Chapter 3: Chapter 3

River

The man shut the door with a grumble and a soft, barely audible curse.

Mr. Princeston looked at me and let out a long breath. For awhile he stared at me a dark shadow in his eyes. With a flick of his hand he combed back the strands of hair that had escaped from his do.

"I'm sorry about all this River. Daimen doesn't mean any harm." The principal said and I frowned.

"No harm? He tried to kill me." I sputtered in indignation and the man gave me a long look.

"He wouldn't've done it, I can assure you." He said and I raised an eyebrow as I stood shakingly to my feet. My back leaned against the wall. I kept thinking about it all in my head.

He was Daimen Slater Princeston. He was tall, six feet and four inches, with dark brown you could mistake it for black hair. His amber eyes held a perfect amount of brown, gold, and green. His chiseled perfect jawline was to die for. Rippling abs and muscles hid under-though not so well-his shirts and jackets.

He was a bad influence. And not the kind your parents would say something about like "Oh don't talk to him... Isn't he the one who smokes all the time?" I smiled at the thought. No. Daimen was the type of guy my parents would die if they saw me with him. As you can see he already tried to kill me.

Anyways Daimen was one a parent would shield their children and look at him as if he'd just been trying to kill them. He may as well have because everyone knew Daimen. If you didn't you were either new in town or just a complete dumbass or you lived under a rock. Even the homeless knew who Daimen was... Probably because he was always out in the streets. If he wasn't out in the streets he was causing a ruckus and if he wasn't doing that he was in jail. Yeah jail. He's been a few times. For many reasons, from armed robbery to assault with a deadly weapon, to attempted murder, drugs, gangs, you name it he's probably done it. At least that's what everyone says.

I frowned and looked back to Mr. Princeston.

"Wouldn't've done it? I'd be dead if you hadn't came in here." I objected and shuddered at the thought. I rubbed my neck gingerly.

Mr. Princeston sighed and shook his head, "Well... tell me what happened."

My hands tucked themselves into the pocket of my hoodie and I sighed, "I just closed the door in his face-by accident-and he went all crazy."

Thr principal shook his head and his hand flew to his nose to pinch the bridge. For a moment his eyes closed and he let out a breath before letting go of his nose which had whitened because of the pressure. I watched as the color slowly went back to normal and his eyes opened slowly. He sucked on his teeth before giving me a long look.

"I know it may seem since you're an African American woman that he... may've targeted you--but I can assure you, race wasn't involved in this, Daimen may be a lot of things, but he isn't racist. I--" The principal began rambling and I cut him off.

"I get it. I didn't think it had anything to do with ethnicity anyways." I said softly.

He gave another shake of his head before sighing, "Just avoid him. If he causes you anymore trouble, come to me... Please keep this between us." His uncle gave me a desperate look and part of me felt compelled to stay quiet. Plus no telling what Daimen would do if I told. I gave a nod and the principal let out a relieved shaking sigh.

I pushed myself off the wall and rolled my shoulders a bit. My bottom lip was sucked between my teeth as I gnawed it nervously. I just wanted out of this tiny room. Couldn't we've moved the conversation to the office instead of staying in this smelly janitors closet?

I just wanted this day to be finished with.

"Can I go now?" I asked and the principal nodded after a pause.

I bolted away from the wall and hurried out of the room.

I avoided eye contact as I walked down the hallways. Of course I was now the spotlight of the school. Everyone was wondering what exactly did I, the quiet girl, do to piss off the demonic being that was Daimen Princeston. And to be frank all I could say is I shut a door on him. Yeah, news flash, that's not the juicy kind of stuff people wanted to hear; especially not gossipy teenagers.

They wanted to hear stuff along the lines of a secret relationship and drug deals or one night stands gone bad or some other nonsense.

I sighed and went towards my English class. People stared continuously.

It was going to be a long day.

It was lunch time and my lunch bag swung at my side. I stepped lightly down the hall. My eyes darted around as I walked into the café and I made my way over to an empty table by the windows. I sat down quickly and started fiddling with my lunch.

I slipped my earphones out of my pocket and linked them to my phone before turning on my music.

I was tired of people looking at me and whispering. All I kept hearing about today was Daimen this and Daimen that. Like the bastard almost killed me thank you.

I huffed to myself and reached in my bag before pulling out a tub of shrimp fettuccine.

I looked around the cafeteria and made sure Daimen was nowhere in sight. Who knows, he may try and take me out while I'm eating. I realized shortly that he wasn't here. Maybe his uncle had kept him for a talk, or he'd decided to skip the rest of school.

I walked toward my house and sighed. I couldn't get Daimen's voice out if my head.

Why do I associate myself with him? Good question. I don't. I avoid him at every cost. Yet today had been absolute hell and I'd pissed him off.

I'm not one who wants to be under Daimen's wrath. He's a monster.

I'm not really tall, only five feet and four inches. My hair is long and dark brown. My skin in fairly tanned and my eyes are a light blue gray. I'm biracial, Caucasian and African American. I'm not a fighter, I hate confrontation, and I pretty much try to wiggle myself out of anything that may go downhill. Sadly, Daimen was the complete opposite and wasn't someone you could just sneak away from unnoticed and fade into the safety of the background.

I made it to the front steps of my house and paused. There was clatter inside, not a good sign. I swallowed softly and opened the door with my key. The smell of alcohol hit me like a ton of bricks and I gulped. I shut the door softly and looked around the wreckage I called a home. What the hell had he done? Well looks like I've got a lot of cleaning on my hands.

"River? Is that you?" My uncle's slurred voice said and I responded quickly before he got suspicious.

"Yeah, it's me." I said sitting my backpack down and making my way through the house hoping over empty beer bottles. God, I'd just cleaned this place last night.

I walked into the living room and paused. He was drinking a beer and holding his hand awkwardly and when I stepped closer I gasped. A deep shard of glass was embedded in his palm. That looked beyond painful. How did he manage to do that?

My parents were out for more than a month and at times like this they send in Uncle Dan. I'd rather share my home with rats.

"Hey sweetie." He said lazily looking at the shard of glass with a child like smile.

"Umm Unc let me help you with that." I said softly trying to keep my voice calm. I quickly went to the kitchen and grabbed some ice and a towel. I returned to his side and crouched next to him. I reached out and touched the shard without warning him. Big mistake.

Wham! Grown man's fist meet my head.

I yelped and toppled to the side away from him shielding my head from anymore blows. But he just sat there as if he didn't do anything and huffed.

"That hurt." He grumbled and I slowly got to me feet.

"S-sorry." I said and he nodded before holding out his hand to me. I eyed him cautiously before gripping the sharp glass in my fingers. I pressed the ice to his palm and held it there before I quickly pulled out the shard and pressed the ice over the wound. He hissed in pain as I wrapped the towel around his hand in a makeshift bandage. I knew he wouldn't visit the hospital so this would have to do.

"Hand me another booze will you?" He groaned after staring at the towel wrapped around his hand. I nodded and got him his drink. He took it and I hurried to my room.

I plopped in my bed and laid down. At least he wasn't too bad tonight.

"River! What the hell is this!" He suddenly yelled and I groaned. Spoke too soon. I trudged out of my room and went into the kitchen where he was. He was holding my backpack and fumbling through the contents. I swallowed nervously.

He looked over at me and frowned. He pulled something out and threw it on the ground.

"Care to explain why the hell that's in your bag?" I looked at the thing in confusion. For two seconds I thought it was a candy wrapper or something, but then I looked and realized it was a condom wrapper. As I looked he threw another down. What the hell? He slammed some more on the table.

"I-I don't know how those got in there-honestly. I'm not doing anything." I said in shock. Who the hell puts condoms in someone's backpack? Then a thought hit me. Shit. That one boy had been messing with my bag.

"I'm going to kill you." I muttered to myself and faced my uncle.

"It's not what it looks like. A guy put those in there." I said and Uncle Dan frowned and threw a beer bottle at me. I yelped and ducked as it flew over me and hit the wall.

"Go to your room. If I even think you've had a boy at this house I'll beat you, ya hear me? Now get out of here!" He spat and I scurried back to my room.

That was a close one. I picked up my phone and texted my parents.

When are you guys gonna be back? I sent the message and sighed in frustration laying back on my bed. A few minutes later came the ding of the reply.

In about two weeks or so. My mother said and I could cry. I scoffed. If only they knew.

Uncle Dan's drinking again. I said back and put it on silent also turning off my phone. I then threw my phone on the dresser. They knew he had problems so why the fuck was he always the one to stay here with me? Parents were so stupid sometimes.

I just wanted to sleep so that's exactly what I did. I pulled my covers over my head and went to sleep eager for the day all this craziness will end.

I woke up with a groggy moan and stretched softly. I went stumbling to the bathroom and that's when I realized how much of a headache I had. I groaned and got in the shower.

When I was done I got out and dried myself as I looked at my reflection. I had some bruising to the side of my head but you couldn't really tell unless you stared at it. I should be fine.

I went into my room and slipped into some jeans and a hoodie. I was putting on my black vans when I saw my phone lighting up. Sighing I walked over to the dresser and picked it up.

MESSAGES FROM MOM

Damn just ignore him sweetie 9:30PM

River? 10:03PM

Your father says to just ignore it and go to sleep. Ok? 10:45PM

You're probably asleep 11:01PM

Wake up just now

I groaned and replied.

Ok.

Her reply was instant. Is everything okay?

Yes. I sent and she read it and waited a while before replying.

Are you sure? I rolled my eyes.

Some kid put condoms in my backpack. I texted.

Oh my, do you know who? She said and suddenly the throbbing of my head was more prominent. I rubbed my temple.

Yeah. I said and she responded.

Are you gonna give them back? She sent and I sighed, but it made me smile a bit. I wish.

I decided not to respond.

At least it was Saturday.