Our Story

Chapter Nine

Hi loves! I know it's been forever and a day since I've updated but here it is! This chapter is all about  Riley and the next chapter (which I'm posting in two days) is all about Grace :) Enjoy! .xX

*Riley's POV* 

     I stared at Grace as she looked through her bedroom window in a daze. I frowned in sympathy for my best friend. 

     'I can stay if you want me to,' I offered quietly. She broke from her trance and gave me a small smile. But since I knew her so well, I knew the hidden sadness that lay behind it.

     'No, you go. I'll be fine,' she said lightly.  I frowned once more and sighed. I sat next to her and put my arm around her slender shoulders. 

     'Everything is going to be alright. You're going to see Harry tomorrow, right?' She nodded. 'Well then you can work everything out when you see him. It's going to be alright,' I repeated.

     'How many days has it been since you've seen him? Since that night you met Raina,' I asked. 

     'Five,' she whispered. 

     'Hmmm,' I mused. Has it been that long ago?

     She smiled feebly at me and I squeezed her tighter.

     Before I could further console her, the doorbell rang and my heart flipped in my chest. I stood up and faced the mirror, reasonably satisfied with the reflection. I wore a dark blue dress with gold studs that dotted the shoulders. The length fell just above my knees. My hair was pulled up into intricate braids that crowned my face.

     I tilted my head and wondered if it was all enought to impress my date.

     'You look amazing,' Grace said as if sensing my doubt. She smiled at me through the mirror and I smiled back. 

     'Thanks, babe.' I walked over to give her a hug and headed for the door. 

     'Have fun!' she called out after me. 

     I stood in front of our front door and steadied my breathing before pulling it open. And there he was, my date. He smiled at me. 

     'Hi, Josh,' I smiled.

     'Wow, Riley... you look beautiful,' he said quietly. 'You ready to go?' 

     'Yeah, let's go,' I answered. He took my hand and it didn't feel right. His hand didn't fit with mine. But I held it anyways and smiled up at him before I climbed into his car. I waited for him to walk around and get in.

     'So you're not rehearsing with the rest of the boys today?' I asked, trying to sound indifferent.

     'No, my drumset and the rest of the instruments are still being shipped to the venue. Niall was raging because he didn't have his guitar,' he laughed. My heart stopped at the sound of his name and I quickly brushed the overwhelming feeling away.

     'So where are we going?' I asked to change the subject.

     'I was thinking the pier? We could eat seafood and walk along the beach?' he asked hopefully.

     'Sounds great.' And it did sound great. But in the back of my mind, I know it would be amazing if i were spending this date with someone else. Someone in particular.

     'You really do look beautiful,' Josh said, breaking my train of thought.

     'Thank you,' I said with a smile. But I couldn't stop a small frown from pulling down my lips when he looked away. My mind drifted to the last time I'd seen Niall. 

     'Why are you acting like this?' I yelled. He paced the room and kept running his hand through his thick hair. 

     'I'm just... I'm no good for you Riley. We can't be,' he said. He stopped to look at me and his blue eyes pierced into mine. They were flooded with confusion and pain and reluctance.

     'Niall, I've never been so sure of anything in my life. I'm sure about us,' I said weakly. He broke eye contact with me and stared to the floor while shaking his head.

     'Fine,' I said through my teeth. 'We're done then.'

     'I just want you to be happy. But you won't be with me. You have to find someone else. Someone better,' he said, still looking at the ground.

     How can there be anyone better than the best? I asked myself. A tear escaped my eye and I quickly wiped it away. I headed for the door. 

     'No, Riley wait,' he said. I spun around and faced him. He wore a mask of frustration and I could see contemplation swimming in his eyes. His fists were clenched at his sides and his jaw was tight with tension. 

     'Nothing. Nevermind,' he said, shaking his head.

     'Whatever, Niall.' I tore open the door of his hotel room and ran for the elevator, tears welling up in my eyes. The doors slid open and without looking up, I walked in and bumped straight into Josh.

     'Hey, what's wrong? What happened?' he asked, his voice full of sincere concern. He pulled me into a hug and I let a few more tears go. 

     Ten minutes later, we were sitting in the hotel lounge. I asked him not to prod about what had happened with Niall so we were talking about other things. Random things. Things that distracted me from the gaping hole in my heart. And just before midnight struck, he asked me a question that I hadn't expected.

     'Hey. Do you want to... I don't know. Do you want to go out? Like as friends, I guess,' he asked nervously. I bit my lip and considered his offer. Niall didn't care. He didn't want me. So I might as well move on. And Josh has proven to help slowly, but temporarily, patch up the wounds in my heart. So why not?

     'Sure, sounds like fun,' I said with a smile. He smiled back at me brightly.

     'You like seafood, right?' Josh asked, staring out at the road in front of him.

     'Yeah, seafood is good.'

    'Good, because the boys were raving about this restaurant we're going to. Should be good,' he said excitedly. I looked out of the passenger window and decided that I wasn't going to let anything ruin my night. 

     We pulled up to the restaurant and noticed a few paparazzi standing outside.

     'I wonder who's here,' he said as he parked the car. 'I guess we'll find out!'

TO BE CONTINUED...

Who do you think is at the restaurant? Maybe it's Niall and the rest of the boys. Maybe it's Lady Gaga. Lol. Stay tuned to find out :) Love, @tazza_love