Signal of Distress

39 - Regret

~ Love The Way You Lie -
Rihanna - Eminem ~
❤︎❤︎❤︎

I'm not sorry for falling in love with you
-Elijah Chambers

I wake up with a dull aching pain between my legs. I move around, wiggling out of Eli's arms. He's still asleep. I climb out of bed and head straight to his washroom wearing nothing but his t-shirt.

Once I'm done with my morning business I walk back out. Eli's asleep on his stomach, his arms risen creating a barrier around his head.

I tiptoe around his room looking for Trigger's new book. I found it on the floor right next to the garbage. As I pick it up something catches my eye.

I lean down, taking the pages out of the garbage. It's the poems ripped out of the new book. My eyes scan over the familiar poems. Too familiar.

They're mine.

What the fuck!

I look back at Eli who's sound asleep. He's Trigger— and he stole my work. He's making money off of my work. He didn't even tell me or ask permission.

My own personal, private poetry pieces.

Hot tears rush down my face as I feel the anger rise.

Who are you?

I begin searching around his room. I start with his bookshelf until I move to his dresser. I search through all the drawers but don't find anything.

I head to his desk making a mess as I look through his shit. I open the drawer, running my hand over the writing utensils and papers.

Until a photo catches my eye.

I pick it up. I'm in the photo with another boy. It's from a summer camp I went to almost eight years ago. The boy has light brown hair, square glasses and braces. But his eyes remain the same.

"Elijah Williams will be paired up with River Mitchell."

I look back at Eli as he turns in his sleep. The only thing that remains the same are his eyes. That's the only thing I can recognize even if his eyes are closed.

How did I not notice earlier?

I need to get out of here.

He lied to me. He stole my work. He betrayed me.

I search around the room for my belongings. My phone, my keys, my clothes. "Shit," I curse, knocking over his lamp.

I hear a soft groan and look over at Eli as he starts to wake up. "Riv?" He calls out. I don't bother replying and begin sliding on a pair of sweatpants. "Riv? River!"

I look at him from across the room. "Riv, what's wrong?" He immediately asks. He definitely noticed my tears dampening my skin.

"You lied to me, you stole my work, you used me. Elijah Williams," I laugh emotionlessly. "Your plan worked. Congratulations!" My hands slap against my thighs.

His face rises in shock. But not the I didn't know shock the you figured it out shock. He played me like a damn fool. And I fell for it.

"Shit! Riv wait!" He gets out of bed and immediately throws on his boxers. I roll my eyes and open the door.

An arm pulls me back in and shuts the door. I stand in front of Eli. "River, let me explain," he says softly. I shake my head not wanting to listen.

"Are you or are you not Trigger?" I ask.

"Yes, I'm Trigger," he confesses. His head hangs down but he still looks up at me through his long lashes.