Catching Feelings

Chapter 24

Raven drove all the way home with a huge smile on her face. This whole thing with Drake had caught her completely off guard, but she was finding herself open to the idea of exploring something with him. The only problem was Trey. She had a good time with him, but she just didn't feel as strongly about Trey as she did Drake. Raven didn't want to lead him on, because he was actually a great guy. She had to find a way to put an end to whatever it was they had going on, but that wasn't her only obstacle. Raven still had to tell her family that she was moving across to the other side of the country in two weeks.

She pulled up to her house and was thankful for the parking space just a couple of houses down from her front door. It was a little chilly out since the sun was still blocked by the spring clouds. It made her wish she wasn't still wearing just her dress from last night, especially since a few of the elder neighbors were outside tending to their gardens. They waved, giving her no choice but to wave back making her slightly embarrassed. In the back of her mind, she wondered if they knew she was doing the walk of shame. She shrugged her shoulders and continued her walk, it was what it was at this moment.

Raven's heels clicked up the granite steps of her brownstone, and she pulled out her jingling keyring once she reached the top. She opened the door and took off her shoes so she could tiptoe through the quiet house. Karris still asleep since it was Saturday, and her grandmother was most likely at bingo. Her mom was a wildcard. She either went into the office today or was in the kitchen cooking breakfast. Raven softly closed the door, silently trekked through the vestibule, and was heading towards the staircase. As soon as her foot hit the first step, a voice stopped her right in her tracks.

"That's a nice outfit," Karen stood in the living room with a cup of coffee in hand as if she'd been waiting there all night. The truth was, Karen had been relaxing on the couch watching an old black and white movie. This was the only time she got to do so without any complaints from Karris. While in the middle of her program, she heard the jingle of keys. She knew it was none other than Raven. Karen got up just in time to catch her creeping up the steps. "Did you wear it to Tiana's party?" she asked while sipping her coffee.

Raven was stuck, her mother had caught her by surprise. This was just like back in high school, when she would sneak in from a party. If she wasn't so mortified, she would've been able to appreciate the nostalgia of it all. "Um, yeah I did." She replied a little too fast and tried to hurry up the stairs before more questions came.

That 'um' was a dead giveaway. Anytime her daughter started off a conversation with 'um,' she knew it was a lie coming after that. "So, how was it?" Karen called out to Raven, making her stop in the middle of the steps.

Raven turned around on the fifth step to see her mom's eyes peering at her over the mug "It was nice," she replied keeping it short and simple.

"That funny, because Tiana was calling all night looking for you."

Her face froze in one position, she was caught. "Shit," Raven mumbled under her breath. Not only was she caught, but her best friend was probably pissed at her right now.

"Watch your mouth." Her mother chided catching the mumbled word with her bionic ears. "Where were you last night?" Karen asked. When Raven opened her mouth to reply, she stopped her with a motion of her index finger, signaling her to come down the stairs.

Raven slowly made her descent from the stairs, each step more nerve-wracking than the last. Her mom walked back into the living room, and sat down on the sofa, she knew that a 'talk' was coming her way. Raven sat down next to her mother and tried to think of a good lie to get her out of it. "Um, I was-"

"You already lied to me once today; it wouldn't be smart to try it again," Karen warned in a motherly tone that Raven knew not to test.

She huffed under her breath throwing up her hands in defeat. "Alright, mom... I was with Aubrey."

"You were with him all night?" Her mother asked suggestively.

Raven wanted to bury her head in her lap. She was not trying to have a sex talk with her mom, especially at her age. "Jesus mom, you're acting like I'm Karris or something. I'm twenty-four years old just in case you've forgotten."

Karen shook her head at the immature expression that was current on her daughter's face. "You could have fooled me sneaking in here as you did." She sat her coffee down on one of the side tables and turned her body so that she was face to face with Raven. "What kind of example are you trying to set for your sister? When she sees you going stuff like this, it makes her think it's alright for her to do the same thing."

Raven nodded her head understanding where her mom was coming from. She had to remember that she wasn't on her own anymore, she was back home, and back into big sister mode twenty-four hours a day. So that meant she had to watch everything she did because her actions did influence her sister. "You're right, and I'm sorry it won't happen again." Raven got from her seat thinking that, that was the end of the conversation, but she was wrong.

"Wait a minute, I'm not finished," Karen called out to her. "Now didn't you tell me that Aubrey had a girlfriend?" she asked with curious eyebrows raised in a perfect arch.

Just when she thought she was out, her mother pulled her back in. Raven sat back in her spot, she let out a deep breath as her hand slid down her face. "Yes, but it's complicated mom."

"Trust me, honey it always is," Karen replied. When she looked at her daughter she could read the conflict in her eyes. Karen scooted closer to Raven and placed a loving hand on her back and Raven rested her head on her mother's shoulder. "Don't get me wrong Raven, I like Aubrey, he seems like a nice young man, but situations like this never end well. You deserve a guy who's going to give you one hundred percent of his time... I'm only saying this because I love you."

Raven sighed at her mother's protectiveness. She knew that she only wanted the best for her. "I know mom. I'm gonna change out of this dress now." Raven got up from the couch, finally able to make her escape.

"Oh and by the way, congratulations," Karen said to her as she walked away. She smiled at the confused look Raven turned around with. "Ari called. I know how long you've wanted to move to L.A. and I'm happy for you, we all are."

This made Raven want to cry. She was so worried about her mom's reaction to her leaving, and just like that a weigh was lifted from her. "Thanks mom, I really needed that." The two of them shared one last smile before she made her way up the steps.