RAVEN ✔️

Chapter 1 ✔️

• Chapter One •

Raven's Point of View

My name is Raven Carter. I'm seventeen soon to be eighteen. I live with my cousins Cora and Everette Remington. Why?

Well, Declan and I became orphans when our parents died in a car accident. Our Aunt and Uncle took us in when our parents passed away. It's been five years since they passed away, and to this day, it feels very fresh.

Declan ran away just a year after the accident. I know he's hurting but he's too afraid, to be honest with me. He rarely calls now, and we'd lost connection with one another.

Losing our parents was hard for us; Declan just wasn't the same anymore. He changed, and he shut everyone out, including me, his twin. I suppose not knowing what to do was what drove him to run away.

"Raven, breakfast is ready!" My Aunt shouted from downstairs.

"I'm coming!" I shouted back.

I quickly got up, put on my shoes and walked downstairs. I was such a clumsy teen, I almost tripped, but my fast reflexes saved me from hitting face-first to the floor.

My uncle and aunt were just so happy together. They've always treated Declan and me as their kids, but the way they look at each other was just so....amazing?

I don't know how to explain the way that they are. Of course, they weren't the only relatives we had, but apart from them, we had no one.

"Mom, dad, not right now." Cora whined as I glanced over to the couple who couldn't stop staring at each other with adoration.

"Smells good. What are we eating?" Everette asked as he sat across from Cora and me.

"Bacon and eggs, and some waffles." My aunt stated with a smile on her face.

"Good, I'm starving, mom." Everette states.

"When aren't you hungry?" Cora said, dripping with sarcasm as I stifled a laugh.

"Cora, don't start bothering the poor pig." My uncle stated.

"Hey! I am not a pig. I'm just a starving individual at times." Everette said defending himself.

I laughed at his comment, knowing even he knew he ate way too much.

• • •

After almost being done with my food, Everette told us to hurry or we would be late for school. We've never really cared whether we are late or early for school. It was just a 'whatever' type of mood.

"You didn't let us finish, and it's still 7:35 am. Couldn't you have waited a little longer?" Cora asked as we were arriving at school.

"I was going to sign up for the football team again." Everette said in a monotone voice.

"You've never been such a good liar." A very husky voice stated, but I somehow knew that voice.

When I turned around to see who it was, I was utterly in shock. I never thought I would see him, never expected even to be mere inches away from him.

"Missed me?" He asked.

"Declan!" I shouted a bit too excited as I saw my brother. I attacked him with a hug, and he caught me. I was holding onto him as my life depended on it.

"I've missed you so much, sis." Declan stated back with a light chuckle. I almost shed a few tears but just clung to him and hid my face on the crook of his neck.

"I brought you guys early because Declan wanted to surprise you two." Everette stated.

"You knew he was back and didn't tell me." I stated once I stopped hugging Declan.

"Well it was his idea. I simply helped." Everette stated as he put his hands up in surrender.

"I get no hug?" Declan asked as he looked at Cora. "Of course you do." Cora stated with a huge smile.

"It feels good to be back." Declan stated. My twin had changed so much; he wasn't the same goofy looking kid. The connection I thought I lost somehow didn't feel that way anymore.

"I know, thank God you are back. I am in dire need of some guy time. These two can be very annoying." Everette stated.

"We are not." Cora and I said simultaneously.

"No fighting or what so ever. Let's just get this whole school thing over with and go home." Declan said as we all murmured an 'agreed' following multiple shoves along the way.

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"Surprise!" I shouted.

School ended faster than I anticipated. On our way back home, we decided to surprise my aunt and uncle. They usually got back late from work, so we made a couple of meals and hanged a few balloons here and there.

They felt terrible for not being able to help Declan through his grief, so I hope this makes up for the lost time.

"Declan!" My Aunt shouted as she launched herself to my brother.

So did my uncle, they were suffocating my twin.

"I...can't....breathe." Declan managed to say.

"Don't you ever leave like that again, kid." My uncle stated.

"I won't." Declan stated with a smile.

My uncle welcomed Declan with a huge suffocating hug again. Declan didn't bother fighting off our uncle, he just hugged back.

For a teenager who ran away and became distant from his family, Declan was well mannered and respectful. Others would probably act cold with their relatives and family members, but I suppose that's the one thing that never changed.

"In other words, can you forgive my actions and accept me in your home?" Declan asked as I looked at my uncle with pleading eyes.

"Is that even supposed to be a question? Declan, you know very well that this is your home. There's no need for you to ask such a thing." Most uncles aren't this way, which was pretty cool in my opinion.

Mostly because they don't treat us like little kids, they have always tried to have excellent communication with us no matter what.

"Please tell me you still like spaghetti and lasagna." My aunt asked as she was ready to rush towards the kitchen.

Declan didn't hesitate to answer, which made my aunt happy and quickly left to make his favorite food.

I suppose our meals would have to be put away for tonight.

Even though he was back, I could feel his mind elsewhere. He wasn't completely back, but he was trying to be here, both physically and mentally.

Everything will be just fine. I tried to convince myself.

*****
I'm currently fixing the small mistakes and adding plot to where it is genuinely needed.

I hope you like it, and if it lacks a spark, don't be shy to call me out on it.