AN: Sorry this took so long to post. This chapter just didn't want to write itself. This chapter is dedicated to my beta reader, Steve6363. He is such a huge help in producing this story and he puts up with my crazy.

XOXO Gwen

Chapter 16

It was determined (by Robin) that Beast Boy would select a caterer tonight. Robin never said a word about the kitchen fiasco yesterday and Beast Boy wasn't sure if it was because he was angry beyond words, or if, since they cleaned the entire mess, he just figured there was no harm done. Beast Boy had his doubts about the latter option.

Robin was walking past Beast Boy in the hallway later that night when he turned to him and simply said, "Beast Boy, pick a caterer and test the food out by tomorrow night. They will come up with what to serve."

Well alright then, Beast Boy fumed, but he did acknowledge he had gotten off easily.

After spending some more quality time with Google, Beast Boy decided on a promising Italian restaurant that catered. It was reviewed as the best Italian in the city and after he called about pricing, he determined it was the most expensive as well. Glad I'm not paying for it, he thought with nonchalance.

In addition to talking with their catering division, he made a reservation for he and Raven for tonight to sample some of the food. At least, that was what he told himself.

When the restaurant asked him if he wanted to come by one night for a complementary meal, the first thought he had was, I have to bring Raven. When he realized that this was one of the nicest restaurants in the city, meaning a suit and tie, gentlemanly behavior, candles, music, and maybe, just maybe, Raven in a dress, he arrived at his second conclusion: that this would be a date.

He debated about the accuracy of that statement, considering that Raven wouldn't be thinking along the same lines. But the structure was there. There would be a quiet corner of the restaurant, dim lighting, formal attire, a few glasses of wine and voila! An infectious atmosphere of romance! Or so he hoped.

The mental image prompted him to respond that yes, he and a guest would be there for dinner at seven. Now he just had to break the news to Raven.

Ever since he realized he had feelings for her, he had been a ball of nerves. He hoped she couldn't see right through him. She just had those searing purple eyes. They were beautiful, but like Medusa's, if you stared too long, Beast Boy was sure you'd turn to stone.

He found her in her room, as usual. "Raven?" he called apprehensively after knocking. "You in there?"

The door slid open to reveal the girl in her usual garb, a book in hand. Beast Boy blanked. "Do you need something?" she asked after a few seconds of silence. Idiot, he chastised himself. Say something!

"Uh, yeah. So you know how we're supposed to pick a caterer and food and stuff and well, we haven't done it yet, but Robin said I had to do it by tonight so I got all panicky until I found this Italian restaurant and it looks pretty cool and there's plenty of vegetarian options and—"

"Beast Boy." Raven looked at him with one brow raised. "What's your point?"

"Well, I'm—I mean we're going to the restaurant tonight for a complementary dinner." He shut his mouth now that it was all out and just smiled at her.

She pursed her lips. "Well I suppose this is leagues above the idea of us cooking anything," she said with a smirk. "When are we leaving?"

"I'll meet you in the common room at 6:30. Our reservation is for seven." He watched her face carefully, working diligently to analyze her reactions.

"It's a date," she said with a smile, stepping back to allow the door to close. Beast Boy was so flustered from her comment that he almost forgot to mention the last detail.

"Oh, and by the way, it's a really nice restaurant, so you have to wear a dress!"

It was amazing how one word could turn a smile into a scowl.

Raven hesitated outside of the door. She had been standing there silently for five minutes, a war raging in her mind. She knew she had to do it, but oh how she didn't want to.

Tentatively, she formed her hand into a fist, brought it up towards the door, and knocked once lightly. The door slid open within seconds.

"Raven!" Starfire exclaimed as her eyes lit up. Raven rarely visited her friend's room; it was typically the other way around.

"Hey Starfire," she said glumly. "Can we talk for a minute?"

"Of course," Starfire replied as her face changed with concern. She stood aside from the doorway for Raven to enter. "May I ask of what do you wish to speak?"

Raven sighed. You have to do it, you have to do it. "Um, I'm going out to dinner tonight with Beast Boy and um... I need to borrow a dress." There. It was out.

Starfire's face lit up like the sun. "Oh, how glorious, friend! Tell me, to where are you going?"

"I don't know. Some nice restaurant. Apparently they gave us a free dinner after Beast Boy booked them for catering."

"And friend Beast Boy has invited you!" Starfire sang. She had a peculiar look in her eye, like she knew something Raven didn't. Raven drew her brows together.

"What?"

"Nothing friend Raven!" she quickly supplied. Before Raven had time to be suspicious, Starfire had her by the arm, dragging her towards the girl's expansive closet.

"Now," she began, sitting Raven down on her bed as she rummaged through the closet, "what color do you desire to wear? Pink? Purple? Lilac? Fuchsia?"

Raven stared at some of the choices she held up. "Uh, do you have anything without bows on it? Or ruffles? Or that's pink?"

"Hmm," Starfire thought about the choices she had. "I do not believe so." Her face looked frustrated until it suddenly lit up again. "This evening requires a journey to the mall of shopping!" she declared, rushing back towards Raven. Raven held up her arms in protest.

"Starfire, wait! I really don't think that's—" She was cut of as Starfire grabbed her arm and yanked her forward, flying hastily down the hallway and towards the roof with Raven in tow. "Starfire!" she complained, but it was no use. Soon they were flying through the air towards Jump City.

As they were about halfway across the water, Starfire let go of Raven's arm. Though almost every cell in her body told her to turn around and retreat to the safety of the tower, she willed herself to keep flying. She did need a dress. And though she had never been shopping with Starfire for something she needed, she figured it wouldn't be that much different from her trips to help expand Starfire's wardrobe.

She was wrong on that account. Starfire shopped with the determination of a mother bear protecting her cubs. She was fierce, focused, and agile, moving from one store to the next like they were about to close. Raven lost count of how many times she was shoved into a fitting room with an armful of clothes, but after the fifteenth store she had lost hope.

"Starfire, can we please just pick one and be done already?" she groaned from a fitting room. "The black one was... nice."

"Which black one?" Starfire asked from the other side of the curtain. "The one that was made for the grandmother or the one that looked like the potato's sack?"

Ouch. That was harsh, Raven thought as she zipped herself into another garment. This one was black as well, which gave it bonus points in Raven's opinion. Without looking at herself, she parted the curtain and stepped outside for Starfire's critique.

The girl's green eyes grew wide.

"Fine, I'll go put the next one on," Raven huffed as she turned.

"Stop!" Starfire exclaimed. "Friend, you no longer have to do the trying on of the dresses, as I believe we have found 'the one.'" Her face slowly spread into a smile as she spoke.

Surprised, Raven looked around for the nearest mirror. She found an expansive three-way version and walked slowly towards it.

The dress was black, with a full skirt that flowed out from her waist and a sweetheart neckline, though it had a sheer panel that came up over her chest to meet with a black collar around the neck. The outer layer of fabric was sheer and lightweight.

"It is made of the chiffon of silk," Starfire informed her as she followed Raven to the mirror. It wasn't exactly Raven's style—not that she had much of one—but it accentuated her curves nicely, was fairly conservative, and wasn't too short. It fell at about three inches above her knee.

Raven gave Starfire a small smile in the mirror. "I don't hate it."

Starfire squealed, then all but pushed Raven back into the changing room, babbling something about accessories and shoes. As soon as the dress was off of her body, it was back in Starfire's hands. By the time Raven redressed and left the room, Starfire had already bought the garment and was waiting for her with the bag in hand.

"You know we have three hours before we have to be back, right?" Raven asked her friend. Raven herself was already exhausted and they had only been there for an hour and a half. She eyed the benches that lined the mall longingly.

"But Raven, if we spend our time shopping we will not have adequate time for the doing of the hair and makeup."

Raven stopped in her tracks, causing Starfire to turn in alarm. "Raven?"

"Starfire, you and Beast Boy can force me into a dress and out to dinner tonight, but there is going to be no "doing" of the hair and makeup. Understand?" She started walking again.

Starfire nodded dejectedly. "As you wish, friend Raven." Raven knew that she was trying to make her feel guilty. And I'm not falling for it, she thought as she eyed Starfire suspiciously. She had boundaries.

This time it was Starfire who stopped. Raven turned to look what she was staring at. The first thing she saw were the letters D, S, and W.

Then she looked through the windows. The store was massive with aisle after aisle after aisle of shoes. Starfire looked like she was about to salivate. "Friend, we have arrived at our final destination."

Raven sighed as she marched through the front door in a bold move. "Come on," she huffed, "let's get this over with."

Raven wasn't quite sure what it was about shoes. Heels were designed to be uncomfortable, unsteady, and in her opinion unattractive contraptions that women felt the odd compulsion to strap to their feet every day. Whereas Starfire went through dresses like this was The Fast and the Furious: Shopping Edition, she picked up each pair of display shoes like they were precious works of art, oohing and aahing over every sequin.

Fortunately, Raven only had to actually try on two pairs before they found the right ones. I suppose fit doesn't matter as much with shoes, Raven thought as she stood, a little unsteadily, on her chosen pair. They were simple black evening shoes with straps around the foot and her ankles. The only problem was the three inch heels.

"There's no way I can walk in these Starfire." She frowned at herself in the mirror.

"Of course you can!" Both girls turned to identify the owner of the voice. A model-tall employee with long brunette hair and sky-high stilettos came gliding over to them like she was floating. Raven didn't like her already.

"Walking in heels is an art form, but anyone can learn it with a little practice," she said with a warm smile. Starfire looked delighted. Raven knew she looked skeptical. "Raven, right?" Raven nodded. Fantastic. The Teen Titans are getting a lesson in walking in heels in front of the entire store. She was thoroughly embarrassed, though she feared the worst had yet to come.

"Okay, Raven, I want you to stand up straight, arch your back a bit, look straight ahead and walk for me." She had a very nice, encouraging look on her face that Raven wanted to wipe off. Calm down, she commanded herself. It's not fair to take this out on the sales girl. She did as she was instructed, desperately hoping she didn't look like an idiot.

"That's good, just make sure you're bending your knees all the way back when you walk." Raven continued to parade up and down the aisle, glaring at another shopper who had the audacity to pull out their camera phone. They quickly put it back. "Now see if you can step heel-toe, like you would without heels. You just put less weight on your heel and of course you have less surface area to balance on." She and Starfire watched her, offering praise and pointers as she practiced.

"Well, I think you have it!" The sales associate beamed. "You look fantastic. Really," she affirmed when she caught Raven's skeptical glance. Starfire thanked the girl profusely as she helped them check out.

Raven had never been so happy to leave the mall before.

6:15. Beast Boy watched the second hand on his watch tick slowly around its circle as he stood apprehensively in the common room, waiting for Raven.

After dusting off his old suit this morning and discovering it didn't fit, he'd had to make a special trip to the department store downtown in a frantic search for one. It turned out okay, though; he managed to find one that fit him perfectly, no tailoring required. He paired it with a simple black tie and a white button-down. He felt good in the ensemble. He just hoped Raven liked it.

6:20. He had asked Cyborg to borrow the T-car. He knew he had to approach the topic delicately, so he picked the best time he could think of: when Cyborg was distracted and thus much less likely to think it through.

He found him playing a video game in the common room after he returned with his new suit. Cyborg was playing a racing game in one-player mode. Beast Boy grinned slyly, an idea popping into his head.

"Hey Cy," he said nonchalantly as he hopped over the couch.

"Hey," Cyborg muttered back, focused intensely on the game. He wasn't doing spectacularly well, which is what gave Beast Boy the idea in the first place. Though Cyborg didn't know it, while he was upgrading technology in the main room, Beast Boy had been using the Titan's mainframe to play this game and had gotten quite good at it.

"So Raven and I are going to this fancy restaurant tonight and I'm gonna take the T-car, if that's alright with you," he threw in casually. Beast Boy thought Cyborg was going to drop the controller.

"If that's alright with me? Of course it's not alright with me! I've told you a million times you can't drive the T-car!" he yelled at Beast Boy. Game forgotten, Cyborg's car crashed into a building, causing him to lose the game. "Great," he grumbled.

"Hey, why don't you race me for it?" Beast Boy said with feigned excitement. Cyborg narrowed his eyes at him. "You're the one who always says you're the master of video games. 'Sides, I've only played this a few times." He put on a pleading expression. "C'mon Cy, if I win, I get to take the T-car tonight."

"And if I win?" Cyborg asked.

"Um... I'll do your laundry for a week."

"Two weeks. And you're on," Cyborg declared confidently. Beast Boy tried to keep his smirk contained.

6:25. He began to pace the common room floor, the keys to the T-car jangling in his pocket. He ran a hand through his hair as he tried to think of conversation topics for tonight. With Raven as his date, he would need them. Although he couldn't complain—he wouldn't rather be with anyone else.

She had slammed the door in his face at the mention of the dress, but she was still planning on coming, right? The thought only made him more nervous as he watched his watch hit six thirty.

Punctual as usual, Raven walked through the common room doors only seconds later. Beast Boy gulped.

She was stunning. There was the dress, of course. It was pretty and soft-looking and accentuated her slender figure. Her hair was the same way it always was, as was the rest of her. Well, except for the shoes. I didn't know Raven even did heels, he thought with awe as he watched her glide down the stairs.

But the most beautiful thing about her was the smile that softly graced her lips when she caught sight of him waiting for her.

"Uh, you look fantastic," Beast Boy managed, hoping he sounded somewhat smooth.

Her smile pulled up in one corner. "Thanks. You don't clean up too badly yourself." She cocked her head to the side slightly. Beast Boy was confused until he realized she was waiting for him to say something.

"So, I got the keys to the T-car, if you're ready to go." Raven stared at him, shocked.

"Did you steal them?"

"No!" he quickly supplied. "Of course not! I'll have you know, Cyborg gave them to me. Willingly!"

She narrowed her eyes, but they were still alive with laughter. "Right," she drawled. "Well I'd suggest we leave before he changes his mind."

Beast Boy nodded with a smile, ready to leave not out of fear of Cyborg, but out of a desire to get Raven alone in the restaurant.

As they walked down the hall towards the garage, Beast Boy took Raven's hand and looped in his bent arm. She looked up at him in surprise.

"I'm being a gentleman," he explained, taking on a playful tone as if it should be obvious. "I'm escorting my lady to dinner."

"Ah," Raven said. Surprisingly enough, she didn't pull away. "I didn't know you were capable of that kind of behavior," she teased.

"Oh, you'll see just how gentlemanly I am here in a minute, miss skeptic." She rolled her eyes, but continued down the hallway.

Feeling Raven's small hand in the crook of his arm, knowing that they were about to share time together, and feeling that she was truly happy to be with him... it doesn't get any better than this, Beast Boy thought with a smile.

After the incident on the moped, Raven wasn't expecting very much out of Beast Boy's driving. In fact, she was kind of hoping he would just let her teleport them. But this was his first opportunity to drive the T-car and he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself. She didn't know how he had gotten Cyborg to agree to this, but she suspected bribery.

Cyborg would be happy to know that his beloved car was in good hands though. Beast Boy handled the car smoothly and drove cautiously, much to Raven's relief. The restaurant wasn't far; it was in the top of a tower overlooking the bay. As they pulled up to the front entrance, valets rushed forward to greet them. Beast Boy tossed one the keys as another opened the door for Raven and held out a hand. She accepted the assistance gratefully; she was still a bit unsteady in her new shoes, though she felt much better than she did when she first tried them on.

There was an awning overhead that extended into the road, sheltering them from the light sprinkling of rain that had started to fall. Raven could hear thunder in the distance.

"Good evening," the man said gently, to which Raven murmured a reply. She wasn't sure what she said because she couldn't pull her focus from Beast Boy. He looked so handsome in his suit. Raven tried to contain the blush she felt growing on her cheeks. Did I really just think that?

Beast Boy offered his arm, which she once again took, and led her through the doors to the elevator. They rode up in companionable silence as Raven ruminated on these thoughts.

The fact I think he looks good in a suit doesn't mean anything, she reassured herself. I mean, he does look good in the suit. It would be hard not to notice that. And he is kinda cute—it's simply a fact.

These thoughts didn't do anything to stop the shiver that ran down her spine when the doors opened and Beast Boy put his hand on her back to guide her forward. They didn't have to introduce themselves as they approached the entrance to the restaurant; the hostess and maitre d' saw them coming and walked forward immediately to greet them.

Beast Boy made casual conversation and talked about a few details of the catering job as they were led to a private table in the back of the restaurant. Raven didn't listen to what they were saying. She watched Beast Boy talk and laugh and smile with the maitre d'. It seemed so easy and so effortless for him. He was a naturally gifted conversationalist, which Raven secretly admired about him. He was always the life of a party, and she was proud of that.

After they were seated they were descended upon by a barrage of wait staff. Before she knew what was happening, her napkin was on her lap and a server had her water glass in hand as he inquired whether she wanted flat water or San Pellegrino. She looked to Beast Boy for help.

"We'll both take San Pellegrino with a bottle of your house Chardonnay, please." Raven considered him. For someone who spends so much time in clubs, he certainly knows how to play the part of a gentleman, she thought wryly.

"So," Beast Boy began after they were sipping on two glasses of wine, "what do you think?"

"It's nice," she said softly. "Though I suppose all that really matters is the food."

"Yeah, I guess so," he replied with a smile. He looked at her intensely with warm, thoughtful eyes. The restaurant was dimly lit with candlelight, giving everything a soft, hazy glow.

"So why did you change your mind about the food?" She asked. "Before you were determined to make them serve what you wanted. Today it seems like you just handed over the reigns."

Beast Boy laughed. "Robin changed my mind for me."

"He yelled at you about yesterday?"

"No, that's the weird thing! He didn't say a word about that. He just told me this morning that I had to pick a caterer by tonight and walked off. So, here we are," he said, gesturing around the restaurant.

"Hmm," Raven sighed as she took another sip of her white wine. "This is very good." She didn't drink wine often (she was technically underage) but when she did she usually preferred red.

"It should be. Dinner tonight is on them, but that wine would be expensive otherwise." He took a drink from his own glass as he studied her. Raven shifted shyly under his gaze. "You really do look pretty tonight, Rae."

Once again, Raven tried to keep her cheeks from turning pink. "Thanks," she said quietly. "I had some help from Starfire.

She jumped when he let out a snort. "That must have been fun."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, we had a great time at the mall." Raven paused for a moment, for once deciding to make an effort at conversation. "Starfire frightens me. She shops like she's competing for a prize."

"I can imagine," Beast Boy said lightly. "How long were you there."

"Too long," she quickly answered. "I lost count of how many dresses I tried on."

"Well, it worked out okay. That one looks perfect on you." Raven wished he would stop complementing her. She wasn't used to it and it took her off guard.

Soon enough, a plate of bruschetta arrived for each of them and they began to eat. Raven brought the bread to her mouth and took a bite. She closed her eyes.

"This is the best bread I've ever had," Beast Boy said from across the table, reflecting her sentiments exactly. It was topped with goat cheese and rosemary, among other ingredients.

"It's good," Raven acknowledged.

That pattern continued for the rest of the night. The waiters brought course after course of incredible food that made Raven's mouth water just thinking about it. Between eating, the two talked and laughed (though that was mostly Beast Boy) and enjoyed themselves immensely.

They were halfway through their pasta when Beast Boy brought up the gala.

"So I guess we're done with the food now. Cyborg is working on the tour thing."

Ugh. Raven had forgotten about that. "The only advantage to that ridiculous idea is that the tower might actually be clean for once."

"Nope! You forgot watching Cyborg having to clean the whole tower like some kind of maid," Beast Boy said with a gleam of laughter in his eyes.

Raven gave him a weak look of disdain, but she was smiling underneath. "Some friend you are. And I doubt Cyborg will be willing to clean your hovel of a room."

"Yeah, I've gotta do that this week," he sighed. "Bet he doesn't have to clean yours either. There's never a book out of place."

"You shouldn't be spending enough time in my room to know," she growled. "Besides, my room will not be a stop on your little tour."

"Why not?" he complained. "Everyone else's is."

"Do I have to remind you what happened the first time you came into my room unbidden?" She raised a brow at him.

"No, I remember. Your room is like a magical death trap."

"Only for unwanted visitors," she smirked.

Servers graced the table with dishes of salad, more pasta, and risotto before the waiter finally came with coffee and dessert.

"I have to admit, Beast Boy," Raven began as she dug into her cannoli, "you made a good choice in restaurants."

"Thank you!" he beamed. Without paying much attention, he took a sloppy forkful of cream that ended up on the front of his shirt. Raven couldn't help it: she let out a small laugh at his clumsiness.

"Stop laughing! It's not very nice," he scolded her as he dipped his napkin into his water and started to wipe at his shirt. That only made Raven laugh in earnest.

"What?"

"Remind me again when you debuted from the Jump City cotillion?" she said, failing at keeping a straight face.

"That's right, you didn't get an invitation," he said sarcastically. His face warmed. "It's nice to see you laughing," he said softly.

Raven wasn't quite sure how to respond to that. "Well, I don't do it often," she sputtered.

"I know," he replied, "though you seem to be doing it more lately." He gave her a huge smile. "I must be rubbing off on you."

She rolled her eyes, but didn't reply.

"I've got to say, when Robin sent me to look after you, I didn't have such high hopes but..." Raven didn't hear the rest of what he said. She was too focused on the first part.

"What did you say?" she half-whispered.

"That I didn't think you'd warm up so quickly."

"No, about Robin."

Beast Boy paled a bit. "Oh, um, you know Robin, always checking up on his team."

"He sent you to spy on me, didn't he?" Raven's head swam. All this time, she thought. The constant badgering, the blackmail in order to spend more time with me, partnering him with me on the mission to find Plasmus... it was all so that Robin could keep an eye on me. Because he doesn't trust me. To say that Raven was mad was an understatement.

"I thought you were being nice to me. I thought you were my friend," Raven said through clenched teeth.

"Woah, Raven I—"

"Turns out you're only here to make sure I don't screw this precious gala up!" She was irate now, and she felt tears threaten in her eyes. Logically speaking, she knew she was overreacting. She didn't care.

"Don't worry, it's unnecessary! I can take care of myself just fine!" She rose from the table quickly, leaving her unfinished dessert and a bewildered looking Beast Boy. Everyone in the restaurant turned to stare as she stormed out.

"Raven!" she heard him hiss after her. She didn't turn around.

"Have a nice evening," the hostess said uncertainly as she flew past her. Raven got into the elevator and pressed the button to close the door before Beast Boy could follow.

She bit her lip hard to keep from breaking down. Raven didn't know why she was so emotional. Maybe it was the stress of the week. Or maybe it's the fact that I hate being lied to, she thought bitterly.

When she walked outside, she noticed that the thunder she had heard earlier had turned into a full-blown rain storm. Raven shivered as she felt the temperature drop. She didn't care. She wasn't accepting a ride home from Beast Boy.

She could feel the valets' confusion as she walked down the sidewalk, out from under the awning. She was soaked in a matter of seconds. Now that the rain ran through her hair, down her face, and over her black dress, she didn't feel bad letting a few tears fall. She was dripping wet anyway. Her mind registered that her dress would probably be ruined, but she didn't care.

"Raven!" She heard Beast Boy behind her. She saw him jogging down the street to catch up with her, so she turned and walked faster. She had forgotten about her ridiculous shoes. She stepped down wrong and stumbled forward. Before she hit the ground, strong arms wrapped around her.

"Hey," he said as he pulled her back to her feet. She smacked at his arm until he pulled it away. "Raven, what did I do? What's wrong?"

She stared at him incredulously. "What's wrong? You lied to me. I thought..." she trailed off, not wanting to let her emotions get the best of her. Too late, she thought as a street light cracked overhead. Beast Boy continued to stare at her, prompting her to continue. "I thought that you and I were... becoming friends. Good friends. I know I'm difficult to get along with. I know I can be a flat out bitch. But you didn't seem to care. I love our friends and I know they love me but they don't understand me. I thought that maybe you did. Or were starting to. Now I know the only reason you were spending time with me was to make sure I didn't fuck up your grand plans."

She watched as the hurt grew in his face with every word she said. Whatever she was expecting him to say, it wasn't what he said next.

"Raven..." he looked at her with pleading eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. It's not true, none of what you're accusing me of is. I swear. Yes, Robin told me to keep an eye on you, but I wanted to. I volunteered to. Raven, I've been spending time with you because... I like you." She stared at him, confused. He stared back with intensity in his eyes. "I mean I really like you."

Understanding hit Raven like a ton of bricks, knocking the air from her lungs. How? her mind wondered. How could he possibly...

She didn't have time to think about it further. Beast Boy advanced, putting his face inches from hers. He spoke with an intensity that sent shivers through her. "Raven, I don't know how I've lived with you for five years and not noticed it, but you are the most incredible person I've ever met."

"Oh," she squeaked. She didn't have time for more before his lips were on hers.

At first, Raven was too shocked to react. Her eyes fluttered shut as his lips pressed against hers. She didn't know how it had happened, but she realized he had one arm on her back, another in her hair. With even more surprise, she found her arms weaving up around his neck.

Raven felt alive. Her pulse was racing, her hands were shaking, and her body felt on fire. Heat rushed through her as Beast Boy's lips moved against hers. It felt so good. So right.

As Beast Boy pulled away, Raven looked up into his eyes with wonder. She saw all of the street lights on the block shatter, glass raining onto the wet pavement. Raven looked back at Beast Boy, realization dawning on her.

Her head swam. What am I doing? she thought hazily. She didn't know what was happening, but she had a panicky feeling in her stomach, like she was doing something wrong.

"Beast Boy," she whispered, backing away.

"Raven?" he asked, confusion and hurt sweeping over him.

"I'm so sorry, I just can't. I can't." She shook her head, trying to clear the barrage of emotions pouring through her. She felt her chest constrict, making it difficult to breathe. The tears started again.

She turned towards the nearest wall. She needed to get out of here.

"Raven!" Beast Boy called after her when he realized what she was doing.

"I'm sorry," she whispered again, stepping through the portal she had created.

The portal dumped Raven back into her room. She didn't have the energy to do anything but crawl into her bed, soaking wet, and wrap her arms around a pillow. She sobbed.

She didn't have the will to figure out why she felt the way she did. She just cried and cried until she ran out of tears. She stared numbly out of the window by her bed. She saw the little droplets of rain clinging to the glass, the glowing lights of Jump City beyond it.

She didn't know why she ran. She couldn't even begin to process what had happened with Beast Boy. He had kissed her. She vaguely realized it was her first kiss.

How could Beast Boy drop this on her? How could he even like her? She was unlikable; it was a fact. And what does this mean? What does he expect of me? Most of all, she was scared. The fear inside her wrapped around her chest and her lungs. Raven's head screamed questions at her, none of which she could answer. All she could do was listen to the rain. She listened to the little drops of rain pelt the window and thought of a lullaby her mother used to sing her when she begged her for it.

I love the sound of the music they make

When little raindrops are tapping away

Like a piano on my window pane

Playing a lullaby

She sang it over and over in her head until she fell asleep.