MEMORY LANE I (Ch. 30)

Raven stares up at the worn out ceiling of his apartment still unable to find sleep,

(seems like my dreams for a peaceful life really isn't in the books for me, how the hell am i surpossed to unite the four major crew?, I don't even know much about them, is there anyway to find out?....hmm there might be one person)

Turning off the lights he slumps back into bed letting his thoughts rage on.

"Alright kids we've got a new transfer" the homeroom teacher states towards the Illustration arts department students, stepping into the room a giant sporting a menacing glare and several tattoos steps forward

"Daren Joo" the giant states apathetically, gazing down at his timid classmates condescendingly, making his way to his seat he immediately immerses himself with his desk by quickly falling asleep, a tap on his shoulder forces a groan out of him, in annoyance he turns up towards the person disrupting his tranquility. Expecting a fight he's shocked by the sight of the illustration arts department nerds greeting in weird poses and large smiles his burning will quickly deflates and for a few seconds the imagery of headless chickens overlap with theirs,

(Maybe i can just leave the chicks alone this time), ignoring the lot he walks past them stepping out of the class and after several turns into the toilet, his sight stops at the group of three teens in black forming a loose cricle while they smoke, intending to ignore them he's stopped by a teen in overly dark shades and another in a dark face cap,

"So your the new illustration dept kid" Dennis states while donning his usual condescending grin,

(let's blow if some steam shall we?), Dennis pulls the cigarette out is mouth killing the cigarette butt on Darren's open chest, remaining unmoved Darren looks on staring down at him condescendingly, Dennis frowns grabbing the giant for a throw, Darren's brows lift in a mocking reply,

(does this stick man actually think he can lift me?…thi....),

Pausing mid thought Darren's eyes widen feeling at the feeling of his body being lifted he quickly grabs Dennis's hoodie using his superior strength to lift him quickly Darren smashes his forehead into Dennis's face snapping his shades, Dennis recovers quickly shielding his eyes while screaming,

"NO DON'T LOOK!" Smashing him head first into the tiled the floor, it cracks and splinters but Dennis remains unrelenting never moving his hands away from his face.

"MOVE! YOUR! HANDS!", Darren growls smashing his fists into Dennis's face repeatedly, his friends watch on in horror at the pooling blood around their friend, unbeknownst to them an illustration department teen hiding in the stall watches while smiling triumphantly,

(yes!… This is it, with him the other departments will stop looking down on us),

Forcing Dennis's hand off the other moves to cover it before he can catch a glimpse

"WHO'S THERE!" A teacher calls out from outside the toilet, Darren hurries to the window up on the wall with freightning efficiency, using a high stamp the window flies of from its hinges ripping the surrounding concrete apart, crouching by it's edge he turns to the group.

"What department are you in" he inquires glaring down the standing duo, "v..vocals"...

"Hey!" His companion jerks him,

Jumping out from the window he makes his way to the cafeteria taking the seat closest to the food stand, sometime later a familiar illustration department teen bumps into Jay causing a piece of his steak to fall onto Darren clothes.

"Oh, i'm sorry man" Jay states wiping his shoulder clean, Turning from his meal Darren glares at Jay,

"Your one brave man"...sensing the quickly tensing atmosphere Jay returns the glare "i said i was sorry"

"You dropped that jay. Apologize properly" Maya states walking up from the side, Jay concedes apologizing again before the duo walk off, watching the two walk off Darren traces their seats before picking up his food tray while following the two who arrive at their seats, Darren steps in close dumping his food into Maya's hair, "sorry" Darren states apathetically.

(It's on!) They illustration dept teen grins while watching from the side,

Jay holds Maya's face between his palms as she desperately tries to calm him,

"Laura can you take her to the toilet?", He growls

"Sure" the two walk out the door and Jay's fist crashes against Darren's face in a flash, forcing his momentum to a halt Jay leans back avoiding Darren's grasp, Darren leans in further as he pulls his hands up to retry, Jay sends another flurry of punches towards his face, growling Darren smiles.

"Bzzzzz bzzzzz" he called out mockingly, "i think i just got bit by mosquito", he states spitting out his now bloody saliva, leaning in for a punch Darren replies with a fist to Jay's plexus, catching the punch with a cross guard Jay chokes down his groan as his arms go numb, dropping down low to stop his wobbling legs Darren stares at his fist in surprise, (he caught that?, It seems even the non's here are interesting, I'm quite glad he made me transfer here), his mind wonder's to a blonde haired man with light shades, reluctant to use his Force arts in public Darren grabs a tray throwing it at Jay who dodges but gets caught between Darren's hands a moment later, lifting him Darren crashes him against the cafe floor, picking up another tray he bathes Jay with it's contents, picking yet another he's blocked by Maya who glares him down, smiling in response he grabs her by the hair, but is stunned, reeling backwards by the share force of the punch from Jay's fist, on his feet in front of Maya is Jay who's surrounded by steam jutting out his pharynx,

"YOUR DEAD!" Jay growls ignoring Maya's pleading words, getting back on his feet Darren cleans his bloody lips,

(Oh?, A natural shifter?, Now that's quite something), grinning madly he's pulled from his thoughts by the palm on his shoulder

"That's enough" tilting his head towards the voice he's meet with the face of a tattooed, dark haired teen in overalls with a mustache, behind him another with large ears, Growling in response his attempt to shrug of the arm is met with a clamped grip forcing him to a knee

"You shouldn't treat women that way", growling again at what he'd perceived as a condescending tone he grabs Yanick's leg from behind pulling him upwards he falls unto his back, twisting Yanick's ankle Darren grunts but the ankle remains locked as Yanick inhales sharply his skin reddening as Darren feels the muscles in Yanick's leg go taunt compressing harshly, Darren exclaims shocked at the sight of being lifted by Yanick's leg alone, swinging his elbow back aiming for the face he's sent reeling a few meters away by the share force of Jay's punch, forcing the clogging blood out his throat he grins madly before ripping his shirt off.

Watching the fight from just outside the cafeteria doors Raven turns away walking briskly, jogging then running down the hallway before stopping at the nurse's door, laying against it while staring at his shivering hands Raven tries desperately to reel in his biological response to deeply ingrained fear.

"Raven what's up?, You don't look so good?" Amy speaks up from behind him, placing his hands into his pockets he turns towards the now open doors sharply before replying.

"I'm good.....i just think I'll pass on lunch today"

Amy watches him with worry etches into her face as he walks away.

(It'll be fine, he's in another department, i just have to avoid him), Raven mules

{Ever the coward i see}, comes Silver's swift reply

Refusing to respond Raven exhales frowning at the door handle before him, pulling back against the force he's suddenly thrown forward by the abrupt increase in force managing to maintain his balance he comes short against a bare chested teen, Raven straightens inhaling sharply at the sight of Darren's face, the two stare silently but the stalemate is broken by the arms wrapping eagerly around his own

"Laura?" Calling out Raven turns to the smiling girl but shrinks at the sight of Darren's glare turning to leave he's held by the shoulder bearing a squeeze against his shoulder blade, after several seconds of enduring he glares back towards Darren quickly shrinking back unto a knee at the murderous look on his face.

{t seems even power cannot cure cowardice it's to be expected of one who fears the power he possesses}, Silver mocks,

Growling in response Raven closes his eyes squeezing them tight, grabing Darren's wrist he pits his grip against Darren's wrist, groaning in pain in response Darren's attempts to pull his hand away, Raven tightens his grip in response before dropping forward pulling Darren's frame forward with him he snaps his feet backwards his heel connecting with Darren's jaw crashing the giant back against the door, blinking away the blips in his consciousness Darren steadies raising his head he's surprised at the feeling of air rushing past his face and the sight of the foot of Raven's sneakers inches from his face, pulling his leg away Raven pulls Laura along without glancing back at the seething giant behind him.

Staring down hard into the hardwood floor refusing adamantly to raise his head, the images of his fight with the monster transfer student replaying in his mind

"So you think you can just waltz into my gym after leaving!?" The short muscled man bellow's raising his hand to strike him,

"I've gotten weak, too weak, i know i quit being a boxer, but i can't protect her like this",

Halting his strike before staring at the boy the frown present on his face etches deeper,

(This kid.....i know 'he' destroyed your self belief, the one thing you prided your existence on, but no matter how hard you try you'll never beat him), "what exactly are you here for?"

"I want to come back to train, i want you to train me coach!"

Staring up at the boy whose eyes mirrored his the man after several seconds of holding relents, exhaling exasperatedly, "what do you think your biggest weakness is Jayson?" The stoic man inquires.

"I lack strength and endurance"

"Good!, From now on meat, meat, meat. Nothing but meat, weight training and body work"

"Thank you coach!" Jayson calls out as the short man turned away, Jay resumes his practice smashing his fist into the boxing bag while ramping up the weight behind each punch, his memory plays in a fleeting yet vivid fashion,

(I remember when we where kids, she never did say yes, I'd ask her to marry me every day, and she'd turn me down every day, i learned everything she did, did everything she did but this, this was always the most fun), smashing his fist into the bags side the chains creak in response, (participating in everything she did was how i met 'him').