Kinsey: Hey! Welcome to my story. This is the first time I've ever tried an AU story, especially one where they don't have any powers-
Beast Boy (AKA Garfield Logan): HEY! Give me back my powers!
Kinsey: ::smirks:: No. If I did, I'd get thrown off the roof by Raven, mauled by you, blasted by birdarangs by Robin, shot at with starbolts by Starfire, and hit with by Cyborg's sonic cannon. So you don't get any powers. Also, that would defeat the whole purpose of the story.
Beast Boy: ::looks disappointed:: It was worth a try...
Kinsey: ANYWAYS, be gentle while writing it. I'm sorry if I took anybody's ideas, I've tried to keep it original. If I did happen to steal someone's ideas, just let me know and I'll take the story down until I can change it. And also, there will be a LOT of OOCness, especially with Raven and Starfire. Starfire's not really herself, she's just some random character with a random personality. Anyway, Raven, will you do the disclaimer?
Raven: ::opens one eye; she's meditating:: No. Get Robin to do it.
Kinsey: Fine, be that way. But if you're gonna be cranky, you're never going to get your powers back. ROBIN! STOP BLASTING THAT AWFUL MUSIC! OR I'LL SIC MY NON-EXISTENT TARANTULA ON YOU! AND COME DO THE DISCLAIMER!
Robin: ::shouting over the music:: FINE! KINSEY DOES NOT OWN TEEN TITANS, ANY IDEAS THAT SHE GOT FROM HER FRIENDS, 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU, OR ANY BANDS/MUSIC SHE MIGHT USE IN THE STORY! OR MCDONALDS!
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A very Goth-looking dark purple-haired teenager dressed in black sat on her bed cross-legged (criss-cross applesauce! XD), writing furiously in a small book. It had a black leather cover and looked brand-new.
It was her diary, and her name was Raven Roth. She stopped writing and read over her entry with a smile in her face.
Dear Diary,
Well, here I am, writing to you yet again. Not the average Goth activity, is it, writing in a diary? But I'm not the average Goth, so I guess it's okay for me to write in this thing. Beautiful book, is it not? I got it cheap from my friend who works at the bookshop. She's so nice to me, even though she's slightly preppy.
School was alright today, just like always. Sat by myself in all my classes except Geometry, where I sat next to Amanda, the preppy friend, as usual. I wish something would break this routine. I don't even have to think about anything anymore, it's like my body and brain know exactly what to do. In the morning I wake up, do all my morning stuff like get dressed, brush my hair and teeth, etc., skip breakfast, drive to school (I love being 16 – I can drive my car that I saved up for ages for!), work my way through the school day, sitting by myself in all classes (except Geometry, but I already told you about that) and lunch, drive back home, work on my homework... it's all very monotonous.
There's one thing that I don't want to happen to me: fall in love. Of course, with my luck, I'll probably fall in love with a jock or something like that. God, I hope not...
Well, I've got to go. Someone's coming, and the last thing I want to happen, besides falling in love, is someone discovering this diary.
Ciao, au revior,
Raven
Raven quickly stuffed the small leather-bound book underneath her pillow as her uber-preppy cousin, Kori, bounced into the Goth's room.
"What are you doing in my room, Kori?" Raven hissed. She hated people going into her room. Except her and her friends, of course. Plus, she was pissed about being interrupted.
"Whoa, Rae, calm down! I was just wondering if you were going to the dance on Friday, that's all," Kori explained.
"It's Raven to you, Kori. I call you by your name, please call me by mine. And do you think I'm going to that stupid dance? Do I look like I celebrate Valentine's Day?"
"Well, no, you definitely don't look like you celebrate Valentine's Day. I just thought you might like to have some fun, take a day off from being your Goth-y depressing little self. Plus, I heard that Gar Logan is going to be there..."
Raven's back stiffened at the mention of that name. How dare Kori insinuate that Raven actually liked that little twerp? He was in her English class, and she found him absolutely the most annoying little... thing... in the history of mankind. He was even worse than Kori, and that was saying something.
"And I suppose you're going with your little boyfriend? The incredible jock-boy, Richard Greyson? I suppose you're not taking a break from your annoying, bratty self either. It's a shame, I'm sure people would like you more when you got rid of your bounciness," Raven sneered (OOC ALERT).
"People would like you better if you got rid of that stupid bitchiness you get whenever someone's around. God, you used to be so fun until you became all Goth-like and bitchy. Whatever happened to that girl that used to play dress-up and play with your mom's makeup? The one who I could trust with any secret? The one who was my cousin?" Kori was almost in tears when she stormed out, leaving Raven shocked, staring after her.
Raven's head was swirling with what was just said. Had she really changed that much? She couldn't really remember a time when she wasn't what Kori had called "Goth". She swept a hand underneath her pillow and pulled out her diary. She picked up the pencil she had been using and started to write once more.
Dear Diary,
Well, here I am again. Same day, but something actually happened that wasn't normal. Kori practically blew up at me, telling me that I used to be fun when I was a child, that she used to love to be around me, that she used to consider me her cousin instead of some creep she had to live with.
It made me think. Did I used to be like that? Did I really? I can't remember. It's like my mind has blocked out everything since that day. Maybe I was like that. But I'm not anymore, and Kori should get that through that pretty little head of hers.
Maybe I'll go to the dance, just to make her happy. I haven't wanted to be nice to her in such a long time; I've almost forgotten how it feels to love someone, even as a cousin. She mentioned that Gar would be there, but I'll go anyways. God, Gar is so annoying. It's like he likes getting in trouble for pranking people, especially me. If I ever get my hands on him, he'll be dead in thirty seconds. Or at least get the wedgie of the century.
Geez, all this about deciding to be nice to Kori is making me sound like a stupid little do-gooder. Let me tell you right away: I'm not a goody two-shoes. Not by a long shot. At least, that's what everybody says.
Anyway, I've got to go help with dinner. God, I'm being good today. I must be coming down with something.
Raven
Raven closed her book with a snap, hid it under her pillow, and went downstairs to go help with dinner. Normally, she let Kori do all the cooking, but she was feeling generous. Besides, Kori had been cooking for the past week and Raven figured she needed a break. Luckily, Kori's parents would be coming home from their business trip tomorrow. Then they could have fun with cooking dinner, Raven thought sarcastically.
By the time she reached the bottom of the looooooooong staircase – she lived in the attic – she could see Kori stirring something on the stove.
"Hey, Kor," Raven said, deciding to be nice and "cheerful" for once. Kori looked startled.
"Raven? Why aren't you in your room like you always are?"
Raven shrugged. "Decided to come help you with dinner."
Kori looked at her suspiciously. "Really? Or were you trying to sneak out to meet your friends or something?"
Raven rolled her eyes. "Oh, yeah, Kori, I was going to sneak out and find out where my motorcycle-driving friends who smoke are, so I can drive my motorcycle and smoke."
Kori blinked once. Twice.
The Goth sighed. "Kori. I was being sarcastic, ever heard of sarcasm? Yes, I am going to help you make dinner using my amazing culinary skills."
Kori shrugged. "If you really want to help, go chop up those vegetables. I'll be making the rest of the soup. We're having homemade chicken noodle soup with homemade bread with store-bought jam."
Raven nodded and went over to chop up the veggies. "So, is Richard coming for dinner again? Do you want me to eat in my room again?"
Kori looked over from her pot of soup that she was stirring. "Yeah, he's coming again. I told you, his parents work all day and practically all night. You don't have to eat in your room if you don't want to. He wants to meet you, you know. He says he only knows you by reputation, which, by the way, Raven, is not very good, and he wants to actually meet you in person."
"Whoop-de-doo," Raven muttered. Kori heard and glared at Raven.
"He's trying to be nice to you, you know. He doesn't want to meet many people like you. You don't have to be mean."
Raven made a face and was about to say something when the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" Kori said, walking to the door. Raven peeked around the corner as Kori opened it to reveal Richard in all his athletic, smiling glory, one hand behind his back. He brought it in front of him, revealing one red rose.
Kori smiled and took it from him, smelling it, while Raven gagged, then ran upstairs when Richard looked at the corner where she was hiding.
Kori noticed where Richard was looking and laughed. "Oh, that's probably just my cousin. I can get her down from her room if you want to meet her. But be warned, her reputation isn't enough to prepare you."
"I'd like to meet your cousin – Raven, is it?" Richard said. Kori shrugged.
"If you're sure, then I'll go get her. Stay here, and whatever you do, don't follow me. She doesn't like anybody near her room."
Kori ran up all the stairs until she was outside of the attic. "Raven! Come out of there! Richard wants to meet you!" she called.
"Mmmf," Raven answered from the other side of the door. Kori rolled her eyes.
"If you don't come out of there, I'm going in," Kori threatened.
"MMMF!" came the answer again. "I'm doing stuff, go away. I'll go down in a little while."
"Nope, you have to go now. I'm coming in, Raven," Kori said, opening the door.
Raven was sitting at her makeup table, carefully putting eyeliner on. "Get out."
"Not until you go downstairs and meet Richard."
Raven groaned. "Do I have to?"
"Yes. Now get moving. You can't keep him waiting."
"Fine. I'll be down in a second. Now leave and allow me to put on my makeup without you bothering me."
Kori rolled her eyes and walked out of the room and down the stairs to where Richard was waiting. "She'll be down in a minute. She just needs a second to get ready, or something like that."
Upstairs, Raven looked in the mirror and sighed. She had no desire to go downstairs and meet Kori's precious boyfriend, but Kori didn't exactly give her a choice. She finished putting on her eyeliner and opened the door to the staircase leading away from her room. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes to calm herself, and stepped onto the first step. Or, she tried to. Instead, she totally missed the step, causing her to tumble down a long flight of stairs, right to the feet of Richard and Kori.
"Raven!" Kori exclaimed. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. I just have a few bruises, that's all," Raven said. She really didn't hurt that much, except for her ankle, which hurt. Kinda.
Richard looked up the stairs that Raven had fallen down. They went quite high, and it was a long fall. He whistled.
"That was a long fall. You sure you're alright?" he asked.
Raven rolled her eyes. "Quite, thank you very much."
She tried to pick herself up, but for some reason, her foot wouldn't support her. It hurt like hell when she tried to step on it, too. She groaned. Just what she needed, a sprained ankle in front of her evil preppy cousin and her evil jock boyfriend.
She managed to stand up and force a smile on her face. "Hello... Richard, was it? It's nice to meet the boy who's dating my dear cousin," she lied, gritting her teeth in pain.
"It's nice to meet you at last, Raven. Kori has told me so much about you," Richard said, a charming smile on his face. Raven gave a fake smile back and limped to a chair. She dropped into the chair and let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding. She started rubbing her ankle and winced when she hit a sore spot.
"So you are hurt," Richard observed. "Kor, hun, could you get your cousin some ice?"
Kori nodded from where she was watching the two meet. She went to the freezer and pulled out an ice pack. She then wrapped it in paper towels and handed it to Richard, as Raven was busy trying to get her platform boot off. It was a slight challenge, as the ankle had swollen considerably already, and the boot was already a tight one. Finally, Raven succeeded in getting the boot off. Richard handed Raven the ice, and she put it on her ankle, flinching from the cold.
Richard and Kori sat across the table from Raven, next to each other. They held hands and Richard pulled Kori into a slow kiss. It was a simple kiss, no tongue or anything like that, but it was enough to make Raven feel sick. Not from jealousy, mind you, as she would rather stick bamboo shoots beneath her nails than kiss Richard Greyson, but because public shows of affection disgusted her. She picked up her shoe, sock, and ice pack and limped away up to her attic, gagging.
She was almost there when she tripped and fell, once again, down the stairs, only backwards this time. She hit her head on the cold marble floor when she reached the bottom, and the world went black.
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Raven felt like she was made of lead. She couldn't move a muscle, it seemed. A faint 'Mmf' escaped her lips and she tried to open her eyes. She opened them with difficulty and turned her head so she could look at something other than the white ceiling. Richard was sitting in a hard-looking chair with Kori on his lap, her head on his shoulder, and she was sleeping.
Raven's eyebrows raised. What had happened? Why was she in the hospital? Why were her cousin and her cousin's boyfriend here? And why did she have the worst splitting headache she had ever had?
She opened her mouth to talk, but nothing but a faint groan came out. It was enough to get the attention of Richard, though. He turned his head towards her and smiled.
"Hey there, Rae," he said softly, trying not to wake Kori.
"Hi," she said, her voice croaking. "What happened? And why are you in this room with Kori asleep on your lap? And why do I have an IV stuck in my arm?"
"We think you tripped on the stairs while you were limping up. Whatever you did, you fell backwards down the stairs to your bedroom and hit your head pretty hard on the floor. You were knocked out, and we called an ambulance and here you are. Obviously, Kori and I decided to wait for you to wake up. Kori was really worried about you, you know. You have an IV in because... actually, I don't know. They put one in you when they were treating you, I guess. You also have a splint on your ankle, if you didn't notice."
"I don't remember what happened. But I have a splitting headache. And my ankle hurts like hell, but other than that, I'm in one piece. Can we go now?" she asked
"No, sorry, we have to wait until they reach your parents and get them to sign a form before they can let you go."
Raven's face fell at the mention of her parents. "We're going to be waiting a long time. My parents are dead."
"Raven, I'm sorry, I didn't know about your parents."
Raven glared at him. "Don't be sorry. I don't want sympathy, I want to get out. Besides, I live with Kori and her parents now. And Kori's parents are in Brazil right now on a business trip. I say we blow this place. "
Richard was about to say something when a nurse walked into the room.
"Good, you're awake," the nurse said. "You were out for quite a while." She busied herself with taking out Raven's IV, inciting a yelp from Raven.
After it was out, Raven sat up with some difficulty, putting on a sweet smile.
"Nurse, I'm feeling much better now. Do you suppose I could go home now? See, I have to get home to help take care of my little brother. My mother has the flu right now and she can't take care of my brother, and she can't come to the hospital to sign the release forms," she said, her eyes wide and innocent-looking.
The nurse's heart melted, but she had to obey the rules. "I'm sorry, but you have to stay here until somebody gets here to release you. Is there somebody else who could release you? An aunt or something?"
Raven pretended to think about it. "My only aunt and uncle are in Brazil right now, and they're unreachable. I don't know who else I could ask..." She turned to look at Richard thoughtfully. She smirked. "Richard, could your parents come? I know my parents wouldn't mind, since our parents are such great friends."
Richard was startled, but struggled not to show it. He fake-smiled. "Of course they wouldn't mind, Raven. Let me go call them. Nurse, where's a phone where I could reach my parents?"
"Out of the room and around the corner there's a pay phone. I'll be around this area. Raven can push the button and call me when you get back."
Richard nodded, set a still sleeping Kori on a different chair, and went out of the room and around the corner. He waited until the nurse left, then went back in the room.
"Are you crazy?" he hissed. "My parents don't even know you! What's the chance they're going to get out of work to sign you out of the hospital?"
Raven shot him a death glare. "Listen, Greyson, this is the one time you'll ever see me asking you for help. I need to get out of here, and you're the only one who can help. Please. OK, I'm freaking begging you. I don't want to be here anymore than you do, so if you ever want to leave, you need to call your parents and get one of them to take a break and come sign me out. Please."
Richard sighed. "Fine, but only because you're Kori's cousin. By the way, do you think we should wake her up yet?"
Raven turned her head to look at Kori. "Uh, Richard? I think she's already awake."
Kori's eyes were open, and she was curled up in the chair, watching the scene. She blushed when Richard looked at her.
"Sorry, I didn't want to interrupt your little argument," Kori explained quickly.
Richard shook his head. "Kor, you're so... so..." Richard trailed off.
"So annoying?" Raven suggested.
"HEY!" Kori protested.
Raven shrugged. "It was just an idea... Richard, can you please call your parents now? I have to feed my pet tarantulas. They're going to die if I don't."
Richard sighed and nodded. He got up from the chair, stretched, and walked out of the room in the direction of the phone.
"So, Kori.... were you sleeping the whole time? Or did you and Richard spend some time making out?"
Kori rolled her eyes. "We talked and then I fell asleep. No 'making out', as you put it."
"Ahuh. Suuuuure."
Kori glared. "Shush, Rae. Stop teasing me. Just because I'm a day younger than you-"
"-doesn't mean that I can tease you incessantly," Raven finished, rolling her eyes. "Yes, I know. I just don't care."
Kori opened her mouth to speak when Richard walked back into the room. He surveyed the scene in the room and raised an eyebrow. Kori was sitting normally now, and Raven was sitting with her legs to the side (grr, can't describe it. It's like you're sitting on your legs, but they're bent and on the side). Kori looked like she was going to speak, and both girls were glaring at each other. Raven was hissing slightly, like an angry cat.
"Whoa. Calm down, girls," he said, stepping between the two girls. Both girls glared at him. "Oookay. Well. Raven, my mom is coming to sign you out of the hospital. It took some convincing, so you owe me one."
"Whoohoo," Raven said sarcastically.
"Hey, you were the one begging me to call my parents and get you out of here," Richard pointed out. Raven continued to glare at him.
Just then, the nurse walked into the room. "You can go now, Miss Roth. This young man's mother checked you out, so you can go."
Raven smiled faintly as she got out of bed. She looked down and made sure she wasn't wearing anything like a hospital gown (she wasn't), and saw her splint.
"Uh... can I walk with the splint on? Or do I have to use crutches or something?" she asked.
"You can walk with it, but don't run. And be careful. No more falling down stairs," the nurse answered. "I'll call down for the wheelchair and then you can go."
Raven scowled. "I don't need a wheelchair. I can walk just fine." She demonstrated by walking up and down the length of the room.
"Hospital policy. You have to be escorted out in a wheelchair." The nurse went to the hospital line phone in her room and called down for a wheelchair.
"You have to wait here for the wheelchair. You won't see me again, so good-bye and I hope you don't go falling down anymore stairs, Miss Roth."
"Thank you for all your help," Kori said politely.
"Yes, thank you very much," Richard added. He nudged Raven, who was standing next to him (but far enough away so that she wasn't very close at all). She glared at him, and then looked to the nurse with a sweet smile on her face.
"Yeah, thanks," she said, her words not exactly living up to her sweet face, but the nurse smiled anyway.
"You're welcome. It's a pleasure to treat such a nice young lady as yourself." She waved and exited the room in a business-like manner.
Raven dropped her pleasant manner and turned to glare at Richard.
"What'd you do that for? I was about to say thank you on my own; I didn't need you nudging me! And, just for further notice, don't ever touch me again," Raven hissed.
"You were not going to say thank you! You were staring out into space; I doubt you even heard that she was going to go! God, why can't you be polite? Kori was right about you. You really do live up to your reputation," Richard said angrily. Kori was looking at the two of them with a white face.
"Y'know what? Your reputation is too good for you. You're just a regular old fucking son of a bitch," Raven retorted.
Richard was about to talk when Kori intervened. She was close to tears. Yes, again. Kori is a very emotional prep.
"Stop it, both of you! Why can't you two get along? For me?"
Raven looked towards the door so she wouldn't have to look at Kori or Richard. She opened her mouth to speak, but Richard beat her to it.
"I'm sorry, Kor, hun. It's not your fault your cousin is the way she is."
Raven pretended she didn't hear him, but her hands curled into fists.
"Richard, I-"Kori started to speak when the door opened and a man pushing an empty wheelchair stood in the doorway.
"Ride for a Miss Roth?"
Raven turned around at the sound of her name.
"That's me," she said, sighing and walking towards the wheelchair. She sat down in it and made a face. "I hate sitting in wheelchairs. They make me feel weird."
"They make everybody feel weird," the man said. "Alright, let's get going."
He pushed the wheelchair out the door and down to the lobby. Kori and Richard followed behind, talking to each other the whole way.
At the lobby, Raven saw a woman who she assumed was Richard's mom, since the first thing she did was rush over and hug Richard. Richard gently pushed her away, and she greeted Kori like they were old friends. Considering Kori and Richard had been dating for some time, it wasn't surprising. Then Mrs. Greyson turned towards Raven, who was glaring at the man who was pushing the wheelchair, since he wouldn't let her get up from the wheelchair until she was out the door.
"Hello, are you Raven?" Mrs. Greyson asked, trying to be friendly.
Raven stopped glaring at the man and looked at Mrs. Greyson, silently appraising her. Finally she nodded slowly. "Yeah, that's me. I'm sorry, I'd normally shake your hand or do some normal greeting thing, but since I'm not allowed to get out of this wheelchair, I'll just have to do it later."
Mrs. Greyson smiled at her and said it was no problem, that Raven didn't have to do any 'normal greeting thing' at all, and that they had better go since she had to be back at work soon.
They all trooped out the doors, the man still pushing Raven's wheelchair until they were outside the hospital and Raven was allowed to stand up. She swayed a little bit at first, and almost fell down, but Kori grabbed her arm and kept her steady.
"Thanks, Kor," Raven said. She was still faking a good mood for Richard's mom.
The drive back to Kori and Raven's house was long and quiet. Mrs. Greyson knew better than to ask Raven exactly how she had ended up in the hospital, and why she couldn't just ask her parents to pick her up. Finally, they were at their destination, and the two girls got out of the car.
Richard walked Kori up to the front door of the house and kissed her goodbye. Raven rolled her eyes and pretended to gag as she took a key off the chain on her neck and unlocked the door.
Richard shot her a watch-it-you-owe-me glare, and walked back to the car as soon as he was sure that Kori was safely inside the house (and, indirectly, Raven, as she went in before Kori did). Kori watched from the window as the car pulled out of the driveway, then she turned to look at Raven, who was standing next to her.
"Why can't you get along with him? It's not that hard; he's a really nice person," Kori asked.
Raven sighed, then turned on her heel and walked to the stairs. Before she started (very carefully) going up, she turned back to look at Kori, who was standing right where she was before.
"Good luck with dinner," Raven smirked, walking up the stairs, keeping a firm hand on the railing at all times.
Downstairs, Kori sighed and went to the kitchen where she tried to salvage any bits of dinner she could.
She sighed; dinner was ruined. She could go get something from the McDonalds around the corner, or she could go hungry. She voted for McDonalds.
"Raven!" she shouted up the stairs. A faint "I'm busy, go 'way" was heard.
Kori rolled her green eyes. "RAVEN! If you want dinner, get your butt down here right now!" she shouted up again.
Raven's door opened and Raven stuck her head out. "Why?"
"Because I'm going to McDonalds to get dinner, that's why. And I'm only going once, so you'd better hurry up and tell me what you want and give me some money if you want to eat tonight."
"Come up here then, I'm not going down a flight of stairs just to hand you a five dollar bill," Raven called down.
Kori rolled her eyes and ran up the stairs. "So, what do you want?"
"To know how you can date someone like him... and nothing else. I'm not very hungry."
Kori glared. "I'm so tired of you putting Richard down! It's a good thing you don't want anything for dinner, because I wouldn't be getting you anything anyways!"
Raven just shoved a five dollar bill into Kori's hand and then went back into her room, slamming the door behind her.
Kori stared at the closed door. "God, Raven, you really are mean!"
Inside, Raven smirked. "I know," she said softly. "But there's nothing you can do about it, dearest Kori."