Eastwood Academy

Chapter 40: Not So Brave World

I spend the next two periods simultaneously wanting class to be over because as soon as I'm away from River, I always want to be near him again, and wanting time to stand still because I'm dreading the committee meeting we have after school. Everyone I don't want to see will be there, and thanks to the events of the past week, I'm behind in my work—very behind.

I use the fifteen minute break before my last class to call my father. I realize that it's been way too long since we've spoken and I feel a pang of guilt and homesickness listening to his familiar voice.

"What's going on Brooklyn? You've never been one to cause trouble. Amanda Stanton called and said you were involved in a public altercation in the middle of campus?" My dad informs me, sounding concerned.

"It's really not like that dad. Two of my friends had a misunderstanding. We worked it out and it's fine now, I just didn't want it to get bad. I'm totally fine and nothing like that will ever happen again" I tell him, cringing at the lie.

I feel bad about stretching the truth, but I really want him to like River, and I don't want his first impression of him to be bad. Thankfully he believes me and we quickly move onto lighter topics. He asks me about Gavin and Jessica, wondering if we had a good time at the dance. I say yes and then quickly change the subject again to parents weekend, which is coming up very quickly. I assure my father that I'm taking my classes and college applications very seriously and promise to introduce him to Jessica. After promising him to stay out of trouble and that I'll call again soon, I head to my last class.

I walk out of my last period to find River leaning against the opposite wall, arms crossed and looking like a taller, modern version of James Dean. Before I can say anything, he closes the space between us, pulling me against his chest, his arms banding around me. I can see people around us turning to stare, but I ignore them and allow myself to relax in River's embrace. He must have left class early to get to me before the bell rang. He has AP Calculus, which is all the way on the opposite side of campus from my class, AP English Lit.

"I thought I'd walk with you to the meeting instead of meeting you there," River tells me, his voice slightly muffled because he's leaning down to press his lips to the top of my head.

"Thanks," I murmur, sighing. I start to reach for River's hand, but he pulls me against him, keeping a tight hold on me. We'll walk slower this way, but he'll get no complaints from me. For once I have no desire to be early.

"Everyone will know what happened by now," I say as we head towards the sports center.

"Everyone will have heard some twisted version of what happened," River corrects me. "Ignore it. And if anyone says anything rude or gives you shit, I'll deal with them."

"Verbally," I remind him sternly. "Absolutely no fighting under any circumstances. There's nothing anyone could say that would be worth getting expelled over." Nothing that anyone could say would be worth doing something that would keep us apart, I add in my head.

"I'll be on my best behavior," River promises me, using his free hand to push over the door to the sports center.

"Fuck," he mutters under his breath as soon as we're inside the building. Aaron is standing in the hall in front of us, chatting with some of his friends. At the sound of the door closing, Aaron and his friends turn their attention to us. I shift uncomfortably as multiple sets of eyes assess us. For a moment, everyone stands in silence, no one knowing what to do.

Then River starts walking again, towing me with him. Aaron's eyes flit back and forth between us as we approach, taking in River's arm wrapped around me. Please let him not hate me too. Like River, Aaron is also popular. Being on good terms with him will make my life a lot easier, especially in the next couple of weeks as the competition for the fundraiser starts to pick up. I have a funny feeling that as everyone starts to feel the pressure of applying to college, the air of competition ever present at Eastwood will reach a new level. "Brooklyn," he greets me as we pass him, not acknowledging River.