AN: I do not own the Teen Titans, for if I did I would never let it go off the air!
Chapter 10: "Date"
The next day Raven woke up and felt much better than she did the day before. Her foot felt normal and her body felt strong again. But she was hungry and went straight to the kitchen as soon as she woke up. Cyborg was sitting on the couch watching TV, but the other Titans weren't in sight.
"Good mornin," said Cyborg with a smile. "Ya feelin better?"
"Much better, thank you," said Raven going through the cupboards. She found some blueberry muffins in the breadbox and felt quite happy. She made herself a cup of tea and sat down at the table. She felt very content, very peaceful, but she wasn't sure why.
She finished her breakfast and decided to get dressed. She then remembered that she had to go buy a dress for the ball the next day. This dampened her spirits slightly and she groaned to herself. And then she remembered something.
'Did Beast Boy ask me if I would go to the party with him or was that a dream?' she asked herself. She could barely remember the day before. 'I had better find out.'
She went to Beast Boy's room and hoped that he would be in there. She could hear loud music blasting and had a funny feeling that he was. She knocked on the door loudly and then heard the music being turned down. As he opened his door she gave him a quick, friendly smile.
"Oh, hi," he said surprised to see her.
"Hey," she said casually. "Am I interrupting you with anything?"
"Uh, no," he said trying to act cool. "I was just listening to music. You feeling refreshed?"
"Quite. Hey, I have a question. Did you ask me to the Titans Ball last night?"
Beast Boy suddenly felt sick. He knew he shouldn't have asked her to the party in her state. Now she was probably going to get mad or say no if he told her that he had. "Oh… well… why?"
"I could have sworn I heard you ask me if I wanted to go with you. And… did you sleep next to me?"
Beast Boy wanted to die. He knew he should have left her alone last night. He knew she should have just let her sleep and gotten out of there. Why did he stay? Why did he sleep next to her? He was so flustered all he could manage was a, "Huh?"
Raven smile and started to laugh. "Don't worry. I know you took a nap with me."
Beast Boy felt as if he was going to faint. His knees went out and he grabbed the doorframe in relief. "Jesus Christ, I thought you were serious."
"I know, that's what makes it so funny," she giggled. "But, I really am confused on whether you asked me to the party."
"Uh, yeah, I kinda did," he said rubbing the back of his head nervously.
"Oh, okay," she said. "Thanks."
"You're not angry with me are you?" asked Beast Boy before she left.
"Why would I be angry with you? We're going to the Titans Ball as friends. It'll be a nice change from going alone and sitting by myself the whole night."
"So, you're okay with going with me?" he asked once more, just to be sure.
"Yes, I'm fine with it," she said, unsure of why he kept asking.
Beast Boy felt much better, but there was one more thing he wanted to ask her before she left. "Um, can I ask you something?"
"What?" she asked turning back around.
"Why did you let me take a nap with you?" he asked hesitantly. He had been pondering this all morning and really wanted to know. It was just something way out of character for Raven. He had been surprised when she had killed him for falling asleep next to her that night they read late into the night.
"Because I feel comfortable with you," said Raven mater-of-factly. "And I trust you."
"You do?" he asked with a surprised smile.
"Of course I do," said Raven smiling back. And then she turned a little more serious, but her smile remained. "It's been a long time since I've been able to feel that way with anyone. I admit it is weird that I feel that way about you, but I'm still… quite happy about it."
"Oh," said Beast Boy thinking. "I'm happy about it too."
Raven smiled and then finally left. Beast Boy grinned to himself and closed his door. He was happy about it. He had never thought that Raven trusted him like that. It made him feel great and he had an extra spring in his step the rest of the day.
Raven went to the mall to find a dress. Normally she would do anything to avoid the mall, but she really didn't have a choice. She just prayed that Starfire wasn't going to be there.
The dressed she found were all nice, well not all of them, but they just weren't her. She wasn't very found of pink or yellow, or anything bright for that matter. But she didn't want to look like a Goth queen. She had a very specific taste and she very rarely found just the right flavor she liked.
And then she saw it. It was in the back of the seventh store she had been in. She had wound around through all of the displays and was about to give up when she saw something a little dark out of the corner of her eye. She headed to the back of the store and saw it propped up on a pedestal.
"It's perfect," she said to herself with a smile.
The tower had been a flurry of activity the entire day. The Titans Ball was that night and that meant they all had to get ready. It was days like this that they cursed the fact that they only had one bathroom in the whole tower.
"Starfire hurry up!" yelled Beast Boy through the bathroom door. "I've been waiting out here for two hours!"
"I shall only be a few more minutes," said Starfires muffled voice through the door.
Beast Boy groaned and continued to wait. They had all drawn out of a hat to see when they each got to use the shower. Poor Beast Boy was last to go. As he stood outside the bathroom he saw his other friends pass by slowly getting ready. Robin had passed by in just his pants, and then again with an under shirt on, and then once more with his hair slicked down. Cyborg had passed several times looking for his new holographic ring that made him look like he was wearing a suit. Being a ring, it was easy to lose and now he was searching desperately. Raven had waved to him as she passed by with her hair still up in a towel, then again when she ran to get something from Starfires room.
Starfire finally emerged and Beast Boy slipped in before she could go back in to get something she might have forgotten. He still had a lot to do and now he had less than an hour to get ready. He quickly showered, brushed his teeth, and got out of there so he could change.
His hair was the longest it had ever been, though it was still not very long. He did what he could with it, but no matter what it looked messy. He through his blue suit on and then chose a tie that semi-matched. He looked at the clock and saw that he had finished with three minutes to spare.
"Let's go Titans!" called Robin as he stood near the elevator that led down to the garage. He was looking at the clock and waiting impatiently.
"Found it!" said Cyborg as he entered the room. He was in a nice, traditional suit and he pretended to dust it off. "It was in my tool box."
"How'd it get there?" asked Robin.
"I don't know," said Cyborg. "I must've thrown it in there by accident."
Starfire entered and made her way over to the two boys. She was in a sea foam green dress that was large and poofy. Maybe a little too much for the Titans Ball, but if anyone could get away with it, it would be Starfire. Her hair was down and had soft curls in them. She was going to wear a tiara with it, but Robin had said that that was going a little too far.
"I am ready," she announced and gave Robin a kiss on the cheek.
"Good, now we just need Raven and Beast Boy," said Robin.
The doors swooshed open and Beast Boy ran in. He reached them and stopped, quite out of breath. "I made it!" he said once he caught his breath. "From now on, Starfire gets the shower last."
"Yo, Raven! Get a move on, girl!" yelled Cyborg.
The door opened and she entered, half running. "I'm sorry for cutting it so close," she said hopping over to them. She was still getting one of her shoes on. "I couldn't find my shoes." She finally got it on and she stood up straight. Her dress was black, but when it caught the light it was blue. It wasn't as poofy as Starfires dress, but it did extend pretty far if she spun around. The bottom of the dress had a velvet trim that sparkled. Her hair was up, all except the two strands in the front.
"Okay, let's go," said Robin as the elevator doors opened.
There was a crowd around the hotel where they had rented out the dance hall. The media was all around and cameras were flashing quickly. Fans were also being held back, but were making quite a commotion. As they pulled up to the hotel they could see some of their friends waving to the cameras, posing, and signing autographs. It was quite an event.
As they each got out of the T-car the cameras went off even faster. Everyone was shouting their names and begging for them to come over. Raven hated this, but she always did her best to look at least pleasant. Beast Boy wrapped his arm in hers and waved to the cameras. She had forgotten that he was her "date" for the evening and she felt a little relieved to have him there.
"Just smile and wave," he said through his grin.
She did as he said and they soon made their way past the flashing cameras and into the hotel. But there were just as many cameras inside. Not only that, but all the television stations had sent correspondents to try and get a word with one of the heroes. Before they knew what was happening, Beast Boy and Raven had been attacked by a very peppy reporter.
"Okay turn the camera on!" she screamed at the cameraman. He quickly obeyed and the little red light went on. "Hi Bob, I'm standing here with Jump City's own Beast Boy and Raven." She turned to them and smiled a large, fake smile. "Tell me how you feel about tonight."
"Oh, well, we're very excited to see all of our friends," said Beast Boy.
"I also see that you're arm in arm," she said looking back at the camera. "Are you here together?"
"We are, but only as friends," said Raven straight into the camera.
"Is that really true?" asked the reporter with a fake, high pitched laugh that made Beast Boy shudder. "Because there have been many rumors floating around you two. People have seen you spending more and more time together and even getting along, something you're not really known for."
"Then I guess we're living proof that just about anyone can become friends," said Beast Boy with a laugh. "You see world? There's hope for us all yet!" he said getting real close to the camera. The reporter pulled him back and tried to remain smiley and cheery.
"Well I wish you both a wonderful night," said the reporter.
"Thanks," said Raven pulling Beast Boy out of there. Once they were out of earshot she sighed angrily. "Oh, I can't stand the media."
"Oh well, she's just doing her job," said Beast Boy. "Now let's get in there and show them how real Titans party!" He grabbed her hand and started to run towards the dance hall.