Trust the Boy |River Phoenix|

Chapter 11- A Slow Descent

After the rather disastrous phone calls to their families Leslie felt heartbroken, yet relieved in a way. However Seb's voice kept going round and round in her head- he sounded like he was in so much pain.

River seemed a lot more upbeat today, he was freely dancing around the kitchen wrapped in an old hippie shawl he'd found when they went to go check out Venice beach. She giggled hysterically as he belted out the lyrics to some song on the radio.

"What's so funny Ley?!" he said as he started going down into the splits but failing miserably and toppling to one side. Leslie couldn't reply due to being out of breath from her fit of giggles.
"You're-just-" she broke off and began laughing again. It only took one glance at Corey's shocked face before her laughter intensified. River smiled internally, happy to finally see Leslie happy in the light of recent events.

It had only been a few weeks after they'd settled in, when River and Corey were awoken yet again by thumps from Leslie's room. River shoved a pillow over his head - not wanting to intervene, yet Corey was brave enough to walk into her room- fuming. Leslie turned in shock and she could practically imagine the smoke billowing from her friends ears. Her boyfriend Cody immediately ducked under the covers to shield his naked body from him.
"Jeez! Can't you knock Cor?"
"Not like you'd fucking hear it over the noise you two were making! Keep it the fuck down!" he yelled before slamming the door shut.

Cody was Leslie's ex. They'd broken things off when he'd moved to LA and upon being here together now, they'd found a way to rekindle their relationship, much to the dismay of River and Corey, who hated that their best friend was never hanging out with them anymore, despite living in the same house.

Morning came about, and Leslie awoke to Cody pinching her to wake her up. She pulled a face and sat up.
"Morning."
He grumbled and started getting dressed in a rush.
"Where are you going?" she asked gently.
"Uhh I just remembered, I have some stuff for work to do," he tried to sneak a glance out the window without her noticing but to no avail. Leslie followed his gaze to something that hurt her heart. It was as if this was the last piece of the jigsaw of lies that had she had put together over the last few weeks. A stunning girl sat in a bikini in the passenger seat of a spotless white convertible. She effortlessly swept her flowing blonde hair to one side as she checked her reflection in the car mirror.
"Who's that?" I felt my eyes welling up.
"No-one babe, don't even worry about it." and before she could say anything else he darted out the door and she heard the front door slam shortly after. She watched as he climbed over the car door into the drivers seat, just as the girl climbed onto his lap to make out with his neck whilst he drove off. Still slightly in shock, she slipped on a t shirt and some bikini bottoms whilst tears began to roll down her cheeks.

She felt someone's presence at the doorframe. River was leaning against it with a worried expression on his face as he looked down at Leslie huddled on the floor crying.
"What do you want," she sniffed, dragging herself up to a standing position.
"What happened?"he moved to sit on her bed and she did the same.
"What's wrong with me?" he froze for a moment, appearing to be quite taken aback by this question. Gradually his brow began to furrow and a forlorn expression formed.
"Leslie...absolutely nothing, why would you say that?" She looked up into his pleading eyes.
"But that can't be true, he-" she quickly stopped herself.
"He? Cody? What did he do to you?" His fists clenched ever so slightly as he anticipated her answer.
"I just, I haven't even processed it yet." she looked down, almost in shame as she recalled the image of him and the girl again.
"Please Leslie, you can trust me, and trust that I'll do my best to help you." He watched her face with a desperate look in his eyes. She took a glance at him before sighing and said "He...he just left, and, I saw him, like, with another girl, you know? Like they kissed," she winced as those words escaped her mouth, "And... I guess, I just don't get why, or..." she trailed off, all the while refusing to meet Rivers eyes. River was shocked, for Leslie was perfect in his eyes, and nothing could be said otherwise.
"Look, he's an idiot Les. Anyone who chooses anyone over you is visually impaired, and not to mention downright stupid."
"Gee thanks."
"What? Anyone who insults my Les like that has another thing coming, and-"
"My Les?"
"Yes, you're my best friend." She looked up into his eyes finally, having been avoiding them slightly. "And perfect... If he can't see that Ley, I don't think he deserves you." Her breath caught in her throat and her stomach fluttered. River really thought that about her? Rosy hues danced happily across her cheeks as she pulled him into a hug- hoping it would leave before he noticed. His arms wrapped tightly around her waist before she pulled away. River gazed down into her glassy eyes and gently leaned down to plant a kiss on her forehead. She chuckled nervously.
"Don't worry about me, I can deal with this," she gave him a quick, believable (she hoped) smile before standing up and leaving before River could say anything else.