Thank you for all the replies! Really, this is the third time I rewrite the story, and I'm really happy with the one I'm doing now. I was planning to have Madam Rouge talk all foreign, but I couldn't do it, so……………
Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans. If I did, the show would have gotten already to season eight.
Chapter 2:
"I saw you talking with a boy right now. Tell me, did he start talking to you or did you start talking to him?" Carlos asked, smiling behind the driver's seat.
Ember rolled her eyes, staring out the car window. Carlos had already picked her up from school and was taking her home, though Ember was kind of hoping he would come later for her. Roy was so much fun to talk with; he had actually made her laugh when nobody else in school ever could. Yes, she was two years younger than him, but he made it look like he was really interested in her. That, to her surprise, amused her. Somebody was actually interested in her.
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"So Ember," Roy had said after introducing himself, "why are you here by yourself? It's not common here to be a loner."
Ember had frowned a bit, but attempted to smile. "I'm not a loner," she told him, "I'm waiting for my driver, Carlos. He usually comes later than he's supposed to."
He raised an eyebrow. "You have a driver? So, are you rich or something, because the only people that have personal drivers are like, stinking rich?"
"Well, I guess you could say I'm wealthy," she replied, "My father is the owner of Rayley Inc." For some reason, this made her give out a silent giggle.
"So that's why you look familiar!" Roy sprang up to his feet and stared down at her. "You came out with Ulrick Rayley and his wife in the newspaper about two years ago! Wow! Those are your parents? Man, you're not wealthy! You're freaking rich!"
"Oh really?" she smirked, "And what are you? An upper class person? I bet your parents have nice jobs to be able to buy you those clothes."
He gave a broad smile and struck a pose. "You're right; I am considered the upper class." He made a somewhat sexy voice when he said this and made Ember laugh. "But……..my parents, well……..my father especially……….went, um, out of town for a few months and, well…………sent me to live with a caretaker for a while."
Roy looked down at floor for a few seconds before Ember broke the silence. "My father does that, too," she said, "But he has never been gone more than a month." Roy laughed rather nervously when she said this. "Well, my father tends to be gone for a long time, longer than usual," he muttered, running his hand roughly through his orange hair.
Ember stared at him oddly, raising an eyebrow. He seemed upset, very upset. She opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted when Roy uttered, "Well, enough of that! Did you enjoy the Fourth of July Festival?"
Ember clapped her hands in delight and cried with glee. "Of course I enjoyed it! It was the best thing to happen so far this month. I really can't wait for this Friday!" She got to her feet and twirled around in circles without thinking, making Roy laugh. It took her about two seconds to realize what she was doing. Shocked, she tripped over her own feet, falling backwards. Roy swiftly caught her by the hand, giving her a weird look.
"What's so important about Friday?" he asked, helping her regain her balance. She blushed a bit as she bit her lip. "Friday's my tenth birthday," she explained, "Perfect way to celebrate the weekend."
"Well," he said, "That's good! My twelfth birthday's coming up also. I'll make sure to get you a present." Ember's face fell slightly. "Oh no! You don't have to give me a present!"
"I insist!" he exclaimed, "I'm not going to be able to come to school on Friday, I have a doctor's appointment on that day. How about we meet at the video store at five on that day? I can take you to the movie theatre also if you like."
Ember was about to argue, but smiled instead. Don't blow it, she thought. "You don't have to take me to the theatre," she said, "I'll only see you at the video store, for a little while." Roy clapped his hands in delight. "Perfect! I'll see you on Friday then!"
He got his backpack and smiled. "Well, I must be off now," he said. Ember looked around, trying to see if a car was coming to pick him up. "I don't see a car waiting for you," she pointed out." He chuckled. "I walk home," he explained.
"I can give you a ride if you want," she offered, "Carlos should arrive right about now." Roy shook his head. "Nah, I'll be fine." He walked away for a bit, stopped and looked back at her. "See you on Friday Ember!" he shouted before taking off again.
She waved good-bye at him, smiling broadly.
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"Well?" asked Carlos.
Ember smiled slightly at him before answering. "He talked to me first," she replied, "He just wanted to have some paper, and, well, we began to chat. And I'm not telling you anything else. I don't want any rumors to be spread out in my father's household."
Carlos eyed her for a bit before looking back at the road. "Ah, now why would that happen?"
Ember mocked him a bit, but smiled at the same time. She knew he was only joking around as he always did. Her mother didn't like Carlos a lot, since he would always joke around, but Ulrick trusted him. Ulrick always trusted everybody anyways.
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Jump City Police Department was busy as usual; solving robberies, going through murder cases, and trying to find runaway prisoners. The secretary was answering phone calls as usual. It wasn't long before she saw a man walk in swiftly that caught her attention.
"Mr. Kent?" she stuttered as he approached her desk, "I thought you were on vacation!" Kent gave a slight smile before answering her, "Change of plans."
He left to his office before the secretary could ask why. Making sure to lock the door, he sat down on the plushy red rolling chair and gave a sigh of relief, watching time tick by. Kent kept shook his wrist at one point to check the time; 5:04. What was taking Ulrick so long? If he backed down already, then there was no point for him to wait already.
As though answering his question, his black cord phone rang rather loud. Delighted, he answered it with a swift motion. "Yes?" he answered, "……….Alright, send him in."
Kent grabbed some files and pretended to be working as Ulrick Rayley entered his office. "What can I do for Mr. Rayley?" said Kent, without even looking up at him.
Ulrick sat down on the plastic chair and sighed. "I've been receiving these…….calls," Ulrick explained, "From a Professor Chang."
As though he had seen this coming, Kent sprang up from his desk and stared at Ulrick menacingly. "Professor Chang?" he spat, "We've been trying to get him for years! Tell me, did he threatened you or demanded for money?" "Why, Yes!" exclaimed Ulrick, "How did you know?"
Kent sat back down and fumbled with his fingers. "Business owners have received the same calls, and they all have to do with money for experimenting." "And what happened?" Ulrick questioned. Kent tried not to smirk at him; instead he gave Ulrick a negative frown. "They ended up dead." Ulrick's eyes widened with shock. "Please," he pleaded, "I need your help. Chang told me that he was going to take away my daughter, on her birthday! I don't even want to think of all the things he can do to her"
Kent merely smiled at him. "Don't worry Mr. Rayley, with all this new technology, we'll be able to stop Chang from causing any harm to your daughter. I will station some of my men at your house today around nine o'clock." Ulrick smiled with relief. Kent smiled broadly and stretched out his hand. "You're in good hands Mr. Rayley," Kent assured him.
Ulrick stretched out his hand as well and shook Kent's with trust, as though convinced that nothing would happen.
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Ok, so all my chapters have been small so far. I like writing them like that. It creates suspense, doesn't it?