Shot in the Dark (book 2 of the Storm Chasers series)

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The weathered art was an artifact in Crow's hands. He tried his best to draw his family when he was younger, but the work was far from professional. He played with the picture as he waited for Raven to finish cooking. Crow had the old feeling of being a child who did something wrong. This time, he didn't expect some loving words and advice.

"Crow, dinner is ready!" Raven announced from the kitchen.

"!Ya voy! Calm down!" Crow hollered. He stayed in his room for a minute, looking at the picture. He tossed the picture onto his pillow, going into the kitchen.

"What do you want, Ink?" Crow asked, trying to lace his voice with annoyance.

"Dinner," Raven said blankly.

"I know you want more than that. You have that look on your face that means business. What is it?"

"..."

"Look, Raven. If you are upset about me hanging out with Cham-"

"I'm not upset, okay?"

"Then why did you want to talk? Nowadays the only words I can squeeze out of you are 'How are you?' and 'Is your dad dead?'!"

"I asked one time."

"That was the only time you asked anything, Raven! I want to be close to you but you shove me away!"

"The only time I ask anything, you get angry and tell me to shut up. Why should I ask anything-"

"I don't just want to be a comedic background character to you! I want to be real. I'm not just a symptom to be treated or something to laugh at. Only my mother looked at me in a different way," Crow started to tear up, but he swallowed his sorrow. "You are the same as everyone else. I'm nothing but an experiment to you, am I?"

Raven stood there, speechless. Crow glared at him, before sighing.

"I...I'm sorry. I shouldn't-...Look, I-..." Crow looked at Raven, rubbing his neck.

"It's fine. I don't understand what I did wrong, and I get that this might seem like just an experiment, but I've never had any close relationships with anyone before. So can you just have some patience with me?"

"Yeah, but...Maybe we just need to breathe some air that isn't our own, you know?"

"No, I don't know."

"We need a break. That makes us sound like we are a couple. We are not. Lo siento-...Aye, this is awkward."

Raven raised an eyebrow. "Are we not?"

"No!" Crow exclaimed, flustered. "We are friends, we are not dating. We most likely will never date!"

"Oh, ok," Raven said, confused and dejected.

"I'm going to bed. See you tomorrow, Raven. Buenas nochas," Crow hurriedly spat out, hiding his face. He started walking back to his room.

"Ok. Goodnight, I'll put your food in the fridge if you want it later."

"NO-...I'm still hungry."

"Alright then, I'll eat in my room."

"Don't mess up your books, then," Crow gave a small smile to Raven, before snatching his food to scarf it down.

"Mhm."

Crow ate his food, before pulling out the recent news. He glanced over the boring headlines, trying to find something to distract him from the argument with Raven. He noticed an article with that familiar name on it. 'Arynn Enyti. That's that guy who killed his girlfriend. Why is he so...?' Crow finished reading the headline, almost choking on his water. He raced to Raven's room, article in hand.