Saving Riley

8

Riley's POV

"Can you believe that we are 21 years old? When we met we were just little babies!" Michelle chimed as we sat on the beach smiling 
"It's crazy, do you remember your grand entrance" I laughed making Michelle laugh too
"Auditions are in here right?" we both said at the same time, Michelle's iconic line
"Captain of our next Instagram?" She laughed and I nodded taking my phone out

Riley_Ray: Auditions are in here right?

I watched as Michelle's face lit up with a smile as she got the notification, it wasn't until I started to get some that I started to panic 

Lucas: Toronto is a small place Riley. You can't hide forever
Lucas: Oh I met your boy James. He was a delight.

I looked to Michelle who was looking at me concerned
"What's wrong Riley?" She asked, I didn't know what to say, I didn't know what to do until James' number light up my phone
"Hello?" I answered
"Riley what is going on? " He asked
"Is he there with you right now?" I asked and I could hear James hum in response
"Please I'm begging you, don't tell him where I am" I replied hoping he would help me
"Oh you've gone to New York with Michelle? No worries Ri, we'll see you when you get back" James said, I smiled knowing he was helping me, just like he promised he always would
"Thankyou James. I promise, I will explain it all soon" I replied before we ended the call
Michelle looked at me with the same worried expression on her face
"I'm in trouble" I replied making her look confused alongside worried
"Lucas is in Toronto.. He's with James right now" I said making her eyes widen

James' POV

"We'll see you when you get back" I said to Riley on the phone, I don't know what this situation is but I have never heard her sound so scared
"Sorry bud, she's gone to New York for the week" I said to him, Lucas looked at me a little unsure on whether to believe me, but regardless. Riley doesn't want him to know where she is and I respect that 
"Who is Michelle" Lucas asked. Was this boy clueless? Michelle has always been Riley's best friend regardless on them losing contact
"Michelle is your fiancé's best friend. They've been best friends since they were 15" I replied
"Hmm I don't know about that. I haven't heard of a Michelle the entire time I've been with Riley" He said and all of us boys shook her head
"Maybe you don't know who you are dating then" Theo said making this guy angry
"Excuse me. I know Riley pretty damn well thank you" He said 
"So much so she happens to go out of town the moment you come in?" John asks
The boys are protective over all the girls in our lives, from Michelle and Riley all the way to Piper. They are unofficial big brothers to everyone
"Miscommunication is all that is" He answered, I looked at the boys. We know that isn't that case. Riley moved here for a reason and I'm pretty sure he wasn't invited
"Well in any case. This place is a business and I don't think you have any busy being here" I warned him
"When you see Riley. Tell her I'm in Toronto until I speak to her" he confirmed, I nodded knowing full well this probably isn't going to end well 

--

The boys and I headed to Michelle's where we knew the girls had gone. I don't know what is going on but I am pretty sure we are about to find out
"Boys, welcome!" Michelle said probably trying to lighten the mood
As soon as I step into the room, I glance over at Riley who is biting her nails. Just like she used to do when she was anxious
"Can we talk?" I asked and she nodded walking into Michelle's back garden, I glanced at the boys who sat down with Michelle. If Michelle knows anything I'm sure she is about to fill them in

"Ri what is going on" I asked, to say I was worried would be an understatement
"I'm in trouble" she whispered, I looked at her and she looked like she was on the verge of tears
"Riley, what did he do" I asked, she knew I knew that he was the problem. She just had to piece the words together
"I told nobody of what he did, I never mentioned it to a single soul because I kept making excuses for him, I thought it was my fault, I thought I asked for it. I thought he loved me and he was sorry" Riley said as she gripped my arms, she looked down trying to hide the tears threatening to fall
"He was a good guy when I first met him, I couldn't fault him until one day. It was as if a switch had flipped" She continued trying not to let herself sob
"He would go through my phone, he cut me off from everyone back home. With each hit I took, I felt more and more alone" She cried. He's laid a hand on her and I watched him walk away
"We would tell me he loved me and then mere moments later slap me until I was on the floor in tears" She cried
"We would have friends over and pretend we were perfect except hours before they arrived he was pulling my hair and tearing up the clothes he didn't like" she continued. I didn't want to stop her, this was clearly something she needed to get out
"He striped away everything I once was, he stripped away my self worth, self love, confidence my whole personality and the worst part is I let him" She said still gripping my arms tightly
"With every chance and every excuse I gave him, the little respect he had for me continued to shrink" She said quietly looking up at me
"I had to get out of there, no matter how many I love you's he gave me. I knew something was wrong" she answered
"Every time he hurt me, I was the one who had to apologise for making him fell that way" She cried again
"If it's something that destroys you. It isn't love" she said as the tears continued to fall
"He's coming here and he's gonna drag me back or he is going to destroy me and anyone else in his path" She cried, I looked at her
This isn't the same Riley that I fell in love with, this Riley has been through the war, this Riley has been hurt more then our small problems back then. This Riley is still the same fighter. I know this guy isn't going down without the fight. But she isn't fighting alone anymore
I quickly pulled her onto my chest engulfing her into a hug
"Please don't let him take me James" She cried
"He won't Riley, I promise" I replied. He wants a war. I'll fight