Chapter 11:
It was a harsh realization that Raya never wanted to face. The way she was living her life was very dangerous. She just never had anyone make her realize that because all of her friends were doing the same exact thing she was. Lucky for her though she had the realization that things needed to change and she was coming out of it all alive and with her health still intact. It just sucked that the realization had to come in the form of rape.
Over the next few days Raya still was kind of shook up and didn't want to go home. She called into work sick and pretty much spent her time hanging out with Taylor. He forced her to be good and that's really what she needed at that point in time. On Thursday afternoon she did wind up at home while Taylor and his brothers worked.
“Ray?” Lindsay called walking in the front door.
“Hey Linds!” Raya called from upstairs in her room.
“Oh my god where have you been?!” Lindsay asked hugging her friend. Raya had pretty much shut off all contact with everyone over the last few days.
“I've just been spending most of my time with Taylor,” Raya said simply.
Lindsay made a confused face, “Wait... we're friends with Taylor again?”
“Yeah...stuff happened and I realized that I need him in my life.” Raya walked into her closet and came out with an arm full of clothes.
“What stuff?” Lindsay asked, “And why are you packing a suitcase. Where are you going?”
“I'm staying at Taylor's for a bit,” Raya said beginning to fold her clothes.
Lindsay grabbed the shirt she was folding, “Hold up.” She was so confused, “What's going on? First you hate Taylor then some 'stuff' happens and you realize that you need him. You haven't been home for a few days and now you are, but you're packing to go back to Taylor's. What on earth is going on?!”
“Look I don't really want to go into it all. I just need a change and I'm not going to get that change living my normal life,” Raya calmly said taking the shirt back from Lindsay, “So I'm going to hang out at Taylor's for a bit until I decide what I want to do. I will explain it all to you eventually but it's just too hard right now.”
“Are you okay?” she asked worried.
Raya smiled, “Yeah I'm fine. I just need to get away. Everything is cool Linds, I swear.”
“Ookay,” Lindsay said cautiously taking a seat on the bed, “So are you and Taylor like a thing now?”
“No!” Raya laughed.
“So he's still available then...” Lindsay smiled.
“Oh god,” Raya laughed.
* * * * *
“So you know how my mom and your grandma still see each other at church and stuff?” Taylor asked the next night. He and Raya were out at dinner together.
“No, but okay,” she laughed.
“Well they do. My mom called me earlier today and said that your grandma told her that your mom is going back to Tulsa and going into rehab and your grandma has custody of your other sisters.”
“Oh... well... I'm glad I guess,” Raya said not really caring.
“That doesn't make you more happy?”
“I don't know. I mean I'm happy my sisters don't have to get fucked up anymore, but I don't really care what my mom does.”
Taylor studied her face. He really couldn't tell if Raya truly didn't care or if it was all a tough front.
“My mom also asked me if you wanted to come home with us for Thanksgiving,” Taylor said.
Raya had completely forgotten that the holidays were quickly approaching, thats probably because she hadn't really celebrated them much over the last few years. She and her friends would get each other presents for Christmas, and they'd party hard on New Years Eve, but that wasn't anything special.
“Umm, no thanks,” Raya said shaking her head.
“Why not? Do you have other plans?” he asked.
“No... I just don't really want to go.”
“Why not?” he pried.
“Because I don't! Why are you pushing?” Raya fought back.
“I'm not pushing. I just don't understand why you don't want to come home.”
“I never want to go back Tay. Not for Thanksgiving, not for Christmas, not for anything. I will never set foot in Tulsa again okay?” she said sharply. It wasn't okay, but Taylor could tell she wasn't really in the mood to be pushed about it.
“Fine,” he said dropping the subject. Tulsa wasn't brought up again for the rest of the night.