Before Dawn

Chapter Three

After spending my whole first period on the restroom floor, I made my way back out into the halls. The bell had just rung when I walked out.

Everyone immediately looked at me. Staring, whispering, laughing even. "Hey, Dahlia!" It was Riley's friend. I think his names Dalton.

"I uhm grabbed your stuff from class." He extended his right hand which had my notebook, pen, and phone in its grip. "Oh thanks." I smiled the best I could at the moment. Taking my things, not even wanting to check my phone.

"Look, I'm sorry about your dad." He apologized giving me a sorrowful look. "I don't want your pity Dalton." I clarified, turning to walk away. "No! It's not like that!" He walked behind me.

Just then I felt a hand on my wrist. Looking up I saw it was Bryce. "Hey..." He greeted awkwardly. His gaze looking from me and then to Dalton. "Is he bothering you?" Bryce straightened his posture to look more intimidating.

"What? No he was just talking to me." He didn't listen and stepped in between Dalton and I. "Why don't you leave my girl alone?" Bryce insisted, his chest puffing out. "Maybe you should listen to "your girl", she told you I wasn't bothering her." Dalton pointed out to him.

"I don't believe her." He didn't believe me? Why would I lie? "I don't wanna cause any problems so I'm just gonna walk away. See ya Dahlia." He nodded to me before backing away. "The fuck was that?" He turned around to face me. "I was protecting you." He argued. "I didn't need your protection." He seemed offended by that.

I started going towards my next class. "Why'd you lie to me?" I stopped in my tracks. "Lie? When did I lie?" My face scrunched up in confusion. "I thought your dad was dead?" Unbelievable. "I didn't tell you that." I really didn't have the patience for anyones stupidity today.

"Well you didn't tell me he was in prison either." Bryce was actually upset about this. "You ne-neve-never asked." I finally got out. "What's with the stutter? Are you screwing with me?" Bryce continued to pester me. "Just go away Bryce." As I started to turn away from him he grabbed my wrist.

"Talk to me Lia!" He pleaded his grip on me was tight. "Let go Bryce." My voice was low since people were already looking at us. "Not until you talk to me." I was about to repeat myself before Bryce was shoved. My wrist being let go as he stumbled back.

"What the fuck is your problem?" Bryce hollered out. Looking behind me I saw Riley beside Dalton. They were both glaring at Bryce as he walked closer. "She said let go asshole." Riley growled in a low tone. "What are you deaf?" Dalton mocked beside Riley.

"I'm gonna kick your ass!" Bryce decided, buffing up as his fists clenched. "Leave Bryce!" I snapped at him. Everyone paused for a second. I wasn't one to yell in public places. "Fine, I'll go." He put his hands up defensively before backing away.

"You sure do know how to pick 'em doll." Riley muttered to me as people began to get to their classes. Ignoring him I took a deep breath to calm my jitters. "Don't ignore me. I just saved your ass." He continued as Dalton put a supportive hand on my shoulder.

"When will you all realize I don't need to be saved?" My hand rubbed at my sore wrist. "What would've happened if we weren't in a public place?" Riley wondered out loud.

"Bryce isn't abusive if that's what your implying." Secretly I wondered the same thing. "Tell that to your soon to be bruised wrist." Dalton butted in. "I don't have time for this. Biology waits boys." Putting on a sarcastic smile I left them standing there.

Class after class the day finally ended. I was stared at all day. Everyone knew why my father went to prison and everyone knows he's out of prison now.

Hannah has soccer tryouts after school so today I had to walk home. After grabbing my bag from my locker I walked out of the school and into the parking lot. People getting into their cars with friends as quick as they could. Seems like I wasn't the only one who didn't have a good first day.

"Hey Sutton, where's your pet?" Riley questioned as he stood beside me. "Hannah's at soccer tryouts." And she wasn't my pet. "I'll give you a ride home." He insisted, nodding his head towards his car.

"I'm perfectly capable of walking Blanchard." Of course I argued. "Get in the car Doll." He ordered. The demand in the back of his throat was obvious. Without another word I started walking to his car with him.

"Hey Riles!" It was Erica and her posse. "Why is she following you?" I just waited for him to answer. "My dads making me take her home since we live next to eachother." He quickly lied. Ouch Blanchard. "Okay well call me later." She smiled and god did I hate her smile.

With that she sent me a glare and then left with her friends. Riley and I standing there in silence. "Look-" Immediately I cut him off. "Just take me home." My eyes looking down at the ground was I spoke.

He nodded hesitantly and unlocked his car. Setting my bag on the floor of the passengers seat I sat down on the black leather seat. As soon as Riley got in he started the car and drove out of the schools parking lot.

As soon as we were out of the visual eye of anyone he knew he started talking to me. "So he's back?" He questioned. "Yeah he got back either this morning or last night." Awkwardly I shuffled in the seat.

"I feel bad for your mom." He sympathized for her. What about me? She was ecstatic he was back. But I wasn't, so what about me Riley?

Sitting in silence is what I did. No response because I didn't have to effort to not argue. "You must be jumping in excitement." He figured, everyone did. Because nobody knew what he did to me.

"Stop talking Blanchard." My teeth gritted and jaw locked. "What? It's not like he hurt you. You never let people talk bad about him." Because I didn't like people talking about him in general. "You know nothing." It was barely above a whisper.

My stomach was twisting and turning. Hands shaking. Eyes watering. It started with stuttering it always ended in panic attacks. Trying to roll the windows down I figured out they were locked.

"Roll down the window." I didn't look at him I just continued trying to open it. My breaths were short and quick. "The AC already on Sutton." He informed and kept his eyes on the road.

"Roll down the window Riley!" It came out rushed but loud. It showed how desperate I was for air. It made him flinch, looking over at me in my panicked state.

The window rolled down and I let in the fresh air. My eyes closed as I tried to slow my breaths. Impossible, they wouldn't slow. I couldn't breath and it hurt.

My car door opened and so did my eyes. Riley was standing in front of me. Hand on my shoulders as he bent over. Eyes looking over the features of my face.

"In and out, you can do it Sutton." He reassured as he breathed with me. Getting lost in his emerald eyes. I felt air enter my nose and leave my mouth.

I could breath. I could stop shaking. I could see him.