THE RAVENS

nineteen

- aliyah -

My stomach churned as Xavier walked towards Luke, I don't know why but I had a strong feeling that this wouldn't be good.

"Xavier—"

But it was too late, he was already making small talk to Luke,

Luke's eyes narrowed to me, his green eyes filled with some sort of confusion,

I walked towards them, a smile plastered onto my face,

"So you've guys been friends since childhood? That's a long ass time." Xavier chuckled before sipping his Dixie cup for perhaps the 5th time.

"Yeah, she's like family," Luke said, a smile across his face,

I nervously chuckled, not knowing what to say.

Xavier ran his hand through his hair before nervously chuckling,

"Well if that's the case, then I'm assuming I can take Aliyah from you for just a quick second, without you feeling jealous?" Xavier states, a classic smirk plastered across his gorgeous face.

"I wouldn't mind at all," Luke responded before Xavier led me away and into an empty hallway.

"Aliyah, remember Axel?" Xavier asks, his eyebrows furrowed, his tone barely above a whisper, his face inches away from mine, 

"Yeah what about him?" I asked,

"Well, he's deciding to move into Vixton Dale with my Dad for good."

What. The. Hell?!

"What do you mean?! Isn't he rich? Doesn't he have his own house?" I whispered very loudly, 

"He's after the money Aliyah, and I think your also a good reason why he wants to move here too!" Xavier replied, his body leaned against the wall, his piercing hazel eyes filled with nothing but anger and hatred. 

What made Xavier be this way; closed off and guarded?

"What do you mean? Axel wants to hurt me?" I asked, panic-laced in my tone. 

"Don't worry, I'd never let him get near you. Not on my watch." Xavier said, his voice very stern. 

Something in his tone and the look of mischief in his deep brown hazel eyes made me really believe what he said. That he wouldn't let Axel nor anything or anyone get even close to hurting me, and that....that made me have butterflies in my stomach. It made me have this weird feeling within me, that I couldn't quite understand. I haven't felt this way about anyone before, and nonetheless Xavier. 

A familiar voice shouted my name from behind me, 

"Aliyah! Come dance with me and your good friend, Luke!" Jessica said, a fake smirk plastered onto her face, her hands around Luke's waist, her body moving down and up against Luke's body. 

Gross. 

"Actually Jessica, me and Luke were actually going to leave. So you may stop grinding on Luke, and go find someone else to act easy around." I said, grabbing Luke away from the hideous creature that is so-called Jessica.  

Luke's face was smothered with confusion and Jessica's face was speechless, I honestly wanted to go home and forget that this night ever happened. I quickly turned around to see Xavier alone in the empty hallway, his body slouched against the wall, he looked angry, I softly smiled at him before running out of the house, 

I quickly texted Kenzie in a hurry, stating, 'I'm sorry I had to leave early but congrats on the acceptance to Harvard!' 

As Luke and I were now in the car, I sighed and quickly glanced over at Luke who was now shockingly laughing his head off,

"What was that?" He chuckled as he buckled his seat, 

"What do you mean? I was saving your ass! You should've thanked me!" I responded before buckling my own seat. 

"Look, I'm really glad that you're having fun and all but that girl you were with, Jessica, she ain't cute! I mean, she's horrible and bullies people for her own sake! She's a hideous creature and for all means, I was-" 

"I was just having a good time! I didn't mean to dance with your very own enemy!" Luke laughed before running his hand through his black fluffy hair, 

I laughed too, "Yeah, but did you have fun tonight?" I asked, hoping that he would say yes because the party was like a distraction for Luke to get his mind off things from home, a place that he questions if it really is considered home.  

"Yeah I did, I met this really cool girl named Jessica!" 

"LUKE!" 

"I'm sorry! It's just so cute when you get mad!" 

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Luke and I stayed up all night binge watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S, 

"Hey! Want more popcorn?" I asked as I threw him a kernel that hit his face, 

"Hey!" Luke yelled back, throwing more popcorn at me, and soon I and he were having a popcorn fight, both just throwing popcorn kernels at each other, not caring about the big mess we've just created on my living room floor. 

"Okay! Okay, stop! We gotta clean this mess up!" I yelled as I dodged the last kernel being thrown at me, 

Luke agreed and we began cleaning up the big mess we've created. 

Moments like these, I really cherished, when life reminded me that there is so much more to it than just death. Although that is how everyone's story ends because death is inevitable and therefore we cannot do anything about it. One day we will reach our fate, and what will become of us then? 

A ghost, dust, or another form of life? 

But all I knew was that before I die, and when I'm old with a head full of gray hair, I won't forget the people that have been there for me through thick and thin. The people that I have called family and the people that I will most certainly won't forget about when I die. 

Hopefully one day, they won't forget about me too. 

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a/n: 

hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! I'll try my best to update again this week! 

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