A/N so this is a little something different, I hope you like it.
Riley Matthews isn't a nice person. She used to be, but those were the good old days of middle school. Nowadays, in high school, she's an outcast, a loner. And she's happy that way. When you're alone, no one can hurt you. When you're alone, no one can break you. Riley had gotten used to being alone and sitting in the back of the class. She knows where she belongs, and that is hiding from everyone.
Riley used to have friends. She was surrounded by them, they filled her with smiles and quirkiness. After a while, Riley didn't have them anymore. For some reason or another, they all left her or she left them. Now, she stands in her bedroom, wearing black jeans and a Black Sabbath shirt with combat boots. With a flannel over top and a messy bun to complete the look, she adds a touch of eyeliner to her brown eyes and looks in the mirror. First day at a new school. Unlike most people, she isn't worried about not making friends. Just the opposite. Riley doesn't want to get attached to anyone here. Getting attached meant getting hurt. She doesn't need that today.
• • • • • •
Riley walks to school, knowing it was close enough that it wouldn't matter. When she gets there, a few obnoxious guys sitting outside whistle at the new girl. She ignores them and walks inside, looking for the front office. When she finally spots it, she walks inside to see a boy with light blond hair and bright blue eyes talking to the receptionist. He turns at the sound of the door and she pauses. She almost got lost in his eyes. Almost. Middle school Riley would have. But junior Riley is emotionless and stone-hearted. Riley knows that all that comes out of liking a guy is pain.
Riley walks up to the desk and when the receptionist sees her, she asks, "Are you new, dear?" When Riley nods, she tells her to go ahead and sit down while she finds her schedule. Pretty boy says thank you to her and leaves the office, but not before glancing back at Riley.
Finally, the woman finds Riley's schedule and hands her a school map, pointing out a route from class to class. She walks to her first period class, which was English. If there was one thing Riley loved, it was English. She loved the impossible ideas of perfect guys. While these once set her standards too high for anything realistic, they now simply let her feel happy for anyone that ever found happiness in that. Her expectations of love had plummeted with her first disaster of a relationship. So she dreamed. She dreamed of imaginary guys that would come save her from the hell she was currently living in.
When she takes an empty seat at the back of the class, she pulls out a book.
While reaching for it, she glances around and sees a girl similar to herself, though with slightly more style and confidence, and blond hair. She also notices Pretty Boy next to the girl. With them sits a boy with fluffed up hair and a dark hoodie, though she guesses he's a lot nicer than he looks, judging by the smile on his face. While she has learned in her time that looks can be deceiving, this one looks extremely genuine.
Pretty Boy glances back at the clock and notices Riley. He smiles at her before turning back around. As Riley stares quizzically at her book, the bell rings, signaling the start of class. This is going to be a long day.