I scuff my feet along the footpath as I walk home. It's been a long day and I can't help but tune out Angie's voice.
"You shouldn't do that, you'll wear out your shoes." she scolds me.
I chuckle, "Okay mum." I say sarcastically, shooting her a smile, letting her know I'm joking.
She doesn't smile in return though, "Have you heard from her lately?"
I shake my head, "Not in the last eight months. She hasn't bothered contacting me and I don't really want to talk to her. Why?"
"No reason." she says, avoiding eye contact.
"Angie. You really suck at lying. What is it?"
She shrugs, "It's probably nothing. Your uncle didn't seem very sure."
"Now you have to tell me."
Angie sighs, "Jeff says your dad told him that he and your mum have split up."
"My parents have split up?"
"I thought that they would have told you."
"They never told me." I say quietly, unsure how I feel about it.
"I'm sorry Riley."
I shake my head, "No, no. It's fine. Thanks for telling me." I stop in front of our new apartment building. "Well, this is me."
Angie smiles half-heartedly, "It is."
"I'll see you tomorrow, I guess."
"See you."
With that we go our separate ways and I head inside.
When I reach our floor Niall is sitting outside the front door.
I really just want to go inside right now and do nothing. Better fake a smile then.
"Hey!" I say, unlocking the door, "How long have you been waiting?"
He gets up from the ground and follows me inside. "About 45 minutes, I think."
"You should've text me first. I would've told you I was going to be late home."
Niall shrugs, "It's okay. I need to talk to you anyway."
I sigh, "Please say this is not bad news. I cannot take much more of that right now." I say, sitting down on the couch.
Aside from my parents divorcing life is pretty unsettled right now.
Joe and I have just moved to Wimbledon to be closer to the UoA campus. First semester is starting soon. And Zoe is just about ready to pop. I found out she was pregnant not long after I moved back to the UK.
"It's really a matter of personal opinion whether it is good or bad, I guess. I mean, I think it's good and I hope you will too. I mean, we wanted to tell-"
"We? What do you mean we?"
He just stares at me, "Nevermind. It doesn't matter."
"Niall, you cannot tell me you have something to tell me then say it doesn't matter. Spill!"
He takes a deep breath. "It's about Will."
I frown, "Oh no. What has he done? Did he get in trouble at school? Has he got a secret girlfriend or something?"
"Boyfriend." he says, avoiding looking at me.
"What?" I ask, confused.
"Will has a boyfriend."
I furrow my brows, I always suspected that he was gay but I kind of expected him to tell me himself.
"How do you know?"
Niall shifts awkwardly in his seat, "Be-because it's me. We are dating. We have been for a while. Will has wanted to tell you from the start but I made him keep it a secret. I'm not really sure why." he says, not moving his eyes from his hands.
Well I did not see that coming.
"You and Will?"
"Yes."
"How long?"
"What?"
"How long have you two been dating?" I ask.
"Almost a year."
"Wow." I say quietly.
I can't help but feel stupid for not noticing as the signs begin to come together in my mind. I just saw it as my two best friends getting along.
The sound of the front door closing pulls me from my thoughts as Joe comes into view.
"Hey! Are you staying for dinner Niall? I was thinking we could order some Chinese from the place down the road. Caden swears that it is amazing."
He stops and glances at us. "Is everything okay?"
I just stare back at him. What am I supposed to say? Luckily Niall speaks up first.
"Everything is fine. I was just heading off actually." He gets up from the chair and looks to me, "See you later Riley."
I take a deep breath and nod, "See you."
He smiles slightly at Joe, the expression not quite reaching his eyes. Something tells me that this did not go well. I must resolve it soon.
As soon as the door closes Joe turns to look at me. "Now, are you going to tell me what's wrong or do I have to guess?"
"Nothing is wrong," I lie, getting up and moving past him into the hallway.
"Riley." he says, reaching out and grabbing my wrist. "I can tell when you are lying to me."
I twist my wrist free and start making my way upstairs. "It's nothing to worry about Joe."
He follows me into the study. "He told you didn't he?" he says with a sigh, "About him and Will."
"You knew?!"
He raises his hands defensively, "I wasn't supposed to. I caught Niall sneaking out of the apartment. What was I supposed to do Riley? He swore me to secrecy."
"You were supposed to tell me. They're my best friends for goodness sake."
"That defeats the whole purpose of keeping a secret."
"But we said we wouldn't keep secrets anymore Joe." I counter, taking a deep breath. "No. You know what? We are not going to fight over this. I'm just surprised, y'know?"
"That's understandable love. Please know that I wanted to tell you. I just wasn't sure how you'd take it."
"It's fine. So long as they're happy I guess. That is all that really matters."
I sit on the grass and smile as I watch the people around me.
I have always been a dreamer. Creating the image of a perfect life in my mind and the frustration when things did not turn out as I had wished is ever-present. But in this moment, as I watch the people that mean the most to me, I feel truly satisfied with the way my life has turned out.
"Riley!" I look up to see Niall grinning at me. "We're gonna play touch rugby, you want to play?"
I grin back at him, "Are you kidding! That's totally unfair. I'm from New Zealand, I'm going to whoop your ass, leprechaun." I say with a laugh as I get up.
"Remember that when you lose." he responds with a wink.
I laugh, "Yeah, yeah. Whatever helps you sleep at night." I say, running off to join the others.
Life is full of hurdles and nobody is perfect. Mistakes are inevitable and the only way to make it through is to remain positive. The moment you give up is the moment you lose.
I won't ever give up.
A/N
So.. This is it. The final chapter of The City.
I have loved writing this so much and I am sorry for my lack of reliability in these last chapters.
I just want to thank everyone who has helped me with this book. My Wattpad friends, readers and especially Will. Will has kept me going and encouraged me to keep writing and without him I don't think I would have ever finished this book.
Now, question time. Should there be a sequel? I have a fair idea for the plot of a sequel but I need to know that you guys will be there for me if I do write it. It's up to you really.
Thank you all so very much for all you have done. I appreciate every single one of you and I know I'll never be able to thank every single reader individually but just know that I really do love you guys.
Until next time, whenever and wherever that may be..
I love you all!! xx