Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 53

James's POV

Weeks went by without me saying a single word to Riley. I barely looked at her and would block out anything she said.

I felt pain and guilt running through me every time my mind would drift to the topic of her.

Ever since that night, things had become distant between me and Michelle. She would act the same but I was just blank.

Dance finished up for the day and I couldn't help but feel relieved. It has been a long Saturday of practice and I couldn't wait to get home. But when I went to my cubby to grab my bag and make a quick exit, Michelle stopped me.

"Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to stay over to my place for the night." She says.

"Actually, I'm not feeling very well." I lie. "I think I should just go home."

"James..." She whines.

"I don't want to get you sick." I tell her.

"Alright. But you owe me." She says, winking at me before strutting off, leaving me sighing, happy to finally be left alone.

~~~~~

I glanced into the dining room upon coming home. Everyone but Riley was in there, eating supper. No surprise, she hardly eats anything.

"Hungry James?" Mom asks, noticing me standing in the doorway.

"Um, yeah. I'll just go up and change and come back down." I reply. I trotted up the stairs, to my room and quickly changed out of my dance clothes and into jeans and a t shirt. But before going back down I glanced into Riley's room. I furrowed my brow in confusion. She wasn't in there.

"Hey, where's Riley?" I ask, sitting down at the dining table.

"She left today." Mom replies.

"What do you mean left?" I question.

"She moved in with her new family today, remember?" She inquires.

"How come nobody told me?" I exclaim.

"We did. And we talked about it." Dad replies. "But it seems like every time Riley's name is in a sentence, you shut down."

"Is the family from around here?" I ask.

"About a half hour." Mom says, not even taking the time to look at me.

"Couldn't you have kept her here until I came home so I could have at least said goodbye to her?" I question, growing angry and upset.

"Why? All you ever said was that you couldn't wait for her to get out of our house." She says harshly.

~~~~~

Riley's POV

"And your room is in here sweetie." Grace, or my new mom, tells me, bringing me into a fair size room.

"It's really nice, thank you." I comment, taking everything in.

"We bought you some clothes." She says, walking over to the dresser. "I wasn't sure if you would like it or fit you right, I just went by assumption."

"Thanks, I appreciate it, a lot." I reply.

"Riley, I know you may feel uncomfortable and out of place right now, but just know that we're your family and we want you to be here." She tells me. I nod, not really knowing what to say.

"And, I understand if you don't want to and I'm okay with it if you don't want to, but if you want to call us mom and dad, you're more than welcome to do so." She says, smiling warmly.

"Thanks, I'll think about it." I reply

"Well, it's late so I'll let you get ready for bed." She sighs happily and pulls me into a hug.

"I'll see you in the morning sweetie." She says, pulling out of our embrace. She smiles once more and leaves the room.

I go to the dresser and pick out a pair of pyjamas. After slipping them on, I crawl into my new bed.

For once in my life, I felt welcome. This was my new home. I had new, loving and kind parents, a brother and sister who has already taken a liking to me.

This was my new life.