Anonymous

Chapter 8

Bryce's POV

I don't know what I was thinking. Clearly, I wasn't thinking at all. I told Lily everything. All of my problems that constantly felt like a weight on my shoulders, the thoughts that constantly cloud up my head, my feelings that I couldn't explain even if I wanted to. I told her everything.

Honestly, I just like to keep my feelings locked up inside of me. It's easier to pretend that my life is perfect. Every day I paste a smirk on my face and act like I don't have a single worry in the world.

I know cliché guidance councilors say that it's bad to keep everything to yourself, but there are some things that you just can't tell people. It's not like I was completely alone. Luke Barton, and Hunter Miller are the only people that I can truthfully trust. They were the only ones that knew. I planned on keeping it that way, but I guess things change.

I don't understand what gears turned inside my head to make me share my personal life with the girl that I despise. I don't like to show weakness, especially to someone who would gladly use that against me. I can't shake this feeling that I'm vulnerable now, because at any moment she could tell. And God, I hope she doesn't tell.

I'm a closed book, but I opened up and showed her all of my pages.

I have to admit, it's nice for someone besides Luke and Hunter to know. Part of me is glad that I shared this with Lily, but another part of me regrets it. It's strange, to say the least.

Ever since I told her about my situation, things between us have been awkward. I've been getting her pity, which is the last thing that I want. She gives me these sympathetic looks, that just drive me insane. I just want to go back to the way things were before. I wish I could still be the nuisance that makes her want to jump off a cliff. But now, no matter what I do she just shakes it off like its nothing. She'll say things like "You're going through something that I can't understand, you're strong Bryce." I can't get to her, and it's killing me.

It's been about a week since I told Lily, a week that I haven't been able to piss her off. The longest week of my life.

Today is October 31st. Halloween. Paige Brookside, this really hot girl in my U.S. History class, is throwing a party. Everyone is talking about it. Anonymous posted about it. The talk is that it's going to be one of West Bridge High's biggest, most legendary, parties of the year. So of course I plan on attending, because what would a party be without Bryce Rivers?

My plan? I'll sneak out at about 11:45 pm. By then, Sam and Mom should be sleeping. My Father is out of town again for business, so luck is on my side.

I'm lounging on the couch flipping through the channels of the cheesy horror movies that play on Halloween. I'm dressed in sweatpants and a grey t-shirt, and my curly blonde hair is in a disheveled mess. I settle on watching 'The Roommate' just to pass the time while I'm waiting to sneak out. The movie is at that sick part where the creepy girl rips out that other girls belly button ring. I cringe at the sight of it.

After a few minutes, I hear little footsteps from behind me. I turn around to find Sam, wrapped up in her blanket.

"Hey Sams, what are you doing up?" I ask, since it's unusual for her to be awake so late.

"Can't sleep." She shrugs.

"Sugar high keeping you awake?" I chuckle. Remembering the fun I used to have as a kid Trick-Or-Treating with Luke. We would hit up every single house in his neighborhood, and when we finished our candy route we'd head back to his house. We'd run up to his room and dump our bags of candy all over the floor. We would trade and I always ended up with the best candy. Either I had great negotiating skills or Luke was as dumb as a brick. Yeah, probably the second one.