Cold and Charisma (BoyxBoy)

Chapter Thirty-Six

Riley's Perspective

It smelled like him.

It felt like him.

Every fucking thing I saw or did reminded me of none other than that pathetic loser who used to think I was his world.

Until I had to ruin it—like I always did. There's no point in reminiscing about old times, especially if it was going to make me want to punch everyone around me.

I tugged on the strings of my hoodie, hoping it would just envelope me in his scent until everything would stop hurting. I hadn't worn the soccer hoodie he washed and gave back to me since that day—not until now.

Wow, how the tables have turned. Look at how pathetic you are, Riley. You're such a loser. Wearing the hoodie he washed with his detergent because you missed—

No. What was I even saying? What is there to miss? The way he was always following me around and stalking me? Or the way he kept trying to find a place in my life even though I didn't want him there?

Or... maybe it was the way he held me every time I thought I wasn't good enough, and reassured me ten times over that I was.

Maybe it was the way he always made me feel like no matter what happened—with my mom, with my own insecurities—that he'd continue to love me.

I didn't want to see him. I couldn't! I couldn't go back to my usual bench by the fountain, and sit there like I used to when I acted like I wasn't secretly waiting for him to come up behind me.

Now, I was currently hiding in an empty classroom, hood over my head and strings tightening around it to the point where only my nose was visible.

I looked like a complete freak. If you told me a few months ago I'd be doing all of this because of fucking Archer Wilson, I would've laughed at your face.

I slammed the table with my fist—why couldn't I have just let myself be happy for once! Why was I a fucking asshole! Ugh, what is wrong with me?

I buried my face in my arms, head turned towards the window beside me. I stared out, watching as happy couples walked past me. That used to be me. Now look at me.

Then, I saw someone walking by eating a Snickers bar. A fucking Snickers bar. Ugh I hate chocolate! I hate everything! And it's totally not because it reminded me of that time where Archer bought me a hundred of them just because I said I liked them once...

I couldn't let myself sit in a dark, empty classroom and mope around forever. The least I could do to not make me want to shoot myself in the head was go out and play soccer. Depression couldn't hit a moving target! Or whatever they say...

I didn't bother to watch where I was going, colliding with shoulders and flipping people off if they tried to say something.

When I finally looked ahead, I noticed a barrage of jocks walking towards me, immersed in their conversation as they laughed obnoxiously. Of course—it was like the universe wanted to send everything that reminded me of Archer my way.

I was about to walk past them, trying to not acknowledge their existence, before one of them abruptly stood in front of me.

"You're the dude who broke Archer Wilson's heart!" He pointed a sharp finger at my chest, and I swore it could've punctured a hole through the fabric.

"I didn't do shit," I hissed, "so leave me alone." I was already in a bad mood, and now I had some brain dead jocks trying to mess with me. It wasn't like this before—and partially because everyone knew not to mess with Archer's "boy."