Chapter 13- Lately I Don't Know What You Feel
By: Ochako107
Standard Disclaimer
Two weeks passed by after Raven's birthday and events were the usual. Beast boy and Cyborg kept their daily routine of pranks on Raven, Starfire went to cheerleading practice every other day, and Robin…. Robin was mysterious as always.
Starfire went through a few of her routines during practice, trying to make every move solid and straight. Yet, that man in the night was still on her mind. She couldn't help but turn around while walking and make sure no one was behind her. It freaked her out… and what did he mean by 'checking'? She flipped back and raised her hands up vertically with a huge smile. Bumble bee applauded her when suddenly a huge cloud the dirt flew up from the ground.
"What…?" Bumble bee asked to no one in particular. The dust cleared and a handsome young man stood with open arms right before Starfire.
"Hello my dear!" Speedy proclaimed in a prince charming type of voice.
Starfire wrung her hands together, "hello…"
"It is I, SPEEDY!" He flashed a marvelous white tooth smile and took hold of her hand. "How have you been, my lovely? It seems that you are away for so long these days."
Starfire took a few steps back, "I have… been with friends."
He chuckled merrily, "friends? You don't associate with the 'other' people though. You are a cheerleader and…"
Starfire smacked his hand away suddenly, "what are you implying?"
He smiled warmly, "that it is not normal for us to associate with them." He waved to Bumble Bee, "Hello!"
"Bite me." She muttered but he didn't hear.
Starfire was staring at him in disbelief. This was the guy she despised for some reason. Now she remembered. He was close minded and self centered. A slight breeze picked up cooling her nerves, but still… was hanging out with other people besides the popular kids, that big if a deal? Her friends now were much more entertaining than sitting around with the cheering squad. They were nice people and all and her sister was part of the group… and she used to want to be like Blackfire but recently… she'd had a change of heart. She shook the thoughts from her mind and found Speedy looking at her.
"Did you say something?" Starfire asked.
"Do you want to catch a movie and dinner with me Friday? Honestly now, I think you must have been tuning me out on purpose." He half joked, "It is not polite you know."
Starfire pointed an accusing finger at him, "it is you who is not polite! How dare you say appalling remarks of my friends?" Her temper flared and she suddenly wished she really did know how to punch someone.
A crowd was beginning to notice the usually happy go lucky cheerleader yelling at the star track player. Speedy looked around and wrapped his hand around Starfire's arm. "Hey, cool it, Star."
"Don't lay a hand on me! You wicked… wicked person! You don't know what you are talking about— my friends will be better than you ever will!" Starfire took his hand and flipped Speedy over her shoulder. The crowd gasped and Speedy just stared blankly at Starfire. She was sure strong for a usually cheerful and peaceful girl. Her eyes narrowed, "they are people just like us and social status does not matter to me." He got up and noticed everyone staring.
He suddenly laughed nervously as his cheeks reddened, "aw, I love it when you play tough. Come on, Star."
"Come off it!" Bumble bee stepped in front of Starfire. "She don't want to talk to you alright? Beat it, Speedy."
Speedy glanced at Starfire around Bubmle bee's shoulder with a stern look to him. "You know, you better watch it, Star. Hanging out with people out side our circle isn't safe. I know… this is all because of that Loner guy isn't it? Those so called friends could be more than you'll ever expect." Starfire stuck her tongue out at him. "Fine. Remember Starfire, Friday a dinner and a movie. Later, sweetheart!"
"I am NOT your sweetheart you buffoon!"
Bumble Bee took hold of Starfire's baton before she could launch it as a missile. "Cool it; he won't be bothering you anymore. I'll tell Cyborg about it, don't worry."
Starfire put the baton down and took a deep breath. She felt so angry at Speedy. 'Loner…' That word had a horrible tone to it. It felt so cold that Starfire decided to never call a person a loner. No one in the word was truly alone… right?
Her thoughts drifted back to anger towards the hot shot of a track player. He was one of the most sought out 'hotties' (as many girls would say) of the school—second runner up to Aqualad. But it didn't matter how good-looking he was if he didn't have a personality to match. For some reason, he'd always chased Starfire around, and she hated it. Why was she cursed? He was such a nice kid until he joined the track team. Then he saught out a girlfriend, and he had a certain redhead at the top of his list. How dare he insult her friends and insist on keeping within the popular circles? What did he know? Did it matter who was cool, who was not, who was gothic, or who was a star athlete? If they'd only take away all of that, they would see that they were all people. People with feelings and ideas so did it matter?
Speedy stalked away angrily. He'd just been embarrassed by a huge group of people! They'd never let him live it down and it was all because of his love. She'd always been the quiet and beautiful one… that was until he came along. The loner… who does he thinks he is? Everything was dandy sunshine and gold until he 'graced' the school with his presence. Now circles were beginning to stare, beginning to mix and beginning to hate each other more that ever. Everyone had their place in school, and that loner messed it up. Cyborg was hanging out and squirting milk out of his nose with the freak… whatever his name was. That green guy. Maybe he was the son of the Hulk.
The thought crossed his mind and he grinned to himself. That is until he was the loner pass by. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets and he was whistling a tune without a care in the world. How Speedy hated him… for stealing the attention of his beloved. Speedy gained more speed in his walk and rammed into Robin's shoulder.
"Watch where you're going, loner."
"I'd say the same thing to you, but I don't like to mark the obvious."
"Wha…?" Suddenly Speedy ran into a pole. "OW!"
"Are you okay?" Robin asked fully stopping to see Speedy's face.
"What the heck do you care! You stay away from Starfire buddy, she's MINE."
"I didn't see your name on her and I don't think that's any way to treat a lady." Robin's eyes were laughing behind his glasses. Who did this guy think he was?
Speedy thrust his hand to the side as if drawing an invisible line between the two boys. "I don't like you, okay? You are messing everything up, but you know what? You lost your chance at her cause I already got her to go on a date with me."
Robin smiled and rocked back and forth on his heels, "wow, Star must have been pretty drunk or you're just bluffing to make yourself look good."
Speedy's face reddened slightly. "You think you know everything."
"I know she doesn't like you."
"Go to hell!" Speedy shoved Robin away and turned on his heel out of the school field.
Robin watched him walk away have a feeling this was not over yet. He gave Speedy's last comment a thought and chuckled while keeping a slow pace towards the cheering squad huddled around Blackfire and Starfire. "Maybe I will."
Bumble Bee snorted, "gesh, he's lamer than I thought. He needs to be knocked down, you know? What about your boyfriend, Robin? He looks stronger than he wants to lead us on…"
"WHAT!" Starfire felt her heart suddenly constrict.
"What? He ain't your bf?"
"Robin is not mine and never will be. We are friends, like Cyborg is to me. Like a brother!"
"Uh hua… and since when do sisters blush and giggle around their 'brothers'?" Bumble Bee laughed as Starfire began walking away towards the rest of the cheer squad. She knew she was only trying to cheer her up but still, Robin! He'd never like her that way, not in a million years.
Starfire and Bumble Bee looked up while all the other girls crowded around Blackfire.
"Wow, is he cute?"
"A good kisser?"
"I would never imagine you'd go out with him!"
Starfire and Bumble been made their way to the group of girls and there sat Blackfire in the center of attention. She acknowledged her sister, "hello, little sister. Finished with the routines?"
"Yes! But Blackfire, are my assumptions correct? Are you talking about a friend of the boy kind?"
The black haired girl rolled her eyes. "Well, duh! And ya, it's a BOYFRIEND."
"But, father…"
"What he doesn't know can't hurt."
Starfire gave that a thought. "Well, who is he?"
Blackfire leaned back and batted her eye lashes, "Aqualad."
"AQUALAD!" Starfire yelped.
"Psh, I thought he was too good for miss stuck up," Bumble bee muttered under her breath while chuckling.
Meanwhile Starfire was running in circles. "Aqualad is a senior! He shall leave in a few days to college, this is utterly unacceptable! You are a senior too and you are going to a different school…!"
Blackfire stood up and made Starfire stop running, "what? Is he too good for me or something?"
"No! That's not it…!"
"Well, you know just 'cause you can't get a boyfriend doesn't mean I can't."
Starfire felt her hair stand on her head, "WHAT!"
"Hey, Star!" Both girls and the entire cheering squad turned. Robin was standing at the gate waving for Star. "Practice is done and we're going to Cyborg's. Coming?"
Starfire nodded feverously while her face turned like a tomato, "yes! I shall be there shortly!"
Robin gave her a small grin that made all the other girls swoon. "Naw, just take you time."
Starfire blushed, "but I would not want you to wait!"
He laughed, "It's really no problem." He turned the other way and leaned on the gate while Starfire went to pick up her bag and other paraphernalia.
Blackfire watched the emotions playing before her eyes and tapped her chin. "I correct myself. It does seem you have a boyfriend, Star."
"WHAT!" Starfire accidentally dropped all of her bags. Was it just her or was the world poking fun at her all of a sudden? And she felt her word use of 'what' was getting a little out of control.
"Is it that blind to you? I mean, look at him. He comes to pick you up every practice, I see you walking with him all the time, you two are always happy, he doesn't mind waiting for you—it all adds up. He's totally in it for you."
Starfire just stared at Blackfire. Robin? Like her? But, but she was so plain, and he was so… so…
Starfire shook her head, "you should not make such conjectures without evidence. Robin is my dear friend and he would, on no account…"
"What? Never like you?" Blackfire asked staring right into her face. The two sisters stood face to face, lavender clashing with emerald. After a moment, Blackfire turned away and flipped her hair, "you're right. He's only hanging around you to get to me. I mean, what guy in the school can't resist me?" She laughed.
Starfire placed her bag over her shoulder while mentally cursing her sister. Was Blackfire saying Robin wouldn't like her? Even for a moment? "You are wrong! Robin is not like that! He is kind and polite and…"
"Totally in love with you." Blackfire interrupted while making kissing noises. The other girls roared with laughter.
"He is not!" Starfire blushed harder and ran away from the crowd. Blackfire watched her sister slam the gates open and dash past Robin and he ran after her.
Blackfire grinned to herself and put a hand behind her head while placing her right hand on her hip. "She played into that one too easily."
Bumble bee came up beside the captain, "played…?"
"Come on, you think Robin really loves that little girl? He'd want a real woman you know." Blackfire sneered as her violet eyes narrowed, "that or a broken heart that my dear sister will help me do."
Bumble Bee crossed her arms in the background, "do you always talk to yourself?"
Later that afternoon, Blackfire picked up her telephone at him and dialed a number.
"Hello?"
"Yes, this is Blackfire."
"Blackfire, darling, how are you? Where's that beautiful sister of yours, hmm?"
"More beautiful than me?" Blackfire pouted.
"Of course not!" He lied through his teeth.
"Well, I called concerning my little sister. You see, about that date Friday…"
Author's Note: Yellow everyone! WOW, 104 reviews! Celebration time! Thank you so much for all your reviews, keep them coming! I was away for the weekend so my update is later than I intended. Heh, sorry! Anyway, the next chapter is underway and I promise next chapter will have this 'date'. I'm not sure how the date will go... but I'll try and make it interesting. How will everyone else react to Starfire going out on a date, especially Cyborg?
Saynt Jimmy- Well, I can't tell you who the masked guy is, that would ruin everything now wouldn't it? But I'll try and update ASAP, just keep it cool. Thanks for the review!
VashTheStampede7123- I luv your pin name! Anyway, thank you so much for thinking this story could actually be a show on it's own, although I really don't think it's all that great. I'll try and update soon, but thank you so much for the compliments!
lil' LIK Star- Don't worry, the masked guy will be clearer in later chapters, I just thought I'd thorw him in now for more forshadowing. Thank you for supporting me throughout the story, darlin!
Dragon- Glad you liked it and I will update as soon as I can! Thanks!
Austin- Dude! You don't know how many people totally support the Rob/Rav thing and I respect that! And don't worry, this story isn't centered around romance, but Starfire's date is just to bring out a point because in my story she's a follower, the date she'll have will alow her to become a leader. And who knows, maybe Robin and Raven will have a nice sweet moment in later chapters. Thank you for the input!
sillymail- Thank so much for hte encouragement!
Seeker Carter- Erm... I don't know how old you are, but considering how bad you want to read this, I'll try my best to update without giving out lame chapters! Thank you!
Rose- You sound so energetic! But you'll see who Starfire has her date with and Slade and Bruce won't be making a grandentrance for a couple more chapters. Haha, thanks for the review, Rose!
stargazer92- Horay! I'm excited to see the next chapter too! Thank you for the encouragement!
NumbuhZero- Yes, who IS Robin? I personally think he's like a cookie (chapter 10), but hey, that's for you to decide. Robin is entering the story more and more as it goes along so don't worry. Thanks for the review!
Ghost Knight- OO, looks like I've got another detective on my hands. I hope you don't figure out my scheme too easily! But you're on the right track! Yes, I agree that the high school life is interesting to read, but I hope it isn't too boring ot read through. And actually, high school isn't as segregated as I'm making it out to be, but I'm doing it for the sake of strengthening the fact the groups don't like each other. I'm actually basing the Titans on my own friends because we're all so different but we still hang out together! Thank you so much for the wonderful review!
Phew! I haven't responded in so long, but I think I owe it to all of y'all for being so nice to take the time to review to me! Congrats to Seeker Carter for being the 100th person to review! (Round of applause) You earn a cookie! See you all next chapter and thanks again!