Laney:
I must’ve drifted off while talking to Niall because when I woke up my laptop was still on my legs and my wrist was burning. I looked down at the blood stained skin and let out a sigh. I pulled myself off the bed and dragged myself to the bathroom to wash it off. I inspected myself in the mirror. My hair was tangled and my face was blotchy and red. My wrist was going numb as I ran the warm water against it.
I knew I needed to cheer up before Sam got home or he would be questioning me to no end. I grabbed my laptop and went to the only room I felt like myself in. I closed Ethan’s door and leaned my back against it. I typed youtube into the address bar and clicked enter. I watched each and every One Direction video diary. I felt myself smile as I put my laptop beside me and closed my eyes. I felt my phone vibrate inside my pocket and it made me jump. I looked at the time and decided to make my way back to my room.
As I carried my laptop down the hall I felt my stomach grumble and decided I should eat something. I walked down the staircase to the empty house below me. The lights were on and I grabbed a bowl of my favorite cereal to eat while watching tv. I flicked the power button and friends came up on the screen. I grabbed my phone realizing I hadn’t answered the message and unlocked it to see who it was.
Riley:
I want to talk to you, can I come over?
I felt my fingers hover over the buttons, unsure of how to reply. Riley was one of my best friends, of course he could come over. I wasn’t sure what he wanted to talk about but I had a feeling I wouldn’t like it very much. I sent him a message back and finished my cereal. Minutes later Sam walked through the door with an unfamiliar girl. She was tall with strawberry blonde hair. She was thin and tan and she giggled all the way up the stairs. I heard them take heavy, clumsy steps down the hallway and then his door slammed shut. Gross.
On and off I could hear the girls annoying laugh from upstairs. Other than that they were pretty quiet and I could pretend they weren’t there at all. I heard a beep from outside and jumped up to let Riley in the front door. He kicked his sneakers off the second I opened the door and pulled me into a warm, tight hug. Somehow I knew I needed it and I couldn’t find a way to let go. He pulled me into his chest until I could barely breathe and I pulled away leading us both to the couch. He sat beside me and I propped my feet up on his lap. He began rubbing them as he started to talk.
“Lay, you kind of stormed out today.” I rubbed my neck and looked down at his big hands on my bare feet. “Sorry about that. I just didn’t want to complicate things.” He scooched closer to me and lifted my chin up with a single finger. “You haven’t ever, and never will, make things complicated. Got that?” I nodded although I didn’t fully believe it.
I flipped through the channels until we landed on one of my favorite movies. “The fox and the hound? Really?” Riley chuckled as the words left his mouth in a raspy voice. The hum of the ac kept us from hearing what was going on upstairs, and I cuddled up into his shoulder. I felt myself yawning and trying to keep my eyes open. I could feel Riley turn to face me.
“I love you.” The words left his mouth like he’d said them to me a thousand times. It was as if he’d been telling me he loved me forever. I wasn’t sure of how to respond. I squeezed my eyes shut tight hoping he’d think I was asleep. “I know you’re awake, Lay.” I let my eyes open and meet his. They were almost gray and they were two of the roundest, happiest eyes I’ve ever seen. I could tell he truly meant what he said, which made me blush. He broke the silence again. “This is where you say something.” We both giggled and I put a hand of mine on his knee. “We tried that Riley, we’re supposed to be friends. Like this.” His eyes shifted immediately. He looked angry. I slid across the couch and pulled my knees into my chest, hoping I could disappear. Riley lifted himself off the couch in seconds and raised his voice at me.
“You know what, fine Laney, fuck you I’m done.” I felt myself weakening. “Don’t yell at me” I muttered through shaky breaths. “I’ve been trying for nearly seven years, and you don’t give two shits. I was there for you when you got dumped by that jerk Jayden, I was there when you and your mom started fighting about Ethan, I was there through everything with you. And you won’t give me the time of day. You’ll regret this Laney, trust me. You’ll miss me. But I’m not coming back.” He struggled with his laces as he put on his shoes. I stood beside him, tears running down every inch of my face. He grabbed my head in his hands and planted a kiss on the top of my head. I tried to make myself say “don’t go” but nothing came out. He walked out the door, started his car and he was gone.
