After dinner that evening, the Titans met near the front door and then left together for the party. When the kids walked into the club and slowly made their way around the edge of the mass of dancing people, the infectious rhythm of the music brought a grin of excitement to Robin and Beast Boy's eyes. Robin, Cyborg, and Starfire disappeared into the crowd and Beast Boy turned his shining eyes toward Raven.

"Come dance with me!" Beast Boy begged. "Please?" Raven chose her words carefully. She was uncomfortable at events like this, especially considering the last dance the Titans attended. She was tempted to blurt out her customary, "This is pointless" but held her tongue and said, "I'll just sit this one out." Beast Boy shrugged and ran to join the others.

"Couldn't we do what we did last night again?

Baby you and I'd be better than friends

Don't you think its time we went a bit further? oh yeah!

Everynight when we say goodbye

How can I help looking in your eyes

Wondering why you and I

Haven' t hit it

Can we get it on?

i'm kinda faded but I feel alright

Thinkin bout makin my move tonight

I can't pretend that you're only my friend

When you're holding my body tight

Cuz I like the way you're makin it move

I like the way you're making me wait

At the end of the night

When I make up your mind

You'll be coming on home

With me, yeah, yeah, yeah"

As soon as Beast Boy was out of earshot, the blue-clad titan folded her arms over her chest and muttered, "This is pointless."

"What would a man have to do to give it meaning for you?" a deep voice asked. Raven raised her eyebrows for a moment, her face still hidden by her hood. She blushed a bit and then turned.

"There isn't much help for a setup like this," Raven replied dryly. The man laughed. He had soft, baby blue eyes and stood at least a head taller than she was. He was dressed in black and his hair was tousled and dark brown. Raven thought she would faint. He was gorgeous! Beast Boy was attractive on more than one level, but this guy was dark, soft-spoken, and intelligent.

"There are rooms in back that have better lighting and less noise. Would you care to join me?" the man asked. Fighting a pounding heartbeat, Raven followed him. There was something about the eloquence in his voice that made her trust him. It was as implicit as the gentleness in his eyes. As the two made for the back rooms, Starfire caught their departure out of the corner of her eye.

"Where is Raven going?" asked Starfire.

"She probably met someone that's as into eastern philosophy as she is. She'll be fine," Robin replied.

"But..." Starfire returned, not entirely convinced.

"Look, Star, Raven can handle herself in a battle against bad guys like Overload, Cinderblock and Plasmus. She can handle one guy in a dance club," Cyborg said, trying to defend Raven. Starfire still worried a bit, but decided that the boys were right.

In the back room there were several partitions separating small sitting areas. One of the sitting areas had a juice bar. The boy took her hand gallantly and led her to one of the sitting areas. He walked with her to the plush looking couch and kissed the back of her hand before excusing himself to go and procure drinks for them. Flattered, Raven crossed her legs and relaxed back into the cushions of the davenport. He returned with two tall glasses filled with a dark red liquid. When Raven took her glass, it was warm, and was the consistency of a thin syrup.

"What is this?" Raven asked.

"Try it. I think you'll like it," the young man replied. Cautiously, Raven took a sip. It was sweet, thick, just a little tart and warmed Raven all the way down to her toes. Raven looked up at the boy before her, his rugged smile breaking across his face.

"Sand cherries. My grandmother used to make a wonderful jelly from them," the boy said to Raven's look of pleased surprise. The two continued to talk as they sipped their drinks. They spoke of philosophy, meditation techniques, chakras, and other subjects that Raven didn't think other people spoke of outside of an online chat room. Somehow, during the time they talked, the young gentleman had moved closer to Raven. Though she wasn't afraid of him, this closer proximity made her a bit uncomfortable. During a lull in the conversation, Raven looked up at him and he moved swiftly to close the distance between them and kissed her. Shocked, Raven tried to pull back but he held her. Raven mustered her powers and pushed him back to arm's length.

"We shouldn't do this," Raven stated coolly. "I...I have a boyfriend." She had never referred to Beast Boy as her boyfriend before. It felt odd for her to keep someone of the opposite gender so close to her heart. Odd or not, Raven's loyalty was not something she took lightly. She held her ground.

"What can that green-skinned child offer to you? You deserve someone who will worship you like the goddess you are," the stranger replied. Suddenly, Raven started to get light headed. The lights above them started to spin and move in circles.

"What's happening to me?" Raven cried, clasping her hands over her ears. She was becoming increasingly dizzy and the voice of her companion was merely a buzz in her ears when he took hold of her again, pushing her back against the couch.

"Relax, goddess. The dizziness will pass soon..."