Chapter 3 Right on time

Raven;

Raven knew what was coming, as it had happened for the past three weeks, every Friday for the past three weeks that phone call buzzed through her eardrums. It was the same thing, he was so drunk off his ass that he needed Raven to take him home, not to mention he would use her as a sounding board for a heart that just wouldn't take reality for an answer. She was just lucky that she had the car as Iziah wasn't working tonight. Raven let out a smirk as the thoughts raced in her head, the real fun would begin as soon as she got home, as per usual she knew more than she let on, the saga was only beginning, but one way or another she would end it. That much she knew. Raven knew that Storm and Iziah were questioning her sanity, but it was a move that needed to be made, with Trish now being placed in the house Raven was aware that she may be running out of time, and yet she knew that the only way this mess would be sorted would be to do what she always did, ploughed ahead as though all obsticles were cleared.

Right on time, nearing quarter past two her phone rung, knowing exactly who it was bought a smile to her face.

"Raven" She always answered her phone with her name, afterall thats what the people on the end wanted, her time and attention.

"Hey Rae, it's Sheamus from O'Farrelys, your boy is here again and needin a lift"

"All right Shea, give him a glass of water with a twist of lemon, tell him it's a new brand of vodka and no one is man enough to try it, just keep him sittin there, I'm about ten away"

"All right lass"

"Thanks Shea, you're the best"

Raven drove with one arm out in the night air, the goosebumps on the coloured limbs meant cold, but deep down she actually couldn't feel it, or maybe that was the lack of sleep for the past decade. Some habits were harder to break than others. Like she expected, O'Farrelys was pretty much deserted, except the bartender/owner Sheamus and her very very drunk friend, who was trying very hard to stay on his barstool. Sheamus flashed her a grin as she passed by because he knew what was coming, the ritual not lost on the flame haired Irishman.

Raven took a seat on the barstool next to him, he instantly looked at her and smiled wider than the cheshire cat. Those green eyes she loved glazed and hazy, once again he was lost to his own sadness.

"Raven!"

"Hi Seth, drunk again I see"

He waved a finger at her, unable to keep the alcohol from reaching his brain, "Yeah, he gave me this new vodka to try but it tastes like shit, I'm thinkin its waterer and lemony but shhh" He was trying to whisper so obviously he was the loudest one in the pub right now. Like she predicted, Seth's glazed look turned sad,

"Why won't he love me?"

"You can't make someone into something there not Seth" Raven gently patted his hand, her heart going to him, he had the horrible luck of falling in love with a straight man, he tried to change it but the heart wants what it wants, so instead he decided that every Friday after work he would try and drink the memories away. It never worked but Seth was dedicated to trying, just like Raven would never stop taking him home.

"Wish I could smack some gayness into him, just a little" Seth got out bitterly, reaching for his water.

"C'mon mister man, it's time to get you home" Raven stood up and gingerly took his arm, for a moment he resisted,

"Raven I don't know if you know this but I'm gay" He looked to her giant breasts, "Never had an inkling for titties" He cocked his head in deep thought, "Do they even do anything?"

Raven took his arm and pretty much pulled him off the stool until he was leaning on her like a wounded soldier, Raven was more shocked that time after time, he allowed her to do so. Not to mention it looked purely comical given that Raven was five-three and Seth was over six feet.

"My breasts have been known to stop bar brawls and even time itself"

Seth let out an all mighty laugh that went up her spine, she wasn't a fan of loud noises but she put up with it, just like she put up with Seth's long fingers playing with her silver ringlets. Raven managed to get him to the car and put him inside, between his lean legs Raven placed a blue bucket, her golden rule was simple, drunks vomit so in order to stop the mess she insisted on a bucket.

All the way home she listened to his drunken ramblings, trying to be helpful but knowing that it did nothing. She pulled into his driveway, he was falling asleep in her passenger seat, she couldn't leave him there even though he tried. She heaved him up again, the moments ticking by until she had other fish to fry.

"I wish he could love me" Seth mumbled again as Raven got him inside. His lean frame resting on his sofa,

"Seth you can't make someone love you, all you can do is stalk them, hope they panic and give in"

Seth laughed before the snores oozed from his mouth. Raven slipped out the door leaving him to his usual Saturday morning hangover.

Raven timed it perfectly, Trish had gotten up to find some food, at least thats what she would claim, Raven knew better, Trish would be snooping. Her olive skinned hand had barely touched the cabnet handle when the shotgun barrel pressed against the back of her head.

"Touch my Twinkies and I paint the kitchen with brand new colour called hint of brain"

Trish put up her hands in defence, every instinct she had was fought against and for a moment she just stayed where she was and let the moment play out. She could only hope it didn't end with kitchen decor.