Cove's POV
"Holy sh*t! Are you eating a weed brownie?"
For some reason, I started to giggle and couldn't stop. "What's a weed brownie?"
"Cove!" Leah pulled away from our hug, alarmed.
"Oh wait, I know what a weed brownie is!" I exclaimed loudly, slapping my forehead.
Leah took the delicious brownie from my hand and threw it out.
"Nooooo, give it back!" I whined.
"How much did you eat?" Azzy asked as she tilted my head back to look in my eyes.
"Hmm, that was number 2!" I answered proudly while holding up 3 fingers.
"This is not good," Azzy whispered.
"Here, drink some water," Leah instructed, handing me a fresh bottle of water from a cooler.
"No!" I pouted.
"Yes, it will be good for you," Azzy said sternly.
"No I don't want to!" I held my ground.
"Why not?" Azzy asked.
"It's too cold, I want another sprite!"
"Just drink it!" Leah groaned.
"Nooooooooooooo."
"Fine." Leah took the bottle away.
"Hey! Give it back!"
"But you-"
"Give ittttt! It's mine!"
She sighed and gave it to me. I happily opened it and took a long sip.
"This is already getting old," she groaned. I giggled around the bottle, not realizing what she meant.
"I'm going to go get something, can you watch her?" Leah asked Azzy. Azzy nodded and Leah started to walk away until I stopped her.
"Stay! Azzy, go away."
"Fine," Azzy sighed and started to walk away.
"No! Don't leave me!" Tears formed in my eyes as I dropped Leah's arm and grabbed hers, desperately pulling her back.
"Oh my God, you're being impossible Cove!" Leah groaned, finally snapping.
Tears resurfaced in my eyes and as desperately hugged Azzy, beginning to cry in her shirt.
"See what you did!" Azzy yelled, making me cry even harder. Leah sighed and tried to apologize, but I told her to go away.
"Woah, what's going on in here?" I heard Ryan's voice ask from behind me.
"Cove ate 2 of your weed brownies," Azzy answered.
"Woah girl! Two? Didn't see you as the crazy type but sheesh-"
"It was an accident genius! She thought they were normal because you put absolutely no indication that they had weed in them on the container."
"Oh my bad, I thought it would be pretty obvious. Who's gonna tell River?"
My ears perked up at the sound of River's name, and I immediately stopped crying.
"River? Where is he! Is he here? Guys we have to go hide!" I tried to run out of the kitchen but Azzy pulled me back.
"Why are we hiding?"
"Because we have to surprise him duh! It's his birthday, c'mon we have to hurry."
"And now she's losing her memory. Seriously guys, who's gonna go get River?" Ryan questioned.
"You do it! It was your fault anyways dumb*ss, go get him!" Leah yelled. Wow I've never heard her curse before, at least not around me.
"Fine! But I'm not explaining anything to him."
River's POV
I was smoking outside, talking to some random guy when Ryan came up to me.
"Hey uhh River, you might want to come see this." I raised an eyebrow but followed him inside regardless.
We walked to the kitchen and I saw Cove crying while trying to pull Azalea into a cabinet. What the heck?
"Ummm-"
"Yeah."
"Oh hey, so I'll just get to the chase. Cove accidentally ate 1 and half weed brownies," Azalea informed once she noticed me.
"Seriously? I left her with you for 15 minutes and-"
"River!" Cove shouted and came running. She launched herself at me and I had to catch her.
"I missed you! Where were you? Where'd you go? You almost missed you surprise birth-" she suddenly cut herself off and slapped her hand over her mouth, like she had said to much.
"Guys we're supposed to be hiding! River go away you're not supposed to be here yet!" She ran out of my arms and tried to pull Azalea out of the kitchen.
"Damn," was all I managed to say.
"Yep," Ryan agreed.
"Forget it, surprise River! Happy birthday!" Cove came running back to my arms.
"Thank you," I chuckled. I'm just gonna play along, it'll be easier.
"Do you like the party? C'mon, you have to come see everything."
"I already saw it, it's amazing."
"Yay!"
"Do you want to go upstairs?" I'm trying to get her in my room so at least she'll be somewhat contained.
"Why? What's in your room? Wait. Don't tell me. Is it a fairy? Leah! I'm going to see a real life fairy! C'mon River hurry!"
She started dragging me towards the stairs before I could say anything. Well that's one way to do it, I barely even had to say anything.
As we walked away, I could hear Leah yelling at Ryan for "drugging her best friend." What? I mean I'm glad she's being protective over Cove, but she's a little off with her words.
"River, if you don't hurry up the fairy is gonna fly away!" Cove scolded me even though I'm a few steps in front of her.
When we got close to my door, she ran and threw it open. "River, come help me look!"
I watched as she ran around, checking under the bed and looking in my bathroom. I pretended to check the closet while trying to hold in my laughter.
Cove finally gave up after a good 5 minutes and plopped herself on my bed, face-down.
When I approached her, I heard the sound of loud muffled sobs. Oh no, here we go.
"Cove? Hey, what's wrong?"
"We didn't find the fairy! The fairy ran away and now I'll never have the chance to see one again," she cried.
"Hey hey hey, come here." I lifted her up and set her in my lap.
"You know what the fairy told me before she left? She said that if you drink some water and take a nap, she'll visit you when you wake up!"
"R-really? You talked to the fairy? What was she like? What did she look like?
"You have to see for yourself, but that will only happen if you go to sleep right this second."
"O-okay." She sniffled one last time before standing up and pulling back the covers, crawling under.
"Good. I'm going to go get you some water, then you can sleep and wake up to see the fairy. Stay right there, I'll be right back." I went downstairs to get her a bottle of water.
As I passed the living room, I saw Azalea back to drinking. She's currently dancing with a red-head who looks just as drunk.
The kitchen is empty so Ryan probably went to go smoke something. I don't know where Cove's friend went.
When I returned upstairs with the water, I found my bed completely empty. I quickly searched the whole room with no luck.
She's gone.
Cove's POV
I currently dancing my heart out with the brown haired girl who was in the group River and I hung out with earlier.
I don't really remember how I got here but oh well. All that matters is we're having fun.
"What's you're name again? I like you," she asked while dancing around with her eyes closed. Yeah I'm pretty sure she's drunk. Or high. Or both.
"Cooveee, what's your name?" I giggle, trying my best to copy her moves. I don't really know how to dance.
"Call me Rose," she slurred. I grinned and started to wave my arms to the beat. I feel so free, way too free.
"Do you want a drink?" Rose asks after a few minutes.
I nod, not really getting what she's saying. I can't understand what's going on right now, everything in my mind is mixing up and I can't tell the difference between right and wrong.
All I know is that I'm having fun, so I'm just going to go with the flow. Who knows what will happen? That's the fun of it.
Rose soon returned and handed me a red plastic cup. It has a bitter smelling liquid inside. I feel like I should know what it is, but my mind is too fuzzy to put the pieces together.
"I got you a fruity drink since I don't know what you like. It's the most basic alcoholic drink I could think of," she informed.
Oh right, it's alcohol. Should've known. Have I ever had alcohol before? I don't think I have. I guess there's a first time for everything.
As I put the cup up to my lips, it was suddenly ripped out of my grasp.
I looked up.
Ian?
What is he doing here? Does that mean Leah's near by? Leah! I totally forgot about her.
"Hey!" I shouted over the music. Seriously? I have never talked to this guy before yet here he is stealing my drink.
"I don't think you should be drinking this," his dark voice answered.
"Why nottttt? It's mine!"
"Did you make it?"
"No."
"Do you know who made it?"
"Rose!"
"Do you know Rose?"
"I think so."
"What do you mean you think so?"
"I think I do."
"Okay, well I'm going to throw this out. You go to Leah."
"Leah! Where is she?"
"She's around the stairs." As soon as he said that, I ran towards the stairs. I found her sitting on the bottom step drinking something. No fair! Why did my drink get taken away and not hers?
"Hey Cove, shouldn't you be with River?" She asked, a bit alarmed by my sudden presence.
"River? Oh shoot!" That's when I remembered that I haven't seen him in a while. I think I was supposed to be waiting for him to get back?
I don't know but I got bored so I wanted to do something else and somehow I ended up dancing with... I don't remember her name. Oh wait yes I do! It's Rose.
"Cove, what did you do?" Leah asked warily.
"I don't know," I giggled. She's funny.
"Ohhh, pretty pool. Let's go swimming!"
"Cove no-" I ignored her protests and ran outside. As I got close to the pool, I spotted a familiar face walking around near the deck chairs.
"River!" I screamed, running over and jumping on his back.
"Cove? Where the f*ck have you been? I was looking for you for 20 minutes!"
I giggled in reply and secured my legs around his back as he shifted my body, making me face him. Everything just seems so funny to me right now.
"Cove, where were you?" He repeated his question sternly.
"Hmm, I was dancing! Do you want me to show you? River let's dance!"
"What? No. You are going straight to bed sweetheart."
"Whyyyyyy? I want to go swimming!"
"We can go swimming when you wake up, you just need to sleep it off, you're high."
"No I'm not! I'm drunk."
"You're drunk?"
"No I'm high silly."
"That's what I just said."
"No! You said 'you're drunk,' and I said I'm high!"
"No, before that."
"I don't remember before that! I'm not that smart."
"Nevermind. Let's just get you to bed and when you wake up, we can go swimming."
"But it will be too late to go swimming when I wake back up!"
"No it won't, it'll only be like 10 or 11."
"Fine," I huffed and hugged my body against River's. When did it get so cold out here?
He smiled victoriously and tried to put me down, but I gripped him tighter. "Carry me!"
"Why?"
"I'm tired." I put my head on his shoulder and pretended to be tired.
"But you just said you weren't tired at all."
"I did?"
"Yes. Nevermind though, I'll carry you."
He took 3 steps before I decided that I want to walk again and pushed out of his hold.
"Put me down, I want to walk!"
He sighed but didn't argue and gently set me on the ground. I grinned and we quickly walked up to his room.
"Don't leave this time," he instructed as I went over to his bed.
"I won't," I promised as I climbed under the already pulled back covers.
"Okay. I'll be back in 30 minutes to check on you." He started to walk to the door.
"Okay. Wait, give me a hug before you go!" I whined. He shook his head but came back over, giving me a hug and kissing my forehead.
"I'll be back, okay? I'm going to lock the door."
"Okie dokie."
He locked the door and left, turning the light off. As soon as he was gone, I sat up and took out my phone.
The screen showed 7:58. It's getting late. I don't want to sleep yet, so I opened up Tiktok and started to watch some videos at low volume.
Before I knew it, I heard footsteps approaching the door. Damn, I did not mean to watch for that long.
I quickly shoved my phone back in my dress and laid down, pretending to be asleep.
The door unlocked and who I assume is River came in. He sighed once he saw me "asleep" and sat at the edge of the bed.
"I am never letting you get high after this, on purpose or on accident," he mumbled to himself while softly stroking my hair. I tried not to giggle, but I couldn't help myself. He's talking to himself like a weirdo!
"Shoot, did I wake you up?" He asked when he heard my not-so quiet giggles.
"No, it's okay."
"Oh. Can I check your eyes?"
"Sure," I laughed and rolled on my back. He quickly looked in my eyes and sighed a breath of relief.
"You're getting better. Just go to sleep for a little while, okay?"
"Okay."
"Good. I'll be back in like an hour and you should be fine."
"Okay, have fun."
"I will. Sleep tight baby." He turned the lights back off and closed the door. This time I decided to actually get some sleep, so I closed my eyes.
It didn't take long for me to fall asleep for real and get some much needed rest.
ð ð ð
I woke up an hour later to Leah shaking my arm. It took me a few seconds to remember the situation that I'm in, and a bunch of memories flooded my mind.
"Hey Lee," I mumbled once I sat up.
"Hey, I was told that you want to go swimming."
"Oh yeah."
"Okay well c'mon, everyone is getting in in a few minutes so hurry."
"Okay." I got up and walked into River's closet, pulling out the swimsuit that I left here a few weeks ago.
I quickly changed into the black and white one piece. I'm glad it's not a bikini because it's cold outside.
I then put hair up in a quick braid since It's not looking too good from sleeping. This will also prevent it from getting everywhere when we swim.
Leah smiled at me when I came out. As we walked towards the backyard, I started to feel really guilty about earlier.
Not only did River have to take care of me, but he had to go look for me because I didn't listen to him the first time and left his room. He missed out for like an hour because of me, I just had to make everything ten times more difficult for him.
When we got to the pool, I only saw a few people in swimsuits. Most people stripped down to their bra's and underwear. I guess that's not much different from wearing a bikini or swim trunks.
Leah went to Ian while I looked around, quickly spotting River leaned against a wall and drinking from a bottle. I swiftly walked over to him.
"Hi," I chirped, wrapping my arms around his bare torso. At some point, he changed into a dark grey pair of trunks.
"Hey," he answered cooly, hugging me back and rubbing his hands over my cold shoulders.
"I'm really sorry," I apologized and buried my face in his chest, not wanting to see his reaction.
"Why? It was an accident, you didn't know," he pulled my face away from his stomach and lifted my chin up with two fingers.
"But I made you miss out and come look for me. I was being difficult."
"None of that was your fault, you were high and couldn't control yourself. Plus, I'd much rather be with you then anyone else. Sober or not."
"Really?"
"Yeah, they weren't doing much anyways. I was gone for 40 minutes max, I didn't miss out on anything."
"Oh. It felt like much much longer to me."
"It always does when you get like that, take it from experience."
I nodded at his words and gave him a genuine smile, making him smile back and kiss the tip of my nose.
"Hey you're back. Lucky you didn't have to see River get his a** whooped at beer pong," Ryan walked over in a pair a swim shorts and joined our conversation.
"I did not! You were the one doing all of the loosing," River argued.
"Mhmm, and the sky is rainbow."
"That's my line."
"Not anymore."
I laughed at their bickering. Even though it's abnormal, I love to see River having fun with other people. It's nice for him to not always have his guard up.
"Let's go in already! Late night swims are the best," Ryan said and ran towards the pool without waiting for a response.
He and jumped in, warranting a series of other people jumping in. The large large space quickly started to fill up.
"Come on, let's hurry before there's no more room!" I lead River to the pool by his arm.
"Whatever you say." River gripped my hand and to my surprised, jumped in with me still attached to him.
I sunk for a second before River pulled us both up to the surface.
"River!" I squealed, wiping water away from my eyes. My once nicely hair became loose and got all over my face.
"Hmm?" Oh so he's playing innocent. He should know better then to mess with me.
"Was that necessary?"
"Yes," he teased.
"Hmph," I pouted and turned my back to him.
"Baby? I was just joking, come here."
"Apologize," I demanded.
"I'm sorry. Come give me a kiss!"
"Fine." I turned and gave him a wet kiss on his lips.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
After that, we swam to the corner and started to talk. It's nice, River seems so relaxed and genuinely happy. It might just be the alcohol in his system, but at the moment I don't care.
"How come you don't like parrots?" I asked River as our conversation took a strange turn.
"I don't know, they're just creepy to me. Their voices sound so weird."
"You're weird. Parrots are so cool."
"Says the one who picked up a beetle and named it bubblegum."
"Bubblegum! I miss her."
"How do you miss a beetle?"
"I don't know, I just do."
Suddenly, splashes of water came flying towards the both of us. Somehow I was able to use River's body as a shield and look around his back. Only then did I spot the culprit, Ryan.
"Hey!" I laughed. He finally stopped splashing and approached us. He's wearing a pair of flimsy pink goggles that are at least 2 sizes too small, probably to protect his eyes from the splashes.
"Where the f*ck did you get those? They look ridiculous!" River laughed.
"I found them," Ryan shrugged, coming closer. I noticed him suspiciously holding something behind his back, so I discreetly tapped River's shoulder and pointed at it.
'Distract him,' River mouthed and I nodded. I didn't even get a chance to start a conversation before Ryan started one himself.
"I write a huge warning on the weed brownie container," he stated smugly, puffing out his chest like it's a huge accomplishment.
"That's good, although I think I'm the only one dumb enough to mistake weed brownies for regular ones."
At this point, River managed to inch closer to Ryan without drawing any suspicion to himself.
"No, it was my fault. Even if you're the only one who would accidentally eat one, I still should've put a warning just in case."
"Yeah, I guess so-"
"What the hell Ryan!"
I looked up to see River holding a giant blue water ballon. Somehow, he snatched it from Ryan's hands before he could stop him.
"Ahaha, oops. You weren't meant to see that," Ryan stated the obvious, trailing off at the end in nervousness.
"I figured. So what exactly were you planning to do with this?"
"I was umm.. I think you know. Just throw it at me already!"
River obeyed and dropped it on Ryan's head with such force that it got all three of us wet.
The water inside is significantly colder then the pool's, so it immediately sent shivers down my spine.
"Ahhh!" Ryan shrieked and squirmed around like a mad man. It took him a good minute and a half to finally calm down, all while we were both silently watching him in amusement.
"Hot-tub?" He quickly suggested like he wasn't just going all physco a few seconds prior.
"Sure."
We all ended up in a hot tub by ourselves. That's right, I said a hot tub. Turns out River has multiple.
One's connected to the pool, a bigger one is off to the side, and a small private one is in the far corner.
We're in the small private one. River and Ryan may or may not have threatened the couple getting quite steamy in here to leave, "or else."
I sat pressed against River's side while Ryan is across from us. We held a small conversation for a while, mainly just trying to warm up.
"I think I'm gonna catch a cold," Ryan suddenly complained.
"And whose fault is that?" River rolled his eyes.
"Yours."
"You were going to do it to us first!" I joined the debate.
"So? If I did do it to you guys, then you'd be able to complain."
"That's not how it works dumb*ss."
"Yet it is!"
"No it's not, I think you drank to much," I whispered the last part.
"Didn't we all?" He groaned, leaning back and pondering into the distance.
"Is this some sort of sentimental lesson thing? Because in that case, I think it's time to go."
"Yeah, my fingers are getting wrinkly anyways," I added.
"Okay bye bye." Ryan didn't even try to stop us.
"Bye."
We got out and went to the towel rack. River draped a yellow one over my shoulders, then grabbed a black one for himself.
We silently walked back up to his room so we can get change back into our regular clothes.
River went to the bathroom while I stayed in his room and quickly put my dress back on. I also let my hair down and brushed through it with my fingers.
When River came back out in a new pair of jeans and a shirt, I quickly stopped him from leaving the room.
"Wait River. Before we go back down, I want to give you your present."
"Okay," he agreed and sat down. I smiled and took a small grey bag with white tissue paper out from a nightstand that he never uses. I hid it in his house a few days ago so I wouldn't forget to bring it.
"Thank you," he said when I handed it to him. I nodded and sat next to him on his bed, eager to see him to open it.
River moved the wrapping paper, pulling out an envelope and a small white box.
"Wait! Before you open those, open this." I totally forgot about his third present that I put under the nightstand.
"Okay. You really didn't have to get me anything baby."
"Yes I did!" I said while handing him a neatly wrapped box with a cute red bow on top. My mom may or may not have helped me wrap this one.
I bit my lip as he tore off the wrapping paper and took out the present.
"They're long distance lamps! If I touch mine, yours will turn pink or purple. If you touch yours, mine will turn blue or green. You can change the colors too!"
"Aww baby, it's perfect thank you."
"You're welcome. Open you other presents, I can't wait any longer."
"Okay, which one first?"
"You chose."
River chose to open the box first. I was secretly hoping that he'd pick that one first.
He took off the top and pulled out a silver ring. "Aw, it has our names. And.. what are these numbers?"
"Those are coordinates of the spot in the hallway where we first ran into each other," I laughed at the memory.
"Well they're not exactly coordinates, they're pretty much the same thing but more exact. I forget what it's called because it has a scientific name," I added.
"Baby it's perfect, thank you." He slipped it on his index finger and gave me a hug.
"Of course River, I'm glad you like it."
He then opened his last present from me, the envelope. Inside is 10 different colored letters.
"There's one for when your sad, when you're mad, when you miss me, when you can't sleep, when you have a bad day, when you're bored, when you're lonely, when you're scared, when you need be reminded how much I appreciate you, and one for when you're upset with me."
"I don't know what to say. It's so perfect Cove, you're so perfect. I will never be upset with you baby."
"I'm sure you will be eventually, but that's okay. It's part of building a healthy relationship," I smiled.
"Cove, you don't understand how much you mean to me. I can't imagine a day in life without you by my side. You're my everything baby, my everything."
4,352 words.
Thanks for 30k <3 You guys are so amazing, you don't even understand. Have a great week everyone. Oh and I have a question.
I don't know if anyone will answer this, but are you guys okay with the plot thickening and things starting to get darker? What I mean is are you guys okay if River and Cove have fight or something like that? I don't want to spoil it but what I have planned is along those lines. If you guys don't want that though it's totally okay and I'll do something else. I'm fine with doing either, I just want to make sure I write something you'll like.