Please note that locations, events and characters are purely fictional and a product of the author's imagination.
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Ravenna Silver's home
Sun City—Early morning
7:45 AM
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"Where are my shoes? I'm so sure I left them here yesterday, oh my goodness!, why did I wake up late?" Ravenna lamented agitated. Her room was a mess, her table was littered with remains of last night snack, her bag overturned with books spilling out. This was definitely a bad morning for Ravenna.
"Looking for this?" Alexia, Raven's 15 year old sister appeared at the doorway with a pair of shoes in hand.
"Oh my goodness! Where did you find it?"
"In the devil's lair" Alexia replied sarcastically a smile plastered on her face.
"Rude, well thanks anyway"
"Save your thanks for Dracie, he's being waiting since eternity"
"What! Drayce is around?"
Alexia shrugged, "yeah surprised"
"I guess, he just never told me he would stop by"
"Well, now you know"
"Why are you calling him 'Dracie' anyway?"
"None of your business"
"Hm, do you have a crush on him?" Raven asked raising an eyebrow.
"No damn way! Stop spluttering nonsense"
"I can't believe my 15 year old sister is having a crush on my 22 year old best friend " Raven giggled, taunting Alexia.
"What! No! You just...I just.....ugh, why am I even explaining to you, hmm" Alexia huffed dramatically before leaving while Raven howled in laughter watching her sister flustered and fuming.
Raven giggled after Alexia, wearing the pair of shoes her sister has dropped while fuming. She arranged her books carefully and slung it over her shoulders. She took a final look at herself in her full length mirror. Dressed in black, tight, leather pants, a white sleeveless blouse and a brown coat draped over her attire. Her shiny black hair streaked by silvery white was haphazardly packed in a ponytail. Satisfied with her look, Raven hurried out of her room going towards the stairs where she met her dad, Jason.
"Late morning, right?"
"Yeah, Dad kind of missed my alarm."
"Hm hm."
"What's cooking, Dad? You smell of flour and... No way, Dad! Pancakes!"
"Yes, pancakes. Alexia really wanted it."
"Ugh, Dad, now she dictates what we eat." Raven fumed playfully.
"Sorry, okay."
"She sure knows I hate pancakes; that's why she came up with her stupid and unnecessary cravings." Raven continued pouting unhappily.
"Oh come on, you are six years older than her. Don't tell me you are jealous."
"I am not. I just want to feel like Daddy's only princess again."
"Awwn, that's so sweet of you. Come on." Jason said, pulling Raven in for a hug.
"Are you aware you are going to be late for school, Raven?" Alexia questioned coming out of her room.
"And when did you turn into my nanny?"
Raven questioned, rolling her eyes.
"I'm not worried about you, but there's a pretty boy downstairs waiting for you."
"Oh, that's true. You don't want to keep Drayce waiting. Pick up your lunch and head to school." Jason instructed, planting a kiss on her forehead before leaving.
"Sure, Dad. Gosh, Dad always makes me feel like a little girl."
"That's because you are still a little girl."
"See who's talking." Raven retorted before walking down the stairs.
"I'm so sorry, Drayce; I had quite a rough morning. We are late for the bus, right?" Raven asked when she arrived at the living room.
"Yeah, I guess." Drayce replied, glancing at his wristwatch. He is dressed in black trousers paired with a blue shirt.
"Wait a minute. I need to get my lunch."
"Take your time."
Raven dashed into the kitchen, stuffed her packed lunch into her bag, and walked back out to meet Drayce.
"Shall we?" Drayce asked in a mock bow when he caught sight of Raven.
"We shall." Raven said, giggling as they both walked out together heading to the bus stop.
"I still don't get why your dad still packs lunch for you. Like, come on, you are no longer a kid but a grown lady about to finish college."
Raven shrugged before responding. "Dunno, he says he relishes the feeling of packing our lunch."
"Well, I guess that's a father for you. Is Alexia not going to school?"
"She is, but she wants to avoid an early morning lesson; she says it's always boring and dull, and Dad agrees."
"You don't seem too happy about that."
"How can I? Ugh, she likes playing the truant."
"You know you did that at her age."
"I did not." Raven declared firmly. "Away from that, we could have met at the bus stop. Why did you come over?"
"I couldn't wait to see your face." Drayce replied, smiling teasingly.
"Oh, shut up. Tell me why."
"Okay, the thing is, there is this girl who always smiles and looks at me flirtatiously every day when I wait at the bus stop for you, but at least with you next to me, you might be able to get her off my back."
"Hm, why don't you approach her? Because I think you are long due for a girlfriend."
"And I think you are long due for a boyfriend." Drayce shot back.
"Ugh, shut up! Just stick to the bus stop." Raven said.
"Yeah, yeah, sure."
"Um, it's 7:58."
"What! 7:58? We need to hurry."
"Can we race to the bus stop in two minutes?"
"Uh! Raven! No!"
"Byeeee," Raven said before she took off, leaving Drayce.
"Ugh, come on, wait up." He said after her, taking off as well.
Raven arrived at the bus stop, and she laughed at Drayce, who ran in an awkward manner.
"Gawd, you run like an amputated giraffe."
"Never take off like that again." Drayce said, panting heavily, his hands on his knees hunched over.
"Whatever. It's 8:01 now; where is the bus?"
"There it comes; we are right on time."
"Yep, thanks to me."
"Who cares?" Drayce said, rolling his eyes; his expression suddenly turns troubled as he taps Raven on her shoulder. "Look, there she is."
"Who?"
"The girl I told you about, the one at the bus stop." He says, gesturing.
"Is she the one with the light auburn hair?"
"Yeah."
"Hm, she's beautiful."
"And flirtatious." He completed it.
"The bus, let's go."
Raven and Drayce hop hurriedly into the almost filled-up bus. They both pay their fares and hang on to the rails on the bus; all seats already taken.
"Why the hell is she taking this bus?" Drayce laments. His gaze was fixed on the auburn-haired woman who stood a short distance away from them.
"Who?"
"The girl."
"Oh, your crush."
"Well, you could call her that. See, she's staring again."
"Should I go over and tell her you are my boyfriend?"
"Can you?"
"No, I can't, but I can tell you what to do."
"What do I do? I feel uncomfortable being stared at."
"Who's staring at you?" A voice from behind startles both Drayce and Raven.
"Oh my God, Lucas! You gave me a heart attack," Raven says, turning around, her hand on her chest.
"I did, but why don't I attack your heart with my love instead?" Lucas says, wiggling his eyebrows promiscuously. Jason is also a college student who is known for his flirting and silliness.
"Hi Lucas, sorry, but I don't think Raven is in for your flirting today." Drayce said, looking disinterested at Lucas.
"Just mind your business, Drayce. I am speaking to Raven."
"Well actually, Raven is my friend, which makes her business my business."
"Hm, here they go again." Raven mutters lowly as she looks between Drayce and Lucas.
"With the way you talk, Drayce, one would think Raven is your girlfriend."
All three of them turned to the auburn-haired girl who interrupted.
"Um, sorry, but have we met before?" Raven replied in Drayce's stead as she eyed the girl.
"Oh, pardon my rudeness. I am Amelia, Amelia Stuart. I attend a college nearby, but I want to get some things before heading to school."
"Nice to meet you, Amelia. I am Raven Silver, as you know, and this is Drayce, who you probably also know."
"Yep, I do know him; I see him every day."
"I'm sure you do." Raven replied with an underlying meaning to her words. "And we are not dating, by the way. Also, this is Lucas Allen."
"Hi, I'm Lucas Allen. Do you live nearby? What's your house address?" Lucas said as he adjusted his posture and stroked his nonexistent beard.
"No, I can't give you my house address; I barely know you."
"Ouch, that stung right," Drayce said as he mocked Lucas.
"Nice to meet you, Drayce." Amelia said as she turned to Drayce.
"Ni...nice to meet you, Amelia." Drayce in turn replied as he scratched his neck nervously.
Raven chuckled lowly at Drayce's timidness.
The bus finally rolled to a stop, saving Drayce from further embarrassment.
"Amelia, this is our stop; it was nice talking to you."
"Same here. Bye, Drayce."
Drayce nodded nervously and walked out with Raven, leaving Lucas scowling and Amelia finding a seat to get comfortable in.
"Hm, I see somebody in love." Raven giggled as she noticed Drayce's flushed cheeks.
"In love? You really need to check your eyesight."
"Yeah, sure." Raven replied, clearly not buying Drayce's denial. As Raven chuckled at Drayce's flushed face, she caught sight of a man standing across the street—eyes faintly gold, looking on her. When she blinked, he was gone, like he was never there.