❝'Cause I'm up right now, been up, I'll come when I'm not so high, and life's not so loud❞

- Kehlani, Did I?

I got back home, a lot of things running through my mind. Meeting Zee, hearing about Riley and also hearing that River had ended thing with Chloe.

Did that mean me and River had the chance to be together?

I pushed the thought aside, keeping it in mind that I shouldn't be too excited at the prospect. That was why when River broke the news to me, I kept my expression blank. He'd apologized for not telling me about her sooner, but neither of us talked about any feelings for each other after that. We returned to the bakery and by that time, the place was scanty. I looked for Sky, letting her know I was back into the bakery, but she said I could go home.

Now, here I was.

I pushed the front door open and met an empty living room. Feeling my stomach growl, I decided to go up to my room, change clothes and head to the kitchen, but as I was making my way to the room, I heard Tanner call.

"Renée."

He was seated in the kitchen, his laptop and a pack of Oreo in front of him.

"Hi," I greeted in a dull tone.

"How was work and school?" He looked up at me.

I thought about my whole day from the posters on the board to my talk with River.

"It was fine."

"Are you sure?"

I nodded, "Mhm."

"Well, you don't exactly look okay. I shouldn't really do this, but I'll take your word for it," he paused. "Want an Oreo?"

"No, I'm okay," I turned to leave.

Tanner sighed, "I'm sorry."

I smiled to myself before turning back to look at him with the blankest expression on my face.

"About the whole Kendall thing, I'm sorry."

"It's whatever," I shrugged.

"No, it's not. You were right. She had no right to call you a brat, and I shouldn't have taken her side on that," he ran his fingers through his hair. "Raising you is one of the things I'll always be proud of, because you grew up to be this great, unproblematic teenager... and I love you."

His words brought a smile to my face and I hugged him, "I love you too."

"Oreo?" He had a light smile on his face when I pulled away.

"Yeah," I nodded, taking the cookie from the packet.

"I knew apologizing would do the trick, but I meant the apology."

I playfully rolled my eyes, then bit my lower lip. Should I tell him I saw Zee today? And not just that, but that we had a long conversation?

I swallowed, "Tanner?"

"Yeah?" He looked at me.

"I-" Just as I was about to say the words, it was like something nudged me and I stopped myself immediately. "- What's actually for dinner?"

He shook his head, "I got back from work not too long ago and I have so much work to do. I should have texted you to probably have dinner at Kaleb's."

"It's fine. We can order something."

"That'll be great if you really don't mind."

*****

The next morning when I woke up, I didn't know why the memory of posters on the wall came to mind. I groaned and buried my head under my pillow. Could I just skip school?

"Renee?" A knock on my door followed and I immediately closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep.

"Renée, are you up? You have to go to school!" Tanner said before opening the door.

"Renée?" He called again and this time, I stirred and squinted at him.

"Sweetie, you have to wake up or you'll be late for school."

I groaned, "I don't feel so good, Tanner."

"What's wrong?" His eyebrows creased. "How do you feel?"

"I have a pounding headache and it feels like I've been run over a truck."

Tanner raised a hand to my head, "But you don't have a high temperature."

I groaned again, "Trust me, that'll come in a few minutes."

He sighed, "You don't have to go to school then, and later we can go to Water Grill."

I squealed and jumped up, "Really?!"

Tanner got up from the bed. "Nope. I knew you weren't sick."

I sighed and facepalmed. How could I forget my own lie which I just told not even a minute ago?

"Now, hurry up. You don't want to be late for school."

I rolled my eyes, "Will you take me to school?"

"What about Kaleb?"

I shrugged, "He, uh, he's taking Sydney."

"How much will you pay me for having to drive you to school on my off day?"

"See? That's why you should have let me learn to drive with you car."

"Fine-"

"You'll let me learn to drive with you car?" I asked, eyes wide and a grin on my face.

"No," he looked me like I'd just swallowed a frog. "Fine, I'm taking you to school. Hurry," he said before leaving the room.

I turned on my phone and saw I had missed called and a few texts from Kaleb. Not bothering to read them, knowing they were all about the events of yesterday, I texted him.

*Hey. Don't worry about picking me up today. Tanner's taking me to school.*

In almost an hour, I was dressed and set to leave. While Tanner drove, I munched on a bacon sandwich my amazing big brother had made for me. I could repay him by listening to what he was saying at the moment, but no.

"... That kind of situation, I wish we could just do more as a country, you know?"

"Yeah, we could," I nodded, still focused on my sandwich.

He looked at me briefly as he pulled up to my school, "You didn't hear a word I said, Renée."

I gritted my teeth and looked at him before kissing his cheek, "I love you, Tanner. Bye!"

Adjusting my backpack and taking a deep breath, I walked into the school building, keeping in mind what River and Zee had told me the day before. I walked to my locker and found a note stuck to it. Curious, I opened it and I read the words 'Relationship wrecker'. I rolled my eyes, I wrecked no one's relationship.

I squeezed the note and threw it in the nearest bin to me before walking to class.

*****

"We have to talk," Kaleb said to me immediately the bell rang, indicating it was time for lunch.

"There's nothing to talk about," I didn't look at him.

"You wouldn't pick my calls or reply my texts. You've successfully avoided me all morning and you say there's nothing to talk about?"

I looked at him, "Because, there's nothing to talk about."

"Rae, I'm sorry about the poster on the board."

I shrugged, "It's whatever."

"I know it's not. Whoever did it-"

I looked at him in disbelief. "Did you just say whoever did it?"

"Yeah?" He nodded.

I was quiet for a while before shaking my head, "Never mind, Kaleb."

"What do you mean never mind?" He looked at me, confused.

Did he really not know that Sydney was behind it?

"Kaleb?" We turned to see Sydney standing with folded arms, a small pout on her face.

I sighed lowly, "Go meet her."

"Rae-"

"I'll be fine, I promise," I forced a smile up at him.

*****