- FROM Artemis

- - How did you get my number, Wallace?

Wally knew this was a bad idea. Did she really not remember? Maybe it was a joke! She seemed like she had a good sense of humor. Pulling a prank or two didn't seem out of the question. What if it was Dick? Oh, he would be so dead! But that didn't explain the picture on Facebook, which was definitely Artemis. He had spent enough time staring at it last night to know.

- TO Artemis

- - you sent it to me last night?

- FROM Artemis

- - No, I didn't.

- TO Artemis

- - something tells me you did

- FROM Artemis

- - Let me guess...On InstaFriend?

- TO Artemis

- - yup and a friend request.

This was the definition of mixed signals. Maybe she just didn't remember sending it to him. It had been almost midnight when his phone started buzzing. Maybe she was just really tired when she did it. Maybe she was playing hard to get? Anxiety was racing through him, and his heart seemed to be slowly making its way up to through his chest, to this throat, and it would soon be in a pile on his shoes. His phone buzzed again.

- FROM Artemis

- - I hate to break it you but that wasn't actually me. It was probably my roommate. She thinks she's so funny.

- TO Artemis

- - oh

Oh. Ow. Not what he had been expecting. This actually hurt much more than he thought it would. His face fell as he let out an involuntary whimper. Well, that was short lived. Thanks, Aunt Iris. Your advice went swimmingly. I'll be spending the rest of my days in a cave. Alone.

- TO Wallace

- - Not that it's not nice to hear from you.

- - Just not what I was expecting today.

Artemis's finger flew across the keys as she typed out her reply. Good job, Artemis. Completely crush this kid's hopes and dreams, and it's barely lunchtime. She was, admittedly, not good at this.

Moments later she was pulled out of her thoughts when an overly excited "YES!" leaked through the lecture hall. Her head snapped up in the direction of the sound and her eyes widened. Roughly dead center of the hall was a very excited, bery dorky Wally West pumping his fist in the air in victory. When everyone's eyes in the class, TA included, fell on him, he instantly froze before slowly lowering his arm.

Oh, that's adorable.

- TO Wallace

- - Do you always get this excited about girls?

Artemis smirked as she texted him again, her eyes barely left his seat. This was going to be good.

- FROM Wallace

- - what?

- TO Wallance

- - I can see you ;)

His head spun around side to side looking for where she could possibly be. Oh, this poor boy. From the back rows, she could just make out the the confusion in his brow. It was tough to admit, but there was something undeniably endearing about watching him look for her. Cute even.

- TO Wallace

- - Left side. 3rd row from back. Last seat.

His head whipped around so quickly that it must have popped in three places, but boy was it worth it. Their eyes locked and she gave the smirk she had growns so accustomed to giving him that last few Thursdays. Wally looked like a deer in headlights. He gave a brief wave which she returned with a giggle. She quickly typed out a quick message, and seconds later, he looked down at his own phone.

- TO Wallance

- - Hello, Wallace.

She was waiting at the end of his row when class let out, but he could hardly believe she was standing there, head cocked to one side, arms crossed over her chest, smirk in place. Dreaming. This is a nacho-feuled fever dream.

"Most people would consider this harassment," she said as she locked eyes once again.

"I think it's just stalking at best," Wally replied. He made his way to the end of the row and matched her stance. They stared at each other for a few seconds before she broke into a smile.

"You're a creep, you know that?"

"Hey, you approached me. What does that say about you?"

"Have you eaten yet?"

Wally's stomach instantly growled, his appetite apparently returning in the absense of anxiety. "Not in the last hour and half," he said with a chuckle.

"Well I'm done for the day until work. Care to join me for some cheap Mexican cuisine?"

His stomach growled again. "I would love some cheap Mexican cuisine."

They walked in silence to the same dive Wally had gotten lunch in earlier. With his heart back in his chest where it belonged, he finally felt comfortable and hungry enough to order his usual burritos. Artemis's look of shock was not lost on him, encouraging him to, at the very least, share the queso he had ordered on a whim. The conversation didn't resume until they sat down to eat.

"Eat much?" Artemis asked eyeing Wally's mountain of burritos.

"I am treating myself, thank you very much. Plus, I have a very fast metabolism. I'm always hungry," he replied diving right in to the queso. It wasn't too spicy, and each bowl had a serving of refried beans at the bottom. Delicious.

"Really..." she said, drawing out the word. She picked at her own lunch before continuing. "Special occasion?"

"Well," Wally started as he quickly swallowed his food, "it's Friday, and I always celebrate the end of the week. Tomorrow is my best friend's quirky girlfriend's birthday, so I need to carbo-load. Finally, I got to see you a full six days ahead of schedule"

"You have a schedule for me? You are the nicest stalker ever!" Her voice carried a heavy sarcastic tone.

Wally grimaced. "Is it really that weird?"

"To be honest I hadn't even noticed the first couple times. Not until like three four weeks ago? One of my coworkers pointed it out to me." She promptly finished one of her tacos and met his gaze. "I've been in more threatening situations with guys. You are no threat."

Wally wasn't sure how to react. He hated knowing that there were guys that had potentially done worse than him. "Really? It gets worse that this?"

Artemis shrugged and got a faraway look in her eye. "I don't really like to talk about it. At least with you, you would buy something instead of just staring me down or something. And I can usually pick up on the creeps." She smiled. "You seem like a good guy. A dork, but a good one."

"Do you want to go to Barbara's party with me? That's Dick's quirky girlfriend - he was the guy in the shop with me yesterday? It'll be small, not a kegger or anything, and everyone's really nice." The words poured out of him before his brain could tell himself to stop. Confusion and embarrassment hit so quickly that he could hardly control his face. He was sure he looked both desperate and distressed, and it was starting to become a most unpleaasent pattern with her. Get a grip, man! It's just a girl. We have handled girls before. Her face looked equally surprised at his outburst before morphing into laughter. It hardly helped to boost his self-esteem.

"What time?"

"Uh, probably not until eight or nine? Most of Barbara's usual party antics don't start until everyone shows up."

She checked her phone before looking back at him. The seconds that passed were agonizing. Maybe this was a bad idea. His tendancy to leap into things head and heart first was one day going to be the death of him, but really Please don't let it be today.

"Sure. I haven't had a day off in a while anyways."

His heart leaped in his chest as he felt his face transformed into a huge grin. "Great! Well, I can text you later tonight with more specifics. Assuming you would like me to text you."

"Yes," she laughed. "You have my full permission to text. And to stop coming into The Rack every week."

"My bank account thanks you. I'm not making you late for work, am I?"

"No, I'm fine, but I might head home to change soon." She smirked in response, and Wally could only hope his humiliating actions were somewhat endearing. "I really enjoyed seeing you today."

"Yeah, it was definitely a surprise." The two gathered their things to leave and headed towards the door. "I look forward to seeing you tomorrow." He held the door open for her and made a grand bowing gesture.

"I look forward to hearing from you, Wallace," she replied walking out the door. Wally sighed.

"I told you it's just Wally!"

Artemis was already heading in an opposite direction. "Later, Wall-man!" She didn't bother turning around, simply waving a hand over her head. And when he was certain she couldn't see him, Wally shoved his fist in the air once more.

Oh, he was falling hard.

A shorter chapter, but I have plans for the next one. Ah yes. The next chapter has been written for 2 weeks now :D Hopefully they aren't too out of character, and Wally doesn't come across as solely a love-struck puppy (but he would so be one). I hope you enjoyed this and continue to do so. Have a good week!

Disclaimer that I don't own the characters because it makes a ~difference~