Chapter Twenty-Three
Raven
“Raven, wake up!” Sophie shakes me.
I moan as I yank my covers over my face. “It’s Sunday. Leave me alone.”
“It’s Parents’ Day!” she reminds me.
My body shoots up in my bed, causing my blanket to tumble to the floor. “Oh my gosh, it’s Parents’ Day!”
Jetting out of bed, I fly into the bathroom and get ready.
My parents and Robin’s flight from Boston should be landing any minute.
They’re going to arrive at the school a little earlier than the other families because of the timing, which was why I was planning on getting up slightly earlier this morning. Sophie is seriously a lifesaver.
“Thanks for being my alarm clock,” I tell her as I sweep past her to the vanity, where I work on my hair. Students don’t have to wear the school uniform today, but we all want to look our best for our families. I decide on white pants with a pale pink shirt, and I tie my hair into a cute braid.
“No prob.” She smiles as she opens her closet and pushes aside outfit after outfit. “We all miss our families like crazy. When are you going to meet yours?”
I sweep my phone off my night table and scan the screen for a text. “They’re already on their way here.” I swipe through my texts and laugh. “Robin’s complaining that she had to wake up super early this morning. She’s going to squeeze in a nap on the drive.”
“Poor kid.”
“I’m going to wait for them in the main building.” I sprint to my coat and put it on. “See you soon, Sophie. I can’t wait to see your parents again, and Carly and Addie’s, too. Addie’s grandfather is coming, right?”
“Yep.”
I wave goodbye to Sophie before leaving my dorm room and heading to the exit of the building.
There is some excitement in the hallway, but for the most part, it’s still pretty quiet, since it’s early.
Some of the rich kids here aren’t so thrilled to see their parents like my friends and me.
I guess they don’t have the best relationships with them.
I have no idea what it’s like to be rich, but at times like this, I’m happy I was born into the family I was born into.
I can’t imagine avoiding my parents and little sister after not seeing them for months.
As the strong wind cuts into my cheeks on my way to the main building, I pull my coat closer to my body and shiver.
Bummer that today is one of the coldest we’ve had so far.
Sometimes, the school likes to have some outdoor activities students and families can partake in, but that obviously won’t happen today.
After rushing into the building and rubbing my hands together for warmth, I drop down on one of the couches in the foyer and whip out my phone.
My dad texted me that they should be arriving in the next ten minutes.
There are a few students here as well, and I catch sight of a couple of parents, and there are also some teachers and faculty.
There’s a certain feeling in the atmosphere like there is at every Parents’ Day.
Excitement and nerves, and maybe fear of disappointment.
For some kids, school can be an escape, especially if their parents are too hard on them.
I count my blessings that my parents have always been loving and supportive of me.
My phone buzzes with a text, this time from my mother. She’s informing me that they were just dropped off by the cab and are making their way to the main building. Leaping off the couch, I hurry to the door and pull it open, and I immediately see the three of them walking toward me in the distance.
Every part of me fills with warmth at the sight of them. My gosh, I’ve missed them so much. I got homesick a lot in ninth grade, but it got better once I befriended Carly and Sophie. Thankfully, I don’t get homesick much nowadays, but seeing them reminds me just how much I’ve missed them.
As soon as Mom sees me standing in the doorway, she sprints forward until she reaches me and gathers me in her arms, pressing a kiss to my temple.
“My Raven. I’ve missed you so much, sweetheart.
” She squeezes me for quite a while before stepping back and studying me.
I study her, too. She hasn’t changed much since the last time I saw her.
She still has the same dark hair and expressive brown eyes.
I’m told I look a lot like her, minus the blonde hair, but apparently, I got my chin and ears from my dad.
“Don’t hog the girl all to yourself,” Dad jokes as he holds his arms open for me.
With a smile, I rush into them and he gives me the biggest bearhug in the world, like he always gives me on Parents’ Day.
He tells me how proud he is of me and that he missed me so much, too.
I don’t have a chance to step out of the hug because Mom throws her arms around both of us.
But when I’m finally free, I rush to my sister and lift her in my arms, spinning her around. “Robbie, Robbie, Robbie.” She giggles as she hangs onto me for dear life.
After placing her back on the ground, I gently yank on her Eeyore beanie, one of her favorite hats.
It has the gray and pink ears and even the tail.
“My, my, who is this mature young woman? Did she grow an inch since I saw her?” I hover my hand over her head.
“Oh my gosh, I think she did grow an inch.”
She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, right. I told you I measured myself and I didn’t grow at all.”
“Your ruler must be broken because I swear you look older.”
Robin might not see it because of her insecurities, but I think she’s one of the prettiest girls in the world.
The dark hair brings out her brown eyes more than it does for Mom, and she’s got the most infectious laugh in the world.
Having her here with me face to face reminds me how much I love the kid.
I pull her into my arms again. “I’m so glad you’re here.
” I kiss the top of her head, then glance down at her boots. “Oh, wow. Those are awesome.”
They’re royal blue with splashes of gold and purple. They’re probably the coolest boots I’ve ever seen in my life.
Robin smiles down at them as she twists her foot right and left. “Yeah? You like them?”
“I love them, little bug.”
She wears the most thrilled smile ever. “Thanks.”
I smile as I pull on her beanie, then turn to my parents. “Do you guys want to warm up inside?”
“Can we see your dorm room again?” Robin jumps up and down. “I love seeing your room.”
“Okay, sure.”
As we head to the girls’ dorm, trying not to cry out at the biting wind, I say, “How was the flight?”
“Awesome,” Robbie pipes up as she slides her hand into mine. “They had my favorite TV show available, and one of the flight attendants was super nice to me. She said I reminded her of her daughter.”
“I was hoping she’d sleep for most of the flight,” Mom says.
“How could I sleep? I love airplanes.”
We reach the girls’ dorm and hurry inside before we get frostbite.
Since Robin has been to my dorm room before, she runs ahead up the steps.
My parents tell me the news going around the neighborhood and how our extended family is doing.
They update me regularly over text and email, and of course the many phone calls we have, but there’s always more news to share.
When we reach my room, Robin is already inside.
I’m assuming Sophie let her in. When we walk inside, I find her trying to convince my sister to give her a piggyback ride.
Robin complains she’s too old for that. I understand why Sophie is attached to my sister.
She had an older brother and sister—twins—but they died when she was three and they were sixteen.
She’s always felt as though a sibling was missing from her life, and Robin is happy to fill that role.
“Okay, one ride,” Robin surrenders. “But then you have to tell me more about you and Damian.”
“I told you everything there is to know,” she says as she throws her onto her back.
“Not true. You left out all the good stuff, like what kissing him is like.”
“You’re only twelve.”
“I’m mature for my age.”
“Hmm.”
“Robin,” Mom warns.
“What? It was an innocent question.”
“You can worry about boys when you’re older.” Dad lowers himself onto my bed and looks around. “I’m glad the room is still standing. I thought perhaps a hurricane would pass by.”
“Your daughter and I take good care of it,” Sophie tells him as she zips around the room with Robin on her back. “You should see some of the other rooms. I think Raven and I deserve an award.”
“Agreed,” I say.
“When are you, Carly, and Addie gonna visit?” Robin asks. “You promised you’d stay over a few days in the summer, but you have boyfriends now. I bet you’d rather hang out with them.”
Sophie lowers her to the floor and wraps her arms around her. “A promise is a promise. Of course we’ll sleep over and hang out with you. You need to show us some of the new plushies you made.”
My little sister loves to sew, but while most people would prefer to sew clothes, she loves creating stuffed animals. It’s a hobby she just got into this year, but she’s shown me pictures of her creations, and I’m floored.
“Oh my gosh! You just reminded me.” She bounds to the backpack Dad has over his shoulder and yanks it into her arms. After unzipping it, she rummages around inside.
“Remember I asked you what your favorite animal is and you said the dove because they symbolize peace and love, and they also mate for life?”
“Yes.”
“Tada!” She produces two hand-sewn dove plushies that are embracing.
Sophie’s mouth falls open. “Did you make this yourself?”
“Yep!” She skips over and hands them to her. “I chose the best material to make them look extra beautiful. It was a little hard to make them hugging, but I think it came out good.”
“You kidding? This is amazing. Thanks so much.” She hugs her so tight that my little sister groans. “You are awesome, kid.”