Ravan's POV
I had spent the past week trying to forget about Gael and that stupid letter. Despite him saying he didn't write it, deep down I knew he at least had something to do with it.
It plagued my mind even as I searched for an outfit to wear to the shopping centre to hang out with my new friends and boyfriend. I didn't have anyone to go to for fashion advice anymore, and that fact gave me a pang of sadness.
I quickly shook myself out of it and pulled out a few items that I thought were suitable: A soft purple jumper with a cloud design on it and some old, worn-in jeans that I felt were casual enough.
I hoped that Rowan and Muun, my new best friend, would like my outfit.
When I got to the shops, I spotted Rowan and Rylan already together outside Myer, and quickly rushed over to meet them.
Rowan turned to me with a big smile on his face and gave me a brief hug as a greeting, while Rylan only nodded to acknowledge my presence.
Rylan was wearing a large, intimidating black coat over a beige jumper with a white collar poking out. He looked very posh and mature with his dark academia aesthetic.
"Hey guys, what are we going to do today?" I asked cheerfully, concealing my true turmoil of feelings behind a smiling mask.
Rowan still had his arm around me and I paused to take in his heavily accessorised black cargo pants, black fishnet top, and red t-shirt over the top of it all. He looked so hot and manly, and his eyes sparkled iridescently.
I leaned up to give him a peck on the lips, pulling his head down with my hand tousling his cinnamon curls. I was too short to reach him without doing that.
I heard a noise of disgust behind me, and turned to see Muun sticking her tongue out at me ferally while Jayn and Josefeen were talking excitedly over an image on their phones some distance away.
"Hi Muun!" I greeted her.
She was wearing a loose white shirt and black knitted vest with some very ripped jeans. It was such a simple combination, yet it looked so good on her and accentuated her hazel orbs.
Jayn and Josefeen were too stylish for me to even comprehend or describe, but shortly after I arrived they both said that they liked what I was wearing.
Jayn gave me a brief but knowing look and I felt my veneer of happiness begin to crack. Of course she would know that something was wrong; she probably hid her true feelings beneath a smile all the time.
We had no plan, so we all just walked around for a bit, stopping eventually at the food court for some lunch. I decided on Maccas and got some nuggets and a drink. While everyone else dispersed to their various locations, I was stuck with Rylan, who had also decided on a burger.
We both stood in awkward silence and sipped at our frozen cokes outside the shop while we waited. I was unsure how to talk to him casually as we usually had conversations about schoolwork or relationships, and I predicted that he probably felt the same.
Left to my own thoughts, my mind became a whirlwind of anxiety, as thoughts about losing Gael as a friend chased my worries that the sinister premonitions in his letter could come true.
I still had so many questions, and part of me was terrified of what the future could hold.
Then, just when I really didn't need it, I spotted someone I knew approaching me. At first, I thought it was Muun, and my spirits lifted at the prospect of dispelling the uncomfortable silence between Rylan and I, but then I realised that it was actually her twin, Marqus, and my mood soured.
At that point, I didn't think I could deal with seeing him, and I felt hot tears well up in my eyes. It was all becoming too much. I couldn't take it.
Suddenly, I felt a firm hand grab my arm and drag me away from Maccas towards the sushi train next door, just in time so that Marqus didn't notice me.
Rylan looked directly at me with a concern in his eyes that I had never seen directed towards me before. The bright, artificial white lights of the shopping centre turned his silver hair into a halo; my guardian angel, saving me.
Quickly turning my attention downwards to my fidgeting feet, suddenly very intrigued with my daisy white converses. Tears threatened to fall again as the thought of the letter came rushing back.
"Ravan. Ravan, look at me" Rylan murmured.
I refused to. I couldn't stand to see the look in his eye. Despite the brief period of kindness he was showering me with, I knew that if I lifted my head the tears would drop and the ripples that spread out from their impact would be unstoppable, turning into a tidal wave.
Rylan was still trying to comfort me, but I was hearing his words as though on the other side of a window.
"Ravan, what's wrong, talk to me. Would you rather I go find Rowan?" His voice was delicate and smooth, lulling me into a feeling of safety I'd only ever felt with Gael.
"No," I whispered, "I don't want him or the others to know about this."
I felt like I was overreacting, my emotions were trivial compared to what other people went through.
"Talk to me then, explain it so I can help" he soothed.
"I- I don't know Rylan. Seeing Marqus there walking towards maccas all I could think about is how Gael replaced me with him. I know he is Muun's twin but I just can't fight this feeling." I had no plans of telling Rylan about the letter, best to keep it a secret for now.
"I understand how you are feeling, I know what it's like to be betrayed by someone you are incredibly close to. Just tone down the waterworks in the middle of the sushi train please."
Before I could reply, his sturdy arms encircled me and brought me close to his flexed pectorals.
I looked up briefly and his eyes were staring down at me.
I suddenly realised they were several shifting shades of silver and grey; a pool of moonlit mercury that I was drowning in. They matched his hair. I couldn't believe I had never seen this before.
His musky earthy scent filled my nostrils. His smell filled me with a sudden calmness and sense of security. I knew that nothing bad could happen to me while I was in his gentle embrace.
I felt like this softness was reserved for only two people; Rowan and I.
I felt special.
I knew everything would be okay.