No you're not imagining things!
It's only been a year! And a half …okay maybe more, yikes.
Lots of things have been happening and I've been super busy too. Graduated from university, got a job, and just overall madness.
Anyway! Brand new chapter, things are coming to a head!
Also to all the reviewers, thank you so much for your support and sorry for taking so long! I hope everyone enjoys this chapter! It starts a bit with a background on Ford, because I realized that I had forgotten to really explain his plan.
Also, just as a note, plagiarism is bad kids, don't do it. Ever. Ford is just a bad maniac, don't use him as a role model.
==Ford's House
5 years ago he was a rising star in the literature field, distinguished professor with honours and all the perks that came with it. Until that darned staff meeting. The head of the department was retiring soon, and he would be announcing a successor at this meeting. Everyone knew that Ford was a shoo-in.
His friend and fellow colleague, Vincent Brown, made his way to him, and flashed a smile. "So Ford, got your speech all worked out?"
Ford laughed, gently shoving Brown a bit. "Buzz off, you know I might not even get the job."
"Yeah you might lose it to Geland. Because the department loves that little sod." They both turned to look at the man in question, his fake charm towards the rest of the department sickened Ford, and if he lost it to that little weasel, he would practically say goodbye to his career and job, since he was sure Geland would rather hire a live rat to teach a class on classical poetry than keep him.
As if he knew he was the topic of conversation, Geland turned to face them, and smirked. Before anything could escalate, someone by the podium cleared their throat. Old Welland, the current head of department, was standing at the podium, looking downcast, and everyone in the room quietened. This wasn't going to be a happy occasion. Something was wrong.
"If there's one thing in this world all professors can agree on, is that plagiarizing is a pestilence. We do not condone it in any way, and we have all had to deal with the hysterics that happens whenever a student plagiarizes, and is called out on it. It is worse, however, when one of our own does it. It is with a heavy heart that I must say that it has indeed happened."
The room was filled with whispers, and Ford glanced at Geland, who was staring intently at him with a predatory look in his eyes, causing Ford to blanch. He didn't. He couldn't have.
Looking back at the front, Welland took a deep breath, and continued, "It was brought to my attention that Mr. Ford has committed this heinous crime, and effective immediately, he is fired, and henceforth banned from ever educating at a university institution."
Ford was shocked, petrified. Everyone around him backed away, as if he had the plague. Even Brown had done the same, looking at him with disgust, while Geland had a smug grin on, as if justice had been served. Two security guards grabbed him by his arms and dragged him out, and he was too shocked to even fight them. He barely heard the rest of Welland's speech, until the last part.
"...it's my great pleasure to introduce Mr. Geland as my successor…"
Ever since that day, Ford had been planning his revenge. So what if he had plagiarized, everyone has at one point or another! And if he had been shamed like this, so would others. But now, he had a cheerleading practise to get to.
==The Team's apartment
"Dude, this plan of yours better work." Wally looked over at Artemis' still form on the couch, and then back to his teammates.
"Of course it will. We know Kaldur is immune to the whole siren thing, all he has to do is distract the girls so that Ford doesn't have his minions to back him up, and we can take the machine from him and free the girls!"
Truth was, Dick was no surer of his plan than Wally was, but this was their best chance.
Heck, their only chance.
==School Gym
"Good morning ladies. Today is the big day! Here is the plan. You all will be posing as university students, and your task is to invite all the English department for a big bash. Now, if any of them ask, just say it's as a means of appreciating their wonderful teaching skills." Ford had to hold back from gagging at such nonsense, "With that, their egos will skyrocket to the point they won't even see my evil plan heading their way, and I will have my revenge!"
Before Ford could continue, the gym doors opened, a tall teen stood there, smirking. Ford was sure he'd seen that blonde hair before somewhere.
Kaldur meanwhile was trying his best to not run away, and mustering all the bravado he could, said, "Hello ladies."
There were about 20 girls assembled, and in a joint movement, all turned, and started running towards him, high pitched squeals and arms waving.
"No no no!" Ford attempted to recall his sirens, but it was pointless. They were gone and Ford was left standing there alone. Or so he thought.
"Give it up Ford, you're surrounded!" Three other teens showed up, all of them wearing regular clothes, but he could tell these three boys and the one that took his sirens away were part of something bigger.
But he couldn't let them get to him, not now. Not when he was so close to succeeding. "Is that so? You don't think I'm that naive do you?"
The three boys looked at each other. What was he planning? Before they could react, the doors opened and 10 girls showed up.
"Sorry we're late, Mr. Ford." Dick recognized the girl. It was Barbara.
"That's fine. Help me dispose of these delinquents, will you?" Ford waved his hand dismissively as he made sure everything was ready for tonight.
The 3 boys were no match against the cheerleaders. Even Dick was proving to have trouble against the squad.
As Wally's back made contact with the ground, he winced. A foot was on his chest, keeping him down. Damn Dick for insisting they go about this in civvies, otherwise he'd just slip out from beneath the girl pinning him down and create a funnel of wind to knock them all back.
Even Conner was having trouble, trying not to harm the girls, but getting pummeled without mercy by the sirenified teens. The floor cracked as his back joined Wally's in the ground.
He supposed this is how their leader always felt, no powers. Though he was actually faring pretty decently until the pretty music started playing.
No, he refused to go under the influence again. Wally tried as best as he could to cover his ears, but the music seemed like it was taking over everything, like he could even hear it in his head or something.
The struggling beside him, coming from the powerhouse trying to budge the foot lodged on his chest, stilled. A thump was felt through the vibrations on the floor as Dick landed, none too gracefully under the influence of the sirens.
But Wally still held on. His focus was slipping, and yet he still tried to see if he could shift under the foot of the girl.
He felt his strength slipping, hands dropping and uncovering his ears, the sounds outside his head intensifying.
"While I hold this, all of you will be powerless to stop me." Ford was holding the device, a normal looking megaphone, while he watched the spectacle.
Suddenly, Wally watched with drowsy eyes as an arrow landed in front of Ford, creating a flash bang that started the teacher, who hadn't even seen the projectile land.
The fright caused Ford to drop the megaphone, and before it could land on the ground, it flew right out towards two newcomers.
Wally tried to focus, but the pretty music was still fogging up his mind, and his vision was blurry. He could barely make out the two figures standing by the door.
"Give it up Ford! We've got your little toy!" Could it be? Before Wally could fully register who said it, or how they were here, he blacked out.
==A few minutes later
"Kudos to him for trying to resist the music."
"Wally, come on dude wake up."
He felt someone slap him, and he awoke with a slight double take. "Huh?"
As he focused his vision, he saw Dick and Artemis hovering above him, the latter wearing her cowl and costume.
Wally sat up gingerly, and let out a low, "What happened?" as he rubbed the back of his head.
"You conked out after we turned off the megaphone device," Artemis explained, but she straightened as the doors flew open.
The principal, as well as a few police officers rushed in, taking in the scene. Wally himself was also trying to intake the entire gym.
The ten girls that had, a few minutes ago, been sirenified, were now huddled in a small group, getting comforted by M'gann, who Wally noticed was tinted green. Clearly the girls had had more brains and decided to come in in full regalia.
Conner meanwhile was standing next to a defeated Ford, who vainly tried to struggle against the ropes binding him, that he was sure was Artemis' handiwork.
Artemis, for her part, was now approaching the principal and the police, a figure of authority as she explained what happened.
Dick extended his hand to help Wally to his feet, and he took the offered hand with a smile. "Thanks dude."
"Don't sweat it. Oh hey! There's Kaldur!"
And indeed the Atlantean was now walking inside the gym, the other cheerleaders trailing behind him. They now looked shy, a startling difference from the boisterous and confident sirens they were a while back.
After the police got everyone's statements, Ford was marshalled out of the room, and like that, mission was over.
Wally followed everyone outside, and saw as Artemis and M'gann went off to another direction, probably to slip away quietly before any curious photographers decided to snap some shots, thereby killing the whole covert part of their team.
He knew he had to talk to Artemis, even if it was just to assure himself that she was alright, so he discreetly followed behind the two girls, both predominantly green, he realized wryly.
They turned the corner, and Wally followed a few paces behind.
As he turned that same corner, he saw that the area was deserted.
"What the-"
"Careful Baywatch, someone might think you're acting suspicious." Wally nearly jumped a mile as he heard the voice behind him. He turned and saw his girlfriend standing there, a smirk on her face.
He return the smirk with one of his own as he responded, "Can't a guy just be curious to see if his girlfriend's fine?"
She let out a laugh, one that made Wally grin widely. "A bit presumptuous aren't you? Who says I'm your girlfriend?" Before Wally could react, he saw her wink. "Plus, I already have a boyfriend. He looks a lot like you actually, except he can talk his elbows off, and has feet that run faster than his brains."
He mock-gasped, and let out an indignant huff. "I am wounded! I do too think! Plus, no one is as gorgeous as me. I'm one of a kind."
The two shared a small laugh, and as it died down, Artemis pulled Wally in to give him a kiss.
==Later that day
The 6 members of the team were packing up their stuff from the small apartment they had occupied during their mission. But now it was time to go, and everyone was in high spirits.
The rest of the team now knew that Wally and Artemis were dating, surprised they had actually managed to keep it from them for a while.
As Wally finished the last bit of his packing, he heard someone saunter in to his room.
"All done with your packing?"
"I travel light." Artemis shrugged, sitting down on the bed. "So, want to tell me why our fearless leader is now acting like a love-sick puppy?"
"Probably because Barbara gave him a kiss on his cheek, and then they exchanged numbers or something." Wally rolled his eyes playfully.
Artemis let out a laugh, "Ah, young love."
"And, even more, she told him she was moving. Guess where?"
"Gotham?"
"Yep. Apparently her dad got transferred there or something. So expect the lovey-doveyness to continue and endure."
"Because you're so much better. And you don't even live in the same city as me."
"We'll make it work," Wally said, leaning in to kiss her.
THE END
Okay so I had originally intended to make this the penultimate chapter, with an epilogue to cap it all off, but I felt like if I had to keep you guys waiting one more day to see how the story would end, I'd be lynched. Not to mention that then the fic would be 16 chapters, and that would be just downright evil.
So that is the end for How to Date the Girl that Seems to Hate you!
I hope everyone enjoyed the ride, and thank you so so much for all the feedback and dedication. I honestly wouldn't have kept this fic going without all of your support so thank you!
Unfortunately this fic WON'T be getting a continuation, I feel like I already expanded the story enough from its original state as a two shot, not to mention I'm not really sure what the next fic would be about.
But! That doesn't mean I'm stopping writing! I'm still very much going to keep my other fics going, and I invite everyone to check out my profile and see if any of my other YJ fics catch your interests!
Thank you so much once again, and let me know what you thought!
Hezpeller.
