Chapter Thirty One

Raven looked over his shoulder back to the neighborhood wondering if Menay would actually intervene and pick him up instead of letting him get on the bus to go on his own. However, to his surprise he had made it all the way to the bus stop and sat down still not seeing any evidence of Menay coming to get him.

Barely any time passed before Raven heard the pressure releasing from the gears as the bus came to a stop in front of him. He flinched to the surprising sound having almost not expected he would still be there when it arrived.

Looking back once more he couldn't believe that Menay was actually going to allow him to go on his own. Raven even became a bit fearful that he was making a mistake to leave without him though at this point there was no point in delaying his departure. Hesitating at the doors of the bus, the driver gave an irritated snarl as he urged Raven to hurry up.

Raven flared with rage that he would be snarled at and instantly stepped up like it was an instinctual act. Looking up to him about to give a bit of attitude to the driver he watched the driver's arm swing out and the door closed behind him causing him to turn to look at the closed door quickly. His aggressive response became weak and he paled now that there was no choice but to continue on his journey.

"This isn't a free ride, kid" The driver growled having not put the bus into gear just yet waiting for Raven to pay now that he were on.

Raven snapped back having an agitated yet confused look on his face not catching what the driver was implying till the man pointed to the little box by the railing. Raven realized what he meant and felt foolish that he was holding up the bus giving a nod ignoring the comment of being a kid for the moment.

"Oh yeah," Raven muttered rummaged through his pants pockets getting out the few dollars he had gathered from the loose change within his room. He paused as he noticed the price of the ride not knowing it would take all of what he had. Placing the required amount in the machine placing the rest back in his pocket he knew this meant he would need to call Menay to pick him up later. He let out a sigh as he waited for the change to be accepted, the moment the screen turned green the driver took no time for Raven to take his seat and started to leave.

Having to catch himself he was almost thrown back by how rude the driver was being that he was relieved by it. Gave him the feeling that he was not running as low as Menay had suggested before. He scuffed looking through the window back to the road that lead down to his father's home smirking back assuming Menay was only trying to scare him.

Finding a new sprout of confidence he stepped past the last step and looked into the semi crowded bus. He was shocked by just how many people were there for it to be only a Tuesday. Though he remembered that it was around lunch and they all seemed to be minding their own business rather paying others any attention.

He knew most of the factories that support this town were all before the park even before entering the major portion of the city. Assuming they were all employed there, with the thought that they would all be off the bus before him to get back to work. Being that he was going to the park much further away he didn't let their presence bother him as he went to find a seat.

Seeking out an empty row he found it closer to the back where not as many people had gone to already. Flopping down in the seat he let out a soft smile and leaned back in the seat looking out the window. It was a rather pleasant day, even with the chill it was warmer than the day before and the sky was clear.

He couldn't help but wonder what Ashley would look like on a day like this. He was sure that whatever she was going to give him would be a really nice outfit. Raven almost regretted the thought of taking it from her to waste on his own body, that should be dressed as a man.

Staring out the window the bus that often stops increased the time more than he thought it would already approaching noon he was going to be late. The ride was becoming dragging unable to check the exact time this caused him to huff wishing he had his phone to play with to pass the time.

On top of the delay no one had seemed to be getting off the bus either, traveling all the way into town like him only more were getting on. Making him push himself closer to the window knowing it was only a matter of time before someone sat beside him.

Keeping to himself the glass in front of his face began to fog up from his breath clouding his vision of the city. He started to wonder what Carson was doing at this time, wondering if he was still suffering from what he had done to him.

Raven wished Carson could be with him now since he hadn't gone to the city without anyone before. From the moment he moved into this area he was always with Carson when they went into the city. Now that it was just him in this situation there were so many things that started to go through his mind that made him a bit mixed in his emotions.

Thinking of how things were with Jewels and Carson before he wondered if it would go back to that, though he didn't want Jewels in his life he was starting to think maybe he and Ashley could be friends. Though the thought of becoming closer to her he wondered if she would even be interested in becoming friends. The deceptive taste Jewels had left in his mouth made him wary of becoming friends with anymore girls like before.

The bus came to a stop once again and Raven looked up to see how many more seats were available knowing there weren't too many to begin with. He hoped since this was the last factory stop that at least some would be getting off. Though no one seemed to get off but only one got on the bus. His eyes looked for a vacant seat when they met with Raven's eyes for a moment before Raven looked back to the window no longer concerned.

Raven rotates his shoulders adjusting and pulling his clothes a bit from him finding them to be a little uncomfortable. Finding his usually comfortable clothes uncomfortable he couldn't help but be curious on how girls could wear men's clothes all the time when his own was causing him so much discomfort. Hating it he knew after he got the clothes he needed to change as soon as he could so that he could go back to being a guy. The thought of wearing girls clothes and how he would turn back into a guy twisted his stomach, something he was still not sure if he was ready to do either.

Glancing back to the window he noticed his reflection and jumped still finding the dream girls appearance out in reality uncomfortable to see. Shaking his head he knew there was no questioning he needed to do what he had to in order to turn back into a male.

Looking back to the window he noticed something else in the reflection, the guy that had just got on was sitting across the aisle from him staring his way. Raven looked down finding this all too familiar stare uncomfortable. Before he looked away he noticed the guy was playing music through his headphones on his ears. Raven took a deep breath and held it hoping that he would just continue to mind his own business and leave him alone.

Though Raven had a creeping feeling this wouldn't happen. The man was much taller than Raven and by the way he looked it gave him the wrong kind of feeling. So he tried not to look back at the man not even the reflection of him to decrease any sort of interaction with the stranger.

Unfortunately these efforts went ignored as the man wanted to talk to Raven even with the obvious attempts to ignore him. Raven heard the music stop followed by the shuffling of his arms which caused a jingling sound while he took his headphones off. Raven knew this meant the guy was going to try and talk to him, he hoped he could just pretend to ignore him.

"Hey, you skipping?" The man asked as he spoke to Raven with a question.

Raven huffed for a moment from the question made but he hoped this assumption would mean the guy was only looking at him thinking he was a troubled kid rather what Raven feared the guy was thinking. Since it wouldn't matter if the man knew if he was a skipper or not he decided to ignore him. Knowing no matter how he answered it would engage an interaction with the guy that he didn't care to have.

"Hey, Red..." he called to Raven again not taking the silence as a response. He moved his hand over to the empty seat beside Raven and tapped it to get Raven's attention.

Raven was startled by this thinking he was getting into the seat next to him causing Raven to snap his head back to look only to find that he hadn't.

Fooled into looking his way anyways it irritated him enough to speak, "What?" Raven snarled annoyed by his persistence.

"I asked if you were skipping, kid?" he repeated himself again wanting to know if Raven was just a bad student.

Raven scrunched his face agitated at how he would call him a kid when he didn't know, "I'm not a kid and what does it matter to you?" He snarled almost regretting it the very moment he said it.

The man smirked hearing this as he found Raven's anger interesting, "So you are skipping, what a bad kid what was it a test you don't know?" He snickered lightly leaning across the aisle to get closer to Raven as he taunted him.

Raven hissed hearing the man's arrogance causing him to curl his lip, "I'm not a kid and I am not skipping. Leave me alone creep!" He snapped retreating back to himself in the seat looking back out the window aggravated that he would be taunted by what looked to be a previous juvenile delinquent.

The man looked up as Raven snapped to see if this caught anyone's attention though when the outburst went unnoticed as they were in the middle of the next stop he used the shuffling around to jump into the seat beside Raven.

The commotion in the seat and jingle from the bracelets made Raven panic as he knew this was the same sound from the man when he had sat down earlier. He held his breath and stared out the window hoping ignoring him further would eventually make him turn his interest from him since engaging with the arrogant man clearly put him into this issue now.

The man smirked as he was ignored and took his headphones from around his neck, "Hey, do you like music?" He inquired putting his headphones in Raven's space as if he were going to offer them to Raven.

Raven glanced down as the cord touched him jerking his hand away and moving his knees to be closer together. "Tsk" He hissed swatting the headphones away not giving any other response to the man.

"You could always say no" he snickered pulling his belongings back to him placing them back over his neck while looking Raven over. "You going to look at me, it's not nice to ignore when someone talks to you" he adds trying to provoke Raven to respond again.

"I'd rather be left alone..." Raven growled irritated by this man's words, "Go back to where you were" He ordered wanting him to leave.

"I was only moving over for that couple to sit together" he explained pretending like he was not trying to get closer to him.

Raven looked up to see if this was true but he noticed the guy leaning over blocking any path to leave making his excuse less believable than before. But though his vision was faltered he could just barely see the couple that sat where he once was proving he was slightly telling the truth.

"So, do you like music?" he asked repeating his question from before trying to spark the conversation with Raven now that there were no longer any other seats left for him.

Raven shook his head irritated, "What?" he questioned no longer holding back knowing he would not leave him alone otherwise.

He went to take his headphones off his head as he began to speak, "I have this new-"

"Then listen to it" Raven interrupted him pushing him away yet again uninterested in continuing the needless chat.

"Tsk" The man sneered as he rubbed his head against the seat in front of him, "You are hard to talk to, wow" He grumbled becoming agitated by Raven's blunt nature in an attempt to shut him down before he could even begin.

Raven shook his head irritated, "I just want to get to my destination, in peace" Raven nagged trying to get him to leave him alone if he can't leave the seat.

"And where would that be?" He asked cracking a smile clearly ignoring Raven's pleas.

Raven looked down as he heard his question feeling his heart began to race worried what this kind of question would lead to. Just then the bus stops and Raven knew this was his chance to get away from him by sitting down where someone was getting off before someone else could get there.

Raven stands going to move past his legs to another seat when the guy stood, "Getting off?" he questioned blocking Raven's path just as the bus went to move again causing them stumble closer together.

Though he didn't touch Raven he narrowed his brow cringing his nose looking down at Raven, "Do you smell that?" He asked curious of the scent he was getting from Raven.

Even though Raven wasn't sure if the pheromones were something that could be smelt he became subconscious of them and became afraid. He realized this guy may just follow him if he didn't try and get off now there was no telling how far the guy was willing to go.

"Wait this was my stop!" Raven shouted out before the bus could fully take off again.

Shoving the man aside he grabbed his empty bag and moved past the guy to practically run up to the front of the bus. If he had to he would force the driver to stop the bus because he was getting off now whether he wanted to or not.

The bus driver growled but as he saw Raven approaching the door and the guy left standing by the seat behind he gave out a huff and stopped the bus. Opening the doors he allowed Raven to leave. Raven stopped as he looked back at the guy who was gathering his headphones that dropped.

"Just go, already" The driver growled as he wasn't planning on letting this guy off at this stop but he didn't want Raven to take any longer creating a scene either.

Raven glanced back a little surprised that the bus driver had caught on to his distress and even cared enough to help him after the attitude he aimed at him before. Raven nodded a thanks and stepped off as the doors closed and the bus took off again carrying the strange man away with him.

Raven huffed in relief to be free from the possible danger though now he was worried about the smell the man had mentioned. He lifted his shirt to his face smelling the fabric, thinking the pheromones would have a scent he realized what he smelled was the cologne. Feeling foolish he allowed Menay's warning to create fear within his mind and he felt stupid for overreacting.

Glancing up at the street sign he looked to see where he was now that everything had calmed down. He was only two stops early and though it was not far he grumbled throwing his bag over his shoulder, "Stupid cat" he snarled blaming Menay for having to walk now.

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