Chapter 10

Robin, Cyborg, Beast Boy and Raven stood staring at the screen in shock.

Cyborg finally spoke up, "How are you talking to us?

"The Communicator. I just had to fix it for a few days."

"…and it works going through other dimensions?"

"Yep," replied Aria, nodding.

"Alright! That's Cyborg technology right there! Boo-yah!"

Robin interrupted, "Actually, I made the communicator."

"No you didn't! That's way to complicated for you to make!" yelled Cyborg back, angry that Robin would take credit for HIS work.

"NO! If you made it, it would probably be blue, since pretty much everything you make IS blue!" defended Robin.

Cyborg shot back, "You're just can't get it through your spiky little head that I can make things that work through other dimensions!" Aria, Beast Boy and Raven had been watching in confusion.

Raven finally interrupted, "Who cares who made it! All that matters is it works and we can communicate with Aria," Raven mumbled under her breath, "Guys and their egos…"

"Where's Starfire?" asked Aria.

All the Titans looked a little surprised, "She's in jail. She sent you back and you're worried about her?" questioned Robin.

"She's my friend! I forgive her for what she did. Blackfire must have gotten to her head or something."

Robin hung his head in shame, "Well, Starfire was sorry for what she did. I can't believe I was willing to send her to jail. I wasn't able tot forgive her."

Cyborg rested his hand on Robin's shoulder in reassurance, "Hey man, it's never to late to forgive."

Beast Boy cut in, "Plus! If Star knew a way to send Aria back to the dimension, then maybe she can bring her back here."

"For once, the moron has a good idea!" Raven said, sarcastically. Beast Boy gave her a dirty look.

"Yeah, let's do it. I have to go to school now…yay. You guys work on bringing me back and I'll wait here. Call me on the communicator anytime. Titan out." Aria hung up the communicator and walked out the door. She grimaced as the school bus took the corner, picked her up and took her to her doom. As soon as Aria got on, she got stares. Stares of confusion, stares of pity and stared of disgust. Mostly stares of disgust. She could hear people whispering.

"Look at her! She disappears for weeks and comes back looking like THAT. I bet she's just doing it for the attention. I bet she faked the whole thing." Aria cradled her books, trying to find some comfort and protection from them. She sat in her own bench and looked out the window the whole ride to school. When the bus got to school she loaded off and walked up to the entrance doors. She walked into the hallway and went to her locker. As she was getting the necessary books, I binder got thrown at her head.

"Well look who finally showed up at school. Almost didn't recognize you there!" It was Heather, the girl who had made Aria's life a living hell since she had first come to this school. She was blond, pretty, popular, rich and captain of the cheerleading squad. Heather wasn't alone either. She never was. She always had her group of cheerleaders right next to her. Aria closed her locker and started walking to class. She didn't have time to put up with this. Heather followed her, "Yeah, just run away. Like you always do. Run away, scared and find comfort in the safety of your classroom. Fine, I'll be waiting for you after school on the bus. This will continue." Heather snapped her fingers and the cheerleading squad followed her down the hall. Aria went through school all day. It hadn't change. Everyone still ignored her and made fun of her. She ate alone in the cafeteria. As the final school bell rang, Aria gathered her courage. Heather was waiting for her on the bus.

"Come sit with me! I saved a seat for you," she beckoned as she patted the empty seat next to her. Aria walked right passed her and sat in the back.

"Hey! If I tell you to sit, you sit!" Heather roared. She got up and stood in front of Aria.

"Yeah, and if I tell YOU to sit, you do! Maybe you just didn't hear me the first time. Now sit!" Heather and Aria looked at the front to see a man holding a gun. He had it pointed at them. Heather sat down.

"Hello, ladies and gentlemen. Me and my band of merry-men will be your tour guides for today. I hope you all will enjoy the ride and don't do anything or we'll shoot some lead right through your head. Got it? Bus Driver, drive us to the middle of the country. We have a surprise for all of you," the man pressed his gun to the driver's head and the driver took off. Aria counted how many guys there were. She counted 5 all together and each had a gun. Aria could save herself right now. Why save the lives of the people who hated her and tormented her day and night. Aria looked around at the faces. They were of pure terror. People were crying. Aria looked at Heather. Heather was fidgeting with her purse. She pulled out a phone. Bad idea, thought Aria. She watched as Heather dialed 911. One of the guys spotted her.

"Hey! None of that!" He shot Heather on the chest. She cried out in pain. She collapsed in her bench and blood began to flood out. Heather lost consciousness. Aria knew she could save her, but a big part of her didn't want to. Then she remembered something, she was a Titan. She knew she had to save Heather. She found the wound and applied pressure but the bleeding was too strong.

"What are you doing? You're going to kill her, aren't you!" One of Heather's cheer buddies cried.

"No, I'm not! Just shut-up and let me do my job! I know what I'm doing." Aria needed some way to plug up the artery and stop the bleeding. Then she had an idea. She could burn the wound shut! Aria made a little flame and began to close the wound. The bleeding stopped. Aria checked Heather's pulse and it was growing stronger. Color was returning back to her face.

Aria looked up at the cheerleader, "It's best to let them think she's dead. You got it?" The cheerleader looked at her and nodded weakly. Aria laid Heather on the floor. Things were getting out of hand. The hijackers had taken them out to the country. There was no one around and anything could happen. Aria knew she was the only chance they had. Aria looked under the seats. She saw the shoes and legs of the 5 hijackers. They were all standing together in a group. Aria quickly a stream of fire at their legs. Their pants quickly consumed in fire. It distracted them as they all tried to stomp out their inflamed legs. Aria jumped up and ran to the front of the bus. The men were so distracted that they didn't see her coming. She punched one and used her momentum to swing her leg around and kick another. Two of them jumped at her but she quickly dodged and retaliated. She knocked the guns out of all their hands and threw them out the window. She kicked one so hard that he went flying out the windshield. 1 down, 4 to go. She opened the bus door and stood in front of it. One ran at her, but she moved out of the way as he flew out the bus. Another one bites the dust. The three came at her all at once. One grabbed her and had her in an arm lock. The other two came at her. She used the arm lock as an advantage and swung her feet up, kicking one square in the jaw. The other guy delivered a punch but Aria moved her head and he ended up decking his buddy instead of her. So there was only one left. He had a crazed look on his face as he pulled out a knife. He began to charge after Aria but she dodged it easily. She grabbed his arm and twisted it. He cried out in pain but quickly pulled his arm back. Aria went to kick him but her feet had somehow gotten jammed into the driver's seat. She tried to pull it out but couldn't. The hijacker came at Aria and kept delivering blows. Aria blocked all of them but didn't know how long she could keep it up. She couldn't use her firepowers. It's just not natural to be able to shoot fire from you're hands. Then the attacker paused. His face became dazed and he collapsed unconscious to the ground. Standing behind him was Heather. She had her purse dangling at her side. She looked at Aria and smiled. Aria couldn't help but smile back. She put her hand in the driver's seat cushion and melted whatever was inside, releasing her leg. Heather held out her hand and pulled her up.

00000

The bus pulled into the school and everyone's parents came rushing out. They embraced their children as they came off the bus. Aria hugged her Aunt and Uncle and Stuart. Aria got a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and looked at Heather.

"Look…I'm sorry for all the years I made fun of you. I don't know why I did it. Mainly cause I was threatened by you and knew I had to keep you in your place. I'm REALLY sorry."

"So, it took something heroic to change your mind about me?" Aria teased and smiled.

"Pretty much! My mom always made me carry a brick in my purse for self-defense. I knew it would come in handy some day! Hey, and thanks. You saved my life even though I was always mean to you. I would never be able to do that."

"No problem."

"If there's anyway I could repay you…"

"Just one thing," Aria interrupted, "Don't ever make fun of me again."

"Are you serious! I have to make fun of you! You're such a loser! Just playing! Want to go get ice cream or something?"

"Yeah…" Aria's communicator went off, "Just, hang on for one second." Aria turned around and picked up the communicator.

"Hey, guys. What's up?"

"We know how to get you back," answered Robin.

Beast Boy did the introductions, "Aria, meet Larry!"