Harsh Love

*ONE YEAR AGO*

Riley was on his way back to class from the canteen. His head hung down as he didn't want to look anyone in the face. Looking at people in the face had put him in too much trouble, and the very last thing he wanted, was to put himself in trouble in a new school.

Changing school every one or two years was already something he was used to. There was no where save for him.

He was so deep in thoughts, and didn't take notice of the boy who stood in front of him with his back turned towards him, until he bumped into him.

"What the f**k."

The boy who Riley bumped into cursed as he turned to face Riley.

"Don't you have eyes to see where you are going?" the boy said as he took in the sight of the fair skin tone boy in front of him.

Seeing Riley with his head down as he apologized agitated the boy.

He held Riley's chin with his fingers, and felt Riley flinch, but this only amused him. He rose Riley's head up, and with the normal procedure of hitting such people's face.

It was over a minute, and he still was at it, until one of his friends, who had been watching him all those while, placed a hand on his shoulder and said

"You are not gonna hit such a pretty face, are you?"

Then it dawned on him. He had rose that head up to hit it, but upon raising it up, he got mesmerized, and had stared at that face until his friend touched his shoulder.

Now, how could he hit such a pretty face.

The boy's blue eyes stared at him. Was that pain he was seeing in those lovely eyes. He let go of his fingers on Riley's chin. Rubbed his palms together, as he was at a loss for words.

"You shouldn't walk alone with such a pretty face."

Riley looked at the student, who was now looking at him with a smile on his face. Riley felt a bit confused, was this not the very same person who had raised his voice at him? So, why was his voice so gentle and caring at the moment.

"I'm Carl."

The student said as he stretched out his hand for an handshake.. Riley also stretched out his hand and shook hands with Carl.

Carl chuckled, looking a bit surprised.

"You must be a newbie?" Carl said between soft laughs.

"Uh!" replied a confused, or rather surprised Riley. Was it so obvious he was a newbie? Did he look so out of place?

"Only newbies accept handshakes from us. Other students tend to avoid us, if possible."

"Including seniors?"

Riley was totally misunderstanding something here. He assumed they were being bullied, that was why other students avoided them, cause they didn't want to be labeled as their friends, and then end up casted out like Carl and his friends.

"Seniors? Some, not all. Some don't dare mess with us, otherwise, we will mess them up big time."

Now it dawned on Riley. They were not the bullied but the bullies. His body got tensed. He no longer felt comfortable around them. He stood there, fidgeting, remained silent while looking panicked, until he heard the sound of the bell.

"Uhm, hey Carl, I gotta go." he said as he pointed to the building. Just as he walked past Carl, Carl grabbed his arm in a gentle manner.

"You are yet to tell me your name handsome."

Seeing him with such a nice harmless smile, Riley tried to assure himself that Carl was a good person, well, if something as a good bully existed.

"Riley, Riley Thompson."

"Nice meeting you Riley. I look forward to seeing you more often."

*****

Two weeks had passed by since they both met. Riley stepped into his class, and noticed all eyes were on him. He got to his seat and was surprised to see a bunch of flowers, and a box of chocolates on his table. Poking its head out of the flowers was an envelope. Riley opened it and read with a pale face.

Hey Riley

The very first time I met you, something changed in me. I really can't tell what has changed, but I do know that something's changed, I can feel it, I just can't pinpoint what it is.

I know that by now, you must have heard a lot of things about me, mostly bad things.

But I can assure you Riley, I am wiling to change if you do not like such. No, more like, I already am changing, just that I have to keep on hanging out with my friends, we all are childhood friends, I do hope you understand that.

But if you do not feel comfortable around them, I'm fine with that, you do not have to hang around them. And if you want, I'm willing to reduce the time I spend with them. All I am asking of you, is to give me a chance Riley.

I love you.

Carl.

"What on earth is this?" Riley nearly screamed out.

He looked around, feeling embarrassed, and wondering if someone else already read the letter. Well, Riley had every right to think so.

Goodness knows how long it had been since the stuffs got delivered to his classroom. Anyone of his classmates, could had read it. He was a newbie, and he kept to himself, so they knew next to nothing about him. They might had read it as a means to find out more about him. And if they or someone else really did, he could get targeted by those who were interested in Carl. And that, he didn't want.

This went on for days. Days turned to weeks, and three weeks had gone by when Riley decided he had had enough, he could no longer bear it.

He brought it up with Richard, as soon as Richard arrived at his place.

"Hey, big bro, come come."

Richard looked at Riley with a confused gaze. Just an hour ago, he had received a message from Riley, asking him to come over. And he rushed over as soon as he was done with his classes for the day. Riley did make it sound very serious, but now, looking at him, it no longer seemed so serious to Richard.

He entered the room, and closed the door. He took a sit on a chair after placing his bag by the other side.

"Why did you ask me to come over?"

Riley looked away, and came to sit on the chair's arm.

"Brother."

"What?"

"What would you do, if someone you do not like tell you that they like you?"

"Turn them down."

"What if you ignore and do not reply at all?"

"Then they will keep pestering you. They will take your silence as a 'yes'."

"So, what will you do in such a case?"

"Turn them down in a way that will make them either understand or hate me."

Riley wondered why he never thought of such before. But did he really not think of such before, or he just didn't have the guts to go ahead with it.

He was wondering just how he was going to carry out the advice his brother gave him.

"Is someone giving you a hard time?"

"Sorry?" he said, as he didn't hear what his brother said, or was he just feigning it.

"Is someone giving you a hard time?" Richard said again

"Me? Oh no. It's advice for a friend. He pleaded with me to ask around."

Richard was not stupid, he knew it was for no friend, which friend exactly? Was it the ones that had abandoned him, or the ones he was yet to make. But it was not like he was gonna tell it straight to Riley that he had no friend.

*****

Finally, Riley decided to meet Carl. Riley walked in front, and Carl walked behind, all the while staring at the backside of his pretty man.

Riley stopped at the back of a building, and Carl followed suit. They both stood apart, staring into each other's eyes. Carl stared at Riley's clear blue eyes, it looked calm, and Carl felt something drawing him to it. Riley's voice snapped him out of it.

"Carl"

Those tiny small lips aroused Carl, and he went on fantasizing on the many places he would love to feel those lips on his body.

"I appreciate the love, and the time you've given me. The gifts, flowers, letters, they keep coming." Riley said as he rose up a wooden box he was carrying, then dropped it.

"But you see."

Carl could not understand what was happening. Everything was going so lovely just a while ago, so why the need for a 'but'.

"Wait a second Riley, you don't..."

"I'm sorry Carl, but you see this letters, I can't accept them."

Riley could see the pain in Carl's eyes.

'He must really love me, but I can't bring myself to love him, I just can't let love hurt me, no.' Riley thought to himself.

Riley's gaze softened. He really didn't have the heart to turn down Carl. But he didn't want to give him some false hopes.

Remember, turn them down in a way that will make them either understand or hate you.

"I'm not ready for a relationship. And even if I am, I have no such feelings for you."

Carl's face sank, his lips parted but uttered nothing. His eyes stared at Riley as Riley picked up the box a second time, but this time around, he brought it closer to his chest.

Carl didn't know whether to see this as a sign of hope or respect. But what he saw next, was something he never would have imagined.

Riley approached the trash bin that was just behind him. He opened the box all the while looking at Carl, as he brought out a letter.

"Carl, I was going to return these to you, but I realized it will only sadden you the more. So, let me throw them all away, so you do not think too much about what happened between us, even though nothing really happened. I know you're gonna hate me now, but I do hope that you will understand, and find it in your heart to forgive me. "

He threw the content of the box, along the box into the bin, then walked away without looking back. There was no going back.

*****

Natasha scoffed as she rested her back against her chair.

"That bastard." she cursed out loud.

"How dare he still play the pity card, and even have the heart to do all that to you?"

Riley smiled, seeing her fuming with anger made him feel safe. He was really grateful he had a friend like her, no, he was grateful he had her as a friend.

"It doesn't matter anymore, he's learnt his lesson the hard way, all thanks to you."

They both chuckle as they got up and walked up the stairs and into their rooms.