Moonlight Drive [River Phoenix]

Chapter 18

River and I walked in comfortable silence for around ten or so minutes before we arrived at the music festival. I smiled to myself once I could hear the music and smell the festival's food. We spent a few minutes scouting for a place to sit, finding a nice grassy area by the main stage. 

I didn't know any of the bands or musicians playing, but it was going to be fun nonetheless. If anything, it gave me new bands to listen to. I was pulled out of thought when I noticed River looking at me. I turned my head and gave him a small smile, tilting my head slightly out of curiosity as to why he was looking at me. 

"I'm gonna go grab something to eat, want me to get you anything?" he asked with a smile, waiting for my response. I nodded slightly, "sure, I'll get whatever you think looks the best." We both laughed for a moment before he stood up and made his way to one of the many food vendors. 

I sighed and glanced around at the other people at the venue, happy that I was doing something fun for once. I watched people laugh and talk with their friends and families, glad that I was able to share a good moment with River like they were with their families. 

After a few minutes, I returned my attention back up to the large stage, listening to the band that was currently performing. I smiled and nodded my head along to the beat slightly, enjoying the good music. After what seemed like forever, River returned with a meal for himself and I. He sat down next to me and handed me a slice of pizza and set a basket of garlic fries in between us. 

"So how'd you know pizza is my favorite food?" I asked jokingly, looking over to him. River chuckled and shrugged slightly, "Dunno, I could just tell you're a woman of good taste." I rolled my eyes and smiled, taking a bite out of the warm slice of pizza. I hummed contently as I finished the bite, earning another laugh from River.

"What?" I asked after I finished my bite, raising my eyebrow in question. "Nothin'," River replied nonchalantly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Let a girl enjoy her pizza in peace," I retorted with a playful grin as I took another bite of my slice of pizza.

We finished eating just as the next band took the stage. Most of their setlist consisted of slower songs that you'd hear during an 80's prom. I didn't mind, I like cheesy romantic songs on certain occasions. The sky had darkened by this time and the air had become cooler, a small breeze picking up as well. 

I shivered slightly, rubbing my hands over my arms as I continued to watch the band with River. He noticed I was continuously trying to keep myself warm and pulled off his jacket, wrapping it around my shoulders. I was going to protest, but I decided to just smile in response. River wrapped his arm around my shoulders and I laid my head on his shoulder, my cheeks turning a dark shade of pink.

We stayed like that until the end of the show, neither of us saying a word. We waited around for a majority of the crowd to leave before getting up ourselves and making our way to the exit. We walked side by side in comfortable silence once again, surrounded by tired and tipsy festival goers as they made their way out of the venue. 

River and I began to talk casually about the bands that had performed and whether we liked them or not until I stopped dead in my tracks. River turned and gave me a confused yet concerned look. "Hana, what's the matter?" he asked, worry seeping into his tone of voice. 

My jaw clenched as I stared ahead, my breathing becoming shaky as I pointed to a woman in a group of people standing up ahead in front of us.

"That's my mom."

IMPORTANT A/N: Hello! it's been awhile. I'm going to try my best to update my stories regularly during the quarantine period :) !!! also, if you didn't read my 2020 update, you might be very confused as to how hana saw her mother if she's supposed to be "dead". WELL! i changed that ridiculous plot point entirely and made it so that her mom walked out on her and her dad. !!! this story needed some serious polishing up and i did just that. hope you enjoyed!