River Of Doubts
945 Words
Luna's eyes lit up. "Obsessed!"
Alex chuckled. "I noticed your room's turning into a Raven shrine."
Luna laughed. "I might've gone overboard..."
Alex grinned. "You put all your savings into that, didn't you?"
Luna winced. "Maybe..."
Alex teased her about it, but Luna didn't care. Her room was a Raven wonderland – posters, albums, merch, the works. She'd even bought a Raven guitar pick necklace, which she wore often.
As they jammed, Alex brought up Raven's music. "Dude's got talent, I'll give him that."
Luna nodded enthusiastically. "His music speaks to me, you know?"
Alex smiled, strumming a softer tune. "I know. You've got a whole vibe going on with Raven."
Luna blushed, feeling a bit self-conscious. "Shut up, Alex."
They played on, music filling the apartment, and for a moment, Luna forgot about everything else.
Later, as Alex was leaving, he turned to her. "You know, Lu, maybe you should meet Raven in person someday."
Luna's eyes widened. "OMG, that would be a dream come true!"
Alex grinned. "I'll make it happen."
Luna's phone buzzed. Alex said, "If that's Raven, tell him I said hi."
Luna playfully rolled her eyes and checked her phone. It was Sarah. "Hey, it's Sarah. Just wanted to say thanks again."
Luna smiled. "No need, Sarah. Glad we could help."
Alex waved goodbye, and Luna settled back into her apartment, feeling grateful for the little wins. She looked around her Raven filled room and smiled.
Luna settled into her couch, phone still in hand, replaying the conversation with Sarah. The sense of fulfillment lingered, mixed with the hum of Alex's teasing about Raven.
She got up and walked into her room – walls covered in Raven posters, shelves stacked with Raven albums and merch. She smiled, running her fingers over the guitar pick necklace.
Her phone buzzed again. Alex: Serious about making that Raven meet happen.
Luna squealed. Her thumbs flew: Stop it!.
She dropped onto her bed, Raven’s album _Echoes_ starting on loop. The room filled with his voice.
She took the cap Raven gave her and placed it gently on her desk, snapping back to reality. She jumped back to work, determined to tackle the pile of documents on her desk.
The doorbell rang, “who was that”
The doorbell rang again, more insistently this time. She sighed, getting up to answer it. Who could it be at this hour?
As she opened the door, a courier handed her a package. "Luna?"
She nodded, signing for it.
The package was small, with no return address. Curious, she tore it open.
Inside, a note: Meet me at the river tomorrow. Raven.
She was really surprised and super much excited.
Tomorrow came, she found out it was Alex.
Luna's expression shifted from excitement to awkwardness. "Alex, I..." Alex cut in, looking a bit nervous. "Lu, I wanted to ask you something."
Luna's heart skipped a beat. "What is it?"
Alex took a breath. "Want to grab dinner with me? Like, a date?"
Luna froze. Alex, her friend, asking her out.
Luna laughed awkwardly. "Alex, stop it, okay? You're embarrassing me."
Alex's face fell, and he looked away. "I'm serious, Lu."
The room went silent. Luna's smile faded. "Alex, you're my friend. Let's not ruin it, okay?"
Alex nodded slowly, hurt in his eyes. "Yeah. Sorry."
Luna tried to salvage the moment. "Let's just jam another time but you don’t have to lie next time, 'kay?"
Alex forced a smile. "Sure."
Alex sighed, walking home in the silence of the night. Memories flooded his mind, him and Luna, growing up together. The good times, the bad times...
He thought about his past, the mistakes he had made. Theft, arrests... Luna had been his safety net. She would bailed him out, literally. Given him a place to crash, food to eat... She would even paid his rent.
Alex rubbed his temples, feeling the weight of it all. He had promised himself he would turn things around, make something of himself. For Luna.
But tonight... he had ruined it.
He unlocked his door, stepping into his small apartment. Luna's doing, again. He looked around a place she helped him get.
Alex dropped onto his couch, head in hands. Why did he have to mess things up?
Alex unwrapped the chocolate bar, the familiar taste bringing him back to that day. Their dads had passed away, and he had felt lost. Luna had found him, handed him this exact chocolate bar, and they had sat together in silence.
He remembered thinking, She gets me.
Alex sighed, feeling the weight of it all. He had wanted to be more for Luna, to repay her for everything. But he had messed it up tonight .
He looked at the chocolate bar, a small piece of their history. What now?
Alex's thoughts swirled. He'd blown it with Luna. Again.
He recalled her smile that day, how she'd held his hand at the memorial. They'd grown up together, and he had always seen her as... note.
The chocolate bar's sweetness turned bitter. He tossed it aside, standing up.
I need to fix this.
Alex grabbed his keys. Maybe a walk, clear his head. Maybe... he would figure it out.
As he stepped out, his phone buzzed. Luna.
Hey, Alex. Sorry about earlier. Friends?
Alex's heart skipped. What should he say?
He typed, deleted, typed again. Finally: Friends as always.
He sent it, feeling a pang. Always?
Alex waited, phone in hand. Luna's response came: Good. Jam soon?
Alex smiled weakly. “Yeah soon”
Alex pocketed his phone, a mix of relief and something else lingering. Friends.
He looked up, the night outside dark and vast.
- Writer
