Thank you for your reviews. I find it difficult to write this story because there's practically no reference for this to happen, but I just love to think about them as teenagers. Hope you like it too.

Chapter 4 : Lovely Young Man

Arriving to school in Bruce Wayne's car was apparently cause of a commotion in school. Diana learned this by experience, and it was impossible to deny that the stares and glares she received were uncomfortable and, to her opinion, unjustified. Bruce had just been nice to her, knowing she was new in town and offering her transportation.

It was also nice to enjoy the smell of his perfume during the car ride, but that was beside the point. She just could tell he took care of himself, shaving properly and dressing in clean clothes. Of course she also knew Alfred had something to do with that at least.

During lunch, Dick and Bruce joined her. It was much easier to speak with them this time since she already knew more about them. Still, even if they were familiar with her formal way of speaking, they thought some of her comments were comical for some reason. The fact she did not know what Facebook was or own a smartphone was seemingly shocking, as they let her know.

Diana would have liked to call her day successful and pleasant, but she also learned that other people could be mean and disrespectful. Selina Kyle proved it to her by gossiping about her being easy, which at the time she had no idea what it meant; it was a very helpful and sweet Barbara Gordon who inconspicuously explained it to her. She saddened at the news, but Barb comforted Diana with kind words and her new vice: marshmallows. It was like having a bite of a cloud! Fluffy and sweet. How could anyone be sad after that?

Painfully, she was also subjected to the crude remarks of Harvey Dent and his troupe of friends, right until Bruce showed up. The boy's mere presence was enough to make them quiet their jokes and laugh.

Clearly, being a teenager in the Man's World was not an easy feat.

When the time to go home arrived, Bruce was waiting for her with Richard in the parking lot. She smiled because right next to them was Barb, who was surely to blame for the adorable pinkish tint covering Richard's cheeks. Only because of him she accepted the invitation Bruce made to take her home.

Barbara was a very talkative girl, which had Bruce rolling his eyes from time to time, even if he behaved like a protective older brother. She was the one who suggested watching some TV shows and movies to learn about the customs of the Man's World, giving her a quick list for her to search on Netflix and Hulu (which led to a crash course about what those were and how they were used).

And so she sat down with her laptop and a large bag of marshmallows to watch teenagers' decadent lives. With fascination she learned about cliques and how fashion and popularity always seemed like an important factor in the characters' lives. New concepts were added to her vocabulary and horror invaded her when she watched what popular girls like Selina liked to gossip about, or rather whom they liked to talk about.

By no means was she popular or fashionable. So far she had been capable of being a good student, but there was a lot to be learned, as well. She couldn't enroll in any type of sport because it would give away her secret identity. And because of all that and more, she realized she did not fit anywhere in the picture of high school students.

Add to the list that she apparently ate too much for a girl.

So, depressed and tired she made her way to the kitchen to make herself a mochaccino in the new and fabulous machine Aphrodite had bought for them. She certainly liked to take her title of goddess of pleasure to the limit, buying just latest products, designer clothes and expensive appliances.

"Are you okay, honey?" Aphrodite asked as she sauntered into the kitchen in her new body. She could have been thousands of years old, but she looked in her mid-thirties. Her luscious blonde mane bounced gracefully when she leaned over the kitchen island and looked worriedly at her protégée. "Is it about the handsome boy who brought you home?" she wondered hopefully.

Diana narrowed her eyes at her. "No! And you shouldn't be spying on me. I understand that you have to look up for me, but… I'd like to have some independence if I wish to become a great leader and a successful emissary of the Amazons."

"It wasn't me!" Aphrodite smiled despite her shrill tone. "It's the doves. They are gossipy little creatures. But tell me, what is wrong? I can feel it, you know? It's part of being a deity. We feel what others feel."

Diana bit her bottom lip and thought about the consequences that speaking about her worries with Aphrodite, or Venus as she addressed herself in the Man's World, would have.

"You told me that you wanted to take me shopping when-"

Before she finished the sentence, Aphrodite was squealing in delight and twirling around in her wrap dress. "I'd love to! And maybe after we could go to the salon and get highlights for your hair, our nails done... I just love being a girl in this time and age! Before it was all about the men but not now. No, no, no."

"I just want a new pair of jeans or something," Diana mumbled but Aphrodite couldn't hear her over her excitement.

"And makeup! You'd look lovely, and that young man will melt at the sight of you."

"Please! Stop!"

Aphrodite looked at her with wide eyes. It was not like Diana to be disrespectful, even if like all Amazons she had a quick temper.

"My apologies, but my head hurts when you talk like that about… all those things."

"Do not worry. I'll call my hairdresser. We'll have an amazing day for girls only," Aphrodite finished and left the room, her heels clicking away against the hall's wood flooring.

"And you should not encourage me to see lovely young men. No matter how… lovely they are."

Aphrodite laughed musically but kept on walking. "You sound like Athena. There's nothing wrong with a bit of fun. Dionysus knows a thing or two about that."

Diana sighed but smiled to herself seeing her guardian humming happily. She sipped from her mochaccino and considered if perhaps this was her starting to adapt.

Fashion was not friendly, Diana thought as soon as her shopping trip had started. Aphrodite loved it, but she was not very sure of being a fan. It was an expensive hobby to shop; sometimes smaller clothes seemed to cost more and shoes were plainly ridiculous.

Even so, she made a few purchases and others were made because Aphrodite deemed them absolutely necessary. And, in all honesty, she had bought even more things for herself than Diana had.

That was how with new makeup and a cute outfit (as Barb said that morning when they met in the bus) she made her way into school next Monday. It was nice to feel the gentle brush of her above the knee polka dot skirt against her legs; it was nothing too showy, just like she liked it. Her denim shirt and red cardigan were just enough to make her stand out among the students filling the halls. The love she had for her golden owl pendant was just short from the one she had for her bracelets.

When she caught sight of Bruce at his locker, she blushed but decided he would be a great test subject.

"Good morning," she greeted merrily.

"Hi, how-" he was saying as he slammed the locker shut, but when his eyes met her, for what Diana believed it was the first time in the few days they had met, he just looked at her with mouth agape.

It only served to deepen the color on her cheeks. Until then she had only worn jeans, preferring to keep her body well hidden (something that appalled Aphrodite). Her mother Hippolyta had once told her men always objectified women, and that they thought females were nothing but for their entertainment. And still when Bruce smiled softly at her, she could not see malice in his actions.

"You look… stunning."

She clicked the heels of her booties together and ducked her head. She couldn't understand why he had that effect on her but he did. Bruce was not like the rest of the boys in school; Dick was another exception but he was more bubbly and laid-back.

"Thank you," Diana replied, looking at him from under her eyelashes. It was so easy to look at him like that, past his brooding image and tough boy looks. He was smart and nice but picky regarding his friends; so far she had learned to feel lucky he had let her into his world.

A rude snorting sound interrupted them and Diana felt the fury starting to rise inside her as she met the disdain etched on Selina's face.

"That's so last season. Bought it on sale, honey?" She smirked with triumph as she folded her arms over her chest. If Diana felt like showing her calves was a big improvement, then Selina was at the top of that ladder with her high-waisted shorts and her fitted long sleeve tee; she had no reservations when it came to showing off her splendid physique.

Diana glared and clenched her fists but before she could do something or open her mouth, Bruce was speaking.

"Well, there are people who can wear a sack of potatoes on and look good. Others have to follow fashion." He shrugged carelessly.

Selina looked at him as if he was crazy but instead of lashing out on him, she huffed and swiveled on her heels to stomp her way far, far from him.

Expecting to see a thankful smile on Diana's face when he turned to face her, he was a little thrown-off to see her glaring at him.

"I needn't defending from her. Or anyone, for that matter." Diana walked past him and, this time, he moved to follow the upset girl. "I happen to be a strong woman who can take care of herself, and does not have a problem doing so. If I need you to fight my battles for me… well, that will never be the case."

"Di-"

"No!" She planted herself firmly on the ground and turned so quickly they almost crashed into each other. "This attitude of yours is beyond my comprehension. It's sexist and retrograde coming from a smart young man-"

"It's not about that," he muttered uncomfortably as he noticed people looking at them.

"Then please, explain!" she demanded.

"Princess," he asked politely in a low voice to spare them the embarrassment.

"Tell me what this is about if not a pure need to make you look as the hero!"

"It's not the right place to discuss this."

"Then I have nothing else to talk about right now," she finished, ready to sidestep him and go into the classroom. He had a different idea apparently since he gently grabbed her by the wrist, effectively attracting her attention to him. "Do not touch me like that," she grumbled.

"I care about you. You do not want to see other people hurt the ones you care about, right?"

And without further explanation, Bruce left, leaving her speechless and a little flustered.

"He does that," a small voice interrupted. Helena Bertinelli walked past her to get into the classroom, without even glancing at her. "He hates to make a show of his victories."