Authors Note: Once again, I appreciate the reviews dearly. This chapter kind of lets you know why Zoey is so messed up, but the next chapter will be focused on Riley, Zoey, Cindy, Bradley..style changes, personality changes- and much more okay?- I'll let you get to the chapter now.

Riley Freeman- POV

I decided to go downstairs and make a call to Zoey. Luckily, I had the living room all to myself, so I didn't have to worry about anyone being in my business. I dialed Zoey's cell which continuously ringed over and over again. I knew she was probably avoiding me on purpose. I couldn't be mad at her for it…I guess I deserved it. I tried to call at least three more times and still no answer, so I decided to leave her voicemail, expecting her to listen and then maybe she'll call me back.

*The Day after Next*

It was lunchtime and I decided to skip the cafeteria since I hadn't run into Zoey since I got to school. I had a feeling she was still upset about the whole movie thing that went down on Saturday, because she had yet to answer my calls. I even texted her ass in 3rd period and still got no answer, so obviously communicating through technology wasn't gonna get it. I had to talk to her ass up close and personal- there's no way she could ignore me then. I decided to check the library since that was her everyday spot to hang and of course, I made the right decision. I noticed her sitting at the computer section and decided to take a seat by the computer next to her.

I knew her ass saw me sitting there, but she wanted to act like she didn't notice, continuing to type on her keyboard. I decided to touch her hair and started playing with her curls. She quickly turned her head around.

"What do you want?" She asked with an annoyed look on her face.

"I just wanted to apologize...about the way I acted Saturday.."

She nodded her head and turned back facing the computer. "Yeah okay...apology accepted"

"Your acceptance doesn't seem very sincere…" I replied.

She turned around towards me "well it is-now can you please go? I'm busy and need to concentrate on my work."

I glanced over at her computer screen. "That ain't no damn work…you on a fashion website"

"Yeah, so I lied...I just really want to be myself Riley- okay?

I couldn't hold back the aggravated expression that appeared on my face. Zoey was trippin too hard off this shit. I decided to take her advice.

"Fine...I'm out" I said, getting up from the chair. I made my way out of the library and decided to go to cafeteria.

Zoey Anderson-POV

Since I was done with all of my work from school, I decided to go down to the basement, and work on a painting. Whenever I felt a little down or stressed, I always went down there. It was filled with all of my art supplies and paintings from middle school till now. I like to call it my mini art studio, which was like a sense of security for me. I continued to stroke my paint brush against the canvas, but I stopped when I heard the door bell ring. "Must be a visitor for my mom" I said to myself, quickly brushing off the thought. I continued on painting, but I was disturbed once again. This time it was my mother loudly calling my name. I went up the stairs, making my way to the living room to see what she wanted.

Surprisingly I saw Riley sitting on the couch with flowers in his hand with a card. I looked at my mom with a confused look.

"Mom..what's going on?"

"I was going to ask you the same question" she said while eying the flowers in Riley's hand.

Riley stood up and walked towards me, handing me the flowers and the card that read the words "sorry" on the front.

"..you didn't have to do this Riley"

"Yeah..I know didn't have to, but I wanted to… I guess what I'm trying to say is…."

I waited for him to get his answer out, but he seemed hesitant to speak.

"…What are you trying to say Riley?"

"I'm saying.. I want you to be with me—not anyone else"

I looked at Riley and then over to my mom, who was very much into our conversation. I didn't feel comfortable talking about this in front of my mother, especially since this was so unexpected.

"Mom, can I talk to Riley alone...in the basement?"

A puzzled look appeared on my mother's face. "Why do you need to bring him to the basement?—Why not the kitchen?"

I let out a light sigh. "Mom, you know my artwork is in the basement...I just wanted to show Riley some of my work..and have a little chat- that's all"

She rolled her eyes, giving a slightly annoyed expression. "You got 12 minutes, if you exceed that time, I'm coming down there"

Riley Freeman- POV

My head was full of confusion as Zoey brought me down to her basement. I wondered to myself "Why couldn't she answer me in front of her mom?" "Why would she take me down here?" "Was I an embarrassment to her?" – So many questions had entered my mind as we made our way down to the end of the stairs. I saw a bunch of paintings. They were dark and a little creepy looking, but I tried to ignore it, bringing my attention back to Zoey.

"Yo, why you didn't answer me when I told you I wanted to be with you?"

I watched her as she took a seat on a wooden chair, putting her head down. "You don't want to be with me Riley…trust me, you could do so much better"

I walked over to Zoey and kneeled down by her chair. "Why do you talk down on yourself all the time? I don't get it.. I know you got low self esteem, but damn—you telling me you don't like not one thing about yourself?.."

"No, I don't…" She replied, getting up from her chair. I watched her walk over to a box that sat next to a pile of old junk- or least that's what it looked like to me.

"Whatchu doin?" I asked as she rambled through the box. She didn't answer, but I noticed her grabbing some pictures, which made me more curious.

I took a seat in her chair as she walked over to me.

"Well, thanks for taking my seat" she said, sarcastically.

"You could sit right here" I said, patting my lap. "what? You weigh like 20 pounds right?"

She laughed and playfully hit me. "Shut up, Riley"

She sat on my lap and showed me an old picture of herself, her mother, and some white dude.

"Is that your dad?" I asked

She nodded her head "Yeah..that's him"

"Luckily you got your looks from your mom.." I replied jokingly, trying give her another laugh, but she ignored my response.

"—It's okay for you to say it Riley.."

"Say what?"

"Let's not play dumb okay? I know you realize that I'm like 30 pounds bigger in that picture."

I looked at the picture for a few seconds "I mean..you wasn't fat..just thick and you still look good to me"

"I guess my father thought differently" She replied sadly.

"What you mean by that?" I asked.

"I mean he was an asshole. His attitude was just bitter all the time and I honestly didn't understand why mother was with him, but she said he was different …before they were married."

She got off my lap and started pacing back and forth.

"I can honestly admit my father wasn't that bad, until he started drinking…then he became verbally abusive towards me and my mother"

"What kind of shit would he say?" I asked curiously

"He would call my mom the N word when he would get upset, he talked about my weight constantly, called me names saying no one would want me because I was a mutt."

She paused for a few seconds and looked up to the ceiling, as if she wanted to cry, but she held back her tears.

"Mutt..that's what he always called me.."

"So, where is your father?"

"He's dead and I could fucking care less. My mother still loves him till this day- If it wasn't for her, I would have thrown those pictures of him in the trash a long time ago, but she insists on keeping them"

"For me, they just bring back fucked up memories.." She said, continuing on

I got up and walked over to her, placing both hands on her shoulders. I saw the sadness in her eyes while she talked about him.

"On some real shit Zoey..You gotta learn how to forgive—forgive and forget"

She shook her head from side to side. "I can't forget….I'll never forget"

"Well, at least try to move on…He's dead now-leave the past in the past. Trust me Zoey, The sooner you let this go, the sooner you can stop hurting your self- mentally and physically."

She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know if I can do that Riley…"

I sighed heavily, slightly annoyed by her response. "See? There you go doing it again, putting yourself down all the time-

"Well, I can't help it. This is how am; what do what me to do?"

"I want you to let that shit go- Your father is dead and gone. You shouldn't be hurting yourself because of him. It ain't fucking worth it.."

The conversation came to an end when we heard Zoey's mom call her name. We went back up to the living room and saw her mother sitting on the couch with her arms folded and her legs crossed. By the look on her face, I had a strong feeling she didn't like me too much,

"Well, Im bout to be out. I gotta get home" I said ,making my way to the door. I looked back towards Zoey, who was looking at me as well.

"Remember Zoey...forgive and forget"

I left out after saying those few words and made my way back home before granddad started trippin.

Zoey Anderson – POV

I appreciated Riley's concern for me, telling me to try and let go of my past, but I wish he wouldn't have said those last words before leaving the house. As soon as Riley left, my mother couldn't wait to get into my business. I tried to quickly leave out of the living room and make my way up the stairs, but she quickly stopped me.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked.

I pointed towards the stairs. "To my room.."

"Not until you tell me what the hell he's talking about and what's with him talking about wanting to be with you?"

"Is he serious?" she asked, adding on a slight laughter afterwards

"Yes, he's very serious- Is there a problem with that mother?"

"Sweetheart, I always thought you would get a boyfriend in high school, but I NEVER imagined him to be like…what's his name again?"

I ignored her last question, letting her continue on.

"I hope you don't think you're actually going to date him"

"….I didn't even make a decision yet" I replied

"I'm sorry, but you have no decision sweetheart"

A mixture of annoyance and confusion appeared on my face.

"What? – Are you seriously going to tell me who I can and cannot date?"

"I'm sorry Zoey, but I just have a bad feeling about him. It's just a mother's intuition"

"I can't believe you're judging him like this- Riley was the only person who actually took the chance to get to know me and yet you continuously talk down on him"

I turned around and was about to make my way towards the stairs, but decided to turn back around instead.

"Mom, the last thing you should do is judge. You chose a man who you thought was your prince in shining armor, but all he turned out to be was a worthless DRUNK who could care less about you or me.

She stood up from the couch, her face covered with anger as she walked towards me.

"HOW DARE YOU?" She asked, raising her voice.

My blood boiled with anger.

"How dare me? – How dare him, mom?- how dare him for talking down on his wife, calling her names? – how dare him for thinking alcohol would solve his problems and how dare him for talking down on his daughter by calling her fat, ugly, worthless, mutt- should I go further mom?."

I waited for her answer, but she didn't respond, just looked at me silently. Since she didn't have anything to say, I decided to continue on.

"You think you know it all, but you don't." I said, calmly with my arms folded. I shook my head from side to side and took a deep breath.

"You think I lost that weight in 8th grade because I was hitting puberty? Well you're wrong- I starved myself. I starved and starved and starved. You think I wear long sleeve shirts all time because I don't like my arms? – well you're wrong again- I cut myself ..and I hide my scars with these sleeves-I cut and cut and cut"

"I do this because of him- your prince charming." I said, referring to my father.

"Riley was just trying to talk some sense into my head, telling me to forgive and move on—but I guess he's a bad person for that huh?-If you want me to stop hanging with riley – then fine, go ahead and take the one friend I have that actually gives a damn about me"

I started to breathe heavily while looking at my mother. It was my anxiety kicking in. I waited for her to respond to me, but all she did was put her hand on her mouth, turned around and began to cry. She didn't know my father was calling me names. She didn't know that puberty was not the cause of my weight loss and she didn't know that hiding scars was the reason for me wearing sleeves all of the time. She didn't know all this time that my father was the cause of my pain. I guess she felt embarrassed because she was so clueless about the whole situation. I turned back around and went upstairs to my room.

As I went in my bedroom, I looked at myself in the mirror, thinking to myself that I didn't want to be this girl anymore. I refused to drown myself in sorrows any longer. I was so deep into my thoughts, that I was slightly startled when I heard a knock on my bedroom door. It was my mother. I noticed her eyes were red from crying.

"Mom..I'm sorry for-"

She quickly stopped me. "No…You don't have to say anything. I just came to tell you that my friend knows this wonderful therapist. She's great with teens; she's going to help you through this."

My facial expression was far from ecstatic. Even though therapists were a good thing, I didn't like the idea of me talking about my private life to some stranger.

"….you're getting me counseling?" I asked in a disappointed voice.

"Yes Zoey..you need it. I refuse to let this get out of control. You're too young to be hurting yourself like this—you're getting a therapist and that's final-you're going to be taking a little break from your friend as well"

She shook her head with disappointment. "This is just too much for me to handle right now"

"—I think I need to lay down" She said, making her way out of my room.

I decided to text Riley and let him know about my mother's decision.

Authors Note- Brain dead- I have to stop here. If you want more, just leave reviews because they make smile =)