Chapter 2
Raven hastily shoved the last collection of her chips into her mouth as the school bell chimed over the school grounds. Cass rose as eyebrow as she watched her friend perform a miraculous display of trying to get all of her chips off the plate and into her mouth. Cass decided to help her with the lunch, her hand sneaked forward and she nicked a few chips in her palm and tried to quickly withdraw the hand. Raven saw and made a muffled, "Oi!" when she swallowed her chip to scowled at Cass, taking her last chip and throwing it into her mouth before the pair rose, laughing together.
The laughter soon stopped when it loomed upon them that it was back to lesson time. Raven paused in the corridor, looking to Cass, "What lesson have you got now?"
"World Studies," informed Cass unhappily as her eyes drifted down her timetable, "Damnit, I got Ms. Joaquin. Had her last year, why prolong my torture?"
"Ouch," said Raven gently, feeling pity for her friend. Her eyes fell back to her own timetable and she found herself grinning, "Ooh, I got double I.T."
Cass groaned, "Alright if you like that stuff." But Raven did. I.T was perhaps her best subject. It was the one she enjoyed most.
Raven looked to Cass with a sly smile, "Oh this is precious," she giggled, "Look who I've got," Cass tilted her head to study Raven's timetable, her eyes floating around the piece of paper till they found the correct box. Her eyes widen before narrowing and watching Raven with envy.
"Mr. Gerald," read Cass aloud, "You lucky bitch," she declared to Raven. If there was ever a teacher who deserved students, it was Mr. Gerald. He was closer to their age, extremely friendly, and, Raven and Cass noted daily, gorgeous.
"Less of that language," came a voice from behind them. Both Raven and Cass spun their heads to see Mr. Pewter watching them, "Why aren't you in class girls? The bell went a few minutes ago."
"Just looking where we are next.. new timetable and all," muttered Raven with a shrug. Her eyes glanced to Cass, "See you later," and the pair quickly departed before Mr. Pewter.
"Very good, Raven!" said Mr. Gerald as he leant over Raven's monitor and nodding to the work on screen. Raven practically beamed. If there was any way to a teacher's heart, it had through good grades. Raven eagerly said her thanks, determined to keep eye contact with him until he turned away to go round the rest of the class. Raven's eyes turned back to the screen and she sighed quietly. Spreadsheet building for her was a breeze. It was the first time their class had been introduced to it, and through the first lesson she had completed the class's scheduled week of work.
There was nothing else for her to do, and anyway it was ten minutes till the end of school day. Raven relaxed somewhat, lifting her pen to doodle on the edge of the task list paper. She spared a thought for Cass, for after her World Studies lesson she had P.E. Not a nice afternoon for they were her least favourite subjects.
"Right! Log off everybody! Good work, we'll continue that on Wednesday!" called Mr. Gerald through the classroom, "But not all of us," he added in undertone to Raven with a grin, "You've done great, Raven." He then added a wink in a friendly manner but Raven practically skipped a heartbeat. The musical tune of computers shutting down echoed around the room, the bell finally rung through the school and the students quickly bustled out of the doors to head off home to recuperate from the first day back.
Raven spotted Cass walking round the side of the Gym hall, her expression glum and her appearance untidy by the activities in the Gym. "Cass!" Raven called, running over to her and grinning sheepishly, "What did you do in P.E?"
"Running," moaned Cass, her face sporting fiery cheeks, "I can run, but not for that length of time!" Raven nodded her understanding, lifting her drink from her bag to finish it off but Cass snatched it out of her hand and quickly downed it, giving a sigh of relief, "Thanks," she breathed with a limp smile to her friend.
Raven shook her head gently, "It's alright, but you could at least ask."
Cass shrugged her shoulders apologetically as the pair set off down the street. She made another groane, pushing her sleekblonde hair back, tying it up to free the hair from her hot face. Raven watched her idly a moment, Cass had gorgeous hair. No matter how much Cass liked to complain about her appearance, her hair was wonderful. Raven wished she had hair like that, and a figure like Cass's too. She had a great figure even though she detested all sport activity! Life was cruel.
The pair strolled on down in silence for most of the walk, Cass recovering still from the horrible P.E lesson. Raven had earlier mentioned the happening in her I.T lesson, but after a few minutes of giggles it wasn't worth re-mentioning. The last street populated by shops came into view, after that it was a lush suburb and woodland stretching after. Shops on this final road were considerably smaller and more personal than the large high street stores. One of Raven's personal favourites was the sweet shop at the end, run by a wonderful couple. They were old now, but when Raven was young she'd always be offered freebies when she came wandering by and sticking her nose against the window to slather at the rows of bright sweets and chocolate. They even did sometimes now when she popped in.
The quiet walk was disturbed when a man suddenly hurtled from one of the side streets and ran up towards the pair at stop speed. He had a vicious expression on his face, clothed darkly. A suspicious character, Raven decided. He kept on running towards them. Cass had the sense to make a gasp and run out of his path, not wanting to cause trouble, but Raven stood quite dumbfounded. Then, to her surprise, he stopped right in front of her. Sullen eyes stared at her intensely, and his stubbly jaw moved when he uttered his words in a low voice, almost threatening, but done in such a manner that they couldn't be classed as such, "Kid, tell me, where's the Planning Department at this end o' town?" he asked in a composed manner, steely eyes focusing on her with a vicious glint.
Raven's eyes drifted around his appearance, exploring absent-mindedly. Eyes watched the contours of his face, his unusually defined hair, and the glimmering tags that hung off his neck. Feeling compelled to answer, Raven pointed behind her, "Two blocks down.. Beside the Job Office." She did it out of safety, why agitate ferocious looking men?
"Thanks," he growled, without much emotion. He ran straight round her then, heading the way she had gestured. He seemed to be very distant, as if not completely happy or at one with his world. Raven turned to watch him run, only then pondering if she had done the right thing by helping him out. Cass didn't seem to think so,
"Hey!" she hissed, stepping over to her, "Are you crazy? Talking to that guy? He looks like some sorta robber!"
Raven quickly looked to her, "And refuse to help and get a weapon to my throat?" she added sarcastically as she turned heading back down the road, eyes drifting over the green canopy over her favourite shop.
Cass snorted her dislike, "He's probably a mutant," she said bitterly.
"What makes you think that?" asked Raven curiously. She was not fully informed on mutants. They had been drifting in and out of the media for a few months now. Sparse information was getting delivered and so knowledge was limited about these mutants. Cass knew more, her father worked at the NY Times and information seemed to be delivered home to his family daily.
"Cos he looked like a bad sort," said Cass with a firm nod.
"You can't call every criminal or bad person a mutant," insisted Raven with a frown, hitching her bag over her shoulder, "That doesn't define mutants fairly."
"I can, and I will," muttered Cass, as if that finalised the matter. Raven just shrugged gently, deciding not to press the issue and get them into an argument.
The friends parted when the reached the corner, Cass disappearing down her street with a wave and Raven continuing up her own. Raven walked on in silence now, her head slightly lowered as she wandered up the street. But her head lifted when she heard a screech of tyres and yells screaming from the roads behind her. Her head spun round to see a single car racing on down the inhabited road. Her brow rose and eyes lighted with recognition. It was Peter! Her eyes followed the red car as it passed her, brow instantly furrowing when the car had not beeped its horn nor a cheeky yell had been issued to her. Had Peter not seen her? She was sure it was him, the brown haired man in the front. The registration was his. But he did not even glance her way. And why was he speeding like that?
Continuing to think on the situation she continued on down the road until she turned into her driveway, she shrugged as she pushed open the front door. He probably wasn't watching out for her, she had walked home a little slower today. Once in she nudged the door closed with her rear, slinging her bag off her shoulder and into the corner, "I'm home!" she called unnecessarily, the door had shut loud enough. Her mother came running through to the hallway, shushing her daughter through gritted teeth, the phone pressed to her ear. Raven shrugged gently, just about to turn into the living room when her eyes visibly noticed the colour drain from her mothers face.
How did you like that :D Please review. It makes me know if it's worth continuing! I want to know if you're enjoying it as much I enjoy writing it!