Chapter 28: Chapter 28

River

"Who's watch is this?" I woke up to see my father holding a silver wristwatch. Looks like they were finally home; wonder how long they'll stay this time...

I looked at him in sleepy confusion before realization set in, chills ran down my spine as I got a better look at it.

Daimen. Shit.

I turned over and found myself becoming tangled in the blanket I had used. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and stifled a yawn.

I looked over to the empty bed beside me. Daimen?

Good thing he already left.

"Daimen's." I said glancing back to my parents and my mother and father exchanged a glance.

"That Princeston boy?" My mother asked and I nodded.

My father's face slowly took on a scowl and I frowned in wonderment.

"I'm going to kill that boy." My father growled and I looked at him in shock.

"What? What happened? Everything's here. He didn't steal anything. He just went to sleep." I said, it wasn't a lie, and my heart started racing. My father's scrutinizing eyes locked with mine. It was the truth so why did I feel like I was lying?

"He stole something." My dad said and I looked around and was about to get up to go check the rest of the house. But my dad motioned for me to stay there.

"What did he take?" I asked in bewilderment.

"Your... body." My father said and my mouth gaped. For a moment I sat there just staring at them.

My body??? That doesn't make any sense, how- oh.

"What?!" I finally managed to say and I practically yelled it. I felt my heart speed up again and sweat started to escape from my pores. They thought me and Daimen had sex in my room while they were away? I inwardly shuddered. We were growing closer, that was true, but I couldn't imagine us going there. Well I could imagine it, but I didn't want to. I mean, how would that even come about...?

"You do realize I'm an adult right? And we didn't have se--" I began.

"There's no reason to lie River. Your sheets are almost done drying. It's okay if you had sex." My mother said, but she sounded as if she were straining to say it; she snapped me out of my thoughts. All of this because my sheets and comforter were in the dryer?

"Jillian. This isn't okay." My father interjected and I watched them with indignation burning up inside of me. Finally I couldn't hold it in any longer.

"We didn't have sex! He threw up and it got on my bed!" I shouted and my parents looked at me with wide eyes. Silence reigned supreme for a minute or two.

"Oh... sorry-" my mother began and I glared at her, at both of them.

"Don't even apologize. Just because that's probably something y'all would've done, doesn't mean that I would." I said as I got out of bed and tossing my small blanket aside shoved past my parents and made my way toward the laundry room.

"River come back here." My mother called as I stomped toward the wash room.

"I'm getting my sheets!" I yelled back and rolled my eyes as I listened to them start to bicker back and forth. I was walking past our guest bathroom when a noise made me pause.

"Pst." I snapped my head toward the sound and was shocked to see the door open a crack. I tilted my head as it opened to show Daimen. Without a word he reached out and pulled me into the bathroom with him. He glanced around before shutting the door and looking at me with a soft smirk.

"Your parents think we slept together?" He said with a quirked eyebrow and I nodded sheepishly.

"Well, we did have a little fun in here that one day." Daimen said with a smirk. I scowled at him and his smile widened.

"Hey, don't look at me like you didn't like it," he said huskily stepping closer and trailing a hand up my side. I bit my bottom lip softly. My eyes started to close as he grabbed my hip and heat flowed through me. His breath tickled my ear as he whispered, "because we both know you did." My breath hitched as his lips grazed my ear.

Abruptly I got ahold of myself and opened my eyes before pushing him back, "Stop." I snapped, annoyance rushing through me like adrenaline.

"Chill. I was playing." He said smirking and putting his hands up in surrender.

"What are you still doing here? I thought you'd already left." I said and met his eyes for a moment. His hands fell back to his sides before he shoved them in his pockets.

"I was going to piss myself. So I came in here. Then I heard your folks coming in and I stayed to listen. They don't like me." Slater said the last part with a huff.

"Do you think they'll lose their shit if I walk out with you? I'm going to either way, need my watch." Slay said and I felt my eyes widen.

"Well its not like I can stop you anyway. Come on." I said and Daimen followed me out.

We crept to the laundry room and I hurried over to the dryer that had begun ringing. I grabbed the handle and pulled, but it wouldn't open. I tugged again and nothing. After some more tries I began muttering curses and my face burned in embarrassment.

"Here." Daimen said and reached over and grabbed the handle as well. His hand brushed against mine and he gave a hard tug and it popped open.

"Old dryer?" He questioned as he stepped back and I nodded. I reached in and grabbed the sheets and comforter. The comforter fell to the side as I turned and Slater went forward to catch it. As he moved forward, he tripped on the sheet corner that had hit the ground. He crashed into me and we both stumbled back against the washer. I felt my heart start pounding as his body was pressed against mine.

I looked up at him with wide eyes and he glanced down to meet my gaze.

"You know you've gotta be the prettiest girl I've ever seen." Daimen said and I scowled, he grinned.

"Are you trying to flirt with me?" I asked in bewilderment. Now of all times?

"Well its about time you noticed." Daimen huffed. My mouth gaped and he chuckled softly.

"River." I jumped at my mother's voice and Daimen stepped away from me.

"Look about last night..." I began and Daimen visibly tensed.

"Yeah?" He asked sounding unusually nervous and I frowned.

"You need to lay off the liquor... Are you okay?" I said and he looked relieved as he nodded.

"Yes, I'm fine... Just thought you were about to get on me for sleeping with you." Daimen said quickly.

"Well that too. It was weird." I said softly.

"Yeah. Weird." Daimen agreed with a sigh.

I avoided his gaze as I slipped out of this little room and Daimen followed me closely. My comforter was draped in his arms and I gulped as we made it to my room.

My parents were waiting in the room and as soon as they saw Daimen the tension spiked.

"What are you doing here?" My father asked the boy.

"Well, right now, I'm trying to help her make up the bed." Daimen answered with a shrug. He grabbed my elbow lightly and led me to the bed. My ears burned and I could feel my parents' gazes on me.

I gulped and Daimen motioned for me to put the sheets down. I lay them against the mattress and the boy didn't waste anytime with grabbing a corner and the two of us started to make the bed.

After we were done Daimen and I turned to my parents who were watching with the same distrustful glare.

"What are you doing here?" My dad asked and Slay let out a sigh.

"Just got a ride from River last night. It was late so I slept here. I didn't do anything to her." Daimen said in a calm voice.

"You sure you didn't touch her?" My dad pestered.

"I mean, we slept together. I held her, but we didn't do anything except sleep." Daimen said in a slightly irritated tone.

"Watch your tone with me." Dad huffed.

"Oh man," Daimen sighed running a hand down his face, "you're starting to piss me off."

"Did you--" my dad started.

"You should be questioning her fucking uncle." Daimen spat and I looked over at him in shock.

"What are you talking about?" My father snapped.

"Maybe if you'd talk to your daughter you'd know she had to pull a gun on that fucker because he hit her and tried to touch her." Daimen shot back anger flaring in his voice.

"What?" My mother said looking to me and tears brimmed my eyes.

"I wanted to tell y'all I--" I started.

"That's enough. Its time for you to go." My dad barked at Daimen and the young man gave him a long look.

"Fine." Daimen spat and with a glance to me stomped out of the room.

"See ya Riv." I watched him go with a heavy heart. When he was gone my parents turned to me with a frown. My heart dropped.

"You think this is funny? You don't just accuse people of these things." My dad said and I let out a shaking breath.

"I-It's not a lie. He hit me. He was trying to--" I began.

"What do you have against your uncle? Look he's trying to turn himself around but it seems like every time he's getting better you shoot him down." My mother said and I felt tears slide down my face as I looked to the ground.

They weren't going to believe me.

"It's nothing. I'm really tired ya know? I'm gonna go back to bed so... please just leave." I said doing my best to keep my voice steady.

"Fine. But we're discussing this later." My mother said and I gave a nod before they left the room. I waited a few moments after the door shut before burying my face in my pillow and crying softly.