Last Summer

Rafe

My anger began to boil up again as River told me what happened at the bonfire last night.

"Topper helped me find you. He was actually the one who did." I snapped.

She still had her fingers in the sand, digging a small hole, "I shouldn't have followed him. I trusted him, but I knew better." Her words came out as if they burned her throat. I looked over and watched as she wiped a tear off her cheek.

"Hey," I said, wrapping my arm over her shoulders.

"I'm fine." She lied.

I grabbed her chin and forced her to look at me, "You don't have to lie with me, River."

Her eyes softened and the tears fell. I held her as she sobbed.

I'm going to fucking kill him.

I stared down at her small frame. Bruises covered her arms, bruises on her face, the stitches. My best friend did this to her.

"He's dating Sarah." River said after minutes of silence. I nodded.

"We have to tell her." She continued, standing up and brushing off her tan legs.

"What? Right now?" I asked.

She nodded, "Then we're going to fucking kill him." Her tone was all too serious.

That's my girl.

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

We dropped her father's truck off to him before driving back to my house.

"How do you think she will take it?" River asked me as we pulled up to the front of the home.

I shrugged my shoulders, "I couldn't tell you."

"Should it be me or you?"

"Me." I replied, simply.

I know I didn't get along with Sarah, but she stuck up for me when it came to being with River. I owed her this.

"Stay here, I'll be back." I told River. She nodded.

I walked through the front doors, heading straight upstairs to Wheezie's room. That's where I usually found her.

I knocked on the door softly.

"Come in!" I heard my thirteen year old sister chirp.

I pushed the door open slightly. Wheezie was laying on her bed, on her phone. Her dark brown hair was falling off the bed. She had her glasses on upside down.

"What are you doing?" I laughed.

"I'm trying to see how dizzy I get before I pass out." Wheezie replied.

"Ooookay. Uh, where's Sarah?"

"She's at Topper's, I think. They were fighting about John B yesterday."

One thing Wheeze loved was drama.

I turned quickly out of the room and back down the stairs.

"She's at Topper's." I told River, throwing the car in drive.

"Wait. Call her first." She pushed the car back in park and waited for me to pull out my phone.

I dialed Sarah's number quickly, she answered on the first ring, "What?" She sounded annoyed.

"Where are you?" I got impatient at the sound of her voice.

She hesitated a moment before saying, "Topper's."

In the background of the call I heard, "Pope, hand me that lighter so I can light this J." The voice belonged to JJ Maybank.

"Are you at John B's?" I questioned.