At the coffee shop...
Ray finally made it to the coffee shop so that he can meet up with his other friends...
Just like the last time that they came here, Ray found his friends sitting at the same exact booth table that they sat at days ago. However, the only difference here is that one of his friends wasn't there. The only ones who were there were James, Raven, and Ghostly. He wasn't sure why Violet wasn't there to talk with them, but he assumed that either Raven or Ghostly will know why she decided not to come and discuss things today.
Although...now that he was here, he wasn't too sure if he even wants to go over there and talk about everything that's happening with James later tonight. He honestly couldn't bring himself to even look at either Raven or James after he completely kissed Victoria behind their backs. He just wanted to change his mind about all of this, turn around, and just head home. But right before he could do that, Ghostly immediately took notice of him from afar.
"Hey! Ray! We're sitting over here, man!" Ghostly shouts as he waved a hand at his friend.
Looks like it's too late to finally change his mind about this, they now know that he's here. Here he thought he could just skip out on hanging out with his friends, but no, now he has to face them knowing what he did. Maybe as long as Victoria is never brought up during their conversation, then maybe none of this has to be so bad. He knew that eventually Raven was going to figure out about what he did, but for now, he rather just remain focused on talking with James about everything that's about to happen later on tonight. With a sigh, Ray headed over to the booth table where his friends were sitting at.
"Hey guys..." Ray awkwardly mutters, as he approached the table. His friends greeted him back while he sat down next to his girlfriend. "Um...where's Violet?"
"Oh, Violet couldn't come." Ghostly told him. "With Travis and Liberty's wedding coming later this December, the Nightshade's family has their work cut out down at the florist. Violet's over there lending Poppy a hand."
"Well, that's nice of her. Still a shame that she couldn't be here though." Ray then faces forward at James, who was just staring down at his friend's hands with surprise. The goth became confused noticing this. "What are you looking, James?"
"What the hell happened to your hands, dude?" James asked pointing at Ray's hands which were still bandaged from the fight he had with Derek yesterday.
Raven looks down at her boyfriend's hands, and just like James, she was horrified upon seeing them wrapped in bandages. "Oh shit...sweetie, did you get into a fight?" The goth girl asked sounding very concern.
"What?! What gave you that impression?" Ray asked his girlfriend, clearly feigning surprise hearing this.
"You remember the last time that Goth Boy gotten himself into a fight. He fought so aggressively that he needed his hands bandages immediately afterwards." Her boyfriend cringed while looking down at her hands, before his girlfriend frowned with disappointment. "Ray, what on Earth were you thinking? You're never one to fight somebody."
"Well...Derek shouldn't have pissed me off yesterday."
"Derek? You mean that one bully who's aunt works at that hair salon next to Gino's Pizzeria?" Ghostly asked in surprise. Ray nodded his head to his friend's question. "Damn...what did he do to provoke a fight? Whatever he did, he seemed like he crossed some sort of line or something."
"Look, what happened between me and Derek is a long story, alright? The last thing I really need is to even talk about what that asshole did, and I rather keep it that way. All I can say is that that prick had it coming for a long time now." The other three goths exchanged glances, nodding their heads in agreement. "Anyways, why don't we just...focus on James right now?" The goth's girlfriend stared at him seemingly suspicious about what's going on, while he decided to ask his best friend about something. "So...James, since tonight is the night that you have to meet up with this secret admirer of yours, what are you going to do about it?"
James sighed, before taking a sip from the cup of coffee in his hand. "Honestly...I don't know. I tried to call Sapphire about it again, but she's still not answering." He said as he placed his cup to the side. "She told me that she has something planned already, but right now, I'm not seeing any sort of help."
"So now what?" Ghostly asked. "There's still the fact that you gave to meet up with your own secret admirer."
"I...still don't know about that right now...but if this person is somebody that I'm friends with..." James paused for a second, giving the blue-haired man a shrug. "...Then I guess I'll just have to approach them and tell them that I'm in love with somebody else."
"Good idea, James." Ghostly said while nodding his head in agreement. "Also...what are you going to do about confessing your feelings to Jenny?"
James sighed, slowly turning his head forward. "I-I don't know. I just..."
The moment that the geeky goth faces forward, he immediately looks ahead of him seeing Ray and Raven kissing each other. His nervous expression disappeared immediately after, now becoming annoyed that they were making out at a time like this. He didn't really mind them kissing most of the time, but not when it comes to a situation like the one he was dealing with now. James taps his hand on the table rapidly, causing the two sitting across from him to stop kissing.
"No offense guys, but kiss when I'm not stressed out." James muttered.
"Right...sorry about that." Ray said with a chuckle.
"Anyways, what I was saying is that I may need to give it some thought on what to even do later tonight about everything."
"Well...if you want my suggestion, I'm probably say just go to the theater and meet with this 'Secret Admirer'." Raven suggested to her friend. "If you truly have feelings for Jenny, it's only right to go to whoever this is and tell them about it. You might think that it's a bad idea, but it's the only thing that I could really think of."
James narrowed his eyes at the only goth girl here. "Raven, that's a horrible idea." The geeky goth said in a monotone voice.
"Just take what I said into consideration here, James. If Sapphire's going to constantly ignore you for days on end, I might as well suggest something to you that could help you out."
"Alright...thanks nonetheless though, Raven."
"Well..." Ray said while standing up from the booth table. "I'm going to be right back. I have to use the restroom right now." He leans forward, kissing his girlfriend on the cheek, before walking off to find the bathroom.
As Ray left, the three just continued sitting where they were as they waited patiently for their friend to come back. Ghostly just stared out the window to his right, while James was just drinking more of his coffee. As for Raven, she just sat there watching her boyfriend walk off to the restrooms that were on the other side of the coffee shop. Once she saw that her boyfriend was gone, she decided to start up another conversation with her two other friends.
"Have you guys noticed how weird Ray was acting moments ago?" Raven asked them, getting a nod out of both of them in response. "Something tells me that there's more to that story that he's not telling us."
"Now what would somebody like Ray have to hide?" Ghostly asked, causing the goth girl across from him to narrow his eyes at him after he asked that.
"No offense, Ghostly...but did you really just asked me that after I discovered that he's friends with James's step-sister behind my back? I think it's pretty clear I have every reason to question a lot of the things that my boyfriend says now." Raven then pulled out a Smartphone out of her pocket, glaring at it as she started to look through it. "I'm going to have to see if there's something that he's hiding from me or not."
It was at this moment, James quickly noticed something about the phone that Raven had in her hands. "Wait a minute...isn't that Ray's phone?" He asked, getting a nod from the goth girl as a response. "How did you take that without him noticing?"
"Yeah, as I was making out with him seconds ago, I was able to take this from his jacket pocket." She then glanced back down at her boyfriend's phone. "Alright, let's see what he's hiding."
Raven looked through her boyfriend's phone, wondering if there's anything that she can find about what he's been up to yesterday. She tried looking through his text messages from Goth Boy, Yuki, Crystal, and a few of his other goth friends, but from the looks of it, there didn't seem to be anything too out of the ordinary to her, nor did it appear that Derek was ever mentioned to them. She then checked to see if Ray had called any of them rather than texted, but still didn't find anything that stood out to her. She checked the pictures that he had on his phone soon after, but like the texts and calls, she found absolutely nothing too.
Considering that she couldn't find anything, Raven was about just give up and assume that there's nothing more to this situation but her boyfriend fighting the town's bully. Right before she could put her boyfriend's phone away, a text immediately came to her phone. When the text came, she immediately took notice of the person who sent it to this phone...which was none other than Victoria. Curious about why the drama girl was texting her boyfriend at such a time, Raven decided to see what the text was about.
'Hello there, Ray. It's just me, Victoria. I just wanted to say thank you for the entire day at the carnival yesterday. Normally, I would never go off and spend time at something like a fairground, but after spending time with you there, I must admit, it was probably the most fun I had in quite awhile. Not to mention, you really gave that Derek bloke a real lesson by fighting him, I doubt he will be troubling us or anyone else again.' Victoria's text said.
Raven was a bit bewildered seeing this being sent to her boyfriend, but at the same time, she wasn't all that surprised. She already knew Ray asked her if she was wanting to go to the carnival yesterday, but turned him down to help Violet out with arrangements for Travis and Liberty's wedding. She wasn't at all surprised that he decided to go there with Victoria instead. The goth was about to consider dropping this situation all together, since even the drama girl was confirming he went through a fight and nothing too bothersome happened during his hangout with her.
Right before she could put the phone away however, another text came from Victoria...and when she read it, Raven's heart sank...
'Also, I was just wanting to apologize for leaving your house without you knowing about it. You were still asleep when my step-mother arrived, so I didn't get enough time to tell you goodbye. If you want to talk about what had happened between us more thoroughly, I'd be happy to do so, because everything that I've told you regarding my feelings towards you were true. I do love you a lot, Ray. I just feel horrible that we kissed and had sex behind Raven's back, knowing that she trusts me after our encounter at Goth Boy's house a few days ago. Whatever your feelings are regarding all of this, I understand. I hope to talk to you about this soon, okay?' This was what Victoria's second text said.
After reading all of this, Raven was completely petrified. A single tear fell down the goth girl's eye as she was unable to move her eyes away from her boyfriend's phone. She couldn't believe everything that she was reading from this text alone, nor did she even want to believe that this was true. Everything that the drama girl was saying...she knew that she couldn't be trusted, not one bit. But what was really hurting her a lot more than that was the fact that she was discovering that her boyfriend...the man she's been dating for a couple years now...had cheated on her with the British woman. Even worse, that all of this happened only yesterday when she wasn't with them.
"Raven...is everything okay?" James asked breaking the silence.
Without a word, the goth girl hands her boyfriend's phone to James before placing a hand onto her own mouth as more tears started to stream down her face. Silently, the geeky goth read the text to himself. Like his friend across the table, he too was outright appalled by everything that he was reading...and from his step-sister no less. However, unlike Raven, James was visibly growing angry rather than depressed while he was reading the text to himself. He couldn't believe that this just sent to his best friend of all people. Hell, he couldn't even believe that Ray actually did this to Raven of all people.
It was at this moment, Ray finally came back to the table. "Hey guys...sorry it took so long." He said as he walking up to his friends. "I was looking through my pockets and I couldn't find my phone anywhere. I must've left it at home by mistake."
"Oh, you didn't forget it. I had it..." Raven said, before taking her boyfriend's phone from James while standing up from the table. She then held the phone in front of her boyfriend's face, showing him the text that Victoria previously sent to him. "...By the way, YOU CARE TO EXPLAIN WHY VICTORIA'S TEXTING YOU ABOUT THIS?!" The goth girl started to shout angrily, as more tears flooded her eyes.
Ray took his phone back from his girlfriend, reading the text silently to himself. Like James and Raven, he too was surprised that he was reading all of this. However, unlike them, he was more surprised at the fact that they were the ones to see all of this first. He looked up from his phone, seeing his girlfriend staring at him still visibly heartbroken by everything that she had discovered.
"R-Raven...I-" Ray said trying to say something, before Raven interrupts him.
"How could you, Ray?!" She said, clearly sounding hurt by his actions. "I can't believe that you cheated on me with her, after everything that we've been through together!"
"Raven, please...I'm sorry. I never wanted to..."
"You never wanted to do what?! Everything that your friend just texted you about made it pretty clear that you want to be with her more than you want to be with me!"
"Sweetie, just let me explain, I..."
"I don't need you to explain anything to me, Ray! I'm out of here!" Raven then shoves her boyfriend's phone into his chest, before taking her cup of coffee off of the table behind her. "Don't call me! Don't text me! I never want to talk to you again!" After Raven shouts this, she storms out of the coffee shop leaving Ray heartbroken.
The only thing that Ray could do at the moment was stand there in shock. He then turned his head towards his two other friends who were still sitting there staring at him, both clearly disappointed at him for what he did. Although, out of the two boys sitting there, it was pretty obvious that James a lot more angrier than Ghostly was right now. No longer wanting to stay silent, the geeky goth stood up from the booth table so that he tell Ray off for what he had done.
"You know...I already knew that this day was going to be fucking stressful, especially tonight...but now I have to figure out about this?!" James asked his best friend, angry growing as he continued to rant at him. "What the hell were you thinking, Ray?! I expected this bullshit out of somebody like Chaz or Summer, but you?!"
"James, please! I wasn't thinking when I confessed my love for Victoria last night..." Ray said through guilt. "Me and her used to be so close back in our Senior Year of high school, and...after spending a day together with her, I just felt like..."
"Like what?! You felt like it should've been her you ended up with after graduation instead of Raven?!"
"Dude, you're overreacting here..."
"Really?! I'm overreacting?! This coming from the man who cheated on his girlfriend!" Ray didn't respond, nor did he attempt to argue back with his best friend. "I don't give a shit what excuse you have to explain anything that you've done...I'm sure as hell not forgiving you for any of this, Ray." The geeky goth shoves his friend out of the way, also making his way out of the coffee shop to head home now.
Ray then stared over to Ghostly, who was unsure what to say about any of this. He knew Ray was one of the nicest goths that he knew out of all of Violet's friends, but he was also friends with Raven too. He wasn't too sure what to even say after both of Ray's closest friends stormed out on him. All he could really do was just remain silent as he stood up from the booth table and then left the coffee shop soon after. However, unlike James and Raven, the blue-haired goth gave the goth a silent wave before leaving.
'Well...this is officially the worst day of my life...' Ray said in his thoughts as he sat down at the booth table, now all alone.
Meanwhile...
At the Nightshade's Florist...
Just like Raven had mentioned, Violet was busy at her family's florist. With Travis and Liberty's wedding coming up in a couple months, Poppy and their mother were going to be very busy with getting flowers ready for when that time comes. Unfortunately, for Violet, that means that she has to help out around the florist while they do that. She loves her little sister and would do anything for her, but working at her florist is not one of them. However, the only thing she's willing to do is stand behind the front counter so that she can inform her whenever a customer has arrived.
At the moment, Violet was sitting behind the front counter as per usual, busy looking at stuff on her phone. So far, there hasn't been a single customer all day today, making things a little bit easier for her, Poppy, and their mother when it comes to getting flowers ready for the wedding. She had the radio on next to her too...unfortunately, her mother didn't allow her to listen to her favorite goth music here at the florist. So, right now, the song 'Show me the Meaning of Being Lonely' by the Backstreet Boys was playing on the radio.
While Violet was standing there at the counter, her little sister Poppy came walking out of the back room carrying a bouquet of flowers in her hands. "Still no customers, hmm?" The flower girl asked, rather solemnly.
Violet shrugged before putting her phone away. "Nope..." She simply said. "Not a single person in sight."
"Aw...well, that's a bummer..." The younger girl than noticed a shadow walking passed one of the two windows up front, before approaching the front door of the florist. "That must be a customer right now."
Slowly, the front door creaks open as a female voice spoke. "V-Violet...we need to talk..."
"Raven?!" Violet said, instantly recognizing that voice. Her best friend entered the florist building, tears streaming down her eyes. "Oh my God...Raven, what's wrong?" The goth girl asked as she ran out from behind the counter to stand by her friend.
"Ray cheated on me..."
"He what?!"
"Ray cheated on you?!" Poppy shouts, accidentally dropping the bouquet of flowers that she was currently carrying onto the floor. "Why would he do such a thing?! I thought he loved you!"
"So did I..." Raven said before sitting down in one of the few benches that were in the building. "...But he also has feelings for that Victoria bitch he's friends with! I knew that she couldn't be trusted one bit around my boyfriend! Hell, I shouldn't have taken that asshole of a boyfriend that there was nothing between him and her in the first place!"
"Raven, I get that you're hurting, but..." Violet started off saying, before pausing to point at her little sister. "Can you not swear in front of my little sister, please?"
"Sorry, I just..." The red-haired goth places a hand over her eyes, leaning forward and crying once again. "I just can't believe that Ray did this to me."
"It's okay, Raven...it's okay..."
"Does James or Ghostly know about this?" Poppy asked. "Where are those two right now?"
"I-I don't know...I'm pretty sure both of them are still at the coffee shop right now." Raven told them, before her sad expression turned into that of anger. "I'm pretty sure both of them are breaking off their friendships with him right now. Wouldn't surprise me...it's what that asshole gets."
"Raven!" Violet said, glaring at her best friend for swearing again.
"I'm sorry, I just...still can't believe that our relationship had to end like this..."
"It's okay, Raven..." Violet pats her best friend on the back, before standing up from the bench. "Um...we may be busy at the moment, but please, stay here for a little while, okay? I hate seeing you like this, and I especially hate letting you go out there by yourself after what you've went through with Ray." She pats her best friend on the shoulder. "Me and Poppy are here for you, okay Raven?"
"Thanks, Violet. You're a true friend to me."
"Of course, Raven." Violet pats her best friend on the shoulder one more time, before she and Poppy went off to get back to work. Raven, on the other hand, just remained sitting there on one of the benches, allowing herself to stay with her best friend for a couple minutes. She always grateful to have Violet whenever she was around.