❝ You don't know nothing 'bout working your way from the bottom and earning every ring❞

- Kehlani, Did I?

The classroom used for Girl Up was filled with its 26 members. Charlotte sat in front of the class along with two other executives who sat by her side.

"So, uh Remi and Lilly will be representing us in the cook off taking place in one of our affiliate schools," Charlotte mentioned, throwing a glance at the two girls who sat, smiling and waving. "Second, our blog needs more content, and if there's anyone who has something to share that feels is relevant, and needs to be on the blog for people to read, please signify by raising your hands."

At this point, I smiled to myself, raising a hand up as well as three other girls. Including Sydney.

"Okay, let's hear you Sydney," Charlotte said.

I fought the urge to let out a scoff. Of course I knew Sydney would present her talk in a way that would make Charlotte think it was the best ever.

At that point, Sydney stood, flashing a smile at everyone before looking at Charlotte, "Confidence is a skill that should be taught."

Wait a minute.

My eyes widened. WHAT?

"Interesting," I heard Charlotte say. "Please go on."

"I say that because girls need to know how to be confident. They need people help them be more confident. Girls don't just believe in themselves-"

By this time, I could feel my heart race in anger. That was my idea! That was all I'd planned on talking about.

"-Kids at school calling her ugly, she can't get enough likes on social media, we all know the screen and magazine is filled with just one ideal body type. All these..."

I could feel my lips quiver as she kept speaking. I'd stayed up all night working on that, and only for my idea to get stolen. I could feel tears at the corner of my eyes and I blinked hard so it wouldn't fall.

"That's so brilliant, Sydney!" Charlotte gushed. "Yes, that should be on the blog," she smiled then turned to me, "How about you, Renée? What content do you have to bring to the blog?"

Sydney smirked at me, then smiled as I shook my head, "N- Nothing."

"Are you sure? You raised a hand."

I nodded, "Yeah. It's... It's nothing," I bit my lower lip and kept my folder away.

"Are you okay, Renée?" Harper leaned into me.

"I'm fine," I nodded, forcing a smile.

After that, I just couldn't wait for the end of the meeting, and that was why when Charlotte said we could depart, I threw my backpack over my shoulder immediately and said a quick goodbye to Harper.

I made my way to my locker, but hadn't even reached it when Kaleb literally ran to me, "I hope you're ready to get your ass beat in FIFA. Been looking forward to it all day."

I didn't look at him. I just kept walking.

"Rae? Are you okay?" He looked at me with furrowed eyebrows.

I got to my locker, opened it and took out some books, still completely disregarding his presence.

"Rae, what's wrong?'

"Don't ask me what's wrong, Kaleb. You know how long it took for me to come up with something for Girl Up, but you just had to give my ideas away to Sydney," I looked at him in anger.

"No, I-"

"How else would she have known? I came up with something, I told you. I do not talk to Sydney, so how else?"

Kaleb ran a hand through his hair, "Rae, I'm sorry, I didn't-"

I closed my locker, looking at him again, "It doesn't matter. I'll see you tomorrow."

"No, wait. Come on, Rae. I thought we were going to my house."

"I'll see you tomorrow, Kaleb."

All through work, I was still upset. Upset that I had actually worked on something but the idea of how I wanted to go about it was stolen by Sydney. Of all people.

I yawned and rested my head on my palm. I could feel my eyes closing, only occurring to me that I could have actually gone home, especially since I didn't have to work today.

"Sleeping on duty, aren't you?" River's deep voice caused me to jolt up from sleep and I immediately stood upright. "How long have you been standing there?"

"I only just got here-"

I let out a breath before finally asking, "What would you like? Oh no, don't tell me. I know it's the usual," I smiled.

"The usual," he nodded.

I grabbed a cup, fixing him his smoothie when I heard him say, "It's almost 6pm. If you're tired, you should go home and rest. You look stressed."

Oh, I was stressed. I'd been up until 2am and didn't sleep until almost 4am because Kaleb couldn't sleep

"It's nothing," I tried to play it cool.

"That's what got me so upset," I told River. "My friend just shouldn't have mentioned it to someone else."

"Well, how are you sure your friend told this person?" River gazed on something I couldn't quite place.

"Because it was only my friend I told," I answered.

"Did you tell your friend how you felt after it all happened and you got upset?"

I shrugged, "I guess."

Me and River were both seated outside on a low seat just by the side of the bakery. It was the first time we were both seated side by side and as cliché as this sounds, I felt comfortable talking to him, and that's what made me open up to him about what happened in school. He was a good listener, and now, it was a few minutes after 7 and I didn't feel like I wanted to leave.

Soon, his phone started to ring, I watched him look at the caller ID, then slide the phone into his pocket. He opened up his backpack and looked into it before bringing out a camera. Bringing it to his eyes, he took a picture of something. I couldn't tell what it was, so I assumed it was what he had been looking at while we talked.

"I-" I started to say, but he got up from where he sat and took another picture.

He walked back to where I sat, going over the pictures he had just taken.

"I didn't know you were into photography as well," I said softly, but only because it was killing me seated next to this guy who had no idea I had a massive crush on him. "Can I see the pictures?"

He looked at me, his mouth open and his features soft. Without saying a word, he passed the camera to me. After going through the pictures, I saw he had only taken the pictures of a bird on a building.

"It's beautiful," I told him. "I don't know how to work a camera, but what you did there was cool. Blurring the building and focusing on the bird."

That earned me a chuckle from him, "It's basic."

I was about to say something when his phone rang again. This time, he didn't bother checking the caller, so I figured he probably just didn't want to talk to whoever the person was.

He turned to look at me, "What do you do?"

I opened my mouth, then remembered I didn't know how to do anything, "I... uh, I really can't do anything."

"How possible is that?" He had an eyebrow raised as he put his camera back in his backpack.

I shrugged, "I'm just... Renée."

He looked at me, "Renée. What does it mean?"

I smiled to myself. I'd asked Tanner that question when I was 10.

"Reborn," I bit back a smile, "What does River mean?"

"I don't know," he had a smile playing on his lips, "I've thought of reasons why I was called that if I'm honest."

I thought for a while, "Maybe you were born by a river?"

"That's what everyone thinks," he chuckled, shaking his head.

"Or, it could have been drawn from a famous person named River," I shrugged.

"How many famous people do you know are actually named River?"

"Uh," I thought. "He's all I can think of but, there's River Viiperi."

"Nah, maybe it was just a pun," he chuckled, playing with his wrist wears. "My parents probably at the beach and thought, hey, we can't call our son beach, why not river?"

I threw my head back in laughter and he joined me. It was almost seconds later when I realized I was still laughing and alone. I looked to River who's eyes were on me.

"That was a good one," I cleared my throat, nodding. "And I really have to get home now. I have homework to battle with."

He got up from the seat, stretching a hand out to me. I must have stared down at it for a while when I heard him say, "Is there something wrong?"

I forced a laugh, "Not at all," I took his hand and I felt giddy. The moment I was up, he pulled away and I started to wonder if he felt the same way I did.

"How far did you say your house is from here?" He asked me.

"It's not far. It's a walking distance," I shrugged.

"Well, think of how fast you'll get home if you were in a car," he had a boyish grin on his face and I was amused, "If I didn't know better, I'd say you just want to take me home."

"I mean, of course, no need to mince words," he chuckled. "I'd sleep well knowing you got home safe."

My heart soared and I felt attracted to him more than I already was, "Okay."

I'm pretty sure my voice cane out in a squeak.

I smiled at River as he pulled up to where I lived, his eyes roaming the neighborhood.

"Thanks, River," I told him, stepping out of the car.

The last thing I saw before walking away was his smile, and that stayed with me even when I walked into the house.

"Hey," I kissed my brother's cheek.

"Sweetie, aren't you working a little too late these days?"

"It's nothing I can't handle," I told him as I made my way to my room.

"By the way, Ka-"

"I'll be out for dinner soon. I love you!"

I pushed the door of my room open and let out a breath as I laid on my bed, my eyes closed.

"I brought milkshakes," I heard the familiar voice say.

"Kaleb!"

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