Spectrum 》Chris Evans

thirty-seven

REAL LIFE

Just a head's up, this chapter gets kinda angsty! Mentions of a previous, emotionally abusive relationship, so read with caution!

River sat on her bed in the hotel, phone in hand. She was scrolling through Twitter mindlessly while she waited for Ruby to get out of the shower. Tonight, they were having dinner with their new group of friends at a little pub Sebastian had discovered downtown.

Next to River sat Lizzie, who had spent the afternoon roaming around the city with River, while Ruby and Sebastian caught a movie. Lizzie was scrolling through her phone as well. They sat in silence for a few moments, before Lizzie shut her screen off with a huff. River looked at her and raised an eyebrow.

"What's wrong?" River asked, concerned. Lizzie shook her head and ran a hand through her hair. She quickly flopped her arm back down into her lap.

"Oh. It's, uh, it's nothing," Lizzie said with a small sigh. River looked at her and frowned. She could tell that this  wasn't "nothing."

"Lizzie," River said, her voice soft yet firm. Lizzie looked away from her, and took a deep breath.

"So, you know how the other night that guy Danny commented on our girls night picture?"

River drew in a sharp breath, not expecting Danny, of all people, to be the cause of Lizzie's distress.

"Uh, yeah. Yeah. What about him?" River asked, feeling herself grow nervous.

"He's your ex, right? That's the same Danny you told us about your first night here?" Lizzie asked, wanting to make sure it was the same person before she started telling River what had happened.

"That would be the one," River sighed. She hated thinking about Danny, almost as much as she hated him himself.

"Well, he's been messaging me on Instagram. He keeps asking about you. I haven't told him anything, of course, but he's pretty persistent." Lizzie looked kind of sad, and she kind of felt like she had betrayed River by keeping this from her, even though she hadn't told him anything.

"Oh. Wow, uh," River said, letting out a nervous laugh. She huffed, shaking her head. "That sounds like something Danny would do."

"I'm really sorry I didn't say anything sooner, River. I thought he would leave me alone, but he's not giving up."

"Oh, Lizzie, don't worry about it. I'm not mad," River said, placing a reassuring hand on her friend's arm. "I mean, I am, but not at you. I'm mad at him for being invasive and bothering you."

Lizzie let out a small sigh of relief, smiling at River. "Thanks, Riv."

The two sat in silence for a moment before the bathroom door burst open, revealing a damp-haired and clothed Ruby.

"I just gotta do my makeup, and then we can get going," Ruby smiled, walking over to her bed where her makeup bag had been laid out.

Lizzie smiled at her friend while River rolled her eyes.

"By the time you're done with that, I'll have been home, gone to Europe, and home again," River snickered. Ruby sent her a glare.

"Shut up."

***

Nearly half an hour later, the three girls found themselves walking into the pub. They quickly spotted Chris, Sebastian, and Anthony sitting at a table in the back corner of the restaurant. They walked over, smiles on their faces.

"Hey, ladies," Anthony smirked, getting up from his seat to greet the girls with hugs and kisses to their cheeks. Chris pulled out a chair for River (right next to him), while Sebastian did the same for Ruby. Lizzie stood, looking at Anthony expectantly.