I Forgot to Mention

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

"...and then Becky, you know, from sixth period?  Not the one from first, but she might be transferred into our second.  I don't know, yet.  It's still up in the air if her allegations against the assistant gym coach are true.  It could still be the art teacher's baby.  Anyway, she said that Sasha thinks that she might've saw Dick standing near your locker during morning break.  Though, it could have actually been Ricky from Spanish.  Anyway, Sasha's been having trouble with using her contacts after the whole 'pink eye thing' last year.  Who knew someone's cornea could just...Artemis?  Are you listening?"

Artemis let out a halfhearted hum while staring at her phone.  A pang of guilt flashed in her chest when she looked up and saw Barbara's annoyed expression.  Not that she didn't enjoy all these new sudden instances of "girl talk" that her schedule now consisted of, but she wasn't exactly used to having such a talkative friend. Even M'gann didn't expect her to lend an ear for more than five minutes, and it was usually related to training or missions. She apparently still held some resentment towards Artemis's initial...observations, regarding Superboy.

Baywatch came close, but he wasn't exactly the type to pass along the latest gossip. He was more of a "in the moment" type of conversationalist. Barbara was different. It was clear that she wanted a much more engaged audience. Artemis...wasn't that.

"I'm sorry," Artemis weakly apologized as she put away her phone.

Luckily for her, Barbara just waved her hand with a smile.

"It's fine. I just usually have Dick around to talk about these things with.  He loves a good rumor."

"I bet," Artemis rolled her eyes.  "Especially, when he's the one at the center of the scandal."

That stupid article had disappeared from the internet after only a day, but the damage had definitely been done. It seemed like the entire school, if not the whole city itself, had their eyes on Artemis.  She hadn't been able to take two steps inside the front gate before the whispers started.  Popular girls, like Becky from sixth period and Sasha, were definitely making a much bigger deal out of it all.  Apparently, Dick Grayson-Wayne's name eclipses the actual boy when it comes to his notoriety.  He might just be the little kid who skipped a grade to most of the students, but once his father gets brought up everyone acts like he's the second coming of Christ.  Ready to absolve them of their sins, or more likely, financial woes, if they worship him with enough fake smiles.  After all, that's what Bruce Wayne supposedly does for their parents.

(Though, Artemis finds such accounts a bit suspicious.  It almost sounded more like he was paying them to leave him alone, rather than to express any sort of favor. But, what would she ever know about how the ultra rich think? She'll never have that kind of money to throw around.)

From what Barbara has told Artemis, Dick has always done his best to avoid reaping any of the supposed benefits that come with such a collective of money hungry peers.  According to her, Dick could literally afford to be the most popular kid in school if he wanted.  Instead, he hangs out solely with the daughter of the police commissioner who is there on a scholarship. 

In another life, Artemis would have empathized with Dick.  She knew more than most how suffocating it was being trapped in their father's shadow.  Even now, she could still remember the heckles of all the adult villains whenever she was caught trailing behind Sportsmaster at a meeting.  Her dad would just roll his eyes and say that of course she was going to succeed him. 

(Joining the team had been so freeing in comparison.  She might be affiliated with Green Arrow now, but everyone still sees Artemis as her own person, rather than just the next version of her mentor.) 

Artemis might have been able to feel bad for Dick, but not anymore.  Currently, she was pissed to hell and back with the brat.  It wasn't Bruce Wayne's fault that he had been such a jerk to her.  By all accounts, the billionaire seemed like a decent enough guy when Ollie dragged Artemis into a quick meeting with the guy. Apparently, while her attendance at Gotham Academy had been orchestrated by Batman, it was only through Bruce Wayne's influence with the school board that she had been granted a spot. Ollie had wanted her to thank him personally, Artemis supposed.