questioned, across the table the next day.
It was lunch and as usual, Lance was sitting with his best friends and fellow football team
mates, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick, Justin Timberlake and Joshua Chasez, who
everyone referred to as JC. On the other half of the table was each of the guy's girlfriends,
who by "coincidence" were on the cheerleading squad. Or in Joey's case, his new flavor of
the week, so to speak because the Italian was known to have the reputation of a player.
The table was deathly as all each of his friends tried to hear every syllable, every detail, no
matter how minute.
Lance rubbed the back of his neck and gave a nervous chuckle.
"What do you mean?" he asked. Joey rolled his eyes.
"You know exactly what I mean. You two have become pretty close over the past few
days", Joey observed.
"Pretty close? Are you kidding me? I've only talked to her once and you can't even
consider that a conversation. It was more like I said something and she verbally attacked
me", Lance explained.
"Ya, whatever you say. Then explain this one; why did she get into your car yesterday
after football practice?"
Justin flashed Lance a sly grin.
"Ah, so Lance isn't as squeaky clean as we'd all like to believe. What's the deal, are you
mixing a little business with pleasure?" Justin teased, who was sitting on his right side.
Lance shot him a scowl and punched him in the arm with medium force.
"She was stranded at school; she had no way of getting home so I offered to drive her
home. Besides, I hate to burst your bubble, but it's just a bet", Lance calmly replied back,
removing his irritated frown and replacing it with a confident smile.
Justin snorted and the rest of the guys shook their heads, knowing half-smiles on their
faces, not believing a word Lance had said.
Lance tuned their voices out as they began to discuss the season's new replacement coach
and how they were certain he was a spawn of the Devil himself and sneakily turned his
gaze on Raven, her back facing him, who was sitting with a bunch of her friends, at a table
a few feet down from them. He watched her as she threw back her head and laughed at a
comment one of her friends had said. His mind wandered back to their conversation on the
way home yesterday and a half-hearted smile developed on his face.
<She really isn't that bad once she warms up to you a little>, he thought to himself.
Suddenly, one of her friends with, a brunette, caught him staring at Raven. She sharply
poked Raven in the side and then jerked her head in Lance's direction. Raven swiftly
swirled around in her chair, her dark eyes glued to his. She gave him an acid like scowl as
her three friends burst out into hysterical laughter.
Lance's face fell.
<What is that girl's problem? It's like she lets you in a little and then WHAM, she shuts the
door right in your face!> he noted to himself.
The brunette that had noticed Lance staring whispered something into Raven's ear, her
eyes focused on Lance, which made Raven's face twist into an expression of horrified
disgust and immediately shove her. The whole table, except Raven, continued to laugh as
they turned back to their earlier conversation, putting Lance and his sudden staring
problem behind them.
Lance sighed and his downcast, praying none of his friends had seen what had just
happened. He took a sip of his soda and opened his mouth to say something to Amber, his
girlfriend, when he felt someone staring at him. He quickly glanced up and his eyes fell
onto Raven. He looked blankly back at her, wondering what she was going to do, when
his heart nearly stopped in surprise.
She offered him a sincere, apologetic, half-smile and then mouthed the words: I'm sorry.
*~*~*~*~*
Raven sighed, practically bored to tears, as she stood in the backroom of Hot Topic,
folding yet another black, Emily shirt. She took a peek at the ancient clock hanging on the
wall; the hands seemed to move fast as a slug as if to mock her.
She really hated working every week day after school, even if was in a mildly acceptable
and tolerable store such as Hot Topic. Hot Topic was a clothing store that leaned towards
the gothic/skater type clothing, the total opposite of stores such as American Eagle and
Abercrombie and Fitch, where most of the school's population could be seen shopping at.
It was the exact store that exactly fit Raven's taste in style.
<Remember, just think of the end result; as soon as you save up enough money you can
finally buy that Mustang convertible you've always wanted>, she reminded herself.
She finished folding the current shirt she had been working on and then proceeded to pick
up another one from the pile when her manager, Allison rushed into the back room, the
heels of her black flip-flops making a loud, cracking sound against the cement floor.
Usually most workers hated their bosses but Allison Walker was an exception. She was
the same age as Raven and from her outer appearance, looked like she had founded the
store, with her signature Weezer or Linkin Park T-shirt, plaid pants and multi-colored hair
do's. Allison reminded Raven of her best friend, Alicia and that made coming to work a
whole lot better.
"Where's the fire, Aly?" Raven sarcastically questioned Allison. Allison rolled her hazel
eyes then gave Raven a sly grin. Raven stopped folding the shirt she had picked up and
placed her hands on her hips.
She had seen that look before, many times from Alicia and that look was only associated
with one thing; a horribly embarrassing secret Raven was clueless about.
"Oh God, what now?" Raven questioned, a little irritated.
"So, Raven, you haven't told me you have a boyfriend", Alicia teased. Raven shot her a
look of sheer confusion.
"Uh, what the hell are you talking about? Has all that hair dye soaked through your skull
and damaged parts of your brain?" Raven taunted. Alicia laughed.
"Ok, so maybe he's an ex-boyfriend", she replied, her eyes traveling to the front of the
store. Raven let out a frustrated sigh.
"Could you please speak english and tell me what the hell you're talking about?" Raven
snapped.
"Stop playing dumb! You shouldn't be ashamed of him; even though he's a little on the
Abercrombie/ Ralph Lauren male model side", Alicia replied, a smile creeping onto her
face.
Raven's breath caught in her throat.
<Oh no, it couldn't be....how in the world did he even find me!> she frantically thought to
herself.
"I-I'll be right back..I need to..handle a tiny situation", Raven muttered, clenching down on
her jaw. Allison laughed and began folding the shirt Raven had dropped on the table.
"Take all the time you need!"
Raven ignored her comment as she stormed past Allison and into the front of the store.
Her eye twitched wildly as her worst nightmare gazed around the store, unaware she was
there.
She loudly cleared her throat.
"Oh hey Raven", Lance calmly replied, like it was normal for him to randomly drop by and
visit her. She stiffly marched up to him, her eyes blazing.
"What the hell do you think you're doing here?" she growled, jabbing a finger into his
chest. He laughed and stepped back a little, so her finger now was poking the air.
"I was in the mall and I found out you worked here, so I just wanted to say hi", he
explained with a shrug. Raven shook her head.
"No, I don't think so." Lance raised an eyebrow, his eyes boring into her's.
"And why don't you think so?"
"Because, this isn't normal! All of a sudden you're showing up wherever I am, saying hi,
giving me rides home, stalking me like some deranged, 10 year old Backstreet Boy fan
when before you wouldn't even take a two second glance at me!" Raven exclaimed, her
patience fried.
"Why is it so hard for you to just accept the fact that I want to get to know you? I think
that maybe you're only pushing me away because you're afraid something might happen",
Lance suggested, his voice still calm. Raven snorted, tossing her hair haughtily behind her.
"Has that big ego of yours taken over what's left of your sanity? Get it through your head,
Pretty Boy, the real reason why I try to avoid is because I don't like you. I don't like you
or your little band of clones and I never will", Raven defiantly sneered. Lance rolled his
eyes, a smirk on his face.
"Whatever you say...but listen, enough with the talk. I'm hungry; would you care to join
me for lunch?" Lance questioned. Raven threw her hands up, frustrated on not knowing a
way to get him to leave.
"I'd rather shave my head bald and marry a sixty seven year old man but if it gets you to
leave me the hell alone, then ok."
"Wait, so is that a yes?" Lance questioned, slightly puzzled.
"I'll make a deal with you..if I go to lunch with you then will you leave me alone?" Raven
asked. Lance thought for a moment then nodded.
"Yeah."
"Ok then, it's settled. Now, where do you want to go?" Raven asked.
"Uh, how about-"
"Oh and Lance?" Raven questioned with clearly fake sweetness.
"What?" Lance questioned, a little cautious, having noticed her sarcasm.
She gave him a overly sugary grin.
"If you even think of laying a finger on me, besides the verbal assault, I'll make sure you
never have kids. Ever."
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