Devil's Pawn (Completed)

25.

"My dad is gonna flip." I said breaking away from him and turning to see my mom's fuming glare, which was the opposite of Roger and Caroline's grin.

"I'll die at peace knowing I got my birthday wish." I gasped and looked down at my wrist which held the gift I had gotten for him.

"I almost forgot." I said blushing as I handed him the black bag. He looked down at it. "You didn't have to get me anything."

"Of course I did." I said whacking him. "It's your birthday." He rolled his eyes.

"Open it." I demanded suddenly feeling anxious about it. "It's probably not gonna please you, now that I think of it...I probably shouldn't have-

"Joe." I looked up at him to see he was holding the sweatshirt in his hand gazing at it with glossy eyes. "The painting we did." I nodded.

"I thought you'd like it but then I just remembered how upset you got about it. If you want I can take it back..."

"I love it." he said pulling me in for a hug. "Thank you." he mumbled into my hair. I let out a breath and smiled into him.

"Thank god." I mumbled relieved.

"And you were worried I'd hate it." I shrugged. "Are you ready to party?"

Our parents went home around 11, Charlie left with Kyle around 12 and of course Chloe decided to stay after she realized who River's brother was. I would not deal with her tonight.

"Drinking games!" Someone downstairs called. River frowned.

"You don't have to quit if you don't want to." I said looking at him with a small smile. "Drinking in moderation, or recreation is okay River."

"For Justin." he smiled taking the shot. 

"For River." I said taking mine.

**

"Joe Mitchell is drunk!" someone exclaimed giggling.

"No way!" Lena said laughing. "I'd never thought to see the day an uptight lets loose." I ignored her comment and laughed with the others feelings light and free.

"Wanna hit it?" I shook my head at the weed and strained my neck looking for River. When I couldn't find him in eye distance I stood and decided to search for him on my own, thankfully I wasn't as drunk as the last time so I could walk without being morbidly dizzy. I walked upstairs to the black door and opened it without knocking.

"River-

I stopped speaking as soon as I saw him...he was passed out. But she wasn't. "What are you doing?" I accused.

"Joe." she scrambled for a shirt. "We were just busy, I put him to sleep." she said smirking.

"Chloe are you really this desperate? God I'm telling dad everything! You're an evil bitch! You'll do anything to send me away? Find I'll go myself."

"Wait Joe!" I turned away from ignoring all protests of her speaking. I ran down the stairs and found Charlie. "Can I see your keys? I'll send a car to get you."

"Have you been drinking?" Charlie asked slurring.

"No." I lied smiling. "Please. I really wanna go." He fished his keys out of his pockets and handed them to me smiling. "Not a scratch."

I thought of Caroline.

I walked to the car feling the reality of what I had just saw crashing on me. The tears stung to my eyes and the betrayal darted my heart. Chloe and River? Why else vwould he hate her so much. It wasnt because of me, it was a joke. He was pretending. He never cared for me. What if it was all a ploy by Chloe to get me to finally snap....she set me up. She really hates me this much over Paul. I thought I was helping her. I've been through so much because of her and she doesn't even see that. All she sees in me is a freak who will never deserve love.

I don't deserve it.

I'm awful. I opened the car door and got inside as I started it up I felt the tears rushing the surface. I shook them off, I need to get home. I slammed the door closed and started to drive off. The night was cool and it seemed dead on the streets. It must have been three am. I was driving about three blocks away from my neighborhood when I stopped at the red light. There he was, I looked over into the car next to mine and froze when I saw him. He smiled the sadistic smile that made my skin crawl. The light turned green and I stomped on the gas but when I looked over....

It was too late.