peace will follow // river phoenix fanfiction

September, 1988

Thank you so much everyone for your lovely comments and for always supporting me even though I haven't updated in such a long time. I can't believe I've reached 30 K reads! It's crazy. I hope you guys like this chapter!

Here's a photo of River Phoenix in 1988 <3

- P E A C E  W I L L  F O L L O W -

I was happy for River when I heard the news that his latest film, 'Running on Empty', had been praised by several film critics and by the public in general. It was heartwarming to know that he was only seventeen, turning eighteen, and that he'd already gained so much success in Hollywood. There was something special about him, something that all the other movie stars lacked profoundly. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I felt it. 

However, I couldn't stop my thoughts from wandering elsewhere... Wherever there is success in Tinseltown, darkness doesn't trail too far behind. After all, even Marilyn Monroe herself, the greatest movie star the world has ever known, once stated 'Hollywood is a place where they'll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul'. 

I prayed everyday that River's soul would remain uncorrupted, but I was beginning to wonder if my prayers were falling on deaf ears. 

- R I V E R  P H O E N I X -

"You do realize I told my mother we were going to see, uh... Museums and stuff, right? And eat ice cream. I mean, that's totally what rebellious teenagers do nowadays."

River's hand melted into mine as he guided me towards a crowd of people huddled around what I assumed was the entrance of the club he was escorting me to. "You know what's better than a museum, though? Free alcohol," River told me, winking. 

I rolled my eyes at him. 

Things between River and I were slowly getting better and it was nice that I was able to be with him more often. The fact that River invited me to accompany him to Hollywood was already a good sign that he was genuinely putting in the effort, and I was loving every second of it. But being out here terrified me a little deep down.

River's grip suddenly tightened. "Let's go," he said as we rushed past the group of mostly teenagers and young adults chatting away at the entrance of the club. I took note on how he hid his face slightly, turning away from the crowd.

Confused, I turned my head back towards the entrance. "Wait, weren't we --"

"Trust me, we've gotta go through the back, otherwise those chicks over there will quite literally rip you away from me."

"Huh. Well, that's a no from me then. Back entrance it is!" 

River kindly greeted the security guard that stood beside the back entrance. After a little small talk and a simple nod from the security guard, we were both granted what I assumed was obviously the VIP access to the club. I almost felt completely out of place. After all, the only VIP person in this relationship was River, not me.

The minute I stepped into the club, I was transported into a completely different dimension. The cold air outside completely contradicted the warm ambient inside the building. There was an ever-present grey haze that hung in the air like a ghost, and by the smell, it could only be smoke coming from cigarettes. Music blared, making the ground shake beneath my feet.