This chapter is…

"One of life's primal situations; the game of hide and seek. Oh, the delicious thrill of hiding while the others come looking for you, the delicious terror of being discovered, but what panic when, after a long search, the others abandon you! You mustn't hide too well. You mustn't be too good at the game. The player must never be bigger than the game itself."

Jean Baudrillard (b. 1929), French semiologist. Cool Memories, ch. 3 (1987; tr. 1990).

Bruce sighed, listening to his math teacher drone on about geometry. Jenni, next to him, was listening with a rapt expression. Kris, who was two seats away from him on Jenni's other side was tipping back in her seat chatting with her friends Izzy, Katie and Lili. Matt was talking to some other guys. Kyle was surrounded by giggling girls, and Bruce was still bored out of his mind.

At least it was last period. After this, all he had was sports. This day couldn't possibly get any worse.

"Hi, Bruce," he heard from behind him. He winced. Or maybe it could.

A blond girl, named Kristen, slid into the seat on his left. Her voice, which was squeaky like nails on chalkboard, bore into his soul.

"So are we still on for tonight?"

Jenni twitched, but that was the only sign that her attention was no longer on the math teacher.

"We were never on for tonight," grumbled Bruce, grinding his teeth.

"Oh Bruc-ie, don't be silly. Don't worry, I forgive you. Pick up tomorrow, 'kay?" With that she walked away. Jenni glared at her back.

"Of all the selfish, egotistical, idiotic bitches, she had to be the one that chose you. Well, let me say this. If she lays one finger on you, I swear—."

"What's wrong, Jenni?" Bruce asked, smirking. "Jealous?"

"No!" shouted Jenni. "I mean, no."

"Riiight," said Bruce. Jenni glared at him and went back to listening to the math teacher, who hadn't noticed anyone talking.

Exactly twelve minutes and twenty-four seconds later, the bell rang.

"Finally," muttered Bruce, heading out to the sports field.

Jenni, Lili, and Kris, however, were not so happy.

"Lines? They couldn't pick something more interesting, like maybe dusting erasers?" Kris practically shouted.

"C'mon. It's only a fifty each. We can do it." Jenni used her super-speed to finish her lines in about twenty seconds. Kris, too, had superspeed, and did it in about a minute. Lili, however, could not do it fast.

"Help!" she complained. "I can't do it!' Jenni and Kris each did twenty five lines and then they were home free.

"We still have to wait for the boys to finish with their sports and for Kaena, Lucia, Marissa, Iris, Amy, and Katie to finish up with drama club," muttered Kris.

"Uh huh," said Jenni, slightly distracted by the scene on the field where, in the heat of the last rays of August, the boys were shedding their shirts to play a game of soccer.

"Oh, damn, he is fine," muttered Jenni, obviously eying Bruce. He saw them and trotted over to the stands. "Hey girls," he turned to Jenni, who was still eying him. "Well, Jenni, see something you like?"

"That'll be the day," said Jenni, rolling her eyes, though blushing.

Bruce walked away. Kris smirked. "Mhhm hmmm, he is damn fine. I can see why you're after him. But I've got my eyes on a different prize," she smirked, her blue eyes resting on the chiseled form of Barry, who was playing offense.

"You guys," said Lili in exasperation. But her eyes momentarily rested on Ty, who was hanging back, obviously reluctant to play.

Jenni, who was very observant (she must have gotten it from her reporter mother), gasped and confided to her to best friends something she had noticed.

"I think Cerdian likes Amy."

The enormousness of this statement seemed to take several seconds to penetrate into Kris and Lili. When it finally got through, Kris even stopped ogling Barry, instead staring intently at Jenni. "What?" she asked.

Lili wasn't so surprised. "I've been thinking the same thing myself."

"Cerdian? He's, like, four years older than she is," said Kris, unbelieving.

"Have you noticed them in the car?" Lili threw in. "You can tell he is disappointed when ever she tells him to piss off, and you can tell she's reluctant to tell him too."

"One day I just expect them to throw caution into the winds and start kissing," confided Jenni.

They paused. "Speak of the devil," for Amy was running across the lawn with Lucia, Marissa, Kaena, and Iris. Katie had stopped to talk to David.

"Hey," said Amy, breathless. Kaena stopped to catch her breath. Iris looked casual, and was not breathing hard at all. "Katie stopped to talk to David."

The six girls stared across the lawn. "When are they gonna hook up?" asked Kaena, with impatience. "Or am I just wasting my time—" Katie kissed David, who looked surprised. "Or not…"

Kris ran over to Katie. "Finally," she practically screamed. "That took forever. Where in the world is Cerdian?" The parking lot was empty.

Twenty minutes later, Cerdian pulled up.

Kyle and Lucia were, by that time, having an…almost conversation. Kyle, it seemed, had a knack for making Lucia open up.

Kris and Amy were berating Cerdian for being late. "Third time this month! And it's only the 5th!"

Cerdian was (unsuccessfully) trying to defend himself. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I had stuff to do! We're here, anyways!" For they had indeed arrived at…

The home of Tim Drake, former Robin, now Batman, Cassandra Drake, former Batgirl, now Batwoman, and Carolyn Drake.

Their five-year-old charge.

You had to feel sorry for them.

As the group of teenagers entered the mansion, chattering and giggling, you might expect them to be slightly surprised by the size.

They weren't.

They were used to this. They slung down their bags in the living room, with a full entertainment system and a flat panel TV. They walked into the kitchen, where Tim and Cassandra were waiting for them. Tim explained everything to them…and then they were on their own. Carolyn tugged on Ty's pant's leg.

"I wanna watch a movie!" she yelled in his ear when he picked her up.

It was Kris who responded. "Okay, Carolyn, sweetie. What do you wanna watch?"

"Aladdin!" she yelled in Ty's ear again, making him wince.

"Okay, Carol—"

"And you guys have to sing the songs!"

"Okay, Carol—what?"

"You gotta sing." She said petulantly.

"I ain't singing," stated Bruce.

Jenni laughed at his discomfort. "Let her pick who she wants to sing."

"Jenni—"

"Let her choose."

"Fine, but—"

"Bruce."

Carolyn interrupted. "Okay. So you—" she pointed at Bruce, who looked shocked. "—are gunna sing 'Street Rat' and you—" she pointed at David "—get to sing 'A Friend Like Me' and you two—" she narrowed her eyes evilly, pointing at Kris and Barry "—get to sing 'A Whole New World'."

Barry's reaction was decidedly explosive. "WHAT? That's a LOVE song! I'm not singing it with HER!" He gestured at Kris, who was looking at him. He was the only one who saw the hurt that flashed through her eyes.

Amy, not noticing her sister's problem, did notice that this was a chance to get Barry and Kris closer. "C'mon Barry. I mean, just look at Caroline!"

Barry knew what was going on. "No way—" Too late. He had looked. She was doing Bambi eyes. No one could resist her Bambi eyes. He grit his teeth. "Fine."

Bruce, though very reluctant, sang okay. David got through fine.

Then it was Kris and Barry's turn to sing "A Whole New World."

Or as Barry called it, "The Death Song."

Barry sang first:

"I can show you the world

Shining, shimmering, splendid

Tell me, princess, now when did

You last let your heart decide?

I can open your eyes

Take you wonder by wonder

Over, sideways and under

On a magic carpet ride

A whole new world

A new fantastic point of view

No one to tell us no

Or where to go

Or say we're only dreaming"

Next Kris sang:

"A whole new world

A dazzling place I never knew

But when I'm way up here

It's crystal clear

That now I'm in a whole new world with you

Now I'm in a whole new world with you

Unbelievable sights

Indescribable feeling

Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling

Through an endless diamond sky

A whole new world

Don't you dare close your eyes

A hundred thousand things to see

Hold your breath - it gets better

I'm like a shooting star

I've come so far

I can't go back to where I used to be"

Then both sang:

A whole new world

Every turn a surprise

With new horizons to pursue

Every moment red-letter

I'll chase them anywhere

There's time to spare

Let me share this whole new world with you

A whole new world

That's where we'll be

A thrilling chase

A wondrous place

With a start, Barry realized how close Kris was. Oh shit oh shit oh shit. He yelled mentally.

Kris also saw how close they were. She began to close the gap between them.

Kaena was watching with interest at the drama unfolding, but happened to look around. Okay, Aladdin was playing, Carolyn was—

Wait. Where was Carolyn?

"Guys!" exclaimed Kaena. "Where's Carolyn?"

Kris and Barry broke apart. "Where is she?" yelled Barry.

"I don't know!" Kris answered, her voice loud.

"Well, find her!" cried Barry in frustration.

"She's the daughter of Batman, Barry, and the granddaughter of the greatest assassin in the world, Lady Shiva. How the hell am I supposed to find her?" said Kris, breaking down in tears.

"Hey, hey, it's okay." Said Barry, feeling guilty. He hugged her awkwardly.

"This is all very sweet." Said Amy. "But we have to find Carolyn before Cass and Tim get home. I do not want and angry Batman, Batwoman, or Azrael on my ass."

'Right." Said Bruce. "Let's split up."

They looked for three hours, until finally David found her. And it wasn't too soon, either. Minutes later there was a knock on the door.

After several viscous games of "Rock, Paper, Scissors," Katie, trembling, opened the door.

"Hey Mr. And Mrs. Drake!" she mustered with a cheerful smile.

"Hey Katie," greeted Tim. "Did you have fun?"

Katie's face paled. "Um…yeah! Lots of sun. Y'know, the usual stuff."

Tim took a long look at her, then went inside, followed by Cass.

Carolyn ran up to him. "Hey Daddy! We played hide and seek!"

All the teenagers paled. Tim stared at all of them again. "I smell a rat…" he said quietly.

"Oh no, she was safe the entire time!" lied Iris, making it up on the spot. "Um…Cerdian was with her the whole time!"

With the innocent curiosity that ruins many a well-executed plan, Carolyn asked good-naturedly, "Was he invisible?"

It was Marissa who answered. "Um…no?"

Then, in a decided tone, Carolyn replied, "Then he wasn't there!"

"Look, Mr. Drake, I'm really sorry—" started Ty.

Tim held up his hand. "All that matters is that she is here now. So how much do I owe you?"

They went through this routine every time they babysat Carolyn. They never accepted his money for babysitting, but he gave them money whenever they were running low on cash, which, unsurprisingly, being Batman, he always seemed to know.

They ran out the door to Cerdian's car. "Bye, Mr. And Mrs. Drake! See you next week!" shouted Kyle.

Okay, the Aladdin thing was kinda corny, but I needed an excuse to let Carolyn get away. Sorry.

Zoe Out!