Page 41 of Another Love, Another Time
“No, but there is literally no one else who would do it. God forbid Melissa is held accountable for anything she does. I’ll just wait a couple of years for this green to wash out of my hair. And if you don’t want me to stay with the boys, then you better tell me now so I can head home, because, like I said, I’m not staying in the same cabin as that girl. She’s liable to cut my hair or shave my eyebrows while I’m sleeping.” River looks my way.
“Melissa!” River’s mom yells.
“Yes, Aunt Ashley?” Melissa trots up and replies sweetly.
River scowls at her mom. “Mom, what did I say?”
River’s mom proceeds, “Did you put something in River’s shampoo to turn her hair green?”
Melissa looked between her aunt and River with a look of innocence. “No, Aunt Ashley. Why would I do something like that?”
River scoffs. “Like she’s going to tell you the truth. I’m done. I’m tired. Am I staying with the boys, or am I going home?”
“River, stop being difficult. Just stay in the girls’ bunk.”
“Mom, have you seen my hair? It’s green. Green! Let’s say Melissa didn’t do it. Whoever did it had access to my bags. I’m. Not. Staying. In. That. Cabin!”
“Okay.” River’s mom pinches the bridge of her nose. “You can stay with the boys, but go straight to bed. We have an early morning.”
~~
River stayed in my bunk last night. We were both tired, so sleep was all we did. After last night’s debacle, River cried a little bit, and I held her. After she fell asleep, River started to stir next to me. I heard our parents getting up and about. I know any minute, they would be at the cabin door to make sure we were getting up. “Hey, River. You ready to get up?” I nudge her a little.
“Okay. Give me a few minutes.” River isn’t a morning person. It takes her a good thirty minutes to get up and act civil. Anything before that, and you may or may not get bitten before she calms down.
We all meet at the campsite bus to transport everyone down to get our canoes. River confirmed that we would float together as soon as we found out we were going on this trip. She made sure it was okay with Logan. He said he was fine floating with my sister or Brock as long as we didn’t take off and leave him. We will do the long float and be back in the early afternoon.
My mom pulls out a hat that looks like it has pieces of paper in it. I give River a questioning look, and then she starts over to my mom.
“Aunt Connie, if that’s what I think it is, you better put it in the trash. We are already paired up.”
“River, you know we like to mix it up,” is my mom’s response.
“It seems awfully convenient that we only mix things up when Melissa is around,” River challenges.
“River,” she says sternly.
“Aunt Connie, have you seen my green hair? I already confirmed with Auggie that we would float, and didn’t she,” River tilts her head in the direction Melissa is standing, “specifically request to bring her friend so she wouldn’t feel left out?”
“Exactly,” Mom says. “She and her friend can hang out with the group. They’ve been keeping to themselves. Don’t you think it would be nice to include them?”
“No, actually, I don’t. Why do you all always cater to her? Every. Single. Time.”
“Come on, River,” my mom prods.
“No. You all could do that when we were younger, but I’m not doing it now. Auggie’s my partner. If not, I’ll just leave. Who else would do this to my hair? No, I don’t have proof, but I don’t need it.” River crosses her arms.
I look past River to where Melissa and her friend are staring at us. Melissa has a knowing smirk plastered on her face.
River continues, “If you force me to be someone else’s partner, I’m not going.”
“Hold on one minute.” My mom walks off to talk to River’s mom.
River turns to me. “You need to back me on this. I’m tired of this, Auggie.”
“Why is it a big deal? We’re all floating together.” I really don’t want to cause any issues.
River sends me a look of annoyance. “Don’t get me started. She does this every time. I’m standing my ground.”
