Chapter 5 Baby Bump

I raised my head, heart pounding, ready to brush past the body that had just bumped into me. But then I froze.

"Raven?" My voice cracked.

It was her.

She looked different. Her cheeks were fuller, her eyes tired, her frame softer. A baby bump pushed against her top-she looked four, maybe five months gone.

My phone slipped from my hand and hit the floor with a soft thud. My lips trembled. Raven didn't say a word. She opened her arms wide.

And I ran into them.

Tears spilled. From both of us. We didn't care who was watching.

People walking by slowed down. Students stopped, some with coffee in hand, some pulling earbuds out, all caught in the quiet magic of our reunion. A few said "Awww" and smiled like they were watching the final scene of a love story. A couple of girls took pictures. Someone whispered, "This is the kind of drama I live for."

But all I saw was Raven. All I felt were her arms. All I heard was our breathing, shaking with tears.

When we finally let go, Raven wiped her face, already trying to speak.

"I know I've said this a million times, Mia, but please-"

I grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the glass door of the café behind us.

"Come on," I said. "We need to catch up."

The café was warm, dimly lit with hanging bulbs in wire cages, and smelled like cinnamon and old books. Potted plants lined the windows. Wooden chairs creaked under conversation. A couple in the corner held hands across their table. Music played low, jazzy and old.

We sat by the window. Opposite each other. My eyes were still wet. Raven looked like she could break again.

For a few seconds, neither of us spoke. The silence between us held too many years.

Raven finally broke it.

"I'm sorry, Mia. I know I've said it so many times but... I really am. I didn't even know what happened that night. I just wanted to fix us, but I didn't know what I was fixing."

I reached across the table and took her hands. "It's all in the past, Rae. I should have talked to you. I shouldn't have left you in the dark."

She looked at me like she still didn't believe I was really here. Then her voice softened.

"But... What happened that night, Mia? At the party. You never told me."

I hesitated. My heart picked up again.

"I saw him," I said, eyes lowered. "Noah. In the restroom. He was kissing another girl."

Raven gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.

"Oh my God. Mia."

"I left before he saw me."

She leaned forward. "I didn't think he would... I thought... It's all my fault. I pushed you to go. I kept saying he liked you. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay," I said quietly. "Really. It's been seven years."

Then I smiled a little. "Speaking of Noah, how's life been with him?"

Something shifted in Raven's eyes. She blinked fast and looked away. "He's... fine."

I raised a brow. "That's not convincing."

"I mean... he's doing okay," she said quickly, then added, "So what are you doing here? In school? In the United Kingdom?"

I narrowed my eyes at her dodge but let it go. "I'm here for my master's program."

Raven screamed, loud and excited. Heads turned. The attendant laughed from behind the counter.

"I thought you'd never come," Raven said. "Remember back then, we swore we'd come here together for our master's?"

"I didn't forget," I said. "Even when we drifted apart. I still remembered everything we promised."

I glanced at her belly. "Like now. You kept your part. I didn't."

Raven laughed. "We said we'd have our babies at the same time. Gosh, yeah."

Then I noticed it. The band on her finger.

"Wait. Is that a wedding ring?" I screamed, grabbing her hand.

Customers turned again. A man near us dropped his fork. Raven blushed.

"Tell me. Who's the lucky guy?"

She giggled. "A lot happened. I met him two years after graduation. We got married and moved here."

I leaned back, eyes wide. "That explains everything. I used to drop by your house, you know. Hoping I'd finally get the guts to talk to you."

She looked surprised. "You did?"

"Yeah. But you stopped visiting our spot back home. I thought you vanished."

Her smile fell. "I just needed to move on, Mia."

I nodded slowly, then asked, "So what are you doing here with a baby bump? You're enrolling too?"

"Yes!" she said. "Master's in digital media."

We both screamed. Again.

The lady at the next table rolled her eyes and muttered, "College girls."

We didn't care. We were back.

She took a sip of her drink, then looked at me.

"So, what about you? Any man in the picture?"

I shifted. "Family's good. Work's great. School is fine."

"Uh huh," she said, narrowing her eyes.

I sighed. "No. No man. Just Dad."

She laughed. "I knew it. You're still guarding that heart like it's gold."

"It is gold," I said, grinning. "And I'm taking my time."

We fell into soft laughter. For a while, it felt like nothing had ever broken us.

Eventually, we stood up to leave.

But outside, Raven suddenly slowed her steps. She glanced around quickly.

Her smile dropped. Her posture stiffened.

I turned to her. "Rae? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she said too fast.

She kept looking around. Behind her. Across the street. Eyes twitchy. Shoulders tense.

I stopped walking. "What is it?"

"I said I'm fine."

But her hand pressed against her belly protectively.

Something wasn't right.

I placed a hand on Raven's shoulder as we walked. "Are you sure you're okay?" I asked softly.

Raven forced a smile. "Yes... maybe it's just the hormones. I've been a bit jumpy lately."

I didn't believe her, but I didn't push. We had just reconnected, and I wouldn't ruin it with too many questions.

Still, something felt off.