River's Point of View...
The guys and I had a late night at the club. I didn't get home until past 2 a.m. Mom was not impressed at all. Raven had stayed over at her friend Emily's house, so there wasn't any escape from Mom's scathing tongue. I just sat there, drinking my coffee at the dining room table, while she told me how staying out late and coming home stoned off my ass was an embarrassment and I needed to 'clean up my act.' I would have stayed in my room if I hadn't needed coffee. I groaned inwardly and waited for her to finish her tirade.
My Dad cleared his throat and said, "Okay, Julia, I think the boy has heard you very clearly. And, if we had neighbors nearby, they would have, too." He shook his head and looked at me.
"River, you've made a serious effort in your studies the la
