Just Pretending

ten

Riley

"And where are you off to?" Michelle asked leaning against her the doorway of the cubical I was in, I quickly glanced up before looking back down to pack up my dance clothes
"James and I are hanging out" I responded, I didn't even need to look up to know that she would be smirking
"Like a date?" She asked
"I don't know, I guess?" I offered getting a little flustered at the fact I had lost a sock
"Well of course it's date. Since you are dating and you didn't tell me!" She exclaimed
"Got it!" I yelled finding the last sock before looking up to so an annoyed Michelle
"Sorry, I won't lie.. You didn't have my full attention, what grave have I dug?" I asked and she rolled her eyes
"Why didn't you tell me about you and James?" She asked and I sighed
"we are meant to be Best Friends Riley" she muttered
I'm such a great best friend that your mad at me for a relationship that isn't actually real, I don't even know what would count as the lie this time around

"I'm sorry Michelle, it just sort of happened, It's hard to explain" I said placing my dance bag on my shoulder
"Please, not more secrets" She said sighing as we both walked out of the changing room
"Sure" I lied, I wish I could tell her but I know that would not only complicate things but she would be judging me like no tomorrow, it would be a no win situation 
"There is your lover boy" Michelle winked looking over to see James leant up against the hood of his car
"I'll see you later?" I offered and Michelle nodded hugging me once before allowing me to leave her side

As I got close enough, James' gaze shifted from his phone to my making a small smile form on his face
"Hey you" He said sweetly
"Hey" I replied as he pulled me into a hug
This kind of stuff has sort of become second nature to us, I can't really explain it
"Where are we off to?" I asked and James shrugged opening up my side of the car door 
"I haven't thought that far ahead" He laughed getting into the car
"That seems to be a recurring theme with you" I replied as we pulled out of the car park
"How about we get a Shawarma then go chill somewhere?" He offered and I shot him a look
"A what now?" I asked making James pull off to the side of the road so he could safely stop the car
"You've never had a Shawarma?" He asked and I chuckled nodding 
"I can safely say I haven't" I replied and he placed his hand on my shoulder making me look at him once more
"Get ready for me to rock your socks off Riley" He said making me roll my eyes with a smile on my face

--

It wasn't long until James and I were sat at one of the benches in the park with a Shawarma in our hands, it's sort of like a kebab but in a wrap. It's interesting. I'll give James that
"The perfect Shawarma, Extra tzatziki" James said smelling his food before leaning back against the bench
"That's a mouth full to say" I laughed
"But a delicious oneee" He sung only making me laugh more
I looked at him once more before taking a bite out of my Shawarma
"Good rightttt!" James said making me laugh as I covered my mouth in case some was to fall out
"It's actually not half bad" I smiled as I finished the bite
"See, nobody can ever resist a Shawarma!" He sung, he was clearly passionate about this 

"Okay but how did you start dancing, just saying I started when I was 6 doesn't answer the question" I laughed screwing up the empty food wrapper
"I started when I was 6, my mum made me join Baby Ballet at The Next Step. It was in an attempt for me to burn through my energy" James explained making me smile
"Baby Ballet is where I met Eldon actually. It's where I learnt how to dance, I owe a lot to that class" He explained with a smile on his face
"How come you never tried for any of the Troupe's?" I asked taking a sip of water
"I don't know really, Dancing turned into a something that I wanted to do for fun.. I didn't think the Troupe's would be fun" He said
"you thought it would turn into work?" I offered and he nodded
"I get that, I thought that too until Emily joined A-Troupe. I watched how open minded, strong and independent she became. Her dancing reached new heights" I said making him smile

"There is a lot more to you then you give yourself credit for you know" James replied making me scoff with a small smile on my lips
"You most certainly shouldn't have ended up with a dickhead like Alfie" He explained and I smiled at him
"Good thing I'm not with him then isn't it" I replied as we got up walking around the park again, James smiled taking my hand into mine intertwining our hands
I was confused, nobody was around that we had to convince it was just us but at the same time i wasn't going to object
"so um how long do you think we'll need to do this for?" I asked making James look down at our hands before looking at me
"I don't know, they already seem on edge so not long I'm assuming" He replied sounding almost disappointed
"Then you'll be back with the girl you want" I said making our hands swing
"Yeah, uh something like that" he muttered