Chapter One
Gotham City
Citizens look up at the batmobile zooming through the sky.
"I can't believe Paxton is going to walk," Batman said.
"We're lucky they held him this long," Bruce stated.
"But he tried to have you killed! I got a recording and you were going to testify!" Batman argued.
"Witnesses hardly ever lead to convictions-at least not with lawyers like Paxton's are involved-and all the evidence, including the recording, mysteriously disappeared," Bruce said.
"'Least you're in control of the company you can keep him on a short leash," Batman replied.
"He'll be out of the job inside a week if I have my way." Bruce said coldly.
"Too bad you can't just fire him and be done wi…" Batman started to say, when a group of Jokerz caught his attention by throwing a bald businessman off the side of the road. His glasses fell off as he went flying.
"Great. Looks like I'm going to be late again. What's going on? This is the fifth group of Jokerz today!" Batman steered the batmobile towards the falling bystander and opened up the top. He jumped out and grabbed the victim in midair, then flew him to safety before jetting off towards the Jokerz. "Why do I get the feeling that if the cops could ever actually hold a criminal or two, maybe, just maybe, I'd actually have a life?"
"Good luck with that," Bruce said plainly.
Batman flew over with his jet boots and landed in front of the Jokerz. "Going somewhere?" he asked.
"Yeah, your funeral," the lead joker replied as he tossed an exploding pie. Batman dodged; it exploded just a few feet behind him. The Bat charged, kneeing the lead joker in the face, knocking him out. He then proceeded to engage then others.
The Library
"He's late again," Chelsea stated, annoyed.
"What else is new?" Dana asked sarcastically.
"I don't know how you can put up with it." Chelsea said.
"Sometimes, neither do I," Dana replied as she looked over at Nelson, Blade and Howard who had the same project as them. Blade was filling her nails and toying with the boys as usual, getting Howard to do all the work. She was also leading Nelson on, making him think he might actually get some later. "Then I get a look at Nelson. Terry might not have all the time in the world, but at least he cares more about me than his car," Dana finished.
"You got a point there. Still, he shouldn't be making us do all the work. It is a group project," Chelsea replied.
"Chelsea, we haven't even started yet," Dana stated. "We decided to wait for Terry to get here, remember?"
"This time. Usually we finish before he shows. Maybe this time we should teach him a lesson? Show him how it feels, you know?" Chelsea said conniving.
Terry ran into the library.
"Look who decided to grace us with his presence," Dana declared sarcastically as he approached.
"I'm late, I know. I'm sorry, I-" Terry started to say
"Save it McGinnis, we've heard it all before," Chelsea said, cutting him off.
Terry sat down. "So how's the history project coming?" he asked.
"It's not. We were waiting for you," Dana replied.
"We didn't expect you to be over an hour late," Chelsea said, annoyed.
"I did," Dana added coldly.
"Can we just hurry up and get it finished? I need really to crash," Terry said.
"Sorry Terry, but me and Dana have to get going," Chelsea teased.
"But we haven't even started and it's due tomorrow! Come on, I need the grade," Terry pleaded.
"You're the only one. Besides, our parents actually notice if we don't come home." Chelsea replied.
"It's your own fault for being late." Dana said callously as the two of them got up and left.
"Great. This is just great," Terry said as he slammed his head into the table. "Guess I won't be sleeping tonight either."
Paxton's Office
Inque dripped into the office through the vent.
"Did you get it?" Paxton asked.
"Right here," Inque replied. "It was easy enough; Batman didn't even show. It will probably be a week before he even realizes I'm back."
"Good, make sure you keep it that way. I'm paying the gangs a small fortune to keep him busy, and you off his radar," Paxton said. As he reached for the device, Inque pulled away.
"The credits first," she demanded.
"Of course," Paxton said in his reassuringly tone that isn't so reassuring. He swiped a cash card to show the amount. "I'm sure you'll find everything in order," he said as they made the exchange. "I'll be in touch with your next job."
"Are you sure you can afford me? I heard you used all your credits to pay for your lawyers…" Inque said.
"Let me worry about that," Paxton said impatiently.
"Just make sure I get paid," Inque threatened. She melted into liquid form and oozed out through the vent.
Paxton sat down at his desk and made a call. "I'm going to need you transfer another 500,000 credits before morning if you want me to keep Inque in my employ," he said.
"Fine, whatever. Just remember the deal; you keep my mother too busy to come after me until you find a way to kill her for good and you get all the credits you need for that little plan of yours," Deanna Clay said coldly.
Hamilton Hill High School
Terry was sleeping, leaning against his locker, when Maxine walked up.
"Terry, wake up!" she said.
"Arg…" Terry groaned, as his eyes opened.
"Up late again, keeping our fair city safe from the forces of evil?" Maxine joked.
"Not exactly. And I told you not to joke about that," Terry said impatiently.
"Oh come on. No one is going to hear and even if they do, who's going to figure it out?" Maxine said defensively. "Why are you so blitzed out anyways?"
"Dana and Chelsea bailed on me last night and I had to do our whole project myself," Terry yawned, a little more than half asleep.
"So that's what she meant," Maxine mumbled to herself.
"What was that?" Terry asked suspiciously.
"Nothing," Maxine replied quickly.
"You said, 'So that's what she meant.' Did they ditch me on purpose?"
"I don't know. Dana didn't really say much," Maxine replied.
"They did, didn't they!" Terry exclaimed angrily. "I can't believe she did that to me," he said, punching his locker.
"Give them a break; they just wanted you to know what it's like. How many times have you stuck them with all the work? It's not like they know why you constantly have to bail," Maxine said, trying to calm Terry down.
"I feel kind of bad for sticking Terry with all the work," Dana said.
"Oh come on, he had it coming! How many times has he ditched out on you?" Chelsea asked.
"I've lost count," Dana stated.
"Exactly!" Chelsea exclaimed, "It's about time he knows how you feel!"
"I guess. But it's different for him. He's busy with his job-he just wants to help his mom out," Dana replied.
"And you don't think it's weird he won't ask for any time off?" Chelsea asked.
"After what happened to his dad I think that Bruce Wayne is like a father figure to him-someone he looks up to and respects, you know?" Dana said, defending her boyfriend.
"Are you sure about that? He seems to be spending a lot of time with Max lately," Chelsea stated.
"He's failing, like, every class. She's probably just helping him study," Dana said, not sounding that sure of herself.
"Maybe, maybe not" Chelsea said, as she glanced down the hall at Terry and Max, Dana looked over with her and saw Terry punching his locker. Chelsea turned back. "You should probably go talk to him" she sounded a little worried.
Dana walked over to Terry and Max.
"Hey sorry about last night," she said.
"I bet," Terry said sarcastically and stormed off.
"Terry wait!" Dana said as she chased after him.
"You and Chelsea didn't have to leave last night did you?" Terry asked accusingly.
Dana sighed. "No," she confessed.
Terry stopped and turned to face her.
"Then why did you?" he asked, staring her in the eye, demanding an answer.
"It was Chelsea's idea. I only went along with it because I wanted you to know how it feels. How I feel-every time you're late or you cancel and especially when you disappear on me in the middle of a date! I know you're busy with your job, trying to help out your family, but I just wish you had time for me too!" Dana explained, pouring her heart out.
"Dana, I-I guess I haven't really been there for you lately," Terry said, feeling guilty.
"That's the understatement of the year," Dana replied bitterly.
"I'm sorry. About everything," Terry apologized, his voice filled with sincerity.
"Well, you are always there when your friends are in trouble. I guess that counts for something." Dana said teasingly. "Apology accepted."
She leaned in and gave him a passionate kiss just as the bell rang. She pulled away.
"But if you want any more of that anytime soon, you better start making more time for me," she threatened.
"Promise," Terry replied as they headed off to class. As they turned the corner, a new girl collided with Terry, while running at full speed. Her books went flying as they both fell to the ground.
"Sorry, I'm not really used to the whole school thi…" She started to say, with her melancholy voice.
"Terry!" she exclaimed, perking up at the sight of him. At that moment, Dana scanned the girl from head to toe, becoming more jealous every second. The girl had curly blond hair, wide, light-blue eyes and black lipstick, all of which was exaggerated by her light skin. She wore a black sweater-jacket that hugged tightly around her breasts, which were obviously at least a B cup, maybe even a C. She also had a short, red skirt with a black stripe on the bottom that showed off her incredibly toned legs. And the black high-boots drew even more attention to them. Dana found herself wondering if the skirt was showing Terry more than just her legs.
"Terry do you know her?" Dana asked.
"Yeah, but I wish I didn't," Terry said coldly as he got up and walked away. Dana followed.
"Looks like they got back together," the new girl said to herself, devastated. 'I guess I was right. As far as he's concerned I don't even exist,' she thought as she crawled around the floor picking up her books, tears flowing down her face.