Chapter 38: Chapter 38

Daimen

I ran a hand roughly through my hair. I felt like shit. It'd been two days since River left my house. And all I could think about was how broken she looked.

But I said I loved her... shouldn't she be happy?

Or maybe she was still afraid of me...

The fact that River had pretty much caught me with Hailey was sickening enough. I felt like I'd been caught cheating.

To make matters worse River blocked my number and when I went by her house earlier her car was gone. Now it was just past sunset and still no sign of her. Most likely she'd gone home by now from wherever she was. I let out a breath and started home.

The world whizzed by in a blur as I drove toward my house, my eyes glancing around occasionally.

My foot hit the breaks as I drove passed the convenient store on my way home. A silver Camry behind me blew its horn as it swerved around me. The driver probably flipped me off as they went by but I wasn't worried about that.

I was worried about who was lounging around the parking lot as I pulled in.

I stopped my car a few yards from her and gulped, trying to calm myself. It was her alright. I unbuckled and put my car in park before getting out and striding towards her.

"What the hell are you doing out here?" I spat and paused in front of her. She smiled lopsidedly and waved at me. A beer can was in her hand and I pulled it away and tossed it in a trash bin by the entry doors.

"What was that for?" She cried and I whirled around to face her.

"Why are you out here? And what the fuck are you wearing?" I asked sharply taking in her short shorts and revealing tank top, which had ridden up to make matters worse. I clenched my teeth and resisted the urge to pull it back down.

"He wouldn't give me anymore beer and I can't find my car." She said giving the store a pouting look then glancing around the lot. I let out a long sigh.

"Where'd you park it?" I asked and she bit her bottom lip. She looked down and patted her hips.

"I just... I... wait! I walked here." River said and giggled softly, she stopped patting her hips and shrugged. I raised my eyebrows and sucked on my teeth.

"Who gave you beer?" I asked trying not to snap.

"It was leftover at my house." River said with another shrug.

"Let's go." I said and grabbed her hand before starting to lead her. She abruptly stopped and pulled her hand from mine.

"I'm gonna throw up." River groaned and stumbled away a bit. I huffed and followed her. She finally stopped flailing everywhere and I steadied her.

I grimaced and pulled River's hair back as she wretched up a nasty mess. I held back the want to jump away from her, especially when the vomit landed practically at my feet. I frowned softly as she finished and leaned against me.

"That was disgusting." She huffed and I raised my eyebrows.

No shit you almost puked on me. I thought and grabbed her hand.

"Car. Now." I said tugging her along.

"No I wanna get drunk and wasted!" River slurred and threw out her free hand.

"Believe me you're already banging their door." I muttered and tugged her along.

"Who would bang a door? Why?- how would I even do that? Um... Use the doorknob to--"

"Woah, woah, stop that's enough!" I snapped and looked at River in surprise. My eyebrows frowned and I shook my head.

"Knocking on the damn door. Knocking." I emphasized and the girl giggled, "Oh."

"What the fuck." I sighed and stopped beside my car.

"You're a good guy Slay." River said leaning against me and I shrugged her off.

I opened the car door and hoisted her into the seat. She smiled and toyed with my fingers as I tried to buckle her in.

"River." I said getting annoyed that she was making me not be able to buckle the damn seat.

"Your fingers are hard, but soft. This hand has more scars though..." she said looking at my healed wounds.

"Why'd you punch so much stuff?" She breathed running a cool finger across my knuckles and I felt a twinge in my gut.

"Hush." I sighed as I buckled her in and shut the door. I walked around the car and got in the drivers seat. I shut my door and started the engine. The car pulled out of the parking space and soon I was driving down the road.

"Thank you." River said softly and I nodded.

"Welcome I guess." I said and she reached out and began fumbling with the radio.

I kept my eyes focused on the road and blocked everything out.

I drove along when a song came on. I don't know why I didn't tune it out, why it didn't fade into nothingness like the previous ones, but I heard it loud and clear.

I listened to the lyrics of the love song and sighed. I glanced over at River and everything hit me like a truck. She was slumped in the seat toying with her hair, the gleam of the streetlights highlighted her face. I loved her.

I loved her so much that it hurt.

I suppose she could feel my stare because she glanced over and I was momentarily locked in her misty gaze. I almost forgot where I was, almost forgot how to breathe. She was beautiful. I looked away quickly thinking that maybe the absence of her in my sight would calm the feeling, but the painful throb in my heart remained. My grip on the steering wheel tightened and I let out a rattling sigh.

"Daimen?" I tensed at her soft voice.

"Yes?" I replied waiting for her to go on.

"This song is making me feel depressed." She mumbled and managed to lay her head on my shoulder. "Does it make you feel it too?"

I sucked in a breath, "Yeah, you could say that. I can change it if you want." I replied and I felt her shake her head against me.

"No... I still like it." She sighed and brushed some hair back which had settled in front of her face. For some moments we didn't speak.

"I know you're mad. You're always mad... Well sometimes I'm mad too..." River breathed and I frowned a little. She was right I was still angry. Of course I was upset, hell she got drunk and was just walking around. Walking around with those sultry steps of hers looking like a damn sex symbol. Something could've happened to her.

I tensed as she snuggled closer and abruptly laid her head against my lap.

"River, what are you doing?" I asked softly but realized her eyes were closed. She'd fallen asleep.

River

I opened my eyes at the sound of a car honk.

I looked up and saw a boy's neck and jaw. Daimen. I looked over and saw a pant zipper and button. Why was my head in his lap? His button caught light and it shone in my eye and I squinted.

I frowned and touched it with my finger. Daimen jumped and the car swerved.

"Aye don't go poking my dick. River move your hand, the hell are you doing?" Daimen snapped and I felt my heart racing at his loud voice.

I didn't mean to touch him. The light...

"Dammit Daimen." I said and almost stumbled over it.

"Try saying that five times fast." I giggled. Daimen huffed and probably rolled his eyes.

"Dammit Daimen. Dammit Damen. Dammit dammit. Dammit dammit. I can't do it." I said becoming tongue-tied.

Daimen shook his head and everything faded as I closed my eyes.

My eyes peeled open to find myself laying on something soft. I quickly realized I was on a bed. I looked around the room and noticed a figure in the corner. Oh, it was his room.

I rolled over on the bed and glanced up to see Daimen glaring at me.

I smiled softly and snuggled against the pillow before sitting up and looking at the angry boy. The bed felt so soft and comforting and it smelt so good in here. I liked his room.

"I like your room." I told him and Daimen nodded slowly.

"Go to sleep." He said and I huffed and began bouncing on the bed a little before I gasped in realization.

"I want sex." I said and Daimen's eyes narrowed as he squinted them at me.

"River, go to sleep." He said and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I want sex!" I giggled and smiled softly, "I want sex with Dave." Daimen's head shot up and his eyebrows raised before frowning.

"Who's Dave?" He asked and his voice was scary.

"Dave... Dave Franco. I want him to come and-"

"That's enough River." Daimen cut me off and let out a long sigh. I looked at him and he closed his eyes for a bit before peeling them open. He looked tired.

"Drunk ass; makes no damn sense." Daimen said and shook his head before passing his hand over his lips and grumbling to himself.