Change Your Mind

13

James

Well, that was an interesting start to the year..
Everyone had finished practice and left to go home. I wanted to do the same thing but I couldn't help but think about what we all saw in the corridor, I'm the reason Riley just lost her best friend
I was about to head out of Studio A when I heard the doors creaking open

Glancing over, I saw Riley walking in with a hesitant look
"Hey" she said making me stand up
"Hey" I replied, I'm not going to complain that she is here talking to me. I mean I don't want to jinx it 
She offered me a soft small before reaching out with an envelope in her hand

I looked at her slightly confused
"Since you know, letters are our thing?" She asked making me chuckle lightly as I took the letter out of her hand 
Before I could ask anything else Riley had turned and walked away leaving me even more curious about this letter 

After Riley had left I took a seat on the bench near the cubbies opening the letter

'James,

I apologise for the scruffy writing, I'm currently writing this down in the juice bar after practice
I wanted to thank you for the letter and I would explain what happened but I'm pretty sure you heard it all earlier on

Alex found out about what you did and went a-wall on me, I'm talking stopped talking to me or if he had to talk to me he couldn't without at least 2 swear words a sentence 

Now I'm not condoning what you did but I'm pretty certain over the last 2 weeks you've already dealt with the regret of it
You didn't need to wrath of Alex on your tail

I didn't tell Alex when it happened because it was irrelevant, he had just started dating Chloe, he wasn't even on B-Troupe at the time 

Why would he need to know? 
I could barely process it myself 

But after a couple of years of working on myself, learning to overcome what happened between us I want to offer this..

I forgive you James 
You aren't the same guy you were back then
Let's call it a mishap in judgment, a poor choice in company. A learning curve for both of us 

So here's to a fresh start? A clean slate if you will?

Now let's get ready to kill at Internationals hey?
Don't let me or Alex's drama put you down. I'm a tough egg to crack now a days 

Riley'

She was forgiving me? Did I read that right? Or is this some fucked up dream?

I smiled too myself grabbing my bag heading out of The Next Step. As I got to the carpark, I saw Riley getting into a car across the road, she looked over at me and smile before getting in the passenger seat 

This was no fucked up dream 

--

"Yoooo man! What's up!" West greeted as I joined everyone at Parkour Alley
"Hey" I chuckled sitting in my usual spot
"Internationals here we comeeee!" Michelle smiled and I nodded 

"I think we should invite Riley here" Giselle said
"Is there a reason she hasn't been?" I asked and they shrugged
"I guess we didn't know where you two stood. The last thing we want is her bailing" Max said and I nodded
"I think it would be fine for her to be invited" I said with a smile

I'd happily tell them we were on  a clean slate but I want to leave that to their imagination
"Alright so Riley can join us tomorrow and we won't take no for an answer" Michelle smiled
"Well I mean, if the girl has plans, she has plans" West laughed 

We all glanced over to where he was looking, just off of the clearing was Riley walking beside a older male, who I'm assuming is her father
They were both smiling widely while chatting away

Riley's whole mood seems to have shifted since that letter and you know? I couldn't be happier myself