Authors Note – Thanks for all the reviews, please keep them coming.

Chapter 4

The following week after the mission with the team Richards Gymnastics tournament had been rescheduled. Richard had been doing gymnastics since he was born. It was one of the few things that Richard enjoyed doing anymore. It was also one of the few things left in the world reminding him of his parents. Momentarily having a flashback to the night they had died, Richard shook his head and peeked through the curtain.

The hall was completely packed with the family and friends of the contestants filling the seats. The equipment had been set up and the announcer's voice could be heard echoing throughout the hall. He scanned the crowed for Bruce's familiar face but couldn't find it anywhere. Sighing Richard leaned against the wall.

'He has to be here, he promised. Bruce couldn't have forgotten' Richard thought urgently. Beads of sweet appeared on his brow as he began to stress over the fact that he couldn't see Bruce anywhere.

"All contestants can you please make your way backstage" the announcer's voice shook Richard out of his silent break down. Silently hoping that Bruce would turn up, Richard made his way to where the other contestants were lining up. He was handed number and stuck it to the back to his blue and white gymnastics uniform.

Richard completed his routine to perfection. He landed all of his flips perfectly and had managed to complete his high bar performance flawlessly. Coming first in the competition, Richard couldn't help but be proud of his performance. He stood up on winner's podium and received his medal with a gigantic smile painted on his face. He shook the judge's hands, smiling charmingly once again before he stepped into the change room.

Richard got changed into a white t-shirt and some loose black pants before he put on his Nike sneakers. Carrying his gym bag outside, he stood in the cold night air just realizing that Bruce hadn't come. The light that could be seen dancing in Richard dazzling blue eyes only a minuet ago diminished suddenly. Tears welled up in his eyes; Richard had thought that at least Bruce could make it to his performances just for once. Hoping that no one had seen the tears, he wiped away the tears before a musical voice cut through the silent night air. "Hey you're Richard Grayson, right, the guy that just won the tournament, right."

Richard turned around realizing the voice had come from behind him. There, stood a girl that looked about his age with scarlet hair and emerald green eyes. She was wearing a plain blue gymnastics leotard with white stockings and with a black jacket unzipped.

Faintly realizing that this was the girl who had come in second place in the competition, I offered my hand, "Yea my names Richard but my friends call me Dick, sorry but I didn't get your name…"

She shook his hand blushing, "Sorry about that, it's just your performance earlier today was amazing. My name's Clarissa Burner," Clarissa answered sheepishly.

"I could say the same about yours," Richard said embarrassed by the praise. "Not meaning to be rude or anything but are you new to Gotham, I haven't seen you around before."

"Yea, my family just moved here from Star City, my dad's job got transferred here so my family relocated. I'm meant to starting Gotham Academy in tomorrow, do you go there it would be nice to see a familiar face" Clarissa said hopefully, rubbing her hands in the cold night air.

"Yea I do," I responded.

'It would be nice to have at least one friend and not completely be a loner at school' Richard thought.

A car pulled up to the side of the road, "I'm sorry I have to go, my rides here, I'll see you tomorrow at school" she said with a smile. Clarissa waved at Richard before she got in the car and drove off down the street.

'Maybe school won't be too horrible tomorrow," Richard thought as he starred after the car. With a new bounce in his step, Richard started to make his way back to the manor feeling genuinely happy for the first time in what seemed forever.

Authors Note – Should I pair Clarissa and Richard together. I'm putting it for a vote so please give me your thoughts on the matter.