It had finally arrived.
The moment I had been dreading for months.
Well, more like a couple of days really. But that was beside the point.
Ice skating.
I shivered at the thought, wondering if I could make up some story so I wouldn't have to go, but then coming to the conclusion that they would see through my plan effortlessly and drag me out the house in my pyjamas.
Picking up my phone, which was on my bedside table, I checked the time and walked over to my full length mirror.
I looked up and down, admiring how the tight acid-washed jeans accentuated every curve yet the loose brown jumper kept some things to the imagination.
Hey, I'd tap that.
Checking everything I needed was in my bag, I threw it over my shoulder and skipped down the stairs, knowing my mum would be asleep and my dad would either be at the shops or getting ready to go.
I grabbed a banana off the counter, placed the note I wrote earlier in its place, and left without a word.
While I was walking, I peeled the skin and bit down into the odd-textured yet highly delicious fruit, not caring about the strange looks I got as hums and moans left my lips after finally satisfying my growing hunger.
The walk to the train station only took twenty minutes, but it felt like hours. Especially because I knew the others were already there.
However, when I did arrive, the train doors were just starting to slide shut.
OH FUCHSIA.
As I began rushing forward, I saw two hands stop the doors and push them open again, revealing Thorn stood on the other side with a smirk, one corner of his mouth raised and a certain look in his eyes sending red waves of heat to my cheeks.
The train sounded loudly, the noise panicking me, so I reached for Thorns hand and he pulled me up within seconds. I fell into his chest, a small squeak leaving my lips as he wrapped his arms around my waist tightly, but suddenly feeling at home in his hold.
"Thought you weren't gonna come for a second." His voice was teasing, and I dared not look into his eyes for fear of saying something stupid, so I kept my head buried in his sweatshirt.
"I didn't think I was going to make it on the train in time." An airy chuckle slipped out randomly, and I felt his smile as he led me into the carriage.
"The other four already sat down, so we'll have to go somewhere else." He gripped my hand in his and led me towards the back, not allowing me to speak another word.
My mind was spinning, and I felt intoxicated by the peppermint and lavender scent that flooded my senses while being close to Thorn.
However, before I got much more time to try and decipher what was going on, we were seated beside each other.
"You didn't seem too excited by ice skating, huh? Do you not like it or something?" I looked over in his direction, yet kept my gaze away from his. I ended up focusing on a hanging string coming from one of the navy blue curtains half covering a window.
"Um, yeah. I just don't like it. No reason really." I paused, realising that there was in fact some kind of reason why. "I guess it scares me? You could get injured so easily... and I find it pointless. No offence to anyone who likes it though, because it's an amazing talent and very beautiful to watch! Just... not to do." A dark pink dusting scattered across my cheeks as I tried to stop my ranting, and I thought Thorn was going to say how stupid I sounded, but what happened was completely different.
He took my chin between his thumb and index finger, and turned my head softly, almost as if he was handling a glass angel. A tender, affectionate smile adorned his lips, and his eyes were filled with a kindness only thought to exist in fairytales.
"Don't hide, River. You're the most beautiful person I have ever laid eyes on, so please don't look away, ever."
My heart swelled with so much joy that I could have cried.
And that was exactly what I did.
Tears pooled in the corners of my eyes, and I felt my lips tremble as they threatened to break free. It may have been a stupid reason to cry, sat on a dirty, public train surrounded by many other people while someone gives you a random compliment. But no one had ever said anything like that to me before, and the wave of emotions that crashed down couldn't be controlled.
The crystal-like droplets slid down my cheeks like morning dew, and a silenced sob rung through the bustling carriage.
Thorn looked shocked, worried in a way, and I began blubbering, aggressively trying to wipe away my tears with the sleeves of my jumper.
"'M s-sorry." I couldn't form words properly, and I felt like melting into a puddle and evaporating from how embarrassed I felt.
Why did you just burst out crying for no reason? In front of Thorn of all people! God this is why no one can take me anywhere.
"Shh, it's okay baby, don't cry." His warmth swallowed me as his arms squeezed around my shivering form for the second time in the past ten minutes, and I wrapped my arms around his neck as an automatic response.
"I-it's just, nobody e-ever said anything like t-that." I stopped, sniffing and wiping my cheeks again before continuing. "All a-anyone else s-says is move because I'm a useless f-fag, and they won't l-let me go near them and t-tell me to look away because I'm disgusting." I poured my heart and soul out to him, spilling every thought that shot through my mind whenever someone said something about me.
"They hit me, Thorn. Th-they would beat me up just because I'm gay. They made me think there was something w-wrong with me. Is there something wrong with me?"
I felt him tense, arms protectively tightening around me so that we were pressed so close together, you wouldn't have fit a penny between us. "No, baby. There's nothing wrong with you. You're outstanding and incredible and... God, River, you're fucking perfect."
That was all it took before our lips were locked, gently moulding together and sending fizzes through my body. There was a hint of desperation and eagerness, but I could tell all we wanted was to feel as close together as was possible. I could taste salt through the mint and fruity flavour of his lips, a result of kissing while crying, and he pressed against me harder.
Stop River, this is wrong.
I kissed back with equal passion, addicted to the scent and taste swallowing me whole. It was as if no one else in the world mattered.
Nothing could touch us.
Until one word took over my mind with overwhelming power.
Ash.
It was completely ridiculous that someone so horrendously cruel could make me feel so unbelievably captivated, but that was just how my subconscious mind worked.
So I pulled away without warning, unable to look up into his mesmerising eyes.
Silence hung in the air for a few seconds, and I started cursing myself for being so careless towards Thorns feelings, when he suddenly blurted out heaps of words.
"Oh god I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable. Do you feel uncomfortable? I should have just kept my mouth shut. Now I'm rambling, shit. River I-"
"Shh, calm down Thorn. Don't... don't worry about it. You didn't do anything I didn't want you to, so stop freaking out. I just... panicked."
He let out a relieved sigh and slowly reached his hand over, to which I accepted gladly. "Okay, good. I'd never want to hurt you. Sorry for, er, rushing into things."
I couldn't help but laugh at his version of 'rushing' compared to Ashs', but of course I didn't admit to kissing my bully three times and just said the reason for my laughter was that he was too cute.
For the rest of the journey, we exchanged small talk while keeping our hands intertwined, the awkward atmosphere diminishing as the minutes passed by.
Before I even realised we had arrived, the doors were opening and people were roughly pushing past as if the world would end if they didn't escape the metal carriage in record time.
Thorn and I kept our hands linked together as we slid through the crowd, deciding to meet the other four outside since it was too packed with people in here.
It took almost five minutes, but we finally managed to exit the train, and once we had we saw the others waiting outside. After carefully pulling our hands apart, and I couldn't help but feel slightly saddened at the lack of contact.
However, I tried not to show it.
"Alrighty then explorers! Let's go!" Lila led the way to the arena, keeping up a tourist guide like persona the whole way even through we all knew where we were going.
"Have you ever thought about how they call Dora an Explorer yet she has a completely filled in map?" I questioned out loud, and everyone suddenly stopped causing me to half fall over Cole.
"Bro, what the hell?" Lila exclaimed, and I looked down at the floor while feeling stupid for even thinking about it, but that wasn't what she meant.
"You can't just stay stuff like that! Now I'm going to be thinking about it all day."
"Me too. But while we're on the topic, have you ever heard the 'I'm the Map' song remix?" Alec questioned, pulling out his phone.
And that was how we got onto the topic of Dora the Explorer for a good twenty minutes.
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"WoAH!" I exclaimed, falling forward and plummeting to the floor.
A spike of pain shot up my arms as I used them to break my landing, but thankfully the cold of the ice helped to numb the ache.
"You really can't skate huh?" Thorn chuckled, leaning down to help me up while simultaneously doing some fancy turn.
"I did tell you!" I pouted, eyebrows furrowed and one arm crossed while the other was holding onto Thorn like my life depended on it (which it did).
"Alright baby," He let out a small snigger before helping me to the evacuation point. "I'll sit with you."
I went to turn around and tell him not to however ended up nearly falling over again.
Once we were safely on stable ground, I waddled over to a bench and sat down.
If only skating on ice was as easy as walking in skates.
"Nope, you go enjoy your time. I have plenty to do on my phone." He was about to object, but I silenced him and gave a 'shoo' action, so we made an agreement that he would come back in ten minutes.
I sighed, overjoyed to finally be off the treacherous lake of frozen horrors, and began scrolling through instagram. Everyone was over what happened at the party by now, and things had returned to how they used to be. Selfies and other cringe things filled my feed, until I came to a picture of Ash and James posted six minutes ago.
They were stood posing with iced coffees, smiles on their faces and hair blowing around in various directions due to the wind, but what caught my attention most was both the caption and where they were.
They appeared to be outside a Nero that looked awfully familiar and I'm pretty sure it's the one we walked past only half an hour ago.
Also, the caption didn't give me much hope either.
'Out for coffee before going to meet the others ;)'
Just as I was about to go over and ask if Cole or Alec knew anything about this, two familiar voices boomed throughout the entire arena with wild laughter and playful pushes adding to the ambiance of their arrival.
Panicking, I looked completely in the other direction, plugged in my earphones and made sure not to even glance their way. However, my plan was foiled when I saw Thorn in my peripheral vision with Ash, James and Cole following behind.
God damn it, now I have to face the two boys I kissed and act as if everything is completely fine betwe-
"Hey Sky, why you not on the ice?" My thought were cut off when I was asked that question, and I couldn't help but glance over at Ash, knowing it was his question from the nickname he used.
I wonder why he calls me Sky and not River...
"I, er, don't really like it." I replied, smiling ever so slightly.
He smiled back, a powerful, crooked smile that sent me into a flustered mess. I mentally cursed for allowing myself to fall to his tricks, and tried to remind myself that nothing could ever happen between us.
Stop it River, he's straight. Well... he wouldn't date you. Plus, what about you and Thorn? I mean, you kissed him like, not even an hour ago. Stop being such a player.
"Hmm, that's fair enough I guess, but you look a little lonely sat by yourself." On the word 'lonely', Ash slid into the seat next to me and threw an arm around my shoulder, causing me and Thorn to tense up at the same moment.
"O-oh no, really. I'm just f-fine here. You go skate." I stuttered, my mind suddenly bursting with the unexpected contact.
He hummed as he laid his head back onto my shoulder, eyes falling shut and letting out soft breaths. The other three remaining gave us a strange look, almost judging, before walking over to the ice. I didn't miss the multiple glances from Thorn though, and every time I caught him, another spark went shooting through my heart.
Not a word was spoken between me and Ash, and I thought he had fallen asleep, so I decided to watch Thorn gracefully skating. However, after almost ten minutes, he finally spoke up.
"You seem to be watching Chester an awful lot. Don't have a crush now do you, Sky?"
I would have been alarmed by the question if he had spoken in his normal, careless tone. Yet that wasn't how his voice sounded.
It was harsh and unforgiving, almost as if he was disgusted at what he was saying.
Wait, is he jealous?
My throat dried up and I suddenly couldn't speak a word in reply. It was one of the only times I had heard his voice full of nothing but spite, with no hint of playfulness or smugness evident.
"What? Cat got your tongue?" He lifted his head from my shoulder and turned in his seat to face me, and only then did I see the unmistakable darkness pooling his his eyes.
My throat was still closed up, so all I managed to do was gawk and make small squeak noises in attempts to push some words from my mouth.
I was in shock from how fast his mood changed, as it was almost quick enough to give me metaphorical whiplash.
"Is that a yes? Hm? I bet you two have already made out, if not more. But does he know you've done that with me too? Does he know that he shouldn't go anywhere near you? Does he know that you're mine?"
Since Thorn joined our school, Ash seemed to get more possessive. He became even crazier than before, and I think it was because Thorn was testing his authority.
Yet, I would be lying if I said I wasn't terrified in that moment, my heart beating out of my chest and my eyes pricking with tears.
I wanted to run, but I couldn't. His hands were forming bruises into my wrists, and I could feel the anger dripping from his every move.
What does he mean 'mine'? He hates me? Why is he so mad?
Just as I was about to beg for him to let go, a surge of confidence filled me.
"Get the fuck off me you creep. I'm not yours, and I never will be. But for the record, yeah. Me and Thorn did make out. And there's nothing you can do about it."
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I hope you're still enjoying this book, and it's not too eh...
From now, things are going to start changing a bit, and I think you will find it interesting ;)
Thank you for reading!
- Storm ð¹