend said making Riley roll her eyes
"Ignore her, clearly someone didn't learn manners in the etiquette classes she spent so much money on" Riley said clearly having some on going joking with her friend

"Jokes on you Riley, I didn't ever show up to them" The friend said flipping her hair over her shoulder
"Must have forgotten Thalia, remind me how you got into college?" Riley asked finally naming her friend

"Oh she does have a bite" Thalia teased while the four boys and I sat there looking so confused 
These were certainly not what we had assumed they would be like.

--

"Those girls would like another round Eldon" Michelle laughed coming over after leaving Riley and Thalia's table. She has spent a lot of time there this evening laughing and joking with them
"They aren't even at their table" Eldon laughed making us all look over and sure enough they weren't 

From the looks of things, Thalia had finally persuaded Riley to go and dance with her and I don't think the two of them showed any chance of slowing down this evening
"how many rounds are they on now?" West asked
"I think this is the 12th?" Michelle said making Eldon nod in agreement
"Surprisingly, Riley's only actually drank 4 of the rounds. Thalia is the one drinking it more often then not" Michelle said 

"First name basis already Mich?" West asked making Michelle roll her eyes
"It's not often we get sweet girls in here. Don't do anything stupid boys" She warned us before leaving to take their drinks over

"So is tonight the first move?" Hunter smirked making West groan again
He had made his opinion on this whole thing very well known, the more he had spoken to me about it the more I realised that there is a huge possibility that he was right. However.. There was no going back now
"Nah, not tonight" I said taking another swig of my drink
"Let the girl settle into college first" I suggest making the boys nod 

The night carried on as normal, Michelle bobbing in and out of seeing and speaking to us to serving people. Eldon was still annoyed he was having to work 
"Quit complaining or we'll leave you on your own" Hunter said offering Eldon a smile
"Great arm candy, just what I need" Thalia said coming over to us, I looked behind her to see where Riley had run off to and sure enough there she stood surrounded by a few guys 

"I'm not going to tell you how to look after your mates, but I wouldn't leave them alone in a sea of guys" Hunter said
"Not two pretty girls like yourself" He added making her roll her eyes

"You two, you'll do" Thalia said grabbing my hand and West's pulling us towards the crowd
We past Michelle in the process who glared at us assuming we were getting into trouble but I'll have her know this was not our doing

"Riley look I found them" Thalia said pushing Riley me towards Riley while she kept her grips on West tightly 

"These are supposedly the boyfriends?" One of the guys said making West and I look at each other before looking at the boys 
"Friends of yours babe?" I asked wrapping an arm around Riley, she was already picking at her nails which is a sign of being uncomfortable 

"Yeah, friends. Now we were having a conversation with her" The same guy said making me look at him
"I'm not stopping you from having your conversation, you carry on" I said shrugging
"Alone" he said making me scoff
"Yeah fat chance" I answered 

They glared at me with the intent that I would back down but they really chose the wrong guy for that. Sooner rather then later, the boys finally stamped their feet in annoyance walking away leaving the four of us alone in the middle of the bar

"See! I knew I chose the right ones!" Thalia squealed hugging West before pouncing onto me 
"Can we get out of here Thalia, I just kinda want to go home" Riley said making Thalia sigh but nod before leaving Riley with us on her own while she headed to the table
West shot me a look before eventually leaving the pair of us alone, I didn't have a game plan right now but I guess it wouldn't help to start now

"I'm sorry Thalia dragged you into this" Riley said tucking a piece of hair behind her ear
"It's alright, I'm not one to let two girls get grouped by some creeps" I shrugged making her nod
"I'm Riley" She said offering me her hand, I chuckled shaking it
"James" I smiled 

The smile on Riley's face now was a hesitant one but as soon as it was comfortably on her face there was something different about it to the other smiles I had seen when she was with Spencer

"Ready Riles?" Thalia called making Riley and I snap out of this trance 
"I should-" She started before I shook my head 
"Give me one sec" I said making Riley look at me confused

 I almost ran to the bar before returning to Riley who had a confused look on her face as she watched me scribble something onto a napkin
"Text me when you get in. So I know those boys didn't get their hands on you" I said making Riley chuckle before nodding

"I'm sure they won't be a problem" Riley said making me shake my head
"Text me" I said again watching as Riley slowly started to bit her lip holding back a smile before nodding 

"I'll text you as soon as I'm in the door" She said before moving away to head towards her friend