They Say Opposites Attract

Epilogue

Later that day, I found myself in front of what Chloe said to be Raven's house. She had insisted she come with me, but after quite a bit of convincing via text (despite being three feet away from her), she had finally let me go on my own. My mom, in the other hand took a lot more talking to.

Sure, I was scared to the core, but according to Chloe, what Kate told her ended up making Raven distance herself from everyone. Not just me.

And being alone is never a good thing for anyone. No matter who it is.

With this thought in my mind, I took a quick glance around before realizing that there weren't any cars in front of her house. Perhaps she wasn't home right now?

After a way too long moment of hesitation, I realized how much of a bad idea this actually was, so I was about to turn away when the door opened.

Did I knock? I don't remember doing so.

Standing at the door wasn't quite what I expected. But then, at the same time, I don't know what I was expecting. I know this line is a cliché one, but the person who answered the door was like a more mature version of Raven.

I think she's a bit taller than Raven and had the same eyes and hair, but... not quite. She has way shorter hair, though. She caught onto my confusion rather quickly, speaking up with a, "I assume you know my sister?"

I gave a slow nod and walked to the door. When I was close enough to her, her face seemed to flash something akin to understanding before vanishing.

"Come on in," she tells me, stepping aside. I gave a small nod and hesitated a little. A big part of me was saying that this is the worse idea I've ever had in my life. Even considering my coming out to my father.

"She's turned away everyone else she's talked about," the girl, or woman, she feels like an adult told me in a tone low enough for me to hear. "I'm assuming you're the one she calls Sumiko. If she doesn't do it, I do apologize for everything she's done to you. She doesn't understand what's too much versus when to stop."

She gestures inside before finally introducing herself. "My name is April, by the way. As you may have guessed, I'm Raven's older sister. I'm gonna be leaving soon, but no matter what I try, I can't bring Raven out of her depression."

I looked around as I stepped inside the house before looking back at April. "So, might I ask what you're here for?" She speaks up, glancing in my direction as she headed to a considerably large kitchen. I could tell she was worried over something.

Something in me told me to tell her. But at the same time, I couldn't bring myself to. When I was silent with hesitation, April seemed to understand.

She shook her head and started pouring a cup of what could either be tea or juice. "Right. Only reason you'd take time to come out this far would be to talk to my sister, huh." When I didn't respond in any way, she gave me a sad look.

"She's upstairs. The only door that's closed. Before you get mad at her... she's doing the best she can." April tells me. "It's been quite difficult for everyone," she added.

I gave a small nod in response and headed up the stairs. I couldn't help but notice again that their house was quite a sight. The walls were mostly a sky blue, especially around the stairs. I really like it.

When I got to the top, I immediately saw that halfway down the hallway was a closed door. I placed a hand to my chest, feeling my fast heartbeat. I took a deep breath to calm myself and realize how bad it an idea this is again.

After a way too long moment of hesitation that's starting to add up, I tapped on the door just loud enough. At least, I'd hope so. Not even five seconds after knocking, I hear a loud thump before getting a, "No, go away, I just ate," in response.

I knocked again, this time harder.

"Fuck off."

I knocked again, this time uncertain.

There was a moment of silence before the door was opened. "What do wa-"

There was a moment of awkward silence that led to my face reddening and a door slammed into my face. Today I can add something I didn't expect to see to the growing list.

And that would be Raven's half nude body. After a few moments and quite a bit of noise in Raven's room before the door was opened again. "Sorry.. I wasn't expecting anyone, much less you today. That... never happened. Okay?" She says.

I don't know what was weirder. How soft Raven's voice was, or how much I wanna cuddle... hey, I never said with who. Which is quite unlike me, I'll agree. I gave a small nod and offered a small smile before signing something with my hands.

"I- what? Shut up," she says, but her slight smile meant something, right? I couldn't help but notice how there seemed to be dark circles around her eyes. Was she not getting enough sleep?

"Hey, look, I'm sorry for fucking up your life and shit, but I'd rather you not be here right now," Raven tells me, staring at the floor. I say staring but it was more of a glare than anything else.

I lifted my hands up and decided to communicate in this way. 'I was worried.' I tell her in response.

"You're a fucking idiot," she says before going back into her room. I followed her inside despite any better logic I had going through my mind. Without looking back at me, she spoke up again.

"In the time since you've started going to this school, you experienced a lot that you never should've," she tells me with was quite a forced laugh. "And.. I guess it would hurt my conscience if I didn't apologize.

"And if it's what you want to hear, I'll say it. I'm sorry. I think it best if I... if I stay here." She says in a regretful tone. "I shouldn't have ever left... after..."

I shook my head at that and bit my lip nervously. I took a step closer to her and wrapped my arms around her. Okay, so maybe I am too caring. 'No one deserves this.' I whispered just loud enough for her to hear.

Up this close, I could tell that she definitely wasn't taking care of herself. Either not enough, or not at all. Was she eating enough?

Raven was silent for a pretty long moment that I almost thought she had fallen asleep or something like that. "I... I can't... just leave already," she says before wriggling out of my grasp.

When it started to become quite obvious that I wasn't going anywhere, Raven grabbed something from off her dresser.

And this is where if I had a voice I'd scream. Raven pointed a small black object at me which I had seen only once before. With a shaky voice, she spoke up again angrily.

"Go. Away. The only thing you'll ever get from me is pain. It's my fault Aimi killed herself. I'm not afraid to shoot you," I took a few steps away before hurrying out the room.

I ended up running into April on the way out of the front door, to which she and I both fell pretty awkwardly to the ground. "Ah, I'm sorry!" She says, though I didn't let her say anything else before hurrying out.

I took a few steps out before heading April call out to me. I stopped walking and turned to see what she wanted to say before being interrupted by something hitting my shoulder rather hard, followed by a really loud sound.

Followed by me falling from unbalance.

"Wh- What the hell, Raven!?" I hear from somewhere. It was around this time that I felt it. A sharp, intense and burning feeling that could only be one thing. I didn't get a chance to comprehend what was going on before everything went dark.

This was probably the worst idea I've ever had.

One thing's for sure.

That's the last time I ever put any sort of trust into someone new.