I'm baaaack! It is I, I'm so hollow, in the flesh (or in front of the pc)! Anyway, to those who were my first reviewers, I have made replies that after chap 2, my updates would be very slow. But, I just received news from our school that our school opening will be moved! Yahooooo! I'm still able to update! Haaaahhh… it's so good to hear that school won't be early. Oh, I forgot. I have another newsflash. After this, I won't be updating as early as possible and when I do, chapter 4 will have dedications to those who reviewed. Okay, okay. I'm starting to feel like a newscaster here so let's cut it and proceed to chapter 3.

Disclaimer: if I own the Teen Titans, I would produce a movie of them.

Chapter 3

It has been a free two weeks in hell for Rachel. Even during her crime fighting nights, she had battled a big glob of goo that looks like a zit, a giant made out of concrete, a diskette that can turn into a large electric shocker and the other nights are robberies, holdups and other gangster activities. But she was thankful of it for some reason. Nightwing was still appearing, yes. But, she manages to finish her battles before he could enter the scene.

Although it can be called hard, during the day, her life is harder. Every time she would pass Richard Grayson, he would frustrate her or start a conversation. 'He really drives me nuts.' She would always remark in her mind whenever he gives her a smirk which she returns with a glare.

She totally wants him to go away even for a day but, thanks to Vincent, she has to stick with him during investigations. His words still echoed in her head. "I know you like me." 'The nerve of him. I ought to burn him to hell!' somehow, she has found that thinking of ways to kill him was amusing, enjoying and strangely enough, relaxing. She also found out that not only detective work was she good at. She was also good at devising ways on how to torture, or more likely, kill a person (that would be Richard), which was helpful since they were dealing on a murder case.

Everyday, Richard would come by her office for the case or, she thinks, to drive her over the edge. He would say things that would make her boil as she tries to contain her temper else, she might kill Richard, get fired or worse, get exposed that she is actually Raven.

Today is a non-working day for her so she gets to relax and put the case aside. She also let her emotions get off for a while but not so much. She doesn't know she'll need it, though.

Teen…

'Hell' she thought to herself. Her eyes were drooping and her place was in disarray. During her sleep, she has been uncomfortable because she has worked overtime, with Richard Grayson, mind you, and during their time together, he has pissed her more than ever. She is tired for two reasons. (1) She has just fought three criminals with superpowers last night. There was a girl and two boys. The girl has unusually pink hair in pig tails and has skill over hexes. The first boy was short, bald, has a vast knowledge over technology and irritating because he keeps saying insults at her. The second one is the opposite of the first boy. He is big, hairy and strong. She took down the first two with little difficulty. She didn't battle the third one because Nightwing came. She didn't want to be with him this night. She hasn't let go of their last encounter so the only safe idea that came to her mind was to let him take care of the big guy.

And reason number (2) Richard Grayson has been cracking her skull the lastten days with his stupid smirk and everything about him. Today is a non-working day and she has nothing to do in her apartment and was bored to hell. She was feeling lazy today and too tired to read so she slept for an hour and when she got up, she was now feeling better. So, again, back to the start: there was boredom everywhere. She decided to clean her apartment and not use her powers for now. She hasn't done her laundry so she also decided to do it tomorrow.

She started at 8:00 am and ended at 12:54. Her apartment was now spotless and there would be a glimmer from the floor because she waxed it. She tumbled on the bed carelessly and was about to doze off when her phone rang.

"Hello?" her tiredness evident in her voice.

"Oh, Rachel!" a high-pitched voice answered. Rachel had to distance her ear from the phone.

"Kori," she greeted monotonously but not unfriendly.

"Oh, Rachel. It has been two weeks since I have called you. I am truly sorry for my forgetfulness of calling you!" Kori said in a candy-sweet voice.

"That's alright, Kori." 'Of course, it's alright! My last call to he was eight months ago! And I didn't even send her a message.' She scolded herself.

"You might ask me why I called you. Well, Roy has just returned from his trip and I wish to go to your apartment for a celebration."

"What celebration?" Rachel was now suspicious. If it's just a celebration because of Roy's safe trip then it has to move somewhere. She doesn't want to clean up their mess when she just cleaned up.

"You have to guess it, Friend Rachel!" Kori said childishly on the other line.

"Roy's safe trip?" Rachel never loved surprises or jokes especially if they're not funny.

"Guess again, Friend!" Rachel could hear Kori giggling on the other line.

"Promotion?" She could hear her friend's giggling louder.

"No!" she giggled on the other line.

"You won the lottery?" Rachel asked uncertainly knowing it's not the reason. This time, Kori laughed.

"No!" Kori Laughed harder.

"Okay, Kori. Spit it out. Now." Rachel demanded. Usually, she would be the upperhand in everything. In this conversation, she was like a pawn and she doesn't like to be the lower. Kori coughed then inhaled and exhaled.

"Rachel, I'm engaged!" Kori's voice shrilled throughout the room. 'Didn't see that coming.' Rachel remarked to herself.

"That's great news, Kori. You can drop by at 6:00. is that fine?" she tries to hide her joy for Kori's engagement else, she might destroy her apartment.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Friend Rachel! Thank you for your agreement! Oh, and wear what I bought you three months ago. Me and Roy have a surprise for you! Good-bye!"

"Bye," she put down the phone and mused on her thoughts.

'What to cook, what to cook.' She kept thinking. 'How about chicken, salad and pasta? That sounds nice. Wait, lose the salad. I don't think they can finish everything and I don't have many veggies around here.' She decided. She glanced at the clock and it read 1:00.

"So I have a lot of time to prepare. What to wear, what to wear." She thought aloud. She frowned as she got another problem. Yes, Kori told her what she should wear but Rachel seemed to dislike the idea. She knows Kori's choices of clothing are the opposites of hers. Kori's clothes are always bright, a little flirty and…pink. Hers were the complete opposite. She went to her closet and looked for the clothes Kori indicated.

"Oh. My. God." Her jaw dropped as she stared at a blue sleeveless top and a skirt that is down under the knee with slits at each side that's up to mid-thigh and below the glorious and magical dress is a pair of sandals with stilettos measuring three inches. 'Joy. I must be the prettiest girl when I wear that…thing.' She thought sarcastically. She studied the wardrobe for a while and lessened her discrimination against the dress at least 2 of it but that was a decreased amount of her hate towards the dress (which she really hates) so it matters. 'At least it's not pink. Hey, when did I ever get optimistic?' she frowned at her optimism and decided to go on.

'Food, check. Clothes check. Gift…gift!' she thought for a while what to buy and when she's done, she grabbed her keys and walked out the building.

Titans…

Although today is a non-working day, Richard is still in Vincent's office talking about the case in which he is partnered with the great and mighty, not to mention, ignorant Ice Queen. It was already 3:00 in the afternoon and he has been in the department since 8:00 am.

"So that's why I think he had some henchmen or a partner when they were murdered." Richard explained. Vincent nodded. That's a good reason, Grayson. You know, you should I think you should contact Rachel first. If you tell this to her, she can create some branches from your conclusion. Vincent turned to look at him with a face that has a mix of suspicion and worry but mostly worry.

"What's wrong, chief?" Richard asked. Before saying anything, Vincent sighed. "Richard you just met her a week ago and everyone can already feel some kind of tension between you two. I'm worried that something might happen…either to you or to her. She's been in here for three years and I can't afford something might happen to her. She's like my daughter and you know that."

While Vincent was speaking, he put his feet on top of his table and his arms were crossed. Richard crossed his legs and his right hand holding his chin and his left hand was holding his right elbow as if for support. Vincent would look a psychologist's patient and Richard would be the psychologist. When Vincent stopped his psychological problem, Richard nodded.

"Don't worry, chief. Nothing's going to happen." Richard smiled while Vincent still has the same look. 'Maybe it was a bad idea pairing him with her.' "I hope so, Richard. She's close to me and I wouldn't be happy if something bad happens to her. She's very distant to other people and she prefers to stay like that. You know she's different from other people and you know that if a person is different, they think, act and feel different." 'I better wait for the results before judging them.' Vincent finished himself.

Vincent waved him off that obviously says 'you can go now.' Richard walked out his office and thought about his boss's statement. Sure, there is "some kind of tension" between them and he feels it too because he was the one who started it anyway and because he was the one who made a move on her though it is still unnoticed by anyone especially Rachel. But, seeing them together, everyone would think they're a perfect match. They were smart, attractive, beautiful (boys can be called beautiful too, you know!) and some others which is that they both have a few skeletons in their closet.

He knows he likes her but that's all. 'I just like her, that's all…I think.' He stopped on his tracks and thought about what he just thought and frowned as he got another problem. The last few days, he was sure that he just likes her. Now, just when he thought about his feelings for her, he gets confused.

Somehow, there was something wrong about the sentence. He stopped thinking about it and put it at the back of his head. There were more important matters at hand and that includes the case. Bruce has taught him that emotions can get in the way of work and he trusted him since he was the one who adopted him in the first place. 'I better talk with her about the case.' At this point, he went to the car he borrowed from Vic since his motorcycle was being repaired by him, and drove off.

Rock

In her apartment, the surroundings are clean, the food is prepared, a medium-sized box wrapped in gold tin foil with hearts as its decoration and a red ribbon tied around it on top of a side table and a shapely figure wearing three-inched sandals, white skirt that is down under the knees with slits at each side that is up to mid-thigh and a sleeveless top standing in front of the mirror. Though the body is classy or more likely flirty, the face shows no relation to it. A beautiful face that if it smiled, it could drive the devils back to hell or can make your worries, fears or any negative feelings dissipate and melt your heart.

But that was not the case here. The face is frowning and the owner mumbles and grumbles continuously about something that has something to do with the dress and the shoes. She has light make-up on her face but it still added some beauty to it. While she was still ranting silently about the dress, she thought for a while why she had to wear such a stupid dress and sandals.

A knock on the door stopped her train of thoughts. She made a muffled 'come in' and a tall red-headed woman with narrow hips, flat breasts yet has a happy face with dazzling green eyes wearing a beautiful pink dress and a handsome, tall man with orange hair, strong build and a somewhat stylish suit.

"Friend Rachel! It has been many days since I have not seen you!" Before Rachel can greet her anything, Kori charged at her and engaged her in a death hug. Rachel was now turning blue and her bones are going to break sooner or later then comes Roy to the rescue. "Uh, Kori? I think Rachel gets the message." He said and Kori let go of Rachel, blushing in embarrassment. Rachel breathed in the oxygen and exhaled while massaging her bones.

"Oh! I see you have worn what I bought you! I shall go back and fetch your matching sweater! You'll look so cute!" Kori exclaimed with pure joy but she flattened when Rachel growled and glared at her. "Hey, I only wore this because (1) you told me to and (2) you're a newly-engaged couple so lucky you, I'm at your command." Rachel remarked sarcastically and dryly. She was still hurt from Kori's bear hug so she's not very personal for now.

"Okay, now that our loving bride-to-be has given me her invitation for the wedding which is I don't know when, let's sit down and eat. The couple laughed silently but stopped when Rachel caught them. Just as they were already seated and Kori was about to pass the chicken, someone knocked on the door. They each looked at each other as if waiting for one of them to speak up. Both Kori and Roy shrugged their shoulders while Rachel raised her eyebrow at them.

The knocking continued only louder. 'Who the hell could that be?' Rachel asked herself. "I'll get it." She announced as she got up and walked to the door. The emotionless face turned into a glare as she stared at the person who just knocked. "Hell." She said instead of saying a polite greeting at the knocker.



HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I left you a cliffie! It's not just any other cliff-hanger; it's my first cliffie…! Okay, so maybe that was pointless but thee has to be some firsts in everything, right? Anyway, I'll leave you with three chapters and I think chapter four will come in a month, maybe? Whatever. I sent some replies to those who guessed some events in chapter four and I also made them guess some more. You know who you are. Also, a lot of my faithful reviewers have questioned about my going to school. For no more guessy-guess, here's the answer: In the Philippines, schools starts in June which is this month and we have to go here and there for the first day of school (I hate first day of school…) and our vacation would be either in March or April and of course, it's different in college (don't ask me. I'm still high school), kapeesh? I think you understand our schooling here in the Philippines. Later!

Back in a month more or less,

I'm so hollow