Published: June 23, 2020

Track 22: First and Best

"Holy shit, this thing is huge!"

"If we're talking about the size of your thing," Victor replied slyly, "then, that's not what she said."

In response, Gar snapped his hand out to smack the taller man on the shoulder.

"What exactly were you expecting, a moped?" Raven asked in an even, dry tone.

Gar didn't bother answering her rhetorical question. He had yet to break his gaze from the enormous vehicle that sat in the hotel parking lot. It measured over twice his size in height and at least three cars-worth in length. The recently waxed body was painted a shiny silver, the windows were tinted, and the rims of the wheels glistened in the midday sun. Their tour bus was positively glorious.

"Say hello to our home away from home," Wally announced to the group. "We're still in hotels every night, but this is our ride for the next five thousand miles or so.

"She's beautiful," Victor said, totally awestruck. Now that he was done teasing Gar, his full attention was on the tour bus. He walked up to the vehicle and inspected it from different angles, "Man, I would love to open her up and take a look inside her engine, or fiddle around with her electrical system..."

"You make that sound so perverted, you crazy gearhead," Dick commented with a smirk.

"Does it have a name?" Kory said. "Victor calls his automobile 'Baby' all the time."

At that, Honey and the Bees snickered amongst themselves. When Victor turned to shoot the entire group a defensive glare, Karen said, "It's kind of cute, watching him geek out like that. You're a real machine freak, aren't you?"

Raven skimmed through the rental paperwork and stated, "Apparently, this model is called the H3-45 Tower."

By unanimous vote, the tour bus was christened as "The Tower". They spent the next hour loading all of their equipment and excess luggage into the lower compartments. Walking up the steps and through the doors, Gar held back a gasp. The interior was just as luxurious as he had always dreamed. The walls were panelled with polished wood and the driver's chair was upholstered in sleek, black leather. Directly behind was a wide seat that could fit one or two people if ever someone wanted to hang out at the very front.

The rest of the bus was divided into three main sections with a narrow corridor running through the middle. The first section had a booth on either side, which consisted of a small table between two opposing benches. The second portion held a kitchenette on one side and a washroom on the other. The back of the bus was lined with a large, U-shaped couch. The amenities included four flat-screen TVs, a Keurig machine, a microwave and two mini-fridges. Gar peeked inside to see that they were already stocked with drinks, snacks and more. The Titans and roadies claimed the couch at the very back while the Bees took the front booths. Behind the steering wheel, Conner carefully pulled the tour bus out of the parking lot and into the street.

"Up, up and away!" he shouted, honking the horn while everyone cheered.

Gar settled into his seat next to Raven. It took all of his willpower not to drape his arm around her shoulders. He was still recovering from their morning encounter in the gym and was filled with a mixture of emotions. Respect and gratitude towards Dick for his timely advice. Relief and tenderness from the exchange of apologies with Raven. Friskiness because... Well, that was self-explanatory. If not for the interruption of those old ladies, Gar might have taken her right then and there. He glanced at the woman beside him through his peripheral vision and remembered that he still needed to map out their date.

"So what do you guys plan on doing during our free time tomorrow?" he casually asked the group.

Bart answered first. "I'm hitting all the tourist spots with Tim."

"Conner and I are going on a double-date with the Graysons," Cassie said and Kory nodded enthusiastically in confirmation.

"Sounds fun! I'd tag along, but I don't wanna fifth wheel," Victor replied, then nudged Gar with his elbow, "unless the grass stain over here wants to be my hot date."

"Hard pass, I'd rather go exploring. I think I'm gonna try subway-hopping," Gar said.

"I don't get how you can just wander around aimlessly like that," remarked Victor. "On second thought, I better go pick up some souvenirs for Sarah. She's still pissed at me for missing her calls the other night..."

"What about you?" Dick asked in Raven's direction.

"Not sure yet. I want to check out the New York Public Library, or maybe the Metropolitan Museum of Art."

"We're in the Big Apple and you wanna go to a library? Bo-ring!" Gar exclaimed, making sure to ham it up.

"I suppose that anything involving reading or staying quiet for more than five minutes is too much to ask from you," Raven blithely answered back.

Gar fought back a grin and he could tell that she was doing the same. Before getting on the bus, they had agreed upon their cover stories. Hopefully, their conflicting interests would hide their secret tryst. Kory and Cassie told Raven their plans while Dick, Victor, Tim and Bart started a 4-player video game on one of the bus' screens. In the meantime, Gar brainstormed ideas for their date. A walk through Central Park was too cliché. Raven said that she would enjoy visiting a museum, but that would put him to sleep. A light bulb went off in Gar's head and he pulled out his phone. The idea was super last-minute and he worried that it wouldn't be doable. He was lucky; there were two seats available in the premium section. His eyes bugged out of their sockets at the price. It was way outside of his regular budget for a first date, but for Raven, it would be worth it. Without lingering on his modest bank account for too long, he clicked the "Pay Now" button.

About an hour into the drive, everyone took turns to stand up and stretch their legs within the "Tower", which created a shuffle in the seating arrangements. Gar intended to stick by Raven, but she had a logistics meeting with Wally. The pair of managers went all the way to the front and squeezed onto the small bench behind Conner. Although they were sitting a little too close for Gar's comfort, he refrained from protesting out loud. He remembered his promise to Raven and swallowed his jealousy. In the end, he sat at one of the booths with Cassie, Kory and Karen. The ladies were in the midst of trading stories about the various men in their lives.

"One time," Karen said, "I went on a date with this guy I'd been texting for a couple of weeks. We hit it off, so we made dinner plans. When I arrived at the restaurant, his mother was there with him!"

"You're kidding!" gasped Cassie.

"I wish! She sat with us the whole time. The lady even fed him and wiped his mouth with a napkin. That was by far, the worst date I have ever been on."

"What about you?" Cassie asked Kory.

"Let's see, Richard once brought me to a festival of lobsters," Kory said with a thoughtful look. "He forgot that I am allergic to crustaceans."

Cassie continued the chain. "Before I met Conner, I was on a lot of dating apps. I swiped right on a total stud. Based on his photos, he was super tall, had an amazing head of hair, and was absolutely jacked."

"Let me guess," said Karen, "he turned out to be five foot nothing, bald and scrawny?"

"No catfishing, he looked exactly like I thought he would. The date itself went really well, but everything went to shit when his wife turned up."

The three women heaved a collective groan, then chuckled with pained expressions on their faces. Karen turned her attention to Gar."And you? What's the worst date you've ever been on?"

"Hmm, it's hard to say. My dating experiences have been pretty tame. I don't have any crazy stories like you do."

"Then what about the best date?" Kory asked.

"Let's see..." Gar said while scratching his chin. "Well, the most memorable one was when I was fifteen. We went to an amusement park and I managed to get my very first kiss on the Ferris wheel."

"Aww, that's adorable," said Cassie. "On the Ferris wheel, no less! How romantic."

"What's the most romantic thing someone has ever done for you?" Gar secretly hoped to get some valuable data from his female companions. He wondered to himself if Raven was the type to appreciate grand romantic gestures. He didn't have the money for a helicopter ride or anything over-the-top like that. That being said, he definitely had a flair for the dramatic. After all, he was a musician that thrived being on stage. Perhaps he should play to his strengths...

Karen answered first. "I can't think of anything major but a lot of small things come to mind."

"Totally," Cassie agreed, "there's nothing like coming home from a long day of work to find out that Conner cleaned up the entire apartment, all without being asked."

"My last partner always made me coffee in the morning. He never got the amount of sugar right, but it was sweet," Karen said, wiggling her eyebrows at the unintentional pun.

"Richard sometimes leaves little notes inside my purse when I'm not looking," Kory offered, "and I adore it when he brushes my hair, it is most relaxing."

Gar's thoughts immediately jumped to Raven's hair, which had grown quite a few inches since he first met her. He often fantasized about running his fingers through those dark, silky locks. It now hung just below her shoulder blades, and she usually wore it down in a straight style or in a small bun at the nape of her neck. Gar remembered how cute she looked in the braided pigtails during their movie night on Christmas Eve. "How hard is it to braid hair?" he asked no one in particular. "It can't be that complicated, can it?"

The three women looked at him in surprise. Cassie arched her brow and replied, "Well as a professional stylist, I find it pretty easy. Why, do you want to learn?"

"Sure, why not? If I ever have a daughter, I can show up all of the other dads with my sick hair stylin' skills!"

Karen chuckled and said, "A white boy learning how to braid hair, this should be entertaining!"

He simply raised his hands and wiggled his fingers. "Please, I'm a guitarist. My digits are the most dexterous."

Gar soon discovered that braiding hair was nothing like playing the guitar. After practising on Kory's mane for what felt like forever, he started to become discouraged. He repeated the instructions to himself: Left section over the middle, switch. Right section over the middle, switch. Repeat. That part wasn't difficult, it was the fact that the strands were slippery and he kept dropping them. Under Cassie's patient guidance, he eventually ended up with something that resembled a plait. "Once you master the French braid, I'll teach you the Dutch technique," she said.

"And maybe one day, you'll upgrade to cornrows," Karen added with a chuckle.

The tour bus reached the Canadian-American border a couple of hours later. Since they were a large group, everyone had to get out and be processed inside the patrol building. Gar enthusiastically wagged his passport in Raven's face as he got off the bus, which caused her to roll her eyes and smile. Once their documents were verified, they hit the road again. He hoped to regain his seat next to Raven, but the roadies had already corralled her into a game of cards at one of the booths. The other booth was occupied by Victor, Wally and the twins, who were in a serious discussion about cars. Apparently, Wally was quite the speed demon and he even had experience with drag racing. The only empty seat was in the very back with Dick, Kory and the other three Bees.

"We were just finalizing the schedule for tomorrow," Dick said.

"Since you guys are opening, you may as well do your sound check last. That way, all of your equipment is already set up for the beginning of the show," said Karen.

"Sounds good to me," replied Gar.

"And we'll be quick so you have more time to rehearse," Roy said pointedly. Gar tensed at the thinly veiled jab. He was still pretty embarrassed from his shoddy performance the night before. It didn't help that it was their first joint concert, which probably left the Bees with a poor impression of his abilities. He was tempted to react defensively, but Kory swooped in before he could say anything.

"I assure you that we shall not need more than the regular amount of time," she huffed. The woman was clearly offended on Gar's behalf. Roy visibly recoiled at Kory's icy glare, which in turn made Gar warm with affection for his loyal friend. He could always count on her to step in whenever she felt like one of her loved ones was being attacked. This reminded Gar that it didn't really matter what other people thought of him. His team knew that he could do better and that was all the reassurance he needed. Dick was right, the Bees were talented, but so were the Titans. They hadn't gotten this far just because of a lucky break. Gar had practiced music for more than half of his life; one small failure wasn't going to bring him down. Besides, there was no need to compete.

"If I need extra practice, I'll do it tonight when we get to the hotel," Gar said. "In fact, we may need to practice together. How would you feel about a collab?"

Roy and Garth looked like they were about to object, but their team leader raised her hand to shut them up. "What exactly did you have in mind?" Karen asked.

Gar smiled and leaned forward in his seat, "So, I was thinking..."

Raven stared at her reflection in the mirror, dissatisfied. She desperately wished she could consult Cassie or Kory about an appropriate date outfit, but that would let the cat out of the bag. Already, she had gone through ten different combinations. It didn't help that she was basically living out of a suitcase, which gave her very few options to work with. Her travel wardrobe consisted of three main categories: athleisure, business and formal wear. Her fancy red dress would be too much, but she could hardly go out in yoga pants either. She ended up settling on a simple, emerald green blouse and a black pencil skirt. It was a little too managerial for a lunch date, but it would have to do for now.

The cold, damp weather was typical for early March in New York, so she topped off the outfit with her thick peacoat and a wool scarf. Very soon, she was scheduled to meet Garfield at their "top secret" location, which were his words, not hers. Upon arriving at their hotel the night before, they clandestinely discussed their plans in her room. Much to her chagrin, he refused to tell her any details of what they were doing. All he said was, "Be ready to eat, sit back and relax". She hoped that he would hang around her room for a bit longer, but he said that he had "stuff" to take care of.

In her usual fashion, Raven arrived at their meeting point a few minutes early. She shuffled back and forth on the sidewalk, trying to stay warm. A hand tapped her on the shoulder, which made her jump out of startlement. Turning around, she came face to face with Garfield. Azure-green irises met indigo-blue as he reached out to take her hand. She peered up at him, admiring his taller height and broad shoulders. His mouth was drawn in a wide, lopsided grin and his blonde hair looked windswept from being outside. The freckles that dusted his face only added to his boyish charm and his eyes glinted with childlike excitement. Raven's stomach flip-flopped. She didn't realize how much she was looking forward to their date until this moment. A gust of chilly air blew past them and she shivered. "So are we just going to stand here or do we actually have a destination?" she asked.

"Cold, are you? No worries, our first stop isn't very far."

Garfield let go of her hand to pull her into a sideways embrace, blocking her body from the wind. He led them around the corner and to her surprise, they walked straight into a restaurant. It was a brightly-lit diner with a 1940's aesthetic. Vintage paraphernalia decorated the walls and counters, giving it an old-timey vibe. They were led to a table in the back corner of the restaurant, where it was a little quieter. Before sitting down, Garfield took Raven's coat and helped her into her seat. Their elderly waitress smiled at his chivalry with approval as she handed over their menus. Once they were settled in, Raven peeked over her menu and asked, "Are you telling me that I waited outside that whole time when we're eating just around the corner?"

Garfield chuckled and said, "Hey, it's not my fault you're always early! I wanted to keep it as a surprise."

"Well, it's definitely a surprise that you picked this place. I thought you'd take me to a vegan restaurant or something."

"Nah, I'll make do."

"Are you sure? I don't like tofu, but I'm not opposed to vegetables."

"Really, it's okay. I know you have a soft spot for brunch."

Raven's face flushed at his thoughtfulness, then wondered aloud, "Why would anyone ever eat anything besides breakfast food?"

They grinned at each other and looked back down at their menus. Predictably, Raven ordered the fresh strawberry waffles and an English Breakfast tea. Garfield asked for lemonade and a veggie burger, sans the cheese and mayo. As they waited for their food to arrive, their comfortable banter petered out into an awkward silence. It was strange. Up until this point, their interactions had been fairly easy. Raven rarely felt self-conscious around other people, but now, she second-guessed herself. Did she look good? Did she smell nice? Was there something in her teeth?

The man in front of her looked equally uncomfortable. He fidgeted with his cutlery and avoided making eye contact. The two of them had hung out by themselves on multiple occasions, but that was always in a platonic context. It dawned on Raven that their first date was loaded with expectations and now, they were bumbling through it. Realizing this, she lightly pounded her fist on the table and said, "Gar, this is ridiculous. Why are we being so weird?"

"You noticed that too?"

"Of course! I don't know about you but... I'm nervous."

"Me too! And I have no idea why!" he exclaimed with a shaky laugh. "I've been trying to think of something smart to say, but I keep blanking. All that comes to mind is random animal trivia."

"Then go for it," she said while shrugging, "anything is better than this."

"Uh, okay... How much do you know about elephants?" he asked.

"Not much," Raven replied, reaching out to take a sip of water.

"Well, did you know that a female elephant's reproductive organs are located at the top of her back? During mating, the sperm has a crazy long distance to travel. The average length of an elephant penis is six feet, so if I stood next to one, it would be taller than me!"

Raven spat out her water and gaped at him, stunned. Of all of the animal factoids that he could have told her, she was not expecting that one. The normally taciturn woman burst into a fit of laughter and Garfield joined in shortly after. They struggled to contain their giggles and only managed to calm down when the waitress came around with their order. After clinking their drinks together and saying cheers, they dug into their meals.

"Wow, elephant penises," commented Raven as she took a bite of her waffle. "You're lucky I didn't lose my appetite."

"I told you I couldn't think of anything clever to say. Something about you makes my brain go to mush."

"Don't blame your mushy brain on me," she replied. "I'm sure it has to do with all of those video games you play."

Now that the tension was broken, they found their rhythm. They began talking about Pokémon, which led to many other topics like cartoon shows, films and music. "Did you always know you wanted to do music professionally?" Raven asked. "It's a risky career path and it doesn't always work out."

"You sound just like my father. Steve pushed me to take over his business, but I was never interested in all of that. I'm not smart enough and I don't think I have the personality for it."

"I don't buy the whole 'not being smart enough' excuse," she replied, "but I agree, you don't seem like the type who would be satisfied with sitting at a desk and pushing pencils all day."

Garfield shook his head and said, "It's not just that. I hate how greedy the business world is. Everything is about money, power and status."

"One could argue that the music industry is the same. Isn't it your dream to get rich and famous?" she countered.

"Well, yeah, but that's different."

"How so?"

"I dunno, it just is. Being an artist is about honing my passion and sharing it with the world. The more famous I become, the more people get the chance to connect with my music. And if those people wanna pay me for that experience, who am I to stop them? Business is cold and unfeeling, there's no heart involved."

Raven winced and said, "Ouch. You do realize that I'm technically a businesswoman, right?"

"Oops," Garfield responded with a grimace. "Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you."

"No offense taken. Besides, you're not far off from the truth. One of the difficult things about running a company is that I can't be guided by my feelings. Every decision needs to be rational and well thought-out, or it could literally cost me." She paused to take a drink from her mug and looked down at her plate. Remembering Garfield's request for transparency, she raised her eyes and spoke honestly. "Truthfully, I envy you. I don't think I've ever felt passionate about something. At least, not to the point where I could just throw caution to the wind, follow my heart and take a chance."

He gave her a contemplative look and answered, "That's not true. Being an entrepreneur is all about taking chances. And aren't you taking a chance on me?"

"I suppose I am," she replied softly. "So what do you think, am I cold and unfeeling?"

"Not at all. You're one of the warmest people I know."

Raven rolled her eyes but didn't say anything to deny his claim. Garfield reached out to rest his hand on top of hers and stroked her skin with his thumb. He gave her a big, bright smile, which she returned with a tiny version of her own. Their plates had been empty for a while, but they remained in the restaurant to simply enjoy each other's company. They continued talking about mundane things, making little jokes and flirting back and forth. If the date ended here, Raven would have been perfectly satisfied. However, Garfield still had plans. "Yikes, it's later than I thought. We better head out soon or we'll miss the show," he said while waving over their waitress for the check.

"So it's a show, hmm? Are we watching a movie?"

"Not quite, although it does involve a theatre."

Raven moved to get her wallet from her coat pocket and said, "If you bought tickets for the show, then I've got lunch."

"Oh, you don't have to-"

"-What?" she challenged. "Don't tell me your masculinity is so fragile that you can't handle me paying."

His shocked reaction turned into a pleasantly surprised smirk. He leaned back in his chair and rested his hands behind his head. "On the contrary, I'm perfectly fine with it. I like a woman who takes charge."

Once the bill was paid, they strode back out onto the cold Manhattan streets. Garfield led the way, holding her hand as they wove through the busy crowd. After a few blocks, they stopped in front of a large, imposing building. The windows were covered in posters and a large sign read "Gershwin Theatre". Raven gasped and said in a low voice, "Are we...?"

"That's right, Rae. We're watching a musical."

Even though it was a matinée showing, the theatre was packed full. The duo sat in the dead centre of their section, which was less than ten rows away from the stage. When Raven realized how good their seats were, she turned to him in mild panic. "Gar, these tickets must have cost you a fortune!"

"It's no biggie," he replied nonchalantly. It was, in fact, a biggie. The tickets were 350 bucks a pop, but there was no way in hell that Gar would ever admit that to her. He knew that she would only get mad at him for blowing so much money in one shot. However, her ignorance didn't stop her from complaining.

"This is far too much. You really should be wiser with your spending."

"Relax! It's not like I need to pay your old man a dowry so I can have your hand in marriage," he joked. Too late, he saw his mistake. How could he have been so dumb? He kicked himself while Raven's demeanour turned chilly.

"My 'old man' is gone, so that won't be an issue," she mumbled gruffly.

"Shit," he thought, then apologized out loud, "I was being stupid again. I'm so sorry, Rave."

"Don't be. I never really knew him anyway. That man was never a father, just a sperm donor. And like I said, he's gone now."

"Gone, as in...?

"As in dead. He passed away last summer."

An awkward silence took over for the second time that day. Gar had his fair share of experience with deceased parents. Even if Raven was never close with her father, a loss was still a loss. And yet, Gar could tell that she only felt resentment rather than grief towards the man. She was quiet for several moments and based on her clenched fists, Gar sensed that she was irritated with his impertinence. To his relief, she didn't blow up. Her aura calmed and he heard her heave a sigh.

"Did I kill the mood?" he asked with regret.

"Not totally. Maybe you can salvage it by putting your arm around me."

Without hesitation, Gar followed her orders. Raven leaned her head on his shoulder and snuggled in close. The lights dimmed and the orchestra began to play the overture. The curtain was a giant map of Oz and it raised to reveal a backdrop of gears surrounding a giant clock. A blonde woman dressed in a blue ball gown floated onto the stage. She recounted the tale of the Wicked Witch of the West, also known as Elphaba. Gar grinned in anticipation and looked down to see Raven's wonderstruck face. In his opinion, Wicked was one of the best musicals of modern times and he was thrilled to share the experience with her. He had seen it once at a local theatre, but that was nothing compared to a bonafide Broadway production. As for Raven, this was her first-ever live musical experience. He sincerely hoped it wouldn't disappoint.

Two and a half hours later, the pair walked out of the theatre hand in hand. They lingered by the exit to discuss the performance, but not for long, since they still needed to return to the hotel before heading to the venue.

"Did you like it?" Gar asked tentatively.

"I loved it," she replied. "The music, the stage design, the story... It was wonderful. I can see why it's one of your favourites."

"Yeah?"

"The whole animal activism theme is right up your alley."

"Animals are people too!" Gar practically shouted. "Who was your favourite character?"

Raven answered, "Elphaba, hands down. She's such an intriguing protagonist and I related to her a lot. People think that she's dark and creepy but really, she's just misunderstood."

"And like her, you look great in green. Hey, does that make me Fiyero?" he asked cheekily, referring to Elphaba's love interest.

"Actually, I see you more as Glinda the Good Witch."

"Seriously? Why?" he questioned.

"Well, you're both blonde, in the literal and figurative sense. You care too much about public perception and other people's opinions of you," she answered with a coy smirk. "But you're positive. You're like a light that shines brightly wherever you go. You're good."

"You're good-er. In fact, I'd say you're the best."

Raven shot him an amused look, then quoted one of the songs, "Because I knew you, I have been changed for good."

"You really think so?"

"I've never had so many friends before... It's all because you took a chance on me, way back when you signed to Nevermore. Despite how aloof I was towards you, you never stopped trying to coax me out of my shell," she said with a blush. "And now, you push me out of my comfort zone and encourage me to try new things. I... I appreciate it."

"Anything for you, Rae," he said, smiling widely. "But you know, 'For Good' is a song about goodbyes and friendship."

"You're a really good friend."

Gar heaved a groan which then turned into a laugh. "Have I just been friendzoned again?"

She smacked him playfully on the arm and said, "No, you idiot. Can't we be friends and romantically involved at the same time? 'Friend' is literally in the word 'boyfriend'".

"So I'm your boyfriend now?" he asked hopefully.

"Not quite. But I am warming up to the idea."

"So what's a step between friend and boyfriend? Best friend?"

"Hmmm... If anything, I would say that that's a step above."

"How so?"

"Think about it," she said, "if you had to rank the people in your life from least to most important, who would be at the top?"

"Rita and Steve, for sure," Gar replied without missing a beat, "they get on my case all the time, but I know they love me.

"Who else?"

"Vic, although I'm pretty sure Sarah is in first place for him."

"I think 'future spouse' takes precedence over 'best bro'."

"You aren't far behind," he said, giving her a light nudge. "In fact, you're a pretty strong contender."

"Lucky me," replied Raven sarcastically.

"What about you?" Gar flipped the question back to her.

"Cassie. My cat."

"Pfft, your cat doesn't count."

"Whatever happened to 'animals are people too'?" she asked, then added, "the Titans are high up there."

"Oh?"

"Victor, Richard and Kory are basically my siblings at this point."

"What about me? Am I at the top?" Gar questioned eagerly.

"You're a pretty strong contender."

"I guess you could say I'm your BFIT."

Raven threw up her hands in confusion. "There you go again with your acronyms, just like DTR. You know I'm not current with what the kids say these days."

"I just made it up right now!"

"So what is BFIT supposed to mean?"

"Boyfriend In Training."

"Hmmm, I don't know about that," Raven murmured coyly, "I think I prefer Best Friend In Training. Does that work for you?"

She looked up at him through her eyelashes and her dark blue eyes sparkled mischievously. Her cheeks were rosy from the cold and her full lips were bent in a shy smile. Gar's stomach flip-flopped. It was no grand declaration of love, but his heart soared at her words. He felt like he could defy gravity. Gar leaned down to kiss her and to his delight, she kissed him back with enthusiasm. Raven originally said that she was against public displays of affection, but that wasn't stopping her now. They held hands all the way back to the hotel, although they made sure to let go before heading in. Gar accompanied her right up to the door of her room. She moved past the threshold but he remained outside with one arm leaning against the doorframe. "Any chance you'll let me inside?" he asked cheekily.

"On the first date? I don't think so."

"Don't you want to continue where we left off in the gym?"

Raven looked sideways as if she were crossing the street, making sure that no one else was present in the hall. She chewed on her lip and tucked a rebellious strand of hair behind her ears. Those small, endearing gestures spurred Gar even further and he reached out to lay a hand on her waist. Raven covered his hand with her own and for a moment, it looked like she was considering letting him in. In the end, she brushed him away and whispered regretfully, "Gar... We have to be at the venue soon. We're already cutting it close as it is."

"I can be quick about it!" he loudly whispered back.

"Hopefully not too quick."

He grinned at her teasing but respectfully backed away. If she wasn't ready, that was okay. In any case, he had a strong feeling that today's date wouldn't be their last. Right before Raven closed the door, she moved forward to catch his lips in a kiss that made his toes curl. "Thanks for taking me out today," she whispered. "That was the best first date I've ever had."

As Gar skipped back to his room with a giant grin etched on his face, he was very much inclined to agree.

The show was starting in ten minutes. Kory and Richard were already waiting in the wings and Victor wasn't far behind. He lingered in the hallway with his cell phone plastered to his ear. Raven assumed by his tense expression and frantic voice that he and his fiancée were having an argument.

"Baby, can we please talk about this later? The concert is starting soon and I have to get ready to go on stage." Victor paused to cover his other ear with a palm. The background noise coming from the crowd waiting behind the curtain was getting louder as showtime approached. "Yes, I know. No, I... No! Of course I have time for you! But- Sarah, please... I lo-"

Raven pretended like she didn't hear when Victor let out a yell of frustration. He forcefully shoved the phone into his back pocket and stomped off to join Kory and Richard, cursing under his breath. She wanted to go and check on him, but at the moment, there were more pressing matters at hand. Garfield was nowhere to be found. As the Titans' manager, it was her responsibility to find him. He wasn't in the green room where the Bees were currently hanging out. She checked all over the backstage area, even peeking into a janitorial closet. Eventually, she clued in and went to the men's washroom. The door was shut, so she knocked and called his name. A pained groan confirmed his presence. She took a chance and tried the doorknob, which was fortunately unlocked. Garfield crouched over the sink, the tap running a full stream of cold water. His skin looked clammy and a little green. The haggard face reflected in the mirror made it obvious that stage fright had taken over again. She walked inside, turned off the tap and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"You okay?"

"Not really. I thought I was fine, but I can't stop thinking about the last show. I'm terrified I'm gonna screw up again."

"You'll be great," she replied with a firm, confident tone. "Do you have your lucky penny?"

"Yeah, but it didn't help me last time."

"Did you try my mantra?"

"I couldn't remember the words."

"Leniret animam meam." She rubbed his back while chanting, trying to emit as much soothing energy as possible. With eyes screwed shut, he whispered along with her. After a moment or two, he visibly relaxed and re-opened his eyes to look at her through the mirror.

"Thanks, Rae."

"It's the least I could do."

Garfield heaved a deep sigh and turned around to face her. He reached out to play with the ends of her hair, smiling wistfully. Wrapping his arms around her, he leaned forward to initiate a kiss. While they held each other close, Garfield continued stroking her hair. As lovely as it would be to hang out in the men's room forever, time was running out. Raven walked him to the side of the stage to join the other three Titans. Remembering her role as manager, she gathered them together for a brief pep talk. "The stage is yours," she declared as fact. "If you miss a beat or play the wrong note, it's not the end of the world. Remember that you're not alone, you have your team right there with you.

"The Titans aren't just a team, we're a family," said Richard, pulling everyone a little closer.

"And a family is always there for each other, no matter how difficult things get," continued Victor.

"That's right!" Kory agreed with a loud rallying cry.

Garfield finished them off by exclaiming, "Titans together!"

Tim urged them out; it was showtime. Richard led the way with Garfield rounding out the rear. Before he stepped onto the stage, Garfield spun around and draped his lucky penny around Raven's neck.

"Don't you need this?" she asked.

"Not anymore. I have a different good luck charm now," he replied, giving her a wink before sprinting to catch up with the others.

If Toronto was their worst performance so far, their New York City show was proving to be their best. Perhaps it had something to do with the team huddle. Or maybe, there was something in the water. Either way, the Titans were on fire. Raven had never seen them so lively or dynamic; every single track was performed to the best of their abilities. Richard's voice rang throughout the concert hall, leading the team with powerful self-assurance. Kory interacted joyfully with the crowd, taking the time to point and wave at the sea of fans. Victor's drumming was top notch as well. He even dared to twirl his drumsticks and whip them in the air between beats.

As for Garfield, the guitarist positively shone. Everything about him screamed that he was having the time of his life. His vitality and enthusiasm were contagious, energizing both his bandmates and the audience. All the while, Raven admired them with pride. When the opening set came to a close, they left the entire venue wanting for more. Conner and Bart rearranged the stage while the Titans replaced the Bees in the green room. As the other band left for their turn to perform, Raven noticed Garfield smile smugly at Roy. During the Bees' set, she nagged the Titans to re-hydrate and eat. She had a feeling that their performance wasn't over yet and they needed to keep up their strength.

An hour later, they could hear the concert-goers chant for an encore. Tim darted into the room and shouted, "They want you guys too! Hurry up, let's go!" The Bees played their encore song first, followed by the Titans. Raven thought that the show would officially end after this, but to her surprise, both teams remained on stage. The two bands arranged themselves so that they shared the space equally. At the back, Victor took over the drum kit from Roy. Garth remained in his position on stage right with his bass. Richard sat at the keyboard adjacent to Marco, who wielded his electric guitar. Kory, Manny and Roy stood in a line on stage left, each person holding a microphone. At center stage, Garfield and Karen stood next to each other behind two mic stands. The Bees' frontwoman spoke to the crowd, "For our last song, we'll be playing a cover. This one is dedicated to all you crazy kids who are in love. Sing along if you know the words."

Garfield began to pluck a simple chord progression on his acoustic guitar, which was soon joined by Karen's dulcet humming. As she began to sing, the crowd pulled out their cellphones and swayed their flashlights in time with the music. It was a well-known RnB duet that had recently won a Grammy. Although the melody started out sparsely, the lyrics were full of feeling. Karen crooned the first verse by herself but at the chorus, the back-up voices of Kory, Manny and Roy joined her with oohs and aahs. The other musicians started to play as well, slowly introducing their instruments into the mix. In the second verse, the dynamic grew louder and Garfield took over the vocal line. Although his eyes were focused on the audience, Raven knew instinctively that he was singing directly at her.

It's the sunrise / And those blue eyes

You're the one that I desire

When we wake up / And then we make love

It makes me feel so nice

They had yet to make love as the song suggested, but Raven took the lyrics as a promise for the future. Solely tuning into his smooth, tenor voice, her nerves tingled with pleasure.

You're my water when I'm stuck in the desert

You're the Tylenol I take when my head hurts

You're the sunshine on my life

In the second chorus, the background singers resumed their vocalizations and began to snap their fingers in time with the beat. The music reached its apex of intensity when Victor added subtle flourishes on the cymbals and Marco accented the high notes on his electric guitar. Karen melded her voice with Garfield's and they sang in perfect harmony:

I just wanna see how beautiful you are

You know that I see it / I know you're a star

Where you go I follow / No matter how far

If life is a movie / Then you're the best part

After the bridge and final chorus, the music faded into nothingness. There was half a beat of silence before the crowd erupted into deafening applause. "Titans!" and "Bees!" were shouted in equal measure and the audience begged them to continue. With waves and smiles, the combined musical team said their good-byes. They would have stayed to meet the fans after the show, but they were scheduled to leave early the next morning. Instead, they found a 24-hour pizza joint next to their hotel and ate together as a large group.

"Did you know about their plan?" Wally asked Raven. "I was totally caught off guard!"

"I wasn't expecting it either, but it was definitely effective," she answered, glancing over at Garfield who was in the midst of stuffing his face with food.

Karen explained, "It was pretty last minute, so we wanted to keep it as a surprise."

"I think it went well, even though Gar fudged up the words," mentioned Garth.

"No I didn't!" Garfield denied with a mouth half-full of pizza.

"I'm pretty sure the original lyric is 'brown' eyes, not 'blue'," Victor replied while giving Raven a surreptitious wink.

The entire gang spent the next hour hanging out and goofing off in the restaurant, marking a pivotal point in the two bands' relationship. Now, they regarded each other with mutual respect and admiration. Instead of competitiveness, a spirit of collaboration was formed between them, making room for genuine friendships that would last for many years to come. Raven didn't know it at the time, but her prediction turned out to be true. Their New York show ended up being the most successful for the entire tour. That night, they made the highest profit on merchandise. Footage from the concert went viral on YouTube and Twitter. The critical reviews that were to come out a week later would be glowing. The whole experience was a night to remember, but in Raven's opinion, the encore was the best part.

A/N: I really enjoyed this chapter, it was a nice break from the drama. Raven's quote about breakfast food is from Leslie Knope of "Parks and Rec". That little elephant tidbit comes from my husband, which was his actual attempt to make small talk on our second date. He's quite the charmer.

I know I said this was a rock band AU, but it's becoming a fully-fledged musical appreciation fest, lol. Any other Wicked fans out there? Finally, "Best Part" by Daniel Caesar and H.E.R. is one of my all-time favourite duets.

Till next time, Lily Timbers

Replies to Guest Reviews

Vi: I'm glad to hear it!

Guest #1: Aww, thank you so much! Gar and Kory had a little moment in this one, but I plan on letting them have their own heart-to-heart eventually. Stage fright is the worst. I've had my own awful stage fails, so I definitely relate.

Guest #2: It was totally unintentional but now that you mention it, I'm sure I did it subconsciously. I love "The King and I"! "Shall We Dance?" is such a classic. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera!