Catching Raven by Lauren Smith Read Free Book Online Page A

feel
better for what’s about to happen. Maybe it’s because I deserve to suffer. Or
maybe it’s because deep down I’m searching for something more, something real.
    He releases my chin and rests one hand on top of the steering wheel and
stares out the windshield, lost in thought. While his gaze is fixated on
something else, mine is still fixated solely on him. Several beats pass.
Finally, he looks over. There’s a sadness in his eyes that wasn’t there before.
    “Why are you doing this?”
    “Doing what?”
    “Trying to pick a fight with me on your birthday.”
    “I’m not. I’m trying to get you to tell the truth.”
    “By hurting you,” he says, confused.
    I look down and fumble around with the hem of my shorts, searching for
the right words. There aren’t any. There’s nothing I can say or do to make this
easier.
    “Look, Brandon, you are by far one of the sweetest guys I’ve ever known—”
    “But…” he presses, starting to see where this is going.
    “And you’ve been so good to me.” I let that one linger. I never want him
to think things could’ve turned out differently had he treated me better. The
reality is, I couldn’t have asked for a more thoughtful, attentive boyfriend.
It just wasn’t in the cards for us. That’s nobody’s fault. Although, it sure
feels like mine right now.
    “Spit it out, Raven.”
    I flinch at his harsh tone. A lone tear escapes and falls down my cheek.
I wipe it away with the back of my hand. When I finally work up the courage to
look him straight in the eyes again, I crumble. “I’m so sorry. Please don’t
hate me.”
    His hands grip the steering wheel tightly, making the veins under his
skin bulge. “Are you seriously breaking up with me? On your birthday? In my
car?”
    More tears fall. I nod, compounded with heaps of guilt.
    “Are you at least going to give me a reason why?”
    I take a calming breath and force myself to form a coherent sentence. He
deserves an explanation. He deserves a lot more than that, but I can’t be the
one to give it to him. “I like you, Brandon, but as a friend. This isn’t
working anymore.”
    He glares at me. “Wow, really? That’s news to me. So things aren’t
perfect for two fucking seconds and you decide to kick me to the curb like
yesterday’s trash? You don’t even bother to give me a chance to fix it first?
Jesus, Raven.” He runs his hands through his hair, considering his next words.
“You’re so selfish sometimes. You only care about yourself and anything that
benefits you.” He shakes his head like he doesn’t understand what he ever saw
in me. That’s the sharpest blade of them all.
    I stay silent, processing his coarse words, unsure of what to say or do
next. I didn’t expect things to go this way. I knew it wouldn’t be smooth, but
I never thought he’d lash out at me in retaliation. Yes, he’s upset and hurt,
but so am I. Does he seriously think I wanted to hurt him on purpose? That’s
the last thing I ever intended. Luckily, I don’t have to ponder any of this for
long.
    “Please get out of my car,” he says with an air of finality. He starts
the engine and leans back against the seat, anxiously waiting for me to leave.
    I reach down into my pocket and fish out the earrings he gave me. I open
the glove compartment and place them inside.
    “Just keep them.”
    I ignore his comment and close the compartment. I turn to grab the handle
and pause, looking back over my shoulder at him one last time. “I really am
sorry,” I whisper, opening the door and stepping out. As soon as I shut the
door, he reverses and hightails it out of the parking lot, leaving an imaginary
trail of dust behind, and a not-so-imaginary birthday girl in tears.
     

FIVE
    e     r     i     c
     
    “Where’s Raven?” I ask, scanning the
living room. My gaze settles on two wide-eyed faces: Tori and Mia. They’re sitting
together on the couch, watching the front door like hawks. Tori’s biting