Eyes On The Prize

11 | James

"James are you home?" A voice called into the house after evidently letting themselves in.
Piper and Brody were busy at school while I decided to take the morning off of College. In all honesty, who cares about music theory anyway?
"Yeah I'm in the garage!" I called before hearing the footsteps getting louder the deeper into the house they got

It wasn't long before I was joined in the garage by the last person I expected to see

"Hey Beth, what's up?" I asked making her raise a brow
"What's up? I hear you are messing with a Barnard Girl" She said narrowing her eyes at me

Beth and I have always had a complicated relationship. We were never together but we did from time to time, enjoy each other's company. But that was cut off at the end of last summer
Whether she wanted to admit it or not, she was starting to act like we were something more then we were and I wasn't willing to go down that path
With anyone let alone Beth

She's a lovely girl sure, but I don't do this relationship bullshit

"Why does it matter what I do in my personal time?" I asked drying my hands with one of the rags on the side
"Barnard James really? I get your plan and-" She started making me raise a brow

"Who told you about the plan?" I asked making her roll her eyes
"I don't need to even get Hunter drunk to make him spill" She said placing her hands on her hips

"What's your point here Beth?" I asked but she shook her head
"I'm just warning you, don't go falling in love with the prude. Heaven knows you won't be able to keep up with her" She explained
"Or more like she won't be able to keep up with you" She smirking looking me up and down

I rolled my eyes at her watching as she looked around the garage before glancing back at me
"You know, the one thing that never changes is this house" She explained making me nod
"Given what's gone on in here, you'd think you would want to change it" She offered but I shook my head

"Given what went on, it's the reason I won't change it. Plus change will only disrupt both P and B more" I explained making her sigh

"How are they anyway? It's been a while" She said kicking her foot lightly awkwardly
"You know when I put a stop to everything, that didn't mean you needed to just walk away from everyone" I reminded her

"Let's be honest James. The only reason I was semi welcome around here and around the gang was because of you. When that stopped, I didn't have a use anymore" She said making me shake my head
"Beth come on, that isn't true. You were real close with Michelle. I bet if you-" I started before she cut me off

"If I reached out she'd talk to me? I doubt it Jay but it's okay" She said sighing
"I should get out of here. I have a shift at the Cafe that I can't be late for" She said offering me a small smile

Before I could even say another word she had turned on her heels and were walking out of the room, leaving me alone with the usual silence of this house

—

I walked through the square that afternoon in the search for Brody, getting a call from his school to say he hadn't turned up wasn't out of the ordinary although it was a bridge I thought we had gotten past
"Hey" A voice said from behind me, I turned to see Riley walking toward me in her usual outfit that she would be wearing prior to seeing Spencer

Her outfit choices vary person to person. If it's Spencer it tends to be a dress that'll cover everything on the top half, and will reach to just above her knee. It also tends to be a light colour apposed to anything bright or dark
Then you have her parents, now that's the same sort of dress or it'll be a skirt and blouse usually in a light yellow and light pink
If she's with Thalia she'll wear jeans and a jumper or something completely opposite of what she usually wears
Dependent on what Thalia forces her to wear

But lately, if I bump into her randomly she's been dressing more comfortably apposed to the strict guidelines she tends to always have

"Hey Cinderella. What's up? No etiquette class today?" I smirked making Riley roll her eyes
"Sounds like you need them more then I do" She said finally catching up to me

"What are you doing anyway? Aren't you meant to be in class?" I asked and Riley nodded
"I just finished a class and figured I would grab a bite to eat. Do you want to come?" She asked

Any other given day, I would have. Easily.
But.. Brody.

"As much as that offer sounds delightful Ri, I really can't I'm on the search of a delinquent" I chuckled making her look at me confused
"What?" She laughed
"My younger brother never showed up to school, which means he's lurking around here somewhere" I said
"Everything okay?" Riley continued to question
"Always" I smiled

"Do you want help looking for him at all?" She asked but I was quick to shake my head
I'm sure Riley would have met my siblings by now if this wasn't just a little game
The last thing I want is the likes of Piper getting attached or the wrath of Brody from watching another person walk out of our lives

Because ultimately that is what will happen in the long run

"It's alright, it won't take me long to find him and when I do, best believe that boy is going to have a lot to answer to" I said making Riley nod
"Don't go too hard on him James, Something might be going on?" She offered and I nodded

Something was going on and it has been for months but Brody was running out of get out of jail free cards