Chapter 8
Raven groaned, clutching her head in her pale hand as she sat up in bed. She squinted, the bright sunlight too harsh for her sleep-ridden eyes. Her head throbbing and still in a half-asleep state, she slowly untangled her legs from the lavender sheets and yanked the curtains closed, resting her head on the wall. Her stomach growled and she sighed. Ah, the sleep-breakfast dilemma.
She yawned delicately, stretching her arms above her head and stood up, not quite awake yet. With the thought of breakfast and a steaming cup of tea, she had not even realized she was still wearing the same dress she wore the night before.
Raven made her way to the bathroom, eyes still closed and humming along to a song playing somewhere outside. After washing her face at the sink, she reached for the face towel hanging by the bathroom mirror and paused. Her eyes widened a considerable amount and last night's events replayed at lightning speed in her head. Well, the parts she could remember anyway.
She remembered the luxurious sky lounge bar Jason drove her to, ordering wine and finger sandwiches, and she faintly recalled ordering some more wine... And the unrestrained conversations.
Raven groaned. Well, at least that explains the headache…
She was walking down the small hall to the living room/ kitchenette when she heard the sound of pans being taken out of the cupboard and the stove being turned on. She paused in her steps. Please let that be Jinx, please let that be Jinx, please let… Raven continued to chant mentally as she walked forward to the living room.
The odds were not in her favor today.
"Morning, Rae. I made you some tea."
Jason smiled at her warmly, his hair tousled from sleep and his clothes wrinkly. And there sitting innocently at the small dining table connected to the equally tiny kitchen bar was a steaming hot mug of Oolong Tea. Raven raised a brow but proceeded to sit on one of the stools. "Uhm. Thanks."
Seemingly satisfied with her reaction, Jason shrugged and turned his attention back to the stove where a sizzling pan filled with bacon was still half cooked. Sipping her tea quietly, Raven eyed Jason's back. The plain shirt he wore defined his back muscles well, showing exactly where one line ended and where another began. Shaking herself out of it, she placed her cup down.
"I'll make some toast."
"Oh, no need."
Jason stepped aside to show a plate full of toasted sliced bread that Raven previously couldn't see and placed it in front of her.
"I think I got us both covered."
He winked playfully at her and then proceeded to transfer the last of the cooked bacon on a plate with tissue, removing some of the excess grease.
"How do you want your eggs, Rae? Sunny-side up or fried?"
"Either way is fine."
While Jason cooked, Raven decided to make some orange juice for them. They ate breakfast in silence then, the tension slowly building up even as they stood side by side now. With Raven washing the dishes and Jason drying them off with a towel. Surprisingly, she broke the silence first.
"Jason?"
"Yeah?"
"I want to ask you something. About last night..."
"What about last night?"
Raven mentally groaned. She had let her query trail off, hoping he would get what she was trying to ask him. From the corner of her eyes, she saw the faint trail of a smirk on Jason's mouth and she raised a brow at him questioningly.
"Just kidding, Rae. You have nothing to worry about, alright? I used protection."
The petite girl dropped the spatula she had been washing, the sound of metal against metal making a shrill sound. She stiffened, her hair falling forward like a veil. Slowly, she turned towards Jason who still stood smirking beside her.
"Hey, I'm not that bad. Most girls would be thanking me right now. Was it not good for you? I gotta say thou-"
He felt her stinging slap seconds before he actually saw it with his own eyes. Seconds passed before what happened registered in his mind, cupping his stinging cheek. Raven was already halfway to the door. Jason stumbled after her, grabbing her elbow.
"Raven! Listen, just-"
Raven yanked her arm free and gestured towards the door, her temper flaring.
"Raven. I was kidding."
Jason said in all seriousness. Raven's glare intensified tenfold, her eyebrows drawn together so strongly that a small wrinkle creased her forehead. Jason suddenly regretted ever cracking that joke. He saw her clench her hands into fists and braced himself, sure that Raven would probably punch him. Either way, cause serious physical pain. It certainly didn't look like it, but Raven could hit. Then in a split second, he saw her seemingly calm down, her hands remained hanging loosely at her sides. A faint glint of something in her eyes that Jason couldn't decipher was there.
"Oh? And I suppose that's supposed to make me feel better."
She asked him in her usual monotone. Raven did not wait for a response and instead plopped down on the couch. Jason followed suit, opting to sit on the other end. He saw her massage her temple and suddenly felt a little guilty for riling her up like that. Not that he didn't enjoy getting a rise out of her…
"I've got enough of a headache. I don't need another reason to prolong it."
Her cold voice broke through his thoughts, making the hair on his arm stand up. Now, he felt really guilty.
"I'm sorry, Raven. I didn't know it would bother you that much. I swear though, nothing happened between us. We didn't even sleep on the same bed. After I drove us back here, you went inside your room and I decided to just crash it here on the couch. I was too freakin' tired to make the drive home. And honestly, I don't think I was sober enough to make it."
"How much did we drink, really?"
"I think we ordered two bottles. Honestly, I don't even remember paying."
Jason laughed heartily, causing his shoulders to shake with merriment. For a moment, Raven let her guard down and let her body sink into the sofa. She couldn't help but smile the slightest bit. She noticed he had stopped laughing and turned to look at him. Jason was staring at her, his lips curved into a genuine smile. Funny. The way the sunlight hits his face in just the right angle almost makes him attractive. Raven held his smoldering gaze for a full minute. Trying her best to read whatever he was thinking behind his bright green eyes. Jason looked away first, laughing quietly to himself. He shook his head in disbelief and ruffled his messy hair. Raven raised a brow.
"You know, I never thought I'd feel this comfortable with anyone."
He turned to look at her, his smile unfaltering. There was no hint of a smirk or a joke behind that smile, no matter how hard Raven looked for a clue he was playing her.
"Even if you hit like a man."
Just like that, the strange spell was gone. Jason laughed and Raven rolled her eyes but a smirk played itself into her contemplating expression.
"That almost sounded like a compliment."
"It almost was."
He matched her smirk and before Raven could get another word out, he leaned in causally towards her and kissed just the tip of her nose. She felt his hot breath on her face and smell his lingering perfume. She stared back at him, unsure of how to react even when Jason pulled back.
"I'll see you around, Rae."
He stood up, putting on his jacket and grabbing his keys off the coffee table. Raven was still in a daze, faintly registering the cute Totoro keychain attached to his motorcycle keys and what was probably the keys to his own pad and a locker.
"I hope you answer my calls next time."
Raven rolled her eyes, stood up and walked Jason to the door. "Assuming there is a next time."
"I'm hurt."
Jason smirked. Feigning a hurt expression while clutching his chest dramatically. Raven opened the door and was about to answer a sarcastic remark about how silly he looked when she noticed his stare on something behind her.
"I didn't know you had company, Raven."
Raven turned around so quick she thought she would get whiplash. Thoughts of Robin had left her completely. She hadn't expected him to come. The tension was so thick she could cut through it with a knife.
"Robin. What are you doing here?"
"You called me first, remember?" Robin answered stiffly.
"Well. I don't want to pry, I'll see ya Raven."
Jason side stepped between the two birds and meant to walk down the hall to the stairs when he felt a strong grip on his shoulder. He turned around to meet the steely blue eyes of Robin. His lips set in a grim line, his whole body stiff. Jason raised a brow at him but stood his ground.
"Yeah?"
"What were you doing with Raven?"
His tone was more accusatory than asking and Jason's irritation for the guy slowly escalated. He had no business whatsoever with whatever and whomever Raven decided to spend her night with, regardless of his best friend title. Unless she wanted to share with him what she wanted, willingly.
"I don't think that necessarily concerns you, Richard. Jason was just leaving when you got here."
Raven dismissed Jason and nodded towards him, gesturing for him to leave. He got the not so subtle hint and huffed, shrugged in a non-committed matter and walked down the hall.
"What the hell, Raven!"
"What the hell, Richard."
Raven answered in her usual monotone and with a roll of her eyes, stepped inside the dorm. Robin walked in after her, slammed the door shut and grabbed her by the wrist.
"What was that asshole doing in your dorm? Your fucking dorm, Raven!"
"Calm down, Robin!"
Raven screamed into his face, both silencing and surprising him at the same time. The pale girl groaned exasperatedly and proceeded to make the cup of tea she had intended to do. Robin ran a hand through his hair and sat down. Not five minutes later, Raven sat across him; cup of tea on one hand and the other setting down coffee for him. He took one sip and set it down on a coaster that was already there.
"We both know I hate to repeat myself, but I'm gonna ask you again. What are you doing here?"
"You wouldn't answer my calls or texts, so I thought… I don't know. I just thought something was wrong or something."
"Robin. I'm fine."
"Yes, I see that now."
"…"
It was silent for another minute. Raven continued to sip her tea, she was still feeling annoyed at how Robin purposefully fabricated the road trip the other day just so she could avoid hearing about Jason's call and didn't bother to tell her about it. Robin fidgeted in his seat.
"I'm sorry I over reacted back there… I just don't trust the guy."
Raven continued to say nothing, her gaze on a spot on the coffee table, unblinking. All they could hear was the slow tick-tock of the owl wall clock Jinx had put up. Robin sighed.
"And I'm sorry for not telling you about the call, Rae. It's just… I got the idea you didn't want to see him, since you were avoiding his calls, I gather. Guess I was wrong."
"Robin."
Robin looked up. His best friend remained the epitome of calmness.
"I understand that you care for me, I really do. I appreciate your want to protect me from being hurt, but I can handle myself. I don't need you looking out for me every step of the way- heck not even Vic is as intrusive as you can be sometimes."
Robin visibly cringed and Raven felt a little guilty for hurting him. But her need to be honest was simply more overwhelming and she continued to speak.
"Not that that's a bad thing, some times. My point is, Robin, is that you simply can't manipulate everything to your liking. It just doesn't work that way. You're my best friend and those are some qualities about you I can admire as well, but there is a fine line that you seem to cross some times without realizing it."
"I'm sorry, Rae…"
"And I forgive you, of course. Now can you tell me the real reason why you seem to antagonize Jason so much?"
"I just don't trust him."
"Why?"
"He just gives off that certain aura. You get what I mean."
"Alright."
Raven gathered their mugs and made to stand up and place them on the sink.
"If you don't mind me asking… What did you guys do last night?"
"Jason came over and surprised me. Suggested we go out for some drinks, and I decided to go since I wasn't tired yet and felt like going out."
"You could've called me."
"He only asked me."
"Right."
Raven thought she could hear an inkling of hurt in his voice, but dismissed it. Why is this bothering him so much? The way he's acting is out of character, even for him.
"Anyway, sorry for bothering you Rae. Just wanted to make sure you were ok. I'm gonna have to take off, I have to get a few things at the super market." Of course, I was going to take you out for brunch…
"Ok."
The two shared a hug, Robin smiled his usual goofy grin although it appeared too forced to Raven. She grinned back anyways before letting him out the door.
"What's with all the noise, Rae-rae?"
"Jinx? You've been here the whole time?"
"Yeah, I got here an hour before you got home last night. Where's Jason?"
"Oh. He left already."
"Whatever."
Jinx sat beside the dark bird on the sofa, orange juice in one hand. She smiled charmingly at her roommate.
"What?"
"So what's the deal with Boy Blunder?"
"He's my best friend."
"Really. Huh, could've sworn he wants to be more than that with all the lovey-dovey eyes he gets when he looks at you."
Raven raised a brow, Jinx having caught her full attention.
"What do you mean by that?"
"You know exactly what I mean, Rae-rae. Robby-poo likes you."
Raven scoffed.
"That's impossible. And I told you not to call me that."
"Whatever. I see you guys are still into the whole denial phase. You'll break through that barrier, don't worry. Wally and I worked out just fine and we started out more as best buds than couple material."
"Gee. Thanks for your input."
"Anytime, roomie!"
Raven rolled her eyes and got up. Jinx propped her bare feet on the coffee table and switched on the television. Closing her bedroom door behind her, she pinched the bridge of her small nose and sighed. Robin actually likes me as more than a friend? Now where did that come from? We've been like siblings since forever… I just can't see it. I'm nowhere near as cheery as Kori.
Deciding that meditating would help calm her down, she spread out her favorite mat on the floor and sat down in the lotus position.
It was a week since the eventful weekend and everything seemed to return to the usual routine. It was late afternoon on a Friday and Raven was just tying up her running shoes. After jogging around the campus park a few rounds, she settled down on a bench and sipped some water. The semester was nearing halfway and so far, everything was peachy.
Deciding she wanted some coffee this time, she walked towards the campus café and ordered a caramel smoothie instead. She took out the small pocket sketchbook she had in her backpack and started sketching the couple who sat two tables from her left.
The guy had short, cropped brown hair, making his hairline look weird. Thin, common frames sat on top his long nose. His fully lips were set into a straight line, his eyes bored… And unconcerned. He gruffed in response to the energetic brunette in front of him who continued to talk. From Raven's spot she could faintly hear her talking about her hometown apart from the buzz coming from the other students. She had shiny perfect teeth, her blue eyes sparkling as she talked, her hands making exaggerated gestures to emphasize her words.
Raven continued to sketch absentmindedly while sipping on her smoothie. When she looked down, she realized she had used the red coloring pencil on the woman's hair instead of light brown. For some reason, it reminded her of Robin and Kori. She crumpled up the sheet of paper.
Why did what Jinx said about Robin still bothering me? We're just friends. Why would he even like or fall in love with me? I'm not bubbly, or funny or not even very friendly and likeable. Right. It's impossible… Even if his over protectiveness borderlines between that and jealousy. And even though jealousy is such a possible explanation for the way he acts around Jason…
Raven's thoughts were interrupted when a working student cleared her throat. She recognized her as one of her classmates in Art History.
"This came in the university mail for you. From a Mr. Todd?"
She slid a small box in front of her sketchbook and took a pen from her jeans pocket.
"Just sign this for me here, Roth."
Raven wordlessly signed the receive paper and the girl left. She tugged on the violet bow on the box, making the sides fall down to reveal a mug. It was a light shade of purple, with a hand-painted design of a black Cymbidium Kiwi Midnight flower- with a note inside.
Little bird.
A brand new mug, as promised. I hope I got the flower right… I think I remember you saying it was your favorite flower while we were getting our asses drunk. I'll see you next weekend?
-Jason.
The note was hand-written in a lazy and disorganized scrawl. Raven noticed the paper was from a hotel memo pad from the city. She tucked the note in her sketchpad, gathering her things and left for her dorm. Leaving her unfinished smoothie and the crumpled sketch of the mismatched couple on the table.
A/N: My apologies that this took a while to get out, I was busy with other creative projects, as well as procrastinating. I hope this did not disappoint, rest assured I'll have more time updating my stories since it's summer time where I'm from.
Thank you for reading~ Leave a review, and let me know what you think of this chapter.