Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Daimen

My feet marched against the tile as I walked down the hallway at school.

People brushed by me and I scanned the faces of a few.

I paused as I saw her coming my way. A light blue blouse hung from her body and dark blue jeans hugged her legs. She looked amazing.

"What do you want?" River said in a tired voice as she came to a stop in front of me.

"Who says I was waiting for you?" I asked feeling a smirk want to come on.

"You literally stood here until I came over and you were watching me the entire time." River snapped and I lifted my eyebrows.

"Someone's mad." I said and the young woman glared at me.

"Just leave me alone." She huffed and started to walk around me.

"Woah, woah," I grabbed her arm and stopped her, "what's wrong? What'd I do?" I asked and brought her to stand back in front of me. She looked up at me and her eyes shown.

"River, what is it?" I asked feeling my heart start to pound at the sight of the tears beginning to form in her eyes.

My baby was about to cry. Someone was gonna pay.

"My parents didn't believe me and they called my uncle and he denied it so they think I'm lying because I'm hanging out with you." River said softly.

Anger ran through me and I scowled, "Does everyone really hate me so much, that you tell about how someone practically molested you and since you talk to me they think you're lying? The fuck kinda shit is that? Just ignorant ass motherfuckers. Really, who the-" I started.

"Daimen calm down." River said and took my hand in hers. I took a deep breath and let out a long sigh.

I frowned and pulled her into a hug, brushing my fingers through her soft, brown, sweet-smelling hair. She might not have noticed, but she trembled against me. Protectiveness rushed through me and I closed my eyes as I hugged her tighter.

I'll protect you.

I slowly let her go and her head lingered against my chest for a moment before she pulled back.

"Let's skip." River said and I looked at her in bewilderment as she finished with, "Let's get high."

"River... you're serious?" I asked and she nodded.

"Yes. I wanna smoke with you." She huffed.

"Have you smoked before?" I asked and she gave a nod.

"But it's illegal." I pointed out and she nodded again. I smirked.

"When was this, hm?" I asked curious and she sighed.

"Last year." She said and I chuckled.

"How about we just go out for some ice cream? A sugar high is always welcome." I said and she abruptly jumped at me and hugged me. I blinked and hugged her back. My heart stuttered as she kissed my cheek.

Don't make me kiss you.

"Okay let's go." She said pulling away and skipping down the hall. I chuckled and watched her go before following.

I stopped my car in the parking lot of an ice cream shop. River hopped from her seat and got out. I shook my head and followed her as she went inside.

The place was empty, except for the guy seemingly in his twenties behind the counter on his phone. He looked up as we walked in.

"How can I help y'all?" He asked putting down his phone and leaning against the counter.

"Err... I'll have the Jamocha Almond Fudge on a waffle cone please." River said after studying the menu and I noticed the guy ogling her. My jaw clenched and I spoke up.

"I'll have the same thing, but in a cup." I said and the guy looked at me and gave a nod.

"Wait, there's no peanuts in it right?" River asked and the guy shook his head.

"Just almonds."

"You can eat them right?" River asked me and I nodded.

"I'll have that right up." The man said and River and I went to take a seat. Soon the ice cream was out and I grabbed our orders, paid and walked back to the booth she sat at. I handed her her ice cream and she smiled and began licking at the places that had begun to melt. I chuckled and grabbed my spoon and ate some as well. It was good.

"I'll be right back, gotta go to the bathroom." I said standing and placing the spoon in the cup. River nodded and went back to eating her ice cream.

I walked away and went into the men's room with a glance back at River.

It wasn't long before I was done and leaving the rest room. I paused before entering the main part as I heard talking.

"Damn, that's not a dick, its an ice cream cone." I glanced over at a man's voice and saw the employee eyeing River with a vile smirk. The mockery was evident in his eyes and I snapped mine to River. A knot formed in my stomach as I saw her reddened cheeks and confused, hurt expression. She slowly put the ice cream cone down and bit her bottom lip which had started to quiver. She closed her eyes briefly and bit down on her lip.

"Aww honey don't cry... if you want you can lick my ice cream cone." The man said and River grimaced.

"I can put some toppings on it, chocolate syrup, caramel, whipped cream. Whatever you want." The guy said smirking and I fought not to jump to her defense.

"Don't even think about it." River snapped and pride surged through me.

"All we'd have to do is go to the break room. It'll be fun."

"For who?" River hissed, but I heard her voice shake.

"All I'm asking for is a few minutes. You can lick it, suck it, play with it. That's all I want." The employee said and I frowned.

"You don't even know me. I could have STDs." River pointed out and the man chuckled.

"You blushed at me mentioning a dick. I think I can handle it." The man said and River looked away sharply.

"Yep, I know I can." He chuckled and River looked back at him with a glare.

"So what? Sorry to disappoint, but I'm waiting for the right guy and I'm damn sure not opening my legs for just anyone." She shot back.

"I just need you to open your mouth not your legs." The guy said and River looked stunned. She shook her head and stared at the ground. I saw some tears escape from her eyes.

"Stop. Just leave me alone." River said and looked sadly to her ice cream.

"Come on girl. I'll make you feel good too. You'll love it." He said and I felt my right eyebrow twitch.

I cleared my throat and caught the girl's attention.

My jaw clenched as River looked up and her teary eyes met mine. Instantly her façade went neutral and she blinked the tears away. It was obvious she was trying to act like the words didn't affect her, but I knew they did.

I stomped up to the counter and grabbed the worker by his shirt collar. My fist connected with his jaw and I held him in place as he groaned in pain. Blood dripped from his mouth and he tried to pull away.

"What the fuck?" He sputtered.

"Do we have a problem?" I growled to the man and he looked at me in confusion.

"What?" He said and I pulled him against the counter and he flinched. His eyes widened as I leaned closer.

"That's my girlfriend you're talking to. So, I'll ask again; do we have a problem?" I spat and the man's face paled. He shook his head frantically.

"No man. It was just a joke." He said and I snorted and gripped his shirt collar tighter. With a jerk I pulled him forward and he squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, his brows scrunching up.

"A joke?" I said roughly and he nodded.

"Y-yeah a joke." He squeaked and I tightened my grip on his shirt even more.

"You know damn well-" I began. Rage swarmed through me.

"Babe it's okay. He's not worth it." A sweet voice said and soft hands laid on my arm. I glanced at River's hands then her eyes and my heart stuttered.

"You know what the judge would say if he saw you again. Just leave him be." River purred and for a moment I was confused, but then I realized she was just saying what she was for more of a realism factor. The man's face paled even more.

"But I-" I began, honestly not wanting to let him get away with it.

"Daimen. If you go to jail, I'll miss you. You'll be gone for a long time; we can't have that." River said and gripped my arm tighter. I met her eyes and gulped. Part of me wished that what she said wasn't an act.

"Fine." I grunted and shoved the guy away.

"Is there a problem here?" I looked over to see an older woman coming from the back. She was obviously the manager. She took in the guy's busted lip and her eyebrows raised in questioning.

"Yeah, this prick," I nodded to the employee, "just told my girl that the ice cream cone isn't a dick while she was eating it. Then he started harassing her about sucking his dick. I guess he thought I was still in the bathroom because he tried to say he was joking when I caught him." I spat and the woman's gaze hardened.

"That's the last straw Martin, you're fired. Get out." The woman said and snatched the name-tag from the young man's shirt. Martin's mouth fell open and River tugged on my arm.

"Let's go." She breathed and I glared at Martin. My eyes zeroed in on the blood dripping down his chin... I wanted to make him bleed some more.

"Baby please." River sighed and I felt myself calming down instantly.

She can work wonders on me with just her sweet voice.

"Okay let's go." I said and turned to her. She gave me a wary look before smiling and hugging me.

"Okay." She said walking towards the door and I watched her go with a smile tugging the corners of my lips before following her.