How Can We

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Artemis noticed there was something off about Wally. It started a few days ago, and now she realized he was avoiding her. She was unsure of the reason behind it, but there must have been signs she was overlooking. He was acting strange the day he made that stupid accusation that she was dating Dick and after that he began drifting away.

The blonde still couldn't believe that he believed that, it was so ridiculous.

And then he started the rumor about it (albeit unintentionally) and lied to her about it. If anything she should be the one upset and ignoring him. This wasn't like their last fight where she knew what she'd done wrong.

Now things were a complete mystery.

During lunch he sat across the table from her, and was always engaged in a conversation with someone else, never giving her the opportunity to chime in and smack him upside the head. She noticed he spent more time with the guys lately. It seemed like all of them had plans with Wally nearly every day.

And during Physics, he remained laser focused on the lesson, not meeting Artemis' eyes, or more accurately her glares. She was going crazy trying to think of what she had done to push him away so much.

It wasn't anything out of the ordinary, their conversations for the past couple of days they were talking were relatively normal, and just a little bit random.

He did ask about her plan for finding Jade. Was he upset that she didn't tell him because it was none of his business. Her plan hit a bit of a wall recently, she was just waiting for certain things to fall into place.

She didn't want to bring it up to Wally when he mentioned texting Roy. She knew it would be a waste of time. She knew Roy was out of the city. Wally never mentioned his last name, but he didn't need to.

Artemis had already met him. She actually saw him most days at practice.

And he never once mentioned the fact that he was dating her sister. Not a single word.

******

"What is up between you and Wally?" Megan asked Artemis in the morning. The blonde was fishing out her books out of her locker.

"No idea. One day we were ok and the next he's avoiding me like the plague.

"Did you do anything to him?" Megan asked quietly trying not to offend her friend. Still Artemis narrowed her eyes at the upbeat cheerleader.

"No! If anything I should be the one angry at him for thinking I would ever date Dick." She paused, losing the door to her locker. "That's Zatanna's job.'

"I'm sure he's not doing it on purpose."

"I doubt that very much. No one avoids anyone by accident, but if you are so sure I can prove it to you." This piqued Megan's interest.

"How?" She questioned.

"Give me your phone."Artemis replied without skipping a beat. She handed it over willingly, slightly weary. Artemis stood there typing quickly and handed the phone back just as swift.

"What did you do?"

"Oh nothing, just made plans for you that include you Wally and a few other people. I'm just going to show up and gauge his reaction. Then we'll see how he reacts." Artemis felt smug, she knew the plan was brilliant and sure to be fool-proof.

"You know who would actually make the cutest couple?" Megan said as they began walking again. Both girls were looking at the sudden appearance of PDA in the hallways.

"Who?" Artemis asked indulging her.

"You and Wally." Artemis couldn't help but laugh. The thought was even more ridiculous than her dating Dick.

"Listen, you are so full of passion and he's so full of..." Megan trailed off trying to find the right word.

"It." They shared a look and laughed.

"But honestly the last thing on my mind is dating. My priority is taking care of myself, I don't have the time to focus on anybody else."

"We'll see."Megan said mysteriously. Artemis gave her a sideways glance unsure of her comments intention.

What did she mean by that?

******

"Come on Megan, you can do this." Apparently her friend was having second thoughts about her genius plan.

"I'm not sure about this Artemis."

"There's no reason for you to be nervous. You aren't lying about anything, this is a harmless plan. No one is going to get hurt." Unless her suspicions are confirmed, and he is ignoring her. She would end up being crushed.

"Come on, we need to do this to figure him out." Her friend wasn't buding. "Please, for me?" She pleaded. Megan looked at her and sighed.

"Fine." Artemis cheered. "Thank you!" Then she nudged her friend to walk into the ice cream shop where they were supposed to meet. Megan began walking with Artemis right next to her.

"Remember Megan, just act normal. This isn't some special cov ops mission." They walked into the store and a little bell announced their arrival. They walked over to their group of friends who had already gathered in a little corner of the store, securing themselves a table.

"Hey guys." Artemis announced looking directly at Wally. He refused to meet her eye contact.

Strike one.

The girls sat down, Connor pulling out a seat for Megan like a gentleman.

Wally continued his conversation with Kaldur, facing his whole body away from Artemis. He talked to everybody else but Artemis, completely ignoring her existence.

Strike Two.

"Does anyone want anything else?" Artemis asked standing up. She was going to get some more ice cream to mask her worry. Things weren't looking well. Her friends gave her some of their orders which she tried to commit to memory. She was probably going to get them wrong anyway, she had too many other things on her mind to think about.

"Wally can you come with me." It was the first time he acknowledged her in days. He looked up started. She called him out publically, if he said no it would only draw more attention to his avoidance and make it well-known which she suspected he didn't want.

Wally slowly made his way to the front counter with her. He kept a respectful distance between them, and stayed silent.

"How are you?" She blurted out.

"Fine."

"I haven't seen you in a while." She mentioned.

"I've been busy." Still no eye contact.

"I've noticed." Artemis left the conversation at that. There was no point in going any further with his short and clipped responses.

Strike Three.

She had her answer, he was avoiding her and for some reason it hurt a lot more than she would care to admit. 

A/N: Here is Chapter Fifteen! I want to have another chapter up by Monday which also focuses on Artemis. Things are really going to pick up in the next chapter with Artemis' plan for finding Jade. 

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