The Player And The Nerd •Jiley•

•PART 21•

"Riley wait!" i yelled, trying to run after her.

I knew there was something odd about her today. I feel so stupid, and now i'm 10x more worried about her than before.

Bruises. Big purple bruises swollen around her eyes. I hope that nobody else saw them, i would hate to make her feel humiliated. But i couldn't help but wonder who and why someone would do that.

It wasn't the bullies since they weren't there this morning once i saw her at her locker. And it was impossible that she did it to herself. It must have been someone closer to home- wait..

her family.

She'd been giving hints about not wanting to spend time with them throughout summer all day! And she had the day off yesterday! I bet this is the reason why! All i need now is to find the poor girl...

"Riley?" i whispered, walking carefully into the drama studio. I'd already checked the library and waited outside the girls bathroom for 10 minutes. She must be here.

That's when i heard it, a delicate whimper from under the stairs.

"Ri?" i said peering under. There she was!
"please come out, i won't hurt you. We just need to talk..please". I'd been repeating the same words for at least 10 minutes by now and she hadn't said one word.

"Right that's it, i'm coming in there" I said getting frustrated and bending down to crawl underneath the seating area.

"No wait!" was the last thing i heard before a big crash.
—
"w-where am i" I mumbled raspily while my eyes adjusted to the brightness of the room. The walls were white, the floor was white, everything was white. There was a weird smell in the air...

the hospital?

"James you're in hospital. can you remember what happened?" a young woman's voice said. I couldn't see her but i could hear. Attempting to sit up in the uncomfortable bed, i had my shoulders pushed back down.

"James you need to stay s-still" someone whispered. Wait...

"Riley? is that you"

"yeah..it's me, i'm so sorry you're hurt!" she cried.

I was still confused, but panic fled through my system as soon as i rubbed my eyes and saw riley.

"w-what happened" i just managed to say. I don't know what happened but i felt horrible. Someone moved the back of the horrible hospital bed so it was in a more comfy sit up position rather than being flat.

"we'll leave you two to talk, just press the button if you need us" a nurse smiled while pointing to the button on the wall.

Be time the door swung shut behind everyone, beside Riley of course, i had only just began wrapping my head around what happened to her. Her face was blue with bruises and her lip was swollen slightly.'It had a small cut on it too. She wasn't standing; she was in fact in a wheelchair. Her arm was in a plaster and it looked like she'd been crying.

"what happened" i asked slowly.

"You tried climbing under the seats after me and they collapsed...I'm not sure why but i'll as-" i quickly cut her off.

"No, i remember that happening. I was talking about the bruises..."

"Wh-what do you mean..i got them in the accident" she said nervously. I gave her the look. The look that said 'i know they weren't'.

"please just tell me, i've always been here for you and that's not about to change. please, just open up for once..?" i begged while taking her hand in mine. Her eyes met mine for a few seconds, before she quickly looked down and snatched her hand back.

"sorry, uh it just" she started.

"Riles it's fine i understand. Now please tell me what happened to your face" i pressures gently.

"okay well..."

•Riley's pov•
I can't believe i just told him that my dad beat me. It wasn't like it was a regular thing...maybe once or twice, possibly 3 times. I'm not sure who as shocked.

I listened to him ramble on for a solid 5 minutes about how he's sorry i've been through so much and that he's always there for me.
It felt weird to hear that. Nice. but weird. I couldn't be too sure wether he was genuine-
people who said they'd be there for me turned their backs...turned into the enemy.

I just hoped he wasn't one of them.