It All Started With a Diary

broken

Whatever it was, I wanted to help her. Despite how badly she had pushed me out of my comfort zone, I knew that she only had done it because she loved me. She had broken down some of my walls for the world, she had been the one there to listen to my hopeless rants about Kade, or Teresa, or anyone else. Now, it was my turn to do the same.

Speaking of Kade.

I hadn't talked to him since the car ride. I guessed that was a good thing, since he would definitely want an answer when we were to see each other again. I hadn't even decided, or thought about it too much since Daniel warned me about Kade. I couldn't fully believe either of them, but all I knew, was that I had history with Kade, and as long and rough as it was, I trusted him more than I did a stranger.

I rubbed at my temples as I felt a headache come on. I glanced at myself in the mirror, contemplating whether I should go back outside. Maybe I could pass it off for a sick stomach.

I turned at the sound of the bathroom door opening. Teresa's smiling face peeked through to give me a message. "Movie's about to start." That decided for me.

Time to go.

***

I glanced up from my book at the knock at my door. "Come in!" I shouted.

My eyebrows raised as I watched Raven walk through the door. I smiled at her, then frowned at the apologetic look on her face.

I placed the book down, then stood up from my bed. "Is everything alright?"

No words left her mouth. Instead, she embraced me into a hug, her grip tight. I smiled, rubbing at her back as the floral scent of her hair wandered into my nose.

"What's wrong?" I asked, words muffled by her hair.

When she released me, I noticed the dry streaks of tears under her eyes. "I just wanted to apologize for how shitty I treated you today."

I smiled to reassure her. "I'm not at all upset; I know that you're going through a rough time."

She nodded, her teeth sunken into her bottom lip. My heart broke as she wiped her teary eyes with the sleeve of her shirt.

I pulled her to my bed. "You could call it that...it's just, I'm sick of the men in my life hurting me, you know? First, my father, then Justin, then Levi," she mumbled, her eyes red.

I grabbed both of her hands in mine, gripping them with a reassuring smile. "Do you want to tell me what Levi did?"

She stared down at our hands for a moment before nodding. "Can you take a ride with me? I just really need someone to talk to," she smiled, sniffling.

"Of course, let me just talk to my dad. Stay here," I wiped away her tears, my heart aching for my friend.

I had never seen Raven like this before. Usually, she was the one who wiped someone else's tears. Never the one to shed them. I could tell her life was unraveling her slowly, and someone needed to pick the pieces up quickly. I hoped she knew how much I wanted to help her.

I walked to my father's room, and I could only pray that he would allow me to leave the house. I knew he was already upset, but perhaps he would allow this exception since he liked Raven.

I stopped as I saw Teresa exit the bedroom, shutting the door behind her. Once she noticed me, a small smile became evident.

"He's knocked out for the night," she told me.