"What's wrong, what's wrong now
Too many, too many problems
Don't know where she belongs
Where she belongs"
Nobody's home, Avril Lavigne.
Mr. Santiago sat in his office, trying to figure out a way to get Riley to talk to him, hell anyone, again. He probably cared more then he should, but fuck it. He doubted anyone would say anything now if he tried to get the old Riley back. Riley had always been close to her teachers, and he knew that the fact that she had done a complete 180 bothered each and every one of them. The hair, the attitude, everything was completely different.
Flashback
He approached the table in the cafeteria where Riley sat eating her breakfast. This was the last time he was going to try, he told himself. He was about to give up. If she wanted to be that way, no body was going to stop her, least of all a teacher.
"Ms. Smith"
"Hi." Came the immediate response
"Ms. Smith…" He began
"Do you know what its like to have your whole world turned upside down? To not know where you belong anymore, to not have anything that resembles stability" Riley got up, pushed back her hair, and left.
End Flashback
Mr. Santiago sat there, tapping his pen. He looked up when the door opened and Ms. Jameson walked in.
"Hey" She said
"Hey. Whats up?" He asked her
"Nothing…How's Adriana?" She asked, her eyes falling on a picture of the three month old.
"She's good…" He replied looking the picture. An idea suddenly occurred to him. The Shakespeare teacher grinned, and he hopped up when the bell rang, and took off to find Madison and Jackie.
"You're bringing Adriana!" Madison squealed
"Yes, I'm bringing Adriana." Mr. Santiago told his student
"YAY!" Jackie said, clapping her hands
"Hush. Listen, tell Riley" The teacher said
"Huh? Oh…dude…you aint gonna stop trying are you?" Madison asked
"I never lose." Mr. Santiago responded
"Last time he brought Adriana, Riley went gaga" Jackie pointed out
"Yes. But Riley also thought Mr. Santiago was cool then" Madison responded
"But she doesn't now. Good point." Jackie said
"But bringing in the baby might help" Madison thought out loud.
"Yeah, Hi. So get her to hang around?" The teacher cut in to their conversation.
"Sure" The girls coursed.
Later that day
"Riley!" Madison shouted from halfway down the hallway. Riley stopped in her tracks and looked back. Seeing it was Madison she patiently waited and allowed the girl who wouldn't leave her alone to catch up with her.
"What are you doing after school?" Madison asked Riley
"Heading home I guess." Riley responded looking at her friend. Where the hell did she think she was going? All she ever did after school now was go home.
"Can you stick around for a bit?"
"Yeah. Why?" Riley asked
"Let's just say a certain favorite person of yours that you don't see that often is coming to visit." Madison responded
"What the hell are you talking about?" Riley asked. There weren't that many people that Riley liked anymore, never mind considered her favorite people. The only people she really liked were babies…BABY
"BABY!" Riley squealed
"Yea, he's bringing Adriana." Madison said laughing
"Are you serious?" Riley asked
"Yes she's serious" Mr. Santiago said from behind her
Riley turned and looked at her teacher. She raised her eyebrow at him, and debated within herself weather to actually talk to him or not.
"You promise?" Riley found herself asking
"Yes I promise." Mr. Santiago said. He knew that this would get Riley to talk to him, and get him back on semi-good terms with Jackie and Madison. They adored his baby niece almost as much as he did. The first time he brought her, they just stood there staring at her, and then went out and bought stuff for her.
Riley nodded her head and went into her Government class and Madison left. Mr. Santiago stayed in the hallway for a second, and then quickly ran down to Ms.De's office.
"Whoa there" Ms. De said as he came crashing into the room
"She's staying after school! And she spoke! To me!" The male said almost jumping up and down
"Calm down. Who are you talking about?" Ms. De asked
"RILEY!"
"Holy…What did you do? Fail her or something?"
"Nope, I'm bringing the baby after school!"
"What baby?" Ms. De asked puzzled
"Adriana. My niece. Remember?"
"Uhhh…oh! That's smart, Riley loves her to death!"
"All the girls do." Mr. Santiago said and smiled.
After School
"Where is she?" Riley asked walking into the office
"Well hi to you too" Ms. De said to her
Riley paused, looked at her and sighed. "Hi"
"She's in the parking lot" her teacher responded
Riley looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
"Right going to get her." Mr. Santiago left and ran out to the parking lot to collect his niece from his brother.
Ms. De watched her student as Riley talked to Madison. Her hair was red, and short. Her skirt was also short, something she never thought she would see on Riley. The girl had changed. Big time.
Mr. Santiago walked in carrying a car seat. "Here she is!" he said in a softer tone then he usually used. He placed the car seat down on the table and took his niece out.
"AWWWWWWWWW" all the girls in the office said in unison and stood in silence looking the beautiful baby, the only noise coming from the radio. Mr. Santiago handed the baby to Jackie when his phone began to ring.
"Here hold her for a second" He said
Jackie held the baby carefully, and smiled. All the girls suddenly looked at the radio as they heard the announcer say that a band no one had heard from in a long time was coming to New York to do a concert. The DJ then played a Backstreet Boys song. Jackie screamed and her gripped loosened on Adriana. Riley dove and grabbed the baby before Jackie dropped her.
"What the hell!" Riley said holding the baby.
"What the hell!" Mr. Santiago asked, at Riley's side, looking at his niece
"BACKSTREET BOYS!"
"Oh for the love of all things in heaven!" Riley said looking at her teacher.
Missy came running into the room. "Ms.De!" she said, and then screeched to a stop. "Oh Adri!" Missy then looked at Riley. "Oh crap."
"What?" Madison asked
"This should be interesting" Missy said, and moved from the door just as someone appeared at the doorway.
"Fuck" Jackie said
"Language!" Riley said looking up from the baby at Jackie and then following Jackie's gaze to the door.
"Jonathan…" Riley said half shocked, half pissed.
A/N: Hey guys, thanks for the reviews. I got another chappie out! go me! Thanks to the teacher who is Mr. Santiago in real life, for
A. Pissing me off.
B. Redeeming himself by bringing in his beautiful niece for me, vivien and heather to meet.
Review please! thanks!