AH…haven't been here for a long long time…I was really busy with exams and stuff like that, but it paid off.=D. I have 7 distinctions outta 9 subjects. That's totally cool~!

Anyway, I realise that the last chapter was damn short, so…I am planning to make this one quite long. Please enjoy and review!

Chapter 7

Raven's POV

I yawned. Dammit, I am so damn tired. After reading all these books, I feel like my eyes were gonna burst out.

"Are you tired?" Robin asked, concerned. "Should I get you a cup of coffee or something?"

I shook my head wearily. "No need for that. By the way, you should be studying instead of looking at manga."

Robin frowned. "I can't concentrate now. Dunno why. Maybe because you are here?"

I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks. My face flared as I tried to glare and him. "Like you pay attention to me everytime we study?"

God. That sounded like I was implying something.

Robin stared at me weirdly. "Seriously, my concentration wanes when I am around you."

I rolled my eyes. "You are just thinking about other stuff. Like Starfire, for example."

I kept really quiet as I tried to avoid his intense gaze and continue reading. Man, he really gets on my nerves.

I really hate him for doing so. No one had managed to get me really really angry.

I stared at the words fiercely.

Let's just ignore his stare…..

I started tensing up after a while. His stare was really uncomfortable. Like seriously, why was he staring at me of all people?

Oh right. Cuz I am the only person here.

"Can you please stop staring at me? It's annoying."

"It's not Starfire."

I was stunned. What the crappy hell is he talking about?

"Excuse me?"

"I wasn't thinking about Starfire."

I squinted my eyes to get a closer look at him. Weird. He seemed okay.

"Are you sick or something? Like seriously, you should go to a doctor."

"LISTEN TO ME! I AM EXPLAINING!" he yelled angrily at me. "SIT DOWN!"

Shocked by the sudden increase of volume, I plopped down on a sofa absently. Is he throwing a tantrum?

"Robin, what are you trying to say?" I asked blankly.

"Just believe me! I wasn't thinking about her!"

I sighed in exasperation. "Robin, if you are gonna throw a tantrum here, don't do it in front of me. I hate people who are spoilt and selfish."

"Fine. Be like that." Robin fumed and pouted.

Robin's POV

I was really saying the truth.

I really wasn't thinking about Starfire!

But…why am I trying to get Raven of all people to understand?

Ah, whatever.

I stomped on the floor while glaring at Raven. How can she be so peaceful and serene while I am damn angry here? This is just so unfair.

Why did God bless Raven with calamity while he cursed me with short temper and stupidity? Argh.

I swore, and walked over to the flowers.

I touched a blooming rose gently. The art of ikebana was always fascinating for me. The crook of the flowers. The branches making gentle yet deep curves. The flowers, each bloom with a uniqueness that cannot be described.

"So…Robin, you like arranging flowers?"

I blushed. "NO! You have gotten it all wrong! I am a jock, remember?"

Raven smiled mischievously. "A stupid one at that. But…"

I shook my head wildly, denying it till the end. I mustn't let ANYONE know that I like flowers. And I arrange ikebana.

"Seriously, Raven, you got it all wrong. How can a manly guy like me, like ikebana? Dream on!" I tried to chuckle breezily.

Raven frowned. "But still, it's ok for you to like ikebana. It's kinda cute."

I really felt hot. "But…I don't like ikebana! It's so lame!"

Damn, I am a terrible liar.

I turned myself towards the ikebana again. The tiger lilies bloomed fully with freshness and purity. The branches, even though they looked weak, provided support for the blooming flowers. The leaves and the vines twined around the whole arrangement elegantly. An incarnation of perfection.

I didn't make it though. All my flower arrangements were in my studio. No one could touch them. No one could see them. They are the reason why I could cope with life for so long. Ever since my parents died, I decided that I wouldn't make ikebana anymore.

"Robin, just tell me the truth."

I swiftly turned around. "What?"

Raven's gaze pierced through me. "I know that you used to make ikebana."

I gaped at her. "Are you really sure?"

She smirked. "Totally."

I frowned dejectedly. She figured it out. Argh, next time, I shouldn't underestimate Raven.

"So…tell me more about your ikebana then."

That's it? She's not gonna find me weird or something?

"Raven?"

"What? I am waiting for you to tell me more about ikebana."

"Pinky promise. Don't tell anyone."

Raven sighed. "Pinky promise."

I smiled gleefully. Ha, I knew I can trust Raven!

I stood up abruptly and pulled Raven by hand.

"Where are you going?"

"To my ikebana studio."

I opened the glass door gently.

The ikebana I have arranged were displayed beautifully on glass racks. The tools I use for ikebana were left lying around, just the way I like it.

"Wow. You arranged all these?" Raven looked at the ikebana, amazed. "You are truly a genius in this! Oh my god! These flowers are taken really good care of!"

I smiled smugly. "These are my treasures."

"You seem very proud."

I rolled my eyes. "That's only because you are trustworthy, and I know that you won't tell anyone."

Raven chuckled lightly. "True. But still…why don't you pursue a career in ikebana?"

Shocked, I swivelled around. "It'll destroy my reputation!"

"But you don't seem to care about it when you were just a freshman!" Raven reasoned.

"But I hadn't met Starfire then!"

Raven's eyes turned dark. "So you are sacrificing your dream just for Starfire?"

I gritted my teeth. "So what?"

Hurt, Raven stumbled away. "Sacrificing your dream for a girl who won't even pay attention to you? Are you sure it's worth it?"

"Yea!" I defended.

"There are other ways, Robin. You shouldn't let your talent be wasted away just because of a girl."

"It's not like I can think of any."

Raven sighed exasperatedly. "Duh, you are stupid. Do you know that girls like Starfire like romance? Ikebana symbolises romance in a way that would amaze all the girls. It displays your gentleness."

"Really?"

Raven smirked. "Really. I am gonna force you to participate in the talent competition that the school is having next week."

I was stunned. Raven, the nerd of the whole school, is helping me get the girl of my dreams? That's…wonderful.

"Deal."

Raven shook my offered hand away. "You are gonna study while practicing ikebana. We'll multi-task. After the talent thingy, there are end-of-year exams."

I gulped. Would I really be able to handle both at the same time?

"Deal?" Raven offered her outstretched hand.

"Deal!"

Raven studied the contents of the book carefully. "Today, we would start with you making an ikebana that appeals to teenage girls. The major flower base should be…roses. The ikebana should be charming and romantic."

"Ok."

"And you would be studying the parts of the frog. And the human's brain at the same time."

"Ok."

I gathered all the best roses that I had grown in the greenhouse. And branches for the effects and stuff like that.

"You are not allowed to continue until you have memorised one fact," Raven said strictly. "A human's brain needs oxygen to function."

"A human's brain needs oxygen to function," I memorised aloud while I started making the ikebana.

Making ikebanas really calms me down. I feel like I was in heaven again. I haven't made ikebana for a long time. Oh the memories…

Raven continued to tutor and tell me the facts to memorise. Strangely, I am memorising everything. Every single fact is going into my head. Wow, that's a miracle.

"You are really doing well," Raven commented. "Really."

I grinned. "Thanks."

"Tell me the human brain's function."

"The nervous system is your body's decision and communication center. The central nervous system is made of the brain and the spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system is made of nerves. Together they control every part of your daily life, from breathing and blinking to helping you memorize facts for a test. Nerves reach from your brain to your face, ears, eyes, nose, and spinal cord... and from the spinal cord to the rest of your body. Sensory nerves gather information from the environment; send that info to the spinal cord, which then speed the message to the brain. The brain then makes sense of that message and fires off a response. Motor neurons deliver the instructions from the brain to the rest of your body. The spinal cord, made of a bundle of nerves running up and down the spine, is similar to a superhighway, speeding messages to and from the brain at every second."

Raven looked purely horrified. "Wow. You can memorise all these? While making ikebana? I should continue teaching like this."

I snapped up. "Thanks."

Raven gave me a rare smile.

"No problem."

There, there, done~! Chapter 8 would be longer, I think. Robin making ikebana…it would look nice. By the way, ikebana is the Japanese style of arranging flowers. It's a form of art~! It looks nice, you all should google it.

Sorry for my really long absence. Please review! I really want to know how the readers think about Robin making ikebana.=D. Thanks~!