Raven

by Ashley Suzanne

  Knocking softly, the teacher, a well-dressed, younger woman, answers and shows me to the seat she has designated for me. Thankfully, we get to bypass the whole “class, this is the new student” speech and I’m able to jump right into the lesson. As she’s talking about the paper we’re going to be assigned to write over the next two weeks, Ms. Sullivan approaches my desk.

  “Rian, are we moving too quickly for you? I haven’t had the chance to go over your transcripts, so I’m not sure where you land with a class of this difficulty.”

  “I’m fine. I’ve actually taken quite a bit of Language Arts classes. I’ve got this,” I kindly reply, turning back to the blackboard to finish taking notes on the requirements of the paper.

  “Alright,” she addresses me and then turns back to the other students. “Rough drafts are due on my desk by Friday end of class.” With that, she returns to her desk as we all begin thinking of topics to write about.

  Before I know it, the bell rings and everyone gathers their belongings to head out of the classroom. Since I’m sitting in the front row closest to the door, I’m the first one out. Studying the map of the school, my schedule and locker assignment, I head in the direction I believe my next class to be when I hear someone yelling.

  “Rian? Rian, wait up,” a gruff voice calls.

  Being new to the school and not having had the chance to make any friends yet, I keep moving, knowing he’s yelling for someone else.

  “Rian!”

  Turning around, just to examine my surroundings, a tall, lean boy runs directly into me, scattering my books and schedule across the hallway. Reaching down to pick up my belongings, the entire world stops once I make eye contact with the person who’s been screaming up and down the corridor. He was in fact calling out for me.

  “Garrett,” I hoarsely whisper.

  “I knew that was you back there. Not too many chicks named Rian,” he jokes, handing me a book I failed to retrieve.

  “How did you know I was here?” Of all the schools in all the world, I’m at the one with the only friend I ever really had.

  “I was sitting in the back of Ms. Sullivan’s class. I didn’t recognize you at first, but when she said your name, I knew it had to be you.” Garrett pulls me into his arms and hugs me tightly. If I wasn’t carrying all of this stuff, I would have hugged him back. There’s so much to tell him. So much to talk about.

  “Well, I have to get to class. Can we talk later?” I ask, not wanting to have another awkward entry on my first day.

  “Yeah, meet me in the front. I’ll give you a ride home.” One more squeeze and he starts walking in the opposite direction of me.

  The rest of the day passes by in a blur. All I can think about is seeing Garrett again. It’s amazing how he’s always there when I need him most. Kind of like my own personal guardian angel disguised in loose jeans, a tighter tee shirt and sneakers.

  Waiting just outside the main doors, I see his eyes before anything else. He’s the only person I’ve met that has such intense, yet comforting blue eyes. It’s probably the only thing that hasn’t changed about him over the last three years. Standing a good foot taller than the other boys, he effortlessly moves through the crowd before he’s standing right in front of me.

  “You ready?” he asks.

  “Yep.” The butterflies I used to get when I knew him before come fluttering back, stealing all coherent thoughts from my brain. Please, God, don’t let me be one of those girls.

  Garrett grabs my hand and I try to ignore the electric current racing up my arm, down my spine and straight to my belly. I’ve never been tasered before, but it probably feels just like this. Weaving through the rest of the students making their way through the parking lot, Garrett stops at a lifted, black pickup truck. For the life of me, I’m not sure how I’m going to get inside this beast.

  “Need some help?”

  “If you want me to get in this thing, then yeah, I’m gonna need some help.” Before my brain has time to catch up to what’s going on, Garrett grabs hold of my hips, hoists me up and into the cab.

  As I bunch my skirt between my knees, Garrett shuts the door, leaving me alone. I wait for him to enter and my thoughts are racing wildly through my head. How did he afford such a nice truck? Does he have a girlfriend? Does he know about my mom? Does he think I’m pretty? Can he tell I’m attracted to him? These aren’t the thirteen-year-old feelings I used to have for Garrett. We’re already at the “I woke up for some water and Mom left Cinemax playing in the living room and I got an eyeful, I might need to jump you now” feelings.

  Unable to answer any of the above questions, he climbs into the truck, fires it to life and takes off out of the parking lot like he owns the damn thing. Speeding down the road, we’re a good five minutes from the school before Garrett opens his mouth to speak.

  “You’re lookin’ real good, Rian.”

  “Thanks. You too,” I respond, trying to hide my crimson cheeks from his view.

  “Where ya staying? You and your mom just move to town?” He has no idea what’s happened. One of a billion questions has been answered.

  “Yeah and no. My mom died. I’m living down here with my Aunt Elaine.” Garrett’s face drops and he fumbles for a minute until he can find his words.

  “I’m real sorry, Ri. What happened?”

  “Can we not talk about that right now? I wanna know what you’ve been up to.”

  “Been living here since Dad got transferred a couple years back. I start on the basketball team and work part-time at the deli across town. Nothing real exciting.”

  I shift nervously in my seat, wanting to ask about any romance in his life, but can’t find a way to find out without prying. If he wants to tell me, he will.

  “I’m really digging the new look. When I left you were all about what the other girls were wearing. It’s cool to see you come into your own.” Turning my head toward the window, I let a small smile crack—the only one that’s shown since before everything with Tom happened. It feels real nice.

  “Thanks. I like it, too. Feels more like me, you know?”

  “Yeah. You always did like the way your mom dressed. You look just like her.” Quickly realizing that he’s talking about my mom again, he shuts his mouth and shakes his head. “I’m sorry. It’s just weird that she’s not here. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  I don’t even realize that tears have started to pool in my eyes, glazing them over. “It’s fine. These are her clothes. When I left home, I didn’t want to be the same girl I had been before. Worrying about what the latest trends are just to fit in was never me. I had to make due when you left. It was hard without you,” I whisper, wishing I could take it back.

  “If I didn’t have to leave, I never would have. You know that, right? You were my best friend.”

  “I know if you didn’t have to, you wouldn’t have. It wasn’t pleasant. For so long, I had you to protect me from the wolves, and then one day you were gone. I’m happy to see you again, though.”

  “What do you say we make up for some lost time?” Garrett asks with a devilish grin. I know that look and exactly what he’s planning on doing.

  “There’s a lake nearby?” I’m not familiar with the area, only having come here a few times when I was younger, but he has to know it like the back of his hand by now.

  “Yep. You up for it?”

  “I ain’t no chicken. Let’s go.”

  Garrett makes a sharp turn on a side street, taking the gravel road all the way down until I see water peeking from behind the trees. When we were younger, we used to swim in the lake by our house, lying out on his parents’ pontoon until the stars came out. It was our thing.

  Parking on the grass a few yards from the lake, Garrett’s first out of the truck with me hot on his heels. It’s an unspoken rule that the last one in is a rotten egg, and I promise you, a rotten egg I am not. Knowing that I’ll probably drown in this skirt, I wiggle out of it, thankful for the boy shorts I’m wearing today, and l
et the cotton puddle at my feet. Stepping over the skirt, Garrett’s still wrestling with his shoes when I hit the water full speed and dive under.

  “Hey, cheater. You still got clothes on,” Garrett shouts from the bank.

  “It’s not my fault that you’re wearing more than me. Skirt and flip flops come off in much less time than sneakers and jeans.” Dipping my head back to get the hair out of my face, Garrett finally gets his shoes off and starts working on his jeans.

  Nothing could have prepared me for the sight I was about to see. Unbuttoning his pants and letting the zipper down, he lets the denim drop to his ankles. His muscular thighs are barely hidden by the tight boxer briefs he’s wearing underneath. Pulling his shirt over his head, Garrett’s abs glisten in the late afternoon sun.

  Licking my lips, I have to remind myself that when I last saw Garrett, he was a fifteen-year-old, lanky boy with no muscle tone whatsoever. This man before me … he’s got muscle on top of muscle and it’s downright the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. I make sure that when Garrett finally makes his way into the water I keep my chest below the surface to hide my ever present hardened nipples. I could always lie and say the water’s cold, but he’d know I’m a damn liar.

  “Race you out to the buoy and back?” Garrett takes off ahead of me, leaving me in his wake. Kicking off the bottom, it doesn’t take me long to catch up and pass him. He should know better. If there’s one thing that I’ve always done better than him, it’s swim.

  As expected, I reach the marker first, holding myself afloat and taking in large gulps of air. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a workout like this. The laps they made us run in cheer practice can’t compare to swimming a quarter-mile at full speed.

  “Looks like you can still kick my ass,” Garrett chuckles when he reaches the buoy.

  “Don’t you ever forget it,” I respond, splashing water in his face. Spitting out what got in his mouth, he tries to dunk me under, but again, I’m much smarter and quicker than him. Dodging out of the way, I start making my way back to the bank.

  Forgetting that I’m only wearing a tank top and a pair of boy shorts, I lie on the warm sand and take in the sun while waiting for Garrett to make it back. Closing my eyes and putting my arm over my face, I don’t notice the shadow that’s probably cast over me when he’s hovering above me. It’s his sharp intake of breath that startles me back to reality.

  Moving my arm and squinting my eyes, I peek out at Garrett who looks lost in his own mind. “Why are you just standing there? You’re blocking my sun.”

  “I just … wow. You really grew up these last couple years.” Taking a seat next to me, I start thinking heavily about what he’s just said. What does he mean that I’ve grown up? Did he expect me to stay thirteen forever? I mean, I turned fourteen a few days after he left, but how much can one really grow in such a short amount of time?

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Have you looked at yourself lately?”

  “Every morning when I get ready.”

  “Well, maybe it’s me that’s just now looking at you.”

  Chapter 5

  The next two weeks go by painlessly. Starting a new school and making new friends should have been more difficult, but Garrett’s been there the whole time. He’s introduced me to the group he hangs with, and for the most part, they’re pretty nice. All except Valerie.

  After our first awkward encounter, I asked Garrett what her deal was. Apparently they dated for a few months when he first moved here. I assume she has a thing for him, or a thing against anyone else who might.

  I still haven’t managed to come up with the nerves to ask Garrett about our time at the lake. I’m almost positive he was flirting with me, but who knows. I heard enough from my mom when I was younger that guys aren’t always the best clue droppers and more times than not give off false cues.

  Garrett’s also taken over picking me up and dropping me off after school. I tried the whole, “It’s okay, Elaine has no problem doing it”. That didn’t go over well, especially when he walked me in on the second day to introduce himself to Elaine. Now all I hear from her is, “Garrett’s such a nice boy” or “You should keep him around for a while.” I can’t win with these two. I’m officially out numbered.

  “You ready to go?” Garrett sneaks up behind me at my locker, putting his arm around my shoulders. To the passerby, it could appear that we’re more than just friends. I hug him around the waist and attempt to walk away, only his hold tightens, pulling me closer into his chest and he starts to walk down the hallway, forcing me to follow. Thankfully, no matter how hard he works out in his gym class, he always smells amazing. You have to give it to a boy that knows exactly what cologne to buy and how to use it properly.

  Speaking of those who don’t understand that cologne is not to be bathed in, Eli, Garrett’s friend walks up to us, blocking our path to the student parking lot.

  “Hey, G. And Rian, how are you?”

  Garrett nods and I respond, “Good, thanks.”

  “I was thinking. There’s a game Friday night. Garrett’s gonna be playing, so if you’d like to go, I can take you.” I think I’ve just been asked on a date.

  Looking up at Garrett, his jaw twitches and his hold on me tightens even more. If I wasn’t dealing with the opposite sex here, I would think he’s not happy about this proposal. Wanting to test my theory and see if Garrett actually does have a slight crush on me, I accept the offer from Eli.

  “Yeah. Sounds like fun. There’s a bonfire later too, right? I haven’t been to one in ages.” Trying to breathe through my mouth so I don’t smell his overdose of body spray is a futile effort because now I can taste it. Twisting my mouth into a smile, I start walking, still with Garrett’s arm wrapped around me. “Give me a call when you’re on your way Friday. I’ll see you then.”

  “Wow. Okay. That was easier than I thought.” Eli’s eyes light up like the Fourth of July and he allows Garrett and me to pass.

  “All you had to do was ask,” I say, meaning it more for Garrett than Eli, but it works for either.

  When we reach the truck, Garrett doesn’t come around to my side to help me in. Weird. Bracing myself and using every ounce of upper body strength I have, I lift myself into the cab. We don’t make it out of the lot before the questioning starts.

  “What was that about back there with Eli?”

  “He seems like a nice guy and asked me to a basketball game. I mean, it sounds like fun. I’ve never been to a game that I haven’t cheered at. It’ll be nice to be able to sit and actually watch.” That’s the truth. I love the game and used to enjoy cheering, but always wanted to just watch the players on the court. It was never an option for a cheerleader.

  “And the bonfire?” Garrett seethes.

  “You told me about it yesterday. I figure if I’m going to the game, I should get the full experience. Unless it’s invite only and I totally fucked up.” Starting to feel like the outsider I had forgotten I am, my cheeks heat with embarrassment. What if I just invited Eli somewhere even I wasn’t welcome?

  “That’s not it, Rian. Anyone can go to the bonfire. I don’t know why you’re going on a date with Eli Barton.” Garrett shakes his head in disbelief but never takes his eyes off the road.

  “What would you rather me do, Garrett? Hang out with you and you alone? Not make any new friends? Not date? I’m kinda confused.” Much like my mother used to be, I’m a free spirit. I have some serious control issues, especially since what happened.

  “You’re with me all the time, yet you accept a date from someone else. Rian, what do you think we’re doing here?” Slapping the dashboard, he cuts the wheel hard, sending me flying into his side.

  “I’m trying to get home in one piece. What the hell is wrong with you? The only guy who’s shown me any interest and I’m supposed to ignore it? Sorry, Garrett, that’s not how it works. I’m a woman. I’d like to have at least one date before I graduate.”

  “The only guy wh
o’s shown you any interest, my ass. If you want to go on a date, Rian, I’ll take you on a date.”

  Whoa. What the hell just happened here? Is he jealous? Theory proven … I think.

  “Thanks for the offer, but I’d rather go out with someone who actually wants to date me, not someone who’s offering me a date out of pity.” Let that one sink in, Garrett.

  Garrett slams on the brakes and throws the truck in park. Looking ahead once I regain my bearings, I realize we’re at the lake. Taking off his seatbelt, he exits the truck, leaving my mind reeling. What in the hell is he doing?

  Climbing down, I follow him all the way to the water’s edge when he turns to face me, grabbing hold of my biceps. “There would be no pity in a date with you, Rian. My first day of high school, the first day we were really apart, I knew I wanted to be more than your friend. I wanted to date you, but that’s not possible at fourteen, now is it? When you came back in my life, I thought it could be a second chance. I wanted to give you some time to deal with everything—moving here, your mom’s death and adjusting. I’ve been very vocal about how beautiful you are, how much you’ve grown, but you just don’t see it.”

  Swallowing hard, he starts to gently rub my exposed arms with his thumbs. Staring deeply into my eyes, my heart’s beating a mile a minute waiting for him to tell me where all of this is going. “I’d very much like to take you on a date. Ten dates. For you to not date anyone else. I’d like you to go to the game and bonfire with me, not Eli. I’d like to be your boyfriend, Rian.”

  If it’s possible to swoon, that’s exactly what I’m doing. He’s got me exactly where he wants me. After everything he’s said, there are no words to show him I feel the exact same. I’ve loved Garrett since the moment he saved me from the bullies.

  Standing on my tip toes, I grab the back of his head and pull him down to me, softly kissing his full lips that taste like absolute heaven. Garrett retreats, holding me at arms’ length, just staring at me. “Are you sure?”