sorry i haven't posted in a while. i'v had writers block, and iv been busy with the holiday plus i was swamped with schoolwork. i have a couple of short chapters ready and i will post them over the next week and i will try to write more. sorry about the inconsistent posting. i hope every one had a happy holiday season, and i hope you all have a happy new year.

Chapter 43

Later at lunch Dick came into the cafeteria and sat down across from Barbara.

"So are you going to ask her" Barbara asked

"I don't know, should I" he asked

"Better sooner than later" Barbara said trying to help her friend even though she was screaming on the inside. "Someone else might ask her first"

"Alright I will" Dick said nervously

Then Lilly came in the cafeteria and sat down next to Barbara and across from Dick. "Hey guys" she said

"Hey Lilly" Barbara said smiling at her other friend.

"Hi" Dick said grinning

"Well I have to go get something" Barbara said getting to walk away. As she did so she raised her eyebrows at Dick.

"I had a lot of fun Saturday" Lilly said "we should do it again sometime"

"Yeah, that would be great" Dick said smiling at her "uh hey Lilly could I ask you a question"

"Yeah sure" Lilly said smiling at him

"Well I was wondering, I mean you know how the dance, um" he babbled "I mean if you would want to I was thinking that we could maybe go together or something" he finally said blushing

"Are you asking me to the dance Grayson" Lilly said

"Well I'm trying to" he said

Lilly laughed then looked at him smiling "I would love to" she said

"That's great" Dick said grinning. They continued to make planes for the upcoming dance through the rest of lunch

Meanwhile Barbara looked on from afar, a sad look on her face. She was happy for her friends she really was. But she was still sad for some reason. Dick and Lilly being together just didn't feel right to her. Instead of going and sitting back down with them and having to listen to the two of them plan for the dance, Barbara decided to go get some fresh air. She went and sat outside behind the school where she thought she would not be bothered.

She was sitting on the ground leaning against a brick wall not paying attentions when she heard a voice she really didn't want to hear say "why the long face red"

She turned to see the face of Luke smiling down at her. "None of you business, now go away, and don't call me red" she said

"Why not" he said sitting down next to her and maintaining his cheerful mood "I think it fits you, your hair is fire red and…"

"Do you know how sick of hearing that I am" she interrupted "people always just relate me to my hair"

"I was going to continue to say that you have a red hot temper as well" Luke finished

"Oh," she said "I don't know whether to take that as a complement of an insult"

"It was a complement" he laughed "so you going to tell me why you're sad"

"No I don't think so" she said

"Hmm" he said "then why don't you tell me how your weekend was"

"It was pretty much like every other weekend" she said "oh except I got mugged"

"You what" he almost shouted

"Well I almost got mugged" she explained "i was saved by robin"

"Wow really" Luke said "did you talk to him"

"Yeah a little" Barbara said "he just asked me if I was ok, then made sure I got home alright"

"Did you tell your dad about it" Luke asked, genuinely concerned

"No, of course not," Barbara said "he would flip if he found out, promise you won't tell anybody"

"Don't worry I promise" luck said

"Why am I even talking to you about this" Barbara said starting to get up

Luke took her hand and pulled her back down "I'm I really that bad to talk to" he asked

"Well right now, no" she said "but usually you're obnoxious and annoying, and a pain to deal with"

"Sorry" he said "I guess I just act differently when people are watching"

"Why is that" she asked "if you are being yourself right now, then you're actually a nice guy. When you act differently, it makes people not want to be around you. And why are you acting like yourself around me"

"I don't know" he said "I guess I just feel like I can talk to you. And since you say I am much more tolerable now, why don't you help me work on being myself" he said smiling at her again

"I'll think about it" she said smiling and getting up "but right now I have to get to class." She walked away leaving Luke to celebrate his small victory by himself.