Beside Him

Chapter 11// How Many Times?

Mornings were always shitty, but this one was especially worse, the fact that Archer was most certainly not in bed beside me causing my day to start off as absolutely very bad.

We'd fallen asleep together, me literally on top of him as I inhaled his scent. He'd said nothing of my panic attack which was very much appreciated, but we'd just sat and watched frozen, still in each other's arms.

I hauled my ass up, dragging my feet to the shower where I did my usual morning routine.

Then, not really feeling today, I shoved my hair into a messy high ponytail, pissed off that some bits of hair kept stubbornly coming out.

I put on a baby pink knitted jumper and ripped blue boyfriend jeans, leaving out any sort of makeup today, just my strawberry chap-stick.

Then I grabbed my Chanel backpack and my phone, throwing on baby pink vans.

I walked out the door without breakfast, sitting in the car beside Xander, the family driver, considering I was not in the mood to walk today.

The white Range Rover purred to life and we were in school in no time, despite the stop to Dan's on the way where I picked up a hot chocolate and muffin.

I walked into school, smiling kindly at the people who stared at me.

Then, not really bothering anymore, I pulled out my phone, sipping my hot chocolate.

I spun around when I heard my name being called, gritting my teeth at Poppy.

Let's just say, your Poppy friend can open her mouth once she's been pleasured.

Jackass.

I narrowed my eyes, seeing the faint line of my lashes in my peripheral vision.

"What the f*ck is your problem?" She sneered, noticing my deathly glare.

"You." I replied, my eye twitching and fists rolling up.

Breathe, River.

"What the f*ck did I do?"

I gritted my teeth. "Are you really so damn pathetic that you can't say one sentence without swearing?"

She gasped dramatically and then plastered on a fake smile.

"I don't know what your problem is today, Rivi, but keep me out of it. I was just here to tell you about me and Archer yesterday as a friend I thought I could come and share with you. Guess not."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath in. Then I opened them again, ignoring the sting I felt. "Yesterday?" My voice was low, purposely dodging all emotions.

"Yeah, yesterday. Why?"

"What time?" My voice was still low and taut as I fought against the wave of emotion.

He wouldn't.

"I don't know. Like, 1 in the morning? I don't know. But anyways he just turned up and practically attacked me in a kiss." She laughed as my heart dropped.

Oh f*ck he did.

"Are you sure?" I asked quietly then took a small step forward and put my hand on her arm. "Popps, please don't lie to me."

"I'm not lying, Rivi." She replied, back to kissing my ass.

I gulped and licked my lips, taking a step back.

Then I practically ran out of there, ignoring the strange looks I got as I sat down in Mr Bryan's class.

He looked at me up and down, noting my behaviour and then nodded a firm 'we'll talk later'.

I sighed and dropped my head into my hands, watching the students fill the room as the bell rung.

"Hey, Riv." I looked up at Carter and smiled, my mood suddenly improving.

It's Archer King. He breaks girls's hearts for breakfast.

"Hey Carter." I replied and he leaned forward to ruffle my hair. He placed a small kiss to my forehead before sitting down in Archer's chair.

"How you doing, Riv?" He asked with a grin and I pursed my lips, leaning my head on my hand.

"Good, you?"

"I'm good. I've actually got a concert and it'd be awesome if you came with."

I pursed my lips. "Yeah, sure, when?"

He grinned, his brown eyes shining.

"Today, at 5. I'll send you the location-"

"She's busy." I turned my head to see Archer giving death glare to Carter.

I rolled my eyes and turned back to Carter. "Yeah send it me. You got my number, Yeah?"

"No, but I'll take it at lunch."

"Get the f*ck out of my seat before I burn it and you, you STD ridden rat." Archer growled and I noticed his hands fisted up. I gritted my teeth.

"F*ck off, Archer." I said and he moved his scorching gaze to me.

"River, I want him out of my seat in two seconds or I swear to you, you will both regret it."

Carter got up and scrambled away whereas I held my ground.

"Who do you think you are, Archer?" I growled as he sat down, a satisfied smirk on his uglily handsome face.

"Archer King. You?"

It took everything in me to not punch him right in the jaw. "F*ck you, Archer."

"Mhm, I know you'd love to, princess but I really can't find it in myself to allow you to. You girls get attached very quickly." My jaw actually dropped at his narcissistic, dumb, pathetic and wholly untrue comment.

"And why do you keep calling me Archer? I'm happy but aren't you obsessed with calling me Archie?"

I decided now to fully ignore him, putting a blank expression on and looking at Mr Bryan as he began his lecture. Archer looked at me for another few seconds before turning around.

The lesson went smoothly and when it was over, I picked up my stuff and walked out, completely ignoring Archer as he called my name.

The day came and went and before I knew it, it was last period- p.e.

I hurriedly shoved my legs into the pastel grey shorts then put on the pastel blue t-shirt- our school colours.

I pulled out my grey vans, the ones specifically designated for this lesson and put them on, then throwing on a pastel grey hoodie and tying a blue and grey ribbon into my hair- the head cheerleader's band.

I rolled up my hoodie sleeves, trying to tie the band to my shorts but failing badly as I couldn't keep my shirt up for long enough.

I bumped right into someone while focusing on the band, falling on my ass.

Archer turned around to shout but, upon seeing me, his expression changed to one of concern.

I continued ignoring him, standing up and making my way to the girl's side before I was yanked right back by my arm.

I couldn't speak so I just stood there as Archer pulled me close to him, pulling up my shirt enough to tie the band, all while keeping his eyes on mine.

I looked away from his gaze, waiting for him to let me go once the ribbon was tied.

'Thank you' was at the tip of my tongue but I swallowed it down, shoving him off of me with more force than necessary.

He growled as I waved at Carter and I had to fight back an eye roll.

Pig.

Once I was stood at the front of all the girls, beside Mrs Dale our coach, she spoke.

"Rivi, lovely of you to join us." She said and I looked away, mumbling a sorry and keeping snarky replies to myself.

She patted me on the back and said "keep your head up, kid."

I followed, looking at the girls with my hands in my hoodie pocket.

"Right. Today, we're playing dodge-ball. And despite my husband's idiocy, I convinced him that you girls can play against the boys. Who's in?"

I nodded immediately, a small smirk making its way to my face.

Mrs Dale split the girls into two teams, my team and Barbara's team, considering it was worldwide news that the two of us can simply not work together.

Mr Dale did the same with the boys as me and Barbara picked out team mates.

"Penny." I said first, the shock running through everyone considering Penny was the new girl who got picked last for everything, her heavy weight and smartness being a reason to bully her.

Now that these sheep knew I had no issue with her, they wouldn't bother her again.

"Michelle."

"Doreen."

"Sabrina."

The names went on, her having the girl that everyone wanted when playing dodge-ball, Tanya McKinnon, considering her muscles were bigger than half the boys, enough to make any girl look at her own arms in jealousy.

"Right, everyone together." Mr Dale yelled, gaining everyone's attention as he went and stood beside his wife.

"Boys v Girls. I still think it's stupid but I'll give you boys one piece of advice now, never disobey the wife. Happy wife happy life." He laughed and everyone joined him as he shot Mrs Dale a smile at her playful glare.

I only smiled.

"First of all, we'll have the girls against each other and the boys against each other. The winners of both and the losers of both will play together. Got it?" Mrs dale spoke, her voice entirely professional as she shot me a sly wink, causing me to smile.

"Now let's go. Girls you're up first, boys sit back and watch. Barbara, Rivi, get your teams together."

I jogged over to my team, taking off my hoodie and gently passing it to Carter, who grinned up at me.

I felt the burn of Archer's gaze on me as I returned to my team.

I gave them a speech, a play out plan and told them all to aim first for Tanya.

They all listened vigorously and I smiled at them once I was done.

"Go, Wolves." The go was dragged out as everyone went and stood in their designated spots.

I kept my gaze firmly on Barbara, my head snapping to the left as I heard a cheer of her name.

My eyes narrowed at Archer as he practically fan-girled over Barbara.

"Go on, Barbie." He yelled and the other boys joined him.

Mr Dale blew his whistle and the match begun.

I dodged immediately at the ball coming at me from Barbara, laughing once I was at a safe spot.

"Best you got, Barbs?" Then I threw my own at her team mate, knocking them out of the game.

"Ugh!" I heard her seethe causing me to laugh again as I grabbed a ball while dodging another and aiming it at Barbara.

Before I could shoot, she did and I jumped just in time to get away, before shooting at her as she was in attack mode not defence.

She was out, which made me immensely happy as I sent a smirk towards Archer.

"Go on, Riv." I heard Carter shout but I ignored him, running over to Penny to help her.

I gave her my ball and demonstrated how to shoot to get the other out and she did, even getting out one person.

I pushed her out of the way just in the time to miss the literal missile that Tanya through my way.

Narrowing my eyes, I bounced a ball between my hands, faking a throw to get her on her toes.

She crouched down slightly, and I noticed we were the last two left in the game.

The room went deadly silent. I smiled.

I observed her movements heavily, watching every last swift movement for any sort of give away.

And then I found one.

Her left leg, two inches above her knee, she had a faint, barely visible bruise.

I smirked. Perfect.

Then I moved my eyes right back up to hers and spun around just as she launched the ball with enough force to knock my head off.

I smiled as she waited in defence for me to attack, remaining eye contact with her as I ever so slowly pulled another ball to my feet.

Then I aimed and shot, just missing her leg, and while she relished in the feeling of not getting hit, I kicked the ball at my feet up to my hands and shot again.

She gasped as she got out, my ball hitting right on the bruise on her leg that caused her crouch to be slightly too low, meaning she couldn't

move as quickly- especially not for a double attack.

The room erupted into cheers as I got up to shake Barbara's hand. She gave me a dirty look and looked my hand up and down, debating whether to take it.

Then, she rolled her eyes and stalked off, shooting me the bird.

I shrugged and retreated my hand, a grin lighting up my face as my name became a chant.

I walked right past Archer bumping my shoulders with his as he leaned down to my height and whispered 'talented, talented girl'.

I sat on the bench, pulling up my socks and retying my laces.

Archer's team took their places.

And Carter's team took their's.