Page 40 of Another Love, Another Time
River is going to blow a gasket. I send her a quick text.
Auggie: Have you talked to ur mom today?
River: Yes she’s standing right here. Why?
Auggie: R u still in a good mood?
River: Why what do u know?
Auggie: Did she happen to tell you that Melissa is driving down with Logan’s parents today to spend quality time with ur family on the float trip?
I see the bubbles come up, stop, come up, stop. It’s kind of funny. I know she’s fuming.
River: I guess I won’t be seeing you all this weekend. Have fun!
Auggie: No!!! I miss you! I can’t be this close and not hang out the whole time.
I see her name pop up on my screen. I hit “accept.” “River, you have to come. I miss you.”
“I really don’t want to be around her. She’s always so prickly and manipulative. I can’t believe my mom didn’t tell me. No, wait. I know exactly why she didn’t tell me. She knew I wouldn’t come. She’s trying to make me feel bad because she’s my cousin, and I hardly know her. I don’t need to know Melissa to know that I don’t want to be her friend. Auggie, what should I do? I want to see you too, but I don’t want to hang out with her. Do you have any suggestions? I don’t trust sleeping in the same cabinas her. She’s liable to shave one or both of my eyebrows or draw something on my face. I don’t trust the girl.”
Maybe if River gives Melissa a chance, they could get along, but I won’t say that to her. Maybe this weekend will be good for them. Or it can go horribly wrong. I guess we’ll find out.
~~
River heads to the shower room with her caddy. She gave in to staying in the cabin with the girls, though not before compromising. She said that if Melissa pulls anything, she can go home, per her dad. Her mom may have won the battle, but River is going to win the war. I know she doesn’t want to stay in the cabin, and she’s afraid that Melissa will tell on her for not sleeping in there.
Melissa and her friend are by the fire, trying to hang out with Logan and me. The friend Melissa brought has had a crush on Logan for a while now. Melissa’s attention toward me has increased. I’ve had to double down on my attempts to distance myself from her. Sometimes, I feel like I’m walking a fine line.
I grew up with Melissa. Her parents aren’t as close as River or Logan’s parents, but they hang out quite a bit. Melissa has always tried to get my attention, but there has always been this weird rivalry between her and River. River is my best friend, and I’m friendly with Melissa. We hang out in the same crowds at school. I watch out for her at school and at parties, but only because I don’t want anything bad to happen to her. River would never forgive me if Melissa and I were to get together.
Melissa is not the friendliest, so she only has one or two friends she hangs out with at a time. The friends don’t last long either. I feel bad for her. I can’t imagine not having the same friends all the time.
I know a lot of the girls only hang out with her to get close to Logan and me. When they realize nothing is going to happen, they don’t stick around for long.
A scream from the showers rips me from my thoughts. I take off running towards the showers, where I saw River walk in about fifteen minutes before.
I hope everything is okay. I’m praying she’s not hurt and that no one is hurting her. I rush into the bathroom, and there is a girl with green hair standing there. Looking around the room, I call for River. I start to look under the shower curtains before I look at the girl again and realize River is standing right in front of me. My eyes widen. “River, what happened to your hair?”
“Oh, I’ll give you one guess, and don’t you dare laugh.” She points at me, giving me a look to promise I’ll be serious.
“I promise.”
“I know Melissa did this. Before you say anything, there is no one else who would do this, and you know it. I don’t know if this crap is temporary or permanent. I have never dyed my hair, and now I have to wait this out. Why can’t she just leave me alone?”
“You don’t—”
She cuts me off, “Like I said, who else would have done it? I’m not sleeping in that cabin with them. I don’t trust her. I knew something like this was going to happen. I told you. Either my mom lets me stay in your cabin, or I’m going home. I’m not waiting around to see if that brat does something else.”
She finishes blow-drying her hair and pulls it into a messy bun at the top of her head.
~~
“What the hell happened to your hair, River?” River’s mom screeches.
“Well, I’ll tell you one thing: it wasn’t something I did. I don’t know with one hundred percent certainty, but I can give you a suspect if you’re looking for one.” River glances pointedly in the direction of Melissa and her friend. “And if you think for one second I’m staying in that cabin with them, you’ve lost your dang mind. Either you let me stay in Auggie’s cabin, or I’m going home, and you can spend time with your precious niece alone.”
“Did you see her do it?” Her mom questions.
