?? The Unseen ??

Apologies for any mistakes you might come across!
____________

Today isn't that bad either. No pain.. just.. air.

Wednesday afternoon carried that strange edge—part adrenaline, part exhaustion—that always lingered before practice. Raven leaned against the gym wall, spinning a basketball slowly between his fingers, scanning the locker hall for one guy. The guy. The one that had seen him.

One thing about Raven. He was persistent. Open up a little, and he'd hold on to them doors and wait until you spread them wide. That, or he'd shove them open himself.

So there he was, with one line of thought in his mind, constantly on replay like a bad stereo;

Where the heck will I find that emo softie of a boy?

He spotted Devon moving past the double doors, head down, hoodie half-zipped. Raven's lips curved.

Found him.

With a soft smile, Raven pushed off the wall and moved closer, calling him. “Hey.”

Devon didn’t stop walking. Raven rolled his eyes.

Oh no you don't..

“You made the cut. You know, from the trials?” Raven said louder, jogging to catch up to him. When he did, he instantly adjusted his pace to match his. “Come to practice.”

Devon gave him a sideways glance.

Silent.

Raven sighed. “Come on, don’t be like that. You tried out. You didn’t die. You were good. Pretty sure that means you’re allowed to show up and see if you're in the team or not.”

Still nothing.

Raven snorted. This guy..

I'm also pretty stubborn, you know..?

Raven jogged a few steps ahead and turned, unfazed by his irresponsive attitude, walking backward so Devon just had to look at him. “Look, no one bites... Except maybe Tyler. But that’s just cause he has the emotional range of a garden hose.”

Devon blinked once. His lips twitched.

Jackpot.

That was progress.

Raven threw an arm toward the gym. “Come on. Just show your face. It’s a team... You’d technically be part of it, so..”

Devon stopped. Stared. Then, with a tired sigh that said 'I hate that I’m doing this', he turned and followed.

Raven grinned proudly.

Knew he couldn't say no.

————

The gym lights were harsh. The thump of balls, the squeak of sneakers, the shouts—it was chaos as usual. Yet Raven knew the chaos would take a one-eighty degree turn. And he was so prepared for it.

When Devon walked in behind Raven, everything stilled for half a second.

Tyler’s voice cut through first, of course. “Oh look, Raven brought his broody stray.”

Raven tossed him a glare sharp enough to slice a basketball in two.

Oh no you don't, Tyler. It took me hell and back to get Devon to even tolerate me. You are not going to scare him off.

“Shut it, Ty.”

Tyler raised his hands. “Hey, I didn’t say it like it was a bad thing. Sheesh.”