Warming Up

"You still have the kitten smell in you."- he said in a weak voice.

"I don't have the kitten anymore. I call Czerene and ask her to take it home with her before the race starts"; she clarifies, "why? You're still sneezing then?"

"It has its smell and its fur all over you because you keep cuddling that kitten."- he answers in a soft, weak voice.

"Ah... I'm sorry; I should get away from you then,"; she suggests

But Raven doesn't let go of her hand. "No. Don't leave; we still have some work to do; just go and change your clothes." He commands and then let go of her hand

Faye realizes that she is wearing her racing uniform even if she doesn't race.

Faye is confused. She follows their club president's orders. She changes into her regular clothes and gets back to where Raven is.

To her surprise, the guy changes his clothes too, not wearing his racing uniform anymore.

She doesn't have much time observing this guy; that's why it took her by surprise when she looks at him intently.

He is so manly. Masculine just enough for his looks and type of body.

Raven strong features.

He has a wide yes.

His nose pointed.

His lip is slender, and a little bit part from the bottom lip.

His jawline is prominent.

Faye cut out from observing when the guy notices her and talks, pointing to the seat beside him.

"Hey, sit here,"- Raven casually says.

Faye let out a sighed before she takes her seat. She is glad thinking that the other didn't notice she's observing him.

Faye can feel her heartbeat, as she can feel the breath of a guy while talking so close beside her.

Their face is almost near each other as he shows some member profile to her.

Raven is explaining that they have to evaluate them base on their performance in the race. The competition is on record. She can watch it again if needed.

They have to evaluate 50 persons, and it will not be easy, knowing that the grading score has criteria to base. Faye sighs out of frustration.

"Did we need to get this done for today, its 50 persons?" Faye blurts out.

"It's okay do what you can do, and let's do the others tomorrow."; Raven explains.

Faye answers in disbelief ", Tomorrow?"

"Yeah... Until we finish it; deadline on Saturday on head administrator's office,"; Raven states.

"What? Why do you have to drag me into this, some office work stuff"; Faye complains.

"Well, the top rank should be the one who will do the Evaluation. There is no way it can be the other way around. You know, them evaluating both of us."- Raven softens his voice as he explains.

Somehow he wants to soothe Faye's weariness. He feels wrong about his sudden disturbance about the Evaluation.

"Aish!" Faye deep inhales as a sign of defeat; she even kicks on the floor with both of her feet.

Faye seems like jumping in protest, but still, she has no choice but to agree.

She answers in a bitter tone, "Fine."

She slowly pulls a pen into the pen container near her and continues what she's doing.

Raven can't help but smile a little at the simple act Faye put up.

As time goes by, they pump up with their work. Raven looks at Faye, who is seriously writing down some answers on the evaluation form.

Faye feels that Raven is looking at him. She immediately looks at him, trying to catch him staring at her, she teases him.

Raven off guard when Faye suddenly turns her head and their eyes meet.

They are now facing each other, intently looking as pure silence takes over, and they both look at each other's eyes as Faye's eyes blink. Raven started to feel his face burn and felt his heart is beating faster.

He quickly finds a way for him to get out of the situation.

He suddenly asks, "Hungry? Let's grab a meal, my treat, my car, I will not take No for an answer besides I drag you up here as what you say,"- He says without a pause.

Causing both of them to stares at each other, and Faye timidly smile and answers

"Okay," nodding her head.

It's the first time that Faye will ride in his blue Maserati.

Faye feels uneasy at first, but when Raven opens the car door for her, smiling widely.

It eases her tension. She gets in as Raven goes to his driving seat.

And to her surprise Raven lean closer to her, their face as close as she hears him mutters at her ear. "buckle up!" and she hears a "click" sound.

"Aaaahhh; Seatbelt" she taps her head as she lay back in her seat while saying.

"Aish... How could a driver forgot?" She does not realize she says that out loud.

Raven let out a chuckle as he holds on to his steering wheel.

"It's okay. It seems you're not used to being a passenger."

Faye looks at the guy who is now focusing on driving. She then looks at the view and feels the air that passes through her.

She held her hand outside the window for a little bit, feeling the cold air passing through her palm.

As Raven notices her, he smiles as he's enjoying watching her, but still, he looks away and focuses his eyes on the road while driving.

Raven pulled into a convenience store, stop, and park there.

Faye stands up, stops, gets to the car door where Faye is sitting, and opens the door.

Faye startles at his action, but she smiles at him and says, ", Thank you."

They both notice that the place is beautiful.

Different stalls surround it and simple restaurants. In the middle of the area, design by a simple landscape.

A tree in the middle, wooden design benches, then their eyes trail through the restaurants.

"Where should we eat?"- Raven asks.

Faye says, "I'm fine with whatever you choose," she is lazy to decide.

Raven chooses an Italian restaurant. He orders fettuccine, glazed barbecue chicken, Caesar salad, fries, and burger, and there's a lot of side dishes too, lots of food for just the two of them.

Faye smiles because Raven is so generous, and even if she is a girl, she has the appetite of a man.

Raven awe as he looks at Faye while eating his 2nd big slice of glaze barbecue chicken.

He even gulps, knowing that the girl eats it by holding it with her bare hand.

Faye eats deliciously, and Raven can't help but watch her.

She does not notice that there's a barbecue chicken sauce on her face, so Raven get a tissue and wipe it for her.

"You're a messy eater,"; Raven said, smiling.

Faye instantly blushes at the guy's act and embarrass because she eats like that.

"It's okay!" Raven smiles as he notices Faye being shy.

"Eat the way you always do. I won't judge." and let out a chuckle.

Faye then pouts her lips when she hears the guy chuckles but immediately laughs too.

"I enjoy the food. Thanks' for the treat,"; Faye confess in a satisfied tone.

"Yah... I can see that you enjoy the food, glad you enjoy it," Raven replies as he put up paper bags in front of her "take out!" and smiles at her widely.

"Ah... I'm going to be fat if I will hang out with you." she blurts out.

"It's okay. We will eat it later in our work when we get hungry again. Raven smiles as he was driving once again back to their club office.

Raven never felt this way before. It has been hours since he and Faye part ways, but daydreaming about the moment he had with Faye a while ago.

Raven smiles unconsciously to himself. As he does not notice someone walks in and sit on the couch where he is, Lexus humming a song seems happy but still never fails to become aware of him and tease him.

"Are you crazy? You look stupid while you are smiling there all by yourself."; Lexus notices.

As Lexus reaches the remote on the table, turns on the TV, scans through channels, and as he saw a baseball game, he leans on the couch and starts to watch.

Raven does not mind Lexus as soon as he sees the baseball game on the TV screen, his eyes fix on it, and they are both yelling and focus on watching the game as if they are watching it live.

Ken enters their condo and hears the noises of TV and his two best friends yelling, groaning, and giving comments on the game.

Ken is used to their noises. He quickly goes to the kitchen and prepares their meal. He orders as take out since he had no time to cook today.

As he finishes, he notices the two are already screaming and clapping their hands, make a fist bomb.

Ken already knew what happens; their team wins, so he decides to call them.

Ken shouts, "Dinner, guys! C'mon."

Lexus exclaims and quickly runs to the dining table. "Ah! Atlas Dinner"

They both look at Raven as he is not making a move.

Instead, get the remote control and change the channel.

Raven is now watching a movie. He feels his two best friend's strange gaze towards him, so he speaks,

"Go ahead, guys! I'm full. I ate my dinner a while ago." Raven urges them.

Ken and Lexus give him a questioning look. Of course, knowing his two best buddies, they won't let him get away with them just like that, so he tells everything to his brothers.

He is even blushing while he remembers everything. Lexus and Ken are still startled at Raven's story.

Even both of their mouths are still in its O shape. Of course, they believe in Raven's story, but Faye being friendly to him is so unbelievable for them. But they shrug it off cause they don't want to mess Raven's mood since he seems so happy.

"Well, I work with Leigh too for the Evaluation of our club." Lexus boasts.

"What happens?" Ken and Raven are interested.

"Nothing, we work, that's it." Lexus smile sheepishly.

"You liar, I know you will take advantage of the situation. Leigh is your childhood crush; you been dying to make her notice you." Raven snorts.

"Yeah, you're right. I almost out of breath when Leigh offers me help." Lexus blurted out.

"She offers?" Raven startled ", You're lucky, I deceived Faye for her to help me. I kinda feel guilty about it, but anyways I treat her to dinner, so I think I make up for that one." Raven smile widely.

"Yeah, that's what a good thing. It seems a date to both of you; you ate at the restaurant. We eat at the University Cafeteria." Lexus unconsciously comments.

"You ask her?" Raven is curious

Lexus seems thinking, ", Well it seems that way and my treat anyways," Lexus defenses.

"Seems that way, you mean she asks you to eat. Are you talking about Leigh?" Ken asks

"Yeah," Lexus answers.

"No, you're tripping us, Lexus," Ken seriously says

"Why would I do that? She said that Evaluation is an A+ mark in grade, and as a vice president, she should help me." Lexus explains.

"Oh,' we believe you now, it is her," Raven says, nodding.

"Whatever her reasons, she helps me, and she offers that help," Lexus can't explain why he is defensive.

"Yeah, that's a good thing. The girls, starting to be soft with us." Ken stated

Raven and Lexus both stare at Ken.

"Spill now," Lexus said

"Well, Czerene kind of help me too with my problem in the archery club," Ken reveals

"Wow," Raven replied

"So, I'm the only one who is not feeling handsome here," Raven comments bitterly.

"Hey, your moment with Faye is a good start, and we don't know if they will be like that tomorrow. You know women, they change like the weather." Lexus stated

"Yeah, you're right; let's try not to ruin it," Ken advises.