What Happened in Winter [boyxboy]

Chapter Thirty

River POV

River propelled himself forward, trying to escape the mess he had just made. Maybe even escape from himself.

But, Craft was faster, using his strong legs to send him flying after River. He kept yelling something, but River didn't want to hear it. He couldn't bare to hear it. Things were so messy right now.

And they were beginning to look even messier.

The two boys scaled the stairs like they were nothing; Craft being able to execute it perfectly from natural-born athleticism, River only being able to stay out of Craft's reach out of knowing he would give in if he was caught.

River made it out the school doors when someone called his name.

Craft POV

They sailed through the school doors and Craft was prepared to catch River, his arm outstretched. He would have, had he not looked up.

Standing on the curb at the front of the school was the girl that he hated and admired at the same time. The girl who got to keep what had seemed to be his.

She wore pink socks that covered her dainty ankles and a black felt beret on that perfect silky chocolate-colored hair. She was perfect, everyone knew it, with her coy smiles and heavy-lidded eyes and breathy voice.

Craft stopped in his tracks behind River, tightening both hands into fists. He thought the corded veins in his arms would burst.

Angel lifted her dark eyes to Craft and her friendly smile faltered, her tan skin blanching beneath her heavily blushed cheeks. Her tiny pink lips parted to say, "Oh. Hey, Craft."

River glanced back at Craft and sighed, the confusion and rage on the older boy's face contorting his features.

"How do you know her?" Craft said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm sorry, Craft. I know I should've told you sooner, but-"

"Stop making excuses and tell me why the fuck she knows your name?"

River looked into his eyes and Craft couldn't help the tears that started to run down his face.

"Craft..." Angel began, but Craft screamed at her, "SHUT THE FUCK UP, STUPID BITCH! ALL YOU EVER DO IS RUIN EVERYTHING! EVERYTHING!"

River ground his teeth and pushed Craft back against the front door of the school, warm from the last rays of the setting sun. 'He really is stronger than he looks,' Craft thought for a split-second before River hissed, "Don't ever say that to her."

Craft let out a bitter laugh. "Protecting your little girlfriend, hm?"

"You know better than that."

"Yeah, well, I thought I knew Jayson, too, but he fucked her right under my nose. She's a skank."

"Don't make me fight you."

"Nothing but a stupid slut that ruined my life."

River wound his arm back and punched Craft square in the jaw, his head bouncing off the hard metal door.

Craft slumped to the ground, groaning and holding his head. He shook the stars away, his vision going splotchy, and lunged forward. He wrapped his strong arms around River's legs and yanked them from under him, the smaller boy tumbling to the ground.

River chuckled and wheezed, a grimace on his face. "Think whatever you want to. I don't care. But, don't talk about Angel like that."

"Like what? Like she's a slut?" Craft spat, clawing up River's body and slammed his fist into the side of River's head, making it snap sideways, blood spewing from between his lips and onto the pale concrete stairs.