Disclaimer: I don't own anything affiliated with "That's So Raven." I don't.

Chapter 12

That Friday morning, Raven trudged down the stairs in her pajamas and robe to be greeted by her father cooking breakfast. Victor might not have had a job as a cook, but he was still the head chef at home.

Victor was folding the egg over the cheese to make a perfect omelet when he saw Raven. "Hey Raven. Your mom told me you weren't feeling too well last night. How are you feeling today?"

Raven shook her head and sighed loudly. "Not so good Dad. If it's okay, can I stay home today?"

"Do you have any tests today?"

"No, I don't think so." Honestly, Raven had no idea if she had any tests today, but she didn't plan on sticking around this world for too much longer.

"Well, you better be positive, because you know what will happen if you fail biology again."

"I'm sure Dad. And don't worry, I'm not failing biology." Raven said quickly. She wondered what would happen to her if she did fail biology "again." What would her parents have done? Actually, it surprised Raven that she was allowed to fail biology even once.

Her parents in this world were terribly sweet, but quite inattentive and completely oblivious to Raven's actual feelings. It could be possible that Raven (of thisworld)was so wrapped up in doing her own thing and going against what her parents wanted for so long, that they just got used to not paying enough attention. Or maybe she had them completely fooled when it came to the way she behaved…except academically, that is.

Whatever it was, Raven felt very sad for everyone in her life in this world, and was very determined to get back to her own world. Who knew that making one simple wish would complicate so many different things?

Victor flipped the omelet on to a plate with ease, and then turned to Raven. "I guess it would be all right for you to stay home just this once. And I better see an improvement on this quarter's report card or…"

Raven kissed her father on the cheek gently and said, "Thanks Daddy."

Then she left the kitchen.

Raven walked into the living room and heard a knock on the door. The three shadows behind the glass revealed what Raven had dreaded since she woke up. The "posse" was here once again.

Quickly grabbing some tissues from the box on the table and rubbing her nose fiercely until it tinted a little red, Raven coughed loudly and said, "I'm coming!"

Shuffling to the door (she had to get into character) Raven slowly opened it a little, sticking her head between the small space between the door and its frame. There stood Bianca, Muffy and Loca, dressed in black and white outfits.

"Raven, we weren't sure what you wanted us to wear because you didn't specify, so we figured black and white was best."

"Uh…that's nice guys," Raven sniffled, coughing loudly into a tissue and making the girls flinch, "but I don't think I'm going to school today. I don't feel so well."

Raven tried to use her best nasal voice and prayed that they wouldn't see right through her façade.

"You got a cold boss?" Loca asked and Raven coughed again, making sure to emphasize the hacking sound. Muffy looked away in disgust.

"Wow, you never get sick." Bianca said. "So, who's it gonna be?"

"What?" Raven asked, rubbing a tissue against her nose and pulling her robe closer together.

"Who are you going to appoint as the substitute leader today, since you're sick and all?" Muffy said with a glint of hope in her voice.

Raven thought about it for a second. Bianca was their leader in her world, so it was the most obvious choice. "I guess Bianca will 'sub' for today." Raven sniffled again.

Bianca hissed, "Yes" while balling her fists together and making the "yes" movements. "You won't regret this Rae, I will not let you down." She said excitedly.

Raven coughed into her tissue and nodded. "Good luck. Bye, bye now."

Then, she closed the door and went back upstairs to her bedroom.

Later that day, when everyone had gone off to work and to school, Raven hopped out of bed and raced over to "Curly's Magic Shop" only to find a locked door and a paper sign that read:

"Curly's is closed for restocking. We will open again on Saturday. Sorry for the inconvenience."

Clicking her teeth and slouching her shoulders in a huff, Raven made the long, defeated journey back home.

Oh her way, she passed the pizza shack that she, Eddie, and Chelsea hung out in sometimes. Looking in the window, she could almost picture the three of them sitting at the table in the far off corner, eating pizza and laughing. As quickly as the image came, it faded, but she still stared at the window, hoping to catch just one more glimpse of her memory.

A big lump formed in her throat as she thought about the way Chelsea looked and acted. She was so angry, so guarded, so…hurt by what Raven had done to her over the years. Raven couldn't believe for one second that she even had the ability to hurt Chelsea purposely. But somehow she did, and it cut her heart to ribbons to think of the way Chelsea must've felt every time she was targeted and attacked. You couldn't call it being "bothered" or "picked on". It was a full on assault when it came to Chelsea…and Eddie.

Tears pooled in her eyes as she thought about Eddie. It wasn't fair that he had to lose his life in order for Raven to become "normal." If Raven had known about the consequences of her wish, she would have thrown that candle into the garbage even before she got home and just took the psychic lumps as they came.

Suddenly, Samantha's voice was ringing in her ears.

"Just…be careful what you wish for."

Samantha had known the dangers of making a wish that wasn't carefully planned out. There must have been other complaints about them. Without proper instructions, people could have probably wished terrible things that they regretted and wanted to take back. Raven was almost sure of it. Samantha would know how to help her. She had to know how to help. Raven planned on being in front of that magic shop the minute the sign was switched from "closed," to "open" tomorrow.

Finally snapping out of her thoughts, Raven realized that she had wandered over to Chelsea's house. It was either guilt or force of habit that led her here; it was probably a little bit of both.

Raven wondered if Chelsea would still be willing to help. There was a moment of doubt, in which Raven could envision herself walking right by Chelsea's house without stopping. Instead, she found herself heading toward the steps slowly. She hopped up onto the front stoop, afraid to ring the door bell or knock on the door, so she sat down on the stoop and waited for someone to come out.

Hopefully, it would be Chelsea.