Chapter 1- The Stranger
"Oh for crying out loud, mum hurry up!" River cried out. She knew if her mum didn't stop stuff-arsing around they would be late for the third year in a row. River always made a big deal about first days of school, as if they meant she would get a 'new beginning'. 'Yeah right' she rolled her eyes, 'every year it stayed the same'. River had gone to the same school since she was little, all she was known as was the smart one. It was almost as if that was all she was, nothing more, nothing less. She had few friends despite her loud and straightforward attitude.
"I'm coming my little dandelion, calm down" Her mum replied back in her usual sing-songy voice. "Bloody hell! I told you to stop calling me that like three years ago. I'm not a little kid anymore" River yelled at her mum. When she saw the tears welling up in her mum's dark brown eyes, remorse swept over her like a tidal wave. "Mum, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I'm just stressed over school and everything. I shouldn't have taken it out on you." River said apologetically as she comforted her mother. "It's okay sweetie, let's get you to school" she replied weakly. River's mum had always been sensitive, this didn't exactly mesh well with River's more brutally honest personality. Despite the differences the two shared, they still loved and cared for each other.
"River! River!" Cried out a shrill voice. Immediately, River wished she could disappear but alas it was too late, the voice had already arrived. "Charlotte, how nice to see you here, at my locker, on the opposite side of the school to yours" River spat passive aggressively. Clearly unbothered by this remark, Charlotte handed River a brightly coloured flyer. "I'm having a shindig at my place on Saturday night, you should so come. It's not like you have anything better to do, right? 'Cause like you don't have a boyfriend" Charlotte gleefully said, not realising how her statement could be mistaken for rudeness. "Whatever" whined River as she darted off to her first class clenching the flyer in her fist.
"Oh bloody he-" River mumbled, her heart stopping as she noticed the tall stranger she had just run into. His eyes were like the ocean so mysterious, so deep and so blue. River felt as though if she stared into them long enough she would drown and that would be okay. And his skin, his skin looked as though it was crafted from only the finest of gold. "You done checking me out yet?" the stranger chuckled. River snapped back to reality and realised she really had been checking him out. Suddenly, it felt as if all the blood in her entire body had rushed to her cheeks. "Red's your colour" he said as he lightly touched her cheeks before vanishing.
Finding it hard to concentrate in all of her classes, River's day seemed to flash by in the blink of an eye. Who was that handsome stranger? Was he new here? How can someone be that extraordinarily beautiful? River didn't know. She didn't know anything except for his touch and his eyes. His touch made her skin tingle as though it were being kissed by ten thousand lightning bugs. His hand was so warm, far warmer than anything she'd ever felt and it made her feel safe. Just his presence alone made her feel safe. How could this stranger have had such a big affect on her? River had no idea just how much he would come to mean to her.
