26 She’s not my friend

Raven's concern ebbed away, replaced by a furrow of worry that creased her brow.

"Jade, are you truly unharmed? She hasn't done anything to you, has she?" Raven's voice was tinged with anxiety as her hand gently caressed my cheek.

I was perfectly fine, yet the impish part of me yearned to play a jest.

"I'm sorry, but who are you? We're not acquainted, are we?" I feigned confusion, brushing her hand aside from my face.

The color drained from Raven's face, panic replacing her previous composure.

"You're jesting, right? You don't recognize me? I'm your best friend," she stammered, her voice laced with panic.

"I'm afraid you're mistaken. My best friend is Amelia, not you," I declared with a straight face, suppressing the laughter bubbling within.

"If you truly don't recall, then allow me to jog your memory," Raven retorted, dark tendrils of energy beginning to coil around her left hand.

At that, a jolt of panic shot through me, and Raven was mere inches away.

"No, it was a jest, Raven! I was merely jesting, forgive me," I exclaimed, stepping back hastily.

Raven's laughter broke the tension, a clear, knowing sound.

"Do you truly believe I'm that gullible, Jade? You've never been adept at deceit or theatrics. I knew instantly you were fibbing," Raven chided, the dark tendrils dissipating from her hand.

Caught in my own ruse, I shifted the conversation to more pressing matters.

"I can't help but wonder what Amelia's intentions are. She tried to exert control over me, but failed. Moreover, she seems to harbor some animosity towards you," I mused aloud.

Raven nodded, her gaze distant as she pondered.

"Yes, you're right. She seems to despise me, yet we've never truly met. Perhaps she harbors feelings for you and sees me as a barrier to her affections," Raven speculated, lost in thought.

At that moment, my gaze locked with Raven's, and a shared chuckle escaped us.

"Alright, we'll deal with that later. For now, let's head home; I'm starting to feel the pangs of hunger," I said, my stomach punctuating the statement with a timely growl.

Raven nodded in agreement, and we made our way to my place. The journey took us 20 minutes, and as soon as I swung the door open, Lily was there. She barely acknowledged me before pushing past to envelop Raven in a warm embrace.

"It's been ages since you last visited. I was beginning to think you didn't love us anymore," Lily exclaimed, her enthusiasm painting her words with bright colors of joy.

Over the years, I had grown accustomed to this treatment. As usual, Irene was perched on the living room armchair, a temporary throne that would soon be usurped. Within seconds, Lily had evicted her from the seat, claiming it alongside Raven as her own.

"Jade, come and sit with us," she beckoned, patting the space beside her.

I settled next to Raven, the armchair accommodating just three, leaving Irene to stand, a spectator in her own home.

"So, how was the first day back at school?" Lily asked, her smile a curve of genuine interest.

"It went well, don't worry. This year, I'm also in Jade's class," Raven replied, matching Lily's smile with her own.

"Oh, that's wonderful! You two can keep an eye on each other," Lily said, her grin widening.

"Speaking of which, Raven, what are your plans after graduation?" Irene inquired, her curiosity thinly veiled.

"For now, I'm not sure," Raven admitted.

"That's alright for the moment, but you'll need to start thinking about it. I'm confident that whatever you choose, you'll succeed. The same goes for you, Jade," Irene encouraged, her smile a beacon of support.

Just then, a knock at the front door interrupted us.

"Jade, could you see who it is, please? Your mother and I have something to discuss with Raven," Irene requested.

I nodded and rose to my feet, making my way to the door. As I opened it, there stood Amelia, a smile playing on her lips, a bouquet of flowers in hand. The sight prompted an immediate reaction—I shut the door, a thought flashing through my mind: This girl must be mad.

"Jade, who was that?" Lily inquired, her curiosity piqued by the abrupt closure.

"Nobody, just someone playing a prank, I guess," I replied, though my words were cut short as Amelia knocked again, persistent as a riddle demanding to be solved.

Irene moved gracefully to the door, her maternal instinct to protect evident in her stance. "Don't worry, Jade. I'll check who this jester is," she said, her hand hovering over the doorknob.

"No, Mom, let me handle it. Go back and talk with Mom and Raven," I insisted, grasping her hand in a plea for control.

Despite my protest, she slipped her hand away and opened the door. To her surprise Amelia stood there, a portrait of innocence.

"Good evening, Mrs. Smith, I'm a friend of your daughter," Amelia greeted with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Irene's face lit up with a welcoming warmth. "Well then, come in, make yourself at home," she said, her voice a melody of hospitality.

Before I could utter a word of protest, Amelia had breezed past me, and with Irene, they joined Raven and Lily in the living room. As soon as Amelia entered, she approached Lily, and upon seeing her, Raven's smile vanished, replaced by a storm of anger.

"Hello, Mrs. Smith, delighted to meet you," Amelia said, her smile unwavering as she handed the bouquet of flowers to Lily, who received it with a mix of surprise and skepticism.

"Lily, at last, Jade has made a new friend," Irene remarked, her smile a reflection of her contentment.

That's when I finally caught up with them.

"No, Mom, she's not my friend. And what are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice a tempest of confusion and anger.

Both my mothers seemed lost, unable to grasp the unfolding drama, while Amelia stood unfazed, her composure unsettling.

"I just thought, since we met this morning, we were friends. I didn't expect you to get angry," she said, her voice quivering as tears welled up in her eyes.

"Are you a stalker?" Lily's voice was sharp, her distrust of Amelia palpable.

"No, of course not," Amelia replied, her feigned surprise failing to mask her true intentions. I could tell she had hoped to play the victim, to elicit sympathy from my mothers, but her plan had backfired.

A smirk flickered across Raven's face, but it was Irene who spoke next, her anger barely contained.

"How did you find out where we live, and why lie?" Irene demanded.

In response, Amelia stepped forward and lightly touched Lily's hand, offering a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. But within seconds, Lily had seized Amelia's hand, her grip firm and unyielding.

"What are you trying to do, young lady? Did you think such weak magic would work on me?" Lily's voice was a thunderous growl, her fury a tangible force in the room.