What, another school AU? Well, yeah. I draw my inspiration from life, and I'm in high school right now. High school usually dominates your life when you're there. Also, this was written in science class. Well, anyway, enjoy the WayneCrane.

000

Bruce Wayne thought that Jonathan Crane was nothing short of interesting. He wasn't rich like the other boys at Gotham Boarding Prep, but he had a brain far more superior than most of the other boys. While the others wanted to play sports or be bullies during the limited time they got to be outside, Jonathan would sit and read a book. But there was one thing that intrigued Bruce the most. Although Jonathan was lanky, almost too skinny, and most definitely nerdy, people seemed scared of him.

Bruce ignored that last bit, however, when he saw Crane in the library. The dark-haired boy was sitting in front of a window, reading a rather big book and writing in a notebook. Bruce found this odd, because Jonathan was in all of his classes, and he knew for sure that the other teen was finished with the history essay that Bruce was about to start.

"Hello, Jonathan," Bruce said, depositing his bag on a nearby table and grinning when Crane jumped.

"I won't let you copy my essay, if that's what you want," he said suspiciously.

Bruce chuckled. "I can do my own work. Just saying hello, man."

There was a small hmph from Jonathan before the tall boy returned to his book. Bruce took that as his cue to start searching through his book. He had to write an essay on the Middle Ages, and he hadn't even been close to paying attention in class. For the longest time, he just stared blankly at the page before he heard Jonathan sigh.

"You look absolutely pathetic. Let me help," he said, standing from his window seat.

"Why do you want to help? You ever help anyone else."

"Boredom makes exceptions," Crane said simply, sitting across from Bruce at the table.

"You're helping me because you're bored?"

"Well, that, and you're one of the few people here who's ever actually talked to me."

Bruce gave the top of Jonathan's head a look.

"Alright, Wayne, start reading right…here," the other boy commanded, pointing at a paragraph. "That should help a bit."

Bruce looked down at his book. It was the first paragraph in the chapter. When he looked back up, he saw Crane reading his book, a small smirk on his face. But, as suggested, Bruce started reading.

000

An hour passed with Bruce reading and writing his essay, Jonathan helping sporadically.

"Ah-hah! Done!" declared Bruce.

"Took you long enough," said Jonathan.

"Shut up."

Jonathan grinned. "My question is why you haven't left yet."

"Why?"

"People don't like me," Crane stated simply. "Well, except Edward and Jervis."

Bruce knew of the two. Edward Nygma was an extremely smart kid who obsessed over puzzles, and Jervis Tetch was an Alice in Wonderland fanatic.

"Why don't people like you?"

"I'm practically a psychology expert. I can exploit almost anyone's worst fear."

Bruce had to admit that was creepy. "Do you know my worst fear?" He had to know, or the wrong people would find out.

"Maybe not your worst fear, but I know that bats kind of freak you out."

"Wh- How do you know that?"

"You flinched when that huge colony of bats flew out of that cave on the science field trip a couple of weeks ago. You looked pretty freaked out. Oh, and you can run away now, if you'd like."

"No way."

It was when Jonathan's pretty blue eyes widened in shock that Bruce decided that Jonathan was going to be an actual friend.