Begin Again // Riley Green

4.

Riley's POV

Walking into the stadium the next day with Davis next to me, I looked around at all of the fans flowing into the stadium, a smile on my face as I remember my time in the jersey on the field getting ready for a game. 

It was exhilarating, almost like it is going on stage now. 

"When was the last time you were on this field?" I asked Davis.

The two of us came to a stop behind the current football team just as pre-game was getting ready to start.

"We came down last year for the alumni game. I brought Kelly, Scarlett brought her boyfriend, and Soph brought the guys with her. It was our first time coming back for any of this stuff though. Normally, we would just watch the game at Soph's, but we wanted to show Kelly around town" he explains.

I gave him a nod, letting my eyes drift over to the section where the band normally sat.

Sophie had a passion for dance growing up, it was one of the many things that I always loved about her. She started in a studio, went to cheering on a competition team, she cheered in high school, before joining the ballerinas in college instead of the cheer team like she had originally wanted to.

The ballerinas are a dance line that dances along with the marching band. The first time Sophie saw them when we were younger, she had her heart set on making the team, and she did.

"You know she misses you, right?" Davis asks, catching my attention.

I look over at him, a confused look on my face.

"Who? Soph?" I ask.

He gives me a nod in response, before continuing on with his thought.

"I knew even if everything had worked out between the two of us that you would always hold a place in her heart, no matter what, hell you still hold a place in her heart. She just refuses to admit that to anyone though, but we all know it" he responds.

I let out a scoff, shaking my head at him.

"She's moved on with her life, there isn't a place for me anymore" I tell him.

Hearing the band come onto the field, Davis pats me on the back, before pointing to the blonde set in her spot on the 40- yard line, Scarlett standing right next to her. Sophie has a smile on her face as she looks from Scarlett up into the stands, something that was a habit of hers when she danced in college. 

"Sophie hasn't moved on; hell, the girl hasn't been on a proper date since we broke up. She might not act like she misses you, but she never fully healed after your break up, and everyone around her knows that. The question is, are you going to try and fix it, or are you going to throw in the towel now?" he asks.

Before either one of us can say anything further, the band starts their pre-game show, ending all conversation between us about Sophie.

I kept my eyes trained on her the entire time, a smile coming to my face when I saw the smile on hers. 

Sophie's POV

 Walking out of the band hall, boots in hand, I stand off to the side waiting for Scarlett to make her way out.

"You looked good on the field Soph. Took me back to getting to watch you dance growing up" I hear coming from behind me.

Turning around, I see Riley standing behind me, hands tucked in the pockets of his jeans as he leans up against the building.

"I really don't want to deal with this tonight, Riley. I just want to go to bed, I have to get up early tomorrow" I respond.

Riley lets out a chuckle, before walking towards me, a small smirk on his face.

"Same old Soph. Running to get home as soon as possible after we got done" he responds.

I let out a sigh, before crossing my arms over my chest.

"Shouldn't you be running off towards Nashville again?" I ask Riley.

Riley sighs, looking down at his boots.

"Okay, I deserved that one. Look Soph, I just wanted to clear the air, get everything out in the open between the two of us. I miss you, I miss my other half" he tells me.

I look towards the band hall, seeing no sign of Scarlett coming to rescue me from this conversation.

"I don't really know what you want to get out of this conversation Riley. I cried, screamed, broke everything relating to you, drank myself into oblivion, and picked up the pieces. I don't see the point in us having any kind of conversation over what happened years ago. When tomorrow comes, you'll go back to Nashville and sing your songs, and I'll go back to Charlotte into the world of racing. There is no point in us having a conversation over this" I respond.

Riley throws his hands up, a frustrated groan leaving his lips.

"There is a point Soph, and the point is that I can't stand for things to be left how they were. I don't want us to go back to strangers because you're not a stranger. You were once the most important person in my life, even before we started dating. I can't forget a lifetime of memories with you" he tells me. 

"Well honey, I don't know what to tell you when you are the one that decided to leave. You were the one that made us strangers, not me. At the end of the day, we have both made lives without each other in them, and I can't do anything to change that" I tell him.

Riley sighs, before moving a step closer to me, laying his hands against my forearms. 

"Just agree to sit down and talk to me, even if it is for just thirty minutes. I want to talk; I want to tell you everything. Please Soph" Riley pleads.

"Riley, even if I wanted to talk, it's impossible. I'm gone for races, I don't live in Nashville, we don't see each other. This is what I keep telling you, a conversation is pointless" I explain, moving out of his hold. 

"I'll come to you, just let me" he states.

Before I could respond, I hear Scarlett calling my name.

Looking to my right, I see Scarlett looking at the two of us, a confused look on her face. Scarlett walks up to us, throwing an arm around my shoulder and pulling me into her. 

"What are you doing here?" Scarlett asks Riley.

"I just wanted to talk to Sophie. I want to clear any of the bad blood between us, I want her back in my life" Riley explains.

I look down at my feet, a small frown coming to my face.

In a way, those words are something I used to beg for, something I would only dream about him saying. At this point, I've already healed myself, I can't take myself down a path that could leave me just as broken as before. 

"She knows how to reach you if she wants to talk, just like you've know how to reach her. You can't force a conversation if both sides aren't ready for said conversation." Scarlett tells him.

Riley gives her a nod, before looking over at me.

"I'll see you around Soph" Riley tells me.