Chapter 8

That night when they got back from the fair, Starfire went straight up to her room. She buried her head in her pillow and finally let out the tears she had tried to hide. She didn't know anyone who would understand, except for Blackfire. She decided she would send a letter to Tamaranian and ask Blackfire to come to earth. She would then seek her advice and ask for her help. Who knows, maybe she might find a way to send Aria back home. That way she would be helping Aria. Starfire thought it would be a good idea and wrote her letter. She sent it through a special mail service and tried thinking of ways to send Aria home. Maybe she could use Tamaranian technology. Starfire heard a knock on her door. She went to answer it. Robin was standing there. The last person she wanted to see.

"Are you ok? When we got home you went straight to your room," commented Robin.

"I'm fine. Why would there be anything wrong with me?"

"I was just wondering if you were upset about what I said on the Ferris-wheel. Can I come in so we could talk about it?"

Starfire didn't want to talk about it. She was deeply hurt but didn't want Robin to know it, "I'm fine with you and Aria. I'm happy for you. But I have some important things to do. I would very much like it if I could just be left alone."

"Ok…" Robin walked away but could tell Starfire was lying. He knew she was upset but decided to let it go. He had some important things to do. He needed to talk with Raven. She was the only one who knew about him liking Aria. He walked to Raven's room and knocked on the door.

"Raven, I need to talk to you."

"What?" she asked.

"I need to talk with you in private. I need advice. Please help me. I need to know what girls like."

"Every girl is different. I know this is aimed at Aria so talk to her and find out what she likes in a guy. Be bold. I know you're brave in everything so go ahead and just tell her you like her. What could it hurt?" Raven shut the door to her room before Robin even had time to respond. Robin walked towards Aria's room. He grew very nervous. His stomach churned with butterflies. He stood outside her door practicing what to say.

"Hi Aria…no. Yo, Aria…stupid! Hey…yeah! Hey, what do you like in a guy? That's too blunt. Hey, what type of guys do you go for? No! Man, I might as well just say, 'Hey Aria, I really like you and was wondering if I you would like to go out with me?'"

"I like the last one but think the first one might work the best," Robin cringed. Someone had heard what he had been saying. He turned around to see Cyborg standing there, leaning against a wall with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Cyborg! Did you just hear all that!" Robin was red.

"Yep! So, you are finally acting out your feelings towards a girl for once."

"No! I was just…just…"

"It's ok, you can admit you like someone."

"Yeah, it's just I didn't really want anyone to know."

"I understand, I'll leave you alone. Good luck lover boy!"

"Get out of here!" Robin threw a dirty sock that was lying in the hallway at him. Robin turned to knock on Aria's door. He was about to knock before he chickened out. Questions were spinning in his head. What if she rejected him? What if she said yes and it made everything weird? What if she liked someone else? Robin gave up and walked back to his room.

The next few days were all a blur. The Titans would fight bad guys, hangout, the usual. Then one day there was a ring of the doorbell.

"Who could that be?" asked Beast Boy. Cyborg tapped into the surveillance system.

"It's Blackfire!" exclaimed Cyborg.

"Blackfire!" shouted Starfire excitedly. She flew off to let her in.

"I thought Starfire didn't like her sister?" questioned Beast Boy. The other Titans just shrugged. Starfire let her sister in.

"I am so happy to see you!" Starfire gushed. Blackfire didn't say anything, she didn't even smile. She pushed Starfire aside and walked into the Tower.

"Ok, where is she?" Blackfire demanded.

"I only am asking for your advice. I would very much like to handle this on my own."

"So you want to do something by yourself. How cute. You're finally growing up. Fine, I'll coach you in private. I made some plans on how to get your little boyfriend back. Let's get started on them shall we?" Blackfire and Starfire flew up to Starfire's room.

"Was that Blackfire? I thought she was bad?" asked Aria.

"She is. Dude, what is the deal between her and Star! About 6 months ago Blackfire comes in here thinking she owns the place. Then she goes home and then we go to her home. I thought they had some big fight! Dude, my brain hurts, majorly," replied Beast Boy.

"Maybe they're trying to become friends and end the whole feud," wondered Cyborg. Robin stared at Starfire's closed door. Something didn't feel right. Blackfire was NOT trustworthy. Why did Starfire bring her here? Robin knew he needed to talk with Starfire about it. Meanwhile, Blackfire began her manipulation on Starfire.

"So, let me get this straight. Robin likes Aria but you like Robin, but you aren't sure if Aria likes Robin. Ok, I have some good ideas for you. They'll be drastic but you WILL get Robin back," Blackfire encouraged Star. Starfire looked at her sister with hopeful eyes. She would do ANYTHING to win back Robin.

"First of all, you need to be sneaky about this," Blackfire said as she whipped her dark hair behind her.

"How do I be, sneaky? I am to trick them, yes?" questioned Starfire. Starfire stopped pacing the room and jumped onto her bed.

"There's that, or you could just kill her. That'll get rid of your problem."

"What! I could not kill her! I do not wish to hurt my friend!" Starfire exclaimed, looking at her sister with wide eyes of disbelief.

"Let me ask you something," Blackfire looked at her sister with a sly expression, "who's in pain right now?"

Starfire tucked her head down slowly and replied, "I am."

"Who's the one that's not ok with this whole Robin Aria deal?"

"I am."

"Who's the one who loves Robin?"

Starfire looked up defiantly, "I am!"

"Who would do anything to get him back?" Blackfire exclaimed loudly. Pumping Starfire up with each word.

"I am!"

"Who's the one who's going to win him back?"

" I am!"

"Look, it's better her being hurt then you. Someone's going to get hurt over this. You don't want to be that person do you? So, we won't kill her, we'll be nice. However, we do need to find a way to get rid of her. And I think I might just know a way how," Blackfire smiled, content with her evil plan. Starfire looked at her sister and mimicked Blakfire's sly smile. Starfire was VERY glad she had brought Blackfire in.

00000

"How long have they been in there? Blackfire's been here for a week and they barely come out of that room," Cyborg said as he drew a card from the board game, "Boo-yah! Who was the first to make it to King Kandy? Was it, Cyborg!"

"Wow! I never knew you could get so excited over Candy Land," exclaimed Aria as she brushed her hair out of her eyes. Robin looked at her. He felt like he was stuck in Molasses Swamp, just like his Candyland character. He didn't have the slightest clue what to do when it came to girls. Not only was he stuck in Molasses Swamp, he was drowning in it.

"Loser picks up and that would be you," Cyborg said, pointing to Robin, "But since I'm nice, I'll help ya."

All the other Titans got up and walked away. Cyborg glared at Robin with a smug smile on his face. Robin, confused, looked at Cyborg. "What are you smiling about?" asked Robin.

"Why don't you just talk to her! You can beat bad guys but you can't talk to a girl. You go talk to her right now!" Cyborg demanded, pointing in Aria' direction.

"No way! She probably wouldn't like me. I'm not good with rejection," Robin put the board back in the case and put the lid on the game.

"Tons of girls throw themselves at you all the time! Why do you think she'll be any different?"

"Cause," Robin paused, "cause she's different from other girls. That's why." He picked the game up and put it back. He glanced over at Aria, Beast Boy and Raven. Beast Boy was doing some stupid trick to try and make Raven laugh. Aria was giggling at Beast Boy's attempt.

"Here's the deal, we play rock, paper scissors shoot. If I win, you go talk to her. If you win, I leave you alone," Cyborg challenged. He had his hand clenched in the ready position for the game. Robin looked at Cyborg like he was crazy. No way was he going to decide this over a game. "Fine," said Cyborg, "Guess you're scared of a challenge. I understand, I beat you in Candyland so you're scared to face me in this. It's o…"

"You're on!" exclaimed Robin. "Ready? Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!" Robin kept his fist clenched. Rock. However, Cyborg had his hand flat open. Paper.

"Boo-yah! Paper covers rock and you have to talk to Aria!" Cyborg gloated. Robin began to sweat a little. He tried to calm himself down as he went over to Aria. She was sitting on the kitchen counter, laughing at Beast Boy.

"Hey Aria, can I talk to you out on the roof?"

"Sure!" she replied. She jumped down off the counter and the two went on the roof of the Tower. "So," she said as she sat and dangled her feet over the Tower's edge, "what is it you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Well," Robin froze. He didn't know what to say, "well…just about your past some. Just wanted to ask you about your life back home…did you have a boyfriend?"

Aria dazed out at the night sky, lost in its vast expanse, "No. I didn't even have any friends. Remember?"

"Oh…yeah." Robin said. He scratched the back of his neck nervously.

"I've been meaning to talk to you about that. I wanted to talk to you about me going home and all. I've been thinking hard about this lately and I've decided that I don't want to go home. I want you guys to stop finding a way to send me home and let me stay here."

"But we almost found a way to send you home!" Robin exclaimed. Half of him was in shock and half of him was excited that she was staying.

"Yeah, it's just that I have nothing going for me back home. I wasn't the best student, I had no friends. Here I have a job…kinda…and I got you guys! I'd rather stay here…with you. Look, Beast Boy filled me in on you liking me and all."

"Beast Boy! How did he know? So…uh…um…"Robin tried to find the words to ask Aria on a date but couldn't spit them out. Aria could see he was shy and cut in.

"Do you wanna go to see a movie or something?" she asked.

"You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that!" Robin said. His face was gleaming. Aria looked at him, smiling.

"But you have no idea how much I HATE hearing that!" a girl's voice said from behind them. Robin and Aria turned around to see Starfire and Blackfire standing there with a small ball, the size of a gumball in their hands.

"What?" Robin said stunned.

Starfire looked at Aria with an evil glare in her eye. "You can't have him! He's mine! You'll never get him! NEVER!" Starfire struck Aria with a bolt.

"Stafire stop! What are you doing?" Robin shouted. He leapt at Starfire to make her stop, but Blackfire was there with the re-bound. In one swift move Blackfire had handcuffed him to a nearby pole.

"Sorry Robin, but looks like your little girlfriend has to go," said Blackfire, "Starfire, now!" Then Blackfire and Starfire each threw their little balls into the air and struck them with a bolt. The two small balls opened up into a mass vortex. The vortex began to suck in Aria.

"No! Stop it!" shouted Aria. She clawed at anything she could.

"Give me your hand!" instructed Robin. Aria reached for him and clenched his hand. Starfire struck bolt at their hands. Both of them recoiled in pain.

"Robin! Robiiiin!" Aria screamed as she was sucked in to the vortex.