Sitting In Traffic | Formula 1

Chapter 3- Falling Behind

Riley was outside with a large group of faces she barely recognized. Most of them she had crossed paths with at least once or twice in high school, but the adults, the real adults. The parents, Riley was completely clueless besides Joshua's. Anyone else could've been Misty's parents, and Riley had no clue who it was. She felt like she should've thought, if she was the baby's godparent.

Riley was standing close to Arthur, making conversation with people that claimed to remember her from when they were kids. Riley just went along with it, not wanting to make things awkward by saying 'I don't remember you'.

Her eyes looked at the kitchen doors that led out to the back patio, heading straight for the backyard. She saw exactly what she was dreading. Noah and his mom. Riley tensed under Arthur's hand, receiving a small squeeze to her side when he noticed. Riley's eyes followed Noah and his mom, locking eyes with him. It was the devils eyes she was looking into, the same eyes that made her freeze up in the court room, making her feel unable to speak when she needed to.

"Arthur I'm gonna grab a drink" Riley told him, needing to breathe but there were too many people outside.

"Should I stay or go?" He asked her, unsure if Riley needed him to come with her.

"Stay" She said, "I'll be back in a few minutes" Riley told him, accepting the kiss he placed on her lips quickly before she slid her hand away from his back to walk inside.

Riley avoided eye contact with Noah and his Mom completely as she walked past them. But she heard their whispers. And Riley knew they were about her. She felt her chest tighten as she walked into the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water off the counter to drink quickly, trying to cover up the sudden nausous feeling she was getting.

She didn't get worked up like this the last time she had saw him. But that was because Josie was on her mind, she was trying to soak up her last moments with her and didn't want Noah to ruin that. She saw him at the funeral, which again forming around Josie and when it didn't, her mind was stuck on Liam not showing up, and she was attempting not to fall into Arthur until she broke up with him. But now her mind was clear, she was in a good place amidst a healthy relationship.

It was the fears that what happened between her and Noah would ruin her and Arthur. That he would see her in a new light if he knew. That's why he doesn't.

Riley walked down the hall, heading to her music room, needing just a few more minutes to herself before she made her way back outside. She slid open the large wooden doors and stepped inside the room, seeing the large grand piano Josie had left in her possession still sitting perfectly in the room. She let out a small exhale, finding it somewhat comforting.

Riley took in a few deep breaths, gathering her thoughts quickly so she could head back outside. Riley walked over to the patio doors in the room, looking out them and into the yard, seeing everyone grouped together. She chuckled quietly to herself before she stepped outside again, seeing Arthur managing to keep conversation flowing without Riley. Which was never a problem, Riley considered him a certified yapper, especially when he was comfortable.

Right before she was about to walk out the doors, she heard a floorboard creak behind her. She turned around, already knowing who it was. And she hated it. She met Noah's brown eyes from across the room as he closed the door behind him. Riley looked at him, showing no emotion whatsoever.

"You've turned into little miss popular since I saw you last" He told her, walking towards the piano and pressing the highest key a couple times. "The photo's were really cute"

"What do you want"

"I should've kept ours," He said, "Could've uploaded them and made a quick buck on the internet"