Just Pretending

fortytwo

Riley

This was the last place I had expected to be this morning, but after James and I had that amazing evening last night, he drove us home instead of back to the Cabin
Turns out this was also an elaborate ruse to get Dad home and to get James and I back at school and dance
Now part of me was worried, not only for my dad's health but also returning to The Next Step after not only leaving without notice but then also taking James along with me

"you okay?" James asked giving my hand a squeeze as we walked into the main entrance of our school
"Yeah" I said smiling at him leaning up to give him a gentle kiss which in turn made him smile
"Holy crap!" Someone said making James and I pull apart, we both turned our hands towards the voice to see West stood there
As we chuckled he came close enough to throw his arm over my shoulder and James' smushing himself in between us as he dragged us further into the hallway
"Long time no see!" He said before we were finally with the rest of the gang
"Guess who I just caught making out" West smirked making me roll my eyes while everyone widened their eyes at us

"Riley!" Michelle said pouncing on making me almost lose my footing 
"Hey" I smiled hugging her back. As we pulled away, I turned to see the rest of the gang smiling before my eyes landed on Beth and Alfie 
Their glances jumping between James and I
"So what is this about making out?" Eldon asked making me roll my eyes
"Eldon quit it, it's not like your subtle when you kiss me" Thalia teased making me smile at her
"the difference is that your my girlfriend Thal" He replied looking back at her with his tongue poked out
"And Riley is mine, your point is?" James asked putting his arm around my shoulder
The second that sentence left his lips, my heart skipped a beat. That was the first time it had been said out loud and I couldn't be more in love with it
"Ooooooo" A bunch of the girls sung making us all laugh
"So I take it a lot happened on your romantic getaway" Noah teased
"There was nothing romantic about it" I replied making James pout

"Excuse me? I put a lot of effort into last night thankyou. It isn't my fault it took you a decade to figure it out" He said getting defensive
"Okay alright, I retract my comment" I replied rolling my eyes making James smile before he leant down to kiss me causing an a range of noises coming from the people around us

--

Dance was next on the agenda and for some reason, I was the first here but I'm not one to complain. It feels like it's been so long since I was last here
"So you're telling me that he can cheat on you with the same girl but yet. I'm the bad guy, you won't forgive me and give me another chance" A voice said making me turn to see Alfie a few steps away
"but James, James get another one? What kind of double standards is this shit?" He asked and I sighed looking at him

"Alfie, we were a mistake. We should never have happened, you cheating on me with Beth just merely gave me the reality check I needed" I said making him look at me a little taken back and hurt
"We weren't fitting at all. You have this controlling nature that I don't even think you know you have, I never noticed it until I got an outside opinion on it all" I continued making him run his hands through his hair
"So you weren't happy?" He asked and I shrugged
"I thought I was, at the time but now I know what it really looks like and what we had" I started 
"Just wasn't it" I replied making him sigh sitting down on the bench

"Want me to be completely honest with you Alfie?" I asked and he nodded
"You already started, might as well finish me off" He muttered 
"When you cheated on me, it hurt. Hurt more then I think it needed to. I was angry, I felt betrayed then when you tried to get her to fit into my place?" I started
"That is when I realised you are with her for all the wrong reasons" I said, he sighed looking at me
"I was angry when this all happened but now, now I hope one of these days you find that girl that makes your whole world complete, I hope you find that glimmer of happiness because I know it's out there for you" I replied offering him a genuine smile
"But Beth is not your person, that I can promise you" I replied before I saw everyone else coming in

James took one look at the pair of us before glaring at Alfie making his way over to both of us
"You good?" he asked wrapping a protective arm around me, I smiled up at him
"Yeah, aren't we Alfie?" I asked and Alfie nodded getting up from the bench putting a hand on James' shoulder
"don't let her go man" He said before exchanging a smile with James leaving us alone

"dare I ask?" He chuckled and I shrugged wrapping both arms around his neck as his landed on my waist
"well you can tell him he doesn't need to worry. I don't plan on ever letting you go" He smiled before pressing our lips together