What If? {A jiley fanfiction}

What if Riley didnt order a drink?

+
1 year before the start of the story
+

Riley POV:
I'm sweating like, like a- what sweats? Does a pig sweat? Well, I'm pretty sure that James guy does, so I appear to have answered my own question. But I'm sweating more than he ever does, because I doubt he even likes dancing. He just takes it for granted, so he can impress them. And by them, I mean the shallow girls, who fall in love when they see someone do a flip in the air. Namely Stephanie, his current lap dog.
    Stephanie is the lowest of all of them. I'm not normally one to listen to rumours, but I did hear, she went out with a guy called Jay, and once he took her shopping and bought her a new pair of shoes, and as soon as he walked her back home, she dumped him.
    I walk into Culture Shock, keeping to my own introverted personality, head down and walking at a quick pace, just having general glances up to see where the bar is. On my second glance up, I see James and Steph at the other side of the bar. And she's kissing him. 'Ten more minutes until they break up...', I can't help think to my self.
    I approach the man at the bar, and smile, not wanting to act socially awkward. "Hiya." I begin.
"Erm, hi?" He looks confused. Has he never greeted someone before, like, is this guy an alien?
"Usually people say hello, but, can I just get a strawberry juice please?" I put five dollars on the table, in exchange for the delicious tropical pink juice that comes one the desk infront of me.
"Have a nice day kid." The man says sarcastically.
Clearly, I'm not the socially awkward one.
    I glance over, mid drinking, and do a double take as I watch her eye me up angrily.
"James, will you just- get me one of those juices! You're so pathetic! Clearly Riley's boyfriend can have get her a juice, why can't you get me one? What are you standing here for, GO! Urgh!" She storms away and goes to sit at the table.
"Hey Steph, Riley doesn't even have a boyfriend." James retorts, making eye contact with me, but I immediately look away. I hate being involved. I just hate it.
"You're telling me! Look at the state of her shorts!"
I admit, my shorts aren't the neatest or the newest. They're creased from when I roll them up when I'm nervous and they still fit me fine, so my mom wont buy me any new ones. I look down an notice my finger twiddling at the side of my shorts. But I can't believe she just insulted me like that!
    Uncontrollably, I run up to her and start shouting.
"You want a juice? Here, have mine!" And I shove it in her face and it trails all down her body and hair. James is laughing, and he grabs my hand and starts running. The only reason I don't let go, is because he's an amazing runner and I need to run right now. And that is the only reason. He pulls me into the cleaners cupboard, and when the door is shut, we both burst out laughing. Maybe James has a lighter side. All I had to do is get to know him.
"Hey Riley?" He laughs.
"Yeah?"
"I'm so sorry about Steph. I don't even like her. There's only one girl in this studio who I like. And it's you." We're both serious for a second, and then he starts coming closer to me, until he is kissing me. The thought of pulling away is at the top of my head. This is the boy who likes every girl he sees. But he's got to properly fall in love at some point, right?
Suddenly there is a loud bash on the cupboard door. It's Stephanie. James immediately pulls away and looks panicked.
"James you better get out here and tell me whats going on, now!" She yells.
Finally, James will tell her he doesn't like her and he will break up with her. Not that it bothers me.
James bravely opens the door, and pushes me out. At this point, I don't know what's going on.
"Riley, why did you push me in this cupboard? Would you really try and break me and Stephanie apart like that? Wow. You know, I had a bit of respect for you." He gives me a death stare and puts his arm around Steph.
    I could almost cry. Why? How could he do this? But when he turns back when walking with Stephanie, he mouths apologetically "I promise I'll make it up to you." But what if he never can?

+
1 year later
+

James POV:
Stephanie and I broke up a month ago. She dumped me, and to be honest, it was so difficult to handle, bearing in mind what I had done to Riley. I have tried time and time and time again to try and make up with Riley, but she just keeps saying "What if there was a James that actually could?" But soon, I'm gonna make her realise that she can trust me again.
    I just did it to protect myself from Steph. It was cold, low and a pretty heartless thing to do to an innocent girl like Riley.
    I decide to approach her again today. I walk up to her.
"Hey wassup Riles?" I go to hug her.
I watch her roll her eyes and continue rehearsing.
"Today is going to be the day that I am going to make it up to you, okay? So, anything super macho man can do for you, WonderRiles?"
I hop around pretending to fly around like a three year old boy, and I put the icing on the cake, with a flip.
"What if-"
"-there was a James that actually could. I know Riley, I know. But soon you're going to realise, that deep inside my heart, I am so sorry for what happened! Stephanie is long gone. We can be together if you-"
"You think I want to be with you?! Wow, er, I'm flattered but, how do I say this?" She begins, "I would never date you," she starts walking into me and pushing me into a corner, ", even if you discovered me a new planet and called it the Riley, or if you gave me a huge career in dance, or if you were the last man alive. Okay?" And she leaves me, stood there.
I never realised how bad I messed up.
I never realised how much I hurt Riley,
because I never realised how much I need Riley.