Riley Ryan Reynolds.
You would think that it's a boy. But it's a girl. A battered , bruised, broken girl.
Sometimes she wants to just run from her problems. Her life. But for fourteen years she's stayed strong.
But her closest friends can tell something's wrong. As of lately she's been more tired, and people notice that she's starting to get a bit thinner. But every time they ask it's always the same thing.
Lies.
She puts on a fake smile every moring just like the layer of makeup to cover her bruises. But behind all of the lies she tells is a girl struggling to stay strong. Especially with what she goes through. Every time one of her bruises is shown she says that same lie.
"Rosa, don't worry," Riley said, smiling brightly, "I just fell and bruised myself. You know how clumsy I am!"
"We're just concerned," Lysander said.
Why do I have such nice friends? I don't deserve them, Riley thought.
"If someone is hurting you just let us know! Okay?" Rosa said. Deep in her eyes she could see past the lies, she just couldn't figure out who it was. So she decided to stay silent until she could get something out of Riley. But when they try to help she gets defensive.
Riley got up and went to walk around the school. She let her mind drift off to hef life. To her crush.
She frowned at little at that thought though. He already had a girlfriend. She didn't want to ruin someone else's happiness for her own. She always puts other before her self. And she was good friends with his girlfriend , Melody. But Nathaniel on the other hand...let's just say he dislikes Riley.
Riley sighed as she slumped down putting her head in her hands. Her long black hair fell from its place, acting as a curtain, separating her from the hard world. She didn't even notice Violette sit next to her.
"Ry? Is something wrong? " she asked softly.
Riley looked up with a smile. "No, just a little tired."
"M-maybe you should sleep then?" Violette suggested.
Riley nodded and decided it would be best if she did get sleep. She would have gone to the gardening club to rest but Jade was there. The classrooms are out of the question. Maybe the student counsel room? Nathaniel is always studying so there should be a bit of peace there, right?
She dragged her feet against the floor, not finding enough energy to make any attempt to do more than that. And she found that the room was empty. So she ended up sleeping sitting up.
Nathaniel and Melody walked in a while later, carrying stacks of papers. More things to get organized. Nathaniel sighed as he saw Riley sleeping in there. MMelody put an arm on his shoulder.
"Let's leave her here. I've noticed a change in her. And it isn't a good one. She needs her rest." Nathaniel nodded as he looked at the way she fell asleep. He slowly laid her down on the floor and put a coat someone left there under her head as a pillow.
Then they left her there. And only a few minutes later she started to cry and scream in her sleep.