Teen Titans Fan Fiction ❯ Normal Like You ❯ Bus Rides ( Chapter 1 )

Ugh. Absolutely no inspiration for any of my stories, so I started a new one. I really want to update “The End”, but that doesn't seem to be happening for a bit.

Anyway, this is my newest fic. AU. Pairings should be obvious by now, but whatever.

Disclaimer: I don't know why I even bother. It's kinda obvious that I don't own Teen Titans or anything else that's trademarked in here. I think the fact that `disclaimer' is bolded should mean something so I don't even have to write it.

Normal Like You

Chapter 1: Bus Rides

It was light when Raven Roth woke up that morning. There was no alarm, nothing to wake her, but her eyes automatically opened when the hands on her clock reached seven. She savored the sheets for a moment before thrusting herself up. Silently she slipped on a shirt and jeans, grabbed her things, and quietly headed down the stairs and into the kitchen.

A snort erupted from the living room, and Raven paused mid-step. After a minted, she continued soundlessly, carefully opening a cupboard and swiping a Poptart.

She was out of the house ten seconds later.

Raven hitched the backpack up her back, slipping the loose strap up her arm. She lingered on her walk to the bus stop, pausing every now and then to mess with her backpack. When she finally reached it, the yellow bus was puling up against the curb. The teenagers that had already arrived filed in clumsily, trying to go in two at a time. Raven watched for a moment, considering skipping. Taking a deep breath, she slid into the clumped line. Though arriving late allowed you to slide in unnoticed, it also allowed those already seated to make your bus ride as horrible as possible.

Raven pulled the hood of her sweatshirt up and bent her head. She block out the words flung at her and ignored the papers bouncing off her head. Greedy hands poked and prodded her and attempted to rip the books from her hand. One person tried to break the worn straps from her backpack while another attempted to pull off her hood. Suddenly someone grabbed her and shoved her into one of the seats. Her stomach hit the back of it and more people joined in. She was thrown around like a tennis ball until someone managed to push her into an empty seat. She landed on someone and realized that seat was not as empty as she had thought.

The person grunted, and she pulled herself up into the sitting position. She muttered an apology and checked to make sure she had all her papers.

“You okay?” the person asked, apparently male, “You kinda got thrashed there.”

Raven didn't look up to see who spoke to her. “I'm fine. Sorry I landed on you.”

“It's cool.” There was an awkward pause. “You look kinda flustered…”

Instinctively, she yanked her hood up. “I'm fine,” she growled.

The boy didn't give up. “I'm Gar,” he said. He jerked down her hood and turned her head towards him. “What's your name?”

Raven's first instinct was to pull back. She flung back and tugged her hood back up, shifting her gaze to her lap. Her mind lingered on the boy. He had green eyes that glittered with laughter and blond hair that stuck up with small amounts of gel. His mouth was stuck in a perpetual grin; he was almost attractive. Raven shook her head and focused on keeping her eyes down.

“Won't you give me you name?” he chuckled.

“Don't like your own?” she muttered. She stuck her hands into the pouch of her sweatshirt and relaxed against the seat.

“I gave you mine,” he pressed, “It's only fair exchange.”

“We never made that deal,” her mouth moved before her brain could stop it, “You gave it on the assumption I would give you mine. I choose not to.”

“Ah, but I only gave you my nickname,” he was clearly enjoying this, “I'll trade you my name for yours.”

“I'm actually quite happy with mine,” she said, “No need to trade.”

“Maybe if I tell you my name and you tell me yours, we can decide for ourselves.”

She sighed; he was persistent. “Fine. I'm Raven.”

He stuck out his hand. “Garfield, but don't tell anyone.”

She regarded the hand with disdain. “Will you leave me alone now?”

“Probably not,” he answered.

The bus jumped up and down as they sat in silence. She could see him thinking of what to say to her.

“That natural?” he asked suddenly.

She glanced at him, startled. “Uh, what?”

“Your hair,” he clarified, “Is it natural.”

“Oh. Yeah.”

“It's cool. I wish my hair was naturally unnatural.”

She blinked. Most people were too busy calling her a witch or a variety of other similar names to comment- nicely- on anything.

The bus screeched to a halt and both jetted forward. Raven stood instantly but made no move to join the throng of students. She was vaguely aware that someone was behind her, but he didn't look to enthusiastic about moving either. She the crow thinned, they headed off the bus together. They stood side-by-side for a moment before Gar spotted someone off in the distance.

“See ya `round, Rae,” he said and ran off.

“It's Raven,” she said to his back. She shook her head. Time for school.

 

The Part That The Author Likes:

So not the best beginning, but I kinda like it. Next chapter: Raven gets angry, someone acts like an idiot, and someone plays hard to get.

Review!!!!