Too Young

4

James 

"Who is that?" Hunter asked, the entire of A-Troupe were sat in the canteen eating lunch when we noticed Riley sitting a couple tables away
We were all going to join her but it didn't take long for a guy to arrive
"Ugh" Emily groaned rolling her eyes at the pair making me even more curious
"That is Mark" Eldon said with a chuckle

It was clear from Emily's reaction she was not his biggest fan

"And is there a story?" Michelle asked glancing at the pair, from the looks of it they were close friends. Nothing else really radiated from what I had noticed 
"Not really" Eldon said shrugging but as always, we all turned to Emily who happily nodded 
"He's a prick. He became friends with Riley a few months ago but only really bothers with her when he need something" Emily explained
"Like what?" I asked watching the exchange
"Home work, money, rides from me, company to a party" Emily listed off

"Riley goes to parties?" Eldon asked making Emily nod
"Not often and when she does she goes mute for a couple days afterwards" Emily said making me furrow my brows
"So he uses her?" I asked and Emily nodded but Eldon looked a little unsure

"I think if it was something malicious Riley would have been smart enough to get out of it" Eldon said but Emily scoffed
"Sorry but are we watching the same girl? Riley wouldn't know malicious if it hit her in the face" Emily said making Eldon glare at her

"Give the girl a break. She's a lot smarter then you give her credit for" He said but Emily shook her head before nodding back to the pair
"Then tell me why Riley looks like she is about to burst into tears" Emily said making everyone shoot their heads over in that direction

It wasn't long until we were on our feet heading towards Riley but the closer we got the more she panicked and her legs soon took flight in the opposite direction leaving the boy sat there confused while we all looked at him with nothing but disgust on our faces

--

It would seem that Riley is a hard girl to find when she doesn't want to be found. I mean that made more sense in my head
I walked into Studio A and there she was and the best part was she was doing a solo. It was actually a pretty sweet one 

"Hey" I smiled getting up off the bench walking over to her as she finished
"Hey" She muttered avoiding any idea of eye contact, I sighed nodding
"Come with me a sec?" I offered making her look at me confused but after a small hesitation, Riley was following my straight out of Studio A

We walked through the corridor until we came to a big green fire exit. One I knew wouldn't sound any alarm is opened. It hasn't for the entire time I've been here. This place was my escape and I think that Riley would benefit from it 
"Where are we going? Practice starts in like 10 minutes" Riley said looking back over her shoulder, I chuckled with a nod
"let's not worry about that right now okay?" I said making her look at me a little confused but subsequently listen to me 

We got to the random picnic bench behind The Next Step. I found it a couple years ago, when I go here nobody ever find me and it's my slice of peace in this mad place

"This is your spot?" She asked looking around making me chuckle with a light nod
"Yeah, feel honoured. I've never shared it with anyone, not even Pipes" I said making Riley smile as she took a seat next to me

Within a minute or two, Riley took a big deep breath in before slowly releasing slumping a little in her seat
"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked placing my hand gently on her shoulder, she smiled glancing at my hand before looking up at me
"It's okay. Nothing I can't handle" she said making me give her a look
It was obvious she was struggling

"Who is the Mark character?" I asked making her widen her eyes slightly before bowing her head
"Did you get Eldon's take or Emilys?" She asked
"A bit of both, but what's Riley's take?" I asked and she shrugged

"I don't know what I'm doing" she confessed with a big huff 
"What do you mean?" I asked making her turn to me

"you've seen me around school, when do you ever see me with someone?" She asked making me shrug
"I don't, that's the simple way to put it. Mark took a chance on me but it seems the longer he stays around the worst our friendship gets" she muttered
"Then call it off, throw it away if it isn't working" I said 

"My parents always told me that something that's broken shouldn't be thrown away, it should be fixed" She said and I nodded
"And that is the case in most cases but if the thing that's broken is someone's behaviour sometimes it's healthier to throw it away" I confessed making Riley look at me for a moment

That moment didn't last long, with in another moment she was looking down biting her lips while fiddling with her fingers

"So what? I go back to being alone all the time?" She asked and I shook my head looking at her
"Then what?" She asked making me smile slightly
"How about this, you get rid of Mark and I'll be his replacement" I said making her look at me confused

"His replacement?" She asked and I nodded
"I'll be there whenever you need me, at school, here, wherever" I smiled 
"You're already staying back with me on Tuesdays, won't this be too much?" She asked making me laugh
"Riley, it's a friendship not business deal" I teased making her smile a little

"If you are sure you won't regret it" She muttered making me scoff

"Who could ever regret you" I smiled making her blush ever so slightly