Keep the votes and comments flowing :)
Last chapter only got 100 votes :( :( But I believe we can get that up!!
9/29/2020 - ^ oh wow how far I have come... makes me so incredibly thankful :)This was the original chapter 13 of the un-edited story, in case anyone was keeping tabs on the individual chapters, haha. This chapter was pretty much re-written. The scene and setting is the same, but I did change the song and instead of having West only sing a line or two....well, you'll see.
The song attached will make an appearance, and I would like to say that I'm aware this particular song is not on a piano. But it holds too much meaning to Raine and to me for me not to include it. So, please ignore the little instrument difference lol.
Silently Falling: Chapter Fourteen
West stays true to his word and comes over at 5 o'clock on the dot. I had been chilling on the couch with Toby as we both did our homework, me sipping on some water and him on a can of Dr. Pepper. He's lounged out on the "L" part of our sectional, flipping through his Calculus textbook lazily as he stares down the problems he should be doing. I have my legs tucked under me, my English notebook sprawled out my lap as I sort through what other questions I should ask West for my essay.
New questions popped up today after watching his interaction with Warren. But these may not be questions I can flat out ask. The more I question him about his past with Warren (because I'm realizing that there definitely is one) the more he may question me about my own past. And I am not ready for that.
"West's here," Toby grunts, lifting his head to eye the black Jeep pulling up through the window.
I set my notes down on the couch next to me, uncrossing my legs to stand up. Toby also stands and walks towards the window, eyes narrowing as he gently tugs on the parted curtains to get a better view.
"He seems a little pissed."
I furrow my brow and crane my neck to see outside the window. West is still sitting inside his Jeep with his hands tightly holding his steering wheel as he stares ahead at the house, knuckles white from the power of his grip. His face is contorted into anger, dark eyes lost in his thoughts, but I note something else in his expression that I can't place.
"I guess Warren really set him off," Toby muses, letting the curtains fall back to their usual place.
I can still see West through the gap in the curtains. He finally lets his grip go on the steering wheel and steps out of the Jeep, shutting the door behind him with a little more force than necessary and my heart starts to pound harder against my chest. I don't want to deal with an angry West, especially not since I have seen his threatening glares. If those eyes were at all directed at me, I don't think I could handle it. I'd be terrified.
Toby notes my frozen stance in the middle of the living room and walks over to me, brows pulling together out of concern.
"You okay, Raine? I can stay downstairs and keep doing my homework in here."
I blink a few times and focus my eyes on him, plastering a reassuring smile on my face.
"It's okay. I have to ask a few more questions about juvie and he may be most comfortable if it was just us two."
Toby eyes my warily until West knocks on the door a few seconds later, and then backs off.
"Okay, I'll be in my room if you need me." He then retreats up the steps as I go towards the front door.
Placing my jittery hand on the brass knob, I swing the door open. But, my nerves disappear when I'm not met with the same anger West was radiating in his car. Instead, he has his usual smirk and saunters inside as though he didn't just look like he was ready to attack the next person he saw. I suspiciously eye his back while I close the door. That smirk seemed too forced.
"Lets get this show on the road," he says, removing his shoes and kicking them into the pile near the front door.
He plops down comfortably on the couch, naturally resting his feet on the glass coffee table, but he avoids my eyes. I carefully follow him to the living room, sitting on the cushion next to him before fishing through my backpack for my whiteboard and a new pack of markers. I ready myself to ask him what Warren said earlier, trying to pry a little further to explain his expression when he was in his Jeep; his anger and the odd hint of something else.
"Earlier, with Warren-"
But he cuts me off after glancing at my hands.
"How many Expo markers have you been through with that thing?" He asks, nodding towards my whiteboard.
Uh, okay then.
I shrug and cross my legs as I rip open the new pack, my fingers dancing across the color assortment before choosing the blue, thin marker.
"My mom has had the same three Expo markers for the whiteboard on our fridge. I can't imagine they run out super fast," West rambles.
I scrunch my brow and stare at him as he continues to talk about the 'dinner' whiteboard on his fridge, trying to piece together why on earth West Love is sitting on my couch talking about Expo markers. I wave my hand in front of his face to get his attention, and that cuts him off. He still doesn't look at me, but does look at my hands as I sign.
"Since when do you R A M B L E?"
West shifts in his seat and shrugs, "Just making conversation, Sunshine."
Or he's trying to keep the conversation off of any questions regarding what happened earlier with Warren and where he drove off to after school.
"What happened earlier?" I try again. "Warren really seemed to-"
"I don't want to talk about him."
My back stiffens from the dark, deep anger in his tone as he cuts me off. His whole body is tense. Angry. Dark eyes boring into mine but not really seeing me. I subtly swallow and look down, an uncomfortable chill sparking down my spine as my hands lower into my lap.
West snaps out of it a moment later and nods to the whiteboard. "Okay," he clears his throat, forcing his calm expression, "What's the first lesson today?"
I open the marker cap and scribble my response down, angling it towards him when I finish.
"You want to know more about juvie?" He asks, eyes meeting mine.
I nearly recoil. Even though he has a strange guard up, I notice traces of sympathy. My brain goes into hyperdrive, circulating through ideas to come up with a reason that that emotion would be in his expression. But, from my lack of a response, West diverts his line of sight and his cool, calm, and cocky expression is back full force; as though I imagined what was in his eyes seconds ago.
"For the essay," I finally sign.
"Well, you're in luck. I was just there visiting some friends, so it's all fresh in my mind," he says, once again keeping his gaze from meeting mine.
My eyes widen and mouth partially gaps at that response.
"What?"
West shrugs and crosses his arms, "I went to meet up with some friends. Warren's threat had me on edge, and I, eh, needed to talk to someone who was... sent in for car vandalization."
