river slept in his truck in the school parking lot. he would have hated to go home and faced his mother, so depressed. river teared up even at the thought of his mother and how she must be feeling right now. no one knew what happened to his father, but he had to tell sean and donny. then he was reminded, the first basketball game of the season was tonight and river was really contemplating on going. river decided that he wouldn't go to school. he decided to just sit in the parking lot all day.

other than blasting the radio for hours straight, he also studied for the classes that he was failing. through the music blasting he heard a knock on his car window. it was a girl. she looked about river's age. river unlocked the doors and let her in. she turned down the volume,"what're you doing out here all alone?" river looked up from his studies,"jamming while studying." she answered,"why aren't you at school?" river stopped what he was doing,"I've got a lot on my mind, sweetheart. now why don't you get out of my car and go back into that school, little thing." the girl narrowed her eyes,"I know who you are! you're a bad boy." river looked at the time,"you best be getting to class now, sweetheart." the girl smiled,"I have a name, it's martha plimis." river's eyes widened,"you dated donny gray." martha nodded,"before he became one of you sick people." river clarified,"I'm not as bad as donny is. I had my first beer about three days ago." martha plimis then changed the subject,"how are you in bed? when donny became a bad boy, all he wanted from me was that," river ran his fingers through his hair,"I don't know." Martha's face turned to shock. "well, I ought to get back home, my family is going through a hard time." river switched the subject. before martha exited the car, she insisted,"you should come to the game tonight. I'll be there. I don't even know your name. I hope to learn it tonight." martha shut the door and went back into the school.