A few hours later we were back in the T-car. The game certainly wasn't going to start for a while, but Cyborg insisted that we leave early in order to be first in line for root beer floats. Next to him in the front passenger seat was Beast Boy; I sat behind him, and Starfire and Robin sat next to me, in that order. In my lap lay the Book of Azar, which I intended on reading during the entire game.
When will I ever finish this book…?
"Robin, I am delighted that we are finally getting some time to relax!" Starfire was saying. I could see Beast Boy and Cyborg's mouths twitch into knowing grins in the rearview mirrors.
"Yeah…I'm glad too." It was easy to tell that Robin was being careful about what he said in front of the other two males.
"You will keep me informed on the rules of this 'baseball' game, yes? Because I am afraid that I still cannot see the difference between the 'strike-out' and the 'foul'…"
Robin began to explain the difference to her. Meanwhile I sighed and rested my head against the car door window. This is going to be a long ride…
XXXXXThe T-car cruised alongside the sidewalk and pulled into the Jump City Ballpark parking lot. Cyborg groaned in dismay as many already-parked cars came into vision. "This is gonna push us way back in line…"
He quickly parked the car to occupy the spot that was the closest available one to the stadium. Needless to say, it was still quite far off. "Everyone, out!" Cyborg commanded, hopping out of the car himself. The rest of us followed wearily.
"Hurry up, Raven!" Beast Boy called excitedly as I took my time closing the car door. "Other people are getting ahead of us as we speak!"
"Other people have better things to do than worry their heads over things like—AUH!" The Book of Azar nearly flew out of my hands as a certain part robot grabbed me around the waist and propelled himself towards the stadium in a sprint. I held onto the book for dear life as I silently plotted the consequences…
XXXXX"Hey! Wanna Jerry McMillan bobble-head!"
I stopped dead in my tracks as a crazed stadium employee held up a frightening figurine with an un-proportional head. We had just handed in our tickets and entered the stadium when this certain man leapt in front of us to advertise his product. "It's free!" he added.
"No thank you," I answered irritably.
"Cool!" Cyborg said at the same time, accepting the bobble-head joyously. He has no pride… "Okay guys!" he began as soon as the man had left. "I'm going straight to the root beer float booth. Who's comin' with me?"
"I'll go," Robin offered. "I brought a pen…maybe Jerry McMillan will sign the cup?"
"I'll come with the both of you!" Starfire said hastily. "I've had yet to sample this drink which you call the root beer float."
"I'll pass," I muttered. "I'd rather have something of nutritional value."
"Suit yourself," Cyborg said, shrugging. "BB, you coming?"
Beast Boy glanced at Cyborg, then at me. "Actually, unless they happened to have soy ice cream, I think I'll pass. I'd rather get an actual dinner, anyway."
I cocked an eyebrow.
Cyborg grinned. "All right, then. We'll all meet back here afterwards, and find our seats. Is that cool with y'all?" Before anyone could answer, he started to head to the root beer float booth with Robin and Starfire trailing behind.
Beast Boy turned to me. "Hey…while you're looking for something to eat, mind if I tag along? I've actually never been here before, and I…uh…" A pink hue rose in his cheeks. "I kind of don't want to get lost."
I sighed. "All right. Just…just don't expect me to pay for anything of yours."
We trudged off together to inspect the vendors.
Beast Boy stopped me when we approached a Panda Express. "You up for Chinese food?"
I shrugged indifferently and followed him into the line. I ended up getting a bowl of steamed white rice; Beast Boy got the same, only with additional wok-fried green beans and tofu.
We headed back to our meeting place and waited for the others. It wasn't too long before our three other teammates came back to join us. Cyborg and Starfire looked cheerful enough, but Robin wore a slightly sullen expression on his face.
"I just got a root beer float from Jerry McMillan!" Cyborg announced triumphantly as I twitched upon hearing the name for about the millionth time that day. "I'm on top of the world!"
"I asked him to sign mine," Robin muttered. He held up his drink, which appeared to be dyed blue. "He didn't get that I meant the cup."
"This beverage is quite lovely!" Starfire exclaimed before taking another hearty sip from her root beer float. "It is so fizzy and sweet and it makes me feel so happy inside…" She continued to ramble on about it as we all walked to find our seats. Robin sat on the end, with Starfire, Cyborg, myself, and Beast Boy next to him in that order. We were in the middle of a row behind the backstop and home plate. Cyborg, Robin, and Beast Boy clearly showed their excitement as they seated themselves, alert and trembling.
Nearly twenty minutes later the ballpark was filled with the noise of some woman warbling the Star Spangled Banner. I cringed as the unholy sound reached my ears, but stood up respectfully along with everyone else around me.
At the middle of the song I suddenly felt an oncoming warmth near my right hand. I glanced down and was somewhat horrified so see Beast Boy's gloved hand inching slowly towards it. Everything came together…he liked me or something. That's why he was acting so weird around me. I inwardly began to freak out. What do I do?
I did the only thing that I could think of.
"WA-CHOO!" I pretended to sneeze just before his hand reached mine. I doubled over comically, and brought my hands to my nose. Maybe I overdid it? To my left I could see Robin, Starfire, and Cyborg giving me odd, concerned looks.
I looked up at Beast Boy. He looked a bit confused.
We stared at each other.
…
…
"…I'm contagious…"
His face fell.
XXXXXA/N: Sorry, shippers.