Chapter 5 Part 2

Gar's eyes narrowed slightly so they no longer looked ready to pop out of socket. An embarrassed grin went up his face, but the bright blush stayed painted on his face. The water rained down on him and wetted his dirty blonde hair down all over again. He opened his mouth in attempt to talk but found that his voice had packed up and left. So he closed his half opened mouth again. He let his eyes become glued into Tara's once more, seemed he did that a lot.

Tara's eyes drifted from his eyes and to his hair, watching water drops drip from his now soaked hair. Sometimes the water dripped into his face, other times it didn't, a few of the drops even hit her. She still couldn't find herself to talk as her eyes fell to his face again, going over every inch, starting from his forehead. She let her eyes stay locked on his eyes a moment longer, before glancing down to his lips, then back up at his eyes. She couldn't help but love everything about him. She knew that sounded stupid, she'd only known him for a day. But… she felt like she'd known him for so much longer then that.

He kept staring at those big ocean eyes. Even when Terra had cried he loved those eyes. Her tears only made it look as if the ocean itself were dancing in them. Gar let his tense body loosen up a bit. Strange, he had been tense without noticing until he became more easy. Gar didn't know if he was going on a long shot or not, but his head slowly started falling closer down to Tara's. She had just met him, well this form of him. Maybe he was going too fast? Maybe he would only scare her off. He wasn't sure but there was no turning back now.

Tara also found herself loosening up. She stared into his eyes as his head came closer to hers. She lifted her head a little, following suit. She didn't care if she'd just met him. She felt as if she'd known him longer then that, a lifetime. Maybe she didn't know a lot about him, but she knew enough. As she had thought before, she loved everything about him. The way he laughed, talked, the way he always joked around, his whole personality in general. And on the plus side, he was cute. More then cute. He was just… perfect.

Gar's face lit up when Tara agreed and leaned closer. His heart pounded so hard on his chest he was afraid the heart beat might be heard. It had been over a year ago since his last chance, and Slade had totally ruined it. That still made him frustrated when he thought about it. But now it wasn't time to think about the past. He didn't know why they leaned in so slowly, maybe it was so he could savor the moment? But besides the fact they were only inches apart and his eyes on instinct half way closed.

Without realizing, Tara had brought one hand up to rest on his shoulder. They were closer then inches apart, maybe two inches. Tara's eyes closed, she felt like she had no control over it, it just happened. An inch apart… so close. But, something interrupted the moment. Two images this time, as fast as a flash of lightning comes and goes, flashed through Tara's mind. The first was of Beast Boy again, his smiling green face, his green eyes, his green, spiked hair, his elf ears, the way his one tooth stuck out of his mouth slightly, all fresh in her mind as if she had just seen him. The second image came, and went as fast as the first, it was her and Beast Boy, sitting on a Farris wheel together, leaning in closer, and closer for their first kiss. Tara's eyes snapped open, and her hand tightened on Gar's shoulder as if holding him back, telling him to stop.

Gar stopped when he felt her grip tighten, his eyes slowly opened and he pulled back. Well, what had he expected really? He made use of his arms that where still laying down on each side of Tara and pushed himself up, looking a little disappointed but again, what had he thought would happen really? "Sorry."

Tara sat up. She didn't know what to say. Why… why did she stop him? She was disappointed too, but something was keeping her from kissing him. The very thought… the very thought of that green Titan… was that thought going to keep her away from every guy she liked? She stared at the ground a moment. Why? She didn't like Beast Boy that way anymore. She made sure of that. She didn't want to remember him. If she hadn't remembered him… she would have been able to kiss Gar without hesitation. Why couldn't she just let him go? If she didn't like him, it should be easy to let go. The part of her that was still Terra… didn't want to let him go. That's why she had to let go of everything Terra.

Tara shook her head in response to Gar. "Don't be," was really all she could say. It was her fault. She had stopped him. She found it hard to look him in the eye.

Gar's eyes darted around, just about everyone was gone, and it was almost dark. "I should probably take you home huh?" He asked, finding his voice had come back to him at last. Though his head was slightly hung his eyes stole a quick glance over at Tara. Alwell, she had only met him today, he couldn't expect much right?

Tara sighed. "Yeah, I guess so," her voice gave away that she was disappointed that she'd stopped him. Her head was hung slightly as well, and she was staring at the ground. She couldn't help but keep thinking. Why? Why had she stopped him? Why did she think of Beast Boy? Tara was beginning to realize… no matter if she changed everything about Terra into Tara, one thing that Tara could never change was Terra's liking for Beast Boy. But Tara didn't want to think of Beast Boy every time she tried to kiss a guy. She wanted to think about whoever it was that she was trying to share that special moment with.

Gar stood up, using his leg for support as he did so before brushing off all the side walk dirt that had gathered on his clothing. His head turned to look at Tara; she was just as drenched in the city water as he was. "Need a hand?" He asked again in a near whisper. He bent over and offered Tara his hand to help her up, despite disappointment a small grin was painted on his face.

Tara looked up at Gar, looking into his eyes for the first time since she'd made him stop. She glanced at his hand, then looked back to his eyes. She smiled a small smile and took his hand. She was glad that their friendship didn't look ruined so far. That was a good thing. A great thing.

Gar's grin turned into a half smile as his hand curled over Tara's before he lifted her up. "Did you need me to walk you home or did you want to go yourself?" He asked, acting as if their moment a few minutes ago didn't even happen.

Tara thought for a moment. "Would you mind walking with me?" she asked. She really didn't want to walk alone. She was sure Melinda would come and pick her up, but she wanted to walk with Gar. It might be a bit of a far walk, but she wouldn't mind spending time with him.

"Not at all!" Gar's half smile turned into a full smile. He would be more then happy to take an extra few minutes or whatever to talk or just be around Tara before going home and getting pestered about his where abouts. "Just let me get my book bag" He let go of her hand and ran over, snatching the bag up with one hand.

Tara smiled when he agreed. As he grabbed his book bag, she started to the door again. "It might be kind of a long walk," Tara said. "I mean… it's a fifteen minute drive, so… you know. Kind of a long walk." She leaned against the wall of the mall, next to the door, waiting for him.

"I wont mind" Gar walked over to Tara still grinning as he swung the bag onto his back. "I walk and run a lot all the time." That was true; being a Titan didn't mean he got to sit on his butt 24/7. Even if the city was at peace there was always training to do.

Tara's grin widened. "Yeah, I used to do more then I do now. Mostly I do all my running during Gym. I walk home from school everyday; sometimes I get a ride though. My friends I walk to the here, and just around other times," Tara told him.

"Lead the way" He laughed before getting back into the conversation. "Really? What did you do? Like sports or something?" He knew very well what she did, but he had to act as if he didn't.

Tara pushed herself off the wall and came from the opening in the little fountain area that led to the outside of the mall. She walked down the side walk next to Gar. "Well…" she started. She had to think on that one. "I tried sports. I did a lot of running, just for running. I took classes too. You know, like Tae-Kwon-Doe classes." She figured when she used to train was enough like taking classes for that to only be a half lie.

"Oh, Cool! That's awesome, how far did you make it? You know, like into the belts?" He asked, turning to face her as he walked at her side. "If it's any of my business"

Tara thought for a minute. What would she be considered? "Ummm… Black," she threw out, half guessing. Was she considered a black belt? Definitely not a high black belt. More… beginning black belt. Yeah, that sounded about right.

Gar looked as if he was surprised, but wasn't. She was good, or used to be, "Whoa, really?" He had put slight awe in his tone of voice.

"Uh… yeah, I guess so," Tara half shrugged. She vaguely wondered if she could still do all that stuff. I don't want to do that stuff anymore, though, she reminded herself. That's not who I am anymore.

Tara didn't seem real interested in this conversation so Gar didn't say anymore on it. He looked ahead of them as he walked then down at his feet briefly. One hand left where it was glued to off the back pack strap and ran in his wet hair, he was feeling on bad it was. He would have to take a towel to it or something when he got home. "So..." it seemed he said that a lot, well he ran out of things to say a lot too.

"So," Tara repeated glancing over at him, not having much to talk about either. "What about you? Are you into sports?" She wouldn't doubt it. He was really good in Gym. She looked over at him again, then back ahead of her.

Gar shrugged, then allowed both his hands to fall to his side. "Not really, I play every now and then. Like volley ball and basket ball if I can get any of my friends off their butts to play." He joked.

Tara laughed. "That's always tough," she joked back. She shook her head slightly as that strand of hair fell in her face again, only soaking wet now. She kicked at a rock on the ground, watching it tumble and roll down the sidewalk.

"Yeah, tell me about it." Gar laughed slightly. His hands couldn't seem to make up their mind on where to go. They had gone from gripping the straps, to hanging loosely at his sides and now they where stuffed in his jean pockets. But then they shifted again and where swinging loosely at his side. The sun was going down pretty fast now, the crickets starting coming out to sing. He remembered Tara not liking the bugs, though Terra had never minded. Gar was trying to think of something to talk about, some type of conversation. Though hardly any came to his mind.

Tara walked in silence now, still having nothing to talk about, but enjoying Gar's presence. She kicked the same rock down the side walk when they had walked up to where it had stopped. She watched it tumble down the sidewalk again; listening to it hit the concrete over and over before rolling to a stop.

Gar's eyes glanced down at the rock as it tumbled. "Having fun?" He asked in a joking way before turning his head so he was looking at Tara.

Tara laughed a little. "Kinda," she said with a shrug of her shoulders. She kicked it again when they'd come up to it once more. This time she kicked it even further, just for fun.

Gar chuckled. The rest of the trip was spent mostly in silence. Maybe he would make a joking comment on something every now and then, but mostly stayed quiet. They where close to Tara's house, or where she lived. He wasn't sure which was hers though. He had only seen her come to this part of town a lot so figured she lived somewhere around here.

Tara laughed a little at his comments but also stayed mostly quiet. She still enjoyed it. She stopped outside a house, kind of small, one story. "Well, this is my stop," she announced in a slightly disappointed voice.

Gar stopped and looked up at the house, it was cute. He looked back down at Tara and grinned slightly. "Okay" He said, sounding slightly disappointed himself. He turned around to keep going when he remembered something "Oh hey Tara!" He turned back around and dug something out of his back pack side pocket. "Here... thought you might want it." Gar smiled and handed the CD Tara had been looking at to her.
On the CD's cover said in red marker

For: The Rock Princess in Gars hand writing, he had barrowed the music clerk's marker for that. And red being her favorite color, or had been it seemed perfect enough.

Tara took the CD and stared at it. She didn't think much of the 'Rock Princess' in red at first. She looked up at Gar. "You really shouldn't have," she said, hitting him on the shoulder in a playful way again, and a smile on her face. "Thanks," she added happily. She looked back at the house, then to Gar again. She sighed. "I guess I should go. I had fun. More fun then I've had in a really long time."

Gar couldn't help a soft laugh at Tara's reaction. "Yeah, me too." He said slowly. He was also thinking about how much he had missed her, how much this day had meant to him. How much she meant to him. "well... night Tara. catch you later." He smiled once more before turning around and starting to his own home.

"Night… see you tomorrow," she called to him. She watched him go for a moment, unable to look away. She smiled as she watched him, then looked back down at the CD, reading it again. His handwriting looked familiar. Maybe she was just imagining it. She looked up again to see Gar farther off. She watched him for just a little longer before turning and going inside. Melinda was in the kitchen, cleaning up dinner.

"Tara, you're soaked!" she said as she spotted Tara. "Do you need a towel?"

"No, it's okay," Tara said. "I'm just gonna go to my room. Do my homework." She left the room and went into her own room, quickly changing from her dripping clothes and putting pajamas on. She brushed her still wet hair and sat down to do her homework. She was finished within minutes. As she put her book away, she caught sight of the CD case. She grinned and popped it into her stereo to listen to. She stared at the 'For: The Rock Princess" label. She liked it. She swiveled around in the chair that sat at her computer desk, staring at it, and remembering everything that had happened, smiling the whole time.

Gar was only half walking, he was dancing as well. Yeah, it was a sort of "BOOYA!" type of dance. He stopped at another restaurant and changed back into his Titan uniform and took the watch off. Stuffing that and his regular clothing into the back pack. After clipping his T-com onto his belt he took off for home.
It wasn't long, seeing how he could morph now. He felt like he had energy to burn, probably from his excitement. The largest grin known to earth was plastered on his face as he came closer to the Tower.

"C'mon Robin, you don't want a bone? I thought puppies liked bones" Cyborg laughed as he wiggled a steak bone left over fromsupper in Robin's face.

Tara sat there, now wondering to herself. She had thought about Beast Boy today more then she had yet. It bothered her. She found herself lying less to herself and about who she was when Gar was around. Less, not entirely stopping, but less. She had noticed. She sighed. So many memories that she wanted gone. It was harder then that though, she couldn't just forget.

Robin was giving him a glare beyond glares, though trying to ignore it. He finally snatched the bone up and chucked it into the wall. "Fetch," he said simply.

"That's what I should be tell you to do" Cyborg laughed once more, this was a lot of fun.

"I'M BACK!" Beast Boy screamed as he entered the tower.

Robin sighed at his failed attempt to get Cyborg off his back. He looked over at Beast Boy. "Where've you been?" he asked, glancing at the clock.

Raven looked up as though waiting for his reply.

It was really early. Tara knew. But, still, she'd had an exciting day, and she was exhausted. She walked over to her bed, keeping her stereo on kind of low but loud enough for it to still be heard. She sighed, wondering and thinking all over again. Why had she stopped Gar earlier? Why couldn't she just kiss him? She sighed again and turned over. Why had she remembered Beast Boy so much today? Why did Gar have to remind her so much of him? Gar was good at Gym; Beast Boy would no doubt be good in Gym. Gar was funny, really funny. He had a great sense of humor. Just like Beast Boy's. Even their voices sounded alike. Tara slowly drifted into a deep sleep. She had a lot of dreams. Dreams mostly about Gar.

Beast Boy hunched over slightly. "Well gee thanks for the welcome homes." He joked. "Really, it's too much."

Starfire's eyes darted over to Beast Boy, a large smile spread over the aliens face before she flew over and grabbed the poor caught changeling in a hug. "Oh friend I have missed you greatly!" She let go of him and took a few steps back from the green boy gasping for air.

Cyborg tore his attention away from the annoyed Robin to Beast Boy. "Well, you got your welcome home, now what about Robin's question?" He asked. Wondering why Beast Boy had been gone so long, he had never been gone that long unless it was a mission or something. And today was pretty calm.

Beast Boy stood up straight; his eyes darted from each Titan to the next. "Just around" He shrugged then plodded himself on the sofa and grabbed the TV remote.

"Well, that's broad," Raven said. She wondered if anyone else had noticed. "Is there any reason your hair is wet and you look like a drowned rat?" she half joked in her own sarcastic way. She knew it hadn't been raining. Not that she'd seen anyway.

Robin looked at Beast Boy hair. "Yeah, what's up with that? Did you fall in the lake or something?" he asked.

"Uhhh..." Beast Boy's eyes looked up as if he could see his wet hair. Well that wouldn't make sense that his clothes were near bone dry and his hair all laid down and soaking wet. "Yeah I uh fell in the lake." His eyes fell back to the TV.

"Perhaps I should go get you the machine of drying hair?" Starfire asked, meaning the hair drier.

"No thanks Star," Beast Boy started channel surfing through the many TV shows. Though hardly any of them where of interest.

Robin's brow furrowed, but Raven was next to speak again.

"Yet your clothes are dead beat dry?" she asked.

Robin picked up his glass of water, not seeming interested, but listened. He was wondering the same thing as Raven.

"Hmm, good point" Cyborg said, then grabbed a left over steak from the counter with his fork.

Beast Boy slumped in his seat. He couldn't find any smart remark to make so stayed quiet and hoped for it to all blow over.

Raven could tell something was up. He wasn't replying. She sighed and went to the pot of tea she'd made and poured herself a second cup.

Robin finished off his water and jumped up from the stool to grab a coke, questioning Beast Boy no longer.

Beast Boy stopped his surfing; frustrated nothing worth watching was on. He made a lazy swing with his arm and tossed the remote on the coffee table. "I'm going to bed, later." He informed his friends before standing up and heading to his room. He wasn't going to bed right away; he had to make some type of lazy attempt at the homework. He picked his book bag up on the way and left the main room, yawning only slightly and messing with his hair on the way.

"I was thinking perhaps we-" Starfire had been cut off by Beast Boy leaving. "Or not..." She said quietly with disappointment.

Robin looked up as Beast Boy left. He watched Beast Boy go for a moment, then looked up at the disappointed Starfire. "We can still watch a movie or something," he said in an attempt to cheer her up. He wanted to know why Beast Boy left all the time, came back, and then left just as fast.

Raven watched him go to. She shook her head slightly. This was starting to annoy her.

Starfire shook her head no. "I fear it is not the same without all of us," She walked over to the bar stools and sat on one.

"I dunno but the rest of y'all but this is starting to bug me." Cyborg half mumbled. He had been stuck making most of the jokes today with no help, usually it was the other way around with him and BB.

Beast Boy closed his door behind him and threw the book bag beside his bed. It was cold in here; well no duh his window was still open! Beast Boy walked over and closed it before letting another yawn escape. He had to at least do some of the homework, or get in trouble and not get to spend time with Tara. Pain for pleasure, he plodded himself on the bed and pulled out some of the sheets of paper. His green eyes scanned over them, he was bored of it already.

Robin sighed. This was killing him! What was going on? Starfire was right though… it wasn't the same without all five titans. Something was up, and Robin had a feeling that Beast Boy wasn't just going to come out and tell them what it was.

"I'm ready to go up there and interrogate him until he gets so nervous he breaks down in an explanation," Raven said kind of angrily. She was kind of mad at Beast Boy.

"Want help?" Cyborg half joked in response to Raven.

Starfire leaned her chin into her hands that perched on her knees. just listening to the others talk.

"Help would be great," Raven said, sounding almost serious.

"Interrogating him isn't the way to figure this out," Robin said.

"Why not?" Raven asked, still sounding serious.

Robin gave her a 'you've gotta be kidding me' look. "It's just not."

"Got any better ideas?" Cyborg asked Robin. He had only been half joking when he said he would help Raven.

Starfire had heard of people 'outgrowing' their friends, the dreadful thought came to her mind that maybe Beast Boy was out growing them. She started to saw on her bottom lip, thinking to herself.

Robin looked over at Starfire. She was keeping awful quiet. He stared at her a bit sadly for a moment before adverting his eyes to the floor, then back up to Cyborg.

Raven looked as though waiting for his response, watching his every mood, though not making fun of him for looking at Starfire this time.

Robin shook his head no. "Maybe he just needs time," was all he could really come up with to say.

"I think he's had enough time," Raven said stubbornly. "He's been keeping himself away since the day he 'saw Terra' " she quoted the words with her fingers. "He's been keeping to himself, hardly talking, smiling, or laughing, and for the most part, joking. Then he finally seems to be coming around, happy again, and he still locks himself away."

Cyborg nodded his head, agreeing with Raven. "But then we got the same question, what do we do about it?" He had crossed arms and was leaning back in his seat on the bar stool.

Beast Boy chewed on the pencil.His head cocked to the side,staring at the paper work like a brainless zombie. Most of it would have been easy... if he had been paying attention in school.

Robin stayed quiet a minute. He finally shook his head, and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know," he finally said. "Give him time?"

"As I just said," Raven protested, "we've given him enough time!"

Robin just sighed, half frustrated.

Cyborg sighed as well and hung his head. Out of ideas of what to do, not that he had many to start with.

Starfire looked up at each Titan before speaking her worries. "What if Beast Boy does not wish to be with us any longer?" She asked quietly.

Beast Boy finally just scratched guessed answers on his paper and stuffed them back in his bag. He sat up slowly, not to hit his head on the top bunks bottom again and took his sneakers and belt off. B just swung them onto the floor, and they where quickly fallowed by his gloves. He let another yawn go then stretched his arms out before falling backwards on his bed.

Robin looked up at Starfire. He just stared at her for a while. He didn't know what to say. What if she was right?

"You're wrong!" Raven snapped at Starfire, half not meaning to.

"Hey, don't snap at her!" Robin shot at Raven. "I don't want it to be true either, but anything's possible. Maybe Starfire's right."

Raven just glared at him. "I would tie him down before he leaves," she interrupted.

"Beast Boy is not leaving this team! I doubt that's the reason he's been hanging around less. But maybe that's just because I don't want to believe it," Robin continued. "But no one is leaving this team."

Raven was silent for only a moment. "You can't make him stay," she shook her head lightly.

Robin just stared at her with a stern look. "Don't tell me what I can and can't do," he said, his voice in a calm anger, if that makes sense.

Cyborg was staring down at the floor with a harden glare. He didn't know what to think.

Starfire jumped out of her seat, she didn't want to lose more friends if Beast Boy didn't want to be around anymore. "Friends please! No more fighting, it will not solve anything" She said, her hands curled at her chest and her eyes showing worry.

Robin and Raven stood glaring at each other for a moment, clearly waiting for the other to back down first. Robin being… well, Robin, couldn't stand being the partial cause of Starfire getting worried, so he sighed and he let his glare fall. He looked away from Raven and to Starfire. She was right. Fighting only made more problems. Most of the time. Robin didn't know what to do. Was there anything they could do?

"Perhaps it is wise for us to go and rest for the night" Starfire suggested, it sounded like the only thing that might do good at the moment.

Cyborg nodded and stood up and walked over to the security system, set it up then went to bed without saying anything.

Robin watched Cyborg go without a word. He looked at Starfire and Raven. Raven walked over, putting her tea cup in the sink. She shot Robin one last look, like a half glare, before a black spot appeared in the ground, from her power. She sunk into the floor; obviously this was her way of getting to her room. She only usually made quick leaves like that when she was mad or something. Knowing Raven, she'd probably meditate a little before bed. Robin now looked over at only Starfire.

Starfire watched her friends go, this whole issue was almost sure to keep her up all night. She looked over at Robin "I shall take my leave as well, pleasant slumber" she said before walking to her room. Not flying, she needed joy filled thoughts for that. And joy was the last thing in her mind.

"Night Starfire," Robin said, half in a whisper. He sighed when she had gone and looked around the empty room. The empty, quiet, dark room. He looked down at the floor before nearly forcing himself to go to bed.

AND FINALLY! CHAPTER FOUR! Er... FIVE ENDS! Yeah, so once again, chapters 4 and 5 (all four parts) were originally ONLY chapter 4. So that's why it all ends weirdly. (Hey, look its that weird sounding word again! XD) Well, please R&R and we'll update.