SMILE

13. Tiger

Raven's P.O.V:

Elijah let me go after a few minutes, he didn't say anything after that, so I didn't either. I wasn't planning in making him uncomfortable. But his hug was very warm and soft. He was holding me so delicately as if he was scared that he would bruise me if his grip was a little tighter. He went to his classes and I went to mine. Surprisingly we don't share the same classes and that's kind of a relief because if he was in the same class as me I'd keep thinking if he's looking at me or not if he's paying attention or not and then id be scared to answer many questions because then I'm scared what will he think of me if he realizes that I'm not as smart as the other kids.

Wait, raven, what are you even thinking? you're at the top of the class. You can never get any questions wrong. Why am I giving myself a pep talk even when he's not in the same class as me? That was a fast thought process.

As happy as I am that he's not in the same classes but I'm equally sad because I won't be able to see him a lot in school and that kind off bums me out. Looking at him makes me feel safe, I never felt that way before. Its been so long since somebody hugged me that his hug made me want to stay in his embrace.

I used to love hugs but after when Lauren started bullying me, everyone single one of my friends left me because they were scared that she might bully them too for staying with me. All of the sudden every single bit of support I had was gone and I was on my own.

My mother couldn't deal with the loss, so she went down the road of staying high all the time. But then Elijah came, and everything changed. How can one person so suddenly change your life right before your eyes?

As I was busy thinking about my life changing, miss Delilah calls me and asks me a question out of nowhere. I was so absorbed in my thinking that I didn't even hear the question properly.

"can you please repeat it, ma'am?" "you're not paying your usual attention Raven, is everything okay?" I nod my head and give a slight smile. The rest of the class I participated like I used too and took notes.

The day finally came to end. I was leaving the classroom when ma'am Beth called me back "Raven, are you busy these days? She asks with a sweet smile. She has a mole near her lips which makes her smile look very attractive. "no ma'am not really" I give a short reply as I am in a hurry. I need to go home and check on my mother. I am worried about her. She might have done something bad to herself.

"I'd like you to tutor someone for me" she says nicely, hoping that I'd say yes. "who? miss Delilah". "it's someone miss belle is trying to help and she asked me and now I'm asking you." "what's the students name?" I ask curiously as obviously I'm going to say yes to anything, she asks from me. That's How much I respect her. She's an excellent teacher, she tries her best that every single one of her students gets the concept. "so, I can take that as a yes" she says, trying to make sure she's going in the right direction. I nod my head in answer. "we can go and meet the student now as he is in miss belle office" I nod again and start following miss Delilah towards miss belle office. I am late. Will Elijah be worried about me if I don't show up at his house today? I don't want to scare him but I cant contact him. Well cons of not owning a phone. I should get done with this meeting first then I can head home.

Stepping in the counselor's office, I say hi to Miss Belle but the next thing I notice takes the soul out of my body. This student is wearing the same velvety jacket, he had the same wavy hair, his skin tone is exactly the same and when he turns to take a look at me because the counselor was introducing him to me. He is as shocked as me. The student I will be tutoring is Elijah Ryder. I just can't believe fortune sometimes. It is playing games because I really don't like this. Well who am I kidding? I'm happy to see him. I like this as much I can. But it should not play games. That's like not agreeable.