A/N: I realized it seems I'm rushing this story. Well I want it to be done by Halloween, which is in like two weeks. So I apologize if it is not going at a steady pace.
Chapter.4
Something's Wong
Over the next week Raven had been preoccupied with Halloween- which was two weeks away- and school to think about the night she'd heard Alexander on the phone. Her mind was slightly at ease about it and she felt bad for his cousin and aunt. But even though she didn't acknowledge it, she knew something was wrong about the explanation.
"Raven!" A knock to her door before Billy Boy opened it standing in a green shirt with Atoms on it. "Mom wants you to help set up the fake webs." Raven stood from her desk where she had been trying- and failing sadly- to stitch lace onto her spandex dress. She padded out of her room and down the stairs to see her mom holding an armful of fake webs with spider rings attached.
"Good your brother got you. Can you hold this while I get the glue?" Raven took the bundle and tried not to sneeze as dust blew off it.
She followed her mother out the door and onto the porch. "Why don't we just leave the spider webs from actual spiders instead of clean them off and then put up fake ones?" She asked as Sarah Madison climbed a step ladder and began the work of pasting and sticking on the webs.
"Because," Sarah began reaching for a high corner, "only one of us in the family want them up. Plus, I don't like walking into webs when I leave the house." She smiled at Raven and took the last bit of web. Raven crossed her arms over her chest feeling a small breeze pick up. She looked up at the sky and narrowed her eyes. Dark clouds were coming in with threats of thunder storms. Raven was by no means one to object the horrendous weather or disagree with lightning but it seemed to be coming to early and at the wrong time. "I hope it doesn't rain on Halloween. Billy really wanted to go out this year." Sarah started folding up the step ladder and walked back into the house. Raven stayed out for a few minutes after starring at the sky. She couldn't stop even though her body was starting to shake from the cold and her less than warm attire. "Raven? Are you coming in?" Sarah poked her head back outside. Raven shook herself and walked back in. Sarah walked into the kitchen to start making dinner and Raven decided helping wouldn't be too bad.
"Need any help?" She came to stand next to Sarah at the stove and handed the pot her mother was reaching for.
"No I'm just making spaghetti tonight so it will be done quick." An awkward silence settled before Sarah broke it. "Why don't you invite Alexander over? You both have been spending a lot of time together during the break but he hasn't been over here. I know Billy adores him." Raven rolled her eyes but thought of it as a good idea.
"I'll do that." She left the kitchen and was in her room in a matter of seconds. She grabbed her phone from her bed and quickly sent a text to Alexander. He replied in a matter of seconds wish a quick yes to dinner. Raven thought it was odd since the sun was up but figured he wasn't sleeping well. She could relate. At night she'd become more restless with images of a place she'd never been to infiltrating her dreams and leaving her scared, confused, and oddly excited.
"Did mom say Alexander is coming over?" Billy Boy stood in her doorway once more with hope in his adorable eyes.
"Yeah and get out so I can get dressed, Nerd Boy." She playfully threw a Hello Batty plushie at him and closed her door. She changed into a pair of black skinny jeans and her black and red striped long sleeve. As she fixed the shirt in the mirror she became frustrated. No matter how she wore her clothes now, they seemed to hang off her and looked awkward. Something was wrong with her but she couldn't make herself bring it up.
"Raven, Alexander's here!" Huh? She quickly looked out her window to see the sun had already set. Had she been in her room that long? Forgetting about her makeup, she walked down the stairs to see Alexander in a deep red t-shirt, black skinny jeans, and ripped trench coat, sitting on the sofa while her father- who seemed to have just gotten home- sat in his recliner.
"Is he giving you the Spanish inquisition?" Raven sat next to Alexander taking his hand that wore the spider ring. She loved how he almost always had it on around her. Paul Madison on the other hand seemed to be glowering at the affectionate look Alexander gave Raven.
"Dinner's ready!" Sarah chirped from the dining room. All gathered into the room and the two lovers sat next to each other. "I didn't use garlic this time. I remember Raven, you told me Alexander's allergic?" She nodded and served herself some of the food as did everyone else. Everyone made small talk and commented when Billy mentioned her had a robotics project do in a week.
"I could help you, if you wanted." Alexander had responded which was met with a very happy Nerd boy and Raven taking his hand under the table. The rest of the night went by without trouble.
"Your mother and I are going to bed early tonight, Raven. But that doesn't mean any long nights, understand?" Paul chaste her as he and Sarah went to their room. Raven and Alexander had hidden out in her room and were laying on her bed enjoying the quiet. Alexander was currently playing with Raven's fingers while she dazed off into her thoughts; something she'd been doing a little too much lately.
"You seem distant." Alexander commented later on. "Penny for your thoughts?" He sat up a bit and Raven rested her head on his chest.
She didn't bother to even hide the fact she didn't want to tell. "I don't know. Things seem to be…changing quickly. This is weird to say but I think there is something wrong with me…" She might as well bring it up. She needed to tell someone.
"There's nothing wrong with you. Raven what's goin-," He stopped when she stood up and closed her door as quietly as she could. "Raven stop!" He was up and standing in front of her in seconds, holding her hands in place. Raven had tried to pull her shirt up.
"Not that. Just look okay?" He let her hands go, trusting her. She pulled up the fabric that covered her hips, stomach, and chest. Alexander's eyes went wide with shock as he saw her body. Alexander hadn't seen this much of Raven's body before but he knew this wasn't at all normal for her. He could see her bottom ribs poking out making impressions that would turn into bruises. Her hip bones weren't as noticeable but when she turned to show her back you could see them move under her skin. And her back…the spine wasn't as noticeable as when Becky last saw but he reached out to trace each small bump. "See?" Her voice trembled. "There is something wrong." And it was killing Alexander to see it.
"I…" He put his arms around her and pulled her close. "I'm sorry." She rested her head on his shoulder not caring that she only stood in pants and her bra. "I wish I knew how to help." It comforted Raven to hear that. She put her shirt back on after a few minutes and they went back to laying in her bed. Raven fell asleep a little after midnight and Alexander stayed even after. He knew he needed to find out what was wrong with Raven and protect her from it. And the child…he needed to find he or she too and protect Raven and her family from it.
But what he didn't know then was that by doing both, he would be hurting Raven all the same.
So let me say this now, after this update there won't be one for a bit. My USB drive got stolen and had all the chapters up to the final chapter (yeah I actually finished it before publishing, shock right?) so I'll have to re-write them all. Sorry guys!
Raven: are you really sorry?
LBVBA: You know I am! *emo corner*
Jack: Oh not again. *dramatic sigh* Please review so she'll come out!
