The Mystic Island of Dreams

Chapter 14

Lilian walked into the room slowly, her hand playing with the belt on her robe and water dripping from her hair. Raven hadn't even noticed when she'd had a bath because she was too far gone in her head.

"I hope you know that line doesn't work on me." The look on Lilian's face had Raven's brain running miles to try and cook up another line – preferably a feasible one. "You are too easy to read Rave. I can literally see your mind at work. You can't fool me, just tell me what it is."

Raven sighed and tried to stall by drying her hair and then proceeding to style it for the day. It didn't work for two reasons. One, Lilian was quiet and patient due to her hangover – a point she hadn't considered. Two, she sucked at hairstyles and ended up with a low bun within a minute.

"Are you still going to attempt to stall this convo or are we going to get into it now?" Lilian asked from the edge of the bed where she sat, hidden from Raven's mirror view. "I can wait all day and I know you know that."

"Alright. Fine." Raven turned to face her friend. "I was musing out loud but that was because I thought you've been such a blessing to my life and I love you so much that it's a little disheartening that you can't be my boyfriend." Better a half truth, half lie, than nothing at all.

Lilian was by no means as hardcore as most people thought, but she wasn't as mushy as a Barbie either. "I would've blushed if I had the capacity to do that. I love you too sis, but I think we both know I'll drive you insane if we dated."

Raven laughed as her heart eased. "There is no lie about that. We'd both go insane and imagine what our mothers would have to say about that."

Lilian joined her in her laughter even as she had a niggling thought, Raven was keeping a secret from her. "Madee might say something along the lines of "... ahh, these children. Wetin my eye never see finish because of una..." with that her pidgin overlaid with phonetics."

Lilian had stood up to recreate the imagination, complete with her hands linked on her chest and her arms glued to her sides. It was a typical Yoruba mother's shocked stance. The smile on Raven's face grew and warmth crawled over her heart as she thought of her mom doing the same thing. The picture was spot on.

"I think Madee would be the easy conquest. Your mom on the other hand..."

"Abeg, don't even mention my mother." Lilian sat back down with fear written all over her face. "She'll kill us both and then send herself to heaven to do it all over again. That woman has no fear."

"Yeah, except the one about her first daughter never getting married." Raven pointed out.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. She'd better accept that. Or..." Lilian paused with a sudden smirk. "Maybe I'll convince Andre to spend the rest of his life with me. I wonder what Ma will say about that..."

"I don't even want to imagine that conversation." Raven was being honest, she would not think about the craziness that would ensue in a situation like that. "So... what are we doing today, Miss Travel planner?"

"First, we're getting food. All the chemicals I consumed last night have driven my organs into a frenzy. After we settle that, I'll be able to function enough to take us through the remaining plans we have for the day."

"Yes ma'am." Raven gave a mock salute that made them laugh again as they got into the routine of getting dressed.

Lilian dressed as quickly as she could. Seven minutes later she was ready to go. Dressed in black latex shorts and an oversized black cotton T-shirt with the words 'Grumpy and Proud as' and a middle finger signifying the last word. A word Raven hated to hear and would never say.