Chapter 9

Friday December 7

5:30 PM

Logan is now dating Terra, a girl in his and Raven's grade at school. They have been dating for two 2 weeks. Terra is new to the school, just recently transferred. (Logan ran into her one day and they talked and hung out after that.) She has not met anyone who lives in the Tower.

Logan is getting ready to go on a date. He is dressed in a green polo shirt, jeans, and tennis shoes. He also has a zip-up sweatshirt with him. He goes down to the living room and sees Raven in the kitchen. He goes over to her.

"Hey Raven," Logan says.

Raven looks up from making tea. "Hi." She notices what he is wearing. "Date tonight?"

"Yeah. How do I look?"

"Fine. Except your collar is sticking up."

"Again? I can't get it to stay down. Can you help?"

"Sure." She fixes his collar for him. Damn he smells good, Raven thinks. She slightly blushes at this thought and goes back to where her tea is.

"Thanks." He leans against the counter and looks out the window. After a couple minutes, he speaks again. "Can I ask you for a favor?"

"I suppose."

"Can I use your car tonight?"

"Why mine?"

"Dick and Kori are on a date and Vic never lets me drive his car. And I still don't have my own vehicle. Please Raven?"

"Fine. But you have to pay for gas next time it needs filled up."

"Okay. I can do that. Thanks Rae."

"Raven. You know I don't like to be called Rae."

"Sorry."

"Where are you going tonight?"

"To the amusement park at the pier or a dinner and a movie. Depends on what Terra wants to do."

"Are we going to meet her sometime?"

"Of course. I'll bring her back tonight if it's not too late."

Raven nods. "Well I'm going to my room. Have fun tonight. Don't ruin my car."

"I will and I won't. I'll see you later."

Raven nods again the walks out of the room with her tea. Logan goes down to the garage and grabs Raven's keys and gets into her car. He drives to Terra's house to pick her up then they go to the amusement park. They eat, play games and go on rides for about three hours. At 9:00, Logan drives them back to the Tower. They go up to the living room. They don't see anyone. A few moments later, Raven walks in with an empty mug.

"Hey Raven," Logan says.

"Hi," she replies then goes to the kitchen to wash out her mug. Logan and Terra follow her.

"Where are the others?" Logan asks.

"Vic and Bee are probably in Vic's room not wanting to be disturbed," Raven says. When she sees Logan's questioning look, she continues. "Last I saw them was when we were watching a movie and they started making out on the couch. I left when they started that. I haven't seen Dick or Kori but I did hear them come back."

"Well since you're the only one here I guess you're the first to meet my girlfriend. Raven, this is Terra Markov. Terra, this is Raven Roth."

"Nice to meet you Raven," Terra says.

"Likewise," Raven replies.

"You dated Malcolm Noll right?"

"How do you know about that? I thought you just recently moved here?"

"I did. Some people were talking about it in one of my classes."

"What did they say?"

"That you guys dated for a few weeks and had sex multiple times, including on your first date, and he broke up with you because you were no good in bed and were very needy."

"Who was saying this?"

"I don't know their names but I think they are cheerleaders."

"I can't believe people are still talking about that."

"So it's true?"

"No!" Raven and Logan both say. Raven and Terra both look at Logan. Raven turns back to Terra and sighs.

"Malcolm and I did date for about five weeks. During that fifth week, we went on a date then came back here and watched a movie in my room. After the movie, we were kissing and he tried to go farther. I tried to stop him but he restrained me and raped me. When he was finished, he broke up with me."

"Oh wow. I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's done and can't be changed. I advise you to stay away from him."

"Yeah sounds good."

"Well I'll leave you two. I'm sure you don't want me around."

"It was good to meet you Raven." Raven nods at Terra then leaves the room.

"Well since the others aren't out here, why don't we watch TV or a movie?" Logan asks. "You can meet the other if they come out here or some other time."

"Okay." They sit on the couch and watch TV. At 11:00, Logan takes Terra home. He then drives back to the Tower and goes to bed.

Saturday December 8

9:00 AM

Raven is in the living room sitting on the couch reading a book. Logan walks into the kitchen to get some breakfast. As he is pouring his cereal into his bowl, he sees Raven.

"Morning Raven," he says. Raven turns to look at him.

"Good morning," she replies. She turns back around to continue reading.

"No tea this morning?" Logan asks, noticing her mug isn't out. Raven sighs, closes her book, stands, then walks to the kitchen.

"I just haven't made it yet," she says. "No one else was up so I didn't see the need to make it yet."

"So you drink it more when we are up?"

"Yes. Not as much if I'm alone, but more if I'm around people."

"Why is that?"

"Because tea relaxes me." She starts getting her stuff out to make tea. She starts heating up water.

"I know that but why do you drink it more around us?"
"To help me stay calm. I can tolerate you guys more when I drink it."

"Why don't you do other things to relax instead of drink tea?"

"I do yoga and meditate."

"Really? I've never seen you do either one."

"That's because I do it somewhere where I'm alone and it's quiet." She pours the water into her mug and put the tea bag in. Logan eats his cereal. When Logan is finished, he goes over to the sink to wash his bowl and spoon. Raven is standing by the counter drinking her tea.

"So what do you think of Terra?"

"I've only talked to her once."

"I know but what's your first impression of her?"

"She seems…to be similar to you."

"How so?"

"Well you went to an amusement park so she must like loud places and being around people."
"Do you think she likes me?"

"She went out with you so I would assume so."

"I hope you guys will be good friends."

"Why's that?"

"I want my girlfriend to get along with my friends who I live with. Otherwise it would be awkward whenever she came over."

"We'll see what happens."

"What that mean?"

Raven sighs. "I can't lie to you about this, Logan."

"What?"

"I don't have a good feeling about Terra. Something about her just seems off."

"You just don't know her yet. After spending time with her, you'll realize she's fine."

"We'll see."

"Just give her a chance, Rae."

"It's Raven, and she's already on my bad list for bringing up Malcolm and believing those cheerleaders."

"She didn't believe it. She was just wondering if it was true."

"No, she believed it. When I said I couldn't believe people were still talking about it, she said 'so it's true' not 'is it true.' She assumed that the cheerleaders were right."

"She's new here and doesn't know anyone or what happened before she came here."

"Look, I don't want to fight with you about this. I have my opinions and you have yours. Let's just leave it at that."

"Fine but please just give her a chance. For me?"

Raven just sighs and drinks her tea. Seeing that she isn't going to answer, Logan leaves the room to go work out. Raven finishes her tea and washes out her mug. As she is drying it, Dick walks into the kitchen.

"Morning Raven," Dick says.

"Morning," she replies.

"How are you?"

"Fine. And you?"

"I'm good. Kori and I had a picnic on the beach last night and when we came back, we watched a movie in my room."

"So that's why I didn't see you two last night. I heard you come back but didn't see you two."

"Yeah. Kori fell asleep during the movie and I didn't want to disturb her."

"So you lucked out of meeting Logan's girlfriend."

"You met her?"

"Yeah. Logan brought her here after their date last night."

"What's she like?"

"She's similar to Logan in some ways. Outgoing, likes to have fun, likes loud and crowded places, believes whatever she's told the first time she hears it."

"What do you mean by that?"

"She heard some cheerleaders talking about me and Malcolm. They said that we had sex on our first date and several times after that then he broke up with me because I was no good in bed. Then she asked me about it and implied that she believed the cheerleaders."

"Well we know what's true, Raven. They will always believe Malcolm because he's a star football player."

"And I'm a nobody."

"Don't say that. It's not true."

Raven ignores what he says and instead talks about Terra again. "I have a bad feeling about Terra. I don't trust her."

"You hardly trust anyone so I'm not surprised there. Why do you have a bad feeling about her?"

"I don't know. I just do. The first thing she said to me was about Malcolm, not about me. So maybe that's why. There's just something about her that I don't like."

"You sure you're not just jealous?"

"Why would I be jealous?"

"Maybe you want to be the one dating Logan instead of her."

"Logan and I are just friends. He can date whoever he wants. I just have a bad feeling about Terra."

"You know, Vic told me that Logan said the same thing when you were dating Malcolm. That he had a bad feeling about him."

"Really? He never told me that."

"Would you have believed him if he had?"

Raven thinks for a little bit then sighs. "Probably not."

"That's probably why he didn't tell you then. He knew you wouldn't believe him."

"I should probably apologize to him."

"Why?"

"Because I told him that I have a bad feeling about Terra and that she's on my bad side."

"What did he say?"

"He just said that it's because I don't know her yet and he wants us to be friends. He says I should give her a chance."

"When did you tell him that?"

"Not too long ago. Shortly before you came in."

"Leave him alone for now. Let him cool off first."

"How long should I leave him alone for?"

"At least until tonight."

"Okay. I hope he isn't too mad at me."

"I'm sure he'll forgive you. You're one of his friends."

"Maybe I should actually get him a birthday gift this year."

"You've always gotten a gift. We all have."

"But he helped me with the Malcolm thing so I should get him something to thank him for that."

"Do you like him?"

"He's my friend."

"I mean as more than a friend."

"I told you that we're just friends. And he has a girlfriend."

"You don't like her."

"I told you why I don't. It's not because she is dating Logan."

"Okay, if you say so. Do you care about him?"

"I wouldn't want to see him get hurt if that's what you're asking."

"How much do you think Logan cares about you?"

"I don't know."

"He wants to protect you."

"Why? And from what?"

"Remember that day that I was teasing you about dating Logan?"

"Yes." Raven glares at him.

"Well when you two came into the kitchen for lunch and Kori dragged you away to talk, Vic and I talked to Logan."

"Okay?"

"He told us that ever since the Malcolm thing, he's wanted to protect you and keep you from getting hurt."

"We're friends."

"I know that but we also asked what if it was Kori instead of you. He said that I would probably be the one protecting her because we are dating, which I would."

"So?"

"We also asked him what if you had a boyfriend who didn't like him protecting you. He said that he would still keep an eye out for you because the last one you had was an asshole."

"So what? Logan is loyal to his friends."

"He also said that he doesn't think that you would date him."

"I know that. We had that conversation before."

"Would you?"

"We've had this conversation before too."

"Will I get the same answer as before too?"

"Yes."

"Vic and I also asked him if he wanted to date you."

"Why did you ask him that?"

"We wanted to know the answer."

"What was his answer?"

"You seem kinda curious about this." Dick smirks at her. Raven glares back.

"It's about me. Why wouldn't I want to know what you're saying about me?"

"He said maybe."

"Maybe?"

"Yep."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Why don't you ask him?"

"No. He has a girlfriend. He obviously doesn't want to date me."

"Maybe he wants to date you but is too scared to ask you."

"If he did want to date me, he would've asked me out and not another girl. He has no reason to be scared to ask me."

"Maybe he doesn't think you'll date him."

"He and I had that discussion that day you and Vic brought it up."

"And what did you tell him?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but I told him that any girl would be lucky to date him. Apparently I'm not included with those other girls."

"You should tell him that you would date him and that you like him."

"I don't like him. He's just a friend."

Dick sighs. "If you say so. I'll see you later. I'm gonna go check if Kori is awake then work out." Dick then walks out of the kitchen, leaving Raven alone. Raven goes over to the couch and picks up her book to read.