Chapter 2

We were having a quiet dinner when I suddenly realized something. I dropped my fork and bolted for the door.

"Where are you going? You're not finished!" my mom yelled.

"Going to get her," I shouted back.

I ran across the street to find Raven's house dark and silent.

I was about to knock when the door swung open. Raven was standing there, her eyes a little watery but her jaw set tight.

When she saw me, she looked like she had just won the lottery. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Power's out," I said. "I didn't want you sitting here alone in the dark."

She broke into a massive grin, though she still tried to play it cool. "Whatever. I'm not a kid, Cade. I'm not scared."

I didn't call her out on it, even though she was gripping my sleeve so hard it was already wrinkling.

I grabbed her hand. "Right. Well, come over to my place and eat."

She nodded and followed me.

On the short walk over, she held my hand like she was afraid I'd vanish. Right at the doorstep, she whispered, "Cade?"

"Yeah?"

"If the power goes out again, will you come get me?"

I paused for a couple of seconds, then said,

I waited a beat before answering. "You don't need the power to go out. Just wait until it gets dark. I'll be there."

She didn't say anything, but her grip on my hand tightened.

From that point on, Raven was even more shameless.

Every afternoon, she'd be at my door claiming it was "getting dark" and she needed to study.

My mom would feed us her "creative" meals, and I would silently slide Raven's plate toward me and replace it with something edible I'd hidden away.

Then we would sneak over to her house for a second, better dinner.

Sophie would watch us inhale her cooking and shake her head.

One time, she suddenly asked, "Raven, don't you think you're bothering Cade? He might get tired of you following him around."

Raven, with her mouth full of food, just waved her off. "He's not allowed to be tired. He's my exclusive nightlight. It's a lifetime contract."

I choked on my drink but didn't argue.

Sophie just smiled and shook her head, not saying a word.

That night, my dad gave me that same look again. "Attaboy, Cade."

"Dad, please. Can we use a different phrase?" I replied.

He patted my shoulder. "You'll understand when you're older."

Seriously?

Before I fell asleep that night, I thought about that "lifetime contract" thing. I thought about her saying I was the light.

And then I realized I was actually okay with it.

I wasn't just her nightlight; I was a willing participant.

*****

Time flew by, and before I knew it, we were in middle school. Raven became a professional gatekeeper for my dating life. If a girl so much as looked at me, Raven was there to shut it down.

One day after class, a girl from the room next door stopped me.

"Cade, could I... borrow your math notes?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Before I could even open my mouth, a familiar voice drifted over my shoulder.

"Sorry, no can do! Those notes are for my eyes only," Raven declared.

She appeared out of nowhere like a ghost.

She looped her arm through mine, giving the girl a sweet, totally fake smile. "If you want to see them, you have to go through me first."

The girl looked back and forth between us, mumbled an apology, and bolted.

"Are you still looking? She's gone," Raven snapped, her eyes narrowing. "Do you want me to go call her back for you?"

I just looked at her. "Where did you even come from?"

She put her hands on her hips. "I've been right here the whole time! You just didn't notice."

"Are you stalking me?"

"I'm protecting my legal interests!" she countered.

"What legal interests?"

"You! Lifetime contract, remember?" She said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Anyway, who's prettier? Her or me?"

I didn't answer. I just started walking.

She chased after me, tugging at my arm. "Tell me! Come on, say it!"

I kept a straight face.