[ four ]

I came back, exhausted to the bone yesterday. Other than the little morning fiasco, so many girls came up to me to ask what my relationship with River was. So, the moment my head hit the pillow last night, I was a goner. Not even a hurricane could wake me up. And because of that, I didn’t wake to my morning alarm. I woke to River’s face.

“Get up you pig!”

My whole body shook and I curled up even more under my blanket. An exasperated sigh made it into my ears subconsciously. I snuggled my blanket even more and let out a small content sigh. “I swear. Weren’t you the one who talked about not rushing to school.” I heard footsteps get quieter before they came back. “Don’t regret this.” I heard someone mutter.

Something cold hit my face and then it hit me like a truck. Cold water was splashed on my warm body at once and my eyes instantly flew open to River who had a bored look on his face and a red bucket in his hand, “Finally.”

I hissed at him as a shiver ran down my spine and goosebumps formed. My clothes were drenched and my bed was soaked. My wet hair stuck to my face and I blew out an angry breath. He snorted at the sight.

“Be down in ten.” Was all he said before exiting my room. I held in a scream and released my clenched fists. Little crescent moons were imprinted on my palms. Swiping my phone off the table, my eyes widened at the time, “Shit.”

My body was now on autopilot as I frantically got ready. Quickly stripping out of my wet clothes and putting on a pair of high waisted black jeans and a cropped blue shirt, I ran a brush through my knotted hair and yelped as my scalp ached. After hastily brushing my teeth and slapping on moisturizer and lip balm, I ran down to the car with my bag, phone and a pair of shoes in hand.

Glancing at my reflection in the car, I grimaced.

I looked terrible.

And River agreed as he burst out laughing, “You looked like you climbed out of hell.” I rolled my eyes at him and chucked one shoe at him. He caught it with ease with a single hand and I scowled. A smug smirk tipped his lips, “Footballer, remember?”

I grumbled and stretched out my hand for the shoe and he quirked an eyebrow. “C’mon Jones, we have to get to school. Quick give it to me.” He pondered for a moment and I shot him a murderous look. Mirth danced in his eyes and with a smirk still present on his face, “No.”

My face revealed no emotion for a moment as I shoved my phone in my back pocket and dropped whatever remained in my hand. I took two steps back on the porch and River quirked an eyebrow.

With my right leg in front of my left and my body slightly bent forward, I started running towards River. His eyes widened as I hurled myself towards him like a rabid animal. I even felt like one as I wrapped my legs around his waist.

He held up the shoe in the air and I placed a hand on his shoulder to boost myself up as I attempted to reach for it. He struggled but eventually I snatched the shoe out of his hand. Tilting my head down, I shot him a smug look, “Not today Jones.”

An emotion, I couldn’t decipher, flashed in his eyes before an entertained smile curved his lips, “Well played Summers. But using the shoe as an excuse to touch me? A little too much. If you wanted to touch my body, you could’ve said so.” He spoke in a husky voice, slightly above a whisper.

I blinked twice at him before it registered in my mind how this position looked. One of his hand had snaked around my waist while the other held my thigh and my hands were placed on his shoulders. Not to mention, our faces were so close that a slight jerk was all it took for the proximity to be zero. Instantly, a blush formed on my cheeks and his chest vibrated as he laughed.

“Cocky ass, I would never want to touch you,” I mumbled as I released his waist and got back on my own two feet. He threw me a flirtatious wink, “If you say so,” and entered his car. I could feel the tips of my ears warm as I grabbed my stuff and got in the car.

He drove out of the driveway and all was silent until my stomach decided to grumble. I shrunk back in my seat and he glanced at me through the rear-view mirror with a chuckle, “You never fail to amaze me, Summers.” I smacked his arm and glared, “Shut up Jones! I didn’t have breakfast.” He scoffed, “Well if you weren’t like a pig, maybe you would’ve heard your alarm and gotten up for breakfast.”

I grunted and folded my arms against my chest, “Maybe if your fangirls didn’t overwhelm me with questions or threaten me, I wouldn’t have been so tired that I missed my alarm,” I rebuked. He lifted an eyebrow, “Threaten?” I shrugged, “It’s nothing.”

He shot me another glance but didn’t say more as he made a right turn.

“School’s the other way dumby.” I remarked to which he shrugged imperturbably, “School can wait, I’m in the mood for some waffles now.” At the thought of warm buttery waffles and maple syrup, my stomach growled again. But I shook my head and knitted my brows together, “No, we have to get to school, your desires can wait.”

He drove into a parking lot and parked the car, “Too late.” River stopped the engine and unbuckled his seatbelt before turning to me, “What? You want me to take your seatbelt off for you? Or do you want something else taken off…” His hands inched towards me and I swatted them away with a disgusted expression causing him to smirk.

“Pervert,” I uttered loud enough for him to hear as I exited the car.

He locked the doors of the car and caught up with me River snaked an arm around my waist and I clicked my tongue against the roof of my tongue before pushing him away, “It seems more like you’re the one who wants to touch me,” I spat at him. He smiled, a charming one, and slid his arm around my neck, “At least I’m not making excuses.” I scowled at him and attempted to jab his stomach with my elbow but he caught my arm.

“Don’t you think you’re a little violent, Summers? I don’t think the girls at school will appreciate you ruining my perfectly sculpted body.”

I rolled my eyes and pulled my arm back, “I think the female kind would actually thank me for exterminating a pest.” I stated with an innocent smile. He scowled and pulled his hand away.

The bell on the door jingled as we pushed it open. The aromatic smell of waffles wafted into my nose while lively chatter filled my ears.

A middle-aged woman attended to us with a wide smile, “Welcome to Wendy’s Waffle Place! Are you two a couple?”

I opened my mouth, “N-”

“Because there’s a discount on the couple’s feast set today. You get four stacks of waffles of different flavors for half the price!” She continued. My eyes shone and my mouth watered, “Yes, we are! It’s actually our one-month anniversary today as well!” I replied and slipped my hand into River’s. He snorted and I squeezed his hand.

“Really? How wonderful! I’ll request for them to throw in an extra waffle. Go ahead and pick a table, I’ll be back with you order.” I glanced at the silver nametag on her uniform and smiled, “Thank you Lindsay.”

She bowed slightly before leaving for the kitchen and I let go of River’s hand but he caught mine. I turned to him with a bemused look as he interlaced our fingers. I tried to tug my hand out but he kept a firm grip and dragged me towards an empty table.

“Let go, Jones.” I muttered, loud enough for only him to hear.

“They’re watching.” He muttered back.

I glanced up and caught the eyes of the workers behind the counter. Straightening up, I shot them a small smile which they reciprocated. River let my hand go to pull out a chair for me and I sat down.

Once he sat down, I leaned over the table towards him, “We’re only doing this for the waffles, so don’t get any funny ideas Jones.” He too leaned forward but with a smirk, “Are you sure it’s not an excuse to actually date me?” I rolled my eyes, “I’m a hundred percent sure, you egocentric.” I responded before settling back in my chair.

He stared at me with mirth before the look in his eyes shifted. A sort of tenderness glinted in his eyes as his face softened. I scrunched up my eyebrows, what the heck?

“I love you.”

My breathing hitched. What? I had never been told by a guy that he loved me. His hand reached out for mine and my heart started thumping against my chest. I could feel the blush forming on my cheeks as he looked at me with affection. A gentle smile, that I had never witnessed before, erupted on his handsome face and my heart melted for a moment.

No, no, no! He was the enemy! Don’t melt!

My mind screamed at me but my body reacted differently.

He was now rubbing circles on my backhand and I could feel the tips of my ears becoming warm. The chatter and noise were all blocked out and all senses focused on River, against my will. A warmth seeped into my stomach and made me feel all fuzzy.

From behind me, “Here is your couple’s feast set!” Lindsay placed the four plates on the table with a smile.

River let go of my hand and I brought my hand back to my side. Right, this was all an act just to get some more waffles and a discount! Right, yes. He didn’t mean anything he said. It was all nothing more than just an act. I slightly slapped my cheeks.

River thanked her and just when she was about to leave, she pivoted on her heel and turned back to us, “I almost forgot. Due to today’s couple event, you’ll be able to get a complementary dessert that’s new to our menu, if you let us take a polaroid picture of the two of you that can be stuck onto the wall behind you and left as a memory!” Lindsay gestured to the wall and we turned to see the light pink wall filled with polaroid pictures of different couples smiling affectionately at each other.

“Sure,” River agreed without skipping a beat and I lifted an eyebrow. The chair scrapped against the floor as he got up and walked over to my side. Lindsay whipped out a polaroid camera and looked through the little hole, “It would be great if the two of you could get closer.”

River who stood on my left, heeded her words and placed a hand on my right shoulder to pull me closer to him.

“One, two, three – “

My eyes widened in shock as River’s lips brushed my cheek.

Lindsay pressed down on the button and pulled the camera away before showing us the photo with an envious smile, “The two of you look adorable!”

It looked like River kissed my cheek while I had a stupid expression on my face. I averted my eyes as he sat back down, across me, while Lindsay went to stick the photo on the wall. Glancing up, his usual confident smirk played on his lips, “Feeling flustered, Summers?” He waggled his eyebrows.

“N-No!” I stuttered before grabbing a fork to shove the waffles into my mouth.