the next step au's

lust for life (jiley)

Ella gave me the idea of writing this, so basically all the credit goes to her, and its based on a lana song ok!

with another spin, riley was back on her own feet, her arms were still wrapped around james' shoulders, as if she was holding on to him for dear life.

kind of understandable, if you consider the fact that they haven't seen each other for four months, due to james starting to work at a dance studio in los angeles, and riley staying back home behind, to finish some things she had to sort out back there. such as with the studio, and her sister, whom she let take over as head of the next step studio, after riley basically failed last season. 

although no one held anything against her, and everyone was proud of how she handled the rest, riley couldn't help but feel like a failure, like she needed to redeem herself somehow, by staying in canada at least for a bit longer, to help the studio out. 

she did choreography for a-troupe, recruited new people for b- and j-troupe, and when everything seemed like it would work out just fine, riley decided that it was time to move to los angeles, where james was already waiting for her.

after last years drama between the two of them, riley found to cheerish him even more, which was why those four months apart, with only the internet and phone calls to come over the distance, were pure torture. 

"so, i'm starving, where can i get some good food here?" riley let out a slight laugh, as she spoke, james only mimicking the laugh. "i'm kidding, i missed you, baby." she added, before she got on her tiptoes, to be able to reach his lips, and conntected both of their pairs into a passionate kiss. 

"obviously, you weren't kidding about the food, though." james replied after they both pulled away from the kiss.

an hour later, they were sitting in james' car, on their way to their apartment, which james moved in four months ago. they already shipped all the furniture out here when james first came here, for him to set everything up. 

riley was holding one of james' hands in both of hers, caressing the back of his hand. her eyes were glued on to the streets, as riley examined her new home. and although riley has been here before already, when james and her first came there to get their new apartment. but being here and knowing that she would be staying here for good, was giving her a whole different feeling. she loved los angeles, she has had ever since she could think, and always knew that she wanted to live here at some point in her life. and now it was really happening.

she would start working at the studio at which james has been working for the past months, and would teach classes, some with him, some alone. the owners of the studio have hired him from the spot, when they applied, as soon as they recognized who they were, and that they have won internationals last season. 

"how about some burgers?" james asked, as they came to a stop at a red light, a bright smile on his face. riley could tell that he was as happy about having her here, as she was about being here. 

nodding, riley smiled back at him. "i would do pretty much anything for burgers now."

after they got their burgers, and drove back to the apartment, both of them were on the way up to the hollywood sign, as james said he had to show her something. something that couldn't wait.

so now, after a hike in the hollywood hills, they were standing in front of the hollywood sign, that seemed bigger than anything she has seen before, now that she was up close. riley felt as if she could conquer the world from this place, and she maybe even could, if only she would believe in herself, and did whatever it would take her.

without saying much, other than to follow her, which she had no other choice than to do, as james was holding one of her hands, and dragging her along with himself, they walked around the sign, and were standing right behind the H of the sign. And it was only now that Riley realized, that there was a small ladder on the side of the letter, which would allow one to climb on top of it.

"are you serious?" she asked him, looking up at the sign, covering her eyes from the sun. of course he was, otherwise he wouldn't have brought her up here.

"yeah.. go on." he stepped a little aside, to give riley full access to climb up here, and followed closely behind her.

riley couldn't help but swoon over the sight that unfolded before her eyes, as she reached the top of the letter. despite of the breathtaking sight that she already had when she was on the ground, this was priceless, this was more beautiful than anything she had ever seen before. and riley couldn't believe that she was here now, and that she was here with james.

a few months ago, when all that drama with alfie happened, and she thought she could live without james in her life, it didn't seem as if things would ever go back to how they belonged. and despite of her thinking she made the right choice at that time, with starting this new relationship with alfie, and ending the one she had with james, after she actually did break up with james, she felt lost. as if she had no constant thing in her life, and despite of the fact of how much alfie did seem like the good person he surely is, and how right he seemed to be for riley, she never felt safe around him. it felt odd, and unnatural. of course, riley only told herself that it would go away, as she wasn't used to anyone else but james, but it didn't get better, and she wasn't the only one who knew something was up. it was odd. 

but now that she was here with james, and their new life finally being on the verge of starting, she felt like she arrived at her destination. where she was supposed to end up all along.

when james was up and standing next to her, she got a hold of one of his hands, and held onto it, as she turned around to face him. 

"i love you, riley." james cut her off, before riley could say much, which ended up with her getting on her tiptoes again, so she could reach his lips, and connect their lips once more. 

this time it lasted way longer than the one they shared at the airport, and maybe it was the place they were in, but riley almost felt intoxicated by it. she only pulled away an inch, to get a grasp of air, yet kept standing close to james throughout the whole time. 

ok omfg this sucks a lot, and its kind of boring but i havent written jiley in S O long so pls bare with me