Terry: *coughs*

Artemis: How the **** did you get in here?

Terry: I'm Batman, Remember?

Artemis: Yes, I do remember. I watch you everyday. It's still unnatural.

Terry: Stalker…

Artemis: No, you're a cartoon.

Terry: Shouldn't I get paid?

Artemis: No. And why are you here again?

Terry: Oh. The old man told me to remind you that you need a disclaimer.

Artemis: Ahh…I own nothing except for Niki. But I don't own her alternate idenity, Artemis.

Terry: That's better.

Artemis: You're cute…

Terry: OK… *Backs away slowly*

Artemis: DO YOU LIKE WAFFLES! I LIKE WAFFLES, I ALSO LIKE DUCKS. DO YOU LIKE DUCKS? WHAT ABOUT BLUEBERRY SMOOTHIES? I LIKE BLUEBERRY SMOTHIES. I DON'T LIKE WAFFLE BLUEBERRY AND DUCK SMOOTHIES. DO YOU LIKE WAFFLE BLUEBERRY SMOOTHIES?

Terry: You're weird.

Artemis: You're first clue?

My foot tapped the slightly damp, pitch black pavement. How long could a line into a club be? I sighed and considered walking away. It's not like I had a date. Then I corrected myself. I had waited in line this long, and another hour couldn't do that much harm.

I sighed, trying to focus on something, anything, besides that phone conversation with my dad.

An abbreviated story of my life, for anyone who is interested.

I've literally been alone since I was 12. You think I'm kidding? Well, my mom and dad are high up in the Wayne Powers Company, and work in China frequently. So when my dad called it was the usual how are you, what are you learning in school routine.

Then he told me that he as coming home. That we'd have Father Daughter time. He told me that some very important people were after his work and he might not see me in a while.

My whole freakin' life I'd thought about this. This moment where he'd come home and figure out what my favorite color was, my favorite Café, and my favorite food. My boyfriend, how my life was.

So how I responded surprised me.

"So ya finally comin' home, huh?" I demanded. "'Bout time, don't ya think? Don't bother. It doesn't hurt anymore."

Him not being there was like a cut that slowly fades into a scar. It hurts at first, and then every once in a while it throbs, but your afraid to rub it for the fear of opening it up again.

A guy raced up through the line, in a hurry, he just about passed his girlfriend. Skidding to a halt, he smiled at her. I immediately assessed that she was way out of his league.

She had long black hair, pretty greenish blue eyes, and was wearing a blue dress. She kissed him slightly.

"I thought you were in solitary confinement!" She tells him.

"Nah." He replies. "I gave myself time off for good behavior."

I don't think she fully got the meaning of, 'giving yourself time off', because she said, "Good. Now hold our place for a sec." She races out of the line, her black hair flowing out behind her.

He watches her race into the distance, and then his eyes seem to suddenly notice me.

"You're that girl that was on the train."

"Yeah." I deadpanned. "And you're the boy from the train. Your point Captain Obvious?"

He glanced at me with this half confused look in his eyes. (Oh, how I love that look.) "I never caught your name." He informs me.

"That's because I never gave it out."

"Well yeah, duh, or else I'd know it."

It's Niki." I tell him. "Niki Lamborn.

"Terry McGinnis. "

Just then his girlfriend returned. He seemed relieved that he can forget me. And truthfully, I was kinda glad that I could forget him.

Seconds later the Jokerz appeared.

A/N I know, not a great cliffhanger, or chapter, but bear with me. Read and review!