Players Chapter One
Disclaimer: Birds of Prey, its characters, and concepts are the property of Warner Brothers, Tollin-Robbins Productions & DC Comics.
From the New Gotham Gazette (September 8th):
Fight Erupts Inside Teen Club Gazette Wires
NEW GOTHAM CITY -- A fight broke out at the Fusion teen club early Saturday morning. Five people -- two fifteen-year-olds, a sixteen-year-old, and two seventeen-year-olds -- were arrested in the incident at the club, which is located at 1219 E. 32nd St. Two of the persons arrested are members of the New Gotham High football team. Police would not release the identities of the suspects on account of their being juveniles. Police would not comment on what started the fight, citing the ongoing investigation.
From the New Gotham Gazette (September 15th):
New Gotham High Football Player Arrested For Battery Gazette Wires
NEW GOTHAM CITY -- Police arrested eighteen-year-old Adam Thornton for allegedly beating up his girlfriend, a sixteen-year-old whom police declined to identify publicly, citing the ongoing investigation. Police were called to the scene at approximately 8:30 Friday evening by neighbors who had witnessed a domestic dispute between the couple. Police would neither give details of the incident nor comment on what triggered it, citing the ongoing investigation.
Adam is a senior at new Gotham High School and a wide receiver on the football team.
It was 3:00 p.m. Dinah and Curtis Williams -- a stocky junior with close-cropped red hair -- were sitting at a table in a study area in the New Gotham High School library, poring over Sophocles's Antigone for English. Curtis -- a lineman on the football team -- was wearing his letter jacket. He wrapped his arm around Dinah's shoulders.
"Now, here -- Antigone is making a reference to … what ARE you doing?" Dinah interjected as she removed Curtis's hand from her shoulder.
"Just havin' a little fun," Curtis drawled.
"You asked me to help you with your English homework," said Dinah firmly. "If you're gonna screw around, I'm gonna leave."
"C'mon … just one little kiss."
"That's it … I'm leaving," said Dinah as she got up to leave. As she arose, Curtis spun her around to face him … and then slapped her face.
Dinah stared dumbstruck at Curtis. "What was THAT for?"
"GIMME WHAT I WANT!" Curtis shouted at the top of his lungs.
"What're you doing? This is a…" Before Dinah could get the word out, Curtis -- seized by an irrational primal fury -- lunged at her and punched her in the stomach. Over and over again, he pounded her -- his meaty paws striking Dinah's frail frame like twin jackhammers. After what seemed like an eternity, he delivered the coup de grace -- a right hook and an uppercut that sent Dinah to the floor, unconscious.
Curtis stared at the fallen Dinah for a moment. He then stared in disbelief at his hands. Did I do THAT? He wondered. WHY? Stunned, he then picked up his books and papers from the table and ran out of the room.