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

Author's Note: Hey all, I just wanted to warn you that near the end of the chapter, there are a lot of misspelled words. See, the thing is, my character Deckland is Irish, and I was trying to capture the Irish accent with the words. So, if you don't recognize an Irish accent, it's gonna look like I'm an idiot. But I'm not.

And I think after this chapter, I'm changing the rating to "M." It's not because I'm gonna write graphic slash sex(sorry, I don't think I'm ready for that just yet.) It's just because there's gonna be a lot of derogatory name calling (and more)and I don't think the kiddies who come to this site should openly be exposed to it, unless they know how to get to the stories rated, "M."

So, that's all. I hope you all still love the story.

w.t.s.

Chapter 10

"Well, here we are." Raven sighed as they reached Chelsea's front door. Chelsea looked at her phone.

"Seven minutes early." She said, and sat down on the cold stone steps. Raven followed, wrinkling her forehead as she stared at Chelsea with wide, curious eyes.

"Chels?"

"I'm not gonna waste seven minutes inside when I could be out here with you."

Raven smiled. "But we can't do anything. We're in public. We're not in the park anymore."

Chelsea shrugged. "That's okay. Just sitting next to you is enough." Chelsea looked around the neighborhood. There were people walking on the sidewalks and cars passing down the street. A few people were leaning out the windows, either talking to someone on the ground or looking up at the night sky. Chelsea looked at Raven and moved in closer to her. "Give me your hand."

"Hmm?" Raven said, looking at Chelsea.

Chelsea smiled. "Trust me."

Raven smiled back as she moved her hand to Chelsea's. Chelsea grabbed it, slipping her fingers between Raven's. Then, she led it to the small space between them, covering it with her back. "There. No one can see us."

"Last time we did this, you freaked."

"Yeah, but you said that holding my hand made you feel safe."

Raven nodded.

"Well…it makes me feel safe too. Even if we're hiding it, knowing that you're right here, holding my hand, makes me feel…"

"Safe?" Raven interrupted, laughing.

"Loved." Chelsea finished, and Raven could feel more joyful tears coming on.

"Me too." She whispered, her voice hoarse with emotion. She squeezed Chelsea's hand. "One day, we'll be able to do this in front of everyone."

"Yeah." Chelsea nodded, looking at her feet. "One day."

One day, Chelsea would be able to show her affection in public. One day, she would openly hold Raven's hand and kiss her in the middle of a crowded street, where everyone would see. One day, Chelsea would be comfortable with this and not care about what others thought of her. One day.

She heard the click of the front door lock and the squeak of the doorknob, and Chelsea pulled her hand from Raven's. Both girls stood and turned, just as the door opened and the light from the inner hallway cast a spotlight on them. It was only shadowed by the figure standing just beside the door. Chester Daniels.

"Hi." Raven said.

"Raven." Chester said politely. "I see you've brought Chelsea home on time."

Raven and Chelsea nodded. "Actually, I'm early." Chelsea said, checking her cell phone again. They still had a minute left, but it looked like their time was up.

Chester nodded, his graying mustache wiggling a little as he moved his upper lip. "Yes." They stood there awkwardly, and Raven could feel Chester's eyes on her. Was this how all of her old dates felt? Was this how any boyfriend felt? Could they feel the eyes of a protective father burning holes into their skulls? That's how Raven felt.

"Di…Did you girls have a-a good time?"

"Mmm-hmmm." Raven said, trying not to break eye contact. She didn't want Chester to think she was too afraid of him. Raven never really talked to Chelsea's father. He was around every once in a while, cracking odd-ball jokes and sometimes asking Raven about school. They'd only spent about a handful of minutes in a room together at a time, and he was nice enough. But now, he seemed intimidating, even if he didn't mean to.

"That's nice."

Raven nodded again. There was more awkward silence, but then Chelsea broke it. "I'll be in in a minute Dad."

"All right. Good night Raven."

"Good night…sir." Raven responded and then closed her eyes as Chester raised an eyebrow at her before closing the door.

Chelsea sighed and then turned to Raven. "Good night sir?"

Raven shrugged. "It seemed appropriate at the time."

"Ah-huh." Chelsea nodded, smiling and Raven knew that she wasn't going to live that response down. She was going to be hearing a lot of "goodnight sir's" for a while.

"I better get inside before my mother comes out here." Chelsea said, putting her hands in her jacket pockets. Raven nodded.

"I wish I could kiss you right now."

"I know." Chelsea said.

They stood there for a minute, and then Chelsea leaned in and kissed Raven on the cheek, much like schoolgirls did when they saw their friends between classes. But before she pulled away, she whispered in Raven's ear, "I love you."

Raven smiled. "I love you too." She mouthed silently.

Chelsea pushed the door open and hopped up the small step to the inside. "Good night." She said, holding the door with her hand.

"Good night." Raven said, turning and beginning to walk down the steps.

"Sir." Chelsea said, laughing. And he she closed the door.

Raven lifted her head toward the sky and shook it, sighing and laughing. She walked home, feeling lighter than the clouds in the sky. Tonight was perfect; things couldn't get any better.

Sitting on an old green armchair in the shed behind his house, Rocky took the last few chugs of his beer before crushing the can and throwing it behind him, burping loudly. Michael was sitting on a duct-taped bean bag, flicking playing cards across the room.

"I'm bored." Michael stated lowly, throwing the last card at the red-painted wall.

The hang-out the boys had made up wasn't anything special. Outside, the faded and dirty red paint was chipping and peeling away. The one window in the back was smudged , fogged, and covered with cobwebs. Inside, the paint was a little better, but not that much. Posters of heavy metal bands and half-naked women took up some space. An old yellow couch sat off to one wall, the material thin at the corners and the cushions ripped, exposing loose white cotton. There was the green arm chair that Rocky was sitting on directly across from the couch. And then there was the black, duct-taped bean bag chair that belonged to Mike, which Mike was sitting on, sitting a few feet away from the green chair. There was a Styrofoam cooler next to the green chair, which held the gang's beer and whatever else needed cooling, and in the center of the shed was some loose floorboards, which hid their cigarettes, other narcotics, and money stash in a big, dull grey metal box with a lock on it. Next to the couch was a folded poker table and four metal chairs, which the guys pulled out every couple of days when they were bored. There was a stereo just beneath the window, but that was broken when Rocky threw it in a fit of rage. Mike replaced it with his boom box for the time being, and the loud, fast paced sounds of White Zombie's "More Human Than Human" filled the room. The shed floor was riddled with garbage, and Rocky kicked a can toward Mike, hitting his boot.

"So, whaddya wanna do? We ain't got no cash, Deck and Tyrone ain't here and I don't feel like playing cards with you."

Mike shrugged. "Got any more beer?"

Rocky shook his head. "Nah, it's gone."

"Freaking drunk." Michael muttered, and Rocky took another empty beer can and threw it at Michael's head. It hit Michael's temple with a 'clink' and Michael hissed. "Damn."

"Shut up."

Suddenly, the door burst open and a very excited Deckland walked in, with a tranquil (or indifferent) Tyrone behind him.

"Rocky…ya ain't gonna believe whut me an T. just saw." Deckland shouted, his Irish accent becoming thicker with his excitement.

"What?" Rocky asked, not really interested.

"Ya girl Red and her mate Raven…kissen!"

Michael snapped his head toward Deckland, who nodded wildly. Rocky leaned forward in his chair, looking at Deckland and then at Tyrone, who nodded as well. Deckland walked in circles around the shed.

"Oh it wus outrageous! Ya girl wus all…'I luv you!'" Deckland said in a high pitched voice, trying his best to impersonate a girl. "And she wus kissen Raven all over her face an neck. And Raven wus all 'I luv ya too! It was fecking crazy!"

"No way." Michael boomed, standing up. "You're full of it."

"I ain't." Deckland said, turning to Tyrone. Tyrone shook his head slowly.

"No kidding." Rocky said, laughing a little. "Kissing and everything?"

Deckland nodded. "Rocky, if ya seen it, ya woulda went mad!"

"You're a liar." Michael yelled, lunging at Deckland and pushing him.

"Am fecking not ya dumb shet!" Deckland yelled back, balling his hand into a fist and flexing his arm. Pulsing blue veins bulged from his thick, muscled forearm. He lunged at Michael, but Rocky jumped between them and held Deckland back.

"All right ladies! Calm down now!" Rocky shouted, pushing Deckland back. Deckland blew out hot air, lowering his arm and tightening his jaw. "So…" Rocky hissed, his raspy voice cracking with delight. "…we got a couple a dykes on our hands."

Deckland and Tyrone nodded.

"No wonder she wasn't interested Mikey…seems like you ain't her type." Rocky joked, laughing. Michael just shook his head and stomped toward the door, throwing it open, leaving, and then slamming it shut.

All three watched him leave. "Ya want me tah get 'em Rock?" Deckland asked, and Rocky shook his head.

"Nah, let him cool off for a bit. What we need to do…is figure out how we're gonna get back at those dykes for playing wit us and making me and Mike get two weeks detention."

Tyrone nodded, Deckland laughed, and Rocky cracked his knuckles, a wide evil smile spreading across his face.