Robin's Little Finch

Robin's Little Finch ~ Chapter 6

It was the next day in school when Barbra noticed how distressed Richard seemed at lunch. He wasn't paying any attention to the conversation Tara and Barbra were having about French.

"No, it is really hard to get exact translation from language to language," Tara stops explaining when she notices that Barbra isn't even paying attention anymore.

"Hey Dick, is something wrong?" Barbra asks.

"Uh no nothing is wrong," Dick says offering up a fake smile.

"Dick, I've known you since before high school, I can tell when you are lying," Barbra points out.

"I've only known you a couple months and I could tell you aren't fine. What's up?" Tara asks him.

"It's kind of complicated," Dick says rubbing his hand to his neck. Barbra looks at him curiously, like she is close to figuring out his identity but just can't put the pieces together. Tara assumes this would make sense since they have known each other so long. Tara doesn't want that to happen though, she can't have anyone else knowing his identity, and maybe she feels a little sorry for causing this stress in her brother's life.

"Oh I know what's going on!" Tara exclaims. Barbra and Dick both looked at her shocked. "You don't want to tell us since its a 'rich kid' problem and both Barbra and I got on scholarship, so you didn't want to sound all snobby. But don't worry I understand more than you think." Tara smiles a kind smile at the end of her explanation.

Richard was happy for the excuse he couldn't come up with on his own.

"Yeah, your right Tara, sorry I just didn't tell you guys. Some guy has just been threatening to kidnap me, but that's nothing new," Richard offers up. Even though getting kidnapped didn't really scare him since he was Robin, he couldn't do anything when he was dressed as Richard except wait to be rescued.

"Still that has to be terrifying every time!" Barbara explains.

"Yeah, it is," Dick says quietly.

"Well let's change the subject then," Tara offers. "We have a french project due in a week."

"Right, I would love for you guys to come over to my house but Bruce is having guests over for an international business deal, and i don't feel like I should bother him. Not that you guys are a bother," Dick quickly corrects himself.

"None taken," both girls said.

"Technically I am grounded so if we go to my house that means no breaks or fun," Barbra confesses.

"Guess that means either your house, Tara, or we stay at school," Dick concludes.

"You guys can come over I guess," Tara offers. She hasn't even told them much about herself and was avoiding showing people her home but she can't easily avoid this without sounding either rude or suspicious.

"Cool, today after school?" Barbara asks.

"Sure why not," Tara answers.

*Time skip to after school*

"Hey guys you ready to go?" Tara asked Barbara and Dick.

"Yup," Dick says shouldering his backpack.

"So how do you get home Tara?" Barbara asks.

"Well I normally ride my skateboard home, but we can just walk today since I doubt you guys do that,"  Tara informs her friends.

"Really? Why don't we take a bus or something?" Barbara asks.

"There are no school busses that go to my area and the public bus always has sketchy characters on it," Tara answers.