Chapter 6
1074 Words
Chapter 6
RAVEN
The festival came faster than I expected.
Black water city don’t believe in quiet celebrations, when we celebrate, we go all in, loud and reckless like tomorrow not dare to show up. The city looked alive, fully alive, the road was blocked, music loud enough that you could barely hear yourself breathe, kids running, shouting, and laughing, food stalls were packed together, the air was thick with everything happening.
I loved it.
I parked my bike at the edge of the street and took off my helmet.
I looked through the crowd, scanning through out of habit. No unfamiliar faces, no shady movements, just people having the blast of their lives.
“Raven” Ms. Mora called out. “Over here!” She waved from where she sat with the elders.
“Good evening, Mora” I greeted, my eyes scanned her properly and I could sense she was about to say something that might piss me off but I stayed anyway.
“Looking for your dance partner?” She asked loudly, smiling, wiggling her brows in a teasing manner.
Ugh, I knew it.
“What?” I grunted, “Who?” My jaw tightened, and I feigned ignorance because I knew damn well who she meant.
She rolled her eyes and smacked my back hard that it hurts. “Jake!” she snapped.
For the love of God, Mora.
She is always like this, always trying to set me up every chance she gets.
“No Mora, I was looking for no one, I was just looking around”, I grumbled, partly because I was lying. I wasn’t looking for him because I wanted to dance with him or anything, I just… well… ugh, whatever.
The other women around her laughed softly, yanking me out of my train of thoughts and I could tell there was more than she was just trying to set me up.
“What is this about?” I rasped, brows arched, turning to give them my full attention.
“I saw you two the other day, at his garage”. She wiggled her brows
Oh s**t.
What did she see?
The part where I kissed him?
No!
No!
Mora is a gossip, the whole town would know.
Fuck!
“What did you see?” I rasped, my eyes boring into hers, fingers crossed, hoping and praying she did not see the kissing part.
She sighed, “Rave, that man, did you not see the way he looks at you?” she muffled, her voice dropped to a whisper, but I could still hear her.
The way he looks at me?
Why?
How does he look at me?
“Oh, Raven, you are the smartest lady I know, I am sure you’ll have it figured out.” she winked.
My heart skipped.
What is she talking about?
Jake?
What about Jake?
Ugh!
I stood up abruptly, “This conversation is over.”
I knew I shouldn’t have come. This was a mistake. With my hands digging into my pocket to yank out my keys to leave, my eyes settled on the man, all six feet of him.
Jake stood at the corner of the street, he rolled his sleeves up without thinking, his strong arms, his veins rising faintly as he flexed his fingers. He tied an apron around his waist, his hair neatly trimmed, his Adam's apple couldn’t go unnoticed as he gulped down water, the movement pulled my attention down his neck in a way I appreciate.
He looked… gorgeous.
Ugh… What is wrong with me?
I hate it.
I hate the fact that I liked it. I hate that I find him attractive!
I hate that he does seem different from other guys I know.
No! Rave!
He is not!
He is not all that!
He is not different!
You barely know him!
You can’t trust him!
You can never trust a man!
I kept saying those words to myself, kept reminding myself but I couldn't stop staring, wondering what he was doing, why he was laughing so brightly, flexing that little dimple and white teeth and squinted eyes.
What was so funny?
And before I knew it, I was within his space, and I could see what he was doing and what was making him laugh.
He was face-painting kids.
A little girl sat in front of him, giggling as he painted something pink and glittery across her cheeks.
He smiled at the girl when he was done.
I hated that smile.
I hated that it did something to me.
“God!!!!!!” A woman beside me murmured, more like moaned.
What the hell?
“Did you see his arms?” Another voice said, softly.
“I know, imagine those arms wrapped around you all night, or imagine it around you, pinning you to the wall or holding you down on the bed as he worships between your legs! Argh!”
Oh my…
What the……….hell?
Something ugly twisted in my chest. Why am I pissed that they are talking about him like that?
“Jake!” A soft feminine voice filled the air stepping towards Jake.
Jake’s eyes peered away from the paint in front of him, he looked up, eyes locking with the lady who screeched his name.
“Ms Sandra,” he muttered.
Wait, he knows her name?
“Can you do mine next?” she muffled, fumbling with her fingers, acting cute.
He laughed nervously, scratching the back of his neck, his cheeks turned red.
And I gasped.
Is he… blushing??????
Why?
Because she acted cute?
Does he like her?
Why does he know her name?
Why is he even smiling at her?
“Birdy?” His voice, deep, low, stern, and confusing, yanked me out of my thoughts.
Huh?
My eyes looked down and there he was sitting in front of me, his brows arched, his eyes glinting under the sun, confusion spread on his face.
What? When did… when did I get here?
I was just over there… when did… s**t!
What do I do?
Should I just walk away?
That will only make things awkward.
Mora will only feed more gossip.
Jake didn't take his eyes off me even though he had someone in front of him.
His throat bobbed, flexing his Adam's apple and before I knew it, my mouth moved on its own.
“Paint my face first,” I grumbled.
What!!!!!!!!!
- Writer
