Chapter 9:

Raya was fuming for the next few days. How dare he say that she was like her mother. That was like the ultimate insult to her. As far as she was concerned she was never going to talk to Taylor again. He was wrong, it was as simple as that.

He tried to call a few times in the days following their fight, but Raya just forwarded him to her voice mail. Hopefully he would get the clue. No amount of apologizing would get her to forgive him.

“So I know that you aren't talking to Taylor, but does that mean I can't either?” Lindsay asked one afternoon as the two girls shopped. It had been about 2 weeks since the fight.

“Lindsay! How can you even ask that?!” Raya asked totally shocked.

“Well... I don't know. He's really cute and really nice. I know you're mad at him, but that doesn't mean I am.”

“Well you should be! He was a total ass to me.”

“So that's a yes then? I can't talk to him?”

“Yes! I can't believe you'd even ask!”

“Fine,” Lindsay pouted, “What about Zac?”

“Lindsay!” Raya laughed. She was too much.

“Sorry.”

When Raya got home around 7 that evening, there was a very unwelcome guest sitting on her front porch. She and Lindsay had been out since about 10 that morning. So who knew how long he had been waiting.

“What are you doing here?” Raya snapped as she walked up to the porch.

“I needed to see you,” Taylor said standing up.

“Well I don't want to see you,” she said walking past him to the door.

“Raya, please,” he grabbed her arm forcing her to stop, “I'm sorry.”

“I don't care,” she said wiggling free, “Be sorry until the end of time, I won't forgive you.”

“I was mad I didn't mean it. You were being irrational.”

“No, you were being irrational,” she argued unlocking her door and walking in. Taylor quickly stopped the door before she could shut it behind her.

“I'm sorry! I already said that. I wish I never said those things. I would love to take them back, but I can't and so I'd really wish that you could accept my apology. I lost you for 6 years and now you're back and I really don't want to lose you again for something stupid that I said.”

“You know how I feel about my mom,” she said finally turning to look at him, “you of all people should know never to say something like that to me, but you did. Whether you were mad or whatever doesn't matter. I would never say something so hurtful to you despite how infuriated I am.”

“I know, I'm sorry,” he said. His eyes were pleading with hers to forgive him.

“Just go home Taylor. I don't want to talk to you right now.”

“Ray...” he began reaching out for her.

“Go home,” she said again pushing his hands away.

Taylor lowered his head defeated. He didn't know what else to do. All he could do was apologize and he did that. She didn't want to forgive him though. Apparently her new life didn't involve forgiveness. It seemed like she would just drop a friend in a second if they made her mad, even one that she had known for 20 some years.

He turned to walk out the door and Raya had a brief urge to stop him, but she bit her tongue. She was still way too pissed at him. So instead she turned and headed upstairs.

* * * * *

Raya had to work that night and was going through her typical routine of flirting with guys and making them worship her which meant they tipped her more. A guy sitting at the bar caught her eye. He was gorgeous in a very rugged way with a strong chiseled face, dark hair, and piercing blue eyes. He was looking at her when she glanced over. She made her way to him.

“What can I get ya darlin'?” she said smiling at him.

“Are you on the menu?” he asked in a low voice.

“Like I haven't heard that one before,” she laughed, “I was hoping you'd be more original than that.”

“I'm sorry, I just speak my mind,” he said with a sexy smile.

“Well let me rephrase, can I get you a drink?” she asked.

“I'll take a Jack and Coke,” he said.

Raya was just drawn to this guy and spent way too much time talking to him. She found out his name was Marc, he was 27, and he was an entertainment lawyer. He was sexy, had a great smile, and could make her laugh. How much better could it get?

Contrary to what Taylor thought Raya didn't make it a habit to leave with guys she met at the bar, but she just couldn't turn Marc down. When he asked if she wanted to come back to his place she gladly accepted the offer. He was the nicest cutest guy she had met in a really long time.

So once Raya got off she followed Marc to his house in her own car. His house was about as gorgeous as he was. He was clearly very successful. He gave her a tour of his huge house and the last stop was his bedroom.

“Wow, this is like my dream house,” Raya said walking in looking around.

“Really?” he asked.

“Yeah! I mean I like my house, it's cute, but a place like this is my dream.” She turned around to see Marc dangerously close to her.

“You know what my dream is?” he asked quietly.

“What?” she asked.

“You on my bed... naked.”

Raya laughed, “Slow down dude. What happened to the talking and getting to know each other?”

“I don't need it,” he said stepping even closer even though it didn't seem to be possible.

“Well I do,” she said stepping back. Suddenly things weren't so sexy and comfortable.

Marc grabbed her and pressed his lips up against her roughly, almost too roughly. It wasn't a nice first kiss.

Raya pushed him off of her, “What are you doing?”

“Getting what I want. I always get what I want, can't you tell?”

“Well you aren't getting this,” she said trying to side step him and head for the door. She wasn't going to stay.

“Oh yes I am,” he said grabbing her wrist and squeezing it hard.

“Oww, stop it. Just let me go.”

“No, you have me all hot for you, now you need to satisfy it.”

Raya was starting to get really scared that she wasn't going to be able to leave. Marc was like a foot taller than her and probably out weighed her by 100 pounds of pure muscle.

Marc grabbed Raya and threw her onto the bed. She kicked and screamed and tried to wiggle out of his grasp, but nothing worked. He completely pinned her down and started touching her body.

“Please stop!” she begged tears forming in her eyes. She was terrified.

“You know you like it. I know you're type. You've probably been with over 20 men huh? And you always like it rough.” Even though the last 2 things were true, she definitely wasn't liking this.

Raya was helpless. All she could do was cry as he had his way with her, forcing her to do things she didn't want. He held onto her wrists so tightly that in her writhing to get free it rubbed her skin so raw it started to bleed.

“Thanks,” he smiled sweetly once he was done giving her a gently kiss on her lips, “I'll call ya.”

He let her up and Raya quickly grabbed her things and ran out the door.

Chapter 10 >>