s e v e n t e e n ;

Roseanne let out a small gasp and her eyes widened at the news. Even after she told Indy about Ivory's plans to play with his feelings, he still went and got himself involved with her. But she couldn't say that she blamed him. Ivory had that kind of personality, and in other conversations with the girls she told pridefully about how she had led on several other boys in her previous training group just because she could. Indy thought she was pretty. He liked her. Even after hearing that she wasn't a good person, perhaps there was a small glimmer of hope in his heart that she had taken a genuine interest in him. Roseanne knew the truth though. Ivory liked to have all the boys wrapped around her finger. 

It worked with Cedar because he was also in love with her and blind to her tricks, and it worked with Indy who thought she was pretty and wanted to get to know her better. She had also tried to get Ciel, Raven, and Mauve to be in the palm of her hand. It had worked with Mauve for a short while. But Raven and Ciel saw right through her immediately. Raven thought she was much too rude and annoying to even think about anything else pertaining to her. Ciel on the other hand saw how she treated Raven and how she was a hypocrite and later went to innocently behave around her own boyfriend. He thought she was a horrible person for that. For having a relationship with someone and then pretending like they weren't even there when other boys came in the room. 

She reached for his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. A small smile formed on her pink lips. She then tugged on his hand gently so that they could sit on a stone bench nearby. From their vantage point, they could see that everyone was several feet away putting away the things in the cooler or putting away the grill. Roseanne didn't see Ivory at first. That made her nervous because other than touching Raven inappropriately and doing other things she wasn't supposed to, she and Scarlet found a certain joy in making up rumors about Roseanne. She didn't have proof that it was them, but she thought so because of the things that were said. They were things Ivory had said to Raven on one occasion. She had told Raven that if Roseanne wasn't woman enough to satisfy him sexually, she could do it for him.

The very next day, there were rumors going around that since Roseanne was a virgin, she was desperate to date anyone so they could take it from her. Then there were rumors circulating that Raven and Ivory were fucking. Roseanne knew those weren't true because she spent all of her day with him and he had even confessed to her that he was a virgin too and that it wasn't a big deal. Cedar, on the other hand, didn't think the rumors were true about them. But he did hate Raven because of it. He saw the way Ivory was always around the black haired boy and thought that maybe it was because he liked his girlfriend. 

He had mentioned to Roseanne once in passing that she needed to keep her boy in check. He then laughed about it, but it seemed like a forced laugh. It was the first time she had seen Cedar Brown actually being serious about something. He was usually a boy who was all smiles and always joking around. She didn't tell Raven about it because she didn't want him to feel bad about the whole situation. It had taken the whole team months to finally warm up to him, and now there was another person on the list who didn't entirely like him. That had to be damaging to someone's self-esteem. 

He heaved a sigh as he turned his body to face her. He was now facing with his back towards the direction where everyone else was. Roseanne could easily tell that he was conflicted and that he felt bad about what he did. The mere thought about giving someone the details of that situation was gut wrenching to him. But it was also a load on his heart and he had to tell someone who would listen and not judge him. Someone he could trust and someone who could give him advice. "I was fucking pissed that she wanted to play with my feelings so I wanted to get back at her. I wanted her to feel the same pain I was feeling, or at the very least end up fucked over in all of this. No boyfriend, no nothing." He started, thinking back to several days back when Ivory and Cedar first joined the team. "So whenever she'd flirt with me or touch me, I'd do the same back, and she always let me. I wanted Cedar to catch us because then he would see the kind of person she is and ditch her ass."

There was a long pause before he continued.

It had been minutes of them sitting there together and she glanced at the rest of the group to make sure they were still there. Ivory was there now, where she hadn't been before, and she was with none other than Raven. They were facing the direction of where Roseanne and Indy were, and she was showing him something on her holo phone. When she did that, Raven looked up and right at them, his black eyes connecting with her pink ones. There was hurt in them and she looked back at him with confusion. She knew that Ivory was once again making up lies about her, and these were probably lies about Roseanne and Indy since they were there alone together.

"But then Cedar and I became friends in like two days, and I thought maybe I shouldn't be doing this." He looked down at his hands, ashamed of himself. "I tried to keep my distance from her. But I'm weak and I just liked her a lot, and she just kept touching me and flirting. So last night Scarlet went to night physical training. Ivy stayed in the dorm alone. I told Cedar I was going to night training too, and instead I went to her dorm and we made out for hours. You know that thing she has on her chest?" He asked Roseanne and she nodded. He looked towards where everyone else was finishing up gathering everything. "She told everyone it was a bug bite. But I gave it to her. I feel so bad for Cedar, but I also feel bad for Raven. You know Cedar hates him."

Roseanne knew exactly where he was going with those words. But she nodded silently and waited for him to continue.

"Cedar thinks she might be out there having something with another crew member. But he doesn't even suspect me. He thinks its Raven. He thinks Raven gave her that hickey, and I let him believe it." He once again looked down at his hands. This time he thought he was going to get cursed out by Roseanne because she and Raven had something. He thought she would be mad that he was letting Raven take the blame for something he didn't do. Roseanne wasn't exactly pleased with what she was hearing. But she did understand that it was normal to make mistakes and he seemed to feel bad about them. If he could just fix what he was doing wrong, it would be difficult, but it would make things okay again. "What should I do?" He asked her, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Roseanne heaved a sigh, not really knowing where to begin. After a moment, she finally began. "I really think you should tell Cedar what's going on. He has a toxic relationship with someone who isn't willing to be exclusive with him, and then you're letting someone else take the blame for things they didn't do. I also think you should tell Raven--"

Indy gave a shake of his head. "But I'm scared. I would lose three people--Ivory, I would lose Cedar's friendship, and Raven's. That's like half the people on the team. No one would ever trust me again."

"I don't want to rush you." Roseanne retracted, deciding to proceed carefully instead. "But I do think they should know."

As an idea came to him, the boy with blue hair and blue eyes offered. "Maybe if you tell Raven it wouldn't be so bad. He would maybe be mad but coming from you he would be more calm about it. He's always so gentle with you."

Before she could even think to reply, they saw everyone walking towards them and she looked to her left to see Instructor Violet was already in the parking lot waiting for them. Ciel tossed a bag at Indy as the group approached and scolded him playfully that he had to help with clean up too. Indy grinned, his entire demeanor changing and he turned to Roseanne for an instant, begging her with his eyes to keep things quiet for the moment, except from Raven. He had asked her to tell him why Cedar didn't like him and was being pretty hostile around him. 

The boys passed in front of them first, since they were carrying all the bags and Roseanne got up just as the girls were about to pass her. Scarlet and Ivory passed first and she walked behind them alongside with Honey. From in front of her, Ivory said in a fake little sing song voice. "Little pink's out there getting it with everyone. First Raven and now Indy. Good job."

Roseanne rolled her eyes at her. For days she had kept quiet whenever Ivory made sneer comments about her like that. But she decided she wasn't going to take moral pangs from someone who had no morals to begin with. "You're just mad you couldn't get them both to yourself, huh? I actually pity you." Roseanne knew well she wasn't sleeping around with Raven or Indy for that matter. But she wanted Ivory to doubt it and she wanted it to sting because she was the one always wanting everyone's attention. When someone didn't give her that attention she wanted, she wasn't happy. 

Ivory let out a false laugh. "Just ask your crush Raven."

The boys put all their belongings in the trunk of the van and everyone climbed inside. This time, Roseanne saw that Raven had gone to the last seat in the back row with Ivory sitting next to him and then Scarlet. Indy saw her standing there, not knowing what to do since she always sat with Raven and he grabbed her by the arm, tugging her to sit next to him and Ciel in the very front row. Mauve, Seville, and Honey sat in the second row and Cedar sat in the front passenger seat. It was completely different than the seats they had taken when they were on their way to the beach that morning. 

It didn't even take a second before Roseanne's holo phone beeped with an incoming message from Raven Black.

Raven: Hey so I just had to know...You and Indy are like a thing now ?

Roseanne looked down at her phone screen with confusion and then tried to turn her head around to look at him. But she was in the first row and he was all the way in the back. She looked down at her screen again for about three minutes before she started to type away a response.

Roseanne: what are you talking about ?

Raven: I saw him kiss you. You don't have to lie to me just because you feel bad or something.

Roseanne: i really have no idea what youre talking about raven.

Raven: [ photo attachment ]

Roseanne gasped as she looked down at her phone screen again. It was the moment when Indy had leaned down to whisper in her ear that he had done something terrible. He wasn't leaning in for a kiss, but it really seemed that way. From the angle the picture was taken, it looked like he was giving her a kiss on the lips. Roseanne knew it had to be Ivory's doing. That was why she was nowhere to be found for a moment and minutes later she was showing Raven something on her phone. She was trying to make it seem like she and Indy had something, when in reality they were merely talking. 

Roseanne: thats really not what it looks like. we were just talking.

Raven: You don't have to explain yourself to me. You said so yourself one time, we don't have a relationship so I can't be upset about this. But I gotta say that I am...

Raven: Still, you can tell me if you like him. 

Roseanne heaved a sigh. 

Roseanne: can we just wait to talk about this in person ? its honestly a lot and it would take too long to type it out. 

He replied with a simple okay and they didn't talk to each other again for the remainder of the ride home. As they climbed out of the van and entered the training facility, Ivory shot Roseanne a knowing smirk as she passed her. On the way back she had likely filled Raven's head with doubts. She only hoped Raven had been smart enough not to believe her.

-

the beach trip actually happened. but it was to the lake. and ivory DID spend the entire day touching raven. indy didnt go. i just added him to add more drama to the story. i think cedar didnt go. he worked that day. i think it was only--scarlet, raven, honey, seville, mauve, ivory, and me. ciel didn't go either i dont remember why. 

the thing about indy making out with ivory DID happen. except he literally didnt confess it to me until around last month and this happened over a year ago. 

and lastly the thing about raven asking me about indy actually happened, but it happened with mauve. when i started working at the restaurant again bc covid closed my office building down, they kept scarlet in the same schedule with raven (5am shift). it was my schedule before i left for my other job. and when i came back, they gave me the 6am shift with mauve. i have a car and mauve doesnt. the first day back, mauve asked me if i could pick him up. so i did bc i felt bad saying no.

so i arrive with mauve together and i see raven staring us down. that day we went on our meal break together even though we punched in an hour apart. we were talking about something random and laughing and then he suddenly goes dead serious. and he tells me. "so...i saw that you and mauve came in together did morning. did you...pick him up?" and i got sooo nervous just bc the shift in mood. and i said "yeah..." and he said, "oh. so you guys have like a thing now ?" and i said "no...he asked me if i could pick him up and i didnt want to say no." and he just goes. "i just thought it was weird, that's why i asked." he was jealous guys. made my heart race. 

-clary