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

Chapter 18

Chelsea walked around Main Street, checking all of the shops that were still open. Raven was nowhere to be found. It was dark now, and it seemed as if Raven was going to be lost for tonight...and that scared Chelsea very badly. She stopped at the park entrance. They rarely hung out in the park. But maybe, just maybe...

It was really dark in there. The one lampost Chelsea could see was a good five hundred feet away at the center of the park. It seemed very dim, like it was about to go out.

She entered cautiously, a million stories about people being mugged or killed in parks at night running through her head.

"Raven?" Chelsea whispered, as if Raven could actually here her, if she was indeed in the park. She walked deeper and deeper into the darkness, trying her best to ignore the rustle of the bushes just off to her right.

As she came closer to the center, she could make out something sprawled across the lone bench just underneath the opening in the trees. The dim lamplight was just out of reach, but the shadow was very evident. It looked like a body.

"Rae?" Chelsea said a little louder, but the figure didn't move. 'It's a homeless person sleeping.' Chelsea mentally rationalized. 'There probably going to be mad at me.'

The clouds in the sky parted just a little, letting some moonlight shine through. It hit the end of the bench, and Chelsea could see a pair of very familiar sneakers. She froze, sucking in a large amount of air, but never releasing it.

The sky opened up and the moon cast a natural spotlight on the bench. It was Raven. She was laying on the bench. She wasn't moving; it didn't even look like she was breathing.

Chelsea opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. A quick irrational thought flew through her mind. 'She's dead.'

Her legs felt like jello and she staggered forward, wanting to move faster than she actually was.

'Please...she's all right. She has to be all right.'

After what seemed like an eternity, Chelsea finally reached Raven. Her eyes were closed. She looked peaceful.

"Rae." Chelsea managed to choke out. "Wake up."

Raven's eyes fluttered and Chelsea released the air she was holding. They opened, glowing in the moonlight. "Chelsea?" Raven said slowly. "What are you doing here?"

"No one knew where you were. You're parents are really worried."

"My parents?" Raven asked, confused. She sat up on the bench. It was then that she realized it was night time.

Chelsea sat down next to her, shaking very badly. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah..."

"I thought something bad happened to you." Chelsea's words were coming out in a low whisper.

"I'm okay."

"When I saw you lying here...I didn't know what to do."

"I just came here to think. I was looking up at the sky, I must've fell asleep. I'm sorry I scared everyone."

They sat there for a minute, and then Chelsea pulled out her cell phone. "Um...I have to call Eddie, tell him I found you. Hopefully, he'll tell your parents--"

Raven grabbed the top of the cell phone and lowered it toward Chelsea's lap. "Wait. I want to talk to you."

Chelsea nodded in agreement.

"About that kiss...I'm sorry. I don't know what...well, I do know what I was thinking, but I didn't mean to upset you or freak you out."

"Raven..."

"I'm really sorry. When you ran out the door, I knew I made a mistake. It's just, you were so intent on finding out what was going on--"

"Rae."

"I didn't know what else to do. Please, please don't hate me. I don't think I could live if I knew that you hated me--"

"Raven!"

Raven snapped her mouth closed and looked at Chelsea.

"It's okay. It's all right."

"You...you mean you don't hate me?"

Chelsea shook her head. "No. I don't hate you. I don't think I could ever hate you."

Raven's face brightened.

"I just...was shocked. Shocked and confused and frightened. And, and maybe I acted the wrong way about the whole thing, but I wasn't really thinking clearly. It was just instinct to run. You have no idea what that kiss did to me."

"I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize. I should apologize for leaving you like that. Leaving everything up in the air. But, I talked to Ben."

Raven nodded, looking at the ground. They had gotten back together, she just knew it. Why else would he be at her house, hugging her?

"And he told me to think about it. Let my heart lead the way."

Raven didn't take her eyes away from her shoes. "And?"

"I don't know. But I know I was freaking out when I thought you were missing...and I saw you here, not moving, I could only think one thing."

Raven looked at Chelsea. "What was that?"

"I was thinking...that my life wouldn't be the same without you." Chelsea's eyes started to glisten with tears.

Raven felt her heart lighten. "Yeah?"

Clouds started to cover the moon again, and the light was fading fast. Raven moved closer to Chelsea, her heart beating a mile a minute. This was it. This was her vision.

I'm scared." Chelsea barely whispered and Raven grabbed her hand.

"I'm scared too." Raven replied, and she moved a few locks of Chelsea's hair behind her ears, exposing her beautiful face.

A tear rolled down Chelsea's cheek as she closed her eyes. Raven pulled her closer, cupping Chelsea's jaw as their lips met...in a long, passionate kiss.

This time, Chelsea didn't pull away. She didn't fight it, she just let the world melt away. It was like they were the only two people in the universe. Chelsea parted her lips a little, letting Raven slid her tongue in to explore her mouth. Chelsea did the same, putting one hand on Raven's hip and the other on her back.

Raven felt Chelsea's hands on her and she smiled inwardly. This was all she had dreamed about and more...and she never wanted it to end. Unfortunately, Chelsea's cell phone began to ring very loudly.

They pulled apart, gasping for air and looking around. Nobody was in the darkened park but them.

"Strawberries." Raven whispered, running her tongue across her upper lip and smiling.

"What?" Chelsea asked over the loud ringing.

"Tell you later." Raven said and motioned for Chelsea to answer the phone.

Chelsea took her phone from her pocket and flipped it open. "Hello? Eddie, yeah, I found her. She's okay. Yeah. I'm taking her home right now. Yea sorry, I was just about to call you. Okay, see you soon."

Chelsea hung up, looking at Raven with a small smile on her face. "We should probably get you home. Your parents are freaking out."

"Okay."

They both stood up at the same time and began to walk out of the park. As they walked, Chelsea spoke up.

"Raven?"

Raven was positively smitten. "Hmm?"

"Is it okay if we don't tell anyone, just yet?"

"Yeah. I get it Chelsea."

They walked to Raven's house in silence, but Raven was floating on air. She hadn't been this happy in a long time. She kissed Chelsea twice, and not only did Chelsea not hate her, she actually wanted it. Sure, keeping it a secret would probably be hard, but Raven knew where Chelsea was coming from. This was all new to her (or so Raven thought) and she understood the need to keep it quiet. Raven didn't expect Chelsea to come out and say, "I love you." That stuff took time. But Raven knew that it was going to happen. It had to.

They were a few houses from Raven's when Chelsea said, "When your punishment is lifted, we have to sit down and talk about this."

"Punishment?"

"Yeah, I'm sure your parents are going to ground you once they find out you're okay."

"You're probably right. And we will talk about it. I promise."

"Okay."

Before they even got to Raven's house, Eddie was running down the porch steps toward them. He pulled Raven into a hug before she got to say anything. "Are you okay?" He asked, stepping back and looking her over, something that she was sure both of her parents were also going to do.

Raven smiled and nodded happily, and Eddie's face brightened. She didn't have to say anything; he knew that Chelsea and her had worked everything out.

They reached the door just in time for a frantic Tanya to yank it open. There were tears of both worry and happiness in her eyes. "Raven Baxter, where on Earth have you been!"

All three teens flinched. Raven stepped forward and Tanya pulled her into a very tight hug. "You had me worried sick."

"I'm okay Mom. I'm so sorry, I was at the park and I fell asleep."

"Yeah well, you get inside and call your father. He's out, driving all over San Fransico, looking for you. Then, we'll deal with you."

Raven nodded and hurried inside, turning and waving goodbye to Eddie and Chelsea. Tanya glared at Raven, and she ran into the kitchen. Then, Tanya turned back to Eddie and Chelsea.

"Thank you, for bringing her home."

"No problem Mrs. B." Eddie said, shrugging it off. "Chelsea is the one who found her."

Tanya hugged Chelsea and whispered a sincere, "Thank You."

"Okay." Chelsea said, a little uncomfortable with the contact.

They pulled apart, Tanya thanked them one more time, and then she closed the door.

Eddie and Chelsea headed down the stairs and Eddie said, "Everything okay with you two?"

Chelsea nodded. "Yeah."

"So...I guess I'll see you tomorrow." Eddie didn't want to pry and Chelsea was very grateful.

"Okay."

They went their seperate ways.