Just Pretending

twentysix

Riley

"Thankyou for having me sir" James said as we both stood in my doorway
"It was lovely having you James" Dad said watching as James held out his hand for my dad to shake, my dad turned to me with a light hearted chuckle before turning back to James pulling him into a tight hug
"Don't be a stranger" Dad said making James smile as Dad patted his back
"I won't" he said as the pair pulled away
"Alright kiddo's i'm heading inside. Riley remember not to be out too late" Dad smiled and I nodded before turning to James

James and I decided to go and meet everyone at Parkour Alley, it was obvious they would be there. Little did we know so would Alfie and Beth
"Hey guys!" Eldon said noticing us first, James and I smiled walking over our hands in the usual intertwined position
"Where have you lovebirds been off to all weekend?" Thalia teased making me roll my eyes
"We went down to the Cabin with my family" I smiled looking up at James who had a large smile on his face too
"It was pretty brilliant" James said 
I don't think I can get the fact he asked me on a date out of my head, could there be a possibility that he could like me back?

"Have you heard the good news?" Beth said making James and I's gaze shift from each other to her sat on Alfie's lap
"We are back together" She continued and I shrugged. I couldn't care anymore that is for sure
"Nice" James replied before giving my hand a squeeze
"So how was the time away?" Michelle squealed
"It was nice, my uncles trusted James to set up the firepit" I said making ever laugh while James looked a little hurt at the comment
"I'll have you know, I did a magnificent job" He said taking his hand back so he could cross his arms
"Sure you did" I replied making him pout and glare at me at the same time
"Alright Babe" He muttered making me glare at him this time
"Don't" I warned him allowing his pout to turn into a playful smirk

"You two are gross" Beth said making James and I come back to reality to look around us to see everyone staring at us, most of them with smiles but Beth and Alfie. They were scowling
"I don't know, I find it cute" Giselle said making me smile at her
"Yeah" Eldon and West said at the exact same time

"So what have you all been up to this weekend?" I asked making everyone look around then back at us
"Now that we think of it, we haven't done that much. We've been spending time here mostly I believe" Noah said making everyone nod
"God we don't have lives do we" Cierra laughed
"Hey, we do" Eldon said motioning to Thalia and himself
"Really? Then how come you sat here with us all weekend?" West teased 
I glanced up at James to see him sitting then in awe with his friends
Call my crazy but I'm beginning to think the girls were right, what if I had fallen in love with him? Would i really be that bad? 
Could we make it work? 
God I hope so..

"You okay?" James whispered making me look up at him, I nodded and he nodded down to my hands making me realise I had been fidgeting
"What's wrong?" He asked and I shook my head
"Nothing I swear" I said trying to give him a convincing smile
"Ri" He whispered, I placed my hand on his cheek gently stroking it in the hope it would make my case a little 
"It's nothing but I promise the second it becomes something, you'll be the first to know" I said and he sighed nodded gently pecking my lips