Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2013 11:59:49 GMT -5
'Prefect' World
Story By: Spoiler & Black Canary
Heroes: Spoiler and Black Canary
Spoiler:
Dear Diary
Yayy, Go Ravens! Go Ravens! Widow Creek Ravens 31, Reedmont Rough Riders 10! Who would have thought they could do it? From 0 and 3 to 4 and 3 and the play offs actually looking possible, but they just ran over Reedmont like they were Junior High. Even Dean liked it, standing up and shaking his pop over everyone like it was champagne after a car race…and who would have thought that? Usually we’d have been in Stewie’s garage and I’d have been listening to them jam, but the turnaround of the last few weeks has got everyone absolutely jumping, or buzzing… lol… maybe both so instead of listening to Dean and Stewie thrash away we were there amidst the screaming masses. Even if he did seem to be paying maybe too much attention to what Kelly was doing. –c-
That’s another thing dear diary… good enough for the gym team, rhythmic team too, but not for the cheerleading team? How does that work? I can do ten times what Kelly can and yet i don’t even make a reserve place? How does that work, dear Diary? Maybe it depends on whether your ‘significant other’ is on the team or part of the beatnik crowd : p Well, irregardless (heh) it seems to have calmed a lot of things at school. A lot of the tensions seem to have calmed down with everyone getting the football bug, maybe more so than if it hadn’t been such a sudden turn around. It just feels like a more united place, maybe because it’s harder to tell the cliques apart when they all wear the same football jackets. Maybe it’s just a little… a leeeeettle bit more tolerant. With one or two exceptions.–c-
And that HAS to be a very, very good thing dear diary… if there’s one thing the world needs now : p its tolerance in schools, especially ours and especially after Mr. Cooper died. That was hard, it’s just not the kind of thing you think will happen. And he was one of the nicer ones, so sad, and the new biology teacher… she’s an odd one, I can’t quite peg her, almost like things are a game, but behind the smile I think she might just be as hard as nails. She even keeps them off Swales’ back and THAT my little papery pal is no easy task because she seems to draw abuse, hell, even I get mad at her sometimes but that’s. I may not be in with the plastics, but at least I'm not at the other end .. is it bad to think like that dear Diary? It probably is isn’t it?
Thought for the Day: Do Better.
Even the annoying need help.” –c-
Spoiler: Stephanie closed the diary again, closing and locking the tiny clasp, and turning off her desk lamp pulled open the curtains to look out her window. Where was he? More than a week now she’d been out, no sign of Robin, or the Bat, rumours of fires downtown but… something inside hurt. It was strange how much harder being away from Robin was than being away from Dean. He wasn’t out there, at least not where she could be a part of things and so for the first time in months, she didn’t wear the costume, she stayed in and watched mom saw logs. –c-
School was easier the next day. ‘It’s funny how much a good night’s rest can help you keep a clear head’ she thought as she hung her bag on the back of the chair and sat for biology class. There was no uniform, but the jackets made it feel more like there was, the black and white everywhere, she began to feel a little out of place in her jeans, sneakers and a slightly scruffy green and blue horizontally striped sweater ( cdna.lystit.com/photos/2012/08/23/old-navy-navygreen-stripe-lightweight-tiehem-sweaters-product-1-4498727-201029468_large_flex.jpeg ). She pulled her hair over one shoulder twisting idly as she waited for the sound of the heels. She didn’t know why but she found she was beginning to smile. –e-
Black Canary: The substitute teacher, Miss Lance, walked in and the class went silent as she clipped in, wearing her heels. Miss Lance was carrying a large plastic tote. She walked around the front of the large lab table that made her desk in the front of the room and smiled as she looked over the class, she set the tote on top of the table and turned around, leaning back to partly sit on the edge of the table. She was wearing a business suit today, although she always seemed to wear something trendy. The suit was black and the skirt had good length going down past her knees, but it was fitted, clinging to the curve of her hips. It revealed her very strong looking calves, like those of a runner or a kick boxer. (c)
She was wearing a white sleeveless top with a lowcut boatneck ( img0.etsystatic.com/000/0/5287636/il_570xN.236601696.jpg ). Paired with the top was a black jacket, It had a wide collar with lapels giving it a wide scoop top, showing the white top underneath. Her blue eyes seemed full of amusement as she greeted the class. "Good morning class. I see many are full of school spirit from the game the other night." she paused giving a smile as she heard the class agree, then she got down to business. "Since we just finished the unit on DNA, and plant and animal cells, I'm going to depart from the sylabus. I think it would be great to start out our new unit with a dissection." (c)
She leaned a against the desk for a long moment, giving an amused smirk as she watched the shocked and in some cases scared or even grossed out expressions the class. "Today's dissection was donated by a local business, so we should have enough specimens for everyone. We will be using the disecting microscopes in the lab, so please observe the lab rules. Please pick your partner and come up to grab a tray and a specimen. Just go through the instructions on the worksheet and fill in the blanks." she turned away from the class to pull out some trays and dissection tools getting them ready, as well as worksheets, then she opened the tote. A line formed and she took each tray pulled the specimens out of the tote. (c)
There was some soft tones of amusement as the students received their disection subjects, flowers. The tote was filled with flowers She put a couple different kinds on each tray with a smile, mostly lillys and carnations. Once everyone got to work Miss Lance walked about observing the students' work, she had her handheld tablet open like usual taking notes and observations as she walked about. (d)
Spoiler: ‘OK THAT was a massive relief’ Stephanie felt herself relaxing, the strain in her shoulders easing, dissection was such a horrible word, for a horrible thing, but at least these were plants, she looked up, the pairing was going fast only three people left, Jimmy, Latesha and Swales, it seemed so odd that everyone called her Swales.. such a guy thing, but it was better than the other thing they called her, the pull to pair up with Latesha was awfully strong. ‘Do Better Steph’ she tried to catch her eye, it didn't work, and so Steph found herself gently tugging at Swales’ arm. “Hey… Nicci… you want to partner up?” The look of shock and then gratitude was almost kind of heartbreaking, and Stephanie suddenly found herself feeling very uncomfortable. –c-
“Oh Yes.Yes.Yesplease.” The words tumbled out of Nicola Swales’ mouth so fast they were almost a single word and then she hugged Stephanie very tightly. Enough that Stephanie began to feel really uncomfortable as she looked down at the smaller girl’s greasy ginger hair and acne riddled forehead. “Hey Hey calm down, we’re just going to be cutting up stuff”” she tried to push Nicci away. The poor girl really didn’t have a lot going for her, tiny, but heavy, almost wider than she was tall. Greasy skinned, her face terribly covered with acne and blackheads, Steph found she kind if didn’t want to be to close ‘Do Better’ and the hair an immense ginger dome. Someone really needed to help her… somehow… though g_d knew what could be done with this kind of clay. –c-
Steph looked up and noticed Latesha, already poking a finger down her throat whilst beckoning to her with her other hand. Her expression simultaneously pleading and disgusted. She shook her head slightly and Latesha nodded her head towards both Jimmy and Swales, her brow furrowed, her motions more urgent. For a moment Steph was tempted but to leave now would be even more cruel and she shook her head more firmly. Latesha stamped foot “Dammit Brown! You get away from ‘the Growth’ and come here girl!” ‘Do Better Steph’ she resolved herself “Not today Latesha” She sat back down next to Nicci and pulled over the lily. “Thank you Shhtephanie” the fat little girl beside her said. She picked up the scalpel. Doing better wasn’t a whole heap of fun. –e-
Black Canary: Miss Lance watched as the partners were picked, her acute attention carefully watching the last four students who were not paired up, almost as if they were some experiment she had profound interest in, her gaze cool and observatory. The teacher smirked at Nicola's reaction to Stephanie asking to be her partner. The teacher frowned a little at Latesha's reaction and behavior with Stephanie selecting Nicci over her. When Latesha started to demand and calling names, the muscles tensed in Miss Lance's arms, her hands making fists under the lab table, but staying put, letting the students work it out. (c)
She had to remind herself why she was there and let the students make mistakes and find their own answers to problems, even though part of her wanted to pin Latesha against the wall and give her a stern talking to. These aren't thugs and back alleys, students and hallways. When Stephanie sat down with Nicci, Latesha started to raise her voice again. Miss Lance cleared her throat and gave her a withering look, icy and tough. The same look she gave mob bosses when they protested her insitance to do something they didn't want to do. The girl quickly shut up and looked away, begrudgingly getting together with Jimmy to do the class assignment. (c)
The lab went well, the worksheet describing to open the ovaries of the flowers, draw pictures of what they saw and label the parts using their text books. After awhile Miss Lance raised her voice a little to get everyone's attention. "We have 5 minutes left, please start to clean up. Throw away the specimens in the wastebasket. Make sure microscopes are packed up right and put away, clean all utensils and put them in the bins by the sink. If you need more time to finish you can use the rear label table on your study hall break, I will be sure to give you permission. You have tonight to finish anything you need to on your worksheets, they are due at the beginning of class tomorrow." The class wrapped up as Miss Lance finished going over some notes on her tablet. (c)
She looked up at Steph as she started get ready to go. "Miss Brown? could you stay for a moment after class?" her voice even and serious. Several students went 'oooh' as if Stephanie was busted for something and was in trouble. Miss Lance busied herself with organizing ther lab table, waiting for all the other students to leave. (d)
Spoiler: It was a grind, she knew it was wrong to feel that way, someone as … put upon.. as Nicci deserved decent treatment too, however irritating she might be, and the chatter was irritating, a quiet drone in here ear, Steph found herself drifting into a glassy eyed trance several times as the monotone seeped into her brain. ‘Poor girl has no one to talk to, Stay awake Steph, even if you can’t actually listen’ “uhuh yeah” she managed stabbing the scalpel into the fleshy end of a stamen. Latesha certainly wouldn’t have droned on this much… unless she’d broken up with Lamar again. But at least Nicci knew what she was doing, guiding Stephs hand when she missed the correct cut, drawing for both of them, Steph felt a twinge of guilt at her own ingratitude for that.–c-
There was something almost pitiful about the fat little girl's desperation to do things right, to be useful, drawing the images for Stephanie too, nudging and encouraging, to be liked and to talk, but oh lordy, she was boring.
Several days later, the new teacher’s voice cut through the haze “Huh whah?” She looked up as the ooh passed around many of her classmates as they started to leave. 'Great! She saw me phase out’ she thought as she tried to pull herself awake. A light hand on her shoulders was Nicci’s “Thank you Shhhhtephanie, I won’t forget this” ‘Its not Shteph for the love of’ Why did the girl annoy her so? ”It’s ok Nicci, It really wasn’t anything” She looked down at the workbook. The drawings were beautiful, detailed, far better than her own would have been, clearly labeled, precise. She closed the book with a slap, and standing slipped it into her bag. –c-
This didn’t feel good, as she watched the last of her classmates file out and close the door quietly behind them, the last few weeks her grades had slipped, the long nights, so tired she hadn’t focussed like she used to, and now this phasing out. “I’m sorry Miss Lance.” She started walking towards the front of the class, her head lowered “I know I haven’t been keeping my focus, I’ve not been sleeping too well” –e-
Black Canary: Miss Lance went and checked the door, subtly locking it from the inside, before going back to the front of the classroom to meet Stephanie. The teacher glanced at her tablet thumbing through some notes and spreadsheets, she gave a kind smile at Stephanie. "Thank you Miss Brown, I'm glad you brought it up for me, it makes things easier for me." she started to non-chalantly straighten out her necklace, almost as if it was a nervous habit. "I have noticed your drifting focus in class as well as your slipping grades, I did want to discuss them with you. I spoke with my colleagues and they told me about your 'extra' curricular activities..." Miss Lance was starting to give that playful smirk again. (c)
"I think we could arrange some extra credit around them to help you out as well as encourage some of your interests. I have been told you have an interest in 'nighttime birding', that you often observe the behavior of robins and canaries, and sometimes observe the bats which make Gotham home..." she lets go of the pendant on her necklace, an image of a canary in midflight. Miss Lance giving Stephanie a knowing look. "Would you be interested in this additional assignment?" (d)
Spoiler:Ok.. that was disconcerting, getting locked in. Stephanie watched Miss Lance very carefully, fiddling with her tablet as if nothing were happening, as if she weren’t there and then suddenly smiling , almost as if to catch her off guard. She was growing wise to these kind of ploys, but something was strange that much was sure. She flinched at the comment about ‘extra-curricular activities’. Beyond the gymnastics, what did any of the teachers know? She tried to smile back but the next comments caught her totally off guard and she stepped back sitting down on one of the desks “I’ve… I’ve not seen any Canaries” 'Don't be a fool Steph’ “Have I?”–c
She looked up trying to hold Miss Lance’s gaze as firmly as she could. Could this be real? What am I seeing now? Did she want this so desperately she was reading more into what was being said than was really there. Damn the noise in the corridor! She looked angrily at the door. Usually she wanted Recess, but did they have to be so damn noisy when she was trying to listen? –e--
Black Canary: Dinah gave an annoyed backward glance at the noisy hallway just beyond the door. She foucsed again on Stephanie and couldn't help but smile as her student flinched and back stepped to sit on a desk, obviously confused and a bit startled by her hints and extra meanings.Real life and nightly adventures rarely met and most heroes kept it that way. But Dinah, had little choice if she wanted to figure things out in time. She sat down on the lab table in front Stephanie. "Steph..." she dropped the school teacher pretense, her tone sounding like she was talking to friend. Her blue eyes carrying that smirk she usually had. "I know you have seen canaries when you wander across rooftops at night. This city is quite famous for it's black canaries after all. You never know when you might see one. (c)
They might appear right in front of you." she waited a minute, letting her words sink in. "Hi Steph." she smirked as if introducing a different side of herself. "Something is wrong in this school, secret dealings, teachers in bad parts of town. It's why I'm your teacher. Sorry I couldn't be more up front with you before, but I have to keep your cover. But I'm struggling, students just treat me like a teacher and don't tell me everything. I need your help." she gently touched Steph's arm. (d)
Spoiler: She looked down at the hand on her arm, it hardly seemed possible, she squinted, it could be her, she’d never seen the Canary close like this, she’d heard of her, seen a shadowy shape occasionally in the night, heard the dying echoes of the cry far away in the darkness. The noise from the corridor was so loud, shouting, she closed her ears to it, desperately wanting to hear what Miss Lance had to say. Shuffling closer to the desk. If this really was the Canary, and she wasn’t about to concede that just yet, then what could she want with her. It was tough enough just hanging around with Red Robin and goodness knows the Bat had been less than welcoming. What possible use could Canary have for her? –c-
The words kept coming, and she knew they were true, she knew there was something wrong, everything was so right at school, everyone’s spirits up, a unity, a joy about the place, but there was an undercurrent, something which niggled away at the back of her mind, almost as if she couldn’t let herself believe that things could be so right. Indeed there were the furtive glances, the whispers in quiet corners, raised voices suddenly hushed, and Mr. Cooper’s death. She forced herself to smile. “You wouldn’t need me, I’d likely spoil everything.’ –e-
Black Canary: Dinah smiled as she saw the dawning realization in Stephanie's eyes. She had seen Spoiler on her nightly rounds, never got much of a chance to talk with her though. She hoped that she would have gotten a chance to know her better, before this, might have made things a little easier. But she was getting to know her, even if it was as her student. But from her exchanges with Batman, Steph did have things to learn. She noticed the hint of doubt in steph's expression about things going so well at school, she must have seen it too. She had been playing teacher for awhile now, and despite trying to be professional, she was starting to feel some responsibility for the students and teachers here. She had to figure out what was going on, no matter what it took. (c)
Her expression turned sad as she heard Stephanie's doubt about herself. Doubt was the biggest enemy against any hero. "I do need you. I can't do this alone, I have tried and I am not getting many clues and hints. I look suspicious talking with some of the students, since I am supposed to be a teacher. All you need to do is look around in places I can't get to, especially around the gym and cafeteria. Ask questions. You don't need to act. just gather information and come back to me." she tilted her head a little. "I know you can do this." she smiled warmly. "Could you at least try? For me?" (d)
Spoiler: “Of course I can” she smiled at the thought of being some use, to the Black Canary. Her heart skipped with the excitement. Had they told Canary about her? Oh gosh, this, this was barely to be believed. Could she believe it? She squinted again, she believed it. “What’s going on? Do you know? At least an idea?” her eyes dropped at the though. “Is it something to do with what happened to Mr Cooper?” –e-
Black Canary: Dinah smiled, glad that Stephanie agreed to help. She touched Steph's shoulder again. "Thanks for helping, I appreciate it." she nodded at the good questions. If steph was to help, she needed to get up to speed. It was just too bad she didn't have much to go on, she sighed. "I'm not sure what is going on, yet. But it seems like there is a secret on this campus. And something seems to be firing up the students, more than just team spirit. More kids acting up, talking back, vandalizing, things like that. Mr Cooper was in on it or was figuring it out himself. Some of the teachers said he had been a bit more cagey, was staying later to 'set up labs for the next day'. (c)
I see no notes from him on what he was doing at all, the previous lab setups seemed simple. He was also found in a part of town that he no reason to be in, he was never seen there before his body was found, which sounds suspicious." (d)
Spoiler: “That wasn’t like him” the words were out before she had time to think. As if anyone really knew anybody. “He was ok. Not harsh like some of the teachers or aggressive or pally, he was quiet. He just used to take us through class, hand out the assignments and…, you’d never really have thought about him.” She paused, it still didn’t make sense “He wasn’t mean… he was just … there… you know… until he wasn’t.” She looked at Miss Lance wondering of any of this was any help at all. The noise from the corridor rose. “He was just a quiet little old man.” –c-
The shouting was louder, voices harsh and desperate, a crash, another crash and screams, Stephanie couldn’t help but look to the door, it wasn’t dying down and it wasn’t the shrill shriek of joy or giddiness, normal sounds of recess at Widow Creek High the crying out went some high and shrill with fear and one low and wavering with pain. “Holy Sh_t!” finally a clear voice among the grunts and muffle roar beneath the screams. “Somebody help him… Somebody do … SOMETHING!” She was at the door before she realized she’d left Miss Lance and run. The door wouldn’t open quickly enough as her heart began to race, something wasn’t right. –c-
She’d seen this scene a hundred times before, the ring of slack jawed watchers, drinking up the fear and the pain and the humiliation, the jock and the nerd, arrogance and fear, dominance and submission, and the watchers, gawping and smirking as the nerd gets reminded of his or her place. She’s seen this scene a thousand times before, there they were, all present and correct in a little ring around the small open area in the middle of the hall, she pushed forward “Oh God! Someone DO something!” It sounded like Kelly McIvers’ voice, Steph started to feel sick, it had gone to far this time, Kelly was head cheerleader, and plastic as they came, dating Don Callaway, Widow Creek High’s big shot quarterback and a meaner S.O.B the school didn’t have. ‘Oh G_d what has he done?’. –c-
Steph pushed them aside, weak willed mouth breathing ‘How can they watch this?’ They were there, Julian Norberry, Chess Club Captain, Mathlete, Honour role, sad sack loser. Leaning against the lockers, his hair in disarray, his hand covering his face, a small smudge of red on the lockers where his head had been bashed against them and presumably injuring his nose, his chest heaving, through sobs of fear not looking away from the lockers. Kelly’s wail went up again “PLEEAAAAASE! Help Him!” Something wasn’t right? “PLEASE!” Norberry was gasping for air the crowd of accomplices still watching… Kelly was kneeling her voice cracking with desperation and fear. “Suh… Soomeone.” Something . Something wasn’t… -c-
Kelly was kneeling, cradling Don’s head in her lap, white bobby socks flecked with blood, his breathing short and ragged a low cry seeping out every few seconds, his right leg twisted, sickeningly, as if he had, it was almost , her stomach turned. It was almost as if he had three knees on the one leg or? His trousers were growing dark as the blood seeped. ‘Oh g_d. Compound fracture.’ She rushed forward “Kelly, he’ll be ok.” She looked into his eyes, he looked far away, shock, she guessed. The leg was… so wrong, she moved over to Norberry. “Julian. Can you breathe?” He nodded. “Go to the Nurse. Tell her Callaway is hurt and he needs and ambulance and STAY THERE! Don’t come back. OK” –c-
She looked into his eyes. “I mean it.” when he nodded again she hoped him to his feet and returned to Don, the keening growing quieter. His leg.. sooo wrong, she looked up at Miss Lance, at the Canary, her eyes pleading, ‘What do I do?’ –e-
Black Canary: Dinah nodded, her dark hair bobbing as she listened to Stephanie. She confirmed what she had heard from the teachers and a few students. Mr Cooper was a nice enough guy, quiet. He didn't make any waves, just taught. Nobody knew him all that well, even though he had been at the school for years. "Thanks Stephanie, that's what I..." she was interrupted as the voices got louder, something was wrong. Before she could react Stephanie dashed out of the room. She chased behind her, trying to grab Stephanie so she didn't run into the hallway blindly. But too late, she missed her and was out in the hall. Dinah propped the door open and seeing a few of her next class' students waiting, ushered them in, apologizing for the delay. (c)
She entered the hallway and saw Stephanie already making her way through the ring of student. Miss Lance followed a bit behind steph who was rushing in fast. She got through the crowd which parted for a teacher, just in time to hear Stephanie send Julian away. She looked over the scenario, noticing the dents in the locker, that weren't there before, the smear of blood, Don's broken leg and the angle of the breaks, how could it have broken in so many places like that? She turned to the students, her voice firm and authorative, "Please go along to your next class. I have everything in control here." the students reluctantly left. She had to repress an eye roll. She looked down at Stephanie who was looking up at her with that pleading, 'what next?' look. (c)
She knelt down next to Kelly and Don, checking his pulse it was fast and fluttering. Not a good sign. she looked at Stephanie. "You did the right thing. Could you elevate his feet?" she took off her jacket and lay it down on top of Don's chest, like a blanket. She gently took hold of the cheerleader's shoulders. "Kelly. Kelly?" her blue eyes staring into kelly's with concern. Her voice kind, patient, concerned. "It's going to be okay Kelly, help is coming for Don. He is going to be okay. In order to help him, we need to know what happened. Okay? Take your time. I know this is hard. But I need to know everything that happened." (d)
Spoiler: Stephanie looked at Don’s leg, the cloth of his trousers raised in points where slivers of bone poked out of his body. Her stomach turned again, she didn’t want to touch this, could only imagine it making things worse. She looked directly into Miss Lance’s eyes, making the tiniest shale of the head hoping Kelly wouldn’t see ‘There’s nothing, If I move this? G_d knows what will happen’. Even the undamaged leg was underneath the broken one, moving that, her hands were beginning to shake, with the helplessness. She glanced across at Kelly’s face, she seemed an inch away from hysteria even with Miss Lance’s calming words. Soft and gentle almost a lullaby to her. –c-
Spoiler: “Thu… thu… that Norberry, he hurt Don… he hurt Don.” Kelly’s eyes were wide, wild, more animal than human, shock too, she thought, just a different kind. “Don was just talking to…” she paused and Steph saw a wall click down inside, even in the shock she would hold the barriers between them “he was just talking to him and then Norberry pushed him down”. Steph couldn’t help but roll her eyes, and look pointedly at Miss Lance, grimacing slightly ‘She’s lying… even now’.
“And then Don fell and there was a snapping sound, just lots of snapping. That Norberry. There was NO reason. No reason to hurt Don”, Kelly's words came in gasps, and then a single tear finally slipped from her eye. “Will he be ok?” She looked down and began to stroke his light hair away from his brow. –c-
Spoiler: “My poor Don, my poor, poor angel. There was no reason. My poor baby. Will he be ok? Will he be able to play the next game?” Stephanie couldn’t help it, and exasperated huff escaped her lips and her hand went to her forehead as she looked at Miss Lance again.’Unbelievable, she’ll be with Antwone before the play-offs… aww come on now Steph, that’s mean’. –e-
Black Canary: Miss Lance watched Kelly as she told her side of the story, seeing how the cheerleader trembled and struggled with her words. She gave Stephanie a firm look as she heard her huff and roll her eyes, a silent look to be quiet and polite. Kelly was telling half truths, she could tell by what the scene looked like, but half truths still had truth in them. She watched as Kelly brushed don's hair away with her fingers and bit her lip as she saw the tear go down. Before even answering, with a speed, a bit fast for a teacher, grabbed Kelly in a tight hug, holding her. "It's going to be okay... just calm down... there.... we... go..." she said softly. "Don is going to be okay, but his leg is in bad shape. He will need to sit out for a little while. He is going to need you to be strong to help him through this. He is tough guy, but tough guys often need more help, because they won't ask for it." she paused for a moment and when Kelly seemed to calm down a little. she pulled back still holding Kelly's shoulders. "Can you be strong for me? Can you be strong for Don? I'm not going to get anyone in trouble." the statement sounding very non-teacher. "I just need to know the facts. Don and Julian were both fighting right? It looks like Julian hit his nose on the locker, I don't think he did that to himself. Did Julian kick Don's leg to break it? Or did Don's leg just go out?" that shouldn't have happened though, she only saw that happen when she had to help an evacuation at a nursing home. " I promise I won't tell anyone, nobody else needs to know."
Spoiler: Kelly rested against Miss Lance’s shoulder, the tears beginning to flow more freely until she pushed Kelly a little away holding her shoulders. Stephanie watched still squatting by Don’s legs, there was a Lot of blood, he was looking very pale and she began to wonder what the splintered bone had ruptured on its way out of his body. She knew it might need to be help, but the fear of causing more damage held her back… so helpless. ‘If Robin were here…’ she stopped herself, Black Canary was here ‘Not alone Steph’. –c-
“Not fighting.” Kelly said and Stephanie couldn’t help but grimace again, ‘no not fighting Norberry was taking a pounding wasn’t he?’ “Julian he… he… slipped against the door and.. “ her eyes darted between the teacher and Stephanie, almost as if searching for their belief or approval “he turned around.. he actually, like he was …angry? And he put his hands out and pushed Donny and…he fell, Donny fell, he just stumbled and it was like his leg was made of straw, it just … it just crumpled beneath him… and oh god the sounds.” And then the dams burst and the wailing began in earnest. –e-
Black Canary: Miss Lance looked back over her shoulder to check on Stehpanie, glad she was there to help out and caught Steph's gaze down at Don's leg and the blood. She bit her lip and reached down to the hem of her skirt. She made a quick motion and tore the seam by four inches, then using her nails tore into the skirt, tearing off a long strip of her skirt, not seeming to mind that she was ruining her nice skirt, or how short it was getting. She pressed the fabric into the wound gently, so she wouldn't disturb the jutting out bone, just trying to slow down the bleeding a bit. "There we go. He isn't bleeding bad." She listened as the cheerleader described the situation again, denying what Dinah had suggested. She nodded as she listened, her expression a bit unreadable to start with. (c)
Sounds like a misunderstanding. And Donny... Don's leg just broke..." she thought about it for a moment and saw Kelly break down into tears again. She hugged the girl to herself again, gently rubbing her back. "There... just let it all out... you did so good. Thank you Kelly." (d)
Spoiler: There was a clatter, the sound of feet more than two, and the nurse was rattling down the corridor towards them, a bag clutched in one hand bouncing no less than her own not insubstantial frame, she trotted slowly to a halt, not trusting herself not to slide or topple if she stopped suddenly, her eyes on Miss Lance, she barely acknowledged Stephanie’s presence. “Miss Lance… Julian says…”. Upon hearing Norberry’s name, Stephanie leaned back peered around the still wobbling bulk of the nurse, he was here, he hadn’t listened. It was as well the rest of the students had dispersed, there had been a malice, a seething resentment there. The star quarterback hurt, maybe crippled, and a mathlete nerd to ‘blame’.
Maybe she could have held them off for him to get away, maybe, maybe the good feeling within the school was about to crack like a spoiled egg. He was peering at her, frightened, hiding himself behind the nurse’s bulk. ‘Frightened… GOOD? That might just save him from a beating’ She tried to catch his attention but he wouldn’t catch her eye.
“Miss…huh… Lance” The nurse tried to catch her breath he said…” her words trailed off as she saw the peaks in Don’s trouser leg, where bone pressed tight to cloth, it seemed like a long time passed , her breath rasping, before she finally spoke. “Stephanie… I don’t think there’s any further need for you to be here. Run along to class will you?” Stephanie looked at Ms Lance, it couldn’t they couldn’t send her away now. Not in the middle of something so important. –e-
Black Canary: Miss Lance heard the sound of footsteps coming fast, she was still holding the cheerleader who had managed to control her tears. She looked up as the gasping nurse called her name. "Oh, Nurse Cavell, Thank you for coming so quickly, I think we have gotten his bleeding to slow down." Miss Lance's fingers were stained with blood as she held the cloth from her skirt to the wound. She looked over to Stephanie and noticed her questioning face, looking like she wanted to stay. (c)
She would have liked to have Steph stay, but she had to play the teacher now. "Yes, Stephanie, I think we have this under control now. If you could walk Kelly to her next class on the way, that would be a big help right now." giving a Stephanie an apologetic look. She stood up, helping up kelly and, guided her hand to hold Stephanie's. Standing up, everyone could see where the make shift bandage came from her skirt hardly when halfway down her thigh now. She peered around rotund form of Cavell and smiled warmly at Norberry. "Julian, thank you for getting Nurse Cavell. Could I see you for a moment?" her voice warm and friendly. she looked back at the nurse. "Do you have Don okay? I can help you if you need it." she offered.
Spoiler: It was hard, getting up to leave, Norberry still hiding behind Nurse Cavell. ‘I never get to finish ANYTHING!’ She stood though and walking around Don, she leant down to touch Kelly’s shoulder. “They can look after him now.” Her voice was calm and low “They know what they’re doing, we don’t, you and I?... We’d just be in the way.” She put out her hand for Kelly to take, to stand, but Kelly clung more tightly to Miss Lance, the wailing returned “I can’t leave him, I have to go with him.” Stephanie squatted again then to look into Kelly’s eyes “Miss Lance and Nurse Cavell will look after him, we’ll just be in the way, and then, when he’s feeling better, we’ll both go and see him? OK?” ‘Oh for goodness sake just take my hand.’ Between the two of them they were giving her a headache.
She forced herself to smile into Kelly’s face “Come on, sweetheart, it’ll be ok” and finally Kelly reached out to take her hand and standing herself, Stephanie gently pulled her to her feet allowing Nurse Cavell to kneel by Don as the first sound of a siren reached them from outside. She felt Kelly’s weight suddenly increase ‘She’s going down’ she thought with irritation and quickly supported her with an arm around the waist. “Are we sure class is a good idea?” She looked for confirmation from Nurse Cavell or Miss Lance, but they seemed focused on Don ‘No one ever listens.’ She glanced back at Julian still standing behind the nurse and leant down to Miss Lance “Please… send him home or… please keep him away from the jocks. “
Black Canary: Miss Lance grunted as the cheerleader clung to her, the girl sure had a grasp. She reassured Kelly and gently helped her up to Stephanie's offered hand. She couldn't help but think that steph was doing a good job, offering help and trying to build confidence with Kelly, she noted that for later. She then focused on the nurse and Don as the two girls left, smiling as she heard the siren coming, glad that help was coming for Don soon. she looked up as steph whispered in her ear and nodded, whispring back. "I'll keep an eye on him." she watched the girls go as Stephanie held the cheerleader slowly going down the hall. Soon the medics came in with a gureny and Nurse Cavell was helping them take Don away. (c)
Miss Lance grabbed Norberry by the shoulder to prevent him from following the nurse outside to the ambulence. "So how are you doing Julian? you look a bit shaken up." she led him down the hall towards her classroom. The whole room rushed back to their seats. She guided Julian to her office and shut the door, then quickly addressed her class. "There was a little accident in the hall everything is fine." the students started sharing rumors and asking questions. Dinah gave them all a look and put up a hand. "I don't appreciate gossip. This is my classroom and we are hear to learn. For now I want you to all review section 12 and fill out these worksheets on flower anatomy." she passed out the papers. "I will be checking on your progress, so I want you all on your best behavior. (c)
I will be back in a moment." her voice ha d a warning in it, that had caused thugs to puase. With that said she went back to her office and locked the door, she sat down and crossed her legs. "Hello Julian, sorry about the delay. Could you tell me what happened in the hall? Don't worry, we will work this out." she said kindly.
Spoiler: Stephanie was sure Kelly didn’t need to lean on her quite so much. “Kelly?” she asked very tentatively. “Can you focus? Is class the best thing for you right now?” She gently tugged back on Kelly “Can you talk to me? There’s no teachers now, no one else needs to know, is there something… else?” Kelly pulled away, a coldness to her look, an edge in her voice. “No Stephanie! That’s all there is!” She didn’t like the coldness there, as she looked into Kelly’s pale blue eyes she thought of Julian, why hadn’t he listened? why hadn’t he done as he was told? If he’d just stayed at the nurse’s office... she could have just got him home. Still there was comfort that at least Miss Lance had him now.
She smiled “That’s ok Kelly, I just wanted you to know if you need to talk… it goes no further.” The next class was English, just up the corridor, 40 yards or so, almost done, she tried to take Kelly’s hand but the cheerleader wouldn’t take it. “I can manage.”
Julian looked at Miss Lance, the sound of his heart still loud in his ears, loud enough she might also hear it he thought. “I…” he looked away again ”He was trying to take my money… my lunch money. I didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean to hurt ANYONE”
Black Canary: Miss lance looked over Julian. He was smaller and weaker by far compared to Don, things just weren't adding up for her. The poor boy looked liked like he was about to jump out of his own skin. "I'm sure you didn't Julian. You aren't in trouble here, I'm just trying to make sure you're doing okay. It is pretty un-nerving to see something like that happen." she gently took a hand and guided Julian by the cheek to face her. "If you need to take a bit of a break to recover, you could be my lab assistant today, would you like that?" she asked, her crystal blue eyes focusing on Julian's. "I do want to make sure I understand what happened though. I don't care who started it, just that we understand everyone. So, Don bumped into you and you tried to get him off you, right? (c)
So you pushed him away and he just went down? Like his leg went out?"
Spoiler: Julian couldn’t force himself to look up “I wouldn’t give it to him, and he … shoved me and it hurt and then he shoved me again and I pushed him as hard as I could and I heard the noise. I wouldn’t hurt him. Everyone… they’ll blame me, I didn’t mean to hurt him. I just wanted…” his voice trailed off into silence. A silence that seemed to last “I’d like to stay and …”.
Stephanie watched Kelly go, the sirens had signaled Don’s departure moments earlier. It had been too good to last, she knew there had been something wrong, schools don’t stay quiet like Widow Creek had, something always goes wrong, and now a silly little corridor scuffle, a simple act of bullying and the place was going to explode. And a lot of quiet gentle people were going to get hurt. A little ball of frustration flared up inside. So helpless, Math, how could math take precedence over people being hurt? math, it's how school worked, then lunch and she’d talk to Miss Lance over lunch if she could.
dinah lance: Miss Lance tried to raise the boy's chin as he talked to look into his eyes to see if he was being honest with her or not, but he couldn't meet her eyes. She didn't know how the scuffle started, but he matched Kelly's description on how it ended. Just a shove and Don's leg just broke. How could this be? Don seemed like a healthy young man. Something else was going on. she nodded as Julian trailed off again. "Sure, you just stay here and take it easy okay? I have to attend to my class." she grabbed a couple of Science magazines that Mr Cooper had left on the desk and handed them to Julian. "You can read these if you need something to do. I'll be back to check on you. You can help me next period okay?" she then went back to her class, which was starting to get noisy. (c)
They quieted down as she came back in. She then went through the flower lab, although they didn't have a lot of time, the incident in the hall cut into their time a lot. Between classes she called the front office and told them the situation, getting Julian excused to spend the day helping in her classroom. The next period went smoother for Miss Lance, although she had started to notice more students looking at her legs than the flowers she was showing them, she cleared her throat and got their attention back. Julian helped her this period, handing out the disection kits, checking on the other students. Helping her seemed to make Julian a bit calmer now although he still didn't look anyone in the eye. (c)
Some students had heard about the incident and tried to ask Julian about what happened, but Miss Lance would interrupt and guide Julian away, asking the students about their dissections, quizzing them, quieting them fast. By then it was getting closer to lunch time. She saw Julian to some of his friend and made sure he got his lunch, telling him he could join her back in her classroom after lunch, stopping by the hall monitor that watched the cafeteria to make sure he kept an eye on Julian for her. She went through the lunch line like a student and got day's lunch, mac and cheese with little sauages in it, she gave it a dubious look and contineud, hoping to bump into Stephanie. (d)
Spoiler: She couldn’t focus on the math class, rarely could but today was harder, it didn’t add up, neither the scrawl on the board in front of her, nor the mess in the hall behind her. Things didn’t fit, and with Black Canary here, nothing fitted. She thought about Kelly, so changeable, crying on Canary’s shoulder then walking away like the Ice Queen, she thought of how Kelly had to be lying, of the crowd of Don’s leg, of the danger Norberry must be in now that the team’s play-off chances were in doubt. She thought about Julian, squirming behind Nurse Cavell, how he hadn’t listened. Something. She found the taste of ink in her mouth suddenly, she’d chewed the end from her pen… ugh, blue tongue.
G-d knew what the class had been about.. something that looked like a big curly lower case f or s or something. When the bell rang, it was a relief to get out again and she soon found herself when Don had lain, all clean now, no bloody reminders people putting books in their lockers, taking out lunchboxes, kissing, shoving, arguing and her, loitering, watching. It felt odd, almost cold to watch them like this, like bugs, she wondered if this was how HE felt looking at the whole city. If this was the way Robin felt... or Canary for that matter? ‘AM I one of the bugs to them?’ Not to Red Robin, surely. Others, loitering, aimless, not chatting , waiting. Big boys with big fists, waiting for Julian? Why hadn’t he listened to her? No one ever seemed to listen. –c-
Spoiler: Finally she slipped away, the mac and sausages did not look tempting, but she saw Miss Lance, could she REALLY be Canary, it was becoming hard not to hope to believe, caught her eye, looking to a quiet corner, she nodded gently, suddenly feeling very presumptuous, she took instead an apple and yoghurt from the canteen and started heading towards the substitute teacher in whom she held such hopes. –e-
dinah lance: Miss Lance watched the roiling sea of students that made up the cafteria, watching all the drama unfolding before her, reminding her of her own high school days, her own struggles with the other students, she had always been an outsider in some form or the other. Back then she wore a lot of black and far too much mascara, she smirks finding it funny now. She looked at the table of students that didn't have their friends in their lunch period, the outsider table. She sat there far too many times, herself. Then she thought about what had happened in the hallway earlier and it brought back something she would have rather forgotten another accident that really hurt someone. The day she lost her best friend, the day she accidently discovered her special voice. (c)
He survived, but lost part of his hearing from it... She looked up suddennly noticing Steph getting her attention, she walked over to the corner to talk with her. "Hello Miss Brown, did you want to persue the extra credit assignment we talked about? If so, stop by my classroom and we can discuss it." she leaned in and whispered. "Wait 5 minutes." she then smiled and left with her tray, heading back to her office. (d)
Spoiler: Did she want to? Was the Pope catholic? It was hard waiting the 5 minutes, watching the tables, the cliques, the classes of children banding together; Dean’s crowd of beatniks, dreads and earrings, bandanas, straggly half grown beards and t-shirts worn under lumberjack shirts, . The chess club, mathletes and brains, hiddle close together working Sudoku. The make-out ones, trying to inhale each other even in the lunch hall. The trenchcoats, goth and emo, quiet and pale and stark against their own clothes and hair and makeup, and the loners, the losers, the people like Nicci, or Mario or Reuben or Julian, alone or at a table with a space in between them eating but looking at no one. –c-
And then the ‘Popular’ crowds; , the plastics, looking in their compacts, almost as if the rest of the room was beneath their contempt and the jocks, dark and gruff, not loud or throwing food and laughing like on other days, sullen, resentful, like a storm brewing.
The 5 minutes felt an age and the apple and the yoghurt didn’t last long. The jocks, the cloud over them was a worry, and when she saw Julian skitter out of sight as she made her way back towards Miss Lance’s classroom, the worry started to grow. “Why won’t anyone listen?’ She wanted to yell after him to go home, but he wouldn’t have listened and all it would have done was draw attention., and besides around the corner there was Miss Lance, standing outside her office, looking up and down the corridor. –e-
Black Canary: Dinah had just poked her head out of her classroom when 5 minutes had passed, she smiled and let Stephanie in, making sure the door was locked and closed tight. "So glad you could join me Stephanie. She led her to her office and closed that door too. Her lunch was partly eaten the sausages chopped up into little pieces and mixed in with the mac and cheese. "I'm so glad you decided to join me." she smiled brightly. "Before we get too deep into things... how are you doing? I know it is kind of hard to watch things like what happened in the hall." she said genuinelly concerned.
Spoiler: Stephanie slipped inside, Julian still on her mind “I.. saw… ” but already Miss Lance had her attention “I’m fine… we all see things…” she thought of home and of her father and what had happened at the Museum. “… we don’t want to. But no one else is going cope with them for us.” And then she smiled, although it didn’t feel altogether true .
Black Canary: She nods and touches Stephanie's shoulder giving it a squeeze. "Thanks for helping out earlier and taking care of Kelly. You did good." she went over to her office printer and picked up a stack of papers. "I don't know how the fight started today, but Julian really did break Don's leg by pushing him away from him. It isnt Julian's fault though." She handed the papers to Steph to look over. They were Don's medical charts, updated about an hour ago. "I contacted a 'friend' of mine who gave me Don's update. It turns out he had osteoporosis. Unusual for someone his age who is so active. Any hit that jars stresses his bones and it was bound to break. He would have probably have broken his leg at the next game." (c)
One of the other pages in the stack Stephanie was holding showed the result's of Don's blood work and had some numbers's highlighted. (d)
Spoiler: Stephanie looked up, there was something disconcerting about Miss Lance simply HAVING Don’s medical records, like she could just go in and find anything, take anything, was it the same with the Bat and Red Robin, and that Oracle, they could just go and take anyone’s secrets? Even innocents? Something about that turned her stomach slightly, she thought that feeling had stopped now. “Osteoporosis? Seriously?” she had to know but the sick feeling made her not want to touch the records, she had to know though, had to understand, and slowly she reached out. Osteoporosis was underlined, highlighted, lots of other notes, handwritten, illegible, did Doctors go to a special school to learn that?
“I don’t understand this” she put the papers down on the desk “What does it mean? And these other highlighted numbers?”
Black Canary: Miss Lance nodded as Stephanie answered her own question as she went over the records. "That is Don's blood work, they didn't find any steroids or anything, but something has greatly altered his body chemistry." she leaned over and pointed to the highlighted numbers, sounding more like a teacher as she explained things. "His adrenaline is through the roof! His red blood cell count is also unusually high, while the calcium levels is extremely low. Also his hormones are all over the place. The doctor has no idea what Don is taking, his tox screen came up clean. But he is taking something, an organic compound of something. It is making him unusually strong and fast, but it's leaching the calcium from his bones, it is like he is burning his candle at both ends. (c)
dinah lance: And the worse part is, that it is making him more aggressive too." she pointed to the doctor's scrawling handwriting. "They had to restrain Don when he came to, he was roughing up an intern when he woke up."
Spoiler: ‘Oh G_d that’s just what the school needs, a jock tanked up on something that’ll make him even more hot headed and hateful’ Stephanie leaned forward over the papers again “I don’t believe it” but she did, she believed it only too easily. “is that why you’re here?” Her stomach turned again, and with it her mind flipped, from one terrible scenario to another. It wasn’t much of a school, worse than some, better than some, but it was her school, and anyway she looked at this, it didn’t look good, already she was thinking things she didn’t want to think, imagining things she didn’t want to imagine. ‘What if it’s not just him? What if … the storm brewing was only too real? “Miss Lance?” she wanted to speak to ask for reassurance ‘I’m afraid’ but she couldn’t. ‘I’m afraid for my friends, I’m afraid for my school’.
“What do we do?”
Black Canary: Miss Lance nodded her dark hair swishing about her shoulders. "Yes, I had suspected something was affecting students, some kind of drug, giving them super human abilities. But as you saw with Don it is eating them up. I want to find out what this is and stop it from being made and circulated." she stopped and looked at Stephanie, she could nearly see the fear and concern in her eyes. "Well, we are going to get more clues and more leads." she looks over Steph carefully thinking back to seeing her as Spoiler fighting in the streets, remembering how she swung down from a fire escape once. "You're in gymanstics right?" she smirked.
Spoiler: Stephanie nodded, only then realizing she been biting her nails as Miss Lance spoke. “Yes…” she felt as if there should be something more to say, about being on the team, about the belief Coach Lewis seemed to have in her, about the nights training with Robin, the nights when she had kept up, caught him, but she faltered and stuck on a simple yes.
Black Canary: There was a bit of a pause as Miss Lance waited for Stephanie to continue, it looked she had more to say, but she didn't. "Good. On your next free period or after school I want you to train for gymnastics. Go to the weight room, chat and flirt with some of Don's fellow football players." she smirked. "Talk about school spirit, about the big gymnastics meet you have coming up, how you are afraid you will let the school down because you aren't as fast or strong against someone from the rival school." she grinned, "try to get them to make a move to 'help' you out."
Spoiler: Yes... of course she was going to say 'yes'. Trying to get the football players to offer or talk about the drug had to be done. It wasn’t as if Miss Lance was going to go down there and fling herself at the football team. And yet embarrassment and all kinds of conflicting thoughts and emotions filled her at the thought of parading herself in front of the football grunts. It felt strange, for someone who was usually found in jeans and a sweater or a baggy shirt, who even as a mask had covered herself from head to toe, to think about having a conversation in her gymnastics leotard. It wasn’t as if she wouldn’t be wearing things she hadn’t worn a hundred times before, it was just a different context, no longer competing, now… using… her… (c)
'It’s ok, Steph, you can do this, it’s not like you’ve not practically thrown yourself at Robin’… that thought didn't make it any better. ‘It needs to be done, someone needs to find out what’s going on. It’s not like you’re going to date any of them afterwards or anything.’ she began to nod ‘Do it Steph, and damn well do it RIGHT.’ “I can do that.” she said with a slightly crooked smile.
Black Canary: Miss Lance smiled. "Good, thank you for doing this. I haven't been able to get close to the drug deals since I'm a teacher. I appreciate it." she smiled warmly which turned into a naughty smirk, "And do try have a little fun with it." she teased. "While you do that I will talk with the janitor, see if he can get me into Don's locker. He might have some clues or leads in there I can follow."
Spoiler: Stephanie nodded again and stood up, no point in putting off the inevitable, Robin would have made the sacrifice it were the cheerleaders, she thought with a little pang of irritation. “It’s OK Miss Lance, you can count on me.” she hugged her bag of books to her chest, almost as a shield for a moment, pausing “was there anything else we need to do?”
Black Canary: As Stephanie stepped into the weight room, which is in a small hall behind the gym and locker rooms, she would see a few students at the lines of machines and weights. In one corner at the Bench Presses were members of the football team. On one of the benches was Greg Gilepse, the Raven's saftey and Don's best friend. He was a big young man, it obvious that he could take a hit and tackle opponents. Standing above him was Nick Lewis one of the team's linemen. (c)
He was spotting the large set of weights Greg was lifting, He was rather tall and angular and was on the basketball team in the winter. Sitting on a nearby bench, doing some arm curls with dumbells was Lance Vedapo, even though he was more known for his speed being the team's tight end. He gave Stephanie a smirking smile as she came in, looking her over. All three of them were in work out clothes. Mostly white t-shirts, with writing of what training camp or gym they have been to and their black nylon shorts with white lines. (d)
Spoiler: The session went well, concentrating on the floor and the beam, it was almost clean, on the mark, maybe the sharpest shed been in practice. She only slipped from the beam once, just after the tumble sequence, her foot just off the edge, ankle twisting, she almost caught it, her arms waving. ‘Careful, Steph’. It was easier now, easier to be precise, which was perhaps why the slip off the beam disturbed her so, it was easier to focus after the nights out with Robin, skittering along rooftops, swinging across the dark spaces. Yes, her body ached, as much from the exertion, and the lack of rest as from the blows that had found their way through to her. They didn’t seem to notice the bruises though, not even Coach Lewis, maybe they were used to seeing each other with bruising, it was certainly easy enough to pick them up on the beam and the asymmetric bars. All the same she was glad she had always chosen to wear the black leggings that were an optional part of the gym team uniform even if today she was wearing her own purple leotard. Her arms waved a moment, and then it was an easy jump down onto the mat, why had her concentration slipped? Maybe it was NOT seeing him, NOT being so tired, she wondered where he was, she missed him, so unlike Dean. Ugh, Dean, what a dreadful mistake that had been, maybe they thought he had given the bruises to her, she rubbed a tender part on her bicep. ‘Never.’ No man but her father had ever given her bruises without them being returned, nor would they.
She hopped back up on the beam, easy, finishing with the somersault, it had been good enough to win the beam against the rich kids from Gotham Heights, they hadn’t won overall, but it had been close. Truth was shed carried them somewhat, beam and floor, even the vault… strange how much easier now it had become to throw herself into the unknown, hadn’t she done that every night until? Until shed stopped seeing him. Wrapping the towel across her shoulders Coach Lewis and the other girls were there, a friendly slap on her shoulder, careful not to wince and then out and towards the locker, except not, she had something that needed to be done first, something for Miss Lance, for the Canary.
Ordinarily she would have been straight out to the showers, dressed and out of school barely before she was dry, and if she had intended to stay for the team she’d have been in her towel tracksuit and covered, but today she forced herself to turn away towards the weight room, where the sounds and smells of the boys slipped out each time the swing doors waved open. She felt her temples throb slightly, holding her head in her hands a moment and rubbing the sides of her temples with her she smoother her hair back, she was suddenly grateful again she was wearing the leggings as well as the leotard she took a step forward and put her hand on the door, ‘Remember, Steph… hips’ and accentuating her movement as she pushed the door open and sashayed into the room ‘I look like a fool’.
Lance drew her attention, huge biceps swelling with each curl a glance, practically a leer greeted her , and she winced inwardly, best not start with him. She looked across towards Greg and Nick tentatively taking a step twords them and then stopping, difficult to approach too, she turned back towards Lance trying hard to swallow back. ‘Hips, Steph’ she approached him, leaning on a lifting machine next to him and dabbing her towel at the sweat on her neck and shoulders “Hi” –e-
Black Canasry: Lance grinned looking over the blonde gymnast. Looking at her curves a little as she leaned against one of the machines. Right beside them Nick was looking Stephanie over too. Greg had to get his attention to help him with his heavy weights. "Hey stupid, what are you looking at? Help me with this!" Nick quicky grabbed the bar and helped the Saftey, apparently not wanting to anger him. Lance nodded causually, "Hey. You're on the gymnastics team right? They call you Steph?" He asked, although it seemed he knew the answers to his own questions. (c)
"Have a good practice? Looks like you worked up a good sweat." He said warmly. Greg put the weights back on their stand and sat up. "What is with you! I should..." He followed Nick's Glace to the Blonde, his scowl quickly fading. "Hey." He grinned a bit at her. Lance smiled, he had a greasy manner about him as he stood up, a good foot taller than Steph. "Did you come in to train a bit? Need a spotter?" he was fast, putting some light weights on the bar for the bench next to Greg. (d)
Spoiler: ‘Ew ew ew’ she winced inwardly again as she glanced at the other two boys and then back at Lance as he rose, far, far above her so that she had to crane her neck to look up at him, she was sure that as his chin lowered and he looked down, he was looking past her face. “Steph… yes, that’s right.” she felt confused a moment ‘you noticed me?’ “Gymnastics….” She shifted her weight to her other leg, tilting her hips again and began playing with her hair as it draped over her collarbones, damp with sweat “… certainly does work up a sweat.” She tried to smile again ‘Ouch Steph’. “You think weights would help?” She flexed what she had always considered a skinny arm to accentuate her bicep, surprised for a moment at the amount of definition there actually was.
Black Canary: Lance leered at bit at Steph. "It looks like it certanly does." he smiled and patted the bench. "Sure, weight training helps any sport. Here, I got some light weights ready for you." Nick looked supsicously at Steph and then up at Lance. "You know her?" Greg was just staring at Steph as she shifted her weight, not looking at her eyes. "Hehe, of course Lance knows her, you know he likes to go to the Gymnatsics meets to check the girls out." Lance gave a hint of a sheepish look but it faded fast, always cool. (c)
"Yeah, I know her. She is one of the best girls we have in Gymnastics. She practically carried the team in several events against Gotham Heights. Was first or second in most of them." Greg glanced at that strong arm the blonde was sporting, smirking at her own surprise. "Yeah, I can see why." (d)
Spoiler: Stephanie looked down at the bench, glistening with jock sweat, especially where Lance had just been sitting and her stomach turned a little, she forced herself to sit, forcing herself also to not clamp her knees together as she did so. What was it about them? She’d have gladly sat in Robin’s sweat ‘Steph! OMG, I can’t believe I just thought that.’ She glanced across at Greg and Nick, she as they ragged on Lance, she knew it was true, and that he wasn’t the only one who watched… in that way.
And then he was talking about the Gotham Heights meet, and almost despite herself she found there was a pride that her success had been noticed. “Well anything that can help... next week it’s Bludhaven.. not just city level state… and that’s…scary” It was true and she was scared, the fear of failure, a blue and constant flame inside flared up a little inside her. She tried to flick her hair away coquettishly but it damply stuck to her shoulder, and then her knees closed together anyway. –e-
Black Canary: Lance nodded, seeming to know what Stephanie was talking about, smiling that she sat down. "yeah, Bludhaven is looking to win this year, they are very good. You shouldn't worry though, you're good. Is that why you're here? trying to get a bit of an edge on them?" his tone warm and playful. He gently grabbed Stephanie's shoulder and guided her to lay down. (c)
"Spread your legs a bit so you straddle the bench, scoot up to here so you can grab the bar." he looked down at her grinning. Greg frowned, "Bloodhaven?" he spat like it tasted bad just saying it. "You're not gonna let those losers beat us are you blondie? Their football team was a joke." he said a tone of anger and arrogance in his voice. Nick just frowned looking at all three of them, looking a bit nervous. (d)
Spoiler: “Too good” she said, and then a crooked smile reached her lip as the affirmation of his words caught her by surprise, she WAS good, it was surprising to her though how good it felt to hear some one else say it, even if it was from these guys. If only it were Robin, or Him. Her reveries was cut short as his hand touched her shoulder, clasp gently and pulled her gently to lay back, she closed her eyes against it as his finger stroked her right collarbone.
“I don’t know what I wanted” she found herself saying as she scooched up the bench towards the weights, her calves falling either side of the bench. “Some positive reinforcement… you guys have cheerleaders…she reached out to touch the bar… something else i can do instead of training all the time? Here? This isn’t going to fall on my head and brain me is it?” She looked across at Greg “Maybe their girls are tougher than their guys?” –e-
Black Canary: Lance gave a light laugh as Stephanie talked about positive reinforcement. "Hehe, the cheerleaders do help get me going and charged up." Nick rolled his eyes. "Any girl gets you charged up Lance." Lance shot him a look. "Naw, it's safe. I'm your spotter I will make sure it doesn't drop, don't worry it's not that heavy. as Stephanie grabbed the bar the football player helped ease it off the rack, he was right it was light, almost too light, she could do it easy. he guided her through the motion. Greg gave a growl as steph talked more about bludhaven. "Naw, they are all a bunch of fussy nerds. They shouldn't have gotten as far as they have." (c)
It was obvious he had no idea about their gymnastics team, but was dismissive to any school that wasn't his own. "You have gotta put those nerds back in their place! You just need something to give you a bit of an edge push you beyound second place." Nick glared at the Quarterback. "Greg! We can't talk about that! Shut up!" Greg shoved nick so hit the wall behind him a bit. "You want us to win don't you Nick? are do you want to lose?" Nick shook his head quickly, he was looking jittery, nervous. "Of course I want the Ravens to win." he said quickly. Lance met eyes with Greg. "Do you take any vitamin supplements? the whole team is taking some, really helps out. Interested?" He smiles a bit. (d)
Spoiler: The weights were light but she made a little bit more hard work of lifting it than she needed to. She groaned and huffed in a slightly exaggerated fashion as she lifted the weights back towards him. “They’re tough.. these Bludhaven girls.” In truth she really did doubt she could beat them, it wasn’t like the prissy girls of Gotham Heights, and even then she’d had to make do with second in several apparatus.
She grunted as the weights came easily down to her again and watched as Nick was shoved back against the wall, Greg was interesting, was it ‘roid rage? She snickered a little at the double meaning , or was it the drug that had destroyed Don that was amping him up? Or was he just a natural a**hole? “Second place is just the first loser.” She brought the weights down to her chest, pretending to struggle to raise them again. “Just ginseng” she said as pitifully as she could manage.
Black Canary: Greg made a face, "Ginsing? That's not enough. Don't you worry, I'll get you some of the 'vitamins' the team is using. It's great stuff, really pushes you to the next level! It'll really help you put those Bludhaven losers back in their place!" Nick looked warily at the quarterback, giving a sigh. Greg just gave him a look which kept him quiet. Lance smirked at Steph as she struggled with the weight. "It's not that heavy silly. I know you can lift your own body weight, I saw you do those flips on the balance beam a couple weeks ago; this is half that. Just don't try so hard and it'll feel lighter." he smirked. He shot the other two boys a look. "Hey, I know we were gonna 'leave soon'..." he said giving the other two pointed looks and a slight gesture with his shoulder. "But, I'll stay here with Steph and help her finish one more set. Nick smirked. "Ooh, I'm sure you will..." he said winking at Lance. Greg nodded. "Yeah, looks like she could use the weight training. Keep up the good work!" he grabbed Nick by the shoulder and yanked him toward the locker rooms, giving Lance a knowing smirk. "So Steph... I bet you're going to the homecoming dance right? I'm sure you got a waiting list of boys who want to go with you." he teased looking down at Steph over the weights she was bench pressing
Spoiler: The ‘vitamins’ could it really be so easy to find out what was going on? Her eyes darted to Lances face and then away ‘Careful Steph, don’t be too eager’ She pushed the weights again with some effort, and then wondered if she was overdoing the waif act and pushing the weight a tiny bit more easily, she grunted in a somewhat unladylike fashion “You know, thinking about it less it does seem lighter.” ‘Don’t talk about the vitamins.. don’t be too eager’ She pushed the bar again with a little more ease as Lance looked across at Nick and Greg, almost eagerly ushering them out with his stare, and she felt a little more exposed again. Maybe this was the way though, to get him to talk he seemed less guarded than the others. She shifted her shoulders and then hips a little on the bench as though making herself more comfortable, and Lance’s attention snapped back for the two footballers, one dragging the other out of the room. ‘So um v... Homecoming Dance?” He was talking about the homecoming dance? She hadn’t really thought about it. Maybe if she’d been a senior, but then Mom. A frown crossed her face, and then she was thinking about Dean, Dean would have things to say about it. She held up the weights at arms length as if offering them to him “Actually.. No.”
Black Canary: Lance smiled and nodded as Stephanie took his advice, his look saying that he knew she was putting on a bit of a show, but was playing along. He watched his teammates finally take a hint and turned back to catch Stephanie wiggling on the bench a bit, his eyes trailing across her for a quick moment. He gave a little chuckle and smirk. "Yeah, the homecoming dance, you may have heard of it. The big dance in honor of the homecoming game, it's on friday. There's dancing and punch..." he went on teasing her. Then he heard her response, looking a bit surprised and a bit pleased as he took the offered weights from her and putting it back on the stand. He smirked. "You aren't? but everybody will be there." he paused for a moment and smiled. "Well, you could come with me if you like. What do you say?"
Spoiler: There was something… oily... about him, that made her flesh creep. But it might be the best chance they would get to find out what was going on. She allowed him to take the weights looking coyly away. “With you?... but what about the Cheerleaders, wouldn’t you want one of them “ ‘I’m sure Kelly will be looking for a date’ Stephanie winced inwardly then at her own thoughts. ‘Unworthy Steph’ “Wouldn’t one of them be more to your…” ‘Shut Up! Steph you’re pushing him away and we need to know “…and I’m only a Junior, sure you’d want to be seen with a Junior.” ‘Cosmic Steph! Why didn’t you just pick your nose in front of him?’ She sat up wiping her brow with her wrist.
Black Canary: He smirked at her as she sat up as he took away the weights. "Yeah, with you. Who else is here?" he chuckled. The weight room was empty. "Cheerleaders? Nah, I'd rather be with a cute girl who has more going for her than just her 'pom poms'." he chuckled. " Besides I'm too low on the food chain for a head cheerleader to be seen with. Kelly will probably go with just her girlfriends, playing up that her boyfriend couldn't come. She will have everyone eatting out of her hand and will have a line of guys waiting to help 'Poor Kelly'." he snickered. He sat down next to her, giving her a look. "I wouldn't have asked you out, if I wasn't serious. But if you don't want to go.. I can take a hint." he gave her that little crooked smile again.
Spoiler: His chuckle was unnerving, almost predatory as was the look in his eye as he spoke about cuteness, and pom poms, and Steph began to wish she had something to cover up with. Then he was talking about Kelly, almost as if he’ read the unworthy thought as it had flashed into her head. He was right, Kelly would be there and probably crying a horde of sycophants waiting to pick up a dropped handkerchief, or to steady her when the emotion overcame her. She would have to be careful, Lance was a wolf, he might be a grunt but there was a slyness and an awareness to him. He knew what people were. He was already starting to back away from his offer ‘What?’, she thought ‘Does he think I am?’ How was all this supposed to work? Had she pushed back too much, or was he playing, reeling her in like a Marlin, or something?
“Did I say that?” She looked at him again trying to read his intent “There’s just…” was she going to say it? What’s more was she really feeling the dissatisfaction “There’s Dean.”
Black Canary: "Well, you didn't say it in so many words... but you have given me several excuses as to why I should pick someone else. I told you, I thought you would be fun to hang out and dance with, and I still think that. But it looks like you really don't want to..." he was interrupted as she admitted Dean. "Oh, I see. I hope this doesn't sound rude, but I didn't know you were still going out with him. I don't see you two together often, I didn't know you were that serious..." he paused and looked at Stephanie. "And he never thought of asking you to the dance? Did he even bring it up? I'm no expert on women, despite what Nick might say, but what girl doesn't want to wear a cute dress and just have fun?" he smirked.
Spoiler: A ripple of distaste touched her lips, of course Dean hadn’t asked, of course Dean hadn’t even thought of asking, of course Dean assumed she would not want to go, because he certainly didn’t. He was more interested in hanging out in Stewie’s garage than anything she had to say, or do, or feel, or think.
“We’re NOT serious!” she blurted out before she could stop herself. Of course she wanted to go , where was the harm in it? The confusion and distress played across her face all to clearly, far stronger feelings than she could hide and she began to become annoyed with herself. Why did she want to be part of it? Why did she want to be a part of the show, the clumsy dancing, the awkward fumbling the dark the ostentatious glorification of the fake, the pretty dresses? Why? For all the falseness did she want to be part of the cheerleading team? What did it matter< what kind of achievement was it?
What kind of night would it be if she walked in on Lance’s arm , in something clingy .. and people noticed her and approved? A long thin sigh escaped her and she found herself looking up at him again with a slight shrug. “Maybe I should stick to the vitamins? What is it? My mom stuffs her face with Centrum when she hasn’t eaten for a couple of days. I can probably grab a handful of those without her knowing.”
Black Canary: Lance looked at her a bit surprised at her outburst and gave that confident crooked smile he had, reading the conflict flickering across her face. "Oh? So is there a chance you might go with me? Afterall Steph, High school only lasts a short while, might as well experience what you can right? Sure, there's a lot of drama and crepe paper, but still, it's fun." he got up and gently touched her cheek so she would look up at him. "I tell you what. Think about it. You can let me know tomorrow. It still gives me time to find a date, although I doubt she will be as sweet as you." his voice almost a whisper at the end. His hand slowly left her cheek and started to leave. Then he heard her askign about the vitamins. He shrugged. "That's a question for Greg, it's not your usual over the counter stuff, he'll get a hold some and get in touch with you tomorrow." He gave a wave over his shoulder. "See ya Steph."
Spoiler: Was it enough? She had a tentative promise that Greg would supply some ‘vitamins’ tomorrow. Was that enough to help Miss Lance? She watched Lance go, suddenly feeling an awareness of being alone in the weight room, in a school that didn’t feel like the same place it had that morning, and it was with more than a little nervousness she returned to the gym locker room. In the past she’d been known to shower and dress in the dark after the other girls had left, and to think about the nights on the roofs. Today she made sure the lights were all on.
***
Black Canary: End of the school day. The hallways looked like a ghost town after all the students were gone. Only a few lingered, mostly athletes for their practices and workouts, and the overacheiving students working on homework and projects. Miss Lance's heels echoed in the now cavernous halls. Empty schools always seemed a bit eerie to her for some reason, although compared to where some of her night work took her, this was a sunny picnic. She wandered the halls, and greeted a few teachers who were about finishing their days, but didn't she couldn't seem to find who she was looking for. She sighed. Where's the janitor when you needed one? Well, if you wanted a job done, sometimes you had to do it yourself. She went over to the janitor closet, maybe he left his keys or tools in here. Her eyebrows went up as she she found the janitor himself sitting on the edge of the built in basin of floor mounted sink. He was an older man, with tawny colored hair showing some hints of white and a bushy mustache, and worn wire rim glasses. The dark haired woman smiled and bent down a little so she was eye level."Excuse me Mr..." she says as she peers at the name sewn on his janitor's shirt. "Fred. I hope I'm not bothering you... I was wondering if you could help me out."
Spoiler: Wearily Fred lowered the coffee cup from his lips, small drops of the brown liquid nestling in the bushy moustache and causing him to wipe his mouth with the back of his free hand while he carefully placed the cup into his sink with a very specific motion and an exaggerated sigh. He rolled his eyes towards her, these teachers.. especially the supply teachers, they always wanted something, usually something simple that they could have found themselves if they’d opened their eyes.. and they wanted them at the most awkward moments. “No.. you’re not bother…” his voice was low and bumbling somewhat indistinct as if it had to fight its way past the damp moustache, but the exaggerated sigh stopped as he looked at the source of his troubles and found his heard beating somewhat faster than it had for some time. His mouth, quite hidden slipped into a crooked smile and he found his gaze sliding down to her legs and then back up “…ing me.”
Black Canary: Miss Lance watched as the janitor took his time to talk to her, setting aside his coffee carefully, noting how he seemed to not like getting bothered, although his slightly muffled speech said the opposite. And then he noticed her. A slight smirk pulled at the corners of her mouth as he looked her over, noting that slight hint of a smile showing through his mustache. she started to lean against the doorframe of the janitor's closet, resting on her hip, making it stick out a bit. From his lower position on the sink basin, he would be able to get a good look of her long legs, not hidden by the dark skirt she was wearing. Or the way her little business jacket hugged her curves. "Oh good, I was worried I would be a bother. I'm sure you're pretty busy with a school this size." she said, her voice not sounding worried at all. "I'm a bit new here and still figuring things out, I'm the substitue biology teacher for Mr. Cooper." she offered him a slim hand. "I'm Miss Lance. But you may call me Dinah."
Spoiler: Fred accepted the offered hand almost hungrily watching as she leaned against his door in a most enticing.. he caught himself adding gruffly “Huh, dang kids yeah, they keep you busy. “ He watched as her posture accentuated her curves “Yeah” his speech bumbling. “Busy all right. I always say.. if it wasn’t for the kid’s .. school would be just about perfect” he licked his lips “Yeah. If it wasn’t for the kid’s.” ‘And the teachers’ he added silently ‘... except this one’. He finally looked up and released her hand “What can I do you for?”
Black Canary: She smirked as he seemed to shake himself out of staring at her and gave a little laugh at his comment about how school would be better if there were no students or teachers. "You may have heard about the accident that happened with Don Callaway today? Well, he is one of my students and I wanted to help him out while he was in the hospital. I have his assignments from his other teachers, so he won't get behind while he is recovering... so I was wondering if you could open up his locker for me so I could gather up is bag and books. It would really help me out." she said flashing him a pretty smile.
Spoiler: “Yeah. Hmm? Calloway? Yeah. I heard about that. Terrible thing. Yeah.” Suddenly feeling sweaty he wiped his hand on his overalls. “Only, I’m not supposed to open their lockers, y’see? Privacy or something. Dang kids could be bringing in bombs and we’re not allowed to look and see in case it offends their Civil Liberties.” He added with a sneer that was plainly visible beneath his moustache. His palm kept rubbing against his overall until he finally slipped it into his pocket, fingers finding his keychain. Flipping through the innumerable keys there. “Yeah. y’need… special permission, y’see?”
Black Canary: She nodded somberly as he talked about Calloway with her. Her eyebrows went up, acting surprsied as he said said that he wasn't supposed to open the lockers with out permission. "Oh really? I had no idea. I'm from a smaller city actually, all grades from K to 12th in one building. They were pretty relaxed on things like that." she gave a little laugh. "I guess I have a lot to learn about the big city." she admitted sheepishly. she gave him a look, fidgiting with the corner of her jacket. "They really don't have bombs or anything here do they? I have heard some rumors about Gotham, but I thought it was just rumor. I mean..." she whispered. "I heard that Mr Cooper was murdered. I hope they just don't hate biology teachers here..." she gave a a small nervous shiver. "anyhow, I really need to get Don's coursework, I was going to stop at the hospital on my way home. I couldn't get his locker combination since he was so out of it painkillers... If you need special permission, I guess I'll have to ask the principal or vice..." she stopped looking at her watch. "It's that late already?" she said looking surprised and dissapointed. "There's no way I'm gonna get that permission now..." she pouted and gave a sigh. "well... I"m sorry to have bothered you Fred. Thanks anyhow... it was nice meeting you." she said with a sad smile, slowly turning to leave.
Spoiler: Fred’s fingers closed around his keys, a specific key, one that he occasionally used when the doors were locked at the teachers were at home and his curiosity had got the better of him. "Well, there was talk of some kids in some kind of sect or something.. all red robes and stuff" He shivered looked past Miss Lance into the now deserted corridor, his eyes catching the shape of her legs, pulling the fabric of her skirt tight. He stood up and moved towards her, his gait slow and rolling, walking with a John Wayne bow to his legs he approached, closer, looking down at her as she leaned up against the door frame, and then his paunch pressed up against her as he wegded her against the door frame…
And leaned out into the hallway checking both ways before stepping past her onto the hallway. The coast looked clear.
“Yeahhh” He said slowly to himself knowing he was going to do something he was probably going to regret. “Pass me that bucket and mop. No, the one with the wheels.” He paused again and let out a much more weary sigh than before. “Come on then… only I didn’t see this right? You used my key while I wasn’t looking.”
Black Canary: She gave a peek over her shoulder as she was about to go, catching him looking over her rather tight skirt. She quickly hid the smirk she felt coming, as she had purposefully came when she did, because she knew the school's admins had gone home already. She turned around a little as she heard him get up. And then he was against her, feeling his larger body against her as he looked about the corner of the door, pinning her against the doorframe. Her fingers twitched, her honed reflexes ready to act at this invasion of space. But she let out a slow sigh, no, she wasn't black canary here, she was Miss Lance the somewhat naive school teacher and he was taking it hook line and sinker. He heard him give that weary sigh of his again and nodded looking surprised as he asked her to get the mop and bucket, fumbling as she went to grab one and then grabbed the one he wanted, the wheel on it squeaked as she moved it to him. She gave a little excited bounce that was sure to distract him and smiled. "Oh thanks Fred! I really appreciate it. Mum's the word. YOu're my hero!" she said excitedly and suddenly rushed in and gave him a peck on the cheek, rubbing against him brifely before she quickly drew back, looking embarassed. "Yeah, you weren't even around. I guess I still don't know school policy well yet..." she smirked.
Spoiler: Fred took the mop and bucket from her, turning pink as she bounced in excitement and his he found himself unable to look away from said bouncing and then turning bright red as it was followed by a peck on the cheek and.. contact. He shuffled away pushing the bucket with its squeaky wheel ahead of them with the mop, muttering quietly into his moustache. “Calloway y’say. Yeah. The Senior. Come on then.” Fred pushed the bucket ahead of them a steady squeak-squeak-squeak of the wheel almost keeping time with the click of the young supply teacher’s heels beside him. Until they stopped inform of a row of multicoloured lockers, and he pulled the hand in his pocket out to lift the mop out of the bucket and with a loud slap, planted, firmly it on the floor, his key ring falling from his pocket as he did so.
Black Canary: She smiled inwardly as she noticed the janitor's cheeks turn from a rosy pink to a full beet red. Following the janitor as he wheeled the squeaky mop bucket down the hall. Her heels clipping down the hall, hips swaying gently. She would have felt bad for making him break the rules, but she did this sort of thing all the time. wrapping men about her finger so she could get the clues and information she needed. It was much cleaner and nicer than sneak attacking the poor custodian. and she could always use the excuse of owing him a favor later for something else. She had to admit he did a good job of making it look like an accident as the keys 'fell' out of his pocket timed with him using his mop, not even looking toward her. She wondered if he liked spy movies and was always hoping he could do something covert. she walked past the keys as he moved away from them and acted as if she noticed them. With her back to him, she bends over, keeping her knees straight as she picked up the keys. She found the skeleton key after glancing at the locks, and went to Don's locker, remembering the number she had gotten from a cheerleader earlier in the day. she slid the key in and unlocked the locker, hearing it click, puting her lithe fingers on the locker handle she opened it and peered inside.
Spoiler: The lock clicked a couple of times, difficult to turn the key, and the door itself seemed strangely stiff, pulling out eventually with a little tug she was looking into Don’s locker, immediately assaulted by the smell of a kit bag roughly stuffed in the bottom abandoned. The door creaked open, papers flapping a little, roughly torn out pictures from the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated, lined up down the door a blonde in a bikini, other bodies below, heads covered up by the picture taped above them, and a news paper clipping, the Black Canary, with a picture, shot from below, mainly thigh.
Don’ts team jacket hung on the side, above that a book bag, folders, sparsely filled with spidery writing, sharp edged letters and doodles of spikes and claws and dragons. On the top shelf a picture of Kelly, slightly dog eared, an elastic band, a hair band, a money clip, a sandwich wrapped in cling film.
Black Canary: Miss Lance struggled a bit with the locker, obviously the keys weren't used much on these lockers and this one seemed a bit unused. Her nose wrinkled as the rather strong boy-odor hit her from the frumpy loking bag at the bottom. Ugh! Still, it smelled better than killer croc, so that was a blessing. She quickly cased the locker ans smirked seeing the swimsuited athletes and models acting as wallpaper on his locker door. A small snort escaped her nose as she amusdely noticed that she graced the top of line of ladies, it looks like she had an admirer, and a 'leg man' as well, from the look of the bikini clad ladies. She wondered if he took that picture of her himself, she did a lot of rooftop leaping. Wow, her canary outfit revealed more thigh than she thought! She flelt about on the top shelf and looked at the hair bands; it looked like kelly used the locker sometimes too or he removed her hair ties and kept a few 'trophies'. She took the money clip and photo and slipped them into the school bag that was hanging up, followed by all of his folders with the doodles and a couple text books to look like she was bringing him his books and then put the smelly gym bag in there, grabbing it with two fingers like it was toxic waste. She zipped the bag, straighteened up and closed the locker door queitly pulled the keys out, made sure it locked behind her and walked past the mopping janitor. She fidgited with the bag to make sure it was zipped and dropped the keys as she did so. slipping down a side hallway toward the staff parking lot and her classroom.
Spoiler: The mop swished this way and that sopping only as it reached the keys which Fred scooped up. “Yeah, clumsy” and slid back into his pocket before continuing to mop the floor, as though nothing had happened. Determinedly oblivious to the supply teacher, the click of whose heels tugged at him to look up again. Oblivious also to the slight figure that slipped into the darkness of the deserted school, and instead he followed those hips in his mind and a smile, hidden by his moustache, grew broad and happy.
Black Canary: Miss lance's hips swayed a little as she went down the halls. she paused a moment thinking she heard something, but didn't hear anything then. She shrugged it off and went into her classroom, leaving that door unlocked, and then went into her office, locking the door behind her. She could still see through the window in the door if she had to. she took Don's bag and started pulling things out, looking through his folders and apparently his artistic skill with dragons. looking for anything in particular. saving the toxic gym bag for last.
***
Spoiler: It was strange, how alien the school felt now after hours. There was a time when Stephanie had felt happier here after gym practice when the place was empty than when it was full, but now, all her fears were coming true it had been too good to last, too peaceful. There was a storm brewing. She waltked slowly towards Miss Lance’s class, pausing outside the classroom to look at the hallway where Don had lain and bled, all clean now, Fred had washed it all away and no one had to think about it.
Except t=its exactly what they were all thinking about.
There were the lockers, the dent where Justin’s face had been forced against it.
Nothing was the same, it was falling apart.
“Entropy”.
It was all wrong. She walked up to the lockers, slender fingers trailing over them. Nothing was right looked down at the small dark dot on the floor. Fred must have missed something. Her foot swung idly turning it into a sticky smudge. Kneeling down she looked, almost dry. He gaze drifted under the locker, into the dust bunnies, candy wrappers, paper, did Fred just sweep it all under there? Change, Two nickels, WHOA! A $20, she reached under to take it, pulling out also and elastic band and a hair tie.
“Yuck, Sticky” Stephanie wiped her hand on the locker, then turned towards MS Lance’s class, to wash her hands more properly in the science class room sink.
Black Canary: "yuck stinky!" said the dark haired woman as she opened up the gym back, stepping back from the stench, before poking through it looking for any stashed drugs or something else that had been forgotten. Miss Lance looked up as she heard her classroom door open and saw steph walk in to use the sink. She got up unlocked her office door and then locked the classroom door. she went over to another lab sink to wash the stink off her hands. "So, how did things go Steph? I got Fred to let me into Don's locker, didn't find anything except his collection of leggy ladies." She gave a smirk, like she was laughing at her own inside joke. "I think Kelly must use his locker too. I found some of her stuff in it. Still going through his papers. I wonder how he passes his classees with some of those notes I saw." she teased. "So how did things go in weight room, did you find some football players?" she asked curious.
Spoiler: Stephanie could feel herself going bright red as she thought about her encounter with Lance. “Umm? How did it go?” She finished washing her hands and flapped them in front of herself to dry before wiping them on her jeans.
“Pretty well I think, they basically admitted to taking ‘Vitamins’ I mean I know that’s not actually any use cause vitamins could be anything, I mean, the could even be, you know, vitamins. But..,” ‘Lance Vedapo asked me to the Dance’ “…but… they kind of accepted me, because of the gym team.” She finished wiping her hands. “The offered to get me some…” Stephanie winced as she said that, half expecting the kind of response that Red Robin or Batman would have given, a refusal to allow her to be part of something, to protect her. ’I don’t need to be protected’ she thought as she gazed slightly sideways at Ms. Lance.
Black Canary: Dinah smiled as she heard Steph talk about Vitamans and gave a smirk hearing about the offer for the dance. "Wow, great job!" smiled the canary to her student. "you got them to talk about something that could be drugs and they made you an offer. YOu accepted it right?" Wow, this was the first break they got on this case. She finished washing her hands and dried them off. she grabbed Stephs shoulder. "Good job, I'm impressed that you gained so much information. That helps a lot, thanks." she smiled.
Spoiler: Stephanie found herself smiling as Ms Lance held her shoulder, it felt strange to receive approval and a lop-sided smile slipped onto her face. “I think I did” she paused a moment, had she? She’d been trying not to appear too eager, to not arouse suspicion. “Maybe not exactly in those words” The smile was slipping again, was the approval going to be lost? There’s been too much talk about the dance. “He said we’d talk tomorrow.”
Black Canary: She smiled as Stephanie smiled, she had did good, their first big break, there might not be full confidence in what Stephanie's football player contact would do, but you never knew for certain when trying to get people to work with you to give you clues, leads, and evidence. So for now that was good. She noticed Stephanie's expression fade a bit. "Did something else happen?" her posture changed, looking stiffer, like she was ready to pounce on something, her stance was wider, a fighting stance. "You're okay right?" she asked, the concern showing on her face. If those boys did something to Steph, she would she would... she forced herself to calm down, letting out a slow breath. No sense jumping to conclusions.
Spoiler: Stephanie saw Ms. Lance’s posture shift, it was a change she had seen on Red Robin and the Bat, a combination of concern and worry, a signal that she was a concern, and her smile slipped further. “No, they said they’d bring some and we’d talk tomorrow I don’t know if they meant they’d supply them tomorrow or if it was a first step or, trying to see if they trust me..” her words were running into each other, she didn’t want to lose the approval that had been there just moments before. “I’m ok.. they just.. “ Her head dipped a little, “We ended up talking about Homecoming more than the vitamins… they asked me to the dance.”
“Not all of them…” she added quickly, “… just Lance Vedapo.”
Black Canary: She saw stephs smile fade further. Oh jeeze something happened... and then she heard Stephs response and posture relaxed fully in a moment and she laughed, a smile on her lips. She enveloped Steph in a hug. "hehe, really? that's great! Yeah, sounds like you really have your foot in the door. And it doesn't matter if other things come up too. Actually, it's great that they showed some intersest in you." She gave a smirk, looking more like a teen getting in on gossip than a teacher. "So... Lance huh? He is kinda handsome. Are you going to go?"
Spoiler: The hug was a total surprise suddenly she was enveloped in Ms. Lance’s arms , her head tucked against Ms. Lance’s shoulder, Stephanie groaned lightly, the hug was surprisingly tight. She supposed that made sense though… what with her being all famous and brave and everything. When the grip finally relaxed enough for her to breathe she leaned away, turning red now not from the lack of breath but the rising embarrassment. Lance was kind of cute… aesthetically speaking… except for the oiliness. “I… he… he’s…” The babbling had turned into a stutter. “I… I don’t think…” There were reasons. “There’s a problem…”
Black Canary: The dark haired teacher smirked as the rather surprised and blushing young hero tried to reply, looking so embarrassed. "Well, you don't have to go, it's always your choice. But there are some benefits with being closer to someone who is in the middle of an investigation." she smirked and while giving a little wink afterwards. a hint of concern appeared on her face as she heard problem. "Problem? anything I can help you with?"
Spoiler: Anything Ms. Lance could help with? ‘There’s my bf’ she thought and winced inwardly at the concept, subconsciously biting her lower lip, why was it that she found she wanted to go It would be fake and conformist and yet she found she wanted to be there. She raised her gaze to meet Ms. Lance’s. “I don’t have anything to wear.. and I can’t…it doesn’t matter.”
Black Canary: Miss Lance put up a finger to pause step and dashed into her office she came back, heels clicking as she brought back her purse she digged in it for a little slip of paper and a pen, she wrote on one side and handed it to steph. "Clothes aren't a big deal, I could help you with that. But I tell you what." she smiled. "You figure it out okay? and if you do want to go give me a call." She pointed at the paper, it was a business card for Gotham Floral. "just ask for me there. Otherwise, call the number I wrote on the back. Feel free to call me, anytime. Day or night, seriously." her smile was interrupted by a yawn and stretched. "ugh, these day hours are killing me. I better call it a day here soon. Do you need a ride home?" she smiled.
Spoiler: ‘OMG!’ Steph’s mind was screaming. ‘Black Canary just gave me her number!’ Stephanie took the card eagerly, holding it unnecessarily tight, so that her fingertips turned an even whiter shade of pale. ‘Gotham Floral?’ She bit her lip again, watching Canary, who seemed tired now. Stephanie wondered if Ms. Lance was tiring of her? But then why the card. ‘Best not to overstay the welcome’ she smiled.
“Thank you. No it’s ok I have my bike.” She thought of the battered moped down in the bike sheds now, chained and rusting in the murk. She maintained it as best she could, scrounged parts from the tip or made do, bought parts when she could. It was running, but for how long was always a valid question. “Thank you.”
Black Canary: Dinah smiled and nodded. "you're welcomed. Okay, you take care going home and I'll see you later." She gave Steph a wave, and then the hero playing teacher went to her office and started gathering up papers. Ugh, she thought doing her own homework in highschool was bad enough having to go over it all was worse. she filled a messenger bag she had brought with her and started to lock up. Man, having to be a teacher was tiring. so much interaction and having to get up so early. She was planning on going home, working in a nap, the savior of heroes, and get a bite to eat while going over some leads and grading homework.
Spoiler: There was a way they had about them. When something else caught their attention they could shut off, as if you weren’t still standing there. Even Red Robin sometimes he would look at her almost as if… no she didn’t dare think, and then his eyes would slide and his gaze pass right through her as thoughts and concerns that were beyond her overtook him. Stephanie turned and picking up her bag set off for her bike. Her problems, were on an altogether more trivial scale.
*****
She was here again, watching Dean and Stewie thrashing away at their Fenders, Martin bashing away at the drums his parents had forced him to move into the garage. Dean’s mop of barely washed hair flopped around the mic stand as he waved his head in time to the music, Stewie’s fingers a blur of clumsily missed notes and screeches as hi hit his ‘solo’, his own head bobbing like a nodding dog, and then his wailing began.
“Sometimes see her on the street
In the day just look at your feet
But at night you’re in your car
Want to see if she’ll go far
After all , she’s just a loser
Who’s to care if you use her
Take her to a room and bruise her
You know she’ll never see the knife
She’s never going to tell your wife
About your other nighttime life
Streetwalker
Smooth Talker
Street walker
Night Stalker
Dark Alley Death!”
“Oh good grief” she couldn’t take it anymore and standing up without a backward glance she wandered out of the door and into Stewie’s back yard, shuffling past the ornamental fountain, the weeping willow that was already sticking its talons into the drain that would be causing their downstairs bathroom to back up when the heat came and bowing its limbs over the koi pond. She sat on a stone bench beside the pond and put her head in her hands. She didn’t want to go to the Homecoming Dance with Dean, she didn’t particularly care if she never saw Dean’s face again. She didn’t want to go with Lance either. Lance was involved with whatever had hurt Don, and Greg was too, Nick, Kelly probably, hell maybe everyone. Maybe they were the reason Mr. Copper was dead?
Why did she want to go to the dance? Why did she want to dress up pretty and parade, like.. like… was it a crime to want to feel pretty and accepted. She wanted to go with Red Robin. But he wasn’t around, had he been avoiding her?
The noise continued, through a couple of other songs she recognised ‘In the gutter’, ‘Meal Ticket’ until Dean’s voice took on that grating quite rasp it took when he had shouted too much and the noise had slowly quietened into a rumble. She’d been watching the fish slowly coming to where the porch light rippled on the surface and then shooting back down into the darkness for some time by the time Dean eventually came over and sat beside her, putting his arm around her shoulders.
She couldn’t help herself she shrugged his arm off and leaned away.
“What’s the matter babe?”
Stephanie sidled away a little on the stone bench. “Homecoming.”
“F**k yeah, tell me about it.” His lips bearing the straggling thin beard it had taken him nine weeks to grow curled into a sneer.
“Why didn’t you ask me to go?” She watched those same lips, lips that had been pressed to hers in memories now part of her pool of regrets, she watched his flapping chin, pale skin showing between the sparse red hairs.
“Because you’re better than that lame ass shit. You don’t believe in all that fake plastic posing. Sucking up to the emptiest fakest people to make them king and queen. Celebrating the inequalities and injustices of school to elevate the privileged to more privilege and the lower weakest to weakest to more mockery and alienation.”
“I want to go”
He laughed his head tilting back. “No you don’t You know what’s real.”
“Yes I do. “
“No. We wouldn’t be caught dead with fakes like that”
“We go to the football games.” She thought of Dean screaming at the players, his delirious jumping and cheering at touchdowns, spilling pop on everyone.
‘That’s just cause I like to see the Jocks smash the shit out of each other.”
She thought again of the big goofy grin on his face when they had beaten Ridgemont. The way he had belched ‘We are the champions!” on the way back to his car. She thought about Lance, she thought about Red Robin, she thought about Miss Lance, she thought about Kelly, she thought about Don, and she thought about the depressing hour she had spent at home after Lance had asked her to the Homecoming Dance. The hour when she had emptied her closet and found nothing but jeans and peasant skirts, gym clothes and t-shirts, shirts and sweaters and jackets , her mothers tasseled jacket and mini skirt which still brought shivers to her spine, and barely a dress amongst them, nothing that would suit the dance. She stood up and headed back towards the garage.
“Lance Vedapo asked me to go with him.” She was inside the garage when Dean grabbed her wrist and tried to spin her around.
“You’re not going.”
She was surprised with the ease with which she threw off his grasp. “Well that’s my choice, isn’t it?”
“But its fake bourgeoisie shit”.
“It’s SCHOOL Dean. Of course it’s fake. It’s everyone trying out masks to see who they’re going to present to the world for the rest of their lives. They’re fake, we’re all fake. If they asked you …” she waved her arm towards the ‘band’ “to play the dance. Don’t lie and say you wouldn’t.”
“They wouldn’t ask us.. they don’t want to be shaken out of their comfortable mindsets.”
“Dean… they wouldn’t ask you because you’re terrible, and you, and Suicidal Fury... you’re as fake as Kelly and Don. You pretend to be champions against social injustice but it’s all posturing. You’re not radical, you’re not disenfranchised youth…Martin… your dad’s the pastor at New Way, Stewie... you’re not ‘The Rage’ you’re Stewie Goldberg, your dad is an accountant, you’re going to be an accountant, your kids are going to be accountants. Dean, your mom is teaching us A Midsummer Nights Dream in English Lit.
“Not a single one of you has seen what you’re shouting about, and none of you is trying to do anything about it. If there was an ounce of sincerity in you you’d be helping out in a soup kitchen instead of singing ‘Dark Alley Death’.
I’m tired, I’m going home.”
***
Stephanie was less than halfway home when she stopped her moped, pulled off her helmet and reached for her mobile phone. There was nothing back there for her, nothing at home either, she pulled out the card too and dialed.
Story By: Spoiler & Black Canary
Heroes: Spoiler and Black Canary
Spoiler:
Dear Diary
Yayy, Go Ravens! Go Ravens! Widow Creek Ravens 31, Reedmont Rough Riders 10! Who would have thought they could do it? From 0 and 3 to 4 and 3 and the play offs actually looking possible, but they just ran over Reedmont like they were Junior High. Even Dean liked it, standing up and shaking his pop over everyone like it was champagne after a car race…and who would have thought that? Usually we’d have been in Stewie’s garage and I’d have been listening to them jam, but the turnaround of the last few weeks has got everyone absolutely jumping, or buzzing… lol… maybe both so instead of listening to Dean and Stewie thrash away we were there amidst the screaming masses. Even if he did seem to be paying maybe too much attention to what Kelly was doing. –c-
That’s another thing dear diary… good enough for the gym team, rhythmic team too, but not for the cheerleading team? How does that work? I can do ten times what Kelly can and yet i don’t even make a reserve place? How does that work, dear Diary? Maybe it depends on whether your ‘significant other’ is on the team or part of the beatnik crowd : p Well, irregardless (heh) it seems to have calmed a lot of things at school. A lot of the tensions seem to have calmed down with everyone getting the football bug, maybe more so than if it hadn’t been such a sudden turn around. It just feels like a more united place, maybe because it’s harder to tell the cliques apart when they all wear the same football jackets. Maybe it’s just a little… a leeeeettle bit more tolerant. With one or two exceptions.–c-
And that HAS to be a very, very good thing dear diary… if there’s one thing the world needs now : p its tolerance in schools, especially ours and especially after Mr. Cooper died. That was hard, it’s just not the kind of thing you think will happen. And he was one of the nicer ones, so sad, and the new biology teacher… she’s an odd one, I can’t quite peg her, almost like things are a game, but behind the smile I think she might just be as hard as nails. She even keeps them off Swales’ back and THAT my little papery pal is no easy task because she seems to draw abuse, hell, even I get mad at her sometimes but that’s. I may not be in with the plastics, but at least I'm not at the other end .. is it bad to think like that dear Diary? It probably is isn’t it?
Thought for the Day: Do Better.
Even the annoying need help.” –c-
Spoiler: Stephanie closed the diary again, closing and locking the tiny clasp, and turning off her desk lamp pulled open the curtains to look out her window. Where was he? More than a week now she’d been out, no sign of Robin, or the Bat, rumours of fires downtown but… something inside hurt. It was strange how much harder being away from Robin was than being away from Dean. He wasn’t out there, at least not where she could be a part of things and so for the first time in months, she didn’t wear the costume, she stayed in and watched mom saw logs. –c-
School was easier the next day. ‘It’s funny how much a good night’s rest can help you keep a clear head’ she thought as she hung her bag on the back of the chair and sat for biology class. There was no uniform, but the jackets made it feel more like there was, the black and white everywhere, she began to feel a little out of place in her jeans, sneakers and a slightly scruffy green and blue horizontally striped sweater ( cdna.lystit.com/photos/2012/08/23/old-navy-navygreen-stripe-lightweight-tiehem-sweaters-product-1-4498727-201029468_large_flex.jpeg ). She pulled her hair over one shoulder twisting idly as she waited for the sound of the heels. She didn’t know why but she found she was beginning to smile. –e-
Black Canary: The substitute teacher, Miss Lance, walked in and the class went silent as she clipped in, wearing her heels. Miss Lance was carrying a large plastic tote. She walked around the front of the large lab table that made her desk in the front of the room and smiled as she looked over the class, she set the tote on top of the table and turned around, leaning back to partly sit on the edge of the table. She was wearing a business suit today, although she always seemed to wear something trendy. The suit was black and the skirt had good length going down past her knees, but it was fitted, clinging to the curve of her hips. It revealed her very strong looking calves, like those of a runner or a kick boxer. (c)
She was wearing a white sleeveless top with a lowcut boatneck ( img0.etsystatic.com/000/0/5287636/il_570xN.236601696.jpg ). Paired with the top was a black jacket, It had a wide collar with lapels giving it a wide scoop top, showing the white top underneath. Her blue eyes seemed full of amusement as she greeted the class. "Good morning class. I see many are full of school spirit from the game the other night." she paused giving a smile as she heard the class agree, then she got down to business. "Since we just finished the unit on DNA, and plant and animal cells, I'm going to depart from the sylabus. I think it would be great to start out our new unit with a dissection." (c)
She leaned a against the desk for a long moment, giving an amused smirk as she watched the shocked and in some cases scared or even grossed out expressions the class. "Today's dissection was donated by a local business, so we should have enough specimens for everyone. We will be using the disecting microscopes in the lab, so please observe the lab rules. Please pick your partner and come up to grab a tray and a specimen. Just go through the instructions on the worksheet and fill in the blanks." she turned away from the class to pull out some trays and dissection tools getting them ready, as well as worksheets, then she opened the tote. A line formed and she took each tray pulled the specimens out of the tote. (c)
There was some soft tones of amusement as the students received their disection subjects, flowers. The tote was filled with flowers She put a couple different kinds on each tray with a smile, mostly lillys and carnations. Once everyone got to work Miss Lance walked about observing the students' work, she had her handheld tablet open like usual taking notes and observations as she walked about. (d)
Spoiler: ‘OK THAT was a massive relief’ Stephanie felt herself relaxing, the strain in her shoulders easing, dissection was such a horrible word, for a horrible thing, but at least these were plants, she looked up, the pairing was going fast only three people left, Jimmy, Latesha and Swales, it seemed so odd that everyone called her Swales.. such a guy thing, but it was better than the other thing they called her, the pull to pair up with Latesha was awfully strong. ‘Do Better Steph’ she tried to catch her eye, it didn't work, and so Steph found herself gently tugging at Swales’ arm. “Hey… Nicci… you want to partner up?” The look of shock and then gratitude was almost kind of heartbreaking, and Stephanie suddenly found herself feeling very uncomfortable. –c-
“Oh Yes.Yes.Yesplease.” The words tumbled out of Nicola Swales’ mouth so fast they were almost a single word and then she hugged Stephanie very tightly. Enough that Stephanie began to feel really uncomfortable as she looked down at the smaller girl’s greasy ginger hair and acne riddled forehead. “Hey Hey calm down, we’re just going to be cutting up stuff”” she tried to push Nicci away. The poor girl really didn’t have a lot going for her, tiny, but heavy, almost wider than she was tall. Greasy skinned, her face terribly covered with acne and blackheads, Steph found she kind if didn’t want to be to close ‘Do Better’ and the hair an immense ginger dome. Someone really needed to help her… somehow… though g_d knew what could be done with this kind of clay. –c-
Steph looked up and noticed Latesha, already poking a finger down her throat whilst beckoning to her with her other hand. Her expression simultaneously pleading and disgusted. She shook her head slightly and Latesha nodded her head towards both Jimmy and Swales, her brow furrowed, her motions more urgent. For a moment Steph was tempted but to leave now would be even more cruel and she shook her head more firmly. Latesha stamped foot “Dammit Brown! You get away from ‘the Growth’ and come here girl!” ‘Do Better Steph’ she resolved herself “Not today Latesha” She sat back down next to Nicci and pulled over the lily. “Thank you Shhtephanie” the fat little girl beside her said. She picked up the scalpel. Doing better wasn’t a whole heap of fun. –e-
Black Canary: Miss Lance watched as the partners were picked, her acute attention carefully watching the last four students who were not paired up, almost as if they were some experiment she had profound interest in, her gaze cool and observatory. The teacher smirked at Nicola's reaction to Stephanie asking to be her partner. The teacher frowned a little at Latesha's reaction and behavior with Stephanie selecting Nicci over her. When Latesha started to demand and calling names, the muscles tensed in Miss Lance's arms, her hands making fists under the lab table, but staying put, letting the students work it out. (c)
She had to remind herself why she was there and let the students make mistakes and find their own answers to problems, even though part of her wanted to pin Latesha against the wall and give her a stern talking to. These aren't thugs and back alleys, students and hallways. When Stephanie sat down with Nicci, Latesha started to raise her voice again. Miss Lance cleared her throat and gave her a withering look, icy and tough. The same look she gave mob bosses when they protested her insitance to do something they didn't want to do. The girl quickly shut up and looked away, begrudgingly getting together with Jimmy to do the class assignment. (c)
The lab went well, the worksheet describing to open the ovaries of the flowers, draw pictures of what they saw and label the parts using their text books. After awhile Miss Lance raised her voice a little to get everyone's attention. "We have 5 minutes left, please start to clean up. Throw away the specimens in the wastebasket. Make sure microscopes are packed up right and put away, clean all utensils and put them in the bins by the sink. If you need more time to finish you can use the rear label table on your study hall break, I will be sure to give you permission. You have tonight to finish anything you need to on your worksheets, they are due at the beginning of class tomorrow." The class wrapped up as Miss Lance finished going over some notes on her tablet. (c)
She looked up at Steph as she started get ready to go. "Miss Brown? could you stay for a moment after class?" her voice even and serious. Several students went 'oooh' as if Stephanie was busted for something and was in trouble. Miss Lance busied herself with organizing ther lab table, waiting for all the other students to leave. (d)
Spoiler: It was a grind, she knew it was wrong to feel that way, someone as … put upon.. as Nicci deserved decent treatment too, however irritating she might be, and the chatter was irritating, a quiet drone in here ear, Steph found herself drifting into a glassy eyed trance several times as the monotone seeped into her brain. ‘Poor girl has no one to talk to, Stay awake Steph, even if you can’t actually listen’ “uhuh yeah” she managed stabbing the scalpel into the fleshy end of a stamen. Latesha certainly wouldn’t have droned on this much… unless she’d broken up with Lamar again. But at least Nicci knew what she was doing, guiding Stephs hand when she missed the correct cut, drawing for both of them, Steph felt a twinge of guilt at her own ingratitude for that.–c-
There was something almost pitiful about the fat little girl's desperation to do things right, to be useful, drawing the images for Stephanie too, nudging and encouraging, to be liked and to talk, but oh lordy, she was boring.
Several days later, the new teacher’s voice cut through the haze “Huh whah?” She looked up as the ooh passed around many of her classmates as they started to leave. 'Great! She saw me phase out’ she thought as she tried to pull herself awake. A light hand on her shoulders was Nicci’s “Thank you Shhhhtephanie, I won’t forget this” ‘Its not Shteph for the love of’ Why did the girl annoy her so? ”It’s ok Nicci, It really wasn’t anything” She looked down at the workbook. The drawings were beautiful, detailed, far better than her own would have been, clearly labeled, precise. She closed the book with a slap, and standing slipped it into her bag. –c-
This didn’t feel good, as she watched the last of her classmates file out and close the door quietly behind them, the last few weeks her grades had slipped, the long nights, so tired she hadn’t focussed like she used to, and now this phasing out. “I’m sorry Miss Lance.” She started walking towards the front of the class, her head lowered “I know I haven’t been keeping my focus, I’ve not been sleeping too well” –e-
Black Canary: Miss Lance went and checked the door, subtly locking it from the inside, before going back to the front of the classroom to meet Stephanie. The teacher glanced at her tablet thumbing through some notes and spreadsheets, she gave a kind smile at Stephanie. "Thank you Miss Brown, I'm glad you brought it up for me, it makes things easier for me." she started to non-chalantly straighten out her necklace, almost as if it was a nervous habit. "I have noticed your drifting focus in class as well as your slipping grades, I did want to discuss them with you. I spoke with my colleagues and they told me about your 'extra' curricular activities..." Miss Lance was starting to give that playful smirk again. (c)
"I think we could arrange some extra credit around them to help you out as well as encourage some of your interests. I have been told you have an interest in 'nighttime birding', that you often observe the behavior of robins and canaries, and sometimes observe the bats which make Gotham home..." she lets go of the pendant on her necklace, an image of a canary in midflight. Miss Lance giving Stephanie a knowing look. "Would you be interested in this additional assignment?" (d)
Spoiler:Ok.. that was disconcerting, getting locked in. Stephanie watched Miss Lance very carefully, fiddling with her tablet as if nothing were happening, as if she weren’t there and then suddenly smiling , almost as if to catch her off guard. She was growing wise to these kind of ploys, but something was strange that much was sure. She flinched at the comment about ‘extra-curricular activities’. Beyond the gymnastics, what did any of the teachers know? She tried to smile back but the next comments caught her totally off guard and she stepped back sitting down on one of the desks “I’ve… I’ve not seen any Canaries” 'Don't be a fool Steph’ “Have I?”–c
She looked up trying to hold Miss Lance’s gaze as firmly as she could. Could this be real? What am I seeing now? Did she want this so desperately she was reading more into what was being said than was really there. Damn the noise in the corridor! She looked angrily at the door. Usually she wanted Recess, but did they have to be so damn noisy when she was trying to listen? –e--
Black Canary: Dinah gave an annoyed backward glance at the noisy hallway just beyond the door. She foucsed again on Stephanie and couldn't help but smile as her student flinched and back stepped to sit on a desk, obviously confused and a bit startled by her hints and extra meanings.Real life and nightly adventures rarely met and most heroes kept it that way. But Dinah, had little choice if she wanted to figure things out in time. She sat down on the lab table in front Stephanie. "Steph..." she dropped the school teacher pretense, her tone sounding like she was talking to friend. Her blue eyes carrying that smirk she usually had. "I know you have seen canaries when you wander across rooftops at night. This city is quite famous for it's black canaries after all. You never know when you might see one. (c)
They might appear right in front of you." she waited a minute, letting her words sink in. "Hi Steph." she smirked as if introducing a different side of herself. "Something is wrong in this school, secret dealings, teachers in bad parts of town. It's why I'm your teacher. Sorry I couldn't be more up front with you before, but I have to keep your cover. But I'm struggling, students just treat me like a teacher and don't tell me everything. I need your help." she gently touched Steph's arm. (d)
Spoiler: She looked down at the hand on her arm, it hardly seemed possible, she squinted, it could be her, she’d never seen the Canary close like this, she’d heard of her, seen a shadowy shape occasionally in the night, heard the dying echoes of the cry far away in the darkness. The noise from the corridor was so loud, shouting, she closed her ears to it, desperately wanting to hear what Miss Lance had to say. Shuffling closer to the desk. If this really was the Canary, and she wasn’t about to concede that just yet, then what could she want with her. It was tough enough just hanging around with Red Robin and goodness knows the Bat had been less than welcoming. What possible use could Canary have for her? –c-
The words kept coming, and she knew they were true, she knew there was something wrong, everything was so right at school, everyone’s spirits up, a unity, a joy about the place, but there was an undercurrent, something which niggled away at the back of her mind, almost as if she couldn’t let herself believe that things could be so right. Indeed there were the furtive glances, the whispers in quiet corners, raised voices suddenly hushed, and Mr. Cooper’s death. She forced herself to smile. “You wouldn’t need me, I’d likely spoil everything.’ –e-
Black Canary: Dinah smiled as she saw the dawning realization in Stephanie's eyes. She had seen Spoiler on her nightly rounds, never got much of a chance to talk with her though. She hoped that she would have gotten a chance to know her better, before this, might have made things a little easier. But she was getting to know her, even if it was as her student. But from her exchanges with Batman, Steph did have things to learn. She noticed the hint of doubt in steph's expression about things going so well at school, she must have seen it too. She had been playing teacher for awhile now, and despite trying to be professional, she was starting to feel some responsibility for the students and teachers here. She had to figure out what was going on, no matter what it took. (c)
Her expression turned sad as she heard Stephanie's doubt about herself. Doubt was the biggest enemy against any hero. "I do need you. I can't do this alone, I have tried and I am not getting many clues and hints. I look suspicious talking with some of the students, since I am supposed to be a teacher. All you need to do is look around in places I can't get to, especially around the gym and cafeteria. Ask questions. You don't need to act. just gather information and come back to me." she tilted her head a little. "I know you can do this." she smiled warmly. "Could you at least try? For me?" (d)
Spoiler: “Of course I can” she smiled at the thought of being some use, to the Black Canary. Her heart skipped with the excitement. Had they told Canary about her? Oh gosh, this, this was barely to be believed. Could she believe it? She squinted again, she believed it. “What’s going on? Do you know? At least an idea?” her eyes dropped at the though. “Is it something to do with what happened to Mr Cooper?” –e-
Black Canary: Dinah smiled, glad that Stephanie agreed to help. She touched Steph's shoulder again. "Thanks for helping, I appreciate it." she nodded at the good questions. If steph was to help, she needed to get up to speed. It was just too bad she didn't have much to go on, she sighed. "I'm not sure what is going on, yet. But it seems like there is a secret on this campus. And something seems to be firing up the students, more than just team spirit. More kids acting up, talking back, vandalizing, things like that. Mr Cooper was in on it or was figuring it out himself. Some of the teachers said he had been a bit more cagey, was staying later to 'set up labs for the next day'. (c)
I see no notes from him on what he was doing at all, the previous lab setups seemed simple. He was also found in a part of town that he no reason to be in, he was never seen there before his body was found, which sounds suspicious." (d)
Spoiler: “That wasn’t like him” the words were out before she had time to think. As if anyone really knew anybody. “He was ok. Not harsh like some of the teachers or aggressive or pally, he was quiet. He just used to take us through class, hand out the assignments and…, you’d never really have thought about him.” She paused, it still didn’t make sense “He wasn’t mean… he was just … there… you know… until he wasn’t.” She looked at Miss Lance wondering of any of this was any help at all. The noise from the corridor rose. “He was just a quiet little old man.” –c-
The shouting was louder, voices harsh and desperate, a crash, another crash and screams, Stephanie couldn’t help but look to the door, it wasn’t dying down and it wasn’t the shrill shriek of joy or giddiness, normal sounds of recess at Widow Creek High the crying out went some high and shrill with fear and one low and wavering with pain. “Holy Sh_t!” finally a clear voice among the grunts and muffle roar beneath the screams. “Somebody help him… Somebody do … SOMETHING!” She was at the door before she realized she’d left Miss Lance and run. The door wouldn’t open quickly enough as her heart began to race, something wasn’t right. –c-
She’d seen this scene a hundred times before, the ring of slack jawed watchers, drinking up the fear and the pain and the humiliation, the jock and the nerd, arrogance and fear, dominance and submission, and the watchers, gawping and smirking as the nerd gets reminded of his or her place. She’s seen this scene a thousand times before, there they were, all present and correct in a little ring around the small open area in the middle of the hall, she pushed forward “Oh God! Someone DO something!” It sounded like Kelly McIvers’ voice, Steph started to feel sick, it had gone to far this time, Kelly was head cheerleader, and plastic as they came, dating Don Callaway, Widow Creek High’s big shot quarterback and a meaner S.O.B the school didn’t have. ‘Oh G_d what has he done?’. –c-
Steph pushed them aside, weak willed mouth breathing ‘How can they watch this?’ They were there, Julian Norberry, Chess Club Captain, Mathlete, Honour role, sad sack loser. Leaning against the lockers, his hair in disarray, his hand covering his face, a small smudge of red on the lockers where his head had been bashed against them and presumably injuring his nose, his chest heaving, through sobs of fear not looking away from the lockers. Kelly’s wail went up again “PLEEAAAAASE! Help Him!” Something wasn’t right? “PLEASE!” Norberry was gasping for air the crowd of accomplices still watching… Kelly was kneeling her voice cracking with desperation and fear. “Suh… Soomeone.” Something . Something wasn’t… -c-
Kelly was kneeling, cradling Don’s head in her lap, white bobby socks flecked with blood, his breathing short and ragged a low cry seeping out every few seconds, his right leg twisted, sickeningly, as if he had, it was almost , her stomach turned. It was almost as if he had three knees on the one leg or? His trousers were growing dark as the blood seeped. ‘Oh g_d. Compound fracture.’ She rushed forward “Kelly, he’ll be ok.” She looked into his eyes, he looked far away, shock, she guessed. The leg was… so wrong, she moved over to Norberry. “Julian. Can you breathe?” He nodded. “Go to the Nurse. Tell her Callaway is hurt and he needs and ambulance and STAY THERE! Don’t come back. OK” –c-
She looked into his eyes. “I mean it.” when he nodded again she hoped him to his feet and returned to Don, the keening growing quieter. His leg.. sooo wrong, she looked up at Miss Lance, at the Canary, her eyes pleading, ‘What do I do?’ –e-
Black Canary: Dinah nodded, her dark hair bobbing as she listened to Stephanie. She confirmed what she had heard from the teachers and a few students. Mr Cooper was a nice enough guy, quiet. He didn't make any waves, just taught. Nobody knew him all that well, even though he had been at the school for years. "Thanks Stephanie, that's what I..." she was interrupted as the voices got louder, something was wrong. Before she could react Stephanie dashed out of the room. She chased behind her, trying to grab Stephanie so she didn't run into the hallway blindly. But too late, she missed her and was out in the hall. Dinah propped the door open and seeing a few of her next class' students waiting, ushered them in, apologizing for the delay. (c)
She entered the hallway and saw Stephanie already making her way through the ring of student. Miss Lance followed a bit behind steph who was rushing in fast. She got through the crowd which parted for a teacher, just in time to hear Stephanie send Julian away. She looked over the scenario, noticing the dents in the locker, that weren't there before, the smear of blood, Don's broken leg and the angle of the breaks, how could it have broken in so many places like that? She turned to the students, her voice firm and authorative, "Please go along to your next class. I have everything in control here." the students reluctantly left. She had to repress an eye roll. She looked down at Stephanie who was looking up at her with that pleading, 'what next?' look. (c)
She knelt down next to Kelly and Don, checking his pulse it was fast and fluttering. Not a good sign. she looked at Stephanie. "You did the right thing. Could you elevate his feet?" she took off her jacket and lay it down on top of Don's chest, like a blanket. She gently took hold of the cheerleader's shoulders. "Kelly. Kelly?" her blue eyes staring into kelly's with concern. Her voice kind, patient, concerned. "It's going to be okay Kelly, help is coming for Don. He is going to be okay. In order to help him, we need to know what happened. Okay? Take your time. I know this is hard. But I need to know everything that happened." (d)
Spoiler: Stephanie looked at Don’s leg, the cloth of his trousers raised in points where slivers of bone poked out of his body. Her stomach turned again, she didn’t want to touch this, could only imagine it making things worse. She looked directly into Miss Lance’s eyes, making the tiniest shale of the head hoping Kelly wouldn’t see ‘There’s nothing, If I move this? G_d knows what will happen’. Even the undamaged leg was underneath the broken one, moving that, her hands were beginning to shake, with the helplessness. She glanced across at Kelly’s face, she seemed an inch away from hysteria even with Miss Lance’s calming words. Soft and gentle almost a lullaby to her. –c-
Spoiler: “Thu… thu… that Norberry, he hurt Don… he hurt Don.” Kelly’s eyes were wide, wild, more animal than human, shock too, she thought, just a different kind. “Don was just talking to…” she paused and Steph saw a wall click down inside, even in the shock she would hold the barriers between them “he was just talking to him and then Norberry pushed him down”. Steph couldn’t help but roll her eyes, and look pointedly at Miss Lance, grimacing slightly ‘She’s lying… even now’.
“And then Don fell and there was a snapping sound, just lots of snapping. That Norberry. There was NO reason. No reason to hurt Don”, Kelly's words came in gasps, and then a single tear finally slipped from her eye. “Will he be ok?” She looked down and began to stroke his light hair away from his brow. –c-
Spoiler: “My poor Don, my poor, poor angel. There was no reason. My poor baby. Will he be ok? Will he be able to play the next game?” Stephanie couldn’t help it, and exasperated huff escaped her lips and her hand went to her forehead as she looked at Miss Lance again.’Unbelievable, she’ll be with Antwone before the play-offs… aww come on now Steph, that’s mean’. –e-
Black Canary: Miss Lance watched Kelly as she told her side of the story, seeing how the cheerleader trembled and struggled with her words. She gave Stephanie a firm look as she heard her huff and roll her eyes, a silent look to be quiet and polite. Kelly was telling half truths, she could tell by what the scene looked like, but half truths still had truth in them. She watched as Kelly brushed don's hair away with her fingers and bit her lip as she saw the tear go down. Before even answering, with a speed, a bit fast for a teacher, grabbed Kelly in a tight hug, holding her. "It's going to be okay... just calm down... there.... we... go..." she said softly. "Don is going to be okay, but his leg is in bad shape. He will need to sit out for a little while. He is going to need you to be strong to help him through this. He is tough guy, but tough guys often need more help, because they won't ask for it." she paused for a moment and when Kelly seemed to calm down a little. she pulled back still holding Kelly's shoulders. "Can you be strong for me? Can you be strong for Don? I'm not going to get anyone in trouble." the statement sounding very non-teacher. "I just need to know the facts. Don and Julian were both fighting right? It looks like Julian hit his nose on the locker, I don't think he did that to himself. Did Julian kick Don's leg to break it? Or did Don's leg just go out?" that shouldn't have happened though, she only saw that happen when she had to help an evacuation at a nursing home. " I promise I won't tell anyone, nobody else needs to know."
Spoiler: Kelly rested against Miss Lance’s shoulder, the tears beginning to flow more freely until she pushed Kelly a little away holding her shoulders. Stephanie watched still squatting by Don’s legs, there was a Lot of blood, he was looking very pale and she began to wonder what the splintered bone had ruptured on its way out of his body. She knew it might need to be help, but the fear of causing more damage held her back… so helpless. ‘If Robin were here…’ she stopped herself, Black Canary was here ‘Not alone Steph’. –c-
“Not fighting.” Kelly said and Stephanie couldn’t help but grimace again, ‘no not fighting Norberry was taking a pounding wasn’t he?’ “Julian he… he… slipped against the door and.. “ her eyes darted between the teacher and Stephanie, almost as if searching for their belief or approval “he turned around.. he actually, like he was …angry? And he put his hands out and pushed Donny and…he fell, Donny fell, he just stumbled and it was like his leg was made of straw, it just … it just crumpled beneath him… and oh god the sounds.” And then the dams burst and the wailing began in earnest. –e-
Black Canary: Miss Lance looked back over her shoulder to check on Stehpanie, glad she was there to help out and caught Steph's gaze down at Don's leg and the blood. She bit her lip and reached down to the hem of her skirt. She made a quick motion and tore the seam by four inches, then using her nails tore into the skirt, tearing off a long strip of her skirt, not seeming to mind that she was ruining her nice skirt, or how short it was getting. She pressed the fabric into the wound gently, so she wouldn't disturb the jutting out bone, just trying to slow down the bleeding a bit. "There we go. He isn't bleeding bad." She listened as the cheerleader described the situation again, denying what Dinah had suggested. She nodded as she listened, her expression a bit unreadable to start with. (c)
Sounds like a misunderstanding. And Donny... Don's leg just broke..." she thought about it for a moment and saw Kelly break down into tears again. She hugged the girl to herself again, gently rubbing her back. "There... just let it all out... you did so good. Thank you Kelly." (d)
Spoiler: There was a clatter, the sound of feet more than two, and the nurse was rattling down the corridor towards them, a bag clutched in one hand bouncing no less than her own not insubstantial frame, she trotted slowly to a halt, not trusting herself not to slide or topple if she stopped suddenly, her eyes on Miss Lance, she barely acknowledged Stephanie’s presence. “Miss Lance… Julian says…”. Upon hearing Norberry’s name, Stephanie leaned back peered around the still wobbling bulk of the nurse, he was here, he hadn’t listened. It was as well the rest of the students had dispersed, there had been a malice, a seething resentment there. The star quarterback hurt, maybe crippled, and a mathlete nerd to ‘blame’.
Maybe she could have held them off for him to get away, maybe, maybe the good feeling within the school was about to crack like a spoiled egg. He was peering at her, frightened, hiding himself behind the nurse’s bulk. ‘Frightened… GOOD? That might just save him from a beating’ She tried to catch his attention but he wouldn’t catch her eye.
“Miss…huh… Lance” The nurse tried to catch her breath he said…” her words trailed off as she saw the peaks in Don’s trouser leg, where bone pressed tight to cloth, it seemed like a long time passed , her breath rasping, before she finally spoke. “Stephanie… I don’t think there’s any further need for you to be here. Run along to class will you?” Stephanie looked at Ms Lance, it couldn’t they couldn’t send her away now. Not in the middle of something so important. –e-
Black Canary: Miss Lance heard the sound of footsteps coming fast, she was still holding the cheerleader who had managed to control her tears. She looked up as the gasping nurse called her name. "Oh, Nurse Cavell, Thank you for coming so quickly, I think we have gotten his bleeding to slow down." Miss Lance's fingers were stained with blood as she held the cloth from her skirt to the wound. She looked over to Stephanie and noticed her questioning face, looking like she wanted to stay. (c)
She would have liked to have Steph stay, but she had to play the teacher now. "Yes, Stephanie, I think we have this under control now. If you could walk Kelly to her next class on the way, that would be a big help right now." giving a Stephanie an apologetic look. She stood up, helping up kelly and, guided her hand to hold Stephanie's. Standing up, everyone could see where the make shift bandage came from her skirt hardly when halfway down her thigh now. She peered around rotund form of Cavell and smiled warmly at Norberry. "Julian, thank you for getting Nurse Cavell. Could I see you for a moment?" her voice warm and friendly. she looked back at the nurse. "Do you have Don okay? I can help you if you need it." she offered.
Spoiler: It was hard, getting up to leave, Norberry still hiding behind Nurse Cavell. ‘I never get to finish ANYTHING!’ She stood though and walking around Don, she leant down to touch Kelly’s shoulder. “They can look after him now.” Her voice was calm and low “They know what they’re doing, we don’t, you and I?... We’d just be in the way.” She put out her hand for Kelly to take, to stand, but Kelly clung more tightly to Miss Lance, the wailing returned “I can’t leave him, I have to go with him.” Stephanie squatted again then to look into Kelly’s eyes “Miss Lance and Nurse Cavell will look after him, we’ll just be in the way, and then, when he’s feeling better, we’ll both go and see him? OK?” ‘Oh for goodness sake just take my hand.’ Between the two of them they were giving her a headache.
She forced herself to smile into Kelly’s face “Come on, sweetheart, it’ll be ok” and finally Kelly reached out to take her hand and standing herself, Stephanie gently pulled her to her feet allowing Nurse Cavell to kneel by Don as the first sound of a siren reached them from outside. She felt Kelly’s weight suddenly increase ‘She’s going down’ she thought with irritation and quickly supported her with an arm around the waist. “Are we sure class is a good idea?” She looked for confirmation from Nurse Cavell or Miss Lance, but they seemed focused on Don ‘No one ever listens.’ She glanced back at Julian still standing behind the nurse and leant down to Miss Lance “Please… send him home or… please keep him away from the jocks. “
Black Canary: Miss Lance grunted as the cheerleader clung to her, the girl sure had a grasp. She reassured Kelly and gently helped her up to Stephanie's offered hand. She couldn't help but think that steph was doing a good job, offering help and trying to build confidence with Kelly, she noted that for later. She then focused on the nurse and Don as the two girls left, smiling as she heard the siren coming, glad that help was coming for Don soon. she looked up as steph whispered in her ear and nodded, whispring back. "I'll keep an eye on him." she watched the girls go as Stephanie held the cheerleader slowly going down the hall. Soon the medics came in with a gureny and Nurse Cavell was helping them take Don away. (c)
Miss Lance grabbed Norberry by the shoulder to prevent him from following the nurse outside to the ambulence. "So how are you doing Julian? you look a bit shaken up." she led him down the hall towards her classroom. The whole room rushed back to their seats. She guided Julian to her office and shut the door, then quickly addressed her class. "There was a little accident in the hall everything is fine." the students started sharing rumors and asking questions. Dinah gave them all a look and put up a hand. "I don't appreciate gossip. This is my classroom and we are hear to learn. For now I want you to all review section 12 and fill out these worksheets on flower anatomy." she passed out the papers. "I will be checking on your progress, so I want you all on your best behavior. (c)
I will be back in a moment." her voice ha d a warning in it, that had caused thugs to puase. With that said she went back to her office and locked the door, she sat down and crossed her legs. "Hello Julian, sorry about the delay. Could you tell me what happened in the hall? Don't worry, we will work this out." she said kindly.
Spoiler: Stephanie was sure Kelly didn’t need to lean on her quite so much. “Kelly?” she asked very tentatively. “Can you focus? Is class the best thing for you right now?” She gently tugged back on Kelly “Can you talk to me? There’s no teachers now, no one else needs to know, is there something… else?” Kelly pulled away, a coldness to her look, an edge in her voice. “No Stephanie! That’s all there is!” She didn’t like the coldness there, as she looked into Kelly’s pale blue eyes she thought of Julian, why hadn’t he listened? why hadn’t he done as he was told? If he’d just stayed at the nurse’s office... she could have just got him home. Still there was comfort that at least Miss Lance had him now.
She smiled “That’s ok Kelly, I just wanted you to know if you need to talk… it goes no further.” The next class was English, just up the corridor, 40 yards or so, almost done, she tried to take Kelly’s hand but the cheerleader wouldn’t take it. “I can manage.”
Julian looked at Miss Lance, the sound of his heart still loud in his ears, loud enough she might also hear it he thought. “I…” he looked away again ”He was trying to take my money… my lunch money. I didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean to hurt ANYONE”
Black Canary: Miss lance looked over Julian. He was smaller and weaker by far compared to Don, things just weren't adding up for her. The poor boy looked liked like he was about to jump out of his own skin. "I'm sure you didn't Julian. You aren't in trouble here, I'm just trying to make sure you're doing okay. It is pretty un-nerving to see something like that happen." she gently took a hand and guided Julian by the cheek to face her. "If you need to take a bit of a break to recover, you could be my lab assistant today, would you like that?" she asked, her crystal blue eyes focusing on Julian's. "I do want to make sure I understand what happened though. I don't care who started it, just that we understand everyone. So, Don bumped into you and you tried to get him off you, right? (c)
So you pushed him away and he just went down? Like his leg went out?"
Spoiler: Julian couldn’t force himself to look up “I wouldn’t give it to him, and he … shoved me and it hurt and then he shoved me again and I pushed him as hard as I could and I heard the noise. I wouldn’t hurt him. Everyone… they’ll blame me, I didn’t mean to hurt him. I just wanted…” his voice trailed off into silence. A silence that seemed to last “I’d like to stay and …”.
Stephanie watched Kelly go, the sirens had signaled Don’s departure moments earlier. It had been too good to last, she knew there had been something wrong, schools don’t stay quiet like Widow Creek had, something always goes wrong, and now a silly little corridor scuffle, a simple act of bullying and the place was going to explode. And a lot of quiet gentle people were going to get hurt. A little ball of frustration flared up inside. So helpless, Math, how could math take precedence over people being hurt? math, it's how school worked, then lunch and she’d talk to Miss Lance over lunch if she could.
dinah lance: Miss Lance tried to raise the boy's chin as he talked to look into his eyes to see if he was being honest with her or not, but he couldn't meet her eyes. She didn't know how the scuffle started, but he matched Kelly's description on how it ended. Just a shove and Don's leg just broke. How could this be? Don seemed like a healthy young man. Something else was going on. she nodded as Julian trailed off again. "Sure, you just stay here and take it easy okay? I have to attend to my class." she grabbed a couple of Science magazines that Mr Cooper had left on the desk and handed them to Julian. "You can read these if you need something to do. I'll be back to check on you. You can help me next period okay?" she then went back to her class, which was starting to get noisy. (c)
They quieted down as she came back in. She then went through the flower lab, although they didn't have a lot of time, the incident in the hall cut into their time a lot. Between classes she called the front office and told them the situation, getting Julian excused to spend the day helping in her classroom. The next period went smoother for Miss Lance, although she had started to notice more students looking at her legs than the flowers she was showing them, she cleared her throat and got their attention back. Julian helped her this period, handing out the disection kits, checking on the other students. Helping her seemed to make Julian a bit calmer now although he still didn't look anyone in the eye. (c)
Some students had heard about the incident and tried to ask Julian about what happened, but Miss Lance would interrupt and guide Julian away, asking the students about their dissections, quizzing them, quieting them fast. By then it was getting closer to lunch time. She saw Julian to some of his friend and made sure he got his lunch, telling him he could join her back in her classroom after lunch, stopping by the hall monitor that watched the cafeteria to make sure he kept an eye on Julian for her. She went through the lunch line like a student and got day's lunch, mac and cheese with little sauages in it, she gave it a dubious look and contineud, hoping to bump into Stephanie. (d)
Spoiler: She couldn’t focus on the math class, rarely could but today was harder, it didn’t add up, neither the scrawl on the board in front of her, nor the mess in the hall behind her. Things didn’t fit, and with Black Canary here, nothing fitted. She thought about Kelly, so changeable, crying on Canary’s shoulder then walking away like the Ice Queen, she thought of how Kelly had to be lying, of the crowd of Don’s leg, of the danger Norberry must be in now that the team’s play-off chances were in doubt. She thought about Julian, squirming behind Nurse Cavell, how he hadn’t listened. Something. She found the taste of ink in her mouth suddenly, she’d chewed the end from her pen… ugh, blue tongue.
G-d knew what the class had been about.. something that looked like a big curly lower case f or s or something. When the bell rang, it was a relief to get out again and she soon found herself when Don had lain, all clean now, no bloody reminders people putting books in their lockers, taking out lunchboxes, kissing, shoving, arguing and her, loitering, watching. It felt odd, almost cold to watch them like this, like bugs, she wondered if this was how HE felt looking at the whole city. If this was the way Robin felt... or Canary for that matter? ‘AM I one of the bugs to them?’ Not to Red Robin, surely. Others, loitering, aimless, not chatting , waiting. Big boys with big fists, waiting for Julian? Why hadn’t he listened to her? No one ever seemed to listen. –c-
Spoiler: Finally she slipped away, the mac and sausages did not look tempting, but she saw Miss Lance, could she REALLY be Canary, it was becoming hard not to hope to believe, caught her eye, looking to a quiet corner, she nodded gently, suddenly feeling very presumptuous, she took instead an apple and yoghurt from the canteen and started heading towards the substitute teacher in whom she held such hopes. –e-
dinah lance: Miss Lance watched the roiling sea of students that made up the cafteria, watching all the drama unfolding before her, reminding her of her own high school days, her own struggles with the other students, she had always been an outsider in some form or the other. Back then she wore a lot of black and far too much mascara, she smirks finding it funny now. She looked at the table of students that didn't have their friends in their lunch period, the outsider table. She sat there far too many times, herself. Then she thought about what had happened in the hallway earlier and it brought back something she would have rather forgotten another accident that really hurt someone. The day she lost her best friend, the day she accidently discovered her special voice. (c)
He survived, but lost part of his hearing from it... She looked up suddennly noticing Steph getting her attention, she walked over to the corner to talk with her. "Hello Miss Brown, did you want to persue the extra credit assignment we talked about? If so, stop by my classroom and we can discuss it." she leaned in and whispered. "Wait 5 minutes." she then smiled and left with her tray, heading back to her office. (d)
Spoiler: Did she want to? Was the Pope catholic? It was hard waiting the 5 minutes, watching the tables, the cliques, the classes of children banding together; Dean’s crowd of beatniks, dreads and earrings, bandanas, straggly half grown beards and t-shirts worn under lumberjack shirts, . The chess club, mathletes and brains, hiddle close together working Sudoku. The make-out ones, trying to inhale each other even in the lunch hall. The trenchcoats, goth and emo, quiet and pale and stark against their own clothes and hair and makeup, and the loners, the losers, the people like Nicci, or Mario or Reuben or Julian, alone or at a table with a space in between them eating but looking at no one. –c-
And then the ‘Popular’ crowds; , the plastics, looking in their compacts, almost as if the rest of the room was beneath their contempt and the jocks, dark and gruff, not loud or throwing food and laughing like on other days, sullen, resentful, like a storm brewing.
The 5 minutes felt an age and the apple and the yoghurt didn’t last long. The jocks, the cloud over them was a worry, and when she saw Julian skitter out of sight as she made her way back towards Miss Lance’s classroom, the worry started to grow. “Why won’t anyone listen?’ She wanted to yell after him to go home, but he wouldn’t have listened and all it would have done was draw attention., and besides around the corner there was Miss Lance, standing outside her office, looking up and down the corridor. –e-
Black Canary: Dinah had just poked her head out of her classroom when 5 minutes had passed, she smiled and let Stephanie in, making sure the door was locked and closed tight. "So glad you could join me Stephanie. She led her to her office and closed that door too. Her lunch was partly eaten the sausages chopped up into little pieces and mixed in with the mac and cheese. "I'm so glad you decided to join me." she smiled brightly. "Before we get too deep into things... how are you doing? I know it is kind of hard to watch things like what happened in the hall." she said genuinelly concerned.
Spoiler: Stephanie slipped inside, Julian still on her mind “I.. saw… ” but already Miss Lance had her attention “I’m fine… we all see things…” she thought of home and of her father and what had happened at the Museum. “… we don’t want to. But no one else is going cope with them for us.” And then she smiled, although it didn’t feel altogether true .
Black Canary: She nods and touches Stephanie's shoulder giving it a squeeze. "Thanks for helping out earlier and taking care of Kelly. You did good." she went over to her office printer and picked up a stack of papers. "I don't know how the fight started today, but Julian really did break Don's leg by pushing him away from him. It isnt Julian's fault though." She handed the papers to Steph to look over. They were Don's medical charts, updated about an hour ago. "I contacted a 'friend' of mine who gave me Don's update. It turns out he had osteoporosis. Unusual for someone his age who is so active. Any hit that jars stresses his bones and it was bound to break. He would have probably have broken his leg at the next game." (c)
One of the other pages in the stack Stephanie was holding showed the result's of Don's blood work and had some numbers's highlighted. (d)
Spoiler: Stephanie looked up, there was something disconcerting about Miss Lance simply HAVING Don’s medical records, like she could just go in and find anything, take anything, was it the same with the Bat and Red Robin, and that Oracle, they could just go and take anyone’s secrets? Even innocents? Something about that turned her stomach slightly, she thought that feeling had stopped now. “Osteoporosis? Seriously?” she had to know but the sick feeling made her not want to touch the records, she had to know though, had to understand, and slowly she reached out. Osteoporosis was underlined, highlighted, lots of other notes, handwritten, illegible, did Doctors go to a special school to learn that?
“I don’t understand this” she put the papers down on the desk “What does it mean? And these other highlighted numbers?”
Black Canary: Miss Lance nodded as Stephanie answered her own question as she went over the records. "That is Don's blood work, they didn't find any steroids or anything, but something has greatly altered his body chemistry." she leaned over and pointed to the highlighted numbers, sounding more like a teacher as she explained things. "His adrenaline is through the roof! His red blood cell count is also unusually high, while the calcium levels is extremely low. Also his hormones are all over the place. The doctor has no idea what Don is taking, his tox screen came up clean. But he is taking something, an organic compound of something. It is making him unusually strong and fast, but it's leaching the calcium from his bones, it is like he is burning his candle at both ends. (c)
dinah lance: And the worse part is, that it is making him more aggressive too." she pointed to the doctor's scrawling handwriting. "They had to restrain Don when he came to, he was roughing up an intern when he woke up."
Spoiler: ‘Oh G_d that’s just what the school needs, a jock tanked up on something that’ll make him even more hot headed and hateful’ Stephanie leaned forward over the papers again “I don’t believe it” but she did, she believed it only too easily. “is that why you’re here?” Her stomach turned again, and with it her mind flipped, from one terrible scenario to another. It wasn’t much of a school, worse than some, better than some, but it was her school, and anyway she looked at this, it didn’t look good, already she was thinking things she didn’t want to think, imagining things she didn’t want to imagine. ‘What if it’s not just him? What if … the storm brewing was only too real? “Miss Lance?” she wanted to speak to ask for reassurance ‘I’m afraid’ but she couldn’t. ‘I’m afraid for my friends, I’m afraid for my school’.
“What do we do?”
Black Canary: Miss Lance nodded her dark hair swishing about her shoulders. "Yes, I had suspected something was affecting students, some kind of drug, giving them super human abilities. But as you saw with Don it is eating them up. I want to find out what this is and stop it from being made and circulated." she stopped and looked at Stephanie, she could nearly see the fear and concern in her eyes. "Well, we are going to get more clues and more leads." she looks over Steph carefully thinking back to seeing her as Spoiler fighting in the streets, remembering how she swung down from a fire escape once. "You're in gymanstics right?" she smirked.
Spoiler: Stephanie nodded, only then realizing she been biting her nails as Miss Lance spoke. “Yes…” she felt as if there should be something more to say, about being on the team, about the belief Coach Lewis seemed to have in her, about the nights training with Robin, the nights when she had kept up, caught him, but she faltered and stuck on a simple yes.
Black Canary: There was a bit of a pause as Miss Lance waited for Stephanie to continue, it looked she had more to say, but she didn't. "Good. On your next free period or after school I want you to train for gymnastics. Go to the weight room, chat and flirt with some of Don's fellow football players." she smirked. "Talk about school spirit, about the big gymnastics meet you have coming up, how you are afraid you will let the school down because you aren't as fast or strong against someone from the rival school." she grinned, "try to get them to make a move to 'help' you out."
Spoiler: Yes... of course she was going to say 'yes'. Trying to get the football players to offer or talk about the drug had to be done. It wasn’t as if Miss Lance was going to go down there and fling herself at the football team. And yet embarrassment and all kinds of conflicting thoughts and emotions filled her at the thought of parading herself in front of the football grunts. It felt strange, for someone who was usually found in jeans and a sweater or a baggy shirt, who even as a mask had covered herself from head to toe, to think about having a conversation in her gymnastics leotard. It wasn’t as if she wouldn’t be wearing things she hadn’t worn a hundred times before, it was just a different context, no longer competing, now… using… her… (c)
'It’s ok, Steph, you can do this, it’s not like you’ve not practically thrown yourself at Robin’… that thought didn't make it any better. ‘It needs to be done, someone needs to find out what’s going on. It’s not like you’re going to date any of them afterwards or anything.’ she began to nod ‘Do it Steph, and damn well do it RIGHT.’ “I can do that.” she said with a slightly crooked smile.
Black Canary: Miss Lance smiled. "Good, thank you for doing this. I haven't been able to get close to the drug deals since I'm a teacher. I appreciate it." she smiled warmly which turned into a naughty smirk, "And do try have a little fun with it." she teased. "While you do that I will talk with the janitor, see if he can get me into Don's locker. He might have some clues or leads in there I can follow."
Spoiler: Stephanie nodded again and stood up, no point in putting off the inevitable, Robin would have made the sacrifice it were the cheerleaders, she thought with a little pang of irritation. “It’s OK Miss Lance, you can count on me.” she hugged her bag of books to her chest, almost as a shield for a moment, pausing “was there anything else we need to do?”
Black Canary: As Stephanie stepped into the weight room, which is in a small hall behind the gym and locker rooms, she would see a few students at the lines of machines and weights. In one corner at the Bench Presses were members of the football team. On one of the benches was Greg Gilepse, the Raven's saftey and Don's best friend. He was a big young man, it obvious that he could take a hit and tackle opponents. Standing above him was Nick Lewis one of the team's linemen. (c)
He was spotting the large set of weights Greg was lifting, He was rather tall and angular and was on the basketball team in the winter. Sitting on a nearby bench, doing some arm curls with dumbells was Lance Vedapo, even though he was more known for his speed being the team's tight end. He gave Stephanie a smirking smile as she came in, looking her over. All three of them were in work out clothes. Mostly white t-shirts, with writing of what training camp or gym they have been to and their black nylon shorts with white lines. (d)
Spoiler: The session went well, concentrating on the floor and the beam, it was almost clean, on the mark, maybe the sharpest shed been in practice. She only slipped from the beam once, just after the tumble sequence, her foot just off the edge, ankle twisting, she almost caught it, her arms waving. ‘Careful, Steph’. It was easier now, easier to be precise, which was perhaps why the slip off the beam disturbed her so, it was easier to focus after the nights out with Robin, skittering along rooftops, swinging across the dark spaces. Yes, her body ached, as much from the exertion, and the lack of rest as from the blows that had found their way through to her. They didn’t seem to notice the bruises though, not even Coach Lewis, maybe they were used to seeing each other with bruising, it was certainly easy enough to pick them up on the beam and the asymmetric bars. All the same she was glad she had always chosen to wear the black leggings that were an optional part of the gym team uniform even if today she was wearing her own purple leotard. Her arms waved a moment, and then it was an easy jump down onto the mat, why had her concentration slipped? Maybe it was NOT seeing him, NOT being so tired, she wondered where he was, she missed him, so unlike Dean. Ugh, Dean, what a dreadful mistake that had been, maybe they thought he had given the bruises to her, she rubbed a tender part on her bicep. ‘Never.’ No man but her father had ever given her bruises without them being returned, nor would they.
She hopped back up on the beam, easy, finishing with the somersault, it had been good enough to win the beam against the rich kids from Gotham Heights, they hadn’t won overall, but it had been close. Truth was shed carried them somewhat, beam and floor, even the vault… strange how much easier now it had become to throw herself into the unknown, hadn’t she done that every night until? Until shed stopped seeing him. Wrapping the towel across her shoulders Coach Lewis and the other girls were there, a friendly slap on her shoulder, careful not to wince and then out and towards the locker, except not, she had something that needed to be done first, something for Miss Lance, for the Canary.
Ordinarily she would have been straight out to the showers, dressed and out of school barely before she was dry, and if she had intended to stay for the team she’d have been in her towel tracksuit and covered, but today she forced herself to turn away towards the weight room, where the sounds and smells of the boys slipped out each time the swing doors waved open. She felt her temples throb slightly, holding her head in her hands a moment and rubbing the sides of her temples with her she smoother her hair back, she was suddenly grateful again she was wearing the leggings as well as the leotard she took a step forward and put her hand on the door, ‘Remember, Steph… hips’ and accentuating her movement as she pushed the door open and sashayed into the room ‘I look like a fool’.
Lance drew her attention, huge biceps swelling with each curl a glance, practically a leer greeted her , and she winced inwardly, best not start with him. She looked across towards Greg and Nick tentatively taking a step twords them and then stopping, difficult to approach too, she turned back towards Lance trying hard to swallow back. ‘Hips, Steph’ she approached him, leaning on a lifting machine next to him and dabbing her towel at the sweat on her neck and shoulders “Hi” –e-
Black Canasry: Lance grinned looking over the blonde gymnast. Looking at her curves a little as she leaned against one of the machines. Right beside them Nick was looking Stephanie over too. Greg had to get his attention to help him with his heavy weights. "Hey stupid, what are you looking at? Help me with this!" Nick quicky grabbed the bar and helped the Saftey, apparently not wanting to anger him. Lance nodded causually, "Hey. You're on the gymnastics team right? They call you Steph?" He asked, although it seemed he knew the answers to his own questions. (c)
"Have a good practice? Looks like you worked up a good sweat." He said warmly. Greg put the weights back on their stand and sat up. "What is with you! I should..." He followed Nick's Glace to the Blonde, his scowl quickly fading. "Hey." He grinned a bit at her. Lance smiled, he had a greasy manner about him as he stood up, a good foot taller than Steph. "Did you come in to train a bit? Need a spotter?" he was fast, putting some light weights on the bar for the bench next to Greg. (d)
Spoiler: ‘Ew ew ew’ she winced inwardly again as she glanced at the other two boys and then back at Lance as he rose, far, far above her so that she had to crane her neck to look up at him, she was sure that as his chin lowered and he looked down, he was looking past her face. “Steph… yes, that’s right.” she felt confused a moment ‘you noticed me?’ “Gymnastics….” She shifted her weight to her other leg, tilting her hips again and began playing with her hair as it draped over her collarbones, damp with sweat “… certainly does work up a sweat.” She tried to smile again ‘Ouch Steph’. “You think weights would help?” She flexed what she had always considered a skinny arm to accentuate her bicep, surprised for a moment at the amount of definition there actually was.
Black Canary: Lance leered at bit at Steph. "It looks like it certanly does." he smiled and patted the bench. "Sure, weight training helps any sport. Here, I got some light weights ready for you." Nick looked supsicously at Steph and then up at Lance. "You know her?" Greg was just staring at Steph as she shifted her weight, not looking at her eyes. "Hehe, of course Lance knows her, you know he likes to go to the Gymnatsics meets to check the girls out." Lance gave a hint of a sheepish look but it faded fast, always cool. (c)
"Yeah, I know her. She is one of the best girls we have in Gymnastics. She practically carried the team in several events against Gotham Heights. Was first or second in most of them." Greg glanced at that strong arm the blonde was sporting, smirking at her own surprise. "Yeah, I can see why." (d)
Spoiler: Stephanie looked down at the bench, glistening with jock sweat, especially where Lance had just been sitting and her stomach turned a little, she forced herself to sit, forcing herself also to not clamp her knees together as she did so. What was it about them? She’d have gladly sat in Robin’s sweat ‘Steph! OMG, I can’t believe I just thought that.’ She glanced across at Greg and Nick, she as they ragged on Lance, she knew it was true, and that he wasn’t the only one who watched… in that way.
And then he was talking about the Gotham Heights meet, and almost despite herself she found there was a pride that her success had been noticed. “Well anything that can help... next week it’s Bludhaven.. not just city level state… and that’s…scary” It was true and she was scared, the fear of failure, a blue and constant flame inside flared up a little inside her. She tried to flick her hair away coquettishly but it damply stuck to her shoulder, and then her knees closed together anyway. –e-
Black Canary: Lance nodded, seeming to know what Stephanie was talking about, smiling that she sat down. "yeah, Bludhaven is looking to win this year, they are very good. You shouldn't worry though, you're good. Is that why you're here? trying to get a bit of an edge on them?" his tone warm and playful. He gently grabbed Stephanie's shoulder and guided her to lay down. (c)
"Spread your legs a bit so you straddle the bench, scoot up to here so you can grab the bar." he looked down at her grinning. Greg frowned, "Bloodhaven?" he spat like it tasted bad just saying it. "You're not gonna let those losers beat us are you blondie? Their football team was a joke." he said a tone of anger and arrogance in his voice. Nick just frowned looking at all three of them, looking a bit nervous. (d)
Spoiler: “Too good” she said, and then a crooked smile reached her lip as the affirmation of his words caught her by surprise, she WAS good, it was surprising to her though how good it felt to hear some one else say it, even if it was from these guys. If only it were Robin, or Him. Her reveries was cut short as his hand touched her shoulder, clasp gently and pulled her gently to lay back, she closed her eyes against it as his finger stroked her right collarbone.
“I don’t know what I wanted” she found herself saying as she scooched up the bench towards the weights, her calves falling either side of the bench. “Some positive reinforcement… you guys have cheerleaders…she reached out to touch the bar… something else i can do instead of training all the time? Here? This isn’t going to fall on my head and brain me is it?” She looked across at Greg “Maybe their girls are tougher than their guys?” –e-
Black Canary: Lance gave a light laugh as Stephanie talked about positive reinforcement. "Hehe, the cheerleaders do help get me going and charged up." Nick rolled his eyes. "Any girl gets you charged up Lance." Lance shot him a look. "Naw, it's safe. I'm your spotter I will make sure it doesn't drop, don't worry it's not that heavy. as Stephanie grabbed the bar the football player helped ease it off the rack, he was right it was light, almost too light, she could do it easy. he guided her through the motion. Greg gave a growl as steph talked more about bludhaven. "Naw, they are all a bunch of fussy nerds. They shouldn't have gotten as far as they have." (c)
It was obvious he had no idea about their gymnastics team, but was dismissive to any school that wasn't his own. "You have gotta put those nerds back in their place! You just need something to give you a bit of an edge push you beyound second place." Nick glared at the Quarterback. "Greg! We can't talk about that! Shut up!" Greg shoved nick so hit the wall behind him a bit. "You want us to win don't you Nick? are do you want to lose?" Nick shook his head quickly, he was looking jittery, nervous. "Of course I want the Ravens to win." he said quickly. Lance met eyes with Greg. "Do you take any vitamin supplements? the whole team is taking some, really helps out. Interested?" He smiles a bit. (d)
Spoiler: The weights were light but she made a little bit more hard work of lifting it than she needed to. She groaned and huffed in a slightly exaggerated fashion as she lifted the weights back towards him. “They’re tough.. these Bludhaven girls.” In truth she really did doubt she could beat them, it wasn’t like the prissy girls of Gotham Heights, and even then she’d had to make do with second in several apparatus.
She grunted as the weights came easily down to her again and watched as Nick was shoved back against the wall, Greg was interesting, was it ‘roid rage? She snickered a little at the double meaning , or was it the drug that had destroyed Don that was amping him up? Or was he just a natural a**hole? “Second place is just the first loser.” She brought the weights down to her chest, pretending to struggle to raise them again. “Just ginseng” she said as pitifully as she could manage.
Black Canary: Greg made a face, "Ginsing? That's not enough. Don't you worry, I'll get you some of the 'vitamins' the team is using. It's great stuff, really pushes you to the next level! It'll really help you put those Bludhaven losers back in their place!" Nick looked warily at the quarterback, giving a sigh. Greg just gave him a look which kept him quiet. Lance smirked at Steph as she struggled with the weight. "It's not that heavy silly. I know you can lift your own body weight, I saw you do those flips on the balance beam a couple weeks ago; this is half that. Just don't try so hard and it'll feel lighter." he smirked. He shot the other two boys a look. "Hey, I know we were gonna 'leave soon'..." he said giving the other two pointed looks and a slight gesture with his shoulder. "But, I'll stay here with Steph and help her finish one more set. Nick smirked. "Ooh, I'm sure you will..." he said winking at Lance. Greg nodded. "Yeah, looks like she could use the weight training. Keep up the good work!" he grabbed Nick by the shoulder and yanked him toward the locker rooms, giving Lance a knowing smirk. "So Steph... I bet you're going to the homecoming dance right? I'm sure you got a waiting list of boys who want to go with you." he teased looking down at Steph over the weights she was bench pressing
Spoiler: The ‘vitamins’ could it really be so easy to find out what was going on? Her eyes darted to Lances face and then away ‘Careful Steph, don’t be too eager’ She pushed the weights again with some effort, and then wondered if she was overdoing the waif act and pushing the weight a tiny bit more easily, she grunted in a somewhat unladylike fashion “You know, thinking about it less it does seem lighter.” ‘Don’t talk about the vitamins.. don’t be too eager’ She pushed the bar again with a little more ease as Lance looked across at Nick and Greg, almost eagerly ushering them out with his stare, and she felt a little more exposed again. Maybe this was the way though, to get him to talk he seemed less guarded than the others. She shifted her shoulders and then hips a little on the bench as though making herself more comfortable, and Lance’s attention snapped back for the two footballers, one dragging the other out of the room. ‘So um v... Homecoming Dance?” He was talking about the homecoming dance? She hadn’t really thought about it. Maybe if she’d been a senior, but then Mom. A frown crossed her face, and then she was thinking about Dean, Dean would have things to say about it. She held up the weights at arms length as if offering them to him “Actually.. No.”
Black Canary: Lance smiled and nodded as Stephanie took his advice, his look saying that he knew she was putting on a bit of a show, but was playing along. He watched his teammates finally take a hint and turned back to catch Stephanie wiggling on the bench a bit, his eyes trailing across her for a quick moment. He gave a little chuckle and smirk. "Yeah, the homecoming dance, you may have heard of it. The big dance in honor of the homecoming game, it's on friday. There's dancing and punch..." he went on teasing her. Then he heard her response, looking a bit surprised and a bit pleased as he took the offered weights from her and putting it back on the stand. He smirked. "You aren't? but everybody will be there." he paused for a moment and smiled. "Well, you could come with me if you like. What do you say?"
Spoiler: There was something… oily... about him, that made her flesh creep. But it might be the best chance they would get to find out what was going on. She allowed him to take the weights looking coyly away. “With you?... but what about the Cheerleaders, wouldn’t you want one of them “ ‘I’m sure Kelly will be looking for a date’ Stephanie winced inwardly then at her own thoughts. ‘Unworthy Steph’ “Wouldn’t one of them be more to your…” ‘Shut Up! Steph you’re pushing him away and we need to know “…and I’m only a Junior, sure you’d want to be seen with a Junior.” ‘Cosmic Steph! Why didn’t you just pick your nose in front of him?’ She sat up wiping her brow with her wrist.
Black Canary: He smirked at her as she sat up as he took away the weights. "Yeah, with you. Who else is here?" he chuckled. The weight room was empty. "Cheerleaders? Nah, I'd rather be with a cute girl who has more going for her than just her 'pom poms'." he chuckled. " Besides I'm too low on the food chain for a head cheerleader to be seen with. Kelly will probably go with just her girlfriends, playing up that her boyfriend couldn't come. She will have everyone eatting out of her hand and will have a line of guys waiting to help 'Poor Kelly'." he snickered. He sat down next to her, giving her a look. "I wouldn't have asked you out, if I wasn't serious. But if you don't want to go.. I can take a hint." he gave her that little crooked smile again.
Spoiler: His chuckle was unnerving, almost predatory as was the look in his eye as he spoke about cuteness, and pom poms, and Steph began to wish she had something to cover up with. Then he was talking about Kelly, almost as if he’ read the unworthy thought as it had flashed into her head. He was right, Kelly would be there and probably crying a horde of sycophants waiting to pick up a dropped handkerchief, or to steady her when the emotion overcame her. She would have to be careful, Lance was a wolf, he might be a grunt but there was a slyness and an awareness to him. He knew what people were. He was already starting to back away from his offer ‘What?’, she thought ‘Does he think I am?’ How was all this supposed to work? Had she pushed back too much, or was he playing, reeling her in like a Marlin, or something?
“Did I say that?” She looked at him again trying to read his intent “There’s just…” was she going to say it? What’s more was she really feeling the dissatisfaction “There’s Dean.”
Black Canary: "Well, you didn't say it in so many words... but you have given me several excuses as to why I should pick someone else. I told you, I thought you would be fun to hang out and dance with, and I still think that. But it looks like you really don't want to..." he was interrupted as she admitted Dean. "Oh, I see. I hope this doesn't sound rude, but I didn't know you were still going out with him. I don't see you two together often, I didn't know you were that serious..." he paused and looked at Stephanie. "And he never thought of asking you to the dance? Did he even bring it up? I'm no expert on women, despite what Nick might say, but what girl doesn't want to wear a cute dress and just have fun?" he smirked.
Spoiler: A ripple of distaste touched her lips, of course Dean hadn’t asked, of course Dean hadn’t even thought of asking, of course Dean assumed she would not want to go, because he certainly didn’t. He was more interested in hanging out in Stewie’s garage than anything she had to say, or do, or feel, or think.
“We’re NOT serious!” she blurted out before she could stop herself. Of course she wanted to go , where was the harm in it? The confusion and distress played across her face all to clearly, far stronger feelings than she could hide and she began to become annoyed with herself. Why did she want to be part of it? Why did she want to be a part of the show, the clumsy dancing, the awkward fumbling the dark the ostentatious glorification of the fake, the pretty dresses? Why? For all the falseness did she want to be part of the cheerleading team? What did it matter< what kind of achievement was it?
What kind of night would it be if she walked in on Lance’s arm , in something clingy .. and people noticed her and approved? A long thin sigh escaped her and she found herself looking up at him again with a slight shrug. “Maybe I should stick to the vitamins? What is it? My mom stuffs her face with Centrum when she hasn’t eaten for a couple of days. I can probably grab a handful of those without her knowing.”
Black Canary: Lance looked at her a bit surprised at her outburst and gave that confident crooked smile he had, reading the conflict flickering across her face. "Oh? So is there a chance you might go with me? Afterall Steph, High school only lasts a short while, might as well experience what you can right? Sure, there's a lot of drama and crepe paper, but still, it's fun." he got up and gently touched her cheek so she would look up at him. "I tell you what. Think about it. You can let me know tomorrow. It still gives me time to find a date, although I doubt she will be as sweet as you." his voice almost a whisper at the end. His hand slowly left her cheek and started to leave. Then he heard her askign about the vitamins. He shrugged. "That's a question for Greg, it's not your usual over the counter stuff, he'll get a hold some and get in touch with you tomorrow." He gave a wave over his shoulder. "See ya Steph."
Spoiler: Was it enough? She had a tentative promise that Greg would supply some ‘vitamins’ tomorrow. Was that enough to help Miss Lance? She watched Lance go, suddenly feeling an awareness of being alone in the weight room, in a school that didn’t feel like the same place it had that morning, and it was with more than a little nervousness she returned to the gym locker room. In the past she’d been known to shower and dress in the dark after the other girls had left, and to think about the nights on the roofs. Today she made sure the lights were all on.
***
Black Canary: End of the school day. The hallways looked like a ghost town after all the students were gone. Only a few lingered, mostly athletes for their practices and workouts, and the overacheiving students working on homework and projects. Miss Lance's heels echoed in the now cavernous halls. Empty schools always seemed a bit eerie to her for some reason, although compared to where some of her night work took her, this was a sunny picnic. She wandered the halls, and greeted a few teachers who were about finishing their days, but didn't she couldn't seem to find who she was looking for. She sighed. Where's the janitor when you needed one? Well, if you wanted a job done, sometimes you had to do it yourself. She went over to the janitor closet, maybe he left his keys or tools in here. Her eyebrows went up as she she found the janitor himself sitting on the edge of the built in basin of floor mounted sink. He was an older man, with tawny colored hair showing some hints of white and a bushy mustache, and worn wire rim glasses. The dark haired woman smiled and bent down a little so she was eye level."Excuse me Mr..." she says as she peers at the name sewn on his janitor's shirt. "Fred. I hope I'm not bothering you... I was wondering if you could help me out."
Spoiler: Wearily Fred lowered the coffee cup from his lips, small drops of the brown liquid nestling in the bushy moustache and causing him to wipe his mouth with the back of his free hand while he carefully placed the cup into his sink with a very specific motion and an exaggerated sigh. He rolled his eyes towards her, these teachers.. especially the supply teachers, they always wanted something, usually something simple that they could have found themselves if they’d opened their eyes.. and they wanted them at the most awkward moments. “No.. you’re not bother…” his voice was low and bumbling somewhat indistinct as if it had to fight its way past the damp moustache, but the exaggerated sigh stopped as he looked at the source of his troubles and found his heard beating somewhat faster than it had for some time. His mouth, quite hidden slipped into a crooked smile and he found his gaze sliding down to her legs and then back up “…ing me.”
Black Canary: Miss Lance watched as the janitor took his time to talk to her, setting aside his coffee carefully, noting how he seemed to not like getting bothered, although his slightly muffled speech said the opposite. And then he noticed her. A slight smirk pulled at the corners of her mouth as he looked her over, noting that slight hint of a smile showing through his mustache. she started to lean against the doorframe of the janitor's closet, resting on her hip, making it stick out a bit. From his lower position on the sink basin, he would be able to get a good look of her long legs, not hidden by the dark skirt she was wearing. Or the way her little business jacket hugged her curves. "Oh good, I was worried I would be a bother. I'm sure you're pretty busy with a school this size." she said, her voice not sounding worried at all. "I'm a bit new here and still figuring things out, I'm the substitue biology teacher for Mr. Cooper." she offered him a slim hand. "I'm Miss Lance. But you may call me Dinah."
Spoiler: Fred accepted the offered hand almost hungrily watching as she leaned against his door in a most enticing.. he caught himself adding gruffly “Huh, dang kids yeah, they keep you busy. “ He watched as her posture accentuated her curves “Yeah” his speech bumbling. “Busy all right. I always say.. if it wasn’t for the kid’s .. school would be just about perfect” he licked his lips “Yeah. If it wasn’t for the kid’s.” ‘And the teachers’ he added silently ‘... except this one’. He finally looked up and released her hand “What can I do you for?”
Black Canary: She smirked as he seemed to shake himself out of staring at her and gave a little laugh at his comment about how school would be better if there were no students or teachers. "You may have heard about the accident that happened with Don Callaway today? Well, he is one of my students and I wanted to help him out while he was in the hospital. I have his assignments from his other teachers, so he won't get behind while he is recovering... so I was wondering if you could open up his locker for me so I could gather up is bag and books. It would really help me out." she said flashing him a pretty smile.
Spoiler: “Yeah. Hmm? Calloway? Yeah. I heard about that. Terrible thing. Yeah.” Suddenly feeling sweaty he wiped his hand on his overalls. “Only, I’m not supposed to open their lockers, y’see? Privacy or something. Dang kids could be bringing in bombs and we’re not allowed to look and see in case it offends their Civil Liberties.” He added with a sneer that was plainly visible beneath his moustache. His palm kept rubbing against his overall until he finally slipped it into his pocket, fingers finding his keychain. Flipping through the innumerable keys there. “Yeah. y’need… special permission, y’see?”
Black Canary: She nodded somberly as he talked about Calloway with her. Her eyebrows went up, acting surprsied as he said said that he wasn't supposed to open the lockers with out permission. "Oh really? I had no idea. I'm from a smaller city actually, all grades from K to 12th in one building. They were pretty relaxed on things like that." she gave a little laugh. "I guess I have a lot to learn about the big city." she admitted sheepishly. she gave him a look, fidgiting with the corner of her jacket. "They really don't have bombs or anything here do they? I have heard some rumors about Gotham, but I thought it was just rumor. I mean..." she whispered. "I heard that Mr Cooper was murdered. I hope they just don't hate biology teachers here..." she gave a a small nervous shiver. "anyhow, I really need to get Don's coursework, I was going to stop at the hospital on my way home. I couldn't get his locker combination since he was so out of it painkillers... If you need special permission, I guess I'll have to ask the principal or vice..." she stopped looking at her watch. "It's that late already?" she said looking surprised and dissapointed. "There's no way I'm gonna get that permission now..." she pouted and gave a sigh. "well... I"m sorry to have bothered you Fred. Thanks anyhow... it was nice meeting you." she said with a sad smile, slowly turning to leave.
Spoiler: Fred’s fingers closed around his keys, a specific key, one that he occasionally used when the doors were locked at the teachers were at home and his curiosity had got the better of him. "Well, there was talk of some kids in some kind of sect or something.. all red robes and stuff" He shivered looked past Miss Lance into the now deserted corridor, his eyes catching the shape of her legs, pulling the fabric of her skirt tight. He stood up and moved towards her, his gait slow and rolling, walking with a John Wayne bow to his legs he approached, closer, looking down at her as she leaned up against the door frame, and then his paunch pressed up against her as he wegded her against the door frame…
And leaned out into the hallway checking both ways before stepping past her onto the hallway. The coast looked clear.
“Yeahhh” He said slowly to himself knowing he was going to do something he was probably going to regret. “Pass me that bucket and mop. No, the one with the wheels.” He paused again and let out a much more weary sigh than before. “Come on then… only I didn’t see this right? You used my key while I wasn’t looking.”
Black Canary: She gave a peek over her shoulder as she was about to go, catching him looking over her rather tight skirt. She quickly hid the smirk she felt coming, as she had purposefully came when she did, because she knew the school's admins had gone home already. She turned around a little as she heard him get up. And then he was against her, feeling his larger body against her as he looked about the corner of the door, pinning her against the doorframe. Her fingers twitched, her honed reflexes ready to act at this invasion of space. But she let out a slow sigh, no, she wasn't black canary here, she was Miss Lance the somewhat naive school teacher and he was taking it hook line and sinker. He heard him give that weary sigh of his again and nodded looking surprised as he asked her to get the mop and bucket, fumbling as she went to grab one and then grabbed the one he wanted, the wheel on it squeaked as she moved it to him. She gave a little excited bounce that was sure to distract him and smiled. "Oh thanks Fred! I really appreciate it. Mum's the word. YOu're my hero!" she said excitedly and suddenly rushed in and gave him a peck on the cheek, rubbing against him brifely before she quickly drew back, looking embarassed. "Yeah, you weren't even around. I guess I still don't know school policy well yet..." she smirked.
Spoiler: Fred took the mop and bucket from her, turning pink as she bounced in excitement and his he found himself unable to look away from said bouncing and then turning bright red as it was followed by a peck on the cheek and.. contact. He shuffled away pushing the bucket with its squeaky wheel ahead of them with the mop, muttering quietly into his moustache. “Calloway y’say. Yeah. The Senior. Come on then.” Fred pushed the bucket ahead of them a steady squeak-squeak-squeak of the wheel almost keeping time with the click of the young supply teacher’s heels beside him. Until they stopped inform of a row of multicoloured lockers, and he pulled the hand in his pocket out to lift the mop out of the bucket and with a loud slap, planted, firmly it on the floor, his key ring falling from his pocket as he did so.
Black Canary: She smiled inwardly as she noticed the janitor's cheeks turn from a rosy pink to a full beet red. Following the janitor as he wheeled the squeaky mop bucket down the hall. Her heels clipping down the hall, hips swaying gently. She would have felt bad for making him break the rules, but she did this sort of thing all the time. wrapping men about her finger so she could get the clues and information she needed. It was much cleaner and nicer than sneak attacking the poor custodian. and she could always use the excuse of owing him a favor later for something else. She had to admit he did a good job of making it look like an accident as the keys 'fell' out of his pocket timed with him using his mop, not even looking toward her. She wondered if he liked spy movies and was always hoping he could do something covert. she walked past the keys as he moved away from them and acted as if she noticed them. With her back to him, she bends over, keeping her knees straight as she picked up the keys. She found the skeleton key after glancing at the locks, and went to Don's locker, remembering the number she had gotten from a cheerleader earlier in the day. she slid the key in and unlocked the locker, hearing it click, puting her lithe fingers on the locker handle she opened it and peered inside.
Spoiler: The lock clicked a couple of times, difficult to turn the key, and the door itself seemed strangely stiff, pulling out eventually with a little tug she was looking into Don’s locker, immediately assaulted by the smell of a kit bag roughly stuffed in the bottom abandoned. The door creaked open, papers flapping a little, roughly torn out pictures from the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated, lined up down the door a blonde in a bikini, other bodies below, heads covered up by the picture taped above them, and a news paper clipping, the Black Canary, with a picture, shot from below, mainly thigh.
Don’ts team jacket hung on the side, above that a book bag, folders, sparsely filled with spidery writing, sharp edged letters and doodles of spikes and claws and dragons. On the top shelf a picture of Kelly, slightly dog eared, an elastic band, a hair band, a money clip, a sandwich wrapped in cling film.
Black Canary: Miss Lance struggled a bit with the locker, obviously the keys weren't used much on these lockers and this one seemed a bit unused. Her nose wrinkled as the rather strong boy-odor hit her from the frumpy loking bag at the bottom. Ugh! Still, it smelled better than killer croc, so that was a blessing. She quickly cased the locker ans smirked seeing the swimsuited athletes and models acting as wallpaper on his locker door. A small snort escaped her nose as she amusdely noticed that she graced the top of line of ladies, it looks like she had an admirer, and a 'leg man' as well, from the look of the bikini clad ladies. She wondered if he took that picture of her himself, she did a lot of rooftop leaping. Wow, her canary outfit revealed more thigh than she thought! She flelt about on the top shelf and looked at the hair bands; it looked like kelly used the locker sometimes too or he removed her hair ties and kept a few 'trophies'. She took the money clip and photo and slipped them into the school bag that was hanging up, followed by all of his folders with the doodles and a couple text books to look like she was bringing him his books and then put the smelly gym bag in there, grabbing it with two fingers like it was toxic waste. She zipped the bag, straighteened up and closed the locker door queitly pulled the keys out, made sure it locked behind her and walked past the mopping janitor. She fidgited with the bag to make sure it was zipped and dropped the keys as she did so. slipping down a side hallway toward the staff parking lot and her classroom.
Spoiler: The mop swished this way and that sopping only as it reached the keys which Fred scooped up. “Yeah, clumsy” and slid back into his pocket before continuing to mop the floor, as though nothing had happened. Determinedly oblivious to the supply teacher, the click of whose heels tugged at him to look up again. Oblivious also to the slight figure that slipped into the darkness of the deserted school, and instead he followed those hips in his mind and a smile, hidden by his moustache, grew broad and happy.
Black Canary: Miss lance's hips swayed a little as she went down the halls. she paused a moment thinking she heard something, but didn't hear anything then. She shrugged it off and went into her classroom, leaving that door unlocked, and then went into her office, locking the door behind her. She could still see through the window in the door if she had to. she took Don's bag and started pulling things out, looking through his folders and apparently his artistic skill with dragons. looking for anything in particular. saving the toxic gym bag for last.
***
Spoiler: It was strange, how alien the school felt now after hours. There was a time when Stephanie had felt happier here after gym practice when the place was empty than when it was full, but now, all her fears were coming true it had been too good to last, too peaceful. There was a storm brewing. She waltked slowly towards Miss Lance’s class, pausing outside the classroom to look at the hallway where Don had lain and bled, all clean now, Fred had washed it all away and no one had to think about it.
Except t=its exactly what they were all thinking about.
There were the lockers, the dent where Justin’s face had been forced against it.
Nothing was the same, it was falling apart.
“Entropy”.
It was all wrong. She walked up to the lockers, slender fingers trailing over them. Nothing was right looked down at the small dark dot on the floor. Fred must have missed something. Her foot swung idly turning it into a sticky smudge. Kneeling down she looked, almost dry. He gaze drifted under the locker, into the dust bunnies, candy wrappers, paper, did Fred just sweep it all under there? Change, Two nickels, WHOA! A $20, she reached under to take it, pulling out also and elastic band and a hair tie.
“Yuck, Sticky” Stephanie wiped her hand on the locker, then turned towards MS Lance’s class, to wash her hands more properly in the science class room sink.
Black Canary: "yuck stinky!" said the dark haired woman as she opened up the gym back, stepping back from the stench, before poking through it looking for any stashed drugs or something else that had been forgotten. Miss Lance looked up as she heard her classroom door open and saw steph walk in to use the sink. She got up unlocked her office door and then locked the classroom door. she went over to another lab sink to wash the stink off her hands. "So, how did things go Steph? I got Fred to let me into Don's locker, didn't find anything except his collection of leggy ladies." She gave a smirk, like she was laughing at her own inside joke. "I think Kelly must use his locker too. I found some of her stuff in it. Still going through his papers. I wonder how he passes his classees with some of those notes I saw." she teased. "So how did things go in weight room, did you find some football players?" she asked curious.
Spoiler: Stephanie could feel herself going bright red as she thought about her encounter with Lance. “Umm? How did it go?” She finished washing her hands and flapped them in front of herself to dry before wiping them on her jeans.
“Pretty well I think, they basically admitted to taking ‘Vitamins’ I mean I know that’s not actually any use cause vitamins could be anything, I mean, the could even be, you know, vitamins. But..,” ‘Lance Vedapo asked me to the Dance’ “…but… they kind of accepted me, because of the gym team.” She finished wiping her hands. “The offered to get me some…” Stephanie winced as she said that, half expecting the kind of response that Red Robin or Batman would have given, a refusal to allow her to be part of something, to protect her. ’I don’t need to be protected’ she thought as she gazed slightly sideways at Ms. Lance.
Black Canary: Dinah smiled as she heard Steph talk about Vitamans and gave a smirk hearing about the offer for the dance. "Wow, great job!" smiled the canary to her student. "you got them to talk about something that could be drugs and they made you an offer. YOu accepted it right?" Wow, this was the first break they got on this case. She finished washing her hands and dried them off. she grabbed Stephs shoulder. "Good job, I'm impressed that you gained so much information. That helps a lot, thanks." she smiled.
Spoiler: Stephanie found herself smiling as Ms Lance held her shoulder, it felt strange to receive approval and a lop-sided smile slipped onto her face. “I think I did” she paused a moment, had she? She’d been trying not to appear too eager, to not arouse suspicion. “Maybe not exactly in those words” The smile was slipping again, was the approval going to be lost? There’s been too much talk about the dance. “He said we’d talk tomorrow.”
Black Canary: She smiled as Stephanie smiled, she had did good, their first big break, there might not be full confidence in what Stephanie's football player contact would do, but you never knew for certain when trying to get people to work with you to give you clues, leads, and evidence. So for now that was good. She noticed Stephanie's expression fade a bit. "Did something else happen?" her posture changed, looking stiffer, like she was ready to pounce on something, her stance was wider, a fighting stance. "You're okay right?" she asked, the concern showing on her face. If those boys did something to Steph, she would she would... she forced herself to calm down, letting out a slow breath. No sense jumping to conclusions.
Spoiler: Stephanie saw Ms. Lance’s posture shift, it was a change she had seen on Red Robin and the Bat, a combination of concern and worry, a signal that she was a concern, and her smile slipped further. “No, they said they’d bring some and we’d talk tomorrow I don’t know if they meant they’d supply them tomorrow or if it was a first step or, trying to see if they trust me..” her words were running into each other, she didn’t want to lose the approval that had been there just moments before. “I’m ok.. they just.. “ Her head dipped a little, “We ended up talking about Homecoming more than the vitamins… they asked me to the dance.”
“Not all of them…” she added quickly, “… just Lance Vedapo.”
Black Canary: She saw stephs smile fade further. Oh jeeze something happened... and then she heard Stephs response and posture relaxed fully in a moment and she laughed, a smile on her lips. She enveloped Steph in a hug. "hehe, really? that's great! Yeah, sounds like you really have your foot in the door. And it doesn't matter if other things come up too. Actually, it's great that they showed some intersest in you." She gave a smirk, looking more like a teen getting in on gossip than a teacher. "So... Lance huh? He is kinda handsome. Are you going to go?"
Spoiler: The hug was a total surprise suddenly she was enveloped in Ms. Lance’s arms , her head tucked against Ms. Lance’s shoulder, Stephanie groaned lightly, the hug was surprisingly tight. She supposed that made sense though… what with her being all famous and brave and everything. When the grip finally relaxed enough for her to breathe she leaned away, turning red now not from the lack of breath but the rising embarrassment. Lance was kind of cute… aesthetically speaking… except for the oiliness. “I… he… he’s…” The babbling had turned into a stutter. “I… I don’t think…” There were reasons. “There’s a problem…”
Black Canary: The dark haired teacher smirked as the rather surprised and blushing young hero tried to reply, looking so embarrassed. "Well, you don't have to go, it's always your choice. But there are some benefits with being closer to someone who is in the middle of an investigation." she smirked and while giving a little wink afterwards. a hint of concern appeared on her face as she heard problem. "Problem? anything I can help you with?"
Spoiler: Anything Ms. Lance could help with? ‘There’s my bf’ she thought and winced inwardly at the concept, subconsciously biting her lower lip, why was it that she found she wanted to go It would be fake and conformist and yet she found she wanted to be there. She raised her gaze to meet Ms. Lance’s. “I don’t have anything to wear.. and I can’t…it doesn’t matter.”
Black Canary: Miss Lance put up a finger to pause step and dashed into her office she came back, heels clicking as she brought back her purse she digged in it for a little slip of paper and a pen, she wrote on one side and handed it to steph. "Clothes aren't a big deal, I could help you with that. But I tell you what." she smiled. "You figure it out okay? and if you do want to go give me a call." She pointed at the paper, it was a business card for Gotham Floral. "just ask for me there. Otherwise, call the number I wrote on the back. Feel free to call me, anytime. Day or night, seriously." her smile was interrupted by a yawn and stretched. "ugh, these day hours are killing me. I better call it a day here soon. Do you need a ride home?" she smiled.
Spoiler: ‘OMG!’ Steph’s mind was screaming. ‘Black Canary just gave me her number!’ Stephanie took the card eagerly, holding it unnecessarily tight, so that her fingertips turned an even whiter shade of pale. ‘Gotham Floral?’ She bit her lip again, watching Canary, who seemed tired now. Stephanie wondered if Ms. Lance was tiring of her? But then why the card. ‘Best not to overstay the welcome’ she smiled.
“Thank you. No it’s ok I have my bike.” She thought of the battered moped down in the bike sheds now, chained and rusting in the murk. She maintained it as best she could, scrounged parts from the tip or made do, bought parts when she could. It was running, but for how long was always a valid question. “Thank you.”
Black Canary: Dinah smiled and nodded. "you're welcomed. Okay, you take care going home and I'll see you later." She gave Steph a wave, and then the hero playing teacher went to her office and started gathering up papers. Ugh, she thought doing her own homework in highschool was bad enough having to go over it all was worse. she filled a messenger bag she had brought with her and started to lock up. Man, having to be a teacher was tiring. so much interaction and having to get up so early. She was planning on going home, working in a nap, the savior of heroes, and get a bite to eat while going over some leads and grading homework.
Spoiler: There was a way they had about them. When something else caught their attention they could shut off, as if you weren’t still standing there. Even Red Robin sometimes he would look at her almost as if… no she didn’t dare think, and then his eyes would slide and his gaze pass right through her as thoughts and concerns that were beyond her overtook him. Stephanie turned and picking up her bag set off for her bike. Her problems, were on an altogether more trivial scale.
*****
She was here again, watching Dean and Stewie thrashing away at their Fenders, Martin bashing away at the drums his parents had forced him to move into the garage. Dean’s mop of barely washed hair flopped around the mic stand as he waved his head in time to the music, Stewie’s fingers a blur of clumsily missed notes and screeches as hi hit his ‘solo’, his own head bobbing like a nodding dog, and then his wailing began.
“Sometimes see her on the street
In the day just look at your feet
But at night you’re in your car
Want to see if she’ll go far
After all , she’s just a loser
Who’s to care if you use her
Take her to a room and bruise her
You know she’ll never see the knife
She’s never going to tell your wife
About your other nighttime life
Streetwalker
Smooth Talker
Street walker
Night Stalker
Dark Alley Death!”
“Oh good grief” she couldn’t take it anymore and standing up without a backward glance she wandered out of the door and into Stewie’s back yard, shuffling past the ornamental fountain, the weeping willow that was already sticking its talons into the drain that would be causing their downstairs bathroom to back up when the heat came and bowing its limbs over the koi pond. She sat on a stone bench beside the pond and put her head in her hands. She didn’t want to go to the Homecoming Dance with Dean, she didn’t particularly care if she never saw Dean’s face again. She didn’t want to go with Lance either. Lance was involved with whatever had hurt Don, and Greg was too, Nick, Kelly probably, hell maybe everyone. Maybe they were the reason Mr. Copper was dead?
Why did she want to go to the dance? Why did she want to dress up pretty and parade, like.. like… was it a crime to want to feel pretty and accepted. She wanted to go with Red Robin. But he wasn’t around, had he been avoiding her?
The noise continued, through a couple of other songs she recognised ‘In the gutter’, ‘Meal Ticket’ until Dean’s voice took on that grating quite rasp it took when he had shouted too much and the noise had slowly quietened into a rumble. She’d been watching the fish slowly coming to where the porch light rippled on the surface and then shooting back down into the darkness for some time by the time Dean eventually came over and sat beside her, putting his arm around her shoulders.
She couldn’t help herself she shrugged his arm off and leaned away.
“What’s the matter babe?”
Stephanie sidled away a little on the stone bench. “Homecoming.”
“F**k yeah, tell me about it.” His lips bearing the straggling thin beard it had taken him nine weeks to grow curled into a sneer.
“Why didn’t you ask me to go?” She watched those same lips, lips that had been pressed to hers in memories now part of her pool of regrets, she watched his flapping chin, pale skin showing between the sparse red hairs.
“Because you’re better than that lame ass shit. You don’t believe in all that fake plastic posing. Sucking up to the emptiest fakest people to make them king and queen. Celebrating the inequalities and injustices of school to elevate the privileged to more privilege and the lower weakest to weakest to more mockery and alienation.”
“I want to go”
He laughed his head tilting back. “No you don’t You know what’s real.”
“Yes I do. “
“No. We wouldn’t be caught dead with fakes like that”
“We go to the football games.” She thought of Dean screaming at the players, his delirious jumping and cheering at touchdowns, spilling pop on everyone.
‘That’s just cause I like to see the Jocks smash the shit out of each other.”
She thought again of the big goofy grin on his face when they had beaten Ridgemont. The way he had belched ‘We are the champions!” on the way back to his car. She thought about Lance, she thought about Red Robin, she thought about Miss Lance, she thought about Kelly, she thought about Don, and she thought about the depressing hour she had spent at home after Lance had asked her to the Homecoming Dance. The hour when she had emptied her closet and found nothing but jeans and peasant skirts, gym clothes and t-shirts, shirts and sweaters and jackets , her mothers tasseled jacket and mini skirt which still brought shivers to her spine, and barely a dress amongst them, nothing that would suit the dance. She stood up and headed back towards the garage.
“Lance Vedapo asked me to go with him.” She was inside the garage when Dean grabbed her wrist and tried to spin her around.
“You’re not going.”
She was surprised with the ease with which she threw off his grasp. “Well that’s my choice, isn’t it?”
“But its fake bourgeoisie shit”.
“It’s SCHOOL Dean. Of course it’s fake. It’s everyone trying out masks to see who they’re going to present to the world for the rest of their lives. They’re fake, we’re all fake. If they asked you …” she waved her arm towards the ‘band’ “to play the dance. Don’t lie and say you wouldn’t.”
“They wouldn’t ask us.. they don’t want to be shaken out of their comfortable mindsets.”
“Dean… they wouldn’t ask you because you’re terrible, and you, and Suicidal Fury... you’re as fake as Kelly and Don. You pretend to be champions against social injustice but it’s all posturing. You’re not radical, you’re not disenfranchised youth…Martin… your dad’s the pastor at New Way, Stewie... you’re not ‘The Rage’ you’re Stewie Goldberg, your dad is an accountant, you’re going to be an accountant, your kids are going to be accountants. Dean, your mom is teaching us A Midsummer Nights Dream in English Lit.
“Not a single one of you has seen what you’re shouting about, and none of you is trying to do anything about it. If there was an ounce of sincerity in you you’d be helping out in a soup kitchen instead of singing ‘Dark Alley Death’.
I’m tired, I’m going home.”
***
Stephanie was less than halfway home when she stopped her moped, pulled off her helmet and reached for her mobile phone. There was nothing back there for her, nothing at home either, she pulled out the card too and dialed.