Riley's POV:

"Are you sure you don't wanna stay home another week? School can wait honey, you're a senior." My mom begged from the bottom of the stairs.

"I have to go back eventually, mom." I sighed, heading down the steps. Her eyes widened at my outfit which I guess was a little different than usual, but I chose to ignore it.

"Is Harry driving you?" She asked, and I nodded my head as I picked up my bag.

"I'll see you later." I said, slamming the door behind me. I quickly ran over to his car and smiled widely at him.

"Hi love." He said nervously as I walked into the car.

"What's the matter?" I asked, dropping my bag at my feet and buckling my seatbelt.

"I'm just nervous for you." He whispered, making my insides burn.

"I'll be fine... It's all going to be fine." I insisted, and with that we were on our way to the school.


When I walked inside, you could clearly tell all eyes were on me. Every move I made, people watched like hawks spying on their prey. Instead of heading over to Perrie and Zayn, my feet brought me over to Nick and Chris who were already looking at me.

"Hey guys." I gave them a small smile as Harry snaked his arm around me. Protective much?

"How are you... feeling? I don't really know how to say it." Nick replies awkwardly, and Chris nods along with him.

"I'm alright, yeah." I smiled. "I really miss you both--"

"We miss you so much." Chris blurted out, and the four of us unleashed an awkward chuckle, even Harry.

"Please come back to the lunch table, Dixie's friends are so annoying and--"

"Why don't you guys come to mine?" I asked, and their eyes widened. I looked up at Harry who was giving me the 'are you out of your mind' look, but I pretended I didn't notice. "C'mon guys, Zayn sits there, I sit there, Zayn's girlfriend and even Harry likes you guys!" I smiled, nudging Harry forward.

"Yeah." Harry nearly choked out.

"Maybe we'll try it for one day..." Chris mumbles and Nick nods his head. I secretly loved the fact that after everything that's happened, I still can control a few things. I also love the fact that after all that's happened between Nick and I, we're able to be civil and kind to each other.

"Cool, see you later." I smile, taking Harry's hand and walking to our first class together which happens to be Math.

"I don't know if that's a good idea, the boys hate Nick." He murmurs and I roll my eyes.

"It's just one day." I sigh. I notice a few girls, probably sophomores pointing and whispering at Harry and I holding hands.

"Take a fucking picture, it'll last longer." I smirk, giving them the middle finger. The tall one dropped her binder in fear at Harry's devilish smile and they all scatter away.

"That's my girl." He whispered, kissing my cheek and pulling my closer towards him.

---

"After what he did to you, you're gonna let him sit here?" Louis groans as I flag down Chris and Nick.

"Just shut up, would you?" I whisper-shout and the rest of the boys crack up. When Chris and Nick arrive, they both sit on either side of me.

"What's up mates?" Zayn gives them a cheeky smile, I adore that he's acting like his old-self mixed with his new-self. "This is my girlfriend, Perrie."

"You're the new girl, yeah?" Chris asks, and she nods.

"Yup, I think we have Chemistry together?" She asks and he nods. Things are going better than expected.

My eyes scan through the rest of the lunch room when I notice Dixie walking in heading towards her table, but she stops in her tracks when she sees Chris and Nick sitting beside me. That look was fucking priceless. Her heels click across the lunch room and to the head of our table where Harry and Niall are seated.

"Problem?" Harry asks with a smirk on his face, I really do love him.

"Nick? Chris? What the hell do you think you're doing?" She asks, ignoring Harry's childish smile.

"Sitting?" Nick replies with a small smile crawling up the corners of his mouth.

"Eating?" Chris adds, and Zayn, Perrie and I all being snickering in the background.

"Why are you sitting here? With her and her thugs?" She asks, and Louis nearly spits his food out onto the table.

"Are we going to have an issue, Miss Jones is it?" He asks, revealing his dark eyes. Dixie is clearly taken back by this, but still holds her ground.

"Not a problem between you and I... but there is a problem between Riley and I." She tilts her head sideways so she can make eye contact with me. "Does the crazy girl need more friends so she has to steal mine?" She smirks, and I slowly start to feel a lump in my throat growing.

"I'm not crazy." I growl, standing up from my chair.

"That's not what everyone else is saying." She smirks.

"Let's take a guess what everyone is saying about you... You're a mean girl with bad taste and an ugly heart." I say, trying to be as mean as I can. I can see Liam smiling at me from the table which is leading me to believe that wasn't as powerful as I thought it was.

"And you're a just an attention seeking whore. That's what that suicide attempt was right, all for attention?" She laughs, turning on her heels and walking away. That was the final fucking straw. I picked up the nearest bottle which happened to be Chris' gatorade, unscrewed the cap and dumped it over her head.

"You crazy bitch!" She screamed, and the entire lunch room erupted into laughter.

"That's what they call me... according to you anyway." I smile, and she runs across the room and out of my sight. The looks of disbelief around the room and the small smiles gave me the confidence I needed to not break down and cry. That was probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do.

"Miss Cutler?" I was interrupted from my moment of glory by the principal standing in the door frame. I look down at Harry who has a worried expression plastered across his face.

"Yes?" I say in my delicate innocent voice.

"Please join me in my office." He sighs, and I pick up my bag and follow.

This is not going to be good by any means. The school board already hates me for all the pictures, for the suicide attempt being on the news and now I'm causing trouble with the school's queen bee... Yup, I'm fucked.

Notes

Actions have consequences!!! tsk, tsk Riley.
Am I handling her transformation into a semi bad girl ok?

please comment your reactions & don't forget to vote vote vote!

p.s. if I don't update before Christmas, I hope you all have an incredible day! x