River's P.O.V.
Literally everything hurt.
Hell I couldn't even breathe without it hurting.
5 days of training with Mara was almost the death of me.
"As Sehrem says..." Theana began as she inspected the millions of gashes all over my chest. "One that is powerful and reckless is far more dangerous than one that is powerful and in control..... Though I still dont understand how you let a 17 year old girl do this much damage to you."
"Oh shut up Theana." I replied.
"Wait a girl did that to you?" Asked one of the men that worked there. "You got your ass kicked by a 17 year old girl?"
I stared at him unamused. "Fuck off."
"Apollo, be nice." Theana warned.
"I'll pass."
We left the battle room and I was instantly met with the concerned face of Riley.
"Hey River... Can I talk to you for a second?"
"Depends. Why?"
"Just... Please?"
"Fine." I gave in as I made him follow me outside to a bench in the front.
"So what's going on?" I asked as we sat down.
He looked hesitant to tell me but eventually spoke.
"So I met this girl a few days ago here in the Rift and me and her have been hanging out a lot. I really like her but I'm not sure if she feels the same way..."
I couldn't help but to crack a smile. Was he serious?
"Riley... Why would you come to ME out of all people for girl advice? I've been with more girls than you'd ever be able to fathom."
"Because you're good with girls. All you have to do is look at a girl and they fall head over heels in love with you."
"Not my fault."
"Yes it is. Dude you're like prince charming."
"Exactly. You just have to learn how to be charming."
"Did you learn?"
"No. Comes naturally for me."
"Must be nice."
"You're a charming kid though. You just don't know how to utilize it yet."
I saw a girl about Riley's age walking towards the entrance of the Rift and I instantly had an idea.
"I'll teach you. First, I've gotta see what I'm working with." I stated. "Flirt with that girl when she walks by."
"What? I'm just gonna make a fool out of myself...."
"I don't care do it."
"But-"
"Riley, do it."
He grunted and stood up as the girl approached us.
"Hey there. I'm Riley. And you are?" He asked her, holding out his hand for her to shake.
I facepalmed myself. This was tragic already.
"Daisy." She replied, shaking his hand.
"Pretty name." He chuckled. "For a pretty face."
"Aw thank you." She smiled.
"The pleasure's mine. So uh- its kinda late out here. What's got you out if you dont mind me asking?"
"Oh just got back from a quick jog. How about you?"
"You."
"Me?"
"Yes, you."
"I've got you out here?" She asked, a bit confused.
I literally had to bite my cheek and bury my face in my hands to keep from laughing. This was dreadful.
"Uh yea... I'm out here because of you..."
"So... You're- stalking me?"
"What no that's not what I meant I-"
"Nice to meet you Riley. I'll see you around I guess." She cut him off as she continued walking and nervously stared straight at me. "Hi Apollo."
"Hi sweetheart." I smiled.
"Holy shit he actually called me sweetheart..." I heard her say to herself as she went into the Rift.
Riley looked at me as if he'd been betrayed.
"What?" I laughed.
"How did you do that!?"
"Do what?"
"All you did was smile and say literally TWO words to her and she walked away blushing! I actually tried to have a conversation with her and she lowkey rejected me!"
"Because you went from just weird to creepy as hell in 20 seconds. If you're gonna try to start a conversation with a girl you have to be smooth."
"No I just had really bad conversation starters."
"There was nothing wrong with your conversation starters. You just went about it the wrong way."
I saw a woman coming out of the Rift and decided to show Riley what I meant.
"Watch this." I said. "I bet I can get this girl hooked using the same method you did."
"Good luck..." He replied with little faith.
I waited for her to get closer to us before I got up and made my move.
"This is weird..." I stated as I stopped in front of her.
"What is?" She asked.
"Well, its just that- you look like my next girlfriend."
"Is that all you've got?" She laughed.
"No way sweetheart there's plenty more where that came from." I replied with my infamous smirk as I held out my hand. "Apollo.."
"Pretty sure everyone here knows you." She grabbed my hand and shook it. "Valerie."
"Pretty name. You know, I once knew a princess named Valerie. She was a princess both inside and out. Or wait- was that you?"
"I'm not a princess.... Though I wish." She giggled.
"Ah you're right. With a smile like that you must be a queen."
"I've gotta admit... You're good." She retorted with a smile.
"Oh I know." I remarked. "So tell me, what's a gorgeous woman like you doing out here so late?"
"I just left something in my car. Didnt feel like leaving it in there overnight."
"Watch out for the monsters lurking out here or else I'm gonna have to kick a monster's ass and save you."
"Wow... You really are as charming as everyone says you are." She blushed.
"Though not everyone gets to experience it firsthand... Feel special."
"And just as cocky." She giggled.
"Some call it cocky, some call it arrogant, and some call it conceited..."
"Well what do you call it?"
"The way to a girl's heart."
At that point her face was so red that I decided I'd let her racing heart calm down a bit.
I finished wrapping up my little flirt session then sat back down next to Riley.
"Dude she was literally drooling over you..." He said in disbelief.
"What girl doesnt?"
"All you did was act cocky and confident..."
"The secret to success." I simply stated. "However, didnt Maddy say something about you screwing the swim team?"
"Yea but those girls were easy to get with. All I had to do was smile in their direction and they were ready to get in my pants. Serenity's different though."
"Wait- Serenity is the girl you like???"
"Yea..."
"Serenity Ellis?"
"Yea why?"
"Nothing its just that she's hot as hell."
"River she's only 17!" He laughed.
"I didn't say anything about having sex with her... However, if she ever tries to go in for a kiss, I'm not sure I'd have the strength to say no..."
"River!"
"I'm just kidding... But seriously though you better get her before she turns 18 because as soon as she does.... I'm not responsible for any future hookups she and I have...."
"You're ridiculous." He laughed. "But really, she's different. I've never had problems with girls until now. And it makes me like her even more. Has that ever happened to you?"
"Definitely."
"Well what happened with you two?"
"We got together eventually and now she's the love of my life."
He smiled when he realized who I was talking about.
"Then why aren't you two together anymore?"
"For that very reason."
"Because she's the love of your life?"
I nodded my head yes.
"Is that the same reason why you haven't moved on?"
"I've tried to. Tried to with Candice but things didnt feel the same. I honestly don't think I can move on."
"You can you're just not letting yourself."
"That's true." I admitted. "I refuse to let myself."
"Why?"
"Because I'm tired of moving on. Bethany was my first love, then she died and I had to move on. Then I fell in love with Allison but our marriage started to fall apart and so I had to move on. Then Cassidy came into my life and I've never felt so strongly towards anyone. She was the one for me. Hell she still is the one for me. Which is why I'm done moving on. I made a promise to myself that I'm only getting married one more time if I do decide to go down that road again. And its gonna be to Cassidy. I'm not marrying anyone else but her."
"So you're saying there's a chance that you and her aren't over permanently?"
"No, I'm saying I want a chance. But with the way things are now, the only way that's gonna happen is if a miracle pulls through."
"Maybe you dont need a miracle. Maybe all you need is to take a risk."
"I'm sorry but that's not a risk I'm willing to take."
"Have you ever almost gave in?"
"Every time I see her I almost give in... Just last night after I left Cato's office Cassidy came into my room to talk. It wasn't about anything major just about some altercation her and Lindsay got into with some other girls. One minute we were talking, the next minute we were lying in bed watching Forrest Gump. I was so tempted to just pull her closer me and kiss her. You have no idea how much I wanted to kiss her. Then she drifted off to sleep before the movie ended. I didnt wanna wake her so I let her sleep. But I woke up this morning with her in my arms and her head on my chest. And for a split second I forgot that we aren't together anymore. I didnt want the moment to end though so I held her until she woke up. Everything felt okay when she was in my arms. Everything felt normal. Like I didnt have a worry in the world. At one point she woke up long enough to tell me that she loves me then she went back to sleep. I knew she didnt realize what was happening and that we weren't together but I still said it back. I hate how complicated things are now but I know this is the right thing to do."
"Sometimes doing what's best is more important than doing what's right. Don't let the idea of righteousness ruin your life..... Because in the end, you'll regret all the times you did what was right instead of doing what was best for not only yourself but those you love most. This is your life. You call the shots. You determine what's right and what's wrong. Not society."