A/N: First of all, sorry this took me 7 months to give an update. I don't even have a cool excuse, just that I was busy with school and projects and been too lazy to write. Also, to be honest I had no ideas on how to continue with this story but since I promised myself I would update all my stories before the year ends, I came up with this little chapter. It's not my best, so my apologies :c
Chapter 4
" So anyway, that's how I threw the winning shot and won the championships!"
Raven quirked a brow at this and felt a vein throb on her forehead. Not only was it excruciatingly hot and crowded, the finger food had become stale as well. Raven's stomach growled at her neglect which only added to her already impending headache. And to top it all off, this guy showed up and started talking to her when she clearly wasn't interested.
When she didn't respond and went on fanning herself with a flattened out carton of cigarettes she found laying around, the guy went on with his proposition- the question he obviously formulated in his mind before walking up to her to strike in a meaningless conversation about something as mundane as basketball games and fraternities. He cleared his throat which caught the pale girl's attention then spoke confidently in the most sultry voice he could muster, which sadly sounded slurred and so he sounded two shots away from being drunk.
"Do you wanna go dance inside?"
The question immediately woke Raven up and she quickly thought of a response.
"Uhm. Yeah sure... Just give me a minute to go pee."
The tall, sweaty brunette nodded in satisfaction and Raven quickly manuvered around the crowd hurrying to reach the front lawn or maybe the second floor to escape; whichever she could reach first.
Real smooth, Roth.
She rolled her eyes and managed to grab hold of the stairs and pulled herself up, sweatbeads running down the side of her face. She walked passed small groups of people chatting and found the bathroom. After splashing cold water on her face, Raven stepped outside only to bump against something sturdy and tall.
"What the hell- Oh! Raven, it's you!"
Raven looked up and saw a dark hand stretched out to her, then an arm, then finally Karen's easy-going smile.
"Didn't know you were coming, Raven. Should've told us you wanted to party tonight."
"Well actually... My roomate-"
"Well doesn't matter now! You're here so it's all good. Hey Cy, guess who I bumped into!"
Karen quickly scampered away and called Victor who seemed irritated, staring at the phone in his hand. His eyes lit up in recognition, smiling at her and Raven saw him dial a number, have a brief conversation then hung up before walking over to her.
"Yo Rae! Who ya with?"
Victor motioned for a high five which Raven ignored.
"My room mate. We arrived together but she went off with some guy she met."
Raven shrugged, her thoughts on Jinx and wondering just where the hell she could be. Cyborg lowered his huge hand and raised a brow.
"Then why do you look like you were trying to escape something?"
"Ugh. Don't wanna talk about it."
The muscular male laughed heartily, amused at his friend's reaction.
"That bad, huh? Well chill out, Rae. I just called up the boy wonder and he's on his way with his room mate."
"Robin's coming?"
"Yeah. Called him up a few minutes before Bee got to ya, he didn't wanna come of course. Said he and his room mate are having pizza and video games or whatever, but then I mentioned we bumped into you..."
"BOO-YAH!"
Victor slammed his paper cup down the table and high-fived Karen. Raven didn't want to admit it but she felt better at the party with her friends around and was actually starting to have fun. She sipped on her drink slowly, comfy in her seat. The three of them had settled down on one of the picnic tables at the huge backyard, playing beer pong. Well, the couple was while Raven observed them.
"Yo Rae! You sure you don't wanna play? Maybe you have a better chance at beating this gorilla than I do."
The pale girl seemed to think about it, then stood up from her seat.
"Alriiight, Rae! Steppin' up to the competition, huh."
Raven rolled her eyes, more out of amusement than annoyance. She would've laughed right then if she wasn't put up on the spotlight like that. A few rounds later, there was a smirking Raven, a sweaty Victor and an amused Karen who decided to sit it out until the next round. The two were head to head, each with the same score and it was Victor's turn. He had his tongue stuck out in concentration then slowly flicked his wrist to throw the ball, holding his breath, only to have missed Raven's remaining cup by half an inch. Raven grinned. If she got hers in, then she would win the game. Her eyes squinted in concentration for a few seconds, took in a breath then swiftly flicked her wrist to throw the ball- it landed straight into Victor's cup. Karen cheered and high fived Raven who actually responded this time and Victor sighed in defeat.
"Okay, okay. The almighty Cyborg admits defeat. So what do ya want?"
"Hmm... Nothing embarassing... But you're buying us pizza once we get out of here."
Raven replied, pleased and Karen agreed with her choice of prize.
"Nice win."
A dark voice complimented Raven and she turned around to meet a guy around their age who had dark onyx eyes and smooth, jet-black hair. He smiled at her and stretched out his left hand to her.
"I'm Garth. Robin's new room mate back at our dorm. You must be Raven, right?"
She shook his gloved hand and nodded, remembering their phone call earlier that day where Robin had mentioned he had met his room mate.
"Oh, I see you guys have met."
Robin's voice cut through the loud music and conversation. He was carrying several drinks in his arms and set them down on the table.
"Yeah, and you just missed Raven's close win!"
Karen said with a chuckle. He looked at Raven questioningly and she shrugged.
"Beer pong."
"Ah."
They gathered around the table and Robin took up Victor's challenge of beer pong and both were putting their all into it. The other three engaged in small talk when Raven felt she needed to use the comfort room.
"I need to go pee. Be right back guys."
"Okay. But don't take long though, were leaving after the guys are done playing."
Karen spoke in a soft voice. Raven nodded and then stood up abruptly and made her way inside. It was past midnight now and more people were piling in. Afterwards, she pulled out a crumpled box of cigarettes from her pocket and took out one stick. I should really consider quitting. She mused to herself, and checked her bag for her lighter but couldn't find it. She was about to throw away the stick when a hand with multiple rings appeared in front of her, the flames of the lighter casting weird shadows on her surprised face. She ended up lighting up the tip and exhaled. She set her gaze to the guy in front of her. His deep green eyes lit up with a glimmer of amusement as he looked down at her. He closed his lighter and smiled.
"Fancy meeting you here, little bird."
His deep, musky voice plus his use of the pet name, rang a bell in Raven's head. But if there was ever a glimmer of recognition in her eyes, she chose not to let it show. The guy before her tutted.
"I'm disappointed you've forgotten about me so easy. Guess the sappy poem didn't quite leave a mark, huh."
He looked genuinely hurt for a moment then quickly squared his shoulders and stretched out his hand for her to shake.
"Jason. Jason Todd."
Jason could see the pale girl hesitate for a second but felt relieved when she shook his hand.
"Raven Roth."
"Beautiful name. I knew you were the little bird type."
He then planted a soft kiss on Raven's small hand, referring to his pet name for her back at the restaurant. Before Raven could make a sarcastic remark however, they heard someone scoff behind them.
"Real sorry to interrupt here, Raven. But we're heading out for some pizza now."
Robin had seen the entire exchange between the two while he was weaving his way through the crowd and was more than glad to interrupt. Raven noticed the acid in his voice though, and raised a brow at him which went unnoticed by the boy wonder, whose eyes were set in a soft glare on Jason. Raven rolled her eyes at her best friend's overprotectiveness and cleared her thoat.
"Don't worry, you weren't interrupting anything Richard. I was just about to go back to our table actually."
Robin snapped out of his glare on Jason and was about to say something when the rest of the group arrived.
"Hey, what's the hold up man? I'm starving over here."
Cyborg started to complain when he noticed the growing tension surrounding the three young adults and the group fell silent.
"There you guys are! Sorry I took so long, I got lost inside the huge mansion. God it was freaking huge."
Garth cut through some of the tension and then noticed the green-eyed brunette standing between the two birds.
"I see you've met Jason. Good. I was a bit worried I'd have to look for him and then take even longer before we can all leave."
"You know this guy?"
"Yeah. This is my friend, Jason. The one I mentioned earlier would arrive a bit late."
Garth answered Robin's question who only seemed to appear more irritated. He also noticed the look Robin gave his friend and Raven's equally annoyed expression. This raised questions inside Garth's head but decided to question Robin about it later instead. Jason's lips curved into a charming smile and gave a small wave to the rest of the group.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Victor exclaimed and lead the way out to his pride and second love of his life- the T-Car. He quickly got in the driver's seat, Karen also stepping in while Robin started up his car. Garth got in the car and called out for Jason to ride with them.
"No, that's alright Gar. I rode my motorcycle over here."
He responded with his accent, as Raven stood in the center, not having decided where to ride. Robin, about to call her when he was interrupted by Jason.
"Wanna ride with me, lil' bird?"
He winked at her. To which Raven rolled her eyes.
"No thanks. I prefer getting places with my body intact."
She said in response, eyeing Jason's motorcycle. He chuckled before motioning to the helmet in his hand.
"You can wear my helmet."
Raven pulled open a door on Robin's car and Robin grinned. Something that didn't go unnoticed by Garth who sat at the passenger's seat.
"Suit yourself, babe."
The short drive came to a halt when they pulled up in front of Mama's Pizzeria. They ordered their food, had some smoothies and coffee and then went their seperate ways. Victor and Karen were the first to call it a night.
"We'll see ya around the city, guys. Sorry I can't offer a ride, I have to drive Bee back to her dorm."
Which left Robin, Garth, Raven and Jason at the booth. Raven yawned, her eyes tired.
"Well, I'm gonna have to second that motion. I'm beat." Raven monotoned.
"I'll give you a ride home."
"No, that's ok Robin. Your dorm is another hour away from mine. I'll hail a cab."
"Where's your dorm at? I could drop you off before I head home myself. Besides, it's much more convenient on a motorcycle."
Raven raised a brow. She hardly knew Jason and so she had second thoughts. Well I'm not exactly in a position to decline here. Taking a cab would cost a lot and I don't even know on what side of the city I am. Plus it's past midnight and I'm tired. She sighed, defeated. He smiled at her, leaving his spoon in his ice cream.
"Cool. You wanna leave now?"
"Actually, why don't we all call it a night too. I'm pooped. Let's go? Robin?"
Garth yawned, making his way outside. Robin's frown only got deeper.
"Sure."
He stood up, breaking eye contact with Jason and walked pass him and outside to the parking lot.
"What's his problem?"
A/N: And thaaat's it. Reviews and criticisms are welcome, let me know what you think- good or bad I appreciate it.