Raven and the Titans Vol. 1

"Different Tastes, Similar Pasts" (4/4)

Chapter 2: "Different Tastes, Similar Pasts" Part 4/4

He tenderly smiles and mentions, "The last slice. I saved the last slice for you. You eat too slow, you know. We're already done!"

"Oh. Thanks," I respond.

I grab the slice from the tray and bring it to my plate. I glance up at the others noting they've stacked their plates on the metal trays. This time, I eat at a more rapid pace because I don't want them to wait too long. As I eat, they begin to speak among themselves, and I just listen.

"So Starfire, how was the food?" asks Robin after he finished wiping his mouth with a napkin.

She grabs her glass of soda and says, "The coke is not the too bad. It is the bit of the bubbly. It is like the g'norkon at home except the g'norkon has a more of the taste of the bitter. The pizza has reminded me of the lufnoka berries that are to be eaten with the meat of the draknorfka except we do not eat it with the bread. The pizza is the delicious."

The boys stare at her with confused expressions.

Robin queries "Umm, Starfire. Where exactly do you come from? It's just that we've never heard of those things."

"Oh. My planet is called Tamaran. My culture and traditions do seem the different," she explains.

I finish my slice and pile my plate on top of the tower of plates. I grab a napkin from the dispenser on the table to wipe my fingers and mouth.

As I crumble the napkin and place it on the plate, I say," That's normal. Here on Earth, many different people have their own cultures. It's what makes their race beautiful." I give a small smile at the red haired beauty. "Anyway, Robin, since we're done, I was thinking maybe we can meet with the Mayor today, if he can, to get it over with quickly," I explain.

"I'll call him right now then. Excuse me," he announces as he stands from the booth and heads outside.

Cyborg stands and states, "Well, I'm full and satisfied. Let me go pay for the pizza, so we can leave."

"Sure, bro," says Beast Boy as he leans his back on the wall and extends his legs on the purple cushioned seats.

"Is it the all right if I go see the box with the moving black circles. I have never seen one before," elucidates Starfire as she stands and walks towards it.

I answer, "Sure. It's called a juke- Never mind."

She didn't even let me finish. Well, she must be curious about things she hasn't seen. I guess, it's just me and Beast Boy now.

My hands commences to sweat for some incomprehensible reason, so I grab my half-empty glass of lemonade and slowly drink the watered down mixture through the red and white stripped straw.

"Hey, umm, Raven. I've been meaning to ask you something important, but I didn't find the right time, I guess. Uhh... well, you see-" starts Beast Boy, who straightens his posture and removes his feet from the cushion, but I intervene.

"Just spit it out. If you want to ask something, just ask," I explain gently, but my deadpanned voice sounds a bit cold.

He starts to twiddle with his fingers, and he becomes uncomfortable. He looks at me and releases a long, audible breath. He glances at the table as he presents his question.

"Okay, do you remember me?" he rushes.

My eyebrows furrow in uncertainty at his query. I'm left baffled, but my mind begins to think at the speed of a fired bullet.

If I remember him? I'd recall someone green, funny, and cute. Especially someone who can shift into animals. Jeesh, what a ridiculous question. I've never known him until yesterday night. But if he thinks I should remember him...