You Were My Sanity

Keep it PG

We walked up the flights of stairs ... The same of which I descended earlier.

We were outside his apartment when he stopped and looked at me. ''What?'' I asked, matching his intense gaze.

''I just can't believe it's actually you. After all this time.'' He smiled and I swore I could see his eyes glazing over but I brushed it off.

I just grabbed his hand and held it in my own. ''It's me Collins and to be truthful, I still can't believe it.'' A full blown grin spreading across my face as I came to realisation that I was finally physically united with my best friend: Raven Collins.

''Okay,'' he sucked in a sharp breath ''you've met Aria; now there's Aaron...'' He looked slightly nervous, ''...and my mum.''

I just looked down and played with the necklace I had on. I had exceeded nervous and my anxiety was so high, it was borderline insane.

I just looked down and played with the necklace I had on. I was more than nervous: what if she didn't like me? What if she said no to me staying? What if she was livid with Raven for some reason? What if-

My thoughts were cut of by the key being placed in the door and Raven sucking in a sharp breath. ''Here goes nothing.'' Raven flashed me a reassuring smile.

''Ma! You home?'' He shouted, directing the question to his mother.

His mother hushed him from next door and we walked in to her watching TV. He kissed her cheek and I just stood there in awe. That just made him look extremely vulnerable in my eyes that were currently covered by glasses.

His mother just smiled warmly and then her dark eyes - brown, almost black - landed on myself. ''Er... Ma, you remember that girl I was always talking to? Darina?'' His mother just nodded, not saying a word not diverting her gaze from my face. ''Well, she kind of needs a place to stay...'' He trailed off.

His mother sat there when her lips twitched upwards, ''so this is the famous Darina,'' she said and I let out a breath I was unaware I was holding; my shoulders slumped in relief ''my oh my, I must say, you're more beautiful in person!''

A blush arose to my cheeks and I could see Raven's ears tinging pink. Why was he blushing? ''Thank you Mrs Collins.'' I said timidly.

She lightheartedly chuckled, ''nonsense, whilst you'll be staying here, you can call me Marie!''

She said grinning now ''though I'm sorry but we're a little short on space so...'' She thought or a moment ''I can move Aaron into my room and you'll have to share with Raven. Is that alright sweetie?'' She asked.

I looked at Raven and he looked at me grinning ''Somebody say sleepover!!'' he exclaimed in a girly voice ''what Ma? I'm getting in touch with my feminine side, especially if I'm going to be sharing with a girl'' he playfully winked, followed by a smirk that only he could pull of.

''Hey Collins! You've got a girlfriend remember?'' He just shrugged and then slung his arm over my shoulder.

''I know, I'm just playing.''

''Keep it PG in the room.'' I flushed in embarrassment at Marie at the words flowing out of her mouth ''Or maybe you should just keep the door open...'' It was her turn to smirk now and by now, my cheeks probably looked like a baboon's butt!

''I'll go sort out the room, Ma. You coming?'' The last bit being directed to me.

I just followed silently. Once we sorted out his room which was pretty clean compared to the stereotypical teenage males room, we just sat down on his bed.

I say 'his bed' because that's the only one there is. It's a big Queen sized bed. Raven and Aaron would usually share as Aaron's pretty small and he sleeps with Marie sometimes too.

''I'm sleeping on the floor and that's the end of this conversation. C'mon Shithead, stop being so damn stubborn'' I sighed. He had insisted as I was a guest but I won't take it. I'm an uninvited guest and he shouldn't have to sacrifice his bed for me. His mother had already been generous enough to allow me to stay, not to mention willingly changing around the sleeping arrangements slightly just for me and it's the least I could do to repay his family for what they've done for me so far.

''My stubbornness is a trait we share so shut up,'' he said in a joking manner ''but you're not on the floor!'' He said, seriousness returning to his voice though I know he's not usually serious.

''Boo.'' I said with a frown.

________________________

Should I change 'Marie' into

'Wanda?' :/