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#7

Ethen's POV

 I pulled up at Chase's house. I glanced backwards only to find River asleep. Her eyes swollen. Fists clenched. I Pulled her out and slung her hand over my shoulder as I half dragged her to the door. She better appreciate this. I'm not her boyfriend. I pushed the doorbell. It's chime rung through the house. I could here thumping footsteps.

"Seriously, It's a Saturday!!" I could hear Chase yell. His voice seemed hoarse. He opened the door. He looked fine. Wearing a Tommy Hilfiger shirt and grey jeans he stood at the door. "What the fuck is she doing with you? And why the hell is she here?" 

"Chase. Shut up." I didn't have time to deal with my dumb best friend. I pushed past him still half dragging River and proceeded to his living room. I laid her down on the couch and went back to Chase. "River was at the library. She was crying her eyes out Chase! Crying! SHE FUCKING LOVES YOU!" I yelled. His face went blank. His jaw clenched. 

"So you bring her here. The last thing she wants now is to see her shitty boyfriend." He mumbled.

"All River could say was your name. She was having trouble breathing. I think thats a sufficient reason."

"Ethen. Stop calling her River." He started to walk toward the living room. At least I had made progress. I followed him. He had knelt down next to her. Unclenching her fingers one by one. Blood red crescents were indented in her palm. He looked up at me. For the first time ever I saw a wave of guilt hit Chase. He gulped and placed the throw blanket over her. He sat at the end of the couch, next to River

"I don't know why you don't get it Chase. She actually loves you."

"But she won't tell me about her nightmare."

"Can't you understand? It's a fucking nightmare. It scares her. It plays a big role in her life. She will tell you eventually. You just need to be there."

"Yeah." He looked down at the carpet and fiddled with the ends of the blanket. He tucked a stray hair behind her ear. As he drew his arm back she caught him. Her hand was loosely wrapped around his arm. Tugging. I stood up to leave. They needed to be alone. "Thanks Man." He half smiled. His voice broke at every syllable.  I grinned back and headed back. 

I guess I was walking back to the library. As I stepped out the door I could feel tiny droplets of water cascading down my cheeks. The sky was dark and foreboding. My hands were tucked inside the pockets of my hoodie as I treaded along the side walk. River seemed so strong yet so delicate. And then there was Chase, he didn't realise how lucky he was. How lucky he was to have a girl like River. 

The clouds rumbled as the sprinkling of rain turned into a heavy downpour. I could feel the adrenaline pumped through my body. Powering every step. My slow trudge turned into a jog as I decided I was running full pelt. As I ran, the rain brushed my cheeks. The cool air combed my hair back. 

As I approached the library, the sun started to rise again. "Thank the lord." I mumbled as I sat inside my car. I turned the ignition and started reversing my car. 

"Excuse me!" A lanky red-head was tapping on the window of the car. What the fuck happened now, "I work at the library, I think your friend left her stuff there." He passed me a red converse backpack. I placed it on the passenger seat and drove away.

Now I was going to have to give it to her. It was good that it was Saturday. I drove alone the street until I reached my house. As I parked on the gravel driveway, I could see a familiar figure's shadow in the living room. I slipped out of the car and locked it. Briskly, I opened the door of my cosy home. It was already open. I saw Mum standing in the corner of the living room, her eyes replicated River's. As I turned to see who it was, the figure stood up. 

"Calum?" The curly haired boy embraced me. Calum was back. 

"Ethen, man, don't ask me hows life and if I'm doing fine or anything because I'm not." His once warm hazel were now empty. "I called up your mum and asked if I could come over for six months, yah know find myself and him." He seemed so casual about it all. "I think I gave your mum a shock. I think its the resemblance." I walked over to Mum and gave her a warm hug. She hugged me back and went off to the kitchen. 

"Where's your stuff?" I gestured my hands toward the door and I noticed there were no bags. Anywhere.

"I've already put it in the spare room." 

"Right." I nodded as I sat down on the couch. 

"Can we not talk about him or anything related because I think we're all over it." He sat down. 

"Yeah, um... I guess so." I scratched my head. Calum still had the same freckles, dotted all around his face. His face looked a lot rounder and similar to his. 

"How is everyone? Chase, Ray, Ash, Teachers. People."

"Ash?"

"Umm... Ya know... River Ash."

"You mean mid-length brown hair, brown eyes, swimmer, and..."

"Yeh her."

"She's good." 

"Good."

"Ethen you still going to training right?"

"Umm yeh..." Chase was the only one who continued swimming, most of the sophomores quit even some juniors. 

"Well... before I rolled up here I was at a cafe."

"The roasted bean?"

"Yeh it's changed quite a lot," Calum laughed, "So, I met up with a Harvard scout."

"A what."