Batgirl

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

A month later...

I hit the green button on my phone as I spin around in my new office chair.

"You know what to do," His voice echoes, followed by a beep that I wished was longer.

"Hi, um..." I really should have planned this out, "It's me... Barbara... I just wanted to say erm... I got a promotion at the library, and I know what you're going to say: no I'm not the head librarian but I'm getting closer."

I laugh nervously, still wanting to say how lonely I've been since he left. How I can barely go out on patrol each night without crying my eyes out at home. How Bruce is more isolated than ever. How I can barely breathe when I pass by the red suit hanging in the Batcave. How I miss the smirk he would always send my way and our weird adventures. How I call his voicemail on really bad days just to hear his voice... but I can't say any of that, except the lies to cover it all up.

"I met someone... you remember him, Jason? The P.I. that got shot by Killer Moth? I dunno, he's nice but..." He's not you... "I'm probably sounding like an idiot talking to a machine... look, uh... just... just give me a call next time you're in town and maybe we can catch up and talk about the good days. See ya."

It takes all the power within me to press the end button. Today is a bad day. Bruce called me earlier about some kid he found on the streets trying to carjack the Batmobile, which normally would have been hilarious, but it sent me down a path of wallowing in self-pity. He didn't out right say it, but I could tell he was thinking of taking him in. Not that this kid would replace Dick, but I just couldn't handle it. How can Bruce let go of the resentment and self-loathing so quickly? How can he have moved on, and I'm boxed in here in my new office in the upper wings of the library with half of my garbage can filled with tissues?

Ugg... I sniffle as I add to the growing pile in the trash. I've had to tell my co-workers that I've got terrible allergies to dust because it's so bad. Dad has been busier than ever, now that Mayor Hill is trying to cover up his connections to Rupert Thorne, and Sarah has been trying to get me to go to lunch for a while now, which I finally agreed to. I don't think she buys the allergies excuse one bit. She knows something is different about me, and I think she already knows it's about Dick Grayson. I shrug, what harm could it do? I'm already feeling like crap. It can't get any worse right?

I quickly tell Tom I'm heading out for lunch and walk across the street to Meyer's cafe to meet up with my stepmom. I am the first to arrive, and wait at a table for her. Five minutes later she comes racing in.

"Let me guess, hung up at the office?" I chuckle.

She rolls her eyes, "I swear an hour without me there and those boys have no idea what to do."

After we give the waitress our orders, Sarah makes it clear why she wanted to meet up.

"So how are you, Barb?"

A simple question like this may not seem like much, but I know how skilled of an interrogator she is, how observant she is to every little detail. I learned from her, and most importantly, I learned how to lie to her. I have to choose now if I want to lie to her or tell her how I really am. If I don't stick to my answer, my cover is blown, and she will easily continue the conversation about things I do not want to talk about.

"I'm okay." I state matter of factly, as if I had just realized it myself.

"Okay?" She says in shock. She was not expecting that.

"Yeah, well I just got a promotion, and Tom even said that one day I could be running the library, if I wanted. And I met someone."

Her jaw drops, she acts as if she's excited, but her eyes flash something I can't read for a split second. Does she not approve? "Who?"