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"Nothing can dim the light that shines from within." — Maya Angelou
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Chapter 40
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"Thank you for doing this," I whispered to Raven, for the thousandth time today.

She rolled her eyes, the smile on her face apparent. "You're welcome...you're lucky there was a movie, lunch, and a fresh set involved." I laughed as she blew on her already dry, freshly done nails. We had gotten ours the same.

Teresa joined the conversation, without invitation. "Are you girls' ready for the movie?"

"Yep, let's hope it's good," Raven answered for both me and her.

I glanced at my best friend out the corner of my eye, my suspicions raising. I couldn't ignore the labor in her step, redness under her eyes, or the distant look on her face when she thought no one was looking. But, I was.

Teresa took a sip from her coffee before smiling at me. "What movie do you think we should see, Kimberly? I was thinking something calm."

I glanced up from my jeans. "Whatever you think is best." I was too busy with Raven to worry about a movie.

I would be a liar if I said I hadn't had any fun, though. In the midst of our nails getting painted, and our feet getting massaged, I caught myself laughing at the things both Raven and Teresa were saying. I wasn't sure if that changed my feelings about her, but it did help lighten the tension between us slightly.

"Uh," I began, yanking on Raven's arm. Teresa paused in step, turning around. "Raven and I need to use the restroom really quickly. We'll be right back."

I didn't really have to use the bathroom; I just needed to speak to Raven in private. I could tell something was going on with her, and I would get to the bottom of it.

Raven looked at me, her eyebrows sunken in confusion. "I do?"

"Yes, you do, now come on," I muttered loud enough for only her to hear.

"I'll wait on you two," Teresa told us.

I smiled at her. "Thank you," I said, before I dragged a lacking Raven to the restroom.

"Hey, I didn't have to use the bathroom, silly girl," Raven grinned, tapping my nose.

I sighed, smacking her hand away from my face. "Raven, what's going on with you?"

Her eyebrows raised, before she burst out into fits of laughter. "Nothing, what's wrong with you?"

I didn't want to push her, but I knew it had to be done. Raven was stubborn, and as bad as I hated to do it, I needed to press.

"This is not about me, this is about you," I said, grasping her by the hand. "I'm your best friend, and I know when something's up. Something's going on," I sighed, squeezing her hand. "I'm here, Raven. Just talk to me."

Past the perfectly placed makeup, I saw the crack of vulnerability. She lowered her head, her eyes dropping as she swallowed her next lie.

Her eyes raised to mine before she rolled them. "Well you can't help me, alright? So, just drop the subject and leave me alone about it," she snapped.

Before I could say anything else, she pushed past my shoulder, and left the bathroom. Something wasn't right with her, and I could only guess it was either her father's absence that was weighing heavy, or Levi.

Whatever it was, I wanted to help her. Despite how badly she had pushed me out of my comfort zone, I knew that she only had done it because she loved me. She had broken down some of my walls for the world, she had been the one there to listen to my hopeless rants about Kade, or Teresa, or anyone else. Now, it was my turn to do the same.

Speaking of Kade.

I hadn't talked to him since the car ride. I guessed that was a good thing, since he would definitely want an answer when we were to see each other again. I hadn't even decided, or thought about it too much since Daniel warned me about Kade. I couldn't fully believe either of them, but all I knew, was that I had history with Kade, and as long and rough as it was, I trusted him more than I did a stranger.

I rubbed at my temples as I felt a headache come on. I glanced at myself in the mirror, contemplating whether I should go back outside. Maybe I could pass it off for a sick stomach.

I turned at the sound of the bathroom door opening. Teresa's smiling face peeked through to give me a message. "Movie's about to start." That decided for me.

Time to go.

***

I glanced up from my book at the knock at my door. "Come in!" I shouted.

My eyebrows raised as I watched Raven walk through the door. I smiled at her, then frowned at the apologetic look on her face.

I placed the book down, then stood up from my bed. "Is everything alright?"

No words left her mouth. Instead, she embraced me into a hug, her grip tight. I smiled, rubbing at her back as the floral scent of her hair wandered into my nose.

"What's wrong?" I asked, words muffled by her hair.

When she released me, I noticed the dry streaks of tears under her eyes. "I just wanted to apologize for how shitty I treated you today."

I smiled to reassure her. "I'm not at all upset; I know that you're going through a rough time."

She nodded, her teeth sunken into her bottom lip. My heart broke as she wiped her teary eyes with the sleeve of her shirt.

I pulled her to my bed. "You could call it that...it's just, I'm sick of the men in my life hurting me, you know? First, my father, then Justin, then Levi," she mumbled, her eyes red.

I grabbed both of her hands in mine, gripping them with a reassuring smile. "Do you want to tell me what Levi did?"

She stared down at our hands for a moment before nodding. "Can you take a ride with me? I just really need someone to talk to," she smiled, sniffling.

"Of course, let me just talk to my dad. Stay here," I wiped away her tears, my heart aching for my friend.

I had never seen Raven like this before. Usually, she was the one who wiped someone else's tears. Never the one to shed them. I could tell her life was unraveling her slowly, and someone needed to pick the pieces up quickly. I hoped she knew how much I wanted to help her.

I walked to my father's room, and I could only pray that he would allow me to leave the house. I knew he was already upset, but perhaps he would allow this exception since he liked Raven.

I stopped as I saw Teresa exit the bedroom, shutting the door behind her. Once she noticed me, a small smile became evident.

"He's knocked out for the night," she told me.

I nodded. "Do you think he would mind if I could go on a drive with Raven? She's having a hard time, and—"

She waved me off. "Just go. If he wakes up, I'll just tell him you're asleep."

I smiled at her. I couldn't figure out if this was all an act, but she was definitely a good actor if it was a ploy.

"Thank you, Teresa."

She crossed her arms over her chest, a warm smile growing. "You're welcome, now go before your brother wakes up."

And, I did just that. I walked to my room, again, to see Raven in the same spot. She still hadn't noticed my presence, but when I spoke, her head raised as if she had seen a ghost.

I nodded toward the hall. "C'mon, let's ride," I smiled at her.

She nodded, her hands grabbing at either arm as if she were cold, though she wore a long sleeve.

When we had made it to the car, I had detected something odd about her. Even though it was dark outside, I could notice the stumble in her step. The only thing I could think of was the thing that had consumed my mother so strongly. I held the subject off until we entered the car.

"Should we call Maggie or Jax?" I asked.

Immediately, her head shook. "I-I just want to be with you right now."

I placed my hand on top of hers, nodding slowly. "I understand."

"Raven?" I said as she attempted to find her keys. "Are you drunk?"

Finally, she paused. I felt my own eyes well, as she broke. Her hand palmed her forehead, the tears spilling down her cheeks. Mine followed up as I watched my best friend melt.

"Being drunk...it's the only thing that helps me," she stated, a tiny sob following. "Alcohol is the only thing that doesn't fuck me over."

I allowed my arms to embrace her as she cried. I drew her in closer as her pain became more audible.

I stroked the back of her head carefully. "Raven, this is not the way. Alcohol is like a drug, and I promise it won't have a good ending result for you if you keep using it as a coping mechanism," I murmured into her ear.

"There's no other way, then. I can't figure this shit out on my own. I can't figure out why my dad left me, why Justin thought me so low that he slept with my best friend, why Levi deemed me crazy...I can't figure it out," she whispered, her voice tight with emotion.

I only hugged her tighter. "Then, we'll figure it out together. You and I. We're a team, and I'll be damned if I give up on you like they did."

I looked down at my best friend as her eyes raised to my face. "Sometimes I actually do believe that I'm crazy."

I smiled down at her. "You're not crazy, babe. You're just...incredibly open and swear to your feelings. It's a quality many envy to have, you know."

Her laugh was like music to my ears. I wiped her tears away, before bringing her in for another hug.

"God, I hate this fucking song," she attempted to joke as the music grew in the background.

I turned it down with a couple taps. I pushed her hair away from her face, giggling. "It wasn't that bad." Her face scrunched in disgust. "Are you kidding?"

We both laughed, though I made sure to pay close attention to hers. I could tell it was slightly forced, but I did notice the reality in it.

I tapped her shoulder. "Switch seats," I told her.

I switched into the drivers seat, and she went to the passengers. I didn't want to get into an accident, or worse because of the alcohol she had consumed earlier today.

"Raven?"

"Mhm?"

I tilted my head at the dark road ahead. "Where am I driving?"

Her outstretched hand painted an invisible canvas. "Wherever the wind takes us." She turned her head, a small smile lifting her lips. Finally, she leaned up from a slumped form, carefully observing over the space.

"Turn left, right ahead," she said.

My suspicion raised as she directed the turns, and twists. I had no idea where we were headed, but what I knew was, Raven was on a mission of some sort.

"Right here, now drive toward that hotel," she said.

I frowned, but did as she said. I searched around the hotel, to see three different, but very expensive cars in the lot. One resembled Kades', but I didn't pair it. Any person could have that model.

"Raven, what are you doing?" I asked with a cautious tint to my tone.

Her lips lifted slightly, before she opened her side of the car. Quickly, she staggered to the back, where the trunk was.

The only thing I could think of that could be in the trunk...was a dead body.

Slowly, I followed suit. I walked to the back of her car, my eyes adjusting to the dark night.

"Raven..." I trailed off.

She reached into the trunk, twiddling with something. "Mhm?"

"What are you up to?" I questioned.

Finally, I looked into the trunk. There were different types of items that could do damage. From what I saw, there were two baseball bats, a hammer, spray paint, and a jar of peanut butter.

What in the hell?

"Get one," she offered.

I shook my head, hands raised. "No way."

"Well, it's much better to join than it is to watch," she said, taking hold of the baseball bat.

Before I could stop her, she swung the baseball bat to one of the cars.