You’re not alone, Raven.

During lunch, the conversation flowed effortlessly until Irene brought up Amelia.

"Children, you must be careful with that girl, Amelia. She seems very dangerous and likely has more than one trick up her sleeve," Irene said, her worry casting a shadow over the table, and Lily nodded in agreement.

"But no, Mom, don't worry, everything will be fine. What harm could she possibly do to us?" Jade said confidently.

But I was a bit panicked. After all, I still remembered Amelia's words. However, at that moment, I felt a hand on my shoulder—it was Lily's—and it immediately soothed me.

"You know, Jade, your mother is right. We'd better be on our guard. We don't know what she's planning, especially now that she'll want revenge," I said thoughtfully.

Lunch passed quickly, and somehow, I found myself helping Jade with the dishes. Our hands brushed occasionally, sending a jolt through me each time. I wanted to believe that she felt it too, that there was something more between us than just friendship, but Jade seemed to be as unresponsive as a log.

"Raven, you've been quiet. Are you sure you're okay?" Jade asked, her concern evident as she dried a plate.

I nodded, not trusting my voice. How could I explain the turmoil inside me? The fear of losing her, the desire to be more than just a friend, and the dark thoughts that Amelia's words had stirred.

Jade reached out, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Whatever it is, we'll face it together. You're not alone, Raven."

Her touch was like a lifeline, pulling me back from the edge of my own insecurities. In that moment, I made a silent vow to protect this bond, to never let anyone or anything come between us.

As we finished the last of the chores, Jade's parents stepped outside, saying they were going to the supermarket, leaving us alone in the kitchen.

"Raven, I've been thinking," Jade began, her eyes searching mine. "It's been a long time since we spent time together, just the two of us. How about we watch a movie?" she said with a smile.

"Of course, that's a great idea, but it better be a good movie," I said with a smile, hoping it would help me relax.

We settled on the couch, Jade with the remote in hand, browsing through the available films.

An idea struck me, one that seemed perfect for the evening—a new romance film that had been a hit among couples.

"Jade, I have a film to recommend," I said with a smile, feeling a flutter of excitement at the thought of sharing it with her.

Jade handed me the remote, and I quickly found the film I had in mind. As I pressed play, the opening credits rolled, and Jade dimmed the lights, enveloping us in a soft, intimate luminescence.

At first, we were both engrossed in the film, but after a while, I felt a weight on my shoulder. Turning my head, I saw Jade had fallen asleep, her head resting gently against me. A blush crept across my cheeks, and I dared not move, fearing I might wake her.

Eventually, I too drifted off, the film's ending lost to me. The sound of a camera shutter woke me, and turning around, I saw Jade's mothers had returned, with Lily holding her phone.

Instinctively, my body shifted, accidentally nudging Jade's head, and she tumbled to the floor, waking with a start.

"Sorry, we didn't mean to disturb you, but you two looked so adorable, I couldn't resist taking a photo," Lily said with a smile.

I blushed instantly, while Jade, now on her feet, seemed confused by the sudden turn of events.

"Jade, come help me put away the groceries," Irene called out.

Jade joined her, and they headed to the kitchen, leaving me alone with Lily in the living room.

"You two seemed to have a good time," Lily said, her smile suggesting a hint of teasing.

"You could say that. Could you send me the photo you took?" I asked, my cheeks warming with the request.

Lily's smile broadened. "Of course," she said, approaching me and sending the photo.

As I looked at the image, a mix of embarrassment and fondness washed over me. It was a candid snapshot of a moment I hadn't realized I wanted to remember. But now, seeing it captured in pixels, I was grateful for the memory.

"Thank you," I murmured, a genuine smile finding its way to my lips.

Lily nodded, her eyes reflecting a mother's affection. "You're welcome" 

"What are you two looking at?" Jade asked, appearing suddenly behind me.

I panicked and quickly turned off my phone. "We're not looking at anything," I said, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Okay," Jade replied, sounding a bit disappointed.

Lily laughed at our interaction, and soon after, Irene joined us. "Raven, will you stay for dinner?" she asked with a warm smile.

Looking outside, I realized it was already night; the day had passed without me noticing. "Yes, I'll stay for dinner. To thank you for your kindness, let me cook tonight," I offered with a smile.

Since watching a romantic movie with Jade hadn't sparked the reaction I hoped for, there was one more thing to try—food. After all, they say the way to someone's heart is through their stomach.

"Are you sure you want to prepare dinner, Raven? You're our guest," Lily said.

"Don't worry about it. Go sit on the couch, and I'll take care of dinner," I insisted, gently ushering all three of them to the living room.

"If you need help, don't hesitate to ask us, Raven," Irene called out.

I nodded and headed to the kitchen, donning an apron. That's when I faced a problem—I had never cooked in my life. But it couldn't be that difficult, could it?

In the kitchen, Raven stood with a determined glint in her eye, ready to conquer the culinary world for the sake of impressing Jade and her family. With an apron tied around her waist and a wooden spoon as her scepter, she declared war on the ingredients before her.

She started with what she believed to be a simple task: boiling water. But as fate would have it, even the water seemed to rebel, bubbling over like a volcano, leaving a puddle on the stove. Undeterred, Raven proceeded to chop vegetables, or rather, massacre them. The carrots were uneven, the onions were butchered, and the garlic was pulverized beyond recognition.

With the bravery of a knight facing a dragon, Raven tossed the vegetables into a pan, where they sizzled and smoked, a foreboding sign of the disaster to come. The sauce, which was intended to be a vibrant red, turned into a murky brown sludge that bubbled ominously.

The pasta, meant to be al dente, had surrendered to the boiling water, transforming into a gloopy mass that clung to the pot in defeat. Raven, however, remained blissfully unaware of the culinary catastrophe.

As dinner time approached, Jade's parents returned to a kitchen that looked more like a battlefield. The smell alone was enough to send them retreating, making hasty excuses about sudden diets and forgotten errands.

"Raven, this looks… unique," Jade said, eyeing the plate with a mix of horror and politeness.

"Go on, try it. I made it just for you," Raven urged, her eyes shining with anticipation.

Jade took a tentative bite, her face contorting in a valiant effort to mask her true feelings. "It's… not bad," she lied through gritted teeth, the taste assaulting her senses like a horde of angry bees.

Raven beamed with pride, oblivious to Jade's struggle. "I'm so glad you like it! Maybe I'll cook for us more often!"

In that moment, Jade caught me by surprise, taking my hands in hers.

"How can I let you cook and risk harming your beautiful hands? I'm sorry, but I can't let you do this. Don't worry, I'll take care of the cooking," Jade said, looking into my eyes with such care.

Her concern made me smile; it was sweet how Jade worried about me. I checked my phone and realized it was quite late; it was time for me to head home.

"Well, I've had a wonderful time, but I need to get back home now. Please say goodbye to your parents for me," I said as I received a message from my butler, informing me he was waiting outside.

"Of course, let me walk you out," Jade offered with a smile.

We stepped out of the house together, and my butler was already there, waiting.

"See you tomorrow at school," Jade said, still smiling.

Feeling bold, I stepped closer to Jade and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. I immediately blushed, and so did Jade, before I quickly stepped back.

"See you tomorrow," I said as I got into the car. Through the window, I could see Jade, still in shock, not moving an inch. Then suddenly, she clutched her stomach as if in pain and rushed back into her house. That was the last thing I saw before the car drove off, leaving me wondering what was wrong with her.