One of Cove's outfits from shopping above ^^^
Cove's POV
River sped away without a single glance back. I watched the image of his car become smaller and smaller, until it faded into nothing. Great, now what?
"Cove!" A familiar voice called. I turned around to see my friends waving me over. Oh that's right, I have friends.
I smiled and skipped over to them to join their group.
"So, where's River?" Sydney asked. By the look on everyone's faces, they all have the same question.
"He had to go somewhere," I said sadly.
"Oh, well it's okay because now you can hang out with us!" Leah exclaimed while grabbing my hand and dragging me inside. I smiled at her cheerfulness and happily let her walk me to my first period.
"See you at lunch!" She smiled and walked away. I smiled back and went to my desk.
After class I went to my next one a talked about lizards with Sydney and Emma the entire time. Since it's Friday, our teacher lets us sit wherever so I sat with them.
Skip past my third period where I just sat bored the whole time, and now it's finally lunch time. I walked to the cafeteria and scanned the area for my friends. Once I spotted them sitting at a table in the far end of the room, I walked over to them.
"Hey guys," I said once I got close enough for them to hear. "Hey," they all replied simultaneously as Leah and Lizzy slid to the side, leaving a spot for me to sit in between them. I smiled and plopped down on the empty spot.
"So, how are you and River? Have you guys, you know, fu-" I cut Leah off with a playful smack to her arm.
"No we have not, and we're great," I groaned while rolling my eyes. It feels like all we ever talk about is River, not that I'm complaining. It would be nice for a change though.
Leah gave me a sheepish smile and turned to eat her food. "It's just so weird to see him with someone, especially someone like you. Not in a mean way, I just would never expect him to go for someone so, so innocent!" Lizzy rambled.
"Well I understand your guy's surprise, trust me I was surprised too when he started talking to me. But he's not what you think he is, he's actually really kind and caring. He would never hurt a fly, well for the most part" I said enthusiastically.
My friends exchanged knowing glances and shook their heads. "Cove, you've only known him for like a week. There's lots of things you don't know about him. It's not my place to tell you, but one day you'll understand." Sydney sighed.
I tilted my head in confusion, but let it go none the less. I know I've seen River beat people up, and I even heard him shoot someone, but he's just a little violent that's all. It's not like he'd kill someone, right? Right?
"Oh Cove, it's okay. Don't worry about what she said, she just being silly. I'm sure River is a great person," Leah reassured me once she noticed my confused look. I gave her a small smile and pulled out my sandwich, although I didn't miss the not-so-subtle glare she shot at Sydney.
Why are the acting so strange? I don't know, I mean they've always been pretty weird, this is just a whole new level.
I shook my head and decided to let it go. It's probably nothing, I'm probably just overthinking everything. I took another bite out of my sandwich and quickly finished the whole thing, then headed to my next class.
The rest of the day went pretty similarly with me hanging out with my friends, and now school is finally over. I walked outside and looked around the parking lot with the small hope of seeing River's car, but I soon deemed it useless. He's not here.
"Cove, over here," a voice called. I looked around and spotted Leah waving me over to her light grey Honda that she got for Christmas. Leah is a bit older than most people in sophomore year, so she already has her drivers license. I smiled and walked to her car.
"Get in," she ordered while sliding in to the drivers side of her car. Why does she want me to get in? I gave her a confused look and she playfully rolled her eyes at me.
"Oh come on, don't tell me you already forgot about our Friday tradition!" She exclaimed.
"Oh yeah," I whispered and sat down in the passenger seat. How could I forget!
"So you don't have student-government today?" I asked. "Nope, now lets get a move on it! We're going shopping!" She yelled.
Without waiting for a answer, she speed out of the parking lot and down the road. I shook my head and smiled, I don't even know how Leah passed the driving test with her crazy driving. Whoever gave her a license, needs to be fired asap.
We arrived at the mall a little too quickly and Leah dragged me straight inside.
"Come on girly, you need some new clothes!" She teased. She took me to the first store in sight, which just happens to be Victoria's Secret. Oh no.
As soon as we stepped inside, Leah immediately started pilling clothes up in my arms while mumbling things like "that's more like it," and "you have a body, show it off!" After a good 15 minutes of this, she finally seemed satisfied and shoved me inside of a changing room.
I took the time to look at all of the clothes she put in my arms. Oh my goodness. "Leah, there's no way I'm coming out in these!" I complained.
"Oh come on, it's just some crop tops and mini skirts," she huffed. I can imagine her rolling her eyes and crossing her arms.
"Yeah, that's the problem!" I murmured.
"Please Cove, just one, come on!" She pleaded. There's no getting out of this, I guess one wont kill me, right? I looked through the clothes and found a sweater and a skirt that's not too short, (outfit above). This will have to do.
I quickly slipped them on and opened the door. Leah gave me an up and down, and frowned. "Come on girl, why'd you pick the most modest one!" She whined. I shrugged and gave her a sheepish smile.
"Ugh, okay whatever. Let's make a deal!" She said, suddenly getting happy again. This can't be good.
"You don't have to try anything else on if you let me buy you half of the things!" She grinned.
"No way," I replied blatantly. Her smiled dropped and she started thinking deeply.
"Hmm, okay, how about I pick two full outfits out of the pile, and you pick two as well," she suggested. I though about it for a second, and came up with a great solution.
"If I agree, then you can't pick out anymore things for me after this store."Leah looked displeased at my suggestion, but the look quickly turned into one of mischief.
"Fine, but only if I can pick out one lingerie outfit."
"No way."
"Yes way.
"No."
"Yes!"
"Never."
"Always."
"Fine, I give up," I sighed. Leah cheered and started dragging me to the back of the store where the lingerie is.
"Hmm, let's see..no...no...that's not doing enough....maybe...ehhh...Got it!" She yelled. I flinched at her tone and quickly covered her mouth, earning a lick on my hand.
"Eww, did you just- Never mind."
"Okay, you don't get to see it till you get home. Now pick your two outfits," Leah demanded. At this point, there's no point in even trying to argue.
"Hmm," I whispered to myself. Knowing that Leah most likely will pick the two most revealing outfits, I should pick the two least revealing outfits. I looked through the clothes and decided on the sweater and skirt outfit that I'm already wearing, and a red button-down skirt with a white crop top with grey buttons.
"Alright, I got it. Why don't you pick the other two outfits while I change out of this," I suggested. Leah simply nodded and eagerly took the clothes out of my arms. I sighed and went into the changing room, quickly putting my regular clothes back on.
I walked back to Leah and saw that she had already put back most of the clothes and is now holding two small white tops that will probably barely cover my boobs, plus a black skirt with random sliver buttons and a red plaid skirt.
We checked out and spent another hour and a half going to other random stores. I ended up getting a yellow plaid skirt to go with a shirt I already have, two new dresses, four new sweaters, a few cool t-shirts, two pairs of ripped jeans, and one pair of regular jeans.
Our final destination is a piercing store so that Leah can get another piercing on her ear. She currently has 3 piercings on her left ear, and five on her right.
"C'mon Cove, this will only take a second," she said as we entered the store. The walls are all painted black and there's a couple of dark leather chair placed around the shop. It's kind of creepy in here, I don't like it.
"Ah, Leah, nice to see you again!" A woman, probably in her mid twenties greeted while appearing from somewhere in the back of the store.
"Likewise," Leah mumbled. She doesn't seem too enthusiastic about being here, which only adds to my nerves. Something's up with this place, but she wouldn't bring me here if it's dangerous, right?
"Yes, yes, take a seat," the woman said while beckoning to one of the leather chairs that she's now standing behind. Leah pointed me to a worn out velvet couch before sitting in the leather chair. I sat on the couch and pulled out my phone.
I new message from River ð
Shoot! I've forgotten to check if he texted me this whole time. I opened the message and saw that he only sent it 6 minutes ago, phew! It says:
Hey angel, I'm sorry I have been super busy and I didn't have the chance to tell you that I couldn't come pick you up. I'm assuming someone else took you home, right?
Although he worded the last part as a question, I know It's anything but because when I walked home alone that one time and almost got kidnaped, River told me not to walk anywhere by myself.
I quickly texted him back:
Yes! Leah and I are at the mall, and waited a few minutes for him to respond. He didn't respond though, so I think he just got busy again. It's okay.
I felt the couch dip next to me and I looked over to see a guy with black hair and dull blue eyes, probably around 18 or 19 years old, staring at me. I gave him an awkward smile and scooted closer the edge of the couch to give him some room.
"Hello little one," he purred as he closed the space between us. Little one? I don't like that name, it's weird.
"Um, I'm Cove," I introduced myself while moving completely to the edge of the couch. Maybe if he knows my name, he wont call me little one. His smile only grew as he, once again, closed the space in between us.
"You can call me Daddy."
Umm, what? He's not my Dad, why does he want me to call him Daddy? I looked at him confused and he shook his head at me with a smirk.
"Nevermind that, what is a little girl like you doing in a store like this?" he asked sweetly while not-so-sneakily placing his hand on my thigh.
"I'm not little," I whispered while trying to remove his hand. Unfortunately he heard me, and his smile dropped.
"YES you are, now what are you doing here?" He snapped as his grip on my thigh tightened. I whimpered and tried to scoot away with no luck since I'm already at the very edge of the couch.
"Please, let me go!" I whimpered. This angered him even further, and he squeezed my thigh to the point of bruising while leaning into my ear.
"Listen here little girl, I do not tolerate any type of disrespect whatsoever. Now, I believe I asked yo-" Suddenly I was yanked off the couch.
I looked up to see an angry Leah pulling me away from the guy. "Listen here Santiago, I wouldn't touch her if I were you," she hissed venomously. The guy, I guess his name is Santiago, stood up and towered over the both of us. I frighteningly scooted closer to Leah, yet she didn't show a single ounce of fear.
"And why is that, Leah? This doesn't involve you in anyway, me and this girl were just having a little chat. Isn't that right Cove?" He seethed. Well at least he's using my name now.
"Well this actual does involve me since you're trying to hit on my best friend," she objected. "And just between me in you.." she continued, her voice now down to a low whisper. "I would stay away from River Smith's girlfriend," she whispered almost in-audibly in his ear.
His face paled and his eyes filled with horror and regret. "I-I, um I h-have t-to go, yeah I have to g-go," he stumbled over his words as he shuffled over to the back of the store.
I looked at Leah like she's some sort of witch. How'd she do that? I mean, all she said was that I'm River's girlfriend. Is he scared of River or something? Why would he be scared of River?
Leah smirked and lead me out of the shop. "That right there Cove, is called threatening. The next time something like that happens to you, just call River's name and they'll get scared. Even if he's not there," she declared.
"But, why is everyone so scared of River?" I asked as we reached her car. "It's like he's the devil or something," I mumbled while plopping down in the passenger's seat. Leah got into the driver's seat and turned to face me.
"That's because he is the devil."
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