The Butterfly Effect

Chapter 11

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"If you love someone, set them free. If they come back they're yours; if they don't they never were."

Richard Bach

It had been a month.

A month without her. He hadn't seen her since that night. No more laying on his bed watching national geographic documentaries, no more venting about how annoying Vic and Sara were in their lovey-dovey stage, no more cuddling or falling asleep together randomly, no more her telling him about all of Kory's frustrations about her upcoming wedding.

No more them. Together.

He had tried texting her, but she hadn't answered. He had tried showing up at her apartment, but she either wasn't home every time he was there or she refused to answer the door. He had even tried to talk to Kory, but the woman seemingly avoided him just as well as Raven did. Dick hadn't been any help, either, only shrugging at him when he had asked if he knew where Raven was.

"She's taking some time to herself as far as I know. Things have been calm at the office, so I've been managing without her," Dick had explained as they sat in the strip club's bar where Wally had hosted his bachelor party.

"Do you know how I can contact her?" Gar had asked. Dick had raised an eyebrow at him, probably confused as to why he was bringing it up then.

"Gar, Raven is really good at finding people when she needs them." He had taken a drink of his glass before turning away to look at the stage where a new dancer had started her routine. "She's also really good at avoiding people she doesn't want to see. If she wants to talk to you, trust me, she'll find you."

Garfield hadn't even had time to ask him if he could give her a message as Wally had dragged them both closer to the stage where Roy was excitedly throwing dollar bills and Vic was just standing back shaking his head at the drunken red-head.

That night, he hadn't even paid attention to the petite blond who had taken a liking to him and bought him some drinks, eagerly whispering in his ear about how hot he looked. He hadn't even heard Wally scolding him when Dick told them what had been going on. His mind was solely focused on the dark beauty.

But this time, it'd be different. He was finally going to see her, talk things through, or whatever couples did when they talked about their complicated relationship—not that they were a couple. He only wished it'd be true, but the feeling of dread settling on his stomach told him tomorrow could go all kinds of wrong.

He clutched the card with both hands so hard it ripped the sides of the probably expensive paper.

"You've been staring at that thing for a while now. Is it about Raven?" Vic asked as he walked out of his kitchen crunching on a few Doritos from the family-sized bag.

"She's been refusing to talk to me ever since that night."

"Since you kissed her?"

Garfield nodded gently, closing his eyes and sighing deeply. "But I'm going to talk to her tomorrow, whether she likes it or not." He opened his eyes to look at the invitation once more.

We graciously invite you to the wedding of Kory Anders and Dick Grayson!

Saturday, August 8th, 20XX

At six o'clock in the evening

"Gar." Vic appeared to struggle with what to say next. "I think you should talk to her and all, but I also don't want you guys to make a scene on Kory's special day. Dick said she's been so nervous about this for months now."