Dragon Rider

Chapter 12

"Hey, can I speak with you privately for a moment, please?" I softly ask River when I notice him and Instructor Weston leave the cafe when they have finished their meals.

"Of course," River replies, looking over at his friend who nods, walking off a few feet from us to give us some privacy. "What is wrong, Larken?"

"Um, I have a concern about the three of us hanging out together tomorrow," I mumble, avoiding his gaze. "I had a male student approach me earlier in the cafe while I was buying my dinner, and his concern was about you and me. He said that we cannot date unless I am eighteen, and not not being in your Instructional, which we already knew. Also, he feels that he is better suited to be with you romantically, and not me. Now, I am concerned that he is going to say something to an Administrator, and you and your friend will be in trouble."

"Do you know this person's name?" River asks, and I cannot get a handle on his feelings at the moment. "I understand your concern, Larken, but you turn eighteen tomorrow, and by the afternoon, you will not be in my Instructional. Therefore, we will not be punished by the Administration for spending time with each other, or having a romantic relationship."

"Are you sure? I do not want to cause you or Instructor Weston any problems with your careers?" I mumble, my anxiety starting to rear its ugly head again about this entire situation.

"I am sure, Larken, I promise," he assures. "Neither of us will be fired, or you in any trouble over tomorrow. If you are not comfortable with our plans for then, that is fine, but tell me now."

Shaking my head at him in response; "I still want to hangout with you both tomorrow. I just wanted to let you know about what this guy told me."

"I appreciate your concern on this matter," he replies with a bright smile toward me.

Nodding, I give him a smile; "You are very welcome. I will see you tomorrow in Instructional, and then at two-fifteen."

River's smile brightens; "We will see you tomorrow."

By two-fifteen the next day, I am waiting for River and his friend at the transporter area, and by three, they have not arrived. I decide to make my way over to Tiamet's enclosure to head home since Laria went home an hour ago with her bag and mine via the transporter. When I have him ready, I climb on his back, and clench my jaw to keep my emotions in check. I should have seen this coming, and I have no idea why I did not see this coming. Arriving home ten minutes later, I settled Tiamet in the enclosure with Afra and papa's Dragon's. Slowly wandering up to the house, lost in my thoughts, and I am jolted from my thoughts by papa.

"Larken, not that I am upset that you are home early, but why are you home early?" papa asks from the kitchen when I walk into that room.

"Um, the people I was supposed to hangout with never showed," I reply with a shrug. "I waited until three for them, but they never showed, so I came home."

"Oh, baby, I am so sorry," he coos, pulling me into a tight hug, and that is when I allow myself to cry into papa's shoulder. "I am sorry this happened on your birthday."

"This is why I hate letting people in," I mumble into his shoulder, and tighten my hold around his waist. "Never again will this happen. I would rather die alone."

"Oh, baby boy," papa softly says, tightening his arms around me with a kiss to my shoulder.

"Hey, what is going on here?" Afra asks, sounding a little concerned as he and Laria  join us. "Larken, why are you home early?"

"I will explain in a minute, Afra," papa says when I pull back, quickly wiping away the tears.

"I, uh, I am gonna shower before the grandparents arrive," I mumble, avoiding everyone's eyes, and head toward the stairs.

Grabbing fresh clothing from my room before heading into the showering unit. Letting the water heat, I strip from my clothing while staring at myself in the mirror. Scoffing at my reflection in the mirror, hating what I see looking back at me. I move away from the mirror into the showering unit to scrub myself clean. I am glad summer break has now officially started, and I start interning with the Warriors on Monday. I can keep my mind off River, and what happened today.

"Larken? Someone is here to see you," Afra says through the door as I am getting dressed in a pair of black leggings, black socks, black faux Ugg boots, and a white long sleeve shirt.

"Thank you! I will be out in a moment," I call back, my tone lacking any emotion.

Picking up my dirty clothes, and tossing these into my dirty hamper in my bedroom next to the door of my closet. Leaving my bedroom, I make my way to the living room where I Hear papa and Afra speaking to whoever has arrived to see me. I am extremely curious as to who would be here to visit me because papa and Afra's parents should be here in about an hour, and Afra would have said they were here. I have no friends, so that could not be who is here, and Mercy does not know where I live as far as I know unless Laria told her at some point during the school year.

I hope whoever is here, I do not make a damn fool out of myself in front of them if they are someone of importance in either one of my possible career choices. Stopping a few feet away from the entrance of the living room, I stop to make sure my clothing does not appear to be wrinkled, and that my hair is lying correctly with my fingers before walking toward the living room again.