I realized I had said in the previous chapter that it had only been a few months into the year, even though the date was June, meaning it was the end of the year. No worries, I changed that :3

Thanks for the reviews!

This is in Dick's POV, btw (hence the chapter name…).

Enjoy~


The spark was fading, and I couldn't do anything about it. Well, maybe I could. Did I not want to?

I sighed to myself as I waited for the car to pick me up from school. I went to a different school than Wally, my boyfriend. Its hours were different as well, so it was hard to call him or meet up with him. Plus, my school was very competitive and dished out tests every week. The studying took a while, and that plus acrobatics practice and my regular homework, it was hard for me to talk to Wally.

Thankfully, today was Thursday, meaning I didn't have practice. The car pulled up in front of me, and I climbed inside, putting my backpack on the seat next to me. I had just taken out my phone and was about to dial his number when Alfred, our driver and the man like a grandfather to me, spoke up.

"Master Richard, your father has requested that you keep today open, since he has some new history books for you to study," he explained, and I frowned deeply.

"But I'm going to see Wally today! It's my only free day!" I said. Alfred just shook his head and started up the car engine. My blue eyes clouded over with regret as I stared at the last text I had gotten from my boyfriend a week ago. Had it really been that long since we had talked?

I slowly dialed Wally's house phone, knowing he wouldn't answer since he was still in school, and waited for the operator to put me through to the answering machine.

"Hey Walls. I wont be able to make it today, sorry. But we can make up the dinner tomorrow? Gotta go babe, love you." I hung up, tossing my phone onto the leather seat, and slumped back, knowing he was going to be upset but not knowing how to handle it.

As we parked in front of the mansion, I grabbed my bag and jumped out, determined to confront my father and convince him to let me see Wally. Alfred unlocked the door for me and I raced in, heading straight up the spiraling staircase and to the left. I dropped my backpack in my room before approaching his office. I knocked lightly, waiting for him to let me in.

"Come in," he finally grunted, and I twisted the handle, stepping inside. Bruce Wayne raised an eyebrow, as I rarely came to see him personally, and watched me like a hawk as I sank into the handsome bronze-studded chair in the corner.

"Alfred says you have some more history books for me," I stated simply. He knew what I was gong to say and exactly how to break me down before I had even started.

"Yes, I do. And you will study them, because history is your weakest subject. Wally can wait until the weekend," he answered, voice devoid of any sympathy.

I gritted my teeth and said, "But I haven't seen him for a while and—"

"School can't wait."

I knew the conversation was over when he looked back down at his papers, ignoring me. My fists clenched as I stood up stiffly and walked out, trying to control my anger. But as soon as I got to my room, I slammed the door shut so hard the doorframe rattled, and punched the wall with all my strength.

My knuckles became numb and bruised, but the dent in the wall, along with the crumbling paint, made me feel a lot more satisfied. Maybe I could sneak out later today, if I was done with all my work.

I quickly set up all my materials, got out a sharp pencil and a stack of paper along with my textbooks, and began to work furiously.


Four hours later it was 7 o'clock, and I was about to finish a study sheet for math. I rubbed my eyes wearily; the black words on white paper were blurry and seemed to melt off the page. I put down my head, groaning. I had a splitting headache, and I hadn't even started the new history books my father had gotten from me. There was a knock on my door, but I was too tired to even lift my head, so I just groaned.

"Dick?" I sighed and turned to face Bruce's cold eyes. He looked a bit uncomfortable as he looked around the room. I watched as he studied the newspaper clippings and photos from past years. I didn't have to look at him to sense disapproval radiating off of him in harsh waves.

Unlike my room, his giant, spacious area had bare maple walls, smooth marble flooring, and the bed a impeccable white.

My walls had so many things tacked to it that you could barely see the bright blue color. My dark wood floors were stained and littered with clothes and papers. My closet door was open, revealing a messy pile of clothes dumped on top of it.

Hanging above my bed was a picture from a few months ago, when I had taken Wally ice-skating. Right before I snapped the photo, he slipped, pulling me down with him. That resulted in a blurry photo of both of us laughing on the ice, his green eyes dancing in delight, and my annoyed but affectionate blue ones happy.

I turned my gaze back to Bruce and folded my arms across my chest, feeling my head hurt even more.

"Yes?" I replied in a clipped tone.

"Dinner is ready." I nodded at him, and he left, closing the door behind him.

Suddenly, my phone began to play loud music. It was probably another person trying to sell something, I thought as I reached for the sleek white phone and glanced at the caller ID. I was surprised to see Wally's number flash across the screen.

"Wally?" I asked in disbelief when I picked up.

"Oh, h-hey Dick!" he sounded nervous, but just his voice sent warm shivers down my spine and made me feel elated, despite the aching of my head.

"Its been a while, huh babe?" I flopped onto my bed, sighing in comfort.

"Yeah, it has. You sound tired," he answered, concern evident in his tone. I smiled, even though he couldn't see it, happy that he cared.

"Just a bunch of studying and stuff. Sorry I cancelled tonight." I bit my lip, feeling guilty as he replied quickly, "No, don't worry about it! I know you have important stuff to do."

He was trying his best to sound cheerful, but I knew him too well to miss the bitterness of the sentence hidden under the fake smile he was probably wearing.

"Walls…" I sighed, rolling onto my back as I adjusted the pillow.

"I miss you," he mumbled, downright sad now. The guilty feeling increased dramatically, and my mind raced to think of possibilities to make it up to him.

"I miss you too. Maybe we can hang during the break?" I asked hopefully, wishing he would say yes.

"Yeah, maybe. Look, I gotta go take a shower. Bye." He disconnected, and I dropped my phone, a miserable look forming on my face. I never meant to upset him; I just had a lot on my plate now.

"Master Richard, dinner is getting cold."

I jumped up at the sound of Alfred's voice, but he had already left and was retreating down the hallway. I followed suit, my heat still weighed down with guilt.

After a bowl of salad, a plate of pasta, two cups of lemonade and some bread pudding, I was stuffed. I excused myself politely and went upstairs to take a shower. Fondly, I thought of how Wally would have at least 4 servings; that boy had some high metabolism!

I took a quick shower and was drying my hair when my phone buzzed again. Grinning at the number, I read the text and shook my head, amused.

From: Conner

You didn't call me back.

To: Conner

Sorry about that! Tons of studying, ya know? ;c

From: Conner

I know. So do I. Why don't you go to our school?

To: Conner

You know how Bruce is T.T

I tossed my phone to the side and began to towel-dry my hair. Conner Kent was my friend who went to a boarding school. He was an orphan, and the orphanage he lived in provided educational support. I had asked Bruce to transfer and pay for Conner's schooling, but he had wrinkled his nose in disapproval, and that was the end of it.

I really was tired. I switched off the lights, even though it was barely 9 pm, and pulled the covers over me. Today had been a long day, but thankfully tomorrow was Friday. And then just a few more days of school after that!

I closed my eyes, breathing in the warm, familiar scent of my pillow, and buried myself into the sheets, falling asleep almost instantly.


So I introduced Conner ^^' I hope you all liked this chapter! Sorry for any errors.

Please review? I'll give you virtual fries :D

~samx