Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 17

Riley's POV

I run home as fast as I can. I sprint into the kitchen and look through the pantry for the quickest thing to make. I didn't have much time. I decide on soup and boil some water. While I waited for it to boil, I went into the living room and sat down.

The whole house was stripped of anything that made the house feel like a home. There were no pictures of my mom and Emily anymore. The house was bare, cold and almost scary looking.

I don't have access to Internet or a cell phone. We have cable, but it's only times like these when my father's not home when I can watch it though.

I go back to the kitchen where the water is already boiled. I pour the soup into the pot and stir it. In another fifteen minutes, the soup is finished and my father is home. I ladle the soup into a bowl for him, and a cup for me because I already ate.

"That's all you eating?" He comments with a scowling face.

"Not hungry." I reply quietly. He grunts. I finish up my supper and mentally prepare myself for what I'm about to say.

"My birthday is coming up." I say loud enough to get his attention.

"And?" He hisses.

"And I know that you don't get me anything, but this year I was wondering if maybe I can have a cell phone?" I ask.

"Why? It's not like you have any friends and your not allowed to leave here." He replies coldly.

"I know but-"

"But what?!" He growls.

"I don't know." I mumble to myself.

••••••••••

James's POV

"So what's going on between you and that Riley girl?" Alice asks me.

"Nothing. We're just friends." I reply.

"Yeah but you want to be more than friends." She says.

"Maybe." I reply, smiling to myself

••••••••••

I waited at my usual spot for Riley the next day. She finally walked up to me and than we were on our way.

"So have you heard about the studio's annual dance?" I ask Riley. The dance was something Kate put together every year for the studio dancers.

"Yeah." She replies.

"Are you going?" I ask.

"No." She says.

"Why not? You never go." I question.

"I know it's just that I'm not into that kind of stuff." She tells me. I feel a little disappointed. I was going to ask to be my date.

Riley's POV

Of course it was a lie. It's always a lie I have to tell him. I'm never allowed to go to the dance. But I had a strange feeling that he was going to ask him to go with him.

"Oh, that's too bad." He says quietly.

"Yeah." I mumble.