Stay With Me ✔

27.

When I had my talk with my mom, I left out a lot of details. I didn't want to tell her Rave's whole story at once and have her freak out and run to the cops - something I know Rave would never forgive me for. So, when my mom and I sat down for dinner that night, I asked her about the night Rave and Ever came to the Emergency Room, letting her know that Rave had already told me about it. 

She seemed relieved that she didn't have to hide how they knew each other from me anymore. She told me about the talk she had with Rave that night and how sending them back to that house and not contacting the police, or even their parents, had haunted her. She didn't know if they were alright because by then Rave had stopped coming over to our house so she never saw him, not until the day she opened the door and I caught them talking in whispers.

I explained to my mom that money was tight in the Matthews' household and how Ever hasn't had the childhood that she should since their mom left them when she was really young. I pulled on my mom's heartstrings, telling her as much as I could without telling her too much or making it sound as horrific and heartbreaking as it really is. I need to ease her into this, she needs to know and love these two people as much as I do so that we can all be on the same page when the time comes. 

So at the end of our talk, I asked my mom for advice on how to give Ever a special day, and she suggested the zoo. Handing over her credit card and telling me that she was proud of me for being so open hearted, she went to get some rest before her next shift, saying that she would keep Rave and Ever in her prayers. 

My mom isn't the only one that is going to need some time to ease into things. I know that Rave is too proud to ask for money or help, and that's fine - but I'm still going to give him both. Slowly, I am going to make Rave Matthew's realize that it's okay to not be okay, and that not all help is charity.

----------------------------

"So what' Kyle's deal?" I ask Rave as I pull into my usual parking spot at school. Both Rave and I look over to where Kyle and Andy are getting out of the jeep. 

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, what's his deal with Erin? He goes from hot to cold in a matter of seconds and it's driving her crazy." I watch as Kyle laughs at something Andy had just said and then the two boys make their way towards the school, getting eyed by a group of girls as they do so. 

They're an attractive group of boys, Rave and his friends, there's no doubt about it. They all have a mysterious vibe and have dark features with cheekbones any girl would kill for. While Rave and Kyle are 6"0', which is plenty taller than my 5'2", Andy is 6'3" and hovers over us all. 

All three boys are known for not talking to many girls, which just makes girls want them more. Rave had been with Lexy since he was fifteen, but the other two - I don't know if I've ever known of them to have a girlfriend. The boys used to hang out with Lexy and her minions because of Rave, but now they're either alone or with my friends and I. I guess you could call Rave their leader, but I don't think they're like that. I think they just like to be where the other two are. 

"Wait, there's something going on between Erin and Kyle?" He looks at me, dumbfounded. 

"Are you being serious right now? How have you not noticed?" 

"Because all of my attention is always on you." He smirks and leans in, connecting his lips with mine as his hand cups my face. We stay like that for a moment before I pull back and rest my head against his. 

"That was smooth." I say with a smile as his hand moves from cupping my face to resting on my thigh.

"Smooth, but also true."