Disclaimer: I do not own anything except for Sally Galeson and the plot. DC comics, Warner Bros. and various others own the other stuff. This story is made for fun, not profit. Seriously.

NxS: More Hayley, Holly, and Sally. La la la. Please review :)

Chapter Seven

The day had started out normally enough. Hayley's classes were boring and her team mates couldn't stop talking about prom (of all things). Then she looked across the street and saw Sally eating by herself. Before she could think it through, Hayley rushed over to join her. She calmly sat across from Sally and began to ear her lunch.

"Don't you take a lot of sports?" Sally asked and Hayley looked at her in surprise. No one had ever brought that up before.

"Yup. I'm Hayley and your Sally and we met in the maximum security wing but I didn't get to introduce myself then. The tour guide, Lindsay or Susan or whatever told us all your name though. How'd you know about the sports?" Hayley asked curiously. Sally was the first person to bring it up and Hayley had no clue how she could have even known.

"I saw you in the team photos in the trophy case. Your smile never reached your eyes." Sally replied and frowned a little. Hayley was surprised by the explanation and began to eat again. Hayley thought that Sally had sounded concerned then wondered if maybe she was attracted to Sally too. She observed Sally for a few minutes before deciding that it was nothing like what she felt for Holly.

"Maybe this is what it feels like to want a friend." Hayley thought to herself. "What do friends talk about? Work?"

"What's it like working at Arkham?" She asked, hoping it was a good 'friend' type topic.

"It's not too bad. I want to be a psychologist someday; I find the mind fascinating." Sally replied and the latter part sounded almost like a confession. Hayley was pleased she'd picked such a good 'friend' topic.

"Yeah, pyschology is pretty cool. Coach Kyle teaches my psych class and I really like it." Hayley said and Sally smile at her. It was nice, a definite friend thing to do.

"So, how've you been since the breakout? You seen him yet?" Hayley asked nonchalantly, hoping it wasn't pushing too far. Sally looked startled.

"Not yet, but... well, I think I might. He's got, well, he's uh, got a copy of my file so, I don't know." Sally admitted worriedly.

"I think he likes you." Hayley stated matter-of-factly. (boys and relationships were also 'friend' topics) Sally let out an incredulous laugh.

"Oh?" she asked, trying to smother her laughter. Hayley frowned. She was sure that laughing incredulously wasn't a proper friend reaction. "Sorry, it's just, uh, I, I really like him, and, well, we have had a few sort of almost moment type things. Plus he... well he sort of left me a present." Sally explained when caught sight of Hayley's expression.

"What kind of present?" Hayley asked eagerly. This friend stuff was fun! They were both startled by the bell. Hayley frowned in the direction of the school. They had just started to really connect...

Hayley was ecstatic to make plans to meet up later. This friend stuff was way cooler than she had originally thought. Hayley let her mind wander during history and began to daydream. (about Holly mostly; kissing Holly, hugging Holly, talking to Holly, being touched by Holly... talking to Sally about Holly, talking to the Joker...)

Sally frowned into her drink. She hadn't brought her missing employee file to anyone's attention yet for various reasons (one being that she would get in a lot of trouble). She was also worried about what Jonathan Crane was going to do now. (he had her address and she was worried about Aunt Anna.)

Sally nearly had a heart attack when a young girl sat across from her. The girl ate her food and glanced at Sally occasionally (as if they did this sort of thing all the time). The girl looked familiar.

Sally found herself talking to the the blond girl (who Sally recognized as the one who had told her about Jonathan's escape). The girl looked surprised but not nearly as surprised as Sally felt; she almost never initiated conversations with anyone, let alone strangers.

Hayley's question caught Sally off guard and she replied honestly, much to her own surprise. Hayley also seemed briefly surprised before digging back into her meal. Sally also continued eating. Sally found the lull in conversation comfortable, which was unusual. Most people were uncomfortable around Sally when it was silent (and when it wasn't).

Sally normally wouldn't have answered (basically any) questions from strangers but Sally felt like she could talk to Hayley. Sally even admitted something she had barely allowed herself to think of. She hadn't even told Aunt Anna bout wanting to be a psychologist yet. Hayley talked and Sally smiled; it sort of felt like they were friends (it had been a long time since Sally had felt that way, she'd forgotten how nice it felt).

Most of their conversation seemed to revolve around the breakout (and Jonathan). They were both startled by a bell ringing. Hayley frowned and glared in the direction of the school.

"Do you want to, uh, to, to talk, uh, later?" Sally asked cautiously and inwardly sighed with relief when Hayley's face lit up.

"Definitely! I have gymnastics practice after school until about six. Mind swinging by?" Hayley gushed excitedly and Sally's lips twitched themselves into a grin.

"Sounds like a plan." Sally said and grinned wider. They parted ways at the door.

It was ludicrously easy to figure out her schedule. She was fairly predictable, really. Every one she was attached to (and every one she wasn't) were too easy to figure out. Nearly everything was going according to plan. The only wild cards were the escaped lunatic and the rodent.

Once Gotham got a taste of their experiments, once their monsters were let loose, there was going to be rioting in the streets. The mass hysteria would be Gotham's downfall; it would tear itself apart. The battle for Gotham was far from over and their abduction was almost ready. Things were putting put into motion and the time for her was shortening; she really wasn't going to stand a chance.

Holly was both excited and nervous to see Hayley. She almost wished she'd told Hayley the last time they'd talked. Holly walked casually into the gym.

"Hello girls, I'm Holly Robinson, and I'll be substituting for today's practice. If everyone could please line up for warm-ups, now." Holly said as calmly as possible. There was some excitement at first and Holly let them stall for a few minutes while she talked to some of the bolder ones before firmly encouraging practice get started. She pretended not to notice that Hayley hadn't been one of the ones to approach her.

Holly was proud she managed to act so normal. She hoped nobody noticed the way her eyes lingered on Hayley; the girl truly was quite talented (and attractive and - too young!).

After practice, Holly debated with herself on whether or not she should talk to Hayley. Before she could make up her mind Sally entered the gym. Sally looked around until she spotted Hayley and smiled. Holly felt a wave of jealousy nearly drown her as Hayley ran over to Sally and hugged her. They hugged for a few moments before walking off together, arm in arm. Holly felt both intensely jealous and incredibly left out. What was going on with Sally and Hayley?

Hayley was so excited to see her new friend she rushed over and hugged her. Sally hugged her back before gently pushing them apart.

"Ready to go?" Sally asked and Hayley linked their arms as they left.

"I think I can help you out with the whole 'Crane-thing'." Hayley said casually as they began to walk towards where Hayley lived. Sally gave a bemused 'go on' gesture that caused Hayley to smile. "I can call in sick tomorrow and help you look for clues and stuff." Hayley announced proudly.

"I don't know, Hayley. I'm not sure you should be skipping school." Sally said with a frown.

"Oh please! I've got, like, three weeks of school left, one day isn't going to do much damage." Hayley replied with a dismissive hand wave. Sally chuckled.

"Alright meet me at the usual time at the usual place." Sally replied with a wink. Hayley giggled and was privately thrilled to think that they had a usual time and place. Hayley smiled and they continued to talk about Hayley's classes and her sports.

"This is my stop. See you tomorrow, Doll." Hayley said, not entirely sure where the nickname had come from, and hugged Sally again.

"Later gator." Sally teased while ruffling Hayley's hair before leaving.

Hayley let herself into the apartment and closed the door behind her. She made it three steps into the hallway until she saw her father getting out of his chair, pissed off about something. He lunged at her and she barely dodged. Hayley fought back again, mostly just trying to not get hit and successfully got into her room before too much damage was done. She heard the unmistakable sounds of her father passing out and breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn't wait to leave this place behind.

NxS: *sigh* I really don't like having to leave Hayley with that monster...

Hayley: S'cool, I understand. And being able to fight back is kinda fun.

Holly: That jerk is just lucky NxS doesn't just sick me on him! *growls*

Sally: Ditto to that!

Aunt Anna: Review please, darlings. We love knowing someone is reading this story. *smiles*