Chapter 13
Raven called Chelsea a few times, but nobody picked up. Chelsea was probably still bummed about Jason and didn't want to talk. It was okay, Raven would try again later.
Raven bounced down the stairs. Her mother, father and Cory had gone out so she had the place all to herself. Turning on the radio in the kitchen, she danced around the counter to the fridge, opening it and taking out all the fixings for a sandwich.
Suddenly, the phone rang. Raven turned down the radio and raced to pick up the phone before the machine got it. "Hello?"
"Raven, its Eddie." He sounded anxious and sad at the same time.
"Oh hey Eddie, what's up?"
"You gotta turn on the TV. to channel seven."
"What? Why?" Raven asked, shuffling to the living room.
"Just do it."
Raven shrugged and sat down on the couch. Turning on the T.V. with the remote, she flipped to channel seven. The news was on. The reporter was already telling the story.
"…when tragedy struck. Seventeen year old Jason Miles was killed instantly last night when his car flipped over the railing on this very freeway."
Raven gasped and dropped the phone on the couch, turning the volume up and shifting her body to the edge of her seat.
"Jason was taken to San Francisco Memorial, but paramedics say it was too late."
A flash of Jason's beautiful blue Saturn, crushed like it had been through a compacter, appeared on the television.
In shock, Raven's hearing came and went as the reporter continued with the story.
"Doctors say that Jason had been drinking and driving. Blood tests reported that Jason's blood-alcohol level was almost twice the legal limit."
Tears sprang to Raven's eyes. He was so young.
"Relatives and friends describe Jason as a, 'loveable guy,' 'good student,' and a 'responsible person.' Truly this is one of the most heartbreaking accounts of drunk driving in this city's history."
Raven turned off the T.V. afraid to hear more. Realizing that the phone was still on, she picked it up and put it to her ear. Eddie was still holding.
It took Raven a minute to find her voice. "Eddie."
"It's so sad."
Raven nodded but didn't say a word. Suddenly, Chelsea popped into her head. That's why she wasn't answering her phone!
"Oh my God, Chelsea." Raven exclaimed, getting up from the couch. "Eddie, we have to get over there now."
"I got you Rae. I'm almost there."
"Okay. I'll see you in a few."
Raven threw the phone on the couch, grabbed her jacket, and ran out the door.
She arrived at Chelsea's house about five minutes later, panting from the run. Eddie was already there, waiting, lost in his own thoughts. When Raven caught up to him, he turned to her. "I'm scared Rae. What are we supposed to say to her?"
Raven just stared at Eddie; she had been thinking the same thing. She didn't know what to do or how to feel. Should she feel sad that Jason was dead, happy that Chelsea wasn't in the car when it happened, or scared because Chelsea could've been in the car when it happened? It was so confusing.
After a few seconds, they both took deep breaths and rang the doorbell. Nobody answered. Raven looked at Eddie and then tried the door knob. Surprisingly, the door was unlocked. They entered cautiously, looking around the house.
"Chelsea? Girl, you home?" Raven asked aloud.
"Chelsea." Eddie called out. "It's Eddie and Rae."
After inspecting the first floor, they both made their way upstairs to Chelsea's bedroom. Raven could already make out Chelsea's shaking figure on her bed. Chelsea lay on her side, her back facing the doorway, sobbing quietly.
"Oh Chelsea." Raven said, clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth and moving toward the bed.
Chelsea didn't acknowledge their presence; she just kept crying.
Raven moved around the bed to see Chelsea's face, tears coming to her own eyes at the sight of her broken friend. Crawling on to the bed herself, Raven moved in very closely to Chelsea and wrapped her arms around her. Chelsea accepted the comfort, wrapping her own arms around Raven.
Eddie moved to the back of Chelsea, putting himself behind her on the bed, and wrapping his arms around her as well.
They stayed that way for hours, listening to Chelsea's cries fill the room. It would take a long time, but Chelsea would feel better, and her best friends would be there, as always.