The bell rang, signaling the end of class. I gathered my things slowly, allowing the last remnants of the lesson to settle before slipping my bag over my shoulder. Ezzy and Jade were already heading toward the door, and I fell in step with them as we made our way to the rehearsal hall.
We needed to go over the song Ezzy was going to perform at the Festival, and the pressure was starting to mount. She'd been working hard to perfect it, and today was just another step toward making it flawless. Riven's absence still lingered in my thoughts, but I pushed it aside for now. I had to focus.
Jax and Zion were in attendance once again, ever the supportive boyfriends. They stood off to the side, exchanging quiet words and glancing over to offer encouragement whenever needed. Ezzy and I got straight to work, discussing the changes we wanted to make to the song. We both agreed it needed a little extra punch to stand out at the Festival. The music had to speak louder, connect with the crowd. After a bit of back and forth, we settled on a few changes: a guitar solo before the final chorus, to really build that energy, and a piano buildup as Jade got into the final part of her rap.
The idea was to weave in a bit of contrast, something that would make the rap hit harder and give the entire performance an emotional arc.
We rehearsed over and over, adjusting parts, tweaking transitions, and harmonizing the vocals until the pieces finally came together. The room was filled with the sound of our voices and instruments, and slowly, the song began to feel more alive, more powerful.
We didn't stop until we were completely satisfied, each of us quietly nodding in approval as the final notes lingered in the air.
"That's it," Ezzy said, her smile wide. "It's perfect."
Jade, who had been focused on her rap, gave a satisfied grin. "I've never been more ready for this."
This week and the next were clearly going to be hectic with rehearsals. The Festival was just two weeks away, so the pressure was already starting to build. Every moment felt like it was pushing us closer to the big day, and the weight of it was something we all felt.
We walked outside to the lot, the excitement of the Festival dominating our conversation. Everyone was buzzing about the final preparations, each of us looking forward to the big event.
Before heading home, I turned to Zion, "Hey! Text me when you hear from Riven?"
Zion gave me a quick nod, his expression serious. "Will do. Don't worry, I'll keep you updated."
My walk back home was consumed by thoughts of Riven. I had this weird feeling that it was not just a family emergency. Something major happened.
That night, I tossed and turned in bed, unable to quiet my racing mind. Every few minutes, I checked my comm crystal, hoping for a message that never came. The silence grew heavier with each passing hour, and the longer it lasted, the more I couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.
As the week went on, there was still no sign of Riven. I lost count of the number of times I asked Zion about him, but each time, he just gave me a helpless look, his own worry evident in his eyes. It was clear from his face that he was just as anxious as I was, but neither of us had any answers.
I welcomed the endless rehearsals as a distraction, throwing myself into the music and choreography. It helped to keep my mind occupied, but no matter how hard I tried to stay optimistic, something gnawed at me. I could feel it in my bones, Riven was caught in something serious, and I had no idea how to reach him.
After school, I went for a run in the forest behind our house to clear my head. I was getting more and more restless thinking about Riven, and I needed something to take my mind off the uncertainty. The physical exertion and the space to think were exactly what I needed to push the anxiety away, even if just for a little while. The fresh air and the rhythmic sound of my footsteps on the earth helped, but even in the solitude of the forest, my thoughts kept drifting back to him.
I pushed harder, going further into the forest, my lungs burning with each deep breath, my calves aching from the effort. The trees around me blurred into a green haze as I picked up speed, trying to outrun the thoughts that kept chasing me.
I weaved through the trees, the branches swishing above me, my heart pounding not just from the exertion, but from the nagging feeling that Riven might be in trouble. My legs began to feel like lead, but I kept going, determined to burn off the restlessness that refused to let me be.
I was passing a denser part of the forest when I heard noises coming from deeper within the trees. At first, it was just a faint rustling, but quickly it grew louder, more violent. Branches snapped, leaves scattered, and it sounded like something, or someone, was fighting or struggling. My pulse quickened, and I slowed to a halt, listening closely. Then, I felt it, a strange pulse of energy rippling through the air, subtle yet undeniable. It ran deep, carrying a familiarity I couldn't quite place. A shiver crept down my spine, my skin prickling as if the very air around me had shifted.
I stepped closer, heart pounding, trying to peer through the thick foliage, the uncertainty sending a chill down my spine. I kept moving forward cautiously, swallowing the fear rising in my throat. Before I could react, something large came hurtling toward me, a heavy branch spinning rapidly through the air. I ducked just in time, feeling the rush of air brush against my cheek as it narrowly missed me and crashed into the bushes behind.
My heart thundered in my chest as I straightened, adrenaline surging through me. Whatever was happening up ahead, it definitely wasn't good.
I needed to make a decision, and fast: move further or get my ass out of there. But before I could think, my feet were already moving, carrying me nearer to the source of the chaos. Every instinct screamed at me to turn back, but something stronger, something deeper, urged me forward. My pulse hammered relentlessly in my ears as the sounds intensified, and I pushed through the undergrowth, bracing myself for whatever awaited me ahead.
Never in my life was I prepared for what I saw. My knees nearly gave out when I spotted Riven, shirtless, bruised, and bloodied, violently knocking down trees and hurling branches in a fit of pure rage. His eyes were wild, distant, as if he wasn't fully aware of his actions. The sight of him sent a surge of fear and confusion racing through me.
"R-Riven?" I called out cautiously, my voice barely a whisper, trembling with uncertainty.
His head snapped around, his wild gaze locking onto mine. For a moment, neither of us moved, the only sound was our ragged breathing and the lingering echoes of his destruction.
I took a hesitant step forward, my heart pounding so fiercely I thought he could hear it. Riven didn't move, didn't speak, he just stood there, watching me, his chest rising and falling rapidly. Despite the chaos he had just unleashed, he now seemed frozen, as if waiting to see what I'd do next.
"Riven," I whispered again, forcing myself to stay calm as I stepped closer. "It's me."
The weight of my own movements felt impossibly heavy. Every second stretched painfully long as I approached, my shoes crunching softly against the forest floor. Riven stayed perfectly still, eyes locked on mine, his breathing ragged and uneven. His wild expression slowly softened, giving way to confusion, and then, to something deeper, almost pained.
"It's okay," I said quietly, reaching out slowly as though approaching a wounded animal. "It's just me, Riven."
His gaze flickered, uncertainty clouding his eyes. I could see the turmoil raging inside him, the struggle as he fought to recognize me through the storm in his mind. He opened his mouth slightly as if to speak, but no words came out, only a strangled sound, rough with emotion.
My chest ached at the sight. "You're safe," I whispered, inching closer, my voice steady despite the racing of my heart. "Just breathe."
Hesitantly, I reached out, my fingers just a breath away from his arm. "You're not alone," I murmured, hoping, praying, that my voice could pull him from whatever abyss had swallowed him whole.
For a second, nothing happened. Then, like a dam breaking, his body sagged ever so slightly, his breathing still ragged but no longer erratic. His fists unclenched, fingers twitching as though unsure of what to do now that the storm had passed.
His eyes met mine again, the rage dimming, replaced by something even more unsettling: exhaustion. A deep, soul-crushing weariness that looked like it had been eating at him for far longer than just today.
"Riven," I tried again, softer this time.
His lips parted, but no words came. Instead, his body swayed slightly, like his own weight had suddenly become too much to bear.
Instinct took over. I stepped forward without hesitation, reaching for him just as his knees buckled. I barely managed to steady him, helping him settle against the nearest tree, his body trembling beneath my hands.
As I moved to stand, Riven's hand suddenly grasped mine, his grip strong despite his weakened state. I barely had time to react before I lost my balance, landing against him, right onto his lap.
My breath caught as his chest rose and fell against me, warmth radiating from his skin. His fingers remained wrapped around my wrist, firm yet unsteady. I stilled, afraid to move, afraid to breathe.
Riven, however, just sat there, silent, his grip loosening slightly but not letting go. As if he needed to hold onto something real. As if, in this moment, I was the only thing grounding him. I wasn't sure what to do, frozen in the unfamiliar closeness, my mind racing between pulling away and staying right where I was.
Then, for the first time, he spoke, his voice rough, broken, as if forcing the words out took everything he had.
"Don't go… please." His grip on my wrist tightened for a fraction of a second before easing, his fingers trembling slightly. "I need you."
The raw vulnerability in his voice sent a sharp ache through my chest. Without thinking, I shifted, adjusting my position until I was straddling him. My knees pressed into the damp earth on either side of his hips, grounding us both in the moment. His breath hitched slightly at the movement, his hands twitching as though unsure of where to place them.
I swallowed past the lump forming in my throat and reached forward, my hands trembling as they gently cradled his face. His skin was warm beneath my fingertips, his stormy gray eyes filled with something fragile, something unguarded.
"I'm not going anywhere," I whispered, holding his gaze, willing him to believe me. "I promise."
For a moment, he didn't move, didn't speak. Then, his eyelids fluttered slightly, and his head dipped forward just enough for his forehead to brush against mine. A quiet exhale slipped from his lips, as if my words had drained the last bit of fight from him.
Then, slowly, he buried his face in the crook of my neck, his breath warm against my skin. His hands moved to my waist, encircling me, pulling me closer as if he needed to anchor himself. Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around his neck, my fingers threading into his hair, holding him just as tightly as he held me. I didn't speak, didn't move, just let him hold on, let him breathe. And in that moment, I wasn't sure who was grounding who.
The sun was setting, casting long shadows through the thick canopy, and the forest around us slowly slipped into darkness. Bioluminescent plants pulsed faintly, their soft glow illuminating patches of moss and twisting roots, while tiny, luminous insects flitted through the air like floating embers. The world felt eerily still, as if holding its breath for whatever would happen next.
After a while, I finally spoke, my voice quiet but filled with everything I had been holding in. "I was so worried about you. When Zion told me you went back to South Lowmere, I was afraid you wouldn't come back." I swallowed, my fingers still buried in his hair. "And as the days passed with no sign of you, I--"
I hesitated, my throat tightening, the weight of those empty days pressing against me all over again.
"I didn't know what to think," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I kept wondering if—" I stopped myself, shaking my head. If you were ever coming back. If something had happened to you. If I'd lost you before I ever truly had you.
Riven lifted his head then, his stormy gray eyes locking onto mine. His grip on my waist remained firm, grounding, but his entire body was tense. His jaw clenched like he was waging an internal war with himself.
"Athena…" His voice was raw, rough around the edges, like it had been torn straight from his chest. "I don't want to push you away, but right now… my life is a total fucking mess."
His fingers tightened against my waist, his entire body vibrating with restrained emotion. "If you know what's best for you, you'll stay away from me."
The words struck like a physical blow, but I didn't move. I searched his face, trying to understand, trying to see past the walls he was frantically trying to build between us.
"Why are you saying this?" I whispered, my voice unsteady.
Riven let out a bitter, hollow laugh, but there was no humor in it. His grip on my waist flexed before loosening, as if even holding on to me was too much.
"I thought I could escape from myself," he muttered, his voice laced with frustration. "That maybe, for once, I could try and have a normal life. With you by my side." His stormy eyes flickered with something agonizingly raw before he looked away. "But it's never that easy, is it?"
The bitterness in his tone cut deeper than his words alone. It was laced with something else, resentment, not at me, but at himself. Like he had dared to hope for something better, only to have it ripped away.
I swallowed hard, my heart hammering. "Riven…"
"I mean it, Athena." His voice was rough, but there was something desperate in his eyes, like he wanted me to listen, wanted me to believe him. "You have no idea what I'm dealing with." He let out a slow, unsteady breath. "I don't want to hurt you. But if you stay with me… I will."
I reached up, my hands cupping his face, forcing him to look at me. His jaw tightened beneath my touch, his stormy eyes filled with turmoil, but I refused to let him pull away.
"You don't get to decide for me," I said, my voice steady, unwavering. "Whether I want to stay or not, that's my choice. And I'm telling you now, I don't care how fucked up your life might be right now."
His breath hitched, his fingers twitching against my waist, but I kept going.
"When you decide to be with someone, you stand by them, through the good and the bad. You don't get to push me away just because it's easier than letting me in." I swallowed hard, feeling my own heart pounding in my chest, but I didn't back down.
"I'm done playing around, Riven. I want you. All of you. The parts you try to hide, the parts you think are too dark or too broken, I want it all." My grip tightened slightly, grounding us both. "So don't pull away from me. Don't shut me out."
His breathing was uneven now, his eyes searching mine like he was trying to find something, some hesitation, some doubt. But there was none.
"I'm here to stay," I whispered, my voice softer now but no less certain. "If you'll have me."
I didn't have time to react before Riven's lips crashed onto mine. It wasn't gentle, wasn't careful. It was raw, desperate, like he had been holding back for far too long and had finally lost the battle against himself. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer, as if afraid I'd disappear if he let go.
A sharp breath escaped me, but I didn't hesitate. My fingers tightened in his hair, pulling him deeper into me, matching his intensity. The heat between us ignited, fierce and unrelenting, every suppressed emotion spilling over into this single moment.
Riven kissed me like he was starving for something only I could give, like I was the only real thing anchoring him to this world. And heaven help me, I kissed him back just as fiercely, pouring everything I had into him, into us.
Whatever this was, whatever storm was raging inside him, I wasn't letting him fight it alone.
My fingers tangled deeper into his hair, tugging just enough to make him groan against my lips. The sound sent a shiver down my spine, heat pooling in my stomach as I pressed even closer.
His tongue swept against mine, demanding, consuming, and I gave in, letting him take what he needed. The kiss turned feverish, messy, lips parting only to crash back together. I gasped as his teeth scraped against my lower lip before he sucked it into his mouth, making my pulse skyrocket.
I didn't even realize I was moving until I shifted in his lap, pressing down against him, feeling the hard planes of his body beneath me. His grip on my waist tightened, fingers digging in as he groaned into my mouth. His hands slid lower, gripping my hips, guiding my movements in a slow, agonizing grind that made my breath hitch.
I felt like I was drowning in him, in the heat between us, in the way he kissed me like he was losing himself and finding himself all at once. His hands trembled slightly where they held me, but he didn't stop. If anything, he pulled me closer, his lips trailing down my jaw, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin of my neck.
"Riven," I whispered, my voice barely steady.
He responded by sucking gently at my pulse point, his tongue flicking against my skin before he bit down just enough to make me gasp.
I barely recognized myself in that moment, desperate, breathless, wanting. But it wasn't just desire that burned between us. It was something deeper, something raw and untamed, something neither of us knew how to name.
Riven pulled back just enough to look at me, his eyes dark, his lips swollen from kissing me like he wanted to consume me whole. His chest rose and fell in sharp, uneven breaths, mirroring mine.
For a moment, he just stared at me, his fingers still gripping my waist, his gaze searching, like he was trying to memorize every inch of me, trying to hold onto something he was terrified of losing.
Then, with a slow, shaky exhale, he rested his forehead against mine. "Athena…" he murmured, his voice raw, almost reverent. "You're the light in my darkness."
The words sent a shiver through me, sinking deep into my bones. There was no hesitation, no doubt. Just the truth. A confession wrapped in something broken, something desperate, but real. His grip on me tightened for a fraction of a second, his breath hot against my skin. Then, softer this time, as if speaking more to himself than to me, he whispered, "What did I do to deserve you?"
The quiet vulnerability in his voice made my heart ache. I pulled back just enough to look into his stormy gray eyes, my fingers still tangled in his hair. "You don't have to deserve me, Riven," I whispered. "I'm here because I want to be."
For the first time since I found him in the forest, he looked… grounded. I let my fingers slide gently down his jaw before wrapping my arms around him again, holding him close.
We sat there in silence, the hum of the glowing forest around us, the distant rustling of leaves, the quiet rhythm of our breathing finally in sync. I didn't know what tomorrow would bring, what battles we would still have to fight. But right now, in this moment, I had him. And he had me. And for now, that was enough.