"What the fuck happened?" Beastboy asked, his bright green eyes widening in
horror as he looked around the remains of our living room. The walls were
slick with ice and nearly everything was smashed, picture frames, CDs,
tables, everything. He bent over and looked at the shredded remains of our
red sofa as Cyborg picked up what was left of our kitchen table, and then
left to check on our electrical condition.
"I had a visitor," I replied calmly. Raven picked her way through the mess, obviously looking for something. It was maybe twenty minutes after Ice and Mammoth left and ten minutes after I had used my communicator to tell my friends about our towers condition. I finally had cloths on. Robin looked around the room and swore loudly.
"Ice I suppose," he said coldly, looking at the ice coated ceiling.
"Plus Mammoth."
"Fuck."
"That fucking bastard froze all of our pipes and shorted all our electrical fuses," Cyborg said, reentering the room after his inspection, "We can stay here tonight."
Starfire started wailing,
"Our home! Our beautiful home! It is destroyed...."
"No! No it's not Star!" Robin exclaimed, putting an arm around her, "We just need to clean it up, that's all. We just need somewhere to go, just for tonight." She nodded.
"But Robin, to where will we occupy?"
"A hotel I guess," I said, kneeling down and sifting through the rubble, looking for anything not completely totaled. Cyborg lifted the remains of the sofa,
"Aw hell. NOW how am I ever going to find the remote?" I smiled faintly,
"We should get one with a little beeper attachment to it. If we ever lose it, we can just press a button and it will beep so we can find it."
"Hey, that's a good idea."
"I'm full of them."
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Ok, this is the girls room." Robin pointed to the room on the other side of the door, "And this is the guys room."
We were at the Twinkle Inn, and had gotten a two-room suet, but only one bathroom unfortunately. Star sat on one of the beds, covering her face with her hands.
"Our home. It is... how to say? Sick? No... but it is still unwell."
"Please, it will be okay Starfire," Robin said, an expression on his face showing that Stars depression was killing him on the inside.
"Yeah, Starry, well even make this fun!" I stared naming all the perks of staying in a hotel. "You can makes messes and other people clean it up. The hotel has a sauna, massage beds, work-out room-"
"An indoor swimming pool."
"Oh yeah... that too." I said uncomfortably. Robin gave me a concerned look, but didn't say anything.
"I have no clothing but what I am wearing, and I know it is considered inappropriate to where the same article of clothing for 48 hours." Star continued.
"Shit... I don't have anything either."
"Me nether."
"Doesn't this hotel have a gift shop or something? We might be able to buy some clothes there."
"Yeah... It thinks I saw one by the lobby, it had sweatshirts and stuff. It would probably sell toothbrushes too."
"Alrighty then. Lets go." I said in false cheerfulness, trying to make Star feel better.
"You girls go, BB, Cy and I want to walk to the sports shop a block from here." Robin said.
"Fine, you boys go obsess about whatever sport it is that you like."
Raven, Starfire and I left the room, talking of how stupid guys are about sports. I turned one direction while Raven turned another.
"Friends? You appear to be maneuvering your bodies in the incorrect direction." I looked to Starfire.
"No Starry remember? We gotta go on elevator A."
"No, its elevator C."
"You are both misinformed, it is the elevator B that we must travel by."
"No, its C."
"A!!"
"B!! I am sure of it!!"
"You are all retarded! Its A!!"
"C!!"
"B!!"
"C!!"
"Split up!" I grinned deviously, "We split and whoever gets to the gift shop first is the winner."
"Glorious! A race!"
"That is the most pointless thing I've ever heard."
"Yes it is. On your marks....get set....GO!!" Star and I bolted for our elevators while Raven rolled her eyes and calmly walked to hers and gently pressed the level one button. I jumped into mine and punched the button furiously. The doors glided shut and the elevator lurched into motion.
"Come on! Come on!" I bounced up and down on my heels, impatient for the elevator to get to our destination. I pressed the level 1 button again. Come on!! Ding!
The doors opened and I exploded out of them. I tore down the hall, giggling madly. I dashed past rows of doors, looking for any signs of the main lobby.
I came to the end of the long hall and was faced with a crucial decision. Damn! Left or right? I pranced in place, looking down both halls. Which way? I made the final decision and dashed right. I don't ever turn left if I can help it. Why? I have no idea; I'm just weird like that.
I ran full sped down the abandoned hall, past rows and rows of doors. Whizzing past the sauna and steam room. Then I saw it. At the end of the hall! The lobby!
I raced down the hall and collided with Starfire to the ground. I rubbed my head and looked around. There! The gift shop!! I tried to scramble to my feet, but Starfire saw what I was doing and tackled me.
Honest to god, sweet little Starry tackled me. I guess they take races seriously on her planet, but they do on mine, too.
She tried to scramble over me, but I yanked her hair, causing her to fall back down. I laughed insanely and cause vines to bind her to the ground. I crawled a few feet ahead of her before she used her starbolts to free herself. Then she hurled a low powered starbolt at me, causing me to lose my balance and lurch forward.
But before I fell, I managed to fling a nearby chair at her. She flew over it, giggling and pounced on me with a triumphant sheik, trying to push me back from the entrance to the gift shop. I smiled sweetly at her, then rolled over and used my feet to pry her off and sent her flying into the air.
She fell ahead of me and laying on her stomach, reached her arms out as far as they would go, trying to touch the entrance floor of the gift shop. Oh hell no! I crawled over her and tried to pull her hand back. But it was to late. The tips of her fingers brushed the smooth tile inside Gifts Galore.
"Aha! I am the victory of our race!"
"Look again Star." She looked up and cried out in frustration as she saw Raven sitting calmly inside the store, looking extremely board.
"What took you so long?" She asked, tapping her foot.
I craned my neck and saw elevator C, right outside the lobby and a couple steps from Gifts Galore. I giggled at the irony and helped Star to her feet.
"Now I suppose I must preformed 'the act of loss' to you Raven," she said glumly.
"Maybe later Star," Raven said, gesturing behind us. We turned around and saw a wide-eyed crowd in the lobby, staring at us. Starfire turned to look at me.
"As you would say, friend Naomi, 'Aw shit.'"
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Then the manager almost kicked us out." I said into the phone. Although I couldn't see Nikkis expression, I'm she was laughing. I was sitting on the hotel bed, twisting the phone cord around my finger.
"That sound like so much fun! I'd give anything to be a titan," She said wistfully, "I'm stuck babysitting Jeremy and Brett and Brett keeps beating up Jeremy."
"Really? How sad!"
"Oh and the highlight of the evening was when Jeremy put on one of my bra and refused to take it off." I laughed at the thought of little Jeremy dancing around in a lacy bra.
"Well, it's not all its spiced up to be. Especially when Star's 'act of loss' involves sticking her head in the a bathtub full of water."
"She did that?"
"Yeah, the people of her planet do it when they lose or something."
"Didn't Raven try to stop her?"
"No! She just stood there waiting for Star to drown!! I had to drag Star out myself!"
"It still sounds like fun."
"Well, I guess it is. But Star said it wasn't too much fun until I came."
"Yup, you funner than a barrel full of monkey."
"I so am."
"Monkeys with bananas."
"Oh! Bananas are the shit man!"
"The shit?"
"Yeah, that means its cool."
"Am I the shit?"
"Of course."
"Naomi! Get off the phone!! Each minute costs 75 cents!"
"Okay Robin. Bye Nikki."
"Bye." Click.
"Come friend! Let us journey to the pool of water! Beastboy and Cyborg have already departed." Star rushed up to me, her hair still wet from the 'act of loss'.
"Oh...well, I didn't buy a bathing suit." I didn't want to swim. I think Id rather be devoured by The Hungry Hungy Caterpillar. You know? From the children's book?
"I noticed my friend! That is why I purchased an extra!" Shit.
"Starfire, I think I'll pass-"
"Please? Raven refuses to go with me. I do not wish to only go in the accompaniment of males."
"Naomi doesn't have to go if she doesn't want to Starfire." Raven said calmly lying on the sofa, reading a little black book, "Naomi, stay here. Well watch a scary movie until you cry."
Once again, I was torn between my two friends. I stood there, unsure of what to do.
"Well, I will depart, join me if you later wish to friend." Star said, forcing a smile. Her shoulders drooped slightly and she looked to the ground. I looked at her and sighed,
"Fine Star, I'll go for a few minutes." She clapped her hands and the glimmer in her eyes proved she had purposely made me feel guilty. I wondered who had taught her the guilt trip trick. Oh that's right. I did.
"Wonderful! Allow me a moment of time to change to my suit of swimming." Imagine my horror when she pulled out male's swimming trunks.
"Starfire NO! You can't wear that!"
"Why?"
"That's a guys swimming suit."
"Can I not wear it anyhow?" I slapped my forehead with my hand.
"No, Star look." I picked up the suit and held it up to her. "See, it covers this key area," I pointed to her downward girly parts, "But not this key area." I pointed to her upward girly parts.
"I thought it was considered acceptable to wear less clothing when swimming," Star said, like a small child questioning an adult.
"Yes, but remember, it is important to ALWAYS keep the key areas covered. It's the law of Earth." Star was quiet a moment, then she looked to me.
"Naomi? Please explain something to me. What is so repulsive about the human body that it has to be covered at all times?" I was stunned, I didn't really know myself.
"Well, its not that it's repulsive..." I paused, "I'll explain it to you later Starry, okay?"
"But how will I know of shame unless it is taught to me?" I looked into Starfires bright green eyes. She's so innocent. Like a child. Like a little girl learning about the world. Completely oblivious about the pains and sufferings in the world we are forced to live in.
"Starfire, take my suit. I don't swim." I jumped at the sound of Ravens husky voice. I had forgotten she was here. Raven telekinetically floated Starfire her blood red suit. Star gave me one final look before heading into the bathroom to change. I sighed and bent down and rummaged through the bag of clothing until I found a black string bikini I assume was mine.
"You don't have to swim," Raven said, calmly turning a page in her book, "I mean, if you're scared..." I dropped my suit in shock. I whirled around and faced Raven, my mouth dropped in surprise.
"Wha- how do you-"
"Its kinda obvious you're a hydrophobic," Raven said, not taking her eyes off the page in the book, "I senesced it the first time you told me about your river experience." I continued to stare at her, but smiled.
"Yeah... I won't swim. I'll just go down by the pool for a while, and then come back up. We'll watch a scary movie. Just NOT the Opal. I'm still having nightmares."
She smiled faintly, but stopped when Starfire emerged from the bathroom and announced it my turn to change. I changed into the black bikini and smiled. It was actually really cute. It had a small rine stone butterfly on the back of the bottom and one on the left cup.
I met Star out in the hall way and we started walking toward the elevator. There was some temporary confusion to which elevator should be taken, but we didn't race this time. We were in bathing suits for crying out loud!! We might attract just a little too much unwanted attention.
We finally decided on elevator C and stepped inside. I took the piggy tail holders out of my hair and pressed the level one button. I looked to Star and I felt a twinge of jealousy.
She looked gorgeous. She ALWAYS looks gorgeous. She wakes up in the morning without a hair out of place. I don't mean to be a little jealousy; it's just a natural feeling. It's fine, just as long as it doesn't get out of control. A constant beauty battle between blondes and redheads. Who will win? Who knows? Starfire saw me looking at her.
"Something the matter?"
"No...I'm just tired."
"Oh." Ding!
We stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hall until we could smell the smell of chlorine. A group of boys passed us as we walked towards the doors of the pool. Their heads turned as we passed. I refused to acknowledge their existence, sliming slyly.
"Hey, its those Titan chicks." They stopped.
"Hey babe, what's up?" A guy with sunglasses smiled at us. They looked older than us, like 19 or something. He wiggled his eyebrows at us. Star looked up to the ceiling.
"No Starfire, its just an expression." I explained.
"Oh."
"So, you girls going to the pool?"
"Uhuh."
"Maybe we'll join you."
"Maybe you will." I turned coolly away and Star latched on to my arm, giggling spazily.
"Star! Chill out!" I hissed out of the corner of my mouth. We turned the corner out of view of the boys and I erupted in laughter.
"Star, that guy with the sunglasses was so checking you out!"
"Negative, it was you he was looking upon with lust!" We giggled and opened the glass doors to the pool. The warm moist air from the pool blasted on my face. I breathed in the humid air and sloshed my toe in some pool water that had collected on the tile.
"CANNONBALL!" Beastboys cry was followed with a huge splash. Water flew in all directions. I flicked some water off my face to Starfire. But she looked confused.
"A 'cannonball'?" Cyborg was lying on one of the lawn chairs next to the pool, looking wistfully at the water. Poor Cy. He can't swim. It would make the machine part of him go phazzizle. Robin was sitting in the small hot tub; looking at the letter Slade had given me.
Usually I'm stupid and don't tell my friends when something happens until its too late. But I recently took a break form being stupid and told them exactly what had happened with the little girl on the swings and the letter.
"Time with a skull," he murmured, "What can it mean?" He looked up and spotted us. Naomi? Come over here for a sec."
I walked over to him, keeping a healthy distance from the edge of the pool and squatted down.
"Any luck, oh fearless leader?" He sighed,
"No, but can you tell me again what happened with the little girl? Try to remember everything." I sighed and rolled my eyes. This must be the hundredth time I've retold this event. I told him everything I could remember.
"She kept saying something about having too much time, but not enough at the same time." He nodded curtly and contained pondering.
"Please Robin. Relax. Do not continue with your workings." Star slipped into the pool beside him. He smiled and put his arms around her, the letter forgotten.
"I'm leaving." I announced.
"That's nice Naomi." Robin said dreamily, looking into Stars eyes. I walked over to Cyborg and sat down next to him and started loudly discussing how crazy Robin is. Suddenly icy cold water splashed all over me. I shirked and Beastboy laughed insanely and jumped back to the safely of the pool.
"I'm going to fucking kill you! You little bastard!" I chased him to the side of the pool, but stopped at the edge.
"Get your little green ass back here!" I commanded. He swam to the middle of the pool.
"Come and get me Naomi!"
"Yeah Naomi!" Cyborg said laughing, "Spank him good!" Beastboy ginned at the thought.
"Come on in the water with me Naaaaaaomi," He said softly, obviously hopping I would indeed spank him
"Uhhhh. No."
"What? Why?" he looked hurt.
"I...don't want to get my hair wet." When I said that Beastboy immediately knew something was wrong. He climbed out of the pool; I couldn't help but notice how the water ran down his body. He steered me into the hall outside the pool.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I told you. I don't want to get my hair wet."
"Don't lie to me." He wrapped his arms around me and looked directly into my eyes.
"What's really wrong? Is it me?"
"What? No!" I was shocked, "No, its just..."
"Just what?" I looked into his green eyes. I love his eyes. He's got the most entrancing eyes I've ever seen. Such a lovely forest green. The outside of the color part is a darker green, and then lightens as it draws closer to the jet-black pupil. I love his eyes. They are completely green. Not dirtied by any other color. Just the rich green. He looked so.... sexy with his concerned look on his face, with water trickling down his chest.
I couldn't lie to him. I put my arms around his neck and told him about my river experience. He listened calmly and when I was done, he had the same reaction as Robin did.
"Ohhhh. That explains a lot." He grinned at me, looking relived that it wasn't him that was bothering me. Then.... I noticed something. When I had first come, Beastboy had been a couple inches shorter than me, and kind of skinny. Now, I had to look up at him. And his arms and shoulders were broadening.
I also saw the fait traces of hair on his upper lip. Beastboy and I were the youngest of the team, being a year younger that Robin and two years younger than Cyborg. Beastboy used to be the kid of the team, completely immature and goofy. But now, before my eyes, I watched him maturing, not only physically, but also mentally. I reached out my finger and ran it over his upper lip hair.
"What?"
"You got lip hair."
"Really?" His used his own finger to feel. "Should I shave it?"
"No! Its cute!!" He hugged me tighter.
"You want to go up to the room?"
"Sure."
"Oh and Naomi?" I turned to him. He licked he back of his hand and wiped his spit on my cheek, like he had done the first day we met. I shrieked and chased him to he room, using the stairs, because we still had no idea, which elevators went where. We finally got up to the room and called a truce.
He got out our hotel room card and tried for at least five minutes to open the door. Finally we gave up and banged our fists on the door until Raven opened it.
"Oh... you brought him." I remembered that Raven wanted me and her to watch a movie, alone apparently.
"Oh yeah, sorry Rae, we can still watch-"
"No, its fine. I'll leave you two alone." She slunk off down the hall to do whatever the hell she doses. As soon as she left I whished she didn't. Now I was all alone with Beastboy...in a hotel room. Not good for two hormonally stressed teenagers. Beastboy rubbed his neck with his hand.
"So... want to watch some TV?"
"Sure." He lay on the bed and flipped on the TV. I hesitantly laid down next him and let my back conform to the curve of his chest. He ran his fingers through my hair and rubbed my side with his other. His hand slowly moved from my side to my back. Then I felt his fingers rub up underneath my bikini strings, not undoing it, just under. He kept rubbing, slowly moving his green fingers closer and closer to my frontal area.
I didn't know if he noticed he was doing this, but I stared to feel uncomfortable. I squirmed out of his reach and saw a hurt expression in his face.
"Sorry BB, its just..."
"No, its ok. I understand." He directed his gaze to the TV, but his eyes clearly went focusing on the screen. I tried to cuddle with him again, but he really wasn't trying. I looked up at him. He really has changed. His face had already lost its youthful roundness and had stared developing a strong chin and squarish cheekbones.
He had started to lose his small button nose to a stronger manlier nose. His hair was growing longer and he didn't seam to gel it as much. He noticed my gaze and put a broad arm around me. He wasn't a little boy anymore. Emotionally or physically. He had adult desires now.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
StArRy- defiantly a character development chapter. I love BB being a goofy kid, but everyone grows up. NavynBabyBlueSuedeShoes- that was one gross conversation young lady!! Hehehe! I'm posting it on my bio!!! I read it and I was all, ice you perv. It made me laugh. Thanks!!
"I had a visitor," I replied calmly. Raven picked her way through the mess, obviously looking for something. It was maybe twenty minutes after Ice and Mammoth left and ten minutes after I had used my communicator to tell my friends about our towers condition. I finally had cloths on. Robin looked around the room and swore loudly.
"Ice I suppose," he said coldly, looking at the ice coated ceiling.
"Plus Mammoth."
"Fuck."
"That fucking bastard froze all of our pipes and shorted all our electrical fuses," Cyborg said, reentering the room after his inspection, "We can stay here tonight."
Starfire started wailing,
"Our home! Our beautiful home! It is destroyed...."
"No! No it's not Star!" Robin exclaimed, putting an arm around her, "We just need to clean it up, that's all. We just need somewhere to go, just for tonight." She nodded.
"But Robin, to where will we occupy?"
"A hotel I guess," I said, kneeling down and sifting through the rubble, looking for anything not completely totaled. Cyborg lifted the remains of the sofa,
"Aw hell. NOW how am I ever going to find the remote?" I smiled faintly,
"We should get one with a little beeper attachment to it. If we ever lose it, we can just press a button and it will beep so we can find it."
"Hey, that's a good idea."
"I'm full of them."
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Ok, this is the girls room." Robin pointed to the room on the other side of the door, "And this is the guys room."
We were at the Twinkle Inn, and had gotten a two-room suet, but only one bathroom unfortunately. Star sat on one of the beds, covering her face with her hands.
"Our home. It is... how to say? Sick? No... but it is still unwell."
"Please, it will be okay Starfire," Robin said, an expression on his face showing that Stars depression was killing him on the inside.
"Yeah, Starry, well even make this fun!" I stared naming all the perks of staying in a hotel. "You can makes messes and other people clean it up. The hotel has a sauna, massage beds, work-out room-"
"An indoor swimming pool."
"Oh yeah... that too." I said uncomfortably. Robin gave me a concerned look, but didn't say anything.
"I have no clothing but what I am wearing, and I know it is considered inappropriate to where the same article of clothing for 48 hours." Star continued.
"Shit... I don't have anything either."
"Me nether."
"Doesn't this hotel have a gift shop or something? We might be able to buy some clothes there."
"Yeah... It thinks I saw one by the lobby, it had sweatshirts and stuff. It would probably sell toothbrushes too."
"Alrighty then. Lets go." I said in false cheerfulness, trying to make Star feel better.
"You girls go, BB, Cy and I want to walk to the sports shop a block from here." Robin said.
"Fine, you boys go obsess about whatever sport it is that you like."
Raven, Starfire and I left the room, talking of how stupid guys are about sports. I turned one direction while Raven turned another.
"Friends? You appear to be maneuvering your bodies in the incorrect direction." I looked to Starfire.
"No Starry remember? We gotta go on elevator A."
"No, its elevator C."
"You are both misinformed, it is the elevator B that we must travel by."
"No, its C."
"A!!"
"B!! I am sure of it!!"
"You are all retarded! Its A!!"
"C!!"
"B!!"
"C!!"
"Split up!" I grinned deviously, "We split and whoever gets to the gift shop first is the winner."
"Glorious! A race!"
"That is the most pointless thing I've ever heard."
"Yes it is. On your marks....get set....GO!!" Star and I bolted for our elevators while Raven rolled her eyes and calmly walked to hers and gently pressed the level one button. I jumped into mine and punched the button furiously. The doors glided shut and the elevator lurched into motion.
"Come on! Come on!" I bounced up and down on my heels, impatient for the elevator to get to our destination. I pressed the level 1 button again. Come on!! Ding!
The doors opened and I exploded out of them. I tore down the hall, giggling madly. I dashed past rows of doors, looking for any signs of the main lobby.
I came to the end of the long hall and was faced with a crucial decision. Damn! Left or right? I pranced in place, looking down both halls. Which way? I made the final decision and dashed right. I don't ever turn left if I can help it. Why? I have no idea; I'm just weird like that.
I ran full sped down the abandoned hall, past rows and rows of doors. Whizzing past the sauna and steam room. Then I saw it. At the end of the hall! The lobby!
I raced down the hall and collided with Starfire to the ground. I rubbed my head and looked around. There! The gift shop!! I tried to scramble to my feet, but Starfire saw what I was doing and tackled me.
Honest to god, sweet little Starry tackled me. I guess they take races seriously on her planet, but they do on mine, too.
She tried to scramble over me, but I yanked her hair, causing her to fall back down. I laughed insanely and cause vines to bind her to the ground. I crawled a few feet ahead of her before she used her starbolts to free herself. Then she hurled a low powered starbolt at me, causing me to lose my balance and lurch forward.
But before I fell, I managed to fling a nearby chair at her. She flew over it, giggling and pounced on me with a triumphant sheik, trying to push me back from the entrance to the gift shop. I smiled sweetly at her, then rolled over and used my feet to pry her off and sent her flying into the air.
She fell ahead of me and laying on her stomach, reached her arms out as far as they would go, trying to touch the entrance floor of the gift shop. Oh hell no! I crawled over her and tried to pull her hand back. But it was to late. The tips of her fingers brushed the smooth tile inside Gifts Galore.
"Aha! I am the victory of our race!"
"Look again Star." She looked up and cried out in frustration as she saw Raven sitting calmly inside the store, looking extremely board.
"What took you so long?" She asked, tapping her foot.
I craned my neck and saw elevator C, right outside the lobby and a couple steps from Gifts Galore. I giggled at the irony and helped Star to her feet.
"Now I suppose I must preformed 'the act of loss' to you Raven," she said glumly.
"Maybe later Star," Raven said, gesturing behind us. We turned around and saw a wide-eyed crowd in the lobby, staring at us. Starfire turned to look at me.
"As you would say, friend Naomi, 'Aw shit.'"
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Then the manager almost kicked us out." I said into the phone. Although I couldn't see Nikkis expression, I'm she was laughing. I was sitting on the hotel bed, twisting the phone cord around my finger.
"That sound like so much fun! I'd give anything to be a titan," She said wistfully, "I'm stuck babysitting Jeremy and Brett and Brett keeps beating up Jeremy."
"Really? How sad!"
"Oh and the highlight of the evening was when Jeremy put on one of my bra and refused to take it off." I laughed at the thought of little Jeremy dancing around in a lacy bra.
"Well, it's not all its spiced up to be. Especially when Star's 'act of loss' involves sticking her head in the a bathtub full of water."
"She did that?"
"Yeah, the people of her planet do it when they lose or something."
"Didn't Raven try to stop her?"
"No! She just stood there waiting for Star to drown!! I had to drag Star out myself!"
"It still sounds like fun."
"Well, I guess it is. But Star said it wasn't too much fun until I came."
"Yup, you funner than a barrel full of monkey."
"I so am."
"Monkeys with bananas."
"Oh! Bananas are the shit man!"
"The shit?"
"Yeah, that means its cool."
"Am I the shit?"
"Of course."
"Naomi! Get off the phone!! Each minute costs 75 cents!"
"Okay Robin. Bye Nikki."
"Bye." Click.
"Come friend! Let us journey to the pool of water! Beastboy and Cyborg have already departed." Star rushed up to me, her hair still wet from the 'act of loss'.
"Oh...well, I didn't buy a bathing suit." I didn't want to swim. I think Id rather be devoured by The Hungry Hungy Caterpillar. You know? From the children's book?
"I noticed my friend! That is why I purchased an extra!" Shit.
"Starfire, I think I'll pass-"
"Please? Raven refuses to go with me. I do not wish to only go in the accompaniment of males."
"Naomi doesn't have to go if she doesn't want to Starfire." Raven said calmly lying on the sofa, reading a little black book, "Naomi, stay here. Well watch a scary movie until you cry."
Once again, I was torn between my two friends. I stood there, unsure of what to do.
"Well, I will depart, join me if you later wish to friend." Star said, forcing a smile. Her shoulders drooped slightly and she looked to the ground. I looked at her and sighed,
"Fine Star, I'll go for a few minutes." She clapped her hands and the glimmer in her eyes proved she had purposely made me feel guilty. I wondered who had taught her the guilt trip trick. Oh that's right. I did.
"Wonderful! Allow me a moment of time to change to my suit of swimming." Imagine my horror when she pulled out male's swimming trunks.
"Starfire NO! You can't wear that!"
"Why?"
"That's a guys swimming suit."
"Can I not wear it anyhow?" I slapped my forehead with my hand.
"No, Star look." I picked up the suit and held it up to her. "See, it covers this key area," I pointed to her downward girly parts, "But not this key area." I pointed to her upward girly parts.
"I thought it was considered acceptable to wear less clothing when swimming," Star said, like a small child questioning an adult.
"Yes, but remember, it is important to ALWAYS keep the key areas covered. It's the law of Earth." Star was quiet a moment, then she looked to me.
"Naomi? Please explain something to me. What is so repulsive about the human body that it has to be covered at all times?" I was stunned, I didn't really know myself.
"Well, its not that it's repulsive..." I paused, "I'll explain it to you later Starry, okay?"
"But how will I know of shame unless it is taught to me?" I looked into Starfires bright green eyes. She's so innocent. Like a child. Like a little girl learning about the world. Completely oblivious about the pains and sufferings in the world we are forced to live in.
"Starfire, take my suit. I don't swim." I jumped at the sound of Ravens husky voice. I had forgotten she was here. Raven telekinetically floated Starfire her blood red suit. Star gave me one final look before heading into the bathroom to change. I sighed and bent down and rummaged through the bag of clothing until I found a black string bikini I assume was mine.
"You don't have to swim," Raven said, calmly turning a page in her book, "I mean, if you're scared..." I dropped my suit in shock. I whirled around and faced Raven, my mouth dropped in surprise.
"Wha- how do you-"
"Its kinda obvious you're a hydrophobic," Raven said, not taking her eyes off the page in the book, "I senesced it the first time you told me about your river experience." I continued to stare at her, but smiled.
"Yeah... I won't swim. I'll just go down by the pool for a while, and then come back up. We'll watch a scary movie. Just NOT the Opal. I'm still having nightmares."
She smiled faintly, but stopped when Starfire emerged from the bathroom and announced it my turn to change. I changed into the black bikini and smiled. It was actually really cute. It had a small rine stone butterfly on the back of the bottom and one on the left cup.
I met Star out in the hall way and we started walking toward the elevator. There was some temporary confusion to which elevator should be taken, but we didn't race this time. We were in bathing suits for crying out loud!! We might attract just a little too much unwanted attention.
We finally decided on elevator C and stepped inside. I took the piggy tail holders out of my hair and pressed the level one button. I looked to Star and I felt a twinge of jealousy.
She looked gorgeous. She ALWAYS looks gorgeous. She wakes up in the morning without a hair out of place. I don't mean to be a little jealousy; it's just a natural feeling. It's fine, just as long as it doesn't get out of control. A constant beauty battle between blondes and redheads. Who will win? Who knows? Starfire saw me looking at her.
"Something the matter?"
"No...I'm just tired."
"Oh." Ding!
We stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hall until we could smell the smell of chlorine. A group of boys passed us as we walked towards the doors of the pool. Their heads turned as we passed. I refused to acknowledge their existence, sliming slyly.
"Hey, its those Titan chicks." They stopped.
"Hey babe, what's up?" A guy with sunglasses smiled at us. They looked older than us, like 19 or something. He wiggled his eyebrows at us. Star looked up to the ceiling.
"No Starfire, its just an expression." I explained.
"Oh."
"So, you girls going to the pool?"
"Uhuh."
"Maybe we'll join you."
"Maybe you will." I turned coolly away and Star latched on to my arm, giggling spazily.
"Star! Chill out!" I hissed out of the corner of my mouth. We turned the corner out of view of the boys and I erupted in laughter.
"Star, that guy with the sunglasses was so checking you out!"
"Negative, it was you he was looking upon with lust!" We giggled and opened the glass doors to the pool. The warm moist air from the pool blasted on my face. I breathed in the humid air and sloshed my toe in some pool water that had collected on the tile.
"CANNONBALL!" Beastboys cry was followed with a huge splash. Water flew in all directions. I flicked some water off my face to Starfire. But she looked confused.
"A 'cannonball'?" Cyborg was lying on one of the lawn chairs next to the pool, looking wistfully at the water. Poor Cy. He can't swim. It would make the machine part of him go phazzizle. Robin was sitting in the small hot tub; looking at the letter Slade had given me.
Usually I'm stupid and don't tell my friends when something happens until its too late. But I recently took a break form being stupid and told them exactly what had happened with the little girl on the swings and the letter.
"Time with a skull," he murmured, "What can it mean?" He looked up and spotted us. Naomi? Come over here for a sec."
I walked over to him, keeping a healthy distance from the edge of the pool and squatted down.
"Any luck, oh fearless leader?" He sighed,
"No, but can you tell me again what happened with the little girl? Try to remember everything." I sighed and rolled my eyes. This must be the hundredth time I've retold this event. I told him everything I could remember.
"She kept saying something about having too much time, but not enough at the same time." He nodded curtly and contained pondering.
"Please Robin. Relax. Do not continue with your workings." Star slipped into the pool beside him. He smiled and put his arms around her, the letter forgotten.
"I'm leaving." I announced.
"That's nice Naomi." Robin said dreamily, looking into Stars eyes. I walked over to Cyborg and sat down next to him and started loudly discussing how crazy Robin is. Suddenly icy cold water splashed all over me. I shirked and Beastboy laughed insanely and jumped back to the safely of the pool.
"I'm going to fucking kill you! You little bastard!" I chased him to the side of the pool, but stopped at the edge.
"Get your little green ass back here!" I commanded. He swam to the middle of the pool.
"Come and get me Naomi!"
"Yeah Naomi!" Cyborg said laughing, "Spank him good!" Beastboy ginned at the thought.
"Come on in the water with me Naaaaaaomi," He said softly, obviously hopping I would indeed spank him
"Uhhhh. No."
"What? Why?" he looked hurt.
"I...don't want to get my hair wet." When I said that Beastboy immediately knew something was wrong. He climbed out of the pool; I couldn't help but notice how the water ran down his body. He steered me into the hall outside the pool.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I told you. I don't want to get my hair wet."
"Don't lie to me." He wrapped his arms around me and looked directly into my eyes.
"What's really wrong? Is it me?"
"What? No!" I was shocked, "No, its just..."
"Just what?" I looked into his green eyes. I love his eyes. He's got the most entrancing eyes I've ever seen. Such a lovely forest green. The outside of the color part is a darker green, and then lightens as it draws closer to the jet-black pupil. I love his eyes. They are completely green. Not dirtied by any other color. Just the rich green. He looked so.... sexy with his concerned look on his face, with water trickling down his chest.
I couldn't lie to him. I put my arms around his neck and told him about my river experience. He listened calmly and when I was done, he had the same reaction as Robin did.
"Ohhhh. That explains a lot." He grinned at me, looking relived that it wasn't him that was bothering me. Then.... I noticed something. When I had first come, Beastboy had been a couple inches shorter than me, and kind of skinny. Now, I had to look up at him. And his arms and shoulders were broadening.
I also saw the fait traces of hair on his upper lip. Beastboy and I were the youngest of the team, being a year younger that Robin and two years younger than Cyborg. Beastboy used to be the kid of the team, completely immature and goofy. But now, before my eyes, I watched him maturing, not only physically, but also mentally. I reached out my finger and ran it over his upper lip hair.
"What?"
"You got lip hair."
"Really?" His used his own finger to feel. "Should I shave it?"
"No! Its cute!!" He hugged me tighter.
"You want to go up to the room?"
"Sure."
"Oh and Naomi?" I turned to him. He licked he back of his hand and wiped his spit on my cheek, like he had done the first day we met. I shrieked and chased him to he room, using the stairs, because we still had no idea, which elevators went where. We finally got up to the room and called a truce.
He got out our hotel room card and tried for at least five minutes to open the door. Finally we gave up and banged our fists on the door until Raven opened it.
"Oh... you brought him." I remembered that Raven wanted me and her to watch a movie, alone apparently.
"Oh yeah, sorry Rae, we can still watch-"
"No, its fine. I'll leave you two alone." She slunk off down the hall to do whatever the hell she doses. As soon as she left I whished she didn't. Now I was all alone with Beastboy...in a hotel room. Not good for two hormonally stressed teenagers. Beastboy rubbed his neck with his hand.
"So... want to watch some TV?"
"Sure." He lay on the bed and flipped on the TV. I hesitantly laid down next him and let my back conform to the curve of his chest. He ran his fingers through my hair and rubbed my side with his other. His hand slowly moved from my side to my back. Then I felt his fingers rub up underneath my bikini strings, not undoing it, just under. He kept rubbing, slowly moving his green fingers closer and closer to my frontal area.
I didn't know if he noticed he was doing this, but I stared to feel uncomfortable. I squirmed out of his reach and saw a hurt expression in his face.
"Sorry BB, its just..."
"No, its ok. I understand." He directed his gaze to the TV, but his eyes clearly went focusing on the screen. I tried to cuddle with him again, but he really wasn't trying. I looked up at him. He really has changed. His face had already lost its youthful roundness and had stared developing a strong chin and squarish cheekbones.
He had started to lose his small button nose to a stronger manlier nose. His hair was growing longer and he didn't seam to gel it as much. He noticed my gaze and put a broad arm around me. He wasn't a little boy anymore. Emotionally or physically. He had adult desires now.
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StArRy- defiantly a character development chapter. I love BB being a goofy kid, but everyone grows up. NavynBabyBlueSuedeShoes- that was one gross conversation young lady!! Hehehe! I'm posting it on my bio!!! I read it and I was all, ice you perv. It made me laugh. Thanks!!
