I'll Stick With You For Us [River Phoenix story: BOOK 1]

Mix & Match

I held Grace's hand in mine as we walked through the glass doors. I had to make sure everyone knew she was in my arms and care and that no one could try to gain her affection. There was no way.

There were a lot of 'heys' and 'hellos' as well as 'nice seeing you'.

"Well, hey! River Phoenix? Could it be!?" My friend Frank threw his hands in the air.

"Frank Samson! It is!" I threw my hands in the air. I shook Frank's hand and he stared at Grace.

"Who's this lovely lady?" He asked.

"This is Grace Marin-"

"His girlfriend." Grace said.

"Oh my, River? You actually have a girlfriend! Oh, how much is he paying you?"

"Ha ha very funny." I said annoyed. Frank could never land a girl, or even really talk to one. He always envied how I could flirt with a girl and have her fall for me right there and then. Sad to say, but, Frank isn't really an attractive man with the best personality. Could be better.

"It was nice meeting you, Frank." Grace shook his hand then slightly tugged at my hand. Once we got away from Frank, Grace shook her head.

"You okay?" I asked her.

"That dude gives me the creeps." She said uncomfortably. "For as long as we're here, please, River, don't leave me." I could tell she was afraid being here, or in Frank's presence. 

"Of course. I mean, even if he wasn't here I wouldn't let you be alone. Even if you use the bathroom; i'll be outside the door." I said trying to ease up her nervousness. Grace laughed slightly and kissed my cheek.

"Thank you." She blushed. 

"Grace! River!" My mom ran to us.

"Everything ok? What do you think, Grace?" My mom gave a big smile.

"Its very nice, like very. Thank you for inviting me." Grace's eyes glowed. "Its not often I get to dress like this, so I couldn't be happier."

"Oh i'm glad! We were afraid you weren't going to like it, or someone would be snobby- and if someone is snobby-"

"Mom I can handle it." I cut her off.

"Ok, ok, sorry. We'll be leaving in about an hour or two alright?" Then my mom walked off.

"If you're uncomfortable, us two can just leave." I suggested.

"Oh, no, that would be rude." She shook her head.

"Doesn't matter what they think or feel, its what you think and feel." I pointed out. Grace gave a sad smile. "If you're not happy here, we can gladly leave. I mean, I don't like coming to these parties anyways."

"If you insist." Grace looked down at her shoes.

"Lets get out of here?" I lowered my head to try and make eye contact.

"Lets get out of here." She said. We found my parents and let them know we were leaving early. They gave us weird looks then gave us the okay. We ran out hand in hand, laughing. 

"Wanna grab a soda?" I asked Grace.

"How about ice cream?" She suggested. We stared at each other as we put our minds together then smiled.

"Root beer floats!" We said at the same time. We started walking towards the small mall.

"Have you tried ice cream with coke? Or cherry soda?" I asked Grace.

"No. But it sounds good. Have you?" She scrunched her nose.

"No, thats why I asked you." I chuckled.

"Then I know what we're getting tonight." We high fived each other and chatted about the most randomest things, as usual.

"I have never tried beef jerky." Grace shared. My jaw literally dropped open. "What?"

"You haven't tried beef jerky?!" I gasped.

"Well don't have a heart attack now." She laughed. 

"This is no laughing matter, Grace! You haven't had beef jerky! I'm buying you beef jerky!" I said.

"River." She whinned. 

"No, no, don't River me, missy." I shook my finger at her. Suddenly, Grace leaned forward and bit my finger. "Grace!"

"No, no, don't Grace me, mister." She immitated me then laughed evily.

"You're cruel."

"And you're cute." She said. I choked on my own thoughts to respond to her, but I didn't know exactly what to say. She just caught me there. I got all embarassed and felt my stomach turn, all in a very good way. This feeling was the only feeling Grace gave me. No girl could make me feel so great.

Once we made it to the small mall, we debated over whether the ice cream parlor or the ice cream truck was better.

"I don't even think a ice cream truck sells floats!" Grace threw her hands in the air. I ran out of come backs. 

"Point taken." I gave in. Shes right... what ice cream truck sells floats? We walked to the parlor and sat at the bar with the spinning round chairs. I threw myself onto a seat and spun in three circles, then stopped myself as I faced the bar.

"Smooth move." Grace laughed.

"What can I get you two?" A server came to us.

"Do you do different kinds of floats? Besides the classic root beer float?" I asked, leaning forward on the table.

"We sure do. Any of your choice. Mix and match if you choose." The guy smiled.

"Alright, cherry soda and cherry ice cream for me and my lady here, my good sir." I ordered.

"Right on, man." I sat back and let the man do his job. 

"You surely are slick, River Phoenix." Grace nodded.

"I try." I shrugged.

"Alright, two cherry floats." The server came back in an instant and slid two tall glasses filled with cherry soda and cherry ice cream to us.

"Sweets for the sweet." I handed Grace a glass.

"To being random." Grace raised her glass.

"You took the words right out of my mouth. To being random!" I raised my glass then clinked ours together. We both, simultaneously took sips from our straws, then ate a scoop of cherry ice cream. "Wait." I stopped Grace before she ate the ice cream. I held my spoon with cherry ice cream towards her lips, and she got the idea. She turned her spoon to me and we fed each other cherry ice cream.

I put my spoon back into the glass. I dipped my finger in the whip cream and as I was about to wipe it onto Grace's nose, she turned and I got the whip cream across her cheek. "Hey!" She said.

"You look nice like that." I laughed. Her jaw dropped and I continued to drink my float. I was dumb to turn away. Grace did the same and got me from my cheek down to my mouth.

"You definitley look stunning like that, Mr. Phoenix." She said in a cute voice.

"I guess i'm not the only one who's slick." I laughed.

"What? More slick than you?" Grace raised an eyebrow. I grabbed my chest and rocked back and forth.

"Oh! Oh god! You got me!" I cried.

"Now don't be weak." Grace smacked my shoulder.

"Excuse me?" I sat up and stopped faking my chest pains.

"Oh, you're excused." She smirked. I didn't respond back and let my mouth hang open. "Cat gotcha tongue?"

"So you think you're cute?" I smirked back.

"I know i'm cute." She pointed her spoon at me, then ate some ice cream. I smeared whip cream on my mouth.

"Obviously you are." I leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

"So we're doing this again, are we?" 

"I don't know, you tell me." I said satisfied. 

"Just wait River." Grace said staring at me evily.