"Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth."
~Buddha

–•–•–•–

Finally! The weekend! Dick and Kori had a date. They were going to see a movie then Dick had a small surprise for her.

But their relationship made the other three feel like they were to be "forever alone". Gar was still emotionally getting over the whole Terra debacle and Vic had just recently broken up with a girl named Sarah as well. She dumped him, so he basically forbade everybody from mentioning it. Nobody had a problem with that. And Raven didn't know so it wouldn't be a problem.

Raven, she had never been in any relationship. Never stayed anywhere too long to get that attached to somebody. To boot, she didn't think anyone could love her even if they tried. She's different. The way she is, who she is, prevents her from giving affection. She wishes she could, but it simply is just too difficult. She would rather stay away from those things.

But whenever she's in the same general vacinity as he is she feels off. Like her emotions are not where they should be. Bouncing around as if they were chihuahuas trapped in a small cage. It took a lot to keep herself composed. She couldn't understand why. She had only just met the kid, yet she had this urge to protect him more than anyone else in the house. Maybe because he was the first to approach her? Or because she just enjoyed his presence? Either way, her personal goal was to protect all of them nonetheless.

Raven had been sitting in her room pretty much all day reading a book she found in the living room. Garfield had brought her some food earlier, but she didn't really leave.

For some off reason, she decided to read out loud.

"Alexandria was at the foot of the mountain readying herself mentally and physically for the rigorous trip.

'Alex, you know you don't need to do this.'

'I know. But I have to Ronin. There are so many demons after me I do not have the choice to go back.'

'But Alex–'

'Syra is back there Ronin! She's too dangerous for us to face on our own!'

'She was our friend before she lost control! She wanted to be with us! You know that...'" Raven suddenly had an overwhelming sense of dread. She didn't want to read anymore.

She decided to go into the living room and be with her new friends.

On her way out she bumped into Gar. Literally.

"Ow!"

"Sorry Raven!" He helped her up.

"Its ok Gar." 

"Hey were you coming to the living room?"

"Yeah. I uh, didn't want to read anymore."

"Oh ok. We were just about to play Marioh Kart. Wanna be P3?"

"No. You two have fun. I'd rather watch."

"Oh alright!" She followed him into the living room and the TV was on.

"I call dibs on Woshi!" Gar shouts.

"Man you can have Woshi. I want Rowser." The Race starts and Raven watches intently. Gar keeps the lead for a while, but then Vic throws a blue shell and pulls ahead.

"Ha ha!"

"Hey!"

The two stay pretty much neck and neck until Tode pulls in front of the two of them for the win.

"Aw c'mon! Why is it always Tode?!" Gar shouts. They start the next race.

Tode gets a headstart, and the boys get puffs of smoke.

"Seems like you revved up just a little too much." Raven smiles.

"Oh somebody's got jokes! If you're so smug why don't you join?" Vic asks.

"I've never played. And Gar just passed you. If you wanna win stop talking to me and play."

"What?!"

"Hehehehe!" Gar pulls 1st with Vic in 2nd, Tode is in 3rd with Juigi in 4th. But the total score has Tode and Woshi tied for first. "Two more races to go Vic."

"I'm not out yet."

The third Race starts. Vic has an early lead but it's pretty much anyone's game. He slips on a banana and spins out, causing him to fall behind.

Vic grumbles to himself.

"Gar, oil."

"Wah!!" Gar swerves out of the way.

"Thanks Rave!"

"Hey, who's team are you on?"

"No one's. Pothole Vic."

"Gah!" Vic swerves.

Vic gets in first again and wins.

"Oh yeah! I did it! And now it's game point!"

"This is for all the marbles you two."

"I'm so gonna win."

"Or Tode could leave you guys in the dust like he just did."

"What?!" While they were egging eachother on the race started and the two were in dead last.

Soon Gar took the lead again.

"Ahh! Not a red shell!" Vic shouts.

"Ha! Wait, is that a blue shell?"

"Payback."

Tode gets in 1st with Vic trailing behind him.

"Grrr."

"There's a shortcut over there Gar. Banana Vic." They both shout an expletive each as they take Raven's help kindly.

Because of a shortcut Gar is now level with the rest of them. The finish line is in sight and there's a speed booster. If one of them gets that speed booster then that'll be the winner. Raven sees a hidden pothole in front of Vic but she decides not to say anything.

"Wah! Raven! You didn't warn me!" Then Gar slips on a banana.

"Like I said. No teams." Tode wins.

"Aw man!"

"Dang it!" Raven sits on the couch next to them.

Her turn.

"You playing?" Gar asks.

"I'm winning." The two boys smile.

Raven picks Rosaline. She likes her dark blue dress and black hair. Garfield said that Rosaline looked like her. He isn't wrong.

"Thank God you're not Plum or Daffodil. Those two irritate me. Not just in this–"

"Pay attention Gar." The other two had already taken 1st and 2nd. Raven was in first.

All three had won one. Once again, the last race determined their fate.

Raven maneuvered the blue motocycle around the very tight corners with ease as the boys had a little trouble. But some how they ended up neck and neck once again. They were all rather even, and Juigi, who is behind them in 8th, has a blue shell.

Now it just depends who the game thinks is in 1st. Everyone checks their screen, but Raven's the only one who glances away from hers to check the other two's. The game says she's in first. Juigi releases the shell and it comes hurdling down the track to them. It almost gets to them until Raven jams on the breaks putting her in 3rd and Garfield, who was registered in 2nd is now in 1st. The shell targets him, and because Vic is so close to him, he gets caught in the blast.

"No!!!" Raven drives over the finish line.

"Not bad for my first time." She gets up and grabs a bottle of water from the fridge.

"Sly girl." Vic says under his breath.

–•–•–•–

Raven gets ready for bed. It's pretty late. Kori and Dick haven't come home. They said they were stuck in traffic and they're on their way home. None of them realized that the surprise was two towns over. But it didn't matter. They could do whatever they wanted to do. Raven wasn't one to judge, most of the time....

Then there was a heavy knock on her door. She quickly pulled the PJ shirt that Kori bought for her over her head and straightened it out. She ended up in a blue crop top and some loose pants.

"Hey Raven? You in there?"

"Yes. Come in." She walked over to the mirror to braid her hair.

He entered and closed the door, but not all the way. He left it open about an inch and a half.

"You wanted to talk to me about something?"

She nods.

"Well before you do anything, I just wanna say good game. You're really good at Marioh Kart. I've never even thought of doing that when a blue shell comes."

"I'm quick on my feet." She replies. Does the other side and pulls her hair up into a bun.

"Yeah. Just wanted to show there were no hard feelings. Especially with Gar. When we went out for the pizza he wouldn't stop going on about how amazing that was."

"Really? Thanks Vic." He smiles.

"Speaking of which, you want some? There's some still leftover. Once the other two get home Kori is probably going to devour that. Her stomach is like a bottomless pit."

Raven laughs a little.

"So what did you want to ask me about?"

"I just want to get everybody's side."

"'Bout what?" Raven

"Why did Gar drop out?"

"Oh that. I figured you would wanna know. Well, I was there when he made the decision. He actually asked me what I thought he should do. I told him he should stay and at least finish highschool. He was going to do that, but...uh..." He scratches the back of his neck.

"But what?"

"Well, something happened and he decided to call it quits." He answered. Raven wanted ask more. She wanted to question him to no end. She wanted to know what happened, but she figured that it wasn't her place to ask.

"Hmm."

"Sorry I couldn't really tell you more. You're probably really curious. I just don't think it's my place to tell you." Raven nods.

"It's ok."

"G'night Raven." He leaves and closes the door.

She looks out the window to see Dick's motocycle pulling into the driveway.

Dick has a motorcycle?

How did she not see that before? Regardless, she was sleepy. Or did she think she should be?

She thought about that a lot. Is she ever actually tired or does she just feel like she should be based on standards of society? Probably the latter. But her sleep schedule is usually sleep late and rise early. The less time her guard was down the better.

Her top three rules were always,
1) Don't stay in one town for more than a week
2) Don't sleep in the same spot 2 days in a row
3) Form connections with no one

But because she broke the 3rd rule, she doesn't have to worry about the other two. Funny how life works like that.

Raven climbs in the bed and lies down on her back and stares up at the ceiling. She let her mind wander for the rest of the night.

But it only takes an hour into the night for somebody to he knocking on Raven's door yet again. She checked the digital clock.

Who would be up at 3 AM?

Raven gets up and cracks open the door a sliver.

She sees red hair.

"Kori?"

–•–•–•–

Ooh! Cliffhanger! What does Kori want with Raven at 3 AM? You'll have the wait until I update. Haha. I have the power. Don't worry. The chapter is already in the making. Here's a little clue to get you more exited.

The name of the chapter is "Terra".

Also, sorry about the lack of BBRae moments. Don't worry. I have a method to my madness.

Did this chapter suck by the way? I think the majority of it was boring. But I guess that's subject to opinion.

Hope you like it so far! L8R!

~Rae