Ok. This has not been my week. The dad of a friend of mine passed away. Between the visitation and the funeral I haven't had much time to write.

Still I will try to write as much as I can. It's a good distraction.

I do not own Danny Phantom or Teen Titans

Chapter 5:Telling The Parents

Apartment 3B was dark when Dalia got there. Not a single light was on. If she was in luck this meant her parents were asleep. With how her luck was going so far today it could be fifty a fifty chance.

As silently as she could Dalia crept across the living room and to the hall. No light shone from under the door to her parents room. As quietly as she could she continued on to her room.

Once inside Dalia gave a sigh of relief and pressed her head against the cool wood of her door. She flipped the light switch on as she closed her eyes.

"I give you an A for effort." Dr. Rays voice sounded from behind her.

Dalia's eyes snapped open as she spun around and came face to face with her scowling father. The first thing that ran threw her head was "Oh God I forget to call"

"I'm in trouble aren't I" Dalia said.

"Trouble doesn't even begin to describe what your in." Dr. Rays said.

"Dad I can explain everything"

"Explain what? How you went out for groceries at 2 and don't come back till 11. Or how about how you seemed to forget to answer your cell phone when we called. And lets not forget about how you made your mother worry."

With each accusation more and more guilt pooled in Dalia stomach. Funny how he didn't even need to raise his voice.

"I'm sorry" she said with her eyed averted to the ground.

Dr. Rays sighed and walked over to Dalia's bed. He sank into the black comforter and put his head in his hands. After a moment he patted the spot next to him. Slowly Dalia walked over and sat next to him.

"What happened?" he asked.

" I didn't mean to worry you guys. On my way to the store the Titans got into a fight in the street. They were beat badly. By the end Robin had been thrown into the sewer. Raven and Beastboy where knocked unconscious, and Starfire and Cyborg where no where to be found. I went after Robin. When I found him he was buried under a lot of rubble. Once I got him out and back to his team he asked me if I would help them get back Titans Tower." Dalia explained

A confused look crossed Dr. Rays face

"Why would they need your help sweetie?"

Dalia chewed her lip in nervousness. She didn't want to tell him. Dalia didn't want to worry them even more and, after working so hard to keep her power a secret it didn't feel right just blabbing it out.

"They just wanted me to create a distraction. Once the security system was activated they wanted me to lure them to the door. I was safe. They wouldn't let me get hurt."

Half truth but truth none the less.

Dr. Rays' eyes softened but still held a look of concern "Alright. I'll talk about this with your mother. For now lets get some sleep."

Dr. Rays pulled Dalia into a tight hug and kissed her on top of the head. After releasing her he gave her a smile and got up. Slowly he walked to the door, but paused once he reached it. He sighed and gave Dalia one last tired smile before leaving the room for his own.

It wasn't the smile that got her attention. It was his eyes. In them were concern and worry. Proving that he didn't believe the story she told. Still that wasn't what got her. What unsettled her was the look of disappointment. He was disappointed in her.

With a feeling of guilt and sadness that settled in the pit of her stomach Dalia got ready for bed.

DPTTDPTTDPTT

Grounded

Dalia sighed. Well it's not like she didn't see it coming. With the frantic greeting she got from her mother that morning Dalia even felt that she deserved it. Still this presented a problem when it comes to her new schedule. Not that her parents knew the recent changes to it.

Yesterday

Dalia stood off to the side as she watched the three villainous teens be lead away by the police. So absorbed was she in watching that she didn't even see Beastboy sidle up next to her.

"Soooo I guess we'll be seeing you around more huh?" Beastboy asked with a huge grin.

"Maybe, depends on if I need to work with my power more." Dalia said.

"I think you should come by on a regular basis till you got your power down pat. What days are you free after school?" Robin asked as he walked up to them.

"What days am I not free you mean." Dalia thought to her self then with a smirk she spoke aloud "I'm free most days. Why? You still looking for that date?"

Robin blushed.

"O-Of course not. We need arrange some days for you to come to the Tower to work with Raven."

As if the sound of her name summoned her Raven appeared next to Beastboy, scaring the boy half to death.

"What is this about me?"

A wide eyed Beastboy who was clutching at his chest responded "Don't do that." After a few steady breaths "They were talking about when she should come over."

Raven turned to Robin and said. "Aside from meditation, reading and our missions I am open."

"All right then. How about we alternate days starting Tuesday." Robin offered.

"Sounds good to me." said Dalia.

"Sweat. Do you like video games? We can play sometime." Said a now hyperactive Beastboy.

Present

After shouldering her backpack Dalia headed for the door. For the next week she was only aloud to go to school and back. Today was Monday and tomorrow was her first day of powers training.

"Dalia could you wait a moment." Ms. Rays asked her once she reached the door.

Ms. Rays was sitting on the couch in the living room. Dalia walked over to her mom and sat down. After a moment of silence Ms. Rays spoke.

"You do know that we are proud of you for helping the Titans when they needed you right? We're not punishing you for that."

Startled Dalia responded "of course mom."

"Your father and I were just worried about you when you didn't call us. When you disappeared on us I was terrified."

Dalia looked down at her hands in her lap as that all to familiar sensation of guilt settled in again. Then Ms. Rays grabbed one of her hands and held it in her own.

"If you ever need to tell your father and me something we are all ears."

"There's nothing to say" Dalia bit her lip for a moment then added "I need to go or I'll be late to school."

Sadness seeped into Ms. Rays eyes.

"All right hun. I'll see you when I get out of work tonight."

DPTTDPTTDPTT

Dalia attended Jump High. It was clean, well organized, and had high expectations for it's students. Unfortunately the students were anything but.

While the halls were clean the students were greasy and foul mouthed. The organization of the classroom did not help the complete mess that locker and backpacks were. The high expectation of the teachers were always meet with disappointment.

These reasons alone were what kept Dalia from making friends. While Dalia was unmotivated in her school work that didn't mean she was stupid or lazy like most of the other students. Sure there were the few exceptions but those always seemed to be obsessed with there school work in order to prove that they were better that the others.

Weaving her way threw the crowded halls Dalia made her way to her locker. Only to stop dead in her tracks when she saw that someone was trying to break into it. A teenage boy with light brown hair and pale skin was muttering under his breath as he began to hit the locker. He never even noticed Dalia standing behind him tapping her foot.

"You know it might be a little easier to open if it was yours." Dalia said.

The boy jumped at the sound of her voice. He spun around and came eye to eye with her. Well more like eye to chin. Dalia raised her head to glare and scowl at him.

"W-What?" the boy asked confused.

"That's my locker." Dalia growled.

He looked between the locker door and Dalia then his eyes widened.

"I am so sorry." he said genuinely sorry with a little bit of panic in his voice. "I'm new and I guess I got the wrong locker."

Dalia's scowl softened and she held out her hand.

"Let me see your schedule. It should have you locker number at the top with the combination." She said.

With a relived smile he handed over the schedule.

After giving it a quick once over Dalia said "Well new locker neighbor it looks like you where just one off. Your 203 not 204."

The guy looked at his actual locker and flushed red. Then with a small chuckle he turned back to Dalia and flashed her a grateful smile.

"Thanks umm."

"Dalia Rays"

His smile widened and said "My name is Jay Daws."

"Nice to meet ya. Now can I get into my locker?" Dalia asked with a raised brow and a smirk.

Again Jay went red. Quickly he moved to the side.

"Sorry about that."

"It's ok. Here your gunna need this." Dalia said and handed her back his schedule.

Once he took it she turned to her locker and opened it. Dalia grabbed her Algebra 1 book. Of all the things she had to start her day with it had to be math. Oh well might as well get it over with. She closed her locker and turned to walk away.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Jay frowning at his schedule. Dalia sighed then smiled a little. In one quick movement she plucked the paper out of his hands and checked his first period.

"Well it's your lucky day new kid. You've got first period with me. Or is that unlucky? It is math." She said with a smile.

He gave a relived smile.

"Thanks."

"No problem new guy."

He frowned and said "My name is Jay."

"I know." she replied with a smirk

Ok I'm currently sitting in a hotel in just outside of Kentucky. I've been on a 5 hour car drive and have 10 more tomorrow. The day after that I have 7 more. Monday is the first day of the tennis season. Fuuuuuun L

Sorry for my outburst.

Dr. and Ms. Rays know something. What they know is my secret.