Beside Him

Chapter 5// Sob Story

"Ok." I said and he raised an eyebrow. "I'm gonna tell you my sob story but I need you to not interrupt, 'kay?"

He nodded and I took a bite out of my brownie before starting.

"I was born on Christmas day, 17 years ago. My mother's name is Clara and my father is Owen. Yes, my parents are Clara and Owen Harrison. I didn't even know that Amanda was only my half sister until I was 10. So when me and my dad found out, we all moved here, to America to start a fresh. Amanda was the cause of one of my mum's night outs, actually her bachelorette party before marrying my dad. Basically, she got really drunk and had unprotected s*x with one of her group's brothers and nine months later, ta da. My older sister was born.

"Naturally, when my dad found out Amanda wasn't his, he was devastated, especially considering her real father was dad's best friend, George. So then him and I stayed away from mum for a month and stayed with Lolly and Pops. But then my dad's love for mother won and he brought Amanda and Mum over too. After that, it was really weird with me and Amanda since prior to finding out, we were best friends but then she felt betrayed that I'd stayed with dad. But I didn't stay with dad because I was angry at anyone since I was ten, I didn't know what was going on. I didn't even know what a d**k was, but Amanda was 15 and she knew. So she thought that I hated her because she wasn't my full sister but that wasn't it.

"I've always been closer to dad since mum just hates me. Like, you'd think I was being a dramatic b***h or something but I'm not. She hates me and has done ever since I was born. So I picked dad over mum, not dad over Amanda. But she didn't get that for some reason. Anyway, we managed to get past that and blah blah long story short we became best friends again.

"During all this time , me and my mother just drifted apart. To the point where she didn't even introduce me as her daughter. The Harrison's have always been rich, but then mum and dads business exceeded all expectations and dad got really busy with work. Ever since I came here when I was ten, no body really knew me. I was a bit chubby. No not fat, b***h don't look at me like that I was chubby not fat. Anyway, I was sort of the 'horrible girl that no one wants as a daughter' type but I worked hard on my studies and managed to skip a grade. Until my mum payed my middle school principle to shove me back down, which he did. And then there was Amanda. She was the golden girl, the girl everybody loved and who was known as a role model.

"But I knew who she really was. The girl who'd make me get the beatings when drugs were found under her bed. The girl who'd make sure I got in trouble when she crashed our mum's car, claiming that I'd asked for ice cream and wouldn't shut up to the point where I was crying so she went out and got it for me when in fact she was sneaking to a party and had a drunk driving accident. She was the girl who gave blow jobs to teachers to make sure she could pass the grade and she was the one who bullied people for the simple reason that they weren't her. She was the one who got held back a year because she was too busy getting laid and partying. I wasn't like that. I'm not saying I was a saint because god knows I wasn't but I wasn't that bad. I was a 'bad girl' in the open and a good girl in the shadows where as she was the exact opposite.

"One day, I met Vincent. I think you already know the story with us because everybody does so let's just skip that bit. Anyway, I wasn't lying. Vince really did cheat on me, he just cheated on me with my sister, walking in hand and hand to announce to me that they were getting married. The marriage wasn't that hurtful, I mean, come on a guy as hot as Vince couldn't actually want to be with me.

"The part that hurt was that mother expected me to be happy. She expected me to congratulate them and when I didn't, she beat me. Simple as. Amanda and Vince were actually seeing each other behind my back the entire time I was with him. And the prick had the nerve to say he loved me. That he'd wait until his death day for the moment that I was ready to give him my virginity. I wasn't, so he f****d her instead. Dad was really supportive but...I don't know. After that I sort of took over Amanda's role. I became the good girl, sorted my weight out, my hair out, even my name out. I mean, River. That's a boys name. Now guys kiss the land that I walk on and I can't say I like it but it feels nice to know that I'm not second best to her. And now, everybody suddenly expects me to go to their wedding. Like, no. F *ck off. I don't think I've ever had a real friend and, as horrible as it is, it's okay. I'm popular and I'm like Amanda. That's all that matters." I finished. I didn't look up as I said the next bit.

"But you make the old me come out. The loud one, the one not afraid to throw in s****l innuendos, the one who wears ripped jeans and does crazy stuff all the time. I don't... I don't know how to describe it other than...I get an odd feeling that you won't judge me. You probably do, you probably think I'm some pathetic lunatic jealous of my own sister but I'm not. At least, I hope not. Anyway, you bring out me, and I hope that me to you isn't too terrible."

He was quiet, and me too afraid too look up into his eyes.

So I fiddled with my fingers, chewing on my lower lip as a source of physical pain to numb out the mental pain.

The reaction that I got from him was one I didn't expect. One that I never would've guessed in a thousand years.

First, he came around the table and picked me up, sitting me back down onto his lap. Then he wiped away my tears. Then he kissed my cheek.

I blinked, utterly shocked.

Archer King. I am in the lap and being consoled my Archer f*****g King.

I looked into his eyes to see them swimming with something that I couldn't recognise. And I smiled. I smiled because I was...I don't know....content. With this position. This time period. The past 14 years that I've known him for. Everything.

I was content with him.

"I don't think any of that." He mumbled into my hair and I tightened my arms around his neck. "I think your misjudged. Everyone thinks your life is easy, but it's not. I think you're so f*****g brave. And I think that I'm gonna have a word with your mother for raising a f*****g hand on you. And I also know that if she ever does it again, you will tell me straight away otherwise I'll chuck you into yourself."

I smiled. You don't understand? He means chuck me into a river. He's said it since I can remember.

"Thank you, Archie." I mumbled back, smiling softly, genuinly. He froze.

I pulled back slightly, now looking into his mossy eyes. He looked back. Then his tongue darted out to lick his bottom lip and my eyes followed before repeating the action with my own.

Without realising both of us moved closer. And closer and closer and then our lips met.

Kidding. Ha! Gott 'em. No we didn't kiss because my stupid 'I'm a Barbie girl' ring tone that I had especially for Mr Bryan started playing. I fell off of his lap in shock and he cleared his throat, his hand going to the back of his neck.

Gulping, I pulled out my ph one from my hoodie and brought it to my ear.

"Rivi. Are you alive?" My sister's ex boyfriend's voice came through and I grinned, lying down fully on the floor now. Archie gave me a weird look, which I graciously ignored.

"What you want, Mr B?" I said with a giggle and Archie frowned.

'Mr Bryan?' He mouthed and I nodded.

"Oh thank God. You wanna tell me why You and Archer decided to be M.I.A. today?" He asked worriedly and I laughed at his brother - like protectiveness.

"Problems with Lolly. They want me to go to the wedding." Immediately Mr B stopped breathing and I sighed. "My reaction exactly, Mr B."

"Ok. Well, are you coming in tomorrow?" He asked in a strained voice and I gulped.

"Yeah probably. I'll see you then. Taa." I said quickly and he said goodbye, after which I cut the phone.

"How does Mr Bryan know about all your family drama?" Archie asked and I shrugged as if it were nothing.

"He was Amanda's fiancé when she was cheating on him with Vincent. So we got pretty close after everything and poof he accidentally on purpose thanks to dad became my English teacher too." I said quickly and Archie nodded, picking up my backpack.

I guess we're both gonna pretend we didn't nearly kiss at frikking Dan's.

I went over to the counter to pay, taking my bag off Archie with a grateful smile. I took out my purse, before Archie stopped me.

"I'll pay." He said, taking out his own wallet and I slapped his arm again.

He gave me a dirty look as I gave Dan the money, who looked bemusedly between me and Archie.

"First time couples dine free." He said in that French accent, returning the money and I blushed, looking away.

"We're not a couple." I mumbled, giving him back the money.

He grinned happily. "But you both so in love. Just admit love and make pretty baby for Dan. He give babies free muffin." He said with a chuckle as I blushed harder, Archie deciding it was funny and starting to laugh.

I stomped on his toe and he gave me a blank look. "You weigh nothing, River." He dead panned and I rolled my eyes with a smile.

"Look." Dan says. "The way Archer watch Rivi when she smiling and the way Rivi watch Archer when he smiling. I know love. You two are in love."

Neither of us denied it as we left the diner, both with red cheeks.