At night the two teenagers River McIrish and Parker Langerak sat on the stairs in front of the house of her mother Fiona McIrish.
„I have plenty of B's and only math and science I've got a C. It's better than when I tried it all on my own. I was only around the B's and a few A's thanks to Ethan, but now it's more believable for everyone…..Honest I mean,"
„Your uncle at least is now satisfied with you. That's a good thing for now. As well it's good for your future," Commented River. „You also did well all on your own, when I was sick and gone for a week," Added River watching Parker pass his hand under his hat to rub his head. „You see, that you did well. You've gotten two B's on that week. You learned by yourself and perhaps the way you saw worked the best for you,"
„It's funny, cause it's basically like I'm copying my friend but the sheets I'm copying are my own, just I'm putting them on blank sheets instead,"
„Yes. Your saw, that when you used to be with Ethan you have learned by copying his homework. You practically did the same, but with blank sheets. You saw you still would do well and tada…...good grades," Commented River making Parker nod.
In front of the road appeared a minivan honking at the duo, then moved into the free parking spot in front of the house and the teens looked at the vehicle to see, who the driver was.
„That's just Molly our roommate," Mentioned River watching the person leave the car, afterward opened the door behind the driver's seat. A few moments later, she passed behind the back of the car while carrying in her arms her young toddler girl Sandi and stopped by the duo.
„Hey you two. Enjoying the starry sky?" Asked Molly making the two nod.
„We came here after finishing our project," Responded River making Parker nod. "Where have you and Sandi been?"
"I took her shopping and afterward we both went to eat a burger together, right Sandi?" Asked Molly making Sandi chuckle.
"We got…..toy d….og," Babbled Sandi making River beam, while Parker chuckled at the baby talk.
"Cool, will you show me your toy?" Questioned River watching Sandi nod, then she looked at Molly.
"What about tomorrow, darling? We gotta give you a bath," Mentioned Molly watching Sandi get sad, then River got up to take Sandi's little hand.
"Tomorrow, when I come back from school I will come to you and you will show me the toy then. Follow your mommy, okay?" Asked River with a sweet tune making Sandi nod. Thereafter River pecked the girl on the forehead and let the woman enter into the house. River got down beside Parker, who smiled a little at the friend.
"You know, despite the girl not being related to you. You two do share a bond similar to sisters," Parker confessed making River smile.
"I was 14 I think when Sandi was still a newborn. She was troubled, her boyfriend had dumped her months before the birth and Molly didn't know, where she should go with the baby all alone. My mom upon hearing her story called her to come here and she's been living here with us ever since,"
"Must be a frustration, what she went through or is going,"
"She's over it upon the first month she's here with us. She was more worried, that she would be doing all that alone. She wasn't ready to be a mother, second, the relationship wasn't serious. She was glad, that she had us to help her," Mentioned the brunette girl making Parker nod. "You can consider yourself lucky for having a complete family, including a younger sister like Kaylynn. She's a real treasure," Confessed River.
"She likes you too, River. You have inspired her to follow into music lessons after school. She's always happy when she meets you there,"
"She really is," Added Parker. "My dad also noticed Kaylynn's changes. He even commented that many things seemed to have improved since you got around. My grades, Kaylynn's mood, my mom's focus on mine and Kaylynn's existence, my dad finally understood, that I can also have a female friend without believing she's my girlfriend or so…..."Ended Parker making River snort.
"Wait, but one question…..what about Holly Alto? Isn't she a girl too?"
"Yes, I don't know. We know each other for so long. Strangely he never questioned anything," Answered the raven-haired.
"Okay," Commented River. "You know. I like your family. They're all kind and funny. Mostly your dad. He can be really open towards people, even when he doesn't know them well,"
"You mean, because of that time, when he asked you about your family?" Questioned Parker making River nod.
"I just went to get fresh air upon being there at dinner and beginning to miss those kinds of moments I used to have long before the issues of my dad turned…...bad. Your dad just was being hospitable and offered me to talk with,"
"You bonded real quick with my family. While that I kind of feared your mother a few times, until I got more or less to know her. She somehow radiates negative emotions toward someone. As if she had the impression, I would be a harm,"
"Well, I got to admit, she got a bit worried, when I told her you were….troubled at the school. She respects your presence so far, don't worry," Promised the brunette making the Scandinavian boy nod.
"She eventually does not have any interest in you know…...look for a certain somebody, she would spend the rest of her life? Like what happened to Miss Crumplebottom next door?"
"Uh she didn't get anyone," Corrected River surprising Parker.
"Really? Weird. I could swear it was her,"
"That was her sister, Cornelia. Her husband passed away on a heart attack and some guy named Roberto got her interest or awakened it," Mentioned River. "But my mother won't really go for a relationship ever again. At least as long as I'm around her. She didn't want to face the same issue again eventually and had promised me when I was a child to make sure everything would be okay between us two. She would be able to sustain the both of us in which she did,"
"She's a power woman. Like my mother would say," Spoke Parker making River snicker.
"She is. When I look back at the past, I really admired her how in some aspects she was brave enough to put herself in danger to help us out of the life we were having at one point,"
"You know I had heard back in the school, that somebody's dad had died and that it was yours. Only recently I heard, that your dad had been mistreating you and your mom,"
"Mainly my mother. It was on the day, my father had decided to put his finger on me as I tried to help her, that my mother had had it all and took me away from home. On the same night, my dad also noticed somehow, that we were gone and managed to find us,"
"How did he actually fall off that cliff as it was notified on the news?" Questioned Parker. "That was your dad, wasn't it?"
"Yes. I don't know, how he fell. It was theorized, that due to his drunk state, that he might have fallen by accident. The only thing the autopsy could show was, that he suffocated. He lay on the ground and somehow his vomit came up his mouth and well….he died,"
"He choke on his own vomit?" Asked Parker confused making River nod.
"I know it sounds odd, but it's what the police confirmed. I…..it's hard to explain. I was sad at one point, that he had died. On the other hand, I was fine to know, we would have peace. What I realized with the time was, that when I would look at other families like yours for example...You can all sit together around the table for dinner and eat together, chat, laugh and joke. You do all have your own flaws, but you're still a good family,"
"You never had that in the past with your parents or…"
"Not much. When I was at your home sitting together with your family, it felt homely. As if I already was home," Mentioned River making Parker smile.
"That's actually a good thing. For you, I believe too,"
"For you too. I know you say, that your parents in some aspects are embarrassing, but those are all parents mostly. They love you, they just don't show it enough to you and so do you," Mentioned River making Parker nod.
"That's right, I think. Despite this, when I was younger and Kaylynn was younger, I would feel left out by my parents. I knew very well, that Kaylynn from being younger would need more attention so that I wouldn't be a sort of burden to my parents I tried to be my own man and would occasionally visit Ethan or others around the town. Wanna know at what point my…..girl hunting began?" Questioned Parker making River burst into a laugh.
"What? Girl hunting? Did you really say that?"
"I don't know how else I should have said it, but….. it was strange. At the beach, we had played volleyball together against Lisa and Candy. Somewhat later some student from another class came to watch us and began to flirt with me and say I was handsome;" Stated the boy watching River shake her head. "I'm serious. I'm telling you the truth, ask Ethan or Lisa. They were there,"
"Alright, I believe you and who was that girl?" Questioned River watching Parker shrug his shoulders.
"I don't remember her full name. She was called Betty by her first name. I found it strange and Lisa complimented my luck along with Ethan. I would eventually according to them have luck at finding a girlfriend in the future faster, than the two. When puberty hit me, I changed quite a bit and Ethan, which was interested in sports took me along with VJ to the gym and we three practiced sports together. I noticed, that girl's interest grew on us, mostly me and Ethan and somehow I took advantage of the situation, began to talk to the one girl, that showed interest in me. Actually, there has never been any girl interested in me in anything else besides the romance. You know like you, for example, you wanted to help me, others would want anything with me, others would occasionally talk to me related about anything else, like I don't know…...what happened here or there,"
"Your parents don't realize you were a lot involved with different girls? You mention, that your parents assumed a lot of female visits you had, they would always consider them being your date?"
"My father didn't say a thing. My mother said I was going….the wrong direction in the aspect of looking for a partner. Aunt Zelda assured she was making sure I wouldn't learn anything bad from her side, but my mom didn't really trust her at all,"
"See? Your family still does appreciate you and give you advice. Whether you listen to it or not it's up to you. You sure had a girl or another one, that took you down like these Spaniards from the eleventh grade," Mentioned River making Parker nod.
"Yes, Dina and Nina weren't quite the nicest girls I have ever met so far," Commented Parker.
"Nor the smartest tools in the shed," Added River making Parker chuckle.
"What? Are they that bad at the school?"
"Being smart doesn't mean you're always good at school. Sometimes you can do well at subjects at the school and not be smart at all. Bert Alto, that one businessman, that is related with Holly's dad was terrible at school, but he's got kin for numbers and business. People's minds don't are the same. My father, for example, was an excellent engineer, but he had this habit of drinking and sometimes he would drink too much or at the wrong moments….He lost his job and the company's most important task, all because he thought nothing would come to harm,"
"Oh right, he almost made the city hall fall apart," Added Parker. "You know, your story and your current being is quite fascinating. You had a worse past than VJ did and you didn't turn into a sort of rebel as he did. You…..just moved on,"
"You should never blame others for your problems, Parker. Most of the time you gotta look into a mirror and question yourself, what's up," Stated River making Parker nod.
"You're right," Confessed Parker. "I'm sorry for further bringing up the topic of your dad's….death,"
"It's alright. Sometimes it feels good to talk about it," Mentioned the Irish girl earning a smile from the friend.
"You can always talk with me about it when you need it. If I'm not able to talk with you about it or don't know, what exactly I should say, at least you know I am listening,"
"Thanks for your offer," Responded River. "You're really not, the kind of guy I thought you were before we started studying together," Commented River making Parker cackle.
"Okay yeah, I'm used to hearing that," Confessed the raven-haired boy getting up along with the brunette. "You got my number, you can call as well if you think it's needed,"
"I'll let you know when I need something," Spoke River, then she opened her arms to embrace the boy, which smiled and placed his own arms around her as well. "Thank you, Parker," The brunette said leaning her chin over his shoulder, making Parker slowly rolls his eyes at her surprised at her more intimate approach. He began to smile slightly enamored with the girl, then caressed her back to give her comfort.
"Don't mention it," Parker said quietly, remaining back on the spot.