❝It's easy being with you.

Sacred simplicity❞

- Clean Bandit, Jess Glynne, Rather Be.

I wouldn't be fine.

Okay maybe I was being really dramatic. Of course I would be fine, but will my friendship with Kaleb be? This sucked.

"There you go," I smiled as I handed a cup of coffee to the lady standing in front of me. I raised a hand to my head, feeling a little headache.

It was really going to come now? Where was it when I needed it this morning?

I looked around the bakery and frowned when I didn't see River.

"Looking for someone?" Zuri said in a sing-song voice and I blushed, playfully pushing her away.

Not long after, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket indicating that I had a text. A small smile formed on my face when I saw it was one from River.

*Hey, do you think you could come behind the bakery when you get off?*

A small smirk on my face, I replied,

*Bribe me.*

His text came in shortly,

*I have something for you, and I mean, you can't have it unless you show up.*

*What is it?*

*Why don't you find out yourself?*

*Fine. But you better pull it out before I come.*

Immediately I was able to get off, I made my way to the back of the bakery, holding on to the straps of my backpack and wondering what River was up to. I caught sight of him standing in front of a tripod and it was a perfect sight.

I cleared my throat to announce my presence and he looked up at me, a smile on his face as she took a step back from the tripod.

"She came!" He feigned a surprised look and I rolled my eyes playfully. "Shut up. Why'd you want me to come here?"

"Before I tell you, we have to talk about your brilliant sexual innuendo," his eyes sparkled.

I laughed softly, "What on earth are you talking about?"

"Don't act all innocent now," he smirked, taking out his phone. "Your last text to me. You better pull it out before I come."

I looked at him, confused as I repeated the sentence to myself.

And then it hit me.

My eyes widened as I burst into uncontrollable fits of laughter. "I swear I didn't take note of that."

"Yeah, sure," River nodded sarcastically.

I chuckled and tucked my hair behind my ear, "You're such a perv, you know that, River?"

He laughed, "Hey!"

"It's exactly what you are," I joked as I took off my backpack. "That's a cool tripod," I said, throwing a quick glance at the stand for his camera.

"Yep," he nodded. "And she's my baby. I've had it for a while now."

"Really?" I eyed the tripod.

"Nah, I was just trying to sound cool. I got it last week."

I chuckled, "I've always thought it's awesome to own a tripod—Is that fro-yo?" I walked over to where two tubs of frozen yogurt lay beside his own backpack.

"Yeah, that's what I was going to bribe you with," he grabbed one for himself and sat on the bench.

"You did well," I sat on the bench opposite him, taking a spoon of yogurt into my mouth.

"So, I need your help," he looked right at me.

"Should I be scared?" I looked back at him.

He let out a breath, "I need you to be my model."

"What?! No way!" I realized I said a little too loudly, then I cleared my throat and said in a lower voice, "Sorry, but no way River, have you seen me in pictures? I look ridiculous. Seriously, you should see me. I always look like a potato... literally. And not even a fresh potato—"

"Renee, you are rambling," he chuckled. "Come on. Just do this for me."

"I would but—"

"I promise if you don't like it after the first shot, I wouldn't continue," his eyes held mine.

God, this dude was making it so hard for me to say no with the way he was looking at me.

"Wait. Do I have to wear a bikini or something funny?" I asked and he burst into laughter. "Jeez, no. It's just you. A normal, regular Renée."

I bit my lip, thinking as I looked at him.

"Come on, you know you want to. Fine, I'll provide fro-yo."

"No, I really don't, but I'll take the fro--yo offer. What are the pictures for?" I swallowed.

"So, I've been thinking. Aside my artworks and all that, I should have a place to show the photos I've taken, and Instagram isn't enough, so I decided to create a website for my photography."

"It'll be public?!"

He ran a hand through his hair, "Please?"

I sighed, "Oh my, I don't know why I'm agreeing to this but fine, I'll do it."

"You're the best," he grinned. "Did you know that the person who told Winnie Harlow to consider modeling was the same person who took her picture for the first time?"

I rolled my eyes, "Winnie is gorgeous."

"One, she probably didn't think that then. Two, so are you," he winked, causing me to flush.

"So, you're doing it, right?"

"Right now?!"

"Relax," he chuckled." I was thinking Saturday, if that's okay with you."

"Yeah, it's perfect," I nodded.

A moment later I was laughing hard at how River never had plans on playing football because he thought he had to have those massive shoulders from birth anyway.

"Cut me some slack here, I was way little then," he chuckled.

My laughter subsided when I let out a breath and looked at him, "When I'm having a bad day, you're always here to make me laugh, and you never even have to try. Thank you."

A smile on his face, he nodded. "What's wrong, though?"

Telling River about what was bothering me was never hard. He was a good listener and was just easy to talk to. I told him about the whole thing with Kaleb and Sydney.

"That's tough."

I nodded, "Now I don't know what to do. Should I back off a bit? Should I pretend I'm not hurt? I've known Kaleb for a long time now."

"You see, the issue Sydney has with you is just because of her own ego and insecurity. She's not a bad person for feeling insecure. It's just hazardous, that's why she had to start a rumour. So what you'll do is try to ease her insecurity by showing you respect her relationship with him."

"I do that, though. I really can't stand Sydney, but I do respect her relationship with Kaleb."

"Then what's up?"

I shrugged then sneakily looked up at him, "At this point I'm just ready to drop out,"

He chuckled, "Nice one, Renée."

I smiled, "I should head home."

"I'll take you," he got up from the bench.

"No, you don't have—"

"Shush," he packed up his tripod, grabbed his backpack and I did the same.

River pulled up to my house the same time Tanner was just getting down from his car.

I looked at River, "That's my brother."

"No way," he threw a quick glance at my brother who was walking in the direction of the car. "I should say hi—" he started to open the door.

"Wait, River—"

But the jerk was already out the door. I facepalmed before getting down from the car.

"Tanner, meet River," I looked from my brother to River who had a boyish smile on his face. "And River, this is Tanner, my older brother."

They didn't say a word to each other except shake hands. Then, River's eyes landed on Tanner's car, "Is that a Chevrolet Camaro?'

Tanner smiled proudly, "Yes, it is."

"No way. It's so comfy and badass," River said, his eyes on the car.

"You bet your ass it is, and Renée here has been asking to use it to learn to drive."

River looked at me immediately, shaking his head, "No, you can't."

"Exactly. Say it louder for her to hear," Tanner laughed.

I shook my head, my arms folded as I watched them now talk about River's mustang.

Wow.

They bonded so fast.