Enigma

Twenty-four

Twenty-four

The next week went by as usual and Friday came sooner than expected. I was currently in Alex's basement as the boys and I were playing video games like we usually do. We invited Raven but she said she had to work.

"So Trev, when are you going to ask Raven out?" Alex asked and the other boys nodded their head, wanting to know too.

"I don't know yet." I mumbled. I have been hiding my feelings for her for so long I don't know if I wanted to tell her about it. She might not react the way I want her to react and jeopardize our friendship.

The boys didn't ask any question after that as we continued to play games. I looked at the time and it was almost midnight. I immediately felt incredibly tired. The boys and I bid farewell and we went our separate ways.

I would drive past the diner every time I would go home from Alex's house, so as I past it the diner was already closed but I caught the a glimpse of a girl carrying a plastic bag walking towards the garbage can next to the diner.

Raven black hair looked darker under the lighting of the diner. I parked my car and slowly made my way behind her. She was oblivious as she threw the plastic bag into the garbage can.

I wrapped an arm around her waist and with the other hand I covered her mouth. She stood frozen for a second before struggling under my grip. She suddenly jabbed me in the rib which made me removed my hand from her mouth. She swiftly turned around and sent a punch to my jaw. I landed on the floor from the impact and cupped my jaw.

"Trevor?" She looked down at me. I groaned in response as the pain was increasing. She quickly knelt down next to me as I lay down on the dirty floor.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry." She said, trying to look at where she hit me.

"God, Trevor." She slapped my chest. "You shouldn't scare me like that!"

"Why are you still hurting me?" I groaned. She sighed and got up as she frowned at me. "Come on, let's get you inside."

She offered me her hand and I took it. We went inside and I sat by the bar. Raven came and handed me a pack of frozen peas before sitting next to me.

I placed the peas next to my jaw and winced slightly at the contact. Raven looked at me in amusement. "You really shouldn't scare me like that."

"I learned my lesson." I mumbled.

She chuckled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "What are you doing here anyways?"

"I was driving by and saw you outside. Thought I might drop by and say hi." I told her.

"By scaring me." she pointed out as she raised her eyebrows.

I gave her a sheepish smile before looking around. I noticed that we were the only one here. Where were the other employees?

"Are you the only one here?" I asked Raven.

"Yeah," She nodded. "I'm closing up today."

"Want some help?" I asked. Even though I already want to help her and wasn't taking no for an answer, I still asked.

"No, it's fine. I can do it." She declined.

"Well too bad." I placed the peas on the counter. "I'm going to help you anyways." I told her as I stood up.

Raven furrowed her eyebrows and pouted a bit like she always does whenever she's confuse. "Then why did you asked?"

I chuckled and stepped closer to her. I placed my thumb between her eyebrows where the crease was and slowly smoothing it back to normal.

Raven looked up at me with a smile before standing up, making my hand fall back to my side. I went to the jukebox while Raven went to grab the mops for us to use. I choose a song and the whole diner filled with the melody pouring out of the jukebox.

We spent the next hour mopping the floor and dancing with my horrible singing. Once we were done, Raven and I put away the dishes that were washed prior to my arrival. Raven went to the bathroom while I played around with the juke box. A slow song played as Raven walked out of the bathroom.

I sneak in front of her and wrapped my arms around her waist as I swayed side to side. She got the idea as she wrapped her hands around my neck. We danced slowly; enjoying each other's presences.

Only a few lights were on in the diner which made the whole moment more romantic. Raven closed her eyes as the song went to the chorus.

I don't know how this girl in front of me could be any more beautiful. I lifted my hand and brushed the strand of hair that fell to the side of her face behind her ear. She opened her eyes and looked up at me. My heart skipped a beat as soon those piercing green eyes bore into mine.

I was completely unaware that I started to lean in. My hand went to the back of her neck and made sure she stayed in placed. In a few seconds, my lips brushed hers and I remembered how soft they were. I pressed mine against hers and immediately melted. I moved my lips with hers as she wasn't kissing back. She slowly, unsurely kissed me back and I couldn't be happier. Our lips moved in sync and I pulled her closer as she ran her hand through my hair. We kissed for a few more moments and I was on cloud nine but she abruptly pulled away. I stood there confused as she stepped out of my embrace and hugged herself.

"I'm sorry, I can't do this." She didn't look me in the eye as she said it. She turned and walked away but I didn't let her. I grabbed her arm, stopping her but she didn't turn around. I grabbed her other arm and turned her body towards me. She kept her gaze on the floor or anywhere else.

"Why?" I managed to ask her. She shook her head and tried to pull away again but I tighten my grip before she could completely step away.

"I'm sorry, Trevor. I can't do this." She repeated. I stepped closer to her and held her face in my hands.

"Raven, please tell me why." I didn't want her to reject me as my feelings for her were stronger than ever. She shook her head again. She didn't meet my eyes even once after the kiss.

"Please, Raven. I really like you and I need to know why." I whispered to her.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"I like you too, Trevor." She said and my breath hitched. "But I can't do this. You'll leave me."

I won't leave her. I don't want to leave her. What does she think that?

"I won't. What would you say that?" I asked as I took a step forward as she took a step back, trapping her against the diner's counter.

"Face it Trev, you don't really have a good reputation with this kind of stuff." I knew the things I've done would bite me the back one day but I didn't expect it to be so soon. Plus, I hate hearing her say my name that way.

"Please, just give me a chance." I said to her. Yet again, she shook her head and stepped back even though there wasn't any space for her to go.

"I can't. One day you'll get bored and you'll leave and I don't want to face that day." She replied, looking anywhere else but me.

"I won't leave you." I pleaded her, Lowering my head as search for her eyes.

"That's a lie." She said, making eye contact. "You'll never know what's going to happen. You'll never know what the future holds."

I stayed silent for a while because I was lost in words. She had a point but I can't see the day I will leave her. I see the day I live my life to the fullest with her.

"It's better for us to lose each other this way than to lose each other when we mean too much to one another." She whispered. She placed her hand on my cheek and I involuntarily lean against it. She placed a kiss against my other cheek and whispered, "Go home, Trevor."

She pulled away and stepped out of my embrace. She gave me small smile before walking back to the kitchen. I moved to chase her but stopped mid way because I didn't know what to say.

I know in my heart that I won't leave her but maybe she's right. I'll never know what the future holds and the last thing I wanted was to hurt her.

The pain in my heart as I watched her walked away was unbearable and how I wished this would go a different way.