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

Author's Note: Hey, just wanted to say that in this story, Principal Lawler doesn't spit. It's hard to create a serious scene when the man's spitting all over everyone. Plus, I couldn't think of a whole bunch of P-words, S-words, and T-words that would make him spit. Sorry...I just couldn't fit it in.

Chapter 7

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday breezed by without a problem. Rocky and his boys weren't in school, so Raven and Chelsea didn't have much to worry about, besides their parents. It had been a rough week relationship-wise. After Monday night's fiasco, Chelsea didn't want to hang around the Baxter household past four, and Raven was on Cory watch, so she couldn't go over to Chelsea's. Basically, all they had was school and the walk home, and since both were public, there were no displays of affection at all, with the exception of linking arms. (Chelsea thought it was okay since many straight women link arms all the time...Raven thought it was ridiculous, but it gave her a chance to hold her girlfriend.)

Friday morning, Raven was cranky from lack of affection, and she didn't think she could make it through the school day without screaming. She ripped open her schoolbag, threw some books inside her locker and slammed her locker door shut. Eddie walked by, stopping and jumping a little at the loud noise.

"Hey Rae, you okay?"

"Fine." Raven snapped back unintentionally and Eddie flinched a little.

"Well, excuse me for asking." Eddie responded, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I'm sorry." Raven sighed, looking down and picking at the edge of her binder. "This hasn't been a good week."

"You have a fight with Chels?"

"No. It's more our parents than anything else." Raven whispered, bringing Eddie closer to their lockers so no one within range could hear. "I thought telling them would be a good idea. Turns out I was wrong...again."

"Give them time Rae. Let them get used to it."

"Chelsea doesn't even want to come over anymore. That's the worst part. I barely get to see her outside of school." Raven could feel herself getting more emotional than she really should in public, but she couldn't help it. "I mean...she's my girlfriend Eddie. If it were a boy, my parents wouldn't care."

"Oh, I'd think they'd care Rae." Eddie nodded wildly, laughing a little. "This is new. And it wasn't what they expected, so you have to let them work it out. Remember how I acted when I found out? It wasn't easy learning that about you."

"Yeah, but we talked, and you accepted it way faster than they're accepting it."

"Well, you ain't my kid. You're just my best friend. It's different." Eddie shrugged.

"I guess." Raven looked at Eddie and smiled a little. "I'm sorry that I'm dumping all of this on you, but I'm glad you listen."

"No worries Rae. It'll work out. Trust me."

Eddie and Raven hugged just as Chelsea walked up. She seemed less energetic than usual.

"Hey Chels." Both Eddie and Raven said as they broke apart.

"Hi guys. What's going on?"

"Nothing." Eddie replied, winking at Raven. "I'll see you guys later."

Chelsea nodded and Raven mouthed a, "thanks" to Eddie as he walked away. Raven watched him go and then approached Chelsea, whose head was buried deep in her locker. "You lost in there?" Raven asked and Chelsea pulled her head out.

"No. Just looking for my pen." Chelsea said flatly. "Got it." She said, pulling an old, chewed up pen from her locker.

"So," Raven began, moving closer to Chelsea and looking around. Nobody was close enough to hear. "Do you want to go out Saturday night?"

"Yeah sure. Where?" Chelsea opened her bookbag and began to sift through books and papers.

"I dunno. Movies?"

"Whatever. You pick." Chelsea said quickly, distracted by something in her bookbag.

"You okay? You seem a little..." Raven put a hand on Chelsea's bookbag and lowered it. Chelsea looked up. "...distracted."

"I'm sorry. It's not even first period and I'm already having a bad day."

"Yeah, I know the feeling. But, today's Friday, so that's good, right?"

Chelsea nodded. Then, the bell rang. "We better get to class before we're late."

Both girls rushed to class, feeling that the day was already starting to spiral downward.

Raven, Eddie, and Chantel were sitting at a lunch table, waiting for Chelsea to show up. She had to get something from her locker and then had to get on line for lunch, so she was late. Chantel was staring at her plate of food, trying her best not to snap and inhale the whole thing. Raven could see her want.

"You know, Chantel, you don't have to wait for Chelsea. You can eat."

"Okay." Chantel responded, digging into her plate with force. Eddie tried to grab a french fry off of her tray, and she smacked his hand away.

"Come on baby, it's just one fry. I didn't get any." Eddie whined.

"Well, that's what happens when you tell the lunch lady she looks like Rodney Dangerfield."

"What?" Raven squealed, bursting into laughter.

"I can't help it if the woman bears a striking resemblance to Rodney."

"Yeah, but you didn't have to point it out either." Chantel scolded Eddie, and then slapped his hand again as he tried for another fry.

"Hey Raven." A voice said behind her and she turned quickly. It was Ben.

"Hey." Raven said with a smile as he walked by.

"So, you're talking to Chelsea's ex?" Chantel asked between mouthfuls.

"Not really. Just a 'hey.'"

"Isn't that a big no-no?"

Raven shrugged. "Chelsea doesn't care."

"Speaking of Chelsea, where is she?" Eddie said, scanning the lunchroom.

Chelsea thanked the lunch lady (who looked like Rodney Dangerfield) as she paid her veggie burger, fries, an apple, and water. She slid the tray off the counter, being careful not to let the apple roll off when someone stepped in front of her. She stopped and looked up, meeting the eyes of Michael Whitman.

"Hey." His deep, voice sent a chill down her spine.

"Excuse me." Chelsea mumbled, immediately looking at her tray and trying to pass him. But he stepped in her way again. Then, she jumped as she felt a rough hand on her shoulder. Chelsea turned her head sideways a little, but she already knew who it was. Rocky.

"Hey Red. What'cha got there?" His cracky voice echoed in her ear.

"Lunch."

"Hmm." Rocky responded, nodding his head. "Why don't you come sit with us?" He motioned with his thumb over to the corner of the cafeteria where Tyrone and Deckland were sitting, staring at her.

"S-some friends are waiting for me."

"Come on. They can do without you for a day. Just sit and talk to my friend Mike here. He wants to get to know you."

Chelsea looked over at the table that Eddie and Raven were sitting at. They didn't see her, and she was starting to get really scared. The whole lunchroom was buzzing with people, but no one paid attention to what Rocky and Mike were doing. Maybe they didn't want to pay attention.

Chelsea backed away a little, and Rocky tightened his grip on her shoulder. "Where you going?"

"I told you."

"Yeah, and I told you to sit with my friend Mike. Come on, he ain't gonna bite...I promise."

Raven looked at her watch. Chelsea was really late. Where was she? Raven looked around the lunchroom herself, and her heart constricted when she saw them. Chelsea, scared and sandwiched between Rocky and Mike. Raven stood up and quickly jogged over to Chelsea.

"Chelsea hey girl! What are you doing over here?" Raven shouted and could see Chelsea sigh in relief. Raven grabbed Chelsea's arm. "Come on."

"Hey. What are you doing?" Rocky asked as a wicked smile spread across his face.

"Oh, see here, the thing is, me and my friends were waiting on Chels here. Got a project, very important. Due tomorrow."

"Oh, okay. Well, me and my friends..." Rocky said, pointing toward Tyrone and Deckland and then at Mike, "Don't care about the project. We want Red to sit with us."

"Her name isn't 'Red.' Her name is Chelsea, and she can't sit with you today, we have to do a project." Raven stated firmly, looking directly into Rocky's eyes. Rocky smiled, unphased, but he let go of Chelsea's shoulder. Raven pulled Chelsea closer to her in pure protective instinct. Chelsea still didn't take her eyes off of her tray, but she could feel Michael's creepy gaze.

"Ooh, fiesty." Rocky taunted, and suddenly grabbed Raven's wrist. "I want this one."

"Hey, let go--" Raven yelled, and Rocky pulled her close to him. She almost gagged at his odor. The smell was burning her nostrils and making its way down her throat. She tried to push away, but his grip was so strong...

"Come on, stop!" Chelsea yelled, putting her tray down. She moved toward Rocky and a squirming Raven, but a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist. It was Michael. He pulled, lifting her up off the floor and twirling her around.

"Mr. Collera, Mr. Whitman, let those girls go." A loud voice boomed, and all four teens froze. Chelsea snapped her head to the side. Principal Lawler was standing in the middle of the lunchroom, his hands balled in fists on his hips.

Michael released Chelsea and she hit the floor on her feet, stumbling a little. Raven pulled her wrist from Rocky's grip, rubbing it and glaring at him. Chelsea moved to her and both girls put a few feet between themselves and their tormentors.

"Come on man. We were just having a little fun."

"My name isn't 'man,' Mr. Collera. And it didn't look like Ms. Baxter or Ms. Daniels were having fun. I see you harass them again, and it's two weeks detention. That goes for you too Mr. Whitman."

Rocky looked at Michael and then back at Mr. Lawler. "Yeah well, my name is Rocky and me and my friend don't give a sh--"

"That's it. Two weeks detention for both of you. To my office immediately."

Neither Rocky or Michael moved as Mr. Lawler stared at them. Raven could see Rocky's face turning red with anger.

"This is all your fault..." Rocky spat at Raven and Chelsea, moving toward them at an alarming rate. Raven stepped in front of Chelsea protectively, but her heart was beating a mile a minute. His sudden fury was frightening.

"MR. COLLERA!" Lawler shouted, and Rocky stopped in his tracks. "Take one more step, and you're suspended for two weeks."

Rocky eyes narrowed and his jaw tightened as he eyed Raven. It seemed as if he were contemplating whether two weeks suspension was worth the trouble. Then, suddenly, he straightened up, and another evil smile spread across his face. Chelsea looked at Michael, who didn't move or say anything, but his eyes...his burning eyes were on her again. She felt as if she were under a microscope. It was becoming harder to breathe.

"My office, now!"

"Fine." Rocky said, backing off. "But this ain't over."

"Yeah, that's great. Bye now." Raven answered back. Rocky moved his head to the side and Chelsea flinched at the audible crack his neck made. Principal Lawler ushered both Michael and Rocky out of the lunchroom, already starting to lecture them. Raven grabbed Chelsea's tray and said, "Come on Chels. Let's sit down."

When they got to the table and Chelsea sat down, Raven put a hand on her back. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Thanks." Chelsea said nervously, shaken by the whole thing.

Eddie stared at Raven, his mouth agape. Chantel was still focused on her rapidly disappearing food.

"What are you staring at?" Raven said, still in a confrontational mood. She felt like starting a fight with someone, anyone.

"You just confronted Rocky Collera..."

"Yeah, and thanks for all your help." Raven snapped.

"Y-you know I would have girl." Eddie laughed nervously. "B-but Principal Lawler had it under control."

Chelsea rolled her eyes.

"Chantel, how do you put up with this?" Raven asked and Eddie made his classic hurt face.

Chantel shrugged. "It's a mystery."

"Naw, you put up with me cause I'm your snookie-puss."

Chantel nodded and kissed Eddie. "You are."

"AW Cookie-lips!" Eddie kissed Chantel again and both Raven and Chelsea faked a gag.

"Great...lost my appetite." Chelsea said, throwing down her veggie-burger.

Eddie scoffed and then stole a fry.

Raven would have laughed if she wasn't watching the other two guys. They were sending her death glares as they stood up. She had an unbelievable urge to punch them, but who didn't at one time or another? It would definitely be suicide to do so, but at the moment, she didn't care. This was the second time they'd scared Chelsea, and Raven was getting really sick of their tyranny.

Tyrone lifted his empty can of soda towards Raven, and let it fall from his hands. It hit the cafeteria floor with a clang and rolled around a little. Deckland looked at the can, and then at Raven. Then, he stomped on the can with all of his might, and the crunch echoed throughout the room.

Chelsea saw it and felt her breath hitch in her throat. She looked at Raven, who stared at them with her own fury.

They left the lunchroom, and Raven watched them go.