After School (JT)

[raven]

Raven waited a bit nervously. She was waiting for Joey, her newest friend. He was supposed to take her to the bakery tonight so that she could apply for a job and then have dinner with her at her place. Honestly, Raven was looking forward to having dinner with someone again, but more so than that she looked forward to cooking it for Joey. She knew exactly what she was going to make. She couldn't wait to get started and hopefully to get to know Joey better seeing as she didn't even get to talk to him much in physics though he had been a comfort to her when she really needed him and that only made the crush that she felt she had going even worse.

She had already finished putting her things in her locker. She leaned against it now. Waiting for Joey to show up. She was nervous about seeing him again for some reason. She still couldn't belive she had held his hand in physics. She wondered silently if he thought she was weird or if he had enjoyed it too. But there was no way to know just yet she would have to wait to see how he acted towards her now. She bit her lower lip as she waited. Maybe she was just over thinking it all that could be it. If he didn't like holding her hand then he would have pulled his hand away during class. But he hadn't. Would he hold her hand again? She hadn't been so worried about these things since before Felix. Now she was going through it again and it wasn't easy. It was down right nerve racking.

When Joey did decide to show she would blush, of course, and look up at him and smile. He was a nice guy, at least he had been to her at any rate and she was happy for that. It was nice to meet someone that didn't mind that she was shy but instead seemed to enjoy her soft innocence or something. But she felt a certain chemistry between them in physics she wondered if it was still there, and if so if they might start dating. She wasn't sure if they would, she wasn't sure if he was even looking for a girlfriend, and if he was, if he liked her.

These were the thoughts that ran through her mind as she waited for him. She watched the hall for him slightly. Hoping he would come soon so they could go.

[J.T.]

'This day actually went much better than I thought.' Joey thought to himself as he got out of the mens locker room shower. He had just finished a boxing match with Kurohyou and was getting cleaned up before leaving the gym.

After taking his normal clothes out of his gym bag and placing his gym clothes in it, Joey slowly got dressed with a smirk on his face. Raven had volunteered to cook him dinner that night, an offer he couldn't refuse. It had been too long since someone had done that for him and he was looking forward to it.

Leaving the gym and heading toward his locker, Joey began to feel a stinging sensation above his right eye. 'Oh no, thats definitely a cut.' he thought to himself as Kurohyou's punches from their match came back to haunt him. 'Oh well, too late to prevent it now.'

He then decided to take a pit stop and head into the mens room to try and soak up some of the blood with paper towels. It wasn't necessarily that it hurt him at all or that he wasn't used to blood, he just didn't want to look messy when he saw Raven. He knew dinner invitations could always be canceled, not to mention the weird crush-like thing that he was experiencing toward her.

After a couple minutes, Joey figured he did a good enough job cleaning up and that he was semi-presentable. With that, he left the bathroom and headed toward his locker again.

Upon reaching his destination, he was greeted sweetly with a smile from Raven. He replied with a genuine smile of his own and a "Hey" before going to his locker and making the proper transactions it and his bookbag.

"Ready to go?" he asked her, motioning toward the door and maintaining the same smile.

[raven]

Joey came with one of those breathtaking smiles. She blushed of course and looked at him not dropping her face. His eyes seemed to be a bit more red that normal perhaps he had gotten hurt. She would care for it when they got to her place. One thing living with Felix had done for her was train her in first aid and helping care for various injuries. As he seemed to come home with them often. She smiled at him and he said.. 'hey'. Oh God.. breathe.. breathe! She took a breath.

"Hi." she said softly and bit her lower lip nervously. God.. that was great. 'Hi? what the hell was that? Oh god she was totally going to just bite it right here.

He put his things in his locker and looked at her again with that same smile. Asking if she was ready to go. And she was. She was ready to practically follow him anywhere. Luckily she knew they were headed for the bakery where she was going to apply for a job and then they were headed to her place for dinner. That was the part that excited her most. Sure, she needed a job, and was more thankful to Joey than she could express. Hence the dinner. But now she was having this .. well.. this crushy like feeling going on with her when she was around him.

The yearn to hold his hand. To hear her name from his lips. To wonder what it would feel like to hug him or to have his arm around her waist. Simple things really she hadn't even worked her way to thinking about kissing yet. She nodded softly and walked beside him a bit closer than she had this morning but she didn't touch him. Her hand however, was by her side and he could take it if he really wanted to. One part of her wanted him to take it. The other part told her to make the move. But Raven was to shy to make the move. She had a bit in physics but he was probably not paying attention anyway. And besides, he either had a girl, or Raven wasn't his type. He was so jovial and nice, she was so quiet and shy.

"How was.. last period?" she asked softly trying to keep some coversation going between them as they walked and her mind and her eyes off his hand.

[J.T.]

"Last period I was alright." Joey replied. "It was gym class and I got into a boxing match with some guy, that was fun. Its also how I got this cut on my eye."

As the two of them neared the exit, Joey took a couple steps ahead and held the door open for Raven. 'Wow, your a true gentleman.' he thought to himself mockingly. Doing these kinds of things weren't natural for him and he was constantly having to endure the sarcastic remarks that seemed to be coming from a sub-conscious being inside him. Perhaps it was his own guilt trying to tell him to stay away from Raven. After all, he knew as well as anyone that he wasn't the type of person for her. She wanted guys like Felix. Someone who fought for the well-being of others, not someone who fought for their own personal power.

He knew that if he tried to start anything with her, it wouldn't be long before she found out about his sinister dealings. Especially when both of his roommates took part in the same activities. He also knew that he didn't want to hurt her, and that exposing her to his world would most likely do just that.

These thoughts simmered in his mind as he lost himself in thought. This continued only for a second, however, as he watched Raven's sweet face walk by him and through the door. His mind was then made up.

As the duo headed down the street, Joey wrapped his arm around her shoulder and brought her closer to him.

[raven]

She smiled at him but she had noticed the eye. She looked at it and sighed softly as they walked. She didn't want it to get infected she wanted to make sure that it was clean and everything. She walked next to him not touching him or anything and then he held the door open for her. With a soft blush she ducked her head as a simple nod of thanks and then went out of the school. In the sunshine, or what there was of it in SF they stepped together.

"When we get to the bakery, I'll take care of your eye. I have a first aid kit in my bag and I'd rather it didn't get infected. Just to be on the safe side." she said softly.

She always carried a first aide kit down. She didn't like being caught off guard not to mention that it came in handy more times than not and it looked like it would come in handy again. Raven nearly froze when Joey's arm came around her shoulder pulling her close to him. She blushed and went willingly eager to be close to him as well. She smiled softly and a soft blush.

"I never got to ask." she said softly. "What kinds of things you like to do. We didn't get a chance to talk much during Physics." she said softly.

She was definatly trying not to concentrate on the fact that his arm was around her shoulders. It felt good there though. Seemed her crush wasn't one sided at all. Unless that was just Joey's way of being friendly. She wasn't sure, but she was definatly wondering where this was going to go.

[J.T.]

Joey knew all along that she would notice his cut, but for some reason it seemed to come as a surprise when she mentioned it. "Thanks. I tried cleaning it up a second ago but all I used was paper towels from the bathroom."

"Things I like to do?" he asked innocently. "I do a lot with sports, you know basketball and football. I played Varsity on both teams at Varron, so I bet you've seen me before and just not known it. I also did a little with track, but I hardly ever came to the meets because it overlapped most of my football practices."

They were now out of sight of the school campus and getting closer to the bakery. "So how about you? What do you do outside of school?"

[raven]

They walked together down the street as Joey spoke of himself. Raven was eager to learn about him, more now especially after his arm had found it's way around her shoulders. He thanked her for wanting to take care of his eye and she blushed. She tended not to miss those kinds of things, being with Felix for so long had definatly trained her eyes to pick up injuries, swelling, and pain quite easily. She smiled. He was a nice guy, she had to admit and she was merely lucky now that they had lockers so close by.

He talked of the sports he played. She was shocked to hear he was not only a varsity, or had been at least, for football and basketball but had run track as well. He was right though, she had never seen him at track practices. But then again he had probably never seen her as she tended to blend right into the crowd and not really stand out in anyway. She was quiet and concentrated more on getting ready and then running the race than talking to the other team makes and exchanging weekly gossip stories.

"As for myself, I run track. Both at Varron and here, I am on the team. I enjoy running, it's something that enables me to clear my mind, and think over something that's troubling me, and it is just nice to be free." she said softly.

"I've never been to a football game before, or basketball for that matter. If you tell me, when your next game is, I'd like to come." she blushed deeply bit her lower lip and looked away for a moment. She could NOT believe she had just said that. Out loud no less! She really was making a fool of herself now.

"Ummm... so any hobbies?" she kinda squeaked out trying to regain her resolve.

[J.T.]

"You already joined?" Joey asked, surprised. He had just gotten to San Fransisco a couple days earlier and hadn't really done anything with the school yet.

"I haven't gone out for any Hircine teams yet, Raven." he replied after she offered to go to his games. "I was talking about the Varron teams." He was surprised that she hadn't ever gone to his games seeing as how the bleachers would always be full of Varron students during their home games.

Raven then asked him about his other hobbies. "Well I don't do too much else of interest." he answered simply. "I like the mall and the movies just like everyone else, but I still spend most of my time practicing for sports either by myself or with a team. I also chill out with a few friends that I'm pretty tight with that came here from Varron too."

Joey purposely didn't mention Tank and Steve's names in case she knew them through Felix. He knew that if she did know them, they would definitely not be in her good graces.

"I think the track team sounds fun, though. What do you think of me joining?" he asked. He really did enjoy the events, despite his neglection (a word?) of the team back at Varron.

[raven]

((OOC: Happy Birthday!!))

"Umm.. well yeah. The counselor saw my records and practically made me join. So even if I didn't want to run, I'd probably be on the team anyway." she said with a soft smile.

No one really knew how good she was at running, she never had her awards and trophies out. It wasn't her kind of thing. Sure she enjoyed getting them but she wasn't one to boast and brag so all her trophies were on the top shelf of her closet just sitting there. They weren't out anywhere so that people might see them. One thing Raven did not like to do was call attention to herself.

She felt rather dumb not realizing that he had been talking about the sports he had been involved with in Varron, and not here at Hircine. She nodded and gave him an appologetic look she didn't mean to misunderstand. They walked a bit longer as he talked about his different hobbies. Going to the mall and watching movies. Hanging out with his friends. She smiled as she looked up at him and blushed slightly. He asked what she thought about him joining the track team.

"Well it needs good runners. I'd personally be happy if you joined. Then I would at least know someone, not to mention a nice someone." she said with a blush and a smile.

"You know.. I kinda miss my friends from Varron though. I didn't have many but.. I had a few. They didn't follow. Ivan and Lesta.. they were both Russian, and I got close to them, tutoring them. I did that for money there. But I guess.. here I've made a new friend already." she said softly speaking of Joey.

Right now, though she had a crush on him she wasn't going to tell him that. It was safe to call him a friend. She didn't want to embarrass herself further by saying something he thought might be wierd. She leaned against him a little more into him embrace than before getting rather comfortable with him. She had purposefully not mentioned Felix.

"Umm.. Joey?" she asked softly. "Do you.. know what The Hand is?" she asked. Presumming she got an answer she would go on.

"You see.. I think I'm a member.. but no one has contacted me since I moved here. I think that I was only a member because Felix and I wouldn't join seperate. So they forced us to join together. It was basically join or die. So we joined. Except now.. I've never been to a meeting or anything and Felix disappeared before he could go. So I don't know if I'm still supposed to be there or not. And I"m.. just telling you so you know. That I might not.. be with the best people. I don't know if I am still or not.. but.. I can only wait I guess... to see what happens." she said softly as she tucked her black hair behind her ear.

[J.T.]

(OOC- ;D)

"The Hand?" Joey asked in a confused manor. He truly didn't know what she was talking about as he wouldn't have ever thought to incorporate Raven and the Hand of Fate in one thought. He figured she was talking about a restaurant or something.

But then she went on to explain how she was forced to join along with Felix, and that she didn't have a choice. This came as a slight shock to Joey, who stopped walking and began looking at her very sternly. He had heard something about Felix being made to join, but he knew nothing of Raven's part in the matter nor had he ever thought about it before.

"What exactly were you made to do?" he asked, a serious tone to his voice.

He knew that things had gotten a whole lot more complicated between them and that now was either the best or worst time to reveal his part in Kvist's gang. He decided that what he said next would rely totally on what Raven's answer to his question was, as well as how she felt about the things she was made to do. All he knew right now was that he had a feeling in the pit of his stomach that was worse than any punch he had experienced.

[raven]

Raven looked up at him. He stopped walking and looked down at her. She thought maybe she had said something wrong. She didn't want to make him angry she just wanted to tell him before they got really close. And she bit her lower lip as he asked her a question. Asking her what they had made her do. Truth was, it was the reason she wasn't sure she was a member anymore. She looked up at him and moved in leaning against him almost hugging him.

"Nothing. Not yet anyway. They told us that we had to join. Or they would kill us. They didn't give us a choice. They would kill us I knew it. Victor, and Kvist they .. they would. It was in their eyes and.. and .. I was scared. So scared." she said as she was on the verge of tears. Her arms went around Joey gently as she hugged him there in the street.

"I don't know why they wanted me. I know they wanted us though. Because they said, if Felix and Raven, the couple, joined The Hand then.. then it would give them a better image. Because Felix was about doing good things and I.. I was as good as it got. I don't like hurting people or seeing them hurt and I.. I just did it stay alive."

She looked up at him her blue eyes glistening with tears as she stood there awkwardly in his arms but she wasn't even blushing. Not this time.

"Do you.. do you hate me now? Because.. because I'm with them. I.. I don't even know if I am or not.. I"m just.. not sure." she said as she looked down again letting her black hair cover and hide her face from him.

[J.T.]

"No I don't hate you." he said softly, putting his arms around her. He hadn't meant to make her so upset, but this was big and it came as a major shock to him. It was now obvious that she hated the Hand deeply and didn't want anything to do with it. It was because of this that Joey decided to postpone telling his secret until later. In reality, he hoped he never would have to tell her.

"I'm sorry, its just that I know the Hand of Fate was into some shady business back in Varron and my heart sort of skipped a beat when you said you were in it. You know what I mean?"

He wondered if it was even possible for him to start anything with her at this point. She seemed to be all about virtue, and Joey didn't know exactly how he would get his way out of it if she ended up finding out about him and reporting to the police.

Either way, his thoughts had minimal control of his actions ever since he began getting closer to her (internally). He knew that there was no way he would just get up and back away from Raven at this point no matter how dangerous to him she was. Instead, he continued to hold her to him and ensure her that he wasn't angry or disappointed.

[raven]

He wrapped his arms around her body gently and she closed her eyes laying her head back against him. She smiled softly as he told her that he didn't hate her. Honestly, that was the most important thing in the world. She liked Joey. The first person since Felix that she had genuinly felt a crush on. Something that she would enjoy to get to know better no matter the circumstances. Perhaps it was because he was so strong for her. He seemed like he would face anything and that was something she needed in her life. A strong pillar she could lean against if they got close.

"I don't know what they do, not really. I've never been to a meeting or anything. I'm glad that you don't mind. Because.. I.. I kind of.. like you Joey." she blushed deeply but still hid her face against his chest and her hair covering part of it.

She stayed there in the grasp of his arms. Inhaling the soft scent of him. She could smell the slight twinge of sweat that had dried on him from working out. She smiled softly. Oddly his scent and his touch were so comforting. She had never felt anything of the like since Felix. No one's touch had been like this since him. There was a connection between the two of them; Joey and Raven. Gently she pulled back and smiled gently that blush still on her face. Softly she looked up into his eyes not caring if he saw the blush. She took his hand gently in her own.

"Should we.. continue?" she asked softly as she bit her lower lip nervously. Knowing she had just confessed to him that she did indeed like him. More than just a friend.

[J.T.]

(OOC- Joey took a shower, he does not smell like sweat!)

"Thats good." Joey said softly. "Because I don't think your so bad either." In his voice, it was obvious that he was telling her that he felt the same way.

Things were progressing quickly between them and it made Joey proud of his decision to blow off his friends. It was obvious that the two of them were on their way to dating just as he had anticipated, though now that it was actually happening, it didn't feel so bad. He was actually feeling light as a feather, and better than he had felt in a long while. He had finally gotten a chance to steady his life out a little bit.

Things were going to definately change for him if this went seriously. He knew she would affect him in many ways, maybe even being what he needed to stop his killer's mentality. Of course, he owed far too much of a debt to Kvist to ever consider leaving the Hand, though he often times considered what would have happened if he hadn't joined out of desperation. He knew it would have involved much more stealing on his part, as the reason he joined in the first place was so he could aquire the funds to feed his family. And if he was stealing and mugging anyway, joining a gang wasn't too far off on the totem pole anyway.

Right now he wasn't thinking about that sort of thing, he was far too into the moment. "Yeah, let's go baby." he said, putting his arm back around her and walking again.

[raven]

Raven blushed as he told her that he liked her too. Not in so many words but it was in his voice more than his words and that meant a lot to her. She smiled as she looked up at him. He seemed to think about something for a few moments. He was sweet and kind. He had only just met her today and already he seemed to enjoy her company. Not even minding when she needed comfort during the class they had been in. Even letting her hold his hand. It was nice. And she felt that they were growing closer every moment they spent together.

He put his arm around her shoulders again and called her baby. That made her laugh softly and blush a bit. She could honestly say she had never been called that before in her life it was definatly different to be called that now. She leaned into him as much as she could. She was enjoying herself.

"I can say I've never been called that before." she said softly. She smiled softly as her arm went around his waist so that they were holding each other and it wasn't just one sided.

"What kind of movies do you like to watch? You know.. incase after dinner you wanted to watch one or something." she said shyly as she lay her head against his shoulder gently. "I don't really watch tv much, so I don't have cable, there is no reason to. So I do have movies and there is a rental place on the way, if you want something I don't have." she said with a soft smile.

[J.T.]

(OOC- Make JT watch 'The Notebook' and they're through. )

Joey laughed a little as Raven said that she had never been called baby. Apparently Felix wasn't quite as 'fly' as him when it came to that sort of thing.

"Yeah, a movie sounds good." he said coolly. He had already seen a lot of the newer things that the rental stores had back when they were in theaters. But he figured the two of them could easily pick a slightly older movie to watch if they wanted to.

"I'm into most kinds of movies. I just don't like the kinds that have predictable endings. But I guess you can never really tell if the ending is predictable until your done watching it anyway, so I suppose I'm up for anything. What do you have?"

Now it was Joey's turn to feel dumb about something small. He scolded himself inside his head for barraging Raven with information when he could have replied to her question with either his first or last sentence.

In reality, he didn't sound rushed whatsoever despite what he though. His own nervousness was just beginning to seep into his head a little bit now and it was messing with him. He didn't look as if he was flustered either. Years of practice had given him the ability to keep his composure in a vast amount of strange situations.

Essentially, though Raven would notice nothing, Joey would be getting angry at himself for saying something wrong.

"There it is." Joey said, pointing his free hand toward the bakery that had been their destination. It was a relatively small establishment, but it looked nice and seemed to be in good condition. A seemingly nice place for Raven to work.

"Hows it look?" he asked, looking down at her.

[raven]

((Notebook it is!! Haha, I hate that movie, no worries there))

Raven smiled at his laugh. It was the first time she had heard it and she liked it. She smiled as they walked down the street her cheeks weren't hurting but you might think they were as much as she was smiling when she was with Joey. He just did that to her, by talking to her and being around her. She hadn't laughed in ages it seemed but here they were and he had already gotten her to laugh.

"I have all kinds of movies. You can look them over and see what you want to watch. I'm sure there is something you would like." she told him.

They walked some time more until he finally pointed out the little shop. It was small but Raven was a quiet girl and small was probably better for her than some comercial busy place. He asked her what she thought and her ice blue eyes looked it over as they stopped walking and she leaned against him. She watched a few people come and go with little white bags containing whatever goodies they had just bought from within. But they never seemed too busy Raven silently hoped she would be more baking and making rather than selling but in a place that small it could be both.

"I like it. It isn't too big. But it gets enough business that I would actually have work." she said softly as she looked up at him with a smile on her face. "Thank you, Joey."

She looked at the bakery again, and tucked some stray locke of her hair behind her ear gently. She swallowed hard trying to summon up the courage to go at least get an application. She looked back up at Joey.

"Allright, Lets go in, and at least get an application. Then I can take care of your eye before we head home." she said softly as she bit her lower lip and headed towards the bakery with Joey.

[J.T.]

(OOC- A girl who isn't completely obsessed with The Notebook? I thought I would never meet such a person...)

Joey had forgotten about the cut above eye and now the power of suggestion was causing it to sting a little bit again. He just hoped Raven knew how to properly use her first-aid kit. The last thing he needed was his eyebrow area all swollen. Though these small thoughts were crawling around in his head, he trusted Raven and knew that she would do just fine.

Reaching the bakery, Joey opened the door for Raven before entering himself.

"Do you smell that?" he asked Raven as the smell of fresh bread and cookies overcame his nostrils.

[raven]

((No, not me. See the book was a great book. Just like 'A walk to remember' was a great book. But both movies just pissed me off. No respect to the books I swear.. ahem.. enough ranting)

Raven and Joey made it across the street to the quaint little bakery. In the window was a small sheet of paper asking for help wanted. Well hopefully, the position hadn't already been filled since she would really enjoy baking for her job, and this place seemed so nice. He opened the door for her and she smiled stepping through. He exclaimed at the good smells and she inhaled them smiling happily.

"Take a seat, I'll talk to the person, and be right back." she told him softly as she headed up to the front counter.

"What can I get you today, young miss?" asked a seemingly nice elderly man that seemed to run the shop.

"Well," Raven began her shyness kicking in. "I saw, your sign, and came in for.. an application."

"Oh! Well let me get that for you." he said excitedly his eyes alight. For apparently, they really did need help.

He came back a moment later with the application and she smiled thanking him politely as she returned to the booth (hope you don't mind) that Joey was sitting in. She smiled as she sat the application down and then opened her messenger bag. Not only to get out a pen but the handy first aid kit. He was first. She opened it up and got out a small bottle, the size of a purse sized hand lotion, and a cotton ball. Letting some of the fluid out on the cotton ball she smiled turning his face to her.

"Close your eyes, it's only peroxide so it won't even hurt, I promise." she said softly.

Gently she dabbed the wound the bubbles, she could hear them going to work as they cleaned the wound making sure that there was no bacteria.

"Keep them closed, this might sting just a little." she told him. She got a Q tip and dabbed some Neosporin on the wound so it would heal faster with less chance of scarring. "Still closed." she reminded him.

Gently she packed everything up and then as the last treatment. She leaned in and kissed his cheek softly and gently. Letting her lips linger there only a moment before pulling back blushing as red as a rose. She pulled a pen out of her bag and letting her hair dark as it was form a curtain between her red face and his she began to fill out the application slowly in her beautiful handwriting.

[J.T.]

"Thanks." Joey said simply as Raven applied the peroxide. It didn't sting that much and he was glad that he was getting something done about it for a change. He usually just tossed a band-aid on after cleaning it with water, but he knew it was just luck that his skin would always come back looking nice. He had always figured he just had strong skin.

As she kissed him and began writing her information down, Joey smiled. He was used to her blushing, but it seemed that she had built up some courage before kissing him because her face had gotten nearly crimson. He also thought it was cute that she tried to hide it behind her hair.

'I wonder if she blushes this much for everyone?' he wondered. He wanted to know if she was doing this because she liked him or because she was just embarrassed often. 'I'll find out soon enough.' he assured himself.

(OOC- Not much for him to do while he waits .)