"Yeah, that's fine with me." He says slowly. "Uh, are you sure there isn't something bothering you, River? I mean, I know we only met this morning, but you can tell me if you want. I can keep a secret."
I shake my head, gazing down at the table. My life is the absolute last thing I want to discuss with him. "Maybe some other time." I gather my things and stand up, pushing the chair back in. "Um, so I guess I'll see you tomorrow after school." I state quietly.
"Yup." He replies, standing up. "I'll walk you to the door."
The short walk from Harrison's kitchen feels like it takes forever. The silence is different than the silence at home. It's open, if a bit uncomfortable, but the tension in the air has nothing to do with hatred. It's the kind of tension you feel when you spend the night at a friend's house for the first time. I don't want to leave anymore. Harrison and Ginger have everything I could ever want, and probably more than that.
I think about asking him if I can stay over, but I can't figure out if that'd sound weird or not. Some strange girl from school who has a hard time not running into people, and whom he's never met before asking to stay at his place overnight. Yeah. Right. My thoughts are once again interrupted by Harrison's voice.
"So tomorrow?" He asks again. We're standing by the front door, in the small entryway.
I nod, trying my best to seem happy. "Tomorrow." I confirm.
I put my hand on the cool doorknob and call a polite goodbye to Ginger as her brother follows me out the door. I wonder what he's doing, hoping he doesn't think I need anyone to walk me to my car. I'm almost down the steps and he's still behind me.
"Um..." I say. "I'm fine from here. I know where I parked."
He smiles. "Okay, I just wanted to make sure you got there safely."
I make my way back down the walk, and get in my car. He's still standing on the porch, watching me. As I pull away, I look through the rearview mirror and see him finally go inside. I can't help but think that maybe not everyone in the world is hopeless after all. Some people are nice, it's just in their nature.
I have nowhere to go. I could get a room in a hotel, but my funds are almost gone because I've been doing that almost twice a week for the past month. I could drive to the next town and crash at my aunt's place, except I don't think she knows about what Sam does to us.
I shake my head, gazing down at the table. My life is the absolute last thing I want to discuss with him. "Maybe some other time." I gather my things and stand up, pushing the chair back in. "Um, so I guess I'll see you tomorrow after school." I state quietly.
"Yup." He replies, standing up. "I'll walk you to the door."
The short walk from Harrison's kitchen feels like it takes forever. The silence is different than the silence at home. It's open, if a bit uncomfortable, but the tension in the air has nothing to do with hatred. It's the kind of tension you feel when you spend the night at a friend's house for the first time. I don't want to leave anymore. Harrison and Ginger have everything I could ever want, and probably more than that.
I think about asking him if I can stay over, but I can't figure out if that'd sound weird or not. Some strange girl from school who has a hard time not running into people, and whom he's never met before asking to stay at his place overnight. Yeah. Right. My thoughts are once again interrupted by Harrison's voice.
"So tomorrow?" He asks again. We're standing by the front door, in the small entryway.
I nod, trying my best to seem happy. "Tomorrow." I confirm.
I put my hand on the cool doorknob and call a polite goodbye to Ginger as her brother follows me out the door. I wonder what he's doing, hoping he doesn't think I need anyone to walk me to my car. I'm almost down the steps and he's still behind me.
"Um..." I say. "I'm fine from here. I know where I parked."
He smiles. "Okay, I just wanted to make sure you got there safely."
I make my way back down the walk, and get in my car. He's still standing on the porch, watching me. As I pull away, I look through the rearview mirror and see him finally go inside. I can't help but think that maybe not everyone in the world is hopeless after all. Some people are nice, it's just in their nature.
I have nowhere to go. I could get a room in a hotel, but my funds are almost gone because I've been doing that almost twice a week for the past month. I could drive to the next town and crash at my aunt's place, except I don't think she knows about what Sam does to us.
