Chapter 4

When they arrived at the grocery store, Beatrix quickly insisted they go their separate ways, disappearing before River had the chance to object.

She had a goal, and River breathing down her neck would only get in the way.

After she had checked out and had her items safely stowed away in a shopping bag, she set out to find River. She would be perfectly fine leaving on her own, but if she came back before River, Clara might have some choice words for her. 

She searched the entire store, but still hadn't found him. Beatrix felt as if she had been going in circles, she certainly should have seen him by now.

As she thought about it more, she started to feel suspicious. Was he following her, out of sight? Maybe he was wondering what she would buy, so he decided to spy on her. But as soon as the thought entered her mind, she shook it away, the guilt was making her paranoid. 

Clara would just have to deal with it, she wasn't looking for him anymore.

She had just steadied herself for a lecture at home as she left the grocery store, so it was almost a bit of a disappointment to find River outside, leaning against the building on his phone.

He was clearly waiting for her. 

"Why are you…" She didn't know how to finish her words. She realised this was the first time she had initiated a conversation with him. 

"Oh hey! Yeah, I was waiting for you. Are you all ready?" He seemed happy enough, as if it was natural. 

But it didn't make sense to wait outside, where Beatrix wouldn't be able to find him. Surely he didn't do it on purpose, to make her go in circles? She knew he hated her, or rather Charlotte, but that would be incredibly immature. 

"Right, okay." As usual, she didn't know how to respond, so she just started walking.

They walked in a quiet, awkward silence, yet again, until River blurted out something that completely took Beatrix by surprise.

"Your eyes are very pretty, by the way, they're a beautiful color." He stated, as if it were a normal thing to say.

"What? Uh…Thanks?" She stopped in her tracks, completely taken off guard, but River simply smiled at her and kept walking.

She knew River was actively trying to make her fall in love with her, but it still bewildered her to experience it firsthand. Especially if he was going to start flirting out of the blue.

She shook off the strange feeling and pushed ahead of River, trying to make it clear she didn't want to talk.

- 

In the coming days, she struggled to shake off River's persistent efforts. He was trying very hard to get close to her, and it was very annoying. But his shamelessness knew no bounds, he truly wouldn't leave her alone.

Both at home and school, he constantly bothered her, frequently popping up to express his good intentions and to randomly flirt with her. 

At this point, rather than being scared and distanced from him, Beatrix just found herself annoyed with him. Which was worse, considering how humanized he was becoming to her. Though it helped to remember his whole performance was just a show, he didn't have any genuine feelings for her.

However, Charlotte's parents became keenly aware of Beatrix's displeasure with River. They seemed to truly wish for them to get along, perhaps out of remembrance for their dead friends, River's parents. 

They didn't want River to be wronged, and currently, in their eyes at least, Beatrix was wronging him.

They all sat at the dinner table, and the rest of the family chatted and exchanged tales about their day. But, like usual, Beatrix found it difficult to engage with the family. She was already shy, always had been, but recently she often found herself unintentionally separating herself from everything around her. It often felt as if she was an outsider in her own body, watching what were practically strangers to her laugh and chat. As if the world around her was simply a TV show she was watching.

But then River looked at her and she remembered what she had to do. Then suddenly everything was too real.

Since she had been put in this book, she had done a horrible job of fitting in. Charlotte had some friends at school, but Beatrix didn't know them and found it difficult to imitate how Charlotte interacted with them. Besides, it was best she not get close to anyone, she'd just have to leave anyway. So she distanced herself from them.

And she faced a similar problem at home as well. It hurt a bit to interact with Charlotte's parents. Trying to be a family with them just reminded her of her own family. Then suddenly she was thinking about everything that had happened, and she saw them dying all over again.

In short, she was having a bad time. 

Clara and Daniel were certainly worried, but luckily, they just chalked it up to teenage hormones. They had more important things on their mind, like two teenagers who weren't getting along.

"I saw your report card from your last school, River, your grades are really impressive!" Clara began a conversation that gave Beatrix a bad premonition.

"Thanks. I'm hoping to keep it up here, too." River stated, more absorbed in his dinner than in the conversation. Lucy was an amazing cook.

"I saw that; your classes this semester look pretty challenging." She said harmlessly. 

"They're okay so far, I'm managing it." He said simply.

It was just small talk, but Beatrix stared at Clara, trying desperately to signal her to stop. She could tell something bad was about to happen.

"Well… Charlotte is trying to get valedictorian this year, I'm very proud."

"What a coincidence, so am I." River now had a smile on his face, clearly more interested in the conversation now. 

"Well, isn't that fun! You guys have a little competition now. You could help each other!" She exclaimed happily, as if this wasn't her goal the entire time. 

Beatrix felt a sinking feeling in her stomach.

"Oh?" River was definitely interested in the opportunity that was presenting itself.

"Yeah, since you both are such good students, you should study together. It's a win-win." 

"That sounds great." He was now looking at her, an innocent smile plastered on his face. All Beatrix saw was a sly grin.

She was about to object, but Clara glared at her.

"You should start tomorrow!"