You've Changed

Chapter One

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Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within. James Baldwin

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- Two years ago -

I'll be completely honest and say that I hate school and I don't give a crap too what were learning. High school is a jungle and I have 20 days,480 hours left,a friend in need and the boy who hasn't gotten the hint that I'M NOT INTERESTED.

I ran my fingers through my ever growing brown ombre hair and stepped inside of my beat up baby blue minivan. Trust me a crap minivan is not my dream car, it was my moms and gave it to me for my sixteenth birthday. I'm just thankful I have a car.

I slowed the shit-mobile to a stop as I pulled into my friend Marcel's drive way. He has always been a good friend of mine even through think and thin. You see,Marcel is how should I put this? A nerd. He doesn't have a lot friends except for me and this Chinese exchange student whose English is pretty bad. Being friends with Marcel is social suicide for some people, I get called a lot of names for being friends with him but I tend to not listen.

"Riley,Smiley Riley, unlock the door." Marcel said tapping on the window. I clicked the button and he climbed in,he was wearing his usual sweater vest and khakis and glasses the size of mars.

"Good morning Smiley Riley." he said smiling at me. He's always called me Smily Riley, he thinks I have the best smile ever,hence forth the nickname. Yeah you've guessed correctly,marcel likes me.

"Hey Marcel,only 20 more days then we will be juniors." I said glumly.

"Ugh don't remind me," He played aroumd with his collar,"The dance is this Friday,you going?" Marcel asked fiddling with his hands.

"Yeah with Taylor,we're planning on going stag. Unless someone asks us." I shrugged and pulled the car into forward driving off to the hell hole,I mean school.

"Well I was w-wondering if you would like to go with me,to the dance this Friday?" he said nervously.

"Oh marcel,I-I don't know what to say." I said looking at the road rather then him.

"I should've known." he said pressing his body against the window so he's no longer looking at me.

"I'll think about it,okay." I smiled at him and patted his back.

"Thanks." I parked my car and we headed towards school.

"Oh hey Riley!" Taylor, my best friend since age eight yelled running over to me.

"You would not believe what just happened,Oh hey marcel." She said lowering her voice at the mention of Marcel's name,he gave a small nod.

"What happened?" I asked twisting the combo on my locker,marcel must've parted ways because he was no longer with us.

"You know Andrew Hanson,the senior?"

"The one in our physics class?" I bent down and grabbed my books for the first half of the day.

"He asked me to the dance!" she said jumping up and down,"and I said yes!"

"Wow that's great," I said trying to sound excited as I closed my locker,"but what am I going to do?" I still wasn't sure if going with marcel was a good idea or not.

"Don't worry I have this all figured out, he's really good friends with Mark whose in love with you. We could double date!" She squealed

I stopped walking,"No. I will never go with mark! I'm not interested in him and he's an ass. So no I'm not going."

"Come on please you have to do!" she begged. That's Taylor for you,she always gets her way.

"Wait a minute,did you tell mark I would go?"

"Well..."

"God Taylor! Really, you know I can't stand him." I turned on my heel and walked into my first period class.

The whole day I avoided every possible chance at running into mark. I hated mark with a passion, he tried to get me drunk at party so he could get me laid. He plays every girl and I've just been oh so lucky to be his new target. By the time eleventh period rolled around,I just wanted to leave the hell-hole. But I couldn't because I had physics with my favorite people, Marcel who I haven't responded to about the dance. Taylor who I'm speaking to very little because well she's my best friend and she should've known that I Hate Mark. Oh did I forget to mention that,Mark and Andrew are in this class too,dumb jocks.

"Okay class simmer down,simmer down." Mr. Peters said leaning against the blackboard.

"Today we are going to pair up and review for the exam which is this Wednesday,so you know what to do partner up." Mr. Peters sat at his desk and buried his face in his book zoning us all out. I looked over at Taylor who was working with Andrew and Mark, she shrugged and went back to work. I scanned the room for a partner,everyone was paired up except for marcel,this could get awkward.

"Hey partner." I said taking the open seat in front of him,twisting around and faced him.

"Hi." he said still looking down.

"You okay?"I asked sliding my hand on top of his.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."he looked up and quickly glanced to the right before looking back down.

I turned my head in the direction he was looking and landed eye contact with Mark,I immediately turned away.

"I hate him." I said in a low voice.

"He's been harassing me non-stop today and-"

"Hey Riley,you look nice today." Mark said hovering over me,probably looking down my blue v-neck.

"Thanks."

"Wanna work together?" He slid in he seat next to me.

"No,I'm working with marcel."

He laughed evilly,"Why not with me baby?" he rubbed my arm.

"Please stop."

"Okay I'll save it for after the dance." he smirked.

"I'm not going with you."

"Then who are you going with?" he asked in a frustrated tone.

"Me." Marcel said speaking up.

"That's pathetic Riley,Marcel's a nerd. Hey Marcel is Riley going to teach you how to give a blowjob?" he threw his head back and laughed.

"Leave him alone,you don't even know him." I said harshly. Marcel got out of his seat and left for the bathroom leaving me with Mark.

"I've gotta go take care of some things." Mark said standing up.

"Leave Marcel alone!" I swear if he lays a hand on him then I'm going ape shit, Marcel isn't that tough or at least he doesn't look it.

"Yeah...no." He laughed and left the room. I told myself to wait a minute before going out into the hallway.

"Mr. Peters may I-"

"Yeah just go." I nodded and quickly left the room,Mr. Peters clearly hates his job. I scanned the hallway for Mark and Marcel,I started to get worried when I heard someone let out a moan. Someone was hurt or they just got laid,I'm just going to go with the first one. I ran to the end of the hallway and turned left.

"Oh my god!" I said in a surprised tone,"Marcel you knocked him unconscious!" I gasped covering a hand over my mouth. I wasn't expecting to see Marcel on top of Mark beating the living shit out of him.