Page 20 of Another Love, Another Time

I’m so excited for this weekend. It’s been a while since we have all been on a float trip.

The last time we went on a float trip, River, Logan, and I found two hundred dollars’ worth of twenty-dollar bills.

We were ecstatic! We also saw boobs. Lots of boobs.

We haven’t been back since. Our parents said we weren’t “ready for that talk.” Our moms almost got in some fights, telling the girls to cover up.

My mom started throwing bologna sandwiches at them.

It was kind of funny until Logan and I saw some old woman’s boobs, which looked like a pair of old tube socks.

Last time, we all stayed in tents. This time, our parents booked what they called “glamping tents.” All the parents got their own cabin or tent. Then, they got two cabins, one for the boys and one for the girls.

Logan, River, and I had been discussing our weekend and everything we were going to do. We all had our driver’s licenses, so we could drive around. We were only thirty minutes from River’s house, so her parents were letting her drive her Jeep to the campsite.

Our moms are also planning to try some new campfire cooking recipes. I always like trying the new things that our moms cook on vacation. If the meals are winners, my mom usually incorporates them into our meals at home. Plus, I love eating over a campfire.

What will not be fun is spending time with Melissa.

Melissa somehow found out we were going on this float trip, and not only did she get herself an invite, but she also got an invite for her friend.

I only found out she was coming when I got a text from Logan this morning to let me know that he was riding down with my family, and Melissa and her friend were riding with his parents.

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 cabin as 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.

“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.