Different
Chapter Six:
Ugh. Horrible filler chapter. Has only some point. I can't tell you how much I am kicking myself over this.
Still shaking with rage, I took a few calming breaths to control myself, and I absentmindedly stroked my amulet that I hung around my neck. I was losing control, and it was happening fast.
That night, I didn't sleep at all.
One month later….
I woke up staring at an unfamiliar ceiling. Then I remembered. I was at my uncle's house. How could have I forgotten?
I stepped out of bed to find myself already dressed. I was probably so tiered from last night that I just conked out once I hit the pillow.
I took a deep breath and relaxed. My father never came here, so he couldn't hurt me. I began to walk downstairs.
The stairs always creaked, and I found it oddly comforting. Creak…. Skreek… crack… I smiled. It was like a song that was always different.
I rounded the corner at the stairs and began to walk towards the kitchen, wanting breakfast now. I smiled. I was so like Gar. Food, food, food. But, my choice of food was something other than processed edible items.
I finally walked into the kitchen, as the walk seemed ridiculously long. Maybe I was tired, and I was probably up late last night.
That's when I saw Gar.
He was leaning against the counter that connected to the stove. I was happy to see him, so I immediately enveloped him in a hug. Thanking the vast universe, he hugged me back. Then he did something that completely threw me off. He kissed me.
I gladly accepted it, never wanting this moment to end…
And it's five am., slightly cloudy and rainy on this lovely Monday, May 15th morning.
What the hell?
As always, it's bright and way too fricking early.
Something was odd. I shot up out of bed, completely out of breath.
The traffic on 55 is light, not too heavy. You'd want to avoid 70, though. Flipped over car.
Sadly, I realized that it was just a dream.
…Wait a minute. I was SAD that I dreamt I KISSED GAR, and it all was a DREAM?
What hit me harder than me actually dreaming about kissing Gar- strange in its own way- that I actually was UNHAPPY that it didn't really happen.
I was in for a loooong morning.
I dug out a book I found recently- The Book of Azar. It's most recently become my guide to life. It has everything- an explanation of my powers, how to control them and etc, etc, etc. It was left to me by my mother.
One day, when my father wasn't home, I went through her things that were hidden in the basement. I came across a locked box, and finding no key available, I destroyed the lock and found my book.
It mentioned that I was probably empathic, too. This meant, unlike common misconception, I can't read minds. I was able to sense what people are feeling, and/or thinking. Which is totally cool. Although it also mentioned I could communicate telepathically, which really blew my mind, and had powers of telekinesis.
It was like the book was written for me.
As always, I read a few pages before getting into the shower. It always clamed me, and the calming effect I needed especially today, due to the weird dream with Gar.
A new routine to my schedule, seen as I had a half hour's extra time before I needed to be out the door, was checking my email. Jo had badgered me to get one the second week that I knew her. She kept it up until a light blew out and I let her. Now, I proudly have my own email address.
I looked, and sure enough, there was an email from Jo. This time, the subject was the Anti-Dance she was intent on holding.
To Everyone who's reading this:
Hey, it's Jo. I'm talking about the Anti-Dance, which I just got permission to hold! Not from that damn school of mine, but from my parents and Bruce Wayne. So, tell everyone you know that can keep a secret- this needs to stay underground. Expand to the other schools in the area, too.
Give me your favorite songs- requests will be taken, but I like to be prepared. I have all Evanescence, Good Charlotte, and Green Day songs covered. Give me a few, k? Also- we're holding it from 6 pm to 10 pm.
LYL n' LOL-
Jo
She pulled it off! I couldn't believe it! She'd done it.
But I wasn't going.
Later on that day, in school, Gar showed up unexpectedly at my locker. I couldn't look him straight in the face, let alone be near him, because I kept thinking about that dream.
That stupid dream was going to haunt me.
"How'd you sleep, Rae?" Gar asked.
I practically choked.
"Fine." I rasped.
His face leaned in a little closer, and my heart nearly stopped. The dream… the dream… the dream…
"You look tiered." He stated.
I don't know what came over me, but I was suddenly angry. Irritated, I shut my locker door with more force than I intended. I shot Gar a look and walked off to class, fuming.
I wasn't making any sense today, and Ihated it.
"Friend Raven! Friend Raven!" Kori's voice rang through the halls and reached my ears.
I growled in annoyance. Now what?
"What is it, Kor?" I sighed, actually longing for homeroom.
Kori clasped her hands in front of her dramatically and leaned to one side. "Friend Raven… I…"
I motioned her to go on with a wave of my hand.
"I am failing Home of Ec!" Kori suddenly burst out with. "Mr. Light says that I have inabilities to cook! What shall I do, Friend Raven? I am most desperate to pass this class!"
Oh, for the love of god.
"Talk to Rich. He'll think of something." I called over my shoulder, wanting to miss more of Kori's theatrics.
I think that Kori listened to me.
The day went downhill from there.
At lunch, someone threw carrots over to our table. Extremely annoyed, Gar and I threw them back. This escalated into some sad kind of carrot war, and we all wound up with detention. For throwing carrots. The others had gotten away.
After lunch, Malchior tried to hit on me again, and I went a little overboard in retaliating. Half the books in his locker fell and hit him on the head. And lucky me, all the papers lining the bottom of his locker shot out in a stream and littered the hallway.
Since Kori also had to stay for detention, she was late for her volunteer work, and there was a new shipment of books that had come in. For a half an hour they didn't know what happened to Kori, and the other volunteers had tried to sort the books, without success.
While I was at the library, they were out of all the poetry books I had wanted, and my father was home, and we were out of herbal tea, and on and on and on the misery list goes.
The next morning was better. There were no freaky dreams, I had a good mediation time, and there were only two messages in my Inbox.
Raven-
Aren't you going to the dance? Puh-leeeze tell me you are! You've gotta come- it'll be nothing without you. Even Gar and the rest of your deranged lunch table are going. My friends from all over will be there, and you'll finally get to meet the Insane-o Crew. COME OR ELSE THE PENGUINS WILL ATTACK!
Jo
And, from Gar:
Raven-
Aren't you going? Jo's practically in a state of hyperventilation. She's almost convinced you won't go, but she says that she has plans to make you go. Just make it easy for her and you if you'd just tell her you were going.
Gar
To Jo, I wrote:
Jo,
Not going.
And to Gar,
Gar,
Not going. Tell your sister that she'll never make me go.
Iwasn't going to the dance. I, a) can't dance, b) don't know any good music, and c) have nothing to wear. Besides, everyone will be dancing all around, and I'll get lonely, like I always did in middle school…
…and I only knew, too well that if Gar asked me to dance, I'd say yes.
The Book of Azar said it was dangerous to love. I didn't want to take that risk.
Saturday morning was compete bliss. I was sleeping late; my father wasn't home because he was at a business meeting out of state. I knew that I being home by myself was illegal, and I didn't exactly spread it around.
A foster home. Just what I need.
I had known everyone for a month, and possibly more, and I trusted them more than anyone I've ever known before. But, I still couldn't trust them with my secret: my abuse. I was afraid that my father would find out, and put an end to me.
I was not afraid to die at my own hands, but dying by my father's hands frightened me. I knew he'd let me suffer, he hated me so much. And, I hated him back equally. I couldn't wait till I was eighteen, and free to leave the house and his rules. I was getting as far away from New Jersey as I could.
I was already looking at a college in Jump City, one for law.
Just then, the phone rang.
I picked it up, expecting it to be Kori, yet again another person who'll asked me if I'm going to the dance.
"Hello? Raven?"
And it was Jo.
"Speaking."
"Good, you're here! I'm just calling, you know, because you've GOT TO GO!"
"But I'm not going!"
"What, do you not know any good music? Hell, Raven, that's cuz I wanted to play the right music. Not everyone likes Evanescence."
"That's a real shame."
"I know. It is."
…there was silence for a few seconds.
"Are you going?" She asked eagerly.
"No."
"Why-y?" Jo whined, drawing it out into three syllables.
Choosing from my option list, I said, "I have noting to wear."
"Oh, Raven, that's okay. Mom and I were just going to the store anyway. You want to come? We're gonna get lunch and everything. Bring Kori along, if you want to."
She absolutely had me pegged there.
I was going- shopping, at least.
Jo knocked on my door an hour later, her hair tight in a French braid, and I slipped out of it, confident in knowing that my father was still out. I locked the door behind me, and we picked up Kori next.
There wasn't much conversation during the ride to the stores, but once we got there, there was a flurry of activity. Jo knew all the stores with the good clothes- at a reasonable price. I had brought a decent amount of money with me, mostly because I save like the world is going to end tomorrow.
We stopped for lunch, and I inexplicably started to panic, because I hadn't found anything yet. Jo was annoyed to no end, mostly because one of her favorite stores started making the size 7 and 8hard to find.
"They're sending out one hell of a message- if you're not pencil thin, you're ugly!" Jo muttered darkly as she flipped through the clothes, trying to find the right size.
Kori looked guiltily at herself in a mirror. "I am sorry, Friend Jo, if it is my size that offends you."
Jo softened. "No, I just hate staring at those models because I know that I can never be that thin."
"America- the land of no-carb diets and fast food." I mumbled under my breath.
Jo snorted.
A couple of hours later, we all went home to get ready.
Correction: Kori and I went to her house.
Kori had gotten a purple mini-skirt, and she added her own V neck sliver-ish tee.
I, on the other hand, broke the all-black clothes "rule" and added a little color. I had dark blue "hip hugger" jeans, and a yellow scoop-neck tee (which, according to Jo, would set off my black hair).
We had a little over an hour to get ready. Kori went ahead and did a little "experimenting" on me. What the finished product turned out to be was amazing: charcoal eyeliner, dark purple eye shadow, and a touch of lip gloss. Kori had black mascara, mocha eye shadow, and just a touch of lip gloss.
I personally thought she went slightly overboard, but we both looked stunning.
Then she went and taught me how to dance.
"Friend Raven, you must feel the beat. It had to become a part of you, and move through you."
Kori being metaphorical is a sight you probably never want to see.
She demonstrated it for me, her whole body becoming one with the song. I tried it, and felt absolutely ridiculous.
Kori looked at me with worried eyes. "We must teach you the art of dance, and very soon. We only have-" Kori looked at the clock- "FIVE MINUTES!"
She grabbed my arm and shook it.
"We have to be leaving now, Friend Raven!"
We grabbed our coats, our shoes, and some money, thenwaited patiently for Galfore to get into the car. Damn this weird May weather, and all the rain.
One thought kept resounding in my head, and it didn't make any freaking sense.
Gar.
So now she'sseeingGar in a whole new light. It'llprobably be like this for a few more chapters, thenthose feelings start so set in
Reviewer Responses:
Eva: Thanks, and I hope that headache gets better.
The Last: I really wanted that part to be realisitic. And thanks so much. I know you're working hard on Upheaval, and I've been having one hell of a time with this chapter. I know what you're going through. Any more Falling Feathers ready?
Arezal: Two cookie points for you. You guessed right! And here's another updated (though it's not as great).
Martson: Pure genius? Pure genius?
RustyofT05: -munches on cookie- Thanks for the compliment. But a real master piece would be Changeling. (under my faves)
Sangofanatic: And here's the update for you!
Ryuu no Taiyo: Continuing, and I hope it's to your liking.
dana1313: Hey, it's you again! Well, wouldn't you freak if you found that someone broke into your locker and stuffed a rat in there? And a church just for me? Whoa- so much flattery, my head just might get inflated.
Raven'teacher: No, this is defiantly not the end. A long way from it, too. I'm gonna keep writing no matter what writer's block throws at me!
moo: -snorts with laughter- I will beat the crap outta Trigon, in good time. And thanks for saying that is wasn't crammed at all; that's one of my worst fears.
iamhollywood: Dark? My chapters are dark? Well, I needed the ending to be a slight cliffie anyways. Thanks again!
xox.AnniePotter.xox: Hey, look who reviewed little ol' me! No, and the abuse doesn't really start coming in until later chapters.
blackmagic111090: Yes, I stole your pancake idea. It was just too original to leave out of this story (besides, it's fun eating green pancakes!). Tell Tommy that I'm a stupid teenager who snorts when she laughs.
Shantel: -bows- Thank you, thank you.
technogirl: Thanks! I love those compliments!
PawPaws: Nah, not a nerd. Obsessed is a little more like it!
faerieraven: Terra needs to eat a sandwich (words from MillicentRaven).
Truley Wicked: Wow, I really appreciate it when people tell me this is a fave of theirs. And when they tell me I rock!
Sarah1218: Okay, I think my perception of the law is a little off, but she's an accomplice, so in the eyes of the law she's equally as guilty. Besides, Amanda has so much more power- you'll see in the next chapter or so.
Ryuu no Taiyo: You reveiwed me twice, wow!
I JUST HIT THE 100 REVIEWS MARK, with-
Anzu2: OH MY GOD! It's the Anzu2! And YOU'RE MY 100th REVEWIER! Oh, my god. Can I just tell you what an HONOR it is to finally have you reviewing me? -drools with delight-
dolfingirl: Nooo, I've got special plans for Amanda… -cackles evily-
sliverswords: Oops. Not as fast as you would have hoped?
To the DCC: Next chapter's the debut- and email me with a name you wish to be called, and also a backup one just in case.
Hope you all enjoyed this (I know I didn't)- and please leave a review on your way out!