Apologies for any mistakes you might come across!
_____________
No pain today. Thank God..
The buzz of lunchtime filled the cafeteria—clattering trays, half-laughed jokes, and the constant hum of teenage chaos. Raven sat with his usual crowd—shoulders broad, laughter louder than necessary, confidence barely concealing the arrogance. His varsity jacket hung off the back of his chair like a flag.
He was mid-story, smirking as he recounted a rough tackle from last Friday's game, when Devon walked in.
The air shifted.
Raven’s words stalled, mouth half-open. His eyes tracked Devon as he moved toward the food counter—shoulders tense, hoodie loose, and those ever-present bandages slipping at his wrists, half-concealed under his sleeves.
I hope today's going AT LEAST a little well for him—
"Yo, Raven," Tyler, the loudest of the jock crew, nudged him. "You forget your line or just catch feelings?"
The table snickered.
Raven didn’t respond. He watched as Devon picked at the trays, ignoring the world like it didn’t deserve his attention. His hair was messy, jaw sharp, eyes hollow but burning—like he was somewhere between exhaustion and rage.
And damn if that didn’t make him magnetic.
Come on, Devon. What's under that mask? Let me help you, damn it..
Cassie, one of the cheerleaders seated nearby, leaned over with a dreamy sigh. "Who is that guy? God, he's hot. Like, 'Raven Eli' kinda hot. The dark messy hair, dark eyes, hoods and faded jeans.. and the bandage thing is tragic-hot. Like he’s got secrets."
"That’s Devon," someone whispered as an answer. "Transferred last month. Real freak-vibe though. Doesn’t talk to anyone."
Tyler grinned. “He looks like the type to write poems in blood or whatever. Bet he cries to death metal.”
Liam chimed in, voice too loud, loud enough for Devon to hear. “Wanna place bets on how many bodies he’s buried?”
The table broke into laughter.
Raven’s jaw clenched. And before he could stop himself—
“Shut up.”
The table quieted.
Tyler blinked. “What?”
“I said—” Raven’s voice cut sharp through the chatter, a low throb resuming behind his left eye, “—lay off. He hasn’t done anything to you.”
“Okay, bro,” Liam snorted. “Didn’t know you were recruiting emo boy for the team.”
Raven stood slowly, hands flat on the table, eyes narrowed. “Shut up before you start saying something you’ll regret.”
Devon, still at the counter, hadn’t looked back—but there was a pause in the way he moved. Like he heard it. Like maybe, for once, someone was on his side.
Good, he SHOULD hear it. He's suffering enough as it is.
Raven stayed standing for a moment longer, his eyes still locked on Devon. The table was awkwardly quiet now, the usual noise choked by the shift in Raven’s tone. He didn’t snap like that—at least not for the sake of anyone outside the circle.
Tyler muttered something under his breath and went back to poking at his fries, sulking. The others followed, nervously laughing off the tension. But Raven didn’t sit. His gaze never left Devon.
YOU ARE READING
‡† The Unseen †‡
General Fiction"Two boys. Two shadows. One chance to fix one another." _________________ "A friendship that goes beyond brotherhood. One that explains cries. And pain. And smiles. And silence." _________________ [Disclaimer: This is not a gay novel..] After deat...
