After their breakup, James and Riley kept themselves distanced. They didn't hate each other or purposely avoid each other, they merely went on with their lives
But after a phone call from Emily asking for their help, James and Riley are faced with a...
"So your telling us that you've been out of college for 2 years and have only just now moved out of your parents house?" Eldon laughed as we walked towards Emily's front door "What can I say, it was convenient. Mum did all my laundry and shit" I laughed making both boys roll their eyes "Oh you don't change James" West said nudging me the moment that Eldon rung the doorbell
It feels surreal to be back in this company. For god knows how long, we'll be helping out at The Next Step. God it feels weird to be thinking that. I thought A-Troupe and The Next Step were nothing but a past time, evidently not
"Boys! Your on time!" Emily said, clearly having the same amount of faith she always did "the party has arrived!" West announced walking into the living room to see Michelle sat on the sofa with a mug in her hand She looked over at all of us before rising to her feet smiling hugging all of us one by one
None of us truly ever lost touch, we would always check in. We would see each other on social media and everything like that. So it's not like we are completely blind to what we have all been up to
"Now that we are all here, where do we start?" Eldon asked as he joined Michelle and Emily on the sofa, I took a seat on one of the armchairs while West chose to sit on the floor.. Even tho there were literally three other seating options
"We aren't all here" Michelle said looking to Emily who nodded in agreement "Oh? Who else did you invite? I thought it was just the 5 of us" Eldon asked and Emily did "it was supposed to be until I had a visitor in my office this morning" Emily said making all of us look at her confused "So who is it?" West laughed breaking the silence
But that wasn't needed, as soon as he said that Emily's front door opened and a voice filled the newest ray of silence "Yeah I just got here now. I mean I can ask her and let you know?" a familiar voice said. One that I had not heard in years.. "Alright, I will. What time are you back?" Riley's voice continued "I should be back then, I'm not too sure. If I'm not you know where the key is" She continued before finally walking into the living room
She took one look at all of us before widening her eyes, her blonde hair certainly wasn't blonde anymore. She had died it back to a darker brown, it had grown a lot more since I'd last seen it When I said earlier that we all kept in contact through Social.. Riley is probably the one person I didn't I didn't think that she would want me lurking on her timeline and I didn't think she would want to see what I was up to
"Yeah I've got about 5 pairs of eyes on me so I'm going to let you go" Riley said then after a few more moments of back and forthing she had hung up the phone offering us her full attention
"So um hi?" She said making everyone chuckle as they all rose to their feet hugging her one by one The train started with Michelle pulling her in tightly, before West took over followed by Eldon As the boys finished their hugs they all turned to look at me trying to analyse my next move and honestly I didn't know what it was going to be I wasn't going to make it awkward by not hugging her right?
I stepped forward allowing Riley to make the first move of wrapping her arms around me rising onto the tips of her toes like she always had to do, the perk of her height I guess "It's been a hot minute Riley! What have you been doing?" West asked as we all sat back down, Riley came and sat on the arm chair next to mine the one I thought West would have taken "nothing interesting really. Working mainly making ends meet you know?" Riley offered "How's the new house?" Eldon asked
Honestly, I figured that if anyone had bought a house at our age it would be Riley.. She always wanted a small place on the outskirts of the city. It would be old school on the outside but nice and modern on the inside
"It's great actually. The construction had just about finished which means I don't have anything else to change about the house for the time being" She laughed "I still cannot believe how much you spent on changing the inside" Emily said rolling her eyes at her sister
"Let me guess, your modernised it?" I asked earning Riley's attention as she let out a small chuckle "Of course" She said smiling in my direction
"When can we see it?" Emily asked "I don't know, when do you want to? You'll have to make the drive" Riley laughed tucking her knee underneath her leg getting a little more comfortable "Well your working tomorrow aren't you? Why don't we come over for Dinner in the evening?" Michelle asked "Talk about inviting yourself Michelle" West teased making us all laugh
"Oh uh yeah that's alright. I get off at 5 but Tyler will be there all day anyway" Riley said grabbing my attention slightly "Tyler's in town? He wasn't this morning when we spoke?" Emily asked "Yeah he's getting back in a few hours. He would be joining us but travelling has wiped him out a little bit" Riley shrugged "How long is he back for?" West asked making me look at West and Eldon. Am I really the only one out of the loop..
What was I missing
"I'm not too sure yet. This was a last minute drop in, I don't really have a clue" Riley laughed but there was something behind that laughed that meant something more
I took out my phone whilst everyone continued to discuss, but the moment I did that I should have known it was a mistake
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Riley would have been stupid to not move on, I didn't expect two years though.. I don't know
"Is he going to be okay with all of us? He's only ever met Michelle and Em right?" Eldon asked as I zoned back in "He'll be fine. He'll be asleep by the time Riley gets back so he'll be his happy self tomorrow" Emily said nodding proudly "You think one sleep is going to rid of major jet lag Emily?" Michelle laughed
"She's not wrong, he'll sleep tonight then he'll be fine" Riley laughed "See I'm not making this crap up. He's a strange species" Emily said making us all look at Emily confused before we all burst out laughing
"That reminds me Emily, he told me to ask you something" Riley said grabbing everyone's attention "What's up buttercup" She teased "Well actually it's more of he's told me to tell you to call him. I wasn't allowed anything more then that" Riley said before glaring at Emily as her eyes widened slightly "But you know Emily, if you fancy being just my sister for a second... Spill?" Riley said hopeful
But from the look on both of their faces, neither of them were going to say anything
"Hmmm, deal with a whining Riley, or the wrath of Tyler" Emily said weighing up her options "mmm sorry Ri" Emily answered making all of us laugh
