Me and the Mafia (10)
When I woke up the next morning, my face had that all too familiar puffy soreness that came after crying all night. I sighed as I remembered how crazy the night had really been. The painful memories came flooding back and i slowly sat up. From my window in my room, I could see down the street. The morning was beautiful and the trees rustled with a light breeze. It made me think of a day when Mom and I had a picnic at the park. We flew kites and threw frisbee and simple stuff like that. It was without question my favorite memory with Mom.
When I came out of my room, Matt caught me in a hug immediately. "Hey you doin better?" he asked with a soft smile.
"I'm okay now." I offered my best grin but it was weak.
"Whats up?" he asked pulling me back in my room and shutting the door in case I needed privacy.
"I just miss her in times like this." I said with a shrug. He pulled me into another hug and I hugged him back gratefully.
"I know. I miss her too." we sat there in silence for a few minutes but it was interrupted by my dinner deprived stomach. "Come on let's go eat breakfast."
At breakfast I looked around and only counted six of us. I didn't wonder who was missing for long. "Where's River?" Matt asked while devouring a piece of bacon.
"Not sure. He left around six this morning and said he would be back for lunch." Lacey said with a shrug.
At five o'clock, I slipped on my green dress and a brand new pair of shoes that appeared by my door this afternoon. I put on the finishing touches and headed toward the stairs. At the bottom, everyone was standing ready.
As I began my descent, Matt looked up at me proudly and River grinned but blushed a little. We got downstairs and my hand was immediately tucked under someone's arm. I looked over to see River pulling me to him. We were the last couple to walk out the house and River stopped me just outside the door.
"Kayla listen. I am very sorry for how I treated you yesterday. I was caught up in the moment and I should have known better. I understand if you are still mad but can we please put it behind us for at least tonight?" he pleaded embarrassedly.
"River it's okay. I forgive you. I overreacted a little bit and I think we should just put yesterday behind us." I pulled him into a hug and couldn't help but notice how gorgeous his grin was. I glanced at his new suit and his freshly trimmed hair. He was actually shockingly stunning.
"Well then can I remind you of how beautiful you are? Cause you look absolutely gorgeous." he whispered in my ear while taking my hand. My cheeks grew warm but my hand felt right where it belonged. I had to let go of Andy somehow and River being River right at this moment was the push I needed to move on. I was getting feelings for another guy finally.
"Thank you. You look pretty handsome yourself." I grinned up at him. His grin grew into a haughty smirk.
"I agree." oh gosh what did I start? "I quite like wearing suits. You know it really brings out my lines and also my great tan I picked up over the last couple of months. But I do admit I think Lacey actually beat me out with that tan of yours. No matter how good I try to look, you are the most beautiful person tonight without a doubt." he grinned and kissed my cheek. I didn't argue. I couldn't! Secretly I had hoped he would kiss me on the lips.
His hand cupped my face and I leaned into it lightly. Everything was the exact opposite of twenty four hours ago. I liked it so much better this way though. When we arrived, Lacey briefly reminded us who was who's date and so on. Basically it was me and River, Lacey and Brandon, Timmy and Tink, and then Matt and his girlfriend Chloe (an old friend out of the Mafia).
As we got out, River took my hand and once again became an astonishingly perfect gentleman. He took my hand and gently led me along with a hand on the small of my back. I could hardly stay alert with the tingles of his touch running up my spine. We all sat at different tables of two so that we wouldn't be too associated as together. River led me to a table in the middle near a window. He sweetly pulled out my chair and planted a soft kiss on my temple before walking around to his own chair, never letting go of my hand. I couldn't stop the grin that spread across my face.
I looked around me at my surroundings. Timmy was teasing Tink and even though she was glaring and threatening him, her eyes held an extra sparkle that said she was truly enjoying herself. Brandon and Lacey were laughing and talking about the food. Matt and Chloe were being really sweet but she also looked a bit uncomfortable. Almost like she didn't like the new Matt.
Meanwhile River was excelling at his job as usual. He would keep me in kind affectionate conversation that was surprisingly comfortable and the more I slipped into my cover, the more I genuinely enjoyed myself.
"So babe,-"
"Yes Riv?" I interrupted with a menacing smile which he chuckled tensely to.
"I'm sorry. Rebecca. Did I mention how gorgeous you look tonight?" he asked with an adoring smile.
I grinned flirtatiously and shrugged. "Wouldn't hurt to hear it a few more times."
"Well in that case you are so beautiful. I may be the luckiest guy in the world." he grinned taking my hand and rubbing it sweetly. I hate to admit it, but sparks flew and my volcano of butterflies erupted and my cheeks even heated up. River grinned wider in satisfaction which only made me turn redder.
"Jerk. You just wanted to see me react."
"Oh no babe, I'm actually aiming to sweep you off your feet. You reacting was a baby step, but I'm making ground. Even if you fall head over heels for me, well it wouldn't even touch how much I care about you. We've been dating for five years and it never ceases to amaze me how every single day I manage to fall impossibly harder for the most amazing girl I know, my beautiful, wonderful, Rebecca StClair." he grinned. I smiled lovingly up at him completely speechless. How the crap do you compete with that?! Well I guess you could say I was saved the embarrassment of replying.
"K- Kayla?" I froze at the sound of his voice. There was no way I actually heard a dead man's voice. River's sudden defensive posture told me the thing I feared most. Actually saved is the wrong word.
"Andrew." I slowly turned to see my former boyfriend looking very awkward yet also completely relieved.
"River. I need to talk to K-"
"Her name is Rebecca." River looked completely infuriated. Andy fidgeted nervously while I was still in shock. "Wait." suddenly recognition hit his face. "This is the guy you were crying over?! My sleaze bag cousin who went missing four years ago?!"
"Ouch cuz. That one hurt."
"Shut up!" River snapped. I felt torn seeing the man I loved fight with... My fake boyfriend. "We need to discuss these matters elsewhere."
"I'll catch up with you later then. It was good seeing you both." Andy grinned giving my shoulder a small squeeze. I relished in his touch and restrained from jumping up and pulling him into a hug. "Oh and Rebecca, you look beautiful." he smiled happily.
"Goodbye." River growled. A forced welcome could only be outstayed so far.
We ate the rest of our meal in silence. River ate in silence actually. I just stirred my food trying to comprehend how he was alive.
He was Alive.
Andy is alive.
"He was always alive genius." Rive spat out snarkily.
"Someone is not very pleasant tonight." I growled slightly fed up. "What do you have against him?!"
"I don't know what you are talking about. I am being quite pleasant. Maybe you are just being too sensitive!" he snapped.
"You jerk! I am so done with this and I am done with you! I can't believe I wasted five minutes on you let alone five years!" okay maybe I wasn't totally out of character. I jumped up from my seat and ran out of the restaurant door barely still holding my pride.
I ran less than ten seconds when a black SUV came barreling out of an alley coming straight towards me. I jumped back to avoid being hit, but I had been running too fast and I still managed to slip and fall on my back, my head slamming back onto the pavement.
I fought the urge to pass out as hard as I could but a figure jumped out of the car and pressed a wet rag to my face.
My last thought before the chloroform knocked me out: River is gonna be so mad. Dang.
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Yay! I finally updated! I had a ton of technical difficulties trying to upload this! Hope you enjoyed!!!