thief {f.w}

chapter 14

*rivers pov*
(time jump to Saturday, day of the awards)

"i don't think i can do it mill" i say almost crying
"no no no. yes you CAN" she says confidently
"no. i can't. especially with finn being there" i mumble the last part but she catches it.
"it doesn't matter" she says and i shrug.
"i guess it doesn't" i say and she nods triumphantly.

i spot a blonde, walking past the open hotel door, "finnieeee" she coos and my blood runs cold. it's daisy.
"oh hey girls" she says when she spots us in the room.
"hey" millie and sadie mutter, not paying attention. i don't answer, i stare at my hands in my lap, sitting on the edge of the bed while millie paints my nails. sadie is brushing out her long, golden hair while we wait for our stylists.

"are you nervous riv? it's your first red carpet. and mine actually, im so glad finnie is taking me as his plus one" she says and i almost clench my fists, nearly smudging my pretty new nails.
"not really" i lie through gritted teeth, hating that she called me "riv", no one calls me that. it's ugly.
"no one cares" i mutter under my breath and millie spluttering, hearing me. i grin, sticking my chin in the air slightly to show i still wasn't worried.
"sorry ladies but it's time to get ready" our stylist, lisa, burst into the room.
"ok, bye girls" daisy calls and no one replied.
"bye?" she calls again
she should really take a hint
"by-"
"goodbye daisy" i say, irritated. she leaves.

"im back girlsssss" harper then bursts into the room.
"did you miss me?" she says as we squeal and hug her tightly.
"you bet we did"
"how did you come over here even though you should be at school" i question and she taps her nose
"what have you done to your hair?" millie wails.

"i straightened it. i like it. jack says it looks pretty" she grins and i roll my eyes but i can't help smiling at her. she's happy and that's all that matters.
"it looked so pretty curly" millie still complains.
"it'll curl back in a couple days, silly" harper giggles.

"are you done now? you really need to start getting ready" lisa says again, eyeing harper.
"is she coming too now?"
"nope. im watching, proudly" she says, beaming. lisa raises her eyebrow and pulls out a covered dress. she unzips it and it reveals a knee-length, white dress. it's sadies and she smiles at her pretty dress. it's glittery and opens when she spins, she pairs it with a pair of also white pumps with little heels. she wears her hair straight, clipping a little butterfly slide in at the side.

next to get dressed is millie, who wears a very grown up dress. it's a pretty pink and clings to her beautifully. she adds a pair of pink flats and curls her hair, pinning it up at the front. she looked amazing.

next was me. i had a two piece. the trousers were black and cuffed at the ankle, but baggy so they were comfortable. my top crossed over my front, exposing a little of my stomach. at first i didn't like it, i was very self conscious, worried everyone was going to laugh at me. it was short-sleeved and my hair was curled too. i had velvet black pumps that are very high. im terrified to try and walk in them. i had black eyeshadow and red lips. my highlight was just right and i felt...pretty.

i stumbled across the room to try and glance at myself. i stop and smiled at the excited girl smiling back. my stomach didn't look as bad as i thought and suddenly i wasn't afraid anymore. i felt fearless. ready to stomp out of this room with a huge smile on my face. as long as i learnt how to walk in these properly of course.

i stood there in awe for a few seconds before millie and sadie spotted me, they gasped and made their way over.
"omg, you look amazing"
"you're gorgeous!!"

i grin at them, feeling great.

harper, however, is close to a breakdown. i can tell.

"no, i don't want it. i need it. yes i will call, dad. no i will not talk to katie. because she's annoying. look i HAVE to go. i need to get ready and my phone is about to die. bye" she was talking to someone on the phone. she sits angrily on the bed, huffing a strand of hair out of her face.

"woah, what's wrong with you?" millie asks, brushing her hair back.
"nothing. im not ready and ive lost my phone charger. and im on 2%!!!!" she complains and i can't help but chuckle at her ridiculousness
"here you can borrow mine" millie says, plugging her phone in.
"thanks" she says sighing.
"who were you talking to on the phone? your dad?"
"no, i was talking to the man on the moon. yes i was talking to my dad. who else would i be talking to you dummy?" she says sarcastically and i burst out laughing
"calm down kid" i say and she cracks a smile.
"go and get dressed harp" i say and she shuffles out the room.

"sarcastic much?" millie questions and i start laughing all over again.

we sit in the car having a mini prep talk from david, who really should be saving this for when he wins because he'll probably forget when it does come to that. we stifle our giggles, trying not to make eye contact with each other in case we do laugh. we finally leave the car.

i watch the girls walk effortlessly and confidently down the carpet and i very nearly throw up. the photographers yell at them
"here!!"
"over here!!"

however everyone simply seems to carry on as if they were alone, but following every command with elegance. it seemed easy, but i knew I'd struggle. the boys hop cheekily, grinning and posing for the cameras.

winona squeezes my hand before it's my turn to walk solo. my heart pounds in my chest and everything moves slowly for a minute. the thousands (or what seems like a thousands) of photographers yell my name, and i struggle to keep up. keeping a smile plastered to my face to avoid crying or looking confused, i stumble across the carpet. my knees buckle slightly and i panic, keeping my shaky hand firmly on my hip and the other beside me. i feel someone's hand slip into mine, i turn to look and it's harper, soaking up all the limelight. i almost fall down in relief, i really needed something to take the attention off me and of course harper would. she grins at the cameras, like a natural, leaning closer to me she says "you're doing great kiddo" and i smile for real this time. we hold hands, and i straighten up a little as we walk simultaneously to the end. she hugs me tightly when we're out of sight.

"that was the scariest thing i think ive ever done" i say shakily
"are you crazy? you auditioned for a tv show!! but you did it!! im proud" she says, smiling. i smile back, feeling proud of myself.

i look at our group noticing that finn isn't with us. not that i cared or anything. but sometimes i did miss him. as a friend.

i watched him painfully as he walked down the carpet holding Daisy's hand.  he was last. i know i said i really didn't care, but i do. she stole him from me. she's a thief.

he was smiling, a mask that covered the sadness and anxiety in his eyes. i could see it and i longed to hug him and tell him it's going to be okay. i miss him and can't help but wish that was me on next to him on that carpet.

and ive told myself time and time again that you can't miss someone who doesn't miss you.

~ word count 1365~
so it's been a while lmao. i just don't know where to take this book anymore, before i had so many ideas but now they just don't seem good enough. but ill finish it up soon anyway and give a decent ending and river a happier life. although, im sure she is the happiest with finn...

p.s thanks for 3k reads on lovestruck🙈

-l 💛