Saturday, August 3rd
11:00am
Logan has been away at a soccer camp for 2 weeks. Raven has been spending more time with Jenny since their talks 2 months ago. She is currently driving to the bookstore. She parks in the parking lot by the strip of stores and walks to the bookstore. She spends some time browsing the shelves then takes a couple of books to the checkout counter. After paying for her books, she walks out of the store.
"Hey, look who it is," a voice says. "The gothic whore." Stacy and Kendra move in front of Raven to block her path. When she turns around, Ryder is standing there to block her from getting away.
"What do you want?" Raven asks, turning back to Stacy and Kendra.
"Where's Logan at?" Kendra asks. "Did he finally get tired of you not giving him enough?" Raven ignores her and tries to walk past but Stacy moves in front of her again.
"Ooh, you must be right Kend," Stacy says. "Raven didn't seem to like that too much."
"He'd probably like her more if she wasn't so pale," Kendra says. "How can someone live in California and be so pale?"
"She likes to hide under long sleeves all the time," Stacy says. "But we could change that and make her tan." They walk toward her and Raven backs into Ryder. He grabs her and they force her into an alleyway. Ryder grabs the bottom of her long-sleeve shirt and pulls it up to cover her face and trap her arms above her head. He holds her arms there so she can't get away. Stacy pulls out self-tanning spray and sprays it on Raven's chest and stomach.
"What's going on here?" another voice says. Stacy stops spraying Raven as she and Kendra turn around while Ryder releases Raven's arms. Raven pulls her shirt back down to see Jared, Damon, and Zack at the entrance to the alley.
"Looks like you guys were having some fun," Jared says. "Mind if we join?" Raven tries to run in the opposite direction but Ryder grabs her. She struggles against him as the other 3 guys walk toward them.
"We were just giving her a tan," Stacy says.
"Then we were going to change her outfit so she wasn't wearing long sleeves anymore," Kendra adds.
"I think Damon and Zack can help with that," Jared says. He nods to both of them and they go to either side of Raven. They each grab one of her sleeves and pull hard. The sleeves rip at their seams at the shoulders.
"Let me go!" Raven yells, still struggling against Ryder.
"I don't think so," Jared says. "I didn't get a full inspection last time and Damon and Zack didn't get a feel either. I think we'd all like to explore that more." Jared grabs the neckline of her shirt and pulls, tearing it down the middle, while Damon starts to undo her belt. Raven kicks at both Jared and Damon. They both back away, but Damon has managed to pull her belt off of her and uses it to whip her across her stomach. Raven cries out in pain and hunches over in pain.
"Hey!" a new voice shouts. "What are you doing?" Everyone looks at the entrance of the alley to see two police officers.
"I'm out," Jared says, then runs the opposite direction. Damon and Zack follow him as do Stacy and Kendra. Ryder shoves Raven to the ground the runs as well as the police officers run down the alley. One stops by Raven as the other one continues chasing the other teenagers.
"Are you okay?" the police officer asks Raven, helping her up.
"I'm fine," Raven says, looking at her badge "Thank you, Officer Pedesco." The other officer comes back.
"Unfortunately they all got away," he says.
"This is my partner, Officer Thibault," Officer Pedesco says.
"Are you alright, Miss?" Officer Thibault asks.
"I'm fine," Raven says, brushing dirt off of her shirt and picking up her books and belt.
"Do you want to file a report and press charges against those other teenagers?" Pedesco asks.
"No I don't," Raven replies.
"Do you know who they were?" Thibault asks.
"They go to my school," Raven says.
"What did they do to you?" Pedesco asks.
"They sprayed me with tanning spray, ripped my shirt, and tried to take off my pants then whipped me with my belt when I kicked them," Raven says.
"Why?" Pedesco asks.
Raven shrugs. "It's not the first time they've done something similar."
"Why don't you press charges?" Thibault asks.
"What good would that do?" Raven asks. "It's not like I have any evidence on camera so it'd be my word against them. And a lot more people would support them than they would me so why bother? There was a situation at school around Christmas with me and 3 other students. It was similar to today where they corned me and assaulted me. I fought back, a teacher broke everything up and we all went to the principal's office, and I ended up getting suspended while nothing happened to them. Why would involving the police be any different?"
"I'm sorry this has happened to you," Officer Thibault says.
"Thank you for stopping them today," Raven says. "If you don't mind, I'd like to go home now. My car is in the parking lot."
"We'll walk you to your car," Officer Pedesco says. The three of them walk out of the alley to Raven's car. Raven unlocks it and opens the door.
"Thanks again," Raven says.
"Here's my number," Officer Pedesco says, handing Raven a card. "If you ever need anything, call me." Raven nods and gets into her car, shutting the door. The two officers wait until Raven drives off before going to their own car. Raven drives back to the Tower, picking up takeout on the way. After she parks in the garage, she goes up to her room and closes the door. She puts her new books on her dresser and eats her food that she picked up. Once finished eating, she grabs a change of clothes and her towel. She cracks her door open to make sure no one is around then quickly walks to the bathroom to take a shower. She washes off the fake tan Stacy sprayed on her. She dries off and puts on clean clothes then goes back to her room, putting her torn shirt next to her hamper and the rest of her clothes in it. She blow dries her hair then lays on her bed, closing her eyes. A few minutes later, there is a knock on her door.
"Friend Raven?" Kori calls.
"Yes Kori?" Raven replies without moving.
"Are you hungry?" she asks. "Friend Victor made some lunch."
"No thanks," Raven says. "I picked up food while I was out."
"Okay. Would you like to do the hanging out?"
"No. I got a couple new books today and I'd like to read them."
"Oh. Well let me know if you want to hang out later."
"I'll let you know." Raven hears Kori walk away. Raven sits up and winces because of the welt across her stomach. She grabs one of her new books and sits on her bed, leaning against the headboard. She starts reading but can't concentrate on the words. She keeps replaying what happened earlier that day. She puts down her book and goes to Logan's room, after making sure no one is in the hallway. She grabs ones of his sweatshirts and raises it to her nose to smell. She sighs as it smells of him and takes it back to her room. She takes off her own sweatshirt and puts on his, enveloping her in his scent. She lies on her bed and closes her eyes, thinking of him.
9:30pm
Dick, Kori, Victor, and Bee are all in the living room watching a movie. They hear the door to the living room open and see Logan walk in.
"Hey guys," Logan says. Dick pauses the movie and they all get up to greet him.
"Friend Logan!" Kori exclaims. "You are home early!" She gives him a bone-crushing hug.
"Thanks Kori," Logan says after she releases him and he can breathe again.
"Welcome home," Bee says, hugging him.
"How was camp?" Dick asks.
"It was good," Logan says. "I think it's been good for our team and it'll help us this season."
"Back to back State champs?" Vic asks.
"I hope so," Logan says. He looks around the room. "Where's Raven?"
"She's been in her room since getting back from the bookstore early this afternoon," Bee says. "I think she's been reading her new books."
"Sounds like Rae," Logan says, smiling.
"How are you home now?" Dick asks. "I thought you weren't getting home until tomorrow afternoon?"
"Because of how good everything was going at camp, Coach ended it a day early," Logan explains. "I didn't tell you all because I wanted to surprise you."
"You mean surprise Raven?" Vic says.
"Well, yeah," Logan says, rubbing the back of his neck and blushing.
"Go see her," Vic says. "Just no extra celebrating. Ow!" Vic rubs his shoulder that Bee just punched.
"Serves you right," Bee says to him. "Go surprise your girl, Logan." Logan grabs his bags and goes up to his room. He puts his bags in his room then goes to Raven's room. He knocks on her door.
"Go away," Raven says. He knocks again. "I don't want to be disturbed." Again he knocks. He hears her walking to the door. "What part of go away don't—" she opens the door and stops talking when she sees Logan.
"Hey Rae," Logan says. Raven doesn't say anything for a moment then hugs him tight. He wraps his arms around her too and sighs in contentment. They both just stand there hugging for a few moments then Raven loosens her hold and pulls back but doesn't move her arms from around him.
"You're home early," she says.
"Yeah I am," he replies, his arms still around her too.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted to surprise you. Can I come in?" She finally removes her arms from around him and they go into her room, shutting the door. She sits on her bed.
"How was camp?"
"It was good. I think it'll really benefit us this year."
"That's good."
"How was your two weeks without me?"
"Mostly okay. I hung out with Jenny a few times; same with Kori and Bee. Some days I just spent by myself."
"I heard that you mostly stayed in your room today, but got some new books this morning. Have you just been reading them all day?"
"I tried to."
"Missing me too much? Is that why you're wearing my sweatshirt?"
"I was missing you but probably not entirely why you're thinking."
"What do you mean?"
"I wish I knew you would be home today. I would've waited to go to the bookstore tomorrow when you'd be able to come with me."
"Why? What happened today?" Raven doesn't say anything. She just lays back on her bed and lifts her shirt to expose her stomach. Logan sees the welt across it and traces his finger along it. "Who did this?"
"Damon. When I came out of the bookstore, Stacy, Kendra, and Ryder cornered me and forced me into an alley. Ryder pulled up my shirt and trapped my arms over my head while Stacy sprayed self-tanner on me. Jared, Zack, and Damon walked into the alley soon after. Zack and Damon ripped the sleeves off my shirt and Jared started ripping it down the middle from the collar and Damon pulled off my belt. I kicked at Damon and Jared and Damon whipped me with the belt. Before they could do anything else, two police officers broke everything up and chased them away."
"Did you file a report with them?"
"No."
"Rae—"
"You know I don't trust the police, even if they did save me today." Logan doesn't look happy about this but doesn't say anything. He leans down and kisses the welt.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there to stop them."
"I'm just glad you're here now." Logan lies on the bed next to her and kisses her. She kisses him back and wraps her arm around him to pull him closer. After a few minutes, she pulls back and rests her head against his shoulder. "I missed you."
"I missed you too." He rolls onto his back and Raven adjusts so her head is on his chest and her arm is across his stomach. She closes her eyes and sighs in content. "So why are you wearing my sweatshirt? Not that I'm complaining. You look great in it."
Raven doesn't open her eyes. "After what happened earlier, I just wanted to be close to you and this was the closest thing without you actually being here."
"I would think being in my bed would be closer."
"I'm sure you'd love for me to be in your bed."
He pinches her butt. "Rae, that was a completely innocent comment. You made it sound dirty."
She looks up at him. "If it was so innocent, then tell me you weren't thinking it."
"Well I wasn't but now I am."
"And how many times did you think about it at camp?"
"I thought about you, fully clothed, all the time. Not sure what you think I'd be thinking about."
"Glad to hear you have such pure thoughts of me."
"Always pure thoughts."
"So you've never pulled out your sketchbook and looked at that picture you drew of me a couple months ago?"
"I've looked at it and admire your beauty every time I look at it."
"And you've never thought of me like that without looking at the sketch?"
"As beautiful? Of course I've thought of you as beautiful."
"You know what I meant."
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean."
"I see I made such an impression on you." Logan rolls so Raven is now on her back and he is on top of her.
"Sounds like you want me to think about you in impure ways."
"I never said that."
He lowers his mouth down to her ear. "Yes I've thought of you naked. I've thought of doing things to you and you doing things to me. And I've gotten myself off to those thoughts." He kisses her neck below her ear and trails those kisses along her neck and jaw to her lips. "Is that what you wanted to hear?"
"What have you thought of doing to me?"
"A lot of things. Don't want to scare you off."
"I don't think you could scare me off. You'd always make sure I'm okay with what we do."
"That is true. I always want you to be comfortable around me."
"And I love that about you." She leans up and kisses him briefly before laying her head back down. Logan rolls off of her and gets off the bed.
"I'm going to go get some water and change for bed. Do you need anything?"
"Water please." Logan nods then walks out of the room. He goes down to the kitchen to get two glasses of water then back up to his room. He takes off his shirt and changes into pajama pants then walks back to Raven's room with the water. He knocks twice then goes in. He hands Raven her glass of water and takes a drink of his. He sets it on the nightstand then gets into bed next to Raven. She takes a drink from her glass and sets it on the nightstand on her side of the bed. She turns off the light and settles into the bed. Logan spoons her from behind, his arm around her and his hand settling on her stomach under her shirt.
"Didn't need the sweatshirt anymore?" he asks, noticing she is now wearing shorts and a tank top.
"It'd be too warm to wear it to bed with you," she replies. "You give off a lot of heat."
"Guess I'm just that hot."
Raven rolls her eyes even though he can't see it. "Sure. Let's go with that. I was wearing the sweatshirt early to give me the comfort and safety I feel with you. I don't need to wear that as a reminder when you're here with me."
"I love to hear you say that you are comfortable and safe with me. I'm glad I can make you feel that way." He kisses her cheek. "Good night, Raven."
"Good night, Logan."