The Aftermath

Chapter 2

James's POV

Her head snaps up and her eyes widens in shock and fear.

"James." I hear her say, but it isn't a question. She knows it's me. I smile hugely at her and start bounding towards her as she slowly walks to me as well. I come towards her with open arms, but she steps back and shoots me a glare. Yeah, she's still mad.

"Oh my God, I haven't seen you since-"

"High school." She says, cutting me off in a low tone.

"Yeah, high school." I sigh, scratching the back of my neck. She crosses her arms and shifts her weight, looking at the ground.

"Hey, you cut your hair. It's looks nice." I comment, smiling at her.

"Oh, thanks." She says shyly.

"So, you live around here?" I ask.

"Yeah, here." She replies, gesturing to the house that she had came out of.

It's small, only a one story house. The paint was chipping off of the door, the siding coming off in some places, and is beginning to be eaten by weeds.

"Oh, it's, um nice." I reply.

"So what, you live around here now too?" She asks dully.

"Yeah, right over there." I reply, happily pointing to my two story house next door. Her eyes widen.

"So, you'll be living next door?" She questions. I can't tell if she's happy or upset, but I would probably have to go with the second.

"Yeah, I am." I reply.

"Oh, that's...Okay." She sighs. Yeah, she's upset.

"So, how have you've been?" I ask.

"Oh, fine." She responds.

"Where are you working?" I ask. She freezes before replying, sounding embarrassed and ashamed,

"I'm a waitress at a restaurant around here."

"Oh, that's great." I reply.

I don't understand. Even though Riley probably couldn't afford a college or university tuition, she applied for lots of scholarships in high school. Riley is crazy smart. She was bound to have won at least won and got into a school and graduated to go on to get a good paying job. And if I remember right, she did win a scholarship. Why would she have turned it down?

"So, what about you? What are you doing?" She asks, but not in a curious and interested way but more in a polite way.

"Oh, I inherited my parents business and work from home." I reply proudly.

"Must be nice having everything handed to you." I hear her mutter to herself, but I choose not to comment.

"How's your parents?" She asks.

"Oh, great. Happy and healthy. Well, my mother is still a naggy old bat, but things never change right?" I reply chuckling, and surprisingly, manage to get a small smile out of her too.

"How's your dad?" I ask. She tenses up, tears brimming her eyes and that's when I know I hit a nerve.

"He, um, passed away about a year ago." She replies.

"Oh my God, what happened?" I ask.

"Cancer. They were late finding it, and by then it was too late." She explains.

"Oh, wow. I'm sorry." I reply. She shakes her head.

"It has nothing to do with you, why would you be sorry?" She inquires sharply, although it isn't really a question.

"Well, um, are you seeing anyone?" I ask. She raises an eyebrow at me.

"Excuse me?" She questions. I am being forward and rushed, but it's not like I don't know her. And I'm dying to know.

"Yeah, like are you dating anyone right now?" I ask again. By then, I notice a school bus coming. Riley looks back at it coming and then back at me.

"No, I'm not." She replies. "Are you?"

"No, I'm not either." I reply, a smile growing on my face.

"Oh, I'm surprised." She mutters, just as the bus stops a few feet away from us. Riley looks back at it again.

"Well, maybe we can like...You know, catch up or-" I start, but am cut off by a high pitched voice.

"Mommy!" A small voice squeals. I peer past Riley and see a a young girl, about five years old, running off of the bus. Not thinking much of it, I turn back to Riley.

"So, like I was saying, maybe we can-" I start again, but Riley turns around and crouches down as the young girl runs to her.

"Hi sweetheart!" Riley says, hugging the girl.

My jaw drops.