The Ru Effect

chapter fifty one

I stare at the group gathered in the living room of our apartment. The atmosphere is thick with tension—so much so I feel like I can almost see it hanging in the air between us.

Tejiri is sitting beside me, though her eyes keep darting toward Alex, and I can tel that they haven't settled that argument between them, something neither of them is ready to talk about.

Jamie, ever the carefree one, seems completely oblivious to the gravity of the situation, her attention flickering to the TV like she’s ready to tune out any second. Then there’s Rachel.

She sits stiffly in her chair, arms crossed over her chest, looking like she could care less about being here. But I know better.

I’ve seen the way she is around River—the protectiveness that borders on obsession. I called her because, as much as I hate to admit it, River needs more than just me right now. He needs all of us. And maybe, just maybe, Rachel can help in a way I can’t.

My heart pounds in my chest. How am I supposed to say this? How can I talk about what happened without feeling like I’m betraying River? He doesn’t even know I’m having this meeting, and I can already picture how angry he’s going to be. But I can’t do this alone anymore. Not after what I saw today.

I clear my throat, trying to keep my voice steady as I begin. “Guys, you might be wondering why I called you all here...” My voice trails off, the words catching in my throat.

I’m staring at my hands, fingers twisting nervously in my lap. I don’t know how to say this. I don’t even know where to start. “It’s... It’s about River.”

As soon as I say his name, I can feel the shift in the room. Rachel’s eyes snap up, suddenly sharp and attentive. For the first time since she walked in, she looks like she actually wants to be here.

“What happened?” Alex’s voice cuts through the silence, his tone curious but laced with concern.

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. How do I even explain this? How do I tell them that River—quiet, reserved, distant River—is spiraling so far out of control that I don’t know if I can pull him back? How do I say that I saw the scars today?

Rachel’s voice slices through my hesitation, sharp and accusing. “What have you done to him?” she snaps.

Before I can even think of a response, Tejiri shoots up, already ready to defend me. “What’s your problem? She’s about to talk about something serious, and all you can do is act like some jealous ex?”

Jamie snorts, and for a split second, I feel like the air has been sucked out of the room. The tension is suffocating.

Rachel’s face hardens into a mask of cold indifference, but I can see the storm brewing in her eyes. She gets up, as if she’s ready to walk out. “I don’t even know why I’m here,” she mutters. “I can just go see him myself.”

“No, you can’t.” My voice is louder than I expected, but it stops her in her tracks. She turns, her eyes narrowing at me, but I push on before I lose the nerve. “Trust me, you shouldn’t do that... because... because River hurt himself today.”

The words hang in the air for a moment, and then everything erupts at once.

“What?!” Everyone yells in unison, except Rachel, who stares at me like I’ve just punched her in the gut. Her lips part, but no sound comes out. For the first time since she walked in, she looks shaken.

I swallow hard, trying to keep it together, trying not to break down in front of them. “River needs help,” I say, my voice trembling now. “Serious help. But he doesn’t want to ask for it. He’s... he’s self-destructive, and I don’t think I can do this alone anymore.”