Chapter 11- The Morning After
November 1st, 8:19am
Raven snuggled in closer to her pillow, the sunlight streaming in through the window making her screw her face up.
Her pillow was warm and soft and snoring contently.
Snoring?
Raven forced her eyes open against her body's wishes. Her head whirled and her stomach flipped backwards and forwards inside.
Garfield was in bed beside her, facing away from her. His skin was still splotched with green patches from the night before.
The night before, Raven thought with dread.
Garfield was most definitely shirtless but she couldn't see past his waist for the blanket, and she herself was stripped down to her underwear. Her eyes lingered a little longer on his toned torso.
Pulling her eyes away, Raven sat herself up and buried her head in her purple duvet.
This was not good.
Her memories of the night before were very hazy. She recalled drinking and speaking, the roof and then nothing.
The body beside her turned and came to.
Garfield moaned and grumbled, clasping his head with his hand. He reached out to his left, feeling for his bedside table and frowned when his hand appeared to go right through it. Opening his eyes he realised that his table was gone, and his walls were a different colour as were his bedsheets.
He turned around slowly, dreading who he'd see beside him.
His eyes met an angry Raven, and he scrambled up, embarrassed.
"Uh…" He started, trying to say something to break the awkwardness.
"Get out" Raven said, "just get out" she repeated, pulling the covers up over her half naked torso.
Garfield did not need to be told again. He snatched his shirt up from the ground and shoved his bottoms on.
"Look Rae- Raven- I'm really sorry about this. We were drunk and-" He said as he dressed.
"This never happened" She snapped, staring him down with her violet eyes, "You can never tell anyone about this, okay? I think it's in your best interest to forget this ever happened"
"But should we not talk-"
"No, we definitely should not talk about it" Raven said again, not breaking eye contact.
Garfield shook his head angrily, "Fine. I'll see you at work" he said and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Raven breathed heavily and fell back down into her bed, wanting to scream out but doing nothing but humming her familiar mantra, clearing her head and pushing her feelings that had unfortunately surfaced the night before to the back of her head.
(Scene Break)
Garfield had no idea where he was, the neighbourhood was unfamiliar to him, but the walk was needed for him to think.
The cold morning air nipped his skin as he walk further and further away from Raven.
How could she have shunned him like that?
Had she forgotten everything they had spoken about last night?
It occurred to Garfield that maybe Raven did not have the clear recollection after drinking excess amounts of alcohol that he did.
But she still had those feelings before she had started drinking, right?
He pulled his jacket up closer to keep the heat in.
He should go back, confront her, be honest about his feelings. But she was his partner, his work colleague and his friend. Maybe she really didn't want anything more, but he did.
Garfield knew that she was scared, scared of her father, her job and herself.
But he would handle it all for her. They could face it together could they not?
Apparently not.
Unless he asked her.
He was being reckless, he knew that, but he had to do this.
Turning on his heel he turned back towards Raven's apartment, ignoring all logic in his head.
(Scene Break)
Raven's door rattled loudly making her jump.
"Who's there?" She called out, guessing it was probably Garfield.
There was no answer but the door kept on rattling.
Raven reached into her desk drawer and pulled out her gun and stood by the door, "Who's there?"
Still no answer.
"This isn't funny" she said again, not letting the fear enter her voice.
The rattling stopped.
She could feel the heart hammering in her chest like a drum in the silence.
Then the intruder started kicking.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Bang! the door flew open and Raven jumped in front of the intruder, her gun held out, "Freeze!" She shouted, her eyes widening when she recognised him.
"Or what?" He laughed, "you'll shoot?" He walked closer to the gun, "go ahead" he growled.
"What are you doing here?" She asked, almost shaking.
"Your father is worried about you, he wanted me to check up on you"
"How did you find me?"
"Oh you don't remember? You called me last night, asking me why I did what I did. You were so clearly drunk Raven. Yet, I found myself making my way to this god awful city. I came all this way to see you. I must say you are looking good." His eyes swept over Raven and she felt suddenly self conscious, "I had to wait until your boy toy left"
Raven's cheeks reddened, "we're the same age"
"Really? He does have such a baby face don't you think? Can you stop pointing that thing at me Raven?" He gestured to the gun, "I'm unarmed"
Raven lowered her gun warily, but kept a firm hand on it, "You should go" she suggested to the imposter, "I mean it, Malchior" she warned.
"Or what?" Malchior challenged, "you'll set your puppy on me?"
"If I were you, I'd do what she says" Garfield said from behind him, his hand over the pocket where his gun was concealed.
Malchior turned casually, completely unthreatened by the detective's presence, "seems like your puppy has a bite" he snarled.
Raven stared at the scene before her, baffled by her situation. She didn't need either of the two at this exact moment in time.
"I've got this Garfield" Raven stated.
"Yeah pretty boy, the girl can handle herself" Malchior chimed in.
"As for you." She continued, "I want you to go."
Malchior shrugged, "You know I'll just come back. I really can't keep my hands off you Raven."
That comment made Garfield tense up so much that his veins in his biceps threatened to pop.
"Go!" Raven repeated, using all her strength to not lunge and punch the intruder.
Putting his hands up in defeat, Malchior walked slowly out of the apartment, bumping his shoulder hard against Garfield's on his way out, "I'll see you tomorrow!" He called back as he left, laughing to himself as he went.