This chapter was revised...not as drastically as the last few...I didn't cut out as much as I did before. I hope it's better. Please critique for me!

Chapter 10

Disclaimer: Look at chapter 1

~The song lyrics listed in this story is from Green Day's Wake Me up When September Ends. I do not own it.

Starfire sat completing her home schooling work, ear buds plugged into the small radio that usually sat on the counter. Everyone seemed so sluggish today. Raven was still upstairs when usually she was the first one down, Robin was 'reading' the newspaper…the alien knew better.

Cyborg was sitting on the couch repairing something on the TV, and Beastboy was nowhere to be seen. The alien should have been grateful for the silence it was calming and soothing compared to all the drama from a few weeks ago.

Everyone had apologized and were on speaking terms...they even ended up taking that trip to the movies, finally deciding to choose one movie. It had been fun. This silence should have been lovely...it should have been bliss. And yet, the alien could not enjoy it...she could not help but feel that something else was lurking, that another calamity would befall the team.

A sigh escaped her small puckered lips as the young woman pushed a strand of fiery red hair from her face and began to write furiously. There was a test that she and Beastboy had to take, a strange exam called 'The Stanford Achievement Test'. According to Cyborg and Robin, if they didn't pass...the city wouldn't give them their diplomas, and force them to start attending school.

To be honest, Starfire would have loved to attend the high school...to be able to experience all of the stuff she saw in those movies and television shows was a dream of hers. A 'Degrassi like school probably did exist in Jump City...Why didn't Raven have to take the exam...she wasn't eighteen was she? Perhaps Robin already made her do the test and she passed? Gosh, why was there so many stuff about Raven that she didn't even know?

Starfire set down her pencil in frustration, before leaning back in her chair and staring blankly out the window. Raven had not been acting 'herself' lately. For the past few weeks Raven's strange sickness had been getting worse...it was even beginning to interfere with her life in a very... debilitating manner.

Just the other day, Starfire had found the sorceress half drowned in the swimming pool-to this day she couldn't erase the image from her mind. Raven had also sworn her to secrecy...it was something that "no one else must know."

It killed her to hide something so important...then again, wasn't she hiding something even worse already? Wasn't she trying desperately to hide her terrible sin? To keep Robin from finding out about her despicable actions?

Her bright emerald eyes drifted slowly to where Robin sat, his head slowly drooping behind the newspaper. His guise. Between that and his mask...it would be impossible for anyone to know of his tiredness. No one would see the bags under his eyes...or the bloodshot redness that comes from staring at computer screens all night.

What was so important that he had to ignore her? What in that investigation/criminal/obsession room was so important that it would cause someone to forget about their 'only love'?

Why was she not enough for Robin?

A 'ding' echoed in the silent room and Starfire turned, noticing Raven and Terra emerge, deep in a conversation about ripped jeans and fishnets. The Tameranian shook her head. Seriously, who would wear fishnets?

Except for the strange depressing gothic people she usually saw hanging out at the seedy coffee shops, and the eccentric celebrities, no one really seemed to wear them. Ripped jeans were so much better...of course Raven didn't share that view.

"Fishnets? No, if I were to wear fishnets…I would probably have on a corset, leggings and a miniskirt." Raven's voice trailed off and she continued mumbling...unaware of the confused glances from her friends. It was becoming a normal occurrence...Raven's mumbling. Often she would start a conversation or make a statement, only to trail off and begin mumbling, often in several different languages.

"Hm, I guess. I had no idea you had a tattoo." Terra mused out loud, when Raven finally turned back towards her, a cup of juice in one hand and a handful of granola bars in the other.

The sorceress' expression darkened. "Oh. Sometimes I forget it's there."

"Did I say something wrong?" The earth bender questioned, not really wanting to get on anyone's bad side. Everyone had been treading lightly ever since Raven lost her cool. It was as if she was a time bomb or an unstable machine, and everyone was waiting for her to malfunction or explode again.

"No…I just don't really like remembering how I got it." Her mouth twisted into a strange smirk and she waved at Robin, who was probably awake and listening to them for about five minutes.

Starfire found this odd. Why would you have an unhappy memory about a tattoo? Aren't tattoo's a symbol of "independence and pride"? These rebellious American teenagers seemed to think so.

Had it been on Tameran, such rebellion would be met with fierce repercussions. (usually along the lines of starvation and forced labor) Perhaps Raven's tattoo had some kind of ritual symbolism. If that's the case then an unhappy memory would be likely.

"Rae, where exactly are you going?" The Boy Wonder's voice was unusually sluggish. Maybe he had been sleeping.

The sorceress patted her messenger bag. "Library, mi amor, I have work to do."

Newspapers rustled gently as the young man flipped a few pages. His green gloved hand reached out for a dark black mug, no doubt filled with strong, black coffee. "Oh. Well try to be back by noon. Were going to the beach."

"Wow, we haven't been to the beach in a few", commented the sorceress as she rummaged through her dark camouflage messenger bag. As neat as Raven was, even she wasn't immune from the 'losing your car keys' syndrome.

"You know…Robin doesn't really read those things." The devious voice of the Tameranian triggered a flurry of knowing glances and smiles.

Raven looked up from her granola bar and grinned. "Yup. He thinks we can't tell."

"I heard that you two. And no, I'm not sleeping."

"Who said you were sleeping?" countered Starfire, her playful voice matching the excited look in her emerald green eyes. "Raven, can you look over my work? I think I got everything correct!"

"Well let's see." Raven paused to look at the worksheet. "You are improving. However defeat does not mean to lose your toes."

Terra began to chuckle and Robin smirked.

"Silly me." Starfire erased her answer and filled in the correct one while Raven shook her head.

"I've spent enough time here…adios mi amigos." She took off for the door, froze in mid-step, and slumped to the floor, cradling her head in her hands.

"Rae…you haven't been drinking have you?" His warning voice made the sorceress grind her teeth in irritation.

"She doesn't smell like alcohol." Starfire mumbled absently.

"Of course not. I'm just a little clumsy. See you."

Summer has come and past
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends

It was sunny today, there wasn't a cloud in sight...hell, he even felt kinda happy today. But for some fucked up reason, Derek's ipod decided that sad depressing songs were in order. Wasn't the point of shuffle to hear random things? Why were the gods torturing him like this?

Like my fathers come to pass

Seven years had gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends

A sigh escaped the man's lips as he strolled down the sidewalks, an empty backpack slung on his back. It wouldn't stay empty for long. Three of his professors got this brilliant idea to assign papers...all with the same due date!

What possessed teachers to behave this way...didn't they all hate doing this kind of shit too? What ever happened do 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you'? Perhaps that argument was invalid in his case...he'd stopped believing in the gods and golden rules and whatever else came with the package.

Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are

Derek jammed his hands into the pockets of his dark black denim jeans, suddenly realizing where his guitar pick had been this past week. After promising a friend he'd compose some music for them...he spent half of his week looking for the damn pick.

To compensate for the lost time...he stayed up for two whole days without sleeping. Now calluses covered his fingers and his head pounded from the bright sunny light. Hangovers felt better compared to this.

As my memory rests

But never forgets what I lost
Wake me up when September ends"-

Enough was enough. Derek pulled the ear buds from his ears angrily and turned his ipod off, shoving the device into his pocket. He hurridly climbed the stairs to the library and marched for the bookshelves...it was better to find the damn books and leave. Then he could go home and drown in his misery, with his stupid ipod and a bottle of Jack Daniel's.

But was there any beer in the fridge? Didn't he finish the last case with his brother a few days ago? Derek sighed. He needed to pick up some groceries...before his sister-in law found out. Although he was grateful that she actually cared about his well being...her food could be unbearably spicy at times.

The young man turned around, finally locating the book from the endless shelves of the library. He glanced at his watch. He really needed to leave this place...he was supposed to have left fifteen minutes ago. Sighing heavily, Derek turned and bumped into someone, sending books flying across the floor.

"Derek! We meet again!" A familiar voice echoed in his ears.

He looked down. "Adrianna, you remembered me!"

A smile spread on her face. "Of course I remembered! You're kinda hard to forget."

Derek handed her several books that had fallen onto the floor. It had been a while since he'd seen that carefree smile. The sight left him feeling rather nostalgic. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Raven glanced up from her books, a teasing look in her usually empty violet eyes. "I see you still hide behind the glasses?"

Derek laughed, finding her statement amusing. "What can I say, old habits die hard." The glint of the silver chain around her neck caught Derek's eye. He couldn't believe that she was wearing the necklace. "Nice necklace…boyfriend give it to you?"

To be honest...the first thing that came into his mind upon spying the necklace at the jewelry store was Raven. That trinket just seemed like something that would suit her. Of course, like most thoughts, he couldn't find any reason to explain this strange phenomenon.

Plus, he knew nothing about flowers...that particular one just seemed perfect. Jessica, his cousin who more or less dragged him into the store, explained the odd meaning of the azelea flower. He hadn't even known it's name.

Still, didn't the fact that a thief had given her the jewelry ring any bells? Didn't she think it was stolen? It's not like he actually stole the necklace…he wasn't a cheap person. Derek had expected a little more caution.

Was she this trusting of the person that saved her life? Had she really grown to trust the mask of Red X that much? If she knew that he was the one behind the mask...would she still trust him?

She blushed. "No, just an acquaintance."

"Acquaintance? You know it's not good to lie, Princess."

"I'm not lying! And don't call me princess!"

Derek laughed, trying to block all the random paranoid thoughts that swirled in his mind. Someone was watching them...he couldn't shake that feeling. He prayed it wasn't anyone dangerous.

While he did his best to hide his moonlight thieving escapades, Derek also knew that he had angered some very dangerous people...without the aid of the Red X suit. He was used to the death threats and the constant shadowing...he just didn't want any of his innocent friends getting caught in any fighting.

Derek had gotten so engrossed in his many escape plans which included, but wasn't limited to causing a scene before dashing out the back, or somehow leaving through the ceiling (This plan being the last resort) that he didn't notice when Raven began to drag him toward the circulation desk, a dark and menacing frown on her pretty face. "What's the matter?"

She spoke slowly and carefully, doing nothing to hide the anger that seeped from her voice. "I'm being spied upon."

She must have sensed it too...perhaps she knew who it was? Maybe they weren't here to spy on me after all. Derek said nothing...a sigh of relief would be too suspicious. He had to act surprised and perhaps apprehensive? Isn't that how a normal person would act?

"Hey, let's get outta here." There was a defiance in Raven's voice that made him want to laugh.

His eyebrows rose. "And go where exactly?" Was she really inviting him out somewhere? He really wanted to go to...just to take his mind off the annoying homework that he was assigned.

Raven shielded her eyes with her hands as they exited the building and walked into the sunlight. "Well you can come to the beach with me, just go home and get your stuff."

"You really think your friends will let me hang out at the beach with you?" He stared at her for a long moment. While he wanted to spend time with Raven...having a beach party with his sworn enemies was not really his definition of a good time. Then again...they didn't know anything about him. He could think of it as surveillance.

"Why not? It's not like you have a criminal record." Raven's words made him want to laugh. A criminal record was something he flaunted...but not with any pride. He was jailed in high-school for vandalizing the school and stealing. Now he was hunted in Jump City as a dangerous, villain and thief. If that didn't scream criminal record...he didn't know what did.

"Sure, I'll go to the beach." He hoped the amusement in his tone wasn't recognizable...but judging from the strange look she had given him, that was unlikely.

Raven stared at him with confusion before shrugging. "Ok just meet me in the bookstore off Montgomery Street."

"Sure thing princess." He laughed as she stormed away, a scowl on her face.

Yea, Raven was a strange one. But he's always known that…ever since he saw her that day at the bar, downing shot after shot of vodka, Derek felt that he needed to see her, to get to know the person behind the emotionless mask.

It was always a mystery to him why there was never a trace of emotions on her face. Doesn't everyone have feelings…things they can express but never explain? Every time he saw her in action…her mask and cape obscuring everything… Derek began to wonder who she truly was. Who was Raven and who was the depressed girl sitting alone in the bar? She's like a puzzle only with missing pieces…pieces that are impossible to find.

He sees her hanging out with friends but this time she's no longer Raven, she's Adrianna. And Derek begins to wonder which person is real…and which is the alias. When she's Adrianna, she's wild, carefree, sarcastic and childish…but when she's Raven all he could see is sadness, pain and a strange maturity that should not be present in a teenager's eyes.

Perhaps that's why he helped her home, when he could see that she was too wasted to even stand. Derek felt bad about leaving her on the floor like that but there was nothing he could do. What if the alarm had gone off? Why did he even take the risk?

At first, he thought it was his insatiable habit of helping the desperate, or an excuse to steal the layout of the Tower (which Derek will admit he did steal that night) But now... he suddenly realized that he risked getting caught because he knew that deep down... he was the only one who would.

Perhaps it was just sympathy...still, Raven deserves more.

Terra looked on with a smile on her face as the guys played volleyball. It was strange…this was the first time she really met them so why did she feel like she belonged in this big group?

Why did she feel so accepted? The geomancer shook her head and smiled remembering when she first set eyes on Aqualad. He looked so heavenly without a shirt on…

Perhaps that's why he's so shy…where was Raven when you need her? She couldn't sit and discuss boys with Star…the alien was rather naïve. Terra wrinkled her nose and turned back to the giant sand castle she was building. Voices drew her from the repetitive motions of earth bending. She glanced up and stared, perplexed at the sight of Raven being carried by a strange man.

"Hey! Don't crash into the sand castle guys…it's not sturdy yet!"

Raven yelled in annoyance. "You heard the woman! Set me down! Or the world will see your face!"

Terra frowned. Such a strange statement…"Hey Raven and you…"

"Derek."

"Oh. Nice to meet you." What's with the glasses? Terra noticed Raven's flower printed sarong… Why must that girl always be so...insecure? Why can't Raven see that she was beautiful? Terra sighed. "Come one Rae, let's see the suit."

"I don't know…I don't really like how it looks." A look of uncertainty brimmed in the sorceress' violet eyes, irritating the geomancer. Terra stood up and swiftly untied the knot of the sarong and stepped back as the material pooled at her feet.

For someone who hated swimsuit shopping, she really did a good job. Raven had decided to go with a simple black halter top and red skirted swimsuit bottom. She had refused to wear the black bikini bottom. Still, she looked awesome.

"Raven, you look awesome. Doesn't she Derek?"

"Yea princess you look awesome." Derek smiled and nodded, noting the distressed and annoyed look on Raven's face.

"What did I tell you?" The teenager scowled and Derek look that as his cue. Laughing, he dashed off trying to escape the murderous intent of the purple haired sorceress.

oOoOo

There was nothing in the world as awesome as vacation in Beastboy's mind. Sitting for hours doing nothing, lying in the sun and surfing with the dolphins… yea the beach was a swell place. Everyone was happy and carefree…even Robin.

The shape shifter sent a blue Frisbee spinning through the air, chuckling at Starfire who was trying insanely hard to stay on the ground and catch the disk. From the corner of his eye, he glimpsed the gigantic sand castle that Terra was building.

Yea, there were some perks to being able to wield earth…someone could live in that thing!

Turning around he looked for Raven. She was with Terra a minute ago….wait a minute who is that guy? His mouth dropped when Raven tackled him to the ground….that was so NFL! She doesn't even watch football!

"Beastboy! Watch out!" Starfire's shrill yell broke his thoughts. He looked and saw the blue disk coming closer and closer…there was no time to duck.

oOoOo

"You guys will never let this go, will you." Beastboy whined as he placed a cold soda on his throbbing head. "She throws like a beast!"

Robin chuckled. "You have to admit…it's hilarious."

The shape shifter pouted and looked away. Why is he the one everyone gets to laugh at? Turning, he spotted Terra as she knelt beside him and kissed his cheek gently, amusement sparkling in her baby blue eyes. "Aww did we hurt BB's feelings?"

"You're laughing too! You're supposed to support me!"

She smiled and looked into the distance watching Raven and Derek collecting seashells. Who knew Raven was into that kind of stuff? Turning slightly she saw Jericho, Argent and Bumblebee playing double-dutch with the jump ropes. It was always amazing to her how someone could pull that stunt. It seemed impossible!

She looked back at Beastboy, and frowned at the sight of him mooching her pop rocks. "Hey! Back off the candy crack."

Robin looked up, his eyebrows raised in confusion. "Candy crack?"

"Yea, you didn't know that?"

Robin only stared.

oOoOo

"Ok guys lets play Klantax!" Starfire jumped up and down in glee waving her arms and directing the group to the circle.* She watched as some people joined with enthusiasm, while other dragged their feet with dread.

"What if we don't know how to play?" Aqualad asked after pausing in his mindless guitar strumming. His hands hadn't left that guitar since he arrived at the beach. Between him and Jericho...the party never lacked as far as music was concerned.

"Then watch and join in next round."

Speedy plopped down on the sand next to Jericho. "I'll play with you Starfire...so long as Raven doesn't try to cop a feel." A devilish grin appeared on his face as he winked at Starfire, who blushed in return.

The sorceress grinned, mischief sparkling in her violet eyes. "I'll restrain my wandering hands…only if you've got some cuffs."

Speedy raised an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge, Raven?"

"You tell me; you're the cop."

Starfire smiled, rolling her eyes at the banter between the two friends. Speedy was such a character. Although he looked similar to Robin, his character and attitude was the complete opposite. Speedy was laid back, care-free and a joker...a stark contrast to Robin's organized, diligent and polite nature.

At times the alien wasn't sure who she liked better. Robin knew how to be kind and loving when he wanted to. Speedy was someone she could joke and play around with.

"Ok you two, lets play. Beastboy, why don't you go first."

oOoOo

Derek watched the small group playing the strange game, not fully understanding what was going on. Not that he needed too…it seemed that they were playing some fucked up version of duck, duck, goose. Except with blindfolds. And if that was the case…forget it. He was fine sitting here listening to Aqualad's guitar, which surprisingly he played quite exceptionally.

"Do you want to go play the game?" He turned and looked into a pair of reddish brown eyes.

"No…not really. The game makes no sense."

The young woman smiled, reminding him strangely of Raven. "Well one person is picked from the group and is blindfolded. Someone tells them who to find and when they do they have to say describe something about that person without using their eyes."

"It doesn't sound that hard." Derek commented.

"Oh, but it is. Everyone else is allowed to try to trick and distract you. Besides, Raven always wins." The teenager wrinkled her nose, and Derek was drawn to the freckles that splashed across the bridge of her nose. Funny how he didn't notice them until now...her freckles were kinda sexy.

"Does she now?" His eyes glinted with amusement. Perhaps this game wasn't so fucked up after all.

"Yea…but then again she can sense people's auras so she can't be tricked."

"Is that why you're not playing?" Derek sensed a bit of envy in her words.

The pale woman grinned and shook her head; reddish-black spikes went flying. "I don't care much for the sport…it's a Tameran game and Starfire's people are very big on contact."

"Ah. So, I don't think I ever got your name?"

She smiled. "It's Argent."

What a weird name...not that it mattered. She seemed really close to Raven, and when she wasn't playing double-dutch with the others, Argent was with Raven. They were like best friends, the kind that always walked with arms linked together and heads close to each other.

Derek felt rather jealous of their friendship. He wanted very much to understand Raven like Argent did...to be Raven's best friend, to walk hand in hand and laugh about anything. To be the one to put sun screen on her pale creamy white skin...

Was her skin as soft as it looked? What did she smell like? Derek shook his head. He shouldn't be fantasizing like this. Raven was barely eighteen. And he was going to be twenty-four in several months anyway.

"Hey! New guy c'mere!"

Derek looked and saw the green boy…. (I think his name was Beastboy?) waving him over.

"Well Argent, it was a pleasure meeting you." The teenager only cocked her head, a perplexed glint in her eyes. Standing, he made his way over, smirking inwardly at Starfire's lingering gaze.

"So-"

"So you're the new guy…which means you have to play."

"Damn it."

oOoOo

Jinx stared blankly at the sandy beach floor drowning the laughter and voices around her. Leave it to Starfire to force everyone to play what she wants.

Still, it was interesting to see what one could get away with…everyone was running out of options. The pink haired witch smirked to herself when Raven's turn came around again. This game is gonna get a lot more intense. "Ok! Rae, find Derek. No peeking, smelling, or sensing auras."

"You're doing this on purpose? I feel that smirk on your face…get it off."

Jinx chuckled deviously and watched as Raven went around the crowd lightly running her hands through each person's hair. She knew what the sorceress would do next…once she found him that is.

Her hunch was confirmed when Raven knelt in front of Derek, her lips turned in a frown of concentration. Jinx wondered briefly what was going on in her friend's mind. She seemed so serious and...apprehensive, as her hands gently reached out and touched the man's face. The pink haired teen watched Raven smile slightly and kiss Derek...much to her surprise. This wasn't what she had in mind!

Jinx gasped softly when Derek pulled the sorceress into his lap and deepened the kiss. Perhaps there was more going on between them that she suspected. Why wasn't she told? How could Raven leave out this important piece of her life? They were supposed to tell each other everything!

The witch scowled when they broke apart for air and Raven yanked the blind away, exclaiming "Chocolate…you taste like chocolate."

Derek grinned and kissed her again.

Jinx nodded. There was definitely something going on between them.

* that game...i just had to find a reason for Raven to kiss Derek without any implications... i hope this revised version is better than before. I also hope the story is easier to follow.

This chapter was inspired by

1) Turn My Swag On by Soulja Boy

2) California Gurls by Katy Perry

~heartless16