HOW WAS THE LAST CHAPTER? GOOD? GREAT? AMAZING? LET ME KNOW!
Raven's POV:
"What are you doing here Mitchell?" I seethed. I noticed my dad's old tennis raquet out of the corner of my eye. Maybe I should break more than his hand this time.
"Waiting for you Madison. I told you I'd be by in an hour. You're late. Did Sterling want a quicky before you guys parted?"
That stung but I ignored it. So did everyone think I had already slept with Alexander? Did my own parents think that? "How did you get in the house? It was locked!"
"You guys have a key hidden in a fake rock. That might have actually worked if there was more rocks than just the one to draw attention away from it." He smiled casually and gave me a once over. "You look nice. Red suits suits you. I get kind of tired of seeing only black all the time. Guys like it when girls give them something to really look at. I like brighter colors."
"Well tough you idiot! 90% of my wardrobe is black!" I picked up the tennis raquet and pulled it back, ready to swing if he tried anything.
He casually put his drink down on the coffee table and stood up slowly. The first time I had hit him with this, I broke his hand. I did it to prevent him from spray painting the Sterling Mansion. I had no idea if he was planning on just talking or if he came here on a sex dare. He can assure himself now that the only action he'd be getting tonight would be from his hand. He cautioned me with his eyes as he walked up to me. He looked afraid in the eyes but his features weren't smug anymore. Just kind.
He reached for the raquet and took it from me. He dropped it on the floor and reached for my face. I froze in place and he brushed away a tear that I didn't notice was still in the corner of my eye. He looked compassionate. But most importantly, he looked like he was on the verge of fury. He kept his hand on my shoulder to steady my shaking. "Raven..."
It took him a while to compose himself. After he was sure he was in control of his emotions, he spoke again. "...did he do anything to you while you were over there?" The anger was much more pronounced.
I was taken aback. Since when did Trevor Mitchell care about anyone except himself? "No." I said firmly. "He's leaving for Romania tomarrow and we said goodbye."
He calmed down considerably. He still had compassion in his eyes. "How long will he be gone?"
"I don't know. Neither does he. It could be forever..." My voice broke on the last word. This was humiliating. I didn't want this boy to ever see me cry. Not only would it be humiliating, but he didn't deserve to see me cry. Not after all the pain he caused me emotionally since pre-K. I swatted away his hand. The tears were coming. The emotion I had so carefully held back in front of Alexander was flooding to the surface and my rival would be the one to see me break down.
It took me a few minutes of silence to realize I had begun to cry despite myself. I was even afraid to tell him to leave. If I spoke, my voice would sound broken. I expected him to laugh, or at least look afraid of the fact I was showing emotion and run like the boy he is. Instead, he jerked me foreward by the shoulder and let me cry on his shoulder. As much as I hated him, I felt myself melt. My arms just hung there for a second until I felt the urge to hug him too. He had his arms around my lower back so I snaked them around his neck.
The way he rubbed circles on my back really did help me calm down. When he was sure I was better enough to not break down, he spoke again. "Why is he leaving?"
I contemplated on telling him the truth. Or at least what part of the truth I was allowed to tell. "Well...Alexander is from a very rich family. His family is old fashioned. He was trapped in an arranged marriage from birth. When he was seventeen, he left her at the alter because he didn't love her. Now his family is trying to get him to go back to Romania to discuss it with the girl's family...I think he loves her now. I think he knew he'd go back to her ever since he left for America. I think he loved her all along..." I shuddered and Trevor held me closer. "...I think he was just afraid. He might leave me for her...and I'm just letting it happen."
I was angry now. Angry with myself for staying with him after I knew his true feelings. I should have just left him before I became too attatched. Before he dug a silver nail in my heart that would never leave as long as I live. The nail was hammered deeper in my heart everytime I thought of the loving look he gave her. Now it was too perminate. Just as perminate as the nail Trevor put there himself. It's been there since pre-K and it would always be there. What really scared me was the fact that it was wedged in deeper than Alexander's nail.
I had known Trevor longer. I knew him. Inside and out. I knew his real dreams. Not the ones he told everyone but what he really wanted out of life. The front he used infront of everyone at school, infront of his parents...it was gone now that it was just us. When it was only me he had to impress, he didn't use the cover. The mask. It was a defense mechanism. Right now, I could tell him anything and he wouldn't judge me. I needed to get some things straight with him before the mask came back.
I pulled away and looked into his eyes. They were warm. I decided that I rather liked the color green as long as it was his eyes. "I want you to understand something Trevor. I heard you tell one of your friends about the incident with Alexander. It hurt to know you didn't keep your promise. I trusted you."
He looked at the floor, shamefaced. "Sorry. I was mad that you still hated me after I tried to make up for everything."
"Then you should also know I don't hate you. Not even a little. If I honestly cared so little about you as to hate you, the comments you make about me wouldn't hurt so much. And you should also know that it's gonna take a whole lot more than being my personal school escort to be forgiven. A nice alternative would be to stop talking bad about me behind my back and to my face."
He still looked like he felt horrible. "Sorry..." He mumbled. He looked up at me and gazed at me through his blond eyelashes. "I really am."
My head began to swim and I realized that I had stopped breathing. I can't get attatched to him... I took a deep breath and smiled faintly. He smiled back. The smile left my face when I remembered one more thing he needed to get straight. His smile left. He looked confused with my mood change. "One more thing Trevor."
"Yes?" He was cautious.
"I'm a virgin." I said bluntly. "Stop making me out to be a tramp. I don't want rumors going around school saying I'm knocked up or something."
He looked truely shocked. "Really? You really are still a virgin? You swear?"
"I swear Trevor." I sighed, annoyed for the third time at the mention of my possible lack of innocence."
He smiled widely, the embarassment still in his eyes with a hint of relief. "Sorry for ever doubting you. I swear not to tell anyone about Alexander almost raping you."
"I told you Trevor! He wasn't trying to rape me." But I knew that no matter how hard I tried to tell him so, he would always think what he wanted about the situation unless he was told the truth.
He looked at me sadly. "Man Madison. You really are in denial."
I sighed instead of arguing. At least I would get positive attention from Trevor as long as he thought I was a victim of near rape. Not that I wanted him thinking so. I took his hand and pulled him to the couch with me beside me. I flipped on the tv and started flipping through the channels. I stopped on the news.
"Give a big shout to our very own hometown soccer team who won the last soccer match by a landslide. Buy tickets for friday's game."
We both smiled. I was proud of him. The news talked about a cluster of local volunteer projects to help feed the poor then jumped to the entertainment. The camera went to a field reporter outside someone's house. Next to the reporter was Matt and Becky! I gasped.
"And tell us about this awesome party kids."
Matt spoke first. "It's the highlight of the century! Everyone who's anyone is here! We're giving away a car and have raffle ticket sales and game booths set up! All the proceeds tonight go to help the People's Relief fund!"
"Hi Mom! Hi Dad! Hi Raven!" Becky waved at the camera. I laughed. Matt made a peace sign while Becky continued to wave. The camera went back to the studio. I turned to Trevor who looked relaxed and amused at Becky's reaction to being on tv.
"A big party huh?" I asked. "Why aren't you at the party? You are the star soccer player and the most popular guy in school. You've been talking about this party for weeks with everyone and even helped arrange the car giveaway."
He shrugged, looking truely indifferent. "I'd much rather spend the evening with you." He looked right at me as he said it with sincere eyes. I felt bad that he had to miss it on my account. He really did want to go. I stood up and ran back to my room. I put on a red t-shirt with silver designs and regular dark blue jeans and kept on the red converses. I ran out. He looked startled.
"Let's go to the party then." I smiled.
He jumped off the couch. "Really?"
I grabbed his hand and drug him out of the house and locked the door behind us. We got in his car and began the three block trip to the party. I could fainly hear the music from here. When we pulled up, a valet took the car and parked it for us. I couldn't believe Trevor and I were actually friends. I jumped when he took my hand. He noticed my stare.
"What?" He asked. "There's no way I'm showing up at the party of the century without a date."
I blushed furiously. "He may be leaving for Romania but he's still my boyfriend Trevor." Trevor just squeezed by hand tighter as we walked up the stairs to the door. Matt was greating everyone with Becky at his side. "Hey Matt." Trevor waved as we stopped to talk.
"What's up Tevor? Thought you weren't coming."
"She made up my mind for me." He smiled and pointed to me. I smiled at Becky who was staring at Trevor and mine's locked hands in confussion.
I smiled at Becky. "I'll explain later. Saw you on tv. Thanks for the shout out."
She smiled widely and gave me a confussed but passive look. I let Trevor drag me into the house. It was blinding with all the strobe lights. It was decorated like a posh L.A. club and there were waitresses in cocktail dresses serving drinks and snacks on trays. The main area was so cram packed with dancers, I couldn't even see enough of the living room to know how big it was.
Trevor loosened his grip on my hand when we noticed his soccer friends coming towards us. There was a mixture of confusion and disaproval plastered on all their faces. Trevor fought with the mask that was beginning to take over his facial features. He was scared. As much of a jerk as he had always been to me, I wasn't so cruel as to want to see him being bagged on by all his friends. I let go of his hand before anyone could notice and put a scowl on my face.
"Hey Trev. What's monster girl doing here?"
I sighed in convincing dismay. "Someone dared him to take me to this party as a fake date. He practically dragged me here." I gave him a cold and knowing glance, hoping he got the message. He looked totally confussed at first. Come on Trevor! Do you really have to prove me right about all the blond jokes you star in? Finally, it dawned on him. The mask was back.
"I even picked out her outfit. What you think?" He grabbed my hand and forced me to spin around and show off the outfit. I punched his arm in a playful way, trying to make it appear real for his friends. I crossed my arms like a sulky toddler as he talked about the upcoming soccer match with them.
After a few minutes, they left and he linked our arms and led us through the crowd to the kitchen. The last time I had been to a party, I came into the kitchen and ran into Trevor. He forced me to make out with him for a while (not that I fought it off either) then asked if I wanted to go for a walk. We ended up walking into the woods a ways until it was pitch dark. After I tempted him to take off his clothes, I ran like mad with them. I remember how embarassed he was when I took each article of clothing and taped it to my locker door.
He ended up getting even by stealing my dad's tennis raquet and not telling me he had it till I had worked for a few weeks at armstrong travel to pay back my dad for his expensive raquet. I sighed and looked around the room. Trevor was eyeing the beer sitting temptingly on the counter in a cooler. I sighed and pulled him to an ajoining room. It was a tv room. He looked afronted.
"What did you do that for? I was thirsty."
"You're the designated driver. There is no way I am letting you drink so much as a sip. And we both know there's no way you'll let me drive your mercedes."
I noticed some bottles of water in a cooler on a table in there. If there had been anything slipped into them, you'd see it. I handed it to Trevor who looked at it blankly. "What's this? Just water?"
I sighed but it caught in my throat when I noticed what movie was playing on the tv. Kissing Coffins...was it Trevor's idea to play it? I remember faintly him saying something about it being on the possible movie list for the party. I also faintly remember telling Trevor it was my favorite movie. While he stared at the water like he'd never heard of such a thing, I sat on the leather couch in front of the tv and tried to get lost in my favorite vampire movie since Dracula.
I faintly noticed a shift in the couch cushions as Trevor sat. I imediantly relaxed. There was something peaceful about a sober, kind Trevor. He reached for my hand again but I put my hands in my lap. Please understand Trevor...I can't just act like I've moved on. I haven't. His expression fell slightly but the content smile was staying. I felt him scoot closer till our legs were barely touching.
"Raven?" He suddenly broke the silence.
"Yes?"
"When is your family supposed to be home?"
"Um...I think it was supposed to be ten or something."
He jerked us both to our feet and started pulling me towards the main room. "I have eight minutes to get you home."
I felt a spasm of panic. We practically flew out of the house. It took three minutes for the valet to bring us the car and another two just to get on the main road. I thanked God I lived only three blocks away from the party house. I think the house belonged to Brittany Styles. We skidded to a stop and I opened my car door.
"I'd invite you in but my parents said no boys while they were gone." Although I was sure they'd make an exception for the straight A, sports star Trevor who they believed could only set a 'good' influence on me.
"Understandable." He quickly reached for my face and traced my jaw line with the tips of his fingers. I shuddered and stumbled out of the car.
I waited till he had driven out of sight before running inside. No one was home yet. I ripped off my shoes and socks, then put some warm water on my face to soothe me. I decided I liked the feeling so much, I took a whole twenty minute shower complete with the tangerine body wash and shampoo and conditioner set. I shaved my legs and put on my red velvet night dress as a subconcious reaction to Trevor saying he liked me in red. Now that I remember, Alexander said he liked me in red too. I made a plan to buy more red clothes.
My parents weren't home yet so I checked my phone for messages. Mom had sent me one.
'Took Billy to Henry's for the night then decided to rent movies and pick up the dry cleaning at the 24 hour place. Should be home in a half hour to 45 minutes'.
I sighed and decided to survey the damage of my room. If it looked like a tornado went through it, I'd wait to clean it. If it looked like a hurricane went through it, it was time to clean. I opened my door and nearly screamed. Alexander was sitting on my bed with Nightmare purring in his arms. I tried to look delighted, but I knew by the look of betrayal on his face, he knew who I had been with tonight.
"Did you have fun at the party?" He murmured.
I gulped but tried to look fine as I turned the light on and started to put my dirty clothes in a laundry basket. "Not really. Becky had been on the news with Matt, advertising the party. I wanted to go and see her is all."
"And Trevor was a nice guy and gave you a ride right?" He asked, incredulously.
I tried to keep my hands from shaking as I tried to stay silent. It seemed like his question was retorical but I wasn't sure. I decided to appeal to his human side and see if it was jellousy that caused him anger and not the thought of him thinking I had cheated. "Oh Alexander?" I asked with a convincing smile.
"Yes?" The change in my behavior seemed to throw him off.
"Are you jellous of Trevor?" I asked, still smiling.
He blushed. "N-no...I was just...cur-i-ous?" He sounded out the word and ended up making the sentence a question by accident. The idea of him being jellous seemed as alien to him as the idea of drinking only water is to Trevor who probably would have false teeth by thirty with all the beer and pop he drank.
"It seems to me like you are. And if you had paid just a bit more attention tonight when you stalked me, you would have known that Becky asked Matt to ask Trevor to give me a ride when I told her I wanted to talk to her. You have nothing to be jellous about. Furthermore, you'll be happy to know I've been dodging all Trevor's advances tonight. He's rather sore with me."
He seemed defiant. "What about when he touched your face in the car? What about that?" He was panicy to keep the blaim off himself.
"I repeat; if you had paid more attention, you would have seen me bite him when he did. Why do you think he jerked his hand back so fast?"
He was dumbfounded for a brief moment. I felt bad lying to him but I didn't want Alexander leaving for Romania thinking I had cheated on him. It would make it that much easier to choose Luna over me. I took Nightmare from his arms and put her on the floor and sat in Alexander's lap. I kissed the corner of his mouth seductivly. "Why do you think I'd cheat on you? I wouldn't ever do that to you. You know that. You know how much I dislike Trevor, and you know I love you."
He sighed and smiled finally. "You're right." He kissed me passionatly on the lips. "I'm sorry for thinking you would. You look very pretty right now by the way. Although I'm fairly positive you accidently bathed with that bow in your hair. It's stuck on a knot."
He laughed as I ripped the red bow from earlier out and brushed through my knots. When not even a ghost of a knot was left, he stood and took me in his arms. The seriousness in his eyes made me drop the brush. It clattered to the floor which made Nightmare jump. I was barely aware of anything besides the way Alexander felt and smelled. He kissed me again.
"I'll write you everyday. I hope you'll do the same. My family doesn't have long distance or cellphones."
"I will." I felt the tears in my eyes. I might never see him again. He might choose Luna. Beautiful Luna. How do I stand a chance? With one last kiss, he ghosted out my window and left me on my own to cry.
