College Try

Part Three

"You're not wearing that... are you?"

Raven looked down at herself in confusion. She was wearing what she always did for a Saturday night, leggings and an oversized Gotham University sweatshirt she got at some welcome event freshman year. Her lips twisted in annoyance and she lifted an eyebrow, knowing where Donna was going to take this conversation. "Is there something wrong?"

"You're going on a date!" Donna slammed the heel of her hand into her forehead and groaned, rolling her eyes to the ceiling. "A date. With Damian Wayne, the richest college student in the entire country, and you're wearing a free sweatshirt, three year-old leggings, and boots you've repaired with Gorilla Glue. You cannot be serious."

Raven rolled her eyes and began hunting through their living room to find her purse. She wasn't sure why Donna cared so much, it's not like Damian actually liked Raven. He tolerated her at best, and despised her at worst. "I highly doubt he's going to give a fuck about what I'm wearing. He doesn't even like me, remember? The only reason he's taking me on this stupid date is because of contractual obligation. In fact he's probably going to stop and get fast food and then kick my ass out two blocks away from our house so he doesn't have to deal with the shame of being seen with me."

Outside a car door slammed and Karen offered a low whistle as she stood by the front window. "Uh... Rae?"

Raven picked up her head, feeling a pen slide out of her messy bun and clatter to the floor. "What?"

"You... might want to rethink your clothing choices because... hoo boy."

Raven walked to the window and pulled the curtain back. Her heart fell into her stomach and she was pretty sure she stopped breathing. Eyes fluttering, she took a long few seconds to admire the man walking up the pathway to their house. Damian Wayne was coming to get her for their date, and he looked like he had stepped straight out of a magazine and onto her sidewalk. He was wearing gray trousers and black button-down, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and the muscles in his forearm bulged as he walked - how was that possible? She knew he was built, but damn... she didn't realize she could find forearms sexy.

His impossibly verdant eyes flicked up to the window and locked gazes with her, his lips pulling down into a frown. Raven stumbled back from the window, the curtain falling over the glass. Panic flooding her system, she turned to Donna and stumbled through a series of confused noises, before she managed to finally speak.

"Dress. I need a dress."

"On it." Donna grabbed her hand and led her up the stairs to her room. "Bee, keep Lover Boy busy while I fix..." She looked Raven up and down for a moment before shaking her head. "... this."

Karen gave her a salute, a bright grin filling her face. "You got it, chief."

Raven didn't even have the energy to be insulted at Donna's choice of words. All she could think about was how Damian Wayne was standing on her front porch, looking like a fashion model with the full intention of taking her out on a date. She stumbled along the upstairs hallway until Donna pulled her into her room, setting Raven on the bed.

"We've got about seven minutes to get you looking like you are going on a real date."

Downstairs Raven could hear the door open and Karen invited Damian inside. Their voices were muffled, but Karen was obviously talking about the business ethics class they had together. Raven's heart leapt into her throat and she stared at Donna as she pulled a dress out of the back of her closet, setting it on the bed with a pair of low-heeled shoes.