•London, 30/06/2025, 12:02 AM•
Raven poked his head out of his slightly open door. He sighed as he looked into the dim corridors. He didn't need to worry about any unnecessary conversation because all of the workers should have already gone home. His father was most likely dozing off by now.
He didn't know if his mother had returned or if they had found another hotel room. The boy had no idea about his sister, who, like him, was a night owl. He hoped she was in her room talking to someone or doing something similar.
Raven removed the sign from the doorknob and exited his room. He was relieved that the penthouse doors were all quiet. Raven didn't close his door because it would make too much noise and he was going to return anyway.
Although there was no need for him to act all speaking, he continued to do so for some strange reason. He walked down the hall and up the stairs. Their penthouse was three stories high.
The majority of the bedrooms were on the second floor, with the kitchen, living room, and other common areas on the first. Raven and his father didn't use the third floor unless they had a guess over. Theodore's office was also on that floor.
Raven descended the stairs and entered the kitchen. He entered the kitchen and noticed his sister eating something while sitting at the counter.
The boy almost turned around, thinking about the delicious ice cream that was waiting for him in the refrigerator was enough for him to take it all in. Raven hurried over to the refrigerator.
"Hello and good morning." Rachel said as she bit into her sandwich. Raven cocked his head and glanced at her watch. When he saw the time, he sighed.
"Morning." Raven kept looking at the various small tubs of ice cream. He chose strawberry flavor and also obtained some caramel from the refrigerator.
"Are you eating ice cream right now?" Rachel arched her brow. "Don't you exercise? This does not appear to be very healthy."
"Today is my cheat day." Raven said getting a spoon, then dug in.
"It's Tuesday, dumbass."
"Every day is my cheat day." Raven smiled slightly as she tasted the sweat ice cream. He had a sweet tooth since he was a child. Raven had to go to the dentist when he was nine years old because of all the crap he ate.
He now understands how to maintain proper hygiene.
"About me joining you and your gang of idiots-"
"At my school, we're all in the top thirty." Raven stated. His friends and he were all academic geniuses, but they were also outcasts. It's not the point of doing things to get them in big trouble, but they've done some questionable things in the past and will most likely do so again.
"As I was saying." Rachel went on, glaring at the boy who had interrupted her. Raven sat on the tile floor with his ice cream and shrugged. "Why did you say that to Mom? Now she's going to force me to accompany you idiots."
"Just to spite you." Raven muttered something. "I know you probably want to visit your friends in America, but I just want to annoy you. You must now accompany me. You may make my life a living hell, but it will be worthwhile. Plus, you wanted to go to Singapore when we were younger, didn't you?"
"Did you remember that?" Rachel looked down at him, perplexed.
"Naturally, I did. I also recall you making a list of all the places you want to visit." Raven rose and brushed himself off. "Me and Adam are going to Miko's house tomorrow; I'll ask him if we can schedule a few of the places you wanted to go."
Raven stretched his arms, still a little stiff. Before putting the ice cream back in the fridge, the boy took a sharpie and wrote his name on the cover.
"So, I'm off to bed. Enjoy your sandwich."
Raven returned up the stairs and went to his room. He needed some rest because he and Adam were likely to be scattered in the morning and evening. You never know with Adam.
Rachel sat there, a small smile on her face. Despite Raven's actions, he genuinely cared about the girl. He may not show it very often, but she is aware. Even though she lived on the other side of the world, she was closer to Raven than she was to Liam.
They talked, but their topics were always about Liam and how 'great' he was. The boy was far too arrogant for his own good, and she was certain it would land him in serious trouble one day.
•30/06/2025, 8:29 AM•
Raven awoke a few hours later, rested after a long night of gaming. He was off for him because he never stayed up late watching movies or playing video games.
After a few minutes of scrolling through his friends' group chap, he got out of bed. Every morning, regardless of the day, he would see at least a hundred messages. Some of their conversations would make me laugh, so he wasn't complaining.
The boy got out of bed, showered, and dressed. He attempted to contact Adam but was unsuccessful. Raven was at a loss for what to do. He just changed into casual clothes in case Adam shows up and brags him out of his own home, which wouldn't be the first time.
Raven made his way down the stairs, oblivious to the three adults eating at the dinner table. Rachel was eating in the kitchen, and Liam was nowhere to be found. Odd. But it's the good kind of odd.
"Your friend is downstairs, Raven." Theodore stated that he was getting off the phone.
"Okay." Raven muttered as she dragged the tub of ice cream from earlier.
His father sighed and approached. The boy grumbled as the man took it from him. Is the world's only lover, snatched away by an older man. How heartbreaking.
"This is too early, Raven." Theodore informed his son. "Just like everyone else, eat something normal."
"This is normal" Raven looked at his father, slightly irritated. "I need my hourly dose of sweets."
"How do you eat so much crap and stay in shape and keep your teeth from rattling and falling out?" Theodore posed the question that everyone in the world wanted to know the answer to.
"I'm. Just. That. Good." Raven flashed his white teeth. Before leaving, the boy grabbed a few or five apples. "See ya! Every hour or so, I'll text you where I am."
"Can you tell me where you're going now?" Theodore inquired, prompting Raven to open the door and peer back into the room. "And why didn't you inform me that you were leaving? I would have given you extra money just in case."
"I have pretty, and I had no idea Adam would arrive so early. We're also going to Miko's house." Raven stated this.
"Ah. Please tell Jason that I said hello." Before turning away from his son, Theodore said.
Raven shook her head and shut the door. He walked a few steps to the elevator and took it straight down. To gain access to the penthouse, one must enter a password known only to Raven, Theodore, and the receptionist.
For security reasons, the password would be changed every few weeks.
Because there were people wanting to leave the hotel, the elevator had to slant a few floors. They were all aware of Raven's identity and treated him with more esteem than they did their superiors.
It was well known how much Theodore loved his son, so messing with him would only cause them problems. Theodore could be any of the companies these people worked for, and some of them already worked for him.
Fortunately, Raven was the type to simply ignore someone if they irritated him or if he didn't like them, and finding someone Raven didn't like for no apparent reason was nearly impossible.
When the elevator arrived at the ground floor, everyone disembarked and went about their business. Raven waved to the receptionist, who gave the boy a friendly smile.
Dana has been Theodore's caregiver since he was a baby. When the man had important meetings, he would ask Dana to look after Raven. Similar to a nana. Raven liked her because she was nice to almost everyone.
Raven was on his way to the doors when he noticed Adam walk in, looking normal for a change. His attire was very casual. Raven expected him to shine like he was going to the beach. It would be the first time this had happened.
"Raven, my very best friend in the entire universe! What caused you to reconsider?" Adam inquired. Maybe if he found out he could do the same thing, Raven would join them on their next trip.
"Just take me to your out of pocket car." Raven suggested pushing the boy out of the building before he drew any more stares.
"My car is not out of pocket car." Adam tried to defend himself, but everyone knew he was lying. His car was so out of place in London that it would have made the Joker proud.
Adam's car was a dark blue Koenigsegg Jesko that cost 2.5 MILLION pounds! And Raven's father is said to spoil him rattan. Adam's parents gave their son such a car for no apparent reason. Raven didn't want to know how much gilf that kid would get when he left for college.
They would be accompanied by the butler Adam's parents had assigned to him, so Adam could technically drive. Adam had a driver's license, but he could only drive with the supervision of an adult. He could drink because he was sixteen, but only if accompanied by an adult.
Raven was only fifteen years old, so he didn't drink in public. Raven didn't mind because he disliked the taste of most alcoholic beverages.