Treat Me Right // River Phoenix (on hold)

f o u r t e e n

November 1st 1988

We walked to River's house in quietness. It surprisingly wasn't awkward. I saw River look around the town as we strolled, talking in the scenery.

I admit, the town was beautiful. It was an old run down town but that's what made it beautiful. Every paint chipping and broken window told an amazing story from people in the past.

Even the old stores that looked like they were made in the '50s, they showed what it was like to live back then, it was astounding.

"You know, I really admire that about you." I spoke up as we crossed the street.

"Admire what?" He questioned.

"How you see everything in such a positive way." I told him.

"Well, there's always a positive side to everything. Why look at the negatives, when all they do is bring us down, instead of the positives, which lift us up." He explained.

"You're very wise." I complimented.

"Thank you, I learn a lot from my family. They taught me everything I needed to know."

"That's nice. When I have kids I want to be a role model for them, I want to teach them everything good and how to make someone's day." I remarked.

"Me too, I want mine to love living and never doubt life. I want them to be intelligent and open minded about things. Also, I want them to play an instrument because it's proven to help your intelligence." He remarked.

We arrived to his house and he opened the door for me, letting me go first. I thanked him and he followed me inside.

"Oh, Tegan! River said that you might be coming over!" Arlyn hugged me.

"Hi, Mrs. Phoenix." I hugged back.

"Remember, call me Heart." She smiled and I nodded.

"Um, Tegan, this is my Father, John." I turned to see a man.

"Hi, I'm Tegan." I shook his hand.

"Pleasure to meet you." He said.

"And these are my sisters Rain, Summer, and Liberty, and this is my brother Joaquin." He pointed to the teens that were on my left.

Gosh, people are just popping out of no where here.

His brother and sisters didn't seems that much younger than River.

"I love you guy's names." I smiled to them.

"What's your name?" Rain asked me.

"Tegan." I replied.

"That's a nice name." Summer said, I thanked her.

"Well, we'll be upstairs." River grabbed my hand and led me upstairs. We walked into a room, which I assume was his. He popped down on the bed and said

"Sit anywhere you like." So me being a smart alec, I sat on the floor, making him laugh.

"I didn't mean on the floor."

"Actually, it's quite comfy." I joked. I looked around the room and turned my attention to a guitar.

"You play?" I questioned, pointing to the instrument.

"A little." He said shyly.

"Can I hear?" I asked.

"Yeah, I guess so." He shrugged and got up to go retrieve the guitar. He sat back down on the edge of the bed, while I continued to sit on the floor.

River cleared his throat and started to strum the strings. He began to sing a song that I didn't know, but his voice was angelic.

He only played a couple of lines before stopping. Looking at me, he smiled and I smiled back.

"You're good." I truthfully said.

"Thanks, but I'm not all that good." He said, sheepishly.

"No, River, you're really good." I said and he thanked me, again.

I think that I was beginning to become attached to River, but I couldn't. If I did, then would just end up like they did in the past.

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This chapter absolutely sucked and I'm so sorry :/