Tough Love

Chapter 37

Riley's POV

I look at my reflection on my phone screen, cautiously inspecting the latest bruise on my face. Atleast it never stood out and only blended in with the others.

"You look fine Riley." James says. I shrug and shove my phone back into my pocket.

I stare out the window, thinking deeply of about what I was going to do. Just thinking of going to duet practice again tomorrow was making me sick. I didn't trust Charlie.

"Do you have practice with Beth tomorrow?" I ask James.

"No." He replies.

"Can you watch Charlie and I's duet practice tomorrow? I don't want to be in a room alone with him ever again!" I exclaim.

"Yeah, of course." He responds. He looks over at me, concern in his eyes. "I don't want you to be alone with him again anyways." I nod.

"Thank you." I say softly.

"Anything for my girl." He says. I smile and lean over quickly and kiss his cheek. He smiles back and leans over to kiss me back.

"Eyes on the road!" I shriek and push him away.

"Hey, just because my eyes need to be on the road, that doesn't mean that my lips have to be on it too." He laughs. I roll my eyes. I watch out the window until my house comes into view.

"Bye." I say as I lean over and hug James.

"I'll see you later." He mumbles into my hair. He goes to pull away, but I cling onto him, holding him tight.

"Alright there Riles?" He laughs. I nod, still holding onto him. I look up at him.

"Thank you for today." I say quietly. He goes silent and stares at me. A small smile forms on his face as he wraps his arms around me. He kisses my head. I slowly pull away from him. He pushes a lock of hair away from my eyes.

"I should go inside." I whisper. He nods.

"Okay." He whispers back. I grab my bag and climb out of the car. I go inside the house, setting my bag on the floor by the door. I hear talking coming from the living room. I walk in where my parents and sister were talking. My moms eyes widen when she's sees me. She jumps up and grabs my face.

"What happened? Where did this bruise come from?" She questions.

"Mom!" I whine. She steps back.

"Sorry, sorry! But what happened?" She asks again. I shrug.

"It was nothing." I mumble and walk out of the living room.

"Riley, come back here!" I hear my dad call out. I sigh and walk back to the living room.

"Charlie did it." I confess. Emily's jaw drops.

"Oh my God, Charlie? But why would he?" She exclaims. I shake my head.

"I-I don't know. I mean, he was sweet at first. He gave me a ride to the studio this morning, but than he started getting flirty, and than he said that he liked me, and when I said that I'd rather James, he got really aggressive." I began crying, but continued talking.

"He pushed me up against the wall, and kissed me. I pushed him away and that's when he hit me." I sat on the couch and broke down into a fit of tears. I feel my mother wrap her arms around me.

"Does James know?" I hear Emily ask.

"Yeah. He beat Charlie up after he saw Charlie kiss me for the second time and punch me in the stomach." I sob.

"He really must love you." She says. I nod.

"I really love him too." I say.

James POV

"I'm home!" I say as I walk into the kitchen.

"Hi." Mom says. My sister looks up from her homework and smiles. But than her face drops.

"Why is there blood all over your hands?!" Jenna shrieks.

"What?" I look down at my hands. Charlie's blood was all over my hands. I look closer and see that I had also busted my knuckles open too from hitting him so hard. My mom walks over and gasps.

"What happened to you?" She asks urgently. I sigh.

"Well, I seen Charlie kissing Riley, and than he punched her...So I may have...kind of, sort of...beat him up." I scratch the back of my neck nervously.

"You. Did. What?!" My mom shrieks.

"Oh, your so in for it!" Jenna laughs. My mom shoots her a look.

"Jenna, go upstairs." She says sternly. Jenna nods, whispering 'good luck' as she passes by me. I turn back to my mom.

"So..." I say nervously. She shoots me a death glare and crosses her arms.

"James, I understand that you were mad that another boy had kissed your girlfriend, but beating him up was not the answer!" She says sternly.

"He didn't just kiss her! He punched her and slapped her! And if I didn't do something, he probaly would have done it again!" I shout angrily. My mom doesn't say anything. I feel tears welling up in my eyes as I think about it, and I feel them begin to stream down my face. I put my head in my hands.

"I just couldn't stand seeing him touch or hurt the girl that I'm in love with." I mumble into my hands.

"I understand." My mom says. I look back up.

"I really, really, really love and care about Riley." I say honestly. Mom smiles weakly and nods.

"Awww, James is in love! James is in love!" I hear Jenna say from the top of the stairs.