Beside Him

Chapter 10//Deal With It

Biting my lip, I manoeuvred my way to my bed and threw off the bottle of paint from there, beckoning him to sit while I changed.

He did as told, too busy inspecting my paintings to really care and I shrugged, walking to my indoor closet to change.

I threw on an oversized knitted jumper that fell at the shoulders, happy to finally take my stupid bra off. Then I put on simple black leggings and my fluffy sleep boots, walking out again with a t-shirt that belonged to Bubby that I thought might fit him and basketball shorts.

He smiled kindly and shook his head. "I don't stay nights, River." He said and I rolled my eyes.

"You said the same thing about nicknames, Archenold, and we both know how that turned out." I replied with a giggle and he narrowed his eyes, snatching the clothing from me.

"You promised, Adelaide." He retorted and I winced.

Raising my arms in surrender, I walked out of the room to allow him to change.

"Thanks, Jen, you're an angel." I said to her once she gave us hot chocolate with the marshmallows and all.

She only smiled knowingly and I went back upstairs.

Archer had made himself comfortable on my bed and was inspecting one particular painting, though I couldn't see it.

"Shoot me if I'm wrong, River," He began and my curiosity peaked as he frowned at the picture. "But this sure does look like me as a kid."

My yes widened.

Sh*t. Crap. Poop. Deuce.

He showed me the painting and, as expected it was one of the first ones I'd done from sheer memory, the one of him sitting opposite the lake as a 5 year old with his knees to his chest and side to me.

The water of the lake was reflected even at this angle on to him and it glinted, his small, vulnerable and fragile figure clear to anyone (only me) who could see.

This was the first moment I'd seen Archer King.

And god knows it was engraved into my mind like a frikking head stone.

I snatched the painting from him and then gulped. "You wish it was you, Archie." I said nonchalantly and I think we both knew in that moment that it was complete BS.

"When was that?" He asked, his eyes shining with something I couldn't place.

I shrugged. "A long time ago." Is all I replied with and I saw him chew on the inside of his cheek before he closed his eyes, opening them again to give me one swift nod.

"I'll drop it for now, River, but I want to know when and how you made that." I only nodded, hoping he didn't think I was some sort of weird stalker, although it probably wouldn't be too far from the truth.

"You should change. I'm guessing you live somewhere near where Lolly does so I'll imagine it's quite a long walk from here. So, just stay the night and then we can go to school tomorrow, yeah?" I spoke quickly and nervously, diverting my eyes whenever he tried to meet them.

"River, calm down. It's not a big deal, I have admirers everywhere." My head snapped up at the smirk on his face and a smile instantly lit up my own.

"Shove them up your ass, Archie." I said with a laugh and he only rolled his eyes. "Now go. If you wanna shower there's spare towels under the sink as well as tooth brushes."

His presence lingered a little longer and when he finally left, I collapsed onto my bed, hearing the shower go off and relishing in the satisfying sound.

I set up a movie while he was in there, putting Frozen into my Tv and putting it on.

I paused it at Ana waking Elsa up, waiting for Archie to come out the door again.

I subconsciously ran my finger across my Mickey Mouse hot chocolate cup, licking my finger and moaning.

My gaze snapped up when I heard movement from the doorway. Archer's eyes were zoned in on my finger, a shade or two darker than they normally are.

His jaw ticked and, in sheer shock, my finger stayed in my mouth, my cheeks hollow as I sucked on it.

God only knows what kind of animal I looked like.

My eyes dropped to his body, taking in his shirt from before and the basketball shorts that hung low.

Clearly, Bubby's shirt hadn't fit him.

My eyes met his in a wave of something I couldn't quite put my finger on.

We stayed like that, silent and remaining eye contact for what felt like centuries before I snapped out of it when my phone rung, breaking us out of our dreamlike trance.

"River." The voice spoke over the phone once I finally picked it up and my posture hardened.

"Amanda."

"Did you talk to mummy today?" She asked, her voice still the same smooth as silk that had sung me to sleep plenty of times as a little girl.

"Yes."

"Well did you consider the wedding?" She didn't sound annoyed, as I'd expect after speaking to her after a year and a half, only...tired.

"No, I didn't. I made up my mind a long time ago, Amanda and I'm not changing it. You continue with your wedding, I truly don't understand why you need me there."

"Because," she spoke up after a moments pause. "You're my sister."

My heart rate picked up. "No. I'm not." I knew how much my words stung her but in that moment, I couldn't find it in myself to care.

The line went dead, the mocking beep of the phone enough to snap me out of my trance.

Archer was in front of me in a second and I couldn't understand what he was saying, my eyes bleary and wide as I struggled to breathe.

"River, princess, breathe. It's ok. I'm here. Just breathe, in out. That's it. That's my girl. In— out— in— out. That's it princess."

I followed his instructions, barely catching what he was saying.

Deep breaths in and out were all that were heard for the next however many minutes. "That's it, princess." Archer pulled me into a hug, placing my ear next to his chest where I heard his heart pounding away so quickly and loudly that it made me flinch.

I wrapped my arms around him too, feeling his hard muscles under my hands.

A few minutes later, I broke the silence.

"Hot chocolate anyone?"