TOUCH .

first time raveen drops Maya home

✨RAVEEN'S POV✨

The drive back was longer since there was traffic and all that, but for once, we actually had a decent conversation.

"Why don’t you connect your playlist? We can see who has better taste in music."

She didn’t respond at first, and I thought maybe she didn’t hear me. But then, I saw her reach for her phone and scroll through her playlists.
(I know what you're thinking—how am I seeing this and still driving safely? Well, I’m a very safe driver, thank you.)

“What mood are you in, so I know what playlist to put on? All my songs match a mood, so what are you feeling right now?”

I smirked, focusing on the road as traffic started to clear up a bit.

“No, I’m not putting that playlist,” she said sarcastically.

“Tiny, c’mon, why do you always assume I’m trying to get under your shirt? I just wanna listen to that,” I teased her.

She shot me her signature resting b-face and said, “No. We’re listening to Dandelions.”

“Wow, you’re really that soft and delicate, huh?” I teased her in a baby voice. “Dandelions? That song is so adorable and girly but also kinda meh!”

Before I could say anything more, she blasted Aurora’s Runaway.
We ended up singing along to it—and to a few other songs too. Not gonna lie, this chick can hit some serious notes.

I turned down the volume slightly as the directions from Google Maps hinted we were close to her place.

“Tell me which house it is, Tiny. I don’t want to drop off this fine little mama too far and tire out her legs just yet.”

“Shut the fuck up,” she said, laughing, as she threw her jacket at my face.

“Park right there. The grey house with the weird roof,” she pointed out. And she wasn’t kidding—it was a weirdly artistic roof.

“Aren’t you going to open the door for me?” she asked, taking off her seatbelt and giving me a look.

“And why would I do that, huh?” I asked, leaning closer to her with my left hand while unbuckling my belt. I gave her the kind of stare that I knew would mess with her just a bit.

“Well, because, dumb-dumb, you smacked my hand last time I touched your door. It hurt, and I don’t want my hand swollen,” she shot back with sarcasm.

“Well, guess what—you’re opening the door for yourself, and also yo—”

Before I could even finish my sentence, she turned around and opened the door herself. That’s when I grabbed her hand firmly, stopping her before she could leave.

“Tiny, I’m trying to talk to you, and you’re walking away in the middle of it,” I said, pulling her closer. She leaned against the armrest in the middle of the seat, her face just inches from mine.

“Never turn your back on me when I’m speaking. Understand?” I said in a stern but gentle voice.

She snickered and studied my eyes for a moment before nodding, still locking her gaze with mine.

I let her go, and she got out, opening the back door to grab her backpack and books. She slammed the door shut and was about to head to her house when I remembered the keychain she had dropped earlier.

It was a black, rhinestoned cat keychain—not too sparkly or girly, just... cute.

“Maya! You left this!” I called after her, but she had her AirPods in, so it didn’t work.

She rang the doorbell and disappeared inside, her mom opening the door for her. I stayed in the car for about five minutes, debating if I should walk over and give her mom the keychain or just return it at school. I decided school would be fine.

---

The next morning, I woke up feeling blue, so I wore black. I sent Richie a text:

Richie 😎
Sup, bitch? You and your sister ready? Imma pick y’all lazy asses up in five.

Raven 🐮
Aight, bet... We’re ready. Who you calling lazy, you dumb fuck? 😂 ttyl.

Richie 😎
Bitch, just be ready when I get there. And don’t forget to stash me up.

Raven 🐮
You know it.

I grabbed an apple from the fridge and left a sticky note for Aaron, warning him not to fuck up the place because I might bring Maya over after school.

Once in the car, I blasted my playlist, starting with some Young Thug, and headed to Richie’s house.

Richie and his sister—let’s call her Richie Jr. because I always forget her name—were waiting outside. Richie was hyped as soon as the car pulled up, jumping into the passenger seat while his sister slid into the back.

“Yo, roll up the window!” Richie yelled.

“Aight, aight. Bet,” I shouted back, rolling up all the windows.

“Why didn’t you come to the party yesterday?” Richie asked, pulling out his lighter as I handed him a blunt I had from earlier.

“What?” I shouted back, before realizing we were yelling because of the music.

“Wait, hold on,” I said, turning down the volume as Lil Wayne’s track faded out.

Richie passed me a joint, and his sister lit her own with a sparkly lighter.

“We’re smoking a 3-chain bomb,” Richie Jr. said with a high smile.

“Omg, I can’t believe... we’re... going... to school,” Richie said between giggles.

“Yeah, bro, I know,” I said, laughing.

“We should totally ditch,” he suggested, passing me his joint while I handed mine to Richie Jr.

“Yeah, but I wanna see Maya today,” I admitted, starting the car again.

“Wait, Maya?” Richie asked, holding in a laugh. “You’re going soft, Raven.”

“Shut up,” I said, laughing nervously.

“She’s dating, you know,” he added, raising an eyebrow.

That hit me harder than I expected. My heart sank a little as I thought, Is that why she said I’m not her type? Is that why she acts like she doesn’t like me? Because she actually doesn’t?

“You okay?” Richie asked, passing me the joint.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m good,” I said, brushing it off and taking a hit.

But deep down, I wasn’t sure if I was.