Follow the River

Right?

“Don’t let them ruin our day, okay?” I plead, needing that look from only a few minutes ago back in his eye. “I know the first time someone says that…it’s like a shot to the stomach. But don’t let it get to you.”

Rain shakes his head, coming out of whatever pissed off trance he was in. When his eyes co

Because fuck him for making this harder than it should be; for being so closed-minded he causes other human beings to question whether or not they are allowed to be the person they truly are.

Fuck their fear and their hatred of the things they don’t understand.

For thinking that deviating from social norms coincides with being inferior.

Screw that bullshit thinking from generations ago, so we can move into a time of acceptance. Let people shine in their most authentic form.

Rain’s helmet taps against mine as he leans into me. “Fucking asshole,” he mutters, his grip on my waist tight, even through the layers of gear.

“I know,” I sigh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

“Don’t,” he cuts me off, pulling back to look at me again. “Don’t fucking apologize to me for the bullshit someone else said. That’s not on you.”

“True, but—”

“Shut up,” he growls, kissing me roughly before I have the chance to speak further. His words come out in a harsh breath against my lips. “If anyone should be apologizing, it’s me. Not for them, I don’t give a shit what they have to say. I only care that I’ve used the same word as a weapon against you.”

My chest constricts at his declaration, knowing now it wasn’t those dicks that had him freezing up. It’s that he’s still holding onto so much guilt for the crap we did and said before. “Rain, it’s sticks and stones. Words have no power to hurt you unless you let them.”

“And let me guess,” he says, licking his lips and pulling back from me, his eyes liquid fire. “You’re about to lie to me for the second time today and tell me the crap I said never hurt you.”

He doesn’t give me a second to answer though, because he’s already pushing off me, aiming his board down the mountain. I can tell that he’s already hardening, shutting himself off from me once again.

“Let’s go, babe. No use dwelling on the shit we can’t change.”

With that, he starts down the mountain, leaving me wondering if I somehow managed to fuck up this entire day with one fucking sentence.