If the Story Aligns

Chapter 13-Unfamiliar Conclusions

Asher Reed

River would not stop bothering me after the game, he thought something was wrong and would not just let me ignore him.

"Oh my god Asher, if I have to ask you one more time what happened I'm going to be pissed," he sighs, "you walked out right after Rhea did, then came back looking both sad and mad, and totally off your game." I didn't want to have to explain to him what Rhea said because he doesn't even know we kissed.

"The fucking point guard was getting on my nerves and then Rhea said she wasn't going to be able to work on the project at all this weekend and we need to finish it. Both of them were just pissing me off. Aiden would not hop off my ass at all during the game." I replied, it wasn't completely a lie, Aiden was annoying me and Rhea and I probably weren't going to work on our project at all.

"Okay, man if you say so, I'm sorry about that, that point guard really was a fucking dick though." I don't think River completely believes me but at least it got him off my back. It was fucking low of Aiden to comment something about Rhea. I guess he saw my heart towards her and decided to be an asshole about it. During the tip off he turned towards me and then to her and said 'Is the golden boy finally getting some pussy? If she can get you to put out it must be good, I'll have to talk to her after the game,' I know he was just trying to get under my skin but what type of person says that.

Roman finally looks up from his phone not paying attention to the previous conversation whatsoever and yells "LET'S FUCKING PARTY!"

"Nah, man not tonight." I say

"I have to agree, not in the mood, the game was way too close today." River adds

"Fine, let's just go see a movie or something." Roman grunts in disappointment.

After much argument we decide to go see Top Gun: Maverick, we've all already seen it. Twice, but River insisted we have to see it again, I think he just wants to go for the beach scene. I was wanting to watch the new Thor movie and Roman wanted to watch Elvis for some weird reason, but River would not give up. Top Gun was so good though so I don't care much.

We all hop into Romans car and drive to the theater, it shouldn't be that busy tonight since it's a weekday, but we show up a little early anyways because we're bored. We all pay for our tickets and River looks a bit distracted so I turn around but before I can he starts talking and we walk inside.

"Fuck, I'm so excited to see this movie." River says.

"Dude, you've literally already seen it but I'm not going to argue I'm stoked too." Roman replies.

"You both are so fucking weird." I add.

"Hi Roman!" I turn around and see the one person I was trying to get away from, oh and her friend currently the one very obviously into Roman. "and umm, hi River and Asher."

"Fuck..." River says. I quickly regain my composure and look at her like it doesn't affect me.

"Hey Elysia." Roman stutters, he looks kind of flustered, and that's one thing that I've never seen Roman be.

"What movie are you guys seeing?" Elysia asks, while Rhea seems like she'd rather be anywhere else, I guess she hasn't told Elysia anything about me.

"Top Gun, you guys?" River asks.

"Elvis." she replies and suddenly it makes a lot more sense why Roman wanted to watch Elvis. Before this awkward interaction could go on the cashier said it was our turn, and me and River turned to get some snacks while Roman held back for a second talking to Elysia.

"What is that all about?" I ask River, gesturing towards his brother.

"Honestly, I don't know, maybe that's why he's been on his phone all the time lately. Are you good? I really didn't think she'd be here at the same time, she never goes anywhere."

"Yeah, it's not like she matters to me, I was just annoyed about the project." I lie, the more I tell myself that the more real it will be. Roman joined us soon after and we made our way towards the movie room, ready to watch top gun for the 3rd time.

"Damn, I didn't realize how early we are." Roman says. The room is completely empty and the previews haven't even started so we have a while to go. Elvis is a 3 hour long movie and this is about 2 hours long, so just to my luck we will be finishing right around when their movie finishes.

. . .

"Once again, I have to say that's the greatest movie ever written." River exclaims.

"I've been thinking guys, how would I look with a mustache like a Rooster's, I think I could totally pull it off. The ladies would love it." Roman adds.

"Roman, you idiot, it would look terrible."

"How would you know? It wouldn't hurt to try it."

"We have the same face dude. Remember last year for Halloween I wore a mustache a part of my costume and you were giving me shit for it the whole night because I looked terrible." River sighs "If I looked bad that would mean you would look bad."

"Damn, sometimes I forget you look like me." Roman frowns. Before River could reply he notices something ahead of us, I look where he's looking and a feeling of anger rises.

"Hey, let's just go." River tries grabbing me towards the exit so we can leave. The two people who have been fucking with my life lately are standing together talking. Roman looks at us confused, until he sees Rhea and Aiden. As we start walking towards the exit I look again and Rhea seems very uncomfortable.

"Rhea, do you know how long I've been trying to find you after that day? You fucked up my life, you bitch." I can hear Aiden saying this to Rhea and he looks like he wants to kill her. Wait, that means they've met before.

"Don't fucking test me Aiden, I'm not the same girl I used to be." She responds, but she doesn't have her normal bite in her tone, she seems kind of apprehensive. Even though she told me to stay out of her life I couldn't stand here and not do anything while he was basically threatening her.

"Rhea, you good?" I ask as River, Roman, and I surround her. "Where'd Elysia go?" Roman adds.

"Yeah, I'm fine I was just leaving, Elysia had to leave early."

"We will walk you to your car." Before she could object, I grab her arm and walk out the door, Aiden's eyes glaring towards us.

"What the fuck was that?" I ask her.

"Nothing, thank you for that I have to go." She bites, back to her normal attitude except she looks a lot more scared right now.

"Do you need a ride?" Roman offers.

"No. No, thanks guys, I really have to go." She turns and immediately hops on her bike and drives off.

"Was that just me or was that fucking weird?" Roman says.

"Definitely weird. She gets more confusing by the day." River mumbles, as we all hop in their car and head back towards my house.

I can't let her go, I don't believe she doesn't like me. There has to be just something she's afraid to tell me, and I'm planning on finding that out.

. . .