Falling For My Shoe Stealer // l.t.

You Bag of Assholes!

Chapter 58:

Jessica's POV:

"And he was standing right next to them when Allen prom-posed to Harley. Right there! And he still thinks it's weird!" Raven ranted. I nodded my head to indicate I was listening to her story. It had become a routine to sit with her at the neighborhood events. During today's basketball game she decided to talk about how her boyfriend won't ask her to prom in a cute, over-the-top way.

"That's dumb. Almost every girl, and some guys, want to get asked to prom in a cute way. Especially you!" I gushed. I've learned to channel my inner stereotypical teenage girl when talking to Raven.

My eyes reverted back towards the court just as the team I happened to be cheering on made a shot. I clapped my hands and hollered, only to be interrupted by a burning sensation. I put my hand to my throat and inwardly moaned.
I've been singing so much the past couple weeks that it's taking a toll on me.

Raven swung her hands in the air dramatically, returning to our conversation. "I KNOW!"

I smiled and listened to her spill her feelings. I'm basically a glorified babysitter at this point. Or a therapist. There's always something going on in Raven's life that isn't right.

When I spoke with her a couple of days ago, she claimed she was doomed. She says, "The universe is testing me!"

My mind drifted from actually listening to her when I felt a burn and itch all in one take over my throat. I coughed hard and felt the air scratch against the raw insides. Raven stopped so suddenly, it was like someone pressed the off button on her. I wish I knew where it was.

Never mind, I don't.

She watched with concern as my painful coughing continued for a few more seconds. My eyes welled with tears involuntarily, and I clutched at my neck. Once I was able to control myself, I took deep breaths in and out my nose. It hurt less through those holes.

I eyed Raven and took note of the concern on her face. Her eyebrows made a V-shape against her flawless skin. She has really good eyebrows.

"I'm sorry," I sputtered, rubbing my neck as if that would magically heal it. "You can keep going. I promise I was listening."

"No way! What's wrong? Are you okay?" Raven grilled me. She pressed the back of her hand against my forehead.

I shook it off and smiled weakly. "Yeah! I'm fine! My throat is just sore from singing and stuff; using it too much." I laughed lightly and held back the cringe threatening to appear on my face.

"Singing too much..." Raven trailed off, looking towards the ground in thought. Not even a second later she jumped to her feet, startling me and the woman that happened to be sitting on the other side of her. Her eyes lit up, and she smiled down at me. "I know exactly what you need! Come on!"

Her dark hand wrapped around my wrist, nearly scratching me with all the plastic bracelets adorning her. She pulled me to follow, and we stumbled down the bleachers.

"There's this market that my uncle's neighbor's daughter's boyfriend owns, and he has this stuff that'll make you feel a thousand times better!" she exclaimed. I forced myself to smile in order to hide the concern I couldn't help but feel.

Raven led me away from the court and through a couple of alleys next to my apartment complex. "One right, then a left, then one more right," she recited her course.