Okay, so another chapter. I sincerely appreciate your reviews since I'm not quite confident about this story, yet I'm having fun writing it. Hopefully you have the same fun reading it.


Chapter 2 : It Is Not That Funny

"Hey," Dick said as he laid his tray on the table and sat to Diana's right just as she was taking a bite of her Greek salad, a cube of feta cheese already stabbed by her fork.

"Hello, Richard," she greeted with a kind smile but soon her eyes were on the other boy, still standing close to the table, expertly holding a tray with one hand while the other held a couple of heavy looking books and a messenger bag strapped across his chest.

"This is Bruce," Dick explained before either of the other teens said anything – and noting how they both looked at each other. Diana seemed reluctant at the sight of Bruce, a little mistrustful. Instead, the somewhat nervous yet charming half-smile on Bruce's face was almost comical.

Dick swallowed his chuckle with a sip of his soda.

"Hi," Bruce greeted as he sat across from them, carefully placing his tray next to his books. But Diana just deepened her scowl, her blue eyes glinting with something akin to fury.

"You haven't been granted permission to join us for this meal."

Bruce's mouth fell open but no words came out.

Clearing his throat, Dick turned to Diana. "I invited him. It didn't cross my mind that it would upset you, since we are both new and… well, you said we should be making friends. Sorry I didn't check with you earlier."

Her gaze turned soft once it fell on Dick again. "Oh. Do not apologize, Richard. You intended to do a kind gesture. It is appreciated."

In the meantime, Bruce had leaned over the table, resting on his elbows. It was clear he was studying the beautiful girl in front of him, the hint of a smile playing on his lips as she spoke warmly to the younger boy. "I do apologize for interrupting your… meal," he offered sincerely but awkwardly, glad that the girl nodded at his words.

"Your apologies are accepted, Bruce," she replied in a very formal way. "I am Diana Prince." She seemed to have bitten back a few words as she pursed her lips.

"Bruce Wayne," he replied, outstretching his hand for her to shake but she just looked at it with a furrowed brow, prompting for him to slowly retreat it. "Uhm, Dick mentioned you are an exchange student."

"That's correct."

"Where are you from?" Bruce tugged open the lid of a yogurt as he spoke, seemingly forgetting he hadn't even taken a bite of his sandwich or too preoccupied of not making himself look like a jerk. "If you don't mind me asking."

Diana's perfect posture seemed to change with a bit of pride as she said, "Greece, you could say."

Snorting a laugh, Bruce motioned to her salad. "How fitting."

She shot him a look. "I beg your pardon?"

"The salad. Greek salad?" He saw the way she looked at him, as if he had lost his mind. "Never mind."

Dick chuckled as he kept eating his food, almost choking on his soda at the look Diana gave when Bruce mentioned the Greek salad.

It was the first time since, well, ever that Bruce felt so clumsy around anyone, especially a girl. He had always been so good at making them blush and giggle, but right then with Diana, all bets were off. She was not like any other girl he had met. This feeling of inadequacy was certainly new for him.

The uncomfortable silence that followed only made Bruce wish he could've just made something up to flee the scene, to save part of his self-esteem to return another day, more prepared to face her.

At the other side of the table, Dick sighed loudly, earning himself the attention of Diana despite all the noise in the cafeteria. "I believe you're being rude to Bruce, Diana. Not all of us know about your customs. He's just trying to be nice."

At this Bruce felt like groaning and running away, denying everything and just saying he really wasn't. It was always easier to pretend he didn't care than to show honest emotion around people. Perhaps he had forgotten all about it. It was quite comfortable to follow in the role of the very sociable person when everyone around you just fell at your feet.

Gasping, Diana turned to Bruce. "Have I? My apologies to you. I'm not used to the Man's World and its customs."

"The Man's World?" Bruce inquired.

"That's how she calls America," Dick whispered rather loudly. "Don't ask why."

Smiling at her, and only her, since at the moment was all he could focus on, Bruce said, "Your apologies are welcomed, Diana."

"Thank you," she replied, smiling brightly and so innocently at him, Bruce felt a strange feeling at the pit of his stomach.

She was so delicate with her flawless sun-kissed skin, her dark hair falling in gentle waves over her shoulders when she tucked it behind her ear. Her red sweater only accentuated her beauty.

He took a bite of his sandwich and noticed how she had practically wolfed down her salad while he and Dick were still midway through their food. Her cheeks colored adorably as soon as she realized. "I should've gotten something more… wholesome," she muttered pensively, looking at her empty bowl.

"You can have my apple," Bruce offered, handing her a large and bright red apple that she plucked gracefully from his hands.

"Thank you." She bit into it, the juice of the apple running down her chin before she dabbed at it with the tip of her fingers.

Bruce was transfixed while looking at her and was about to ask more questions about her and everything he could find out – also making a pause to talk to Dick since he seemed to be working as a translator between them when Diana forgot how the new high-school and the new country worked. Unfortunately, right at that moment a ball of paper hit him on the side of the head.

His neck almost snapped when he looked around, glaring at people who froze under his gaze. Yet no one seemed to be the guilty one.

Dick grabbed the ball of paper and opened it. "It's a note." His eyebrows knitted together as he read, "More precious than gold, but cannot be bought, can never be sold, only earned if it's sought. If it is broken, it can still be mended. At birth it can't start nor by death is it ended. And to have it, Bruce Wayne has only pretended."

Diana furrowed her brow as well, studying the piece of paper. "What does this mean? I do not understand."

Bruce looked at his tray. The good mood he'd had up until then vanished. He knew very well that the note chucked at his head hadn't just been a bunch of words sweet Diana couldn't understand. "It's a riddle," he responded sullenly.

"Oh," Dick murmured and silently read the note again, trying to figure out what was being said in it.

"Friendship," Bruce said. "It's referring to friendship."

Snatching the note from Dick's hands, Diana read it and sighed. "This is quite… mean to say." Her eyes turned soft when she looked into his, a tender smile was painted on her pink and plump lips. She didn't wear much makeup unlike other girls, and Bruce could say he enjoyed the much more natural beauty. "You've been nice to us, even if we haven't spoken much and despite your strange attempts on humorous remarks."

Laughing softly just as Dick did, Bruce tilted his head to the side, prodding for more.

"Perhaps it's because you seem so… guarded."

"That's the last thing some people would say about me," Bruce replied, looking at her clasped hands over the table, still holding the note. Her wrists were enclosed in silver bracelets that shone under the light.

"You look different from most people here." Had she discovered his secret? One look from someone and that was it? "Everyone else seems so flippant. You too at first but if Dick invited you to eat with us, you mustn't."

Shrugging, Dick looked at him as he wasn't getting this whole thing.

Bruce laughed for the second time that day. Diana seemed taken aback by his reaction, eyes widening before she leaned back on the chair, folding her arms across her chest. She got mad at him.

"You're not like anyone else… Princess." Bruce had leaned forward and noticed how her eyes widened in surprise and her cheeks were bathed in a light pink.

"Bruce?" A velvety voice said. Soon Bruce saw Selina standing next to him, her dainty hand on his shoulder. The dirty look she shot at Diana was accompanied with, "What are you doing with her?" a question full of disdain.

Dick's eyebrow arched, wondering why he was being completely ignored. Yes, he was younger but still, he was there. That was until a rather bubbly blonde girl behind Selina winked at him, giggling in an almost madly fashion. Feeling his face burning with embarrassment, Dick decided it was better if he went unnoticed.

"Selina," Bruce called, motioning to Diana, he introduced her but knowing quite well Selina didn't like to see pretty girls around her territory unless they were under her command, like Harleen Quinzel standing there with her.

Scoffing, Selina flipped her hair. She looked at Diana with a saccharine smile, completely fake and Diana noticed it. "I know you must be new around here, so I'll make this clear for you. Bruce likes to be a nice guy," she rolled her eyes, giving away that she thought being nice was overrated. "But you need to keep in mind he's never, never going to keep interest in a plain looking Jane such as yourself." She picked imaginary lint from Diana's relaxed red sweater.

"My name is Diana," the foreign beauty replied, and both Dick and Bruce pursed their lips to not laugh at Selina's befuddled expression. "And I'm not plain." She stood up, batting Selina's hand away. "I would appreciate if you kept your hands off me."

In the background, a shout was heard. "Woo-hoo! Catfight!"

Bruce gave a suffering sigh as he recognized Harvey's voice. He closed his eyes and tried to determine the reason why they were friends or pinpoint the moment in which that had occurred.

"Catfight?" Diana asked looking at Dick.

"A fight between girls," the boy explained.

"I won't fight her. She's weak," Diana stated simply. "I'd hurt her and I do not intend to do such damage."

"What did you just say?" Selina was clearly in a bad mood by now. "You think you can hurt me?" She laughed. Her anger showed and Bruce was about to stand up and mediate between the girls when he was held down by Harvey.

"Come on, dude. This is hot!"

"Hot?" Diana frowned as she looked at Harvey.

The blond boy swiftly moved to stand between Selina and Diana. "Hello, I'm Harvey Dent. We haven't met yet but I'm sure we will be very good friends." Not only did he say this with a horrible attempt to be seductive but he also put his hand on Diana's shoulder without her permission. Her face twisted with fury and soon everyone saw how Harvey flew across the cafeteria, his back hitting the wall before he fell on his ass.

His eyes were wide and he looked completely humiliated while everyone else gaped at Diana, about ten feet away from Harvey.

"Do not touch me!" she remarked while Dick and Bruce stood up, gathering their things.

Bruce was tempted to take Diana's hand but after seeing her outburst, he only leaned closer to say, "We should go. Now." This was going to be trouble for all of them, so the faster they moved, the sooner they could avoid it.

She looked around her, at all the people staring and whispering and she ducked her head. "Yes."

As the three of them moved to leave, Selina was the only one who spoke loud enough but only to say, "She's a freak, Bruce. Are you really going with her?"

Bruce narrowed his eyes at the girl but said nothing and only followed Dick and Diana.

"Let's go." He motioned for the other to follow but stopped when they did. He was about to push open the door to walk into the parking lot. "What?"

"I have class," Diana said, eyes full of sincerity. She was such a good girl; it almost provoked him to laugh. This was Gotham and she stood out like a sore thumb.

"Me too," said Dick.

"And so do I but… it's just the first week." It wasn't convincing since they both frowned at him. "We could go out." He scowled at himself. What was he going to offer? Going to the mall? He never did that, why was he trying to behave like any other teen?

"Oh, can we have ice cream?" Diana asked with a huge grin, almost child-like. "I've never had one."

"You've never-" Dick mumbled and soon shook his head. "Where do you come from? Ancient Greece?"

Bruce smiled at her. "Sure."

"Okay, only because she's lived under a rock her whole life. But my parents are not going to like this. I've never skipped classes before and I don't pretend to start now," Dick rambled as he followed them to the silver Aston Martin. He didn't protest about the small space when he had to climb in the back but kept on talking.

Bruce thought it was going to be a long drive, and horrible also when he thought about going downtown for ice cream. But then he looked at Diana and the gleam of excitement in her eyes as she buckled her seatbelt and he sighed. He was screwed.