Chapter 21: Chapter 21

River

My eyes flitted around the grocery store. I was only in here for a gallon or two of milk. I'd avoided Daimen and hadn't seen him in about a week.

But sadly that didn't go for his family members, because I'd just grabbed some milk when...

"River." I jumped as someone said my name and nearly dropped the milk I'd held.

I quickly turned around and was surprised to see my old high school principal Mr. Princeston. Daimen's uncle.

"Oh... hi sir." I said and he nodded in acknowledgement.

"I've heard you're hanging out with Daimen?" He asked and I looked at him quizzically.

"Sorta." I said and he smiled softly.

"Can I tell you something?" He suddenly blurted out and I frowned in confusion.

"Uh sure?" I said gazing up at him.

"I'm his father, his actual father." Mr. Princeston said and I looked at my old principal in shock. My mouth dropped open.

Not what I was expecting.

"What?" I asked nearly dumbfounded.

"I was young, I made a mistake. Daimen doesn't know." He said and I blinked and closed my mouth.

"I..." I didn't know what to say, but Mr. Princeston obviously wanted to get something off his chest.

No don't tell me! This isn't my business. Not my business. Why? Why me? Oh no. Here it comes.

"Daimen's mother was exceptionally beautiful, my brother loved her and I was to put it frank jealous in a way. She'd stopped using for him, they were going to get married. One night while my brother was at work, Kim and I got drunk and I messed up. He came home and was furious. He had every right to be. She got pregnant because of me and my brother took on the responsibility..." The man let out a long sigh and straightened his slumped shoulders.

Dammit.

"Gill." I hissed as he chugged down another drink. He set the empty glass down with a low belch and gave me a sideways smirk.

I was out with my cousin. The weeks had gone by agonizingly slow and I'd seen nothing of Daimen. I wanted to tell him about his not-so-dead-after-all father, but hadn't got the chance to. I went to his house a few times, but he wasn't there, which I was kind of thankful for because I didn't know how in the world I was going to tell him. And that was not something you told someone over text, so that wasn't an option.

I felt like shit keeping it in though.

"Yeah cuz?" He asked and I frowned at him while taking the glass away and placing it out of reach.

"You don't need anymore tonight. Not while I'm around." I said and he gave a pout.

"You don't tell me what to do Riv and besides I can drink way more than that and be fine." Gill argued and I sighed.

"No Gill, I'm not hauling your drunk, falling-down ass out of here and driving you home understood?" I said with a stern glare and he huffed.

"I didn't know I brought my mom to this outing." Gill said with a pointed look.

"So what's going on with you and Princeston?" My cousin asked and I frowned softly.

"How do you know about that?" I asked.

"C'mon he's Daimen. Plus your parents told mine that he's been trailing you." Gill said with a concerned look.

"It's fine Gill. We're just friends."

"Friends? With Princeston?" My cousin asked with a slight frown and I nodded softly.

"Yeah. We're friends."

"Hey, have you ever thought about our names? I mean you're River and I'm Gill. It seems like our parents had some inside joke about fish or something." My cousin said.

"Your sister's name is Angela." I said and he looked like someone burst his bubble.

"Maybe its a first born type thing." He said and I shook my head and chuckled.

"That's ridiculous." I said.

Suddenly he gasped and I frowned and looked at him wonderingly.

"What?" I asked as he stared at me wide-eyed.

"There's a fucking Angelfish!" He cried out.

"Oh Lord." I mumbled as he began to go on about his little newfound conspiracy.

"If you're so worried about it; ask them." I said.

"Oh yeah, like a magician gives up his secrets. You know they won't tell." He grumbled.

"Okay; I didn't know you got this weird when you drank." I said and he huffed muttering about how he wasn't weird, which somehow went into his life story and the time he threw up on a cheerleader in sophomore year of high school.

I shook my head and let out a small chuckle as he rambled on.

The hours ticked by and I watched Gill as he tried to flirt with numerous girls. Key word: tried.

It was quite humorous watching the scene unfold.

At one point he looked to really be hitting it off with a bookish looking brunette, until he said something that earned him a slap and the girl stomped off, pushing up her glasses. I raised my eyebrows as he came back to sit beside me.

"So what went wrong this time Casanova?" I asked him and he gave me a sideways glare.

"I said she'd probably have twenty-twenty vision is she saw me naked." He grumbled and I couldn't help laughing.

"Dumbass." I chuckled and Gill huffed and took another swig of his drink.

I looked around and noticed a young woman sitting at one part of the bar alone. She wiped at her eyes frantically, typing furiously on her phone before slamming it on the table and covering her face in her hands. Her curly brown hair hung over her face for a moment. I scowled softly as she began to cry, I'm pretty sure.

"Be right back." I told Gill and stood up before making my way over to the booth where the girl sat.

"Are you okay?" I asked as I sat down opposite of her and she jumped and uncovered her face. Her brown eyes were red and tears stained her cheeks.

"I--no." She gasped and started crying again. Pity swirled in my stomach.

"What's wrong?" I asked softly and she covered her mouth for a moment before sighing.

"This guy... I really love him. My ex... we were gonna get back together. We've been friends for y--years. He just--just said he wants nothing to do with me. All because I asked if he'd still love me if I had sex with another guy. Like not even cheating on him; he said if he isn't the one to--to take my virginity then I'm dead to him!" The girl started to get hysterical and I bit my lip and patted her shoulder.

"But he said he loved me. He was gonna always be there... But now--now he says I'm not shit to him. And he's had sex with other girls! He's not even a virgin but he expects me to never be with another man and he just drops me when I just mention if I ever had sex with another guy... He doesn't even love me! If he loved me--he wouldn't just leave! I'm such an idiot, I still love him... I'm so stupid." The girl sobbed.

Damn. I smiled sadly at the girl.

"Well he sounds like a complete asshole. You're better off." I said and she gave another hard sob.

"It's almost funny because I'd texted him that as I was getting ready to ask him to come over. I'd shaved and everything. I--I was gonna give it up to him... Now I realize how stupid that was. It just shocked me because he said if I'd had sex with someone else then he'd cut me off..." she took a deep breath.

"I thought he was just messing around at first because I love him and so much that I don't care if he slept with hundreds of women, I'd still love him. He wasn't joking though, and then said he'd cut me off all together if I ever did...And it hurts so fucking much. I love him... I don't see how he can do this to me... he said he loves me." The girl finished and laid her head against the table.

"Baby girl it sounds like he doesn't know what love is." I said softly. This guy sounded like an absolute dick.

"You're right I should just get over him." The girl huffed and I watched as she wiped her eyes. I gave a nod.

"If you're having a breakdown in a bar, he's probably not for you." I said and the girl managed a smile as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Thank you." She said and I gave a nod.

"I'm River by the way." I said and she gave a smile.

"I'm Mykayla but my friends call me Mouse." The girl said. I tilted my head.

"Why Mouse?" I asked. She gave a soft laugh.

"I was really small when I was younger, I'm quiet and my front teeth were kinda bucked. Plus I loved cheese." She said and blushed slightly. I smiled.

"Mouse, there you are." A voice said and I turned to see a trio of girls, two African Americans and one Caucasian, walking towards us. Mykayla looked over and smiled widely.

"Hey guys..." she said and I stood as the girls went to their friend.

"Girl you really got it bad huh? Fuck that nigga." One of the girls spat and pulled out her phone. "What's his number? Ima tell his ass off. Making you cry... his ugly ass needs to get off his high horse and remember who the hell he's fucking with."

"Serious, don't..." One of the girls said looking to the one with her phone out.

"I can't believe he did that to you. Who says that to someone?" The other girl said with an incredulous look. I slowly inched away from the group of girls.

"Bye." I said and went back to Gill.

Everyone turned their heads as a loud bang erupted from outside.

"Oop that's my cue." An obviously tipsy man said before bolting towards the back exit. I watched him go and was tempted to follow.

I looked back towards the exit and shouting was heard from outside. Oh man, maybe I should've left.

Soon the door burst open and in rushed a frightened looking man. He stumbled around looking frantic. Seconds later in prowled Daimen. His brow was frowned and a murderous look was evident on his face.

My heart started pounding at the sight of him.

"Get back here you piece of shit." He snapped and everyone quieted and watched to see what was going on. A manager seemed to be about to stop it, but when he noticed it was Daimen he stopped in his tracks and turned around, melting back behind the bar.

"I'll fucking kill you." Daimen spat and took a hard swing at the man. I gasped as the man took the full hit into his jaw and stumbled back.

Daimen took advantage of his now disorientation and rushed the man tackling him into a table. Punch after punch was thrown by the young man that was Daimen. At that moment, I saw the demon inside every man. My blood chilled as I stumbled toward him.

"Riv don't." Gill said and tried to grab my arm. I pulled away and hurried toward Daimen.

"Daimen! Stop! Stop!" I screamed and pulled at his arm as he went to throw another punch.

He froze at my touch and turned his head slowly to me. His eyes were dark and monstrous. The gleam of death hung in his irises. He was out for blood. His chest heaved and I noticed with a shock his eyes were slightly red and filling with tears. What had happened?

"Why are you everywhere?" He gritted out through grinding teeth while his eyes pinned on me.

"Daimen... calm down." I said softly and as if some trance had been lifted Daimen shoved the guy away and turned to me with a clenched jaw.

"What happened?" I questioned and Daimen turned and got one last punch on the guy. The man fell to the ground and the boy turned to me once again with fiery eyes.

"He-shot-Rocky." Daimen spit out and my stomach flipped.

"Wha--where?" I asked softly, in shock and with a huff Daimen walked toward the entrance and I followed quickly.

The air was cold outside in the darkening afternoon, but there was still enough light to make out the black dog laying on the edge of the parking lot.

"Rocky." I said shakingly as Daimen and I hurried over to him; Daimen at a more sluggish pace.

"Oh God..." I said covering my mouth as I came to stand beside him; I knelt and got a better look.

Rocky lay slumped on his side whining pitifully. Blood oozed from his flank and his fur was matted with it. I let out a sigh, at least he was still alive.

"Hey baby. You're gonna be okay." I said softly and Rocky whined but managed to wag his tail. I felt tears well up in my eyes and I choked them down and lightly pet his side. He flinched and I felt my heart jerk.

"He needs a vet." I said looking up at Daimen who was watching with a stoic expression.

The young man gave a nod and leaned down before picking Rocky up and holding him to his chest almost like a baby. Rocky gave a low whine and grumble seemingly trying to speak and Daimen looked at him and gave a sad smile.

I texted Gill and told him to call a cab or Uber because I had to leave.

"We'll get ya fixed up." Daimen huffed and him and I hurried to his car and placed Rocky in the backseat. I sat in the back with him as Daimen sped out of the parking lot.

It didn't take long for us to make it to the animal clinic and after some initial shock for the workers when they realized Rocky was shot, he was on his way to surgery...

Bright light hung from the ceiling and I frowned at Rocky laying on the examination table. The vet was stitching him up the worst of it was over. I glanced to Daimen and the boy had a tense look in his eyes. He watched the woman's every move and muttered about how she needed to be more careful.

After what seemed like forever, Rocky was done, but he'd need to rest and stay at the clinic for a few days so he could be monitored and made sure he was well.

Daimen didn't like this idea, but eventually gave in. We said goodbye to Rocky, who threw a tired fit, and left.

Daimen drove me home and my stomach churned uncomfortably. I wanted to tell him, but it wasn't the right time. He looked so tired and stressed and I just couldn't do it.

He stopped in front of my house and I gave him a long look.

"Call me if you need anything, okay?" I said to him and he looked at me for a bit before nodding.

"Goodnight Princess." He said and I felt guilt creep into my heart along with butterflies in my stomach.

"Goodnight Slay." I said and he smiled softly before driving away. I watched him go and gave a shaking sigh then turned and went inside.

"Look Mr. Princeston; you don't have to--" I tried feeling that this wasn't my business. Unfortunately, the man wasn't stopping.

"I know I'm not a good man, I regret what I've done. My son practically grew up without a father and it was my fault." He said and frowned.

"He was a good kid growing up. So smart and just enjoyed life. Ha, he was a real jokester too; loved playing little pranks. Always was so happy; you'd've never thought that he had a disorder. He was normal. Quiet, playful, honestly, he was a lot like you." Mr. Princeston said softly.

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked.

"Because I know you mean something to him; and I want him to mean something to you." He said.

My phone started ringing and I looked down at it.

My mother was calling.

"I've got to go... I'll think about it." I said and he watched me go with a sad look and a nod.