A/N. This is my own interpretation of Young Justice mished up with 10 things I hate about you (both tv show and movie).

1. You choose Chalant, there will be Chalant. Not in this chapter, maybe, but there's only a beginnig.

2. Megan, Conner, Artemis, Wally, Zatanna and Dick are 17. Kaldur are 18, Roy is 19. I don't want to write them other ages and classes, so I tried to go easy.

Disclaimer: I don't own YJ and any of it's characters.

ENJOY!

Chapter 2. Observation based on rumors always lead to misinterpretation. And everybody like to talk, not exactly look closely on what they are.

Wally wasn't staring at her ass. Not even a little bit. At all, actually.

Even when he saw a hot blonde on a green bike for the first time. He noticed that she was more than aware that a group of jocks in a truck was checking her out, but she didn't seemed to care.

Until when they stopped next to her at a red light. A driver honked and - Wally was sure – threw some not-so-good pick-up line, only then she showed her interest and extended middle finger, without turning her head in their direction. Despite the red light she zoomed forward, as if nothing never happened.

Wally laughed under his breath, not paying attention to the song in his earphones and he thought that there should be more people like her. He'd lie if he said it didn't made him feel warm inside after seeing the girl, but knew that he won't see her again. That's a bummer, he thought somewhere at the end of his mind. He was sure he won't meet someone with attitude like this in the near future.

Of course, when Wally run into the school area, didn't expect to see there the same hot blonde he thought half of the road to school about. He also didn't expect she'll try to hit him with her bike, try to drown him in a puddle, and then still make fun of him at the same time as Lex Luthor, even if everything was her fault.

Then it turned out that the girl - whatever her name is - it's such a... such a bimbo. And Wally was not going to flatter her by staring at her ass when she crouched down to pick up a few things from the locker.

Her locker - unfortunately - was located on the bottom, farther than Wally's, but he had a perfect view. At her ass, to be more precise, but he wasn't staring at it. He was staring at all these guys who were staring at her ass.

It was annoying, because her ass wasn't quite such a sensation.

„Shoot!" Wally heard next to him and immediately returned to reality.

Asian girl with the facial features two cabinets away with desperation nervously tried to open her locker with her nails.

Wally wore a smile when ambled up to her. Quickly scanned the list of girl's names of H High in his mind and eventually found Linda Park - a journalist from the school newspaper. She had a camera around her neck, so he was almost certain it was her.

„What's wrong, honey? Need help?"

She seemed surprised, as if she hadn't expected anyone to actually speak to her. Wally knew that he pulled her out of a deep thoughts.

„Wally West. As always must to be knight in the shining armor, am I wrong?" She smiled at him with amusement.

„That's me." Wally shrugged, smile reappear on his face. „I see that I'm pretty famous around here."

„As a member of the school newspaper I need to know the names and places, and if you're friends with some famous characters, it'd be strange if I didn't know you. Besides, we have Spanish together, which you always sleep at."

Wallace West - a friend of several famous guys, that's all him. He didn't feel offended, but his smile faded a little.

„You have a problem with a locker." He said quietly, remembering why he decided to to go to her at the first place. „I asked if you need help."

„If you can do that, then go ahead." Linda said with a shrug.

„There's nothing impossible for Wall-man." He heard her chuckle, so he smiled, too.

He tapped in several places, pressed and locker quietly snapped back. He recieved grateful smile from Linda, but she didn't have time to thank him as she heard her two friends that Wally had never seen before head to them. He nodded as goodbye to all three girls and put his hands in his pockets, trying to avoid them. Talking to journalists wasn't the best idea, if someone didn't want to listen rumors.

Maybe it was just a coincidence, but Wally didn't believe in coincidences. Especially if they were related to the blonde harpy, who started to get on his nerves today. Turning, she pushed his arm with her elbow on purpose. When her lips were at the height of his neck, rather than apologize, she whispered so that only he heard. „Wall-man, huh?"

And he hated her at that moment for that damn amusement in her voice. For that she didn't apologize. For acting as if nothing had happened and walk by him, without turning even once, but Wally knew exactly that she had fun.

But most of all he hated her because something in her hot breath on his neck and mocking tone made him shiver, even so slightly.

Only after he noticed a hand waving in front of his face.

„What?" He finally answered and one of Linda's friends put her hand down.

„You all right?" She asked earnestly, then turned to her friends. "Wasn't that fresh meat girl?"

Ah, yeah, fresh... what now?

„Wait a minute, you know her?"

Linda decided to spoke.

„I told you, but I repeat, if you don't remember. We're from the school newspaper, it's our duty to know people from our school. And believe me, no one could miss someone like her."

„Like her...?"

„Well..." Began a blonde girl." She's a bit challenging, right? And seems rude, she didn't even apologize to you after she pushed you. Some call her "the shrew", despite the fact that she started school only today... That must prove something, right?"

„I heard that she was expelled from her previous school and, frankly, I wouldn't be surprised." Said the brunette.

„Girls, that could be all roumors, remember?" Linda murmured, rolling her eyes. She didn't like when her friends get that excited about something that wasn't even confirmed.

„The shrew, huh? What's her name, anyway?" Wally asked, completely ignoring the boredom of Linda or aversion of her friends to him.

„Artemis" Said the blonde. „Artemis 'the shrew' Crock."

„We have to go, Willy" Spoke the brunette, and Linda gave her an amused look, as it seemed that she specifically mistaken his name.

Wally didn't pay any attention to that they all said goodbye. He was more interested in what he just learned. Artemis, huh? Maybe she wasn't a goddess, but the name seemed to... fit. Fit for her challenging attitude, appearance, personality.

He had no idea why the way to class te name was on his lips. Trying to erase this big goofy grin that appeared on his face, he was mutterng her name as quietly as he could, as if checking to see if it fits in his mouth. And oddly, it did.

Don't get him wrong. That meant only more fighting with her and a lot of jokes about virginity he was creating in his head.

He laughed under his breath, and a few people looked at him as if he was a freak.

The next time Wally West meet Artemis Crock, he will be prepared. And he will be making fun of her.

Artemis not really 'didn't give a shit' about anything.

She gave a shit about many things. For example she gives a shit about her grades, so she tried to behave somehow in class, despite the fact that she wanted to tear off the heads of some teachers. She new facts and was fast memorizing, but needed to focus (to not have to repeat all the material at home), so she didn't really have time to talk to someone.

And everyone became the most talkative in class.

She also gave a shit about her holding his temper in check. Until she met some of these spoiled, annoying kids she didn't realize how quickly she begins to irritate. Hell, she even began to think that she has some problems with anger!

She gave a shit about adapting to the new environment - and after four lessons somehow she managed. Until now she didn't exchanged a long conversation with nobody (except the first one with Megan, but Artemis hadn't see her later), didn't initiated a fight (except Pamela Isley, known to all and sundry as 'Poison Ivy') and didn't make fun of anyone...

Anyone but of Mr. West. Who was he to sneak into her mind all the time? She didn't care what happens to him or who he was. Hell, she didn't even ask anyone of his first name, because she didn't care. And she knew that everyone would knew the answer.

In the end, it was hard to miss someone like this.

But it was the first person she met and one of the most interesting, so, despite all the warnings, she made fun of him a little.

Of course, first she had no idea that his gaze followed her at the hall, when she was passing him, because she was trying to not look at and avoiding him. But every time she caught him staring at her, she felt an odd satisfaction.

She realized a long time ago that some people may stare at her - in the end she was new and wore clothes emphasizing her advantages, but so far all of the guys she caught a staring - began hitting on her, didn't stop to stare or run away because was scared of her.

And Mr. West did nothing of the sort.

He didn't began hitting on her, because it'd offend his pride – after all at their first meeting he acted like an asshole. He didn't continued to stare, although she could read his frustrated face like an open book - he pretended to not staring at her ass, or whatever type of a guy he was, a minute ago.

First of all, none of those boys didn't blush, which betrayed redhead's every intention. He loooked almost shy. Artemis thought that's odd, because someone like him didn't have anything to be ashamed of – besides ugly personality, of course - so she didn't understand this strange phenomenon she had witnessed for the first time in her life.

So she may or may not test whether her presence had this affect on him or her provocative movements. And she really didn't feel that flutter in her chest. Especially after she realized that he was flustered when they passed each other or when they eyes met – and not only when he was checking her out.

She began to change her mind about the redhead – he wasn't jock or hunk she thought he was. He was just redheaded, 'red-eared' (only when he was irrated or embarassed. And yeah, Artemis made up that word, she had a right) good-looking boy, who may have been more inexperienced with women that he claims to be.

But that didn't change a fact that he was an asshole.

And she was meeting him so surprisingly often, that she began to believe that Mr. West may be also the stalker type.

„Do you like him?"

The voice that broke her thoughts belonged to a petite brunette with bright blue eyes. She was wearing a violet top and bright jeans, and was holding a deck of cards in her hands.

„What? Who? No!"

That wasn't very subtle, but Artemis was startled by that question and didn't have time to think og a better answer.

The girl laughed, seeing Artemis' reaction.

„Maybe it's not my business, but you're staring at him for a good five minutes or so with so intense gaze that I felt a bit weird disturbing your latest romantic moment."

Artemis frowned comically embarrassed and cleared her throat. She didn't really wanted catch her up on what she was doing - she wanted to catch the red-haired boy on staring at her, and eventually she ended up staring at him.

„I'm not staring at anyone." She muttered, pulling away, and was ready to go, but again she heard a chuckle.

„Girl, you practically were undressing him with your eyes! Anyone else seen this?" Brunette looked up with comic face. „What a pity. I'm probably the only one who felt so uncomfortable disturbing."

„It was nothing. You wasn't disturbing, because nothing happened. I don't know what you're even talking about." Artemis huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. This brunette had a lotta nerve. But she seemed cool, so Artemis decided to wait a while, despite the embarrassment. She was also very interested in why she kept the cards and had white gloves on her hands.

„Zatanna Zatara, by the way. We had a history together a while ago."

Artemis shook the girl's hand and felt something rigid under the white material. She pulled a card out one of the glove. Ace of Spades. She raised an eyebrow questioningly, raising the card to Zatanna eye level.

„Okay, you got me." Said the girl, taking the card and shuffling the deck in her hand. „Don't judge, I'm still learning."

„What?"

„Magic tricks." Zatanna looked embarassed. „Family business. And a hobby of mine."

Artemis shook her head. „No, it's cool. If you have some tricks up in your sleeves–or gloves, I'll watch 'em. Anyway, who are your parents? Weasleys?"

Zatanna laughed, opening the locker Artemis leaned a moment earlier. Oh, that's why brunette decided to speak to her in the first place. „No, and my dad isn't Lord Voldemort, either! He is a magician and performs magic shows for the public. Work as every other. He was perfroming all over the world, but since my mom died, we stayed here for good."

Artemis saw that smile remained on Zatanna's face, but this one was more sad, not reaching her eyes.

„I'm sorry, I did not mean to..."

„No, it's okay. I shouldn't even talk about it. Sad family stories aren't probably the best way to meet new people." She chuckled.

Artemis knew exactly how felt someone who had lost loved ones. She knew how much courage you need to start again to talk about it without flooding in tears. And even with a false grin, Zatanna was a strong person. And fun.

Artemis wonder why she didn't have a lot of friends, because if she had she wouldn't be talking to the blonde right now.

„Two years ago." Said Artemis, looking at the tops of her black boots. Since it was a honesty moment, then she could blurt out, right? Zatanna gave her a look, not understanding. „My mom died two years ago. In Gotham. Me and my father lived there all this time, but it was difficult, you know, after all that happened, so... we moved to Happy Harbor, you know, to start from the beginning. Cut off from the painful memories."

Zatanna at the beginning didn't spoke, and Artemis cursed to herself that she opened so much. She didn't mention about Jade's escape or the dad's training, but she thought she said too much, anyway. She bit her lower lip.

That's when she felt a warm hand on the shoulder. When Artemis looked up, saw sincerce sympathy in Zatanna's bright eyes.

„I'm sorry." She said, and Artemis nodded with a slight thankful smile. She knew that these words and these feelings were real. She didn't pretend, she didn't lie and it felt damn good. Especially, when she didn't scare the only person who voluntarily wanted to talk to her.

„What a happy topic whe choose." Artemis sneered, her words dripping with sarcasm again. It's a good sign, he began to get used to the brunette's presence.

Zatanna grinned, before turned to her locker. „Because we're happy people!"

When she opened the locker door and a small pigeon flew from inside. Both bent down at the last moment, so a bird didn't land in their hair. Giving a gurgle sound, it flew over the courtyard. A few heads turned in Zatanna and Artemis' direction, not really knowing what had happened.

Zatanna quickly closed the locker and pulled Artemis' wrist in the opposite direction, pretending she had nothing to do with the fact that a pigeon flew out from her locker.

Artemis raised an eyebrow in a questioning gesture. „Should I ask what the hell just happened?"

„No, not really."

„Okay, so ... lunch?"

Zatanna let out a sigh of relief that Artemis didn't push the subject and gave her a grateful smile.

„Lunch sounds great."

Wally joined his friends and sat down, throwing a tray of snacks on the table.

„Oh, you brought for everyone." Dick said, reaching for the bread with strawberry jam. Wally immediately surrounded all the snacks in bags with his protective arms, throwing a murderous look to the best friend.

„Maybe I am angry, but that doesn't mean I'm not hungry, man. Don't you remember what we talked about? Wall-man eats what he brings."

„Dude, you have a serious problem." Dick chuckled and return to checking something on his phone.

Kaldur looked at his friends from over biology textbook to prepare for the next lesson, and Conner, as usual, was staring into space. Nobody said a word and dealt with their activities, when Wally finally burst out. „No one will ask what happened, I am angry?!"

„Not really." Said Dick under his breath.

„Dude!"

„I'm sorry, my best friend. Now tell me, why don't you feel the aster today?"

„And has it something to do with the fact that you wear a Hawaiian shirt?" Kaldur asked curiously, putting the textbook on the table.

Conner didn't turn his head, but everyone knew that he listened to them, even though it seemed that he doesn't care.

„I ran to school as usual and, like, some crazy woman on a bike almost knocked me over. I told her politely that she had to be careful where she rides, and she drove away, splattering me with water. From. A freaking. Puddle! Can you believe it? I had to change these clothes. And I only had only this from last party on the beach." Wally said pointing to the hawaiian shirt he wore.

„Then Luthor summoned me, because I run wet in school and someone complained that I run after school naked and I'm a fucking exhibitionist, because I take off my shirt in front of everyone, and it in some way violating school rules. This is just a disaster, guys! Not some freaking aster."

He didn't expect that Dick and Kladur start to laugh, and that Conner smiles slightly, expressing their amusement.

„Ha-ha, I know it's very funny, guys. Now come on, stop it. And then I found out that all had happened because that shrew–who's called Artemis, by the way. And she's new."

„So..." Dick began uncertainly. „Do you like her?"

„Who? Her? Puh-lease! She's nasty harpy. I was even there when she almost initiated a fight with Poison Ivy."

All of their head's turned toward Wally with a look of disgust on their faces. Anyone who's had in theirself a good side tried not to upset that viper. Especially Connor, who had to wrangle with her eveyday on trainings because Poison Ivy was going out with Danny from football team. They both loved to show that they are a couple.

„Everything's fine? With Artemis?" Kaldur asked with genuine concern.

„Who cares?" Wally shouted, throwing his hands up, but seeing a Kaldur's hard look, he immediately said. „No, Artemis told her off completely. She's quick-witted, ya see."

„She's definitely feeling the aster." Dick laughed again and recieved a glare from Wally.

Finally Connor moved closer and asked Wally. „You said that she's new? There are two new girls. They are somehow related?"

„What? I don't know. Wait, you're talking about Megan?"

„How do you know her name?"

„I ran into her on the way to Luthor. Dude, she is megalicious..." Wally cleared his throat, seeing Connor, who looked as if he want to tear off Wally's head with his own hands. „I mean... I think they know each other. Megan said so. I don't know. Why do you ask?"

„No reason." He muttered, returning to stare off into space above them all.

„He stares at her for a good ten minutes." Dick whispered, so that only Wally could hear, but Goddamn that Conner's super-hearing.

„Bullshit!" Conner growled.

„Leave him alone, he might really like this girl." Kaldur said, chuckling.

Dick and Wally laughed out loud, and all eyes turned toward the red-haired beauty in pink dress, who talked happily with Wendy Harris, a dark-haired girl with blue eyes and one of the main cheerliders.

„I think she wants to be Bumblebee, and that means…" Dick said, pretending to think about it. „I don't know. Wally, do you know what that means?"

„It means that you maybe seeing her more often! Congratulations, dude, you're one of a lucky bastard!"

„I can definitely feel the aster in the air."

„Don't miss out on this opportunity, my friend." Kaldur added.

„I hate you all." Conner muttered. The only thought he had at that moment that why he still doing with this bunch of idiots. Although he couldn't stop the smile that crept into corners of his mouth, thinking that they were right and he will be seeing this Megan girl more often.

They all turned in the same direction, where Conner was looking, while Wally ate snacks he had brought. They saw Wendy says goodbye to Megan with brief hug, and redhead met two more girls – a blonde and brunette. All three exchanged smiles and headed toward the nearest empty table - that is, two tables away from the guys.

Dick waved to Artemis, when their gazes crossed, and her face broke into a slight grimace, yet waved back. At the same time so did the brunette, Zatanna. Both looked at each other puzzled, then laughed.

Unintentionally satisfied smile crept on Dick's lips.

„Why are you smiling, my friend?" Kaldur asked, raising an eyebrow.

Dick immediately looked elsewhere.

„It's nothing."

„No, dude, tell us. Who you are grinning at? Some Miss stole your heart, you dog?" Wally laughed packing in his mouth junk food.

„Maybe." Dick smiled enigmatically. „Can you see this bombshell blonde over there?" He said, pointing his thumb in any particular direction.

Wally quickly scanned all the girls sitting beside the tables. He saw a couple of blondes, but none of them seemed pretty enough to call them 'bombshell'.

Until his gaze didn't rest on Artemis, who was smiling with slight, but genuine smile. And it really shouldn't cause all these strange things with his heartbeat.

„Man, I don't think you know what you're talking about. This is Artemis Crock, the shrew! You shouldn't like her, it's bad in so many ways..."

Wally never had heard as Dick laughed so hard. Tears came to his eyes, but he kept his hands on his face, not to bring more attention and try to stop himself.

„You–you just... to–told that... What an idiot..."

Wally began to seriously wonder if he said the wrong thing or simply his best friend went crazy.

„I think." Kaldur said also amused. „That Dick is trying to told you, Wally, that you just confessed that tou are attracted to Artemis. Dick never said that he liked her, only asked, if you see a beautiful blonde. It was you, who first thought about Artemis."

Wally heard that Conner even snickered. Okay, maybe he knew that Artemis was nice looking. He haven't denied this. So why he felt like a complete idiot right now? And again he felt heat rising in his ears.

„Maybe you should just go out with her, Wally." Conner advised, when Dick tried to calm down.

„Oh, and you're going to go out with Megan?"

That shut him up for good.

„You and Artemis are different, you're already at the stage of undress each other with your eyes." Dick said, poking friend in the ribs.

„I'm not undressing anyone with my eyes!" Wally hissed a little too loud. Several people looked at him, shocked..

Dick rolled his eyes. „Sure not. Just as she doesn't throw you these intense glances every now and then."

„She's not...! Wait, what?" Wally finally dared to look directly at the blonde two tables away and saw that she, too, was staring at him.

He was surprised that she doesn't look away when their eyes crossed. Instead, she turned her head to the side and raised an eyebrow, as if giving him a challenge. And Wallace Rudolph West never withdrew from the challenge. He focused all his annoyance about her person and gave her a look equaling her own.

Her stormy gray eyes vs. his forest green ones.

„Wow, man, we feel a little awkward here. Just ask her out already." Dick sighed.

„You know what? I think I ask someone out. Maybe this tiny brunette who sits next shrew, what do you say?"

The most mischievous grin of all time appeared on Wally's face. A little too late he realized that he broke eye contact to look at his best friend. Which meant that Artemis Crock won. And he was was sure she didn't give him forget it any time soon.

„That's a low blow, bro." Dick snapped and it shut him up for good.

Wally was very pleased with himself. He not only learned that his best friend liked this Zatara girl, he still managed to shut him up. Wally West shut up the biggest talker and troll of all time, who always had prepared some witty answer in his sleeve.

„I may heard that this Friday will be the opening of a new club called Cave. I think this is the perfect opportunity to invite your sympathies on the first dates. I think three days is the perfect time to deal with it." Kaldur said quietly, without looking away from the biology textbook.

That shut them all. Lunch that day was exceptionally quiet, and Wally feel no longer hungry anymore.

DO YOU LIKE IT? LET ME NOW!

Do you like Kaldur idea of asking girls on dates in 3 days? Do you think those three idiots really ask them out? Or girls will must take the lead?

I don't know about you, but I think even if they could admit to them that they like each other, they really can't bring themsleves to ask them or talk to them, really. Why? Simple - they afraid of the rejection. Rejection from someone you like/love is not funny thing and if you friends would find out about this, they not really the most understanding and comforting, so they act like douches. And you began to act like that, too.

Oh, and I hope you learn the lesson in this chapter. When you listen rumors about someone, and not actually that someone, then you're screwd. Sometimes you can't change your mind about someone, even if you talk to them. Really hurtful. REALLY.

Oh, and if someone have some request or ideas, pm me. Especially any funny situations, quotes or ANYTHING, really. I have general idea, but I'm more drama than comedy writer, so... yeah.

- KOGEKI