Oh my goodness! Did everyone see "Catching Raven"? It was soooo good! All of my Raven/Dexter (Raver? Dexen?) feelings were mashed up and enjoyed. Does Raven like him? What was the "friends" thing about? Well, I want to play it straight, so be unsure what to expect. Remember, these stories are meant to stay in the world of Ever After High, just with a bit more continuity. And character development of a select few. So I won't have them fall in love too quickly. But, if it doesn't become canon, I will flip the script. :D Enjoy!

Raven left Home Evilnomics in a rush. Maddie had promised to teach her some Riddlish, so that one day, when Wonderland was cured, they could visit and Raven wouldn't be hopelessly wandering around, understanding no one and speaking without thinking, like that Alice girl. Maddie and Raven had decided that when they would figure out a way to end the curse on Wonderland. This would probably include Raven talking to her mother, however, and so they were postponing this plan for a little while. Maybe the next school year. Or the next decade, Raven hoped.

"Raven! Guess what happened? Guess, guess, guess, guess, guess!" Maddie barrelled toward her, pushing others out of the way. By the time she reached Raven, there was a nice open space around them.

Raven obliged her hexuberant friend. "What happened Maddie?"

"My dear ol' dad just Mirror Messaged me! I get to work in the Tea Shoppe all weekend! By myself! All the shifts! Wise oranges said in two thousand this world ends!" Maddie giggled.

Raven stared at her for a moment, and then laughed with her, tossing her hair out of her face. "You know, "she started laughing again, "you're the only person I know who gets that excited about working." Her eyes danced. "I'm excited about Briar's page-ripping party on Friday. She said Apple won't be able to come, which means I have the ability to have fun without being introduced as her 'very own special villain'." Raven laughed. It was a good day. No screams, or running or pranks, and she had hung out with Dexter a little bit this morning and now with Maddie. They were the best people in any kingdom.

Maddie giggled. "Parties are fun, but it's tea! Tea! And nobody expects you to have a date when you go to a tea Shoppe." She winked at Raven. "What are you going to do about that?"

Raven sighed. "Nobody will care if the Evil Raven has a date. There won't be an expectation for me. Hey, if I drop by the Shoppe, can I get a discount for being your best friend?"

Later, though, Blondie Lockes walked up to Raven. "Have you found a date yet?"

"Excuse me?" Raven stared at her. Blondie wasn't known for making small talk with those below her on the popularity ladder. She was, however, known for sticking her nose in other people's business. She called it honing her reporter skills. Everyone else called it snooping.

"Did. You. Get. A. Date. For. The. Party. Yet?" Blondie emphasized each word, with a condescending smile. "I guess evil doesn't equal smart."

Raven sat up straighter. "I'm not evil." She growled. "And I didn't know it was required to have a date."

"Oh, of course, it would be hard to convince any boy who's just right to take you. Or any decent boy at all." Blondie smirked and Raven's jaw dropped. That witch! What is wrong with her? Who says something like that?

"It's not a question of refusals. I was going to go on my own, Blondie. I don't need someone else to build my identity around. I'll be fine mingling with friends. I don't expect to spend any time you." There it was. The closest to outright hostility Raven had ever gotten with her.

Blondie glared at her. "You're even more of a loser than I thought. It's not my concern whether you have a date that's just right. You need a date for this if you aren't a Royal. But that's because it's understood that Royals aren't mad enough to show up alone. Ta-Ta, Rebel."

Raven leaned back against the wall. What was Blondie getting at? It was just an intimidation tactic. Raven thought dismissively. No need to pay attention to what Blondie said. On the other hand, it could be a major fairy fail to show up alone. And…was it really that big a deal to have a date? She was fifteen and dating outside your story…that was bad. It could be dangerous, even. Raven wasn't interested in dating. But…it wasn't dating. It was a date. That would be different.

She slammed her head against the wall. "But I don't need anyone else. I know who I am! Showing up by myself means that I have my own identity." She mused aloud. "I need advice. Desperate times."

"Cedar, I need a date." She slumped against her friend's locker.

Cedar giggled. "Good to see you, too, Raven."

"Cedar. This is important. If I get a date I will be compromising my identity. If I don't, there will be all sorts of pressure, you know? Like, asking if we're dating, or a kiss, or why I'm going outside my story. This is ridiculous. Cedar. Help." She groaned.

Cedar laughed. "Raven, a date won't compromise your identity anymore than friends will. You know what to center your life around, and it's not boys. It won't be serious if you make it clear. Just ask a friend! Stop worrying. You'll get stress splinters." Cedar shuddered.

"The problem with that plan, Cedar, is that there is no male in the school who would want to take me. Not even Tiny."

"Don't freak. You just make a list of guys who you are friends with. Then, you try to decide who will be the most likely to take you, if they aren't going with someone else, and ask him."

Raven paused. "I don't think it will do much good, but—ok. Can you help?"

"I wish I could, but I have to go to class. Maddie has a free period, though, right? Ask her." With a nod, Raven walked away.

Unfortunately, when Raven found her giggly friends, their free period was already half over. In light of that, they spent the rest of it getting every second year class list in the office.

After school, Raven met up with Maddie. "I think we should do this in Book End. I really want something warm to drink right now."

"You go ahead, Raven m'dear. I'll catch up in a clock tick! I have to have tea-time first." Maddie giggled as she pulled out her tea set.

Raven walked down to Book End, contemplating what she'd seen in Science and Sorcery: Dexter—asking Briar out. He'd seemed really nervous. Did he like her? Raven shook her head. It was none of her business. All the same, Dexter had never really shown an interest in Briar before. Raven rolled her eyes at herself. Stop building your thoughts around what he does! Since when is his life your business. What he did would not impact her. It wouldn't.

"Raven, Raven, Raven! Dexter speaks Riddlish!" Maddie ran into the café, bouncing up and down.

"Are you sure he speaks Riddlish? What if it didn't really mean anything and he was just talking?"

"Raven, it's hat-tastic! He said "Did it hurt?" then he said "When you fell from heaven, because you are an angel." Don't you know what that means?" Raven quirked a brow and opened her mouth, but Maddie cut her off. "It means, taking into account the provincial accent, 'Is your Raven going to the party Friday?' He was asking about you! Isn't that just candy-dandy?"

Raven stared at Maddie. "It sounds a whole lot like a pick-up line to me."

"Dexter? And me?" Maddie collapsed into giggles. Raven sat straight, waiting for her to finish, but every time she took a breath she collapsed again. "Oh, Raven…and…they say…that I'm the mad one!" She laughed. Raven stared at her, unmoving. Her enchanting friend composed herself. "Raven, if there is anyone on this list that you should ask to the Party, it's Dexter. He's your friend, he likes—being around you, and he would be hextatic to take you to the party. Think about it. Daring would never take you, Hunter doesn't date, and Hopper is holding out for Briar. Those are all the boys who don't scream in fear when you walk by. So this is over! Yippee!" Maddie scribbled out the class lists gleefully. Raven smiled. Maddie's saner moments were in direct juxtaposition with what her immediately following behaviour was like.

Should I ask Dexter? What if he's going with Briar? To hex with it, she resolved. It was nobody else's business what she did and if he couldn't go, he couldn't go. He was her best guy friend and the only person going to that party she could definitely count on to have a good time. I'll ask him tomorrow. She decided. It was already sunset.

Raven trudged over to the balcony. She watched the sunset here whenever she could; that is, whenever some couple wasn't up here trying to be romantic. When she came to the balcony doors, however, she found a surprise. Dexter, looking fairy down-trodden. No time like the present, Raven. Ask him. Raven walked over. "Mind if I sit?" She smiled.

Dexter jumped. "Raven? You come here too?"

Raven stared out over the balcony, at the gorgeous clouds. "Best place in the whole school to watch the sunset." She turned to him. "Hey, would you go with me to Briar's party on Friday?"

"What?"

"I'd rather just go with a friend. Less pressure that way, you know?" Dexter nodded. Raven grinned. This would be so fun! No social stigmas and no pressure or identity crises. "Hexcellent! I'll see you Friday." She winked.

She closed the balcony doors and leaned against them. Friday couldn't come soon enough.

Oh, gosh. I made that WAY too lovey-dovey. And apparently Blondie Lockes is becoming my Villain. Woops. My point here was to show Raven's humanity, just like most of these chapters have been. She's fifteen. Going on one of her first dates so that she won't be harassed, even though she's not interested in romance. On top of that, she has to ask the guy out. I just wanted to show that she likes him a bit, and that she's insecure about guys thinking she's evil. So I hope you enjoy. Talk to me people. :D