Last Summer

Rafe

I walked into the front door of Tannyhill, my hands shaking. I wanted to yell at Sarah. Something in me wanted to blame her. I finally had something good and it seemed as if everyone was trying to ruin it. I wanted to talk to River but her phone was still lost. I stood at the base of the stairs, my phone in one hand, River's board in the other. I left mine leaned up against the side of the house outside, but I wanted to bring hers in with me.

"Sarah!" I called up the stairs. It wasn't long before I heard the patter of her bare feet on the tiles as she approached the top of the stairs from Wheezie's bedroom.

"What?"

"Can I have Harper's number, please?" I asked holding my phone.

Sarah scoffed and crossed her arms, turning to walk away, "You're a joke, Rafe. Trying to hit her sister up? God."

"No, Sarah. What? I'm not trying to 'hit her sister up'. River lost her phone at the beach on our first date. I don't have a way to talk to her." I corrected. Her face changed from annoyed to understanding.

"I'll text it to you." She nodded and turned back towards Wheezie's room, while I headed to my own.

After Sarah had texted me the number, I fell backwards on to my bed, exhaustion creeping in.

Me:
Hey, Harper. It's Rafe. Can I talk to River?

I texted Harper, eager for a response.

Harper:
I will have her call you. Give me a second.

Me:
Awesome. Thanks.

Only a couple seconds later, a call came through from Harper's number.

"Rafe?" River's voice was sleepy.

"Hey, stink." I replied, a smile forming on my lips.

"What did my mom say to you?" She asked, I really had hoped that she didn't. I hesitated before I replied.

"Rafe." She said again, less patient.

"She told me to stop seeing you." I confessed.

"No." She replied, sternly. From just that single, two letter word, I could hear her anger.

"I know. I don't want to and I'm not going to." I reassured her.

"Good, because I would probably have to kill you." She laughed. I loved how even carefree her voice was. She made me feel weightless.

"That was very awkward at the car today." I finally spoke after a short silence.

"Stop." She groaned, "I almost had my fucking top down."

I chuckled thinking about how heated the moment had gotten.

"I think that may have been the best part." I joked.

"Shut up." She laughed back, catching her breath.

"Dinner tomorrow?" I yawned, pushing my salty hair out of my eyes.

"Yes." She yawned back. It's true, yawns are contagious.

"I'm really tired, okay?" I said softly, turning on my side.

"I am too." She said, sleepily.

"I'll pick you up around 6?" I asked, yawning again.

"Yeah, that's perfect." She said.

"Alright, night." My voice had gradually gotten sleepier, but so had hers.

"Night." I could tell she was smiling by the way she said the word.

With that, I hung up the phone and fell right to sleep. Shoes on and everything.

This was one of the best days of my life because I think I'm falling in love, with River Maxwell.

..........................................................

"Rafe, come on, son. Get up." I'm awoken by my father's voice. My eyes pop open. I look around and my dad is standing by my bed.

"Dad?" I look up at him, groggily.

"Get up, son. We need to talk." My father stormed out of my room. I absolutely fucking hated when he did that.

I drug myself out of the bed, tripping over River's board. I meet my father in his office, where he was sitting, his chin resting in his hand, obviously deep in thought.

"Dad?" I said, sitting down in one of the chairs in front of the desk.

"Son, we need to talk about this Maxwell girl." My suspicions instantly grew.

"Why?" I asked, sitting back in the seat.

"I need you to stop seeing her." He replied, blankly. He was putting on his fakest, most sincere voice. But I wasn't falling for it. That only worked on Sarah.

"Why would I stop seeing her?"

He sat up straighter, setting his hands on his desk, "Because, son, I spoke with her mother and she believes the relationship isn't the best thing for River right now."

"She doesn't know what's best for River," I protested, standing up. "They don't even get along."

"Rafe, calm down." My dad stood up, putting his hands towards me.

"I don't need to calm down, because I'm not going to stop seeing River." I stated, anger filling my chest. My breathing got heavier as I spoke.

"You barely know this girl. Why can't you just listen for once?" My father spat, also getting visibly angry.

"Why does it matter who I talk to?" I questioned, turning my head to the side, sarcastically.

"Her mother is my business partner. Do you understand what happens for me if this goes South?"

"It's not going to go South. You don't know what you're talking about." I told him, my anger unfaltering.

"Rafe, you're not seeing the girl anymore. Plain and simple. End of discussion." He said, finally sitting back down.

"No, I'm not going to stop seeing her." I hadn't typically been this rebellious with my father but I truly didn't understand why I needed to stop seeing her.

"You'll see, son." My father warned and I stormed out of his office.

I stormed right out of the house, and into the backyard. I came up on the boat dock, where the My Druthers is docked.

I was confused by who I saw in front of me.

It was River.

She was crying.

"Rafe."