Behind The Mask

Disclaimer: Again,That's So Raven doesn't belong to me. Yes, I know, it's very tragic.

Chapter 2

Raven stepped gracefully out of the backseat of Eddie's car, her skirt gathered in her hand. Her ornate dress was a deep golden color, with lace at the end of the sleeves and around the heart-shaped collar. Eddie helped his girlfriend, August, out of the car and Raven followed them into the transformed gymnasium. Couples mingled about, talking and sipping punch as music played softly in the background. The girls were attired in dresses in varying colors and designs, and the boys were sharply dressed in tuxedos, several with masks covering their faces.

Raven left Eddie and August to their own devices (i.e. left them alone to make out), and went to pour herself a glass of punch. As she poured the sugary liquid into one of the beautifully crafted glasses, a blonde-haired guy at the refreshment table caught her eye and sent a smile her way. She recognized him as a senior on the football team, though his name escaped her. Her gaze traveled over his broad shoulders to land on a boy in the corner. His arms were folded casually over his chest and the shadows played across his masked face, throwing his visible features into sharp relief. With a start, Raven recognized him as the boy from her vision. He noticed her and smiled ever so slightly, bowing his head in a small salute. She started to move towards him but a hand on her shoulder stilled her. She turned to find the blond boy from a moment earlier standing there.

"Would you like to dance?" he asked and when she nodded he all but dragged her onto the floor. The lights dimmed and the volume of the music increased as the dance officially started. Raven frowned inwardly as the boy clumsily led her through the dance steps, treading on her feet on several occasions.

As soon as the song ended (with a silent prayer of thanks from Raven), she politely excused herself and found a seat at an empty table. The psychic girl mindlessly watched the couples dancing, tapping her foot in tandem with the music until someone appeared in her peripheral vision. She peered up into the masked face of her 'vision boy.'

"Would you do me the honor of dancing with me?" he asked, his voice light and melodious. Her smile was answer enough as he took her hand and led her onto the dance floor. His arms slipped around her waist and she draped her arms across his slender shoulders. The comforting pressure of the mystery boy's arms around her waist made her face heat with a blush. His arms were like a mixture of steel and silk- strong and gentle at the same time. Her eyes strayed to his, which were visible through the eyeholes of the mask. He quietly began singing along to the song drifting through the air, his voice barely more than a soft murmur in the night. In a moment of spontaneity, and the song rose in a crescendo, the boy released her waist, grabbed one of her hands and spun her outwards. When their arms reached their full extent, he twirled her back into his grasp, her body flush against his with his other gloved hand resting on the swell of her hips.

"Wow…" Raven whispered breathlessly.

"Wow," the boy agreed, a warm smile on full, pale pink lips.

"Excuse me for a moment. I have to do something important," the boy said, seeming almost reluctant to let her go.

"Okay," Raven said, fear leaping into her chest unbidden. Was he just saying that to get away from her? And why was the thought of this complete stranger leaving affecting her so much? The thing was, he didn't feel like a stranger. He reminded her of Chelsea in a way. They were both companionable and gorgeous. Wait, had she just called her best friend gorgeous? And why was she even thinking of Chelsea at a moment like this? She quickly brushed these troublesome thoughts away.

The mystery boy had seemed to read her apprehension correctly, because he lovingly kissed the back of her hand and murmured, "Fear not, my lady. I shall return to you as quickly as possible." Raven suppressed a sigh of relief as he slipped into the crowd.

She made her way to an empty table against the wall to await her mystery boy's reappearance. He detached himself from the dancing mass of bodies with a fluid grace mere minutes later.

"Madame, would you care to dance? It would mean a lot to me," he inquired, sinking into a comical bow, mischief in his bright eyes.

"I would love to," Raven replied almost giddily, allowing herself to be drawn onto the dance floor by the boy for the second time that night.

The current song ended as they once again took a place in the crowd. The opening notes of a slow song drifted to meet their ears, and Raven's eyes widened.

"I love this song!" she exclaimed softly as the first lines of "Because You Live" by Jesse McCartney rang out.

"I thought you might. That's why I requested it," he whispered, gently brushing an errant strand of hair from her face. His hand lingered a moment on her cheek, the warmth of his flesh evident through his gloves. Raven felt the blood rush to her cheeks at the loving attention he was giving her.

"Has anyone told you how dazzling gorgeous you are?" the boy asked, sincerity dancing in his eyes.

"No, but it's not everyday I meet someone like you," Raven said, resting her head against his shoulder. She missed the pained expression on his face as his eyes filled with agony.

'Actually, you see someone like that every day,' he cried out sadly in his mind.

"Please don't let this end," Raven whispered as he pulled her closer.

"The night is still young. But if I could, I would suspend this moment in time and give it to you in a bottle, so I could remain with you forever," the boy replied, his breath ghosting across her neck.

"Why aren't there more boys like you?" the psychic girl asked dreamily, content in his arms.

'You could say I'm one of a kind,' the young man voiced inwardly.

The young couple danced into the night, inwardly willing time to stop. Alas, time traveled on unaffected, and before either of them was ready, the DJ was announcing the last song of the night. Raven felt hope slip from her as her last moments with this boy drew to a close. Desperation filled her as the song wound down, but a reassuring hand cradled her cheek and drew her gaze upwards.

"Thank you for a magical evening. You'll never know how much it meant to me," he said, and sadness seemed to have driven away the twinkle in his eyes.

Then he drew her into a kiss. It was a shy brushing of lips, feather-light and elusive. They broke apart, breathless and reluctant to part company.

"This is indeed an unfair ending to the best night if my life," the boy admitted.

"Then don't let it end like this!" Raven pleaded, "Tell me who you are and stay here with me. Please…"

Indecision was etched across his face, but he reluctantly, heart-wrenchingly, shook his head.

"I can't. You…you would hate me if you found out who I was," his words were almost lost in the sweeping music.

"No, I wouldn't! I could never hate you!" the young woman exclaimed.

"I fear your feelings would be much different if you knew the truth," he said. With that, he leaned in and kissed her tenderly.

When he pulled away, he inclined his head in a slight bow and disappeared into the crowd with the words "Goodbye, Raven," left in his wake. Raven stood there, dumbfounded and heartbroken. He was gone, and she didn't even know his name. However, as we all know, Raven Baxter is not the type to let a good thing pass her by. Gathering her skirt up to allow for easier running, she took off in pursuit of her lovely mystery man.