Last Summer

River

"Mom, what the hell?" I asked, as I came down the stairs.

She looked at me innocently, "What, River? What are you taking about?"

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, "Why did you tell Rafe to stop seeing me?" I planted myself at the base of the stairs.

"Oh, honey." She said, sympathetically. She touched my face with her hand and I jerked away.

"Don't touch me. Why did you tell him that?" I yelled.

"River, it's for your own good. That boy is trouble." Her voice had little to no emotion. She spoke the words as if I should've known that.

"You don't even know him!" I shouted, I felt
my face get hot.

"What's going on?" Harper ran out of the kitchen, a spaghetti noodle hanging from her mouth.

"Our dear, sweet, innocent mother told Rafe to stop seeing me." I snapped. Harper's mouth fell open.

"Mom." She gasped. My mother rolled her eyes.

"You two don't know what you're talking about." She scoffs then turns back to me. "I'm helping you, honey. Saving you a world of heartbreak before you're in too deep."

I chuckled.

"Especially after what I saw yesterday. You're lucky I didn't report him to the police."

"The police?" Harper gasped again, her mouth full.

"Rafe and I were making out." I sneered at my mother. Who did she think she is?

"Making out." She scoffed.

I rolled my eyes, "Butt out, mommy dearest. I'm going to keep seeing Rafe." I stated, turning to walk back up the stairs.

"No, honey. You won't." A familiar voice spoke behind me. I turned quickly to see my father standing in the doorway.

"Dad?" I turned back around after hearing his voice.

"Hey, honey." My dad said, pulling me into a hug.

"Uh, hi dad." My brain was scrambled. I hadn't seen him standing in this house since I was in kindergarten. Before their divorce.

"What are you doing here?" Harper asked, her eyes wide. He looked at her then looked back at me.

"I'm here to take you home with me." He said softly, pushing my hair behind my ear.

I looked back at him, my heart sinking, "What?" I croaked.

"Parrish, allow me." My mother moved herself in front of him.

"This isn't good for you, honey." I couldn't read my mother's face. How did she con my dad into coming here?

I looked at Harper, her face just as shocked as mine.

"I'm not leaving." I stated, looking between both my parents.

"We leave in the morning." My father spoke again, his hand on my mother's shoulder.

"I don't understand." I rubbed my hands over my eyes.

"I know, honey. It'll make sense in no time." My father moved around my mother again, standing in front of me.

I shook my head, "No." I looked up at my father. "No, dad. I'm not leaving."

"Yes, you are, River."

"She's not leaving." Harper stands in front of me. "This is the first time I've seen her happy in years. Don't take her away from that." She pleaded, I felt the flood gates fill up.