The next day, Batman returned to the Hall of Justice with a strange hopefulness in his heart. He wanted to see Drifter again, though he knew not why. He was bitterly confused by these feelings that had gripped his heart. But, he pushed all that away in hopes of seeing Drifter.

He found her in the eating area of the Hall of Justice, sitting on a table talking to a few other heroes. She seemed happy among them, so much more at ease then Batman himself. He gulped, took a deep breath, counted to ten and walked up to her.

She noticed him after a moment. "Hey", she said, "Are you feeling ok?"

"Fine", said Batman awkwardly.

"I'm just asking because I was so sore yesterday night. Still am. I guess I don't normally work that hard." Batman nodded.

"I just wanted to say um…good job out there yesterday."

"Ohh thanks", said Drifter, "I figured I messed everything up because you don't usually fall out of ships. I was sure it had been me."

"No", Batman said furiously. "It was my fault, I was…distracted. Um, I had better go, I'll um, I'll see you around."

"Of course", said Drifter, "I'm looking foreword to working with you again." Batman's knees melted and he blushed behind his mask, but walked away. The girls started giggling and Batman hoped to God they didn't notice what he had done.

What was wrong with him, was he sick? A girl had never made him feel this way. The Green Arrow knew about girls and since Batman always went to an expert when he didn't know what was going on, he went to him.

Arrow walked into Batman's room. Although Batman spent little to no time at the justice league building, they had an honorary room for him nonetheless. "What'd you want Bats?" Arrow said. He looked at his friend worriedly. Arrow wondered what was wrong. "You've been acting strange for the past day and a half now, what's wrong with you?"

"I…I don't know. I feel so strange", Batman said.

"Well", said Arrow, "I had better get you to a doctor, if you're sick or something."

"I don't think its that", said Batman. He pounded his fist angrily on the table. "I just don't know."

"Alright Batman, calm down", said Arrow. "Tell me what's up." Batman was silent. "Come on, you can trust me."

"I start feeling so strange", Batman began slowly, "every time I'm around Drifter."

"Wait", said Arrow, "you don't mean…"

"Ohh my god Batman, you're not sick, you're in love. Ohh this is great. You don't even get it do you. Ohh my god." Arrow started laughing. He doubled over in howls of amusement. Batman retained his dignified air through it all, looking extremely affronted down at his friend.

"That can't be it", he said, "She must be poisoning me or something of that nature."

"You are so naïve, it's pathetic", Arrow said, "of course you're in love. Let me describe the symptoms of your "mysterious illness". Jelly knees, sweating, getting really nervous when the girl's around, finding you want her to be around anyway, thinking about her often, saying stupid things in front of her, forgetting what you were trying to say, getting distracted really easily, by her. Did I get them all?" Batman looked annoyed at him so Arrow assumed he had gotten it all right.

"So what do I do now?" Batman asked, "Do I eliminate her?"

"Ohh my god", said Arrow, "you don't kill the girl you have a crush on. That doesn't help, believe me."

"You've tried?"

"No", said Arrow defensively, but he looked suddenly nervous and changed the subject. "Anyway, think about how it would make you feel if she were gone."

"Terrible", said Batman, "I don't even want to think of it."

"If course you don't", said Arrow, "that's because you like her. Don't you want her to like you too?" Batman thought about it for a moment.

"Yes", he said, nodding vigorously, "Very much so."

"Alright", said Arrow, "Now we're getting somewhere."

"What do I need to do to get her to like me?"

"Find out what she likes. Woe her, I guess you could say, and maybe she'll be your girlfriend. I'm sure most girls would like to. You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Batman nodded. "I'll ask around, see what she likes. Ohh, Canary is going to get a kick out of this."

"No", said Batman, "You can't tell anyone."

"But", said Arrow, "this is the biggest gossip since Wonder Woman fell for that reporter Clark Kent. Wow, was she surprised. I can just see it now, Batman gets his first crush. It'll be huge."

"No", said Batman, "I don't want anyone to know."

"Come on Batman", Arrow said.

"I'll eliminate you", said Batman, "I'd do it you know."

"But, you wouldn't." Batman's expression didn't change. "Alright, alright, I won't tell anyone."

"Will you find out what she likes for me, you're better at that sort of thing then me?" Arrow rolled his eyes. He wasn't sure how much he liked this new side of his friend.

"First, you threaten to kill me, then you want me to help you." Batman looked hopeful and Arrow gave a sigh. "I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you, thank you so much." For once, Arrow could hear a trace of emotion in the infuriatingly stoic voice that was Batman's. Arrow walked out grumbling.

"I'm giving dating advice to Batman, what's next, the Apocalypse?" Arrow thought about it and thought about it and finally decided he owed Batman at least one favor. Besides, he kinda felt sorry for the guy, I mean, he didn't even know he had a crush on someone.

But, then Arrow felt a kind of pride burning in him now. He was better at something then Batman. That almost never happened. Batman was good at well everything and even when he didn't know how to do something, he learned. A grin crossed Arrow's face. He finally found something. He would have to rub it in later. For now, he had to find the Black Canary and think of an excuse for the information he was about to have her pry.

Black Canary was sitting at one of the tables in a lounge with Wonder Woman, Jana of the Wonder twins, and Huntress. "Hey Canary", Arrow called.

Canary looked up at him and asked, "What do you want?"

"I need to talk to you", Arrow said. Canary curled her lip, looked over at the girls around her and then followed Arrow.

"We were having an important discussion, what is it?"

"I need you're help", said Arrow.

"What on", Canary asked.

"I need you to find some information for me"", Arrow said, "on a girl."

"O", said Canary, "Arrow's got a crush on a girl. Gossip."

"No", said Arrow, "It's not for me, its for a…friend."

"Ok", said Canary, raising her eyebrows like she didn't believe him. "Which friend?"

"It's a secret, can't you just help me out." Canary casually glanced down at her nails and back up at Arrow.

"Which girl?"

"The new girl, Drifter." Canary could hardly contain her excitement.

"Ohh, Arrow's got a crush on the new girl."

"I told you", said Arrow, "it's not me, it's a friend."

"Alright, alright, don't get you're tights in a twist, I'll find out what you need to know. The usual info?"

"Yes, but not for me, for a friend." Arrow put a lot of emphasis on the word friend, hoping Canary might catch on. She didn't, she just walked away. "And don't tell anyone", Arrow shouted after her. Canary waved her had dismissively and Arrow wondered if it was even possible for her not to gossip. Not likely.

Drifter was walking, hands clinched around a food tray, looking for somewhere to sit. She still felt like kind of an outsider here in the Hall of Justice and was hoping she could at least find an empty table, even if it did look lame to sit alone.

Then, she spotted Black Canary, who waved her over and scooted over to make her a place to sit. Happy to be included, Drifter sat down next to Canary. "Hey Canary", Drifter said.

"Hi", said Canary, "We were just talking about boys. You like anyone?"

"I don't know", said Drifter, "Lantern's really sweet, I like him and I guess the Green Arrow's kinda cute." Canary squealed in excitement.

"You don't like Batman?" she asked. Drifter shrugged.

"He's kinda dark and reserved, but I mean, he's nice and all I guess. We talked a little."

"At least he talks to you", Canary grumbled, "Anyway, lets talk about flowers."

"Ok", said Drifter. Arrow came back later to talk to Canary.

"Ok", she said, "I found out everything you needed. She like's lantern, but she thinks you're cute."

"Really", Arrow said excitedly, "I mean, that's cool, but my friend needs me to help him out right now." Canary rolled her eyes.

"Whatever", she said.

"Bat's, Arrow said coming in, "I found out what you needed to know."

"Really?" Batman asked hopefully.

"Yea, but you have some competition, she likes Lantern."

"Ohh", said Batman, looking somewhat downcast and crestfallen. "Should I eliminate him", Batman said, cracking his knuckles.

"No", Arrow exclaimed, "You can't just go around eliminating people, you have to win her over." Arrow mentally decided he wouldn't mention the fact that Drifter had mentioned him as well. "I can give you some tips if you like."

"Ok", said Batman eagerly.

Batman was walking along with more spring in his step then he had had in a long while. He was going to see Drifter and he was going to give her flowers. Then, she would forget about that lantern.

The more Batman thought about it, the more he saw himself as better then lantern. He saw him driving away lantern with various medieval torture devices. He imagined lantern chained to a wheel forced to go around and around in circles while Batman brandished a whip at him.

Lantern's various cries of pain were the love music between him and Drifter, standing on the side lines hand in hand.

These happy thoughts put Batman in such a good mood, he forgot about his work for a while. Batman was just rounding a corner into a deserted hallway, when he saw her.

There was Drifter, looking as lovely as he had ever seen her. Batman was about to go up to her when he saw the Green Lantern go up to her. In his hand, he held a bouquet of roses. Suddenly, Batman thought the two carnations he had gotten her seemed rather pathetic. The Lantern came up to her.

"Hey baby girl", he said, "look what I got for you."

"Ohh Lantern, their beautiful", Drifter said. "I love them."

"How about you come to lunch with me", said Lantern, "then we can talk about us."

"Ok", said Drifter, and they walked off arm and arm. Batman felt rage rise up in himself. He couldn't believe it. She liked that horrible green monster. Batman was about to go and destroy the Green Lantern, when a thought came to him. Perhaps the Green Lantern was better then him.

The more he thought about it, the more Batman came to the conclusion that the Green Lantern was better for Drifter then he was. Lantern was smarter and stronger and more attractive. He was nicer and funnier; he was all the things Batman was not.

Suddenly, Batman felt like he was the most inferior creature in the world. He was pathetic and worthless, nothing compared to the Green Lantern. Lantern was so much better.

Batman rushed out of the Hall of Justice. Only Arrow saw him. "Batman", he called, "how did it go?" Batman threw the flowers down on the pavement, hopped in the Batmobile, and drove quickly away.

"Well", said Arrow, "that must not have gone well. Now, I have a hormonal Batman on my hands. I had better go see what got him so riled up." Arrow picked up the carnations and walked back inside.

Batman got home in a flurry of anger and rage, both towards himself and everyone else. Unfortunately for Robin, he was the first person Batman crossed. Batman, he said, hopping up and down in excitement. "I can't wait to go out on patrol tonight."

"Richard", Batman said angrily, "You got a C on your math test didn't you."

"Yea Bruce", said Dick, "but it was really hard. There were a couple of things I didn't really understand that I was hoping…"

"You have to do better", Bruce roared at him, "You're worthless to me if you don't get good grades. Worthless, and you can't go on patrol until you make that C an A."

"But Bruce that's impossible because…"

"An A", Bruce said angrily, "Now get out of here, I have to work." Dick gave him a miserable look and raced away, tears streaming down his cheeks. Bruce sat down at his computer and started to work furiously, trying to type away the pain.