Sorry. School's been really busy lately. :(

i'll try to update more often.

L.L.A.P

~Laces

Chpt.9

Athena felt so much better being able to walk around again. And though she didn't want to admit it, she did enjoy being able to go to school after being out.

However, her mind was on Austin and how she still seemed to be nowhere close to understanding exactly who he was.

Who are you Austin? Paige and Ramon talked to Lisa Perks and she killed Austin and was sure about it. Who is the Austin I know? And how did he, or other people, know about my kryptonite weakness?

"So how does it feel to be free from the tender love and care of Alfred?" Paige inquired, and Athena laughed lightly, pushing the thought of the crazed man out of her head.

"It feels good. And Alfred has too much tender love and care. I got out of bed to grab my ipod and he scolded me about getting out of bed and not having to go to the bathroom."

"Wow. Alfred went Super Butler."

"You want to see Alfred go Super Butler, you should see him when there is a rat in the house." Athena informed with a small smile.

"What does he do? Put mouse traps everywhere?"

"No, he grabs the shot gun." Athena informed in all seriousness and Paige raised her eyebrows in shock.

"Doesn't Bruce have a rule about guns?" Paige questioned, but Athena just shook her head.

"Rules don't apply to Alfred."

"Wow. You're Butler is pretty kick ass." Paige grinned, but then frowned when they reached a fork in the hallway. "I gotta go to History, but enjoy English class 'Thena. The substitute teacher's still there. The guy is crazy." Paige chuckled.

"Alright. Bye. See you at lunch." Athena smiled with a short wave, then headed toward her English class.

Athena's eyes widened in terror when she walked into her classroom.

The substitute teacher lazily leaned on the desk. He had jet black hair that curled around his face, and sky blue eyes. His green button up shirt was wrinkled and only partially tucked into his brown khaki pants. Athena could make out several faint stains on the pants as well. On his feet were a pair of tattered sneakers, and he wore a red tie loosely around his neck.

There were creases in the corners of his eyes due to him smiling, but that smile. It was twisted. It was sickening. It was not one a teacher would give a student. It was one a hunter would give his cornered prey.

"Hello there, Athena, right?" the man questioned, but Athena was too stunned to answer.

He bent down closer to the girl, and Athena cringed at his breath. It smelt like Doritos.

"I'm your substitute teacher today, Mr. Lucas." He leered at her. "Like my hair? Dyed it myself." His eyes then went to her long sleeved shirt. "Still covering your skin, PG?"

Athena stepped away from the man.

Austin! How… how did… This can't be possible!

"Sorry sir. I don't know what you're talking about, but I would appreciate it if you would let me take my seat." She said in a soft timid voice.

"Sure thing, Athena. It's a pleasure having you in my class." He smiled.

"Thank you, sir." Athena gritted out of her teeth. She quickly sat next to Ramon in the back of the class.

Ramon was staring at the teacher in shock.

The baby looks familiar because it looks just like the substitute teacher!

"Athena, is that…"

"Later." She stated quickly in a hushed voice.

Everyone file into class, but Mr. Lucas, Austin, kept his eyes on Athena.

This is not good. She thought with fear, wishing she could turn invisible.

"Afternoon, Class!" he exclaimed happily. "So yesterday, we talked about how much we don't care about English class and how to give your teacher the finger when she returns. So today, we will be going over actual English stuff." He skipped over to the white board and grabbed a red marker writing the words,

Stupid Ass Dude

"So class, who are you talking about today?"

One boy who was the class clown, raised his hand with a goofy grin on his face.

"The principal?" this evoked some snickers from the class.

"Close, but no."

"My step dad?" one of the girls questioned in a tired voice.

"Is he white?"

"Um… No."

"Then, no."

Athena raised her hand, and Austin's eyebrows went up in interest.

"Yes, Ms. Athena? Who do you think the Stupid Ass Dude is?"

"You?"

There were several snickers, shocked faces, and a drawn out "daaaaaaaaaamn."

Austin's light hearted personality changed quickly and he gave her a murderous look.

It was quiet for a long moment, and the tension in the room was thick. However, Austin let out a long sigh, making the tension fade.

"Wrong, Athena."

He scribbled the word,

Shakespeare

Under the previous sentence.

"The stupid ass dude we are learning about today, is Shakespeare."

The rest of the class was crazy. It went from Shakespeare, to Rabbits, to leg hair, to politics, then to Katy Perry.

Athena felt anxious the entire time as he kept glancing over at her at smirking throughout the class period. When the bell finally rang, ending the class, Athena grabbed Ramon's wrist and started to sprint toward the door.

"Athena, Ramon, I need to talk to you." Austin informed. He made sure to say this while there were still other students leaving the room.

"We really don't want to be late for our next class." Ramon informed, but Austin gave him a pointed look.

"I believe you're next class is Lunch." He stated. "Please, stay. It will only be for a moment."

Athena and Ramon slowly walked over to Austin, who was sitting comfortably on the teacher's chair behind the desk, with his feet propped up.

"This your boyfriend?" he inquired, looking at Ramon. They were the only three in the class room, all the other students having left.

"No." Athena stated sharply. Austin looked from Ramon to Athena, and chuckled.

"That's good. You two don't look right for each other. Ramon's too twiggy for you, PG. And also, I like you, Ramon. And if you were dating her, I'd have to kill you."

Ramon and Austin couldn't process how fast Athena moved until she had her hands around Austin's throat and was squeezing.

"S-Sure liiike ch-choke holds. D-Don't cha?" Austin wheezed. Ramon saw the anger in Athena's face and how she didn't look like she was going to stop straggling the man any time soon.

"Athena." Ramon gently touched her arm and that snapped Athena out of her dark glare at Austin. However, her hands remained on the man's throat.

"Athena, you don't kill." Ramon stated, and the girl released her hands from Austin.

"Ramon isn't my boyfriend, but you don't threaten him. Don't you dare threaten him." Athena growled as Austin was gasping for breath.

"Wow… your pretty… pretty damn serious about you buddy." Austin said through labored breaths.

"Why the hell are you here?" Athena growled.

"My job." He smirked.

"Which would be what, exactly?" Ramon questioned, his hand remaining on Athena's arm to try to keep her calm.

"Can't tell. Sorry, it's hush hush. If I did, I'd find a dart flying through the window killing me, and dying is no fun." Austin shrugged. "But, enough about me. I just wanted to see you squirm a bit. I got the info you wanted, and you'll be seeing your old English teacher will be back tomorrow." He smirked at Athena. "See? I'm not such a bad guy."

"You throw grenades with no regard for human life. I'm taking you to Arkham."

"Once school's out. Right?" Austin questioned with a twisted smile.

Athena took a step forward, but Ramon's grip on her arm tightened.

"Leave it, Athena. You'll get him later." He whispered. They couldn't make any moves on Austin. Not when he was a teacher at school and it was in the middle of the day.

Athena glared at Austin, but followed Ramon out of the room.

"This is not good." Athena whispered, shaking her head.

"It'll be fine, Athena." Ramon said in a gentle voice as they entered the lunch room. Paige and Jensen smiled when the two approached.

"So, how was English class?" Paige questioned.

"That Lucas guy is crazy, right?" Jensen grinned and Athena weakly chuckled.

"Yeah. Crazy."