A/N: To those who already read my original story, this is the real second chapter and it has a different ending. Enjoy! Don't forget to review.
A Thing of the Past, Chapter 2
"Beast Boy? Beast Boy? Beast Boy!"
I awoke slowly to find myself lying in bed. How did I get here, I wondered groggily. There was someone hovering beside my bed. I sat up suddenly in surprise only to find that it was Starfire.
"What the heck, Star? You know you're supposed to knock before entering," I shouted. I noticed at this time that I was still wearing my suit, though it was now incredibly wrinkled from my having slept on it. Man, I must have really been beat last night, I though in puzzlement, if I couldn't even change into my night clothes.
She shrank back slightly at my harsh tone. "I apologize for entering without your consent, but, Beast Boy, I did knock," she started timidly. "I knocked for nearly five minutes. When you did not answer, I thought that something may be wrong, so I entered and found that you were still sleeping. Tell me, is not one o'clock in the afternoon quite late to sleep, even for you?"
I felt badly for having lashed out at Star and was about to apologize when her words struck home. It was already one o'clock? How could I have slept away more than half of the day?
"What do you need, Star?" I asked absently as I tried to figure out what was going on.
Her face brightened with delight. "I have come with joyous news. We are all going to the mall of shopping and wish for you to accompany us on our quests for the items we seek. It shall be a day of great fun and frolicking. Please say that you will come?" She finished by giving me a tight hug that cut off my air supply.
Suddenly, I remembered the events of last night. Terra had returned. I had to find her, now.
"I'm sorry, Star," I gasped. "I can't make it. Can I breathe now?"
She released me. She looked crestfallen. "This causes me great sorrow," she said quietly. "We were hoping this trip might help in alleviating your grievous mood. You have been quite downhearted, especially as of late. Robin believes that this is because the anniversary of Terra's...passing...was only last week—"
"I don't want to talk about it, Star," I interrupted irritably. I had to get her out of my room. I resorted to a lie. "I'm just not feeling well, that's all. I just need some more rest." I started to rub my stomach to show her how sick I was.
She stared at me blankly. "Oh," she said in surprise, understanding having finally dawned on her. "You have an ache in your stomach? Then I shall stay and prepare for you the pudding of healing." She stared flying for the door.
"No!" I cried out. If it was anything like her other puddings, then I really would be sick. I lightened my tone so I wouldn't hurt her feelings. "I mean, no, thank you, Star," I said sheepishly. "I think that rest is all that I need. Rest with a lot of peace and quiet. So, you all go to the mall so I can get some rest, okay?"
Her face brightened. "I shall inform the others and we shall be gone in a Tameranian minute." She seemed happy as she flew away which made me feel less lousy about having lied to her.
Now I had a problem. I had to find Terra, but I had no idea where she was. I racked my brain, trying to remember. Surely we would have set up a way to meet again. I was so deep in thought that I failed to hear my closet door open and see a figure emerge.
"So, are they gone yet?" Terra asked.
I yelped in surprise and fell off the top bunk of my bed. Fortunately, there was so much junk on the floor that my landing was padded. I got up slowly, rubbing my slightly sore behind.
"Terra," I yelled. "What are you doing here?"
"Nice to see you, too," she replied in amusement.
"No, really, what are you doing here?" I asked again, my tone slightly panicky. "Do the others know that you're here? What's going on?"
She looked at me quizzically. "Are you all right?"
I was beginning to freak out. "No," I said in a shaky voice. "I'm having trouble remembering things this morning. Like, what happened last night? When did we get back? Why are you in my room?" My eyes widened in shock. "We didn't do anything, did we?" I started to feel really sick and sat on the bottom bunk, placing my head between my legs.
"Hey, hey, it's okay," Terra said soothingly. She sat close beside me and placed a hand on my back, rubbing lightly. "It was a lot to handle in one night. We were out pretty late. You started to fall asleep, so I brought you back here. By then, Raven had come out of her room so I couldn't leave. I crashed on the lower bunk and woke up when I heard Starfire knocking. That's why I was in the closet. You know the rest."
I was feeling more relaxed now. Terra's explanation made sense. I mean, if I was half asleep, of course I wouldn't remember what happened. I looked up and gave her a grateful look. "Thanks, Terra," I said as I leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
She began to blush slightly and had to bow her head to hide it beneath her hair. I smiled coyly at her reaction. I felt a light touch on my hand. I looked down to find that her fingers were now laced in mine. My heart began to race when she squeezed my hand lightly and laid her head on my shoulder. I never wanted this moment to end.
"So, what should we do now?" she asked slyly.
I pulled back a little so I could look into her face. "I have an idea," I said thickly, almost growling. I leaned over and caught her lips in a kiss.
It was totally spontaneous. I think I took her by surprise. It was my first kiss and it started out very cold, just my lips on hers. I began to pull away, mortified at what I had done, until I felt her arms wrap around my neck, drawing me back to her. This was becoming intense. Her lips began to move against mine, coaxing them into action. Her tongue roamed around my lips before journeying into my mouth. I began to mimic her actions as I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her into my lap. She let out a soft moan, making me want her so much more.
I had to break the kiss as my need for air overcame me. We stared at each other, eyes glazed, lips swollen, as we tried to figure out what had just happened.
"So, I take it that wasn't your first kiss," I said, slightly out of breath.
Her cheeks began to redden and she turned her head away as though she were embarrassed. "I'm sorry, Beast Boy. When you're out on the road as long as I've been," she said quietly, "you tend to meet quite a few people. Some of them were nicer than others. I tried to have a relationship with some of these people. A few became intense, though I never went all the way with any of them. In the end, I would screw up and they would run me out of town with everyone else."
I placed my thumb and forefinger on her chin and gently pulled her head back towards me so I could see her face. Tears were coursing down her cheeks. I brushed them away lightly and gave her a lopsided grin. "Hey, it's okay now," I told her amiably. "I'm not angry about it." I changed my tone to sound more enticing. "I was just wondering if you'd want to teach me some more about kissing."
That got a giggle out of her. She sniffled and we embraced tightly. "Anytime," she whispered in my ear.
"So," I said, trying to change the subject. "You up for getting something to eat."
She released me and slid off my lap. I missed her warmth immediately. "You got any of Star's puddings around?" she said nonchalantly as she sauntered out the door.
My mouth dropped open in amazement. I followed her slowly, shaking my head slightly. And the others think my eating habits are weird, I thought jovially.