The girl next door

Chapter 11

Riley-
Today was January 6th. Christmas break ended, and I was ok to go back to school. I still had this huge brace on my foot covering the scar, but I can walk fine. Just no running or jumping. So I was excused from gym class for the rest of the semester. It seems great, but sitting in a sweaty gym watching everyone run the mile isn't that fun. I wore one of the sweaters I got for Christmas, leggings, my glasses, and my hair wavy from a braid I put it in the night before. I only wore the shoe on my right foot. Oh and James's necklace. I haven't taken it off since he gave it to me.

James walks me to school like normal, but he's walking super slow to make sure I don't over do it. "James we can pick up the pace it's not gonna kill me." I tell him. "Fine just promise to say if it hurts. You shouldn't pressure it." "I know, I promise."I say after scoffing. "Shake on it." "What?" I say giggling. "Hey be glad I'm not asking for a pinky promise." I roll my eyes and put my hand into his and shake it before we reach the front gate of the school and go off our separate ways, both smiling.

James-
I walk Riley to every one of her classes, just to know she's ok. Amanda has been giving us dirty looks all day. I never explained to the boys what happened with her so their a little confused. The football captain and varsity cheerleader. The "Perfect couple" right? The only one who might get it is hunter. He and Emily are going strong. But she graduating in may, so he'll probably move on to another random blonde chick.

It's around 8pm and the sun is setting. I'm shooting a basketball into the hoop in the cul de sac after doing some homework. I hear a door close and some footsteps and turn around. Riley comes walking down her driveway in sweat shorts, a green off the shoulder hoodie and her hair down. "Hey wanna play?" I ask her. She nods and I throw her the ball she catches and starts shooting. I never thought she'd be good at basketball but she is. I mean we're not playing real basketball since I won't let her move her leg to much. Really just shooting around the hall.

I try to block her from making the shot and she's stuck trying to pivot around giggling. She moves to one side for a split second and then moves to the other so it's open for her to get the ball in the basket. "Woooo!" She says holding her arms in the air after tricking me. "Ok fair enough." I say going to get the ball before it rolls down the road. "Now can we play real basketball?" She asks. "Mm no." I respond smirking. "But whyyy?" "Because." "Because isn't a reason." "Ok AP student." I joke at her. She rolls her eyes. "Seriously James why can't we play!"  She whines at me. "Because it's not safe." "It's in a brace." She defends shaking her foot. I smile and hesitate about what to say next. "I wanna make sure your ok." "you really don't have to" "I know. I want to." I say stepping closer. "But why?" She asks me with an expression on her face showing she was hoping for a specific answer. "Same reason you haven't thrown away the flowers, or taken off that necklace." I tell her pointing to the gold chain on her neck. "Well- uh it was a gift that would be rude." She says unsure. "No. No that's not it. We both now the real reason Riley." Now only a foot between us. Me smiles and looks down. "Because there's something here that I've never felt before. And I never want to stop feeling."

Riley-
The words I've been thinking since October just left James mouth. I don't know what to do or say next. We just stood in the street, the sun behind the houses now, staring into each others eyes. I took a step towards him. "I don't wanna stop feeling it either." I tell him. His hand then moves to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, and landed on my cheek. I took another step, went up on my top toes so I could reach him, out my arms around his neck, and placed my lips on to his.