Where I'd Gone ⌲ River Phoenix ((COMPLETED))

Instant Karma

January 20, 1988

I thought I lost you! But I didn't, fortunately. I'm rather busy with school and shit these days...

River's gotten famous. Every girl in my school has been talking about how hot he is in Little Nikita. He's come out with a new movie every 3 months!

Anyway, English came around, we had to write the typical essay... But oddly enough, our teacher decided not to.

"Class can I have your attention? We've got a new student," he gave us a fake smile and I laid my head on the desk. "His name is Max." Max? I used to know a Max... But then he walked in. It was Max, my ex-boyfriend. I prayed that God would make me into a bird so I could fly far far away from here. "You're going to be sitting next to Christine." He interrupted my train of thought.

Max looked over at me; his lips parting almost to say something but looked too reluctant in doing so. "Hey," he whispered. His eyes had a doleful look about them.

"Hey." I didn't give him any eye contact, trying not to be naive. I knew he had to have recognized me.

"Can we start over?" He asked as soon as the teacher turned around. I nodded. "Hi, I'm Max," your new mistake, "Your new friend." I shook his hand as well but didn't say my name due to the intense stare from the teacher.

March 21, 1988

"So, I never got around to finding out your name..." Max suggested with a coy grin.

"I guess you'll just have to find it out yourself," I laughed, feeling confident in my clever wordplay. After the bell rang I gathered up my stuff and slowly got up. Max casually mimicked my pace and closed the gap between us. He was so close that I felt goosebumps.

"C-can we start over, Chris? Can we go to a movie?" His eyes shined with confidence. Initially, I considered declining the invitation, but the several months of sustained loneliness contradicted my original decision.

"First, don't call me that, it's River's thing, and second, it's better than staying at home, I guess," I shrugged, trying to make it clear that I was not up for any of his bullshit.

"River, huh? Didn't know he kept you around, you know, him being such a household name now," I scoffed at his inconsiderate remark. "I'll just meet you at the movies at 5?" I gave him a shrug for an answer. I had no tolerance for him whatsoever.

____

At 5:30 I got dropped off at the movie theater. Max was there, twiddling with his watch and holding a distinct disgruntle frown. "You're late."

"Really? Thanks for noticing," I gave him a sarcastic pout. "Running on Empty?"

"I guess so. Would be nice to see an old buddy on the big screen again," He said so nonchalantly. "Let's go in then." While inside, he didn't pay for my food. God, I miss Charlie.

As River came onto the screen Max turned to me. "How's River anyways? I haven't seen him since the night he beat me uh- never mind." He quickly gathered himself up.

"What? What happened with you and River?" I asked, waiting anxiously for him to spill his guts.

"He uh... Well, he kind of punched me." He muttered. I don't believe it.

"What the hell? River would never do that. He's too nice." I scoffed in disbelief.

"Believe it," He added slyly.