Working Together
"Did you say something?"
"No." Raven answered without looking up.
"Oh, I thought you-"
"No." Raven said again, cutting her off.
Kory looked back down. The girls had been working in silence for a full thirty minutes now, only interrupted by the crisp sound of pages being turned. Raven's eyes traveled back to her paper. She taped her pencil lightly on the desk. Then looked back up at her book and scanned the pages for a clue to the question. She was about to turn the page when she was interrupted by a sudden giggle, a bubbly bouncy giggle.
She grimaced and shot her head up. She trained her eyes on Kory who continued to giggle to herself. Does she not realize I'm here?, Raven thought to herself. She took in a deep breath before asking. "What's so funny?"
Kory looked up, as if suddenly recalling that Raven was in the room. "I am sorry," she apologized. "I just remembered about the time Manny and I were at the mall and-"
Raven's grimaced deepened and Kory grew silent once more. The girl's turned back to their work. Raven quickly calmed herself and turned her attention back to her research. Her amethyst eyes skimmed over the thick textbook as she searched for information. She had just picked up her pencil, to write again when…
"I don't suppose you spend much time at the mall?" Kory asked.
"I've been a few times." Raven admitted. "But I try not to make a habit of it."
"Oh, but it is wondrous! You must come with me sometime!" Kory exclaimed.
"No." Raven said simply. She watched Kory's face fall and her voice softened, "I mean…I'm kind of busy…and…"
"What do you like to do, Raven?' Kory finally asked her.
"Read." Raven said, turning back to her book. She could feel Kory's gaze on her, waiting for more. "And magic…I like magic." she said in a whisper. Raven looked back up to find Kory still starring at her in wonderment. "You think I'm weird don't you" she asked.
"No, I think you are different." Kory replied, a smile forming on her lips. "Who said there was anything wrong with 'different'?"
"Loads of people. Ask around" Raven answered. "Most people just think I'm…creepy."
The girls enveloped into silence. Kory glanced at her watched and shuffled her papers into a pink messenger bag, before making her way to the door. As she gasp the handle she turned back to Raven, who sat at the table, still reading from her book.
"Raven?"
"Yes?"
"I'm not most people."
Raven looked up from her book and watched the strange girl leave. And for the first time, in a long time; she smiled.
