Danger and Tattoos

Pull These Down

              

                  River's POV::

     I look at myself in the mirror, trying to see if I like the new look. Its been too hot to wear any of my long skirts and thick t-shirts. Even now inside my room, when I have an fan at full blast and my parents have the air conditioner on. My body is more sun kissed than usual. With my Hispanic nationality I'm tan, but still considered to be on the pale side until now.
     A light, but loud knock comes from my room. "Can I come in?" My dad asks from outside the door.
   "Yes," I reply. He comes in, giving me a small smile.
    "How are you feeling today?" He asks. I've been extremely stressed lately. My grades have dropped a little bit, but it worries me. Night before last, I went on a date with Tanner. Even though it's been five months since Vito went to jail, it feels wrong to be with someone else. Everyone in the "gang" is still very much in my life; I guess that comes with being claimed.
      "Still very stressed, but I feel it'll be better once this school year is over with," I tell him.
    "You haven't been...doing drugs again have you?" He asks. I cock a brow. 
    "No, I have my Xanx usage under control. I have no urge to just keep popping them," I explain. He sighs, obviously getting the information he came in here for.
   "How did you date with Tanner go?"
    "Dad-"
    "I'm just asking. I've always liked Tanner." I sigh, throwing my hair up messily.
    "Don't get your hopes up. Him and I are good as friends. That's all I want to be with him. He's like a brother to me," I tell him. "I got to go. I'm meeting him and Cyra for coffee."
   He stands up and kisses the top of my head. "Stop thinking so much," he says before walking out. I follow him after a shirt minute. Once I'm outside I'm immediately too hot; however I still enjoy walking places. I close the gate to the house and start down the sidewalk.
   Someone grabs my arm once I'm pass the house. I look up at the person to meet gorgeous dark blue ones. I sigh, for some reason not able to smile.
    "What's wrong?" Vito asks. I shake my head, taking his hands in mine before reaching up and kissing him hard on the lips. My fingers tangle in his longer than usual hair. "I missed you so much, baby."
   "I missed you too," I say, taking deep breaths. "Wait, it's only been five months-"
    "They let me out early with good behavior," he says, setting me down from when he lifted me up. He pulls the ends of my shirts down as far as they will go. "Pull those down."
    "How are you?" I ask. He shrugs.
   "As good as someone can be when they get out of a maximum security jail," he says with a chuckle. "I'm just happy to be back with my girl." My girl. I release a deep breath and kiss him again. "I still need to see the others, Fin picked me up. I wanted to see you first."
    I smile up at him. "They'll be happy to see you. Xander has had a rough time without his right hand man. And I kept going to your apartment to take care of Lulu everyday."
    "Only gosh, my baby," he says. I giggle. Never when I first met him did I find him to have this personality behind closed doors...or behind a tree. He pulls me close to his warm, buff body again. "Um, you go continue what you were doing and I'll go see everyone. I love you." He seems nervous saying those last three words, almost like he's not sure I'll say it back.
    "I love you too."

AN: I did want to keep him on jail longer, like for a few chapters, but I couldn't find a way to do that. Anyways, please comment and share. Little sneak peek: I'm writing a spinoff to this. What do you think it is? Please comment and share! Believe in yourself -Vaeh