Stuck in the Middle

Needed

(*Tyler's POV*)

I saw Caleb trying to chase after Mariah as she left class. She must have said something, because after that encounter he stopped walking after her, only to leave him smirking and walking away.

That guy is nothing but trouble. I followed Caleb until me and him were the only ones left in the hallway. I walked up to him and slammed him against the wall.

"Dude! What the hell!" He said trying to break free.

"What are you doing to Mariah?" I said, anger filling my voice.

He smirked "You mean what am I gonna do."

I raised my arm up, my hand clenched in a fist, he didn't even flinch.

"Watch out" He said taunting me."If Mariah finds out you gave me a nasty bruise, she'll never love you."

I clenched my fist harder but finally let go of him.

"Just stay away from her, Caleb, she's fragile." I told him in a warning tone as I walked away.

*****

"Hey!" I called after Riah

"Hey" She said, biting her lip, that wasn't a good sign.

"What's wrong?" I asked her as I sat down across from her.

"Everything" Tears were falling from her eyes.

My heart began to ache, I wanted so badly to hold her in my arms, to assure her that as long as she has me, she'll be okay. Instead, I took her hand in both of mine and squeezed it gently.

"Tell me what's wrong Riah, be specific." I said jokingly, hopefully getting her out of this mood.

She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.

She got her breathing under control and began.

"I got an F on my last test and Mrs. Fuller said that if I don't pass the final exam, which is in two weeks, then I won't be a senior next year."

"What else?" I asked her, knowing that wasn't all of it.

"During class today..." She trailed off, wondering if she should tell me or not.

"You can tell me Riah, I'm your best friend remember?" I said, assuring her.

She nodded and breathed in slowly."During class today, Jade said something..." She began, still hesitant. I waited for her to go on.

"Caleb thought you were my boyfriend and that you were madly in love with me, he started laughing, I asked what was so funny and Jade said the fact that I don't see it."

"See what?" I asked her.

"See that... you're madly in love with me..." She said, looking in my eyes, searching for answers.

I looked in her eyes, hoping my emotions wouldn't betray me. I took a long pause, debating on whether or not I should tell her my true feelings.

"Mariah. I love you, but I'm not IN love with you." I tried my best to keep my voice from cracking as I said this. I need to talk to Jade about this...

"I l-love you too." She said, her voice breaking. I nodded.

"Is there anything else?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

She nodded."One last thing" She told me as she pulled her hand away from mine to wipe her tears.

"It still hurts..." She whispered as she held her hand over her heart.

This was hard for me, to know that she was still hurting from her last relationship, but it must be harder for her, she was the one who suffered the most.

I sighed heavily as I thought this through.

"Have you been thinking about him?" I asked her quietly, hoping she would say no.

She nodded once and looked away, I saw a tear escape her eye.

"Sleep over tonight." I continued."It's Friday, and my parents have been nagging me to tell you to come over." I finished, smiling.

"Okay" She nodded.

I stood up to go to class as she got up to walk me there, and as we walked we were both silent. I was thinking about confronting Jade on what she told Riah, and Riah was probably thinking about 'Him'. When we got to my class Riah held me tight.

"Tyler" She whispered into my chest.

"Hmm?" I mumbled, wanting this moment to last forever.

"Thank you, for helping me through all my crap."

I gently pulled her away from me and wiped the tear that escaped her eye.

"Your Welcome" I told her, kissing the top of her head, while inhaling the scent that was uniquely Riah.

*****

"What the hell Jade!" I yelled at her as I caught her after class.

"What Tyler!" She was furious, for what reason? I don't know.

"You promised not to say anything."

"Yeah well, promises are made to be broken." She began to walk away.

"Then I guess I'll break my promise too!" I yelled after her. She turned around and walked up to me.

"I was HELPING you" She whispered at me, we were catching peoples eyes, yelling at each other.

"Helping how?"

"She asked you if it was true right?"

"So what?"

"So, that was your chance to tell her the truth."

"I'm not ready to tell her the truth, just like you Jade."

"So you lied to her?"

I looked down to the ground, ashamed of what I did to Riah, she trusted me and I lied to her.

I felt Jade's hand resting on my shoulder. I looked up slightly to see tears on the rim of her eyes.

"I'm sorry Tyler, I was just trying to help."

"How about we make a deal." I said, trying to get my emotions under control.

"Okay" She whispered, afraid of the deal.

"We come out together, when we're both ready."

"Okay" She said nodding. As she blinked, tears ran down her face.

"Jade, look at me." I said as I lifted her chin up."Everything is going to be ok."

"Promise me" She begged "Please" she whispered, I could hear the ache in her voice.

"I promise." I whispered to her, as she hugged me.

"Thank you Tyler." She sobbed into my chest. I held her tight. I knew this was hard for Jade, and I know that I'm the only one that knows her secret, so I let her cry it out, she needed this. She needed me, but so did Riah...