A punching bag swayed back and forth as it reacted to the punches and kicks that were impacting it. Several drops of sweat fell to the padded floor as Rob took a break from his weekly workout. He was excited that he was going to be taking Starfire out on a date around the city, but in all of that excitement he realized he forgot something...he doesn't have a car.

"What am I going to do? I was too busy wanting to show her around the city that I didn't think about how we're going to see everything without a car." He thought as he went back to working out.

His mother walked in with a bottle of water so he won't dehydrate himself and saw that her son was going at it a little harder than he normally would.

"Is something wrong Richard?" She asked when he took his next break.

"Nothing's wrong mom, just got a lot on my mind; that's all." He replied before he took a sip.

"Mind telling me what it is?"

"Not really." He groaned before sitting down in the chair next to him.

"Come on Richard, you've always been able to tell me anything. Is it about school?"

"No."

"Okay, then does it deal with your friends?"

Rob rolled his eyes and sighed. "Yeah."

"Hmmm. Well it can't be about Cy, because you two have never fought over anything important. It can't be about Garfield or Terra either since none of you have ever have a fight. Would it be about Raven? You tell her you have a crush on her?"

"No, it's actually about another girl now."

"Another girl?" Ms. Grayson asked as she sat in the seat next to him. "You didn't tell me you have another friend."

"Well she just came to school and befriended me and the others. I, uh, got into some trouble and my 'punishment' was to show her around, and after talking to her during that time and I found that I really like her."

"It's not like you to stay out of trouble" His mother joked.

"Anyway, I asked if she wanted me to show her around the city since she's new and she wanted to, but the problem is that I don't have a car."

"Ah, I see." She responded as she stood up. "Well you know there's only one thing you can do."

"Yeah, call her and tell her that we can't." He groaned.

"No, I was thinking that you could ask me or Victor to help you."

"I thought about that, but I didn't want to ask for help."

"Well just because you don't want to ask doesn't mean I can't lend a hand. So when is this date?"

"This Friday coming up."

"Ohh..."

"What?" He ask as he furrowed an eyebrow.

"I would've been able to let you use the car, but I have to work late that night."

Robin groaned when he heard that. "I guess I have no choice. If I want to take her out Friday, I'll have to ask Cy."

"I'm sure he won't have a problem with it Richard."

"Maybe, but he may be busy too."

"You'll just have to take that chance. So go give him a call."

"Right, but after I finish my workout."

Ms. Grayson smiled, nodded, then left her son to his business.


Terra was in her room making the finishing touches on her latest miniature rock sculpting collection, when her mother knocked on her door and broke her concentration.

"Not now mom!" She exclaimed after almost chipping the side. "Darn it, almost chipped the wing!"

"You have a phone call Terra."

"I'll call 'em back!"

"It's Garfield."

Terra took off her magnifying gogglesand layed them on the table. "I'm coming." She groaned before leaving left her room

Her mother handed her the phone when she came in, then went about her business.

"Hello?"

"Hey Terra. Are you busy?"

"Not really Gar, I was just working on my paper holders."

"Oh ok, well I was just calling to see if you wanted to go to the carnival."

"Well, I really didn't have anything planned for today, so I guess so."

"Cool, my mom and I will be by to pick you up in a few. See you then." BB said, before hanging up.

Terra hung up and headed back to her room to change. As she was changing, her mother knocked on her door to come in. She sat down next to her daughter, and began to brush her hair.

"I know what you're thinking Terra."

"What's that mom?"

"You're wondering if he's asking you to be his girlfriend or not."

Terra scoffed. "I am not."

"Oh please Terra, I've been there before. I can see it in your eyes; plus I've seen how you two around each other."

"Okay, so maybe I am." Terra admitted.

Her mother gave a light chuckle. "Like I said Terra, I've been there before. The only difference is that I didn't wait to find out."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean this isn't how it was fifty years ago when a girl would always wait for a guy to do things. This is the time where women need to start doing stuff too. Women wanted equality and we have it, and now it's time to start taking advantage of it. If you like a guy, tell him, do things for him. Don't let him do everything because it stays one-sided and it's rather selfish of any girl who would just let her man do everything."

"I guess that makes sense."

"Think of it like this Terra. If this guy is one you like, chances are that another girl likes him too. And if you don't tell him how you feel, then that other girl may tell him and you'll never get the chance to."

"That is true mom." Terra replied.

Her mom gave her a hug and began to walk out of her room, but turned around.

"I'm glad that you've taken my advice, but here's one more piece. You're young, so don't rush into anything." She said before opening the door. "Anything." She added as she looked back before heading out of her daughters room.


An hour had passed and Terra was finally ready. Terra and her mother were watching tv as the doorbell rang. She got up and answered it to see BB on the other side. Her mom waved good-bye, as she did, then she left.

Both of them walked to BB's mother's car, got in and headed for the carnival. The two youths talked about generic things and listened to music as they approached their destination.

When they arrived, BB got out first, then held the door open for Terra to walk out.

"Call me when you two are ready to go." BB's mom said, knowing they wanted to be alone, before driving off.

BB and Terra waved until she was out of sight. Terra then playfully shoved BB before heading towards the crowd with BB not far behind. After catching up with her, the two acted like there wasn't a care in the world by playing every single game and riding every ride that was there. Sadly, BB still ate before going on the rides and threw up on several of them.

As the evening drew near, the two walked along the pier and stopped at the end, gazing at the sun that was setting into the bay in front of them.

Neither of them spoke a word, as the were mezmerized by the reflection of the sun glistening on the water and the waves swayed back and forth. While watching, the words of her mother came back into her head and she looked at BB.

"Gar, I need to know."

"Know what Terra?" He asked back while still watching the sun.

She paused. "Do you like me!" She blurted out.

BB turned and looked at her with a surprised look on his face. "O-Of course I like you Terra."

"I mean do you like me?" She asked again, putting more emphasis on the question.

This time BB paused. He knew what she meant by asking that. In that short period of time, it felt like hours passed as he looked at her. He always thought that he'd be the one to ask her that question and was completely caught off guard. Having nowhere to go, there was only one thing he could do and that was smile and nod.

Terra smiled back and they held each other's hands and went back to watching the sun go down, but it was already gone. Knowing that tomorrow was a schoolday, BB pulled out his cell phone and called his mother to come pick them up.

Not long later, she arrived. Terra and BB still held hands while riding in the car.

"Even though we know how the other feels Gar, I wanna take it slow, if that's okay with you."

"That's fine Terra. I wanna take it slow too."

After agreeing to take it slow, they went back to talking about things as if nothing changed. BB's mom looked out the rear-view mirror and smiled herself see the young couple, so she slowed the car down a bit to let them enjoy the moment before she would have to drop Terra off.

To their dismay, the ride came to an end as the car pulled up in front of Terra's house. A heavy sigh escaped her mouth before she gave BB a hug before getting out of the car. BB got out of the other side and escorted Terra to the door. She opened the door and waved to BB before closing it.

BB turned around when the door was closed and did a goofy dance before heading back to his mother's car.

"Son, if any of your friends saw you doing that they would never hang out with you again."

"Mom, don't hate. Appreciate." BB smirked back making his mom laugh before driving off.


The chatter of students filled the outside of the school as Cy, along with Rob and Rae pulled into the school's parking lot. They got out and headed towards their normal spot to wait for the others to arrive.

"Are you sure you don't have a problem with me borrowing your car?" Rob asked when he saw Starfire's father dropping her off.

"I'm cool with it man. I just gotta make sure I cover everything with plastic so you won't 'mess up' my car."

"Nice, and thanks by the--WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!" Rob blurted out making Cy bust out laughing.

"Oh man, I thought you didn't notice that." Cy managed to sqeeze out through his laughing.

"You're sick." Robin grunted while Cy still chuckled as Starfire approached them.

"Boys." Raven thought to herself as she watched the time on the giant clock on the school slowly tick away.

"Good morning Robin, Cy and Raven." Starfire greeting them before sitting down next to Raven.

"Morning Star." Rob said, with Cy following along with a wave.

"Must you always be so polite; and must you always sit by me?" Raven thought to herself.

The foursome sat around in silence enjoying the warmth of the sun and the tranquility, but then they realized that it was too quiet.

"Hey, where's BB and Terra? School's about to begin." Robin brought up.

The others looked at the clock, which showed only three minutes until the day began. Cy looked to his left and began to tap on Rob's left arm.

"You don't wanna know." Cy said before pointing in the direction he was looking.

The others looked in the same direction and were astonished to see Terra not chasing BB as usual, but bother of them walking together and even more holding hands!

"Okay, am I the only one who's going to be unable to eat for the rest of the day?" Raven asked.

"You're not the only one." Cy replied and Robin grunted in agreement.

"I think it's cute!" Starfire added, making the others roll their eyes.

As BB and Terra walked up, the school bell rang and they all walked in to begin the day. Cid, being in his normal spot at the steps saw the two youths hand-in-hand and focused his eyes, not on Terra, but on BB. Out of the corner of her eye, Terra could see him, but didn't look because she wanted to handle the situation at a later and more appropriate time.


The school day was as slow and boring as ever. It's as if the teachers were purposely doing it to exact some sort of revenge on the students for reasons unknown.

BB fell asleep three times and Terra two. Cy, Rob and even Raven were unable to escape, but somehow it seemed like Starfire was immune to it. Her cheery attitude, albeit slight annoying, kept the others from completely falling asleep when they would switch classes.

Lunch finally came as they gathered again at the lockers in the main hall. The cafeteria was packed as always, but luckily their usual spot. They sat down so no one else would and were able to breatheand try and relax from the tedium of class. Cy was just about to take a bite from his sandwhich when he saw something and tapped Rob on his shoulder.

"R-Rob, you might wanna get down."

"Wha-why?"

"That's why." He replied before pointing in the direction he was looking before.

"Oh no." He groaned.

"What is it?" Starfire asked.

"You don't wanna know." Terra said to her.

"Robbie-poo! Where are you?" A blonde-haired girl who was wearing a low-cut pink dress and hair bow, and surrounded by several other girls who were dressed in similar fashion called out.

Robin hid under the table. "Is she coming this way?"

"No." BB said.

"Yes." Raven right after BB.

"Raven!" Terra exclaimed, making Raven shrug.

"You guys are the ones who hangs out my Robbie-poo."

"Oh, hey Kitten." Cy grumbled.

"Where's by sunglasses-wearing cutie?"

"You mean fang?"

"Ugh! Not that obnoxious jerk! Who cares about him? I mean my one and only Robin!"

"There he is." One of the girls next to Kitten said as she pointed under the table.

"Robbie-poo!" Kitten squealed.

Robin cursed under his breath, then got from under the table. "Hey Kitten." Hey groaned.

Kitten's eyes were glazed over as she moved towards him and tried to hug him. Robin cringed as he knew what was going to happen, but Starfire stepped in-bewteen them. "I'm sorry, but I don't think that he wants to be hugged by you."

"And who are you?" Kitten asked after backing up, placing her hands on her hips and tilted her head.

"My name is Starfire and I'm--" The redhead gleefully said while extending her handin friendship, but Kitten slapped it away. "But..."

"It shouldn't matter unless you're his girlfriend. Are you his girlfriend?"

"Well no, but--"

"I know because what could he see in a ditzy airhead like you." Kitten interrupted again, before she moved back towards Robin to try and hug him again, but Starfire grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"Uh-oh." Cy said.

Kitten snapped her head back, and her normally blue eyes looked like they were made of fire; but as soon as the anger in her face appeared, it was gone. "Fine. Have it your way...for now." Kitten said before she began to walk away.

"That was a close one." BB said.

"That girl gives blondes a bad name." Terra soughed, making the others and even Raven chuckle.

They went back to try and enjoy the remaining minutes that they had left before they had to return to class. Terra finished her lunch and dropped it off in the trash can nearby, and as she was walking back, she saw Cid and his friends. She sighed and headed to them.

"I'll be back." Terra said to the others as she walked past them.

"Okay, but we've got like five minutes until lunch is over." BB said as leaned and pointed at his watch before he almost fell to the floor,but Raven his shirt and pulled him up.

"Thanks Raven." BB said in surprise. "I knew you liked me!" He exclaimed as he hugged her.

Raven's eyes now shared the same fire that Kitten had previously had and shoved BB on the floor.


Indistinct conversation could be heardas Terra approached Cid and his friends. Cid turned his head when he saw a shadow approaching them.

"Hey babe!"

"Cid...we need to talk."

"Sure thing." He said as he put his arm around her and they walked to one of the corners of the cafeteria. "What is it."

"I-I'm sorry Cid, but I can't be with you."

"I know, I saw you and him this morning and I'm cool with it."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah, it makes since that you would want to be with someone your own age. Just remember that I'm always here if you need me."

"Thanks Cid, it means a lot to hear you say that." Terra said before giving Cid a hug and kiss on his cheek.

Cid waved as Terra ran back to her friends, who were at the exit door. He was smiling, but when she was out of sight he smile deteriorated as his friends walked over to him.

"No girl ever says no to me."

"So what are you going to do about it?"

"As if you have to ask." Cid said before smiling again.


The schoolbell rang and brought a merciful end to the day. Rob, Cy and the others gathered around in their usual spot.

"Where's Star?" Cy asked.

"She went to the bathroom, she'll be out in a few minutes." Rob replied.

Several minutes passed and Starfire hadn't come out. Thinking nothing of it, they just waited until they heard laughing, screaming and other noises coming from the side of the school.

When he heard the sounds, Rob snapped his head around. "Oh no!"

They ran around to the crowd of students who were gathered around the kindergarteners play area and saw Kitten with her friends laughing as they dumped another bucket of water on Starfire, who was laying in what was normally the sandbox--was now mud.

"See what happens to those who get my way. They get...caught in the mud! Another in the litter box!" Kitten laughed as she and her friends walked away.

The crowd slowly lowered in numbers as Rob and others tried to wipe as much mud that was on Starfire.

"Are you okay?" Robin asked while wiping some off of her face.

"I'll be okay. Why is she so hateful?"

"To be honest, I don't know. She's always been like that." He replied.

"Yeah, and the fact that her father's rich makes it even worse. All the school does is just make him pay for the dirt to refill the sandbox." Cy added.

"Doesn't her father work at S.T.A.R. labs where your father worked?" Terra asked.

"Yeah, his name's Thom Rillek and he works in the same area my father worked so I knew Kitten ever since she was young. She used to be nice, but when her mother passed away she changed; and for the worse. I don't know why either. I mean my father died and yet I'm not rotten to the core."

"How did your father die?" Starfire asked.

Cy and Rob looked at each other, then lowered their heads. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude."

"It's okay Star, I'll tell you later."

BB, Terra and Raven were also looking at Cy and Rob wondering why they were never told, but they never asked because they thought it wasn't anything important, but after seeing Robin react the same way, that sparked their attention.

"C'mon Starfire, you can wash your clothes at my place. We don't want your parents to wonder what happened to you." Robin offered and Starfire.

To make sure that her parents wouldn't come pick her up, she called them and told she would be her friends, but spoke Thai because her mother can understand it more. If she told her that she was going to be at a boys house, she'd never hear the end of it. They all parted ways and headed home for the evening.


At Robin's house, he had just put Starfire's clothes in the washer while his mother was making dinner. Starfire was putting on some clothes of Rob's to be decent while she waited for her clothes to dry. The bad thing was that they were a little short considering that Rob was a couple of inches shorter than her.

"I hope these are okay for wearing." Star sheepishly said as she was wearing a pair of blue jeans and white shirt.

"They're fine." Robin joked. "I need to take a cold shower, cause there's something about a girl wearing your own clothes that turns me on." He thought.

After dinner, Robin's mom dropped Starfire off while Robin did indeed take that cold shower. "It makes me wonder what this weekend is going to be like." He thought while he was working on his homework.


Raven was in her room drawing when her father banged on the door.

"Raven! You have a call! It's some boy." Her father bellowed.

Slowly, Raven got up and cautiously opened the door and took the cordless phone. She then walked back to her bed and answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey Rae. I have some good news, except I'll have to talk to you about it tomorrow."

"Okay...Then I'll see you tomorrow."

They both hung up and went about their own ways...whereas BB and Terra were on the phone...all night.


The school week went back rather quickly. BB and Terra were back to their old antics as Terra was chasing BB all over the place. Rob was annoyed even more by Kitten and Star was there to whole time to prevent any further annoyance. Cy told Rae the good news and she was thrilled yet concerned at the same time.

As the weekend approached, all of them had thoughts on their minds and were anxiously awaiting for it to come.

BB and Terra were at the mall hanging out and enjoying their newfound heightened friendship. Terra got up to go to the bathroom and get some food. While she was gone, Cid approached BB.

"Hey twerp."

"Hey Cid." BB hissed back.

"You know, I don't know what Terra sees in a loser like you, but I promise you that it won't last."

"Why, we both know that the only reason you want her is because you've gotten with every single girl in your grade area and you just want new blood. She's just a challenge to you."

"You may be right, but you seem to forget that what I want I take."

"Try it all you like, but I warn you. Stay away from Terra."

Both of them were face to face, and nearly nose to nose when Terra came back. Cid turned around and smiled and walked away. BB, sensing that things were uncomfortable decided that they should go. Cid and his friends watched as they left. When they did, Cid nodded to them and they left.

As BB and Terra began their walk back to Terra's house, they were stopped by Cid's gang, but they didn't recognize them because they were wearing masks.

"Give us your money." One of them said while holding a pocket knife, but it was just a ploy to distract BB.

While Terra reached for her wallet, BB was struck from behind with a bottle. The small shards of glass flew past her face as BB fell to the ground. Terra screamed as the four cronies began to stomp and pound BB. Terra ran to get help and when she returned with it, Cid's buddies ran.

One of the guys Terra brought ran to call the police as Terra went to check on her boyfriend. BB was bleeding from his arm and head, his wasn't moving as Terra stayed with him until the ambulance arrived. After about twenty minutes, the EMT's finally arrived and took them to the hospital.


Rob was dropped off at Cy's house by his mom and was ready for his date with Starfire. Cy greeted him in the garage and threw him the keys, which Robin caught. Cy began to show Rob how to work the appliances in his car, when his cell phone rang. He answered it to hear a hysterical Terra on the other line. After a few minutes, he managed to calm her down and explain the situation. When he hung up the phone, he told Rob and they headed to pick Raven and Starfire up, then head for the hospital.