The End Of Us

Chapter 1

Riley's POV

I was cutting up carrot for the salad I was making. All of A troupe was coming over in less than half an hour for a get together. I heard the front door open, and footsteps. I smiled, knowing that James was home, along with our two kids. Haley is our oldest. She is almost 14. 34 is incredibly young to have a 14 year old, but we adopted Haley when she was 7, so it's not a big deal, but we love as much as if she was our own kid. Our youngest is Colin. He's 3, and our first, and only, blood related child. I heard footsteps come into the kitchen, and knew it was James. "Hi honey. How was-" I started to say, but cut myself off as I looked up and saw a huge bruise on his face. "What happened to you?" I asked.
"I got into a fight at Colin's preschool. No big deal." He said casually, brushing it off.
"Hold on, you got into a fight?" I asked, setting the knife I was using to cut the carrot down, and walking over to him. "What the hell was the fight about?!" I asked him.
"Some kid stole Colin's cookie and wouldn't give it back." James said.
"So you punched the kid?!" I asked, appalled. He chuckled, as if it was nothing.
"No. Course not!  I tried to talk to him, and his father started yelling at me." James exclaimed.
"So you went all Sean Penn on him?" I asked, laughing slightly.
"Well. Yeah." He said in a 'duh' tone.
"That's not what you're supposed to do!" I exclaimed. He was so frustrating sometimes.
"Then what was I supposed to do?!" He asked, angrily.
"Go to the councillors and asks for another cookie. That's what I would've done!" I said in frustration.
"Oh, and because you would've done it that means I should too?!" He asked me.
"Yes! Because my instincts are just better than yours! You're a bit aggressive, and you can go too far!" I told him.
"So because you're instincts are better than mine I should just let you handle it. Maybe go get more groceries?!" He asked calmly, but I knew he was really exploding inside.
"What is your problem?!" I asked him, appalled.
"You know what, forget it." He said, turning and walking out of the kitchen.
"Don't you walk away from me!" I snapped, as I followed him out to the living room.
"Hi Riley." Emily waved awkwardly.
"Yeah. Hi." I said waving my hand in her direction as I followed James upstairs.

Emily's POV

I watched as James and Riley both stomped up the stairs, huffing as they did so. I had heard their argument. It sounded really bad. I turned to Haley, who had opened the door for me. She smiled weakly. "They're, just getting changed." She told me, biting her lip.