chapter 9

You scared the hell out of me Tess!" Raven exclaimed—going over to her bed.

"Something isn't right with you. There's something different about you—I just can't seem to pin point it,"she mumbled looking closely at her little sister. 

Raven wasn't rude to Louisa when she snapped at her earlier—her posture was different, she moved and swayed her body like a proper model.

Everyone knew she was bound to become a model—she had a perfect structure. 

Just yesterday, she was slouching—she wasn't as confident as she is at the moment—it was a mystery to her.

 Nervousness suddenly stained Raven's face. A good response seemed to disappear from her lips, she was star struck debating on the perfect reply. A mental note reminded herself it was all a dream—she had control over what was going on.

"YOU AREN'T DREAMING. FOCUS".

Her head zoomed after hearing the mysterious voice again. Confusion was dancing within her

"What do you mean Tess?" She asked trying not to display any emotion.

"Never mind," she replied smoothly. 

"What exactly do you want Tess? Get to the chase".

"Your interview's today."

Raven realized she was supposed to have an interview, her father had helped her get a job in a famous magazine company. Though he wanted  her to join the winery business but Raven was set on becoming a writer. He chose to avoid killing the dreams of his princess.

Ever since her father died. Raven quit writing, modelling became her escape from reality.

"I totally forgot!" She jumped off her bed and went over to her wardrobe. 

Tessa took a closer look at her.

"You were really excited about the job yesterday".

"Stop the interrogation Tess!" Raven half yelled and Tessa smiled.

That was the Raven she knew. Eyeing her sister's room once again—the framed poem written by Raven held her gaze. It was a poem about her insecurities, she chuckled wondering how many people would kill to be her sister.

"I need my privacy!"  Raven's voice brought her back to  reality.  A little smile spread across her face as she walked out of the room quietly.

Raven  didn't want anyone questioning her—she had to go for the interview to erase any suspicions.

She rolled her eyes after checking out ten outfits—none of the clothes were pleasing to her eyes. She couldn't believe she wore the rags she was starring at. They were old fashioned.

Her eyes beamed in joy after finding a decent dress—her aunt had purchased the dress for her in Paris.

Zooming into her bathroom, she eyed it carefully—it was smaller than she remembered, but it was pleasing to the sight. The tub and the towels were dry. The medicine cabinet above the sink had a mirrored door and behind it were over-the-counter-analgesics, and toothpaste, tampons, dental floss and shampoo. 

Simplicity was her nature before she became a model, her mother had bought everything in the bathroom for her. The thought of her mother suddenly disgusted her. 

She grabbed her brush and went over to the sink that was a little too short for five-eleven height. Her reflection stared back at her—pore-less and rosy skin, her glittery raven colored eyes with her oval shaped head followed with a little dimple in her chin. 

Her eyes twitched suddenly snapping her out of her thoughts. Spending time with her father was her mission and nothing else was going to distract her. 

Showering didn't take time, she slipped into her dress in a brisk and packed her raven hair in a ponytail . The sudden sound of her stomach made her eyes roll. She needed to eat breakfast. 

Wasn't she in a dream? Isn't eating in a dream a bad thing? 

"FOCUS RAVEN".

The alarming yet comforting voice went through her head again. 

She dashed out of her room in a brisk—eyeing the house like a student in a museum. Her father's voice brought a smile to her face. He was isolated in the dinning room with Mrs. Potts, the family's trusted cook and house keeper.

It was highly convenient for Raven since her sisters and mother weren't there. Her eyes dropped down to her father's plate, the melted cheese couldn't cover the recall of her dislike of broccoli. 

"Mrs. Potts, get me some eggs with avocado and do add some veggies, "   She uttered and Fred raised his straight eye brows.

"You've always had a big appetite princess. Why the sudden change?" Fred Steel asked curiously. The breakfast Raven had requested for was absurd. 

She became unsettled, her hand travelled to her hair brushing it downwards. She forgot she wasn't a model at the moment—modeling was part of her life, her huge appetite was long gone.

"Why so quiet? Are you okay?" He questioned, glaring perkily at his daughter.

"N...nothing dad. I'm not so hungry".

Fred had more questions, Raven was acting awfully strange.

"Dad.." Raven voiced out interrupting his thoughts. Fred raised his eye brows giving her a go ahead. She watched as Mrs. Potts went over to the kitchen before spilling her thoughts.

"Well...I was wondering if we could spend the day together...after my interview of course."

Fred stared at his daughter closely with a smile across his face. 

"Anything for you princess," he tittered adjusting his glasses,"Remember the date we talked about? I gave the young man your number, he's a fine man princess. Don't be alarmed when he calls."

Raven hated the idea of a blind date but she didn't want to argue with her father.

"I promised you didn't I?" 

Fred watched as his daughter strode away, she was different no doubt—her attitude was somewhat strange. He didn't realize Tessa had joined him, he looked over at her, he didn't like what he saw and his lips formed a frown as he carefully watched his daughter. He had never seen someone chew so slowly and sadly.

****

The weather was beautiful outside, taking her car wasn't a choice for her, she needed to breathe and enjoy her time out as a normal person. 

Of course it was awkward going out of the house. 

There weren't reporters following her from behind, she didn't need bodyguards, attention wasn't bowing to her. She enjoyed fame but a break was needed from her toxic life. 

The thought of her reality lingered in her mind,—if what was happening to her was real then she should be in a coma. 

Was anyone worried about her?

A chuckle escaped her lips as the thought of what the press would insinuate concerning her coma lingered through her mind—some would probably publish an attempted suicide.  

Her mind focused on 'the voice'.

Why was it helping her?

She believed she didn't deserve compassion.

Her imaginations were cut short after coming in contact with a strong body.

Raven fell straight to the hard ground, she had bumped into someone. 

Getting up immediately, she starred at the tall figure in front of her. She could recognize him from anywhere—he looked younger than the last time she saw him.

Of course he would be younger, she was in the past.

She couldn't believe her luck.

Seeing him made her happy but she couldn't express it, she'd come off as a psycho—considering the fact they were strangers.

It was Simeon, he was bent hill on transforming her to a model around this time.

"You again," she jabbed.

"Sorry about that darling," he gave a faint smile staring at the beauty right at his presence, she was what he was searching for.

"What do you want?" Her aim was to spend time with her father, she didn't want any distraction.

"You already know what I want darling. I can transform you to a super model," he blabbed as his eyes sparkled in excitement.

"My answer remains the same. A big no".

The words came out of her mouth ruthlessly. She felt sorry for him, he was an an amazing person but she had to put on a show.

She walked out on him without looking back—with her head up high she could feel his gaze burning through her back. 

"He isn't a quitter," she muttered under her breath.

 T