Shot In The Dark

THREE | JAMES

This was one of the few classes in this school I enjoyed, we get to choose the music and then our teacher teaches as a routine before letting us mash it out 
"It's the girls pick this week boys I'm afraid" Mr Benson said making most of us roll our eyes while the girls huddled around the sound system
"This is gonna be some shitty pop isn't it?" Hunter asked making me shrug as I leant against the wall watching them all 

Riley was slightly off to the side, still slightly hovering around Michelle which isn't surprising since I'm pretty sure she is her only friend 

"New blood's caught your eye I take it?" Hunter asked making Eldon and West look my way
"Leave her alone hunt" I warned him only making him smirk more
"She definetly has then" He chuckled leaning next to me
"What is it about her James?" He asked
"The innocent look in her eyes? The fact that she is fresh enough for us to break" He continued 
"There is no us in this. I told you to leave her alone. You'll listen" I glared at him making me chuckle before Benson grabbed our attention again making us move together

"Think he'll actually listen?" Eldon asked making me look over my shoulder at West and Hunter who had stayed a few rows behind us in our usual formation 
"If he doesn't, they'll be trouble" I muttered 

"And she's worth that? You've known Hunter since you-" He started
"I don't care, I've told him what's what and if he can't respect that.. That's on his head not mine" I reminded him earning a nod as we turned back to Benson who began his routine 

"Alright, I think you all have that done yeah?" Benson called maybe 30 minutes later. We'd ran through this maybe 10 times in that time frame, I'm pretty sure if anyone didn't have it then they wouldn't be in this classroom
"Right I've got two trios for it then we'll run it as a group again" He continued making all of the class break into murmurs

My gaze drifted back to Riley who was looking anywhere but towards Benson, probably hoping she wouldn't get picked
You can't blame the girl to be honest. I wouldn't want to do that in front of a bunch of strangers who had known each other since they were kids, not on my first day at least
But something tells me she could easily rise to the challenge

"Up first we have Michelle, Thalia and Beth" Mr Benson said making me instantly internally groan
Don't get me wrong, Michelle and Thalia are killer dances, they could wipe the floor with anyone 
But Beth? 
She thinks she is the shit but is far from it
I'm convinced she is only in this class because her Dad paid her way in
She has it in her head that there is something between us but it's the further thing from it. I wouldn't even class her as an acquaintance

"Now let's see who else" Benson said tapping his chin as if he didn't already have it planned out in his head
"Let's have West, Eldon and" Benson started before looking directly at Riley who was still trying to avoid his gaze

"Riley, let's see what you've got" He said making Riley's shoulders visibly tighten  

"Come on new blood, didn't you say you could easily grade higher then me?" Hunter taunted making me shoot him a glare causing him to raise his hands up in surrender
"You've got this Riley" West said tapping her shoulder lightly as he made his way to her with Eldon 

"I'll give it to her, she did kill it" West said joining us with Hunter after we finished the final run through
"Maybe she'll be able to keep her head above water after all?" Eldon said making us all look at Hunter who was also glancing over towards Riley, which probably isn't a good idea 

--

Classes had ended for the day and usually the boys and I would have headed straight out but something told me to stay put
So the moment we caught Hunter bothering both Riley and Michelle, it was clear why I had that thought
"I'll kill him" I grumbled to myself making West chuckle as we headed over to them 
"Come on Riley, we never offer to hang out twice" Hunter said making Riley roll her eyes
"Good, I won't have to say no twice" She said grabbing her bag from her locker
"Leave the poor girl alone Hunter. She has bigger priorities then drinking with you" Michelle said making Hunter smirk
"Well you are welcome to take her place sweetheart" He chimed
"In your dreams" Michelle said following Riley out
"Every damn night Michelle!" Hunter called after them before turning back to us

He took one look at my glare and the boys disapproving look before sinking back against the wall slightly
"What is your problem" I asked
"I don't get it man, you've not said a single word to the girl and you're calling so magical dibs on her? She aint worth it" He laughed 

"I'm not calling a dibs, I'm telling you to leave her alone" I grumbled
I can't put my finger over what it is, but something about Riley had instantly peaked my interest
There was a bigger story that meets the eye with her, the last thing I want is hunter to scare her into a 4 wall prison before we get the chance to know it 

"So you haven't called dibs, so if someone was genuinely interesting in he-" He started
"Which you are not" I reminded him
"If someone was genuinely interested, you would leave it alone?" he asked making my eyes narrow at him 

"Game set match Jamesy" he said attempting to ruffle my hair before walking out the same door that the girls had just left through 

"Why is he trying to cause trouble" West asked making Eldon shrug
"It's Hunter" I said turning back to the boys

"He's looking for a game, some sort of entertainment" I muttered