C H A P T E R 26

I take a hit of the blunt passed to me. I take a deep breathe of the smoke and let it fill my lungs. The smoke burns, but I don't let it out until a few seconds go by. The smoke first comes out of my nose, then I blow it into rings.

"Talia, " I shake my head and take another hit. This inhale is deeper and longer than one before.

The smoke comes out my nose once again, "wait, I'm not high enough."

"Talia I'm trying to apologize," he takes the blunt from me and I groan.

"Apologize for what? Shipping me off to rehab? Siding with our parents? What River tell me!" I pass the blunt back to him.

He looked at me and takes a long hit.

"I'm sorry ok, but to just know your ok, Natalia I'm so sorry."

I look down at my hands.

We are currently home sitting in a living room that is covered in plastic. Mother is having the kitchen renovated and doesn't want the dust to float into the living room and ruin her new couches.

I continued to look around not wanting to look him in the eye, "Are you going to tell mom and dad?"

River starred at me for a second, "They already know, the police called them whenever you were taken to the hospital. They called me to pick you up."

I cursed under my breathe, "What did they say?"

"They're not mad about you running away. More pissed about what happened," his eyes quickly glance up at me then back down at the blunt.

"Oh yeah? They hear their daughter got raped and send their son to pick her up from the hospital after-" I broke. I couldn't do this anymore.

Tears streamed down my face bruised face. I felt dirty and disgusting and my parents only made me feel worse by not being here. Why would they not come?

River sits next to me for the next four hours stroking my hair and promising everything is going to be okay. I don't believe him as I weep in his arms.

-

The next morning I wake up in my bed. My phone is buzzing uncontrollably on my night stand. My ring tone 7 rings is blaring through the speakers. I groan and grab the damn thing answering it.

"Hello!?" I said rather rudely.

"Natalia!" The voice on the other end shrieked my name and I groaned.

"How did you get my new number?"

"Sam gave it to me."

"Of course he did."

"Are you ok? I saw the news," I wiped my hand across my face and yawned.

"Lindsey what the fuck are you talking about?"

"You haven't see it?"

"No, seen what?" I sit up.

"Its literally all over the news. You being assaulted by Damien. Did he really rape you?"

I curse under my breathe, "Tell me your lying."

"Sorry B, I'm not. Wish I was."

I groaned and hung up on her without another word.

I put my phone back on the night stand and threw my feet over the edge of the bed. Grabbing my satin robe I went downstairs.

"Talia, look Jane brought us donuts," River greeted me as I came down. I looked from him to her.

"Have you seen it?" I asked ignoring the sugary desserts that sit on the coffee table. River just looked at me and nodded his head, "What the fuck? How! It hasn't even been 24 hours since it happened?!" I sat down on the plastic wrapped couch.

"It was just a matter of time before it got out," my arms were propped up by my thighs as I put my head in my hands, "Camille and I are supposed to meet today. Like now actually, I haven't seen her in about a week, but if you want me to stay here with you I can."

I shake my head, "Go, Jane will keep me company," I had almost forgotten about her.

"Um, ok. Well I have to go. Please don't leave the house. I'll be back soon." he gently kisses me on the forehead then walks over to grab his keys and phone off the table then began to leave, "also mother put a new security system on the house. If there's an emergency you will need the code to leave. I sent it to you though text."

I nod my head. With that he leaves.

Jane comes and takes a seat next to me as soon as the door slams shut, "How are you dealing?" She asks. I look up at her.

"I just can't wait for this nightmare to end."

She nods her head.

"Trust me no one will remember any of this in a week and will be focused on the freshman who got pregnant."

I continued to stair at her.

"Your probably right," have her eyes always been this captivating? I quickly look away.

"I can make breakfast?"

"Kitchens being renovated," as if knowing our conversation a loud pounding is heard in that direction.

"Oh."

I nod my head and look everywhere but at her.

"I can order something?" I suggest. She nods her head, "My phones up stairs, come on Ill put on Netflix," I grab her wrists and pull her up before she even has time to object.

I pull her up the stairs and into my room. She sits on my un made bed while I scroll through door-dash.

"In-and-our burger?" I question, "never hurts having a burger for brunch?"

"Doesn't matter to me," I nod my head and order two double cheeseburgers with cheese and their special sauce on the side along with two chocolate milkshakes. I put my phone back on the night stand after placing the order.

"Any movie requests?"

"Let's watch Pretty In Pink!"

I groan, "A soapy romance movie?"

She nods her head. I roll my eyes and scroll through Netflix until I find the movie. After finding it I press play.

I leaned over my bed and reached down to the bottom drawer on my night stand and pulled it out. The contents inside include 5 ounces of weed, a grinder, three rillos, and two lighters. I smile. After my mother confiscated my last batch I had to buy everything new and didn't have a chance to use it, but now I do.

Since River took the last blunt with him I'm going to make myself a new one. Jane eyes me suspiciously as I do so. First I grind an gram of weed, then lick the flavored rillo and put it all together making the perfect blunt.

"Natalia, you shouldn't," Jane stops my hand from lighting the lighter.

"Live a little, life is better high anyways!" I stick the blunt in my mouth and use my other hand to light it. Taking a hit I blow the smoke in her face, "chill it's fine," as a say the words a realization hits me.

I never put on any clothes. I burst out laughing and look down at my robe, "I don't think you should Natalia," Jane speaks curiously looking at me.

"I do. Here, you try," I try to hand her the blunt.

She shakes her head, "No!"

I nod my head.

"Yes," I whisper.

"I don't think that's the best idea."

I sigh and take another hit. This time I blow out rings, "Just once? Come on, live a little," she shakes her head, "it's just weed. Nothing heavier!"

"I really shouldn't."

I sigh.

"You really should," the door bell down stairs rings, "I'm gonna go grab the door when I come back your taking a hit," she shakes her head as I walk out the room and down the stairs.

The door-dash delivery hands me my food, shakes, and walks back to his car. I shut the door and run back up the stairs and to my room.

"Jane take a hit now!" She stubbornly grabs the blunt from the ashtray I set it on. She put it to her her lips then pulls the smoke into her lungs. I smile and put the bag on the bed.

"Hold it in," I say and she does letting it seconds later, coughing, "see wasn't that fun?" She shook her head no.

I laugh, "let's eat I have the munchies!"

Ok I'm trying to finish this book, but at the same time I'm taking forever to make chapters. Guys remind me to update! I've been writing this book for a year and only have 27 chapters.