Chapter 17
Hailey's POV
After River left I was even more confused. I thought maybe he liked me after we kissed, but then he immediately walked out.
As I walked up to my room and took a shower, I couldn't help but think of River. The way he held me close and the way he made me feel.
I stupidly waited by my phone waiting for a text or a call from him, but none came as I dozed off.
I woke up early on Sunday morning and decided not to think about River anymore.
I dove all my thoughts into reading.
I love reading. I get to escape into another persons reality for awhile. I get emotionally invested in anything and everything that I read and that's what's happening now.
As I'm reading to see if the boy finally gets the girl I am interrupted by my phone going off multiple times.
I grunt in annoyance and close my book to check who is interrupting my reading.
I have multiple calls and texts from Jess but what I notice first is the time. I've been reading for hours. It's nearly five already.
I ignore that and call Jess back.
"HAILEY!" She answers almost immediately.
"Jess" I answer back calmly.
"Where have you been all day? I've been calling you." She said annoyed.
"I was reading, sorry."
Jess sighed through the phone and said, "Of course you were! Well listen, can I come over? I have so much to tell you."
"Yea sure. When are you coming?" I asked.
"I'm leaving my house now." She replied as I heard shuffling in the background.
"Ok, bye. See you soon." I said into the phone before I hung up.
Less than five minutes later I heard my bedroom door open letting me know that Jess let herself in.
I turned around in my bed and faced her.
She looked rather crazy, her hair was a mess and her eyes were as wide as a deers in headlights.
"What's wrong?" I asked her sitting up quickly,
She rushed to me and embraced me in a tight hug. I hugged her back immediately, a little confused.
She sighed as she let me go and said, "I'm just going to get straight to the point."
I nodded my head, encouraging her to continue.
She looked at me wearily and quickly said, "ikissedcamandilikedit!"
"Can you repeat that? And slower this time." I said amused.
Jess grunted and said, "Cam and I kissed."
I jumped up in excitement and hugged her again as I said, "This is great, Jess!"
She pulled out of the hug and said, "Are you crazy! This is horrible. I'm so embarrassed."
"What?!" I said confused,
"Tell me what happened." I urged her.
"Ok, so basically, we were at the party and we were talking and laughing and I don't know Hailey! One thing led to another and he was leaning in and so was I and we ended up making out." Jess explained frantically.
"I don't see the problem." I explained.
Jess had the tendency to overreact a lot of the time and I think this is precisely what is happening.
"The problem is he doesn't even like me and I like him!" She exclaimed while holding her face in her hands.
"Jess, why would he kiss you if he doesn't like you?" I told her.
As I said that I realized I was being very hypocritical because River kissed me and I know for a fact he doesn't like me, but Jess doesn't need to know that right now.
"I don't know?" Jess answered seemingly confused.
"Do you want me to talk to him? Ask him about you?" I questioned even though I know she would hate this.
"NO! It's bad enough I've been ignoring him all weekend, that would make me even more embarrassed." She said.
"Ignoring him?" I questioned her.
"Yea. He hasn't stopped calling me since we kissed, but I'm too embarrassed to answer so I keep ignoring his calls and texts." She said with a shrug like it was no big deal.
This was the difference between Cameron and River, he is frantically calling Jess while River has done absolutely nothing.
"JESS!" I reprimanded her.
"He's probably just as concerned as you are and now you're ignoring him." I explained.
"You think he's concerned?" She said with a small smile,
"Yes I know him. He's a good guy." Even though I hated him like a week ago I thought trio myself, "You have to call him." I told her sure of myself.
"Ok. I guess I'll call him tonight?" She questioned looking slightly nervous.
I nodded my head in reassurance. Jess's face now changed from timid to mischievous.
"Now your turn. How was your night with Lucas." She asked wiggling her eyebrows.
I grunted in response being reminded of that dreadful night.
"That bad?" Jess asked.
I considered making something up and not telling her River stayed here but I decided against it because I didn't want to keep anything from my best friend anymore.
"Not Lucas, I mean he's nice but I don't like him like that." I explained.
"Ok so what happened?" Jess asked me, dying to know.
I told her everything. How I hated dancing with Lucas, how I was barely with him, how River beat up that guy for touching me, how I cleaned his cuts, how he spent the night, how he made me breakfast, and the finally how he kissed me and then rushed out after Lucas came over.
I left out some of the more personal parts like what he told me in the car and his nightmare. I didn't feel like it was right to tell anyone about that.
After I finished my story with a long breath, Jess's jaw was on the floor before she squealed. She actually squealed in excitement before I put my hand over her house to shut her up.
"Oh. My. God. Hailey!" Jess screeched.
"This is insane. I knew it! I knew there was something there," she said shaking my shoulders.
"Jess, there's nothing going on." I reassured her.
She scoffed and said, "What do you mean? Of course there is. He picks you up everyday, he gets mad when you even look at Lucas, he beats somebody up for you, and then he kisses you! How oblivious could you be?" Jess finished out of breath.
I guess everything points to the fact that River might care for me but I just don't believe it.
"I don't know, Jess. Why did he just leave yesterday. It was so weird." I told her trying to make sense of the situation.
"Oh gosh Hailey, you really are blind. Lucas—who obviously likes you," Jess started but I interrupted her saying, "he doesn't!"
"Ok whatever you say," she continued, "anyways, Lucas, one of Rivers best friends who he thinks likes you, shows up at your house the day after you go on a date with him. The boy was jealous. He had just kissed you and then you stand up for Lucas and get mad at River. Imagine how he feels, he probably thinks you like Lucas."
Did River really think that? I've told him so many times that Lucas doesn't like me but I guess he might think that I like him. That definitely wasn't the case. After that kiss i don't know what to believe anymore.
"Hello... Hailey!" Jess snapped me out of my thoughts.
"What are you thinking? Do you like him?" Jess added excitedly.
"I don't know. I'm confused." I answered truthfully.
Jess smirked at me and said, "trust me, you like him. You just don't know it yet."
I laughed at her strange response and she started laughing with me.
"I've missed you this week. I feel like I've barely seen you." Jess smiled at me recovering from her laugh.
"I've missed you too, we've both been so busy." I added back.
"Okay well I've been here forever and I still have to call Cam." She said as she got up from my bed.
"I'll see you at school, wish me luck with this call." Jess said as she walked out.
"Bye and good luck!" I yelled back at her.
After Jess left I tried not to think too much about what she said.
I checked my phone one last time, hoping that River had texted me before I went to bed, sadly he hadn't.
***
I woke up on Monday later than usual so I couldn't put much effort into my appearance.
I threw on some jeans and a T-shirt after I brushed my teeth and my hair. I was thankful that I had blow dried it yesterday so it wasn't a complete mess.
As I searched through my drawers I came across Rivers shirt and I was suddenly reminded how awkward this car ride would be. Should I give him back his clothes?
I decided against it because it was really comfortable.
While I was putting on some chapstick my phone rang and Rivers name appeared. My heart skipped a beat as I peeped my head out the window, and sure enough he was leaning against his car looking better than ever.
His hair was messy like he jut got out of bed, yet it looked amazing. He looked tired but hot. I stopped myself before I could have anymore of these thoughts.
I declined his call and headed downstairs.
When I stepped outside he stood up straight and opened the passenger side door.
"Hey" He said emotionless
"Hey" I answered just as dryly.
He closed he door and slowly walked to the drivers door. Once he got in, we immediately pulled out of my driveway and headed towards school.
The car ride was completely silent and you could cut the tension with a knife.
Once we were close to school River finally spoke and said, "Did you hear about Cameron and Jess?"
I looked at him and flatly said, "Yes. How did you find out?"
"Cameron told me. I think he likes her." He replied.
We sounded like robots the way that we were talking to each other.
Is he just going to pretend the kiss never happened?
I ignored that thought because it was obvious he was doing just that and said,"That's good. Jess likes him."
Right as I said that River pulled into his parking lot and I jumped out of the car, needing to get out.
River got out just as quickly and screamed "Hailey wait!"
I turned around and he just looked at me silently.
"Yea?" I ask, urging him to speak
He shook his head and just said, "uhhhh. We don't have detention anymore. They took off one week."
"Ok cool. That's it?" I replied.
"Uhh yea. See you later." River said and awkwardly walked off.
I couldn't help but feel he didn't say what he wanted to.
As I was walking into school I spotted Cameron.
I knew Jess would kill me if I said anything, but I wanted to see if he would say anything to me.
"Cameron!" I yelled at him before he walked into the school.
He turned around and grinned from ear to ear and said, "Smith!"
He made his way over to me and slung his arm around my shoulder as he always did and said, "For once you talked to me before I talked to you."
I gave him a confused look before he shook his head and just said, "what's up?"
"Nothing..... how've you been?" I said trying to get it out of him.
He looked at me wearily and for a second and I thought he was catching on but that was before he said, "I need to tell you something but you have to swear not to tell Jess, okay?"
"My lips are sealed." I promised him.
"Ok so, I kissed her at the party because well... I wanted to. I thought she liked it but then she storms off and ignores all my calls. So then I was worried and confused.... BUT THEN she called me last night and we talked and it was great. Also I like her.. if that wasn't obvious." He finished off his story that I already knew, besides the part of him liking Jess.
I was ecstatic that he liked her.
I smiled at him and said, "aww that's great!"
He looked at me not convinced and said, "you already knew, didn't you."
I nodded my head slowly but then said, "I didn't know you liked her though!"
He sighed and ran his hands over his face, "I don't know what I should do."
"Well.... I can let you in on a little secret as long as you don't tell Jess I told you." I told him.
Cameron looked at me with wide eyes and said, "I won't, I swear!"
"Ok well, she might've told me that she likes you... but she doesn't think you like her." I said as I watched his face morph from worry to happiness.
"She said that? Really?" He asked shocked.
"Yes. My gosh you guys really need to work on your communication skills." I scoffed at him.
"Oh you're one to talk." He said wiggling his eyebrows.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked him.
He started walking off and turned around and said, "oh you know exactly what it means."
Gosh he's so weird sometimes. Him and Jess would be perfect together.
****
My classes actually passed by pretty quickly today because I was interested in the topics we were learning about.
Before I knew it I was sitting at the lunch table in our usual seats.
When River came to sit next to me he didn't say a word. He was being so odd and I hated it.
Cameron and Jess were sitting opposite River and I alongside Lucas.
Cameron kept on whispering into Jess's ear and she would giggle. I don't want to know what they were talking about.
They were cute and all but them only talking to each other was making it very uncomfortable for me as Lucas was awkwardly sitting there and River was being silent.
I decided to break the silence and ask, "So Lucas why did you stop by the other day?"
River tensed next to me and immediately reached over me and grabbed my sandwich and took a bite.
I reacted as I always did when he stole my food and yelled, "Stop!"
He just took another bite before smugly asking, "Why?"
"Because I want my sandwich!" I answered like it was obvious, because I thought it was.
"I'll buy you another" River said.
"I don't want another one!" I said and snatched my sandwich back.
In all honesty I wasn't even that hungry I was just annoyed with River. I know him and he was definitely trying to distract me from Lucas so I decided to ask again to spite him.
"So Lucas, why'd you come?"
"Uh um" he stuttered
" I just wanted to make sure you were alright after you left."
"She was great. She was with me." River interrupted out of nowhere.
I rolled my eyes and said, "sorry for leaving you but I had to take care of something. I had a great time though!"
I didn't have a great time but I knew that would make River mad.
"Oh! You did? Maybe we could do it again some time?" Lucas said excitedly.
Damnit. That's the last thing I ever wanted to do but I felt bad.
"Ummm. Sure." I answered hesitantly.
River huffed in anger and looked at me with a face saying 'are you serious?'
I shrugged at him and finished eating my sandwich.
The awkward lunch eventually ended and i walked back into the halls to my next class.
***
I was on my way to calculus now and I wasn't thrilled because River would be there, and things felt tense between us.
When I took a seat in my normal spot, I began taking out all my stuff, when suddenly I felt a presence next to me.
I snapped my head to the side to find out who it was when I saw a familiar looking face.
"Hey I'm Danny." He said.
I knew about him but I didn't know him personally. He was tan and lean with dark brown hair and green eyes. I think he was a tennis player or something. He's cute, but he's no River. Oh god, why am I comparing him to River?
I pushed River to the very back of my mind and decided to be nice to this boy.
"Hi, I'm Hailey." I said smiling I sweetly at him.
"I know. I've seen you around." He smirked at me.
I couldn't help but smile at his comment.
"So, Hailey, do you have a boyfrie-" he was saying before we both looked up at somebody standing over us.
Of course it was none other than River.
I didn't even notice he had walked into class.
He towered over Danny and coldly said, "You're in my seat."
Danny looked frightened and he went to get up but I grabbed his hand and pulled him back to the seat and said, "no he's not." While looking at River.
River glared at me and said, "Yes. He is."
I turned away from River and looked at Danny as I said, "No, trust me. You're not."
River turned his glare towards Danny and he awkwardly got up and said, "I'm just going to go."
I sighed and shook my head as I turned back towards the front of the class trying to ignore River sitting down next to me with a proud smirk.
I couldn't ignore the fact that he was staring at me and it was annoying me so I snapped at him and said, "What?!"
"Nothing." River replied innocently while shrugging.
"Why are you mad at me?" River asked after a couple of seconds, genuinely curious.
"Are you serious?" I asked in disbelief.
"Why did you make him move?!" I added
"Oh come on. That's why you're mad" he asked?
I gave him a knowing look showing that's exactly why I'm mad.
Why does he always have to get in my business. I was perfectly content talking to Danny until he came along.
"Ok I'm sorry." He admitted, "but I wanted to sit here."
I rolled my eyes at him not giving in even though the fact that he wanted to sit here made my stomach flutter.
"Why are you mad about that? Do you like him?" River questioned me with wide eyes.
"Yes." I answered immediately, lying.
River gave me a look of disbelief and said, "what? Why? He's an asshole!"
"And he's weird!" He added.
He was getting really riled up so I decided I would stop this before it got worse.
I grunted and said, "calm down! I was joking. But what if I did?"
River visibly relaxed before he angrily answered, "Then I would've done it anyways."
I rolled my eyes at his immaturity, making sure he saw me do it.
After a moment of silence, River spoke again,
"Are you really going out with Lucas again?" He asked more seriously
"Why do you care?" I snapped back.
He was seriously caught up on this Lucas thing and I have no idea why.
River sighed, "why do you always ask if I care?"
Well that's a new one. What am I supposed to say. The truth?
"Because I want to know if you care." I answered honestly.
He looked shocked before he said, "ok well. I care."
Oh my god.
We were both completely silent after that.
Did he really care?
I tried to focus on what the teacher was saying but I couldn't think of anything other than Rivers presence. Our elbows just barely touching on the desk, how his leg brushed mine every so often. He was driving me crazy.
***
Class finally finished and I shot up out of my seat. River looked at me weirdly and gestured for me to follow him.
I was confused for a second because I was used to going to detention but I guess we'd just be leaving right after class now.
We were walking towards River's car silently when Lucas stopped us in our tracks and said, "Hey Hailey, River."
River nodded his head at him and I smiled at politely.
"You need a ride Hailey?" Lucas asked
I looked in between River and Lucas. I didn't want to go with Lucas but I felt bad rejecting him.
"Ummm..." I said before River interlocked our hands and said, "sorry dude. We're studying today. Later."
River pulled me away with our hands still interlocked.
I was looking confused at our hands wondering why he was holding it, and why he just lied and said we were studying.
He didn't let my hand go until he put me in the passengers side. When he let me go, I couldn't help but wish he hadn't.
I wasn't that mad anymore, but I found it rather funny how much Lucas bothered him.
As River got in the car I laughed a little at River's little tantrum.
River looked at me confused as I laughed more.
"Why are you laughing?" River asked smirking.
I laughed more and said, "Were studying" in a deep voice imitating River.
River looked at me and said, "shut up." before driving off.
After a couple minutes of comfortable silence River mumbled, "Can we stop by my house first? My mom said she wanted me to. I don't know why"
"Yea. Sure." I replied because I didn't really have anything better to do.
Shortly after that we pulled up to Rivers house. I'd already been here but its size still surprised me.
River got out of the car and I followed him into his house.
"I'm here mom!" River yelled
"In the kitchen" a female voice replied.
We walked into the kitchen and there was a woman's back facing us.
"Hey mom" River said and hugged his mom.
"Why did you want me to come home?" He asked
When she hugged River she turned around and looked at me and smiled. She looked a lot like River except she had a friendly feel to her. She looked good for whatever age she was and was probably the most beautiful middle aged mom I've seen.
After she smiled at me she turned back to River and said "because I knew she'd be here!"
That was a strange answer. Did I know her?
She came towards me with open arms.
"Uh yea that's—" River was cut off by his mom saying, "Hailey!" As she wrapped her arms around me.
"Rivers told me so much about you!" She said hugging me tightly as I hugged her back.
I was facing River who looked severely uncomfortable.
I smirked at him and said, "oh has he?"
He grunted in annoyance and said, "that's enough" as he pulled his mom off me.
Rivers mom rolled her eyes and, "Hi, I'm Stacy!"
" It's nice to meet you." I said with a bright smile.
"You too. I've been dying to meet the girl River is waking up so early for to make sure he's not 'late', like he's always worried about!" She said innocently.
I couldn't help but blush as I found out this piece of information. I don't know what it meant that River was telling his mom about me. Was it a good thing?
"Mom." River said in a warning tone.
She laughed him off and said, "Do you want to stay for dinner, Hailey?"
I looked at River and he shrugged, "Yea sure. I'd love to." I decided.
She clapped her hands a little as she turned back toward the stove and continued to cook.
"Ok mom we're going to my room to study." River said trying desperately to get away from his mom before she could reveal something else about him.
Stacy turned around laughed as she said, "ok have fun 'studying'"
He rolled his eyes and took my hand as he dragged me up the stairs.
"Used that one twice today, huh?" I said referring to his 'studying' excuse
He smiled a little and led me into his familiar room.
"You don't have to stay for dinner if you don't want to." River said nervously.
"I want to." I said.
And that was the truth. I really did want to. No matter how annoying River could be, I liked hanging out with him.
He smiled shyly at my answer and threw himself on his bed.
I sat awkwardly on the edge of the bed before he said, "you wanna watch something?"
"Uh sure." I said as he messed with the remote.
"You can get on the bed you know." He said smiling lightly at me
I hesitantly scooted up and sat next to River.
"What do you want to watch?" He asked once I sat next to him.
"Whatever you want." I couldn't think clearly when we were so close together, so I really didn't care what we watched.
He put on some movie but none of us were watching, too distracted by the fact that we were laying next to each other.
We were silent for a couple of minutes before I turned to him and said what I'd been wanting to say, "River?"