Chapter 4:

Hamilton Hill High; Gotham Hell

Rrrrrrringgg!

"Uhhg…not now," Terry groaned as he rolled out of bed, "I was out so later last night. This isn't fair. I want to sleep some more," Terry rolled over and closed his eye.

Rrrrrrringgg!

"Dear God!" he almost fell out of his bed, "Okay I'm up, I'm up!" said the sleep deprived teenager as he got up and turned off his alarm clock, "I've never truly knew the meaning of 'TGIF' until now…ahh…Friday."

Terry entered his bathroom to take his morning shower. He was still pretty stinky from all the running around, protecting Gotham for the night before. He had a run-in the Jokers just before he was done for the night. The warm water felt great.

When his shower was over he got out and wrapped a towel around himself while walking to the mirror. After wiping off the fogged up mirror with his hand, he could see himself. He looked at the terrible bags under his eyes, "Uhg…I look terrible. I seriously need a vacation." But who can take a vacation if they're busy taking care of an entire city? Just the thought of there being no one to save Gotham and the people in it gave him a slight cringe.

He finished up his morning routine and was ready to go, "I'll see you this evening Mom!"

"Wait Terry… You were sure out a long time last night."

Matt—Terry's oh so 'loveable' kid brother—took this time to taunt Terry, "Ooooo…somebody's in trouble," adding an annoying laugh a the end.

"Well, you see…" Terry didn't know what to make up, "well you know the old man," he used a lie that he had often used, "he always likes a change to his home. He had me move around a bunch of his furniture again. Took a while."

Mary was questionable, "…oh."

"Oh and by the way," Terry mentioned right before he exited the house, "Bru—I mean Mr. Wayne thanked you for the cookies. Bye!"

Mary shook her head to herself and mumbled, "That boy…"

On Terry's way to school he met up with his best friend Max, "Hey Max!"

"Hi Terr! Oooo, you don't look so good man."

"Yeah, well…"

"So…" Max looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. The path was clear no one was close enough to hear what they were talking about, "were you out late last night?"

"Yeah," by this time Terry seemed a bit distracted. He was thinking about Dana. Max didn't know yet so he figured he should probably say something soon, "Something happened between me in Dana last night."

Max replied a bit excited, expecting she'd hear something juicy, "Oh, what?"

"We…we broke up…"

Max was pretty surprised. She really wasn't expecting an answer like that to come out, "I'm really sorry," Max put her arm around Terry to comfort him, "Hey listen, this could be a good thing though. I mean I know you had thing going with Dana but, seriously, you have to admit, weren't you just getting a little tired of Dana. I mean you've been going off and on for a long time now…" an idea sprung to Max's brilliant mind, "You know what? We're going to the Juice Bar tonight!"

Terry, still depressed and looking down at his shoe as he walked, replied, "I am?"

Max took her arm off him. She rose his chin up with her hand, "Yes we are! And you're gonna have fun. Forget Dana. You don't need her. We're gonna find you new chick."

Terry took this into consideration. Max was right; he was getting kind of tired of the off-on relationship. Maybe I do need to meet someone new, he thought, "Okay, I guess I could use the social points."

"Oh good! I guess we could go at 7:00."

They were finally there. Hamilton Hill High. I'm in hell once again. Terry already knew this day was going to suck. But he didn't know about what that night would hold.

'Luckily, Terry's 'favorite' person was the first one to greet him as entered the campus grounds, "Hey Terry," his 'favorite' person had a shrill mocking laugh.

Unenthusiastically Terry retorted, "Oh hey Nelson…"

"I heard about you and Dana," with total sarcasm he added; "I'm really sorry."

Terry was at this point mumbling incoherently and ready to pounce. Knowing this, Max set a hands on his shoulder, ready to hold him back, "Just let it go," she whispered.

Terry and Nelson locked eyes as they walked passed each other with evil stares. Terry turned away and continued on path, "He's such a dreg…"

"Don't let him get to you. But one of these days…he's got it coming," Max assured him. In the background Nelson was now picking on Willie Watts.

Fortunately, Terry made it through the day. I wasn't as bad as he figured it would be. But in all his classes with Dana he felt so awkward. Especially in his science period. For Dana was his lab partner. Here's how that went:

Terry sat next to Dana at there lab desk, "So…I guess we'll be working together."

"Yeah…guess so," said Dana as she put on her lab goggles.

"So who's your new guy?" Terry put his goggles on also.

"Who?"

Terry was getting a little frustrated. He knew she knew what he was talking about, "That guy in the red car."

"Oh yes, he's just someone who is always there for me."

Terry tried to hold back from screaming, "…Oh. Here mix these chemicals," Terry handed her a tube. And that was the last thing they said to each other for the rest of the class.

Terry was now sitting on a bench outside the school waiting for Max.

Max ran to the bench, "How was your day? Awkward?"

"Yeah," Terry answered as he stood up from the bench.

"Don't worry about today anymore because it's over. And tonight we're going to par-ta!" Max added with that a little happy dance.

Terry took a deep breath and smiled, "Yeah…I'm almost excited."

Max gave him a little friendly punch in the arm, "That the spirit Terr!"

Terry's smile quickly became a frown, "What if Dana's there!"

"Terry! Like I said: forget about her. It's time for a new start. A new girl. One that's not so demanding. One who will give you some frucking space."

"You're absolutely right," Terry agreed. He looked at his watch, "Well, I guess I'll call you later when I'm ready to go to The Juice Bar."

"See ya later than Terr," Max turned and walked away.

Terry hesitated to think, it's time I meet new people. I really hope that Old Bruce won't need me tonight. Then he started on his way home hoping that tonight, he would not be haunted by thought of Dana.