A/N: I just wanted to say thank you to all of my reviewers! Ya'll are so nice! Well, here is chapter 5. This may or may not be the last chapter. Enjoy!
(An hour after Chad and Eddie both left)
Raven laid on her bed, tears streaming down her face. She picked her phone up again and dialed Chad's number.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
There was no answer.
Raven dialed Eddie's number.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
No answer.
Raven buried her face in her pillow. Her mother knocked on her door, and when hearing no answer from Raven, she decided to just walk in.
"Honey? Are you ok?" Tanya Baxter said very worried.
"Mom, does it look like I'm ok?" Raven said lifting her head up from her pillow.
"Well, do you need anything?" Raven's mother said sitting on the edge of the bed.
Raven shook her head. Mrs. Baxter sighed.
"I know this is hard honey. And my advice would be to just give both boys time."
"Mom, how can I do that? They both love me."
"Well, the question is, do you love 'both' of them?"
"I-I don't know mom. I mean, I wasn't expecting to fall for Eddie. Me and him have been best friends for a long time. And I chose Chad first."
"Well, which one makes you the happiest?"
"Well, Chad….did. But me and Eddie had some pretty good times also."
"Who do you see yourself with in the future?"
"I don't know. I mean, I haven't really had any visions for quite a while. I wish I could just tell through one of my visions."
"Ok, well…let's see. Describe to me your feelings for each of them."
Um, ok. Well, Chad makes me feel safe, like I know when I'm with him; no one or nothing can hurt me. And he is so sweet and honest. And really, really cute. Me and him could talk for hours. And he's so smart. We get along so well."
(Pause)
"And Eddie….he understands me. He knows me so well, and…..when he just touches my hand, my whole body tingles. He is funny and attractive. I don't know whether to hate him or love him at times. And…we fight a lot, but in the end we laugh about it. And lately, he is always in my thoughts."
Raven sighed.
"Well, honey. It seems like the feelings you have for Chad are more of a friendship or just what you 'want' in a guy, but your feelings for Eddie are a little stronger and you are confused because Eddie has always just been a friend, and you don't want that to change."
"But mom. The things I described about Chad were more positive."
"But does your whole body tingle when 'Chad' touches you?"
(Pause)
"Uh---no, I can't say that it does."
"Well, there you go Rae. Love isn't always positive. Most of the time, it involves a love and hate relationship. You don't always get along with your partner. And love isn't perfect. You can't expect the one you love to be perfect either."
"I-I don't want to hurt Chad. But I also don't want me and Eddie's friendship to be ruined if things didn't work out."
Well, you need to be more confident and strong about it Raven. No one said it was going to be easy. But I'd rather see you happy and with the one you love then the other way around. You may have to hurt someone, but they 'will' get over it eventually."
"Thanks for helping me out mom." Raven said smiling.
Raven sighed.
"I just have to figure out how I am going to do this."
(Three days later)
Raven spotted Chad at his locker and walked up to him. Chad saw her and turned away from her. She sighed.
"Chad?"
No answer.
"Please listen to me for just a second."
Chad sighed and slowly faced her.
"Um, ok. I-I didn't want to hurt you. I…"
"Well, you did Rae."
"I know, I know I did. But I don't want you to blame this on Eddie. It wasn't his fault."
"I'm not blaming it on anyone Rae! It's done with. He can have you. I'll get over it. Just don't expect me to stay down here, because I AM moving back."
"Chad, please! I never even expected this to happen. When you told me that Eddie had my picture and he used to like me, I started to wonder. And when I mentioned it to Eddie, old feelings came up again from him. He can't help it."
"Well, I am not asking you to choose Rae. It's better off this way anyways. We were just caught up in the moment."
"And I am not asking anything from you either Chad. I just don't want you to hate Eddie."
"Well, I don't. He's still my cousin. I'll get over it."
"I want you to know that I did love you Chad. Just not the way you wanted me to."
"I kind of figured that out. But I can still be mad."
"I know. I just want you to know that I didn't mean to hurt you. And I wish that you could realize that. I'd do anything to make it all better again."
No answer.
"Ok...well…I'll see ya around, Chad. I only hope we can have a friendship in the future."
Raven turned and began to walk away with tears in her eyes.
"Raven, wait!"
"Yeah?"
Chad sighed.
"I haven't been completely honest with you either."
Raven looked at him confused.
"Um, I met a girl last week. She was applying to the same college down here as me. And she asked me out but I turned her down because at the time, I was with you."
Raven half smiled.
"Go for her Chad. I don't mind. As long as you forgive me."
Chad smiled.
"So, we are even?"
"Yeah." Raven said smiling.
Chad walked up to Raven and hugged her.
"Friends?" Raven said.
"Yeah, friends."
Chad kissed Ravens cheek.
"Now, I believe that you need to go for someone too, miss Raven."
Raven smiled.
"I believe I do."
From a far off distance, Eddie watched Chad and Raven embrace.
I guess they worked things out. Chad is one lucky guy.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(Later)
Ring! Ring!
"Hello?"
"Chelsea?"
"Hey Rae!"
"Hey. Um, I miss ya girl. When you coming home?"
"Next week. Why didn't you call sooner? How's Eddie?"
"Um, that's what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Is Eddie ok? What's going on Rae? Is everything ok?"
Raven sighed.
Raven spent a whole hour explaining everything to Chelsea.
"WOW." Chelsea said excitedly.
"I know girl. What am I going to do?"
"I'm sorry, but I am still trying to get over the fact that you and Eddie like each other."
"Chelsea, I need your help. I wish you were here."
"Me too Rae. Well, my advice is, to go for Eddie. Because you and Chad are pretty much over anyways."
"But don't you think it a little weird? I mean, come on. Eddie?"
"Rae, if you love him, I say go for it."
"But he won't even talk to me."
"Rae, this Chad dude seems to be fine now. He's getting over it. But if you love Eddie, you won't get over it as easily. You need to think about 'you' for a change."
"Ok, so since I talked to Chad, should I talk to Eddie too?"
"Yeah, Rae. Straighten things out."
"Thanks girl. I'll see you next week."
"Ok. I still can't believe it. You and Eddie!" Chelsea squealed.
Raven rolled her eyes.
"Bye!"
(The next day)
Ring! Ring!
Eddie picked up his phone.
"The Thomas residence."
"Eddie?" Raven said from the other line.
Eddie was just about to hang up the phone.
"Eddie please don't hang up!" Raven said desperately.
Eddie sighed.
"I wanted to talk to you."
"You have a minute." Eddie said dryly.
"No, I mean in person."
No answer.
"Please Eddie. I promise you, it's not bad news."
No answer.
"Can we meet somewhere?"
(Pause)
"Crawford Park in twenty minutes." Eddie said with a flat tone.
"Ok, good. I'll see you then." But Eddie had already hung up the phone.
(Twenty minutes later)
It was just starting to get dark outside. Raven felt a little uncomfortable being in a park by herself in the dark with nothing but the sound of crickets to comfort her.
She walked through the park until she saw a black figure leaning up against the monkey bars. She walked closer until she could see the outlining of Eddies face. Eddie stood about six feet away with no expression on his face. Raven crossed her arms as if cold and kicked some rocks with her foot. A dark cloud uncovered the bright moon, which made it easier for Raven to see Eddie. Raven stood in silence for about a minute and then spoke up.
"It's a full moon tonight."
Eddie sighed.
"What did you want to tell me Rae? Cause you know, I have somewhere to be."
"Must we go back to last week? I don't want to fight Eddie."
"I'll get over it Rae."
"But I won't Eddie. And we aren't ever going to be the same again."
"If you had just kept things to the way they were Rae, we wouldn't have this problem."
"Eddie. You can't always hold your feelings inside."
"My feelings don't matter anymore Rae. As long as you're happy, I'm happy."
"But I'm not happy Eddie!"
"Well, what am I supposed to do about it? I'm not your boyfriend!"
Raven sighed.
"Neither is Chad."
Eddie looked at Raven confused.
"I talked to Chad today."
"I know, I saw you two."
"Me and Chad worked things out."
"I know. I saw you two."
"No, I mean…Me and him decided to just be friends."
Eddie shot Raven a really confused look.
"Why?"
"You know why Eddie."
"No, I don't. Why don't you tell me?"
Raven suddenly felt fear creep up into her. She froze.
"How do you expect me to share my feelings Rae if you can't even share yours!" Eddie said getting quite worked up.
"I-I want to Eddie! Believe me, I do. But I…."
"But you what Rae?"
"I don't know!"
Raven looked down.
Eddie took two steps towards Raven. Raven held her breath.
"How do you really feel about me Rae? Tell me now, or we will just stay friends. Is that what you want?"
Raven looked up at Eddie.
"No, well…I want to still have that same old friendship we had Eddie. But I want so much more now too."
Raven could see Eddies eyes soften and she almost saw a smile form on his lips.
"I just don't want things to get weird between us if we….ya know…."
Eddie stepped closer to her and Raven could almost hear his heart beating.
"Rae, I love you."
Raven was quite shocked. She couldn't believe that Eddie just said that.
"Ar—are you sure?"
Eddie smirked.
"Rae, I've always loved you."
Eddie grabbed Raven's hand. And then her other one with his other hand. He pulled her close to him until their bodies were touching. Raven found it difficult to breath.
"Rae, we graduate in a month. And then we hit college and become adults. I know what I want. But do you?"
"W-what do you want?" Raven said, scared of what Eddie's answer might be.
"I want you. Forever."
Raven felt all warm and happy inside. That's exactly the answer she was looking for.
"Well, I guess we are thinking the same thing." Raven said smiling.
Eddie smiled hugely.
I can't believe this is happening to me. Eddie thought to himself.
Eddie leaned in slowly and softly pressed his lips to Raven's. He then grabbed her face and made it into a deep and long kiss. After about a minute he released it and pulled Raven into an embrace.
"What is Chelsea going to say about this?" Eddie said smirking.
"I already told her." Raven said giggling.
Eddie kissed Raven's nose, and then her lips.
They both held each other for a long while.
A/N: I'm not done yet! So, how do ya like so far? Read the rest and please review!
(The next day)
Everyone in the hallways saw Raven and Eddie holding hands. They couldn't believe it! Eddie and Raven? They never thought that would ever happen. Eddie and Raven spotted Chelsea. She squealed and ran up to them.
"You guys look sooo cute! I can't believe this!"
Eddie and Raven blushed.
"So, Chels…how was Florida?" Raven asked.
Chelsea smiled blushing.
"Oh my gosh girl! Did you meet somebody!"
Chelsea nodded.
"He's coming down next weekend! He is so great!"
Raven squealed and Eddie pretended not to know the two loud and annoying girls next to him.
"Well, you need to tell me EVERYTHING!"
All three friends walked to class conversing.
(To be continued)
A/N: Ok guys! I am finished! With this story at least. I was going to continue it into another story about Chelsea's vacation and about the guy she met. Do ya'll think I should? Review! God Bless!
JeSsIcA
