Riley Stavros
Riley has been suffering recently. Very confused, Riley's dreams are a mixed sample of muscular boys and lanky girls. Recently, he hasn't been dreaming sweetly, but when he does, it's usually about boys. Sometimes he would be sitting somewhere beautiful - overlooking a sunset at the beach or sitting under a moonlit sky - with another guy. Sometimes he was muscular, like Riley, other times he was thin and fragile. But mostly, Riley's dreams have been swarmed by two different subjects: Peter or sex. Never both. Sex was always with girls. She would kiss her way down his neck, and no matter how hard Riley tried, he couldn't get himself to enjoy it. He just couldn't get through this dream and would very often ended up awaking in the middle of the night. When he dreams about Peter, he slept soundly. It didn't really matter what Peter was doing or where he was; just seeing his best friend's face comforted through the night.
Nightmares come almost every night. It's always the same one - Riley being ridiculed for his sexuality. Everyone he knew would stand over him and laugh. And they truly are standing over him because in this nightmare, Riley feels very small, and therefore is. People would point and yell, "Look! It's the football fag!" and jeer and taunt him like he was some ugly animal in a zoo with no feelings. Riley always wanted to sob during this dream, but couldn't because - even in his dreams - he had a reputation and would not, absolutely not be thought of as weak. So while people make fun of him, Riley just hangs his head and feels ashamed. The only good thing about his nightmares is the lack of Peter's face. But in return of this one little ounce of peace, every person had his voice.
Riley can't handle his dreams because they either make him feel sick or feel dirty.
Riley's nightmares shake him because they remind of what will happen if he doesn't either stay in the closet and bolt it shut, or fix himself.
Pity the boy who is controlled by his dreams.
Next: Manny Santos
