The girl next door

Chapter 7

Riley-
Emily was in my room making me decide what dress she should wear to the winter formal. I was so not interested in it. I kept glancing at my window to see if James was there but no sign of him. Probably off sucking face with Amanda. "Ugh why aren't you coming again?" Emily asks. "You remember what happened last time I went to a party?" She laughed and rolled her eyes. "Lucas hasn't been to school in weeks I doubt he's gonna come back just for the winter formal." "But there's other guys like Lucas. A whole football team of them." I tell her lying. I know there isn't one. James. But he's dating Amanda now, why would he care if a guy tries to get with me. "I promise I won't leave your side. It'll be fun! Our first school dance in the new town." She says convincing me. "Fine I'll do it. But I doubt I have anything to wear." I say getting up and looking through the closet.

Eventually I find the dress I wore when I was my aunts bridesmaid a couple years ago, and put that on. It's a dark purple strapless dress that goes just above my knee, and a slit on the side. Emily curls my hair for me and re touches my makeup. I don't wear a lot of it, I hate the feeling of the layers of product in my face. "Ok that's good." I tell her trying to get her to stop applying blush to my cheeks. She spins the chair to the mirror and fixes my hair. "See, your gorgeous. Blush is my superpower." She says. And for once I believe it. I mean your mom and your sister always say you look good, but you never really believe them since it's your mom or your sister. But this time I did. I felt, pretty.

James-
Me and Amanda are sitting at a table in the gym in silence. I'm waiting for hunter or Eldon or west to get here to put me out of my misery. Amanda is playing with her long acrylic nails and fixing her hair. I can't wait for this night to be over. My attention shifts when I see Emily and Riley walk in the gym. Riley wearing a purple dress, with her brown hair curled. I can't take my eyes off of her. And I don't hide it well because Amanda's noticing. "Are you gonna stare at her all day? If I'd known I wouldn't have come with you." She says sitting back in her chair and crossing her arms. "Look Amanda I." "You realize how many guys I could get if I wanted too? I don't need this." She says walking away to go talk to a crowd of basketball players.

Once the boys got here we got a drink and just sat at the table talking. "Yo wanna go egg the teachers lounge?" Hunter suggests. West immediately agrees. "Uh nah I'm good I have to drive Amanda home." I say completely lying. I can't tell them about Amanda yet. I wouldn't hear the end of it. Our reputations at this school is really important to the guys. All they care about is getting all the girls, and being number one at every sport. I just don't anymore.

After a while I see hunter go ask Emily to dance. I'm really surprised hunter would go for someone like Emily. We don't know her very well. Emily begs Riley to let her go, she shrugs and Emily takes hunters hand and leaves. Riley is left at the table picking at some food alone. After a while of analyzing her and hesitating, I decide to walk over there.

"You know your supposed to eat the food?" I say sitting in the chair next to her. "Mm no it's better this way." She says moving her fork up and down the plate of spaghetti. She giggles a little. I smile at her laugh. "So where's your girlfriend?" Riley asks. "She's definitely not my girlfriend." "Wow blew your shot huh?" She asks. "Hey I could've if I wanted too!" I defend myself. She smiles again. We sit in silence for a little bit. I watch her fidget with the rings on her manicured fingers. "Wanna dance?" I say holding my hand out, breaking the tension. "What?" She asks unsure. "Just come on." I say grabbing her hand and leading her out to the floor, walking past the crowds of people. She rolls her eyes as I put one of her hands on my neck and one in my hand. I wrap one of my hands around her waist.

"You look nice." I say looking down at her after a while."You don't look to bad yourself." She says with a slight smile. After a little bit she rests her head on my shoulder and I respond by putting mine of her head. I can tell she's warming up to my touch. We slow dance for what seems like hours. Until we are the last ones in the poorly decorated gym. Honestly, I never want to leave.