I sprinted into the school building. I knew I was late and I couldn't believe it. If she was late again I'd get a detention, but what difference would that make to my mother? From the wind, some of the papers flew from the books in my arms. I whipped around and scrabbled them up into an unbalanced pile.

I turned around and was instantly knocked over by someone heading in the opposite direction. Books and papers flew everywhere.

"I'm so sorry; I didn't see you" Tim Drake looked up from his dropped books. I stared at him in surprise; he had just talked to me. Tim Drake was a very quiet, leave-me-alone kind of kid. It's not that people didn't like him, he just didn't…socialize. We're talking about not initializing conversations, eating all by himself, and checking out/being absent/being tardy for no apparent reason. We all knew it had something to do with his guardian. Bruce Wayne was one of the richest men in the world and he'd adopted Tim as his lap dog. Nobody really knew why, and nobody really cared. They blended into the background.

"Oh, it's fine…I guess", it was the first time I'd heard him talk. He had one of those voices that hadn't changed just yet, but it fit him. He was my age, so around 15, but somehow he seemed older; more mature.

Somehow, he'd picked up my books too without my noticing, "Oh, thanks" I said as he handed them to me.

"No problem" he said quietly. He flashed a small smile and I fumbled with my books as I felt an unwanted blush come to my cheeks. He really was kinda cute…

The tardy bell rang somewhere in the distance. I sighed.

"Sorry I kept you" Tim said.

"It's fine" I said, "I would've been late anyway"

"Oh ok. See you around then" he turned the corner before I could say bye. I felt odd, but I regretted that he'd left so fast. I stumbled into first period and tried, unsuccessfully, to be inconspicuous.

"Miss Maddeline Dutch", I grimaced and turned around to face Mr. Boliv, her first-period history teacher, "This is the sixth time you have been tardy in this class"

"Yes sir" I said shakily, "My mother, she—"

"I will not take excuses! Three tardies is the rule for detention. I've given you three extras. You are trying my patience, Miss Dutch"

"Yes sir" was all I said; I wasn't going to beg.

"Your detention will be tomorrow after school in Mrs. Richmond's room"

"Yes sir"

I opened the lunch room door and slung my things down next to my "friends". They didn't even acknowledge that I was there; they were too busy talking about broken nails and new clothes sales. I looked around the lunch room, looking at all the smiling and laughing people. That was when I noticed the boy sitting in the corner. The shadows almost engulfed him, but I could just barely make out Tim Drake's spiky brown hair. He looked so alone, just picking at his food, not looking up once as people passed by. He wasn't even eating. I got a very strange thought then. What would happen if someone did sit with him? He'd talked to me earlier, maybe he just didn't reach out to people like most did.

I stood up quickly and slung my bag over my shoulder, lifting up my tray. I marched over to his table. I sat down; he didn't look up. All eyes in the cafeteria were on me now. I hesitated, but then pushed it aside.

"Hi" I said, smiling.

He looked up from the book I hadn't noticed before. Aerial Jumps: Made Possible. "Hi" he said, and then returned to his book.

"Strange thing to be reading" I said, tilting my head slightly to try and read the words.

He turned a page, "I suppose"

All attention had turned back to the food now, and I felt less pressure.

"Is it good?" I asked. I wasn't backing down now. He was going to talk to me if I had to beat it out of him.

He closed the book, but I noticed his finger was still keeping his place, "Why are you here?" he asked, looking at me.

The question caught me off guard, "You were nice to me this morning and my friends are busy talking about manicures"

"Oh"

"Well, my name's Maddie"

"Tim" he replied.

I nodded, although I already knew, "Why are you sitting over here all by yourself?"

Tim looked down and picked at his food, then shrugged, "I dunno…I just like being alone"

"Would you like me to leave?" I said.

He looked up quickly, surprised, "What?"

"If—"

The intercom crackled to life and I jumped as a senior's voice raddled through the speaker. "I need Timothy Drake to sign out, please"

I looked out the window in annoyance. I had almost gotten there. Then I gasped. The bat-sign was shining in the daylight sky of Gotham City. I had never actually seen it before, because usually it only shown at night.

"Wow, isn't it exciting?" I said before I could stop myself.

"Every time" Tim said, gathering up his books.

"Oh, you're checking out…" My body sagged without my knowledge. Tim noticed.

"Yeah, see you" just as before, he was gone before I could say good bye.

Tim sprinted down the hallway, his heart pounding with excitement. He could see in his head, the red suit that was at the very bottom of his bag, hidden away; the gold "R" emblazed on a circle of block above a sea of crimson. Involuntarily, a smile spread across his face when he thought of his guardian. Bruce would be changing into his alternate personality by now.

Tim pushed open the creaky school entrance doors and instantly saw Alfred in the famous Wayne limo. The older butler held the door open.

"Hey, Alfred. Couldn't've brought something a little more inconspicuous?" Tim said, sliding into the leather seat.

"No, sir"

"Trouble, Al?" Tim said. Alfred climbed into the driver's seat after closing his door behind the young boy.

"Yes, sir"

"Who—" Tim started, but was cut off when Alfred accelerated out of the parking lot. For an old man, he could sure drive.

But Alfred answered the question anyway, "Master Wayne believes it's the Joker, along with Harley Quinn, but it's only an assumption"

"Alright", Tim said, his favorite, "Where?"

"Gotham Jewels"