It was the end of a practice in Mount Justice. As the group was leaving the mountain, Wally went to Artemis.
"Hey, Artemis", he said cheerfully
"Hi, Wally", she replied
"So, a new burger restaurant opened in the town lately. I was wondering if you wanted to go there with me"
After Wally finished this sentence, Dick, who was behind in the kitchen, lifted his head and gave them a look of jealously.
"Uhhh, sure, I don't have any plans right now", said Artemis in a somehow uncomfortable tone
"Perfect, come with me"
And they left the mountain together. Dick was looking at their direction, still having that look of jealously in his face.
"So they're going somewhere together, huh?"
That was Zatanna's voice. Dick looked behind him and saw her looking at the same direction as him.
"Zatanna, you're still here?", asked Dick
"Well, I don't really have anywhere to go, so I thought I should stay here for a few more minutes", she replied
Dick noticed that she didn't seem really happy.
"Is something wrong?", he asked
"Oh, nothing important", Zatanna replied, adding "Except well, the fact that Wally is asking Artemis to go somewhere with him, almost everytime, after Black Canary dismisses us from here"
Dick was confused.
"And what makes you so upset about this?"
"He's moving too close to Artemis", she replied "And I don't like that. And I've noticed that Artemis started feeling uncomfortable too"
This reply only made Dick more confused.
"I still don't get why you're so upset", he said
Zatanna took a deep breath, before she answered:
"Don't tell this to anyone, but I have a crush on Artemis"
Dick was surprised to hear that.
"Really? Well, I'm not happy that Wally is doing that either"
"Why is that?", asked Zatanna
"For the same reason as you", Dick replied, adding "Except I have a crush on Wally, not Artemis"
A smile appeared in Zatanna's face.
"Did you have that crush on him for long?"
"Yeah", said Dick "Ever since I was 13"
"And you haven't told him that for two years?", she asked
"I was afraid that he was straight and that I would ruin our friendship", Dick replied "And it looks like one of my fears has come true"
Dick lowered his head. Zatanna's smile has disappeared. She went closer to him and patted him on his back.
"Maybe, maybe not", she said "He might be bi. I think you should tell him"
"But how?", Dick asked "He's all close to Artemis"
"Don't worry, I have a plan", said Zatanna
Dick lifted his head and looked at her.
"What plan?"
Zatanna's smile, reappeared, bigger and a bit devious.
"This weekend, if Wally asks Artemis out again -which I'm sure he will-, I'll go to them and tell him that I made plans with Artemis to go somewhere and ask him to stay here with you. This way, we'll both get to confess to the ones we're crushing on"
Not knowing how, Dick smiled as well. But soon enough, his mind was filled with doubts and his smile disappeared.
"I don't know, Zatanna", he said
"Oh, come on, Dick", she replied, still smiling "What do you have to lose?"
"Everything, Zatanna", he said, adding "But most importantly, our long friendship. What if he doesn't even want to talk to me anymore?"
Zatanna seemed to understand his doubts, but she did not want to see him like that.
"Look, Dick", she said finally "I understand how you feel. I have the same fears about Artemis. But I think, it's worth a shot. You need to grab the chance. If you don't, then you might lose Wally forever"
Dick thought about it for a while. Zatanna was right. He must tell Wally how he really feels towards him. Otherwise, Wally might fall in love with someone else and he'll never be able to tell him how he really feels towards him. Finally, his smile reappeared and he gave Zatanna his answer:
"You're right. If I don't tell him how I feel, I might never be able to. So, let's follow your plan"
"That's the spirit", said Zatanna happily "Let's wait till it's Friday"
"But it's Wednesday today"
Zatanna sighed.
"I know. But I thought that if we confess on Friday, we'll get to spend time with our crushes for the whole weekend, if they accept our feelings of course"
"Hmm, good thought", said Dick
"Alright, then it's settled", said Zatanna
Suddenly, they both heard the door saying:
"Recognised: Kid Flash"
Dick and Zatanna turned their heads to the door and saw Wally entering the mountain. Instictly, they went to him.
"Is there a reason you came back here?", Dick asked
"I forgot to take something", Wally replied
"How did it go with Artemis?", asked Zatanna, pretending to be curious
"Good, I guess. We didn't talk to each other very much"
"Why? Did you have your mouth filled with food, during your whole date?", asked Dick playfully
Wally glared at him.
"Dude! It wasn't a date"
"So you did have your mouth filled with food"
Zatanna giggled. Wally gave up and started laughing too.
"I did not", he answered, adding "We just didn't have many things to talk about"
"Well, it's about time for me to leave", said Zatanna "I stayed longer than I wanted to"
She walked to the door and left the mountain. Dick looked at her direction, smiling mischeviously. Wally noticed that and asked:
"Dude, what are you smiling about?"
"Ah, no reason", Dick replied, still smiling
Wally grabbed an apple from the fridge and turned to the door.
"Wait, didn't you come here to take something you forgot to take earlier?", asked Dick
"Yes. I didn't take this apple, I wanted to eat after we were done practising", Wally replied
Dick raised his right eyebrow.
"Did you have to come here just to take an apple?"
"Yeah, why?"
Dick laughed.
"Right, why do I even ask? Wally West will be Wally West"
Wally laughed too, walked to the door, said goodnight to Dick and left the mountain. Dick looked around him with a smile for a while, before he turned off the lights and went to the door to leave the mountain as well.
