Aaaaand…We're back! With chapter two! Hope you enjoyed the first one, chapter three coming soon!

Misery666: Yay! Very first reviewer !!! Thankies! And yes! JARED LETO!!! …sexy beef! But it's not suppose to relate to him in the story, even though he is indeed a fine specimen of manliness! And 30 Seconds to Mars rocks!

Twilight Dancer123: Thanks for the review! Hope you like this chappie too!

That's all for now! On with the story!

-SmokinLeech

CHAPTER 2: Remember

Unlocking the door of the apartment, Raven entered the main hallway, and hung up her coat on the wrack, where she also saw a small sticky note stuck on the wall.

Working late, don't wait up. Love you.

Raven just sighed and crumpled the note before throwing it away in the trash. It wasn't unusual that Jared came home late, she was used to it.

Walking into the main room Raven noticed a few items sprawled across the room; the apartment was in a bit of a mess, so Raven decided to do a bit of cleaning.

Putting books back on their shelves, magazines back in the wrack, dusting here and there, it helped her relax sometimes. She came to the bedroom and decided to start with the cupboards, and while taking out and moving boxes she came across a small black box.

Leaning closer to where it sat in the darkish corner of the cupboard, she saw a very familiar sight.

On the lid were drawn two birds: a robin and a raven.

Back when they were still very young they had decided that since Raven had a birds' name that Richard should have one too, and because he had a fetish for wearing red, yellow and green together, Raven told him it should be 'Robin'.

Raven took the box off the pile of books it had been sitting on, and sat on the floor with it clutched in her hands. It was like opening the door to her childhood. Inside lay all her memories, all her recollections of her past and her childhood, and all her times spent with Richard when they were young.

Sifting through all the letters and photos she came across a very tattered, and slightly torn valentines letter he had sent her. And she remembered…

He knocked on the door, but received no response. He pressed his ear close the door, hoping to hear something. A distinct crashing sound could be heard, making him jump slightly.

He opened the door, and peaked around the side.

He found her sitting on floor, torn photos and broken items strewn all around her.

"Rae, I've been looking for you…what's wrong?" Asked a concerned Richard; sitting down next to his friend on the opposite side of her.

"Nothing." He heard her say quietly as she continued to stare at the floor, avoiding his gaze.

"Rae…" He tried again. "Let me in, let me help. Just tell me what happened"

She whipped her head up to look at him; her dark eyeliner was smeared down her soft cheeks. "You really want to know Richard?!" She screamed, as tears started to form again, "He dumped me ok! Is that what you wanted to hear? He lied and then he dumped me! And tomorrow is Valentines Day! Now isn't that romantic, I'm a real pathetic case, aren't I!" The tears were streaming now. After realizing what she just said, she turned away embarrassed.

He had never seen Raven cry since the death of her father, he hated to see her cry, each tear that fell from her eyes he could feel burn into his heart.

"I'm sorry…" She said, wiping back the tears, trying to pull herself together, but the tears just came.

There was only one thing he could think of that he could do.

Raven suddenly felt warmth as two arms surrounded her, as he held close to his chest. "Don't apologize, cry if you need to."

"He-he left me…alone." She whimpered sadly.

"No, your not alone Rae, and long as I'm alive, you'll never be alone."

So Raven just stayed there, in his warm embrace, and he just carried on holding her. So Raven let loose all the emotions she had tried to hold back, weeping cold hard tears into his chest. Regret, pain, sorrow, and fear. Once the tears started to subside, she slowly drew away from him. "Feeling a little better?" He said giving her a gentle caring smile.

"Y-yeah, I'm ok now…" Wiping the remainder of her tears away with the back of her hand.

"You don't have to stay Richard."

"I don't want to leave you like this." He said seriously

"Richard, I'm fine, really."

"But-" He tried

"I'll be fine" She said again, a little more hesitation in her voice.

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" She looked towards the ground again.

"I don't have to go, I mean I-"

"Richard…"

"Ok, but only because you asked so nicely." He said jokingly. He hesitantly got up form the floor to go when he turned around, bent down in front of where she sat and cupped her cheek in his hand.

She just stared at him wide eyed.

"I'm always here for when you need me Rae, just call and I'll come."

It was a promise.

The next day at school Raven still felt slightly upset, mainly because of all the other girls receiving gifts from their valentines. Could there be worse torture? She just wanted to crawl into a small ball and disappear.

Walking slowly to her locker, she noticed a small red note lodged in at the side. She pulled it out to show an envelope that read: 'to my favourite dark bird'

She opened it and read the letter inside.

Rae

Love. A word with so many different meanings, and yet they all mean the same. It can fool you, deceive you…even lie to you, but that is not all love can do. It can free you, and it can complete you.

He may have hurt you, but you can only grow stronger, and one day, you will find that truly special person who will love you the way you deserve to be loved. You are always in my heart Rae…I couldn't have asked for a better friend than you.

NEVER give up on love, it will find you, I promise.

Love: Robin

Raven smiled silently to herself as she folded the letter back into its envelope. She knew she felt love for someone, but she just wished he knew it too.

Ravens focus came back onto the faded letter, he never realized, he never knew, that deep down Raven more than loved him as a friend, she was in love with him. But he had never noticed, never understood that she had deeper feelings for him. So she just decided to put her emotions aside.

And what about now? Did she still love him?

No! She had Jared, and she loved him…didn't she?

'Yes! I do! I love him, I love Jared!' she told her herself, more to convince herself.

Closing the box lid, not wanting to see anymore, or bring back any more memories. She pushed the box under her bed with her foot.

She was no longer that smitten, vulnerable little girl anymore; she had grown up from that, started a new life…without…Richard.

She didn't need him especially now that she was with someone else, she didn't need…didn't want him to bring back old feelings she had for him. Even if deep down, in a small hidden part of herself, she still wanted him to love her.

Another sad thought dawned on her.

"It doesn't even matter…why would he want me when he has Kori." She whispered to herself.

Getting up from the floor she made her way to the bathroom. She would have a long hot bath and just…forget.

Richard too was home alone, Kori having gone to stay at a friend for the night. He was busy with fresh stacks of work to finish for the next day; he was in for another late night.

The hours seemed to drag by, and it was getting harder to keep from collapsing from exhaustion. His eyelids grew heavier and heavier, as he tried to rub them to keep himself awake. He found his eyes again wondering on their own to the silver frame that was now placed on his desk, those familiar amethyst ones looking back at him…

"What are you staring at boy blunder?" asked a 13 year old Raven, looking up from her textbook as she felt Richards eyes on her.

"Oh…just your eyes." He replied casually, sitting across from his friend.

"Why? Something wrong with them?" she said a bit apprehensively.

"No"

"Then what?"

"They're nice." He replied with one of his little smiles.

"Umm…thanks…?"

"My pleasure." He grinned.

Raven gave a slight little blush.

"Their nice…for a girl I mean." He teased.

"Your terrible!" She gave him a playful headlock and gave him a noogie.

"H-hey!" He said trying to get loose from her grip. "You're pretty strong!"

"For a girl?" She said loosing her grip

"For anyone! I mean… you have serious muscle!" He said grinning widely.

She gave a little laugh. "I'll take that as a compliment, thanks Robie-poo." She said using his pet-peeve nickname to tease him.

"Now that was a low blow!" He said with mock hurt.

They were both laughing now.

"Richard?" She asked, looking up at him.

"Yeah?"

"What…do you…think of me?" She asked seriously.

Richard looked back at his best friend for a second, and then replied. "You're my best friend and I think the world of you Rae-Rae! And what do you think of me?" He said waggling his eye brows, putting an arm round her shoulders.

"That you really should have taken a shower this morning." She jokingly, shrinking away from him.

"Now I am offended! That cut me deep!" He said grabbing a pillow and hurling it her way.

She grabbed it just in time, and threw it back, hitting him in the face.

"Hey! Watch the hair!" He cried, before continuing to throw more pillows.