THE RAVENS

twenty two

- aliyah -

"Oh," Is the only words I manage to say. Xavier stood there, his demeanor impassive as he runs his hand through his silky, smooth, brown hair.

"I don't need an answer. I-I mean, it'd be cool if you liked me back, but I understand if you don't." Xavier states, his eyes infixed on mine.

"Everything okay here?" Alex said as he stepped outside, intruding on the awkward silence that was me and Xavier.

"Yeah, I'm just about to head home," Xavier replies as he opens his car door, acting as if our conversation never happened. 

"You mind driving me too? Jackson's gonna drive my car, and I'm also a little hungover from drinking too much last night." Alex asks as he chuckles lightly to himself, leaning against the front door as he rubs his eyes.

"Just hurry your ass up!" Xavier yells to Alex as he then rushes to put on his shoes.

Alex quickly hugged me before entering the car, "Call if you ever need anything, alright?" Alex whispers in my ear before running towards Xavier's car.

I then turn my head to Xavier and our eyes both are locked in each other before he drove off into the distance.

___________

Later on that day, Kenzie, Rachel, Carter, and Jackson all headed home. They all reassured me that everything was okay and Luke would be in their thoughts and prayers.

But the thing that Xavier told me earlier was something that I didn't quite comprehend. Or perhaps I was just being oblivious. I mean, there were moments when I would catch Xavier being jealous or angry, but that was the Xavier I knew. And when he was sweet and caring, those were the times I was fairly confused because it wasn't Xavier.

"Aliyah, thank you for helping me," Luke said as I walked in the guest room. I hopped onto the bed and laid next to him, my head resting against his shoulder as he closed up the book he was reading.

"Luke, why didn't you tell me you had a girlfriend?" I asked as I sat up straight, looking at Luke right in the eye.

He sighed before speaking, "I was afraid she wouldn't like you."

"What do you mean? She knew me?" I asked, rather frustrated than confused.

"She knew of you. But she always said how she thought it was weird for me having a girl best friend. She told me that it was either her or you. But I wanted to choose both."

"But how come you never told me? I would've been okay knowing that your girlfriend didn't like me."

"I know...I'm sorry. I knew that if I were to tell you that I had a girlfriend, I would feel like I was betraying you in some way, you know? Like...I'm putting you in the position of a third wheel."

I laughed and so did he. He knew I was single for most of my life, so it was reasonable to believe that I would've indeed been the third wheel.

"It's alright." I lightly chuckled, "And Luke, can I ask you another question?"

"Anything, 'Liyah"