RIVER
I stayed awake longer than I would have, waiting on the couch for Taylor to arrive so I could congratulate him on the game. He seemed to be staying out longer than I thought, so I got into my room, but as though he had been waiting for me to get up and leave, the moment I dropped to my bed in annoyance, the door opened, and the movement through the house was as silent as possible. I know that this is my opportunity; I can't try to miss it. So I slip out of the room and stand by the doorway, catching him before he can disappear into his room, as he has always been doing for the past few days.
"Hi," I say. He had heard me open the door but did not look in my direction until I spoke.
"Hi," he said. His response was simple and short. The way I would have expected anyone to act, just t
