Anya wrote nonstop through the first few hours of the morning. She didn't even notice Raven had slipped in at some point and left a plate of crackers and peanut butter on her desk, a cold glass of ice water as well. She devoured the snack quickly if only to quiet the interruption of her stomach so she could continue writing.
She would start at the beginning when she and Raven first met at Trikru University. Raven was studying space mechanics while Anya worked toward a degree in writing. They were on opposite sides of the spectrum academically but hit it off right from the get-go.
Anya had found herself infatuated with the mechanic-to-be at first sight. Their first date had turned into a sleepover which turned into another sleepover and another until they just jumped into the honeymoon period head first.
They became inseparable. Every moment they had to spare was spent together. It went on like that for the duration of their relationship. A full three years and they were still on fire for each other, right up until that gruesome night.
When Anya glanced at the computer clock, it was noon. She groaned as she stretched back against her chair and checked her word count. 3783.
She grumbled as she stared at the number again. It was an outline. Raven wouldn't count it. Everyone knew you couldn't count outlines or notes as part of a word quota.
Just then, a knock came at the door, and Raven poked her head inside. "Okay if I interrupt?"
Anya smiled and nodded, happy to take a break for Raven's company.
The brunette sauntered over and sat on Anya's lap, arms wrapping around the blonde's neck as she asked, "How's it going?"
Anya's smile quickly faded. "Well, I have a pretty lengthy outline started. But no words I can count yet."
Raven crossed her arms but remained in Anya's lap. "Hmmm." She lifted a brow as if deep in thought. "At least you conquered the blank page, and that's definitely something! I think you've earned a break."
"Oh? What kind of break?" Anya asked, waggling her brows suggestively.
Raven laughed. "Not that kind, you jack rabbit. Not yet anyway," she added with a wink. "I meant a lunch break. I was thinking we could go out. Get you some fresh air and actually cooked food."
Anya leaned back in her chair with a tight-lipped smile, hands holding onto Raven's waist as she did so. "Lunch and fresh air sound great. Let me change before we go."
OoOoO
Twenty minutes later, Raven and Anya walked into popular local diner, Grounder's Grub. It was one of the first places they'd gone on an actual date.
The restaurant was packed and bustled with customers. Couples chatting happily, families talking loudly, and servers rushing from table to table with large trays of food.
Anya spotted a booth at the back of the diner and quickly snatched Raven's hand, leading her through the crowd and noise to thankfully a slightly quieter and more private setting.
They sat across from each other. Just a few spare booths around them sat empty except for one with a lone patron sipping a cup of coffee.
It wasn't long before a waitress appeared with two menus and asked for their drink orders. Disappearing just as quickly as she arrived.
Seeing Raven interact with another person in the outside world put Anya at ease in the fact she wasn't crazy after all. Raven was as real as she seemed. Others could see her, interact with her, it was like the crash never happened.
"What can I get for you today, hunnies?" the waitress asked turning toward Raven first.
Raven stared at the menu. "I'll have—"
"Cheeseburger and curly fries," Anya and Raven said in unison.
The waitress chuckled while shocked chocolate swirls stared at Anya from across the table.
"I'll have the same," Anya answered quickly before taking a sip of her soda.
Once they were alone again, an air of awkwardness hung between them. Raven continued to watch Anya unblinkingly, looking deep in thought as if trying to figure out how Anya knew what she wanted.
"How did you—" but Raven didn't finish the sentence.
Anya wasn't sure what to say. Thinking quickly, she said, "I just…feel reeeally close to you I guess."
Raven sat back against the booth arms crossed, gaping at Anya as if still trying to figure her out.
When the food finally came, with it returned Raven's witty humor as she stuffed her face. It was as if the woman had never seen food before.
Anya laughed as the brunette stuffed another handful of curly fries in her mouth.
"What?" Raven said between mouthfuls of food.
"Nothing. Keep eating," Anya chuckled. What was it with Raven and food?
Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, Anya caught the lone patron at the back of diner staring up at them.
She looked of similar age to Anya. Dark circles sat around her eyes as if she hadn't slept in weeks. Framed by blonde frizzy hair that fell messily past her shoulders. She didn't look away; those dark eyes kept darting between Raven and Anya as if sizing up a mark.
A shiver skittered down Anya's spine as she looked away and tried to shrug it off. She couldn't help but feel she'd seen that face before.
She finished her food quickly before leaving a few bills on the table and urging Raven to leave.
