Raven

Do I Look Lonely?

Raven tugged on her graphic tee from Panic! At the Disco as she walked in to school the next day. She walked up to Ryan and handed him his book silently. Everyone stared at her and was whispering. Julia and Tommy were giving her the stink eye. She didn't look at Ryan or anyone else, she was scared.

"Thanks, Raven." Ryan said, but Raven didn't respond.

She opened her locker as something fell at her feet. Her Fahrenheit 451. In the cover page was a little sticky note saying:

Meet me at the tracks after school, I hate seeing you like this, can we sort it out?

Ryan

"Well, do you have anything better to do?" Thea asked at the lunch table.

"I guess not." Raven groaned as she shoved the last pieces of her enchiladas in to her mouth.

"Awh, babe, lighten up, stop sulking over what others are saying." Brandi patted her back.

"Yeah, they're pieces of shit, they think I'm hooking up with Kyle Green, which is so not fucking true, I don't even use my vagina for sexual purposes." Thea stuffed pizza in to her mouth.

Raven and Brandi both look at her at the same time, confused.

"What? Seriously?" Raven looked at her.

"Is it that fucking hard to believe? I swear to God I have to stop wearing this mesh." Thea slouches over to hide her exposed nipples behind the table.

"Hey, Raven." said Ryan as Raven dragged herself along the blue tracks towards him.

Raven nodded, not looking up.

"Look, I've heard what people are saying about you and it's terrible, they're assholes." Ryan said.

"Yeah." Raven mumbled.

"I just want to know something, can I ask you a question" Ryan stepped closer to Raven.

"Shoot."

"Do you like me? I mean I'm getting so many different answers from so many different people." Ryan was hesitant with this question, not knowing if it would make Raven uncomfortable.

"Well, I don't know anymore, I did, but then yesterday happened and...I'm rambling, aren't I," Raven fiddled with her Fahrenheit 451.

"Hey, hey, I get you're confused and believe me, I am too, but I really like you, so, lemme take you out this weekend." Ryan looked at Raven sympathetically, knowing the pain she had felt yesterday.

"Yeah, sure." Raven grinned, "By the way, I like what you said about Captain Beatty."

"Yeah?" Ryan took out his book.

The day went on as the two discussed the book then about their favorite music and then politics.

"Trump's not a bad president or businessman, he's just an asshole." Raven laughed.

"I guess he's a pretty good businessman, but the way he speaks about women is fucking disgusting." Ryan exclaimed.

The two walked around the track for what seemed like ages until they both had to go home.