Torment & Struggle (A Blood & Lust Novel)

Chapter One

    “This sucks!” Josh groaned loudly, in his hand, his abused copy of the Rent script as he slapped it to the faux wood table. “Angel dies!” he reiterated, his tone tinged with sadness. Raven looked at him with disbelief when I said, “You haven’t seen the movie?”

    “No! Everyone in the cast keeps telling me the movie version sucked!” he whined before plopping his head onto the table, covering his face with his arms.

    Raven giggled. “Everyone is entitled to there own opinion sweetie.” She said calmly, hoping to erase all of the tension emanating from Josh. “Besides, you’ve been rehearsing for the show for how long?”

    “I know that! I just…ugh!” Josh quickly shook his head. “Maybe its nerves, ‘cause you know, opening night is next weekend, and I am totally freaking out!” he enunciated dramatically.

    “Relax.” I said calmly, placing my hand on top of his hoping to soothe him. “You’re going to do fine, and we’ll be there to watch come opening night.” I added a smile, making my promise ring nothing but the truth.

    He smiled, obviously forgoing his troubles. “Thanks Willa. You are a much better friend than some people.” He laughed, his brown eyes glaring at Raven.

    She rolled her eyes dismissively. “Whatever.” She mumbled before biting down on her cookie from Great American Cookies.

    I laughed, glad that I’d decided to hang out with my friends at the familiar Deerbrook mall. I was glad that I could get a break from the craziness, especially with the recent events that had happened a few months ago.

    I pulled my coat tighter around my body, a constant reminder of the recent arctic blast that had caused the temperatures in Texas to go from a regular seventy-five degrees, to a freezing twenty-eight. A phenomenon here in the south, especially right after the groundhog didn’t see his shadow yesterday.

    “So, Rae, you never did tell us, how’s life with you’re mystery man?” I asked, changing the subject from Josh’s anxiety to something both Josh and I are truly curious about.

    Immediately, Josh’s expression quickly changed from nervous and jittery, to perky and curious. “Yeah! You never even told us his name! What kind of friend confides to her friends about being in love without telling them who their Prince Charming is?”

    Ever since the rap concert, back in October, Raven has been reluctant to give any hints to her new boyfriend. Josh and I have tried to get her to spill the beans, from Josh giving her half off on movie tickets where he works, and from the one time I baked her my Better Than Sex Cake as a bribe; both have failed to the mission we’ve been trying to complete.

    Raven glared at us conspiratorially, her brown eyes narrowing, a sly smile formed on her face when she pushed her black and blue hair out of her face. “You guys really want to know?” she asked, her face dubious.

    “Yes!” Josh and I blurted simultaneously, impatient.

    Her gaze quickly shifted from me, to Josh, repeating the action over and over, until she finally sighed. “Dwayne.” She spat out, quickly.

    “Dwayne, who?” Josh inquired, curious, begging for more details.

    “Dwayne Wilson.” She said, her tone made me wonder if she still wanted to keep that little fact a secret, but she smiled warmly at us. At least he might be a better boyfriend than Glenn.

    “Rae, why would you keep this a secret from us?” I asked after a brief pause, totally confused.

    She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. I guess I just wanted to see how long I could keep him a secret from you guys.” she answered, her smile still in place.