I'm just going to warn you now, the next few chapters are just introducing new characters and letting you get to know them. I know there a bunches of characters in the story, but it's for a reason. Each character plays a very important role in this, so if it confuses you, it'll all make sense later. But, believe me, I have tons of action waiting. But just give me time. This plot will throw you for a loop.
Sitting at a round table positioned near the rear of the courtyard, Starfire sat alone, her hands tucked between her knees, trying desperately to keep the warm as she scanned her French book. In all actuality, this 'French' was easy to understand. It was much like her own language. All her other classes had been a breeze as well. She understood Calculus, took in everything about Government with interest and always stated her thoughts, and was a genius at English. Her teachers were imprested immediately, though the students had for some reason mumbled 'teacher's pet' behind her back. What was a teacher's pet? Was it some type of dog? Perhaps a fish? She had no idea why they would call her an animal, but she would ask Robin about it later.
She glanced up to find a short, pretty girl sitting down and saying, "Hiya. I'm guessing you're new around here, huh? I'd remember someone like you, seeing as you're an Amazon and all. Mind if I sit here?" The girl had already sat down with a tray heaped with food, and grinned at Star, her teeth straight and white.
Star watched with fascination as the girl wolfed down a hamburger. She had never known a human would have the same table manners as she did on her home planet. The girl swallowed, wiped her hands on her skirt, and then held it out. "Sorry about my rude entrance. I'm Mallory Judson. You're Rose Skylar, right? I have you in English. You don't talk much do you?"
Remembering the role she was supposed to act, Star shook her head. Mallory nodded. "That's okay. I do enough talking for this entire school."
Starfire took the time to study Mallory while the girl chomped down on her hamburger. Her pale brown hair fell in soft waves to her shoulders and she was constantly tucking it behind ears filled with multi-colored diamond earrings. Her eyes were a soft, dark brown that portrayed every emotion she felt. Her face was heart shaped, with full lips that always seemed to smile, and long-lashed eyes that crinkled when she smiled. From what Star could tell, she was only about five feet tall.
"So, Rose, where do you come from?" Taking a sip from her coke, Mallory tilted her head. There was something about this Rose girl that she really liked. She just seemed to have an air of innocence surrounding her. This was the type of person she wanted her son to be around.
"Uh…I come from…" Where was she from again? She wracked her brain for the answer, but Mallory laughed, holding up a hand. "Don't worry about it. When I was new I hated telling everyone where I was from. I wanted to strangle them all." She smiled, which had Star relaxing.
"I know this is rude, but since you don't seem to like talking about yourself, how 'bout we talk about me?"
Starfire chuckled. "That would be nice."
" But, first…" Mallory grabbed her notebook, handing it to Star. In the little slots on the front of the binder were pictures of an adorable little boy with a cap of curling dark hair and pale gray eyes.
"That's Christian, my son. He's only two years old and walks everywhere. I thinks he bowlegged." She laughed softly. "He's already talking, too. My parents have a fit every time he blinks. He's so cute."
"How old where you when he was born?"
Mallory pushed aside her tray, placing her elbows on the table and cupping her jaw. "I was fifteen, I think. No, sixteen, actually, when he was born. He just turned two last November, and I turn eighteen right after I graduate."
"Amazing. You had him so young."
A cloud pasted over her eyes for a brief moment, then her smile appeared, as bright as she could manage. "Yeah, I was young. Young and innocent and naive. Guess you could say I loved without being loved. But I don't think of Christian as a mistake. No, without Christian, I don't know what I'd do. He's my baby and I love him."
Starfire studied the pictures again. "Where's his father?" Star lifted her eyes when she received silence.
This time, when her eyes darkened, it was pain that clouded them. "I don't care. He didn't want Christian, so it doesn't matter."
Confused, Starfire asked cautiously, "But why would he not want him?"
"He was young and stupid, too. He said he was too young and being with me had been a mistake because all he had wanted from me was my body. This, mind you, was right after I told him I loved him and that I was pregnant. But, that was then. I don't like to reflect on the past, especially when it hurts. Anyway, enough about me. Let's talk about you or we can talk about Christian. Either…ooh, who's that hunk walking towards us?"
Starfire looked up to see Robin heading their way. He grinned at her before sitting down beside her. "Hey."
Starfire smiled at him, catching Mallory's look of approval out of the corner of her eye. Blinking, Mallory held out a hand. "I'm Mallory, nice to meet you, and I think I'll be going now 'cause I don't wanna intrude on a little lovey-dovey session."
"Wait," Starfire said, holding up a hand. "You're free to eat the 'lunch' with us, if you wish. There will be no…lovey-dovey actions in your presence." Whatever the frendflard (hell) that was.
"Eat the lunch? Hey, that sounds kinda cool." She repeated it, nodding her head. "Nice ring to it. 'Eat the lunch'. Christian'll love that."
Robin raised an eyebrow. "Alright." He blinked a few times, then shook his head, turning in his seat to face Starfire. "How's your day going so far?" He hoped his Australian accent wasn't too pronounced, but, hey, would could you do?
"Fine. Everything is so easy."
"Wow, for a new kid who claims she's shy, you sure make new, and gorgeous, friends fast." Mallory smiled at him, in a friendly way. She knew good and well not to try and snatch away something that was already taken, even if it was a stunning Aussie with a drop-dead gorgeous face. And body. Anyway, Rose was the first friend Mallory had had since Wyatt and she didn't want to ruin it.
Robin blushed at the comment. "We meet at the airport on our way here. We're both part of the exchange program and we became instant friends. I've always loved the shy and sweet act." He grinned playfully at Star, wondering if she understood his meaning.
When she jabbed his ribs with her elbow, he figured she got the point. Mallory chuckled. "Well, aren't you two adorable."
"I'd like to think so," Robin said smugly.
Starfire rolled her eyes.
"Ooh!" Robin glanced up, a bit startled, when Mallory squealed and reached for her notebook. "I have to show you my son. I show everyone, and you're no exception. I showed Rose the pictures, so now you have to see them." Truth was, they were the first people to actually care.
As Robin took the notebook Starfire passed to him, he studied the pictures of the little boy with a big toothy smiled, and listened as Mallory went on and on about him. The only thing she didn't mention was the father, but he figured that it was a sore subject and didn't want her to be on the defensive.
"He's a cute kid, your Christian. Who watches him when you're at school?"
"Depends. Sometimes, he goes to daycare, or my parent's watch him. I can't count how many day's I've missed because I was deathly afraid when he coughed wrong. I've got a lot of teachers who think I should repeat my senior year. It ain't gonna happen though. I've attended tons of Saturday schools." She grinned, shoving a ketchup-drenched fry into her mouth.
Robin nodded, unconsciously laying a hand on Star's knee. She gave a small jump, but relaxed gradually, poking at the yellow glob that was called 'macaroni and cheese' with her fork. Robin and the rest of the titans sometimes made it for dinner, but this brand was vile. Even her 'pudding of sadness' tasted better. That was seriously saying something.
Scooping up a glob, she watched it plop back down with a splat. At her wrinkled nose, Mallory and Robin laughed. "Next time, I suggest you get the hamburger. Their not too bad if you smoother them with mayo and onions. And their fries are drenched with grease, so they aren't bad. But never eat anything else, unless it chicken, steak fingers, or pizza." Mallory winked. "I learned that the hard way."
Rolling his eyes, Robin glanced around the courtyard. People's eyes darted to the table and back to their friends, some grinning, some laughing, some gossiping. He made eye contact with most of them before dropping his gaze. He had a strange feeling that it wasn't them they were laughing at, but Mallory.
"Mallory?" Robin asked carefully. "Not to be rude, but why do people keep looking over here and laughing?"
"Oh," she snorted, "people don't like me." She said it like it didn't matter which had Robin and Star exchanging confused glances.
"Why would they not?"
"Oh, they think I'm a slut because Wyatt Hallowell got me pregnant. He's what you call a badboy. It doesn't effect me because I'm one of hundreds who he's slept with. Hell, the ones who call me a slut were the first one in line when he started to pick and choose. They only call me a slut because I was the only one he got pregnant and the only one who got him to loosen up and the only one who was luckiest to bare his child, though he wants nothing to do with him. I was even the first one to ride his Harley. It's all confusing to me, but I don't care. I'm not going to let something as stupid as popularity ruin my senior year." She shrugged and took the last bite of her hamburger.
"Oh." Starfire looked around at all the people, keeping the gazes of the ones who looked at her with a challenge. Most looked away, except for one. A tall boy with long dark hair and dark clothes stared back at her with bland interest. She tilted her head as they continued to stare at either, and Mallory finally stopped talking to follow her gaze.
Mallory jerked back as if hit when she caught sight of who Star was looking at and quickly turned back to the table. The boy finally broke his stare when Mallory's quick movement caught his eyes. His eyes caught and stayed on Mallory, as if waiting for her to turn around.
"May I inquire as to why you turned so suddenly? Is that the Why At Hallowell you speak of."
"Wyatt," Mallory mumbled, tucking her feet under her when the cold got to be too much. She really should have worn her stockings. "Yeah, that's him. In all his dark and foreboding glory. I swear he was born with a scowl." She smirked. "I was the only one who got him to laugh in public. Another reason I'm not liked. But, I guess, in a way, I'm glad he has nothing to do with Christian. I so don't want my son to be a brooding, egotistical," Robin and Star held up a hand to warn her, but she was one a roll, "moody, lazy—"
"Jerk?" Star watched as Mallory's spine snapped straight and her eyes widened, before narrowing. Without turning, she grabbed her notebook and laid it face down in her lap, as if to hide her son from him. Wyatt stood behind her, his muscled arms folded in front of his sinewy chest. His full mouth was curved with amusement, but his pale gray eyes were old, as if he had been a grownup throughout his entire life.
"No, jerk is too kind when talking about you, Wyatt. Maybe heartless, cruel, unfeeling, insensitive. A man who only thinks about himself and no one else."
"You're still the same, Mal."
"No, I'm not. Since my baby was born, I've never been like I used to. I never will be either."
Robin watched the man shifted behind her. He seemed to be uncomfortable. Maybe it was because every eye in the courtyard was on him, or maybe there was more to his feelings for Mallory than he let on. Whatever it was, he hide it well. His eyes held no emotion, reminding him of Raven.
"Maybe we should leave them alone," Robin whispered to Star, and she eagerly nodded. Slowly, they started to rise when Mallory snarled, "Sit!"
Their bottoms hit the bench hard as they sat down as quickly as they could. Star practically ended up in Robin' s lap, but they were not about to spark Mallory's temper again. Wyatt's lips twitched.
"What do you want, Wyatt? I don't have the time, or the patience to deal with you." She laid her palms over the notebook, as if to make sure it was still there, and her small hands fisted. She didn't want to make a scene, not here, and she already felt the hot burn of tears in the back of her throat. After his cruel words and rejection, she couldn't face him, or even hear his voice without the sharp stab of pain.
"Look, my mom wants to see the kid—"
"Christian," She bit out, her eyes narrowed and filled with unshed tears. She shoved her hands through her hair, giving her trembling hands something to do.
"My mom really wants to see Christian. She's been dying to show him around to my aunt, and—"
"I'm surprised you let your mother tell your family about our mistake."
Robin and Star exchanged looks, wishing that they could walk away and let them have their little fight. This was none of their business, and things seemed to be getting personal.
"Jeez, Mal, are you still mad about that?" Ooh, wrong thing to say.
She did turn to him with a glare that could kill. He winced, his tough front wavering. He had been with Mal long enough to know about her temper. Hell, Mal was the only one who he really loved, no, liked…and he had really missed her anger, along with everything else about her. But he couldn't risk it, not now. Not when it involved her.
"Still mad about that? You seduced me into your bed, get me pregnant, and then, when you make me love you, tell me that I was a mistake? That they child we made together was a mistake. You bastard!" He cringed when all was silent and now, everyone was watching them, waiting for a show they knew to come. Even the teachers on duty watched with curiosity.
She rose, all five foot one of her, and stood toe to toe with him. Her head barley hit his chest. She looked so small, so fragile, but the finger she poked at his chest was actually bruising him. Man, why did he have to come over here in the first place? He just had to come and talk to her, just had to say something stupid. Just had to hear her voice again because it was killing him slowly, not being around her.
He waited for her to scream at him, but watched the dark cloud pass over her eyes, her shoulders slump, and her eyes fill with tears as she retreated. "All right. She can get him anytime she wants, as long as she calls before hand and I know when he's coming back. I can't be longer than two days, because he hates to be away from home, and he's had a bad case of colic, so she might not want to keep him overnight, with her job and all. And I know you won't want to be around him, so we'll schedule his visit around your job." She rubbed her arms, and stared at the ground. It would not help to scream at him. Nothing she said or did would make him care about his son, so what was the point? Hate for him, for what he did, for her stupidity, fisted around her heart, making her movements detached.
"Mallory…"
"Just…have her call me on my cell, and I'll set it up with her." Folding her arms over her white sweater, she wished the earth would crack open and swallow her whole. People were gossiping now, about her, and though she hated to admit it, the gossip was taking a toll on her self-esteem. She didn't have much left.
"Fine." He didn't walk away, but reached around her to grab her notebook. Tears forgotten, she made a mad grab for it, but he studied it above her head, where she could not reach.
He had never seen his…their…the boy. His mother had always made sure he was away when Christian was around. She locked the pictures she took of the boy in a box, shoved under her bed, so he couldn't see.
When he told her he didn't want anything to do with the kid (he was sixteen) she took it seriously and made sure he never saw him. It was a cruel payback, but she wanted her son to know how large his mistake was. She was always talking about Christian and Mallory at the table, rubbing in the fact that he had lost more than he gained. She wasn't doing it to be cruel, but to teach her son a lesson. She loved Christian, and made sure her son knew about it. She hoped that maybe one day his hard shell would break and he would help raise his son.
As he studied the pictures of his child, it felt like someone had used his stomach as a punching bag. The little boy looked so much like him it was scary. The same nose, eyes, hair, mouth. His baby pictures looked just like Christian's.
As he studied them, Mallory blushed as the gawking spectators started to whisper and stare. "Please, Wyatt. What does it matter what he looks like? You don't want anything to do with him, and right now I really want to leave. I can't believe I just did that." She lowered her head and buried them in her hands with a groan.
"He looks just like me," Wyatt whispered slowly, feeling another tug at his heart.
Robin glanced at Starfire again. "Do we stay here, or run for the hills?"
Starfire shrugged, watching the two as they had a heated, but quiet, discussion. Was that how Robin and her would end up in the long run? Bitter rivals? Mallory and Wyatt had a similar relationship as Robin and Star, because of the whole him only wanting a tumble while Mallory wanted a commitment. What if she did decided to let Robin have all of her and she ended up pregnant? Would he abandon her as well? Maybe…maybe should she avoid all possible romantic actions around him to save her heart. God and everyone else knew how much she loved him, but did she love him enough to suffer the heartbreak she knew was to come?
Robin tugged at her hand. "Come on, Star. Let's leave them alone. They need to sort out their…problem." Helping her to her feet, Robin gently pulled her behind him.
"Wait, please." It was the desperation in Mallory's voice that had Star stopping and jerking Robin to a clumsy halt. Steadying himself, Robin waited patiently for Mallory to join them, without her notebook. "Wait, don't you—" Wyatt gnawed on his lip when she shook her head.
"Just…keep it." Hurrying to catch up, Mallory slid an arm through Star's, pasting on a smile. "Hey, can I see your schedule?"
"Sure." With a comforting smile, Starfire let go if Robin's hand to dig through her notebook to unearth the neat slip of paper. As Mallory scanned it, ignoring the stares and snickers, Wyatt held her notebook loosely in his hands. He watched her walk away, and with a sigh, turned around to give evocative death scowls that had people flinching.
"Hey!" Robin and Starfire whipped around just as they were lifted off the ground and squeezed. "I didn't expect to see you this early! Wow, Star, you look completely different. And I can't get over the loss of the mask, Rob. Where're BB and Rae? Seen 'em around?"
Gasping for breath, Starfire gave a choked laugh. "Cyborg. I'm so very pleased to see you once again. But…I cannot breathe."
With a laugh, Cyborg lowered his two teammates. "Man, it's so good to see you. I've been going crazy with that police women. Her and her kid are killer, not to mention she goes on dates everyday, so I'm stuck with the kid, and I have no idea how to change diapers."
Robin grinned. "Call Bumblebee." Starfire spotted Mallory by herself, looking so forlorn, and walked toward her, leaving Cyborg and Robin alone.
Cyborg rubbed the back of his bald head. He had once again used his ring to become Stone for the mission, so now, thankfully, he looked human, as he would if he had never become a cyborg. And, anyway, Bumblebee said he looked delectable human.
"I, ah, did." Robin chuckled with a shake of his head. Blushing, Cyborg grinned. "Yeah, well, she knew what to do, so no complaint here. Anyways, how's it been?"
"Hectic. We have no lead, no idea where to start, still have no idea, and now, we're just picking straws. I still hate the fact that were putting Raven and Star in danger, but they can take care of themselves." Robin glanced in Star's direction, watching her laugh at something Mallory said.
With a smirk, Cyborg said, "Still in love with her?"
Robin glared. "I don't love Starfire. We're just friends."
Cyborg snorted. "Told her that yet?"
"Why are you people so obsessed with Star and I?"
"Why are you so pigheaded?" Cyborg chuckled at Robin's scowl. "Your not my leader right now, so I'd don't have to watch my words around you."
"What stopped you before?" Robin muttered, crossing his arms over his chest and putting all his weight on one foot.
"Hell, I was scared of you, even though you were shrimpy as all get out. But now, you're not so bad. Stronger, maybe, but still."
"Whatever. Look, lets not talk about Star, okay? She's her own person, so she can deal with herself and her emotions."
"Okay, okay, don't bite my head off because I don't want Star to get hurt."
Robin had the strangest urge to pull his hair out. "Damn you people! Why does everyone say that I'm going to be the one to hurt Starfire. I—"
"Because, Robin, Starfire would rather die then hurt you, and you know that." Robin turned to scowl at Raven. "Mind you own, Raven."
"Touché." She crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a smug look.
"Alright, since we're talking about hurting people, you should worry more about you hurting BB than me hurting Star."
"We're not talking about Beast Boy, Robin. We're talking about—"
"I changed the subject." As the two stared at each other with fire leaping in their eyes, Cyborg grinned. " Hey, Rae." Knowing she couldn't blow him to kingdom come in front of everyone, he gathered her in a bone-crushing hug.
"Cyborg," she warned with a gasp of air," let me down."
He laughed, setting her down. "You haven't changed a bit."
"Of course not." She dusted herself off to keep from hugging him. Public display of emotion was not her forte.
Someone laid a hand on the small of her back and she jumped. "Howdy, Cy. How's the normal life?" Beast Boy grinned down at Raven, who scowled in return.
"Fine. I do miss kickin' yo butt, but I'll kick it when we get back to the tower."
"Yeah, we'll see. But I've got some things up my sleeve."
Cyborg threw back his head and laughed. "I'm sure you do."
Beast Boy harrumphed, and subtly, pulled Raven to his side. But Cyborg was not born yesterday. He caught the movement and sent the two a sly look. "Well, aren't ya'll two cozy."
Raven blushed, trying to pull away, but Beast Boy's hand tightened on her waist. "Beast Boy," she hissed, "let go."
Robin shook his head as Raven tried to wrestle out of Beast Boy's grasp, glancing back over at Star. She smiled at him sweetly. His heart gave a little jump, which he tried desperately to ignore. Catching sight of Raven, she said goodbye to Mallory and made her way to her friend.
"Raven." Raven wiggled her way out of Beast Boy's arms, only to be crushed again, this time by Star.
"Starfire. So nice to…see you again," Raven gasped, earning a chuckle from her teammates.
Starfire dropped Raven so suddenly that she was thrown off balance and teetered for a bit. Starfire smiled. "Have you…any luck with the case so far?"
Raven shook her head. "No. Not at all."
"The same here," Robin added. "Though when we got on the elevator in the hospital, it collapsed on us."
Taking the confused looks from his teammates as a go-ahead, Robin grabbed Star's hand and flipped it over to show the burn marks the rope of the elevator had caused. "Someone cut the ropes. It was a clean break, but I don't know if it was meant for us, or the whole bottom floor. If Star had not have stopped that thing, the entire first floor would have been blown to smithereens, and the building would have collapsed. It could have been a fluke, but I don't believe in coincidences. And yet, unless the White Rose Killer knows who we are, no one would want to annihilate us."
"Dude, I dunno, "Cyborg said with a slow, unsure shrug. "I could have been some psycho who wanted payback, or just to see people hurt."
"I guess." Robin unconsciously rubbed the calloused marks on Star's hand with his thumb, which rested at her side. "But it doesn't seem to connect with anything. Maybe they wanted to destroy the entire hospital."
"I don't know, dude. Maybe it's not supposed to connect." Beast Boy suddenly groaned. "Dude, we still have fifteen minutes of lunch left, and I haven't eaten!"
Raven rolled her eyes. "Fine, go get something."
He bolted off to the lunch line, squeezing in before one of the coaches closed to door off, and grinned at the teacher before pilling on food.
"Anyway," Cyborg said, shifting from one foot to the other, "maybe the whole elevator thing was just a fluke. We've had tons of flukes in our life time."
"Maybe it was Sl—"
"Dude, if you say Slade, I'll slap you. First off, Slade is not involved in this, and second, you're just obsessed. Obsess over something else, like girls, exercise, videogames, cars, sex." Cyborg threw a look at Starfire, which had Robin's eyes narrowing and his cheeks flushing.
Raven gave him a deadly look. "Love the way you threw in sex, Cyborg. Very smooth."
"Who's talking about sex?" Beast Boy plopped down with a tray heaped with food, cringing when Raven shot him a death look. "All right, all right. Jeez, it was just a simple male question." Stuffing a tofu burger in his mouth, Beast Boy chewed silently, off in his own little world.
Raven rolled her eyes, crossing her legs and tucking her hands between her thighs. The temperature had dropped and snow still covered the ground from the last snowfall. And yet, they were still supposed to wear short skirts. Raven would like to see a man wear a skirt in twenty degree weather. They wouldn't survive. "I do agree with Cyborg, though it won't happen again. Slade wouldn't sink that low, Robin. This man is an entire different category. Slade would be under psychotic mastermind, whereas the White Rose Killer is just a sick excuse for a man." Raven raised an eyebrow at Beast Boy's distant look.
Robin straightened his shoulders. "Look, I know it's not Slade. Never said it was." He glared when his team, even Starfire, gave him a 'yeah, right, and pig's will sprout wings and fly' look.
"Umm-hmm. And Beast Boy has a mind beneath that thick skull of his."
"Bite me, Cyborg." Beast Boy folded his arms over his chest, scowling at his empty tray. Why were they always picking at him like that? He knew he was stupid, but did they have to bring it up every time? Maybe it was because he gave them a reason to think he was brainless, but, jeez, it rubbed his self-esteem raw.
Cyborg shrugged with a lopsided grin. The bell shrilled, signaling the end of lunch, and the titans slowly rose. Biding adieu, they separated, each heading in a separate direction. Cyborg was in heaven when he found his next class was Ag. Shop. Beast Boy sighed as he made his way to the theater room, surprised when Raven followed.
"Got this class too, huh?"
She nodded. "Yes."
They fell into a comfortable silence as they pushed open the double-doors. Taking seats in the very back, they waited for class to begin.
Beast Boy tapped a finger on his thigh, clicking his tongue against his teeth, not meaning to grate on Raven's nerves.
"Beast Boy, I know you're nervous, but if you don't quite making that noise, I'll break your teeth."
He blinked, biting the tip of his tongue and glancing around. Students loitered about, some glancing at them, others ignoring them. A man, who Beast Boy assumed to be the teacher, sat on the edge of the huge wooden staged, flipping through a script. He was dressed in all black, a bright silk red scarf tied around his neck. He was short, though lean, with a head of thick dark gray hair that was neatly cut and parted to the side. Shoving up thin glasses, the man glanced around, his dark eyes settling on Raven and Beast Boy.
Quickly sinking down in his chair, Beast Boy hoped, no, prayed, that the man's gaze would breeze right past them and—
"You two, in the very back!" Beast Boy groaned. So much for him not seeing them. "Come forward. I have never seen you in my class before."
With a muttered oath, Beast Boy gathered his things, sullenly, his posture bored, yet dangerous. He wasn't even trying to act the part of Logan Field. It just came naturally now.
Raven clutched her books to her chest, waiting patiently for Beast Boy to follow her. There was no way in hell she was walking up there by herself, especially when most eyes where on her.
"Hurry up! We've only got fifty minutes in here, and I don't want to waste it on you two. If you can't hurry up, I don't want you in my drama class. I need dependable students who'll listen to their superior. And believe me, honeys, I'm superior. Now, come up on the stage and introduce yourself." The man stood, the same height as Raven, and placed an impatient hand on his hip. "I don't have all day."
"Damn," Raven muttered, climbing the side steps to the stage. Beast Boy harrumphed, his shoulders slumped. "I can't wait to get out of here."
"Boy, don't mumble around me. If you have something to say, say it to my face. Juts remember, bucko, my pen and grade book always have the last say, not you."
"Whatever." Now comfortable with his new identity, Beast Boy tried to act tough as he towered ever the homosexual teacher.
"What did you say…" The man snatched Beast Boy schedule out of his hand and scanned his name. "Logan Field, huh? Well, Mr. Logan Field, I suggest you lose the attitude. I don't deal with people like you very well."
"Whatever." Beast Boy said slothfully.
The teacher snorted at the lazy tone. "And you, what's your name, missy?"
"Dru Moody."
"Dru Moody. Like the sound of that. Sounds like an actress name. Mysterious and seductive and innocent all at once." Beast Boy snorted, earning a glare from Raven and the teacher.
"Well, then. It's settled, you, " the man pointed to Raven, "I can handle. But you," he glared at Beast Boy, "will drive me to the brink of insanity." Darting to a pile of papers, the teacher grabbed two scripts and tossed them to Raven and Beast Boy. "I know it's cliché, but we're going to practice with Romeo and Juliet. Scene Two, Act Three. Now, get to it. By the way, I'm Mr. Cates."
Raven and Beast Boy exchanged looks before flipping open their books and reading lines.
"Rose!" Starfire turned around to see Mallory trying to catch up. Slowing her stride, Star patiently waited.
Mallory caught up, bending at the waist to catch her breath. "Give me a minute."
Starfire smiled, holding up a finger at Robin who waited by their car to take them home. He nodded, leaning a hip across the sleek red mustang. Catching eye of someone, he walked in their direction.
"Okay, I can breath again." Starfire turned her attention to Mallory.
"Might there be something you wished to ask me, Mallory?"
She laughed. "Jeez, you talk like you from a different planet." Starfire visibly blanched. "But, you're just too smart for the likes of this town." Star let out a breath she had no idea she was holding, and smiled once again.
"Anyway, I know this is sudden and all, with you being new and me pushing my friendship on you, but I really need a favor from you."
"And what might that be?"
Mallory sighed. "I have to take Christian to Wyatt's mother tonight, and I don't want to drive there and back alone. I know it's stupid, but when I have Christian in the car, I don't want to take chances. So…" For the first time, Mallory looked shy. "Would it be okay if…maybe…you rode with me to take him to their house?" Before Star could answer, Mallory added, "You don't have to. I mean, I could ask someone—"
"I would be honored." Starfire grinned when Mallory let out a ,"Thank God for people like you."
"Why don't I call you?"
Starfire blinked. "I have yet to get a telephone installed."
"Oh…"
"I could give you my address instead."
"Oh, okay, good." Mallory dug through her backpack, pulling out a piece of paper and a bright pink gel pen.
As Starfire wrote her address neatly down, Mallory glanced around. What caught her attention, though, was Robin and Wyatt talking. Wyatt glanced over at her, but she quickly averted her gaze. It was still way too early to even look at him. Maybe, when she was…eighty, she could handle it.
"Here you go." Mallory took the paper from Star with a grin. "Okay, I'll come by at, oh, six, okay?"
"Alright."
With a friendly hug and goodbye, Mallory trotted over to her large red SUV, shoving everything in the front seat. Driving off, Mallory sat back in her seat, and willed the tears away.
Robin walked over to Star, hands in pockets, and smiled. "Guess you made a new friend."
"Yes, I think I did. I am supposed to ride with her to drop off her child this evening."
"What about walking the streets?"
Starfire sighed, clutching her books to her chest. "You know as well as I that our scouting the streets is of no help. We are merely wasting time."
Robin grabbed her hips, pulling her to his side. It was only to keep her warm, of course. "I know."
Taking her books from her, he slid his hand around her waist. "But you still need to go."
He almost groaned when she turned those big green eyes to him. "But I have already promised I would—"
"I know. But what's more important? Taking a drive or saving women from a fate worse than death?" She bit her lip, gazing at the ground. He was right, of course. It was wrong to go play when she could be tracking down a rapist.
Robin actually felt her shoulders slump and felt like the scum of the earth. Her arms tightened around her books, and Robin actually did groan. Gently, he pushed her back against the car. "Fine. I'll talk to Twain so you can go."
Her eyes lit up. "Are you sure?"
He let out a defeated sigh. "Yeah. I'm sure."
She pulled his head down and kissed him hard, surprising them both. Pulling back with a shy grin, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thank you, Robin."
He grinned, opening the door for her. Climbing into his seat, Robin closed the door. Before she could buckle her seatbelt, Robin leaned over, resting a hand on the inside of her thigh. Her wide startled eyes made contact with his. They were a dark gold, almost brown.
He kissed her slowly, painfully slow, and moved his hand up a fraction. Her breath caught and he grinned. "You know what this means, right Star?"
Swallowing, Starfire asked, "W-what?"
"You owe me big time." She jumped, gasping,when his fingers brushed over her intimately, but he drew back quickly, and turned on the car as if nothing had happened. "Do you want to get something to eat?"
She blinked, staring at him as if he had grown another head. With a raised eyebrow, he shrugged. "Fine with me. I'll just find something else to snack on." Robin grinned when Starfire gave a quite moan. Pulling out of the school parking lot, Robin turned on the radio. He never noticed the glint of binoculars, or the lips thatcurled with hate.
Forget what I said earlier. The next chapter will have some action, so just bare with me, people. Until next time! After Mallory, Wyatt, and Christian (who are very, very important, present and future) I'll only add…about two or three more characters who have an imporant part in here. The rest, like Mallory's parents and Wyatt's parents, will have very small roles. Again, hope I don't confuse you. If you want action, you'll get it the next chapter. Well, it's more thrilling than action, but it's better than the chapters I have been doing! Ooh, I'm so happy! I turn 15 in two days! I can't wait until the 11th! Anyway...
Tootles!
