Page 15 of Another Love, Another Time
This year, my family is hosting Friendsgiving. Last year, everyone went down to River’s house. We usually rotate through River’s parents, Logan’s, or mine. All the friends’ families are going to be here, including Melissa’s family. Since the hayride a few years ago when Melissa said she would try to be nicer to River, she’s gone out of her way to be nice to River. At least whenever River and her family are around, but I don’t think River is buying what Melissa is trying to sell. They aren’t mean to one another, but they’re not friends either. It’s kind of like they have a truce.
River tries to avoid Melissa at all costs. If she sees Melissa heading her way, she excuses herself. When this happens, I’m usually standing next to River; therefore, she leaves me to talk to Melissa without an escape. Sometimes, Logan takes pity on me and pulls me away, but Melissa has caught on to this game. She knows how to work it to her advantage.
Melissa tried to weasel her way into spending the night at my house when River’s family was in town, but it hasn’t happened since. River told me on the way home from that trip that she had a talk with both her mom and dad about them forcing her to be friends with Melissa, especially since her dad already told her she didn’t have to be friends with Melissa. She made it clear she did not want to get to know Melissa any better. If her mom wanted her to get to know Melissa more, then her mom would need to remain close by throughout the night and not make River babysit her.
River also told me that during that night, she had to go to the restroom, and when she got back, Melissa tried to say that I had asked her to move there. Melissa wouldn’t get up. She told me she kicked me to try to wake me up to confirm what Melissa said, but then Melissa started to backtrack. I had wondered why my head hurt. I’m sure River told her parents about that part as well. Anyways, both can be in the same room without any issues as long as they are not forced into an interaction.
I’m nervous about today because we will be playing games. River is very competitive, and Melissa already asked me to be on her team. I know that River will not be happy. I really don’t want to face River right now. My mom and dad talked to me about not excluding others when River is around, so I agreed to be Melissa’s partner today. It wasn’t going to be pretty. I probably should have told River before she arrived today.
I’m currently helping my dad with the turkey. It’s the first time he is going to cook one. He’s watched a lot of YouTube videos. All the families were supposed to bring a side dish with them. My mom made a few sides, and Aunt Ashley usually bakes and brings the desserts.
River’s family just showed up, and Aunt Ashley is preparing the seating. Aunt Ashley brought pumpkin, apple, and pecan pies.
River walks up and whispers in my ear, “Guess what I made and brought just for me and you?”
I lean back and raise my right brow. “Pumpkin cheesecake!” I pick her up and give her a big bear hug. “I can’t wait to eat it later when everyone is gone.” I release her slowly.
She’s wearing the T-shirt that I bought her for her last birthday. It’s maroon with a picture of her and me in the bathtub when we were babies. It reads, “Find a weirdo just like you, and never letthem go.” I’m pretty sure she loves it because every time I see her, she wears it.
Our dads are drinking beer together. Her dad yells at her to go get them more beer. River turns to me and says, “I’ll be right back.” Then, she runs off.
While River is inside getting our dads' beers, Logan and his parents show up. Aunt Jessica is carrying a casserole dish. “Hey, Aunt Jess. Can I help with anything?” I ask. I continue to walk towards their vehicle, knowing they will have more than what she is carrying. “Yeah. Uncle Chris and Logan can show you what to bring in.” With that, I leave her to help Logan and his dad.
After everyone leaves today, our families will have our annual craft day where we make Christmas presents, and the kids usually make ornaments. Aunt Jess usually brings most of the craft items. My mom instructs Logan and me to put everything in the guest room until it’s time to bring them out.
This year, the moms chose all the games that we were going to play. There are several “Minute to Win It” games picked out. I know that she and Aunt Ashley were on the phone several nights planning out which games we were going to play. My mom wouldn’t tell me, probably knowing that River and I would practice so we would win.
Man, River is going to be so mad at me. I have been partners with Logan before, but for some reason, I know this will be different. Even though Melissa and River have not been fighting, I know River would like me to be her partner.
The rest of the other families have started arriving; food is being set out. The turkey just got pulled out of the oven, and my dad is carving it up. I know I need to tell River before Melissa and herfamily show up. I go to look for her, and she’s playing with my little sister.
Ellie just started playing softball this year and wanted to talk to River about it. River has been on a traveling softball team for the past few years. We are both catchers. Ellie is interested in the catcher position, and River is showing her some moves in our basement while everyone waits to eat.
I head over to talk to her, but before I can, Melissa walks through the door. Crap! This is not going to be good.
“Hey, Auggie,” Melissa coos.
“Hey, Melissa,” I manage. She walks over and hands me a T-shirt that looks very familiar to the one she has on, which is a picture of two turkeys. One turkey has my face, and the other has her face. If I wasn’t so nervous about River, I would probably be laughing my butt off right now.
“What’s this for?” I frown and glance over to see that River and my sister are staring at us.
“Well, I figured since we were going to be on the same team that we could have T-shirts.”
“Uh, thanks.” I hesitantly look over at River, and I see the hurt in her eyes before she walks away. “Thanks, Mom and Dad,” I mumble.
I start to go after River, but Melissa grabs my wrist. “Are you going to put it on? I asked my mom to get these made specially for today.”
“Yeah.” I slide it on over my current shirt, and before I can do anything, Melissa has her arm wrapped around me. With her phone, she takes a picture of us in our shirts.
Great! Now we will have proof that this happened. I’m sure everyone at school will be talking about this. Everyone at school knows that our families know one another, and we hang out a lot; Melissa has made sure everyone knows. She sits at the same lunch table that Logan and I sit at with our friends. We have the same class first thing in the morning, so Logan and I walk to our first class with her.
A few of my friends have been asking if there was something going on with Melissa and me, that they have heard her talking about us. I don’t know where they would get that. We are strictly friends. With everything that I have going on, I don’t have time for a girlfriend. Even if I did, she wouldn’t be Melissa. I would never live that down with River. Speaking of River, I need to talk to her and explain what just happened.
River, Age 13
I know that brat did this on purpose. I saw the smug look in her eyes and the tiniest quirk of the right side of her mouth.
Wait. Why would Auggie agree to be her partner? I know that we didn’t say we would be partners, but I thought it was a given. I mean, he has been partners with Logan before, and it never bothered me.
