The sun rose greeting a new day in Jump City. The sound of her alarm clock rung loud and clear in her quiet room. She reached out her arm and shut it off. Last night she had barley gotten any sleep. Who would sleep after what she went through. Her thoughts processed all the information that had happened. No matter how hard she tried, nothing made sense to her. Her mother had left and her father had became violent in less then 24 hours. She turned her head to look at her alarm clock. It read 7:00 in big red glowing numbers. She needed to get up even if she didn't want to.

She lifted herself off her bed, her black hair falling over her shoulders as she did. Raven walked over to her dresser to pick out her outfit for today. She settled on a pair of navy blue jeans and a black sweater. She pulled out a black shirt that read 'Dark Soul' in bold red letters. As she prepared herself she noticed something on her bookshelf. It was a small photo taken six years ago. It was a picture of her with her parents.

Her dad had his on her shoulder and his arm wrapped around her mother. They were all smiling. She picked up the picture and stared at it intensely single tear rolled down her pale cheek as she looked at the picture of her 'family'. She laughed bitterly inside. Without a second thought she dropped the picture in her trash can and walked out the room.

---

Raven made her way down the stairs and to the kitchen. A light breakfast would do her some good. As she entered the cream colored room and she saw him. Her father was sitting at the end of the table, a cup full of coffee by his side, a newspaper in hand. She backed out of the room slowly, hoping he wouldn't see her. Unfortunately she had on her black boots that didn't make her get away silent. He looked up and saw her.

"Raven, come sit down." he said calmly.

What to do? Sit down with the monster which was her father or run out of the room. She pulled out one of the brown chairs and sat down, her eyes looking anywhere but his.

"Raven...about yesterday...I'm sorry."

Her head snapped up. Did he just say he was sorry?

"With your mother leaving I was under a lot of stress. I had no right to treat you like that and I'm sorry."

Raven didn't know what to say. She didn't even know if it was a sincere apology. She just stared blankly at him.

"I promise it won't happen again," he said, standing up from his seat and heading to the door. "You better get going. You don't want to be late."

With that said he left to work and Raven left for school.

---

Kori and Dick told the whole story to Vic, Gar and Karen. Yesterday, Raven had asked them to tell the rest of their friends. She didn't want to them herself. Their jaws were dropped. They couldn't believe what they were hearing.

"Poor Raven." Gar whispered.

"We really need to be there for her," said Karen. "Now more then ever."

"I agree," Kori said. "But we need to be careful how we address this situation. We can't force her into anything."

"It would be best not to piss her off." Vic said.

"Piss who off?"

They jumped at the sound of the voice. They were surprised to see Raven there.

"Raven?" Dick began. "What are you doing here?"

"Why wouldn't I be here?" she said as she took her seat next to Gar.

"Well...you just went through a great loss." Kori said, being careful to chose her words.

"My mom left. Big deal."

The others looked uneasy at each other. They knew Raven would bottle up her emotions, and when those emotions got out...it wasn't pretty. Kori was about to approach her when Mr.Mod walked in.

"Alright my duckies, take your seats! I have a surprise for you...a pop quiz!"

Third period math

It was third period. For Jenn, Vic, Karen and Raven it was math time. Ms.Rouge walked in, her shoes clicking on the floor as she walked past each student, placing a test paper on their desk. It was a test from last week, already graded and scored. Once she was done handing out the test she leaned against her desk, a frown on her face.

"The scores you have received are pathetic," Ms.Rouge said. "Due to the fact that most of you are failing, a after school session will be held today for the ones who scored below a 65. To save you any embarrassment I have chosen not to say the names aloud, but I expect you to be here after school."

After Ms.Rouge's little speech, the class was put into groups of four to complete the hand-out. Vic, Karen, Jenn and Raven got into a group together. They silently whispered to each other.

"How'd you girls do?" Asked Vic, holding up his paper. "I got above a 65."

"I passed," said Karen. "What about you two?"

"I seriously think Ms.Rouge hates me," Jenn whined. "I would have passed if she wasn't such a bitch."

Raven stared at her paper and folded it, putting it in her pocket. "Looks like I have after school."

Sixth period math

"Ms.Rouge, like you can't be serious. This is like a total outrage!" Kitten yelled to the top of her lungs. Turns out she had after school for failing the test, as did half the class.

"Ms.Moth, it would be best for you to lower your voice. If you chose not to I will lower your grade even more. That is if it can be any lower."

Kitten gritted her teeth and sat down in her seat, the class laughing. After the class quieted down they were out into groups. Their was a uneven amount of students, so there was a small group of three, Gar, Kori and Dick. Gar lowered his head on to the desk and grumbled. Looks like he had after school.

"Cheer up, Gar," Kori said. "I'm sure you will pass the next one."

Gar said something that Kori couldn't quite understand so she turned to Dick.

"What about you, Dick. How did you do?"

"I passed, but just barely. I think I need a tutor or something."

"Why don't you come over to my house. I can help you study."

"Thanks, Kori."

"Cool, it's a date," Kori immediately blushed at her words. "You know, not a date, date, but just a study date between friends."

"Right, of course." Dick said, his own cheeks turning a light shade of red.

---

After school finally came and the class room was packed. Gar looked around and was surprised to see Raven there. He would have never guessed to see her here. Gar quickly grabbed the free seat next to her. She didn't greet him, as she was wrapped in one of her horror novels.

"Raven."

She looked up and saw Gar, then she went back to her book. "Hey."

"So...um, Raven, about your mom..."

"I don't wanna talk about it."

Gar turned his head and looked down. If Raven didn't want to talk about it, then she wasn't going to talk about it. Just then Ms.Rouge walked in.

"Let's get to work."

The after school session came and went and it was finally over. Some kids ran for the door just to escape the claws of Ms.Rouge. Raven packed up her stuff and headed for the door, only to be blocked by Gar.

"I was wondering if I could...walk you home."

Raven shrugged. "Whatever."

"Sweet...I mean...that's cool."

---

Books were scattered across the floor in the living room. Snacks and soda rested on the small coffee table and the tv was on at a low volume. Dick seemed focused on his studies, but Kori couldn't help but to drift off. Her concern for Raven was stopping her from doing any work.

"Kori?"

Dick calling her name rang out like a bell.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Dick. What is it?"

"It's nothing, just wondering why you keep drifting off."

Kori sighed and scratched her notebook with her pen. "I am worried about Raven."

"Raven can handle herself."

"I know, but I have a feeling that something might be wrong with her."

"Kori, relax. What's the worst that can happen?"

"I guess your right."

Dick smiled. "Of course I'm right. Now what do you say we ditch the books and watch a movie."

"As long as it's not a horror movie."

"Fine."

---

The walk between them was a silent one. The sound of passing cars and the wind being the only noise. Dead leaves scattered across their feet. Gar knew Kori said not to force Raven into anything but he wanted to help her out of this. He knew what losing a parent felt like, so he felt he could relate to her even though her situation was different then the one he had experienced all those years ago. He was so lost in his own thoughts he didn't even notice that he stood outside Raven's door.

"Thanks for walking me home." Raven said with no emotion in her voice.

That was Raven. No one could really tell how she felt by her voice, but you could tell by looking in her eyes. When Gar looked in her eyes he saw a certain sadness.

"Your welcome."

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

"Raven...if you need someone to talk to..."

"No thanks, Gar. It's my problem, I'll deal with it."

She opened the door only to have Gar close it.

"You think your alone Raven, but your not."

She turned around and looked at him. Right into his green eyes. In a way she could see pain in his eyes to.

"Thank you, Gar. I really mean it."

He smiled a toothy grin at her.

---

Kori remembered watching a movie with Dick, then blank. She figured she fell asleep. Kori made her self more comfortable and relaxed, not once opening her eyes. A good sleep did wonders for her. She never noticed how nice it was to be sleeping on the couch. That's when she felt a rise and fall, like the rise and fall of someone's chest. Her eyes snapped open. She wasn't sleeping on the couch, she was sleeping on...

"Dick!"

He opened his eyes and looked at Kori, then he looked at their position. He quickly pulled away.

"I'm so sorry!"

"No it was my fault."

"You know, it's late. I better get going."

"Yeah...so I'll see you tomorrow."

Dick nodded and grabbed his back pack, walking out the door. The red on his cheeks brighter then a cherry. Kori grabbed her stuff and walked up stairs, hoping no one would see how red her face was. That's when she walked into Komi.

"Glad to see you up, sis." Komi said with a smirk.

"You saw us."

Komi nodded and followed Kori to her room. Kori threw her book bag by the door and buried her face in her pillows.

"Why didn't you wake me up!"

"Well you looked so cute together. Nice job by the way, snatching Dick Grayson."

"Were just friends!"

"These photo's mean otherwise."

"Photo's? What photo's?"

"The ones I took of you and your friend."

Kori jumped out of bed and ran over to Komi.

"Give it!"

"No way! I'm keeping these just in case I need to blackmail you."

"Please, Komi."

"Well...tell you what, I'll let you keep two. Sounds good?"

Kori nodded and Komi handed her two photo's. Komi walked to the door and smirked.

"Some advice, make your move before it's to late."

Komi shut the door behind her and Kori sat on her bed looking at the two photo's. They really did look cute together...

---------------------

THANK YOU Sulan123, dolphinluver21, Agent of the Divine One, milkshakelvr AND Alice FOR REVIEWING.YOU GUYS ROCK.HOPE YOU ALL LIKED THIS CHAPTER.

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