Raven

"Angelo." Raven felt that she had been swept away one moment and then dumped back to reality the next. This all had to stop. He needed to stop.

"Try again." Angelo said with a smile, he tucked his phone away and watched her expectantly.

Raven huffed, why was he so infuriating she thought. "Let's not do this." She murmured.

"Not do what?" He kissed her forehead again, pulling her close.

"You know what I mean, I mean us." He was insufferable and she had to get him to listen. This wasn't a good idea.

"So you're telling me that you do not feel anything at all for me?" His voice was deep and flirtatious a charming smirk took over his expression.

Raven stuttered "N-no." He was so close, their breath intertwined. A heated moment passed between them both. It would be so easy to climb on his lap and... no she told her herself.

Angelo moved her hair behind her ear and leaned into her ear whispering, "So tell me Raven" his voice was smooth, and she leaned into it.

He leaned back slightly and then held her neck gently with one hand while the other explored her body "If you don't feel anything for me then why do you tense under my touch? Why do you lean into me? I can see you need this as much as I do. Why deny us?" He questioned.

Raven thought for a moment, she soon realised that she was thinking of his proposal of living with him and had begun to wonder how long he had been on her mind and then it occurred to her that since she met him all those years ago, he had never left her thoughts no matter how hard she had tried.

Knock Knock

The sudden knock broke the intense heat she felt, and she pushed him away. He leaned back before standing. She was glad of the well timed interruption.

She glanced away from Angelo and saw an old and very familiar face.

"Esther." She cried out, leaping from the bed and rushing to her. Reaching Esther, she engulfed her in a tight and loving hug.

Esther patted her head while hugging her back, "I missed you too child. But you are unwell let's get you back to bed."

Raven took a small step back, but still held on to Esther, if she missed anyone in this house more than Angelo it was Esther.

Seeing Esther brought a warmth to her heart and tears filled her eyes. A single tear fell and she quickly wiped it away. She was always told not to cry and not show weakness but seeing Esther again had made her emotional.

"Let's sit and catch up." Esther held Ravens arm and guided her to the bed. She nodded at Angelo to give them some space to chat, and he did, though begrudgingly.

As Raven sat on the bed with Esther next to her, she saw Angelo standing at the door. Seeing Esther shoo him, made her laugh.

She saw he didn't want to leave her and that had made her heart swell.

But also, could she afford to give in.

Yes, he had already made her give in and agree to live here for now at least. But she never planned to stay long term. It couldn't work between them.

She sighed and looked at her hands, she heard the door close and didn't see him leave but she knew she was alone now with Esther.

She felt a hand on her arm, "Now, tell me everything."

Raven didn't know what to say, there was a huge chunk of her life she never wanted to mention again. She could only talk about the present. But none the less she told Esther what she could and in turn Esther told her about Angelo.

After chatting for a while, she bit her lip and mumbled, "I can't believe he believes he can bulldoze into my life and keep me here." She huffed.

Esther laughed lightly, "He is used to getting his way, and you know that." Esther held her hand and Raven glanced up at her. "But you know he has always loved you."

"Used too maybe, but that was back then. So much has happened since then. We are different people now." Raven explained as best she could. "I can't see what happened… happen again to anyone else that I..." She left the rest of the sentence unfinished.

She knows who she is, who she is not and who she is never willing to be again.

She spent a lot of time building herself back up after being torn down by traumatic events and if there is one thing she knows for sure, it's that her peace is never something that's up for grabs. She has worked way too hard to let anyone touch it.

Esther knew she was thinking of her parents.

"Now listen to me. He may be head strong and a bit overbearing, this can be a good and bad thing. But when it comes to you, he has never wavered. He fell apart when you… well we all thought you had died child." Esther explained.

"It had to be that way…I can't live this life again. I can't lose him too" Raven heaved out a shaky breath.

Esther sighed, "I think you know in your heart what you must do. Don't live your life in fear of what ifs."