"Really?" I ask quietly, bracing myself for the bitter truth.
"Of course, River!" He exclaims. "Ginger and I both enjoy your company, so why not?"
A smile forms on my face as I think of the prospect of not one, but two people besides Sky, enjoying their time spent with me. "Okay, okay. I'll be there in ten." I say.
"Finally." He complains, causing me to giggle.
We hang up and I grab my keys, heading to the bathroom first to wash up. I grab a cloth from the cupboard above the sink and turn the handle of the faucet. Even though the water is warm, it stings when I dab at the new wounds on my arm. As soon as all the blood is washed away and all that is left are terrible looking cuts, I decide I need to change shirts. The only ones I have left in my drawers are sweaters, so I pull out a black striped one and quickly yank it over my head; tossing the other shirt in the hamper by my closet.
I tiptoe out of my room, hoping not to alert my mother to the fact that I'm leaving, and head briskly down the stairs. I don't care whether Sam hears me, or not. He's probably sleeping by now, anyway. I dash out the front door, get in my car and head to Harrison's. His house feels like the only safe place I have left.
I don't even have to knock before the door to Harrison's house is whipped open. I stand there, hand raised to knock, and stare at his grinning face.
"Took you long enough." He says. "Come one!" Before I have time to stop him, he grabs my arm, pulling me inside, and causing me to wince in pain.
I take my arm out of his grasp, inciting a questioning look. "What's wrong?" He asks, not taking his piercing green eyes away from mine.
"Nothing." I reply. "It's nothing, Harrison." My heart is beating like a drummer inside my chest. Usually, I can think of excuses for why my arms hurt, but he's got me speechless and without an alibi.
"No, River. Tell me what happened." This time, it's a demand and I feel terrible for wanting to lie to him.
I open my mouth, about to rattle off some lame excuse as to why my arms are sensitive, but I am interrupted by Lilly entering the room. She must have gotten off work early, because she's not usually home this early. It's barely five-thirty. She must notice the tension in the room between her son and I, because she immediately starts efforts to diffuse the situation.
"Of course, River!" He exclaims. "Ginger and I both enjoy your company, so why not?"
A smile forms on my face as I think of the prospect of not one, but two people besides Sky, enjoying their time spent with me. "Okay, okay. I'll be there in ten." I say.
"Finally." He complains, causing me to giggle.
We hang up and I grab my keys, heading to the bathroom first to wash up. I grab a cloth from the cupboard above the sink and turn the handle of the faucet. Even though the water is warm, it stings when I dab at the new wounds on my arm. As soon as all the blood is washed away and all that is left are terrible looking cuts, I decide I need to change shirts. The only ones I have left in my drawers are sweaters, so I pull out a black striped one and quickly yank it over my head; tossing the other shirt in the hamper by my closet.
I tiptoe out of my room, hoping not to alert my mother to the fact that I'm leaving, and head briskly down the stairs. I don't care whether Sam hears me, or not. He's probably sleeping by now, anyway. I dash out the front door, get in my car and head to Harrison's. His house feels like the only safe place I have left.
I don't even have to knock before the door to Harrison's house is whipped open. I stand there, hand raised to knock, and stare at his grinning face.
"Took you long enough." He says. "Come one!" Before I have time to stop him, he grabs my arm, pulling me inside, and causing me to wince in pain.
I take my arm out of his grasp, inciting a questioning look. "What's wrong?" He asks, not taking his piercing green eyes away from mine.
"Nothing." I reply. "It's nothing, Harrison." My heart is beating like a drummer inside my chest. Usually, I can think of excuses for why my arms hurt, but he's got me speechless and without an alibi.
"No, River. Tell me what happened." This time, it's a demand and I feel terrible for wanting to lie to him.
I open my mouth, about to rattle off some lame excuse as to why my arms are sensitive, but I am interrupted by Lilly entering the room. She must have gotten off work early, because she's not usually home this early. It's barely five-thirty. She must notice the tension in the room between her son and I, because she immediately starts efforts to diffuse the situation.
