Pulling Me Through Part Three

Sorry about taking so long to update? Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter and please review!

Lyrics: If I wanted to go, I would have gone by now, but I really need you near me to keep my mind off the edge

Chapter Six

Riley's POV

"How are you feeling, Sammi?" I asked as I dropped down on the sofa that she was laying on. She simply shrugged and pulled her covers up tighter around her. It was going to take her a while to get over this and forgive him.

"Ah, you know" She sighed. "Exactly the same as I did yesterday, but probably a little calmer" She chuckled at the end of her sentiment and closed her eyes. "I can't believe him."

"Everyone makes mistakes, but most aren't as sweet as him" I explained. "Most wouldn't explain it all to you and allow you the freedom that you need." What I was saying was probably a load of bullshit, but if it made her feel better, I would say anything. It's not right when Sammi's not cheery and random.

"Thanks, Riley" She mumbled. "But you shouldn't make up excuses for him. If he took me to an abandoned island for a romantic date, it still wouldn't be okay because he's only doing it because he cheated. If I forgive him, it will only depend on how I feel. Nothing he does right now matters to me."

I stayed quiet, knowing that if I said anything more, it would just aggravate her.

"Hey, do you want to go shopping?" I asked. She finally perked up and sat up in the sofa.

"Can we look at wedding dresses?" She asked. "You don't have to buy anything, but I'd love to look" I had promised myself that I wouldn't until the other details of the wedding had been filled in, but the yearning to try a dress on had been getting too much to bear. That was the centre of the wedding. Everyone always looks at the dress and becomes jealous of it. It makes people want to get married, so everyone else could stare at the way the dress cascades and flows around their legs.

"Fine, but we're definitely not buying" I warned. "And we need to invite the girls otherwise they'll be pissed at us."

"I suppose that's only fair" She agreed. "You go tell Andy that we're going and I'll text them to meet us."

…

"Hey, Andy" I called once I reached upstairs. He was still fast asleep. His covers falling from the bed to reveal his bare chest and his hair was tousled, so it fell over his crystalline blue eyes. "Get up!" It took only a gentle slap across the head to get him to wake up.

"Is Zane okay?" He asked, half asleep. Man, he was adorable when he first woke up. "Is Savannah?"

"Andy, the kids are fine" I assured. "I just wanted to ask you if you were okay with looking after them. Sammi's taking me dress shopping." He perked up when he heard it.

"Ooh, what are you getting?" he asked. "Is it going to be short or long?" God, there are times when I worry about Andy. He seems more excited about my dress than I am.

"I don't know yet" I laughed. "I don't have a clue what I want and I wouldn't tell you anyway. You're not allowed to know until you seem me walking down the aisle."

"Man, why do you have to be all traditional?" He questioned as he slipped out of the bed and pulled a shirt around him. "Yeah, I'll look after them today."

"My mom would have freaked out if it wasn't traditional" I laughed. "And it's kind of fun that way. Anyway, I'll see you later" I made to leave the room, but he took my hand in his and pressed a peck to my cheek.

"I'll see you soon, babe." He whispered as I left.

…

"You've missed the turnoff" Sammi reminded. I bit at my fingernail, getting more and more agitated as the seconds wore on.

"I swear to God, if I had known that coming shopping with you would be this stressful, I never would have said yes" I grumbled to receive a quick glare.

"Okay, take the next left and then park up" She instructed. I had never been so happy than when I saw Sandra, Bailey, Natasha, Scout and even Rikki.

"Aha, who's a good driver now?" I laughed as I got out of the car. "I got us here in one piece."

"I thought you wouldn't be shopping for a dress for a while" Natasha reminded me once we were walking into the store.

"Ah, I didn't either, but Sammi's been feeling a little down, so this was the best way to cheer her up" I sighed, trying my hardest to be tactful about the situation. If Sammi felt the need to tell the others what had happened, then it was her call…not mine.

"Aw, why've you been down?" Sandra asked as she took a seat in the corner of the store and glared at the dresses around her. Yeah, she wasn't the most enthusiastic about dresses or the colour white.

"Ah, it's a long story" Sammi mumbled. "But I suppose you're going to find out sooner or later and it might make me feel better if I get it all off my chest."

"Okay, you're starting to worry me a little" Scout laughed in a nervous manner. "Is everything okay?"

"Well, Jinxx broke up with me a few days ago" Sammi revealed. All of their eyes bugged out. We've all had relationship problems at some point, but no one had expected any of it to happen to Sammi and Jinxx. They've been together for as long as anybody could remember. They just didn't have problems. They were perfectly compatible whereas I have my ups and downs when it comes to my relationship with Andy. Everyone just expected Sammi and Jinxx to be together forever.

"What the hell happened?" Bailey questioned. Rikki was the only one who didn't seem to realise how significant this was. She had only just joined the group and didn't realise how great these two were. Natasha didn't know the full extent of it, but she understood that it was bad.

"At first I didn't know" Sammi relived. "He wouldn't tell me, so I just assumed that it was something that I had done and then yesterday, he came over and told me…" She trailed off and looked through the racks of dresses. This was hard for her.

Sammi's POV

There was a lump in my throat, but I refused to cry. I didn't want to think back to what happened yesterday, but I knew that I would have to if I was to tell the girls.

"So, what happened?" Natasha asked. "What did he do?" At least she was brave enough to ask the question that the others were too scared to ask.

"Um, he told me that he kissed another girl and that he felt so guilty that he would rather not be with me" I whispered, wiping at my eyes frantically to stop any stray tears. "He's trying to be noble and decide what's best for me and it's like I don't even get a say."

"Come here, Sammi" Scout finally mumbled as she pulled me into a hug and sighed deeply. "Jinxx is just being a dick. He'll realise that he's made a huge mistake and then he'll come crawling back to you."

"I don't want him to come crawling back to me" I lied. "I never want to see him again" It was all a lie. Last night was the worst night I have ever had. All I wanted was to feel his arm tighten around me.

"I can see where you're coming from" Sandra agreed. "Come on, let's look at the dresses to cheer you up" Well, that's the first time I ever thought I'd hear Sandra say something like that.

"Hey, you should try this on?" I said as I pulled out a flowing white dress that swept the floor. It had netted material for the arms and a long veil attached. "If you just paint the veil black, you'll be good to go"

"Ha. Ha, Sammi" Riley said sarcastically as she took a closer look at the dress. "It is beautiful, though."

"Try it on" I urged as I held it out to her. "There's nothing wrong with making a purchase a little earlier than expected.

Riley's POV

It was simply gorgeous. I could only imagine how it would look on me as I walked down the aisle. I wanted it. I wanted to flaunt it in front of Andy and I wanted my little girl to hold the train as I walked. I wanted my son to remember it and to hope that his future wife would wear a dress like this. I was prepared to buy it.

"Fine, I'll try it on" I sighed as though I thought it was a hardship. It took forever to get it all fastened up. I had Sammi, Scout and a woman who worked here fastening up the corset at the back and it still took the better half of an hour.

"There you go" The woman said, looking at the dress in pride. "You're all fastened it." I followed her to where the mirror stood and gasped as soon as I saw myself. The girl who had walked in with the hoody and the jeans was now wearing a pristine wedding dress. My black hair fell to my waist and contrasted with the dress brilliantly.

"Oh dear god" Scout sighed from behind me. "Can I marry you?" I couldn't even tear my eyes away long enough to laugh.

"Shit, man, you have so got to get that one" Sandra whispered from behind me. "It's excellent."

"How much is it?" I asked. As soon as she told me, I felt as though I was going to faint. That was way too many digits for me.

"Come on, Riley" Natasha urged. "You only get married once in your lifetime. Splash out a little."

"There's splashing out and then there's going bankrupt." I complained. "I'll never be able to afford it."

"Didn't you say that you had quite a lot still left over from what you inherited when your mom died?" Sammi questioned. Ah, I'd never forgotten about the sum of money that was in a safe in bedroom. I had wanted to save it for if Savannah or Zane ever wanted to go to college. It felt wrong to use it for a wedding dress. I'm sure I'll find another one soon enough that's a little cheaper and I'll look just as good.

"Don't even think about saying no" Rikki finally piped up. "I know doubt when I see it. Riley, this will be one of the most important days of your life. Don't make it less than perfect because of money."

"God, I suppose you're right" I mumbled as I slipped my hoody back on, feeling a lot less beautiful. I turned back to the woman, her eyes glinting at the prospect of making a sale. Ah, hell, you only live once. "I'll take it."

"Perfect, I hope you and your fiancée have a great wedding" She said as she pushed it in a dress bag. "Just sign here." I scrawled my signature on the piece of paper she held out and sighed in relief. This was by far the best purchase I had ever made.

Well, she finally got her dress. The next chapter will take place the next week and it will be a Jake and Scout one. Ah, I haven't written one of those in a while. I hope you ell enjoyed this chapter and please leave a review! I'll try to get the next update up quicker than this time!