Nicole Koppersoli's POV

A couple of days had passed since I had made my stubborn vow to determine whether or not Wally was gay. My friend Mel took it upon herself to hound me about it.

"Hey. Nicole...Nicole...Nicole-Nicky-Nic." She elbowed me playfully in the side.

"What?" I snapped back.

"You figured out Mr Wally West yet?" Damn Mel could be annoying.

"No."

"You're just chicken."

"I am not."

"Denial." Laurel piped up.

"I am just trying to be tactful." Jeez.

"You're just afraid he'll actually be gay." Mel poked me.

"Innocent until proven guilty, Mel...Innocent until proven guilty." I said.

"Guilty until proven innocent, more like." Laurel muttered.

"Shut up Laurel."

"Why don't you go find Mister Mysterious? Speak of the devil. There he is." True to Mel's word, Wally was walking across the cafeteria. "Go."

"What?" I asked.

"Go talk to him. Go." Mel hurried me off.

Wally's POV

I had a mouthful of pizza, which I promptly started choking on, when Nicole came over. After I had managed to swallow, I turned.

"Jeez. Don't spook me like that."

"Sorry." She stood, twiddling her thumbs, for a couple of seconds.

"Let's go get a seat."

"Okay." Nicole walked with me to an empty table. I, of course, started to eat. She, in contrast to me, ate slowly.

Nicole's POV

I figured I should wait for him to finish eating; I didn't want him to choke...again.

"Hey, Wally." I was going to have to bring it up.

"Mmm."

"Are you..." Three words. "Are you..." Are you gay? I just couldn't say them. "Are you...into gaming? My brother just got Warfare Nation. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you came over and played it." I choked. I just couldn't do it. I could have kicked myself.

"Sounds cool."

Wally's POV

Nicole's house was really very classy. The modern angles in the architecture showed how new the building must be. Also, judging by the state of the garden, the Koppersoli family had a lot of free time or a hired gardener.

"Wow, this place is nice." It had to be said.

"I'm glad you think so Wally." We continued walking up the driveway. "Oh, and Wally, please ignore my mom. She can be a bit..."

"A bit...? What?"

"Never mind. Hey mom! I'm home!"

"Hello dear. Oh my, you've brought home a friend."

"Mom, this is Wally."

"Hello Wally dear."

"Hello Mrs Koppersoli."

"Call me Helen dear." The woman seemed to add 'dear' to the end of people's names. "Nicky dear, why don't we make some snacks?" Theory proven.

"Wally, the living room is just through there. You can go start setting up." Nicole suggested.

"Okay."

Nicole's POV

As soon as Wally had left, my mom dragged me off to the kitchen.

"You didn't tell me you were bringing home a boy." She tried to look stern. It didn't work. I could tell she was about to make the 'OMG you've finally got a little boyfriend' speech.

"Mom before..." I tried to stop her I really tried.

"He's really quite cute you know."

"Mom."

"I'm just saying. He looks like he could be on the track team. Does he run track? Ooh, is he smart? I bet he's smart."

"Mom."

"You look so cute together."

"MOM. Wally's not my boyfriend. He's just a friend. In fact, Mel and Laurel have this theory that he might be gay."

"Those girls start all sorts of rumours dear."

Wally's POV

On Nicole's suggestion I went to the living room. There was a kid lounging on the couch. He seemed to be about Robin's age.

"Hey." He barely looked away from the TV.

"Hey." I replied

"I'm Paul."

"Hi Paul. I'm Wally."

"Hi Wally... It's not often Nicole brings home a boyfriend. Generally it's just those two ditsy girls."

"I'm not Nicole's boyfriend."

"Yeah, and I'm not her brother." He laughed. Paul certainly had Rob's attitude.

"Seriously, I'm not her boyfriend."

"Whatever." He got up off the couch and left the room.

"Wally, I see you met my brother Paul." Nicole walked in carrying a plate stacked with cookies.

"He's alright. He kind of reminds me of a friend."

"I'll just leave you two some privacy!" Paul yelled from another part of the house. He added a very Robin-esk cackle.

"He very much reminds me of a friend." At that Nicole stifled a giggle.

Nicole's POV

"What friend would that be?"

"A buddy of mine from Gotham; his name is Richard." As soon as he said 'his name' I stopped laughing.

"Uh, what is he to you?"

"I'd stick him in the best friend category." He smiled.

"Do you want to play some Warfare Nation?" I offered quickly. A few stab wounds later, in the game of course, I looked over to Wally. If I was going to ask, now would be the time. I tried to, but I couldn't do it. Maybe I could if I had some more proof that he might be gay. "I'm going to...go change into some other clothes." I pulled the most skin-baring clothes I owned out of my closet; a low-cut, belly-baring, spaghetti strap singlet and a pair of denim mini-shorts. I gulped. I'd look like a total slut. Under normal circumstances I would never have worn them, let alone around a guy. If he showed no interest he was probably gay. I returned to the living room feeling very self-conscious. I noticed that the plate of cookies had been polished off.

"Do you want a drink Wally?" I asked as I entered the room.

"Yeah. That'd be...Just uh great." He must've noticed my change in attire. I bent to retrieve the plate. Wally's eyes travelled down to my chest. As I left for the kitchen, he watched me walk away. Okay, he's probably not gay. I had decided against asking him outright when I remembered what Mel had said. Get yourself some solid proof...Don't just assume. That's cheating. I was going to be forced to ask him outright. Panic rose in my chest.

Wally's POV

What the hell was she doing wearing that? It was as if all her modesty had gone out the window. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I shook my head. I was here as a friend.

"Wally." Nicole walked in with a couple of drinks, which she set down on the coffee table.

"Thanks Nicole." I sent a nod her way before picking up one of the drinks.

"Hey Wally?"

"Yeah." I took a swig of my drink.

"Are you gay?"