Chapter 20

A week later Raven still hadn't come back to school. Every time Tyler tried calling her or going to her house, he was refused. If his grades weren't bad before he was now flunking all his classes. If he didn't get them up by the end of the semester he was being kicked out they told him. His father had stepped in though with a large endowment for the school. His life was caving in on him. He felt like his heart was being ripped in two! All he wanted was to hold Raven in his arms again.

"Tyler are you ok?" Caleb asked him.

Tyler looked at him trying to hold the tears back. He didn't need to get the reputation of a cry baby in class. The class suddenly froze as Vincent jumped up from his seat yelling at Rade.

"I don't believe this! How much longer are you damn Downings going to go on like nothing is wrong? The teachers haven't even realized she's not here; you've been doing all her work and yours! She won't even come out of her damn room. Why won't any of you tell us what happened to her? Hell I love her as much as you do! She's the closest I have to a sister! Look at Sims! Any one looking at him can tell his heart is breaking! And you're just sitting there pretending like nothing is wrong!"

Rade jumped up yelling at Vincent. "I can't tell you and pretending like nothing is wrong is better than walking around on eggshells! Hell I know how much you all care about her; it's her decision to tell though if and when she's ready to. I doubt if she ever will be. Damn it if Chase and Shane were still alive I'd kill them with my bare hands!"

"Oh god." Tyler groaned.

Rade realized his mistake immediately looking at Tyler. Caleb and Vincent were both looking at him in shock.

"They raped her didn't they?" Tyler questioned.

Caleb put his hand on Tyler's shoulder steadying him. A sound at the door made them all look. Rayne was standing there looking like he could kill Rade along with Marcus and Michael.

"I didn't tell them!" Rade protested to his brother.

"I know I heard you." Rayne said. "You should have kept your mouth shut though. Raven's going to kill you!"

Rade suddenly let the tears fall. "I can't handle it any more Rayne. It's like she's not there anymore. Her body's just a shell."

Rayne held his brother as he cried. Pogue and Reid walked into the room worried because everyone in their class had been frozen. They saw Caleb holding Tyler who was crying, and Rayne holding his brother Rade.

'Caleb what's going on?' Pogue asked him.

'Raven was raped by Chase and Shane.' Caleb told him and Reid.

'Oh god.' Reid said. An arm suddenly looped through his and he turned to see his girlfriend. "Hello Becky."

"What's going on?" She whispered.

He pushed her out into the hallway. Her brother's suddenly showed up behind her. He glanced at them over her shoulder.

"Did you know what happened to Raven?" He asked her.

"No. Only her brothers do. Why what happened?"

"She was raped by Shane and Chase." Reid said.

"Oh god no!" She said with tears in her eyes.

He held her in his arms. Her brothers looked pissed. They headed into the classroom. A few minutes later they all came out, including Tyler and Caleb. Vincent being the last to come out waved his hand.

Rayne turned to the sons of Ipswich. "You all might as well come to our house now."

"Are you ok Tyler?" Pogue asked him as they rode in the back of Tyler's hummer along with Caleb.

"No." Tyler said looking out the window. "What do I say to her?"

The other's had no idea what to say or do. Pogue reached over and pulled Tyler into his arms holding him, and letting him cry. They sat the rest of the way in silence. Reid felt Lizette take his hand. He looked over at her and saw she was still crying. She scooted closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder.

Raven lay looking at the ceiling. She felt numb still. Her body had healed but her mind hadn't. She could still fill their hands on her. How could she be with Tyler again, when they were still in her mind? Would the power of love take over for them? Tyler would never want her again if he knew.

"Ravie?" A little voice quivered.

Raven looked to see Riley standing beside her bed crying. "What's wrong sweetie pie?"

"Why won't you play with me anymore? I miss you!" Riley sobbed.

"Come here sweetie." Riley crawled up into Raven's bed and hugged her. Raven hugged her back. "I just don't feel good sweetie."

"You're sick?" She asked.

"In a way yes baby." Raven said starting to cry.

"I be your nurse!" Riley said.

Rory and Jade watched and listened from the doorway. Raven hadn't talked in a week. They had known that Riley would change that.

"I get you some toast." Riley said and headed to the door. "I be right back!"

Raven laid back in her bed and let the tears fall. Riley was actually back with toast a few minutes later. Raven looked up to see Jade and Rory in the doorway. She had hardly eaten anything in a week, and she knew they were worried about her. She wasn't hungry but she made herself eat some of the toast. She was starting to feel tired, and she fell asleep. Riley curled up beside her falling asleep also.

Rory and Jade entered the living room to find it full, when they had only left it a short time before empty. "Why aren't all of you in school?" Rory asked.

"I screwed up." Rade said crying. "I didn't mean to tell them."

Rory looked at his youngest brother realizing what he had done. He walked over to him and ruffled his hair. "Don't worry about it baby brother. Everything will turn out all right."

"Where's Riley?" Rayne asked.

"Sleeping with Raven." Jade said.

Rayne and Rade looked shocked at this. She hadn't let anyone see her for a week now.

"Riley got her to talk to her a bit, and eat something." Rory said.

"Come with me Tyler." Rade said getting up.

"What are you doing?" Rory asked his little brother.

"Don't worry about it. We won't disturb her. Hell I've been sitting with her almost every night this week, and she's never known." Rade said.

Tyler followed Rade from the living room. They stopped by Raven's door and looked in. Tyler felt his tears well up again seeing her. The little girl was wrapped in Raven's arms. She looked so peaceful. He imagined her holding their own daughter in her arms, and was overwhelmed by it. He wasn't going to give her up without a fight! Raven had helped him when he needed it. He was going to be there for her!

Note: Sorry this is so short. I'm now faced with a choice, i'm finding hard to make. Should I carry on with more chapters to this story, or start a new one? I promised myself 20 chapters for this story. I'll let my readers make the choice. Go on with this one, or start a new one. Problems still facing them: 1) Adam 2) Raven's fate 3) I want to carry on Reid and Lizzie's (Becky to him) relationship.