RIVER | JJ MAYBANK

FIFTY FOUR

RIGGS

River let go of a shaky breath as she looked towards the door, smiling towards Silas, who had just walked in. Today was the day of Sheriff Peterkin's funeral, she wasn't prepared in the slightest.

"Got any concealer?" Silas questioned as he leant against the door frame, his eyes flickering up and down the small blonde in the tight black dress.

"Why? You wanna cover your puffy eyes?" River questioned, raising her brows and looking at Silas almost teasingly.

Silas let go of a low chuckle, running his hand through his dark brown curls. His brown eyes darkened as he stood up straight and walked towards the girl. He pulled off his blazer, which then revealed a few of his neck tattoos.

"Need to cover some of these." He pointed to the tattoos on his neck. "So, when I hug the sobbing granny's, they won't try to avoid me because of the tats." Silas paused, coming up from behind River.

His hands gripping her waist, his head resting on her shoulder. His fingers gently brushed against her neck as he moved her hair to one side. Silas didn't miss the way that the girls breath hitched.

"Plus, when I steal things from them to pawn off, they won't think I'm a thug." Silas stood up straight, dangling the necklace, that River was previously wearing, in front of her face.

River let go of a small chuckle, placing her hand out for him to give her the necklace back. When she first moved in with Reginald, he gave her the necklace and told her how it had been past down the women in his family for generations. He also told her how he hadn't had a chance to give it to her mom before everything happened.

"You shouldn't be stealing anything at a funeral, Riggs." River turned and face the boy, looking up at him through her lashes and almost cursing about the fact that he was so tall.

"At a funeral, all the kooks where their most expensive jewellery, makes it almost impossible not to steal from the oldies that can't even remember if they put on their diamonds." Silas bent down to look at himself in the mirror sat on the vanity.

He ruffled up his curls more and placed his hand out for River to give him the concealer, which she happily did. Silas grinned up to the girl, apply the concealer to certain tattoos.

River sat down on the bed, grabbing his blazer and placing it over her shoulders. Silas had been great to her over the past few weeks. He was her first friend on figure 8, he lived next door to Reginald. He was the only one who really stuck by her side through everything, who supported her choices.

"You're a terrible person." River taunted, placing her arms through his blazer sleeves and almost letting a laugh escape from how big the jacket was on her.

"Reggie doesn't think so." Silas shrugged, turning around and facing River, his brows raising as he looked at her in his blazer. "In fact, he thinks we'd make a very good couple."

The blonde just rolled her eyes and hummed in response. She couldn't even think about dating right now. She hadn't spoken to the pogues since the day after John B and Sarah's disappearance.

She wasn't sure what it meant for hers and JJ's relationship. But from the times they saw one another in the club house restaurant, they hadn't uttered a word to one another, so she just assumed that whatever they had was over.

It felt strange not to have the pogues in her life. Since before she could remember, they were always there for her. JJ was always there for her, and now he was just gone.

"Grandpa doesn't know what he's talking about." River responded as Silas walked towards her, he crouched down in front of the girl, placing his hands on her thighs and looking up at her, a smirk playing on his face.

"Oh I don't know." Silas allowed his tongue to run over his bottom lip. "I think there's a lot of sexual tension here, Angelica."

River didn't hesitate in pushing him away from her. She hated that he constantly taunted her by using her middle name. He claimed that it sounded more Kook-like than River did. The girl happened to agree, but she didn't want to break away from her pogue life completely.

"I hate you." She playfully stuck her tongue out, as a faint knock was heard from the other side of the door.

The blonde looked up and saw Topper stood there with a soft smile on his face. Silas and Topper were best friends, and apparently always had been. So when Silas befriended River, it meant that River also befriended Topper.

Once she got to know the boy on a personal level, she realised that he wasn't that bad. That in fact, the only reason she previously disliked him was because he was a Kook.

Topper had also apologised to her for everything that he and Rafe did to Pope, and he also apologised for the injuries that he caused John B in the Hawks nest. He explained to River that he still loved Sarah, and that he always would.

"You two ready?" Topper questioned curiously, his eyes flickering between the pair. "We're gonna be late and there's nothing worse than arriving late to the ex-sheriffs funeral."

Silas stood up, rubbing his hands together, he took another glance in the mirror before throwing his arm over River's shoulders. He took in a deep breath before announcing,

"Today's a good day to steal shit. Who's with me?"

Topper scoffed at the boy as Silas also threw his arm over his shoulders. Both Topper and River frowned upon Silas choices to pick pocket, especially since he already had all the money he needed and everything he wanted.

"Nobody, your on your own." River paused, tilting her head back to look at the boy. "Just remember not to steal anything from any coppers."

Silas hummed in response. He let go of a chuckle, his nose scrunching up as he turned and looked at River. He pressed their forehead forget her momentarily before looking away and saying,

"Target the old biddies, thanks for the advice, Angelica."