Lucky's Real Life Romance Novel

Chapter 30

I hesitated as I stared at the email title. It was finally here. The email from Vanderbilt. I took a deep breath as I sat on the couch with my laptop in my lap after school. Mia was doing her homework on the floor and a River sat next to me with his new laptop as well.

"Did yours come in too?" He asked. I nodded. I stared at my computer screen. I was nervous.

"Let's open it together," he suggested. River counted down from three and we both opened the email. I grazed over it looking for let words because I was too anxious to read the whole thing. I got accepted on a partial scholarship. That was good enough for me. I let out a breath as a small smile made its way to my face.

"What about yours?" I asked River as my eyes flickered to his face. He wasn't smiling. In fact, he looked disappointed.

"I got accepted, but I wasn't offered a scholarship or grant or anything," he answered. My smile fell as I read his screen. I could only confirm what he already told me. He wasn't being offered anything for Vanderbilt. At least with some of the other schools, they offered partial scholarships.

"What does that mean?" I asked nervously. River sighed before slouching against the couch.

"It means that I'm not going to Vanderbilt," he answered. I shook my head quickly.

"W-what about Austin Peay?" I asked. Austin Peay was a smaller college that was closer to the small town we lived in.

"Their pre-med program isn't all that great so I didn't apply," River answered.

"What colleges offered full rides?" I asked a gain just to see what the closest option was.

"Only UC Berkeley did," he answered. I could feel my heartbeat in my throat causing a lump to form.

"Maybe there will be one closer," I hoped out loud. River reached over to hood my hand in his.

"Whatever the outcome is, it looks like I'm already not going to Vanderbilt, Lu. I think we need to prepare for the possibility of separating," he said widely. I don't know why the idea of separating from River gave me so much anxiety. Maybe it was because I was used to having him around all the time.

"Don't think about it too much," he said, giving me a light smile and petting my head gently. He could probably see the gears turning in my head, trying to figure out how to keep River close. I hadn't even realized how reliant I'd become on River. I didn't really rely on him for material things either, just his company. After basically a lifetime of being on my own, I craved it. I didn't want to be in my own again. I didn't want that hollow feeling in my chest.

***

River decided on one more fight before graduation just to cover traveling expenses. After the college emails and letters stopped coming in, the decisions were finalized and our senior finals were out of the way too. By this time, the only thing we had left to look forward to as seniors was Prom and graduation.

River was going to UC Berkeley and I was going to Vanderbilt. I didn't get accepted into any schools in California so I didn't even have the choice to be closer to River. Plus, because he was going pre-med, he would most likely be too busy with his classes anyway. I stayed back for Mia. I had a tight feeling in my chest for weeks now. I couldn't tell if it was because of River's choice to do one last fight or the impending separation from him. Either way, I had been pouting a lot lately. After getting Mia to bed and telling my dad we were going out, we drove out to the gym and met up with Eric. He smirked when he saw me walk in with my hand in River's, pout clear on my face.

"You came back even after last time?" Eric asked me. I held onto River's arm as my pout only deepened. I was to the point where I didn't want to be separated from River for even a second. I'm pretty sure I qualified for having separation anxiety. River reached over with his other hand and covered mine.

"Don't tease her, Eric. She's having a hard time already as it is," River said before he released my hold on his arm gently. My eyes went to his face as he smiled at me gently.

"I've got to start warming up," he said. I nodded before sitting on the bench and swinging my legs lazily as I watched. I was just as nervous for him as I was last time. Eric ran him through his warm ups before wrapping his hands and leaving us alone. I stood in front of River, already feeling the crybaby in me trying to make an appearance. I pushed up on my toes to kiss him gently as he held me.

"Don't make me cry," I warned him. He chuckled before kissing my nose.

"You already look like you're going to," he countered. "I'll try not to get too hurt," he promised. I kissed him one last time before going out to find Eric. I stood beside Eric and watched the fight unfold all over again like last time. I wasn't as numb as I was last time, but I still felt like I would be on the edge of my seat if I was sitting. My hands gripped the chair in front of me as punch after punch was exchanged. I was in tears before the fight was even over.

The blood.

I couldn't stand seeing him covered in blood.

Five rounds.

He dragged the fight out five rounds. By the end of the match, River won. Despite the cuts on his face and the blood, he was smiling. I was shaking. Even though my feet felt like lead, I dragged my feet to follow River back to the locker room. I wasn't as frozen as last time, but just as shaken. River got the Vaseline off of his face, irritating the cuts even more. I was slow to pull my backpack out as River sat on the bench. I grabbed a cloth and wet it in the sink before sitting next to River and wiping the blood away gently even though my hands were shaking and tears were continuously streaking down my face. River held my hand gently and wiped my cheek with the other.

"It's over, Lu. Calm down, hm?" River coaxed me. I nodded and sniffled before I finished cleaning the blood from his face. After getting his face cleaned up, I saw that he only had two cuts on his face on his cheek and on his forehead. Then the obvious bruising to his shoulder, ribs, and knuckles. I put the ointment on and taped him up before zipping my backpack up. River put his clothes on gingerly before sighing.

"The girl is pale after every fight," Eric chuckled. River touched my cheek gently as I looked at my lap.

"She didn't freeze this time. This is my last fight, you know," River said to Eric. He sighed and handed River an envelope.

"Yeah I know. You're graduating. Congratulations, kid. You finally made it to the finish line. I know it's been a long time coming. Purse win was ten grand. I added a little something in there as a graduation present to you and the missus. If you're ever back in town, don't forget to cane and say hi," Eric said before leaving. River took his hand away from my face before opening the envelope. It was a check for $20,000. My eyes widened before I looked at River.

"I think I get why you fight now," I said softly. River chuckled before petting my head gently.

"Ready to go home?" He asked. I nodded. I handed the keys to River as we made our way to the car. I was a little calmer, but still too shaken to drive. I don't think I would ever get over watching River fight. I guess it was a good thing he was finally done fighting now.