Chapter 30
“That dog is so weird,” Jason said.
Ume glanced up at Jason before going back to minding his own business, keeping to Raven’s side. They were just outside the building, walking along the sidewalk. The sun wasn’t too bright, objectively, but it wasn’t pleasant to be out in it either.
“He seems fine.”
Jason snorted. “My point exactly. When I took him outside, he’d speed-walk ahead of me but then wait at the next corner. You know, he’d just stand there and look at me with those creepy black eyes and that smile. I swear he was laughing at my weird, slow human legs.”
Raven tried to look at Jason, but it was pretty bright. He blinked, then focused on the ground again. “Are you making that up?”
“What? No. I’m telling you, that dog has more attitude than a drunk equestrian.”
“I don’t know any equestrians, drunk or otherwise.”
“Good for you. Park?”
Seneca Park had trees, and trees meant shade. Raven nodded. “Yeah. He can run there.”
“Maybe he’s going to run away and find another human he can laugh at.”
Raven looked at Umeboshi. The dog raised his red ears and looked right back. “Nah, he likes it here.”
“Wow, he’s trained you.”
Raven smiled.
The two of them crossed the street, heading into Seneca Park.
It was strange. Raven wasn’t quite sure this was the same entrance he and Maxim had taken.
It felt like ages ago, not just a matter of hours, when they’d gone to the park, Maxim in his PJs.
Raven shivered at the memory, though that had nothing to do with Maxim.
Maxim was about the only good thing in that memory. Well, him and Ume.
Once they crossed into the greenery, Ume decided to explore and sniff the grass, trees, and bushes. He looked back at Raven, then rushed off into the underbrush.
“Perfect.” Jason pulled a set of little plastic bags from his pocket. “I’m not picking up after him in the spider-infested underbrush. Is this better?”
“Huh?”
Jason gestured. “The shade. You really don’t like the light, do you?”
“It’s…pretty bright.”
“Dude, you weren’t outgoing to begin with. This is a better excuse than ‘studying’ or whatever.” Jason used air quotes, which irked Raven in the friendly familiar way it always had.
“I guess. Though I did go out.” And that was entirely the problem. I should’ve stuck to my schoolwork, not pursued some random theory.
“Right, right. Hey, uh… So, you moved out.”
Raven shrugged. “I guess.”
“It’s no pressure or anything. And who even cares about roommates? Clement has been making comments about how student housing is terrible anyway, so I figure if I have to, I can ask Heath for room and board. But…are you going to talk to your mom?”
Raven shrugged again. He felt silly doing it but wasn’t sure what else he should do, how he should explain. “It’s not like I really talk to her.”
“I guess not. Look, what I’m asking is…do you feel like you want to tell your mom? Just…let her know what happened?”
Raven snorted. “That I was kidnapped, raped, and turned into a vampire? I don’t think so.”
Jason stopped. Raven froze. I said that?! I just said that…
“Raven—”
“Don’t.”
“I—”
“Please don’t.”
Raven kept his gaze low. It was easier to deal with the sunlight that still filtered through the foliage that way, but it was also…easier.
Next to him, Jason let out a stuttering breath before carefully, slowly, putting his arm around Raven’s shoulders.
He pulled Raven close. He didn’t speak. Comically, Raven felt like all of that should make him cry.
I cried before this, and for no good fucking reason, and now that I should, I can’t.
What the fuck is wrong with me? Was I always this broken?
They walked along the shadowy paths, always following the sheltering tree branches when the path forked.
After maybe ten minutes, when the noise in Raven’s head had started to subside somewhat, there was a sound from the underbrush, and Ume stormed out, making right for them. He had a tennis ball in his mouth.
“Huh?”
“Where the fuck did he get that? What is wrong with your dog, Raven? Is he some kind of undercover magician or something?”
Ume dropped the ball in front of Raven’s feet and looked up at him with hopeful eyes.
“I think he just wants to play.”
“He’s shady.”
Raven smiled, then picked up the ball and threw it ahead of them. It went faster, farther, than it ever would have before. It was the kind of throw he’d never ever managed. Umeboshi, valiantly, ran to fetch it.
“Holy mother of cow,” Jason said. “Dude, you’re a fucking vampire! With superstrength.”
“Uh, well…”
“Wow.” Jason patted him on the shoulder. “I’m impressed. Did you know you could do that?”
Raven shook his head. “I…I wouldn’t hurt you.”
Jason smiled at him. “Didn’t I just tell you back at the restaurant with the blood menu?
Think about what you would want to do for me.
I know you won’t hurt me. I’m not worried that you would, I guess I just want to make sure that…
you know. That you’re okay. With staying with Maxim.
I don’t have a bad word to say about him except that he just took you home after sending me book shopping, but I might get over that.
But, Raven…are you okay there? Or do you want to come back to our place? ”
Raven shook his head. The answer was too easy. I don’t understand why. I was happy there. I liked it, being able to learn, being able to…be. But I can’t go back there.
“Okay.” Jason nodded. Ume had found the ball and was bringing it back, moving at a quick walk rather than a full run. “You can call me, Raven. You can text.”
“I’m not sure why I’d do that.” Raven hadn’t meant to say it like that, hadn’t meant to sound like a contrary child who had been told off. He’s trying to help and I…I don’t even know what I’m doing here. Maybe this was a bad idea. I shouldn’t have come. I should’ve stayed inside and had more blood.
But Jason just put his arm back around Raven. There was a strange urge to fight it off and run, and Raven could barely stop himself from following it, could barely rein it in.
“That’s the point. You don’t have to be sure. I’m saying, if you want to just chat. Maybe about that weird dog of yours, or about what superhero name you’re going to pick now. I will brainstorm the shit out of that with you. Oh, the weird dog can be your sidekick.”
“He’s not really that weird.”
Ume picked that moment to make his whining noise and drop the ball right in front of Raven, sitting with expectant elation.
“Does he know that?”
Raven picked up the ball. “He’s a dog. Why would he care what we think?”
He tossed the ball ahead of them, trying for more control, for a clearer aim this time. It didn’t take much strength to cast it far ahead, and when it hit the path, it bounced, almost hitting a branch.
Ume looks excited about that new skill of mine. That’s something, at least.
“You say that, but I think he likes attention. Doesn’t like to admit that he likes attention though.
And he enjoys people who do what he wants.
Speaking of, if you don’t want to stay with Maxim and if you don’t want to come back to the dorm, we can find something else, rent a place. You’re a good roommate.”
Raven sighed. “You don’t have to do that for me.”
“Yup. But let me know if it sounds good to you.”
He has no right to call the dog weird, not as weird as he is, Raven thought, but he didn’t say it. Jason was the most easygoing person, but every now and then, there were things he just wouldn’t budge on. Raven had the feeling that this was one of those things.
Ume came back and dropped the ball again.
“Maybe your superhero name can be…Superthrow! Threat to birds and bats, but with bat-like reflexes himself.”
Raven picked up the ball. “I don’t think that’s it.”
Jason nodded. “We’ll find you a good one, don’t worry. I’ll come by every day until we have the right name for you.”
Raven was about to tell him that wasn’t necessary, but he didn’t say it. He threw the ball instead. One day after another. Maybe one name after another. It might be good to have him with me when I take Ume out for walks.
“How do you know equestrians?” Raven asked.
Jason grinned. “Well, that’s a story. Except…swear you won’t tell anyone about it. Pinky promise.”
“Fine.”
They shook pinkies, and for the rest of the walk, Jason told Raven everything he needed to know about horse people. Everything. And more than he had ever wanted to know.