Exaltation (Insight #11)(66)

“Just give me a second to decode this,” River said.

Raven fell asleep while they went through the books.

They didn’t bother to wake her up until twenty minutes before they had to leave for school. Which made getting ready a marathon.

Raven didn’t take a breath until she got to school and that was only because it dawned on her she would see Rydell.

She dreamed about him the night before. She didn’t remember the details but it was not a good dream. He was either in pain or taken from her. And she fought to save and defend him.

He wasn’t there.

Raven assumed he would show up late for first period but he never did.

By the time third period came Raven was pretty much a walking depression. She’d had a night full of bad dreams, which was preceded by the twins’ revelation of breaking and entering, a ‘talk’ with her dad which was spawned because she had an odd reaction to Rydell’s kiss.

Raven was exhausted and terrified of fifth period. She didn’t care how careful the twins thought they were being, Berries would figure out they robbed him and Raven would take the heat for it. Juvenile detention here I come!

She was the first one in third period. She shrugged her bag off and put her head down. A moment later she felt a hand on her back. She assumed it was Soren and glanced up, but it was Dagen and he looked worried.

“You all right?” he asked as his eyes, which looked so much like Rydell’s, moved across her face.

She sat up and strained not to look devastated. Rydell was nowhere in sight.

“Long night.”

He nodded once as he took the seat behind her and Raven turned sideways in hers. “Where’s Rydell?”

He glanced down. “He had some stuff to deal with at home.”

“So he skipped?”

“Something like that.”

“Is he okay?”

“I hope.”

“Is it really bad at home? Like is it his dad again?”

Dagen raised his brow. “You know about his dad?”

“I don’t know a lot of anything about Rydell.”

One shallow nod.

“You’re not going to answer me?” Raven pushed.

“I don’t know how. That’s Rydell’s place.”

Raven looked down and let out a slow breath.

“You don’t look so hot,” Dagen said.

“Best compliment of the day,” Raven said with a wink, trying to act like her old self. “I have a lot going on at home, too.”

“You want to talk about it? An outside ear is an objective one,” he said as he leaned forward in his desk.

Raven stared into his eyes for a second or two. This was the longest conversation she’d had with him, so she wasn’t sure she trusted him.

She was sure, however, River had a thing for him. Which could only mean he was good at his core.

“Long story. Basically Berries hates me and fifth period is going to blow without Rydell there to block him from giving me a hard time.”

“Want to skip?”

“The thought crossed my mind but Berries is the reason I’m on this schedule right now. I couldn’t get away with skipping if I wanted to.”

“He’s not doing anything creepy to you is he?”

Raven smirked as the thought that he had stalked Miss Emery and robbed a ton of people of their family journals crossed her mind.

“We’ll find out today. This will be the first time I’ve been around him without Rydell. Soren will be in there so it might not be too bad.”

“You and Rydell, ” he said with a half smirk.

“Might be a little early to say it like that, but your boy’s getting to me.”

“In a good way?”

Raven blushed. “I haven’t found a flaw yet.”

His eyes grew sad but a smile remained on his face.

“I’m not being played am I?”

He drummed his hands on his desk for a second before he answered. “I’ve known Rydell a long time. He doesn’t play.”

“You’re evasive like him.”

He grinned as the bell rang and Raven turned to face the front of the class.

Lunch was spent catching Soren up on what went down the night before. Ash whispered most of it to him, and like Raven he seemed to be skeptical. He even told them that the words were probably written as a parable and we needed to dig more.

Raven ignored most of the conversation and stared out the lunchroom windows. It was so dark outside you would think dusk was a mere breath away. Not surprisingly storms were not Raven’s friend.

Walking to fifth period Soren asked, “Where’s lover boy today?”

“Not a clue.”

“That serious?” he asked with a raised brow. Surprised Raven didn’t scold him for calling Rydell that.

“Could be. Have an opinion on the matter?”

“Don’t know the guy.”

“You don’t know him, and the girls don’t have prickles.”

“But?” Soren said.

“But my dad and Emery made it seem like they knew there was someone else meant for me. That’s supposed to help us with whatever we’re fated for.”

Soren glanced over her. “Yeah, but you’re the only one who will know who that is. No harm in having fun until all this hell breaks loose.”