Opposites Attract

Opposites Attract (Part 7/?)

Ryleigh-Grace

I'm not crying.

I'm not.

I don't cry. Because I'm not weak. And I am not struggling. At all. I don't need help. I'm fine.

Okay?

I'm fine.

Sure, it's not been the best day. Or the best life. But that doesn't mean something's wrong. Nothing's wrong. I'm so happy. Absolutely peachy. I'm fine.

I'm fine.

I just... don't know why I feel so empty... all the time. But that's probably just nothing...

I'm just a hormonal teenager, that's it. Nothing more, nothing less.

But my clothes... I look like I don't even care. I look like I don't care about anything, and I don't want that because I really do care... but honestly, I feel awful. There, I admitted it. You're welcome. I feel horrible. I feel really low, and I guess I just don't have the energy to put effort in and try to actually look at least half presentable for my first year of college, and to make a good first impression. And god, I know that sounds like I really don't care, but I really do, I just... ugh. Yeah, wow. It's not even that I just don't have the energy to look good for this, I don't have the energy to look good for anything. I just... I just don't have the energy. In general. And I don't know why.

God... yeah.

Hormones. Wow.

I'm so pathetic.

I'm so pathetic...

I'm so... pathetic...

"Ryleigh?"

"H-Huh?" I stammer, snapping out of it.

I peek through my knees, looking back at Saskia. She looks really worried. God, what does she want...

I loosen the cords on my hood, looking at her.

"What's wrong?" she asks softly.

"I-" that's it. I can't even pretend anymore. I just start sobbing.

"H...Hey, hey, it's okay, come here." She says softly, kneeling in front of me and pulling me into her arms.

I sink into her, sobbing heavily into her shoulder.

"I-I'm sorry, I'm so pathetic..."

"What? No, you're not. You're amazing, I promise." She says gently, her arms fully round me and a hand on the back of my shoulder to keep me as close to her as possible, turning her head sideways and burying it in my hair. I let her, holding onto her tightly.

"How? How am I 'amazing'? I couldn't even manage to look at least half nice for my first year of college, I look like I don't care." I sob.

"Hey... no. No, that's not true. You know what you do look like? You look very comfy. I really like your hoodie and joggers, they're comfy clothes and they make you look all cosy and snuggly. It's..." if I'm not mistaken, I think I catch a light pink hue colouring her cheeks. "It's making me want to... just wrap my arms around you and squeeze you tight." She smiles.

My breath hitches, and this time, I'm the one with coloured cheeks.

"I-" I trail off, flustered.

She smiles softly, her eyes on mine.
"I... that was nice of you, but you don't have to lie just to make me feel better." I say quietly, looking down.

"Hey... Ryleigh... look at me." She gently tilts my chin up, and my breath catches in my throat when our eyes lock. God damn she's beautiful... I feel my cheeks warm a little more, and my eyes become lidded as my eyesight drops to... no! Why the hell am I looking there? "I'm not lying. I promise." She whispers softly, and my gaze shifts to look back at her eyes.