Lorraine's POV
Raye's kettle sat still and defiant on the burner , it's round belly gleaming red in the stillness of the morning abyss . Steam began to rise in ghostly tendrils in twists and curls bringing the sweet smell of black coffee
"How do you like it", Raye popped behind me with two coffee mugs shuttering on his hand
I shrugged
"You don't have to be shy around me , Lorraine ", he said as he turned his back on me
"I'm not shy...I'm just....", I said with my hands in a tight knot on my lap
He swung around and looked at me with a side smile reaching his ear
"You're literally sitting on the edge of my sofa looking like you're ready to grab your shoes and storm out at any second", he let out a chuckle
"I can't even imagine how you slept last night",
I felt my cheeks burn as I felt his eyes burn into the back of my head
"So.....aren't you gonna ask me why I moved from the Negan mansion after his dramatic exit at the hospital ", I asked hoping to divert the uncomfortable thickness floating around
"No...you'll tell me when you want to", he answered handing me a steaming cup before sinking in the sofa next to me
His shoulder touched mine and I shrunk next to him
"Raye....", I began
"Avan...", he breathed into his mug
"What",
"My name is Avan Raye...", he answered taking one sip after the other without looking at me
"WHAT....", I yelped
For years I've known him and I didn't even know his first name...I didn't even think about that
I let out a dry sìgh and began preparing myself mentally for what I'm about to tell him , I know the story is personal and I probably shouldn't tell him but hey I trust easily
"The thing is...Avan...our marriage is nothing but a formality and some sort of agreement package for the partnership of the Negan and Lauren merger companies ", I stated blatantly
He didn't seem fazed , he just nodded and gulped down his coffee
"But our knowledge of each other is way deeper than that ", I went on
"The Negan brothers and I grew together....we may fall in the childhood friends category...", I placed my cup full coffee on the table and closed shut my eyes...hoping the darkness would engulf my whole existence
"I sort of disappeared on them when their cousin framed them...." a pause , "for rape...I knew the truth yet still kept my distance and didn't defend them", I shot out in one breath with my eyes shut
I opened one eye and peeped at him...sure enough he looked suprised...shocked even
15 years ago
".....what....", I asked , my heart beating fast against my ribs
"Your mother died...", was all I heard...all the other words that came after that was a blur...my head started feeling heavy between my shoulders and clouds starting forming and engulfing my thoughts
Before I had time to process , a stone hard slap tore across my face bringing me back to reality....the reality that my mother died
"You better wipe that shit off your face before I do , I'll kill your ass before you even think twice about ruining the image I created", my father seethed with his teeth shut tight and eyes tearing through my skin
I quickly nodded before wiping my tears with my dress sleeve and straighting my back
Although tears lurked behind my eye lids I kept them shut behind...not letting a single drop fall
"Your brother is almost done with his speech at the funeral hall...wait for him and head for the mortuary ", he said straightening his silk black tie and buttoning his suit jacket
I nodded and lowered my eyes
"ANSWER ME WITH A YES OR NO ", he screamed at my face
"Y...yes , father", I faintly answered back
"It's not my fault your bitch mother decided to kill herself and leave behind her 12 year old weak ass daughter , don't pull that shit on me", he spat...his voice venomous and dangerous like they were more than just words...like they were silent trigger warnings
"Go wait at the conference room until I call you", he hissed...his voice like a sharp knife against my ribs
I nodded and gave way to my feet...pulling myself across the gold hallway
And then---as if the world hadn't done it's job ruining my life a call came through
My phone screen lit across my face...displaying his name in bold
RYLE
My Ryle....the boy who held me when darkness crept in , the boy who kissed my wrists where bruises adorned my brown skin , the white boy who loved me...a black girl against all odds
"Raine....help me", he shrieked as soon as I picked up
His voice...although usually controlled and monotone was unusually high pitched...panicked...didn't sound like him at all
"I was with you...we were all together...you , Tyler and I...tell them we never saw Letty ",
"LORRAINE ", my father screamed behind me and motioned for me to hang up and do as he instructed
"I'm...sorry", I said
And just like that...our bond was dead...I abandoned him...left him to deal with a lie that never happened