Chapter 2: RIVER

I finished my shower and walk into my room in a towel. I walk to my closet when I catch a whiff of cologne. And I sigh inwardly because that god awful smell can only belong to one person, my ex boyfriend, Landon Pierce.

Landon is a very attractive guy, he has white as snow blonde hair, the kind thats long on top and shaved on the sides and the prettiest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. Definitely a drastic change from my hazel green eyes. He’s tall, with broad shoulders and tanned skin. His only downfall is that he is a major dbag and I broke up with him for cheating on me with my ex best friend Matilda Crossford.

“What do you want Landon? And how did you even get in here?” I questioned him with my arms crossed over my chest. He smirks at me while giving me the up / down with his eyes, making me realize I’m still in my towel. I huff and walk into my closet, closing the door, I get dressed. I hear him chuckle “geez River, that’s what you’ve been hiding from me the last 3 years? You’re smoking hot, baby.“

I feel my cheeks heat as I walk out of my closet now fully dressed. “Why would I need to show you, when you have hussies like Matilda to do that for you?” I question him. He rolls his eyes but frowns, his brows furrowed.

“River, I told you I was sorry. I told you it was a mistake.” He says while looking at the floor.

“Yeah, you did say that Landon, but it still doesn’t change how I feel about you and what you did. Sorries can’t fix everything.”

“River, please don’t be like this. I miss you, I want you back, baby. Please..” he says as I gag internally at the gross pet name.

“I think it’s about time for you to leave, Landon.” I say.

“River, please just hear me out! I never would have done something so stupid if you would have just slept with me to begin with!” He says and I stare at him in shock. He was really making this about him? About me not sleeping with him? He slept with my best friend because I wouldn’t sleep with him?

“Landon, leave. Before I get my dad.” I say. Landon’s head shoots up and he jumps from my bed.

“Please don’t, your dad terrifies me.” He says on a cringe. Everyone’s so scared of my father because he’s the chief of the police department. And the head coach of the football team. When my dad found out what Landon did he made his life a living hell. He quite literally begged me to tell my dad to stop making him do so many laps at practice. Personally, my dad is a giant teddy bear, my mother should be the one you’re scared of.

My mom, who is the cheif of the fire department, the first woman in our town to be named as chief and also runs a local animal shelter is by far the scarier parent. I once watched her chase a man down over a pack of licorice candy. Seriously, scary.

“Landon, please leave and please leave me alone. I do not want to talk to you. You ruined this all on your own.” I say as I walk to the window I’m guessing he used to break into my room and gesture for him the exit the way he entered. He sighs but climbs out,

“I am sorry River, I never thought we would end. I thought we would be together forever.” He says with a sad look on his face.

“Well Landon, you should have thought of that before having sex with Matilda.” I bite out while slamming my window shut and closing the curtains on that horrid part of my life.

I finally finish getting ready right as I hear my dad yell up the stairs, “ honey we’re going to be late, better get a move on!”

I clip the last clip on my light pink heels and straighten my pink dress and look around my childhood bedroom one more time before I sigh wistfully with a smile on my face. I grab my cap and gown, throwing the gown on and walking out the door.

At the top, I hear my mom gasp from the bottom of the stairs, I look to see her smiling up at me with tears in her eyes.

“Mom, calm down, it’s not my wedding day. You’ll also see me graduate college ya know. Save them tears for that.” I say with a smile. I hear my dad honk the horn and I rush out the door with my mom hot on my heels.

When we finally arrive at the high school, we park and all walk to the gymnasium where the ceremony will be held. My parents sit behind me while I sit in my assigned seat. The ceremony kicks off and the students are called up one by one. I have to give a speech as valedictorian and class president. When my speech is over I congratulate the graduating class of 2016 and we move our tassels before tossing our caps high in the sky. I look up at all of them and smile so wide my cheeks hurt. My happiness is short lived as I see my mom running up to the stage and shouting “YOU’RE GOING TO BE LATE!”

I run to the parking lot and jump in the backseat as my dad throws the car in reverse before my mom even has time to close the door. I laugh and my mom smacks his chest. “Could you maybe not kill us.” She scolds him. He just chuckles and reaches for her hand before squeezing it. I hope I find a love like theirs one day. They’re the definition of what love should be.