Three

Warnings: Language

I inhaled deeply, the papers clutched to my chest crinkling as my fingers tightened around them. I could do this. Totally. I mean, the butterflies swarming like a tsunami threatening to overtake me totally weren't there. And that shaking in my knees? It's just a figment of my imagination. Right? Right.

Exhaling, I studied the mirror before me as a few strands of my sandy bangs fluttered onto my reflection's wide brown eyes. Those eyes instantly narrowed and zeroed in on my chin. Was that a pimple? I leaned forward to where my nose almost touched the glass. My breath fogged up the area marginally, but I could definitely spy the tiny blemish taking root on the tip of my chin.

Of all the times to get a pimple…

I moved back from my reflection and squared my shoulders. It's okay, it didn't matter, right? Not like they're gonna turn me away because I have a little acne. I gave myself an exaggerated nod while moving to swipe at the hair still dangling in my eyes. I gently tucked the strands behind my ears and forced myself to turn.

Now or Never, Marvey.

I quickly marched out of the pristine restroom and into a brightly lit lobby. What sunlight that streamed from Gotham's perpetually cloudy sky cut impressive slices into the lobby's pristine white marble floor. Being on the tenth floor, the view of the entire wall, with the floor to ceiling windows, made it seem like we were no longer in Gotham. The glistening glass sparkled against the backdrop of towering skyscrapers and a slice of the ocean that lay beyond the city. The normally dark tones that permeated the streets below seemed nonexistent here as my eyes trailed the sunlight that wove its way around the city in hues of yellow and tinges of orange. I could even spot patches of brilliant green from a few rooftop gardens. It nearly took my breath away with how picturesque the moment seemed. I'd kill to see this view at sunset.

Shaking my head, I turned to the chairs that sat to my immediately left against the wall. I hugged my résumé tighter against my body and tried to look graceful as I stepped over the Persian rug sprawled in front of the chairs. Unfortunately for me, my knee caught the low coffee table in the middle of the chairs, and I stumbled into the cushions rather than delicately lowering myself. I felt a surprised sound escape my throat, and I cringed deeper into my seat. I refused to look at the receptionist and instead studied everything else but her.

The chairs themselves seemed to be made from polished black leather, the cushions cool against my slightly heated skin. They looked expensive, like something you would find in some fancy furniture catalog. It didn't seem fair that they were for sitting on, especially by a lowly college student like myself.

I rubbed at my pimple, a sudden spike of self-consciousness prickling at me. I hurriedly snipped at my bud of doubt and instead reminded myself that I had worked for this opportunity. I wasn't some lowlife from the deepest bowels of the city, and in fact, this place was just a building, no matter how high-life it seemed.

"Don't worry, Miss Marvey, Mr. Fox will be seeing you momentarily. He should be finishing up his meeting in a few more minutes," the receptionist assured. I looked up and spied the conventionally pretty brunette with a polite smile etched onto her face.

"Ah, okay," I replied before giving a shaky smile of my own.

"You'll do great, I'm sure," she continued before turning back to the computer in front of her. I could faintly hear its content hum, and I allowed my face to show a meager but genuine smile. At least the company held people that appeared to take care of their technology.

Reassured by the words the woman had given me, I leaned back and allowed the tense muscles in my back to relax. I closed my eyes and felt the technology of the building buzz in my head and around my ears. The "noise" the building gave me was like being in a gently lapping wave pool, and I gave a deep sigh through my nose as I felt some of the machines crooning comforting nonsense.

I think I dozed off for a bit because before I knew it, I was gently being shaken. My eyes snapped open and they darted up to the source. Before me stood a finely aged dark skinned man in an immaculate black suit with specks of white weaved into his hair. A pair of black framed glasses perched on his nose, and I traced that nose to a mouth that was formed in a small amused smirk.

"You must be Miss Leslie Marvey," the mouth remarked.

My eyes darted up to the man's warm chocolate eyes. I scrambled to my feet as the realization of who this person must be finally hit me. I inwardly cringed as my papers went scattering across my feet in a haste. I hurriedly bent to scoop them up. "Ah, yes, I'm Leslie," I answered in a rushed manner, "I, um, presume that you're Mr. Fox?"

I straightened and attempted to find order for my résumé. I quickly gave up on that endeavor, however, and I went to throw them off to the side of the table. I wiped my palms on my dress pants and held my left one out.

Mr. Fox eyed my hand humorously and shook it with a firm grip. "You'd be correct."

"Um, excuse my clumsiness, sir."

"It's quite alright. Now, why don't we head down to my office so I can give you your interview?"

I nodded and gathered my papers from the table before following after Fox. The man's broad back facing me allowed me to mentally scold myself in peace. I barely noticed when we entered the elevator. It wasn't until he reached over to press the number twelve on the elevator's floor buttons that I snapped out of my thoughts.

The elevator was as fancy as you'd expect it to be. A small (fake) plant sat in the corner of the surprising roomy space (though maybe it was the mirror surrounding the interior of the elevator that gave the impression of being roomy). A metallic gold colored bar encircled the perimeter of the area and only stopped on both sides of the door. In the background, I could hear a jazz song playing.

"So, Miss Marvey," Fox began conversationally over the sounds of trumpets softly playing, "why did you decide to intern here at Wayne Enterprises?"

I glanced down to collect my thoughts and then at Fox as he peered at me through his glasses. I sneaked in a gulp of air before squaring my shoulders and staring directly into his eyes. "I'm going to be blunt with you, Mr. Fox. I came here to Wayne Enterprises because you guys are one of the best technological companies in the world, if not the best. I came here because I want to gain experience in your department of technology, and I think it will be a great chance at expanding my horizons." I hesitated when the elevator finally stopped before the doors slid open to show yet another pristine hallway. "I also feel that it will give me a chance to maybe even apply for a job here in the future."

"I see," he replied with a contemplating tone in his voice as he stepped out. I trailed after him as a silence descended upon us. It wasn't until he twisted a doorknob several feet from the elevator and held it open for me that Mr. Fox interrupted the silence with another question," And why do you find the need to be in a company that's, as you quote, 'one of the best' in technological ventures?"

We made our way to the oak desk centered in the middle of the office. He went around to the plush dark blue rolling chair propped behind the desk and I plopped myself in the chair across from him. I squirmed into a more comfortable position all the while being mindful to keep my back straight. I quietly steeled myself for the impending interview while I waited for the bespectacled man to settle. When he was, I cleared my throat and crossed my legs so I could steeple my fingers in my lap a top my résumé.

"Well you see, Mr. Fox, technology has always been a fascination of mine…"

After my interview, I called Beth. My enthusiasm practically coursed through my veins, and I felt a burning need to share the optimistic thoughts bouncing around in my head. So with that in mind, I was able to convince the curly haired girl to meet up with me in one of our more favorite haunts: one of Gotham University's few nature embedded courtyards. We met up about an hour after my call with me freshly redressed in my favorite skinny jeans and a black v-neck decorated with a dazzling (in my opinion) smile on my face. Slung over my shoulder was a backpack I had kept from high school stuffed to the brim with my comfort snacks. I didn't even feel the slightest bit of surprise when I finally spotted Beth. Never one to rise before Noon (keep in mind it was barely hitting one o'clock now), Beth looked like she just rolled out of bed. Adorned with a pair of black sweatpants and a red hoodie, the girl waved lazily at me. Despite the fact the girl had her frizzy curls tied in a knot on the back of her head, and the pair of her rarely worn wire-frame glasses on, she still looked as stunning as ever. She had walked up to me, an amused half-smirk toying at the corner of her mouth and gestured for me to find a seat. I naturally chose a picnic table below the biggest tree there. I couldn't really recall what it was called (and I was far too lazy to simply ask or look it up), but it was a towering behemoth with a thick network of branches that must've been absolutely stunning in the spring or summer.

When we sat down, I turned to where my legs straddled the bench sideways so my right elbow could rest on the table and prop my head up. Beth sat adjacent from me. She leaned practically half her body over the thickly wired plastic top of the table, her own elbows digging into the tiny holes that littered the table. In her hand, she held a tiny coursebook, something about some philosopher she needed to read for class. And she claims I'm the nerd. Psh.

Once I dug out a can of Pringles from my backpack and popped open the lid, I excitedly pinched at a few chips and placed them in my mouth. "So, Wayne Enterprises has to be like the prettiest place I've ever seen," I gushed around my mouthful of chips.

"Oh?" Beth hummed while slipping a page with one slim finger.

"Yeah. And their view? Gorgeous. I really, really hope I get the internship if only so I can see it every day…"

"Really? That's interesting."

"Yeah, and I really feel like I'll get it too, ya know? It's like a gut feeling."

"I'm sure you will," Beth assured as she glanced at me.

"I really want to go celebrate this."

"But you haven't even been offered the internship yet...isn't that jumping the gun a bit, Les?"

My nose scrunched up as I took another bite of another handful of chips. "It's never too early to celebrate. Even if you think it's a bit early, maybe it can be like-" I stopped mid-sentence when I realized Beth wasn't looking at me. Instead, her eyes were trained on something behind my shoulder, and it was then that I noticed a shadow extending my own across the table.

"Excuse me?" A timid voice spoke up. "I-uh, you're Leslie Marvey, right?"

I turned my head to the side with my eyebrows raised in curiosity. Before me stood a moderately attractive man with a nondescript mop of brown hair hanging in his hazel eyes. He looked vaguely familiar, and it suddenly clicked after a few seconds of staring that he was in one of my classes, specifically my one morning class. I couldn't remember his name for the life of me, but obviously, he knew mine.

"Who's asking?" I inquired as I rubbed the crumbs off my hands by wiping the sides of my legs.

"Oh, ah, I'm Luke Turner. We have English Tuesday mornings together," answered the newly dubbed Luke. He licked his lips and reached up a hand to tweak his ear. "I, um was wondering if you, ah, wanted to maybe grab a bite to eat?"

"Wait, what? Are you asking me out?" I asked bluntly, a dumbfounded expression covering my face.

Across from me, Beth lowered her book, a curious and mischievous glint in her narrowed eyes. "I believe he is, dear Leslie."

Luke's cheeks gained a rosy hue, and a blush overtook my own cheeks. Well...that's a first. Don't get me wrong, I've casually dated before (okay it was only like one person, and it was just a month-long fling that lasted until the day after prom), but never had I been so, well, bluntly asked out before. It was kind of flattering. That didn't mean I didn't feel any less awkward about this whole encounter.

"Uh," I intelligently said before swiveling to Beth, panic evident.

She raised one eyebrow and Her expression seemed to say, why not?

I raised both of mine higher and made a sort of strangled squeak at the back of my throat. I know I said I wanted to celebrate, but not like this! Plus it'll be awkward.

She gave a nod in Luke's direction. He's right there, you know.

Sighing in resignation, I turned to the boy anxiously shifting from foot to foot. Pity bubbled within me at his hopeful but worried expression. I mean it wasn't like he wasn't decent looking. I guess I could give him a chance.

I attempted at a thin smile. "What do you have in mind?"

Luke looked a little surprised and just a tad bit sheepish. "To be honest, I thought you'd say no, so I don't really have a concrete place in mind."

"I guess we can schedule a double date or something for Friday? I know this decent Italian place a few blocks from here," Beth suggested before cocking her head and coyly continued,"Besides, I figured it's time you met Ryan."

My eyebrows furrowed and my head snapped to Beth's direction. "Ryan? Who's Ryan? How come you haven't mentioned this 'Ryan' character?"

"Ah, that'd be fine. Does five p.m. sound like a decent time?" Luke said.

"Of course. It's perfect. Right, Les?" Beth replied.

My eyes narrowed at my dormmate so she knew she wasn't getting away with not telling me about this supposed Joe, but I turned to the floppy haired boy and plastered a beaming smile on my face. "Yeah, absolutely. I guess I'll see you then?"

"Uh, yeah. I'll, see you then." He stammered looking a little dazed at the whole situation. I didn't blame him.

When he disappeared behind one of the courtyard's columns, I rounded on Beth, an accusing glare aimed at her. The curly-haired girl had the gall to appear innocent. "What?" she asked as she picked up her book again.

"When I said I wanted to go out and celebrate, a freaking double date with some stranger in my English class was not what I had in mind. And who's this Ryan person? How come I haven't heard you mention him before?"

"Oh, stop acting like a drama queen," Beth scoffed, " Besides did you have any other plans? And Ryan is this boy I've been talking to...I just figured you should meet him since we seem to be about ready to make it...well official."

"Uh huh, sure. I just hope you're gonna be helpin' me pick out what to wear. Since this is indirectly, but still somehow directly, your fault."

Beth's face looked downright evil in that moment. I almost regretted my declaration when her face broke out into a devilish smile that nearly curled at the ends. She looked like a darker, less green, female Grinch "Oh, don't worry, I will."

Considering it had been Wednesday when Luke asked me out, Friday came much earlier than expected.

My English class the morning after our encounter consisted of me awkwardly waving to Luke and then studiously taking notes over the professor's lecture. After the class, I quickly made my escape and practically ran to my dorm building across the campus. I ignored the weirded out looks my fellow peers gave and darted up to my dorm and locked myself in my room for the rest of the day to do homework (and some research).

Thanks to my empathy with all things technological, it only took a quick delve into my phone's internet connection to finally find a strain of data that lead me to Luke Turner's Facebook page and other online resources I probably shouldn't have been able to read (sorry, not sorry). To my disappointment (or relief, I don't know which one was stronger) the boy was about as interesting as a stale piece of bread...er no offense to him. Even his internet history reflected his seemingly bland personality (I mean aren't guys supposed to like, I dunno, experiment with...ahem certain videos? Or some message board, or something?). He didn't seem like a bad person, but then again he didn't look like a particularly stimulating one either.

It didn't take long for me to fall asleep soon after completing my research, and I awoke to the sound of Beth stomping around in our "livingroom". I blinked for a few seconds, staring blankly at the glow in the dark stars sticking to my ceiling. After hearing a loud thump and curse, I used my elbows to push myself from beneath my cover and looked at the alarm clock sitting on my desk a few feet away. The big digital numbers glowed a subtle blue and read that it was 12: 27 P.M.

Huh, I must've gone to sleep later than usual if I woke up this late.

Shrugging off my bemusement, I ruffled my hair and slid out of bed. Padding into the livingroom, I found Beth darting around with bundles of hair products laden her toned arms. I quirked an eyebrow as I watched Beth jam her foot into her doorframe and hobble on one foot into her room with trail of creative curses following in her wake.

After watching her reappear and disappear a few more times, I finally asked in an amused tone, "What in the world are you doing?"

Beth, who was sticking halfway in the bottom cabinet with her butt wiggling around in the air, hit her head on the top of the cabinet. "Shit! Ow! Wha- Leslie! Finally, you're up!" Beth looked absolutely feverish as she hopped up from being on her hands and knees and darted over to me. "Quick! You need to get in the shower! We have-", She paused and frantically looked to the microwave, "-four hours to get us both ready!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, calm down there, girl," I replied with a reflexive laugh as Beth pushed me backward insistently towards our bathroom. It was really weird to see the normally laid back girl so flighty, but from prior experience from when her first paper was due a week ago, I knew this was a sign that she was nervous. "Chill, I'm going. Why don't you go get set up in your room?"

"I am, but I need to get you in the shower."

"Beth!" I laughed when she finally just shoved me into the bathroom and slammed the door in my face. Relenting to her demands, I climbed into the shower.

Thirty minutes later found me standing with a towel wrapped around underneath my arms and my hair dripping down my back. I stood with my arms crossed and foot tapping before Beth quickly pulled me into her room.

My first impression was amazement because I could actually see the worn down gray carpet (mine, as you can probably imagine, has not been seen for a solid two weeks now). Even though I had drifted in and out of Beth's room multiple times, I hadn't actually taken the time to admire the personal touches she had added. My eyes trained in on a little bright blue throw rug near the center of the room, adding a splash of color to the predominantly off-white room before drifting to her made up bed. It had a simple light green duvet and a mountain of pillows meticulously placed at the head of the bed that was pushed against the wall. Beside her bed was a full-length mirror littered with little photographs. I could see my slightly dripping appearance and Beth's blurred form as she rushed around the room in it. On the opposite side of the room, Beth's desk was the only thing that appeared to even have a semblance of messiness. Its surface was covered in papers and pencils with her laptop sitting closed off to the side. Despite that, the rest of her room looked mostly bare, save for a Carebears posted taped to the door to her closet and the neat pile of hair products and makeup next to the bottom corner of her bed.

While relatively impressive (to me at least, I mean the girl was infinitely busier than me), the cleanliness of the room disappeared after only half an hour. After being led to her bed, Beth set upon me with the ferocity of a lioness pouncing on her prey. Makeup kits that had been transported from out little kitchenette and her bathroom dappled the floor, and hair products were strewn along beside them. A multitude of billowing shirts, tightly fitting skirts, and short dresses lay across the bed, and although I asked about them, Beth simply waved off my questions and told me they would be an issue for later.

Still donned in only a towel, I sat patiently as Beth simultaneous combed and blowdried my hair. Sometime between the gentle tugging and the warmth coming from the hair dryer, my eyes closed and I allowed the hair dryer's loud gusts of air and the underlying electrical hum let me doze off. I figured I could trust Beth not to mess up anything.

When I finally acknowledged that the hair dryer had been turned off, my eyes cracked open. I felt gentle fingers running through my hair, and I heard Beth mutter under her breath, "I wish my hair was this easy to braid."

I didn't say anything in reply, and instead tilted my head back to stare up at her face. Beth's eyes were narrowed and gazing intently at her hands. I could even see a tiny bit of her tongue poking out from her pursed lips. My mouth quirked and I lifted one of my hands to lightly yank on her bouncy curls. Her dark chocolate eyes lifted to my face. "Don't worry, I'm almost done," she said before her eyes darted back to her handiwork.

"Good, It's been almost thirty minutes. I should hope it's almost done," I playfully replied. "Wouldn't want you messing up your face any more than it's already has been."

"Oh, hah, funny."

"I know, I try."

After feeling a few more tugs, I felt Beth push me forward and off the bed. My hands scrambled to my towel when my eyes caught sight of the hairstyle my friend had gifted me with.

"Wow," I breathed as I lifted one hand to run a finger along the braid made from one side of my bangs. Beth had spent the past half hour braiding two braids out of my bangs so that they wrapped around either side of my head. She had also managed to make them to where they were pinned behind my head with a white bow. The rest of my hair had been left down, and loosely lapped at my bare shoulders. The normally brownish blonde hair shimmered brightly and to me looked like darkly tinted liquid gold.

"Yeah, yeah, don't thank me just yet. We still need to get your outfit and makeup," Beth sighed as she stood off to the side, her hands firmly on her hips. I stared at her from the mirror, and I gestured to her body.

"Don't you have to get ready?"

"Yeah, but I can wait. You, you need my expertise if you wanna look stunning for tonight."

"Beth, I don't want to impress-"

"Ah, ah, I don't care. It's a date; I don't want my only best friend here looking like some raggedly dressed little girl for a night on the town."

I stared at her flatly while also feeling vaguely offended. "I do know how to dress myself, Beth."

"Humor me, please Leslie." Her eyes looked almost pleading, and I immediately caved under their puppy dog like quality. Curse you sympathetic heart of mine.

I crossed my arms. "Fine."

"'Atta girl."

Following that conversation, another hour and a half passed before I was permitted to see my reflection from Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth. During that time period, I tried to temper my growing antsiness as I was deprived of obtaining any form of entertainment. I could feel symptoms suspiciously like withdrawals from my lack of contact with any higher forms of technology. With the hair dryer unplugged and the Beth's cell phone tucked under some clothing on her bed, I had little to no conversation (not that the hair dryer would've been very entertaining to begin with seeing as it was what I considered a lower form of "intelligence" when concerning machines, but I digress). Beth herself paid me no mind and worked diligently on my makeup and my outfit idea. Suffice to say, when she finally slipped the silky smooth black dress over my head (after picking out a "cute" pair of black lace undies and bra with a tiny pink bow to go underneath), I hurriedly turned to see what my dorm mate had done to me.

"Wow," was all I seemed to be able to say. My eyes roamed over the image laid out before me, taking note that the dress hugged my normally unflattering curves (I wasn't the most in shape person ever, but I wasn't the worst either) and gave my body more form than I'd expect. The dress itself was just a plain black, and the only defining feature was the fact it exposed my shoulders and back.

My eyes darted up and I felt them widen. My eyes themselves looked huge on my long and filled out face. Their twinkling amber depths were outlined in a dark brown with a brush of mascara. My gaze fell to my contoured round cheeks and roman-esque nose. It felt weird with so much makeup covering my face, but I found that I actually didn't mind how it made me look. I almost felt as pretty as Beth.

"Thank you, Beth," I said sincerely.

"No problem, no shoo, I gotta get ready now," the girl said as she turned to her bed with her arms crossed. "Now...what to wear...what to wear…"

I fled the room and hid out on the couch after snatching my phone. Feeling its reassuring presence buzzing in my hands, I felt my antsiness disappear completely. I didn't even feel worried about the date.

Time passed by, and eventually, I found myself outside the dorm complex on the curb of the road at 4:50. Beth stood beside me, her foot tapping steadily on the ground.

Somehow, Beth was able to doll herself at a speed that I would expect rivaled the Flash. Dressed in tightly fitting dark jeans and a billowy white top, she might've looked less fancy clothes-wise in comparison to me, but her expertly done afro and makeup almost made her surpass me in the looks department. In fact, I think she did.

We had been standing outside for about fifteen minutes now, and I could tell Beth was getting more and more nervous. After checking her phone for the tenth time, she finally exclaimed, "I told Ryan 4:45, where is he?!"

"Calm down, Beth, it's only been five minutes. Give the man some time," I soothed as I lightly patted her shoulder.

Ryan, our official chauffeur for the evening, eventually rolled up in a black Lincoln. Well, according to the car itself and Beth, It was Ryan. I personally couldn't believe it was him though because when the passenger side window of the car rolled down, I was surprised to see someone who looked...well not someone I would expect Beth to go for. But hey, to each their own, right?

Ryan had a broad short nose, and circular glasses perched at the end of that nose. His hair was shaved on both sides, and a fluffy mohawk fell between his eyes. His face was narrow, but his body appeared to be more filled out than expected. He wore, from what I could see, a pair of dark wash jeans. His dark button shirt really flattered his complexion though, and if I had to guess, I'd say he was either from Hispanic or Italian descent.

"Hey, sorry for the wait, B, you know how traffic gets," Ryan said sheepishly. He lifted one hand off the steering wheel and gestured towards the door. "We should get going before it gets worse."

We climbed into the car. After a brief introduction ("Ryan, this is Leslie, my Dorm mate, and best friend.") It took us about twenty minutes to get to the restaurant. The ride was peppered with Beth playfully scolding Ryan's lateness, and Ryan flirtatiously answering back. Meanwhile, I sat in the back, feeling like the age-old position of the third wheel, and silently prayed for time to slip by faster. Eventually, we found the restaurant (and a parking spot, ew for parallel parking), and made our way to the entrance.

By this time, the sun had begun to set, and the fiery orange that blanketed the city memorized me. I stared at the black brick of the building before us, the orange contrasting beautifully with the stone. It took me a few minutes, but when I looked down, I spotted my date.

Luke looked...disappointingly bland. I guess I had expected him to dress up, but the boy stood outside the glass doors of the restaurant in a black zip-up jacket and faded blue jeans. His hair was still floppy, and nothing extraordinary radiated from his person.

Trailing after the couple I had come with, I couldn't help a stab of envy as I noticed Beth curling around Ryan's arm. When I was a few feet from Luke, I turned away from the couple and went to greet my date.

"Hi." I smiled brightly at him.

"Ah-Hi, Leslie," He replied, a dazed look glazing over his eyes as they swept over my person. "You-ah, look nic-great. Beautiful."

"Thanks…?" I could tell this was going to be a long...long...night.

"I-uh- got us all reserved seats," Luke continued as he turned to the other couple.

"Thanks, man. I'm Ryan by the way," Beth's date said with a hand extended. Luke stared at the proffered limb for a few seconds before he timidly shook Ryan's hand.

"I'm Luke."

"Well, let's get inside, shall we?" Beth interjected and tugged at Ryan's arm. "I'm getting cold."

We made our way inside, and after Luke stammered out his name, we were lead to our seats. I sat across from Ryan and Beth while Luke took a shaky seat next to me. The other couple seemed to gravitate towards one another, and I once again found myself a tad bit jealous of their easy chemistry. Squashing down my thoughts, I turned away from the couple and to my date.

"So," I began as I picked at a menu that the waiter set down for us, "What's your hobbies, Luke?"

"Uh...I...I like to knit."

I blinked. "You like to...knit?"

"That's right," he said as his eyes danced past my shoulder and then down to his lap. "Uh, what do you like to do?"

"Well, it's nothing as exciting or interesting as knitting, but I like to read." A pregnant pause from our side of the table ensued. Eventually I cleared my throat and continued once I realized the silence was a bit awkward. "I like mysteries...and Sci-Fi. Do you like any specific type of book?"

"Uh, no. I...I don't read."

"Oh."

And that's pretty much how the rest of the date went. While Beth and Ryan seemed to be having the times of their lives as they gazed dreamily into one another's eyes, Luke and I sat in silence with the occasional question popping it.

Mid-way through the date, I couldn't stand it anymore. I dug through my small purse that dangled from my shoulders and whipped out my phone. I quickly typed on the phone's screen and then tucked the device between my knees.

Beth's phone lit up (it was sitting face up on the table), and buzzed with a tiny chirp. The girl looked down, brow furrowed as she picked up her phone.

'You gotta get me outta here, Beth! I cant stand mr. Snoozeville over here!'

Beth's eyes peered up at me, but I avoided her gaze and instead stared at the waiter that was refilling an older couple's goblets of wine. A few seconds later I heard a chair squeak against the floor as it was shoved back.

"I need to go to the bathroom real quick," Beth declared. "Can you come with me, Leslie?"

"Of course!" I said with relief evident in my voice.

When we made it to the restroom, Beth went straight to the mirror. Setting her purse on the black granite counter, she dug through her purse until she procured a tube of lipgloss. "Is your date really going that badly?" She finally asked as she uncapped the lipgloss.

I leaned my hip against the counter space beside her with my arms crossed. "Worse than you think," I grumbled as I watched Beth swipe the gloss over her lips. "I don't know why I agreed to this. He's so boring like my Great Grammy Lou could be more entertaining than he is...and she's like an inch away from death."

"If the date's going that badly, why don't you just end it?" Beth suggested. She eyed her reflection before pursing her lips and then smacked them together.

"Because that's rude!"

Beth rolled her eyes and looked over at me from the corner of her eye. "Then that's your own fault then if you're still here isn't it?"

I made a frustrated noise and felt the childish urge to stomp my foot. "But Beth-"

"Don't you 'but Beth' me, missy. You don't have to be here. Why don't you go put your big girl panties on and go end the date if you're that miserable? You're acting like a baby."

I felt a wave of conflicted guilt. Here I was complaining like a kid to my best friend who was in the middle of her own wonderful date. But I couldn't stand another moment here...but I really didn't want to be rude.

"Fine," I sighed and went run a hand through my hair. "Sorry, Beth. You're right. I'm gonna go end this date now."

Beth nodded to her reflection as she put her recapped lipgloss back in her purse. She turned to me and grabbed my hand as she walked out the door of the restroom. "Don't worry, you'll probably feel better once you leave."

"I sure hope so."

When we made it to the table, Beth sat back down next to Ryan. I stood next to Luke's chair and felt my hand reach up to brush across my bottom lip. As the other couple continued on with their dinner, Luke noticed that I wasn't going to rejoin them.

"Ar-are you okay, Leslie?" He asked as he pushed back from the table.

"Uh, Luke, do you mind if you walk me outside?"

He looked over at my plate, most of it gone except for a few small pieces. "You're not going to finish your food first?"

"No, no it's fine. I-I just really want to, uh, talk to you real quick."

"Ah, sure, no problem. Hang on, lemme just-" He reached into his hoodie pocket and threw two twenties on the table. "There."

I walked alongside Luke as he weaved around the tables to the front entrance. When he pushed open the door, a cold gust of wind greeted us. The sun had fully set now, and the streetlights dimly lit the road and parking lot. We only walked a few feet from the entrance before I grabbed Luke's arm and stopped him.

"Look, Luke. You're a great guy, really. But I feel like we just don't click," I started, "I think it's best if we parted ways now and end our...date."

Luke looked confused as his eyes roamed over my face. "Wh-what? I thought we were having a great time."

"Luke, we barely had a decent conversation and most of our evening was spent in awkward silences. What part of that screams 'a great time'?"

"O..Okay. I guess I see your point...but can I, at least, drop you back off at the campus?" He looked like a hopeful puppy again, and I was almost tempted to say yes. I shook my head though.

"I think it's best that we part way. I'm really sorry, but it's not worth it. Besides, my dorm's only like three blocks away." (Okay so it was a bit farther than that, but I had faith in my luck and powers that I could get through the streets of Gotham. I mean it's only...eight, and I was really craving some frozen waffles right now).

"Please, I insist," Luke replied as he reached into his pocket and showed his keys to me.

"Look, Luke. I just really want to be alone right now, okay? I get that you're trying to be a gentleman, but please. I'm a big girl, I can handle myself."

"Bu-but-"

Feeling a flash of extreme annoyance, I narrowed my eyes and reached out to his phone mentally. Feeling its electrical waves respond to my prodding, I ordered it to vibrate violently in Luke's pocket. A few seconds later, and the hand that was holding his keys fell frantically to his pocket with his other hand. "Wh-what?" Luke hissed when he tried to touch his pocket, and even yelped as the vibrations started to sting the flesh behind the fabric of his pants.

With Luke still trying to fish his phone out of his pocket, I stomped away, feeling my anger dissipate into self-pity. I heaved a sigh when I rounded the block's corner, and I wrapped my arms around myself to preserve what warmth I had.

I know it's a little stupid to just ditch a free and relatively safe way home, but I really did feel like I needed to be alone right now. My date had been below satisfactory, and I couldn't help but feel a little bitter that Beth had had a great time with her own date. The only way I deemed that I could calm down was to find the nearest ATM machine, get some money for a cab ( I figured my date would pay for me and drive me home, so I didn't think I even needed to bring money), and then head home to heat up some frozen waffles I had hidden in the that in mind, I hurried along.

The night was darker than I would've liked, especially since the clouds customary to Gotham shielded the moon's beams. The streets were empty, the only signs of life coming from the buildings behind me back at the restaurant. All the cars parked alongside the curb were dark and cold, signs that they hadn't been used in a few hours. The buildings framing the street looked run down with a few even having their doors nailed shut with rotting planks of wood. I couldn't spy any telltale signs of life from these buildings beyond the occasional television reaching out to me. It looked like a ghost town out here, and I didn't like it.

I made sure to hop between the streetlamps' pools of warm yellow light, and kept my senses peeled for any sign of trouble. After asking one of these poles of light where the nearest ATM machine, my left hand balled into a fist around my purse strap. I kept imagining some sinister Rouge creeping from between the many alleyways I passed and snatching me off the street. I had to keep reminding myself that I wasn't as helpless as I kept thinking I was. It didn't help the pounding of my heart, or the sweat accumulating on my palms.

When the bright green sign that reads "24-Hour ATM" came into view, I gave a mental sigh of relief. I practically skipped over to the machine, and gently touched it. It hummed appreciatively under my fingers, and I smiled softly at it. It must get lonely out here during the night.

Noticing the camera placed at directly above the ATM, I looked behind me, trying to gauge how far the camera could see. "Do you think you can keep an eye out for me there, buddy?" The machine buzzed under my fingertips in affirmation. I grinned. "Thanks."

I twisted my purse around to where I could maneuver around in it and retrieve my wallet. I lifted the spiderman themed wallet out into the open and proceeded to flip it open so I could get my debit card. Before I could pull the piece of plastic out from its designated slot, I felt something hard and cold press against the back of my head. Following after this sensation, I heard the cock of a gun's safety.

I froze. Time seemed to stop as all my blood rushed to my head. A giant pit opened up in my stomach and my heart dived into it. I could practically feel the sudden taint of unadulterated fear course through my veins.

"Now, I'm only gonna ask this once, sweetheart, put your hands where I can see 'em," ordered a rough voice that one would associate with a chainsmoker.

I raised both arms above my head, my wallet grasped tightly in my right hand. I gulped as I felt the muzzle of the gun press harder into my skull and I shakily inched my foot to where my toe touched the ATM machine in front of me. Through the ATM machine, I was able to use my empathy to mentally hitch a ride on an electrical current to the camera. On my way up the current, I mentally cursed the camera. Why didn't you feel the need to inform me a gunman was out there!

When I was able to use the camera's optic view, what little hope I had of escaping this promptly shriveled and died. There were three of them. All armed with a small handgun and all of them had a freaking stereotypical black ski mask covering their faces. I didn't stand a snowball's chance in Hell, especially considering every single one of them didn't look an ounce below two hundred pounds

Well, I guess I'm screwed six ways 'til Sunday.

"Now, why don't you just put the wallet down nice an' slow, hm?" The same husky voice commanded. I slowly complied, bending at the knee. Feeling the gun follow my movements, I lowered myself until my left knee touched the gravely sidewalk. I lowered the hand containing my wallet, and I gingerly placed it beside me."Good, girl."

I wanted to feel mad; I wanted to command the ATM machine to rip itself open and use its electrical innards to grab at the crooks robbing me. But I couldn't. All I could feel was fear, fear for my life, and fear for the immediate future. I couldn't shake myself out of it, and I think that's what scared me the most.

Before the man behind me could crouch down and grab my wallet, I heard something zoom past my ear and embed itself in the concrete behind us. A hissing noise filled the air, and a barrage of smoke encompassed us.

"You guys picked the wrong night to go out."

"Shit! It's the Bat's brat!" yelled one of the men behind me.

While the man behind me was distracted by his companion's yelling, I pushed myself off the ground. At the same time, I slammed both of my hands on either side of the ATM and closed my eyes. My energy practically flung out of my body and into the machine. A tingling sensation prickled at the back of my head. The sound of flesh hitting flesh reverberated behind me and I mentally prayed that the vigilante boy wonder behind me was too busy to notice me. Two seconds later the ringing of metal being torn apart and the snapping of electricity encircled me and the thug. The cords that had laid docile within the ATM sprung to life like vipers and whipped passed me to latch onto the man. An agonizing scream resounded and I heard the gun clatter to the ground. I ducked under the wires and ran.

I made the mistake of looking back. Robin stood over the prone forms of the two men and was watching with widened eyes (or I assumed they were widened because the white parts of his mask were certainly bigger than I thought the should be). He looked older than I thought he'd be but younger than you'd expect for a crime-fighting vigilante. He looked around my age, if not younger, but definitely older than the pre-teen image I thought he'd have. He was donned in his signature red top with the R logo stitched onto his breast. A yellow cape fluttered behind him, and his domino mask accentuated his cheekbones. A mop of ruffled black hair curled on his forehead and I absently wondered if it ever obscured his vision. When My eyes landed on his green pixie shorts and I felt a swirl of confusion before it dissipated when I noticed that his head has turned to look in my direction.

My head jerked back to the front. "Hey! Wait!" I heard Robin call out, but I ran faster, pushing my legs to work past the burn building up in them. I heard the sound of boots hitting the cement, but before he could catch me, I did something that I added to tonight's receipts of stupid decisions.

I closed my eyes and pushed out my energy. When it hit the light posts around us, the warm glows of the bulbs inside of them were snuffed out. Then the sound of a car, the one closest to us, rumbled to life and reversed onto the curb of the sidewalk. Total darkness engulfed the street beside the car's headlights. The car's engine gave a rumble as it turned and drove down the street. The boots that had been pounding behind me stopped as I heard Robin mutter an expletive. After a moment of hesitation, the boy wonder took off after the car.

Good, I thought with relief, the distraction worked. I had been banking on the fact that Robin would be more occupied with a random car driving off from a previously abandoned street rather than following after me. It seemed my assumption was right, and he had gone after the suspicious vehicle. Now I only prayed that the vigilante's mentor wouldn't show up too.

I continued back towards the restaurant I had left, my breathing labored beyond belief and my limbs drained from using my powers and the running. My surge hadn't reached the restaurant (Thank goodness), and I was soon able to see the twinkling lights within. I quickly pushed my way passed the glass doors and into the lobby. A couple who was exiting through the opposite side eyed me warily and I realized I probably looked like a mess. No doubt my makeup was smudged thanks to the sweat running down my face, and my hair probably resembled a rat's nest.

"Leslie? What are you still doing here?"

My head swerved to Beth who was clinging to Ryan's arm. I almost collapsed in a happy puddle of goo right then and there. I hadn't missed them leaving. "I need a ride home," I panted as I pressed both my hands at the base of my back so I could physically straighten it and clear my airways.

"I thought you left with Luke-" She paused as she dug out her phone and checked the time, "forty-five minutes ago?"

I felt my list of stupid decisions pop up in my head and I cringed. "Well, that's not exactly what happened."

"What do you mean?"

"I sorta...ditched him."

Ryan's eyebrow rose and Beth looked like how my mom would look whenever I or my siblings got into trouble. "So what have you been doing this whole time?!" Beth nearly shrieked. Ryan gently patted her arm, but she ripped herself away from her date and dragged me back outside. The suddenly cold air caused me to shiver violently. I spotted Ryan ducking out after us and heading towards the parking lot in a light jog.

"I was trying to go get some money for a cab when-" I stopped briefly. I couldn't just tell Beth I was almost mugged. "I realized I didn't have my wallet."

"So you were just walking around Gotham, alone and at night? What is wrong with you, Leslie? And why do you look like you were rolling around in the dirt? My hard work is all ruined!"

"Look," I sighed, "Can we just get in the car and go home, please? You can chew me out later. I don't know if you know this, but it's really cold out right now."

Beth's eyes narrowed and she waggled a finger at me. Normally I would be amused if she did something like this, but Beth looked like a force to be reckoned with. "We're not done, not by a long shot."

"Okay," I replied.

I hugged myself, and I guess Fate took pity on me because nearly right after that Ryan pulled up in his car. I opened my door and slid into the back, my hand clutching tightly at the purse strap I had nearly forgotten about. As Beth settled into the front seat, I leafed through my purse and grabbed my phone. I pulled it out when a jolt of a horrifying realization struck my stomach.

I left my wallet at the ATM.

Well fuck me.

Dear goodness gracious this chapter has to be the longest chapter I've ever written for anything (hopefully I can write more as long as this bad boy lmao). Anyway, Yay! I can finally start moving this thing along, plotwise. And I've decided to bump the rating up for later content (nothing too bad, just some gore and language really, but just in case, you know?). But anyway, enjoy this chapter, Don't expect another update for a while lol.