"Attention all Gotham Academy students! It's that time of year again! The annual homecoming dance is this Saturday from seven pm to midnight. Tickets are twenty dollars in advance and thirty-five dollars at the door. Valet parking passes will be fifteen dollars. The theme this year is 'Night in Paris'. Tickets will be available before school and during lunch periods, along with valet parking passes. It's going to be the best we've had yet, and we all hope to see you there! Have a Marvelous Monday!"

Artemis was definitely not having a marvelous Monday. She was riddled with regret on account of a deep and emotional hug session with a ginger she supposedly hated. On top of that, she couldn't stop thinking about him! Which lead to her getting a B on her AP French quiz [absolutely unheard of], earning a ten-minute lecture about the importance of paying attention in Analysis & Functions, and being late to her seventh period.

At every corner people were asking her what was wrong, or if she was okay. It was scribbled at the top of her French quiz. 'Etes-vous d'accord?'

It was sent in a text right after lunch.

'Is there anything wrong? Should I come over?' -Sera

And she was about to get asked the same question again.

Dick scurried up to her with a lopsided grin on his face, blue eyes ablaze with joy.

"You goin' to the dance, Artemis?"

"No, Robin-" She froze at her slip of the tongue. Little did she know, the freshman tensed tenfold.

"Sorry, Dick, it's just- you remind me of someone I know." Dick mentally sighed with relief before continuing on.

"Named Robin?" he laughed. Finally realizing Artemis' bitter mood, he began to prod.

"Artemis, um, are you okay? You seem a little… off today."

She smiled weakly, trying to hide he true emotions from the young boy beside her.

"Fine. Just the general population finding more ways to annoy the crap out of me. See you later Dick." And with that she slammed her locker a little too loudly, leaving the disguised Boy Wonder behind with a confused expression on his face.

My time at the cave for the next few days was spilt between to tasks: training with Black Canary, and avoiding Wally at all costs.

It was so frustrating that I trashed seven training dummies. In one day. I've been punching, kicking, shooting, and pirouetting until my calves are on fire and I can't walk the next day. Anything I can do to prevent me from taking my anger out on anyone within range.

And the worst part is that I don't know what the hell I'm doing! I don't know why I'm angry at Wally; I just am. And avoiding him? I have no idea.

That ginger is really screwing up my sanity.

Maybe I can try to fall back into routine. He'll catch on (though, knowing him, it might take a while) and then we'll be back to normal, mercilessly teasing each other to no apparent end. And we can forget about all…this.

Whatever this was…

I was minding my own business, eating the pan of lasagna Megan had just taken from the oven, when she walked in, feigning surprise as she spotted me.

"What is this? Kid Idiot in the…kitchen? I thought I'd never see the day!"

Of course. Of course she'd pretend like nothing happened. Forgetting how close we were last night or that I kissed her like she was a damn princess.

…It's Artemis. I should have expected nothing less.

But its okay, I guess. If her wish is everything to be like it used to be, than fine.

Careful what you wish for.

"You're probably surprised because you're never in here. Do you even eat?"

Her incredulous look filled my with joy.

"Excuse you?"

"Oh, that's right; you live off the blood of young children."

"At least that's better than swallowing them whole, you damn pig."

I put the fork and knife down and set the empty pan into the sink, taking no notice as Megan floated behind me to clean up.

"Did you like it Wally?" she smiled sweetly.

But I ignored her in favor of my argument with Artemis. I was too far in to pay attention to anyone but her.

"I'd rather eat like a pig than look like one."

A light sigh came from my right, along with the sound of the sink turning on.

And she noticed.

"Really, Kid Asshole? You just totally ignore Megan?"

I quickly apologized to the Martian as the archer continued our battle of words.

"I know I'm a bitch to people I don't like, but you're just a bitch to everyone, aren't you?"

"Well, how can I pay attention to what's going on around me when I'm looking at something as fascinating as you?"

She glanced at me cautiously, waiting for the punch line. When one didn't come, she quickly scavenged for a response.

"Glad to hear you say it after all this time, Baywatch."

Megan's small form, which had been tensed and hunched after all this time, seemed to have finally relaxed.

"You should join a circus freak show, really. You'd get much more money that on that pole."

"Shut up, Kid Idiot."

But I was far from shutting up. Especially not when I could push a little further, dig a little deeper beneath her skin.

"Really? 'Kid Idiot' again? Come on Arty, you can do better than that." I spread my arms far and wide, challenging her.

"Tell the truth for once, Blondie. I dare you."

Her eyes flitted to the occupied space next to me. At that moment, she decided to forget the green girl beside me. I could tell she was burning inside, desperately wanting to give me her opinion of me.

Our faces were inches apart in what seemed like a moment, and the words tumbled effortlessly from her mouth. Her pink, full, perfect mouth curved upwards in the most graceful of scowls. I thought of how easy it'd be to reach out and grab her, kiss her again, hold her close. But then I remembered what she was saying.

"You are living proof of reincarnation because no could possibly get so stupid in one lifetime. You're a rude, obnoxious mess with no life. The team suffers because you're an impulsive packrat who can't go an entire mission without getting a souvenir! On top of that, you eat so much that sooner or later Rhode Island is going to have a famine. And when you eat, which is all the time, you decide to act like you were raised in a damn farm. I am so sympathetic towards any girl you've dated, or made a pass at, or even remotely flirted with because I know I would vomit my brains out if you so much as winked at me. Almost every time I see you I want to give you a condom since you always act like such a dick! You should do everyone else here a favor, run you and your little 'high body temperature' or whatever the hell to the peak of Mt. Everest, and freeze to death!"

I couldn't believe what she was saying. And soon enough, I couldn't believe what I was saying either.

"Well Arty, I hate to say it, but you're a revolting bitch with no friends. I think that you are a terrible replacement who's only on this team out of pity. If you had talent, I wouldn't give you so much trouble. And you should really consider switching schools because I can tell you're going to fail whichever one you're in now. Or maybe you could work at McDonald's. At least then you'd have my respect. So you can-"

"Stop it!"

It was just so… so terrible. They were saying such mean things to each other. Hateful things. And they didn't even have the courtesy to wait until I left the room. They just started saying those things to each other and… I just couldn't take it any more.

They used to bicker a lot. It was sometimes funny, sometimes annoying. At one point it just became normal, and easily tuned out. But in the past few weeks it just got worse. More... vicious.

I don't understand it at all. Why would you say such hurtful things to someone you love? Aren't they in love? That's what Robin said.

"Don't worry about them. They just secretly love each other, is all."

I couldn't tell you what happened if you asked me. Just all of a sudden, my voice rose from my throat and I yelled out. I was still facing the sink, my hands wet with water and the suds of dishwashing liquid, but I sensed their shock.

Artemis tried to apologize first, saying my name in a pleading tone.

"Megan-"

"No." I cut her off, turning to face them both. "You've taken it too far. I understand that in some Earth relationships light bickering is common, but this…this is how people treat each other when they hate each other. When they really, truly hate each other. I don't even like the word. I couldn't even fathom feeling it towards another humanoid. I just can't deal with your fights anymore."

I paused, trying to think of how to end my first 'rant'.

"I'm completely against this. Either… either make an effort to be friends, or tell me when you plan on fighting, so I can… so I can get away."

I quickly flew out after that.