See You in the Storm

3

The weekend passes and school starts again. This time I make sure to get to school on time and end up a few minutes early. My body arrives at Mrs. Tatum's door before my mind is ready to deal with her. Too much cheer for 7 am. I hear her high pitched voice and smell that nose scrunching rose perfume and realize I am too far in the classroom to turn around and wait for the bell. 

I look up, hoping someone else is in the room so I don't have to talk to her myself.

Dick Grayson is writing in his notebook. 

I nod my head in greeting as Mrs. Tatum walks past me to stand by the door, beckoning students in and asking "high five or hug", like we're in kindergarten. 

My ribs groan in pain as I slide onto the stool at my lab station.

"Hey, Vega."

"Grayson." I note the coffee in front of me. "What's this?"

He tilts his head, pupils catching the fluorescent lights above us. "I got you coffee."

Oh. I can't hide my surprise. "Really?" 

Dick nods enthusiastically. "I feel bad about how we first met. Consider this a do-over. Maybe we can be friends?"

Maybe not.

"Sure," I say, sounding hesitant. Dick doesn't seem to notice, he hasn't even looked up from his notebook. Strands of his black hair hang in front of his eyes and he blows them away. 

"I started planning the logistics," he says. "We can work on the project at my house. I say we pick a day and time so we can hold ourselves accountable. What do you think?"

I'm thinking: thank god he didn't ask to work on it at my place. Because I'm supposed to be living in some fancy penthouse, not a trashy apartment complex with lights that go out once a week. 

"That sounds fine. I'm free every day of the week until 9."

He raises an eyebrow. "What happens after 9?"

"I go to bed." 

Good save, Alina, you're getting really good at lying your ass off. 

Dick nods. "Okay good, I can't do after 9 either."

"Why not?" I ask, returning the favor. 

He finally looks up at me, a smirk spreading across his face. "You really wanna know? You did ask for my number." 

I laugh. I actually laugh at something he says, which seems to be illegal, because there are now sirens going off in my skull. And now I'm really  never laughing at him again because his eyes crinkle at the corners, delight lighting up his cheeks. It's blinding.

The moment is ruined when his gaze travels down to my side. "What happened to you?"

I look down, cursing at myself for spilling coffee or mud but then I pause. These uniform shirts are white. Which means they are see through. Totally, fucking see through. 

And it's not because I'm wearing a black bra (which I am) but because my purple and blue ribs are on display for the entire Gotham Academy student body to see. 

I shrug, trying to seem nonchalant. The genuine worry on his face is enough to send me hurtling off balance. 

"I was at a house party and fell down the stairs."

"You fell down the stairs?" He doesn't believe me.

My lip finds itself being mauled by my teeth. "I was drunk. Please don't tell anyone, okay. I've never been to a house party before and the first thing I do is trip down a full flight of stairs. It was embarrassing as fuck." I grin to sell the story. "I don't want to be blacklisted because you snitched to a teacher."