Riley hadn't stepped out of her room all morning. She lay on her bed, tangled up in her blanket, Liam's voice echoing in her head.
"You dress like a boy, then act like one."
She squeezed her blanket tighter, her throat aching. It wasn't even the words, it was the look he gave her when he said it.
Her phone buzzed for the fifth time that morning. She didn't bother checking until the sixth, when Lily barged into her room without knocking, wearing a pissed-off face.
"Are you seriously gonna rot in here all morning? Get yourself out of that bed. Mom said to come get you, we're going to Annie's house," Lily said, hands on her hips.
"Go away," Riley muttered, face buried in her pillow. Mentioning her mother made Riley remember what she'd forgotten.
"Oh, so dramatic. You're acting like the world ended because one guy said something stupid."
"Liam didn't just say something stupid."
Lily sighed and sat beside her. "Riley, you can't let what he said ruin your weekend. You know Mia's party is tonight. You should come."
Riley turned her head, eyes narrowing. "A party? After what happened yesterday? Are you trying to get me killed? And besides, I rejected the invite because of your friends. How can you still tell me to come?"
"Oh, please. No one's gonna care by tonight. You show up, have a drink, laugh a little, it'll blow over faster."
"Easy for you to say. I'm not going," Riley said flatly.
Lily smiled, leaning closer. "You say that now, but if you show up looking even half-decent and not giving a damn about what they say, you can just enjoy yourself and even hang around Jake. Everyone will shut up. People only talk about you because you give them something to talk about. Just own it, and they'll get bored."
Riley looked away. "I don't really feel like attending that party. Are you even sure of what you're saying?"
"Maybe. But I'm not wrong." Lily stood, already knowing she'd won. "Seven-thirty. I'm not asking again. And hurry up, Mom is waiting."
Riley didn't respond. She stood up and walked to the bathroom to freshen up. Maybe Lily was right. She's gonna own it, she thought as she brushed her teeth. Now she just had to deal with her mother, who she had been avoiding since that day.
She got ready and went downstairs, seeing Lily and her mom already waiting for her.
Emily eyed her from head to toe, frowning. "Tsk. She wastes our time only to come down looking like this. Disappointing."
Riley clenched her fists tightly, her heart pounding. Hearing that and remembering what happened in the clinic made it feel like a needle was poking her chest.
Emily stood up, grabbing her bag. "Let's go."
Lily smirked and walked over to Riley, holding her hand. "Don't think too much about it. Let's go," she said with a smile.
Riley nodded and they walked out.
In the car, Riley sat in the back with Lily, looking out the window.
"Mom, Mia's having a party tonight and Riley and I are going," Lily suddenly said.
Riley turned to her in shock. Why would she say that?
Emily tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. "Riley is going?"
Lily nodded. "Yeah, she is."
Riley felt like slapping Lily's mouth shut at that moment.
"Surprising. Riley doesn't go to parties. So what changed your mind this time, Riley?"
Riley looked down, her eyes on her lap. "Nothing. I just felt like going."
"Felt like?" Emily asked, amused.
"With a little persuasion," Lily added.
"Ah, that explains it. So what are you wearing? Should I get you clothes from the mall on our way back?" Emily asked.
Riley stiffened. "No... I already have clothes."
Emily smacked her lips. "I hope it's not that trash in your closet you're wearing."
"Mom! It's not trash. And she can wear whatever she wants," Lily said.
"Well, I don't want her to go there embarrassing you," Emily said. "Can't you just wear something different today, Riley?"
Lily shook her head. "She's not going to embarrass me, Mom. How could she?"
Emily sighed. "Riley, can't you just try at least? For us? Your family? Hmm?"
Riley didn't answer but stared out the window, her face blank.
But by evening, she was standing in front of the mirror, glaring at her reflection like it had betrayed her. Short jeans, a black hoodie, sneakers. Still her usual. She tried brushing her hair but gave up halfway. If her mom wanted her to "try" for the family, she'd just have to deal with Riley being herself.
The music was loud enough to shake the street when they got there. People spilled out of the house, cups in hand, lights flickering.
Riley instantly regretted it.
"Relax," Lily said, looping her arm through hers. "You'll thank me later."
"Yeah, sure."
Inside smelled like sweat and cheap soda. The bass thumped in her chest. Every few seconds, someone's eyes flicked toward her. She swore she heard a few whispers. Her stomach twisted as they went through the crowd.
"Hey!! Lily!" Ana yelled through the loud music. Lily spotted her.
"I'm going to go meet my friends. I'll be right back. Just stay at the table."
"Wait..." Lily had already left before Riley could finish. She sighed and walked to the table. She didn't want to be alone.
'She has some guts to come here.'
'Look at what she's wearing.'
'I wouldn't even come after what happened yesterday.'
Riley heard some girls gossiping. She sighed and rolled her eyes. She looked around for Liam, but he wasn't there. She looked relieved. She doubted he'd even attend.
"Hey! Riley!" Jake's voice cut through the noise. He waved from across the room, red cup in hand, grinning like the rumor never existed. "You came!"
Riley waved back with a small smile. Maybe she should do what Lily told her. It might just work.
Jake walked over, smiling. "I thought you weren't coming."
"Yeah, I wasn't," Riley said. "But Lily persuaded me."
"I see," Jake said, nodding. "But why are you standing here all alone?"
"Well, Lily ran off to her friends and I don't really have anyone to talk to," Riley said, sighing.
"Well, you have me now," Jake said with a grin, handing her a soda from the table.
"I guess I do," Riley said with a smile as she took the soda.
They stood there talking about random things, football practice, her obsession with chocolates, anything but the rumor. For a moment, Riley almost forgot how miserable she felt.
Until she saw Liam.
She froze. What was he doing here? Liam turned around, their eyes meeting. She quickly looked away, clenching her jaw.
"Are you alright?" Jake asked, noticing her sudden change in expression. He followed her gaze and saw Liam with Alex. "Hey, don't think about what he said too much. You're here to have fun, so forget about everything else."
Riley sighed and nodded. "Okay."
"Come on, let's go dance. This is my favorite song. Wanna dance with me?"
"Ummm, I don't think so. I'm not a good dancer," Riley said nervously.
"You just gotta move your body. There's nothing hard there," he said, dragging her to where the others were dancing.
They danced together. Riley gradually felt at ease. She laughed as she moved. She felt light.
Jake stared at her with a soft smile as she danced happily. "You're a pretty good dancer!" he yelled through the music.
"Thanks!" Riley yelled back, smiling.
"Woah, they really look like a couple dancing there," Alex said, staring at Riley and Jake.
Liam didn't say anything but stared at Riley's happy face. He didn't know why, but it didn't feel good knowing Jake was the one making her smile. His hands clenched into fists.
Alex glanced at him and sighed.
"Hey, if you really wanna talk to Riley again, I think you should go apologize. What you said was pretty harsh considering what she's going through."
Liam sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "I know. I was having a bad day at home, and seeing what was happening to Riley made me snap and say something stupid."
"Well, you should go apologize before it's too late," Alex said.
"Yeah, I guess so," Liam said, still staring at Riley.
"With the way you're acting, there's no way you don't actually like her," Alex said, chuckling.
Liam's neck snapped to him. "What?!"
Lily, Ana, Charlotte, and Mia stood in a corner, watching Riley and Jake.
"Why's your sister hanging around Jake? Doesn't she know it'll make things worse?" Mia asked, confused.
"Who knows, maybe she's just stupid," Charlotte said, shrugging.
Ana snorted. "Yeah right. I'm pretty sure Lily did something. Didn't you?"
Lily smiled. "I just gave her a piece of advice."
"I knew it. You smart devil," Ana said, laughing.
Lily frowned. "Don't call me that."
"But it suits you," Mia said, staring at her. "Is creating that rumor not enough? Why did you have to do this again?"
"Hey! She could have avoided this if she didn't come. I thought she rejected your invitation," Charlotte said, rolling her eyes.
"Are you being for real? I hope that's the only thing you got up your sleeves," Mia said, eyeing Lily.
Ana chuckled. "Come on, Mia. You already know she's got more plans."
Lily laughed. "You know me too well, Ana. Of course I've got something up my sleeves."
"This party is gonna be fun," Charlotte said, smiling.
Mia sighed, shaking her head. "You three are something else."
Riley and Jake kept dancing. She was laughing and saying something to Jake when she stumbled and bumped into someone.
"I'm sor...." she said, turning around but stopping midway.
"Oh, what do we have here?"