Disclaimer - I don't own Life is Strange

At nightfall, River was sitting on the bench. She was working yet on another poem.

This cold night however was almost starless. Only a handful of dots sparkled many light years away from her.

It didn't bother the girl though. There would always be other nights.

The sheet of paper overflowed with words, as the girl wrote them down hastily. Scared, that they would get lost.

It wasn't too long, before River heard sluggish footsteps drawing closer.

She whipped her whole body around in panic. Was she busted?

Her somewhat widened eyes landed on Nathan Prescott's tired looking figure. River's eye-lids fell a little in relief.

She narrowed her eyes in an attempt of seeing clearer in the dark, when she spotted something in his hand. Another cigarette.

Realization hit her that maybe she shouldn't gawk at him like he was a train-wreck for everybody to see.

She flashed him a toothy grin, before turning back around.

"Okay, focus." She told herself with a sigh, before seeing from the corner of her eye that Nathan Prescott had settled next to the light post, like he had a night ago.

He drew the cigarette impatiently to his mouth, mumbling something about his 'fucking dad'.

River couldn't help but pry on his monologue. However those two words were all she could make out of his mumbling. It was enough to give her an idea of what was bothering him though.

"Dads can be a pain in the ass, huh?" River dared to say, letting out a lighthearted giggle.

He turned his head slowly in a circle, before averting his gaze to her by snapping his head at her. This gave her an idea of how annoying she was to him.

His lips were pressed to a thin line, as smoke escaped his nosestrils. Nathan's reddned eyes were fixed on the girl. River wished to take her words back at that moment.

"Care to mind your own fucking business, star-gazing-bitch?"

River bursted out laughing, her chest rumbling in amusement. Nathan raised a surprised eyebrow at that. He had expected every other reaction, but not.. not this. He regained his posture quickly, glaring at the girl, that was clutching her stomach from all the laughter.

"Oh, you think that's so fucking hilarious, don't you?" He snarled darkly, as his glare deepened, while her laughter slowly died down. "Listen up, bitch. I'm not your own fucking personal clown or your little buddy that's cracking jokes with ya, so you better stop laughing or I'll make sure that this was your last time splitting your sides." At this point his free hand was transformed into a fist.

River wasn't intimidated by this guy though. All she saw was a broken being, getting all defensive about the dumbest things. Out of fear, maybe.

"I didn't laugh at you," She clarified, raising her eyebrows reassuringly. "Your insult was just so accurate. I mean, I really am star gazing all night. You pretty much nailed me." She grinned at her own confession.

His dark features twitched, but he did everything in his power to not let his angry demeanor crumble. His eyes landed on the sheet of paper, which was placed in her lap. "What the fuck are you even doing?" He wondered genuinly, but made sure that his tone sounded taunting, irritated or indifferent. Or better, everything at once.

She looked down on her lap. "I'm writing poetry." River answered, suddenly absently, as she admired the words on that piece of paper.

A beat passed and he threw the cigarette on the ground, extinguishing it slowly with the tip of his shoe, before stalking towards the bench and taking a seat. "Let's see if it's worth shit.." Nathan grabbed the paper, before the girl could protest. That was fine, she wasn't planning on doing so anyway.

Heart is broken

Wounds are open

I see myself in the darkest nights

Wishing upon the brightest lights

A longing heart, that aches for you to be here

Is shaking beneath my rib-cage in fear

For you're gone for good

A soul that is alone

And misunderstood

River watched the hand that was holding the paper, shake. He was shaking often, which made the girl wonder if he needed medicine or if he was a drug-addict.

Before she could voice her concern for Nathan, he spoke up, lowering the sheet of paper to his knee. "To whom is this emo-crap dedicated?"

She snatched the paper out of his grip and placed it beside her. "Now look who's not minding their business.." River crossed her arms, puckering her lips smugly.

Nathan frowned. "Whatthefuckever."

River watched him a little, before making a decision. "Tell you what," She smiled softly, when he looked at her. "If you tell me what you're so worked up about, I'll tell you to whom I dedicated the poem."

His glances shifted around, actually taking the things she said into account. His eyes traveled to his hands, which where tangled together on his lap. "Just had to listen to another shitty lecture from my poor excuse of a father." He confessed with fake-enthusiasm, after groaning.

"I reckon your relationship with him is really bad." River gave back with a gloomy undertone, her sympathy for him shining through.

"Really bad?" He repeated indecredulously, chuckling humorlessly. "It's fucking toxic!" Nathan exlaimed, untangling his hands to place them on his knees. "I fucking hate him and he hates me!" He proclaimed with just as much force, talking rather to himself than the girl.

"I'm sorry," River told him lamely, hoping he'd understand that these words were genuine. "You should distance yourself from toxic people."

Nathan narrowed his eyes at the girl, raising his shoulders. "What do you know? You're not not my god-damn psychiatrist!"

"But Nathan," River replied, meeting his furious eyes with soft ones. "I don't have to be a psychiatrist to give you some well-meant advice."

His own eyes softened a little and he averted them to his designer shoes. "Let some people in. Empty yourself."

Those words caused him to laugh in mockery. "Oh man," He wiped a tear from his eye with his sleeve. "This is fucking funny! Where did you get those wannabe-deep hippie quotes from? Well-meant advice from me," He said, pointing at himself, still laughing. "To you," Nathan put a hand on her shoulder. "Stop smoking so much weed and shit."

River looked up at him, as he laughed his heart out, his hand never leaving her shoulder. "Well, at least I got you to laugh," She shrugged, rolling her eyes in amusement. "And I don't do drugs, buddy."

"HEY!"

River flinched upon hearing someone yell, causing Nathan to remove his hand from her shoulder.

Both turned around to see an angry looking David Madsen walking towards them with a flashlight in his hand.

At that moment, every imaginable swear word ran through River's mind, as she stared at David, like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Fuck me." She heard Nathan mutter in annoyance.

"What are you kids doing here? It's past midnight and you low-brows should be in your dorms!" He snapped at them sternly, once he had approached them. "I will inform Principal Wells about -"

"You won't do jack-shit if you want to keep your stupid-ass job!" Nathan barked, looking like a dog that was ready to bite David's head off.

David looked taken aback for a second, before knitting his eyebrows in anger. "Excuse me? This is your last warning, mister! If you keep -"

Nathan grinned in irritation. "You're warning me?" He asked, interrupting him yet again. "I'm a fucking Prescott! I own your sorry ass! Move along, old fart, unless you wanna get fired that is!"

River saw that the man was cut to the quick, despite the glare he flashed them, before walking away. She felt sorry for David.

Once he was out of earshot, River gave Nathan a sad look. "Why do you abuse your power?"

"That's the only fucking thing that comes in handy about being Nathan Prescott." The rich kid replied dryly, without any sign of remorse.

"That is not true," She shook her head. "Don't define yourself by your heritage, your family's wealth or their status. You are you. An own individual," River smiled softly. "Try being nicer to people."

The boy got up from the bench, looking furious. "You know nothing about me or the rotten situation I'm in! So keep those smart-ass advices to your fucking self!" He yelled, a vain popping out of his forehead.

River got up as well, taking a few steps towards him. "Nathan, calm down."

"Don't come near me, bitch!" He warned, taking a step back. "You better run for the hills!"

She took another step towards him, giving him the feeling that she was challenging him. Usually people would step back by now. This girl was doing quite the opposite. "You're out of your fucking mind! Step the fuck back!" This time, he took a threatening step towards her as well. "You don't wanna mess with me!"

"I just want to help you." River told him, trying to keep her cool.

"You can't help me. No one can." Nathan answered, starting to shake a little. He looked down at his shaking hands. "Nathan, let me -" But before she could finish, the boy sprinted to the building, leaving the girl to herself.