Just Beautiful

A/N: Thanks for the reviews, even though I did get some not so nice ones (ouch), but I'm trying to build up this Riley character; there's more to her than everyone thinks. So just bear with me, and you'll understand, I hope.

Pretty soon she'll figure out what his intentions were about…

Riley walked into school with a smile on her face; she was really taking a liking to Nathan. He acted so sweet and so considerate the other night that she thought she was really falling for him.

Riley walked past a group of cheerleaders and they all gave her mean glares. She brushed them off until one of them uttered the word, "slut". Riley turned around and threw her arms up in defense.

"What the fuck?" She yelled to her, causing the entire group to jump back. Peyton grabbed Riley's arm and led her to the girls' bathroom, Riley started to pace and felt her eyes begin to water, "What the hell is wrong with them?"

Peyton sighed and looked down at the ground, "I don't know how to tell you this," she said quietly.

Riley stopped pacing, "Tell me what?" She asked.

"Nathan kind of told everyone that," Peyton began, but then stopped, "Were you with Nathan last night?"

Riley nodded, "Yeah, we had this big talk about my mom and shit…Why?"

"Did you guys do anything?" Peyton asked apprehensively.

Riley looked down at her nails nervously, "We kissed…" She said and then looked up at Peyton, "What did Nathan tell everyone?"

"Nathan told everyone that you guys had sex," Peyton said sadly; she watched as Riley leaned against the wall and slid to the ground.

Riley pounded her forehead lightly against her knees and then leaned her head back, "I trusted him," she said; her voice raspy, "I thought that he was different…"

"I'm sorry," Peyton said sympathetically as she sat down beside Riley, "That's what happens when you get involved with Nathan."

Riley snorted, "Experience?"

"Unfortunately," Peyton said as she looked down at the ground.

"I should've known," Riley said mainly to herself, "My instincts were telling me one thing, and my brain was saying something else."

Riley got up and Peyton followed her, "Are you going to be okay?"

"No," Riley sighed and then walked out of the bathroom.

xxx

Lucas walked down the hall and saw Riley coming towards him. He could see the tears streaming down her face. Lucas pulled her into his arms and hugged her like only a best friend could.

"I heard about what happened," Lucas said softly, "I am…I'm so sorry Riley."

Riley sobbed softly as the two of them hugged in the middle of the hallway, "I don't want to be known as the slut of Tree Hill, Luke…"

"I know you don't," Lucas whispered, "It'll be okay…"

Riley looked up at him and shook her head, "No it won't…I thought that moving would make everything better, but it hasn't!"

Brooke walked out of a class room and saw the two of them hugging; she glared and crossed her arms, "First me, then Peyton, and then Riley," she said coldly, "You just don't waste time do you?" She asked and then walked out of the school.

Riley looked up at Lucas as the hug broke, "I'll be right back," Riley said and then walked out of the school and followed Brooke, "You're fucking unbelievable you know that right?" Riley screamed.

Brooke turned around and rolled her eyes, "Spare me the whole 'we're just friends' thing, because I don't want to hear it," she said, "You told me to tell him that I loved him, and now you two are all over each other?" Brooke spat, "Fuck that!"

"Did you hear the rumors?" Riley yelled.

Brooke nodded her head slowly and brushed the hair out of her eyes, "I know they're not true…"

"Well you know what? About a million other people think they are," Riley stated, "Lucas was hugging me because he was being a friend…Unlike you!"

Brooke scoffed, "This is high school babe," she pointed out, "Do you think there aren't going to be rumors?"

"I just expected you to stand up for me," Riley said softly.

Brooke sighed, "I have! Really, I have been sticking up for you," she said, "I can't be Peyton for you," she added sarcastically.

"I never asked you to be," Riley shot back through gritted teeth, and then walked away.

xxx

Riley walked into the weight room and saw Nathan lifting weights; she turned off the music that was playing and he looked up at her.

"Hey," Nathan said casually.

Riley crossed her arms, "What stunt are you trying to pull?" She asked.

"It's guy stuff," Nathan said, brushing it off, "You just need to relax…"

Riley laughed sarcastically, "Relax?" She repeated, "You basically fucked over my reputation! You know, I thought you were actually something else…But you're just like every other mindless jock whose parents don't love him!" She screamed.

Nathan stood up abruptly, "You have no idea what you're talking about!" He exclaimed.

"You are pathetic excuse for a guy," Riley said coldly, "And I wish that I never would've met you, or kissed you!"

Nathan rolled his eyes, "I had to tell the guys something, I mean…What did you expect me to tell them?"

"The truth," Riley stated, "God Nathan," she said and then walked out of the room.

xxx

Brooke walked into Whitey's house and into Riley's room; Riley was lying on her bed looking up at ceiling. Brooke knocked on the door and walked in with a cup of coffee in her hand.

"Did Whitey let you in?" Riley asked in a monotone.

Brooke set the coffee down on Riley's vanity, "Yeah…"

"I'll remind him to not answer the door next time," Riley said coldly.

"I know that you're pissed," Brooke said as she stood there uncomfortably, "But…I've never had a friend who's had a big rumor about them, usually people are always talking about me…"

Riley sat up and looked at Brooke, "I just expected more from you Brooke."

"I know," Brooke said sadly, "And the thing is…I don't expect much from me, and neither does anybody else."

Riley stood up and hugged Brooke, "I'm sorry for getting pissed it's just…"

"I know," Brooke said as she hugged Riley back, "I'm sorry for not sticking up for you when I should have."

The hug broke and Riley smiled, "Shit happens…"

Brooke smiled, "Still friends?"

"Still friends," Riley said.

Brooke had left hours later, and Riley sat in her room and drew some sketches on a piece of paper. Whitey walked into Riley's room and cleared his throat; Riley looked up at him and smiled, "What's up?" Riley asked.

"Should be asking you the same thing," White said, "I heard the guys talking at practice today…And Nathan seemed like somebody had hit him with a stick."

Riley laughed, "Well somebody should…"

"You can either tell me what happened," Whitey began, "Or I can just tell you that I already know."

Riley sighed, "Nathan made up some rumors about me and him…"

"Oh," Whitey said as he rubbed his eyes, "Nathan's an ass of a kid, and it's partly because of his father," he began.

Riley rolled her eyes, "That makes no excuse for what he did to me."

"I know," Whitey said, "And believe me I made him run extra at practice…"

"Wait," Riley said, "How long have you known about the rumor?"

Whitey laughed, "Since this morning…I heard some of those god awful cheerleaders talking about it."

"Ewe," Riley said, "Cheerleaders…"

Whitey smiled and patted Riley's knee, "You're one hell of a girl," he said and then walked out of Riley's room.

The rain beat against Riley's window and she looked at her digital clock; it read 2:30 AM. Riley rolled over and got out of bed; she saw somebody at the door. Apprehensively she opened the door and saw the person she feared standing there.

"Hey Ri," he said with a crooked grin.

Riley looked at him in disbelief, "Mike?"

"You know," Mike said, "I always imagined that look on your face…"

Riley felt like she was about to choke, "How'd you find me?"

"We had a deal," Mike said, "Did you think you were just going to leave and get out of our agreement?"

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