W.A.R.M.T.H.

Part 2

4 Years Later

Raven

“What do you mean we won a trip to Ireland? Did we even enter a contest?”

I ask Amora as she sits on my bed, watching me apply my lipstick. We’ve become closer than ever after we moved in together, I couldn’t imagine my life without her. When Carter died, she was my only family. She still is, and she always will be.

“I have no clue Raven, all I know is we got tickets for the flight in the mail today. Yes they are our names. We didn’t get Angie and Theresa’s mail this time.”

I wipe off the areas where my make-up smudged, sit back, and look in the mirror. I’m so glad I stopped wearing all of that eye-liner, it made me look like a slut. I do look better without it. Just because Avril Lavigne does it, doesn’t mean I have to.

“I still think it is a scam. People do not just get free tickets to Ireland, do they?”

Catwoman shrugs, “Apparently, they do.”

She says as her phone lights up with the notification tone that lets her know it is Jason. Amora sighs, “Again?” she whispers to herself as she shakes her head. “I gotta run, Millie just blew something up in the microwave. Again.” She says, walking up to the mirror and putting her hands on my shoulders, she moves my hair off of them, to where it is all resting on my back, “You look sexy, as always. And I personally, don’t think it’s a scam. We should go. We need a good old fashioned road trip anyway.” she smiles “it’ll be fun.”

I sigh, “Yes, maybe. But what about Jason and Millie? They still need you.”

“Jason’s almost 15, I’m pretty sure he can handle himself for a week or so. I mean, he already has you know? He had to grow up a lot faster than other kids. Just tell me you’ll think about it?” Her smile gets even bigger.

“Yes, fine, I’ll think about it. Don’t you need to be somewhere?”

“Oh, right!” she says and runs out the door. “I’ll be back!”

Once she is gone I stare into the mirror holding my reflection. Who I used to be, and who I am now. They are so different, but they are also similar. I still wear tons of make-up, I still flaunt myself around like I’m a piece of meat. I still think too much about things that don’t matter, I’m still angry at my parents. I don’t hate the world anymore, I don’t hate every person who tries to compliment me, I hold my dignity above my need for validation. I wouldn’t have been able to change any of those things about myself if it wasn’t for that ginger-haired, psychotic sweetheart. I miss him, I only knew him for 24 hours. What is wrong with me? I stare at my reflection, letting my gaze graze over every part of me. I decided to wear a simple red dress with my fishnets of course, along with the silver, diamond earrings my mother gave me before she left. I let out a wobbly breath as I try to keep myself from crying. Despite feeling better about myself I still have one question I don’t think I’ll ever get the answer to. Who am I? I wish I knew the answer. He would know the answer, he always did. With his irritating comments and small, charming smile that I only saw once. Where did he go? That smug computer know-it-all with his big words and fast mind. How did he change me so much?