Chapter 10: Explanation

River’s POV

The sun has completely set below the horizon, the dull shades of orange and pink no longer seen mixed amongst the clouds. I lift my feet onto the desk and lean further back in the chair, my eyes watching as the moon slowly starts to show itself.

I twist the ring around my middle finger on my right hand, remembering when Hallie first asked me about it. I’ve had countless people ask me about the ring and I always reply with the same answer. Normally, it rolls off my tongue with ease, but when Hallie asked me, I found myself wanting to give another answer entirely.

It’s not for the reason that I think she’s insanely gorgeous, but because she is as innocent as they come. I can see how curious she is about life when I look deep into those pale blue eyes. I’ve been on this planet a long time, and have met too many people to count, and this is the first time I’ve met someone who seemingly has no idea about the wonders this world has to offer.

Hallie is so pure and untouched by this world, that I find myself wanting to protect her from the evil that lurks around. Why you may ask? I’m still trying to figure that out for myself. Whenever I’m around her, my skin feels as though it’s on fire and my mind goes blank. I have never felt that way around a human before, so I’m trying to figure out why I feel so drawn to her.

I haven’t seen her since we went for brunch on Saturday because I have been busy with practice but also because I can’t seem to control myself when I’m around her. I just know by the way she stares too deeply into my eyes that she can see the red specks that I try so desperately to hide. But whenever she is around, I can’t seem to control my body, and although it’s driving me slightly insane, I also secretly love the blissful feeling whenever I’m with her.

I’ve been dead for so long and I never thought I’d be able to feel alive again. And for some reason, Hallie makes me feel as alive as I did all those years ago.

A sharp knock on the door snaps me out of my daydream, and I spin in the chair. My eyes zero in on the door. They flutter shut when the strong scent of lotus wafts into the room.

She’s here.

I’m a little surprised by her sudden visit at this time of the day. Curiosity gets the better of me and forces me to walk toward the door, swinging it open with a little too much force. Before I can say a word, Hallie walks past me and into the room, brushing her shoulder against mine. A jolt of electricity shoots down my spine.

“Why, hello to you too, strawberry,” I smile wide as I close the door behind me and turn to face her. Thankfully I remembered to hide my jars earlier today, which is going to save another slip up from Hallie’s wandering eyes. “To what do I owe this visit?”

Hallie is standing in the middle of the small room with her arms crossed over her chest. Her brows are furrowed, and her lips are set into a tight line. She looks annoyed. I wonder why.

“You have some explaining to do.”

I raise my brows at her stern voice and try to play this cool. I point my thumb at myself, “Me? What did I do?”

“Your insane girlfriend just threatened me in the library,” Hallie starts, and my heart instantly sinks at her words.

“She told me to stay away from you because she is under the impression I’m trying to steal you away from her. It likely has something to do with her overhearing you mention me to your friends today at practice. I can see why she would think something is going on.”

For such an innocent girl, Hallie sure is feisty.

I want to curse myself for the slip-up. I had no idea Giselle could hear what I was saying when I was in the locker room after practice. I couldn’t help mentioning Hallie while with a couple of my friends from the team because she has constantly been on my mind since the minute I met her. I’m completely captivated by her.

My best friend Nate had asked what was new in my life and I found myself telling him about Hallie. I didn’t say much other than we live on the same floor and have talked a few times, but I guess that was enough for Giselle to go full-on psycho mode on Hallie.

I need to play this off coolly because I don’t want to risk Hallie pushing herself away from me. That’s the last thing I would want to happen. I need more of her.

“Firstly, Giselle isn’t my girlfriend,” I mutter as I slip my hands into the pockets of my jeans, “And secondly, what’s so wrong about me talking about you?”

My question seems to throw Hallie off because her hard expression softens as her eyes search my face. I watch intently as her tongue darts out to lick her bottom lip and she clears her throat.

“I don’t know why you would talk about me,” she says softly, shaking her head slightly.

“Because I enjoy being around you,” I say truthfully, taking in her shocked reaction. “I know we may not know each other well, but you’re the most real person I’ve ever met.”

Hallie swallows hard and my eyes dart to the way her soft neck moves with the action. I take a deep breath, trying to control the inner voice screaming at me to just have a little taste. “I am?”

I nod, “You are. I like that you want to be around me because you want to possibly be my friend and not because you’re trying to sleep with me.” I can’t help but laugh at Hallie’s cheeks turning red. “You don’t have to explicitly say it, I can just feel it.”

From the moment I met Hallie, I could sense her curiosity. It was evident in the way she looked at me, and the way she asks a lot of questions that most people don’t. But most of all, I like the way she tries to look past the façade I put on to see the real me.

That thought has scared me for many years because I don’t like when people get too close. Having someone close to me can cause a lot of problems in my world – for them and me. This is why I try to steer clear from being in one place for too long and allowing someone to embed themselves past my top layer.

As much as I would like for Hallie to see the real me, I know it’s not ideal. It could put both of us in danger and I would hate for that to happen to such an innocent girl like her. Although her curiosity excites me, I’ll never let her see what is lurking beneath the surface.

“I don’t know what it is about you…” Her voice trails off and she shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It matters to me,” I smile as I take a step toward her. Hallie’s eyes widen as she looks up at me, my tall frame towering over hers. “I want to spend more time with you. Is that okay?”

“B-But what about Giselle?” Hallie’s voice quivers a little when mentioning Giselle. “She told me to stay –”

“I don’t give a f*ck about Giselle,” I say a little more forcibly than I would like, but I’m sick of Giselle always being on my a** about our relationship and her pretending to be my girlfriend when all she is to me is a girl I sleep with. I made it clear from the beginning that I can’t offer her more than that and she knows it, but still chooses to ignore that fact.

“I want to get to know you better, strawberry,” I say, taking another step forward. I relish the way I hear her voice hitch in her throat, and she swallows hard again. Her scent is intoxicating, making me wish I could get closer to her.

“I’m fine with that,” Hallie finally says after a beat of silence.

“How about we go and get a drink?” I offer with a smile on my lips. “I’ll be sure to monitor your alcohol consumption to avoid a repeat of Friday night.”

“You want to go n-now?” Hallie stammers, raising a brow at me.

“Yes, now,” I chuckle, my eyes traveling down to the base of her neck where the skin looks the softest. So delicate and pale, filled with light freckles. “Just the two of us.”