Got a problem with me? (CAM)

[Cham]

Ven watched, licking her lips as Noah stripped down to his boxers. "Brilliant" She murmured, kissing him gently before settling into his arms, foreheads pressed together. However the ability to speak was taken froom her when he touhed her stomach. It seemed like an unconscious gesture. And it made her grin.

Her cheeks blushed. "Well, i was never the attractive one. That was always Mac. She had all the boyfriends and shit. Plus i was too busy trying to keep a roof over our heads. Ive been out on a couple dates, but nothing really clicked. No one seemed right..."

[Lotus]

Noah shook his head and snorted in disbelief. "You are very much so the attractive one Ravenna. Always have been and always will be baby." His hand traced across her back and then back to her stomach in no particular way, but it was just soothing and if he was honest he wasn't really thinking about the gesture; it was unconscious. "At least you didn't get hung up on all of that though. I just wish you could've have a proper childhood instead of having to look after someone ungrateful. Y'a know, it makes me hate myself that I didn't have the balls to show you the right person for you..." He smiled sadly and kissed her nose.

"Your turn."

[Cham]

Ravenna buried her face into his chest, breathing in his scent slowly "I was never the attractive one. Until you changed me. Whatever it is your doing to me... Dont stop..." Her skin tingled once again when he touched her stomach, and she kissed his chest softly "Dont stop baby" She murmured to him, but his hand eventually came to a halt.

"Noah, we were young and stupid then. I doubt if you hadve tried to show me anything it would have been the right time. I wish i hadve had more time with you, of course. But im glad that at least right now, this feels right. It feels like the right time for us to be together."

A small smile from him comforted her, and she smiled right back. Trying to think up a good question for him . Ending up with "When did you first notice me?"

[Lotus]

Noah sighed as his hand came to a stop, only for his thumb on the hand that was holding Ravenna's to start tracing patterns on the back of her hand. "We have all the time in the world. It doesn't matter about not having the time when we were kids, 'cause we have our whole futures for time together." He kissed the top of her nose, taking a deep breath before lying his head back down. He couldn't agree more with her words, this was the right time for them and if anything tried to get in the way then he'd do anything to make sure he still kept Ravenna.

She was his everything.

Noah couldn't help but smile softly at her choice of question because, after all, he knew she'd wonder at some point. "We were sixteen and it was in the school halls. I'm not entirely sure what I was doing that day 'cause everyone else seemed to be in class besides me. Well, I thought besides me until you came into the picture. I think I was trying to find something fun to do instead of going to my history class." He mused before getting back into the story. "I was just wandering the halls like the idiot I am when I heard doors slamming and yelling. That was about the time I hid between the lockers so I didn't get caught and sent back to my hellish lesson. You came storming down the corridor with such anger on your face with a teacher yelling behind you, but you just turned around and gave him what for. I would've laughed if I wasn't trying to stay hidden to see how it all panned out."

He pulled her closer at that point and couldn't help but smile as he remembered. "I didn't realise how much of an impression you'd made on me at that point. You were just so out there at that moment and it reminded me of myself when I get pissed in a lesson and just walk out. You were like me in so many ways, but the difference was you were always alone. So from that point I kept noticing you and sometimes when I trained I'd catch you swimming and I'd just stop and watch. I know it sounds creepy but I was pretty much entranced by you 'cause you're like no other girl... Which I guess was why I didn't have the balls to talk to you. I thought with my reputation at the time and how I knew you could throw a punch at anyone, you'd turn me down..." He felt his cheeks warming a little as he spoke the last part a little sheepishly.

[Cham]

When Noah began describing the day, she immediately regretted her question. How could she forget it?

It had began like any other day. She had run to school, nearly late. But this time, she actually was. The teacher had assigned her detention during her lunch period, and during his off period. He had known that if he assigned after school detention, then there was no way in hell she was showing up.

She had shown up, irritated and annoyed. He had touched her shoulder numerous times. She relaxed a little, not realizing how he was grooming her for the next step. His hand stroking down her lower back, one on her hip.

He made one fatal mistake though, he moved to quickly. Trying to seduce her, calling her sweetheart, and love, and baby. She had never been called any of those things before, and they stuck out to her. And as did his pants once he finally came onto her.

Ven had raced out of the room, screaming obscenities at him. The teacher was furious, and tried to force her back into his office. But she was stronger, refusing to hit him, but merely forcing her way out. He had chased her down the hall. At one point grabbing her arm. She knew if he had the balls to drag her in public, his private affairs would be worse. And she kneed the family jewels before racing out of the school.

That night she had left her temporary home. She and Mac had stayed there too long anyways. And the next morning as she ran to school, she passed the little burned down shack.

She had never told anyone.


Ravenna's face turned white as she listened to Noah, and she began to shake. He tried to pull her against him, and she pushed him back a little, feeling him instantly release her. She realized she had been holding her breath at that point, and her eyes were like a deer in the headlights.

What was Noah to think of her?

[Lotus]

Noah was quite happy remembering that day because it had changed his life forever, all because of her. But when she pushed him away from her he started to panic. He looked down at her, instantly releasing her so she could move away. He saw the fear and hurt in her eyes and he wondered what the hell had caused it. He moved sat up and moved closer to her, only for her to move further away from him. That movement alone hurt him more than anything.

"Ravenna? What's wrong...?" He raised his hand to reach out to her again, but after remembering that she would just move away he dropped it from where he held it in the air. He thought over what he'd said but he didn't understand what he'd said wrong. Then a thought suddenly hit him. "Shit. If I sounded like a creep I'm so sorry. I'm not really, I'm really not-" But he stopped when he saw her shaking her head. Now he was just confused. "What Ravenna? Please, just tell me."

[Cham]

Ven REALLY did not want to tell him. She was afraid he would go out and kill the man. But she had gone to the proper athoritied and taken care of the situation. Noah would only make things worse. The teacher was not allowed to be in the same DISTRICT as her, let alone anywhere where he could harm her.

She watched his hand hover over her for a second, and after he dropped it, she picked it up. Kissing his hand, then pressing his knuckles to her forehead. "It... I dont want to talk about it Noah..." She whispered. Finally looking up at him. Eyes sincere "Please just know it has nothing to do with you?"

[Lotus]

Noah would be lying if he said her not telling him hurt him because after everything he'd told her she couldn't tell him something that clearly scared her and had something to do with the day he noticed her. It was clearly bad and he couldn't help but think that if he had laughed maybe things would be different. But he had to reason with himself and tell himself she was allowed secrets, even though it hurt him not to know and help her.

He pulled his hand away from her and moved up the bed to rest against the headboard. "I won't pry." He whispered before looking across the room. He seemed to keep making this night worse and worse, and he wished he could re-do it all for the sake of Ravenna. She deserved a good night where she was pampered and loved, but all he seemed to have done was make her stress and upset.

He sighed and decided to carry on the game. "What's your favourite colour?" Hopefully she wouldn't mind the distraction.

[Cham]

Ven watched Noah intently, trying to forget her own feelings and bring back the love in the room. Clearly secrets were a relationship killer. But how was she to know? The only relationship she had ever had, had just ended in disaster.

She watched as Noah asjusted himself, pulling away from her. Sighing, she sat up with him, moving one of the pillows. Trying to gain back the comfort they had before. Taking his hand back despite the fact he had just pulled it away, interlocking her fingers with his. "Its not a secret Noah" She murmured "Infact, im pretty sure it was in the paper all that week..."

Her voice caught in her throat and she found that she quite literally COULDNT tell him. So she simply leaned her head on his shoulder and answered his question. "Grey... But not a flat grey. A blue-grey. Like the sea after a storm. When everything is calming down, and life is ok again..."

[Lotus]

Noah shrugged his shoulders as if to say it was okay and it didn't matter that she wouldn't tell him. "I never read the papers..." When her hand slipped into his though he couldn't help but tense slightly before he finally let himself relax again. He'd managed to ruin the atmosphere once again so he couldn't quit settle back down into the comfort they had had mere moments before.

He listened to her answer and found himself smiling softly despite everything. "That sounds like a good choice to like." He squeezed her hand softly to let her know that everything was okay with them.

[Cham]

Ven smiled gently at Noah's reassuring squeeze, then going silent, sitting quietly next to him. Trying to think of a question that could ease the tension between them. But she couldnt think of anything. So she leaned over, tipping his chin down towards her, and kissing his lips tenderly before slipping out of the bed. She made her way to the closet, and slipped into a pair of fuzzy pajama pants and a tanktop.

When she came out, she leaned over the footboard of the bed. "Im going to go get some more champagne. Do you want any?"

[Lotus]

Noah kissed her back softly, but she pulled away he made no attempt to bring her back into his arms. He didn't like it when she came back out of the closet with pyjamas on because he loved seeing her body, but he understood why she covered up; he wasn't exactly being the best romantic or loved up person in the world at that moment.

He nodded his head in answer to her question and replied, "Just bring the whole bottle." Once she'd left downstairs he got up off the bed and headed to the closet himself. Storm followed him and he scratched him behind the ears before getting out some cotton pyjama pants and slipping them on. He walked over to the window and sighed. "How could I mess this up again...?" He mumbled to himself as he watched the sea lapping on the shore in the dark.

[Cham]

Ven tried her best to walk slowly as she decended the steps, but she needed to get some liquor into her, and fast. So instead of just grabbing their flukes, and heading upstairs, she grabbed a medium sized glass, and rummaged about until she found some whisky. pouring herself a glass and shaking her head before downing the whole cup.

The poison burned down her throat, making her eyes water, and her throat scald. She could feel the burn all the way down to her stomach, and up her nose. Feeling really alive. Loving that feeling, and pouring herself another glass. This one took 3 gulps to finish off, and she replaced the liqour where she had found it, rinsing the glass and setting it in the sink.

Not really feeling the effects of the drink, but knowing that so far it had dampened her emotions and heightened her physic. A loopy grin showed on her face as the alcohol began to flow into her system. She grabbed the bottle of champagne, and the two flukes, blinking more than usual, trying to clear the fuzziness in her vision as she made her way back into their bedroom, snickering to herself.

She bit her lower lip when she saw Noah, still shirtless, and gorgeous. She took care to not spill as she poured him a glass, but wobbled a little when she walked towards him, smiling up at him and murmuring "Cheers babe"

[Lotus]

Noah had been in his own little world of despair when Ravenna walked in. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion at her actions and the way she walked. She had a hazy flicker in her eyes but he couldn't understand why. He took the flute from her cautiously and clinked it with her own glass, "Cheers..." but it came out sounding more like a question.

He took a sip and after realising it still tasted okay; not that he thought Ravenna would put anything in it, he downed the rest of the contents in one. He turned away from the window and put the flute on the table by the side of the bed before sitting down and running a hand over his face. He looked up to see Ravenna smirking at him and he wasn't entirely sure why. "I think you should just get some sleep." He stood up and tried to retrieve the bottle and her own flute from her.

[Cham]

Ven giggled sofly when Noah tried to take away the champagne. Stepping back and simultaniously tipping the fluke back, downing the contents in one.

She tried to throw him a seductive look as she lifted the bottle to her lips, the alcohol now impairing her judgement. She already had too much in her system when she tipped the bottle back and began to chug the contents.

[Lotus]

Noah shook his head, not exactly finding Ravenna's antics funny in the current situation. When she went to chug the bottle he leapt forward and grabbed her round the waist with one hand in order to keep her still as the other wrench her arm away from her face. He then managed to grab the bottle and take it from her grasp and stepped away from her. She looked shocked and if Noah was honest, he was shocked at his heavy handed actions but he had to stop her because he knew the reason she was like this.

He'd upset her.

It was his fault.

"I think you should go to bed." With that he grabbed his glass from the side of the bed and the one Ravenna dropped on the floor from the struggle. "I'll see you in the morning." With that he strode out of the bedroom and shut the door behind him.

[Cham]

All of the sudden Noah was up against her. Ven had gotten what she wanted. Or had she..?

Noah suddenly was pushing her back, taking her alcohol. She was speachless. He looked disgusted, or at least that was what Ravenna's drunken mind percieved. He slammed the door shut, and she stumbled to it, fiddling with a doorknob that seemed locked. She now screamed "Damnit Noah! Open the fucking door!"

It remained shut. With tears in her eyes, she moved to her closet, grabbing her bags and throwing her clothes into them.

But before she could do anything else, the room spun, she vomitted inti her bag, and passed out

[Lotus]

Noah ran down the stairs and put the champagne in the fridge before washing out the flute and setting them to the side. He noticed another glass there so he checked his cupboards and sure enough one of the bottles had been touched. He sighed and ran and hand over his face. Then he heard the screaming and he shuddered; he'd caused that. He sighed as he felt his own tears in his eyes all because he'd hurt her. When the room went quiet though he panicked.

he ran back up the stairs and barged into their room. He saw the closet door open and the sight inside made a tear spill down his cheek. He slowly and gently picked Ravenna up into his arms and walked her back into the bedroom. He pulled back the covers and laid her down before tucking them round her. He went to the bathroom and got a clean cloth and back in the room he gently cleaned her face up with it. "You're so god-damn gorgeous Ravenna. I just wish you'd see that and know you can do better than me." He sighed and stood up. He had to clean the mess up.

He slipped a shirt on and changed his pyjama trousers for jeans as he set to work. He emptied her clothes into the washing machine downstairs and threw the bag away. Back in their room he sat on the chair by the bed to keep an eye on her and when the first waking's of day came about he was up and about. He got her a glass of water and some painkillers and placed them alongside the note he had on the bedside table.

'I've popped out. Be back soon. Love you always.'

He ran out of the house with Storm trailing behind him. He ran to the nearest and best clothes shop and waited impatiently for it to open.

[Cham]

Ravenna slept soundly, snoring lightly, finally allowing her body to recover. But when she woke, her muddled dreams were far from reality.

All of the sudden, she snored a bit too loudly, and woke herself up. She sat up abruptly, confused at the covers she had twisted around herself. But her head ached, and the room spun. Her stomach threatened to empty itself, but it also growled, begging for food.

This time, more slowly, she sat up. Looking around the room for Noah. He was gone. And in his stead, on the table beside her, she found a note. Her memory came back of the night before when she saw the painkillers. A soft sigh when she took them, and snuggled back down. Counting to 60 before sitting back up. Her eyes felt less strained, but still tired.

Picking up the note, she was finally ready to see if he was kicking her out or not. What she found shocked her. The confusion of love and pain in his words. Slumping back, she shook her head. Pushing back the covers and going into the closet to clean up her mess.

But it had been taken care of.

She grabbed a pair of his jeans, and slipped into them, then one of his shirts. Also climbing into that. Then going back out and sitting to write out her return to him.

'Noah. What can I say. I understand that you love me. I dont know why, but I accept it. Unfortunately, im too selfish. I hurt you again and again. I fuck your life up. I promise you are better off without me. Life always is. Im so sorry. Just know that i love you. Nothing will stop that. And know i will never let myself love again. Most certainly never as deeply as i love you. You are my better half. Unfortunitly i was not good enough to be yours. -Ravenna

After a moment, she added to the bottom,

And dont worry about running into me again. I have a few connections. ill take the next available train to some other district.

But when she turned around, she saw Noah's pitiful face. She began to shake, and ripped the paper from its pad, walking slowly up to him, with the only money she had in this world. Placing it into his hand and whispering "For your clothes" Then proceeding to walk down the stairs, and straight out of the house.

[Lotus]

As soon as the shop opened Noah was in there and searching through the clothes. He'd made sure to check Ravenna's size and style type before he left so he picked out anything nice she might like, especially things in her favourite colour. He'd been in there hours trying to find the right things and by the time he was finished it was mid-morning. But he'd done a good job, he'd managed to buy Ravenna jeans, t-shirts, jumpers and a few nice pieces of clothing because she'd ruined a lot of hers the night before and he knew she deserved to be treated.

He walked home in a slightly better mood, Storm sensing it and bounding along in front of him, but that ended when he stood outside their bedroom door and saw her writing a note. She had on his clothes and the look on her face broke his heart. He didn't understand her words about his clothes until he heard the front door close. He read the note she'd placed in his hands and his stomach dropped and his heart shattered instead of the breaking he'de felt before.

He dropped all the bags with her new clothes in and ran for his life down the stairs. He threw open the front door and stopped, looking for the direction she'd taken. He quickly spotted her fleeting figure and ran after her, calling her name. He was frantic and as he reached her he grabbed her hand, spinning her back to him. "Ravenna you can't leave. You can't!"

[Cham]

Ravenna heard the door slamming shut, a whining from storm at being left inside, and in fact, being beaten to the door in the first place. She took off down the street, not having expected him to chase after the likes of her.

Heart pounding furiously, feet falling fast. But not fast enough. Just as they approched the station, she felt her wrist being snatched, and her body jerking backwards. Her eyes were wide in both fear and pain. She screamed "FUCKING LET ME GO NOAH!" She pushed his chest, partly devistated at the possibility of hurting him. Party feuled by her desire to do whatever she could that would eventually benefit him.

Ven wiped her hand across her forehead, wiping away the sweat. He lurched forward again, and instinct kicked in. As did her foot. She swung at him, kicking into his stomach, watching his eyes pop when he lost his breath. She hesitated for too long though, and haphazardly tried to throw a punch.

[Lotus]

Noah hadn't expected that Ravenna to act so fiercely against him so when she kicked him in the stomach he was winded. He tried to catch his breath back and out of the corner of his eye he saw her falter before trying to throw a punch. That's when his instincts kicked in. As her fist drew close to his face he reached out a grasped her fist in his hand and in one swift motion yanked her against him with his free hand holding the small of her back.

He looked down into her eyes, the pain he was feeling from her running coursing through his eyes. "I'm sorry. Just don't leave. Please?" With that he smashed his lips against hers in a passionate, desperate and goodbye kiss. He pulled away a little breathless with tears in his eyes. "But... But if you want to still leave, I'll... I'll let you." With that he pulled away from her and released her fist, taking a step back.

[Cham]

Ravenna was shocked at the kiss. She saw stars, and time itself seemed to slow down. Those few precious moment seemed drawn out as the fight left her body. Though the moment she began to truly kiss him back, she was released. He stepped back, and even seemed to shove her a little. Her body felt limp, and her legs were beginning to feel a little numb.

But looking around, her strength was renewed. A crowd had formed, and she could see several peacekeepers standing at the edges, smirking and looking her up and down. Her cheeks blushed, and she looked back to the anguished Noah. Shaking her head "I cant hurt you again" She whispered, the dam breaking, and tears flooding her cheeks. Then turning and fleeing down the street, only looking back to ensure he was not chasing her.

Her body was weak though, and her second adrenaline burst was out not long later. Slumping against a wall, gasping for air, unable to catch her breathe. Her eyes slid closed as a familiar face crossed her hazy vision, the last words she heard were "Why hello sister..."

And everything went black.

[Lotus]

Noah broke. The second the girl turned her back on him, he broke. He'd lost the only thing he'd finally managed to care about. Heck, he loved her yet she was turning her back on him. Noah finally took in the crowd that had formed around him but he couldn't pay attention to the words passing around he could only concentrate on controlling himself and holding back the tears. He walked back home and as soon as he slammed the front door the first tear slipped down his cheek.

Storm came bounding up to him, but sensing the change in mood starting whining instead of barking like he usually does. "She's gone boy..." He managed to make his way upstairs and saw the bags he'd carried her clothes home in. He picked them up, starting to feel numb inside, and laid all the clothes out neatly in a corner of his closet. He walked out and made the bed, trying hard not to think about their first time when he'd finally learnt how to love.

The rest of his day was spent sitting on the couch in the living room as he tried to read and take his mind of the image of Ravenna walking away from him. A lot of the time his book would be thrown across the room in anger and hurt, before he;d retrieve it and wipe away his tears.

Luckily the time came for Moni to finish school came around and he stood up. "Come on boy. I said we'd meet Moni today, well I guess i's just me-" He stopped himself and brushed himself down, fixing his clothes before leaving the house with Storm at his feet. He waited outside the school gates for Moni and saw her walking out with a friend, who then said Noah was waiting to which Moni then made her way to him and grinned her usual happy grin.

"Hey Noah! I didn't know you'd be picking me up. We doing something fun?"

"It was an on the spur moment thing and yes our parents know. I was thinking we could head to the beach like old times." Even to Noah his voice sounded a little dead and he sighed, reaching down to take Moni's hand in his. The action made him remember the first time Moni met Ravenna and he tried to brush it off.

"Noah? You don't seem okay. What happened?"

"Nothing Moni. Don't worry. Let's have fun okay?" She nodded her gorgeous little head and they headed down to the beach with Moni chatting about nonsensical things to pass the time. As they passed down one of the alleyways Noah got a bad feeling. That feeling was quickly made known when he saw a figure slumped at the end. "Moni. Stay. Here. And. Don't. Move." He ground out and because Moni knew that tone she did just that. Noah ran down to the end of the alley and his knees gave way when he saw the bruises and bloodied figure.

Ravenna.

His heart broke all over again at seeing her, but he couldn't leave her here. Even though she wanted nothing to do with him he couldn't leave her here. A silent sob escaped his lips as he picked her up. "Noah? Please talk to me?" Moni's frightened voice came across the silent alleyway.

"It's okay... Moni..." He took a deep breath and walked back to her. Storm licked Ravenna's flopping hand and whined to which Noah shut him up. "Just grab my shirt Moni. We've got to go to my house okay?"

[Cham]

Pain.

That was what Ravenna awoke to. Both Emotional and Physical. She tried to open her eyes, only seeing the red of sunlight through her eyelids. Her body felt broken, as did her spirits. She could feel the movement, the pressure of someone's chest against her, but she wasnt cognitive enough to recognize the feel of it. She tried to move, but the pain was too much. And all darkened once again.

The second time she awoke, she felt something soft and plush around her. Felt clean, and more achy than pain. But when she remembered her actions, she felt a sharp stab in her stomach. She sat up, eyes opening with a gasp. A second sharp pain in her side. Her shirt had been removed, and her ribs were swollen and bruised. Each breath brought a sting she hadnt noticed before. But it was no match to the pain of moving. She looked up and was shocked to see Noah sitting in a chair across the room. She slunk back under the covers, pulling them up to hide her face as the tears came.

This was a different pain. One both physical and emotional. Her sobs of anguish shook her, thereby moving her, and bringing on fresh waves of hurt. Then causing the cycle of tears to begin anew. Feeling choked by the pain of her body and heart, plus the tears that made speaking difficult.

What was she to do?