WHAT DO YOU THINK SO FAR? I'M PRETTY IMPRESSED WITH THE THINGS I'VE BEEN DRAGGING FROM THE DEEPEST DEPTHS OF MY MIND. PLEASE ENJOY THE NEXT EXCITING CHAPTER OF THE LION, THE LAMB, AND THE SOCCER SNOB.
DICLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE SERIES OR THE CHARACTERS. THAT'S ALL ELLEN SCHREIBER'S DOING. ENJOY.
Raven's POV:
I was still crying after the sun had set and continued to as I ran as fast as my legs could carry me for the Sterling Mansion. Maybe I could could catch him before he left and say goodbye one last time. Maybe...No nightmare that had plagued me since the start of school could have prepared me for what I saw when I reached the mansion. A For Sale sign was sitting in the front yard and many rich investors were inside and on the property. I ran into the house and saw another sign that read Open House.
Jameson was passing out snacks on a silver tray for the customers and Alexander was sitting emotionlessly in the large chair in the far corner of the room. When he had caught sight of me, he seemed delighted at first, then terrified. He stood up and rushed me into the parlor and shut the door.
"Raven, you can't be here." He whispered in terror.
"What do you mean? What's going on? Why are you selling the mansion?" The words flew out of my mouth in a panic.
"My parents had expected me to leave last night but I lied and told them I still needed to pack and they believed me. I had to see you. I'm sorry again for the misunderstanding with Trevor last night, I believe you." He paused long enough to kiss me then launched back into the terrible story. "When they found out I've been stalling for time, they came down here and we got into the biggest yelling match in history over them trying to make me leave. When I told them about you, they called the real estate office and put the house instantly up for sale. As soon as someone puts down a convincing offer, they're going to take it and take me back to Romania for good."
As he finished his tale, he began head for the door with me in tow. He looked at me with sad eyes as he reached for the doorknob. "I'm sorry but...right now it's best if you go. My parents aren't very happy with us."
"But I don't understand. You told me they already know about me."
"They do. They know you're my girlfriend. They thought it was a phase. When I told them I intended to make you my wife, it was fatal. I think they wanted me to come back to Romania for more reasons than to talk this arguement out with the Maxwells. I think they've been suspicious of our relationship for some time."
"Alexander! Where are you?" I heard a dainty voice call.
"Alexander?" A more robust voice rumbled.
A chill went down my spine and Alexander threw open the first story window. "I'm so sorry Raven. I need you to leave through the window. I don't know what they'd do if you were in here with me."
He picked me up and sat me gently on the ground. He placed a quick kiss on my forhead before giving me a passionate on the lips. He put something in my hand and told me to look after I could no longer see the mansion. I ran like mad for the gate, keeping as close to the bushes as possible. When I was safely out of the gate, I stopped long enough to see a flicker in the attic curtain, then the curtains were torn down. A man with Alexander's soulful eyes stared down at me with vile cruelty. It made my blood run cold.
I ran with all my might in no general direction. When I began to feel lightheaded, I stopped and opened my palm. It was a tiny, heart shaped, gold locket. I opened it with my shaking fingers. Inside was a painting of Alexander. He had painted it himself no doubt. Despite all the tears that ran down my face, I managed to smile at the two words I had never noticed on the front of the locket. In beatiful caligraphy, it said,
I Promise
I managed to keep the smile on my face as I walked in the general direction of Becky's house. I knew she'd be dying to know the reason I was kissing Trevor and walking hand in hand after school today. I hadn't even knocked when she flung open the door and drug me inside. She took one look at my tear-filled eyes and knew something was seriously wrong.
"What happened?" She said with alarm.
I launched into the woeful story of everything that had been happening with Alexander and Trevor up till the most current event. "...his father's gaze was so *hic* cold and the locket Alexander gave me..." I handed it to her. She looked inside and at the writing on the front.
"Everything will be okay Raven. What the locket says is proof. If he really intended to get with Luna, he'd never have given you this." She handed it back and I put it on.
"You really *sniff* think so?"
She smiled warmly at me. "I know so. Would you like some hot chocolate? I was just making some for me and Matt when you came over." She ran to get the boiling water.
"Matt? Where's Matt?" I looked behind me and saw a rather embarrassed looking Matt standing in the kitchen's doorway. "Oh no!" I put my head in my hands.
"Don't worry Raven. I'm your friend too. I wouldn't ever tell anyone about this. Not even Trevor." He sat at the table with me.
His words comforted me. Matt cared too much about Becky to say anything. He knew she'd get mad and he'd much rather keep her as a girlfriend then Trevor as a best friend. As sad as this was, it was true. After I had a cup of hot coco with mini marshmallos in me, I felt much better. I even sat with Matt and Becky to watch the knews. They were casting from the mansion with news of the offers for the house.
The final bid went to someone named Revon Waxler. The camera showed Mr. Waxler and Mr. Sterling signing the paperwork and the broadcast ended after the Sterlings handed the keys over and drove away. I couldn't cry anymore. I had probably destroyed my tear ducts during the past three days. I decided to excuse myself when I noticed Matt and Becky were beginning to give eachother doe eyes.
When I finally walked home, it was ten at night, half an hour past my school night curfew. Mom and dad were waiting to pounce as I walked in the living room. "Before you yell at me and tell me how disapointed you are to have me as a daughter, yada yada yada, first know that I was at the mansion with Alexander saying goodbye. He's leaving forever back to Romania. They just sold the place." I was as suprised at the utter lack of emotion in my voice as them.
Their looks of fury vanished and their pulled me into a bone crushing hug. "Oh no...I'm so sorry honey. How did this happen so suddenly? You were just at his house last night. Did he say anything about it?" My mom asked.
"Ya he did. He said he'd only be gone for a while so I didn't think anything of it. His parents dropped the big bomb on us today."
As upset as I was, I did like all this attention. Mom made me some hot vegetable and beef soup and dad let me stay up to watch a movie all the way through which dad and even mom agreed to sit and watch with me. I began to close myself back into a protective cacoon I had made for myself. I had used it all my life to shield myself from the hurt others caused me.
My life is seriously screwed up. My boyfriend and the love of my life just left for good and the boy I thought I hated is now my pretend boyfriend and possibly my friend and possibly also...someone that I...just might love as well...I sighed. I needed to talk to someone. Someone that understood what I was going through. Someone I could tell my whole story to without leaving a single sordid detail out. I needed to talk to Luna.