oxygen (e.d.)

chapter twenty-seven

{riley}
*2 days until birthday*

i look in the mirror, torn apart by the girl i see.

she's not pretty.

i plead for her to face to be more symmetrical, her freckles to disappear, and for her eyelashes to be just a bit longer.

"why can't i look like those pretty girls," i whisper to myself, voice breaking like my self esteem.

i stare at my reflection for a few more seconds, and quickly dry my eyes when i hear footsteps outside of my door.

a knock startles me, and i yell, "come in!"

wyatt walks in, and i compose myself.

"dude, sloane and i did this weird- wait, are you crying?" he asks, looking at me closer.

"no," i turn away, "i just have allergies."

"oh bull. look at me."

i turn my head up to him and he studies my face.

"spill all your boy problems," he says, flopping backwards on my bed.

"it's not boy problems," i mutter, shrugging, "i'm fine."

"you don't seem fine," he sits up.

i don't know what to say, so i say nothing.

"what's going on? actually tell me. i'm your brother, you're supposed to tell me everything."

"i dont know," i sigh, "it's just something personal."

"you can tell me personal things too."

"oh really?" i giggle, "do you want me to tell you about the first time ethan and i-"

"you're my little sister. i do not need to hear that." he grimaces, closing his eyes.

"exactly my point, wy."

"oh whatever," wyatt rolls his eyes, "i don't like seeing you upset."

"everything's okay," i lie, "just in my feels."

"promise?"

"promise." i chew on my bottom lip.

"pinkie swear?"

"pinkie swear."

wyatt looks at me again, then simply shakes his head.

"okay, well. now that that's out of the way, the beach party is still on."

i gape and furiously shake my head.

"um, no. i said to cancel it."

"riley," he groans, "live a little. beach parties are fun. and, maybe you'll meet a guy."

the only guy i want is six feet tall, has black studs, and hella leg tats, i think to myself.

but i don't say that.

"maybe," i sigh.

"you remember my friend from that one party?"

"oh yeah," i frown, "he gave me a denim button up."

"i invited him. his name is name is charlie. really sweet guy."

"then you date him."

"riley," he cracks a smile, rolling his eyes, "come on. give him a chance."

"so you're just going to give up on the ethan plan? just like that?"

"i'm only giving up when you are, riley."