Ok. Chap.6, a chapter devoted to Garaven stuff, because I have to do something with them before I send him away. Enjoy! Oh, and I must apologize in the advance for the really bad 'Fractured' reference.

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Chapter 6:- Something Smells Rancid

"You gotta fight... For your right... To party!!!" pulsed through the room as Gar's clock radio went off.

"Oh, jeez... Turn that crap off Gar!" shouted Vic from his bed. Gar got up, quickly hit the button, got dressed and left the room. He jumped to the Room 259's door, and knocked twice politely.

"Yes anonymous rapper of door?" said Kori's voice from inside, it sounded even more muffled than it should be so she was probably in the bathroom. Again.

"Is Raven in?"

"No, she is not. She went outside. She said she must meditate to keep her inner peace."

"Sounds like her. Thanks, Kor."

"You are welcome, anonymous rapper of door!"

Gar sped down to the school grounds, and saw Raven sitting cross-legged under the oldest tree in the ground. He began to approach when he saw someone else do the same thing. A large, spiky black haired boy, wearing a black leather jacket and black jeans. Gar knew his name, he picked on everyone shorter than him since third grade, and Gar was always shorter than him. His name was Johnny Rancid.

"Hey Goth chick," Johnny blurted out in a coarse, ugly voice. "Wanna come take a ride with me?"

Raven opened her eyes and looked up, then closed them again and said: "No."

"What do you mean no? Any girl who I say comes with me goes with me."

"And how do you intend to make me come with you? Poor grammar?"

Johnny reached down and grabbed her by the hem of her shirt, and pulled her upward to standing position. "You better watch your mouth Goth chick."

"And you better watch your breath."

"Why you little..." Johnny raised a fist, and Raven looked at it, unafraid. But then she heard footsteps and a yell.

"Hey! Leave her alone!" Gar yelled running up.

"Hey, hey. It's the 'beast boy'," said Johnny in a sarcastic, cruel tone. Gar came up to Johnny. Johnny was a good seven inches taller than him, but had a determined look on his face.

"I said. Leave her alone."

"Did beastie get a girlfriend? Awww... how sweet," replied Johnny in a ugly baby like voice, then he reverted to his normal tone. "Well, she's my girlfriend now, bub, so scram!"

And to that, Gar's only reply was to kick Johnny in the shin with all his strength. Johnny dropped Raven, and she scrambled out of the brawl to stand behind Gar.

Johnny yelled. "That's it Logan. You're dead." Johnny grabbed Gar by the hem of his shirt and lifted him up, right off the ground, pinning him up against the tree.

By now, of course a crowd had gathered, and in the commotion, no-one saw Raven's eyes turn blood red for a moment. "Mustn't get angry. Can't get angry," she muttered.

Gar struggled against Johnny, but couldn't get himself free.

"Not so tough now eh, beastie?" snarled Johnny, to which, in reply, Gar managed to produce a large wad of saliva and spat it directly into Johnny's face. A large 'ooh' issued from the crowd.

"You're gonna pay for that, Logan."

"Stop it, Rancid," interrupted Raven.

"Shut up Goth chick. This ain't your fight. It's your boyfriend's."

"He's not my boyfriend," she muttered under her breath.

"Time to die Logan," Johnny said, drawing back his fist.

"Ladies first," said Gar, before unleashing a sharp, vicious kick to Johnny's balls. An 'aaaahh' issued from the crowd.

Johnny dropped Gar, and crouched down in pain. "Oh, god... That hurt."

Gar ran over to Raven and ran a hand over his neck. "You OK, Rae?"

Raven nodded and smiled briefly.

Johnny got back up, growled and pounced towards Gar and Raven. Gar instinctively put himself in front of Raven, but there was no need, because Johnny pounced into the chest of a very angry African American.

Dick, Kori and Jinx ran up to Gar and Raven. "You alright guys?" asked Dick.

Gar and Raven nodded, then turned to Vic and Johnny.

"Get out of my way, Stone," said Johnny, looking right into Vic's eyes as they were about the same height.

Vic stayed silent. Johnny tried to get around him, but Vic grabbed him and threw him down.

"I'll get you. All of you. One day, I swear!"

"Yeah. And your motorbike can fly," added Vic, as he turned away and walked off with his friends.

Johnny growled.

"What were you doing outside?" asked Raven to Gar.

"Looking for you. I'm leaving for Africa today remember?"

"I remember."

"C'mon Gar, you're parents will be waiting out front by now," interrupted Vic.

They arrived at the front door of the school and sure enough a white jeep was waiting with Gar's parents and Dr. Register chatting in front of it.

Gar's mother waved at Gar, then came over and gave him a hug. His father gave him an affectionate tap on the back.

"We're going to bring Dr. Register along with us if that's OK with you Gar," said Gar's father.

"Of course it is! The more the merrier right?"

"Well come on then son, let's have some introductions."

"Oh right..." said Gar, turning. "You know Dick and Vic, and this is Kori, Jinx, and Raven."

Gar's father shook everyone's hand politely and his mother gave a courteous nod to each.

"Well come on son. Say your goodbyes and we'll be off."

Gar nodded, then turned to Dick and Vic, who each clapped him on the back.

"Have fun, pal," said Dick.

"See ya soon, buddy," added Vic.

Gar then turned to Kori, who gave him a quick hug, as did Jinx. Then he approached Raven, who without hesitation gave him a long hug, and whispered in his ear.

"Thank you, Gar."

"Anything for you Rae," Gar replied softly.

They pulled away from each other and Gar opened the side door of the Jeep as the adults clambered into the vehicle.

"See you in two weeks guys!" he said happily, then added excitedly: "I'm going to Africa!!!"

Everyone smiled including Raven as he shut his door. He waved from his open window and everyone waved back.

Dick, Kori, Vic and Jinx all turned to go back inside, but Raven lingered and watched the white jeep disappear into the distance. "Anything..." she whispered softly to herself.

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GAR'S GONE! Man, I hate writing him out. He's so much fun to write. But it had to be done. sigh Anyway, read on my friends, because Dick is about to discover something very important.
Next:- The Future's Orange (For all you Brits out there who remember those awful adverts)