The Life We Live

14.McCray

First responders and police crowded the house.

Harlow didn't want his mother to go.. there was so many things he wanted to do with her but couldn't.

He stared at her get covered with the white blanket and taken in the ambulance.

A police officer came up to Harlow "im sorry Harlow.." he patted his back and left

Harlow and Raven stared at them drive away after about 30 minutes.

They then looked around at all the neighbors standing outside their houses.

Harlow looked down and walked inside his house.

Raven followed him as he sat down. "I can see why she'd choose drinking instead of forgetting." Harlow says

Raven sits looking at him concerned "but that doesn't mean you do it... she wouldn't want that."

Harlow nods "I know..."

Raven doesn't speak she just tries to read what might be going on in Harlows mind.

Harlow looks up at her "I just wish I knew her intentions."

Raven sits back in the chair "honestly me too. Even though I've only known you for about a week.. I feel like I've known both of you for much longer."

Harlow slightly smiles "I feel that same way about you and Marvin.

Raven smiles

Harlow gets up and starts walking to his room "I am a little tired.."

Raven stands up "do you want me to stay here with you?"

Harlow looks at her "no... its alright just go home."

Raven stares at him concerned.

Harlow walks into his room and lays on his bed in the darkness.

Raven still standing in the living room slowly turns around and leaves the house.

As she leaves the house she sees McCray walking out of his car towards her.

"Harlow is not gonna want to speak with you." Raven says

McCray stops in his tracks and looks at her not saying anything.

Raven stares back blocking the way for him to continue walking. She sees McCrays silhouette staring at her, just standing there.

It starts to rain.

"Just go back into your car and go so I can go home.. cause you aren't getting inside. You aren't gonna screw anything else up." She says

"Can I talk to you then?" McCray says

Raven squints her eyes in confusion as he doesn't seem to be in a mischievous mood. Infact he seems sad.

She calms down  "alright then... what do you need to say."

McCray sits on the hood of his car looking down.

Raven walks towards him into the light. His bright green eyes show her sadness, she realizes he is truly serious.

He brushes his wet black hair with his fingers and looks at her "I just wanted to say sorry about his mom."

Raven nods "that would be the most random nicest thing you have done to Harlow in forever."

McCray nods "yeah...I know.."

Raven squints her eyes at him "so what's your motive?"

McCray laughs a little "im not that bad you know."

Raven backs from him looking doubtful "oh really?"

McCray lowers his smile "Yes... Raven im really not... I may do bad things out of anger but I'm actually not like that."

He lowers his head "I just want people to acknowledge the things I do for them and be told I am actually a good person."

Raven tilts her head and folds her arms "well... you haven't done a good job at proving yourself a good person."

McCray agrees "you know.. I did have a life before you met me...

Raven starts to tap her foot "go on.."

McCray smiles a little "Harlow and I used to be the finest of friends. Until he started to distance himself from me. I couldn't handle it correctly so I got more angry as time went on. I did things for him, defended his name often, I said the nicest things to him but he never seemed to do the same to me... I always tell others they're good friends to me, I always acknowledged theyre triumphs and showed them true friendship. Or atleast I thought... After a while of people not telling me the same things and not showing me what I feel I show them.. I guess I became who I thought I was supposed to be, as people tend to always think of me as the bad one... my heart is still the same but my actions are not..." he shakes his head  "I don't want to be like that anymore. I was there for his fathers death... and I helped him through it, then one day he just distanced himself from me and told me that I should find more friends so im not always dependant on him to hang out or whatever.. so I joined the football team.. I regret it now.. I should've stuck with him even though he had said that. I feel I had betrayed him.. I should've been there for him today."

Raven looks at him unfolding her arms. She had never thought of him like this before. But she can now understand why he came over all the time or kept screwing with him for no reason.

"I just want to be appreciated and cared for as much as I do others even through the bad things I've done.." McCray says

Raven smiles "Hopefully you will one day..."

McCray smiles "perhaps.."

McCray then clears his throat "well tell him I wanted to say sorry. For both his mom and for my actions towards him.. I shouldn't have done those things."

Raven nods "I will."

McCray gets up and opens his door "Thank you Raven, and also one more thing.. to you...Im sorry I acted like that towards you the other day..."

He walks towards her and throws his hand out to shake her hand "truce?"

Raven smiles hesitating, she hopes Harlow won't be mad at her.

She then looks up at him and takes his hand "truce."

McCray smiles, lifts her hand and kisses it looking up at her. He then backs off, gets back into his car and drives off.