Jiley Oneshots

A Call Away [f]

Riley's POV

I paced my office slowly, pondering on what I should do to distract myself from the stabbing heartbreak that's overwhelming my body.

As studio head, I'm more stressed than ever and all I want in the world is a hug or a kiss from James. He's away in England for a hip hop competition and I miss him more than I thought was possible. He left with the boys three weeks ago and I haven't been the same since. To others, not much has changed, but inside I'm broken and alone.

I'm about to turn the lights out and leave, when I hear the strum of a guitar.

Alfie. He's in the middle of the studio and he's pulled in a prop chair used for a trio competition earlier in the year. He beckons me over. I'm so lonely, I follow. I don't know why. But I do. I just need someone. Anyone.

I sit down on the prop throne and look up at the Swiss Prince. For the first time, I allow myself to appreciate his features. He's handsome.

I'm hardly listening as he begins to sing to me. I'm confused, I love James. Not Alfie. So why am I here? Listening to Alfie?

Sooner or later, he must have finished the song, because I stand up. I feel a hand on my back, pulling me closer.

I lean in. Our lips are centimetres apart. I can feel his warm breath tickle my lips.

"I love you Riley" he says. The voice is unfamiliar, unsettling and unnerving.

No. I love James.

I jerk away from the boy.

"I can't. I'm sorry"

My hearts racing as I run into my office, pull the blinds and lock the door behind me. My breathing speeds up as I panic. I almost cheated.

I want to be sick. I almost cheated! With Alfie!

I don't care about the time in England. I do the same thing I always do when I'm upset.

The number dials slowly.

"Yo"

My heart flutters. His face fills the screen of my phone.

"Hey" I say sadly. I'm so disappointed in myself. I almost cheated. Almost. But I didn't.

"What's up? It's 2am here. You're lucky I couldn't sleep" he asks kindly.

"Why couldn't you sleep?" I ask him curiously, concerned.

"I was missing my favourite girl" he smirks.

Suddenly my walls come crashing down. I let a few tears roll down my cheeks. While he was missing me, I was nearly kissing someone else.

"James" I plead in a whisper. "Please don't hate me"

His face hardens, "What? Why?"

"I almost kissed Alfie. He knew I was vulnerable and lonely, missing you, moping around like no tomorrow. He- he sang a song and, he tried to kiss me but I pulled away. I didn't- I promise... I...swear... love... sorry" I say in tears.

"Ri" he says calmly. The calm before the storm no doubt.

I look up at the screen feebly.

"You didn't kiss him. You did nothing wrong babe, I could never hate you"

"I miss you so much Jai" I sob.

"I know Riles, I miss you too" he sighs. "What I wouldn't give to be with you right now. I hate seeing you upset"

I let out a tearful chuckle at James' sensitivity in the moment.

"When does the competition end?" I ask, wiping away stray tears.

"Depends on if we make the final. That's in a week, but for all we know we could be kicked off tomorrow, especially if my girlfriend keeps me up all night talking" he laughs softly.

"Oh Jai I'm sorry, go get some sleep" I apologise.

"I can't sleep. Not knowing that my girl is crying in her office alone"

I thought for a minute, "what if I go to bed now too? It's late now so I should go anyway. We can stay on FaceTime all night if we want?"

"I like that idea" he smiles.

About thirty minutes later, I'm lying in my bed. We're still on FaceTime even though we stopped talking about ten minutes ago. I'm almost certain James is asleep anyway. The camera is propped up on something on his bedstand, so I can just see tufts of his raven hair on the far side of his bed.

Closing my eyes, I drift off into a deep sleep. Knowing that, for the first time in weeks, I have my soulmate to protect me again.

When I wake, I look at the phone on my drawers. The FaceTime is still running. 10 hours and 37 minuets.

I look for James asleep in his bed, and then I realise the time in England. It's 7 am here, so it must be 12:00 there. It's noon for him, and yet, he never once hung up on me. I rub my eyes and blink at the screen. It's black, so his phone must be in his pocket.

I turn the volume up, though it's muffled, I can hear his voice. The first time I've heard his voice for weeks, not including his 'it's 2am and I can't wake up West and Eldon voice'.

I get dressed, grab my phone and start eating some cereal.

"Ri?"

My head snaps towards the phone.

"You're awake I see? What time is it for you?" James asks me.

"7 am. Did you know we've been on FaceTime for over 10 hours?" I laugh.

"Mmm" He hums in response. "I woke up earlier than I needed to, so I just lay in bed for a while, watching you sleep. When I went down to breakfast, I had to charge my phone, so I couldn't bring it. I was paranoid you'd wake when I was gone, so I propped up the phone and wrote you a note on some paper saying where I was"

"Aww, that's really sweet Jai" I smile.

"Oh and you'll never guess what happened this morning!"

"What happened?"

"We won another round! Only three more wins until we make the final!" He says excitedly.

Then I hear a muffled voice, "yo, James! You coming to lunch or what?"

I hear James reply, "give me two minutes, I'm just talking with Riley"

"Go Jai. I'm only a call away. I love you, have a nice lunch"

"Ok. I'll hang up, but only on one promise"

"What?"

"You call me tonight, 10pm Toronto time, sharp. I had the best night sleep in ages last night. Love you"

And he was gone. But I wasn't lonely anymore. I knew I had James.

No matter where he was, or how far apart we are. We will always be together.