Chemo and Kisses (Harry Styles)

Chapter 1

"Riley, Riley, Riley!" My little brother, Connor, shakes me awake.

"What?" I say startled and a bit groggy.

"It's your first day of high school! Don't want to be late!" He says, excitedly.

"Oh that would be tragic, wouldn't it?" I sarcastically reply.

He runs down stairs to get the breakfast that my mom was making: bacon and pancakes. I follow him.

The weather is beautiful as usual in Florida. I had gotten a job at Disney last year. I love talking to the characters, it's a childhood dream come true. I put the job on hold recently while I start high school. They said they'd be happy to give me my job as a tour guide back as soon as possible.

"Are you nervous?" My mom asked.

"Of course, but hopefully it'll go smoothly." I reply.

"It will! I know it will."

"I hope you're right."

I ate the pancakes and trudged back up the stairs. I picked out an over-sized, button up cardigan with high waisted jean shorts and a 'Rolling Stones' loose tank top. I finished it off with small black boots.

***

My mom drove me to school and I got out of the car and wanted to get back in, instantly. My mom says "Love you!" And drives away.

Only one person I knew came to this school and we weren't even that good of friends.

"Hey! I'm Tanya. Your outfit is amazingly hipster." A girl with ombré hair and slightly tanned skin says to me.

"Thanks, I'm Riley." I chuckle at the hipster comment.

"Are you excited for freshman year?" She asks.

"Yeah, it should be fun." I say, gloomily.

"You're not excited at all, you want to go home and go back to your old school. You want all of your friends back and you want to hang out and watch movies with your mom right now." She babbles.

"How'd you know that?" I say, amused and slightly scared.

"I feel the same exact way." She adds.

"At least I'm not alone." I say.

I'm already done with freshman year. I want to cry. No one fully understands me though, but Tanya gets it more than anyone else.

"Hopefully we have classes together! I'd love to get to know you." She adds.

"That would be really nice." I reply.

"So, with a style like that you must have a boyfriend." She nudges.

"Nope. Well, kind of. Not really though. His name is Dylan and he's a sophomore, but doesn't go to this school." I add.

"I see. Why is he kind of your boyfriend?" Tanya asks.

I want so badly to trust Tanya, but I've only just met her. The truth is that Dylan abuses me. He forces me to be with him. Why can't I just break up with him? Because he would beat me even harder. Why haven't I told anyone? He told me that he would kill me with a bunch of his friends helping. Tears start welling up in my eyes.

"Woah, Riley. Are you okay?" Tanya asks worriedly.

"Yeah yeah." I try to wipe the tears away without ruining my makeup.

"No, don't lie to me. Tell me what's wrong." She pleads.

"I can't."

She turns both of my arms over to find ripe bruises from his fists. Those ones were recent; just last night.

"How does no one notice this?" She says a little too loud, turning some heads. They all turn back.

"Please don't tell anyone. He'll hurt me even more." I say quietly.

"Riley.." She starts.

"Please." I say.

She starts to finish but the bell rings and startles us both. I start walking in the building only to hear a voice calling my name. I turn around to find Dylan.

"Hey babe! I transferred here so I can keep my eye on you twenty-four, seven." He roughly puts his arm around me, pressing firmly on the violet bruise.

A shiver sends through my spine.

Inside I'm screaming, crying for help.

On the outside I'm a smiling, bubbly, in-love teenager.

With an abuser on my hip.