EVERYTHING IS NEVER AS IT SEEMS --- CALEB!

[RAVEN DEMUERTE]

I’D LIKE TO MAKE MYSELF BELIEVE THAT PLANET EARTH TURNS
slowly it’s hard to say i’d rather stay awake when i’m asleep

Raven DeMuerte wasn’t the kind of guy to obsess over video games, or any kind of loud noises that came from the effects of multiple arcade games all being played at once. His least favorite was Dance Dance Revolution because of it’s popularity with groups of friends who insisted on playing the game multiple times before deciding they were too tired to continue dancing.

This was precisely why those who knew Raven well knew the Riverfront’s Arcade would be the last place to find the dark-haired boy. Yet, here he was, working, even! The world must be coming to an end.

Of course, there was only so much the teen could take of the sporadic beeping, shooting, and engine noises the various games were making. And the children exchanging tickets for prizes… he could only imagine the germs that infested the game handles and controls. He shuddered just thinking about it. And, yet, he spent the majority of his time after school here. Public relations, his parents had reminded him, were very important if he was to work in the government when he grew up. And getting a job as a teenager—even the worst job he could possibly find—was important. At least he got paid for touching the e coli counter every single child within the arcade had leaned on while choosing their most promised prize.

Of course, just because he worked here did not mean there wasn’t a near-constant scowl etched on his face while on duty. The all-too-excited gamers didn’t exactly make the scowl lessen, either. Not even his co-workers bothered to talk to him.

The dark-haired teen checked his watch and decided this would be a good time to step outside for some fresh air. The close proximity with germ-infested tickets and prizes was making Raven’s head spin. He gave his co-worker a heads up before stepping outside into the afternoon breeze.

Raven had been working at the arcade for a while now, yet he still cherished the smell of the salty water every time he left the damned place, even if just for a minute or two. He walked over to the dock, deep in thought about what homework he would complete before getting some much needed sleep later that night. His eyes drifted out towards the water and without breaking eye contact with the calm ocean, he settle down in a comfortable position on the dock to think.

It would probably save his job and ass if he went back to the arcade, but honestly, it was late afternoon and they could finish the night without him. Somehow, the view of the sunrise was a lot more interesting than a bunch of snot-nosed children hurrying to get a prize before their parents took them home for the night. Raven didn’t even do much there, anyway, so the chances of him being needed were slim to none.

[CALEB CONLEY]

»If today was your L A S T day,
Tomorrow was too late

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The day was a nice day, though not a nice enough day for a swim. Or at least that's what Caleb thought. Yet there he was, standing on the edge of one of the many floating docks. Of course, being so close to falling into the cold water was not his choice. A group of boys, around the same age had chosen to bother him, yet again. This wasn't the first time, and he knew it was not to be the last. Apparently he had played a prank on them, and they didn't seem to enjoy it. Now, Caleb played many pranks everyday on many different people. So it was a bit hard for him to remember. Though that didn't matter to them, all they wanted was to get revenge.

Caleb didn't really understand why he had to run into problems every sing day like this. It was just so annoying. All he had wanted to do was go out for a little walk, maybe stop by the arcade and play his favorite game Pac Man. A lot of the people found it old and boring, but he found it very entertaining and had the highest score. Sometimes people would gather around and watch him play for a bit, eventually they got bored, unlike Caleb who could play for hours and hours.

He had even gotten the time to play a little bit, but he was interrupted when the four guys found him. They were like their own little clique. The bad boys, only the girls didn't like them as much as other bad boys. Their hair was unwashed and greasy, they were dressed in black baggy jeans, black -shirts with some insane metal band he never heard of and black hoodies that were left unzipped over that. He could even smell BO coming from them.

He felt nasty as two held him there so the other two could take blows at hitting him. They didn't hurt that bad, since he was using a bit of air as a shield. The only reason he didn't go all out on them was because if he hurt someone in another fight he was done for. The last thing he needed was to get in trouble. He seemed to be getting in a lot lately. Either he is extremely unlucky or people just don't like him.

Then, splash! They pushed him into the water and hurried off laughing. He looked up and he could see the light of the setting sun. After a bit of just sinking down he unconsciously inhaled, and then coughed. Struggling for air he swam up to the surface. Gasping for air he coughed again, he felt stupid that he had stayed under for so long and swallowed the water. Flipping his now wet blonde hair to the side he spotted another dock and swam up to it. Ignoring the black haired boy who was already there he hoisted himself up and sat on the dock. Then Caleb stood up, and closed his eyes. In his mind he imagined air. As he did a warm air surrounded him, drying his soaking self. He smiled as he let the air disappear again.

"Ah. Did you see that? Embarrassing." He said to the other boy.

[RAVEN DEMUERTE]

I’D LIKE TO MAKE MYSELF BELIEVE THAT PLANET EARTH TURNS
slowly it’s hard to say i’d rather stay awake when i’m asleep

Raven DeMuerte wasn't the type of person who watched other people in a creepy manner. In fact, the dark-haired boy didn't like getting dragged into other people's business at all. Ever. Yet, he couldn't help watching as a gang of teenage boys pushed a blonde boy into the water. Raven's fists clenched without him realizing it. It was upsetting.

He watched the water, thinking of something he could possibly say to the gang of boys, but his eyes were too focused on whether the boy would resurface or not. Perhaps Raven should have jumped in after him? But that would have been bothersome, and completely unnecessary if the boy could swim. Not to mention, completely embarrassing to first be pushed into the water, than saved. Raven shook his head and ignored it. He didn't want to show up back in the arcade soaking wet anyway, people would get suspicious.

Raven watched bubbles form at the top of the water and nearly sighed in relief when the blonde resurfaced. He was completely surprised, however, when the boy swam towards Raven and pulled himself up onto the dock, dripping water everywhere. Raven flinched when a few icy drops hit his skin, but made no comment (though he would have had he not been biting his tongue so hard)

Raven blinked quite a few times, wondering if he'd mistaken the boy for someone else while he was wet, but Raven could have sworn the boy was the idiot roommate of his, Caleb. Raven watched as the boy stood up and dried himself off with hot air that radiated from his body. Raven could feel some of the air, and shook his head. He was hallucinating, wasn't he? Why would his idiotic roommate be pushed into the water by some crazy thugs? He had an ability, he could have stopped them, right?

"Ah. Did you see that? Embarrassing." Raven blinked again. No, this was definitely Caleb, the obnoxiously bright blonde hair made it a dead giveaway. Raven never spent much time talking with the blonde, but he knew the boy's voice anywhere. He did share a room with the loud brat, so it wasn't surprising.

Raven had to laugh at the boy's remark, he sure would have been embarrassed to be pushed into the water. Raven nodded, "Don't worry, I saw the whole thing, though I don't know if many other people did," he said, looking over his shoulders to check his surroundings; most people along the riverside were busy minding their own business to give a damn, which in some cases was totally fine for Raven. "But, you know, just in case anybody missed it, I videotaped the whole thing," he joked, fingering the phone in his pocket.

"What exactly did you do to make them push you into the water?"

[CALEB CONLEY]

»If today was your L A S T day,
Tomorrow was too late

[/size]«[/center]

Taking another glance at the other person he was almost horrified to see who it was. Raven Demuerte. The anti-social-cocky smart ass that was currently his roommate. Caleb had never really had a real conversation with the boy, they were complete opposites, so he was sure that they were both better off not getting to know each other. At least that's what he thought. So far he hadn't even attempted to play a prank on Raven, he wasn't sure if he'd like the reaction. It almost made the dark haired boy like the biggest target, the one he couldn't mess with, but if he did he would most likely have the most fun.

Running a hand through his now dry hair he plopped down beside Raven, causing the dock to wobble just slightly. He ignored the laughing and just sighed. "Don't worry, I saw the whole thing, though I don't know if many other people did," Caleb didn't turn his head to look as the guy beside him did, he honestly didn't care, it was over with anyways. Though he'd be happier if no one saw, if someone from the school saw, who knows what kind of trouble he'd be in, the other boys would get in trouble as well, which meant they'd blame it on him and the cycle would start all over again.

"But, you know, just in case anybody missed it, I videotaped the whole thing," Caleb rolled his eyes then glared at Raven. "Well aren't you smart. Why don't you just post it on the internet then?" His voice sounded annoyed. He had just been thrown into the water, the last thing he needed was Raven making a smart ass remark. How would he feel if it happened to him? Obviously he wouldn't be happy.

Taking another deep breath he calmed himself. He had a gorgeous sunset in front of him, why spend his time being angry when he could relax. Damn. I should have brought my camera with me, or my sketch book. Wait, then they would have got soaked. He shifted his gaze to Raven. Even though the guy could be a real pain sometimes he had to admit, he was absolutely gorgeous. His black hair looked like it was silk, Caleb wondered if it felt like it too. His skin looked incredibly soft, like a porcelain doll. Then there was the way the light his his face, it was almost...picture perfect. Caleb grimaced at himself, what the hell was he thinking?

"What exactly did you do to make them push you into the water?" He had to think about it for a bit, he didn't know exactly why they had chosen to bother him. Maybe he had played a prank on them, but he couldn't remember. "I'm don't know. Then again who does? Everyone seems to think i am the easiest target. I would have kicked their asses if they weren't from the school." Yawning he reached up and stretched his arms before placing them back in his lap. "Why? Whats it to you?"

[RAVEN DEMUERTE]

I’D LIKE TO MAKE MYSELF BELIEVE THAT PLANET EARTH TURNS
slowly it’s hard to say i’d rather stay awake when i’m asleep

Raven watched every one of the blonde boy’s movements as carefully as he could, but he still almost jumped out of his skin when Caleb sat down on the dock, shaking it slightly. Raven laughed inwardly, the gesture seemed so strange to him, yet he knew it was normal for any friend to plop down next to someone.

But Raven and Caleb weren’t friends he tried to remind himself. Roommates, sure, but he hated Caleb’s loud voice and his pranks were just off the wall. And honestly, how could someone be so eccentric all the time? It was unreal. Yet there was something about the blonde that had Raven itching to know more about him. He had nearly regretted the smartassed comment he’d given the boy just seconds ago about video taping his little fall. “I was joking,” he muttered, sure the boy could here him as they were so close.

Actually, this was the first time Raven noticed just how close they were. If he stretched his arms out in a cartoon-yawn sort of way, he was sure to have elbowed Caleb in the face. Amusing as that may have seemed, Raven decided not to annoy his roommate further. Instead, he turned to look at the boy, adjusting his body so he was facing Caleb rather than the water in front of them. It was right now that Raven noticed how pretty Caleb’s eyes were. He bit his tongue at the thought, ‘pretty’ didn’t seem like the right word, but he couldn’t say the cerulean shade was ‘beautiful’ that would be disturbing, yet his eyes were too feminine to be hansome. Raven hissed inwardly. Why was he thinking of this? More importantly: why was he bothering to think of just the right term to describe his roommates eyes.

“I'm don't know. Then again who does? Everyone seems to think i am the easiest target. I would have kicked their asses if they weren't from the school.”

Easy target? Sure the blonde was fun to tease, but Raven never did it to be rude. He’d admit it, the blonde had a wide range of emotions that were just too funny to pass up. Though the dark-haired teen knew as well as anyone the boys who pushed Caleb into the water weren’t doing it for a reaction; they had to have other motives. For a second, Raven wondered if he could find them and ask them why. Raven honestly couldn’t believe there were people out there that would take advantage of a kid because he looked ‘easy’.

“Why? Whats it to you?”

What was in it for him? Raven bit the inside of his mouth before he could think of anything. “In case you haven’t noticed, Caleb, we live together. It’s natural a person would want to know something about their roommate,” It was a stupid answer, really, anyone could tell Raven had no intention of becoming particularly close to the blonde before this point, but he couldn’t help it. Caleb seemed so… interesting…

And totally gorgeous. But that was beside the point.

“I certainly would have kicked their asses regardless of who they were if you hadn’t been under the water for so long,” Raven admitted, fighting back a burning sensation in his cheeks that could only be associated with embarrassment. “For a second I thought you weren’t going to come back up,”

It sounded terrible—lame, corny, gay…whatever—but what was wrong with the truth? Caleb wasn’t going to buy it anyway, Raven was one of the most icy, anti-social pricks in the school. Still, Raven couldn't help but think that, perhaps, the truth wasn't so bad after all.