Denny's P.O.V

I knew Riley was trying to avoid the question, that is why she walked away but I aint giving up that easily...she was clearly hiding something...something that she had been through and something told me it wasn't good. I knew whatever it was caused her pain and I don't like that. I followed her into the kitchen. When I arrived she was standing staring out the window and I could tell she was crying. I made my way over to her, wrapping my arms around her from behind, nuzzling her neck

"Riley talk to me?" I whispered

"No." she said

"Riley please? It is me, come on?" I said

She sighed, turning around to face me. There was a sadness in her eyes that I have never seen before, it broke my heart seeing her like that. I reached in, wiping her tears away.

"Denny there is a lot you don't know about me." she said in barley a whisper

"Then tell me." I asked softly

I knew it must have been hard getting brought up with her parents cause they sounded like assholes...they sounded like they couldn't care less about her and that is fucked up. What parents treat their child like that? It was wrong. Riley went to say something but then stopped herself. I pulled her into me, hugging her tightly against my chest. She clung to me and started crying. I think she has been through more than I realise. It is my own fault cause I never asked her about her life...not really. It is not something we have ever really done. Riley calmed after a few moments, looking up at me. She looked lost, vulnerable and I never liked it one bit. I reached in, stroking her cheek, Riley sighed, moving into my touch, closing her eyes over.

"Come on, let's go sit down and you can talk to me." I said

She nodded, wiping her tears away. I reached for her hand, leading her back to the living room, sitting down on the sofa.

"I was badly bullied in school...when I say badly I mean it happened every day. I was called everything from fat to ugly to a whore ect... at first I never let it bother me. I was 12 when it started, by the time I was 15 I couldn't take it anymore. I developed an eating disorder, getting down to less than 6 stone. But that never stopped them, they still called me fat." She said crying, stopping for a moment to catch her breath

"When I finally told my parents after hiding it for about a year...asking them for help cause I knew it was getting out of control they turned around and told me that getting bullied is part of life...told me I could have done with losing a couple of pounds, they told me to suck it up and was only doing it for attention." She said

What the actual fuck? What parents treat their kids like that? I felt the anger build up at her parents even though I don't know...don't think I ever wanna know them if that is how they are.

"It was like after that day my parents said that to me everything got worse. People started spreading horrible rumours about me, my studies started sliding, I pushed away the only two friends I had. It was one bad thing after the other and it eventually got too much for me and I ended up overdosing. Chloe found me just in time or I wouldn't be here. I got kept in hospital for about two months, the doctors and nurses helping me with my eating disorder and my depression. My parents never came to visit me once, only people that were there for me was Chloe and her parents...they were there every day. That is why I am so close to them, they are the family I never had. Anyway after that I refused to go back to school...my parents not please and again it was Chloe's mom that was there, she is a teacher so she took her time to home school me, get my grades back up." Riley said, tears now streaming down her face, sobbing

I sat there not knowing what to say at first, my heart was breaking for her. I would never have guessed she went through all that cause since I have met her she always seemed happy, bubbly...yes a little shy and clumsy but I never imagined she had been through all of that. I reached for her, pulling her into me, holding her tightly

"Riley I am so sorry you went through all that especially at such a young age. No one deserves that especially someone with such a big, pure heart like yours. What about now? Do you still struggle?" I asked

"Sometimes, not as bad now. I still have a bad day from time to time but I am doing much better. I got help from some of the most amazing people I have ever knowns...doctors, nurses, counsellors, Chloe and her family. Without all of them I don't think I would be here today." She said, managing a small smile at the mention of Chloe and her family.

"I am glad you are doing OK now Riley. Thank you for telling me. Riley if you find yourself ever struggling again I am here if you need me ...any day and time." I said, stroking her cheek

"Thank You. I try not to think about it too much. I would rather concentrate on the future you know?" she said and I nodded

I reached in, kissing her softly, Riley smiling against my lips

"Can we move on now please?" she asked hopeful

"Of course. What would you like to do?" I smiled

"Order pizza, watch cheesy movies and eat too much junk food?" she giggled

"Sound's perfect." I smiled

I found myself feeling very protective of her...more than before. I made a promise to myself right in that moment I wasn't gonna let anyone hurt her again, not while I am around. I am hoping I aint gonna end up the one that hurts her in the end.

I called for the pizza while Riley picked a movie for us. Once we were done, we snuggled up on the sofa...yes I said snuggled, so what? She was making me soft. Riley was concentrating on the movie...I however had other things on my mind. I looked down at her, she was laughing at the movie and I couldn't help but smile. She really did have the most amazing laugh...it was dorky, amazing still. Everything my mother had been saying to me was in my head and I knew there was only one thing for it. I took a deep breath

"Riley?" I asked

"Yeah?" she said looking around at me smiling

"I was thinking see once we get back to college I was wondering if maybe you wanted to...um...try...um dating?" I said

No going back now. Riley sat up, looking at me shocked

"What? Thought you never done the full dating thing?" she asked raising her brow at me

"I don't usually. Riley its different with you, it always has been. I just aint had the balls to say it to you." I said

"Denny I don't want you to feel like you have to do that because of everything I told you." She said

"No...that is not the case at all...I promise. I have been thinking about it since when we were at my house seeing my mom and April. It was my mother that made me realise I want more than sex with you." I said

I was feeling both nervous and vulnerable right now. I have not put myself out there like this since Silver, terrified in case I get rejected or hurt again.

"If you don't want to it's OK." I said shrugging it off even though I know if she tells me no it is gonna hurt.

"I do want to. We can try the dating thing, see how it goes. Denny if this is what you want to do that means you can't go with other girls." She said

I could see she was scared too...scared in case I fucked her over and hurt her.

"I know. Riley you are the only one I have been with in months. I have not been with anyone else." I said, it was the truth, I haven't been

"Really?" she said surprised and I nodded

"OK. When we get back to college we will give it a go, see how it goes." She smiled brightly, reaching in, kissing me

Thank fuck for that. I was expecting her to say no. Now all I have to do is not mess it up.

"Good. Thank you." I said kissing her back

After that our attention had soon pulled away from the movie...all our attention was now on each other. I don't know what she was doing to me but for once that was OK.