Mr & Mrs Black

Just can't take your tears

River

Even with my mama grieving over Uncle Chris I was preoccupied with 3 of the 4 most important women in my life, the twins and Genieve.

Eve is, breathtaking. Standing at 5"3 and built to handle a bigger man than most with wide-set hips for someone her age she was made for me. I was hellbent on having her, I knew she was interested in me, intimidated too maybe but it was for her protection.

"Riv, you good to go, Comrade?" Oakley asked with his best Russian accent, I rolled my eyes and nodded anyway.

"Come along Quercus." I retorted cheekily, grabbing my bag from the school desk swinging it up on my shoulder just missing my friends' head. He gaped at me, confusion clouded his expression from my nickname so begrudgingly I explained, "That is the Genus for Oak trees."

"Hey, my parents could have gone with any latino name. I could have been Gonzalez or something, but I'm Oakley Gonzalez instead."

"Shut up. She's currently in her Sports class, so let's be the supportive helpers." I grinned mischievously planning to spot her.

Oakley continued to chatter the rest of the way there happily talking about anything he really liked until he spotted his own little precious. Poor little Grayson had no idea the beast that was Oakley caught his scent, chuckling to myself said beast shot me a look before sneaking behind him glaring at his friends to scatter causing the small thing to turn around puzzled until coming face to face with his torturer.

"H-Hi Oakley, can I help you with something?" His cheeks tinted an embarrassing shade of pink talking to the larger boy, correction, man. Oakley was 6", strong rigid shoulders with fairly bulked limbs so he could get away with being into men, no one would mock him for it he made sure of it. I watched the scene with a raised brow noticing the large one's intense gaze on the smaller boy's self,

"Don't eat him just yet." Both sets shot to me, one looking rather angry and the other rather petrified. "Get on with it lee, I don't have all day." Sitting myself down on the floor I leaned back against the iron railings of the school field, waiting for the two to get it on so I can see her.

"Who left the marks on your wrist Grayson?"

"It was an accident Oakley, he didn't mean too."

"How can he not mean to bruise your wrist? What is his name? Idiot? Stupid?"

"Don't call him that."

Silence. Oakley was a jealous person, a very jealous person.

"You defend him now rabbit? Huh?"

"No! I swear Kyle do-"

"Kyle. Right. Riv you remember that Kyle boy don't you?"

My ears perked up, peering my head around the corner to see them both looking at me. "Da." Oakley turned back to his plaything, cornering him and sinking down to his level watching him like a predator. I returned to my original spot, hearing the small squeak of Grayson before quiet.

Get it, Oakley.

Being bored now, I chose to get a head start on finding my eve which was quickly successful when I spotted her in the middle of the field in those shorts she owns. She knew I hated those shorts, they gave too much skin.

"River! How nice of you to join us! Will you be helping us today?" The female sports teacher grinned, her bleached hair scrapped back into a tight bun that made her face stretch back a little too much. The ugly looking uniform just didn't help, I couldn't hide it.

"Mhm. At your service."

"Oh! Oakley is here with you too! W-What is wrong with Grayson?"

Confused, I turned around to see Oakley carrying a crying Grayson in his arms cooing at him to calm down. It was unusual to see Oakley so caring for someone other than his siblings, but this was a different type of love.

"His wrist is damaged during one of his classes, he's upset."

"Did you damage his wrist?"

"Did you just say that?" The now angry boy chipped back, a strong frown combatted against his protective stance over Grayson. Grayson raised his head from his shoulder to sniffle and shift in the large arms of beasty over there, this proved a good distraction too as the comment was now forgotten but the well fare of his dearest 'Rabbit' occupied him.

"Moving on, what are we doing?"

"Oh, baseball."

I can do baseball, this should be easy. I took my place to throw the ball nicely at the girls, keeping a keen eye on the shy goddess that was Genevieve. Ball after ball was played until the famous Chelsea came up with the bat and her eyes were focused on a space behind me that had a nervous feeling settle in my stomach. I throw the ball, she wacks the leather with some force and pelts off with a victorious smile on her lips.

Whipping my head round I watch the ball drop from Geneieve's chest, leaving her mouth agape and eyes roll back to her skull. It was in slow motion, watching herself fall to the ground while my legs pounded against the grass to get me to her. Skidding against the dirt I slid underneath to catch her before the cold hard ground could, she bounced against my legs waking her up with a breathless gasp. Then she realized she couldn't breathe, I caught on she was asthmatic.

"Get me an inhaler! Now!"

"Come on, sit up for me, there we go. In through your nose, out through the mouth."

She gasped hard trying to intake some air, tears streamed down her face heavily as her chest heaved desperately. I sat her between my legs, brushed her thick dark hair out of her face watched her beautiful green eyes stream and meet mine.

"Stay with me please, you're doing so well!" I pleaded with her, rocking a little to keep her moving counting the seconds she was inhaling then exhaling. Oakley panted heavily as he yelled for me just as the inhaler came hurling through the air towards me, I reached over to catch it in my hand immediately popping the cap off before setting it between the pale pink lips of Genieve. "Exhale all your air baby, there. Take the deepest breath you can when I press on the lid okay?" She weakly nodded back, her eyes never leaving mine. I pressed down and felt her chest lift, "Hold your breath for as long as you can, good."

Exhaling again she slumped against my chest, I made her do that a few more times until I could feel the regular breathing pace of her chest. I pressed my chin against the top of her head, thankful she was alright.

I heard her shift to face me with heavy tears traveling down her face, "What's the matter?"

"That was so scary, she hates me. It was so scary." Her petite nose sniffled, scrunched up as she frowned deeply in frustration. I noticed a small spray of freckles across her nose, I'd never been so close to her before it was intense.

"You're the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."

I caught her off guard.

"Y-You think so? Even if I'm a heaving red ball?"

"Even then. I'll always come to your aid. I cant take your tears my flower."