The River Speaks

Chapter Four: Kik

Chapter Four: Kik

Later that night as I'm cleaning up from dinner, my front door slams.

Elliot comes stalking into the kitchen looking pissed.

"Hey." I say.

"Why did you answer the phone when April called?" He asks. "I told you she's no good for you, sweetie. I just want what's best for you."

"I answered the phone to tell her to leave me alone." I say.

"Okay and what's the Boston number calling for? Who is that?"

Should I tell him the truth?

"Why are you hesitating? Are you cheating on me?"

"It's just this guy, but-"

His hand connects with my face before I can say anything else.

Kickhimoutkickhimoutkickhimout

My mind is screaming at me but everything else is telling me to stay calm. It's my fault anyways.

"I had to do that." He says calmly. "I told you no boys."

Maybe I should tell him how I feel.

"I don't like it when you hit me. It hurts."

"You're crazy." He says. "I'm just trying to protect you." He kisses my stinging cheek. "I love you. I have to go to work."

"Right now?" I look at the time. "It's seven."

"Well I have to go to work. No boys, understand?"

"Okay baby."

"I love you." He says.

"I love you too."

Satisfied, he walks out.

I shut off the sink and lean against the counter, putting my hand on my stinging cheek.

Aiden's voice runs through my head.

I don't know what your relationship is like, but nobody gets to hurt you no matter what you did to them.

He's wrong. Elliot loves me and he's trying to protect me. Elliot is right. My family is crazy. I love the city, just like Elliot. I don't need anybody else in my life. I'm happy with him.

I hope we get married and stay in the city forever.

Nodding to myself, I walk into the living room.

*****

I wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of a horn honking.

I groan, rolling over and shoving the pillow over my head.

The city is so loud, I hate it.

Almost in sync with the horn ending, my phone starts ringing.

I roll over, my eyes stinging painfully from the sudden light.

I blink away the tears.

(617)523-1373

I grab my phone, groaning.

617 is Boston.

It's Aiden, but why is he calling me at three in the morning.

I hit answer.

"Hello?" I grumble.

"Whoops, did I wake you up?" He asks, wide awake.

"Slightly. What do you want? Aiden, you can't be calling me."

"Yeah but let's use Kik."

"What the hell is kik?" I mutter.

"It's a texting app. It's free. Delete it before he comes over and redownload it after he leaves."

"Why are you so interested in talking to me?"

"You intrigue me." He states simply.

"Aiden-"

"What's the harm? He presses. "You're allowed to have friends."

I stare at the city lights coming through my window and sigh.

I miss home. I miss my family. I miss my best friend Madeline. I miss Ruby.

It's a friend. Somebody outside of the small circle which is only me and Elliot.

And Elliot never has to know.

"Fine." I say. "But you have to promise to never ever call me again, okay? He knows about you."

"Okay what did he say?"

"We can't stay on the phone."

"My username is Aiden underscore Seb like S-E-B underscore Hunt."

He hangs up.

I say it over and over in my head as I download Kik. I made my username Lilliana_Crittenden.

I hit the plus sign in the upper right hand corner and search Aiden_Seb_Hunt

It pops up with a picture of a dog that's brown with white under it's belly.

Hesitating, I click on it and it comes up with a chat, so I text him.

Me: who's dog is that

His reply is almost immediate.

Aiden: mine but she's really mean to everybody but me

Me: gee thanks

I hesitate.

Me: I feel like I'm cheating on Elliot

Aiden: we're friends. We're nothing more than friends. Hell, we're hardly friends. I know nothing about you

I hesitate.

Me: but then why do I have to hide from elliot

Aiden: because you said youre not allowed to talk to anybody

He's right. It's not like I'm sleeping with him. We aren't flirting. We're friends.

Me: okay

Me: I'm tired I'm going to sleep. I'll delete the app and redownload it tomorrow at work

Aiden: you work tomorrow? Tomorrow's Sunday

Me: oh that's right. Well whatever I'll redownload it feel free to message me ill see it when I redownload

Aiden: okay gn

Me: night

I delete the app and lock my screen.

I just need to go to sleep.

*****

This chapter is short and I'm stressed about the story lol what else is new, I promise promise promise it's going to pick up next chapter

~Sam