Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Daimen

I woke the next morning with a groan.

I don't know how long I'd slept, but after a while I just stayed there taking in ragged breaths. I felt like shit.

Suddenly my phone started ringing and I whipped it out in irritation and frowned when I saw who it was. Good ole Prick was calling. Why I was ever friends with him was beyond me. I hit the green button and put it up to my ear.

"What the hell do you want Ryan?" I growled.

"I was wondering if you'd be cool with me taking River out." My jaw clenched at his words and I bit back a growl.

"Fine with me." I said.

"Yeah, if she's walking funny when she gets back, just know I did that." He said with a smirk in his voice. I felt my stomach churn.

"You're acting like I'm supposed to give a damn. She's not gonna let you hit. So I don't care. It's not like she's my girl or anything." I said and Ryan paused.

"She's not? Oh so Charles and his boys were lying? Thought she was your girl, you wouldn't've saved just any bitch, would you?" Ryan said and my body tensed up.

"You've been talking to Charles? How the fuck do you know Charles? How do you even know about that, it was back in high school?" I asked sitting up. The memory of that night at the convenience store flashed in my head. Ryan chuckled.

"Yeah I heard about that little incident at the gas station. I don't know why you got involved, I mean it's not like they were gonna kill her." Ryan said and my jaw clenched as I thought back on that night.

"They were going to rape her." I spat and by now I was standing.

"Hmm okay Daimen." Ryan said nonchalantly.

"You leave her alone you piece of shit." I snarled and was met with a mocking laugh.

"If you touch her I swear to God I'll-" I started.

"I thought you didn't care?" Ryan cut in and I scowled.

"I don't." I huffed.

"Then it shouldn't matter to you." He said.

"That doesn't mean I'm going to let you fuck with her. Don't touch her and there won't be a problem." I spat.

"Aww that's sweet." He said and then hung up. I looked at my phone in shock and went to my closet. Hell no. River wasn't going anywhere with that bastard, not if I had anything to say about it. She wouldn't actually go, would she? After everything? Surely not.

I washed my face and made my way outside hopping into my car. I needed to get to her. With the roar of the engine, I was off.

I walked up to Mama's Shakes trying to keep my cool. The bastard actually told me where River and him were.

He'd made it known after I'd stopped by her house and found her already gone.

I tried my best to compose myself as I made my way inside.

At first I didn't see them and I let out a sigh of relief, but then I saw a couple at a booth locked in a heated make out and my heart dropped to my stomach.

River...

As I watched, Ryan slid his filthy hands down her body and gripped her waist. River suddenly pulled back with scared eyes and Ryan smirked and kissed her neck, then she said something to him and he proceeded to stick his tongue down her throat. I'd seen enough.

Red mist covered my vision as I marched over and pulled Ryan away from her. River gasped as I dragged him away and shoved him. He stumbled back and caught himself against a table.

"Come on man, I didn't do anything." Ryan said smirking. He straightened his clothes and shot me a mocking look. I clenched my fists and stalked toward him.

"Didn't do anything? You call that not doing anything?" I gritted out and he gave me a shrug. His eyes glinted.

"I just kissed her." He spat out and I lunged at him. My fist connected with his jaw and he stumbled and I gripped his shirt collar. His eyes looked into mine and I punched him again feeling satisfied as blood flowed from his busted lip.

River was such a naïve little princess and it got on my last nerve. She always had everything. She almost always had a smile on her face. Besides the times when I was by her or something was worrying her.

That's part of why I lost it around her. She was the only good thing in my world and I didn't know how to cope with it. Her happy aura was annoying and I wanted to smudge out her light any way I could.

I wanted to leave but I couldn't. It was like that feeling you got when someone snatches something away from you. The bitter urge to get it back. The need to have it back in your hands where it was; where it belongs.

How could she be so stupid, to go out with Ryan?

Ryan frowned and punched me good in the jaw and for a second I let him go and backed up. He smirked at me revealing teeth stained pink from blood.

"You can't take a hit." He said and I felt rage consume me. Actually I'm thinking about something.

"You don't need to be talking, have you seen your face?" I snarled standing tall and glaring into his eyes. He smirked again and chuckled.

"You seriously want to fight me because of her?" He said motioning to where River stood looking shocked... And scared.

"Fuck you." I said and punched him and soon we were on the ground pummeling each other. After a few moments I got on top of him and held him down with my knee digging into his stomach.

"Daimen." I heard River say and I looked over at her annoyance sparking in me. Suddenly all I could see was her kissing Ryan and I sneered back at the boy before punching him again.

"Go home now." I growled to River. She just stood there and I felt rage bubbling up inside me.

"How fucking stupid are you? I told you not to go out with this prick. Don't you start crying, you brought it on yourself now get out of here." I spat and she gasped and her mouth open and closed like a fish.

"Go!" I yelled. Tears brimmed her eyes before she swiftly turned on her heels and bolted out of the building. I watched her go with a soft frown.

Murmurs rose up from the people around us.

"Look at you-you're pathetic." Ryan spat up at me and I scowled. His eye was blackening and a bit swollen and blood covered his face. He hadn't even been able to touch my face instead of that one hit. If anyone looked pathetic it was him.

"Me pathetic? Look in the mirror man." I said.

"What is she to you?" He asked and I shook him by his shirt collar. He looked back at me and frowned a little.

I let my rage take over me and soon people were pulling me off the kid and holding me back. Blood dripped from my knuckles, but it wasn't mine.

"If you touch her again, I'll kill you." I spat and the bystanders let me go. They were saying something along the lines of 'let it go,' but I didn't catch it all.

Ryan pushed himself to his feet and gave me a long look. His eyes flashed between anger and wariness and pain past the blood marring his face.

I turned and stomped out of the building anger still burning inside me.

"This isn't over!" Ryan yelled as I got in my car and I held myself back. My jaw clenched as I started the engine and with a roaring rev I was leaving the diner behind.

• RØCKY RØÅD •

Daimen

I looked at the dog pacing happily in the cage. His brown eyes stared up at me and his tongue lolled out of his mouth.

"How much for him?" I asked the old lady who smiled softly. She walked over to the cage and tapped the fence.

"He'll only cost however much you want to pay for him, I'm just happy someone's finally taking him home." The woman said her grin widening. I nodded softly and sucked on my teeth.

"Here." I said pulling out a few hundred dollar bills and giving it to the woman who looked shocked.

"This is too-"

"Keep it." I grumbled and opened the cage. The black hound scampered out of the kennel his tail wagging furiously. A smile tugged at the corner of my lips but it faded as the woman said something to me.

"What?" I asked and she handed me a lead and collar.

"I was just giving you this." she said softly and I gave a curt nod before kneeling and putting the collar on the dog. He yipped as the leash connected to his collar.

"Sit Rocky." I grumbled as he jumped around and the dog sat down with a huff.

"Oh my, he actually listened to you. He only-wait-are you the man that River ran into the other day?" the woman asked me and I raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah." I said casually and the old woman smiled and nodded her head.

"She wasn't lying; you are good looking." the woman said and I frowned softly.

"She said I was good looking?" I asked in confusion and the woman chuckled softly.

"Not necessarily, but I know that look." she said with a twinkle in her eyes and my frown deepened.

"What look?" I asked and the woman just laughed and turned away. My jaw clenched slightly as she walked away and I and Rocky followed.

"What look?" I questioned again and the old woman turned to face me and she gave a light, knowing smile.

"Ask her if you want to know so bad." she said and I let out a huff.

Damn woman wasting my time. I shook my head and began to walk away.

"I see she wasn't lying about your temper either." she called after me and I paused before shooting her a look.

"You don't know what you're talking about." I said and she shrugged.

"Maybe not." she said softly and I shook my head.

"She told me about what you did to her ex and... you know if you like her you should say so." the woman said and I scowled and scoffed.

"I don't like her." I huffed and tugged on Rocky's collar.

"Come on." I told him and he started to walk away with me.

"Wait, why him?" She asked and I turned to see her motioning to the dog.

I met her eyes for a moment before saying, "He's misunderstood." Like me.

"Okay then. You know he's River's favorite? She'll deny it, but she'll be kind of upset he's gone." The woman said.

"Why is that my problem?" I asked and she gave me a long look before sighing tiredly.

"Goodbye Daimen." the woman said and I gave a stiff nod before pushing the front door open and walking out.

I trudged over to my car before opening up the passenger's door and telling Rocky to get in. He hopped in without a problem and I shut the door before getting into the driver's seat. With a roar the engine started and I pulled out of the parking lot.

I walked into my home and paused at its ominous quietness. I unclipped Rocky from his lead and the dog took a few curious paces around before coming to stand next to me again.

"Mom?" I called and got no answer. I frowned softly and started going through the house. Something was wrong. Her car was still here, and it was highly unlikely that my mother actually walked somewhere. I looked through some rooms and then a thought hit me.

The office.

I instantly changed my direction and started from where my hunch was leading me. Rocky followed me with a yip as I hurried down the hallways.

Finally arriving at the room, I flung open the already cracked door and froze as I saw my mother drooping over in a chair. Dammit.

"Mom." I said but she stayed slumped over. I muttered a few curses and strode over to her. I could see the needles on the ground and the smell of the smoke was evident in the air.

"Mom!" I said loudly coming to stand in front of her. I took the belt from around her arm and swore at the scars on her skin and the fresh puncture wound. I shook the chair and my heartrate calmed down some as she groaned.

"Get up dammit." I spat anger starting to grip me. My mother huffed and opened her eyes. Her eyes slowly focused on me and she smiled softly earning a scowl from me.

"Get your shit and get out." I said before stepping away from her and starting toward the door.

"You can't kick me out—" she began and I whirled around.

"You wanna bet? I'm warning you mom, get your stuff and leave, or I'm calling the cops. I'm not going to come home one day and find you dead in a fucking room somewhere! Get your shit and go!" I yelled and she flinched before getting out of the chair and scrambling to her room I watched her with a glare and Rocky began barking.

"Hush." I hissed at the dog and he looked at me and flicked an ear back before huffing and lying down next to my feet.

I watched as my mom got everything that she was going to take before going towards the door. She didn't speak to me and I had nothing to say to her. For a moment she looked back at me as her hand clasped the doorknob and I gave her an expressionless glance.

"Bye. I'm sorry." she said and I looked away from her.

"You can't apologize for shit you're just going to do again Mom." I said gruffly staring at my shoes and didn't look back up until I heard the shutting of the door. I stood there looking at the door as I heard her car start up and drive off and then that was it.

She was gone.

My shoulders slumped as I walked forward to lock the door and my jaw clenched as I twisted the lock. Rocky came up beside me and his body rubbed against my leg. I looked away from the door and scratched behind his ears. He grumbled softly and I made my way toward the kitchen.

I rummaged through the refrigerator before giving him some leftover steak from the other night. He happily gobbled it up and I smiled softly. I'd get him dogfood tomorrow.

I marched up to my room and paused as Rocky thrust himself in the doorway as I began to shut it. I let him in and he parked himself beside my bed before lying down. I shook my head softly and went into my bathroom for a shower.

"Wanna go for a drive?" I asked Rocky as I came out of the bathroom. He yipped and I smirked.

"Come on." I said and he followed me out of the room.

I saw her before the dog as we went around the block. Once Rocky saw her though he went into a frenzy. He hopped into the front from the back and jumped against the passenger window.