The Raven Tap, Tap, Tapped on the Dance Floor

Chapter Two

Disclaimer: I don't own Coca Cola, nor the two ballet books mentioned in this chapter.

A cloaked figure made her way through the narrow alley. The sky's tears rippled stagnant pools around her as she clutched her bag and walked briskly through the downpour. In an instant, everything was ablaze as the sky put on a dazzling light show, which was soon followed by a moan of agony, as if it took a great deal of energy to impress its spectators.The girl paused. She fished through her bag and withdrew a small black umbrella. She opened it and glided through the alley as the rain assaulted the cement with immense force. She halted when she reached a gargantuan building. Thick vines of ivy creeped up the stony sides. The massive windows sported black bars that were rusting with time. There were numerous stories to this building- more than she could account for. The golden sign next to the two frosted glass doors read "The Jump City Academy of the Arts". The girl closed her umbrella, removed her hood, and stepped inside.

The outside was no indicator to the breathtaking beauty of the interior. Light brown hardwood floors covered the immense studio. The windows of which the girl was given a preview outside lined the walls from floor to ceiling. Long wooden poles were attached to the regal violet walls, of which mirrors occupied a great portion. Brilliant chandeliers reflected the soft light provided by the chandeliers' own lightbulbs and candelabras that lined the walls. A winding black staircase led to the many other stories of the academy. Several open doorways, including one large one, lined the wall to the right of the girl and two doors labeled "Office" and "Restroom(s)" were set into the wall to the left.

Where is everyone? the girl wondered as she made her way to the office. Suddenly, a sea of black leotards and white tights flooded into the studio, leaping and twirling along the hardwood floor. A black translucent shield cloaked the girl as she ducked and covered her head.

"Ah, you must be Raven," a mature voice announced.

Raven withdrew her shield and stood up. Several snickers and whispers came from the crowd of lean girls. Her cheeks felt hot as she felt their stares; she wanted to leave, but wanted to remain loyal to the conditions of her dare. "Yes," she responded, tucking a stray strand of violet hair behind her ear.

The middle-aged woman- the dance instructor, Raven assumed- pointed a long, slender toward the office. "Complete your registration in the office and join us. Today, class ends at seven. You'll receive all of the details after you register," she explained. She then turned to her pupils. "In your positions. Demi plié!"

Raven turned the brass knob and entered the office. A cheery elderly woman behind the wooden receptionist's desk smiled at Raven and ceased typing on her computer. "How may I help you, dear?"

Raven glanced at the book titles in the towering bookshelf adjacent to the desk. 'Classical Ballet Technique by Gretchen Ward Warren', 'The Ballet Book: Learning and Appreciating the Secrets of Dance by Nancy Ellison', along with countless others. "I'm," she sighed, "here to register," she answered.

The elderly woman chuckled. "You don't seem too enthused. Your name?"

"Roth, Raven," Raven replied as she read the inscription of the back of 'Classical Ballet Technique'.

The receptionist pulled up Raven's file. "Ah," she said, "someone registered you over the phone, but I could not make out most of the details through the laughter. I'm going to need your address, how long your term will be, your size, shoe size, your height and weight, and legal guardian."

Raven set the book down. "I reside on Titan's Island-"

"I KNEW I recognized you!"

Raven glanced down and nodded. "I will be here for a week-"

"Today through next Saturday?"

Raven nodded. The receptionist tapped a few keys. "I'm a small, I suppose. I'm five feet, four inches. I weigh ninety-two pounds. And my legal guardian? ...let's not go there."

"But, we need a legal guardian for you to complete your registration."

Raven sighed. "Let's just say, I have issues with my father," she muttered.

"And your mother?"

Raven's amethyst eyes were downcast. "She's dead."

"I'm sorry," the receptionist comforted, sincerely concerned. Se tapped a few more keys. "I suppose I can override that field," she assured with a cheery smile.

Raven nodded in comprehension. "You're all set!" the receptionist announced. "Okay, class meets monday through friday from 4:30 to 9, and saturday and sunday from 1 to 7. Starting tomorrow, we'll provide you with a black leotard and ballet slippers. It's your responsibility to bring them everyday along with white tights, a bottle of water, and legwarmers. Oh! And your hair must be kept in a neat bun at all times." She smiled suddenly. "Oh, you'll make a beautiful ballerina! I hope you enjoy your time here, Raven dear. Now, off you go!"

Raven waved the receptionist farewell and returned to the studio.

"I think she's emo."

Raven sat in solitude in a corner of the studio. It was break time. The graceful creatures of dance were gone and in their place stood hyperactive teenaged girls. Raven pulled up her hood and closed her eyes.

"No, you talk to her, Abby!"

"Fine!"

Raven shook her head and tried to drift off to dreamland.

"Hi! I'm Abigail. ...Hello?"

Raven awoke. She drew back slightly, startled by the grinning brunette in front of her. "...I'm Raven."

Abigail nodded and pointed to her companion. "We know," she gushed, "We know about all of the Titans. Including that cutie Beast Boy!"

"I hate Beast Boy," Abigail's companion groaned.

"Shut it, Melissa!" Abigail shot back. She returned her gaze to Raven. "So, how do you like it here so far?"

"I despise this place," she muttered with a scowl.

Abigail blinked. "Are you kidding me? This place is amazing!" she screeched in disbelief.

Raven rolled her eyes. "All you do is prance around in stupid outfits. What good do you do anyone?"

Abigail felt her green-hazel eyes swelling with hatred. "Whatever you- you- you heartless, emo bitch!" And with that, she stormed off.

Raven sighed and stared at the gossiping teenagers that filled the studio. Idiots, all of them. Raven watched a tall girl slip into an oversized Ramones hoodie and nibble on a cracker. The girl noticed that Raven was watching her and came over.

"Uh, hi...? I'm Kristana- Kris for short. You're new, eh?" she greeted, removing a stray blonde hair from in front of her smoldering dodger blue eyes.

Raven pulled down her hood. "I'm Raven, but you probably already know that," she replied.

Kristana pulled her long legs into her chest and rested her forearms on her knees. She nodded in reply. She glanced at Raven. "What are you doing here?"

Raven titled her head back until it came to rest upon the wall behind her and closed her eyes. "It was a dare," she answered. She waited for a cold reply.

Instead, Kristana laughed and patted Raven on her shoulder. Raven flinched. "My mother enrolled me here two years ago, hoping it'd teach me a lesson in femininity," she revealed, her head resting on her knees. She pulled out a pack of saltine crackers from her pocket. She offered some to Raven. When Raven refused, she slipped one into her mouth and placed the pack back into her pocket. After digesting the cracker, she sighed. "God, I'm hungry."

Raven withdrew a candy bar from her bag and offered it to Kristana. She refused. "I can't," she said simply and popped another cracker into her mouth.

Raven shrugged and bit into the chocolate bar. The instructor reappeared and clapped her hands twice. "Break is over. Let's get back to dancing!" she announced.

Kristana stood up, groaning. She turned back to the empath. "Well, I guess I'll talk to you later, Raven." She removed her hoodie and threw it next to Raven. She then resumed her position holding the wooden bar.

"First position."

Raven sipped her steaming herbal tea, clutching her crisp new novel. She telekinetically turned to the next page. Robin opened the refrigerator and grabbed a frosty can of Coke and a slice of Cyborg's not-yet-famous chocolate cake. He sat down next to Raven and pulled the tab of his soda open.

"How was your first day?" he inquired, gulping down his carbonated beverage.

"Ridiculous," she answered without looking up from her book.

Robin consumed a bite of his dessert. "How so?"

Raven glanced over at the Boy Wonder. She closed her book and turned her body to face him. "Tutus," she said dryly.

Robin chuckled. "Raven," he smiled, "It's not that bad." He took a long swig from his soda can. "You'd be a great ballerina," he assured.

Raven groaned. "I don't want to be any sort of ballerina," she reciprocated with a scowl.

Robin threw his empty can in the garbage and placed his empty dish and fork in the dishwasher. He walked over to where Raven sat and placed his hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to if you don't want to," he asserted sotto voce. He glanced one last time into Raven's amethyst eyes and left.

Raven sighed and pulled her knees into her chest. What do I want? She glanced at the cover of the book she had purchased on her way home:

'The Ballet Book: Learning and Appreciating the Secrets of Dance'.

Read and review. Chapter Three up soon.

A/N: For some reason, I listened to "Hey There Delilah" by the Plain White T's during the writing of this chapter.