Tough Love

Chapter 36

Riley's POV

I storm out of Studio B to go find James. Charlie has no idea what he got himself into, trying to flirt with me, and touching me. James is going to flip at him. I turn the corner, and bump into Kate.

"Aren't you supposed to be practicing with Charlie?" She inquires.

"Um..."

"Go back and practice!" She orders. I sigh and trudge back to Studio B, where Charlie still was. He smirks and shakes his head when he sees me.

"Oh, look who came back!" He exclaims. I cross my arms and glare at him.

"Whatever, let's just get this over with." I grumble and roll my eyes at him. He doesn't object or say anything else, and we practice without any troubles. Charlie was a really good dancer, and he wasn't that bad a person either when he kept his mouth shut.

"Riley?" He speaks up.

"Yes?" I reply.

"I-I'm sorry about how I was treating you earlier. I really am." He pleads. I bite my lip and study his expression. A desperate look burns in his eyes, and he really does look sorry.

"It alright, your forgiven." I say.

"I know that your back with James, but I need to tell you that I have feelings for you. I always thought of you and how beautiful and amazing you are. And I always thought and hoped that you would give me a chance, but you never did. " He says sadly. I was shocked.

"Thank you." I say quietly. "But I'm with James." He sighs sadly.

"I know." He puts his head down. I felt terrible, but I didn't like Charlie the way that I loved James, and I couldn't fake that. He looks up at me and says,

"But you don't have to be with James."

"Charlie, I'm sorry, but I don't feel that way about you." I state. He moves closer to me as I step back. Be backs me up into the wall, and I instantly felt insecure and unsafe.

"Admit it, you do like me." He says sharply. He puts his hands on my shoulders and pushes me hard into the wall. The once sweet and desperate look on his face was changed into a fierce look that I recognized from seeing it on Josh's face.

"I'm sorry Charlie but-" He cuts me off by crashing his lips into mine, kissing me hard and rough. I push him off instantly.

"James!" I scream over and over again.

"Stop it!" Charlie snaps at me. He leans in to kiss me again but I push him away again. He slaps me.

James POV

I sit alone in Studio B, getting some practice in as I wait for Riley, when I think I hear Riley screaming my name from Studio B. I break into a run to Studio B and hear Charlie screaming at her.

"Stop Charlie!" I can hear Riley cry. I run faster and get there jut in time to see Charlie kiss Riley. She pushes him away, and he punches her in the stomach. She falls to the floor, gasping for air. Anger boils in me.

"Hey!" I scream angrily. He turns to look at me, and I punch him in the nose. Blood instantly begins to trickle and he stumbles back. I fall to the floor next to Riley.

"Are you alright baby?" I ask urgently. She doesn't respond but nods, still clutching her stomach and trying to breath. Charlie gets to his feet and swings his fist at me. I dodge him, and he ends up hitting Riley instead.

"Riley!" I scream. Charlie pushes me away from her and smirks.

"Great boyfriend you are, letting her get hit to save yourself!" He chuckles.

"Says the one who hit her!" I shout. I punch him in the face again, and push him to the floor. I jump on top of him, repeatedly punching him.

"James! Stop!" I hear Riley cry. I slowly stop punching him and look over to Riley. She was on her hands and knees, looking down, breathing deep, shaky breaths. I get off of Charlie, and stand up. I help Riley up too. She stumbles slightly and leans against me for support. I put my arm around her to help her, and she wraps her arms around me waist, burying her face into my chest, still breathig heavily. Charlie slowly gets up too, touching his bloody face. I scowl at him.

"Are you going to stay away from my gifriend now?" I growl. He covers his bleeding nose with his hand and nods. He doesn't say or do anything else, but gets his bag and leaves. I turn to Riley.

"Oh my God, are you okay Riley?" I ask her concerned.

"I-I t-think so." She stammers. She pauses and than she breaks down crying. "I-I'm so sorry James! He kissesd me, but I pushed him away, I swear!"

"It's okay baby, I believe you." I assure her.

"He kissed me, and I pushed him away, and than I called out for you, and than he tried to kiss me again, and I tried to push him away and he slapped me. And than he tried to kiss me once again, and when I pushed him away again, he punched me in the stomach and knocked the air out of me." She cries. I pull her into a tight embrace as she cries into my shoulder.

"I know, I know baby." I say softly.

"I'm sorry." She sobs.

"It's not your fault Riles." I tell her. I pull away so I'm looking down at her. She looks up at me and we gaze into each other's eyes, and than we lean in and kiss. It wasn't a long kiss, but it was still sweet, and passionate. We pull away and she buries her face in my shoulder again, and I hear her say ever so softly,

"I love you so much James." I smile to myself and respond,

"You can never love me as much as I will ever love you."