TPOV

"Deuce, if you don't shut up about your mustache, then I'll shave it off in your sleep."

"Hater!" I saw Raven walking towards us out the corner of my eye. "Why does everyone have a problem with my mustache?"

"Primo, no molestando," Raven said firmly to Deuce. He huffed and stomped away to his locker. I turned to Raven.

"Thanks for controlling your cousin."

"No problem," she replied with a small smile. I saw her shoulders slump slightly as she opened her locker.

"Are you okay?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm fine." I watched her breathe in a shaky breath before reaching for her notebook.

I placed my hand on her arm. "No you're not."

She sighed and stared into her locker. "Trent dumped me today."

"Oh. Raven I'm so sorry." Trent and Raven had been going out for almost two years. In my opinion, Trent was kind of an egotistical jerk, but Raven saw the best in him. "I know how much you felt for him. What happened?"

She drew in another shaky breath. "He wanted to...take our relationship to the next level and I told him that I wasn't ready. One of his friends came up and told me he was breaking up with me. I found him and asked why and he said..."

"He said what?"

"He said that I was a bitch and that I was so much of a hoe that I probably already gave it up to you already."

My mouth hung open in shock. "Oh my god, Rae."I held out my arms and she embraced me.

I frowned as I felt her tears soak my shirt. "When I see that bastard I swear-"

"Shhh...Ty he isn't worth fighting with," She whispered. I looked down at her as a rubbed her back.

"Are you going to be okay for the rest of the day?" She nodded as she pulled out of my embrace. I studied her carefully. "Seriously, you made me feel a lot better than I did. I really appreciate it." She gave me a soft smile.

"If you need me, you know where to find me," I said as I gave her shoulder a squeeze.

Later...

I cursed quietly to myself as I examined my favorite vest. I accidentally squirted ketchup all over myself during lunch because Deuce was ranting about his moustache and I angrily ripped open the ketchup packet.

When I walked into the bathroom, Trent was leaning against the wall to my surprise. I raised an eyebrow as I tried to lift the ketchup stain. Trent looked down as I walked in. Serves him right. "Shouldn't you be at your lunch table with your goons?"

"I can't go in there. I can't face it all."

"Seems just about right. You deserve it all because everyone knows what you did and said to Raven."

Trent looked up with his arms crossed. "Do you think I wanted to dump Raven?"

"Well...yeah."

"I feel horrible about what I did. Raven is the most amazing person I've met. She's so smart, independent, and stunning."

I stopped with my stain and stared at him. "If she's some goddess to you, then why did you call her a bitch and dump her."

Trent looked down again. "What Trent? Did you find someone else? Did you get tired of her? She wouldn't let you in her pants?"

Trent swallowed a lump in his throat. "That's what I thought," I scoffed before I headed towards the door.

"I did it because she didn't love me."

I turned back. "You know that that's total bull. She was so in love with you."

"Maybe. But she loved someone else."

"Raven would never cheat on you."

"I know she wouldn't and she didn't. But I could tell that she had feelings for someone else. She might not have realized it, but I know her and deep down she had feelings for someone else."

"Who could she have feelings for?"

Trent inhaled sharply. "You."

"What in the hell are talking about?"

"You both are so blind. You both obviously have feelings for one another."

"We're just friends. She and I have just known each other for so long."

"I know you two have a bond that is strong and stuff, but somewhere there is some deeper feelings and I had to let her go. I love her, but she doesn't love me the same way she loves you."

"Dude, you're just being paranoid."

"Then ask her. Ask her how she feels about you."

"Trent, honestly-,"

"Ask her!"

I sighed. "Good bye, Trent."

The next day...

What Trent told me yesterday has been gnawing at me. Raven is my best friend besides Deuce. I've known her since we were little kids. She's been there for me and I've been there for her. I had a crush on her when we were like 13, which was a couple years ago, but I moved on.

I loved how I could be so comfortable and open with her. I loved how she was so kind and funny. It was also a plus that she was hot.

Whoa, did I just think that she was hot? Well, she did have a nice, tone body and anyone can agree that she was gorgeous. Gorgeous?

Okay, maybe I have a tiny crush on her, but that didn't mean that I was in love with her or anything. I'm Ty Blue. I don't like it when girls get clingy and I don't want to hurt Raven.

"Ty, are you listening?"

"Huh?"

"Raven...?"

"What? Why are we talking about Raven?"

"We're not. I asked you if you're craving something."

"Oh."

"Why did you think that I was talking about Raven?"

"I...well," I stuttered.

I saw Deuce smirk. "You like Raven, don't you?"

"What...no I don't!"

"You do! I knew you two liked each other!"

"I don't... What do you mean you knew?"

"Dude, you two could be a married couple...except you don't make out and stuff."

"Really?"

"Yeah, everyone can see you two like each other."

I leaned back in my chair. Did she really like me that way?

"Deuce, you know how I feel about relationships. I don't want to hurt her."

"But if you like her, then you should tell her."

"I'm not even sure if I like her that much."

"How does she make you feel?"

"She makes me feel so comfortable and I can tell her anything. She's so smart and loyal and kind to others. Oh and I always enjoy spending time with her. Sometimes my hand accidentally brushes against hers and I get this overwhelming feeling and when I look into her eyes, I just want to..." I jolted up in my seat as I paused. Was I just describing how wanted to kiss her?

"I got it all wrong. You don't like her. You are in love with her!" Deuce stated.

I leaned back in my chair. "I love Raven," I absently said with a grin on my face.

Later...

I tried to slow my breathing as I waited outside of Raven's apartment door. My heart was racing as I hovered my hand a couple inches from the door. I knew I was taking a huge leap here, but I had to know how she felt. I needed to see if we could ever be together. I sucked it up and knocked on the door.

Raven opened the door and my stomach dropped. She looked the same as always. Her face looked content and her hair hung in loose curls as usual, but she still took my breath away. She scanned me before opening the door wider. "Ty, what are you doing here?"

"Do you mind if I come in?"

"No, come right in," she said as she stepped aside. I stepped inside and sat down on the couch. I looked at the TV and took in all of the candy wrappers and popcorn bowls surrounding me. I chuckled as leaned back.

"Do you always get over a break up like this?"

She propped herself on the couch before reaching for some chocolates. "Not necessarily, but I'll worry about the 20 pound weight gain and zits later," she answered before popping several chocolates in her mouth all at once.

I grinned before I calmed down. "You okay?"

She paused. "I feel a whole lot better thanks to the talk we had yesterday. Thanks again," she said softly.

"No problem."

"So, why did you come here?"

"I...uh-," I stuttered.

She looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

I took a deep breath and grabbed the control and turned off the TV. Raven looked at me like I was crazy. "What in the hell?"

"I need to ask you something."

"Okay, go ahead," she said as she stared at me with careful eyes.

"Did you...have feelings for anyone?"

"What?"

"I mean do you now?"

"I...why are you asking me this?"

I let out a huge sigh. "Trent told me the reason why he dumped you."

"What? That bastard-," she growled.

"He said he did it because you had feelings for someone else."

"Excuse me? When I see him-," she started before I placed my hand on hers. She stopped and looked at me. She took a deep breath. "Okay, I may have been a little bit confused with my feelings for this guy these past couple of days, but I would never hurt Trent."

"Who was it?" I held my breath as my hand tightened its grasp on her hand. She bit her lip as she turned to look out if the window. Her cheeks showed a faint pink against her honey colored skin.

"It was you," she spoke barely above a whisper. I finally breathed in some air. I guess I should have said something because she started rambling. "God, I knew I shouldn't have said that. I know we are really good friends and I would not want to change that and..."

She likes me back! She likes me back! "...I don't even know when it started and I always thought of you as a-," she rambled before I crashed my lips to hers. Her eyes widened in shock before she finally kissed back. One of my arms snaked around her waist and rested on the small of her back. I felt her lips part as she grasped my shirt and pulled me closer to her.

We pulled away at the same time to get some air. Her face was flushed as laid her fingers flat against my chest. "But-," she started.

"I've been hoping to hear those words come out of your mouth all day."

She looked at me wide eyed as I held her in my arms. I placed my other hand on her cheek as I pulled her so she was nose to nose with me. "I realized that I love you, Raven." She drew in a deep breath as she looked in my eyes.

"I realized...that I love you, too," she said softly. I grinned down at her before I placed my lips to hers again. I poked my tongue on her bottom lip and she gladly allowed me entrance. My hand moved from her cheek to her long hair as it twisted through her loose curls. After a while, I pulled away and found that I was lying on my back and Raven was on top of me.

She flushed as she peered down at me. I twirled a dark brown lock of her hair through my fingers. "You taste like caramel, chocolate, and buttered popcorn," I stated with a smirk.

"Like I said, 20 pound weight gain and zits."

"I dunno... I think I like all three foods on you," I said before I flipped us and continued our little session.