8(Q): It sounds like you haven't had the easiest life. Your father is an alcoholic, your mother doesn't seem to be around much - what do you think allows you to still try and see the best in everybody?
(A): What do you mean?
(Q): Well, Victor is the reason you're here talking to me now about the dirty picture scandal, yet you're still together…
(A): It's complicated.
(Q): Right, and Riley has given you nothing but trouble since you first met him, not to mention he blackmailed you, yet you feel sorry for him. I was wondering how you can still feel sorry for people who have given you nothing but grief?
(A): I guess that's just how I am. It probably isn't the best trait to have, either. It has been causing me so much grief lately, but you know…as someone who is misunderstood by people all the time, I'll say this. Everyone deserves a second glance. Like Wicked! I love that musical. If people had given Elphaba a second glance instead of relying on what they saw on the surface, they would have liked what they saw. Well, I mean, it wouldn't be the same show because that'd change the whole storyline, but I think you get my point.
(Q): Is that why agreed to this interview? You wanted to give people the chance to take a deeper look at who you really are?
(A): I'm here because I want to get all this out of my system, I think this is the only way I can move on and let go of this part of my life. I don't think it matters to people honestly, some celebrity's girlfriend who took a topless shot. It matters to me though, and I have some things I have to get out in the open.
"Riley!" I jogged to catch up to him after school. He slowed his pace, the only sign he'd allow that he'd heard me, but he didn't stop.
"My assignments -" I said as I gasped for air.
"What about them?" He kept walking.
"You finished them for me." I muttered.
Riley shrugged his shoulders and adjusted his backpack. Perhaps it was a sign he wasn't comfortable with the conversation, but I wasn't sure. Nothing about Riley made sense to me anymore, and I didn't like it. I just wanted him to be evil. It was easier that way. As if in compliance with my thoughts, Riley shot me an evil smirk.
"They're F's." He informed me.
"But then, what about -" I stopped myself and tried to keep from blushing. I was going to ask him about the blanket, but, the whole thing seemed embarrassing, so I couldn't bring myself to. "Never mind."
"You have the day off today, go so you don't miss your bus."
"Oh -" I wasn't sure how to react to that, because I hadn't been expecting it. I was happy of course, but it was as if Riley had said, 'go away and leave me the hell alone.' There were things running through his head, things he would never allow me to see. Things that, for whatever reason, I was beginning to want to see. Riley raised his eyebrow at me, possibly annoyed I was still there.
"Unless you would like me to make use of you today. I have another paper on Romeo and Juliet due next Tuesday you could start on."
"It's not that," I said as quickly as possible to keep him from changing his mind.
"Then what?" He asked with a slight snarl.
"I really don't know." I whispered.
Dazed and confused, I proceeded to walk back to the buses, lost in thoughts that didn't quite fit together, and feelings I couldn't name. Relief was obviously one of them - for today at least I wouldn't have to be Riley's homework servant. There was also, I think, a bit of sadness. Maybe it was better described as discomfort? I didn't quite know. See, I'd gotten so used to that one side of Riley I'd seen, his downright minacious tendencies and such. It was the one side of the rubix cube I had solved. Today I'd been shown a different part of him, even if only briefly, because I swear, when he'd said I was free today it'd been with a slightly dejected look.
I took out my phone and dialed Victor's number, hoping he'd pick up. It was just the sound of endless rings. I was really alone in this then. Scared, vulnerable, and completely alone. Maybe that's why I was subconsciously trying to see Riley's good side, and give him far more credit for the little kind things he'd done than he deserved. I needed someone now more than ever. Someone who knew everything, someone who wouldn't judge me or blackmail me but say 'its okay, we'll figure something out.' Riley wasn't that person, he was using my mistake against me.
I wanted this to be simple, and it was, so I don't know why I was overanalyzing it this much. Riley was blackmailing me, and I was his play toy for the time being. There was nothing more, and I needed to stop trying to see Riley as anything but someone who was teasingly waving the possibility of my demise in my face.
*A/N*
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