The Unkindness Of Raven

The Unkindness Of Raven|15

FIFTEEN| RAVEN

                                   RAVEN has just finished the last of her mathematics equations when a knock sounded on the door. She picked up her cellphone to see that it was half past ten and she wasn't expecting anyone. Another knock sound on the door of the apartment, she let out an eloquent sigh and decided to see who it was.

She pulled the door open to find Detective Ferguson a couple grocery bags hanging from between his elbows while he carried three on his chest. Raven quick took two of the bags and allow him in. "You didn't have to," Raven stated as he kicks the door shut and follow her into the kitchen compartment.

"I don't mind," he replied back as he places the bags on the grey and white granite countertop. Raven started to unpack one of the grocery bags which was filled with cold Items as her cell phone blasted through the confinement of the apartment. She rushes over into the living rooms where her school books were scattered. She picked it up after the second ring, He glance at the ID to see it was Mr. Nonage.

"Hi, Sir," She greeted him through the cell phone.

             "Where are you?" I just the keys copied." He told her.

"I found a place," she told him.

             "Where?" He asked with something odd in the tone of his voice, Something she never heard before. "A hotel," She answered, starring over at Detective Ferguson putting the cold items into the black refrigerator.

"What hotel?"

"I'm coming over to make sure it's a respectful and protected choice," he said as she heard shuffling in the background. "I'm fine, We'll talk tomorrow," Raven stated as she heard a very loud commotion and he muttered something so low, she didn't hear what he said fully.

"Is everything ok?" Raven asked.

"Yeah, " he said as the line disconnected. She stares at her phone and decline on calling him back. "Was that Sebastian?" Detective Ferguson asked.

"He doesn't have my number," Raven said as walked back into the kitchen placing her cell phone on the Island that had the grocery bags. "Your kidding right?" Detective Ferguson asked.

"Nope," she Unpacks a big bag of Cheese Puff and Doritos onto the countertop.

"Why?" he asked amused.

"Because I don't want to give him any ideas." She stated as she hands him a container of grape-like tomatoes. "He seems like a cool guy," he said eyeing me.

"Can we talk about something else?" Raven suggested as she started to unpack another bag when two big bags of gummy bears caught her eyes. "How did you know!?" Raven shouted in glee as she took one pack out and pulled it open, she took a couple in her hands and filled up her mouth.

"I saw a couple empty bags in your car the other day after the break-in," he told her as his cell phone vibrated. He glances at it and slips it back into his pocket. "I got to call my boss. You okay finishing up here?" he asked stepping from around the counter.

"If you need anything just text me," he stated.

"So you're like my guidance or something now?" she smiled at him.

"Something like that." he smiled staring at her before vacating the apartment.

                         IT'S BEEN SEVEN MONTHS since anyone cared about her like Max did. It was a bit scary to have someone provide for her other herself and here she was in an apartment far away from a pervert who lingers in the unknown to try and rip her of her innocence or anyone watching her every moves wondering what's she's going to do next. She settles back down on the sofa as she shut her mathematics text and notebook. Raven place them on the stack of her other books and as she pulled a ripped page from the middle of her evidence book that she has torn out of the small red small book; it was a small note written to her but it wasn't like all the other note her brother has written. It was the same handwriting from the note she found in her locker couple weeks ago. But this time the signature at the bottom was different.

                        I trust nobody and nobody remembers me.

R.S.

"Who is R.S.? She wondered as she flips over the paper to see nothing else written on the back but a ladybug sticker, a basketball sticker, and a butterfly sticker. She knows the Ladybug sticker stands for her and the basketball sticker was for Max but who did the butterfly sticker belongs to. Raven reaches into her bag for a roll of tape as she pops a piece of tape of the roll and tape the note on a blank page as she writes the title: WHO IS R.S?  above the paper. She reaches into her bag to pull a bag of polaroid photos that her brother Max has taken on the first couple of days of being in Eddington High. She remembers one she took with a lot of butterflies. She started to go over the photos until she reaches a photo of her sitting on the wall by the mystic garden. 

     She had a dozen ladybugs walking all over her hands, her brother was seated in the middle with his basketball seated on his lap while he threw his arms over her shoulder as he took the hand of a girl who had a butterfly on her knee as she hides her face under the velvet blue sweater. She recognized the sweater right away. It was yours, Her mother had given her it for her thirteen birthday the year before she died and she had given it to Max to hand over to the Shelters. Who was this girl and why haven't Max told her about the girl in the photo.

     Why was she just recognizing it now? She wondered as the sound of a knock sounded at the door. She spurts up and slowly opens the door to find the girl with her signature grey sweater and Jeans.  The hoodie was situated on her head to cover her face.

         "How did you find me?" Raven asked as she steps out to look down the empty hallway.

"That doesn't matter," she uttered in a low tone but loud enough so she could hear.

"You need to go to that party," she said stuffing her hand into her sweatpants pocket.

           "What party?" Raven asked.

"The Basketball charity Party," she answered.

"Why?"

"You need to see the truth, not hear it,"  she said.

  "I'm confused." She said as she shoved a laminated card into her. "What is this for?" She looks down at the card and before she could say anything She heard footsteps and the girl was rushing down the opposite side of the hallway. She looks back in the direction of the footsteps to see Detective Ferguson rushing towards her, she quickly slips the card into her back pocket.

      "Who was that?" He asked concern.

"Who?" Raven asked with a smirk, playing with him

"You know who I am talking," He stated with his hands on his hip.

     "She doesn't like men. So I don't think you want to talk to her." Raven stated.

"Is she the one leading you to clues?"

"I don't know, the girl herself is a mystery," Raven said staring down the empty hallway.

          " Raven you need to be cautious, everyone is not happy about us digging into whatever going on here. So be careful of who you trust." Detective  Ferguson said.

"And who told you I trust you?" Raven asked sarcastically as she folded her arms starring at him.

"I know we're getting there. I wasn't here to save your brother but I'll make it my duty to protect you," he said staring at her so genuinely. "Whatever, I'm going to bed." She steps back into the apartment backway. "Okay, sleep well, there's an alarm at the bottom of the switch, just click it and I'll be up in a flash," he told her.

"Also one by the bed." he said.

"Okay Daddy, I'm safe and sound." She saluted to him before shutting the door as the pulled the card from her back pocket. She finally looks down at the Card to see that it was an all-access card to the building where the Eddington High Charity Ball was keeping. Just as the words the girl said floated into her mind;

See the Truth, Not Hear it 

A promise was meant to be broken right, She said to herself as she realized she's going to need an invitation, A date and then a stupid dress. Let's hope all this for her to get in a dress was worth it. She said as she packs up the important stuff and gets herself to bed.