AN: Warning: I shoved in random names that I remember from random wiki reading (about DC comics heroes) for Jinx's friends, 'cause now she's in school, obviously she's got to have friends! They'll probably pop up more, too. Explanation on the bottom. This takes place the same day as chapter one.
PS. You may be disappointed.
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Summary: He shrugs at me and calls a waiter over. Oh my god, is this waiter eying Wally too? First the hooker waitress, now him. Jinx has lunch with Wally.
High school is so bizarre. For some reason, my new friends – including a pair of twins, thankfully fraternal – (it was the start of the school year; we were two weeks in) instantly decided to include me into their "exclusive" group of five. From what I saw, they liked any newbie that didn't immediately shoot down their offers for lunch. They also decided that we all had to go to the same place for lunch. I had only remembered one other girl's name – she was a newbie too.
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"Mia," I say – hopefully that was the right name – "do you know where we're going for lunch?" After all, I didn't want to miss my lunch date with Kid Flash.
"I think the place we went last week. The pizza place – I think there was a purple billboard near it." She smiles. I smile back gratefully. Good. I think he meant for me to meet him there, anyway. But how would I break away from my group?
"Jinx," says one girl. I nod at her. I hope I won't have to use her name. "What did you think about that totally lame heist the HIVE 5 pulled?" I can't help but smile. Surprisingly, no one had put together the new girl – who looked exactly like the old HIVE 5 leader, and had the same name – with the actual villainess herself. I guess Jump City people are more open-minded than I'd originally thought. Another girl answers her, saving me from answering after a minute of silence.
As we walk to the pizza parlor, Mia and I trail behind them. Two weeks, and I'd found my first friend. I crane my neck and check all over the area. Not here. I resign myself to a very boring lunch, listening to gossip about people I don't know.
"Jinx." hisses Mia. "I think that boy is staring at you." She points in the direction of the boy. A shock of blue eyes under red hair. I'm dazzled and breathless. He winks.
"Wait, Mia, do you know who that is?" asks one girl. Mia shakes her head. I have a pretty good idea.
"Why, should I?" she asks, innocently.
"Oh my gosh. Is he looking at you, Jinx?" squeals another. I feel as thought I should be offended at her tone.
I think I should learn their names. I gulp and sheepishly nod. I lift my eyes to meet his and he holds my gaze.
"Who is he?" demands Mia.
"That's Wally West. He goes to this private school on the other side of town. He's like, a total heartbreaker! But really, really, really hot. Like, supermodel hot. No, wait! Like ..." She trails off, possibly wondering who she could compare him to. My eye twitches. Is she talking about my Kid Flash? "His friends are hot too. There's this super cute red head friend he has … I don't see him." She finishes, disappointed. Mia shrugs at me.
"Jinx, you have to go to his table!" The chick flicks have not prepared me for this situation.
"And you have to tell us about it." Mia grins evilly. I flush. Then she shoves me towards his table.
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"Hi." I say nervously. My hands start sweating.
"Sit." He says. I sit. "So, Jinx, I see you made some new friends. I never thought you'd be a people person." He smiles maddeningly.
"Ki –" I start.
"Wally." He holds out a hand. "It would kind of ruin the whole secret identity if you decided to go ahead and say it, wouldn't it?" I discreetly wipe my hands on my shorts and take his hand, feeling completely awkward.
The waitress comes. "Do you need anything?" she makes her eyes wide and leans down. She's wearing a really low cut shirt. I doubt that's actually her uniform.
"No thanks. We'll order later." He says coolly, and he hasn't even looked at her once. I'm impressed. A weaker man would've caved in. It's a clear dismissal, and she gives me a confused glance that says him and her – and not me?
When she leaves, I ask him, "Not your type?"
"I like something a little more exotic." He grins. I see Mia giving me a thumbs-up. "Your friends are cute." He grins devilishly when my face heats up, jealous. "I can't believe this menu. Frog legs on pizza? That's just weird."
I smile at his expression. He shrugs at me and calls a waiter over. Oh my god, is this waiter eying Wally too? He is. Wally winks at me. He orders the frog leg pizza (ew, really?) and cheese for me.
While we're waiting, he doesn't say anything, and studies a notebook next to him. So I pay attention to what he's wearing. School uniform, but he makes it look good. Really good. He could be a supermodel in a few years. Like a Greek god. Okay! Getting carried away, Jinx.
"So, does anyone at your school realize who you are?" he asks.
"No. For some reason, no one can tell I'm Jinx." He raises an eyebrow. "Oh, you know who I mean."
"I guess I wouldn't either." This confuses me.
"What do you mean? I look the same, sound the same …" How could someone not recognize me? I'm terrified of being kicked out of JCHS because of my past – I've just only begun to feel comfortable.
"You're happy." I blink at him. "You also wear different clothes." He adds, after a while, eyeing my not black shorts and not black tee-shirt. "Your hair is styled differently." My horns aren't up – they're too distinctive. But what about my skin, my eyes?
"Do you know everything about me?" I wonder.
"Not everything. Do you like me?"
I gulp down some water to distract myself, and thankfully, the waitress from before brings over our pizzas. The frog legs he ordered don't seem to have grossed her out, and she's leaning down again. My soda glass topples over onto her shirt. No wind, no wobbly table … definitely me. I need to keep myself under control. I grit my teeth. She squeals and hurries away. I smirk at her wet white retreating back. "Well, Jinx?" He grins, and takes a bite. I watch the horrible green leg disappear before I say anything.
"I might," I say in a small voice. "or I might not." I'm not being entirely honest. Of course I like him. But am I ready for it?
"Now, now, Jinx," he chides. "Didn't anyone tell you not to be a flirt?"
"And you're telling me?" I bite my tongue and clamp my mouth shut, wishing I'd done it earlier. He tenses. I've hit a nerve. I know. I can tell.
He flinches a little, and I wish I hadn't said anything. Or just said yes. "Jinx, I'm hurt." He says tonelessly.
What do I say, what do I say?
I don't say anything, and instead, I flash my watch at him. He smiles and I know I'm forgiven.
"Is … Wally busy today?" I ask, after gathering my courage.
"I might have some hero business." He whispers the word hero. Someone calls my name. Wally and I look up at the same time.
"Jinx," calls Mia. "class starts in seven minutes! We're four minutes from school." Another girl waves me over. I think I remember her name, surprisingly. Dawn. And her twin is Holly. Wow. I'm impressed with myself. Wally gives Mia a scrutinizing look. I have no time to wonder, because Holly and Dawn grab one arm each.
"I'll call you later!" I call out to him. I guess I will. I see him smile.
Mia cocks her head and waves at him. He waves back. I bite my lip. Mia and I walk behind everyone else again.
"Jinx, what did you guys talk about? You were so cute. You kept blushing." Mia gushes.
"How do you know him? I thought you didn't." I ask. She smiles, and I don't.
"I know a friend of his. The redhead that Holly was talking about? His name is Roy." She shrugs at me. "Do you like him?" she asks teasingly. I find my cell phone has a new text. It's a rose made from dashes and dots.
I smile and tell her, "Yes."
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AN: The names: Dawn & Holly as in Hawk and Dove / Mia as in Mia Dearden (Speedy) / Roy as in our fish taco-eating Speedy. (Not too sure about the fifth girl. Suggestions? Maybe Jade – Cheshire.) I used these names because these were the ones I remembered and liked – it doesn't necessarily mean that these guys are actually the heroes. Just names, for now. But in case they are those heroes, I pushed in that wave Mia gives to KF. Use your imagination. It could mean that they know each other through the superhero grapevine, or for the reason Mia gives Jinx (and the reason how she knows Speedy might be that they went to the same archery summer camp or et cetera.) Feel free to send me questions. Thanks for reading!