Chapter 4: Healing wounds

AN: sorry for the title of the 3rd chapter I named it before I wrote it and it turned out different than I planned. So, enjoy!

Raven awoke on a comfy couch in a room that was unfamiliar to her. Groggily she sat up. Realizing that her wrist was in a cast, she wondered who had helped her.

"Raven…are you ok?" a voice said. She looked for the source and found it came from Rich. He was sitting in a chair by the couch. A look of deep concern was in his face. Raven hoped he didn't know who had caused her pain.

"Yea…what happened?" she asked. He looked at her. 'How did she not know?' he thought.

"Well I was walking down from Gar's house to see you and saw you collapse on your lawn. I ran to you and you were unconscious with a broken wrist…why was your car running in your garage? I think you breathed in fumes." he stated. Looking at her, he was waiting for his answer. Not receiving one he continued, "Raven…who did this to you…and no more excuses."

Raven didn't know what to say. She was not sure what to do. He knew now, she was sure of it. He just wanted her to say it, so he knew he wasn't jumping to conclusions.

"Rich…" she began, "Who do you think did this to me? You're not as dumb as you look, so I know you have an idea…" That was as good as an answer as she could muster. Ignoring her insult, he began to talk.

"Well, Rae I know your father did this…Why didn't you ever tell us? We can help you? Don't you trust us? I don't like seeing my friends get hurt like this. I care about you…I want you to get help." He said hoping he made a breakthrough. Though he knew he didn't, it wouldn't be that easy.

"Rich…It not that I don't trust you…I'm just…afraid. I don't want any of you to have to worry about me day after day. Always wondering if I'm ok or if I'm lying unconscious on the floor of my house. I don't want help…I can handle things. I don't want you getting involved."

Rich was hurt by her answer. He wanted to get her out of that hell hole. He wanted to help. He was afraid that her father would do worse than what he already did. He just didn't understand how anyone could do that to there child. An innocent child that he helped bring into the world, he can stand there hitting her like she some kind of monster trying to attack him. Although he wanted to help her, he knew he couldn't unless she wanted it. He wasn't about to give up thought, he just needed to back off a lil. Just so she wouldn't get mad and stop talking to him that was the last thing he wanted. Rich was a lil upset he hadn't sensed this earlier. He knew she hadn't fallen down all the times she came to school with bruises, but he knew better than to keep bugging her about it. He had never suspected it was her father. He knew there had to be something else up, but never thought this at all. He felt a lil guilty.

"I'm going to be involved Rae. You don't have to shove me away. I'm your friend. I'm always going to be and nothing will change that. Your secret is just one thing that will make me care even more than I did before." Rich said with a smile.

He hoped eventually she would give in and tell the police. She didn't deserve this. No one does, not a child especially. Raven was one of the most caring, nice, and sweetest person he knew. She does have her moody times. She can get pissed off but she cares so much of her friends. Though to Rich's disappointment, she cared so much she put her pain behind her…locked behind closed doors.

"Rich…" Raven said.

Tears filled her violet eyes, overwhelmed by what her friend had said. For the first time since they met years ago, they hugged. Raven felt so good to be in a friends arms, she really needed someone to be there for her. She was just afraid. Afraid that her friends would be upset with her for keeping this secret. However, she knew he was disappointed, he knew her need for strong arms to hold her. The only arms that held her since her mom had been alive. She really needed this, and was internally grateful it was happening. Rich has been her friend for years. This is the first time they hugged since then. From this moment on her and Rich would have a much closer relationship. Not one of romance, but more like that of a family. They would be as close as brother and sister. The occasional bickering, but otherwise good relationship. Raven felt sad of the thought of him and her like brother and sister. She lost her sister years before, a couple before she meet her friends. The loss of her sister had caused her much pain. Now that she had someone that felt like a brother. The big hole in her heart was finally beginning to get filled.

They released from there hug. Raven smiled as she met his eyes.

"Raven…I think we should tell the others...they'll want to know too." Rich said. Raven was shocked. She had completely forgotten about the others. Ohh, how would they react? Would they be angry? Would they still talk to her? Or feel overwhelmed by the situation and vanish from her life? How would Gar react? He always suspected…she could just tell.

"No. You can't. I don't want to bother them with my problems." Raven said. Rich was disappointed but what could he do it was her secret not his. He was just the only person to find out thus far.

"Rae…they'll want to know. There your friends too. They care about you just as much as I do." Rich said hopefully, he thought, if she knew they cared she would tell them.

Raven pondered this for a moment. She wanted to tell them, but she just wasn't sure it was a good idea.

"Maybe, I'm just not sure yet." Raven said. Rich obliged. This was as good an answer he was going to get from her right now.

They sat and talked for a while. Finally, they decided to go and hang out with the others. Raven hesitated a lil at this idea; wondering what her friends would say about her newly damaged wrist. Not knowing what to say, she was worried. Though she wanted to see her friends, so she agreed.

They walked down to Vik's house, knowing that everyone else was there.

Rich liked his new relationship with Raven. It was the first time in a while they actually talked. Knowing what goes on in her house, though shocking, makes him feel like she really trusts him to know her secret. Rich hoped that soon she would tell the others. He knew this is hard for her, but they deserved to know. They deserve to be trusted with her secret just as much as he was.

Raven was glad Rich found out in a way, in another she was afraid he might slip it out to the others. She didn't know how they would react to it. She knew they would be concerned about her, but did she really want all the attention she would get? She wanted it. How easy would it be to tell them? Would they guess her secret by the damage he had inflicted on her? Would one of them go to the police even if she told them not to? All these questions filled her head. Seeing the front of Vik's house, she took a deep breath. 'Here it goes.'

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Gar and Kori were at Viktor's house hanging out. They had arrived only an hour before. They were now waiting for Rich and Raven to show up. They all thought something had happened to Raven by the sound of Rich's voice. They could just sense something was wrong. Also, they thought it was weird that she seemed to always get hurt. She said she fell down or ran into a door, but they knew something else was up.

Gar worried about her the most. He knew her the shortest amount of time however there was something about her that drove him wild. She was nice and innocence was visible in her vibrant violet eyes. He loved the color of her eyes. He had never seen that color of eyes before. He cared about her so much; someone would say he loved her. Maybe that was true, he wasn't quite sure. All he knew was there was something special about the radiant Raven.

Anxious faces and worried looks were all that filled the room. Everyone jumped as the door bell rang. Dashing for the door, hoping it was them, they opened the door. They saw the faces of the two friends. Only then did they notice the look of sadness in there faces. Vik was about to ask what was wrong until he noticed Raven's cast.

"OMG! Rae what happened?" he asked. Kori and Gar looked at her wrist with deep shock on there faces. She didn't know what to say. She never thought of an excuse that would work. Quickly she looked at Rich wanting him to help her out of this. He didn't know how to help; quite frankly he didn't want to make an excuse. He wanted to tell them exactly what had happened. Though he knew without Raven granting the privilege of telling them, he couldn't.

"Ohh, this it's nothing really don't worry about it." She said knowing that they wouldn't take that answer. They looked at her for a second. Then, Vik told her to come inside.

She followed Vik into the house. They made there way to the living room, each of them having a seat in an available seat.

"Rae...I know something happened to you. I want to know. The truth this time." Vik said. Everyone looked at Raven waiting for the answer. Tears filled her eyes; she knew she wouldn't be able to weasel out of this one. Kori quickly moved over to Raven, putting her arm around her shoulders to comfort her.

"Please, friend, tell us who did this to you." Kori said desperate to find out the answer. Kori knew the answer, but wanted to hear it. There was no way Raven was that clumsy. All the bruises and cuts, now this; someone had caused them. Kori was just afraid her assumption was false. They all were fearful to hear the truth.

Raven was to upset to speak. She look at Rich, signaling for him to speak. Rich was happy she wasn't looking for an excuse this time.

"I know you guys have an idea of who did this…all I will say is your assumptions are right. All the bruises and broken bones were causes by him…her father." Rich said. Everyone gasped. They all could see it coming, but to hear the words filled them with shock. Gar was speechless. He couldn't believe all this time of her hiding it, her secret was finally out.

"Raven…why didn't you tell us? Why did you keep this all bottled up inside hoping it would just go away?" Gar asked. He desperately wanted to help her. He wanted to know why she would possible hide this from them. "And you" He turned his attention to Rich, "How long have you known this? Why didn't you tell us?!" Gar shouted.

Rich was taken back. He has never seen Gar this angry. Did he really think he knew all this time?

"I only just found out today. When I came from your house, I found her unconscious in her yard. Even if I did know longer, I couldn't tell you without Raven's approval." Rich said. Raven looked at Gar. He was so mad that he didn't know this. She felt bad she didn't tell him, but it's not that easy. People like her didn't just blurt it out to the world. They keep it bottled up, just like she did. So really she didn't do anything wrong, though that's not how her father felt. To him, she was the cause of everything. Gas prices going up, his car breaking down, a bad day at work or him being out of beer; always her fault.

Gar looked at Raven. He was deeply disappointed that she didn't tell him. Did she trust him? How was he to be sure with this shocking secret she kept hidden?

"How long has he been doing this to you? Why does he hit you? What have you ever done to him?" Gar asked. Though he was a lil afraid to hear the answers. Raven looked at him. Did he really want to know all those things? Or is this just a keep up conversation thing. Either way she decided to answer. Everyone notice she was going to tell them, and put there full attention to what she was about to say.

"Practically since I was born. I only remember the beatings from 7 and on. My mother died giving birth to me. He always blamed me for her death, calls me a murderer. He's a severe alcoholic, helps him mourn her death I guess. He doesn't hurt me every night, but most to say the least." She said.

Everyone had looks of deep disgust on there faces. Hearing all those things filled them with rage. They couldn't believe Raven was being hit since she was 7. She was 17 now! 10 years of his abuse, truly shocking. How Raven remained to be so sweet and caring was truly a shocker.

"Raven…you need to tell someone…" Gar began. Raven was mortified. The thought of what her father might do to her if he found out she tried to tell the police was horrible. She couldn't tell, she only had to feel his wrath for another year then she would go off to college far away from him.

"No! I can't and neither can you. Besides I only have another year until I go to college, until then I'll just stay out off his hair." She stated.

The looks upon her friend's faces were enough to make the devil cry. They couldn't believe it; she didn't want to escape that hellhole. Did they suspect too much to happen to soon? Did they really think that she was going to tell or even think about telling so soon after they found out?

"Raven, you must tell, what if he causes you more harm then what has already happened" Kori said. She wanted desperately for her to tell.

"Kori, he will cause me more harm, but I can handle it. Please can we just forget about this?" Rae asked. They were all disappointed by her reaction. Knowing Raven, they had to back off a lil, give her some space. Eventually, she would do something about it, they hoped. They weren't about to forget about this and never speak of it again, they just weren't going to talk about it anymore today. They don't want Raven to get mad and bottle up her feelings again. To Ravens wish they talked about other things. Gar knew he wasn't about to give up. Not until she was far away from that ass hole…far far away.

AN: ok I'd like to say thanks to all my reviewers. Your reviews were very helpful. A couple more chapters and I think this one will be done…sadly I love writing this story. It's a sad story but for some reason its fun to write maybe because of all the drama and sadness. Well Review!