The Back of my Truck

Chapter 5

"Where were you?!" Chloe's voice raised, as soon as she got a glimpse of Riley entering the room. "You're like thirty minutes late. We needed you here."

Riley dropped down on one of the chairs next to Chloe, who was rearranging the layout of this years yearbook. "I'm sorry. I had to work on my Chemistry report." She sighed, as she switched on the computer, scooting a little closer to the desk.

"Chemistry? With this creep?" Chloe spoke, looking at her friend, as she raised her eyebrows.

"He's not a creep. He's actually really nice." Riley spoke, before she could even think about what she has said, Chloe gave her the most confused look that she has ever seen.

"What did you just say?! You think he's nice?" Chloe's voice was rather quiet, as she didn't want the rest of the yearbook committee to hear what they were talking about. Once people would find out about Riley spending time with someone like James, they would end up questioning her.

Riley shrugged, a slight smile on her face, as she turned her whole attention into the computer screen, trying to open some file and work on her report for the yearbook, which would describe what they did throughout the year.

Later that day, the brunette was laying in her bed. It was just five pm, and Riley would need to get ready for the Brick soon. She always started getting ready at six, that would leave her enough time.

"Riley, there's a guy for you. In a truck." Her older brother called out, as he opened the door of her room, sticking his head inside.

"Okay?" Riley was rather confused, but she was also kind of happy that it was James, instead of anyone else. Weirdly, she's been enjoying his presence more than she would think.

"What're you doing here?" The brunette wondered, as she walked down her front lawn, and reached James, who was leaning against his truck, a smirk on his face. Again.

"Just checking in on if you're free later on." The male replied, taking a step away from his truck and closer to Riley.

"I gotta meet with some friends." She started off, sighing a little, as she rubbed her forehead. Riley actually didn't want to go to the Brick tonight, but it was what she did every night. And she felt like she needed to keep her habits up. Things started to kind of change for her lately, not really all that visible, and noticeable, but they did.

"Oh, come on. I'll pick you up at midnight, down the street." The male said, a wide smile on his face, his voice implying that she would agree on it. "See you."

Riley didn't reply. Instead she just sighed, watching the truck as James drove away with it.

Why didn't she just say no?! After all, she didn't know James at all, and they weren't even friends, were they? She didn't have to obey to any of his requests.

Riley walked back into the house, straight upstairs into her room, as she pulled her phone out of her pocket.

"Hey, Marquez?" The brunette said, as soon as he picked up.

"Hi, Ri." Riley heard him answer from the other side of the line.

"Look, uh, I know we agreed on meeting at the Brick today, but I'm just not feeling well. And I really need to be fit for tomorrow, I got dance rehearsals tomorrow." Riley said, sighing a little, after she spoke, laying back into her bed.

She knew that she could never be at the Brick, and meet up with James, and go dancing the next day. And the dancing was not a negotiable thing. So, she would eventually have to cancel on the Brick this time. She wasn't exactly sure why she didn't just cancel on James, but she didn't.