Chapter Three: Car Races

Written by Beta Tester

Edited by the Lovely and Omniscient Rhichi

Authors note: I'd like to give a big thanks to The Sage of Story, who's story I just read, and was greatly influenced by her…although I have many more Fan fics to still read…

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"Man, you should have seen the look on your face Robin. When Mumbo threw that alligator at you." Cyborg bellowed as they entered the tower, obviously back from the recent distress call.

"Yeah, Robin your face was priceless." Beastboy inserted, as he made a square like figure around his face mimicking a picture frame.

Robin lightheartedly returned the comments with a soft laugh, "Heh, yeah I guess I was a bit surprised by that."

Starfire and Raven both entered the tower behind the three boys, having their own conversation.

"Raven, since we are victorious in the battle against The Mumbo, do you wish to go do the 'Hanging out' with me at the mall of shopping? We could have our hair done, or I heard of something you people refer to as a 'the making over', oh but it will be so fun!" Starfire's hopeful voice rang with optimism.

"Whatever" Raven dully replied, knowing she would regret it later.

"OH! Glorious! We must go, we will have so much fun!" Starfire grabbed Raven as she swung back outside the door leaving the boys all alone in the tower. The three boys glared at one another as they all grinned, the Game Station was lying out in the open and it had caught all of their eyes. After a brief moment of silence they swarmed around it and began competing in nonsensical games.

Some time passed as the three childish boys thrashed at each other in their pitiful game. Cyborg began to notice that Robin was gaining a slight advantage over him, as he usually does. He decided to implement a scheme to give himself the advantage. "So Robin have you and Star kissed yet," Cyborg innocently asks out of the blue, or so it would seem.

Robin is immediately flabbergasted by the question. His car swerves to the side as Cyborg takes the lead once again. "What? Cyborg what are you talking about?"

"Oh, you know man. You and Star, you've been together so long now. Have you even kissed the girl yet?" Cyborg, though, knew what the answer was, he was mentally laughing at the Boy Wonder, waiting for the response.

Robin again slipped on his controller as he began thinking deeply about the question, while balancing the acts of the game. "Um…" Robin wondered if he should tell them. He knew it was going to be embarrassing if he did.

"Yeah Robin have you kissed her yet, you two are always doing everything together, I mean you had to have kissed her by now." Beastboy interjected, not actually knowing the answer to the driving question. Beastboy's car now took a lead over Robin's, as Robin struggled to maintain his concentration.

Robin knew that if he didn't answer the question they would assume the worse of the two options. He had no real option. Tell them and be laughed at, or ignore them and let them figure it out anyway. Cyborg continued to smirk watching Bird Boy from the corner of his eye. Robin crashed his car finally, he blew up, "No I haven't!" He spat it out so forcefully that Beastboy was flabbergasted, and Cyborg was internally rejoicing in his victory. But Cyborg wasn't done with Robin yet…

"Yo! You mean to tell me you've been with Star for, let see, months now and you haven't kissed her yet! Man your weak." Cyborg was acting entirely surprised by Robin, now laughing hysterically inside. The game had ended now, Robin was defeated, but Cyborg wanted more. Beastboy on the other hand was listening unusually and intently to the situation, waiting for Robin's next response.

Robin had dropped the controller on the floor below him, thinking now about Star. He couldn't concentrate anymore. "What were you expecting? That I told you we've made out! We're only Teenagers!" Robin unexpectedly lashed out at Cyborg.

"Chill, man I'm just sayin—"

"Well you got your answer what more do you want?"

"Look sorry man."

"It doesn't matter anymore."

The robotic hybrid was starting to feel sorry for upsetting the short, pointy haired friend. He didn't know how to apologies at this point. The green changeling on the other hand was starting to crack up in laughter, as he rolled on the couch, clutching his abs in the pain of laughter.

"Hey BB that's enough leave Robin alone now."

"Heh…heh…sorry Rob, its just not what I expected from you," Beastboy apologized resuming his sitting position on the couch. "But seriously, Robin why haven't you kissed her yet?"

Robin thought vigorously for an answer. He couldn't come up with a logical explanation. There was no real reason why. He just couldn't bring himself to completing the task. His fear grew in his chest every time he neared Star, or even looked to her. His emotions always raced around her. There was no logic in it anymore, just two opposing forces. One voice that told him to go, and be with her, to kiss her for once, the other voice kept pulling him back, telling him it wasn't time, that he lacked the self motivation, the confidence, to go through with it. He shuddered as he temporarily pulled himself slightly out of his trance. He could remember the last time they were together…

"Robin" Starfire's voice rang in his mind.

"Yeah Star?" Robin asked.

"Thank you for this wonderful gift" Stars optimistic voice continued.

Robin blushed heavily as he placed one hand on the back of his head, rubbing it slightly, "Its...a necklace, you wear it around you neck…here let me show you," Robin could tell Starfire was a bit confused by the new term. He took the silver jewelry and wrapped it gently around her neck. He brushed lightly against her smooth skin. It made him choke. He could feel his breathing getting tighter by the second. He managed, after fumbling around for a minute, to click the necklace on. He backed up gently and gazes at Starfire in her whole.

It was a silver chained necklace, with an amethyst star draping down glowing from the center of Starfire's neck. It gleamed vibrantly in Robin's eyes as he gaped in awe. Starfire spoke gently to him.

"Thank you, Robin" She leaned forward and hugged him tightly, but not aggressively. He felt her warm body fall on his. He was in a panic as his heart raced searching for the right thing to do; all he could do then was match her hug. He laid his arms sweetly across her back. He could feel his heart beating against hers. His body was heating up and he couldn't stop it. He knew not where to go.

Time passed. They separated. They gazed at each other. Time seemed stagnant. The crisp warm tower air pushed against him.

"Your welcome," was all he could manage to squeak out of his mouth. Nothing else would budge. But the silence was broken; time had resumed its pace. He turned, regretting his next move; leaving her, to go to his room, alone.

"Yello? Earth to Robin, Come in please!" Robin suddenly snapped out of his daze, Cyborg and Beastboy were staring at him strangely waiting for the response to Beastboy's earlier question.

He could feel his heart pulsing through his head and hands as he thought deeply. "I don't know why," he finally admitted.

Cyborg shook his head in disagreement. "Man I still can't believe you haven't kissed her…Well then getting on a different topic, who's up for another round?"

Robin got up. Not speaking a word. Cyborg looked at him with uncertainty. "You okay man?"

"I'm just not up for another round. I'm going to be training in the back." Robin turned and began to take off.

"Okay…guess I'll take his spot." Beastboy ran to Robin's controller and picked it up greedily. Cyborg shrugged and restarted the match. Robin took a long sigh after looking back at the two children enjoying their game. He turned and walked off.

As their game progressed they began talking about earlier events.

"Hey, have you ever noticed that Mumbo always throws the bunnies at Raven?"

"Um not that I ever noticed that before, but now that you mention it, yeah he does seem to do that. How would you be so observant of that?"

"I dunno. I just happened to notice it." Beastboy shrugged.

"You remember when we watched 'Wicked Scary' right?" Cyborg diverted the topic.

"Yeah Cy, and Raven was totally scared, she never admits it." Beastboy was obviously talking about there one encounter in the tower when Raven's powers turned the tower into a haunted house.

"Maybe you should stop trying to impress her so much." Cyborg injected.

"Impress her!" Beastboy stumbled, crashing his car, as Robin had before. He turned to face Cyborg, who continued to remain fixated on the game. "Wait! I'm not trying to…I'm just trying to get her to open up to us. She's always locked in her room, reading, and keeping to herself. She never converses with anyone unless you're the one to talk to her first. All I'm trying to do is to get her to open up, even if it's just a bit!"

"Well it seems to me like your just trying to impress her." Cyborg responded. He began to jokingly wonder if Beastboy really did have some deep secret crush on Raven or something. He was always pranking her, joking to her, and spying on her; there had to be some connection besides trying to get her to open up.

Beastboy scowled at this comment, returning his eyes to the screen. His car was in last place now and had no chance of returning. He placed the controller on the ground, staring at his defeat, sighing heavily. Cyborg managed to manipulate the situation just enough for a victory out of both Robin and Beastboy, but now Beastboy was thinking about what Cyborg had said. He had never thought of it in this way before, but some strange ideas were forming in his head now.

Beastboy got up as Robin had before; only he left the room without a word. Cyborg had paused the game by now, totally shocked that his comment had startled Beastboy this much. He stared over the couch as Beastboy left for his room.

'Did Beastboy really have a secret crush on Raven!' Cyborg thought to himself, 'No way!' Cyborg turned off the game abruptly before finishing it. "What's with everyone today?" He spoke aloud. Just then the girls returned from the mall, Starfire's hair was strewn in erratic form and was covered in makeup. Raven on the other hand was clenching her fist, glairing at Cyborg. Apparently some jerk decided it would be a cool joke to grope Ravens ass.

Okay I got some big…and I mean big…exams coming up next week…I know after those exams I will be writing like hell during the summer…and its my senior year so the spare time I will have will go up quite a bit…

Again please, please, please review….