Batgirl Begins

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

I slowly wake up and turn off my alarm clock. Classes resume today, so I get ready for the day. After getting dressed in a blue long sleeve top and yoga pants I search the fridge for something to eat. The fridge is almost completely empty... guess with all that has happened over the past week I never went shopping.

"Oops," I laugh. I look in the cabinets to find the last protein bar. Note to self: go shopping. With the protein bar in my mouth, I slip my laptop into my backpack and sling it over my shoulder. I lock my apartment and eat my protein bar on the way to class.

After my computer programming class, I walk across the quad to the loft for some much needed tea. I plug in my laptop to charge and sip my tea as I start to research government databases... for a project of course. About an hour into my research I decide to take a break and check social media. There are all sorts of headlines being shared about "Batman's Crime Connection." That must mean Pauling planted the evidence.

A pang of guilt hits me as I remember that this is exactly what Dick and Batman told me not to do. I sigh and close my laptop, pushing it away from me on the table. I drink the rest of my tea, which has since gone cold. I check the time. Seeing that I have to get to my next class, I take that as my cue to leave.

Later that afternoon, as I head back to my apartment, I see him leaning against the wall. He looks upset, like something is bugging him, but it is gone as soon as he sees me.

"Hey Babs," He smiles.

Something's off. His eyes don't match his smile, "What's wrong Dick?"

This catches him off guard, "Wrong? What do you mean? I'm fine."

"Then why were you sulking out front?"

"Cause I've been waiting for a while and thought maybe you were out with friends so I might not have seen you before I left."

I feel my face heat up as I look down at the ground, "Well... I uh..."

He smirks, and I swear my heart skips a beat. "I'm gonna miss you Babs."

I look up at him and smile, "I'll miss you too."

His phone goes off. He checks it and frowns, "Sorry to cut this short but I have to go." He looks back to me, "I really am gonna miss you Barbara."

As I watch him walk away, I can't help but feel the same pang of hurt that I did last summer... or was it heartbreak? You have no clue how much I will truly miss you, Dick Grayson.

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The next two months, I stayed clear of my investigation. Not only did I have a lot of schoolwork with finals approaching, but I also had to deal with graduation in May, even though I would be finishing up classes over the summer. It seemed like no progress was made on Batman's end. More and more "batarangs," as the press calls them, have shown up on various crime scenes. Harvey is recovering swiftly and even was at the graduation ceremony!

We have a week off in between the spring and summer session, so I'm taking the time to pack up my things for when I have to move out. It's around ten at night, so I decide to take a break and check my computer. After sifting through emails and scrolling through my newsfeed, I decide to just see what has happened on Pauling's phone. I open up my program and scroll down all the recorded calls. This list is never ending. Doesn't this guy have a cell phone? I laugh to myself and keep scrolling down, with my mind now set on finding the bottom of this list, when my cell phone rings.

I freeze as I look at the screen: Blocked. Now you've done it, Barbara. Someone's onto you. I take a deep breath and relax as the phone stops ringing. Phew... I laugh at myself for being so scared. It was probably just a telemarketer or a robo call from a city politician.