The Black Bird

Electives

Raven was sitting in 4th period music class. The bald man with peppy charm who's name she already forgot, droning on and on about a class she doesn't even like. Music theory. This class is so goddamn annoying. I just want to write.

She was playing with the tips of her purple hair, while trying to sleep with her eyes open. How does London Tipton do it!?! Raven didn't actually watch the show but her bratty little sister, Ritzy did.

Raven had sleek black hair that had the tips died purple.

She started doodling book covers for all the pipe dreams lying around her boring-ass room.

She couldn't even be in her favorite class. Creative writing. It was the first day of the second semester and she was in music theory.

When Raven had asked the office secretary if she could be switched to creative writing she had practically yelled at her that they were doing the best they could.

They probably had a bunch of kids coming in asking to be switched into a class where they had friends or wouldn't get bullied. That class had always been her escape from all the pressure. But it was always just an hour.

Raven Valencia Fromancía always wanted to be an author. A person who has the power to shape young kids lives. To get a poor high school girl like herself through the years. A person who new what they wanted to do in life, got it done, and more. That's who Raven Valencia Fromancía wanted to be.

One day she would do something just like her parents. Writing was just a dream. Her parents wanted her to go to a great college and get a meaningful job. They didn't support her writing abilities.

In their minds it was just a phase like when she got interested in dancing hip hop. To them, everything about her was a phase. Her writing, her fascination with black, her quietness, everything. They were too wrapped up in their own lives while drowning in money.

Besides who new if her writing was any good. She doubted it.

Lorenzo and Martina Fromancía were computer engineers for the government. They were always doing top secret agent shit but they did a damn good job pestering her about college and growing up.

You see, Raven is in her junior year of high school at Jefferson High located in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents and teachers are pressuring her, to the point where all she wants to do is gouge her eyeballs out in frustration.

Her parents want her to go to an amazing college with "lots of credentials." Her teachers want her to actually start the process of picking out a school. And to top it off, her friends are pressuring her to take a break and party. What an amazing life.

But she cared about her parents and friends too much. She didn't want to disappoint her parents. Therefore she got good grades.

Although everyone at this school was too blind to see past her thickly made up eyes and sharp curves.

All they saw was a person who cared about nothing and not a go-getter getting drenched in buckets of pressure every second of every day.

"Raven!!!" The teacher calls, pulling her out of her reverie, bald head sparkling. What's his name? Pen- Ped- Perma?

"Your answer, please?"

Raven panicked. What do I do? Oh my god. Everyone's staring at me. I can just imagine what their saying. 'Is that the goth?? Is she new to this class?Why is she starting in the middle of the year? I didn't know she liked music let alone care about anything.'

"Uhhh.... Um.... I.... It's just..." She needed to get an answer out fast. She was stuttering and stuttering was a sign of weakness.

"Eighth notes."

The whispered voice came out of nowhere. It was a small whisper. A rescue whisper. And yet, she couldn't get it out fast enough.

"Umm uh eigh-"

"That's enough Miss Fromancía." Snickers are heard throughout the class at her expense.

She sinks down in the cold plastic chair that was too small for a junior in high school. "Yes, Mr Minks?" Mr. Pen-something inquired delightedly.

She could already tell that Frederick Minks was going to be the know-it-all. The one always raising their hands with all the answers. Good thing she was getting out of this class soon.

"I believe the answer is eighth notes, sir."

"You are correct! Well done, Mr. Minks! Now hopefully you aren't the only one who pays attention in this class." He shoots a pointed glance at Raven. She sinks lower in her seat.

The bell rings and Raven quietly starts gathering up her books. Someone taps her shoulder.

It's a boy. No, a man. He has dark hair that reminds her of midnight. That's the kind of hair that makes you want to do crazy things with, in the dead of the night. His crystal blue eyes are so deep you could get lost in them for days. He has thin lips that were currently etched into a frown. She moved down to his body. He had toned abs underneath a thin red cotton t-shirt. She didn't allow her eyes to roam further. She couldn't allow her eyes to roam further. Raven forced herself to glance back up at his face.

"You want my advice." Raven was about to say that no she didn't want his half-witted advice. She wanted to get to English class -her favorite, second only to her creative writing class- but he charged on. "Pay more attention in class. Mr. Permagrim may look weird but he's a good teacher."

Permagrim!! So that was his name! Fitting. Raven thought judgingly.

"I don't see how me paying attention in class affects you!" Raven retorted crisply.

"Hey! I'm not judging. But if you want to get good at your music, you need to know your stuff."

"I think I know what I'm doing. Now if you'll excuse me. I really have to go." At this point, it looked like she was going to be late no matter how fast she got out of this conversation.

"What's your deal?"

"None of your beeswax."

"Beeswax?"

"Yes, beeswax."

"Alright, mystery girl, I missed your name."

"Now look who's not paying attention in class."

"I'm Rick."

"That's nice. Now will u please let me go?"

"I never got your name."

"I didn't offer it," Raven stated slyly. She decided this guy was off limits. He was strange and different. She couldn't care less if he even talked to her again.

She tried to push past him, her grey eyes on the door. The classroom had emptied out by now and Raven was getting anxious as the seconds ticked by on the old analog clock above the door. The bright red hand contrasting with the dirty eggshell-white face.

He stopped her, his hand on her shoulder.

"See you around, Raven." And winks.

"I won't be in this class much longer, Rick." Raven shot back. And to top it off:
She winks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tell me if you guys liked it. I want honest feedback. This my first story and I want to know if I should write more.

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