Chapter 3: Making friends

After trying all the outfits on I picked one that looked the best to wear for now. I wore a dark navy blue frilly skirt and a black tank top and a navy blue blazer with black flats. I kept all the other clothes and walked out of the dressing room toward the boys. They were all talking amongst themselves waiting for me, they all fell silent when I walked out and their mouths dropped. My face felt hot as they all looked me up and down. "Uh ready for food?" they all snapped out of it and gabriel quickly grabbed my stuff and went to pay for it. Andrew still was the only one staring me, down it made my heart skip a beat. Once Gabriel payed for my dozens of clothes and outfits we all made our way to the cafeteria. "He really knows his shit, you look amazing" Andrew whispered in my ear and I found myself blushing all over again as I muttered a thank you.

We found a small pizza place inside the mall, Victor went up and grabbed two large pizzas for everyone as we sat down to eat. "So when did you move here?" Victor asked me eating his slice, I finished my bite and answered him, "My mother died about 5 years ago, my father lost his job and couldn't keep up with the bills so we moved here". I replied taking another bite of pizza, "I'm sorry about that Riley.If you don't mind me asking how did your mother die?" Noah asked me putting his hand comfortingly on my back. I sighed remembering everything deciding how much i wanted to tell them, "I came home and found her...someone had beat her to death, police said it was a break in but nothing was ever stolen...I think my father did it but i have no evidence otherwise. I just remember coming home and finding her.." my voice trailed of not wanting to say anymore as the memories flooded back to me. I was snapped out of it when Andrew held my hand, "don't worry we won't let him do that to you, your safe with us right guys?" he asked turning to everyone else. They all agreed with him, "yeah don't worry trouble we've got your back!" I settled down a little feeling better as we all finished eating and went back to shopping. Victor walked beside me and i turned to him, "thank you for the clothes you didn't have to" I said politely to him. He turned to me and gave me a smile where i could have melted where I stood. "Don't worry about it riley, question do you have a phone?" he asked. The question threw me off, "No my father would never let me have one" and before I could finish my sentence he was off in the direction where the phone carriers were. I called out to stop him but I was pulled inside another store with Gabriel.

All day we went around with them shopping for things for me that I didnt ask for, by the time we got inside the car i was exhausted. Never had someone spend that much for me all at once. I ended up with 10 outfits, a brand new phone, and new shoes and other things. "Victor please you didn't need to do all this," I said to him and he shook his head looking at me with fire in his eyes, "I wanted to your my friend I don't mind". I thought about the fact that they already considered me their friend, I felt giddy at the thought then remembered I have no way of explaining all of this to my father. "Noah can i keep these at your house? I have no way to explain all of this to my father" I said suddenly remembering that he existed. "Yeah no problem Riley I understand" he replied as he drove us back to the house. "Man I want pancakes!" Liam complained in the back seat. I gasped at that sudden realization, "Pancakes sound amazing!" I agreed and Noah laughed along with Andrew in the back seat. We arrived at Noahs house and I helped un pack my things inside his room for now. "Noah I have to go before my father finds out im gone still" he nodded "Do you want me to come with to help you sneak back in?" he asked concerned for me. I shook my head, "its better if i go alone so he doesnt see me with anyone if he does see me. Ill text you once im safe" I told him. He silently nodded and suprised me with a hug, "Please call me if something happens okay? or anyone you have your phone right? you have everyones phone numbers in there". I muttered an okay and hugged him back before heading back to my house. I went through the back door and snuck inside my window. I shut and locked it before unmaking my bed so it looked like I was sleeping all day.

Then i changed into regular clothes and came out going down to the kitchen, my brothers door was open and i peeked in, he was gone. I sighed in relief until i heard my father. 'RILEY GET ME A BEER NOW!" he yelled from his room. Just in time thank god, I grabbed him a beer and quickly texted Noah.

'Hey its Riley, I made it safe for now im grabbing him a beer and hopefully he will leave me alone'

'Okay please be careful riley'

I put my phone away tucked inside my bra and walked to my fathers room with a beer in my hand, I knocked on the door and he grumbled for me to open it. My father sat drunkily on the bed watching t.v, his short black and grey hair was messy, he had no shirt on and sat in his boxers holding his empty can of beer. I quietly walked up to him and handed him the beer, he didnt even look at me as he grabbed it and threw his empty beer can at my chest. I held my tounge as i picked up the can and left shutting the door. I walked back into the kitchen throwing the can away leaning against the counter, this time I got lucky. I pulled out my phone and I had three text messages from Andrew, Victor and Liam.

LIAM:"Riley its Liam are you okay? did you make it safe?"

VICTOR:"Its victor I hope the new phone is okay I hope i didnt go overboard"

ANDREW:"Riley you looked great today I cant wait to see you again"

Before i could reply to anyone my father called me again startling me to where I accidentially called Noah, before i could end the call i heard him coming to the kitchen so I turned the volume down and quickly tucked it into my bra hoping he wouldn't hear this.

"Bitch where the fuck is my dinner!?" he came out yelling in my face

"I was just working on it im sorry" I said quietly putting my head down, hr grabbed my face forcing me to look at him "LOOK AT ME WHEN I SPEAK TO YOU" he screamed slapping me so hand i fell on the ground. I put my hand on my phone in my boob so it didnt fall out, "I want my dinner in 15 minutes or your getting a lot worse." He stomped back toward his room and i breathed out against the floor sighing and picking myself up. Worried he would come back out I quietly made him his dinner and i peeked at my phone in my bra, he definitely heard this.

"Im sorry noah you had to hear that just hold on" I said quietly enough hoping he would hear me but not my father. I finished up with his food and brought it to my father, I quietly knocked on the door then opened it. I turned to me fuming, "your two minutes late im fucking starving bitch!" I stuttered not knowing what to do, shit! I set the plate down and he grabbed my arm pulling me to the bathroom and I knew it was over, I was probably dead.