Author's Note: This chapter leaves off pretty poorly, as the original chapter was too long and I know you guys generally look down upon that, so I split up chapter one into a few separate parts. Enjoy! Comment and like! Thank you for reading.
"Riley?" A melodic voice called out in the silence of my room. My window was slightly ajar until it was forced completely open. A long-legged, masculine figure stepped through rather ungracefully, the man stumbled a little before regaining his balance.
"Riley?" He repeated just as smoothly. I couldn't stand. I was dependent on the floor to protect me, although it never did. "Baby," the voice coaxed, "tell me what happened." His voice was calming, too calming. I wanted him to share my anger and pain. I glare up at him accusingly.
"Is that what you want?" I asked bitterly. Somehow, I restrained from shouting, no matter how much I needed to. "Another story for your collection?" Tears pooled in my eyes. They did not burn, they tore at my eyes with hatred. I abhored crying about these things. I should have been used to it.
He kneeled down besideme, his gray-green eyes flashing in the dim light. "Riley," he said once more, "I love you. I need to help you, baby." Infuriating me further, I clenched
my fists tightly. My fingernails dug into my palms, causing them to blossom with crimson, and my knuckles throbbed from the sudden discomfort.
"Don't call me that." I ordered in a tome that left no room for disagreement. Hatred pulsed through my veins, not necessarily at the man before me, but for the world in general.
"Ry?" He cooed, barely audible now. "I love you. I want to know what happened because I love you." For some peculiar reason, these words soothed my anger, more than I thought they ever could.
I heaved a deep breath, my lungs welcoming the freshness. "Zach?" My voice was gentle now, hardly a murmur of sound. I was still furious and hurt, but this wasn't Zach's fault.
"Yeah, Riley?" Zach's eyelids closed for a second, as if he was praying for a positive response.
"I love you too, you know?" I grimaced, I sounded so much like a lovesick teenager. "What I mean is, I love you very much."
Zach nodded, hair falling into his face. "Yeah, I know, Ry." I had a strong urge to push the strands of dark hair out of his eyes, but I resisted.
"I just can't tell you. It was awful." I peered up at him, finally raking the light hair off of my forehead. This revealed a particularly nasty bruise, at which the sight of, Zach gasped.
"Well, you get the gist of it, anyways," I told him, my teeth gritting together nervously. Zach bit his pink lip. He curled his arms around my lithe waist, his face comfortingly close to mine.
"Baby?" Seeing my suddenly annoyed expression, he sported an apologetic smile. "Riley? I think we should leave. This has gone on for long enough." My eyes glistened with tears. I loved him for even suggesting this. I loved him regardless, but this set me over the edge.
Fat tears dribbled down my cheeks, rolling off of my chin and raining onto my lap. "D-don't you think so?" Zach asked, staring into my eyes. Wind billowed in through the window, causing me to shiver. Zach embraced me, brushing tears from my face.
"Yeah," I agreed, my voice louder now, although I still continued to sob. I wasn't as angry anymore, at least not towards the world or Zach. I was only infuriated with my mother for allowing this to happen and my step-father for causing me such physical and emotional pain.
"Then let's go." Zach said. He stood up, but I was glued to the floor. Instead of tugging on my hands, he slid his arms around my waist and pulled me to my feet.
