There's a Reason We Belong

//J - 7//

I'm really stuffed things up with Michelle, she was my only hope at getting my life back together and now I've gone and blew it.

Her Dad will never get me an internship in his company.

I've been applying for extra jobs around the place but the unemployment rate is high in this place.

I now have to juggle school, dance and a part time job at a coffee shop.

I place my head on the desk as the teacher goes on about integers and negative numbers. I want to be successful in life, finish school and get a proper job to support a family one day.

If my grades slip up, it's all over for me. Maybe I'll have to quit the one thing that makes me happy; dance.

When I'm dancing it takes away my problems in those two precious hours of rehearsals.

The door opens and I glance up, it's Riley. It must be her first day here at school.

The maths teacher doesn't bother to introduce her and Riley awkwardly makes her way to me, where an empty chair is.

"Hey James," She smiles

"Hey," I answer and pull out the chair for her to sit.

The rest of the lesson is quiet, with everyone writing down formulas and evaluating equations. I don't understand half of what the teacher is explaining and we get set homework at the end of the lesson.

The bell rings for next period and I pack up my things slowly as I turn to Riley, "Hey, did you want to study together at my place tonight?"

She looks around awkwardly, "Your place?"

"Yeah but we can go to the library instead, I know that it will be a bit crowded because everyone goes there after school. But whatever you are comfortable with,"

Riley shakes her head, "No, your place sounds fine, would your parents mind?"

I pause for a long time and my voice drops, "Yeah, sure.... I'll meet you at the gate after school so we can catch the bus,"

Riley nods and heads over to her next class but I stay behind. Maybe I'm just inviting Riley over because I need someone to talk to. Michelle doesn't know what I'm going through and neither do the boys.

I just feel like Riley is the one who I can tell everything about and she won't judge a single bit.

I get out of the classroom and see Michelle walking in the hall as well, she approaches me.

"James I'm so sorry for what I said the other day. I was just frustrated about how weird you were acting,"

I sigh, "Okay, yeah, I understand. I've got a lot going on in my life at the moment so, can you please just give me some space, if that's alright?"

She nods, "Of course,"

I see her open her mouth to say something else but I immediately walk away.

I've tried to feel something for Michelle but I don't and I feel so awful. I know I'm using her but if I have no choice.

If I don't, my whole world will come crashing down.

***
A/N: There's stuff going on with James so there's a reason why he's with Michelle. If you've got questions about them, dewai, it's all gonna be answered as the story goes on.

I'm trying a different angle on this story compared to some TNS fanfic I've read.

So do you think James is really a player like Michelle says he is?