Disclaimers
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All original characters are the property of Celgress.
Justice League High – Episode One School Days Part I
By
Celgress
Harmony High School, noon
"Ha ha ha very funny Barry." Diana Prince said not in the least bit amused. Although everyone else near her apparently was as they laughed heartily.
Seated around Diana on the football field bleachers were her closest friends: Clark Kent, Lana Lang, Hal Jordan and of course Barry Allen. Joining them this day was Carol Ferris. A former military brat Carol had moved to Harmony that summer along with her father Willard a brilliant aeronautics engineer recently retired from the airforce who was tapped by Luthorcorp to head their drone division. Somewhat shy Carol had initially struggled to make friends. As a result, she started hanging around the Cafe Diana's mother operated where she met Dianna and her sister Donna. Diana and Carol hit of off becoming fast friends. Later when Dianna introduced Carol to her other friends it soon became apparent Carol, who was a bit of a princess type, had a major crush on Hal who somehow remained aloof of her interest in him despite her focus on him.
"I'm not joking." Barry Allen said. "I love your mom to pieces Di but she's a bit of a crazy feminist." Everyone called Diana "Di" for short.
"She can be passionate at times." Dianna conceded then glared at Barry. "But I don't believe what you claimed actually happen Barry. Besides she is not a 'crazy feminist' she just thinks men and women should be treated as equals."
"If you don't think I'm telling the truth then ask Hal he was there." Barry said pointing at Hal.
"No way," Hal said shaking his hands in front of him. "Keep me out of this."
"C'mon Barry you really expect us to believe Di's mom threatened you with a knife?" Lana said quirking an eyebrow.
"Well, she didn't exactly threaten me," Barry admitted rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "Sure the possibility of violence was implied but..."
"Let me get this straight, so I understand what you're saying happened Barry." Clark said playing devil's advocate. "Di's mom peeled an apple in front of you using a large knife. She then said if you 'deflowered' her daughters you'd be the apple next time. This was prompted on your part by a crude joke about teenage girls. Am I right?"
"Yup," Barry said.
"What was the joke?" Lana asked looking suspiciously at Barry.
"Excuse me," Barry said.
"What was the joke you told Di's mom?" Lana repeated. She crossed her arms over her chest while she awaited an answer.
"Um, something about Catholic School Girls being so sexually repressed they enjoy a good spanking hee hee," Barry said nervously. Clark shook his head while Hal just smirked.
"Gross," Carol said wrinkling her nose. Lana and Diana both shot Barry venomous stares.
"If Di's mom did what you say it serves you right Barry," Lana said. "You're a pervert."
"Hey, I'm a likable pervert," Barry said with a shrug which earned him a punch in his shoulder from Diana who happened to be closest. "Ouch, that hurt." Barry winched he rubbed his shoulder. Everyone save Diana laughed. Barry had such an easy going personality it was hard to stay angry with him even when that anger was deserved.
"Good," Diana said although she smiled.
"Where's Bruce?" Lana said addressing the elephant in the room or rather on the field in this case.
"He's in one of the labs working on a project, I think. Bruce doesn't have time for 'childish things' like our friendship anymore, or so he told." Clark said with a pronounced sigh of frustration.
"Maybe I should talk to him?" Diana offered.
It was an open secret among the longtime friends Bruce at one time had a puppy love crush on Diana. Everyone in the know thought the pair would be going steady by now but that was before the tragedy. Instead the honor of high school sweethearts went to Clark and Lana who had started officially dating just before classes had began this year.
"It won't do any good," Hal said ruefully. "Last night when Clark and I went out to the mansion if it hadn't been for Alfred I doubt we have even got inside. Bruce made it clear he did not want us there."
"Is Bruce still obsessed with the idea that Lionel Luthor was somehow involved in the murder of his parents?" Lana asked.
"Unfortunately he is," Clark said he frowned. At one time Bruce had been his best friend now they barely talked. Five years had passed since that fateful day and Bruce had changed so much Clark barely recognized him as the carefree ten-year-old who once spent hours with him roaming the streams and fields of Harmony Township in search of bugs, birds, plants and any trouble they could get into.
"Too bad that Joe Chill guy skipped town before he could be arrested. Otherwise, we'd know one way or another if Mr. Luthor was involved." Barry said being serious for a change. The others murmured their agreement except Carol who asked who Joe Chill was which prompted Hal to offer a brief explanation of the personalities and events surrounding the notorious Wayne Murders.
"How terrible," Carol said. "Do you really think Mr. Luthor was behind the killings? He seems so nice."
"That's one theory," Diana said.
"Lionel Luthor and Thomas Wayne were bitter rivals. Their personal hatred of each other was an open secret." Hal said. "Rumor has it Lionel and Thomas were best friends until both feel in love with Martha Kane while attending this very high school. When several years after they graduated Martha chose Thomas over Lionel nothing was ever the same. Lionel couldn't forgive Wayne or Martha. Things became so strained between them that Lionel and Thomas split the startup company they founded together forming Luthorcorp and Wayne Enterprises from each half."
"Wow, how interesting," Carol said beaming at Hal hanging on his every word. "Somebody should write a book about what happened. I can see it now. The true story of the Luthor/Wayne Feud."
"Yeah, and they would get sued up the yin-yang before the book ever went to press." Barry laughed. "Mr. Luthor would never allow such a book to be written. The guy is all about protecting his public image. That's why Perry White is teaching journalism here rather than still being the editor of the local paper. He okayed a story that was critical of Mr. Luthor's behavior immediately following the Wayne Murders. One phone call threatening legal action to the publisher later and he got canned."
"If it isn't Clark Kent and his band of merry losers." The obnoxious voice of Kenneth "Kenny" Braverman the star quarterback of the school said distracting the group from the topic of the Wayne Murders.
"Hello Kenny," Clark said his eyes narrowing.
Kenny and Clark had never gotten along. Raised on neighboring farms outside town the two boys were rivals from a young age. Whereas Clark was the ultimate boy scout who was the type to help an old lady across a busy street Kenny was a bad boy who would laugh if the old lady got struck by a vehicle. Clark shunned the spotlight while Kenny craved it. Which is why Kenny competed so intensely in spots. The cheers of the crowd helped fuel his monster ego. Most chalked up the difference in attitude to their backgrounds. While Clark had a loving family Kenny was being raised by his alcoholic fraternal grandfather following the death of both his parents during the meteorite shower of fifteen years before. An event his grandfather seemed to blame on Kenny who was born that night. Something he and Clark did have in common.
"Buzz off Kenny," Hal said.
"You going to make me Hal?" Kenny asked grinning. Last time the boys tangled that spring the more muscular sandy blonde haired Kenny had broken one of Hal's ribs.
"If I have to," Hal said showing no fear.
"Yeah, you and what army," Kenny said not in the least bit intimidated.
"Us," Lana and Dianna said in unison after exchanging glances.
"Be advised I'm not above hitting girls," Kenny warned.
"Good, because I'm not below hitting neanderthals," Diana said.
Kenny advanced on the bleachers. Before things could further escalate, however, biology teacher Alec Holland stepped in. "That'll be quite enough." The well-built ex-marine with silver hair said. "Isn't there somewhere else you can be Kenny?"
"Whatever, later losers," Kenny said with a dismissive wave of his hand he walked away.
"And you six should know better than to antagonize him," Alec said. Although Alec knew the group of friends were good kids he often worried about Hal and Diana who often went out of their way to pick fights.
"He started it." Lana correctly pointed out.
"Regardless," Alec said. "You all know Kenny has a short fuse caused no doubt by a terrible home life. In the future, I'd recommend you give him a wide berth. Sometimes it is better to walk away than seek out trouble. Think about that." He walked away.
"It's time for class," Barry said glancing at his smartphone a few seconds later. With a collective groan, The group jumped off the bleachers and headed inside.
To Be Continued
Author's Note -
Sorry this was so short. I felt I should update this story before the end of the month. I promise the next update (when it comes) will be much longer.