AN: Alright, chapter four is up. I hope this gets a little more interesting, I think this is my longest so far. Well, remember to review at the end to tell me what you think. Enjoy!

Chapter Four

"Due in two weeks; enjoy." Raven muttered to the little girl with red pigtails as she grabbed the picture book and scurried off with out so much as a 'thank you.' Shaking her head, Raven sighed and with a quick glance around to make sure that Malchior wasn't prowling near by, she picked up the book and began to read.

"Hey there hot stuff." Raven stopped her reading and let her eyes travel up to the speaker, making sure to throw in one of her famous death glares. In front of her stood a tall man; he was dressed in all red and was very muscular. Rolling her eyes in an annoyed manner, she put down her book.

"Can I help you?" She asked. Her voice was cold as she glared icily at the man before her. Instead of answering he leaned forward until he was nose to nose with her.

"The name's Adonis. And who might you be, kitty-cat?" He purred to her. Raven stiffened and pulled back, tucking a piece of her unbound hair behind her ear.

"Can I help you?" Raven repeated, her tone now holding some venom to it, eyes flashing dangerously.

"Hey, I have an idea how about I hang around till after you get off work and-" The flirt was cut off by another voice.

"Raven, sweetheart." Adonis whirled around. There stood Garfield, he held another book in his hands, but gently placed it on a table as he moved to stand beside Adonis. Instead of addressing him though, he turned and smiled at Raven, reaching out to gently push a piece of hair behind her ear when it slipped out. Raven jumped at the contact and a faint blush tinted her cheeks. Though Gar was her friend, she didn't like being touched in such a friendly way. "How's your day going, honey?" He asked and she watched as he winked at her.

"What do you want little man?" Adonis towered over Garfield, his eyebrows furrowed as he took him in. "We're busy here, so why don't you run along and play." He snapped.

"I believe that I was talking to Raven, not you." Garfield snapped as he turned back to the tall man before him.

"This is a library gentlemen. I suggest you choose a book or you leave." The three noticed Malchior leaning against one of the bookshelves.

"I already have mine." Gar grabbed the book he had placed on the table. "Can you say the same for yourself?" He asked Adonis.

Adonis didn't reply. Instead he turned in his heel with a 'humph' and stalked out angrily. Malchior nodded before he himself turned to organized books on wizards and giants. Garfield faced Raven with a grin on his face.

"Sorry about that. I know you don't like to be touched." He dropped his book into her hands as he once more leaned against the desk as she checked the book.

Raven raised an eyebrow. "How did you know that?" She asked as she handed him the book.

He shrugged. "Well, I've noticed that Kori has a tendency to hug people. Whenever she hugs you, you get uncomfortable. Plus, whenever I touch you, like when we are at the arcade, you stiffen up, and don't relax for a while." He said after a moment of contemplation.

"That's pretty observant."

"Well, mostly I'm not, but with you it's different. You seen almost never to give away what you feel, so when you slip up a little, I notice. Besides, it intrigues me to find out how you feel. You're so secretive." He smiled slightly at her. "Oh, I almost forgot the reason why I came."

"You mean besides that point of getting a book?" Raven asked quietly. She was still slightly shocked at what Garfield had said. She intrigued him? Nobody had ever told her that before.

"Yeah, the book was just an excuse. I really came because there's a new club opening up this Saturday. And Richard is asked Kori to go with him. He told Vic and me about it and we thought we'd tag along with some friends. I wanted to invite you before Kori did, so I came to visit you."

"I don't go to clubs." Raven replied as she picked her book up again.

"Aw, C'mon Rae. You know you want to. Kori says you don't get out enough, so I decided that you were going to come."

"No."

"Yes, and I'm going to be your personal escort. Not a date," He waved his hands in protection as she shot him a glare. "Just an outing between friends. If we end up dancing, then so be it." He grinned and waggled his thick eyebrows.

Raven let a small smile slip. "No, sorry Garfield. I don't dance."

Garfield shrugged, but Raven was sure that he was planning something else; he had a sly look on his face that could only be called evil. "Well, I guess I should thank you."

"Huh?" Garfield was ripped away from his thoughts as the dark girl spoke. "For what?"

"It's the second time you've rescued me from some jerk or another." Raven said. "Not that I couldn't have handled them, I just am surprised that someone's looking out for me." She added quickly.

"Sure, it's no problem Rae, that's what friends do." He gave her a grin before standing and stretching. Well, I have to go. I'll see you in two days, alright?"

"I said I'm not going." Raven called to his retreating back, and as she did so she could have sworn she heard a chuckle.

X

Keys jingled happily as Raven slipped one of them into the lock of her apartment. She was home early tonight, Malchior had let her leave since a new employee had started working. The door swung open and the sight of Kori, relaxing on the couch and munching on chips as she watched some new program on TV, greeted Raven. "Don't you have a date you're supposed to be getting ready for?" Raven asked as she plopped down next to her friend and grabbed some chips.

"Yes, but not for a while. Besides, everyone is coming here before we leave, so I don't really have to change until they come." The chips in Kori's mouth muffled her speech and she reached out for her glass of Coke.

"Why are they coming here? I heard that you were meeting outside of the club," Raven sighed, debating whether she had the energy to make herself a cup of herbal tea.

"No reason," Kori yawned and snuggled deeper into the couch. Raven shrugged, Kori's silence was odd, but she didn't really mind it, she had a head ach from the constant chattering of a man who had sat next to her on the bus home. Shaking her head, she carefully rose and moved to the small kitchen just down the hall.

Kori sighed once her friend had left. She hated being so uncommunicative with Raven, but she had a good reason. Raven would find it out very soon. Kori let an evil giggle slip from her lips as she stretched from her slouched position and sat up. Clicking off the TV, she ran her fingers through her damp, recently washed hair. Standing she stealthily made her way to her room and shut the door.

"Raven, I shall be in my room if you need me," Kori called and held her breath for her friends reply.

"Whatever Kori, I'm going to my room to meditate," Ravens muffled answer came. Letting another sigh of relief out, Kori dived onto her bed and rolled onto her stomach. Leaning over she reached under the bed and pulled out two bags, one of which held many bright colored clothes. Looking through it, she pulled out a few different outfits and tried them on. She finally deciding on a red tank top and blue mini skirt, She pulled her outfit on and flopped back down on her bed. She glanced at her clock and sighed. Still fifteen minutes before Bee came.

Raven was interrupted from her meditation as the doorbell rang. She grumbled as she opened one eye and glared in the direction the sound came from and ended up giving death looks to the innocent door of her room.

She closed her eyes again as she heard Kori answer the door, and reached for her herbal tea. Taking a long soothing sip from the steaming liquid she sighed happily and put the mug back down on the bedside table. Taking a deep breath before she returned to her meditation she was again interrupted, but this time by someone knocking at her door.

"What?" she snapped. The door swung open to reveal Bee and Kori hands behind their backs and smiling innocently. Growling she glared at her friends. "I already said I wasn't going to come so you two just go have fun."

No. Sorry Rae, but tonight you're coming out to have fun too," Bee snapped right back at the grumpy girl before she and Kori held up what they had been hiding behind their backs. Kori held a halter-top, completely back except for the words devil written across the chest, in one hand and in the other she held a black mini skirt. Bee was holding a kit that was unmistakably one that held make-up.

Raven stared blankly at her friends as they grinned evilly and began to advance toward her. "No… way…in…hell!" Raven growled as she backed away from her friends. "There is no way you are getting me into those clothes and there's no way I'm coming with you."

"Oh I don't know about that Raven," Bee laughed as she kept on advancing toward her stubborn friend. "We have everything planned out very nicely." She grabbed Raven's hand and, much to the dark girls curses and protests, dragged her to the bathroom. Bee, along with Kori's help pushed Raven into the bathroom and leaned against the door as Raven tried to push her way back out.

"Now," Bee panted as she struggled to keep her friend from escaping from the bathroom. "You have exactly thirty seconds to get into the shower and get cleaned up before we come in and put you in there ourselves." The pounding on the door stopped and there was a moment's silence.

"You wouldn't," Raven growled. The two girls outside heard her shift slightly from foot to foot.

"One…Two…Three…" Bee started to count loud enough for Raven to hear.

"Fine, you win. I'm getting in the shower." Raven muttered and Kori and Bee heard the shower turn on and Raven step inside. The two girls grinned. Step one completed.

Kori carefully opened the bathroom door and grabbed Raven's clothes; replacing them with the ones she and Bee had bought that afternoon. "Raven," Kori called once the she and Bee heard the shower turn off. "Put on the clothes that are in there and then come out. You have two minutes."

Bee and Kori waited and then heard a curse echo off the walls of the bathroom. "You two can't even imagine the pain you're going to be in when I'm finished with you." Raven spat but was only answered with giggles from her so-called friends. Raven looked down at the clothes her friends had bought her and reached down to pick the halter-top up. Sighing, she pulled it over her head.

X

The doorbell rang exactly half and hour later and Kori gleefully answered it. "Hello friends!" she squealed happily. Richard smiled at her and nodded as she offered for them to come in. "Bee will be here in one moment." At that moment the said girl appeared around the corner, struggling with something.

"Come on," Bee grunted and at that moment pulled a very annoyed Raven around the corner. Her hair had been pulled back in a complicated bun, but two tendrils of hair were left to frame her face. Her eyes were narrowed in a glare as she muttered something to Bee who simply laughed it off.

Richard raised an eyebrow. "I thought Raven turned down your offer, Gar."

"I did." Raven answered as Bee pulled her along. She was resisting less now, though she didn't look very happy.

"We decided that we couldn't leave our friend here alone while we all went out to have fun, so we're bringing, or dragging, her along." Kori laughed.

"Well, alright." Victor nodded and turned to Richard and Garfield. "We had better get going, the club opens at eight-thirty."

Richard smiled and offered his hand to Kori, who grinned and took it. Bee and Victor went ahead of everybody else, chatting casually about cars and different new machines. Garfield and Raven walked in silence together brining up the rear.

"I know you had something to do with this." Raven muttered to him as they climbed into the backseat of Richard's car, Victor had taken Bee in his car, seeing how they all couldn't squeeze together in one.

"Maybe. I told Kori about you not wanting to come, and she and Bee cooked up that little plan. My role was very minor." Garfield laughed as Raven coughed in disbelief. "But admit it, Raven. You're glad you're coming along." He grinned as she shot him a glare.

The ride to the club was pretty much uneventful, Raven sulked as she stared out the window while Richard and Kori struck up a conversation about something pointless in Raven's view. Garfield was quiet, but seemed content to be with his friends. When they arrived, they met back up with Victor and Bee and proceded to go into the club.

Richard and Kori disappeared, muttering something about dancing. Victor and Bee followed suit and were gone. "You know, it's kind of funny how it always ends up just the two of us." Garfield commented to Raven as the two made their way to the drink counter.

Raven shrugged and ordered herself a coke. "No alcohol, huh?" Garfield asked as he sat down next to his friend.

"I have a low tolerance level." Raven replied.

Next to them, a girl with pink hair pulled into pigtails ordered a drink. Her eyes flashed with laugher at a joke a small kid was telling her. "You know Gizmo, you should find a new hobby. Girls don't tend to go for that kind of stuff." Her voice was light and something about it reminded Raven of a cat. Garfield noticed where Raven's eyes had wandered and he grinned.

"That's Jinks," he informed her. "She's into witch craft and tends to be kind of creepy." Raven raised an eyebrow.

"I think I've seen her somewhere before, she looks familiar." Raven turned to Garfield. "Do you want anything to drink?"

"Nah, I'm good." Raven shrugged.

The song that had been pounding the last five minutes changed to a slower one, it's gentle melody wafting through the club. Garfield reached out and grabbed Raven's hand. "Let's dance."

Raven protested slightly but Gar wasn't listening and pulled her onto the dance floor.

"I don't dance." Raven murmured as Garfield gently placed his hands on her waist and hers on his shoulders and guided her along to the music.

"You didn't play videogames either." Garfield chuckled and held Raven closer as she tried to move away.

"I still don't." Raven muttered.

"You did once."

"So?"

"So there's a first time for everything." Garfield laughed and twirled Raven, humming along to the song.

"Look," he gestured across the floor and Raven saw Kori and Richard. They were in relatively the same position a she and Gar were in except Koir's head rested on Richard's shoulder and when Richard whispered something in Kori's ear, she laughed and looked up at him, their faces dangerously close.

"It's nice that Richard has found someone he can be close to," Garfield murmured to Raven as he felt her relax in his arms. "He's never had anyone before now, his parents died when he was still little and he doesn't open up to people very much, not even to me and Victor."

"I'm glad for Kori too," Raven whispered after a moment. "She's had a lot of guys after her, but she was never really interested in any of them. It seems that she really likes Richard." Sighing Raven let herself relax slightly and Garfield grinned.

"What about you Raven?" Gar asked casually.

"Huh?"

"Have you had a lot of guys?"

"No, guys have never really gone for me. They tend to be more interested in Kori, I've been in the background." Raven replied.

"Hmm, I don't know why." Garfield whispered softly in her ear.

"What?" Raven looked up startled.

Garfield drew her closer, wrapping his arms around her more securely and smiled softly at her. "I don't know why nobody has been interested in you. I mean you're a mystery; you draw away from people when they reach out to you, but at the same time you do want attention, even though you, yourself don't realize it. You don't need to talk, but when you do, you have a lot to say. And Raven, you're beautiful, you're not like other girls, you don't try to impress other people, you are your own person." He watched as Raven's eyes darkened and she looked away.

"How can you say that? We barely know each other, yet you talk like you've known me forever." Raven asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"How can I not? You try to hide, but if someone pays attention, they can tell." Gar replied.

Raven drew back from him. "No one has ever said that about me."

"That's because no one ever looked." Raven looked up her friend. His eyes sparkled and a small smile spread across his face as he watched her and she felt a small smile form on her own lips.

"Garfield…"

He shook his head and gently took her hand. "Raven, I was wondering… well would you…um… would you go out with me?" Raven looked at him shocked. He wanted her to be his girlfriend?

"O-okay," Raven whispered, still slightly in shock. Garfield grinned and pulled her back into his arms to finish the dance, holding her slightly closer than before.

X

Raven glanced at Garfield; his bright eyes were glowing in amusement as he talked. "What?" he asked as he noticed her eyes fixed on him.

Raven shook her head. "Nothing."

Garfield shrugged and the two walked in silence, keeping each other company on the cold November afternoon. "Raven?"

"Hmm?"

"What were parents like?" Garfield asked quietly, he cocked his head as he watched her tense slightly.

"Why do you want to know?" her violet eyes searched his, looking for something.

"No reason, I just want to know how you became who you are. You know I'm that way, Rae, always curious." He flashed her a grin and gently took her hand as they walked.

Raven didn't speak for a moment, and when she did, her voice was soft, sad and just slightly angry.

"My parents never got along, and my mother raised me by herself since I was born. Occasionally, my father dropped in, he said it was to see how I was doing, but all he was doing was hiding from the police. In my senior year at high school, my dad came home. I was at school and my mom was home alone. When my dad came, she wouldn't let him come in, she said she had put up with him for long enough. But, my father didn't like that, he tried to come in anyway, but she still wouldn't let him. I don't really know the details after that, but he killed her, he killed my mother. He's in jail now, he has been for that last four years." Raven turned to him as she felt him stop walking.

"Garfield?" Without a word, he drew her to him in a gentle hug and the two stood together, just like that for a little longer.

To be continued…

Okay, sorry if Raven seemed slightly OOC, she's a hard character to work with, but I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. The next chapter won't be posted till, at the earliest Wednesday because I'm going to Seattle tomorrow, but I promise I'll write while I'm there so I can update soon. Love ya all! Review!