My Lifeline

38

Will's POV
THE NEXT MORNING

I text Ryan in the early hours of the morning. Due to it being the middle of October, the air around us is freezing. If it weren't for River in my arms and wrapped around my body, I would be shivering and would eventually fall into a state of hypothermia.

After Ryan messages me back to express how excited he is for me to be staying with him for a while, I put my phone down and focus solely on River. I stroke my hands through her hair that has grown wavy and knotted in the night.

Bed hair. It's almost enough to make me laugh—not because it looks silly. It's just adorable.

I almost don't want to wake her, just because I want to experience seeing River like this for a few minutes longer. When she's asleep, her body relaxes and finally allows her to take a break from the horrors her mind puts her through on a regular basis. She's so peaceful when she's sleeping. I know that when she wakes up, her eyes will grow cold and her body will stiffen.

If only I could take all that pain and inflict it on myself instead.

Rubbing my eyes to have a better focus on the room, I shake River's shoulder and try a gentle approach to waking. Not like my mother who just claps in my face and yells.

"River. We've gotta get up," I tell her softly, almost sounding regretful because I hate having to wake her up when she's sleeping so peacefully.

Her eyes blink open and she does this adorable sigh that puts a smile on my face. I shuffle up slightly, sitting us both up, but allowing her to continue to rest against my chest.

"Morning," her voice croaks out.

"Sleep well?" I chuckle, moving the hair out of her face with my finger.

She nods her head and sits up right, rubbing her tired eyes. "Did you?"

"Slept like a log."

River scrunches her face and seems to be thinking about something. "What does that mean? Everyone always says it, but I've never known the meaning."

I'm about to answer her, but then find that I don't even know the meaning myself. "Crap. I don't actually know."

River laughs in response, shaking her head.

I want to stop time so I can experience this moment with her for a little while longer. I want to ask her to stay in and skip sixth form so we can spend the day in bed together, but I don't want to bring down her attendance or get her into trouble, so I suck it up and push myself onto two feet.

"I need to get changed," she says.

"Me too. Want me to go to the bathroom?"

River pauses for a moment, having an internal conversation with herself. "No. I mean, you can if you want, but you don't have to. I don't mind if you stay, but...I don't know." She gives up trying to explain whatever she was thinking.

I can't help smirking. "We can both look away," I tell her.

She smiles in my direction, nodding her head. "Okay."

After getting changed, brushing our teeth and getting our stuff together, we drive over to Ryan's house where I can store my bags and Ginger. Henry, Ryan's dad, has always been fond of Ginger, so he was more than happy to keep him company while we're at school.