People Like Us: Part I [MxFxM]

Chapter One

There was a short loud rap on his door and he groaned, rolling over and tugging the blankets over his head. The cocoon it created was warm and snug, and he had no intentions of leaving it if he could help it.

“River, I know you heard me. It’s time to get up.”

Even though it was muffled through the door and his blankets, he easily recognized his dad’s voice. Which meant he was up to go to work and it was entirely too early.

The rap sounded again and he groaned louder, pulling his pillow over his head when the door handle turned and his door opened, though his dad didn’t enter the room. Probably just leaning in the door frame like he usually did.

“River.”

Huffing, River pulled the pillow off his head and poked the top of his hair up out of the blankets.

“I’m up,” he muttered.

Now the heavy boot treads walked across his floor and up to the bed. He could picture his dad just fine, standing at the side of his bed with his arms crossed over his chest and looking down at him patiently, long hair tied back, plaid and black shirt adorned. With his annoying kind of patience that didn’t waver.

Pushing himself up, River felt the blankets slide off his shoulders and down his back onto the bed. Reaching up to rub his face, he sighed, blinking blearily.

“Glad to see you’re awake.”

“We’re just going school shopping, Dad.”

“Well, it’s easier on your dad if I get you up before I leave, so he has time to get up himself. Now come on, your brothers and sister need to be gotten up too.”

Rubbing at his face one last time, River turned to look up at his dad. Some people might consider one dad a handful, but he didn’t mind having two. It did get interesting though when everyone shouted “dad” at once and both of them responded. Varian was the one who got them up though, and that usually meant there was food downstairs in the kitchen.

Which gained the interest of his stomach right away, growling forcefully.

“Is there breakfast?”

That got a small smile out of his dad, who shrugged a little. “There may or may not be a plate of pancakes waiting in the kitchen for you guys.”

River felt his eyes widen and he jumped up out of bed as quickly as he could, his blankets snagging him along the way and making him swat at them before he threw his arms around his dad and hugged him tightly.

“Yes, pancakes! I love you Dad!”

He laughed, hugging him back. “I love you too, River. I’ve got to go though, so why don’t you go get your siblings up?”

Holding onto his dad a little longer, River let go and turned to go find clothes, his eyes landing on the black violin case leaning against the wall by his bed.

“Can I play first, Dad?”

The brown red-tinted eyes of his father landed on the case too, lingering there in thought. River felt his excitement sink as he watched him, preparing for the “no” that was probably coming. When it came to being on time for things, his dad was usually a stickler, but what he said next surprised him.

“If you’re quick about it, River. I know you haven’t gotten to play much lately with school coming up.”

Smiling, River nodded, running over and grabbing his violin, plopping down on his bed. He hadn’t been able to play in over a week, and his fingers itched at getting hold of the bow and letting the instrument speak freely.