Page 15 of Another Love, Another Time

“Well, it depends on who you ask, but yeah, a lot of them act like that. Those two don’t act like that to me because they don’t feel threatened by me.

I have a boyfriend.” She points over to a boy with a red baseball cap.

“So they leave me alone.” She shrugs like it's no big deal.

We look back over to him when he calls her name.

“I think we are going to head out. His mom is almost here to take us home. It was nice to finally meet you.”

“Same to you.”

She waves and starts to walk in his direction. Both games are over, and everyone is just standing around hanging out. I look around to see if I can spot Logan or Auggie.

I notice Logan talking to a couple of girls.

He has them laughing at his shenanigans.

I shake my head and chuckle. Then, I look around, hoping to spot Auggie.

Amber is sitting on his lap in the far corner.

It looks like they’re making out. The last thing I want is to see them kissing up close, but I’m ready to go home.

I head in their direction, and by the time I reach them, I can almost feel the bile coming up.

I clear my throat to get Auggie’s attention.

His eyes widen when he sees me. Amber shoots me a look of annoyance.

I know I’m not going to like what comes out of her mouth.

She hisses, “What do you want? Can’t you see we’re busy?

” I look at Auggie to see if he’s going to let her talk to me like that.

He. Says. Nothing.

Okay. She doesn’t know who the hell she’s dealing with. In my head, I’m in the process of taking my earrings out and pulling up my hair, but my hair is already pulled up, and I’m not wearing any earrings.

I square my shoulders, readying for battle. No one talks to me like that. I don’t care how Auggie feels about her. She doesn’t get to talk to me like that.

“Excuse me, Amber?” I spit. “Oh, I guess you do know how to talk. That’s a shame.

Yeah, it was nice to meet you, too. I’m sorry.

I didn’t mean to interrupt, but everyone is leaving, and I wanted to check in with my friend to see when he would be ready to leave.

Is that okay with you?” I finish in a sickly-sweet voice.

I do come from the state where “bless your heart” is another way to say “fuck off.”

Amber’s jaw drops. “Are you going to let your friend talk to me like that, babe?” She pouts.

He turns to me and glares. “River, can you give us a few minutes?”

Oh, okay. So he’s mad at me. I’m done with tonight. I turn back to him with a big smile. “You know what, Aug? Take all the time you need. I’ll be in the concessions area.” I spin on my heel and storm off.

Once I’m around the corner, I peek and see they’re making out again. No way am I sticking around. I’d rather have an Uber to take me home.

I pull up the app and put Aunt Connie’s address in. It says they are five minutes away. Without being seen, I head outside to wait for them to show up. I sent my mom a quick text, letting her know I am taking an Uber and that she better not tell Auggie. If she does, I won’t talk to her for a week.

When the Uber pulls up, I take pictures of the car and ask the driver if I can take his picture to send to my mom.

Mom: No you ain’t we’re coming to get you all right now.

River: Nope I don’t want to be here for a second longer. I’m sending you a picture of the license plate, the car, and a picture of the driver right now. He thinks I’m a little weird, but he agreed.

I slide into the back seat and start to close the door. I freeze when the door on the other side pulls open. I’m relieved to recognize Logan as he slides in.

River: Don’t worry Mom. Logan’s with me now. Heading to Aunt Connie’s now. Auggie will still need to be picked up.

Mom: (thumbs up emoji) We are heading to pick up Auggie. Uncle Eddie is home

I turn to Logan and ask, “What are you doing?”

“My mom was over at Auggie’s house. She sent a text saying you were getting in an Uber alone and that I better find you before you leave, or she was going to bust my ass.”

“Aunt Jess doesn’t mess around.” I laugh and then start crying. I can’t hold it in anymore. I’m so mad and hurt right now.

Logan pulls me into a hug as I sob. He doesn’t say anything, even when I have snot running out of my nose. He knows I’m not a crier. By the time I get ahold of myself, his shirt is soaked in my tears.

“Thanks, Logan. I guess I needed to let that out.” I wipe my nose on my sleeve. I know I have mascara running down my cheeks, but I don’t care. I see it all over Logan’s shirt, too.

“Do you feel better?” he questions. When it comes to Auggie and me, he usually tries to stay out of it.

“Yeah. Sorry about your shirt.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He’s silent for a second.

“Can I just say one thing?” I nod my head.

“Both of you are my friends. I hate to see you fight. I know he loves you, River, but I also think he takes you for granted. I don’t think he does it on purpose.

It’s just that you’ve always been here, and he thinks you will always will.

I know things might be different if your family lived here, but you don’t.

I like that you are talking to other guys.

You need to be treated better. One day, he will get his head out of his ass and see it. ”

“I love him, Logan. It about killed me to see him with another girl. You should have heard the way he let her talk to me. I would never do that to him or let someone talk to him like that. He knows how I feel about him. Why would he do that, Logan? Why?” I start to tear up again.

“Shh, shh. I didn’t mean to make you cry again.”

“You didn’t. It’s just the situation. And I think I’m getting ready to start my period.”

“Woah. Too much information.”

I laugh at him. “Thanks for being there for me tonight when I needed you.” I wipe my nose and eyes again.

“Just be patient with him, Riv. He’s trying to do what you asked him to by going out with other girls.

It’s hard to juggle a girlfriend and friends.

Especially a best friend who’s a girl. Amber feels threatened by you, as she should.

She’s seen you together before. Anyone can see how he looks at you, but she knows Auggie’s a sucker for a damsel in distress.

He wants to be the hero in everyone’s story. ”

“How did you get so wise?” I question.

“I’ll never tell.” He gives me that smirk of his.

Our Uber pulls up to Auggie’s house, so we get out of the vehicle and walk in through the garage where Uncle Eddie and Uncle Chris on sitting and drinking beers.

I’ve tried to make myself more presentable, but they will know I’ve been crying.

I was hoping I could slide into the house without being seen, but that failed.

As soon as they see me, they both jump to their feet.

Uncle Chris starts, “What happened, River?”

“Did someone hurt you?” Uncle Eddie asks.

“No, I’m just emotional right now. I’m getting ready to start my period. You know how it is, right?” I try to lighten the mood and smile.

“River, that period talk may work in avoiding a discussion with the boys, but it’s not going to work with me.

Have you met your Aunt Connie? We talk about her period over lunch.

Now, tell me what happened. You don’t usually cry.

Something has you upset. I’m assuming it was Auggie since he’s not with you, and his mom had to go get him? ” Uncle Eddie doesn’t hold back.

I don’t want Auggie to get into trouble over this. This is between me and him. Logan is right. Auggie does take me for granted.

“Nothing happened, Uncle Eddie,” I respond. “Like I said, I was being emotional. I wanted to come home, and Auggie wanted to stay a little bit longer with his friends. I’m going to head to bed. I’m exhausted.”

He pulls me into a hug. “Okay, honey. If you don’t want to talk about it, I’m not going to force you. Your Aunt Connie made up the bed. Let me know if you need anything.”

“I will. Thanks, Uncle Eddie.” I turn to Logan one more time and give him a hug.

“Thanks again for being there. I know I pulled you away from your friends.” After saying goodnight to everyone, I walk into the guest room, change into my pajamas, pull back the covers, and slide into the bed.

I don’t want to think about today. I should have just stayed at home.

I pick up my phone to put it on the charger and see I have a couple of missed calls and two text messages from Auggie.

Auggie: Where are you?

Auggie: Thanks a lot, River. Now I’m in trouble. What did you tell our parents?

I’m not responding to him tonight. I’m not the one in the wrong. I open Facebook and look at his page. Amber posted another picture of her and Auggie from tonight.

I don’t know why I torture myself. I go back to my page and update my profile picture to the one with Logan and me doing our silly faces. I post it with a caption reading, “Thank you for being the friend I needed tonight.” A few seconds later, my phone vibrates.

Liam: Am I already being replaced?

River: What are you talking about?

Liam: U just updated UR profile picture with another boy.

River: No, he’s just one of my friends that I hung out with tonight. Are you jealous?

Liam: Heck yeah, I’m jealous. I want my picture up there with U.

River: Next week, we can take one, and I’ll post it on there.

Liam: Promise?

River: Promise. Going to bed. I’m exhausted. Talk to you later.

Liam: Good night, River.

River: Night

I check Facebook one more time and see Logan has commented on our picture. “Anytime, River girl. You know I’m always here for you.”

I put my phone on the nightstand and close my eyes. It doesn’t take long to fall asleep.

A little while later, I hear the door jiggle. I’m sure it’s Auggie trying to come in to talk. I figured he would do that, so I locked the door before going to bed. I don’t want to talk to him right now.

I hear him whisper-shout my name but ignore it. Then, my phone vibrates again.