Raven

Chapter 14- A Realization

Amanda walks over to where Ezra is sitting and I barely overhear their conversation.

"So, Luna invited me to sleep over and I said yes. Is that cool?" Amanda asks.

"Oh, okay. I mean, she's pretty selfish and overdramatic, but if you want to hang out with her that's fine I guess," Ezra replies. I feel completely offended. So that's what he thinks of me after all this time? I have moved on and accepted that he has changed, but I guess the same doesn't apply for me. Am I really selfish and overdramatic? Maybe he has a point.  

"She seems pretty nice to me," Amanda remarks.

"Well, you don't know her like I do," He crosses his arms. Amanda shrugs casually and looks over in my direction. Soon everyone gets up and leaves the pizza place, Amanda trotting over to walk by my side. She is probably wondering why Ezra thinks so badly of me and I don't want to be the one to tell her.

"So, when should I come over to your house?" Amanda asks, looking over at me.

"Any time is fine," I respond simply, still paranoid about what Ezra said about me.

"How about seven?" She ponders aloud.

"Sure." Amanda joins Lucas and Ezra while I have to walk three blocks with Johnny and Alex until I reach my street. I skip up the front steps and take out my key to unlock the front door. As soon as I step over the threshold, a bullet flies past my right ear and sticks to the wall next to the door.

"Sorry!" Raven exclaims, getting up from her crouching position behind the couch and running over to me. "Aidan and I are having an intense nerf gun war."

"I can see that," I chuckle. "Care if I join?"

"Sure, there's an extra nerf gun sitting in the kitchen."

For the next few hours Raven, Aidan, and I play in an intense and fun battle. Before long I loose track of time and almost forget about Amanda. The door bell rings as I am about to get a good shot of Raven and I am forced out of my hiding spot to get the door.

"Uh, Raven, I forgot to tell you that I invited Amanda over for a sleepover tonight," I say nervously, looking over my shoulder at Raven as I get the door. 

"Um, that's fine, I'll just get out of your way then."

"No, you should stay and get to know her." Before Raven can reply, I pull open the door to reveal Amanda carrying a small sized backpack. I gesture for her to enter and watch as she looks around at the interior of my house. She stops when she sees Raven and I can only imagine her reaction to this mystical girl who I can now call my friend. Raven is now standing, frozen, watching as Amanda looks at her. She is probably surprised that I have chosen to mingle with a popular type of girl, very different from my usual assortment of friends.

"Hey Aidan, why don't you play Mario while I talk with my friends," I tell Aidan as more of a command than suggestion. He nods and races to the living room to take out the video game console. I lead Amanda and Raven to the kitchen where we all sit about the middle table. Raven and I sit on one end while Amanda sits on the other. 

"Oh, this is Raven. Raven, this is Amanda," I quickly introduce the two of them, mentally slapping myself for forgetting to introduce them sooner.

"Hi," Amanda replies politely. Raven just nods by my side and I wonder what is going through her head. The room remains quiet for a short while before I decide to bring up a new topic.

"So, are you ready for the new school year to start?" I question, mostly directed to Amanda.

"Yeah, I'm ready to leave Albany and I'm excited to go to my new school. It's called Elellingston Academy, have you guys heard of it?" Amanda enthuses.