1

BAILEY 

I've never been invited to any of these things since second grade.

Parties. The first and last one I attended was in grade two. My classmate's birthday party. I went home in tears and drenched in water. Safe to say I was never invited to a birthday party again.

And that was how I got my first nickname. Cryley 

That was also when I started being bullied.

Today is the last day of junior year and when I was in the hallway and flyers were going round for the big party that was going to happen at Riley's house,the last thing I expected was for the flyer to be handed to me by Riley himself. 

“I'll see you there, Bailey. You must be there.” I flinched when he slapped the flyer in my hand and tapped me a little too hard on my back. 

Normally, I would never go to a party organised by anyone in this school. But that was not a request. It was an order. 

Riley only gives orders and I follow them. That's how I survive. Even though I get beaten up regardless. The punishment for disobedience is much worse than a beating. 

_____

Something is terribly wrong. 

I arrived at the party about twenty minutes ago and everyone is being nice to me. Every single person.

No teasing or snide remarks or pushes or shoves. Just “heys” and “what's up”. Like I'm buddies with everyone here.

I don't have any friends in my school or my neighbourhood. Just people who make my life hell. 

“Baileyyy,you made it. Well done.”

Riley exclaims,coming into my line of sight.

I grimace,not sure what to do with the big smile on his face that looks genuine and void of the usual malice.

What is going on?

I have never been surrounded by so much goodness before. It's overwhelming and very uncomfortable especially coming from these people.

“What is going on?” I ask when he hands me a red cup filled with drink.

“Well,today is the last day of junior year. We're all here to celebrate. Isn't that right everyone?”

They all cheer and agree.

“Oh okay.” He pats my back and tells me to enjoy,then finds the nearest girl and states sucking face with her like the manwhore that he is.

You're probably wondering why I'm still here. In the back of my mind,I'm wondering too. 

But it feels good,amazing. Being treated like a human being and not a waste of space.

So I stay and I drink everything that is handed to me,feeling high on the feeling of being seen. Until I wish that I could start the night over and actually leave when I got the chance.

Because the horror of the night was about to begin. 

“You know I've always thought you're really handsome and cute.”

“Yeah?” I ask stupidly. You can't blame me. I'm talking to the most beautiful girl in the school. Alice Campbell. 

“Yes,Bailey.” She purrs,batting her eyes at me and biting her lips.

My lips part,staring in disbelief at her because I can't believe she's flirting with me.

She trails her hand up my arm and grips my bicep,leading me upstairs. And I follow her like a dumb dog,with a wagging tail and tongue hanging out its mouth.

She pushes me into an empty bedroom and shuts the door,pushing me back onto the bed.

“What are you doing?” I ask nervously,snapping out of the daze.

“I want to have fun with you” She croons,crawling up the bed to straddle me.

I try to push her away from me,feeling uncomfortable and realising that I actually don't want this. But the daze and laziness won't go away. My arms feel too heavy and my eyes are droopy 

“What's happened? Get off me please.”

I mumble,tongue heavy in my mouth

“I know you want this Bailey.”

I shake my head “No. Please. I don't want this.”

She starts to unbutton my shirt,a wicked glint shining in her eye. The one I see when she watches Riley beat me up and laughs like it's a comedy show.

She ignores my protests and strips me of my clothes, leaving only my spongebob boxers. 

My body feels as if I have no bones and I know that all those drinks that were handed to me were probably drugged. How could I have been so stupid?

“You didn’t actually think that we would treat you like a Prince overnight did you? You're such a fool.” she sighs,getting off me.

Tears dribble down the sides of my face as I lay there helpless. 

The last thing I see is Riley’s wicked grin before I blackout. 

______

I wake with a start,the cold water that was splashed on me dribbling down my body and chilling me to my bones.

The first thing I notice is the bridge. We're on the bridge that is over the river at the edge of the town. My hands are bound in a tight rope behind my back and I'm on my knees at the edge,looking down at the water. 

“Bailey,Bailey,Bailey. You have been fun to play with and it almost hurts my heart that I have to say goodbye. But we were bound to say goodbye anyway right?”

My heart is pounding loudly in my ear and I choke out a desperate sound,not wanting to die.

A cloth is shoved in my mouth,muffling my cries

I look around to plead with the onlookers. Alice,and two of Riley's bestfriends,but they only grin and watch on,not a shred of sympathy on their faces.

I'm going to die and my baby sister will have nobody to protect her from my father anymore. 

I slump over in defeat,silently asking her to forgive me and begging anything good out there to protect her.

“Let's get this over with.”

They grab me and throw me over the bridge to my watery grave.