NAKURA - The journey of becoming more

Chapter -2

Chapter 2- Chords of Change

After an exhausting studio session, where Raven lost herself in the familiar strum of her guitar, Theodore pulled up outside in his beat-up yet oddly charming car. Raven stepped out of the studio, wiping the sweat from her brow, still buzzing from the creative energy. Seeing Theo waiting for her, she smiled.

"Domino's?" Theo called out as soon as she slid into the passenger seat.

Raven grinned. "You read my mind."

They cruised through town, the sun beginning to set, casting a warm, golden hue over the streets. As they reached Domino’s, the scent of pizza hit them the moment they walked in, and they wasted no time ordering a large pepperoni.

"Man, I swear, after all that recording, I could eat a whole pizza by myself," Raven joked, her stomach growling in agreement.

Theo raised an eyebrow, his classic teasing grin spreading across his face. "You? A whole pizza? You couldn't even finish that burger last week."

"That was different! It was—like—massive! This is... pizza." Raven laughed as she playfully nudged his shoulder.

They sat in their usual corner, devouring slice after slice, talking about everything and nothing. Theodore always had a way of making her laugh, even when her world felt like it was crumbling.

"Alright," Raven said, licking the last bit of sauce off her fingers, "next stop—skate shop. I need new wheels."

"Same," Theo replied, standing up. "My board's wheels are so busted; it’s like skating on pebbles."

They wandered into the skate shop, feeling at home amidst the vibrant display of boards and accessories. Raven zeroed in on a pair of bright red wheels that would complement her board perfectly. She spun them in her hand, admiring the smooth texture.

Theo, meanwhile, was eyeing a more muted, silver pair. "What do you think?" he asked, holding them up for Raven's approval.

"They're nice... for someone with zero style." She smirked, tossing the red wheels into the air and catching them effortlessly.

"Zero style?" Theo gasped, feigning offense. "I'm the only reason you even know what style is. Without me, you'd be skating on... whatever those were." He pointed dramatically at her old, nearly bald wheels, making Raven burst out laughing.

By the time they left the shop, the sky had darkened, and the streetlights flickered on. The day had been perfect, but the looming dread of going home slowly crept back into Raven's mind.

"Want me to drop you off tomorrow too?" Theo asked, sensing the shift in her mood.

Raven shook her head, forcing a smile. "Nah, I'm good. Thanks for today, though."

As she walked through her front door, the atmosphere changed immediately. Her father’s disapproving eyes followed her movements as she stepped inside, her heart sinking.

"Careless. That's what you are," he muttered, the venom in his voice unmistakable.

Raven’s stomach tightened as she tried to move past him, but he wasn’t finished. "I bet you were out wasting time, weren’t you? Do you think life is some kind of game? You need to grow up, Raven."

Before she could respond, the blows came—sharp, unrelenting. She felt the familiar sting, but the emotional wounds always cut deeper. She retreated to her room, clutching her side, feeling the tears rise but refusing to let them fall. Not again.

---

The next day, Raven was waiting for Theodore at the bus stop. The morning was quiet, but she could still feel the echoes of her father’s harsh words ringing in her ears. Theo arrived right on time, and the two of them boarded the bus together.

Theo gave her a sideways glance, his eyes scanning her for any sign of distress. He didn’t ask any questions—he didn’t have to. He just knew.

"You want to talk about it?" he asked softly as the bus rattled along the road.

Raven stared out the window, her reflection staring back at her with tired eyes. "Not really. But thanks," she muttered, grateful for his silent support.

They both sat in comfortable silence for a while, Raven leaning her head against the window, feeling a little lighter knowing that Theo was by her side.

By the time they reached college, PJ and Viper were already waiting for them at their usual spot.

"Late again?" Viper teased, crossing her arms with a smirk. "Do you two ever get here on time?"

"Fashionably late," Theo shot back, pulling out a pair of imaginary sunglasses and dramatically pretending to strut down an imaginary runway. "You know how it is."

PJ laughed, her usual calm demeanor brightened by Theo’s antics. "Alright, alright, let’s focus. We’ve got a marketing project to kill today. Prezzi time."

"Ah, Prezzi—the bane of our existence," Raven groaned, slinging her bag over her shoulder as they all walked towards the classroom. "Why can’t it be something cool, like… creating a band logo?"

"Or designing a skate park," Theo added, grinning at Raven, who rolled her eyes playfully.

Viper raised an eyebrow. "Because, unfortunately, life is not that kind to us. Now let’s crush this project, get the marks, and get out of here."

As they entered the classroom, the atmosphere was charged with excitement. The idea of working on something together, something that would showcase their creativity and teamwork, gave Raven a renewed sense of purpose. Despite everything going on at home, she felt alive in these moments, surrounded by friends who believed in her.

"Alright, Prezzi experts, what’s our plan?" PJ asked, pulling out her notebook, ready to jot down ideas.

"We make it flashy, but not too flashy," Viper chimed in, already strategizing. "We want them to remember us, but not because we blinded them with neon colors."

"And we incorporate some humor," Theo added. "People love humor. It’s like pizza—it’s universally loved."

Raven snorted. "Yeah, just as long as we don’t end up with pineapple on it."

Their conversation continued, laughter mixing with serious brainstorming as they crafted their plan. As the day wore on, Raven felt the weight on her shoulders lessen. With her friends by her side, the future didn’t seem so daunting.

The journey ahead was uncertain, filled with challenges that they couldn't yet see. But Raven knew, in that moment, that she wasn’t alone. Together, they were building something stronger than grades or presentations. They were building each other up, one small victory at a time.

And so, the journey of becoming more began—together.