Flower; River Phoenix

Chapter five; dahlia

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I slipped on my top, and picked up my record.
"Oh, don't forget the shell." I said, as River stuck his arms through the holes in his shirt and pulled it down.
"Oh yeah." He said bending over, and grabbing it.
He slid it in his pocket.
We started walking out to the street once more.
It was quiet for a while.
"My mother."
He looked at me.
"She, uh-she died, when I was 13." I said.
"You don't have to tell me this.." River said.
We walked out of the bush and began our trek down the street.
"No, no you should know."
"Some lady, I think she was maybe early 20's, she was drunk and of course it was raining." I paused for a short second.
"She rammed into my mom, and she spun around out of control, then hit the street light post."
"She hit it so hard, it nearly split the car in half." I said, as I felt the urge to relieve myself.
"I was so close to her, so close. Ya know?" I said pulling my pack of cigarettes from my back pocket.
I lit it, and took a big puff.
I exhaled, "I'm sorry I usually wouldn't do this in front of friends, or anyone but It helps."
I inhaled again.
He just nodded and looked mindless walking beside me, sympathetically.
It began to sting a bit, so I let it out.
"That sucks." he said looking at me.
"I'm really sorry, that was just two years ago."
I nodded and took another breath.
I could hear the sizzle of the flame, burning the paper, and thats all I needed.
It calmed me down and I was able to focus back on River.
I held the cigarette in my hand, and tapped it a bit to let the ashes fall to the ground.
River reached for it, "Do you mind?" he said taking it out of my hand.
"No go ahead." I said.
I pulled out my pack and offered him one.
"No just a puff." he said pushing it away.
He inhaled and his cheeks caved into his face. He closed his eyes and held it for a bit, as he breathed in. Like he craved it.
He let it out, and it disappeared over his head.
he handed it back to me.
"Thanks."
"Yeah." I said.
Up ahead we saw Meadow and a couple others.
I took one more puff, then threw the cigarette into the gutter.
"I don't do this very often by the way." I said.
"I know." he said.
"Just when i talk about-"
"her." He interrupted me.
"Yeah." I said in a hoarse voice.
I cleared my throat, and we ran up to the group.
Wow he understands me.
No one understands me.
"Hey guys." Corey said.
"Where have you two been all day." Meadow teased.
I ignored her and focused on the others.
"We should do something tonight." I said.
"Oh yeah we were just talking about camping, ya know next to the little stream." Ralph said.
"Oh yeah I've been over there." River said as he slightly bumped my hip.
I let out a small laugh.
"Yeah sounds fun what time should we go over there with our stuff." I said.
"Oh I dunno, 4?" Corey said.
"We need sleeping bags, and tents if we are camping." Keanu said laughing.
"Oh yeah that would help." River said.
"Theres a drug store right here maybe they have something." Meadow suggested.
We walked in and the little bell hooked to the door rang.
We spread out, and I grabbed River and I some food we would eat.
"Guys over here." Keanu said from a corner in the store.
We scrambled over there and sure enough there was 4 tents there.
"These are tiny." Corey said.
"Yeah these will fit two people each at the most." River added.
"Me, River, Corey..." Keanu started and finished in his head, as he counted on his fingers.
"Meadow you and Lilia can share one,Corey and Ralph will share one, me and Jaeden, and that leaves River and B." Keanu said.
"Oh." everyone mumbled.
"I can fit with you guys." River said.
"I thought you guys were 'lovers'." Meadow joked.
"Not yet." He smiled big and put his arm around my waist, I blushed heavily, looking down.
"I'm sleeping with you guys, and Blue you can have the tent to yourself." River said.
"Okay.." I said softly.
I turned my head and there were three flashlights, and two big blankets.
"Look." I said grabbing each of them and handing them to whoever was behind me.
"And we can grab some pillows and more blankets from the motel." I said.
Everyone nodded and a few who had empty hands moved around the store and grabbed useless junk.
I walked to the cashier and everyone followed along.
I put down the food I got for River and I.
Meadow but down some wood, and metal prongs.
Keanu put the tents, and flashlights.
River put the big blankets and some matches.
Corey put some candy, and newspaper.
And Ralph put down marshmallows, hot dogs, buns, and a towel.
"Why a towel." Corey said laughing.
"I dunno if someone goes in the water." He replied.
"Alright that comes out..93 dollars and 11 cents." The cashier said looking us up and down.
I went in my pockets and pulled out a 20, and a 10.
I laid it on the table.
Ralph put a 10 and 5.
River put a 5.
Everyone looked at him.
"What I don't carry much cash." He said shrugging his shoulders.
Meadow put a 20.
And Corey pulled out a 50.
"Wow." I said.
He snarkingly smiled and slid it on the desk.
"Alright 6 dollars and 89 cents is your change." The guy said stuffing all our stuff into five bags.
"We got a lot of shit." I said taking two of them.
"No, no." River said taking the two I grabbed out of my hands and holding them for me.
"Oh what a gentleman." I said in a petty voice, batting my eye lashes.
He bumped me and I laughed and punched him playfully in the arm.
We walked out, and the guys were holding the bags trying to be 'nice' to the ladies.
We started walking to the motel again.
Corey lashed out the candy and began chowing down on it.
"Hey!" Meadow said.
"Save me some!" She said taking the bag from him and stuffing her face.
When we got to the motel the bags of candy were empty.
"I feel sick." Corey said rubbing his stomach.
"Huh I wonder why." River said as he banged the front door open to the motel with his body.
I ran into my room, and gathered up a good amount of pillows and extra blankets.
I ran back out and stuffed a few of them in the already full bags River was holding.
"Alright lets go."