A Love To Tell

Chapter 10: A Friend By Your Side

River kept twisting and turning from her bed, gripping the sheets as she had a nightmare. Everything was black, and scary dark red eyes were glowing. River started crying from her bed, but from her head, she was running and saw drops of blood in the track she was going. And in her head she stopped as a troll stumbled upon her and whispered in a scary voice. "I know where you are...".

"Ah!" River yelled and got up from her bed while panting. She looked around her room and sighed. Tears started falling and she started sobbing. This couldn't be... she thought-... she thought-...he-

"River?" Branch opened the door and his head crept from the side. Oh, right, River was sleeping at Branch's. she felt embarrassed for probably making that noise and felt bad for waking him up. She wiped her eyes as he spoke again. "Are you alright?".

"Y-Yeah... just-... had a nightmare..." River said and rubbed her eyes. Branch kindly entered her room and stood in front of her. "It's ok. Hey, need anything?".

"Yeah... thanks..." she said as they headed to his kitchen. They sat on the chairs and had the table in front of them. River was leaning on her arm and sighed as Branch gave her a glass of milk. River whispered a 'thanks' and drank it. Branch sat in the chair across from her and asked. "Would you mind telling me what happened in your dream?".

"I-I don't know... I think I can't tell you, yet..." River said as Branch smiled a bit, then asked. "A few days ago, you were crying out from the window... mind if I can ask why?".

River hesitated, then she sighed and leaned back at the chair and looked down at the ground. "It's too personal...".

"Oh... it's alright, really... Listen, we don't really talk too much, maybe we can now?" He asked as River slowly looked up at him. Somehow, a blush on her face as he just smiled. Then she hesitantly nodded. "O-Ok...".

"To be honest, I'm not this much to anyone and I don't know why but... I think I can trust you..." he said as River whispered. "Yeah... me too... one question, the Snack Pack mentioned you about being grey... why?".

"When I was 5, singing killed my grandma... and it's all because of me..." he whispered the last one. Then River felt bad for asking. "I-I'm sorry for asking, I had no idea-...".

"It's alright. And I guess I don't need to ask you why you're grey..." he said as they both looked away from each other, feeling awkward in the situation. Then River cleared her throat and rubbed her nape. "I-... think I'm gonna head back to bed...".

"Ok. Goodnight." He said as the both headed to their separate rooms and making an awkward expression. River sighed as she lied in her bed and stared at the ceiling and talked to herself. "It's not his fault... he has no idea... should I tell him? No, just... head back to sleep...".

She turned her positioned and hugged an extra pillow beside her and cuddled it. She sighed and whispered. "Tomorrow's a new day...".

Ok, I know Branch might act like not himself here, but it's getting really awkward for Poppy and River... well, on to the next chapter!