The Broken Raven - A Paradox Of Two Worlds Series Book 1

Chapter 22 - Clay

The finest sleep I've had in a very long time, I wake up with Raven in my arms. I recall the previous evening. I will stop at nothing to keep her safe. The best thing that has ever occurred was waking up next to her, and I want it to happen every day. I comb back the hair that hangs loosely over her lovely face. A tiny smile breaks out of her lips as her eyes flutter open.

"Morning." she says.

"Morning, beautiful." I kiss her head. I try to listen to other bodies in the apartment, but there is nothing but complete silence. "Looks like Brie didn't come home last night." I tell her.

"It doesn't surprise me." She laughs.

"Want to get coffee?" I ask her, hoping deep down she will say yes.

"I'd love to.'' She gets up and gets ready. I stop her as she walks into the bathroom.

"Let me clean your wound from last night." She nods and takes her shirt off, and I rip the old bandage off, putting some medicated cream on and a new dressing to cover it.

She smiles and kisses my cheek. "Thank you." I nod, walk into her room, and wait for her.

⁂

As we get into my car, I tell her I need to go home quickly to change, she nods, and I head straight to my house.

"You're more than welcome to come in and wait," I tell her as I park the car.

"It's okay. I'll wait here. I don't want to see Brie right now." She smiles.

Once inside, I bolt it up the stairs to my room and quickly get changed. I walk out as Logan and Brie come down the hall. "Dude, where are you going?" Logan asks.

"Out for coffee with Raven," I respond. I turn and start walking down the stairs.

"Hopefully, to get my best friend to love you back?" Brie shouts. I stop in my tracks and stare at Brie. "What? We both know you like her; just admit it." She smiles. "Now go and make her fall in love with you."

That's the plan. I smile to myself.

I'll be honest with Raven and let her know how I really feel. Tell her that I want her to be my girl and that I'll be the one she can depend on, the one who will always love her, and the one who will keep her safe. I give her a smile as I climb inside the car. She flushes, but immediately looks away to cover her face. I grin and start to drive.

⁂

We get to the café, order our drinks, and take a seat. We chat about classes and any plans for the upcoming weekend.

"So Brie thinks you and I should be a thing." I smile at her. She laughs, and I can't help but take her hand. Her fingers intertwine with mine, and I finally feel complete. No one can stop me from falling for this girl.

"You left me for her?" I hear that annoying voice. Raven rolls her eyes and pulls her hand away. I muffle a little laugh. "Seriously, Clay?" I don't even respond to her.

She looks at Raven and goes to open her mouth; before she can, Raven stops her, "Not today, demon." I laugh as she says those words.

"You're my boyfriend, and I don't want you around her. How could you?" She looks directly at me.

Raven gets up to leave, but I ask her to wait. She shakes her head no and says, "Sorry, obviously, Barbie doesn't want us to be friends. I'll see you around." The way the words come out, she sounds heartbroken, and I'm pissed.

"Are you serious, Sloane? Get out of my way." I push past her and run after the girl I'm head over heels for. "Raven, Raven, please stop," I beg.

"What, Clay?"

"So I'm not sure how to explain it, I'll try. I need you more than I want you. Although I've always felt alone, being around you makes me feel alive and valued for who I am rather than what I can achieve." I grab her hands, "Although I agree that there should be no more games, I'm not sure I could survive knowing that you would end up in someone else's arms. I am aware that I am powerless over this emotion. Both the first and the last thought I have is of you. I want to know if you feel the same."

She pulls her hands away. Her eyes lock on mine; I can see the tears build in her eyes, and she trembles slightly. "I've got to go." She stutters and walks away.

As I watch her give up and leave, I feel something in my heart for the first time in a long time, and it breaks into a million pieces.

⁂

Once home, I slump onto the couch, and Logan asks me if I'm okay. "I don't know what the hell is happening to me."

"You're falling in love." He smiles.

"No, that doesn't happen!" I lean back against the couch.

"Come on, man, it's not a bad thing. Maybe Raven will be good for you."

"I guess I will never know," I sigh. I look at the kitchen to see the bottle of vodka calling my name. Alcohol sounds like a good start to numb this pain that I'm all of a sudden feeling.

"Why do you say that?" He asks me.

"Because every damn time I tell her how I feel. She says it's not real."

Logan looks at me and says, "You don't like it, do you?"

"Like what?"

"Being in love with someone who doesn't love you back?" Shit, he is right. What she is doing to me, I've done to hundreds of girls.

"Instead of telling her, show her instead." Once more, he is right, but where do I begin?

Logan leans in closer, as if he can read my mind, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You start by being honest with yourself. Are you really in love with her, or just the idea of being in love?" I pause, considering his words. It's true that I've been chasing after this girl for a few weeks now, but is it because I genuinely care for her, or because I want the validation of being in a relationship? Logan's gaze is steady as he waits for my response. Finally, I admit, "I think I love her."