Chapter 32
"So, this is exactly what happened?" Officer Sanchez asked Raven for what seemed like the millionth time. Raven sighed heavily, sat back, and nodded. She didn't mean to be cranky; she wanted to cooperate as much as she could. But she had to get up early to come down to the station, and thenthey kept her, Tanya and Eddie waiting for hours and her arm was starting to hurt. When Officer Sanchez finally decided to grace them with his presence, Raven wasn't exactly in a happy-go-lucky mood.
Plus she was losing crucial visiting time with Chelsea.
The "interview" room wasn't exactly cozy either. The room was plain white with ugly green tile. The bright sun shown through large, caged, un-shaded windows, slowly burning the back of Raven's neck. As she sat in the uncomfortable blue plastic chair, leaning her uninjured arm on the cold, hard, white Formica table, Raven didn't think she could handle much more of anything.
"Yes, Officer that is exactly what happened."
Sanchez sat back in his chair and nodded, sipping his semi-cold coffee. "All right then, that's all we'll need for the moment."
"Then we can go home?" Eddie said from a chair off to the side. Tanya perked up as well.
Sanchez nodded. "Yes. If we need more information, we will contact you. Thank you for your time and cooperation." He said, getting up and opening the door.
Raven, Eddie and Tanya got up at the same time and nearly ran for the door. Raven exited first, but then stopped in her tracks.
There, right in front of her, a mere twenty feet away, Rocky was being escorted in by Officer Jenkins. He was hand-cuffed and his head was hanging low, but he didn't look remorseful…he looked irritated. It was almost as if this was a major inconvenience to him. Raven's jaw tightened as she squinted in fury.
"You." She growled lowly, zeroing in on him. Tears of anger burned her eyes.
Rocky looked up and stopped walking, making Officer Jenkins bump into him. "Keep moving." She ordered, but Rocky didn't budge. He looked Raven in the eye…and smiled.
"You son of a bitch!" Raven shouted, unable to control herself. "How could you!" Raven began to walk toward Rocky quickly, but Tanya held her back.
"No baby, don't!"
Raven struggled with Tanya, choking on a sob. "How could you do that to her! What did we do to you? Huh? What did Chelsea do to deserve this?"
"Rae, Rae stop!" Eddie said, grabbing Raven by the shoulder, but he was sending Rocky his own death glare.
Officer Sanchez ran out of the room and stepped between Raven and Rocky. "Get him outta here!" He shouted to Jenkins, who shoved Rocky with such force that he stumbled.
"Hey, watch it!" Rocky hissed as Jenkins pushed him into another room.
Tanya wrapped a nearly hysterical Raven into a tight hug. "It's okay Raven. It's all right. It's okay."
"Is she going to be all right?" Officer Sanchez asked and Eddie shook his head.
"No. Not right now."
"Thank you Officer." Tanya said, still hugging Raven tightly. "Let's go."
The three walked out of the police station and to Tanya's car. Once inside, Raven had calmed down. She wiped the remaining tears away, breathing deeply to calm herself.
"You okay Rae?" Eddie asked from the back of the car, reaching up and touching Raven on the shoulder.
Raven nodded. "Yeah. I'm fine. I just…something just snapped inside me."
"It's understandable sweetie." Tanya reassured. "The important thing is that he's in there. They got him and hopefully, justice will be served."
Raven looked at the police station one more time before saying, "Can I go see Chelsea now?"
"Of course." Tanya answered, starting up the car.
Raven and Eddie walked down the hallway to room 337, each holding something for Chelsea. Eddie had some "Get Well Soon" balloons and Raven held a nice bouquet of flowers. They knocked on the door softly before entering, finding Charlene sitting in a chair by a sleeping Chelsea's bed.
"Hi." Raven whispered and Charlene smiled.
"Hi, Mrs. Daniels." Eddie said, walking over to Chelsea's bed and tying the balloons down.
"Raven, Eddie, how nice of you to come. How did things go down at the station?"
"All right, I guess. We made our statements." Raven told Charlene. "How's Chelsea doing?"
"Much better, thank you. The doctors say she'll be fine in no time."
"That's good." Raven sighed in relief.
"That's great!" Eddie exclaimed…just a little too loudly because Chelsea stirred.
Everyone leaned in closer as Chelsea's eyes fluttered open. She did look more awake and alert than yesterday; a good sign. "Hey." She mumbled, rubbing an eye with her good hand.
"Hey sweetie. How are you feeling?"
"Okay." Chelsea whispered, smiling a little as Charlene kissed her on the top of the forehead. It was then that she noticed Raven and Eddie standing there. "Oh my God, are you guys okay?" Chelsea cried, sitting up straighter in her bed. "Rae, what happened to your arm?"
"I'll leave you three alone for a bit." Charlene said, grabbing her purse. "Would any of you like anything from the cafeteria?"
All three teens shook their heads. Charlene nodded and then left the room. Chelsea watched her go and then asked again, "Raven…your arm. Oh and Eddie, your eye--"
"I'm fine." Raven said, moving to the other side of Chelsea's bed and sitting down.
"Me too." Eddie said, moving closer. "We should be asking you how you're doing. You're the one in here."
Chelsea leaned back, closing her eyes. "My head hurts."
Raven ran a hand across Chelsea's forehead and down the side of her face. "You want me to call the nurse?"
Chelsea sighed, opening her eyes and looking at Raven. "No. It's okay." Then, she saw the flowers and balloons. "You guys…you didn't have to do that."
"Are you kidding?" Eddie exclaimed, looking around the room. "This room needed a little cheering up. Look at this place all dark and gloomy. How's anyone supposed to get better in such a sad room?"
Both Raven and Chelsea laughed at Eddie's antics as he waved around wildly, pointing out all the depressing things in the room. After a while, Raven scooted down the bed until she was lying right next to Chelsea, intertwining her fingers with Chelsea's. Chelsea leaned her head on Raven's shoulder and Raven felt her heart melt.
"Uh Eddie, why don't you take a balloon to Ben. I'm sure Chelsea's room ain't the only depressing one in this place."
"Oh, so that's the way it's gonna be. Y'all trying to kick me out huh?" Eddie said, pretending to be hurt as he unwrapped one of the balloons. "If y'all wanted to be alone, just say so."
"Ve vant to be alone." Raven replied in her best Greta Garbo impersonation.
Eddie rolled his eyes. "Then I shall go. Ben's probably more fun to hang out with anyway." He said, sticking his tongue out. Eddie took a bow before leaving.
Raven turned her head to Chelsea, whose eyes were partially closed. "Hey, how's your arm?"
"It's okay. Doesn't hurt as much as I thought it would. How about your arm?"
"It's fine."
There were a few moments of comfortable silence before Raven whispered. "I was so scared."
"Of what?" Chelsea said, her eyes slowly closing.
"Of losing you. When I saw you fall…and then you wouldn't wake up…I don't know what I would do without you."
"I'm okay. S'okay."
"Yeah." Raven said softly, leaning over a little and kissing Chelsea's on the mouth. Chelsea mumbled something, but it was so soft that Raven couldn't understand what she said. "Go to sleep baby." She whispered, kissing Chelsea on the side of the head.
Seconds later Chelsea was fast asleep on Raven's shoulder. Raven kissed Chelsea on the side of the head one more time before leaning her head on Chelsea's. She closed her eyes, but didn't sleep.
She couldn't. Every time she tried to, she pictured Chelsea falling.