"The guy on the screen."

I have a friend, And that friend of mine is quite a handful.

I grew up with him, That's why I know him a lot. I know his dreams. I know what he likes and also what he dislikes. Especially when he lies. "Tell us, Clyde. How do you usually start the day? rumors are going around saying that you're a heavy sleeper." I heard a woman's voice asking someone through a TV, it only made me take a glance when I overheard that guy's name, At that moment I saw a man who was Hale navy hair with gray eyes.

"Yea, As it happens I would need five alarms to wake me up." The man replied with a nervous smile and chuckled at the same time, it only made me narrow my eyes at the guy by looking at the TV, It was obvious that he was lying. I just turned the TV off afterward. I walked towards the doorstep to wear my shoes as soon as I was done, I opened the door and left the house putting the keys on the flower pot. My next stop before going to school is to wake up my friend who lives next door and 'who certainly wakes up by five alarms.' I rolled my eyes whilst I said that through my thoughts after remembering him saying that earlier. I'm standing right in front of my friend's house, who lives next door. I went straight inside as usual and I proceeded upstairs to my friend's bedroom.

The same handsome guy that was on the TV earlier and the guy who still sleeping on his bed, while his fifth alarm is still on, and is late for school. Are the same person.

"Clayden, It's getting late and you're still in your bed!?" I said as I pulled his blanket away making him groan whilst he scratched the back of his head, revealing his Hale Navy hair out. He still didn't get up from bed after that, and that was when I decided to go to the window, but before I could even do that, he grabbed me by the hand refraining me from opening the curtains.

"Morning, Rae." He greeted me with a small smile on his face, while his hand was still holding mine. I know better than anyone that I'm blushing right now, that's why I looked away as my left hand was covering my mouth. 'That face of his should be Illegal!' I thought as I tried to calm myself down. Yes, The friend who I was talking about is Clayden Warner also known as Clyde. I have been friends with him for as long as I can remember, And this guy? He can't wake up on his own unless you open up the curtains so that the light of the sun will hurt his eyes, and he hates that the most in the morning. "Raven?" I heard Clayden call for my name as It hit me that he greeted me earlier.

"Good morning to you too, Now hurry up! You can't even wake up with five alarms and yet you confidently said that at the TV show last night." I greeted him back. Thereafter I demanded him along with a little scolding afterward. I walked out of his room when I had finished speaking to him while he was already getting ready.

I'm Raven Blythe, I have Ash Brown Hair and Green eyes. The guy from earlier with Hale Navy hair and Gray eyes is Clayden Warner, My neighbor a.k.a Childhood friend and also a person I take care of. He is an actor for Zephyr Entertainment, It's not that he was forced by his parents to do this or anything, He was the one who wanted to become an actor.

"Where's Mom?" Clayden asked as I heard the bathroom door open. In some way, the image of him half-naked flashed through my head, making me shake my head repeatedly and slapped both of my hands on my face at once. "Hey, Are you ok?" He asked as he touched my shoulder and tried to look at my face.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Now stop touching me." I said as he rubbed the red hand marks on my cheeks, and that suddenly made him glare at me.

"Stop hurting yourself and Rae, please. Remain sane while waiting for me to finish dressing up without hurting yourself." He said as he stood up straight and went upstairs proceeding to his bedroom.

'I am sane.' I said through my thoughts as I let out a deep sigh and went outside to wait for Clayden.

He was opening the gate and noticed me standing outside. "So that's where you went. I called for you a dozen times earlier, yet you weren't answering." He started pouting and looked at me as if I had done something I shouldn't have while I scowled at him. "Wait, Why are you glaring at me anyway?" He asked as it only made me sigh. I then started to step out to school with him walking behind me.

• • •

We finally arrived at our school in a few minutes on a walk, The first period will start in a few minutes, and yet Clayden is stuck with his fans at school greeting him a good morning. "Clayden," I called for him, and thankfully he noticed me quickly, I immediately gave him gestures that we'd be running late but instead of nodding. He chuckled and looked back at the ladies in front of him, that action of his just made me see red. I left him by the gate with those girls whilst I stomped my feet pouting like a kid as I entered the school.

'You're such a lady killer, Clayden.' I thought as I groaned, remembering how he chuckled when I told him we would be late. I know that sometimes Clayden can be a... jerk, but the fact remains. I love that guy, and I don't know why; I just do love him, he is my friend afterall.

"Raven!" I heard someone call my name, I looked in the same direction where I heard the voice. And I saw Zen, Short for Zenji, his real name is Hasegawa Zenji. Judging by his name, it's already obvious that he is from Japan. I met him when me and Clayden we're still in middle school, He was rather...Unique.

"He is already surrounded by girls, This early in the morning," Zenji said as he stared at a crowd of girls surrounding Clayden. 'Well, That sight will never change.' I thought as my sweat dropped from my forehead just looking at the same thing he was looking at.

"Morning, Zen." I greeted him instead to change the topic and as usual, he gave me a bright smile and said.

"You look exhausted. Raven, did you wake him up again today?" Zenji asked me as I felt myself being melted away. For as long as I know him, Zen is what you call a Straightforward person. He never chooses the right time to speak, nor does he even think a person will get hurt by what he says. I don't hate him, though... I find myself being sure that he will never betray me, or should we say I'm rather comfortable with him. "I did," I said and let out a deep sigh while he just took the backpack that was on me, taking me by surprise with his actions.

"What are you doing?" I asked while he once again gave me that bright smile of his. "Raven, I do know you are tired. Since I can't relieve you from the burden you carry, This is the least I can do." Zenji reasoned while looking at me with his smile, but when he was about to put my backpack on his shoulders, a pair of hands appeared and grabbed my bag.

"I'll carry it to her class, Zen. Don't bother yourself." Clayden told Zenji as he started to walk inside the school. Clayden glanced in my direction and looked forward right after. "What are you doing, Raven? Let's go." He asked. I then told Zenji that I'd see him at lunch break as I tried to catch up to Clayden.

"That guy sure gets jealous easily." Zenji muttered as he watched both Raven and Clayden walk through the hallway while everyone only focused on Clayden, Ignoring Raven beside him.

"Clayden, give me back my bag already," I demanded as he started to pout and stopped walking, making me bump into his back, He faced my direction and leaned close to me.

"So, Zenji can carry your bag, and I can't?" He asked, looking a little irritated. I looked away as he let out a hum because of my action. I just glanced at the hand where he was holding my bag. I grabbed it and ran away.

"Hey! I'm not done talking to you, Raven." He shouted, attracting a lot of girls to his direction. I continued to run, ignoring his calls, but as I ran... I heard the same voices I hear every day that made me stand still.

"Here they go again."

"Raven sure does enjoy having Clayden's attention, Don't you think?"

"Are they dating?"

"Don't be silly. There is no way that they are dating."

"She is not even pretty."

"When will she know her place?"

It has always been like this. Seriously though, how did it come to this? All I remember was ever since Clayden moved next door to us, We became playmates over time. We played every single day. But the people weren't really in our favor, because they all favored Clayden. As time went by, Clayden became unreachable for me. He was just too perfect and by that time I knew I wasn't pretty...I can't stand next to him, but even if I tried I was gradually being left behind by him...Zenji stayed beside me at the time.

'He was never been limited with the things he can do.' I once thought.

That was until he entered the dazzling world of entertainment. And yet I still wonder why he wanted to go to the same high school as I am, because even though we act as friends here... people are just cruel, they hated me that's why I always tried my best to live in his shadows supporting him.

I wanted my life to be more calm and peaceful, Liking him would only just make me die lonely.

"Hey, Rae. Your head is overheating, don't use it too much." I heard Clayden tease as he patted my head whilst I clenched my teeth and moved his hand away from me.

"Shut up, Clyde! I swear to god!" I shouted and he started laughing. I wanted to walk away but I don't want him to hear whatever those gossips say.

"The bell will ring in a few seconds, You two." Zenji reminded making me widen my eyes and turn to look at Clayden.

"Should we skip, Rae?" Clayden asked as it made me hit him on the head while he let out his tongue and before dragging him to our classroom.

"Those two are made for each other." A girl mentioned as Raven dragged Clayden, making Zenji look back to see some random girl.

"For once, those gossip finally said something that is true." Zenji muttered as he walked away.

To be continued. . . .