Chapter Forty One

Raven grunted with relief having made it to the very last class of the day with little to no hassle. Since he didn't share a class with any other members from the team he didn't get questioned on where he had been since Friday. The regular classmates as well had already been backed away to the point of just observing Raven from a distance due to Carson's influence.

While gazing past his computer screen Raven looked out to the rest of the class who seemed wrapped up in the individual conversation they held that Raven held no interest in joining, like usual. Even the teacher didn't look his way as she carried on her daily routine, this lack of interest in him relaxed him to know he wasn't close to feeding. He wondered if he was a social person like Carson, would even notice notice when he was giving off the pheromones?

Even though he always felt deprived not being outgoing he was glad to be a recluse at this time in his life making things easier for him. Everything was going better than he had expected having not been disturbed yet by anyone he had plenty of time to think of the excuse he would give to the team. His day was turning out to be easier than he thought it would be, however there was one downside.

Raven's eyes stopped on Asher, who had his head down on his keyboard not being any threat to raven other than being in the same classroom. Raven was surprised by his lack of interest in the class when it took a lot to be in this sort of school, though after yesterday he wasn't expecting much from this guy.

Thinking about what had happened just the day before it dawned on him, he may have put Asher in this position. The drowsy lack of interest in everything around him was the same sort of behavior Carson had after he was kissed by him.

Feeling guilty yet again he looked Asher over hoping he would be alright, while doing so he noticed Asher took his advice on what to wear for class. However, Raven also absorbed he was intentionally wearing items of clothing that weren't allowed which bothered Raven slightly when he knew what Asher had bought.

Once class came closer to an end the teacher turned off her smart board and stood from her seat, "Alright since it's the end of the quarter, I won't give anything else for today and give everyone a chance to work on their final projects with your partner before the bell rings" The teacher claimed while going through some papers on her desk.

This caused Raven to stop looking at Asher as he looked to the front confused, "Projects?" he questioned aloud wondering when these were given out having not even heard of them before.

Just before she was about to go to door her eyes met with Raven's. "Oh yes, Raven" she claimed snapping her fingers as if she remembered he was not around for it. Going back to her desk she grabbed a folder from drawer and walked his way placing it down in front of his computer, "I am glad you are feeling better, usually I'd leave you to do the project on your own but we have a new student that isn't up to speed" she informs gesturing to Asher as she does.

Raven glanced over leering at Asher wondering if she was going to really put them together when she knew he wasn't the tutoring type. She looked at Raven the moment he looked to Asher and even when she saw the clear distaste on Raven's face she didn't stop, "I was thinking you can help him and since you already missed so many days it wouldn't hurt for you to have some help." she went on to explain trying to make it sound like it was more for Raven's sake than Asher's hoping this would help convince him.

Raven shook his head almost refusing her suggestion before she could even declare it, he wasn't about to get stuck with this guys any more than he already was. "Please don't" he snarled.

She gave a weak smile to his plead, "I'm going to partner you with Asher... so here's the project details there is only one option left so you have no say" she declared while widening her smile making sure Raven knew he was going to have a partner for this one.

Raven huffed to these words as he folded his arms over one another leaning back in his chair, "Yeah I got it" he grumbled.

When she walked away to wake Asher, Raven reached over picking up the project outline wondering what it was that would require him to have a partner. Peering over he watched Asher hesitantly getting up from his seat, giving her an argument the entire time. Raven wondered if maybe this would mean that Asher would rather argue them out of working together than actually work together as well. Though, these hopes quickly died when Asher sat down next to Raven causing him to look away while reading the project assignment.

Asher relaxed on the counter resting his head in the palm of his hand while he watched Raven clearly ignoring his presence. Giving a hiss he broke the ice, "Robin...?" he spoke in a questioning tone.

Raven heart raced sending a sharp pain through his body as he felt for a brief moment that Asher had seen through him somehow, "W...what?" Raven stuttered looking back to him trying to keep his expression like it was just moments before.

Asher didn't change his expression, only giving a brief smirk looking Raven over. As soon as it appeared it dropped once again leaving a tired expression behind, "Did she get home safe?" he questioned clearing up that he was asking about what happened to Robin after Raven had run away from him.

Raven stared at him unable to speak, finding it hard to believe that this guy would assume that he was the cousin so quickly when he hardly looked at raven since class started.

Asher waited only a moment for an answer before he grumbled rolling his eyes as he quickly got annoyed with how Raven seemed so confused by the question, "Your cousin, How's your cousin?" he asked clarifying his question further.

Raven narrowed his brow to Asher's annoyed actions and decided he would rather just play dumb than to pretend he was two people, "Excuse me?" Raven questioned looking back to the papers in front of him, "I don't know who y-" When Raven went to protest his knowledge of what Asher was talking about Asher spoke up.

"I'm a friend, don't worry" Asher interrupted claiming to know Robin so that Raven would find comfort talking to him though this only irritated him more.

The way he would call himself a friend when he was nowhere close to him, "You have the wrong person" he snarled turning on the computer to start looking for what he needed to start at.

Asher clicked his tongue getting more annoyed with Raven, "Look my sister still wants to be friends with her and meet you so I need her number if you-" he claimed being cut off just as he went to get out a pen.

"You have the wrong damn person, go away" Raven snapped as he hated how persistent Asher was being to see Robin again even using his sister as an excuse.

Asher paused his attempt to convince Raven to trust him when he heard the familiar defensive attitude come from him making his lip curl, "Yeah, I should have noticed by the familiar hostility that I had the wrong guy" he asserted sarcastically while taking the folder from in front of Raven opening it up to look it over.

"Navigation?" Asher grumbled once seeing the assignment they happened to get unsure of what this meant for them to do.

Even though he was questioning what their assignment was he didn't get a response as Raven already wrote him off and started to open a few sites. Asher glanced over as Raven was steadily ignoring him while he was looking up the the project he still did not understand, "Look I didn't mean to scare her, just... lost myself for a bit" he grumbled out falling short of his apology.

"You..." Raven barked as he was about to explode with anger with how Asher so carelessly worded it but held himself back, "You have the wrong person, leave me alone" he snarled just wanting Asher to take the hint and leave him be.

Asher groaned as he became agitated with Raven's attitude when it was obvious as to who he was, "You have an annoying attitude" he sneered.

Raven hissed trying to ignore his comment, not wanting to play into his game anymore as he stared at his computer screen. However, Asher's eyes never left the side of Raven face, making it obvious he was staring at him the entire time. Raven took a piece of paper out writing down what Asher should start in the project if he was going to stare at something. Pushing the paper into his view he pointed to it demanding that Asher start on something before going back to searching the web.

Asher scoffed as he looked down to the paper "Hey," he called getting Raven's attention while waving his hand to ask for the pen.

Raven was hesitant, Confident that Asher wasn't going to share anything worth reading however he handed the pen over anyway. While he waited, he couldn't help but be nosy reading as he wrote.

-What's her number __-__-____?

Raven snarled taking the pen almost instantly as he scribbled out what Asher wrote and underlined what he wrote again not giving back the pen this time only going back to what he was doing trying to ignore Asher as much as possible.

Asher tapped his fingers on the table over the notes agitated that he was ignored to this extent. He let a snarl escape his lips as he was about to get agitated enough to drop his attempts to talk to Raven for the day when he glanced up to the door. He noticed the same guy from the restaurant walking up to the door.

Their eyes met while Carson was looking for Raven in the room, he smiled for a moment as it was clear who he was there to get. Asher smirked as he looked back to Raven and used the fact that he was ignored to his advantage. Leaning in he got closer to Raven's ear, "Then give me yours" he demands in a whispered tone.

Raven felt his breath touching his ear making a shiver run down his spine as he moved his head back covering his ear looking at him, "Why?" he questioned becoming worried about Asher being so close.

Asher chuckled to Raven's reaction seeing how it broke the previous behavior he was receiving, "We're partners..." he claimed holding up the folder.

Looking at the folder he realized he hadn't thought about that since he usually didn't work with others, "Oh..." Raven mumbled as he looked him over not sure if he should give him the number for that reason alone.

He knew it would be a hassle for them both if they had no way of contacting one another and it wasn't like he had to answer to any of the texts unless they were project related, "I guess" Raven grumbled while cautiously taking the paper back and wrote out his number.

"Hey Raven lets go" Carson snapped as he had been standing there unnoticed for some time already and became irritated by the way he was ignored at the door.

Raven jumped to the voice, finding the timing for both of them to be around to almost be unbearable for him to handle. Looking over his shoulder he gathered his things including his copy of the project, "Yeah, hold up" he responded while pushing his chair in to follow Carson.

"Have fun" Asher taunted as he waved Raven off.

Raven stared down at him for a moment while walking away wondering what it was he meant by those words only to look up to see Carson looking down at him clearly irritated, "Who's that?" he questioned while closing the door behind them.

Raven couldn't believe the attitude Carson was giving him causing him to roll his eyes to the question almost uninterested in telling him, "My partner" he grumbled hating to admit it.

Carson looked back through the window of the room to Asher from those words, "What?" he questioned not sure what to make of this information.

Raven rubbed his head brushing his fingers through his hair while he handed Carson his bag to carry so he could put the papers in his folder, "There's no longer an odd number in class so now I have a project partner." he explained while nagging at the same time.

"Oh..." Carson shook his head, having should of figured it was more like this. However Carson couldn't help but find it was strange that it would be the guy that Robin was with, "You two looked friendly, do you know him?" he asked wondering how Raven would explain those two relationships from before.

Raven glanced over as he couldn't stand that Carson would see it that way, "I was not being friendly with him" he growled taking back his bag aggressively.

Carson huffed to the attitude he was responded with though he noticed Raven didn't deny that he didn't know the guy just then. He already knew this about them but it bothered him that Raven wouldn't say anything about Robin or the guy just then, "Alright, well let's go" he urged Raven to follow while walking away from him dropping the subject for now since he had practice.

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