Author's note: Alright guys! Third Chapter! And I'm still going! Wait till you see what happens next!
(Later that night)
Raven and Chad sat on the couch embraced in each other's arms. Chad held Raven tighter.
"Hey, I have an idea babe. How about you show me some baby pictures of you." Chad said pinching Raven's cheek.
"Heh heh…no."
"Oh come on baby girl." Chad gave the puppy dog face.
"No… I don't think so."
"Why not?"
"Because I was a funny looking kid back then."
"Nah, I bet you were cute." Chad smirked.
Raven rolled her eyes.
"Come on Rae. For me?"
Raven couldn't help but laugh.
"Ok, ok. But don't laugh!"
Raven ran up stairs and came back down with two decorated binders full of pictures. She flipped open one and set it in Chad's lap.
"Awww! You were sooo cute!"
"Naw." Raven tried not to smile.
"Chad flipped to another page.
"Hold on."
"What?"
"When was this one taken?"
Raven glanced over at a picture of her sitting in a rocking chair with a big smile on her face. She had her hair in curls and she wore a cute pink outfit.
"That one? It was taken in seventh grade."
"I've seen that picture before." Chad looked at it puzzled.
"Really? That's impossible. Because I only have one copy. I actually had two, but the other copy went missing several years ago when I first got this picture taken. I have no idea where it went."
"I have seen this picture before, Rae. Yeah, it was several years ago. Eddie showed me a picture of you. This picture."
"What? Why would Eddie steal a picture of me?"
Chad chuckled.
"What?" Raven looked at Chad puzzled.
"Nothing."
Raven got serious.
"No, tell me."
"Well, back then…Eddie had a little crush on you. He showed me this picture of you in seventh grade."
"What? Come on Chad. Don't joke like that."
Chad laughed hysterically.
"I'm being serious."
Raven grew silent.
"Does he still have it?"
"I don't know. I mean Rae, it's no big deal. That was the past. He doesn't like you anymore. Plus, your mine now."
Chad tried to kiss Raven but she backed away.
"No, wait a minute. I don't understand. Eddie liked me? For how long? I mean, there's no way. Me and him are like brother and sister."
"Exactly Rae. That's why you shouldn't worry about it."
Chad snuck a kiss. Raven grew agitated but tried to hide it by snuggling close to Chad. But deep down inside….her stomach had suddenly tightened up. And she didn't know why.
(The next day)
Raven noticed that Eddie was walking up to her locker so she hid her head in it.
"Hey Rae. I was wondering if you had your biology homework. Because I didn't do mine and it's due today."
No answer.
"Rae?" Eddie looked at her puzzled.
Raven took a deep breath and closed her locker so that she and Eddie made eye contact. She froze.
"Rae? Biology homework?"
Raven nodded and nervously fumbled through her binder for the worksheet. She found it and handed it to Eddie. Eddie tried to grasp the paper from her but her hands were shaking so much that he couldn't. He grabbed her wrist gently with one hand and took the paper with his other hand. She felt a tingle go through her wrist and hand when he let go. Eddie made deep eye contact and stepped closer.
"Rae, are you ok?" Eddie said worried.
"Uh—yeah. Fine. I'm just…really nervous about a test I have in…uh---pre-calculus." Raven backed away a little.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. That's hard stuff. Well, good luck. I'll talk to you later."
Raven nodded and watched him walk away.
Why was she so nervous? It wasn't like she liked him. He was like her brother. She would always grimace before when she thought about them ever being together. Wait a minute. Why had she even thought about them being together at all? Good question.
Raven's nerves calmed when she realized that she had Chad and that Eddie didn't seem to like her anymore. She felt a lot better. She walked to class.
(Later that day)
Chad and Eddie sat in Eddie's room playing video games. Chad paused the game for a moment.
"Eddie?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you still have that picture of Raven?"
"What picture?" Eddie knew what picture he was talking about. And he did still have it…In his top dresser drawer.
"The one you showed me along time ago."
"Oh…um…no. Why do you ask?"
"I was just wondering."
"Chad, why would you even bring that up?"
"You are over Raven now, right?"
Eddie had no idea where this was leading, but he suddenly felt really uncomfortable.
"Of course. I only liked her for a few months. Besides, me and her are like brother and sister."
Chad nodded.
There was silence.
"Chad….you didn't tell her did you?"
"Uh---kinda."
"Chad! But, why! It was so long ago! Why did you do that!"
"Because we were looking through some old pictures… and I saw that picture again. I guess---I wasn't thinking."
"You guess? Well, what did she say?" Eddie now knew why Raven was acting so weird earlier.
"She said the same thing you did. You two were like brother and sister."
Eddie's heart sank.
"Oh. Ok."
Eddie knew he couldn't face Raven now.
(That night)
Eddie decided to play it cool and try to forget about his and Chad's conversation. Besides, he 'was' over her now. And she obviously didn't like him that way. So everything was good. He walked up to Raven's door and knocked. She opened it surprised but more calm now.
"Hey Rae. Um…I just stopped by to give you your homework back."
She took it from him.
"Thank you. Would you like to come in?"
Eddie looked at his watch.
"I guess I could for a bit."
What was he doing?
He stepped in and crossed over to the couch. He sat, but Raven did not. In fact, she stood there looking at him very seriously. He fumbled with his hands nervously.
"Eddie…"
Raven didn't know what to say to him. But she knew that she had to ask one question before she could be in peace again.
"Rae, I really should be going. I…"
"Eddie, do you still have that picture?" Raven said faster and louder than she expected it to come out.
"What? I-I don't know what your talking about."
"Eddie…I know you do. You still have it don't you?"
Eddie knew that he couldn't lie. He lowered his head.
"Eddie. Why didn't you tell me?"
Eddie looked up surprised.
Raven's face was twisted in such a way that he couldn't tell if she was mad or grossed out.
Eddie suddenly felt anger arise in him. He stood up and clenched his jaw muscles tightly together.
"Alright. So you know. Yes, I took your darn picture. Ok?"
"But why?"
Eddie locked his eyes with Raven's. But what she saw in his eyes was anger.
"Why? Why! You know why. Because I may have had a crush on you back then. But I can reassure you that that was the past. And this…this is the future. And in the future…you are Chad's."
"Eddie."
"What! What do you want from me Rae! What?" Eddie waved his hands in the air.
"Eddie. Do you still have feelings for me?"
Eddie laughed hysterically and overly dramatic.
"No. No….of course not. I wouldn't worry about it Rae."
Eddie headed for the door.
"Eddie!" She whined, almost in tears.
He whirled around facing Raven. Raven knew he was lying.
Her face and eyes asked so many questions that he couldn't answer.
"Why do you care Rae? You have your prince charming. If you want the picture back, then you can have it."
He looked into her eyes once more. Her beautiful brown eyes filled with sadness. And for a moment, he got the craziest idea that she might like him back. But he quickly shook that idea from his head.
In Raven's mind…She was so confused. But, somehow, a feeling had crept up into her heart that she had never felt before. A feeling that she didn't even feel for Chad. Her heart felt warm and fuzzy and her eyes glistened when she looked at Eddie. It took a lot to make her realize how she had really felt about Eddie all along. Why was all this happening now, though? The realization hit her hard and all at once. How could this be?
In Eddie's mind…He knew exactly what he wanted. But she was taken. He knew all along that he wasn't over Raven, but no one else knew it. And no one else was supposed to. He was so sure that he and Raven would never happen.
"Eddie. Please tell me the truth."
"Why Rae! The truth doesn't matter. It won't change anything."
Stop Eddie! You're saying more than you want to or need to.
"Because I want to know. If you really cared, you would tell me."
"Fine! Fine. I do still care for you. More than you know. And it kills me to see you with Chad. Ok? And If I could, I would kiss you right now and hold you and tell you how much you mean to me. But things don't always work out the way you want them to sometimes."
Raven looked away. Not because of why Eddie thought she did. But because she was scared and wanted to do the same.
Why was this happening to her?
"That's what I thought. I'll see you in school tomorrow Rae." Eddie walked out the door, feeling like a rejected loser.
Raven was so confused. What was she supposed to do? She fumbled in her pocket for her cell phone and dialed Eddie's number.
Eddie heard his phone ring, but did not answer.
"Eddie! Please pick up!"
Eddie was already halfway down the street.
Author's note: I hope you all like! I kind of went through writers block for an hour or so. But after taking a break, it all came flowing out. I just hope it's as good as it is in my imagination. Next Chapter on its way!
