Chapter 4
They came out of the room sooner than Melissa would have expected. Melissa was still sleeping, but upon hearing the door to the room open, promptly awoke and sat up, nervous as to what they would say, and embarrassed that she'd fallen asleep. Beast Boy started laughing, as all the Titans walked over to her. "Well, this is it..." she thought. "They asked me to come here and all, and I thought I'd finally found friends, and now that I have these "powers" I thought they could help me but....". Robin cut off her train of thought. "Hey, Melissa. We talked it over, and well, we think that you'd make a great addition to our team. So, would you like to be a Titan?" He held out a communicator to her, smiling. She just stared at it in shock, not knowing how to respond. But the shock didn't last long, because Starfire jumped onto the couch and grabbed her in a tight hug. "Yes, please do! I am so glad to have met you, my new friend, and I do wish for you to stay, and be one of us!" "Yeah, that was totally cool how you took down all those bad guys by yourself." Beast Boy stated. "Yeah,......I know, but I...."
"Of course, you'll need more training..." Robin interjected. "Yeah, I know, I know I will. Let's just hope I don't pass out again.", Melissa answered. At that, all the Titans gathered around Melissa, Beast Boy making jokes while the others gave her words of encouragement. All that is, except for Raven. She stood removed from the group, watching them all and thinking of how familiar this all was. She still didn't trust this girl- couldn't because of what had happened the last time they'd trusted someone. Finally though, Beast Boy came over and started harassing her, breaking her train of thought, and pulled her over to the others. "Well, whaddya have to say Raven?", Beast Boy said in a sing-song type of voice. "Congratulations.", Raven said automatically, in her emotionless voice, tainted with just a hint of sarcasm. Melissa looked at her and could tell Raven wasn't happy that Melissa had been asked to join the team, but she decided to keep her mouth shut, because she didn't want to make enemies. "Um.....I have one question. Since I'm a Titan now", Melissa said, taking the communicator out of Robin's hand, "do I get to make suggestions and stuff?" "Uh...yeah sure", Robin answered her. "Fine. Then I think that maybe, since there's just as many girls now as boys on the team, we should have two leaders of the group, like co- leaders. And that Raven should be the co-leader with you Robin." She looked at Raven and smiled, and received a shocked but happy glance in return. "But is not Robin the leader?", Star asked, distressed. Both Beast Boy and Cyborg seemed to think it was a good idea though, and went over to Starfire, to try to convince her of the same. Robin just sat down on the couch, staring dejectedly into his hands. "Yo man, let's take a vote.", Cyborg said. "All those in favor?" Everyone but Robin raised their hands.
"Okay, well it's settled then. Rae's the new co-leader. Even though I always kinda wanted that job, but whateva."Cy said. "Yeah, well, anyway, now that I'm sure I'm represented, I'm gonna go to bed, cause I really don't feel that well. And thanks guys, for asking me to join your team....I'm surprised you'd wanna have me- I'm so pathetic at everything." "You are not! You just can't control your powers so great yet, but you'll learn. Terra was worse then you, and she learned how to control them." Beast Boy blurted out. "Okay, well, I hope so." Melissa thought of asking about this "Terra" again, but she was too tired to try. After all, she knew she'd only get a roundabout answer again anyway, so she might as well not waste her breath. Robin stood up just then, and started walking upstairs. "Hey Cy, it's getting late, better shut everything down and have everyone get to bed. You never know what we'll have to do tomorrow." He didn't say goodnight to anyone, not even Star, and just walked up to his room after putting his message across to Cyborg. He slammed the door to his room so loudly that the whole Tower shook. Starfire immediately flew up to console him, but came back down a few minutes later. "Hey Starfire, what happened. You look crushed." "Robin does not wish to speak with me, or with any of his friends for the remainder of the night! I fear that he is depressed, for I heard him talking angrily to himself, and I believe he may have been doing some of the crying, though I am not sure. But I do not understand why he does not wish to see me!?" "Look, Star, he just needs some time alone. Just go to bed. Rob'll be fine. Okay?" "Alright Cyborg, but still, I am greatly concerned for my friend's well-being...." All the Titans headed upstairs Cyborg almost dragging Starfire up the stairs and past Robin's door so she would go to her room and to bed. Melissa headed to the guest room, which was going to be her room from now on, and went to bed. She wondered what tomorrow would bring. Things seemed more than a little weird here, and she wanted to get home to see her family, whether she was off from school or not. She drifted off pretty quickly though, dreaming about the past day's events, and trying to figure out what all these secrets were that they seemed to be perpetually keeping from her.
Melissa woke up late, and by the time she'd gotten dressed and came down the stairs, all the food was gone, and the Titans were dispersed all over the Tower. Cyborg and Beast Boy were playing video games in the living room, and Melissa tried to stop and talk to them, but after she'd uttered barely a word to them, they were ready to jump down her throat, screaming at her to shut up, because they were playing in some kind of tournament against other people, online. She walked outside, and saw Raven floating by the water. She didn't even try approaching her. After only about a week at the Tower, she already knew better than that. So she decided to take a walk around the immense Tower, and as she turned the corner around the back, she found Starfire and Robin, on the obstacle course.
"Uh....hey..guys....um....how are you?" "Oh! Friend Melissa! Please, come and join us, in the course of training! You are concerned for your powers, but this will aid you, I promise." Starfire flew over and grabbed her arm, dragging her to the course, which was still going, since Star had left right in the middle of doing the course. "No Starfire please –" Just then, an exploding disk hit Melissa in the stomach and knocked her to the ground. Robin de-activated the course and ran over, while Starfire helped her up. "Oh....I am so sorry! Are you alright dear friend Melissa?!" "I...yeah, I am. Wow. I mean it hurts, but I'm okay... Hey Robin, I want to try the course for myself again,.....if that's alright with you and all." "You sure? I mean, after last time, I don't want you to until you're ready." "I'm ready, I just know it. Turn it on. I need to learn to control my powers, and if I never practice, how will I ever learn?" "Alright, fine. But be careful. And I'm putting it on the lowest setting." Melissa got ready, and the course activated. A few disks flew at her as she ran through, but they were easy to dodge; and right at the end, she had to fight a robot, but it had no guns or anything, so she was easily able to wrap it with her electro-magnetic energy and crush it. "Oh, friend Melissa! That was wonderous! I am so pleased that you have done so well to have beaten the difficult course!" Starfire said as Melissa walked off the course and over to the control module for the course, where both Star and Robin were sitting. "Uh....Robin, that was a little too easy...." "Fine, but for now, I think that's good enough. Let's go inside." Robin retorted.
Melissa was ticked, but she knew why he was acting the way he was. "Okay, fine whatever. But look, I'm sorry about what happened yesterday, and I know now you probably wish you never asked me to join and all. But I felt like I had to appease Raven somehow, cause she hates me for no good reason, and we really did need female representation, and...." "No...really, it's fine. I'm okay with it now. Though I'll admit, I was a bit angry yesterday about the whole thing, but you're right, we do need a co-leader, and it does need to be a girl. You had a good idea, and you had a right to express your opinion, and see what the others thought. But as for why Rae hates you, I'm not sure this'll help much." "Really. Then why does she hate me? Tell me, I have a right to know. I'm tired of all these secrets you're keeping from me. And you can say you're not, but I know you are. I have lots of experience with fair-weather friends, and they keep tons of secrets. After a while, you learn to tell when they are. If I'm gonna be on this team of yours, you have to be my real friends, and that means no secrets, or at least that's how I feel about it. I know I'm new, but still, it doesn't fell right that you're keeping stuff from me." By then, they'd reached the living room. Cyborg and Beast Boy had left for the video game store after losing the game, and the room was deserted. Robin turned to Melissa with an angry look on his face. "Fine. You wanna know?! Don't say I didn't warn you though! Got it?! Now sit!" "Uh...I'm...fine...but...I...what did I do?!" "Just sit!" Starfire quickly left for her room, not wanting to be around the yelling and fighting.
After Melissa sat down on the couch, Robin went over to the computer next to the TV, and pulled out a disc from a drawer underneath the computer. "You wanna know why she hates you, you wanna know everything about us, our history and all. Well, fine. I doubt you can handle it though, but you asked for it." He put the DVD disc into the computer, and it came up on the TV screen. "What...what is this?" Melissa asked, as the show came on. "Shut up right now. After you watch it, I'll explain. Okay?" "Uh....sure, whatever." Melissa sat, and was soon entranced. These kids had a show about them! She just couldn't comprehend that. And it was the best show she'd ever seen too. He must've gotten up about 5 times to change the disc, there were so many episodes. About half-way through, suddenly the show introduced a beautiful blonde-haired character named Terra. The one that these Titans always seemed to be talking about, then suddenly not talking about once Melissa'd ask about her. Finally, she could get the answers she needed. As she watched, she realized that Terra was just like her; not just because she was blonde, no, deeper than that. Terra couldn't control her powers either, and Terra seemed to have been rejected everywhere she went before meeting the Titans too, so she had trust issues as well. Melissa felt sorry for Terra, felt almost like it was her on the show, and she immediately wanted to meet Terra and become friends with her. But when Robin got up to change the disc again, and she saw the next episodes with Terra, she was appalled. After Aftershock ended, he got up to turn off the TV. Melissa was crying. "Well, there. Now you know why Raven hates you." "But...But... Oh my God....poor Terra.....I feel so sorry for her.....you...someone like you can't understand. What wacko made that show anyway?! Cause I know that, that girl Terra couldn't've been evil. I know how she feels. She's just like me...." Melissa sobbed.... ".....ex..except that I would never join that psychopath guy Slade." Melissa quickly added. "I would never betray you guys like she did, I don't want Raven to hate me but.......I....I want to get her out of the rock...if any of that was real...." "It was real alright.....Every week Rae writes up a summary of what we did for the week and sends it to the producers of the show. They read it over, and they make it a little less realistic, so little kids can see it without getting scarred for life, then they produce the cartoon. We get a little money from it, and that's what we use for food and repairs. But actually though, what really happened with the whole Terra thing was much worse. She almost killed us. And she killed plenty of people here in the city." "But....forget it, you could never understand.....You can't understand what it's like to be rejected, what it does to you." "So what are you saying, you'll do the same as she did?!" "No! No.....I'm just saying I understand why she did what she did though.....did you ever actually try to get her out like it said on the show?" "Well....Raven and I tried for about two weeks to find a cure, but we couldn't, even after searching through all her books and on the Internet, so we figured we'd just give up. We told Beast Boy that it was impossible." "So you lied, huh? That was mean. Well...I'm going to get her out, and that's it. Try and stop me." "We didn't lie Melissa. We did try, just...not that hard. But at any rate, we couldn't find any cure for her. You shouldn't even bother. It's impossible. I mean, she's stuck in a rock. She has no food, no water, no air....think about it." "I have....But just because she's in that rock doesn't mean she's dead. You don't know much about rock types, do you? Pumice has holes....she can breathe, and as for water...well, I don't know. But like my parents say, if you don't try, you'll never know. Where's Beast Boy, I need him to bring me to see Terra."
At that, Melissa went to her room, and sat there till she heard Beast Boy and Cyborg come in about an hour later, thinking all the while of what might safely dissolve the pumice and free Terra. It was hard, and by the time BB came back, she still didn't have a clue as to what they could use, but her spirits weren't dampened at all, and she went down to the living room. "Hey, Beast Boy..." Melissa tried, as Beast Boy and Cyborg ran right by her, almost knocking her over, and jumped onto the couch, immediately putting on their new game. "Um...okay, maybe we can talk later then..." She said more to herself then him, as she turned to go, Beast Boy entranced by the new game.
As she headed up the stairs, she bumped into Raven. "Oh.....I...I'm so sorry! I didn't mean t-" "Forget it. It's fine, just leave me alone." Raven retorted, giving her a sarcastic stare. As Raven pushed past Melissa and headed down the stairs, Melissa called after her, "Look, I'm not Terra, okay?! I'm my own person, and I won't make her mistakes! So get over your damn issues, okay?" "Raven froze in mid-step, and turned. "Where did you hear about Terra?" She looked angry, almost evil, and Melissa immediately wished she could eat her words. She tilted her head and looked down at the floor, nervous and trying to find words to answer the question. Her voice shook so it was barely understandable, as she uttered, just above a whisper, "I....uh...., well, Robin told me,...and I, well.....look, you have no right to hate me when you don't even know me!" She finished, her voice rising in volume as she regained her confidence. "Hmmm.....I guess you're right. Fine, so how about I get to know you? And I apologize for jumping to conclusions, but I think I had a right to." Raven turned back and headed back up the stairs. "Look, I'm not much for talking, but if you want to tell me about yourself, and all, fine. Let's go to your room though, so we don't have the boys harassing us. They can be the most annoying beings in the universe. Sometimes I feel like murdering Beast Boy." Melissa laughed as they headed to her room.
"So, there isn't really much else to tell. I mean, like I told you, I am kinda like that girl Terra, but I..I would never be stupid enough to trust some weird stranger guy, who could like be a child molester for all I'd know. I've learned to deal with rejection, and I'm really okay with having no friends, even though I like having them and all. So, what I'm saying is, even if you all told me to leave, I'd still be okay. I wouldn't go psycho and need revenge." "Well, that's good to know. I guess you aren't really so bad. We seem to have a lot of things in common, share the same interests, and after reading your mind a couple of times, I guess I can trust you. Maybe we could be...friends. Sorry about the way I acted before, I just can't get over what Terra did to us." "Hey, it's okay. I understand. I'd probably act the same if I had some jerk for a friend, who tried to murder me.....except I don't ever let myself really trust people, so then they can't get close, and turn around and betray me. But actually, I feel like I might change that policy for all of you guys." "Glad to hear it. And I'm glad you joined our team. I never could've been a "co-leader" if not for you." Raven smiled slightly at that. "Yeah.....Well, I'm getting tired, so...." "Okay, bye." Melissa got up and started getting out clean sheets for the bed while Raven left, then stopped just as Raven was leaving. "Um....you think this room could be painted? I was just wondering, and at first I was afraid to ask, then I forgot till now....but I just hate red, and it's making me have nightmares." "Sure. I'll talk to Cy about it in the morning." Raven said, as she left and went to her room.
"Well, she isn't really so bad. I was wrong. She isn't like Terra at all." "Cool! Then we can be friends with her, right?", Happy said. Brave butted in,"Yeah, I wanna be friends with her Raven, so don't keep acting all cold and sarcastic. I mean, c'mon, you're always complaining that nobody understands us, well, here's our chance. We can have a real friend, a best friend." "Oh yeah! Too cool! We finally get a best friend?!" Happy interrupted, jumping up and down in front of Raven. Then Smart got up from her seat and started pacing. She still didn't think it was alright to trust anyone after the Terra incident. "Um....we should still be careful. After all, Terra seemed like she would be the perfect best friend. But she knew just how to please everyone, now didn't she? For all you know, this girl could be doing the same, tricking into thinking she's this sweet, innocent girl with no friends, who just would love to have you for her best friend and all. Then once you let down your guard and trust her, once you let her be your best friend, like Terra was, that's it, she's got you. Give it a few weeks, I'd say, just to see if you really can trust her, before you form any real friendships." "I guess....but I feel like she's telling the truth, like I really can trust her to be my friend. I never felt that way with Terra, just that she tricked me into believing her somehow. But I guess you are right, and I'll give it a week or two, and see how she acts before I really decide whether to trust her as a friend or not. I've gotta get to bed, but thanks you guys for your help." Raven stopped meditating and put her mirror away, then got into bed.
Melissa woke bright and early to the smell of waffles and french toast. Everyone was already at the table eating, but at least this time there was still food left, and she sat down. Robin was in the middle of explaining the day's plans to everyone."So, like I was saying, today would be a great day to use the course, because the weather is supposed to be perfect." "Hey guys. Um, how is everyone?" "Oh, fine Melissa. Like I was just saying," "I..I heard you, today's course training. But when it's my turn, please don't put it on level 1 again. That was pathetic." Beast Boy got up and stood at the table with french toast hanging from his mouth. He then blurted out, "Hey... you're... going ...to. ..put.. it.. on....10000000000 for me.... right?" As he spoke the chewed up food started to fall out of his mouth and onto the table. Beast Boy looked around at the other Titans waiting for a positive answer. He smiled as more food fell out of his mouth. "Raven looked at him really annoyed. "Hey, stupid.....it only goes up to level 10." Raven stared at him like he had 17 heads. Beast Boy sat back down and looked at her, embarrassed. "Oh.......uh......okay" Starfire looked at Raven's plate to find that it was empty. She jumped up and quickly swallowed her food. "Raven! Now that you are done with the eating of your breakfast, may we go to the mall of shopping!!!!!!!" Starfire looked at her with big eyes waiting for a response. Raven looked at her. "No." Starfire sat back down in her chair sadly. Melissa looked at Raven. "You know Raven, you should really go with her. You're acting so mean. She just wants to spend time with a good friend." Melissa quietly responded. Raven looked at Melissa. "Fine.......I'll go.....but I know I'll regret it." Starfire jumped up in joy. "HOORAY! Raven let us go now so we may dye our hair pink!!!!!!! And add the hair ornaments and jewelry!!!!!" Starfire grabbed Raven and flew out the door. Melissa looked at everyone then sat down. "Wow.....I'm good." Melissa started to eat.
It was Melissa's turn. Cyborg had already gone, and gotten up to level 9 with just about perfect scores. And as for Beast Boy.....well, he had gotten up to level 5, before one of those huge metal doors had fallen on him while he was trying to get through to the end, and he'd almost been crushed underneath. As for Melissa, Cyborg and Robin had agreed to start her out with level 3, and see what happened from there. It started, and Melissa began to freak out, but she remembered what happened the last time, and calmed herself down. Disks flew at her, lasers shot at her, and the ground, which had apparently only been a sheet of metal with dirt piled on top, opened under her feet. She levitated off the ground, and tried to dodge everything firing at her, but realized she couldn't, so she wrapped the guns in energy and crushed them, having to take a few hits from the explosive disks to do so. It hurt of course, but she was glad they weren't actually dangerous. Once she finished with the guns, she set herself down where one of the guns had been mounted, and concentrated on deflecting the remaining disks away from her. It worked, and she used her powers to make them all hit each other and explode. The round was over, and the boys all started cheering and yelling to her about what a great job she'd done. "Uh...thanks guys, but could someone help me down from here? I'm afraid of heights, and..I'm stuck." She called back to them. They started laughing, but Beast Boy turning into a Pterodactyl, and flew over to get her, bringing her back to the control module and setting her down. "Thanks Beast Boy." "Oh...you're welcome." He replied, blushing. Robin got up. "Okay you guys, well, I think that was enough for today, so let's go back in-" "Yeah, and play some video games!" Cyborg interrupted. "First one there picks which tournament mode and gets to pick character first!" He yelled as he ran back to the Tower. "Oh yeah, well I'll beat you no problem!" Beast Boy said running after him.
Melissa was tired of waiting to talk to Beast Boy, so she ran too, and finally caught up with him at the door. "Look, Beast Boy, I need to talk to you about something, but I need to see you alone." "Why?" "I..I just do, okay? I'll tell you inside. I guess we could talk in my room." She said, looking back to see Robin fast approaching, and not wanting him to hear what she had to say. "Uh, okay, whatever, but I was gonna go and play..." "I know, but this is more important, believe me. Let's go."
So they went to Melissa's new room, and she had him sit on the bed while she stood and explained to him what she wanted to do. "Terra isn't dead, she can't be. And..I ...I want to help her, to save her. Robin and Raven barely even tried to save her, but I think if we really try, then we can." "But...but they said.....Look, she's dead. I finally started to forget about her, and now you just had to bring this up." Beast Boy angrily got up to leave. "Why would she be dead? Think about it. I'm sure you still believe she isn't. Well, even though I never got to meet her, I want to help her, because she's just like me, and I feel sorry for her. I thought all night about it, and I think I might have an idea of what could dissolve the lava. Of course, I'll need to talk to the chemistry teacher at my school to be sure, since I suck at chemistry, but still.......Robin told me that he barely tried to find a cure, that he really didn't want to, but he told you that he tried, and it turned out it was impossible." Beast Boy stopped in the doorway, but hesitated to turn. Melissa could hear him crying, though it was almost inaudible, and she could tell he was trying his absolute best to hide it. "Look, I'm sorry if I'm being mean....I just don't want to see you act so sad anymore......" Beast Boy quickly wiped his tears away and turned back. "Alright, then let's do this. When can we see your teacher? And I'm gonna really give it to Robin later on. He told me he looked for months, and there was no cure." "Not what he told me....But anyway, the teacher isn't my teacher, so I'll need a few days after being back in school to get a chance to see him. But we'll get her out. As for now, why don't we do some research on our own for a while? Got a computer?" Beast Boy ran to Cyborg's room and took his laptop, then came back and turned it on. Then he and Melissa researched the chemical make-up of lava rock for 3 hours, until Robin yelled up the stairs that it was time for dinner.
In a few hours Raven and Starfire came back . Both Raven and Starfire had pink hair, adorned with colorful, glittery butterfly clips. Raven walked over to Melissa and grabbed her. "I am going to kill you!!!!" Melissa looked at Raven and smiled in fear. "Ow, come on. It was only once...... I'm sure the stuff'll come out. And it doesn't look so bad really... C'mon, I only wanted to make sure Starfire was happy." "Then why didn't you go?!" Raven said, tightening her grip around Melissa's throat.
Melissa looked terrified, but knew she had to stop Raven. She let out a burst of the pink electro-magnetic energy, and started trying to wrap Raven in it. Just then, Robin walked into the room. "Hey, how was the mall? And...why are you choking Melissa, Raven?" Raven dropped Melissa to the floor. "Look at my hair. How do you think the mall was. Ugh...just kill me now, and end this terrible nightmare." "It's my fault, so, why don't we try to go wash that stuff out. As long as you promise not to try to kill me again..." Melissa offered. Raven was in the bathroom, with her head in the sink within seconds. "Wow...you're really desperate, huh? Well, let's hope this comes out." "That's right, you'd better hope."
After about half an hour of washing Raven's hair, the dye did come out though. "God, I feel like your hairdresser." "Well, you have about the brain capacity of one. You're lucky it came out. Now I'm going to meditate before I blow something up, so tell everyone to LEAVE ME ALONE! And I really don't want to see you, after you got my hair dyed pink!" Raven stormed off to her room, leaving Melissa standing at the bathroom sink with a towel and bottle of shampoo in her hands, not knowing how to respond. Beast Boy walked over, having had to use the bathroom for 20 minutes already. "Hey....uh, something wrong Melissa? Cause ya know, I kinda need to use the bathroom if it's okay with you." "Huh? Oh, sorry Beast Boy. I just don't understand why Raven hates me. I told her I'm not like Terra, I tried to be her friend....and nothing I do seems to change her attitude. I can't sleep at night, fearing that she'll come and kill me or something. But wait, what'd you say?" "Well, as for Rae, she needs time to get used to people, and she's got a bad temper. And, I said I need to use the bathroom." "Oh! Oh, I'm so sorry! Um...here, just let me get this shampoo outta here." Melissa quickly went back to her room, embarrassed and confused; she didn't stay long though, because it was time for dinner. Beast Boy saved her a seat right next to him, and afterwards, they went right back upstairs to search the Internet for cures. He was so intent, he hadn't even made any jokes during dinner. The others knew something was up. "So, Rob, ya think he likes her?" "It's a good possibility Cyborg. I mean, you saw the way they were acting. But it would be good for him, and help take his mind off Terra." "Yeah, real good.", Raven stated, more to herself than the others. They didn't even pay attention, because just as she spoke, Starfire jumped up and said, "Yes! Our friend will not have the sickness of heart anymore! I am so pleased that Melissa has come to be our friend!!!" And they talked about the possibility of BB hooking up with Melissa for almost an hour, while Raven quietly slipped off to her room, saying she needed to go meditate.
"He doesn't like me. Any idiot could see it. No matter how hard I try, he doesn't get the point. And always, right when he seems to be catching on, some new girl always comes on the scene and ruins it. First Terra, now this one." Brave couldn't take it anymore. She got up and just about yelled,"You don't know that. Why don't we go and ask him if he likes us? Tell him that we like him?" "I...I'd be afraid to. What if he hates us....I'm sure he does.....He always acts like it, calling us a freak and all....I....I don't want to..." "Timid is right. You can't just go up to him and say, 'Hey Beast Boy, I love you.' Think of what that could do. If he was to say that he hates Raven, well, then Anger would get out, and we'd all have a real problem. We'll just have to wait and see. Besides dear, maybe he isn't the right boy for you." "Thanks Smart, you always seem to know just what to say." "Yes, now Raven, you'd better go and meditate. Enough talking with us. We'll see you tomorrow." "Okay, thanks. Bye." Raven quietly left her mind, and tried to meditate, but she couldn't, and kept breaking things as hate welled up inside of her for Melissa. She had finally had a chance with Beast Boy, all she had needed was a bit more time, and Melissa had to come and ruin it. Soon, almost everything in Raven's room was lying in an explosive heap, but she didn't even notice, being too caught up in her feelings.
"Oh wow, look at this site! Oh, I think I may have found something Beast Boy!" "Really?! Cool! What, what is it?!" "Well,...wait a minute, I just meant that I think there might be something on here, not that I've found anything yet." "Oh, well, tell me when you do...", Beast Boy said, dejectedly returning to sit on the corner of his bed. Just then, Cyborg walked into his room to recharge himself. First though, he'd promised Robin that he'd get him his laptop, since Robin said he needed to go download some information from the library. Cyborg didn't even ask what; he knew it had to be something on Slade, and that Robin just didn't want the other Titans to see him getting the stuff. But he told Robin that he could use his computer. When he got to his room though, the laptop wasn't on his desk where he'd left it. He started searching all over his room, but couldn't find any trace of it. Robin walked in. "Uh...Cyborg, I was just wondering what's taking so long, cause I really have to get going before the library closes." "Yo man, where's my laptop. I swear, I had it here this morning, and now it's gone." "You think anyone else could've borrowed it?" "Not sure, but I'm gonna find out." With that, Cy left his room, and went straight to Beast Boy's door. "Yo, BB, you in there?" He heard whispering, then Beast Boy said, "Uh..yeah, just a sec." "Look man, I know you got Melissa in there with ya, but all I wanna know is-" Just then, Beast Boy opened the door. "Uh....hey Cy. Can I help you with something?" "Yeah man, I'm lookin' for my computer. Rob needs it for the library. You got it?" "Uh......no,...I uh.....haven't seen it....uh....You got a computer?!" Beast Boy replied nervously. "Okay man, that's it. I know you got it, so give it back."
Cyborg pushed past Beast Boy into the room, and grabbed the laptop from Melissa, then turned to walk out of the room. Beast Boy grabbed his arm to try to stop him. "No! You can't! We need it! You don't know what we're doing! You can't take it now! Please!" Cyborg stopped, and looked at Beast Boy's puppy dog face staring at him. "Fine, tell me....why do ya need it so much." "Well, we can't tell you, cause then you'd tell everyone else and..." "Fine man, then I'm going." "No! No wait! We'll tell you, but you have to be sworn to secrecy." Beast Boy slammed the door and pulled Cy into the far reaches of the room. "We're trying to find a way to bring back Terra." He whispered. "Oh man...Robin told ya it was hopeless. C'mon, don't get on that stint again. Look man, I'm sorry, but Terra is not comin' back. Now I have to go bring this to Robin." With that he left. "Look, don't worry Beast Boy. We'll save her, I know we will." Melissa said going over to the now sobbing beast Boy and hugging him tightly. "As for now, we'll just have to wait, that's all. Please don't cry. I don't wanna see my friend cry. And I don't know how to help you." "Hey, it's okay. You're helping enough. I'll be fine, don't worry. For now, let's go play some video games." Beast Boy wiped away his tears, and ran from his room and down the stairs in a flash, leaving Melissa standing there and almost ready to cry herself, at all that her poor friend had to bear inside of him.
"Ha ha, beat you again!" Beast Boy must've beat her at least 10 times already, and Melissa was ready to give up, only she wanted to keep him happy. Luckily, the phone rang, and Cyborg walked to pick it up, but just before he did said, "Yo, that the new Super Space Monkeys 5 game?! Yo B, once I'm done on the phone, I'm gonna pulverize you in that game!" "Are not!" "Cyborg didn't hear him though, because he'd already answered the phone. "Really? Uh huh. Okay, well I'll let her know. You wanna say hi? Okay, hold on a sec. Yo, Liss, it's your mom." Melissa jumped off the couch at those words, shocked. She certainly never thought she'd hear from her again. "I...uh...okay." Melissa took the phone. "Hi..I...wait, what?! Now?! But I....oh, oh he's sick?...Oh....Yeah, I'll be home by morning, not sure if they can get me back this late at night. Yes, I'll be glad to see you too. Goodnight."
Melissa hung up the phone and stared at Cy and BB sadly. They looked back at her, waiting for her to confirm what they already knew from overhearing her conversation. "I..have to go home by tomorrow, for school and all. I'm surprised she wants me back, but she does.....and I'm not ready to leave. I didn't get to stay here and know you guys enough yet." She said woefully as she walked over and plopped down on the couch between the two. They put down their video game controllers; they didn't feel much like playing under the circumstances. "But....you really have to go now? I mean, she won't let you stay a few more days?...." "No. She said now. She wanted me home tonight, but I said you guys couldn't do it. I like it here though....I finally feel like I belong in someplace outside my family....I finally have friends, I finally feel normal." "Yeah...but you don't really have a choice Liss. Look, I'm sure she'll let ya come back soon." "I wouldn't count on that. I don't think she approves of my new abilities, or of you guys trying to help me with them. I'd better get my things ready." Melissa got up, staring up at the stairs forlornly. "But one thing, before I have to get ready to go. You guys all have these nicknames for each other, and I'd like one too before I go, just to help me remember you guys and how great you were when I never get to see you again." She sat back down. "So what do you think would be a good one for me?" "Uh....I don't know, I was just gonna call ya Liss from now on. Whaddya think BB?" "I don't know...." "But see, like his name's Beast Boy, but you guys all call him BB, and your name's Cyborg, but everyone calls you Cy.." "Whoa, wait. Those aren't even our names. I think what you really want is a superhero alias. And that's gonna take some thinkin'. Hmmm.....alright, tell us some names ya like, and we'll try to figure out from there what'd work with your powers." "Um...okay..... Well, some names I like are Anastasia, Adriana, Carolina....um....what's the point in this again?" "Okay, look. My real name isn't Beast Boy, it's Garfield. But I'm not gonna have people calling me Garfield or something stupid like that in the middle of a battle. Everyone'd laugh at me. So we all made up these fake names for ourselves that sound totally cool. Besides, you don't want some villain to find out who you really are, so you only use the fake name. And after a while, we made up nicknames for them too." "Garfield?!" She tried to stifle her laughter as she continued, "Oh...I get it now....I think. Um....Okay, so then it has to do with everyone's abilities.....um....well, I don't think there's any name for me then....unless....but no, that's just sick." "What?" "Um....well, since I can't think of anything for my powers, I just thought maybe Aura, cause it has to do kinda with my stupid seizures, but then, who wants a name like that, telling everyone about what your disability is? Even if Aura is a cool space probe too... Oh, forget it, it's hopeless." "No, c'mon, we'll think of somethin'. There's a name for everyone, we'll just hafta think a little more on yours." "Yeah..guess you're right. Well, I'm gonna go get my things ready. See you guys later." Melissa got up and walked to her room. When she opened the door, she stood there, frozen in awe. "They....they painted it...They painted my room....all for me...." She walked in, and stared in a daze at the ceiling and the walls, painted like galaxies and nebulae, then sat on the new bed, which looked just like her old one from home. "How did they know what to get?....they're the best friends ever! Oh, I can't leave.....Look at how wonderful they are...Raven must've told them what I'd like, and they must've done it while I was with BB. But....I don't have any choice...I have to leave....Mommy said, and I can't defy her....." Melissa put her head onto her pillow and sobbed herself to sleep.
A little while later, a knock on her door jarred her from her sleep. "Uh....yeah, yeah, I'm coming. Hold on a sec." She opened the door to see Cy and BB standing there, smiling. "Hey, Melissa, we thought of some names, and we wanted to tell you.....Hey, were you crying?" "Uh, no, I...I'm fine. You guys wanna come in and tell me? Oh, and Cy, thanks you so much for my room!" She exclaimed, hugging him as he walked in. "Oh, you're welcome. I'm glad ya like it. We weren't really sure how to decorate it, but Rae said space stuff. Anyway, BB, you wanna tell her the names, or should I?" "I will. Okay," Beast Boy said, pulling a list from his pocket, "here they are. Ultra Ears, ya know, cause you hear so good and all, um.. Electra...oh no, wait, forget that one, it's taken, I forgot. Um... Gamma, X, Spactra..." "That's supposed to be Spectra, just so ya know Liss.", Cyborg whispered to Melissa. "Wait.....electromagnetic energy is light? Like the spectrum of light, X-rays, gamma rays, infrared, and all that stuff?!" "Uh...yeah, you didn't know that? I thought you took astronomy or physics or somethin'. Least that's what Rae said." Beast Boy just stared at the two, having absolutely no idea what they were saying. "Uh...I'm gonna go play more games. Catch you guys later, after you're done with you're science geek talk." "Whatever. Anyway, I do take physics, and astronomy, but I just...didn't know that somehow...Oh my gosh, then I just thought of the perfect name! I can use my Confirmation name, Aurora. She was the Greek goddess of the sunrise, and it's sounds just like Aura too! Which doesn't even matter, since now the name'll have something to do with my powers! What do you think?" "I think you found your superhero name. Aurora." Cyborg said the last word in a teasing voice. "He, if it sounds bad!...." "No, no, it's cool. I'm just kidding around with ya is all. Let's go tell BB, and when Rob and Star get back, we can tell them too." She followed him down, and they told Beast Boy. "Aurora, huh? That's kinda pretty. I like it." Melissa smiled as they all sat down to play Super Space Monkeys 5. They played about 4 rounds, then went to bed, trying not to think about tomorrow morning.
"Robin, please, I am getting the tired feeling of longing for bed, and the droopingness of my eyes. May we please go now?" "Just one more minute Star. I still need to look up one more thing, then we can go." Robin said, closing Cyborg's computer, and going over to look at the newspaper archives. "Very well Robin, but I am too tired to stay. I do not wish to leave you but if you will not come, then I must." "Ugh...fine, I'm coming." Robin didn't want to leave, but he couldn't say no to Star, so he reluctantly returned to the Tower and went to bed.
The next morning, everyone was in the living room, saying goodbye to Aurora. "I..I shall miss you my dear friend, and I do hope that you will return from your imprisonment to us?!" Starfire sobbed as she tackled Aurora in a tight hug, crushing her ribs. "It's..it's not prison, it's home.....But I will be back, no matter what my mother tells me. This feels like home too now. I never had friends before, and now that I do, I not going to let anyone screw it up for me." Aurora sobbed back, as she struggled out of Starfire's tight embrace. "Good, I hope you do. We'll really miss having you on the team. You're a valuable asset to us.", Robin said in his usual businesslike manner. Beast Boy nudged Aurora in her side. "Yeah, and don't forget what you promised me. You've gotta see that teacher, and then come back so we can get her out." He whispered to her. "I know I know, you guys. But I will be back." "Don't take too long either man, cause we're gonna miss ya. Anyways, I guess we'd better get goin' before we hit all the rush hour traffic." "Okay, bye everyone." Aurora waved as she walked out the door with Cyborg, who had been kind enough to offer to drive her home. The drive seemed to be over too soon, and before she knew it, she was back to her life as Melissa again, standing at her front door hugging Cyborg goodbye. "Bye Aurora. Look, you'd better get inside before your mom kills ya." And with that, he walked back to his car, waited till she rang the doorbell and was let in, then drove off for the Tower. That night, everyone cried, everyone except Raven, who was inwardly ecstatic to see Melissa go, and hadn't even said goodbye. At least now she'd have a chance with Beast Boy again, but she knew now to work fast, before someone else could come along and screw things up.
((A/N: Oh, and I've got nothing against hairdressers, so no offense to anyone! I just needed something mean for Rae to say. And also, sorry for the long chapter- and the fact that it'll probably be about a week, maybe more before I can get any new chaps up.))