Chapter 2: Secret

Robin walks into the living room, this week's groceries under his arms. He looks around at Starfire and me sitting alone on the couch, both of us deep in our own thoughts. I have had Raven on my mind for the past hour.

Maybe some back-story would help. My name is Beast Boy, of the Teen Titans. We have been a team for going on five years now. Actually; Raven, Starfire, and I are the only members of the team still in our teens. Raven and Starfire are both nineteen, and I turned eighteen just last week. Our resident Cyborg, my best friend, is finally old enough to drink!

And drink he did, as soon as he turned twenty-one. He did have the sense of mind to call the tower and have one of the girls fly out to get him and that car of his. So even when Robin delivered his famous 'I'm so disappointed in you' lecture, we could all tell he was really relived to see the big drunk again and so not-in-a-car-crash.

And speaking of Robin, boy has our fearless leader grown. He turned twenty a few months ago, and has finally grown taller than his girlfriend.

Yes. I said girlfriend. The two stopped acting like middle schoolers and finally admitted their feelings for each other. As Cyborg put it, "It's about time."

I agree, it is past time that those two got their feelings in order. But I have to admit, it does help to remind me of how alone I really am. Star and Robin are always together. Robin has told me that they can tell each other anything. God I wish I had someone like that. Again Raven enters my thoughts.

"Starfire? Would you help him with the groceries?" Starfire looks up at her boyfriend. It was quite possible that she had been daydreaming about him. She hovers over to him.

"I would be delighted, Boyfriend Robin." She plants a kiss on his cheek. Something inside of me chuckles a bit at the look on Robin's face, but part of me brims with jealousy. Why couldn't that be me and Raven?

I sit bolt upright. Did I just imagine Raven kissing me? I suppose I did, but the chances of that happening are slim to none. I just made her cry. She hates me. Still, the thought is enough to give me a feeling of happiness.

Starfire and Robin walk into the kitchen together, talking softly. They are gone for a minute, maybe two, when I hear Robin's voice.

"He did WHAT?" The Boy Wonder himself is marching into the room right towards me, Starfire hanging on one arm like some kind of growth.

"Please, Robin. Beast Boy has said that he will go apologize." Robin stops right in front of me. His head is pointed toward me, but he is talking to Starfire.

"He better go apologize!" Starfire looks at me, as if to say 'I tried'.

"Easy, Robin." I say "Don't get your cape in a twist. I'm going." I get up from the couch and walk to the door. It opens and I step through it.

"Jeeze. I was just commenting on her book selection. Maybe I took it too far when I called her creepy, but reading stuff like that would make anyone…like her."

I continue down the hall, talking to myself, until I'm standing right outside Raven's room. I raise a hand to knock.

"Go away, Beast Boy." It's the voice from my dreams. I start to comply with her wish, turning around. I take a few steps in the new direction before running into something solid.

"Oh no you don't, B. You go in there and talk to that girl. You made her really upset today."

I hang my head in defeat. I turn back around to face the door. I raise my hand and actually knock before I hear Raven's voice again.

"Didn't you just hear me, Beast Boy?" I turn to Cyborg once more. He pushes me out of the way before speaking to the door.

"Listen, Rae. Even if you don't want him to, I'm going to make Beast Boy apologize." Silence from the door.

"Fine then. Just make sure he's in here for as little time as possible." Cyborg opens the door, and then pushes me through. Inside, I look around. Raven's room is exactly like it was when I last came in here. It's dark. It's creepy. And it's Raven. Raven sits on her bed, her back to me.

A box of tissues sits next to her. As I watch, she pulls a new one from the box. She raises it to her eyes, and then lets out a new sob. After a minute, she turns to me. I gasp. Her eyes are red, and I can see the trails left from tears on her cheeks. Before I can say anything, she speaks.

"What you said today hurt me." So simple, but so true. I feel my gaze creeping downwards.

"I…I'm sorry, Rae…ven." I nearly blow it.

"Then why did you saw it, Beast Boy?" I sighed."Because that book came off as creepy to me, and…and I just spoke without thinking. I do that a lot." Raven locked eyes with me.

"If I accept your, apology, will it happen again, Beast Boy?"

"I can't promise that, Raven. But I will promise to work my best at it." Raven looks me over.

"Thank you."

I start to head to the door. I can't believe it. She forgives me! I thought for sure she wouldn't have. As I'm about to open the door, I hear my name.

"Beast Boy?" I turn to face Raven.

"Can you keep a secret?"

"Of course" I start to walk over to her. I reach her, and bring my ear close to her mouth.

"Shoot"

"I don't have one right now, but it's nice to know that there's someone I can talk to."

"I'll always be he-" I start. The alarm is suddenly ringing.

I grumble inwardly. That alarm is always going off when I'm in the middle of something.