End of a normal life

Chapter 11

Aiden POV.

I woke up admittedly feeling lighter than I usually did.

I wasn't sure why, my mind and body were both relaxed, much more than I had expected them to be. Raven and I hung out together yesterday without a single exchange of strategy. She seemed incredibly determined to avoid talking about anything that had to do with our mission, something I hadn't expected since I assumed just like me, she was invested into our shared goal.

No, it wouldn't be right to say that she wasn't invested. She was, but the difference was that for some reason she held a rather high degree of faith in me. I wasn't sure why, but clearly that was the case.

She thoroughly believed that I had her back, that I'd take care of everything alongside her.

Perhaps she already knew me well enough that she was able to foresee what I would do in the near future and therefore wasn't worried. If that was the case then I had underestimated Raven yet I felt like I hadn't.

I felt like I was overthinking things right now.

This entire time, I was staring at the ceiling of my room blankly. I had woken up earlier than usual, not because I was disturbed like a week ago, but because I was going through a rather complex feeling of peace.

Undoubtedly, Jannet and Raven had affected me in ways I hadn't expected.

Truly, I didn't hate it.

I exhaled and decided to let my mind wander. After all, once I got out of this bed and started preparing myself for class, I would have to remain focused.

I wouldn't allow myself to be distracted again no matter what.

I thought back through the entirety of the weekend, meeting Stephanie on Saturday, the study session and how close we were. Usually, my heart would flutter every time I thought about her... or did it?

Regardless, my heart remained as calm as ever.

It was a bit bizarre, I had the feeling that the hangout between Raven and I was instrumental for something else. Perhaps my mind was too busy with other things, because I wasn't able to give a proper conclusion to what was currently going on within me.

But for some reason, I felt more comfortable with Raven than I ever had with Stephanie.

That was not to say that my feelings for her had diminished if I had any, but just that Raven had somehow become an existence my mind had refused to ignore no matter what I did.

Had it not been for the conversation I had with Jannet, someone who I trusted dearly, then I doubted that Raven would've become anything more than a partner in crime to me.

In my mind, she was definitely still a partner in crime. Yet, I couldn't help but acknowledge that aside from Jannet, Raven gave me what I needed the most out of this weekend.

She gave me an opportunity to rest.

It's rather miniscule because all I had to do to be honest was come back home and sleep, yet it goes without saying that I enjoyed the time we spent together. Not only that, but Jannet's words and Raven's words were basically mirrors of each other, whether I liked it or not my mind made the connection that these two had rather similar ideas yet different mannerisms when it came to people suffering around them.

While I was sure Jannet would help others with love and kindness, Raven would do same even if she'd come out as strong in the beginning. She had her own way of showing how she cared, and for someone like me—

It was incredibly effective.

...

I really was thinking about her a lot.