Tough Love

Chapter 39

James POV

Me and Riley walk into Studio B together. Charlie was already there warming up. He looks sick when he sees me.

"Hope you don't mind me watching." I say smugly. He shakes his head.

"No, not at all!" He exclaims. I smirk at him and take a seat. I watch Charlie closely as they practice. I cringe every time he touches her. Riley looked pale whenever his hands touched her.

"Are you alright there Ri?" I ask. "You look sick."

"I'm fine." She says, not stopping dancing to respond. They finish the routine and Riley started stumbling as she she tried to walk over to me. I get up and place my hands on her shoulders to steady her.

"Your not fine Riley." I say.

"I feel dizzy." She says, leaning her forehead against my shoulder.

"Your probaly dehydrated." Charlie says. "I'll go down to Culture Shock to get you something to drink."

Charlie leaves the room and Riley looks up at me.

"I don't want to do the duet. I don't trust him." She cries.

"I know baby." I say softly. She hugs me and cries on my shoulder. I feel her shaking in my arms. She pulls herself together and wipes away her tears.

"Here." Charlie says as he enters the room. He hands Riley a bottle of water.

"Sit down Riles." I tell her. She sits down and takes sips of water. To my surprise, Charlie sits down beside her and starts rubbing her back. I guess I obviously didn't hit him hard enough to knock some sense into him! I shoot him a look. He immediately gets up, and I take his spot.

"I think I'm fine to practice again." Riley says softly.

"Are you sure?" I ask. She nods and stands up. They run the routine a couple of times before Kate comes in. She doesn't look to happy to see me.

"James, what are you doing in here?" She asks.

"Um, just watching them practice." I tell her. She frowns.

"Your duet with Beth is competing against they're duet. You shouldn't be watching." She barks.

"We're finished now anyway Miss Kate." Riley speaks up.

"Not until I see you two go over it again one last time!" She orders. They do it again, but Kate doesn't looked pleased.

"You two have no chemistry at all. That is one of the main things you need when doing a duet!" She tells them. They shrug.

"Maybe spending some time alone will help." She suggest. Riley immediately looks at me.

"I don't know if that will help Miss Kate." Riley says shyly. Kate shakes her head.

"Yes it will. Tomorrow night I want you two to go on a date." She orders. Riley looks sadly at me again.

"But me and James..." She starts out but trails off.

"I know Riley, but you need to think what's best for the routine. So forget your personal life and stop being so selfish!" She commands. "So, you two, date tomorrow night?"

"Of course!" Charlie says excitedly, almost immediately. Riley pauses before slowly turning back to Kate.

"I guess." She says quietly.

"Perfect!" Kate exclaims.

Riley looks at me, tears in her eyes, and mouths 'sorry.'