Crumbs

The Bonfire

One year later...

It had been a year since we moved to this little town. A whole year. I wasn't the same girl anymore. I didn't realize that until later on; but I had gotten comfortable here. I was still sort of somewhat shy and innocent. But my confidence grew, and I realized pretty quickly that I wasn't as ugly as I thought I was. That sounds conceited I guess, but I'm not saying I'm a model or anything. Just...not ugly.

Now, most of the group had graduated.

I surprised myself by staying a part of said group honestly, but everything lowed so smoothly, it just kind of stuck.

Lily decided she no longer wanted my brother, because now she's dating Bellamy of all people.

She also found out about Cove's drunken stunt the evening of that party. But it never happened again. Not like that at least.

Throughout the year, Cove had become like another big brother in my life. It was annoying actually.

Jaxon had always been protective, we all knew that. Now Cove had joined in on the protective role too. We always would joke that if Jax ever had a daughter she would hate her life and hate him. Now I'm thinking she would hate his best friend too.

I found out he had made it explicitly clear that if any of the guys made a move on me, he would "murder them without asking questions." It was a bro-code thing. Again, so annoying.

I didn't really mind it though. I couldn't deny my drooling when it came to Cove walking into my house shirtless and sweaty after practices. Though I had, unfortunately, gotten to know him much better.

He truly was a player. His body count was too high to slap a number onto and he had a new girl on his arm every party, who he also always disappeared with during said party for...specific reasons.

It was an unspoken rule not to joke about Cove being a player though. I didn't understand why, but he got very upset whenever a joke was made about the fact that he slept around.

All of the boys made the hockey team at the University in town too. No one left. It was bizarre how close we all still were. Normally friendships fade away after graduating high school because people go off to college or move states.

Not us. They all stayed. Lily and I planned to stay too. We were the only two still in high school of course.

Cove made captain, Jax made co-captain. It was a win-win for them, since Jax said he didn't want the full responsibility anymore, but he liked the label and the small amount of leadership that came with it.

Cove was annoyingly good at hockey, hence 'captain.' And he wanted that label as much as he deserved it.

I always went to their games, but after what happened that night, I wished I hadn't.

........

The game had ended, they won by a mile. It was barely a 'good game' and they knew it. It was too easy.

I sauntered off to meet them outside of the locker rooms for my ride home, like I normally do. This was the game day routine now.

But this time I was standing there for a very long time. The other players all left one by one. My guys never came out though.

"Ayyy River!" They greeted as they walked by.

"Hey Riv."

"Ms. Lynn. As always." John laughed in a mocking tone as he came out of the locker rooms. John had always stopped to chat more than the others. He was kind. That's it really. Just a kind guy.