AN: Here is today's installment. I've never liked the number 18.
"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one."
- Elbert Hubbard
Chapter 18 – What can I say: Oops?
She stumbled through a forest, dark trees abound. Crooked branches lay out onto the trail, but she still walked on, no matter what stood in her way. Light seemed to echo in the distance, driving her to walk farther and farther along the path. And then the darkness was gone, no large trees stood imposing around her, no cold wind flew over her shivering skin. She was standing in an open field, long green grass surrounding her, reaching up to her knees. She could feel the gentle heat of the sun against her skin. She could smell the soft scent of lilacs in the air. A cool breeze wisped slowly past her, brushing against her thighs. She could feel the very tips of the grass beneath her fingertips. She could taste strawberries on the edge of her tongue, and could hear the sound of quiet rushing water. She closed her eyes, breathing in the fresh air.
Raven woke up, her eyes opening sluggishly. She had woken up smiling, and she had never felt better. Nightmares had always been abundant for her, haunting her nights and her thoughts. She had never had a dream that hadn't turned out to be a nightmare, but now… She felt contented. Raven glided out of her room, and entered the corridor. The day before had been a tumultuous one and she couldn't help running over that day's events. Raven walked into the common room, with a hint of a smile on her face. A bare few of her memories had ever brought her joy, but now she felt she could never be unhappy again. She made herself some tea, waiting for her fellow Titans to wake up. As per usual, Robin stepped out of his room, having woken up after Raven.
"Morning Raven" muttered Robin tiredly.
"Good morning Robin" answered Raven cheerfully. She still hadn't told him about her near-death experience, but she felt there was no real need to.
"You're happy today" said Robin raising his 'eyebrow'.
"Am I?" replied Raven, taking a sip from her cup.
"Are you okay Raven…?" asked Robin concernedly. It wasn't often that Raven was this pleasant.
"Yeah… better than okay. Way better than okay" murmured Raven.
Robin just shook his head, not bothering to pursue the mystery that was Raven. He opened up his newspaper as usual, his eyes flickering through the headlines. Cyborg walked into the common room, with a huge grin on his face.
"It's my first day back and there's a whole bunch of bacon waiting to be fried" cried Cyborg, heading straight for the kitchen, his stomach growling.
"Good morning Cyborg" said Raven pleasantly.
"Mornin'… Rae?" replied Cyborg, his voice trailing off as he realised that Raven had actually greeted him. He gave Robin a quick glance, who shrugged, and he returned back to the fridge. It wasn't long before the sound of sizzling bacon echoed in the common room. Starfire burst into the room, her arms in the air as if in celebration.
"I wish you all a glorious morning of goodness" cried Starfire joyfully, obviously having had a good sleep. Robin put the newspaper down, as Starfire flew to his side, and the two engaged into a friendly conversation. Raven watched the two talk, her heart feeling warm and content.
"Breakfast's ready y'all" exclaimed Cyborg, dumping a plate full of bacon and eggs onto the kitchen table. The four titans pounced onto the table, each grabbing their share of the meal. The common room doors slid open, and a tired looking Beast Boy stepped in, groaning.
"Jeez, you guys really know how to make a lot of noise" mumbled Beast Boy, as he sat down at the table.
"It was time to get up anyway" replied Robin, biting into his breakfast. Beast Boy rolled his eyes, and headed for the fridge, ready to whip up a tofu sandwich.
"So Cyborg, did you manage to repair Titan East's Tower before we called for you?" asked Robin, his mouth full.
"Yeah, but Bumblebee wanted me to stay and help around" replied Cyborg, munching on his eggs.
"Good morning Beast Boy" said Raven abruptly, as if having just noticed he was there.
"Hey Rae" replied Beast Boy with a smile and a wink, before returning to his meal.
Cyborg looked from Raven to Beast Boy, a confused look bouncing between eyes. Again he shot a sideward glance at Robin, who shrugged again.
"Oh friends, isn't it such a wonderful day?" cried Starfire, who had been gazing out the window at the clear blue skies.
"Sure is Star" replied Robin, gazing at her with bleary eyes.
"Maybe we should head to the park today" suggested Cyborg, looking around the table for affirmations.
"Nah" said Beast Boy and Raven simultaneously. They exchanged a quick glance, an amused smile growing across Raven's face.
"Uh… Whose turn is it to wash up" exclaimed Robin, feeling awkward around the two strange-acting Titans.
"I'll do it" piped up Raven.
"Are you feeling alright there Rae?" asked Cyborg, feeling completely lost.
"Yep, just enjoying this wonderful breakfast you cooked us Cyborg" answered Raven, a smile playing across her lips.
"Yeah, even I have to agree. It looks great, even if it's meat" said Beast Boy.
"Uh… thanks I guess?" replied Cyborg, wondering what had happened when he had left the Tower. Raven stood up, collecting the plates, and bringing them to the sink.
"Let me help you with that Rae" called out Beast Boy, walking towards the kitchen sink.
"What the hell happened when I was away?" cried Cyborg, unable to hold back the question that had been bursting from him before.
"What do you mean?" asked Beast Boy, turning around.
"Well for starters, you and Raven!? Last thing I remembered, you guys were at each other's throats" exclaimed Cyborg, confusion playing across his face.
"Nah" replied Raven, looking as if her head was in the clouds.
"Uh… Yea!" said Cyborg.
"Maybe we just resolved some issues" said Beast Boy, his voice upbeat.
"And you couldn't do that in the couple of years before?" cried Cyborg, outraged.
"People change, it's not our right to question it" answered Raven.
Cyborg shook his head, giving up on the issue. He knew that arguing with Raven would send him in circles; he had to get Beast Boy alone. His curiosity could not be denied.
"Thanks for the help Beast Boy" said Raven happily.
"No problem" Beast Boy replied.
"Alright then guys, I'll be in my room if anybody needs me" exclaimed Raven. There were a few mumbles from the other Titans.
"See you Raven" murmured Beast Boy, with a little smile.
"Bye Beast Boy" replied Raven, looking him in the eye with a tender smile before heading out of the common room, her cloak trailing gracefully behind her. She had never felt quite so happy before, and she didn't know why. Perhaps it was post-kiss euphoria, she didn't know. It was odd, so many things had happened in the past few days, and then suddenly everything had gone back to normal, as if nothing at all had occurred. Maybe that's why she was happy, she always did like the comfort of routine and predictability, yet the few days before had been exhilarating…. out of this world. She sat on the floor of her room, and feeling sure of herself, she attempted to meditate. She could barely believe it, but she had finally reached the blank state of mind that was required for mediation. It had been days, and doing it now felt magnificent. It truly felt as if everything was returning to normal.
Beast Boy hummed to himself, as he sat on the couch, watching Cyborg play games. He was happy, and seeing Raven happy made him all the gladder. Cyborg paused his game, turning to face Beast Boy.
"Hello B" muttered Cyborg in a devilish voice.
"Yo dude" replied Beast Boy, looking him in the eye.
"Mind telling me what the hell happened between you and Raven?" asked Cyborg.
"What do you mean?" said Beast Boy.
"Well you're not arguing" cried Cyborg.
"Should we be?" asked Beast Boy.
"Yes!" exclaimed Cyborg vehemently.
"… But why?" questioned Beast Boy, his dreamy smile still on his lips.
"Well because… you're Beast Boy… and she's Raven" answered Cyborg lamely.
"Okay…" said Beast Boy.
"Don't you remember that you used to argue with her? Or did you suddenly become retarded over the few days I was gone?" asked Cyborg, frustrated.
"Yeah… I guess we did argue a bit" replied Beast Boy.
"Is there something weird going on between you two?" questioned Cyborg, utterly confused.
Beast Boy looked at him. He had to tread carefully; he didn't want to reveal to him that he and Raven liked each other. "No. What do you mean? You mean like… I like her or something?"
"Um… okay, yeah" said Cyborg, slightly surprised that Beast Boy had come to that conclusion, but not pointing it out, playing along.
"No I don't like her, I don't think I could. She's Raven and I'm Beast Boy. There's nothing between us, and never could be. There's no way I could be attracted to her" replied Beast Boy strongly, hoping to close off the issue, unaware of the blue-cloaked female who had entered the common room with ears astute.
Raven turned on her heel, walking swiftly out of the common room. She couldn't believe what Beast Boy had said, she had thought that he had genuinely liked her, that he cared for her. But in the end she had been wrong, he was just playing her along. How could she have thought that someone could have liked her, what a fool she was. A tear slid down her cheek, as she closed the door of her room, mulling over what had happened. Her heart ached painfully as it slowly died in her chest. She should never have risked letting her heart out to another, she should have known. Emotions raged in her head, as she tried to suppress them, but it was no use. Objects flew madly around her room, crashing into each other, exploding and some simply dissolving into blackness. And there she lay on her bed, a hurricane of objects swirling around her, threatening to consume her.
Cyborg had seen Raven walk out of the room after hearing what Beast Boy had said, and felt an uncomfortable feeling.
"Beast Boy… uh man… Raven heard what you just said" muttered Cyborg, knowing Beast Boy was about to be wallowing in very deep water.
"What?" said Beast Boy, his heart stopping.
"Um… yeah, Raven kinda overheard what you said before" repeated Cyborg.
Beast Boy just sat there, taking in what Cyborg had said. Raven had heard him throw away everything they had had in a disdainful proclamation. He had probably broken Raven's heart. She would probably be pretty angry, he thought to himself. Beast Boy licked his lips, only able to say one thing.
"Oh shit"
AN: Thanks for all the reviews, a happier chapter... for the most part.