Just Pretending

two

Riley

It's been one long day, from avoiding any eye contact with James and trying to avoid the awkward encounter that would be talking to Alfie and Beth. I found myself in the library again for most on lunch
"You spend a lot of time here" A familiar voice said, I looked up to see James joining me again
"To what do I owe this pleasure?" I asked as he sat down
"Have you thought about it?" He asked and I sighed nodding. I guess I better let him down gently
"Oh you're going to say No aren't you" He said bowing his head
"Look James, I think it is too risky" I replied making him look at me once more
"Nobody would need to know but us, as far as everyone else is concerned it would be real" He explained and I sighed looking around
Lying to make someone jealous is surely just a recipe for disaster
"I can tell that it is already working" James said taking my hand into his, I looked at him confused before taking my hand back

James nodded over to the window that looked into the main part of the library
There stood Alfie looking in at us while he had Beth kissing his cheek
"You are asking for trouble" I replied rolling my eyes at James
"Come on Riley" He whined as I packed up my bag again
"You have to admit you'd get some sort of enjoyment seeing Alfie jealous" He said as we started to walk out of the library
"I mean yeah but I don't think it's a good idea" I confessed
"How about I give you some more time, but you have to promise to really really think about it" James said, I shot him a look
"So you are going to give me so much time that I'll eventually change my own mind?" I asked with a laugh as we got to my locker
Alfie and Beth had now moved so they were nearby my locker at Alfie's
"Yeah pretty much" James said leaning on the locker next to me
"Has anyone told you how crazy you are?" I asked shutting my locker looking at him
"I like to call it optimistic" He replied with a smirk
"Call it what you want, doesn't make it any better" I teased as I started to walk again with him following once more

"Rumor has it, he's using her to replace you anyway" James said causing me to look at him confused
"What are you on about?" I asked as we got to our lesson
"Well you dance with Alfie, correct?" He asked and I nodded
"He's persuaded Beth to audition to in the hope they can push you out" He said and I laughed a little
"Good luck to her, Beth wouldn't last 2 minutes on that team" I replied and James chuckled
"I don't doubt that either to be honest, Beth has never liked anyone else having the limelight" James explained. Game on Beth

--

Do you ever have one of those days that no matter how much time passes, it doesn't seem to end
"What did he want" A voice said as I got to my locker before I was about to head home
"What?" I asked seeing Alfie stood there
"You, James, Library" He said dumbing it down, I rolled my eyes shutting my locker
"I'm pretty certain that it no longer concerns you" I replied looking at him. He scoffed allowing his hands to turn into a fist
"Don't play with me Riley" He warned and I chuckled
"how is that new girl of yours? Where is she off to?" I asked looking around and seeing no sign of her
"She is booking some studio time but that's irrelevant" He said and my eyes widened a lot
"So rumors are true, you're both trying out?" i asked and he nodded
"Well I hope you like some friendly competition" I smiled making him look at me confused
"what?" he asked
"you'll see" I said about to walk away when he made me turn back

"You can't just move on like this Riley" He spat and I laughed looking back at him
"moving on? I think if I was. That I would be easily with in my right considering that shit you've done Alfie" I said and he shook his head
"Nah, this isn't you" He laughed and I shot him a look
"Not me? Maybe not the old me but this new me, she had her heart broken over some stupid little brunette, this new me won't stand for any of your shit anymore" I replied looking at him once more before leaving 

I walked through the corridors in the hope the person I needed to speak to hadn't gone home yet and as I passed the corridor by the library there he stood at his locker with some of his friends
"James" I said making him look over at me with a smirk on his face causing me to roll my eyes
"What's up" He said coming over to me, I looked at him once more biting my lip
"I'm in" I muttered causing him to look at me with surprise written all over his face