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Untitled : Chapter 5

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Raven woke up in a soft bed, feeling nothing but a pounding head, and a throbbing cheek. She pulled herself out of the strange bed, and went to a mirror. She gasped as she saw the bruise on her cheek. It wasn't very big, but it was still there. She stood in front of the mirror for a while, staring at the painful blue blotch.

After a few minutes, a knock was heard on her door.

"Come in." she said softly, covering her cheek with her hand.

The door opened quietly, and Relena walked in.

"How are you doing? I must apologise for Dorothy's actions, I'm so sorry your night was ruined." she walked over to where Raven was standing, and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Miss Relena, it's not your fault. It's my fault your night was ruined. Tonight was supposed to be special for you, but I went and got in a fight."

"Some fight. One slap, and you call it a fight? No, a fight is when Duo and Wufei are both after the same piece of food. That's a fight." Relena said, with a laugh. Raven had seen both Duo and Wufei before, although she had never met them.

Relena turned around, and picked up an ice pack. She gently moved Raven's hand, which was still covering the bruise. Placing the ice pack on her cheek, she sat Raven down in the chair.

"Actually, it's neither of our faults. Dorothy was just being possessive of Quatre. Even if she refuses to go out with him, or even admit that she likes him." Relena said. "I have noticed one thing though. He seems to like you." Relena gave the girl a small grin.

"As if that means anything. Maybe one day we could have something between us. But before that could ever happen, my father will marry me off to the highest bidder." she said bitterly.

"I know what you fell like. I am a Princess after all. I have to beat off rich little boys with a stick. Or a deathglare." she said, smiling. "That was, of course, until tonight. Now a little diamond ring will do the job for me." Relena let out a small laugh.

"You're so lucky. You've fallen in love, and now you're getting married to him. If I even have a crush that's 'below my station' my parents will kill me." she said, sadly.

"Hey, you're nineteen, right?" Relena asked.

"Yeah." she responded, not knowing why Relena asked.

"Well, you're an adult. You can move out and go to collage and everything. Even if Quatre and you are nothing but friends, he's got cash to burn. I'm sure he will support you even if your parents disown you." Relena said, only half joking.

"Yeah, but I can't just leave them, they're my family!" Raven said, taking it seriously. Even as she dismissed Relena's thought, she took it under heavy consideration. Perhaps I can do that, if Quatre would support me...be we only just met...

"Don't underestimate Quatre's kind heart." Relena seemed to be reading her thoughts. She got up, and looked down at the girl. "I've kept my guests waiting too long. I'd best be getting downstairs. Fell free to stay up here as late as you need to, if you miss your ride home, I'm have Pagan drive you." Relena gave her new friend a small hug, and left the room closing the door behind her.

If I leave my family behind, I can have a life of my own, if Quatre is willing to give me the money to do so...

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Quatre was outside in the gardens again, this time completely alone. After he had brought Raven to an empty guest room, he had yelled at Dorothy. He still couldn't believe she hit an innocent girl just because Quatre had asked her to dance. It was just a dance, there was nothing more to it! But, then again, if what Dorothy was always saying to him was true, there was nothing between them either.

He brought up all these points when talking to Dorothy. Before he could finish his speech to her, she had run out of the room, crying. She ran to her gold limo, and left the party. Quatre had always had a kind and forgiving heart, but he couldn't find the will to forgive her for this, at least, not just yet.

Dorothy, why? If you really care for me, you won't go around trying to hurt people for no reason. Why?

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-Ayanami_Chan
ayanami_rei@softhome.net
Raven
relena22@yahoo.com