How Can We

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

Wally had to admit that Artemis wasn't so bad up close. She actually wasn't so bad at all, just extremely guarded. Maybe one day he would be able to crack that icy exterior of hers.

"When did you get into archery?" Wally asked her as they swayed together.

"A while ago, I must have been around 5 or 6." Artemis replied looking him directly in the eye. They were practically face to face, with less than an inch apart from them.

"Your parents trusted a kid that young with a bow?" He asked incredulously.

"My parents were odd."She answered vaguely. "You caught me at archery practice the other day on an off day. I don't normally miss the target." For some reason she felt the need to explain herself to him.

"You might have to show me one day." The conversation was dangerously close to flirting. And the song was nearing an end.

"When are you going to answer my question?" Her voice eagerly.

"Is that the only reason you danced with me Arty?" He teased her.

"What other excuse would I have?" Wally couldn't tell if she was being serious or not. He wanted to laugh it off, but couldn't be too sure. And the last thing he wanted to do was make a fool out of himself.

"Is there a reason why you don't like me? You've never given me a chance." It was a question constantly burning in the back of his mind.

"Isn't this, me dancing with you giving you a chance?" She gestured to the small space between them.

"I want to know the real you Artemis."

"As opposed to the fake me." She quickly retorted back. Wally gave her a look. "Why?" She questioned him. Artemis never understood why he was so interested in her, why he bothered her so much.

"Because you seem like someone worthwhile." He answered her honestly. He couldn't tell from the dim lighting of the room, but there was a slight flush to Artemis' cheeks.

The song ended. Wally's arms were still around her waist and the blonde made no move to remove it. The next song started almost instantly. "One more dance?" He asked her hopefully.

"I don't see the harm in that." Artemis told him. And so they danced for the next couple of songs. Wally effectively taking her mind off of Jade for one night.

********

Flash forward a few songs later and believe it or not, they were actually getting along. It was the first chance they got to really get to know each other. Artemis realized he wasn't as bad as she originally thought.

"You know you're not a complete a**" Artemis told him.

"And you aren't a cold-hearted b****" He replied smiling at her.

Wally had to admit spending quality time with his nemesis wasn't all too bad. She was overly sarcastic at times, but they did manage to get a few jokes in there.

He got to know more about her. She found herself willingly letting Wally into details about herself. That was a huge step for Artemis and Wally soaked up every inch of it. He wanted to take it all in.

The more Wally got to know Artemis, he didn't see what everyone else in the school thought about her. Sure she was quiet and reserved, but it made it even more special when she opened up. And just because she was a scholarship student didn't make her any less worthy than all of them, in fact it made her better than them.

She had to work her way in, which is more than anyone else in the school could ever accomplish, himself included.

One of the things he's grown to appreciate about Artemis was her laugh. It was unexpected. He imagined her laugh to be something like Janice's from Friends, and not at all like a soft melody. The best way he could describe it was like music to his ears.