As the weekend progressed, it became very clear that I needed this little reset. As the time passed, things seemed lighter, things seemed like it was getting better and I have James to thank for that. I never understood how he was so good at all of this but I wouldn't want to change it at all
"Riley, the door is for you!" I hear my mum call, I smiled jumping out of bed Sunday Afternoon heading downstairs
I opened the front door to see a boy stood there with a bouquet of roses in his hands
"What is this?" I asked taking it from his hands, they were gorgeous
"If you could sign here for me" The boy said, I happily obliged before heading inside
I placed the flowers on the side in the kitchen taking the card out of it's holder. I should have known who these were from
'Riley,
Be dressed and ready for 5pm-James '
Smiling to myself I checked the time to see it was already 4:30pm, I had little to no time at all, wasn't this great
"Who was it?" Mum asked as I walked back through to head up stairs
"It was flowers from James" I replied with a smile, Mum smiled back before nodding
She liked James, she always has and I think that when we moved away. She missed him a little, I think the whole family did. When James was around he was completely immersed with the family and they were all smitten with him
After I spent most of my time trying to find something to wear, I had around 10 minutes to throw my hair together and to apply a small layer of makeup to my face. I never use too much unless its competition season
"Riley, door.. Againnnn" Mum called
I sighed looking at myself once more in the mirror before rushing downstairs to see Eldon stood on the doorstep
"What in the world?" I asked making both of us chuckle
"Where are we going?" I asked as we got into the car, Eldon shot me a look
"I would literally be murdered if I had told you Riley" He said making me roll my eyes as he drove
In all honesty, it wasn't long until we were at the location, I looked at Eldon for the next instruction because I was blind at this point
"Follow the photos" Was all Eldon said as I got out of the car
I furrowed my brows before seeing a photo attached to a tree near by
'You have always been a bottle of stress and with one small stir you would boil over. But since day one, I haven't let you do it alone. And I don't plan to let you start now x'
I smiled reading it, I knew this was another one of James tactics to help cheer my up but he's never gone this big with it
I continued to walk through this small wooded area until I came to another photo. It was the day that James had finally been able to return to the studio. Everything looked brighter and fell into place as soon as he returned
'You've believed in me long before anyone else did, you've been there by my side through all my failures and have been the cause of all of my victories'
James needs to learn to have some more faith in himself, I've never been the cause of any of it. I've been someone who just gave him that little extra nudge
As I continued to walk I came to see West stood at the bottom at a dirt path with a photo in his hand
"What is this West?" I asked and he chuckled
"Riley, you should have learnt by now. We aren't allowed to tell you shit" He teased making my roll my eyes as he disappeared into the darkness
'Brighter Brightest. You will always be there biggest fan and I think there most memorable one at that. During our limelight experience. I got to see a whole new side to you I had never seen, one that was vulnerable but real, one that was timid but powerful and most importantly the hidden fighter. Every now and then, I get a glimpse of her again but I can't wait to see the next time she makes an appearance'
I was a mess around Brighter Brightest and I was sure that at that point. None of A-Troupe would have wanted to be seen dead with me but James.. James stayed with me the entire time, helping build me back up again whenever my confidence knocked me down
I continued to walk again until I came to another tree with a photo, I'm surprised James kept all of these I won't lie
'Natural Spring Mountain Water. You are the only girl I've ever shared my little secret with and you will forever be the only one I share it with'
I burst out laughing a little over this, I remember this day like no tomorrow. James was working on Math, I was practicing a Solo. I go to leave and bomb James pulls me back in, I wouldn't have changed a single second though. I truly wouldn't have
This walk seemed to never have a end, or at least I thought it didn't until I came to the end. It was a final tree with a single photo on it but around the tree was thousands of rose petals and some candles safely lit in lanterns
"Smart boy" I chuckled looking at the lanterns
I walked over to the picture taking it off the tree to read the not attached
'I don't think you will ever understand how nervous I was about this date. I had it all planned out beginning to end, the boys teased me for months over it but I wouldn't have changed a single second of it
When I met you Ri, I knew I had met my person. We are young I know, I know it's crazy to be thinking about this but it's you Riley
It's been you since day one
I'll always choose you
I lost you once, I made the biggest mistake of my life by doing that but now I have the chance to make that right. And believe me I'll spend day in and day out proving my love for you Riley'
I smiled reading it. I never thought I would lose James and when I did boy it hit me like a ton of bricks, being back in town, back on A-Troupe it proved to me that this was the place I was meant to be. I was always meant to be here with and be here with James. It was never going to be anything else
"You took your time" A voice said making me jump, I turned around to see James leaning against a tree smiling widely at me
"You did all of this?" I asked and he nodded coming over
"Why?" I asked as his arms snaked around my waist
"I lost you once and I needed to get you back" he said with a grin on his face
"Is this just a long winded way of asking me to by your girlfriend again" I chuckled and he smiled
"Are we in a relationship" He said in the same tone I had the first time around
"Did you really just ask me that" I teased making making him chuckle
"Well?" He asked placing his forehead again mine
"Well" I replied leaning up to kiss him
Tonight couldn't have been more perfect