Enigma

Seventeen

Seventeen

I came up with an idea. Sure, it's not really a great idea but it could give me some information.

Raven and I had finished our projects and had hand it in but unfortunately, we all have to go back to our assigned sits.

Raven would sit two rows behind me with some guy named Arnold who wore glasses. We spent a lot less time together which bugs me. I wanted to hang out with her today but she said she had some stuff to do and of course, didn't tell me what the stuff was.

So my idea was to follow her.

When the bell rang, I walked behind the class and waited for Raven to collect her stuff. Once done, we both walked out of class. I told her that I had a last minute football practice that day so that she would think that I was at school.

We bid goodbye and Raven walked towards the bus that was already waiting for passengers at the bus stop near our school. I quickly climbed into my car and slowly followed the bus, making sure to keep my distance so that I won't look suspicious.

It took a while before the bus stopped and Raven walked out with some other passengers and the stop was not her apartment. It was somewhere else from her apartment and it was not the diner or the gym either.

I watched as she walked a few more blocks and entered a quite a large house. I parked my car a few blocks before the house and saw how she walked through the gates as if it wasn't her first time there.

I leaned forward to see the sign on the entrance of the house but couldn't, so once Raven stepped into the house after being greeted by a middle aged lady, I opened my car window and stuck my head out of the car window and tried to read the sign.

Lakeside Orphanage, it said.

My head was pounding with questions. What was she doing in an orphanage? And I was pretty sure it was not her first time here as the lady that greeted her casually. After a few more minutes, the door opened again and bunch of kids ran out with Raven, trailing behind them with the lady at the door. They talked as the kids run around, playing with each other. She smiled every now and then a small girl came up to them and tugged on Raven's arm. The little girl handed her a flower before running back to her friends.

I watched as they continued playing and Raven walked around the large house with the lady, talking.

After what I guessed an hour, the lady and the kids went back inside. Raven stood by the door as each one of them came up and hugged her. They surely know her well.

Raven bid farewell to the lady and walked down the pathway. Once she was out of the gates, she pulled out the rubber band on holding her pony tail and ran her hands through her hair. She then turned and walked by the sidewalk and headed towards my car.

I quickly sink into my seat and made sure she thinks the car was empty when she passed by. I sink deeper when she walked right passed the left side of my car. I ducked my head down and waited for a few seconds.

I lifted my head up and looked behind me. Good, she was gone.

I let out a sighed in relief and I slumped back in my seat. That was close.

"How's practice, Trevor?" An angry voice said next to me.

Shit

I looked to my right and Raven slightly glared at me through my opened window. How did she even get there?

"Hi, Raven." I said, sheepishly.

"Why are you following me?" she asked; straight to the point.

I opened my mouth then closed it, not knowing what to say. "I was just passing by. That's all." I lied.

"Bullshit." She said, glaring even harder at me. "Did you actually think I wouldn't recognize your car?"

I kept my mouth shut and gazed away from her eyes. It looks even more intimidating than usual. I should've thought this through.

"Well? Are you going to tell me why you're following me?" she asked again, sounding irritated than angry.

I opened my mouth again but closed it back because I didn't know what to say. Raven waited for my response but I couldn't put in words to explain how I felt.

I heard Raven scoffed before hitting the top of car two times and saying, "Go home, Trevor." She walked away from my car and I cursed under my breath. I rushed out of my car and ran towards her.

"Raven! Stop! Wait! Stop will you?" I shouted out as I chased her down the sidewalk. She didn't stop walking so I ran faster and stepped in front of her.

She stepped aside and tried to walk past me but I moved in front of her. She did it again and I moved blocked her way again.

"Move, will you?" she said. Her voice came out as tired and worn out.

"Look, I'm sorry okay? I know what I did was unacceptable but you don't tell me stuff so I had to find out myself. I didn't mean to invade your privacy like this and I shouldn't lie to you about football practice. I'm sorry." I let out an apology.

I watched her sigh and her shoulders slumped slightly. "Okay." Was all she said and she tried to walk past me but I caught her and crushed her into a hug.

"What are you doing?" she mumbled, tiredly against my shoulder.

"An apology hug?" I answered. She let out a small chuckle and wrapped her arms around my neck.

"I'm really sorry, okay?" I said to her. I felt her nod and I tighten my hold on her waist.

"Raven, when are you going to tell me things?" I asked, pleadingly. She stiffened for a second before relaxing back.

"Soon."