Riley slammed her locker shut and turned glaring daggers at Liam, who was standing there grinning like an idiot.
"Ugh," Riley groaned, glaring at him. "Can you stop following me around? Or I don't know just stop talking for five minutes? You're seriously annoying me."
"But you're my only friend here," Liam said, faking a wounded look.
"I'm serious, Liam." She crossed her arms. "We're not friends, You're giving me a headache."
"Come on, don't be that harsh," he teased.
Before Riley could reply, a familiar voice cut through the noise warm, sweet, and oh-so-perfect.
"Riley!"
Lily walked toward them, her perfect curls bouncing, her smile bright enough to blind the sun.
"Hey, Riley," Lily said in her usual sweet tone.
Liam blinked, surprised. "Whoa, you have a twin?"
"Yeah," Riley said dryly. "She was literally in the same class as me."
"Oh! Guess I didn't pay attention to anyone," Liam said with a sheepish grin.
Lily's eyes twitched slightly at that.
"You two are completely different," Liam said, looking between them. "The only thing similar is your faces. You dress like a guy, and she doesn't."
Lily smiled brightly. "Is that so? Well, we have different styles. I'm Lily by the way."
"I'm Liam." He smiled back.
Riley felt her stomach twist. She wasn't supposed to really think much about it, but the way he said he dressed like a guy stung a little. She'd heard that word too many times before.
"Well, nice to meet you," Lily said politely. "I need to borrow my sister, sorry for interrupting."
"No big deal. We weren't having a serious conversation anyway."
Liam shoved his hands in his pockets and gave Riley a grin. "See you later, Riley."
He winked and walked off.
Lily clenched her fists at the sight.
"Ugh, so annoying," Riley muttered.
"Annoying?" Lily tilted her head innocently.
"Yeah, he just won't stop talking or leave me alone."
"Well, that's a good thing, isn't it?" Lily asked with a small smile.
Riley scoffed. "Sure it is…"
Lily giggled. "Oh, I almost forgot why I came. Let's have lunch together!"
"What? You know your friends don't like me," Riley said, crossing her arms.
"Come on… we haven't had lunch together in forever. Besides, they promised to behave. I just want to eat with you." Lily gave her a pleading smile.
Riley hesitated. The thought of sitting with Lily's friends made her stomach twist, but she couldn't say no.
"Fine."
Lily beamed. "Let's go!"
They walked to the cafeteria. Lily led her to her regular table. Her friends looked up, smiled sweetly at Lily, and then glanced at Riley with forced politeness.
"Oh, Riley's sitting with us today," Ava said with a fake smile.
"Yeah, Lily told us beforehand," Charlotte muttered, barely hiding her annoyance.
Riley sat down, feeling out of place already.
"Hey! Sit here," Mia said with a kind smile. Riley quickly sat beside her. Across from them sat a guy she hadn't seen them together with before,Jake, the football captain.
They chatted while Riley silently ate her food.
"This party is gonna be lit! I can't wait," Charlotte said excitedly.
Ava smirked at Riley. "Hey, Riley, you're coming too, right? Almost everyone's invited. Were you?"
"Yeah, I was," Riley said flatly, not looking up from her food.
"By who?" Charlotte pressed.
"I invited her," Mia said before Riley could respond.
"You did?" Lily asked, surprised.
"Well yeah, I just felt like it," Mia said with a shrug.
"That's nice, but Riley," Ava said, giving her a once-over, "you can't dress like this to the party though."
"What's wrong with my outfit?" Riley asked sharply.
"Yeah, I don't see anything wrong with it," Jake said, leaning back casually.
Riley froze. That was the first time someone had ever defended her style. Most people just called her weird.
Charlotte rolled her eyes. "It's not part of the theme. Can't you just not dress like a boy for once?"
Lily nodded slightly. "Yeah, there's a theme for the party."
Jake sighed. "Does she have to dress a certain way?"
"Of course!" Ava snapped. "She's not a boy. I don't get why someone like you would want to dress like one. Maybe if you dressed like a girl, people wouldn't insult you and maybe you'd be as popular as your sister."
"Ava!" both Lily and Mia said sharply.
Charlotte snickered. "She's not wrong, though."
Riley froze. Her chest tightened, and her fists clenched under the table.
"That's too harsh," Jake said firmly. "Not everyone likes girly stuff."
"Yeah, she can wear whatever she wants," Mia added.
"Sureee," Ava said mockingly. "But seriously, why would a girl like boyish stuff? That's weird. Do you wanna be a boy or something?"
Charlotte laughed. "I bet her mom's disappointed in her. Good thing she's got Lily, the only daughter she can be proud of."
Lily slammed her hand on the table. "Enough! I told you guys to behave!"
"What she wears is none of your business," Jake said. "You don't get to judge her."
Riley stood abruptly. "I'm done eating." She pushed her chair back. "Thanks for the invite, Mia, but I don't think I'll come. I don't fit the theme."
"You two are jerks," Jake said before standing up and walking ou.
Lily snorted. "There goes lover boy."
Ava laughed. "I don't get what he sees in her when I'm right here."
Charlotte snorted. "He's never looking your way."
Ava glared. "Hey!"
"Lily," Mia said seriously, "why are you doing this? She's your sister. Don't tell me it's because of the new boy, Liam."
Lily scoffed. "Of course it is. I can't let her have him. She already has everything. She can't have this one too."
Mia's eyes widened. "don't tell me that's the reason you brought Jake to our table?"
Ava smirked. "Obviously. She wanted to give Liam alove triangle drama."
Mia frowned. "You don't even know if Liam likes her."
"It's in the eyes, Mia," Lily said smugly. "And why do you care anyway?"
"She's gone soft," Charlotte teased.
Mia rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Lily. Do what you want."
"Oh, I will," Lily said with a smirk.
---
Riley ran into the restroom, splashing cold water on her face as tears slid down her cheeks.
She looked up at her reflection.
Baggy shorts. Oversized shirt. Messy short hair. The same black Converse.
That was her... the real her.
And yet…
Their voices echoed in her mind.
"You wear boyish clothes."
"Your mother must be disappointed."
"It's freaking weird."
She wanted to pretend it didn't hurt.
But it did. More than she wanted to admit.
Maybe she should change.
Maybe she should dress like Lily. Be softer.
Maybe then her mom would love her. Maybe people would stop laughing or throwing insults at her.
She shook her head.
"What am I even thinking?" she whispered, slapping her cheeks lightly. "No. I don't care what people think."
She closed her eyes for a moment. She had a reason for dressing this way, a reason she didn't want to remember.
She wiped her tears walking out of the toilet and turned to leave.
"Hey," a voice said.
Riley turned and let out a small scream.