The Break Up

Chapter One: The Beak up

...

Raven had been acting weird as of late, and it was a cause for concern for Garfield. Normally, he was never one to question weirdness, especially when it came to Raven. Her enigmatic and reserved nature was part of what had drawn him to her in the first place. But her recent behavior was different, and it had him worried.

In the past, when Raven had acted distant, it was often because he had inadvertently done something to upset her, or she was wrestling with her usual inner turmoil. Being that he couldn't think of anything he had done to upset her this time, he surmised that she was once again grappling with her inner demons. It was a part of her he had come to understand and accept, even though it pained him to see her in such distress.

Garfield had never liked it when Raven was upset, and he hated how she constantly beat herself up about her past. But he cherished the moments when he could be the one to console her, to be the ray of sunshine in her stormy world. When Raven was upset, it was his cue to step in and try to bring a little happiness into her life. He considered it his duty to make her smile, and even though her smiles were subtle, the minuscule curve of her lips never failed to warm his heart. Now that he was her boyfriend, he felt an even stronger responsibility to be there for her, to support her through her darkest moments.

So, as Garfield walked into the common room and saw Raven, his girlfriend, once again showing an expression of anguish, he couldn't help but smile. He was ready to do whatever it took to cheer her up, to ease whatever pain she was feeling.

He quickly closed the distance between them, approaching Raven as she stared out of the large main window. Her brow was slightly furrowed, a sign that she was deep in thought, likely wrestling with her inner demons. Without hesitation, Garfield wrapped his strong arms around her, startling her with his sudden presence. He leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek before resting his head on her shoulder.

"What's wrong?" He asked, his tone filled with genuine concern and affection.

Raven's brow furrowed again as she let out a heavy sigh, slowly pulling herself out of Garfield's embrace. Her movements were deliberate, and there was a weight to her actions that didn't go unnoticed by him. "Gar, we need to talk."

He looked at her, his expression turning serious as she turned to face him. Those words never meant anything good. Anytime someone said that they needed to talk, something bad always accompanied it. Panic began to creep in as he wracked his brain, trying to recall anything he might have done to upset her, but nothing came to mind.

"What's wrong?" He asked again, far more concerned this time, his voice tinged with worry as he desperately searched for answers in her eyes.

Raven slowly glanced around the common room. Even though it was empty, she still wanted to find somewhere more private for their conversation. "Let's go to my room." She told him, her voice calm but laden with seriousness, before walking toward the door.

Anxiety flooded through Garfield as he followed her down the hall and into her room. He continued to rack his brain, trying to pinpoint what he could have possibly done that would have upset her this much. This wasn't the usual angry-upset, this was something far more unsettling. She appeared hurt, and that hurt him deeply.

They reached her room, and Raven opened the door, letting him inside. He quickly turned to look at her as she closed the door behind him. His anxiety was clearly evident as she turned to face him.

"Garfield..." She began, and he flinched at her using his full name. Those words carried a weight he couldn't ignore. "I think it would be best if we break up." She told him calmly.