Found (New Earth Saga)

Ch. 48

***JACOB POV***

As if this night couldn't get any weirder, I was now once again "sneaking" out of my house to link up with River. To be honest, I'm pretty surprised River called me right now. I mean I guess it makes sense since Issac would have been her ride home tonight, and like me, he had to leave Fall Ball earlier than expected.

I'm honestly so glad my mom had been there, or else I'm not sure Dad would have kept his cool. The entire way home he ranted about the parapro Billy Sharp and his dad, who like my bio dad, is apparently in jail. I guess it had something to do with Morgan or something? I'd have to remember to ask her about that. But yeah, when he wasn't going off about the Sharp family, he was talking about all of the trouble he would bring to Issac for hitting me.

"Please don't press charges. I'm fine," I'd urged Dad.

"You don't look fine! Plus, it will bruise over and you'll be in even worse shape tomorrow. How dare that-that Issac kid!" Dad had ranted.

Once I got home Mom snuck away and gave me a proper checkup, so she called it. Obviously she's too small to do much, but there's something about a mother's touch that makes everything better. Like even when I was younger, no matter how tiny my mom was, she could make any cut, any sad day, or any challenge better.

When I was finally alone in my room I found my phone had way too many unopened texts. Welp, people had certainly heard about, or seen the fight between Issac and I... and Mr. Sharp technically I guess. As I scrolled further I re-read the numerous messages from River. She'd been worried about me. She knew Issac was coming to find me. My heart swelled. I immediately wanted to call her. I knew Fall Ball was technically still going on, but I wanted to make sure she was okay. She'd come with Issac and I... how was she going to get home? Okay, she'd probably just call her parents or Trent. Or hitch a ride with whoever Parisa was going to have to ride home with. Gods, I should call Parisa. But first, I'd better check in with River. Parisa was used to going out, and going to school activities and dances. River wasn't. All this was so new to her. She'd finally tried having an actual friend group and at least 2 out of the 3 of us had ditched her. F#ck. Why did Issac have to be such a jock? If he'd had a problem with me, he should have waited until after Fall Ball and spoken to me, man to man.

Before I spiraled further I took a chance and called River. After a few rings she picked up, and based on the quiet background on her end, I assumed she'd also left Fall Ball early. It wasn't until River started speaking to me in a concerning, and frantic tone that I sat up at a tension, instantly knowing something was wrong. River sounded distraught. She could barely form a sentence. Something about lies, and how she needed to save Eric. Then she started mentioning some door that had disappeared? Yeah, none of it was making sense. I reminded River how to share her location with me, and assured her I'd be there soon. Now my major issue was getting out of the house.

I'd changed out of my Fall Ball suit as soon as I got home. I threw on an extra jacket since it was pretty cool at night, and headed towards the front door as quietly as I could. It's times like this that I wished I wasn't so easy to spot. My parents weren't asleep like the last time I'd snuck out to meet up with River, so this certainly complicated things.

"Where do you think you're going?" Dad asked the moment my hand touched the front door knob. I literally jumped in surprise, as I didn't even know he was standing in the foyer right now.

"I um... I was going to um,"

"Going to what? Go to an after dance party? I don't think that's such a good idea considering," Dad continued, gesturing to my banged up face. Ugh, thanks Issac.

"Yeah, Um I'm not going to a party, I'm um going to pick up Parisa actually,"

"That's strange, she just texted that she'd be getting a ride home with Natalie," Dad replied.