The Bet

Chapter 40

James's POV

"You can come inside if you want." Riley tells me, tugging on my arm the slightest bit into the house.

"I can't Riles." I say sadly. "Mom doesn't even know I left the house."

"Oh." She says quietly, looking down.

"I'll see you tomorrow." I tell her. We both lean in, giving each other a peck on the lips before she falls in my arms

~~~~~

I walk in my house, passing the den, until I hear my parents in there, calling my name.

"Where were you?" My mother asks sternly.

"I went to see Riley." I tell them. She purses her lips, leaning back into her seat.

"I would have thought you two had broken up." She says.

"No, just a little fight. That's all." I reply.

"James, we have been talking, and there was a few details you left out about Riley." Dad says slowly.

"What? You mean that she has a job?" I inquire.

"Yes, exactly." He says.

"Big deal, she has a job. You two have jobs." I point out.

"That's different James." Mom says sternly.

"Than whas the problem?!" I question, my voice growing louder.

"She's poor James! That's the problem! She's poor, and she's not good enough for you!" She screams at me. I scowl at her.

"You don't know anything about Riley." I growl. I march out of the room, ignoring their objections and demands for me to come back.

"We're not done talking James!" Dad calls out.

"Yes we are!" I snap back.

I hear the sound of their footsteps behind me.

"James! Stop walking and listen to us!" Mom orders. I stop dead in my tracks and whip around to face him.

"What?!" I snap.

"We want you to break up with Riley." Mom says calmly. I stare at them, anger building up in me.

"No!" I yell.

"James, you don't have much say in this-"

"She's my gifriend! So I do so have a say in this, and I'm not breaking up with Riley!" I scream.

They're both red in the face, ready to tear a strip off of me before I can say another word. But I don't give them a chance to object again, so I grab my keys on my way out the door, and start driving to Riley's.

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Riley's POV

I settle down in the living room in the recliner with a cup of tea and a book. I wrap up in a blanket, and hear a knock at the door.

Emily can get it.

"Riley!" She calls out. "Door!"

I groan, tossing my book, tea, and blanket aside. I trudge out to the door, where James was standing.

"Hey." He says softly. Emily looks at me with a confused look before walking away.

"What are you doing here again?" I ask.

"Um, I got into a fight with my parents. Can I stay here for the night?" He asks.

"Um..."

"Who's at the door?" Dad asks, coming up behind me. He looks up at James, clearly somewhat surprised.

"Hello sir." James says.

"Good evening." Dad says. "May I ask what your doing on my doorstep at this time at night?"

Dad protectively wraps a arm around me, eyeing James suspiciously. James scratches the back of his neck.

"Um, well, I had a fight with my parents, and was wondering if I would be able to stay here for the night." James explains slowly.

"Well that depends. Where exactly do you plan on sleeping?" Dad asks.

"Um, in a spare room, or on a couch." He says slowly, before quickly adding, "Anywhere but with your daughter!"

"Very good." Dad says slowly. He takes his arm off me, and begins walking away, looking over his shoulder and calling out,

"Riley, get some blankets for James. James, you will be sleeping on the couch."