After The Rain✔️

Courage

Courage is defined as strength in the face of pain or grief.

My life had drastically changed since the start of the school year. One night led to everything changing. One of the main things that changed was how I looked at my feelings. I was scared to admit I liked Raven for fear of people talking. The fact he was Randy's brother. The one time I find someone that I truly like and I'm still worried what people will think.

I sat at the counter in the pool hall while the guys played pool.

"Molly, you got to stop moping," Trish said.

"Why? I've become quite good at it," I mumbled.

"Just talk to him," she said, looking at Raven.

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"We haven't exactly been close since the other night when I blurted out about Randy," I said. "He probably thinks I'm a waste of time."

"I don't think so."

"Well, I do."

"Molly, it just takes a little bit of courage to take that first step. Go talk to him."

"You're not going to let this go, will you?"

"Nope, now you go and talk to him," she ordered me. I got up and slowly made my way towards the guys.

"Molly, will you tell Robbie to stop cheating," Hunter said.

"Um, I think I'm going to stay out of this one. Actually Raven can I talk to you alone," I said casually.

"Yeah, sure, Robbie quit cheating," he pointed at him. We walked out of ear range. "What's up?"

"Are we, you know, okay?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I just feel like there's some tension between us from the other night."

"Nope, we're all good," he smiled.

"Oh, okay," I said, feeling like a fool.

"Now, I need to get back to keeping my brother from cheating," he said as he walked away from me. I looked at Trish and she gave me the thumbs up and I returned them, then promptly left. Yep, there was tension and I actually sucked at this.

I walked home and once I got home, I closed the door and threw myself on my couch, face down. I let out a deep sigh.

"That's it?!"

I turned my head to see Raven standing there in my living room. I sat up quickly.

"I tell you we're good and you just leave."

"Well, wait, why are you here and not at the pool hall?"

"Because you left and we were all supposed to hang out together," he said. "Yep, so, now I'm going to go, bye." He left and I sat there, confused. I fell back on the couch and sighed.

"This is where you're supposed to go after me," he said walking back over to me.

"You go after? You left."

"Now I'm back."

I sat up then stood up, "Wait, am I supposed to chase you or are you supposed to chase me?"

"Hang on." He silently talked to himself as he made gestures with his fingers, then said, "It's your turn to chase me."

"What if I don't want to chase you?"

"What?"

"I mean, what if I don't want to chase you but want you to chase me."

"I don't think that's how it goes," he said.