Hey folks! It's been over two years since I updated this story, and it's about time I got back into it! It's amazing how fast time flies, as I've graduated high school and am in my first year of college now! Hope you all like what I'm writing! Read and review please!
Here's a list of characters from the previous chapters, in case you were confused. Thanks again for stickin' with me :)
Characters so far:
Gar (Garfield Logan)- Beast Boy
Mark and Marie Logan (parents)
Raven Roth- Raven (I prefer the name Raven over Rachel in the AU perspective)
Trigon and Arella Roth (parents)
Victor Stone- Cyborg
Rich Grayson- Robin
Kory Anders- Starfire
Lu and My Anders (mother and father respectively)
Karen Beecher- Bumble Bee
Jason Todd- Red X (going off of the theory that X is Robin II- aka Jason Todd)
Terra Markov- Terra (I know it's "Tara" in the comics, but I prefer "Terra")
Adam A.- Adonis
Martin H.- Mammoth
Kathryn (Kat) M. (Moth)- Kitten
Mr. Mod- Mad Mod
Mr. (Slade) Wilson- Slade
Vice Principal "Headmistress"- HIVE Headmistress
Mr. Chang- Dr. Chang
Madame Rouge- Madame Rouge
Ms. Mae- Mother Mae Eye
Mr. Brown (OC- just a teacher)
Once again, review!
Over the next couple of days at school, Gar tried not to act different around Terra. Ever since he discovered what part of town she lived in, he had a hard time trying to make it seem like no big deal. She didn't even know that he knew. Every time he saw the skinny blonde, he wanted to rescue her, imagining how bad her life must be like living there. Even so, they still talked, ate lunch together, and hung out during recess. They were a good match. Kory and Rich seemed to take note of this.
"It seems that our friend Gar has become very close to Terra," said Kory before she took a bite of her apple. It was currently snack time in Mr. Mod's class, and although they sat next to each other during instruction, Rich and Kory still ate their snacks in the same seats. Rich especially enjoyed this, because there were no other seats for anyone (particularly Jason) to occupy next to them.
"You're right," replied Rich. "This is the third day in a row that he switched seats to eat his snack with her. I think he's got a crush." Rich took sip from his juice box.
Gar and Terra were at her desk. He scooted a chair over from another desk and they chatted mildly as they munched on their snacks. Terra was eating crackers from a zip-seal bag and Gar was eating some baby carrots.
"So," said Terra. "You're always telling me jokes. I think I've got a good one for ya." Gar grinned wide.
"Sure!" he said, eager to her a joke that his crush had prepared just for him.
"Okay," she began, picking up another chip. "Now, I thought of this during breakfast this morning, so don't be mean if it's not funny." She looked down at her desk and wondered if she should really tell the joke now.
"I would never be mean!" he said back. "Tell me your joke already!" He made sure to grab her bag of chips so she couldn't reach for another and avoid telling it. They brushed hands, and both smiled sheepishly.
"O-okay then," she said. "What is a rock's favorite cereal?" Gar thought a moment.
"Um, I dunno," he said finally. She smiled wide.
"Cocoa pebbles!" she said triumphantly. "I had some this morning and…" Gar's laughter cut her off.
"Dude!" he shouted, still laughing. The rest of the class looked at them to see what was so funny. Terra pulled his head down to keep him from alerting Mr. Mod. "Dude, that was hilarious!"
"Hah, you really think so?" she asked, smiling.
"Totally! And you came up with it on your own too," he replied. "That's way cool."
The bell dismissing them for recess rang, and Gar and Terra left their snacks on the table and ran out the door.
"Let's play wall ball today!" he shouted, racing the girl to the blacktop.
"You're on!" she shouted back. They grabbed a worn out volleyball from the ball basket and started a game of wall ball. Soon, a line began to form to play, and in it were Rich, Jason, Martin, and Kory. Gar and Terra got out one by one, and it was now Rich versus Jason.
"Uh oh," said Gar. "It is definitely going down now!"
"What's going down?" asked Terra.
"Rich versus Jason, duh!" he said back. "I'd step back if I were you… things might get ugly!" They both took a few steps back and watched Rich and Jason go at it. Kory cheered for them both, but in the end Jason won the match.
"No fair!" shouted Rich, grabbing the ball from his opponent's hands. "You cheated! I demand a rematch!" Jason grabbed the ball back.
"No way Rich!" he replied. "I won fair and square. Get in the back of the line if you want to play me again." Rich looked at his friends in line.
"C'mon guys, didn't you see him cheat?" he asked. His classmates in line just looked at each other.
"But Rich," said Kory. "Jason has won. You did not hit the ball in one bounce. I believe you are out."
"Hmph!" said Rich. "I'm leaving." Rich stormed off of the wall ball court and pushed through the crowd of kids playing four-square and fist-ball. Kory debated whether or not to follow him, but it was almost her turn to go in.
Rich ended up sitting on a step by the water fountains next to the bathrooms. He looked around at the kids at the play ground before getting up for a drink. When he turned to face the fountain, someone had cut in front of him.
"Hey!" he said, putting his hand on her shoulder. "I was here first!" She took a long sip and looked at him.
"Oh," said Rich with a smile. "Hey Raven."
"Hi," she replied shortly, starting back down the steps. Rich saw she was leaving and took a quick drink before chasing after her.
"What are you up to this recess?" he asked as they crossed the blacktop.
"Nothing at all," she replied. She maneuvered around a few games of tetherball towards the grass fields.
"Oh, me too," he said, keeping up. They walked to the backstop where a kick ball game was going on between the fifth graders. Raven took a seat at the edge of the bench.
"Wow Raven," said Rich, surprised. "I didn't know you played kick ball!"
"I don't," she said, pulling out a book she'd been keeping in her sweater pocket. "This is the only place I can read without the teachers yelling at me to actually exercise." Rich peeked at what she was reading.
"Whoa," he said. "I've seen Starfire's sister Komi read that book. She's like, three years older than us!"
"Super," said Raven flatly, not looking up from her book. The kickball slammed against the fence, startling Rich. Raven didn't flinch.
"Yo!" yelled Victor to Rich. "You wanna play? We could use another man on our team." Rich jumped up, excited to participate in a game with the fifth graders.
After Rich caught all three outs in the inning, Vic let him kick first.
"Make way!" said Victor. "Let my man kick first!" He pushed Rich forward. Karen Beecher was pitching again.
"Alright little kid," said Karen. "I'm not gonna make this easy!" Rich smirked.
"Just try me, old lady!"
Karen pitched, making the ball skid so that it barely grazed the dirt. It bounced up over Rich's swinging foot. The entire outfield burst out laughing.
"Told ya!" shouted Karen. Rich was even more determined now.
"Aw man!" said Victor, grabbing the chain links in the backstop. "We put the worst kicker up first!" Raven peeked up from her book, watching Rich's next kick.
Karen pitched the same skid-ball, but this time, Rich was ready. He caught it at the right angle of the bounce, sending it flying due to forces of physics not known to the elementary schools yet. As the ball soared up, the bell rang, and Robin froze with a giant grin on his face. Karen's outfielder stopped dead in his tracks out of habit, and let the ball bounce right in front of him. After the whistle blew, Robin walked over to Raven who had already gotten up.
"Dude!" said Victor, slapping Rich on the back. "Nice kick! We coulda used it before the bell rang though." Rich laughed.
"Heh, maybe next time my timing won't be so off," he replied.
"Next time? How 'bout later today after lunch!" suggested Victor. Rich nodded and ran to catch up with Raven as they walked back to the line.
"Good kick Rich," said Raven.
"Oh, thanks! I didn't know you were watching."
"Well, I was."
After a few boring lessons from Mr. Mod, he dismissed the kids for lunch. Gar walked with Terra out to the courtyard, with Rich, Kory, Jason and Raven behind closely. Instead of packing lunch, all six of the children brought money for hot lunch. They stood in the long line in front of the cafeteria, grabbing their milks and utensils before punching in their pin numbers. Then, having gotten their food, they sat down at a table outside the cafeteria and began poking at their questionable meal.
"Guys," began Rich with a mouthful of corn. "I played kick ball with the fifth graders today!"
"Wow," said Terra. "I didn't think they let anyone younger than them play! Cool!" Gar took note of her excitement.
"Dude," he said, getting an idea. "Terra, why don't we see if we can play too? That'd be fun, don't you think?" She smiled in agreement.
"Well, actually," said Rich in protest. "I dunno if you'll be able to play. See, they needed another man, and lucky for them I was right there!" Raven looked at him.
"Please," she said sarcastically. "Victor probably let you play because you were with me. He doesn't usually let anyone on his team but the people he's comfortable with." Gar looked at Raven quizzically.
"Dude," he said. "I didn't know you knew Victor! He's my best friend!" She blushed fiercely when he spoke. It'd been well over a week since he walked her home, but that fact was insignificant to him. His mind was focused on Terra.
"Well," she said, looking at her tray of food. "I've been sitting on his bench at recess for the past couple of days, and when his team's up to bat and it's not his turn to kick, he talks to me."
"Oh, wow," he said, relatively impressed. "That's cool I guess. What do you talk about?" Raven couldn't believe he was talking to her still. He wasn't nervous like he was when he had walked her home, and she could tell he'd completely forgotten that they even liked each other.
"I don't know."
"What? What do you mean you don't know?"
"Maybe it is nun-ya!" said Kory, seeing her friend's flushed face.
"Huh?" asked Rich.
"None- ya business!" said Jason, smiling at Kory's joke.
"Well," said Terra, cutting back into the conversation. "I think playing kick ball would be a great idea! I'll bet since he's your best friend Vic will let us play!"
"Oh yes!" said Kory. "That would be fun!" The rest of the group nodded. Raven patted the book in her sweater pocket silently, making sure she was ready too.
Gar flicked some corn at Terra and then helped her get it out of her hair when a teacher scolded him. Jason and Rich were listening intently to Kory and Raven's conversation about how they'd seen both Kat and Martin falling asleep during class, snoring. Soon, though, they were done eating, and raced out to the kickball field.
"Hey, Victor!" shouted Gar, coming around the side of the back stop. "Can me and my friends play too?" Victor checked out the group, and saw Rich. Jason looked like he could be of some use too, so he nodded.
"Yeah, sure!" he said as they walked over. Raven took a seat at the edge of the bench as usual, and took out her book. Victor caught her eye for a split second. "Hey Rae!"
"Hi Victor."
"You gonna play today?"
"No. It looks like you've got enough girl power on your team as it is anyways." Victor saw that he had four girls on his team, while the other team had just Karen as their only female. Gar scoffed.
"Aww c'mon Rae!" he whined. "Why don't you just play? Why are you reading? It's recess!" Terra grabbed his arm, pulling him towards the line up fence, and more specifically, away from talking to Raven.
"Let her go," she said with a hint of annoyance. "If she wants to be all weird and creepy then let her. We have enough people anyways." Gar followed her obediently. Kory, however, still tried to get her closest girl friend to join them.
"Oh, please Raven!" she pleaded. "It will be more fun with you out here!" Terra cut back in.
"No it won't Kory. If she plays we won't get to kick as much. It's fine. We don't want her anyways." Raven looked up at the rest of her friends sadly. They turned their attention towards the game, not even noticing her get up and leave.
She frowned angrily as she stormed across the blacktop, pushing her way through several other games. Her anger turned into sadness soon enough though, and she caught a lump in her throat. She thought about how Terra called her creepy, how she said they didn't want her, and how her friends had forgotten about her so quickly when the kick ball game began… or had Gar said all of those things? Her emotions were getting the better of her, clouding her mind. Raven's crush on Gar was causing bitter feelings and bad thoughts, and she wanted the lump in her throat to leave. She wanted him to like her again, because even though he paid all of his attention to Terra, Raven's constant thinking of the day he walked her home was confusing her. Every time she thought about that day, she reassured herself that he liked her. When she went to school the next day though, she was reminded of Terra. She found herself walking away from the blacktop and wound up at the library. The door was surprisingly unlocked, as it usually was during lunch, and she let herself in.
Raven sat down against the bookshelf and took out her book. She couldn't focus on its words though, and wiped at her eyes in hopes of preventing tears from falling. She felt a book behind her head slide out, and turned to see who took it out, hoping it wasn't a librarian catching her hiding from recess. She didn't see anyone, and assumed they walked away. Raven got up and walked around, trying to find out where the person went, trying not to be seen. She felt she was alone again, and sat back down where she was. Moments later, however, the person put the book back, hitting her on the end.
"Ow!" she said, rather loudly for both the library and for her. Now the tears were really about to fall, as her head throbbed almost as painfully as her heart had. To her surprise, the book slid back and she saw a boy on the other side.
"I'm sorry," said the boy, running around to her side of the shelf. Raven turned her back to him and hoped he'd stop talking to her. He didn't.
"I didn't see you there when I took the book out," he said as he approached. He saw her crouched over and preceded cautiously.
"Well, I was there," she said, clearing her throat of the lump.
"Here, lemme help you up." He grabbed her arm and pulled her up. Her eyes were a little red, but she hadn't cried yet. He saw the book she clutched in her hands. "Wow, that's a hard book. I don't think we have any here that hard. I would know... I work here!" He smiled at that last bit.
"You… you work at the library?" she got a good look at him for the first time. He had thick, platinum blonde hair that reached just above his shoulders. He pushed his bangs out of his face before speaking again.
"Yep, I just started yesterday. I shelve the books during lunch and during lunch recess."
"When do you eat?" she asked.
"The kids in my class eat after lunch recess," he replied.
"Your class? What class is that?"
"I'm in the fifth grade seminar class. We start school a half-hour before everyone else, and take a bunch of field trips. You probably haven't seen us around much because we eat after you and all." She couldn't help feeling jealous. She wanted to be in a class isolated from the rest of the school, surrounded by smarter peers.
"Oh wow," she said, impressed. They ended up sitting back down against the bookshelf as her companion flipped through the pages of her book. "So… um, how do you get into that class?"
"I think you have to request a test in the mail or something like that. It's called the Raven test, and it's got a bunch of puzzles in it and everything. It tests a different type of learning I guess." She made a mental note to ask her parents about it when she got home.
"Hey, that's my name!"
"What is? Raven?"
"Yeah," she said, smiling. She felt like she could feel his higher intelligence just radiating off him. "And I'm in the fourth grade right now, so would I do that test thingy for next year?"
"Yeah, I think so. We only have a fifth grade class here." The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch recess.
"Well, I have to go back to class now," said Raven sadly, somewhat embarrassed that she had regular class and her new friend got to hang out in the library.
"Okay, I have to go back to work anyways," he replied. He scratched the back of his head in mild nervousness. "Maybe you could read in here during lunch now? The door's open now 'cause I'm in here… so…"
"Yes!" she said rather loudly. She covered her mouth and headed for the door.
"Bye Raven!"
"Bye… um…"
"Malchior!"
She waved, opened the door, and ran to class with a grin on her face and a new boy on her mind.
Well, there you have it! I hope you liked this chapter, please review and let me know what you think!
Malchior (Nol) - Malchior [Malchior, in the TV show, is Malchior of Nol, so I just used that for his last name]
Komi Anders - Blackfire
