Chapter Forty Three

"Carson, hey!" A young girl's voice shouted while they waved; calling them over, to where they sat swaying back and forth on the swings while they waited for the guys to arrive.

Raven looked around the playground never being there before he shook his head letting out a sigh. There was no way for Raven to understand what was going on Carson's head. The playground of all places made no sense, it was an even stranger location than being at the park in general.

Approaching the girls Raven noticed more unsettling details, these girls were unusual for Carson's type. Being that they were; younger, at least sophomores -maybe juniors; looked a lot like Jewels with their dark brown hair, and dark eyes. The only similarity they had to Carson's type was their tan skin tone and fit figure, that gave the appearance they were the kind that played sports.

Carson approached the girls just like he would any other, giving one a hug before he pulled back and gestured Raven's way. "Raven, this is Katie and Laura. They play volleyball from the local school, the girl team that came over for last month's dorm party" he reminds Raven while also introducing the girls like Raven would actually remember each player on the team.

"How could I forget" Raven grumbled sarcastically in response knowing he was only at that party for a short time. However, he did recall those weren't the girls he was giving attention to that day so it made Raven suspicious of the sudden interest. While thinking about it he noticed Carson stepping away from the girls moving over to the nearest bench to sit down.

Raven looked to the girls waiting for them to move first, though they sat content in their swings causing Raven to glance back to Carson seeing why. He was sitting in an obnoxious spread out manner so that no one could sit next to him. Making it clear that these girls were meant to be his type for this gathering. Having only expressed an interest in Jewels since they had known each other Carson picked two random girls that looked the most like her on purpose.

Of course Carson wouldn't know that the only reason he had such an interest in her was because he thought he could trust her. Now the thought of a girl like Jewels irritated him. Raven glared Carson's way who wasn't even paying attention to the girls but looking back at Raven. He knew there was something up but Raven couldn't figure out what this was, it made no sense for him to invite only Raven's type if he was the one in need of a date.

While Raven was looking over at Carson he gave a smirk, "What's the matter?" he inquired in an almost arrogant manner while leaning back getting even more relaxed in the bench.

Raven couldn't help but snarl at his statement, walking over to him he wasn't going to continue playing anymore games. Carson was clearly mad at him; however, he couldn't figure out why and wasn't going to try since it wasn't making any sense to begin with. "What you do, run out of models?" Raven snarled in a hushed tone as he questioned what he planned to do with these girls.

Carson chuckled looking over to the girls then back to Raven giving a smirk, "Did I get it wrong?" he sneered.

Raven snarled, "A little" he response finding Carson's arrogant attitude bothersome.

"Then I'll change it up next time" Carson claimed in an arrogant manner as if he planned to continue pulling this stunt until he was satisfied.

Raven folded his arms over one another, "Don't bother." he demands making it clear he would not be conned into going out with him again.

While the two seemed to build tension between each other not explaining what it was that bothered either of them the girls got off the swings making their way to them curious of what was going on, "Hey, let's play a little girls against boys match in the basketball court," The one named Katie suggested as she got closer to Raven, "Winners can get whatever they want." she taunts like she were challenging him with temptation.

Raven questioned her challenge finding the interest in him suspicious, "I am not a sports type" he claimed shooting it down.

Carson scoffed to his comment while Laura pushed her rear into the small space of the bench to sit down next to him. He grunted moving his legs over, even while being uninterested he wasn't going to break his usually polite behavior towards women. "Yeah, besides I don't have a ball" he explained also not in the mood to play a competitive game at that moment either.

Laura narrowed her brow as she quickly ran out of ideas finding that this was becoming an unpleasant turn of events, "Then what did we come here to do?" she questioned wondering why they didn't go somewhere else.

Raven hissed looking over to him, "Yeah Carson, what did we come here to do?" he asked in a sarcastic tone becoming straight forward with his question about what they were doing.

Carson snickered as his eyes met with Raven's glare. Looking away for a moment his eyes scanned over the area, "I have an idea, let's go for a walk" he exclaimed as his eyes fell on the trail that lead into the woods.

Katie narrowed his brow showing how unexcited she was with the all of a sudden idea, "A walk?" she questioned trying not to sound aggravated about it.

Carson stood and clicked his tongue with a grin as he passed by Raven seeing the same expression Katie had on Raven's face as well, "Yes... a walk" he answered though even if he was talking to her he directed it at Raven while passing him by.

Raven couldn't help but wonder what it was that Carson was planning, but even so he lingered looking back towards the road wishing he could tell Menay where he was. A voice startled him as it spoke just behind him, "Hey, what are you looking at, waiting for someone else?" Katie asked as she was too close for comfort once again.

Raven moved away as he looked over to her, "Huh?" he questioned her words as they registered, "Ugh no" he muttered shaking his head no. Menay wouldn't be coming there for him even if he wanted.

She smiled as she pulled on his arm, "Well then, let's go play" she claims urging him to follow her to the woods.

Pulling his arm away from her grasp he gave a dirty look, "Play?" Raven grumbled questioning her words. He was beginning to become suspicious of her motives as well.

"Yeah" Katie cheered as she all of a sudden became okay with the idea of trailing through the woods.

Unwilling he followed anyway; it became strangely awkward very fast. Raven glanced over to Carson as they walk towards the trail without one girl by his side. Raven was confident now that this was for him rather Carson but he didn't know why.

While they walked together the entire scene was out of place for Raven, he was used to following in behind while the girls were on Carson's side. However, this time Carson was the one falling behind while the girls were sticking oddly close to Raven.

Laura glanced over towards a building as she stopped in her tracks, "I have to use the ladies room real quick" she claimed.

"What we just started" Carson groaned speaking up from behind.

"Yeah but there's a bathroom right over there" She explained pointing off to the building wanting to go before they got too far into the trail when she couldn't find one so easily.

Carson sighed as he looked over, "It's off the trail" he informed reluctant to stop. Just as he says this he is met by both women giving him a dirty glare causing him give, "Fine, we'll wait right here" he claimed waving his hand giving a gentle smile for them to go.

While Raven watched them leave he couldn't believe the way Carson was acting with those women. Raven took no time as he stormed over to Carson shoving at his shoulder, "What are you doing?" he snarled showing his aggravation in his tone.

Carson brushed Raven's attempt of force off as he gave a grin seeing Raven already becoming agitated by what was going on, "Isn't it obvious, I'm hooking you up" he claimed in a taunting manner like Raven needed this assistance.

Raven rolled his eyes to these words, "I don't want to be hooked up" he snapped.

Carson folded his arms over one another while leaning down closer to Raven, "Why?" he questioned wanting to know what would make him uninterested in these girls.

"I..." Raven hesitated as he knew he couldn't just say he didn't want to be with them without reason, "You know why" he claimed trying to use the fact that Carson knew of his fear of kissing.

Carson sneered shaking his head, "No, I don't. I thought I did but you kissed Jewels twice, why not have some fun now? Is there something you're hiding or someone?" he explained as he pushed to know what had changed with Raven since his birthday.

Hearing that he had kissed Jewels twice he was caught off guard, "How did you..." Raven stumbled on his words as he remembered she had gone to tell them he was going back to the room. Realizing that must have been where she told him he still became dumbfounded by the by the question of hiding someone, only coming to one idea, "Are you talking about Robin?" he asked still confused by it all. He couldn't believe that all because he wouldn't tell him about his female body, this made him angry enough to pull such a stunt.

Carson chuckled lightly hearing these words as he went to deny Robin being his full interest but rather wanted to know all of what Raven had been up to since Friday, "N-"

"Hey guys what's up?" Katie asked as she and Laura approached hearing bits of the arguing between them.

Carson calmed down as he let their conversation go, "Nothing" he claimed looking over to them with a forced smile.

The girls seemed hardly convinced by his claims however they did not believe him for even a moment, "Carson I wanted to ask you something. Come here real quick" Katie asked as she approached him glancing to Raven before gesturing away from the rest.

Carson was reluctant but he nodded softly, "Yeah, sure" he groaned feeling her pull looking down to Raven one more time letting him know their conversation wasn't over.

Raven scoffed as he watched Carson being pulled away, he knew they only had an interest in him. He wondered what kind of reward Carson was giving just to get them to show Raven interest just to torture him.

Just as he was watching them speak to one another Laura stumbled into him holding on to his arm to support himself. "Oh... I, sorry I didn't mean to" she apologized.

Raven looked over as he grasped her hand, even if he didn't want to be touched, he didn't believe she did that on purpose, "It's alright" he spoke as he let her hand go once she seemed stable.

She smiled giving out a sigh, "You don't look like you're having fun" she points out looking him over.

"Neither do you," he responds. Know he was likely not the one she wanted to be alone with.

"Heh," she gave a nervous chuckle looking down to her feet, "It's just muddy and I'm having trouble with these shoes walking" she muttered trying to cover why she didn't seem so excited with them.

Raven looked down at her shoes and wondered why she would wear heels to the park. He was beginning to think that she was told they were going to the movies at first as well. Raven couldn't believe Carson would pull such a manipulative move just to corner Raven to tell him about Robin. He couldn't help but feel guilty for their discomfort, "Need help?" he asked while gently offering out his hand to help her walk, feeling this was the least he could do after the trouble he caused for these girls.

"Thank you," she gratefully claimed ignoring his hand moving her arm under Raven's as she got closer pulling them together. He arched a brow not too enthused with this kind of connection; being sure that he could help her with just his hand, but before he could say something she spoke up, "I bet you are a surprisingly good kisser" she claimed.

Raven became surprised by her words, "What?" he questioned looking over just as his face was grasped tightly by her cold hands and pulled into a kiss.

Raven's eyes widened as pushed her away in disgust. Reaching up to his mouth, "What are you doing?" He shouts in anger glaring down to her it dawned on him what just happened.

He just fed from her and in front of everyone at that; he was in a park with nowhere to go. Panic fills him looking over at Carson with fear as they were staring back at him, he needed somewhere to hide and he only knew of one place. He runs to the only building close that he could hide behind a door away from the small group: the bathrooms.

Bursting in at full speed he locked the door behind him only to hear someone's belt shuffle from a stall. Raven wasn't alone and now was unable to fully lock anyone out. He looked to the the stall knowing he could get lock himself in there and checked to see if there was anyone else in the other stall. Darting in as his last resort he closed the door behind him panting like he had ran out of breath while he laid his head against the door and groaned. "Stupid..." He muttered angered that he had let himself get stuck in that sort of situation.

A moan of pain followed as his chest started to burn feeling the twisting in his stomach. He was changing into a girl once again and there was nothing he could do about it.

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