Love Hurts

Chapter 3

I pulled out my phone and checked for any missed texts. None. I slumped on the couch and turned on the TV to begin channel surfing. Of course, because I was bored, there was nothing good on.

It was pretty saddening that I’d only seen my mum for a couple of hours, but like she said, she had regular doctor appointments to make sure the cancer didn’t come back and obviously she would prefer to stay with her regular doctor.

I composed a text to each of the boys, asking if they were doing anything tonight or if they wanted to hang out. As a last minute decision, I sent it to Riley as well.

When my phone vibrated, a bolt of excitement shot through me. It was from Louis.

From: Loubear

Sorry Aby, we’re all staying at Simon’s tonight for an emergency writing sesh. They want us to do the single for Red Nose Day! :D

I sighed and flicked my phone back onto the table. Clearly nothing exciting was going to happen tonight, so I grabbed the frog pillow pet Louis gave me for Christmas and snuggled into the couch, watching a rerun of Doctor Who.

Unfortunately, it was one of my least favorite episodes and I ended up falling asleep halfway through.

“Wake, UP!” a pillow smacked me in the face.

“Ungh,” I groaned. “I don’t want to go to school today, say I’m sick.”

“First of all, I don’t think your mother would approve. Second of all, you don’t have school anymore, Abriella, you take an online college course. In music. Third of all… WAKE UP!” The blanket I somehow ended up on was yanked out from under me and I flipped onto the floor.

I sat up straight and opened my eyes. Riley was standing there with a mischievous grin on her face. “I got your text,” she holds up her phone, “and texted you back, but I guess you were asleep. Let’s go clubbing!”

My shoulder made a popping noise as I stretched and stood up. “Okay. Sounds fun. Let’s go.”

“Make sure you… wash your face or something… you’ve got pillow line’s on your face. You won’t get any guys that way,” she teased.

I stuck my tongue out at her. “I can get more guys with bed head, smeared makeup, and keyboard lines on my face! Leaving at eight?”

“Sure you could and it sounds like a plan,” she grinned. “Go get ready!”

I selected a loose pink dress and slipped it on. The bottom was flowing and hit the bottom half of my legs. When I moved in it, I was easily able to twirl and move like normal.

“Let me see!” Riley pounded on the door.

I cracked it open and stepped out and spun for her. She didn’t look pleased.

“What?” I asked, laughing.

“It’s… cute,” she said, crinkling her nose.

“But…?” I prompted her.

“It’s cute,” she repeated. “You’re going clubbing, Bri, not to your high school homecoming. Come on, the boys aren’t coming, your protective father won’t see you… it’s your chance to dress like a slut, dance like a whore, and have no worries or regrets!” she clapped. “Go change into something that will actually get guys to look twice at you! It’s time for you to take a night off and get your mind off… recent events. What better way to do that than to find a guy and well… get your mind off things,” she winked suggestively at me.

“Okay, I’ll dress more to your standards,” I relented.

“Good, because to be quite honest, I’d be ashamed to be seen with you within three blocks of the club,” she chuckled and whipped around to dart back into her room and find herself a dress.