Chapter 34: Chapter 34

River

I shut the door and sighed.

It wasn't long before I was in my room pacing around. I was replaying the events of today over and over in my mind but it all just felt so surreal. Like it didn't happen. But I knew it all had, the thrills in my body was proof of the earlier events.

My eyes filled with tears and I threw myself on my bed hugging my pillow to my face. At moments like this I'm glad I never bothered to put on makeup because my pillow would be a mess right now. I sobbed into my pillow and ended up throwing it across the room in a fit of anger.

"What do I do? I can't like him." I said and threw my other pillow as well. That one hit the lamp and I cursed and got up to save it as it wobbled on my desk. I steadied it and sighed.

I ran a hand through my brown hair and let out a deep breath. I went to the bathroom and looked at my reddened grey eyes in the mirror. I shivered a little as I looked at myself. I looked pretty rough, but that wasn't the only reason.

After a little while I left the bathroom and walked into the living room. It was nearly noon and I didn't really know what to do. I contemplated on calling April, and in the end decided to do just that. She'd helped me work out a bit over the weeks and I needed to take my mind off of things. I pulled out my phone, pressed her contact and brought it up to me ear.

"Hey River. Where'd you disappear off to?" She said and I shrugged then remembered she couldn't see me.

"April, can you come pick me up tomorrow? I wanna do another workout." I said and she let out a happy cheer.

"Yep I'll be over in the morning." She said ecstatically and I smiled at her eagerness. We said our see ya laters then hung up.

I took a quick shower and after brushing my teeth got into bed. My pajama bottoms rose up and I pulled them down some to get rid of the uncomfortableness.

I closed my eyes and cuddled against my pillow before falling asleep, but not without Daimen crossing my mind.

It wasn't long before a banging was at the door and I got up from where I lounged on the couch. I didn't hesitate in opening it and in rushed April. She wore black spandex shorts and a green tank top and running shoes. Her blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail. She looked at me with her sparkling blue eyes.

It was morning and I'd been ready for a few hours.

"Our subject today is boxing my friend!" She said and suddenly her smile dropped. She looked at me and frowned. Anger glittered in her eyes.

"You've been crying, what's wrong?" She said in a soft voice taking my face in her hands softly.

"I've been kissed by the devil April." I tried to joke and she frowned.

"What?" She asked.

"Daimen and I went to a party and he got all mad at me and because I was dancing with a guy, but he was getting felt up by some slut, then he went all 'I'm her boyfriend' and shit then he took me to the bathroom and-" I broke off to breathe.

"Did y'all fuck in the bathroom?" April questioned with a shocked look.

"No! He fingered me and... I honestly didn't want him to stop!" I cried.

"Woah." She said. Her hands dropped back to her sides.

"It just happened. We went to the party together. He was my date! I don't know. I couldn't help it." I said after I explained the whole situation.

"You know, maybe you should get with him." She suggested and I shook my head.

"No... I don't like him like that." I said and she scoffed.

"That's bull-"

"April. I do not." I spat and she blinked at me. The fiery feeling faded as she studied me and smirked.

"You like Daimen." She said and I gasped at her.

"I do not." I repeated and she only nodded her head.

"Otherwise you wouldn't've smiled like that when I said his name. Your face gave you away." She said and I sighed.

"Can we just go?" I said exasperated and she nodded and pulled me out of the house and to her car.

It wasn't long before we made it to her house and she hurried me to her basement. That's where she had her own little work out place.

I stared as she slipped on some gloves and started showing me how to hit the punchbag. I nodded slowly as she essentially beat the hell out of it and turned to me.

"Your turn." she said tossing me the gloves. I took them and slipped them on. She came over and adjusted them to my hands before stepping back.

"Okay show me what you've got." She said and I nodded. I gave the bag a punch and frowned when it didn't even move. April gave me a reassuring look.

"It's okay try again. You had nice form with that one." She encouraged and I have a soft smile and punched it again.

"Now think about everything anyone's ever done to you. All those times you've been hurt or cried. The people that hurt you and let 'em have it." She barked out and I punched at the bag. It honestly wasn't too much of a chore. Suddenly I was lost in a world of me and the punchbag and I wailed on it kicking and punching with all my might.

After a few moments I stopped and turned to see April sitting on her bench with a smoothie in her hand drinking through a pink straw. Why was I sweating so much? She set it down when I looked at her and let out a long whistle.

"Took you long enough. I made us protein smoothies while you were at it." She said holding a green smoothie out to me. I walked over and stretched.

"How long was I doing it?" I asked it only felt like a few minutes maybe five at the most.

April checked the watch on her wrist and said, "From when I started timing you... Forty-six minutes." She said and my mouth dropped open.

"Yeah you seemed like you where in the zone so I just let you have it." She said and I nodded slowly not knowing what to say.

"So if someone messes with you again give them a good hit. You actually were doing really good." She said and I smiled sheepishly.

"Hey kicking ass isn't something to be ashamed of, don't look like that, wear it with pride." She said and flipped her hair back in an overly dramatic way. I chuckled.

We spent the rest of the afternoon in her home gym working out. By the end I was pretty sore but I was glad. She drove me home and dropped me off.

I exited the car and she waved before heading home. I watched her go then started up the walkway to my front door.

I sat on my couch flipping through channels when I heard a loud thud at the door. I jumped yelping in surprise and glanced over at the door. I peeked out the window and saw nothing but my porch and front lawn.

A frown made its way to my face and I creeped to my door. I opened it hesitantly and peered outside. I didn't see anything until I glanced down. A piece of paper lay folded on the ground and writing covered it.

I picked up the note in shaky hands and turned it over. It was a little crinkled and damp. I quickly shut the door and opened the paper so I could read it easier. My heart sank as I went over the words several times.

Dear River,

Your friends aren't always gonna be around to help you. One day you'll be alone. And when that day comes, we'll be waiting.

See ya then,

The Pack

My mouth fell open and I reread the note. The Pack? What type of shit...

Okay I was feeling a bit threatened by the letter, but the whole 'The Pack' thing made it seem stupid.

I slipped my hand in my pocket and pulled out my phone.

Suddenly Daimen's name popped in my head and I drew a blank. I stared at the numbers on my phone then went to my contacts. I let out a deep breath and punched his name.

I clicked message and began typing.

Do you know something called The Pack? I sent it and put my phone back into my pocket.

I was laying in bed in my lingerie. The black laced underwear was surprisingly comfortable. Why I was wearing it: because I never did and I wanted to make sure it still fit. Plus I was feeling sexy.

I'd just come off my monthly curse a day ago so that might've had something to do with it also.

I was just settling in when my phone dinged. I pulled the covers off of me and spotted it on the edge of the bed. I grabbed it and brought it to me so I could read it. Daimen had texted back.

Are you ok? Daimen asked.

Yeah fine. I replied honestly.

What happened? I'm on my way over there. My heart jumped at his response.

You don't have to do that... Someone just left a note at my door. I said silently hoping he'd just go home.

I'm already here. Open the door. I gulped and clambered out of bed.

I made my way to the front door, but froze when I remembered what I was wearing. I couldn't open the door looking like this. Or could I? No.

I threw a large jacket over myself, zipping it up quickly, and opened the door. Daimen stood there with a worried expression which softened when he looked at me. I grabbed his arm and pulled him inside before shutting the door. Then he looked confused.

"Are you wearing that to sleep? It's not even zip... oh." Daimen's eyes widened and I looked down to see the jacket had opened. I guess when I zipped it so hastily, it hadn't been connected. I was mortified for a moment before closing it and hugging myself.

Daimen's eyes met mine and his cheeks had reddened a bit.

"Um... so do you have the-the-uh-the note?" Daimen finally got out and rubbed the back of his neck. I nodded and turned to get it where'd I'd left it on the counter. Daimen muttered something under his breath and part of me suddenly wanted to tease him.