🪼 @graysonshittt - Tumblr Blog

love mission

Dick Grayson x reader! Platonic! Wally West x reader! Platonic! Artemis Crock x reader!

Summary: When your best friend, Artemis Crock, falls in love with a boy just before traveling for a heart transplant, she makes you promise to find out everything about him. The problem is that, in the process, you end up falling in love with his “friend”… or at least, that’s what you thought.

WARN !: Based on the movie “20th Century Girl.” Everyone is in their senior year of high school. From strangers to friends to lovers. Slow burn. Artemis kind of getting in the way of Dick and the reader (kind of!). Kind of like a found family. Angst/comfort.

WC: 12K+

“Artemis Crock!”

The door swings open with force, slamming against the wall. Your voice echoes through the room before you even take two steps inside.

Artemis is lying on the bed, completely still, her eyes fixed on the ceiling—but shining in a suspicious way. A long, almost dramatic sigh escapes her lips.

You raise an eyebrow, already expecting trouble, and walk over to her. The mattress dips as you sit down beside her.

“Why don’t you go to New York?” you ask, placing your hands on her shoulders and giving her a light shake, trying to bring her back to reality.

Artemis blinks a few times, as if coming out of a trance.

“I’m in love,” she declares, placing a hand over her chest. “I think I’m going to die… my heart is going tum tum tum tum tum!”

You close your eyes for a second, taking a deep breath before answering firmly:

“Then make sure it goes tum tum, not tum tum tum tum tum!” Your voice comes out harsher than expected. “You have to go. It’s your chance, Artemis. A new heart… a normal life… peace.”

She suddenly sits up, indignant.

“I can’t!” she shoots back, crossing her arms. “I need to win over the love of my life.”

A tired sigh escapes you.

“Okay…” you give in, running a hand over your face. “Tell me.”

Instantly, her mood shifts. Artemis turns to you with sparkling eyes and grabs your shoulders, shaking you excitedly.

“He’s perfect!” she says, almost breathless. “His eyes are the most beautiful I’ve ever seen!”

She lets go of you and stares out the window, completely lost in thought.

“He was so kind… he helped me carry all my things home when he saw I couldn’t manage…” she gives a small smile.

“Maybe he felt sorry for me, since I said I had a heart condition…”

You narrow your eyes.

“Which isn’t a lie,” she quickly adds, as if justifying herself to the universe.

“But that’s not the point,” she continues, excited again. “The best part is that he studies at our school!”

Now you really raise an eyebrow.

“And he was wearing an ID badge?” you ask, already putting the pieces together.

“Yes!” she answers, way too excited. “And he has the most beautiful name of all.”

Artemis throws herself back onto the bed, hugging the pillow, sighing as if she were in a romance novel.

“His name is Wallace West… it’s perfect.”

You lie down beside her, staring at the ceiling as well, but with a much less dreamy expression.

“You still have to go to New York, Artemis…” you say, more calmly now. “Wallece—”

“Wallace!” she corrects immediately, turning her face toward you.

You let out a small sigh.

“Right… Wallace will still be here when you come back.” You turn your head to look at her. “This is for your own good.”

For a moment, the room falls silent.

“I know…” Artemis finally says, her voice quieter now, almost resigned. “But you have to promise me something.”

You turn your face to look at her, surprised by the shift in tone—and maybe a little relieved.

“Anything for you and your new life!” you reply too quickly, already smiling, thinking you’ve finally won.

Artemis suddenly sits up, her eyes lighting up again—but now with that dangerous sparkle you know all too well.

“While I’m in New York, you’re going to find out everything about him for me!” she blurts out. “His height, his favorite game, his favorite movie, whether he has siblings… everything!”

The smile on your face disappears instantly.

Slowly, you start shaking your head no.

Artemis, on the other hand, does the exact opposite—nodding yes, with a stubborn, almost childish pout.

“I’m not going to turn into a stalker, Artemis.”

“Please!” she insists, leaning closer. “I’m really in love. You have to do this…”

“No.”

“Not even if it’s for me… and my new life… and my new heart?” she asks, widening her eyes in a perfect puppy look.

You immediately cross your arms, indignant.

“You can’t use your illness against me! That’s unethical.”

Artemis sighs, frustrated, but doesn’t give up.

“How many times have you seen me like this?” she shoots back, placing a hand over her chest again. “I swear I’m in love!”

You raise an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.

“Don’t even start, Artemis Crock.” Your eyes narrow. “Just yesterday you were convinced the movie theater clerk was the love of your life and you kept going every day just to see him.”

Artemis makes a face, as if that detail is completely irrelevant.

“But this time I swear it’s different!” she insists, already grabbing your shoulders and shaking you hard. “Please!”

“Okay… I’ll do it, but please, pack your bags already.” you sigh, finally giving in, defeat evident in your voice.

For a second, Artemis stays completely still, as if she didn’t process what she just heard.

“Seriously?” Artemis practically shouts, her eyes widening with pure excitement.

You can’t help a small smile at her reaction.

“Yes… anything for you.” you reply, letting out a light laugh.

And that’s all she needs.

“Oh my God, I love you, I love you, I love you!” Artemis blurts out, already throwing herself on top of you without warning, wrapping you in a tight hug.

The impact almost knocks you back onto the bed, and you laugh, unable to hold it in.

“I love you too.” you say, still laughing, hugging her back.

And even knowing you’ve just gotten yourself into a questionable plan… deep down, you already knew you wouldn’t be able to say no to her.

—

It all started on a Monday.

Artemis had left for New York on Saturday, and while you were saying goodbye to her at the airport, she kept repeating—the same thing—for the thousandth time:

Find out everything about that Wallace guy.

And that’s how your mission began.

In the classroom, leaning subtly over your desk, you moved closer to the classmate beside you, lowering your voice to almost a whisper:

“Do you know Wallace?”

She turned her head slightly, confused.

“Wallace? No…”

You frowned, pushing a little further:

“Are you sure? His last name is West…”

For a second, she seemed to think—until her eyes lit up.

“West? Oooh… you mean Wally?”

You raised an eyebrow, curious.

“Wally? Is that a nickname?”

“Yes,” she replied, now with a slight smile. “He’s friends with Dick Grayson.”

Your interest immediately spiked.

“What class is he—”

You didn’t even get to finish.

The teacher’s voice cut through the air like a blade:

“Since you two understand the material so well that you can sit there chatting… how about you come up here and explain it for me?”

Silence fell over the room.

You and your classmate exchanged a glance for a second, sharing the exact same thought.

“No, thank you,” you both replied in perfect sync.

The teacher let out an almost satisfied sigh.

“That’s what I thought.”

As soon as you left the classroom, you didn’t waste time—you headed straight to the office. Your mind was already racing, trying to come up with a foolproof plan to find out everything about this Wallace guy.

Seriously… who, in their right mind, names their kid Wallace West?

You almost rolled your eyes just thinking about it.

As you walked down the hallway, distracted, staring at your phone and lost in possibilities—stalking social media, asking around discreetly, maybe even “accidentally” bumping into him—you didn’t notice when you walked straight into something… or rather, someone.

A solid chest.

The impact made you take a small step back.

“Oh my God! I’m sorry, I was distracted,” said a male voice, hurried.

“No, it’s fine. I was…” you started, looking up.

And then you stopped.

Completely.

For a second—or maybe several—the world just… froze.

Because the boy in front of you wasn’t just handsome. He was absurd.

Like… unreal.

Too beautiful to exist on the same plane as you.

He seemed slightly embarrassed by the silence, bringing a hand to the back of his neck and scratching it lightly, glancing away for a moment.

“I’m Dick Grayson,” he said, extending his hand.

Your brain took a second to start working again.

“I’m…” you began, reaching out yours as well.

But you stopped halfway through the gesture.

Wait. Dick Grayson?

Your eyes widened.

At that exact moment, you were absolutely certain: you had just hit the lottery.

Damn, universe… sometimes you’re really freaking amazing.

“You’re Wally’s friend, right?” you asked, now with an excitement you couldn’t hide.

Dick frowned slightly, confused by the sudden shift in energy.

“Yeah…? I am.”

“Great! You guys are in the same class?” you shot back, already leaning forward a little, eager.

“Yeah…?” he answered again, more like a question than a statement.

You were practically about to spontaneously combust.

“Which one?”

“Which one what?” he blinked, lost.

“The class. Which class?”

“AP,” he replied simply.

You opened your mouth, shocked.

Advanced Placement.

Damn.

“Why are you—” he tried to ask, still clearly trying to understand what was going on.

But you didn’t let him finish.

“Okay, thanks, Dick! You were really helpful!” you said quickly, already turning away.

And then you practically ran down the hallway, your heart racing, grabbing your phone along the way.

Artemis needed to know this.

Now.

—

Artemis practically freaked out when you told her that Wally was in advanced placement.

On the other end of the call, you could hear the exact moment the information hit—a two-second silence… and then a scream.

“OH MY GOD!”

You even pulled the phone away from your ear.

“He’s the love of my life!”

You couldn’t help but laugh, shaking your head.

But, to be honest, you had been surprised too. Advanced placement? Wally West definitely wasn’t just some random guy.

And without even realizing it, you started getting pulled into it as well.

The mission. The excitement. Her hope.

Because when it came to Artemis… you were never left out.

After the call ended, the silence came. And it hit hard.

You missed her. A lot. It felt way too strange.

You had never spent this much time apart—and it had only been two days.

Two days. It felt like weeks.

Artemis wasn’t just your best friend. She was your other half.

The part of you that laughed louder, that spoke without thinking, that turned any ordinary moment into something memorable.

She was… home.

And maybe that was exactly why the fear never completely went away.

The last time Artemis had a heart attack, you thought you were going to lose her.

You remembered every detail—the panic, the sound of the machines, the cold that took over your body while you waited for any news.

You cried like you had never cried before. And you prayed.

You prayed like your life depended on it. Like she was your life.

And now… now everything was about to change.

Artemis would finally have a new heart. A new chance.

And for the first time in a long time, along with the fear… came something different.

Hope.

—

Tuesday.

You walked through the school gates with your mind far away, completely consumed by a single thought. Artemis’s obsession wasn’t just hers anymore—it had become yours too. Now, everything occupying your head was one mission: finding out every detail about Wally West.

And then, as if the universe decided to cooperate, you saw him.

In the hallway outside your classroom, Dick Grayson was casually talking to a red-haired boy, full of freckles, with that effortlessly carefree air that drew attention without trying. Your eyes immediately dropped to the ID badge clipped to his uniform.

Wallace West.

Your heart gave a small jump.

Finally. Now you had a face. Everything got easier from there.

Without thinking much—or maybe thinking too much—you walked up to them and stopped right in front of them.

“Hi! Wally, right?”

Wally West raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by your sudden intrusion. For a second, he seemed to analyze you… but soon a light, self-assured smile appeared.

“Yeah, sweetheart. Wally.”

You rolled your eyes immediately.

Maybe he wasn’t as much of a “dream prince” as Artemis had painted him.

“Come on, Wally! Stop being a flirt.” Dick cut in, lightly shoving his shoulder with a half-smile.

And that’s when you really looked at him.

Dick.

He was… more handsome today. Or maybe you were just noticing more.

The thought caught you off guard, and heat rushed straight to your face.

“Hi, Dick. How are you?” you said, smiling slightly as you tucked a strand of hair behind your ear, trying to look more natural than you felt.

He tilted his head, watching you with that almost teasing smile.

“Hi… I’d say your name, but you didn’t tell me yesterday.”

Your eyes widened instantly. Damn.

You said your name quickly, feeling the embarrassment heat your cheeks even more.

“I’m sorry! It’s just that I had—”

“It’s okay!” he interrupted, letting out a soft laugh. “I was just joking.”

“So… can we get back to this guy here?” Wally West said, raising his eyebrows while pointing at himself.

You couldn’t help but laugh.

You stayed quiet for a moment, your brain scrambling desperately for a convincing excuse—anything that wouldn’t sound completely absurd. But in the end, the words just came out… way too simple.

“Right, Wally… I’m doing a survey with all the students at school. Want to participate?”

He gave an easy smile, not suspecting a thing.

“Sure! What kind of survey?”

“Doesn’t matter!” you replied way too quickly. “Favorite movie?”

“How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.”

You immediately raised an eyebrow.

He blushed right away, bringing a hand to the back of his neck, scratching it lightly, a bit embarrassed.

“What? I’m a romantic guy.”

You let out a quiet “hmm,” trying not to laugh.

“Okay… a sport?”

“Running.”

“Type of girl?”

This time, both he and Dick Grayson raised their eyebrows at the same time, staring at you.

You froze.

“Very… forward?” you tried, already feeling the regret creeping in.

They both nodded together. Damn.

“Okay, Wally! The survey was very efficient. Thank you for your participation,” you blurted out, way too fast, already turning to leave before you said anything else stupid.

“Hey, shouldn’t you do the survey with me too?”

Dick’s voice came right after, and before you could get far, he lightly grabbed your wrist, stopping you.

The touch made you pause. You turned back.

“No… just Wally is enough.”

The moment the words left your mouth, you realized.

His cheeks turned slightly red.

“Okay…”

Your heart dropped. Damn. Damn, damn.

“No!” you rushed, eyes wide. “I didn’t mean to be rude! You’re really interesting, and you must be really nice, and you’re also really handsome! I didn’t want to offend you, I swear, I just…”

The words started tumbling over each other, one after another, as you stared at the floor, completely out of control.

He said your name, and you stopped.

You blinked.

“Yes?” you looked up, meeting his eyes.

“It’s okay.” He smiled.

And it felt like all the air had been pulled out of your lungs at once.

You nodded, a bit speechless.

“Okay… see you later…”

Your voice came out softer than usual, filled with embarrassment, as you finally walked away and entered the classroom.

But as soon as you crossed the door, your steps slowed down.

You stopped. Wait.

Your mind replayed every second. Every word. Every mistake.

Your eyes widened.

And you’re also really handsome…

Your heart raced. Oh my God…

Oh my God.

—

After the minor meltdown you had when you realized you had called Dick handsome, you spent the first classes completely distracted, replaying the moment in your head and trying—without much success—not to die of embarrassment every time you remembered it.

At lunch, without Artemis by your side, everything felt emptier.

You sat alone, pushing the food around on your plate without really paying attention. Thinking about her made your chest tighten. Today was the day of the surgery. You couldn’t call, couldn’t text, couldn’t do anything except wait.

And then there would still be three months in New York… three months for the doctors to evaluate whether she would really be well enough to come back home.

You let out a quiet sigh, your gaze distant.

“So… what’s bothering you that you’ve got that sad face?”

Dick’s voice pulled you out of your thoughts. When you turned your head, he was already sitting down to your right, setting his tray on the table with an easy movement.

You raised an eyebrow, still a little surprised.

“Come on, girl! Cheer up! It’s a beautiful day.”

Wally showed up right after, dropping onto the seat to your left, completing the “trap” and leaving you even more confused.

You looked from one to the other.

“Did I miss something?”

“No,” Dick replied, with a soft, almost gentle smile. “We just saw you alone and decided to sit with you.”

“Yeah,” Wally added, shrugging. “Nobody deserves to eat alone.”

You let out a small sigh, looking away.

“I don’t need your pity.”

“It’s not pity, sunshine. We like you.”

The natural way Dick said that made your heart do a strange little jump—and your cheeks warm instantly.

“‘Sunshine,’ huh, Grayson?” Wally teased, with a mischievous grin.

“Shut up, Wallace.”

Dick replied without even looking at him, flipping him off completely naturally.

You couldn’t help it—a light laugh escaped, easing a bit of the weight in your chest.

—

Spending lunch with the boys had been surprisingly fun. You couldn’t remember the last time you had laughed that much—those real laughs that make your stomach hurt and your eyes water. And, as a perfect bonus, you had managed to gather plenty of information about Wally to tell Artemis. One of them, maybe the funniest, was the fact that he was completely awkward with girls.

Now, back in your room, lying on your bed and staring at the ceiling, you were still smiling as you remembered some moments from lunch. That’s when your phone vibrated beside you. You picked it up without much hurry… until you saw the name on the screen.

In one motion, you answered.

“Artemis!” you practically shouted, your voice full of excitement.

On the other end, she laughed—that familiar laugh you missed so much.

“Calling the best friend of all.”

“That’s me!” you replied, unable to hold back your smile. “How are you? Are you feeling okay? What’s it like having a new heart? Are they treating you right?”

“One question at a time, please!” she said, laughing. “But yes, I’m okay. And… I miss you so much.”

Your smile softened a little, replaced by a tight feeling in your chest.

“I miss you too…” you admitted, quieter. “But seriously, are they treating you well?”

“The doctors are amazing. They take great care of me.” Artemis let out a light sigh. “And you… how’s school without me?”

You let out a dramatic sigh, turning onto your side on the bed.

“Lonely. Very lonely.” You paused before adding, sincerely: “Come back soon. I don’t know how to live without my other half.”

“I love you,” she replied, her smile audible in her voice. “And I’ll be back soon. For you.”

The silence that followed wasn’t uncomfortable—it was full of longing, of affection, of everything you didn’t need to say out loud.

Until, of course…

“Sooo…” Artemis dragged out, in a not-so-innocent tone. “And Wally?”

You rolled your eyes automatically, even though she couldn’t see you, and let out a laugh.

“Okay, okay! I found out a lot,” you said, adjusting yourself on the bed. “For example… his favorite movie is How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.”

“No way!” Artemis practically screamed. “That’s mine too!”

You raised an eyebrow, even though you were alone.

“No, it’s not.”

“Shut up,” she shot back, laughing. “Keep going.”

“He likes running,” you added, distracted.

“So he’s popular?” Artemis asked immediately.

You thought for a second.

“I think so… kind of.”

On the other end of the line, she sighed in that dreamy way you knew so well.

“And… is he tall?” she insisted.

“About 6’0,” you answered.

“Really?” Artemis said, surprised. “I thought he’d be shorter…”

You smiled to yourself, staring at the ceiling again.

“Does he have friends?” Artemis asked, curiosity obvious in her voice.

You opened your mouth to answer, but hesitated for a second.

Your heart sped up without warning, as if caught off guard by your own thoughts. The image came almost instantly—the easy smile, the light way he carried himself, the look that always seemed attentive to everything… Dick.

You swallowed before answering, trying to sound as normal as possible.

“He does…” your voice came out a little softer than expected, but you continued. “A best friend. Dick Grayson, that’s his name.”

Without realizing it, you let out a soft sigh, almost distracted, as if the name itself carried some kind of weight.

“They say he was adopted by Bruce Wayne.”

On the other end, Artemis reacted immediately.

“Whoa, Bruce Wayne?!” she said, impressed. “That’s so lucky!”

You let out a short laugh, but your mind lingered for a second longer than it should have.

And the conversation went on for hours.

Without realizing it, you moved from one topic to another—Wally, school, memories, dumb jokes. The laughs came easily, just like they always had between you.

Lying on your bed, you smiled to yourself, listening to her voice fill the silence of your room.

Even far away, everything felt the same. Artemis was still your other half.

—

A whole week had passed, and you still hadn’t managed to find out absolutely anything about Wally.

In fact, there wasn’t even much opportunity for it. He just… didn’t show up. Neither did Dick. It was strange. Too unusual. You caught yourself wondering why—and, more importantly, how the two of them managed to keep up with advanced placement while disappearing like that.

Without seeing them, everything became harder.

And it wasn’t like you could just go around asking people. No one would know more personal things—how many siblings he had, where he had traveled, what his favorite food was… simple details that somehow felt impossible to reach.

When you walked into class that day, everything felt the same. Routine. Repetition. You sat in your usual seat, resting your arm on the desk, a little distracted.

It was almost by accident that you looked out the window beside you.

And, damn… good thing you did.

On the basketball court down below, there he was.

Dick Grayson.

He pulled his shirt over his head, revealing his torso, and for a second—just one—the world seemed to pause.

Damn.

He had muscles. A lot of them. Well-defined. It was almost ridiculous. You could literally count each one.

Your mind, completely unfiltered, fired off:

Would he let me study anatomy with him?

Heat rushed instantly to your face, your cheeks burning as you looked away—too late.

A throat clearing beside you snapped you back to reality like a slap.

“Miss,” the teacher’s voice cut through the air, firm, “since you’re so interested in the shirtless boys down there, how about you go join them?”

Your heart practically jumped into your throat.

You turned your head slowly, meeting her gaze, and felt the heat rise even more.

“What? No! I wasn’t looking, I was…” your sentence died halfway through, completely tangled.

The teacher raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.

“Pay more attention in class, miss.”

And without waiting for a response, she turned back to the board.

You sank slightly into your chair, wishing you could disappear right then and there.

—

After school, the sun was already starting to dip below the horizon, painting everything in that beautiful golden late-afternoon glow. That’s when you finally saw them.

Wally West and Dick Grayson were sitting side by side, leaning against the trunk of a large tree, talking as if the world around them didn’t exist.

Your heart sped up instantly.

Without thinking much, you approached slowly, trying not to make any noise, and leaned against the other side of the tree, holding your breath so you could listen.

“So, which club are you joining?” Wally asked, absentmindedly fiddling with a leaf on the ground.

“I think the debate club… and, obviously, the sports one too,” Dick replied, his tone light, almost careless.

“Oh yeah?” Wally said, turning to look at him. “Then I’ll join the debate club too.”

Your eyes widened, and an involuntary smile spread across your lips.

That’s it. Decided.

You were joining the debate club.

Before you could overthink it, you stepped away from the tree and started walking toward the exit, pretending you were just passing by. But you didn’t even take two full steps before you heard your name.

You stopped.

Took a deep breath.

And turned around slowly.

“Hey! How are you?” Dick asked, and for a second—just one—you had the impression his cheeks were slightly flushed.

“Hi, Dick! I’m good… and you?” you replied, smiling, trying to ignore how fast your heart was beating.

“Good…” he said, a little awkwardly.

The silence that followed was heavy. Strange. Almost suffocating.

No one seemed to know what to say.

Until…

Wally cleared his throat, breaking the tension.

“So…” he started, looking from you to Dick. “Which club are you joining?”

“Debate!” you answered way too quickly, without even thinking.

Dick’s eyes lit up immediately.

“Really? I’m joining that one too,” he said, excited.

Wally raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms with a half-smile.

“Actually, both of us are joining.”

“Yeah,” Dick confirmed, nodding. “Both of us.”

And that made your smile grow even more.

“Okay, I gotta go. See you two tomorrow.” Wally said quickly, already turning his back before either you or Dick had time to respond.

You raised an eyebrow, watching him walk away, then turned your gaze back to Dick. The silence that replaced the conversation felt too heavy, slightly uncomfortable, like neither of you really knew what to say.

Dick cleared his throat softly.

You took a breath and decided to break it before it got worse.

“Why did you miss the last few days?”

He looked at you… and smiled.

“You noticed?”

You nodded, lightly crossing your arms. “Yeah. You and Wally were gone.”

“Oh… yeah, Wally too…” He brought a hand to the back of his neck, scratching it lightly, as if caught off guard.

You narrowed your eyes, suspicious. “So… why?”

“Why what?” he shot back, trying to buy time.

You raised an eyebrow, impatient. “The absences.”

“Oh!” He let out a short laugh. “We were traveling.”

“Traveling?” you repeated, tilting your head.

“Yeah!”

“In the middle of the school year?”

“Yeah…” The answer came out quieter this time, and he looked down at the ground.

You couldn’t hold back the laugh.

When you looked back at him, Dick was smiling for real—that open, easy smile… with dimples.

You froze for a second.

Damn.

You had never noticed that before.

Your heart sped up in a completely inconvenient way, right there, in front of Dick Grayson. You quickly looked away, shaking your head slightly, as if you could push the thought away.

Focus.

“So…” you continued, trying to sound normal. “Does Wally like traveling?”

“Yeah… you could say that.” Dick replied, still with a slight smile.

“Which pop singer does he like the most?”

“The Weeknd.”

You nodded, mentally organizing the information.

Likes traveling. Listens to The Weeknd.

Okay… what else?

Your eyes lit up with the next question.

“How many siblings?”

“I have two… three now, since Damian showed up.” Dick answered, smiling to the side.

You blinked, distracted for a second. “Damian? That’s a pretty name…”

Then it clicked.

Your eyes widened and you turned your body back toward him.

“Wait. You do?” Your eyebrow shot up instantly, and you gave his shoulder a light smack. “I was asking about Wally, idiot! Not you.”

Dick laughed, leaning back a little, but ended up catching your hand in the movement.

“Okay, okay! Sorry!”

The laughter faded… and the silence returned.

But now it was different.

You noticed it first.

His fingers were still intertwined with yours.

Your heart jumped, and heat rushed straight to your face. When you dared to look at him, you saw a faint pink tint on his cheeks too.

For a second, neither of you moved.

Then you slowly pulled your hand back.

“Why do you want to know so much about Wally?” Dick asked, this time without a smile, his eyes fixed on yours. “Do you like him?”

Your heart practically stopped.

“What? Like him? No!” you answered way too quickly.

Quick enough to sound suspicious.

“I just…”

“Just…” he repeated, tilting his head slightly, waiting.

You swallowed.

“I’m just interested in him.”

The moment the words left your mouth, you realized how strange that sounded.

Dick raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t being interested and liking the same thing?”

“No! Of course not!” you stumbled, gesturing a little. “Liking is… liking. Being interested is just… wanting to know things.”

You stopped. Thought about what you had just said. Sighed.

That made no sense at all.

Dick clearly noticed.

“So you don’t like him?” he asked again.

“Of course not.” You smiled, trying to sound convincing.

“Good.” Dick said, smiling.

It wasn’t a big smile—it was more contained, but still sincere. The dimples showed slightly, and for a second he held your gaze.

You frowned, not understanding.

“Good?”

“Yeah.” He shrugged, like it was simple. “Good.”

—

The next day, you were in charge of signing up for the debate club. You got to school early, walking quickly with your heart slightly racing, heading straight to the registration table set up in the courtyard.

The woman in charge looked up as soon as you approached, holding a notebook that was already almost full.

“Which club would you like to join?” she asked, her tone neutral but kind.

“Debate!” you answered without hesitation, feeling a small spark of excitement in your chest.

She smiled to the side, as if it were an interesting coincidence. “Lucky you… there are only two spots left.” she said, tearing off the sheet and handing it to you. “And you can’t switch after you sign up.”

You just nodded, already leaning over the table to fill in your information. The pen moved quickly across the paper, but your attention split the moment you heard two familiar voices calling your name.

You looked up almost automatically.

“Hi, Dick.” Your smile came easily, almost too naturally.

He smiled back, dimples showing. “Hi.”

You then turned your head to the other side. “Hi, Wally.”

“Hello, miss.” Wally replied, with his usual light, slightly teasing tone. You couldn’t help the soft laugh that slipped out.

“We came to sign up for the club. Did you already sign up?” Dick asked, glancing at the paper in your hand.

You nodded.

And then… froze.

The realization hit suddenly, heavy, almost annoying.

They hadn’t signed up yet.

And there was only one spot left.

“There’s only one spot left, boys.” the woman informed, confirming what was already pounding in your head.

“Damn…” Wally muttered, running a hand through his red hair. He shrugged right after, like it wasn’t a big deal. “I didn’t even want it anyway. You can take it, man.”

Your eyes widened immediately.

Damn.

How were you supposed to find anything out for Artemis like that?

Your gaze automatically shifted to Dick—and he was already looking at you.

Of course he was.

He noticed.

“No, man. You take it.” Dick said, looking away for a second before turning back to Wally. “I’ll go for sports.”

Your heart gave a small jump—you couldn’t quite tell why.

Wally huffed, shaking his head. “No, you take it. I don’t want that club.” he replied, already turning away as if the decision was made, walking toward another table.

Dick let out a short sigh, almost a humorless laugh, and looked back at you.

“I tried.”

“It’s fine…” you replied, but the sigh that followed didn’t hide your frustration at all. Not even a little. “So it’s just you and me.”

For a moment, he just looked at you.

And then he smiled—this time for real.

“Yeah. You and me.”

And without realizing it, you smiled back.

When you and Dick finished signing up, you walked out together into the courtyard. The school was still busy—voices overlapping, students going back and forth—but for some reason, walking beside him made everything feel quieter.

Or maybe that was just in your head.

You hadn’t taken many steps before Wally showed up, like a red-haired whirlwind, catching up to you easily.

“I have an idea!” he announced, stepping between you without asking, throwing one arm around your shoulders and the other around Dick’s, pulling you both closer.

“What is it, man?” Dick asked, already smiling, used to his friend’s impulsive energy.

You turned your head to respond too—but stopped midway.

Dick was already looking at you.

And he didn’t look away.

For a moment that lasted too long, the world around you seemed to disappear. Your stomach tightened slightly, and heat rushed to your cheeks.

Wally, still between you, narrowed his eyes as he noticed the strange silence. He looked from one to the other, suspicious, and cleared his throat loudly enough to break the moment.

“We’re not going to class…” he started, breaking into an excited grin, “we’re going to the beach.”

“The beach?” you and Dick said at the same time, almost in sync.

Wally’s grin widened even more, as if that only proved how brilliant the idea was. “Yes! The beach!”

You both exchanged a quick look—and almost automatically shook your heads.

“Come on, guys!” he insisted, letting go of you just to gesture, too excited to stand still. “It’ll be fun. I promise. Just today.”

You stayed quiet for a moment, letting the idea settle in your mind.

Beach… sun… a day away from routine.

It didn’t sound bad at all.

Your gaze shifted back to Dick, almost like you needed his confirmation—and he just shrugged, relaxed, like whatever you decided would be fine.

“Alright.” he said.

Wally practically lit up.

“Seriously?” He broke into a huge, energetic smile, then turned straight to you. “And you?”

You took a breath, but you were already smiling before you answered.

“I’m in.”

“Perfect!” Wally almost shouted, already turning and running toward the exit as if he was afraid you’d change your minds.

And without much choice—or maybe without any desire to back out—you and Dick followed.

You ran together, laughing, trying to keep up with Wally’s impossible pace.

—

When you got to the beach, everything felt lighter.

The sound of the waves, the wind against your face, the sun warming your skin—it all seemed to invite you to forget every worry. And you accepted without thinking twice.

You ran across the sand, went into the water, laughed over stupid things. Wally, as always, was pure energy—dragging you from one thing to another without giving you time to breathe. And somewhere between one laugh and the next, you realized it had been a long time since you had felt like this.

Light.

Genuinely happy.

You lost count of how many popsicles you had. You only knew you were at your limit when you dropped onto the sand beside Dick, letting out a satisfied sigh.

“I’m going to explode,” you muttered, still laughing.

A little further ahead, Wally had found a friend and was already completely distracted, talking like he hadn’t seen him in days.

The silence between you and Dick wasn’t uncomfortable… but it wasn’t simple either.

You turned your head toward him—and as if it were planned, he did the same.

Your eyes met.

And stayed there.

The tension built slowly, but intensely. Your stomach tightened, and heat rose to your cheeks without permission.

“There’s something here.” Dick said, his voice lower now, pointing to the side of your mouth.

You reacted immediately, bringing your hand to the spot. “Here?”

“No… more to the side.” he indicated, making a small gesture.

“Here?” you tried again, laughing, already a little lost.

He let out a soft laugh.

“Here.” he said, leaning in a little more.

Before you could react, his hand was already near your face, gently wiping away a bit of chocolate ice cream that had been left there.

Your breath hitched.

Completely… froze.

You couldn’t look away.

Neither could he.

His eyes were on yours—intense, focused—but slowly, they dropped to your lips.

Your heart raced.

Without even realizing it, you ran your tongue over your lips, nervous, trying to understand what was happening… or maybe trying to buy time.

When his gaze lifted back to yours, there was something different there.

Closer.

More… certain.

He leaned in.

And you felt the entire world hold its breath with you.

“Guys! My friend’s going to take a picture of us!”

Wally’s voice cut through the moment like lightning.

You both pulled away at the same time, almost jumping, like the closeness had burned.

The air felt strange.

You couldn’t look at Dick. Neither could he look at you.

Your heart was beating so fast it echoed in your ears, uneven, impossible to ignore.

And even if you didn’t know it, his was just as fast—or worse.

You cleared your throat, trying to compose yourself, and grabbed your polaroid camera, handing it to Wally’s friend with a slightly rushed smile.

You positioned yourself between them.

Before you could think too much, you felt Dick’s arm slide around your shoulders, pulling you slightly closer to him.

The gesture was natural. But it made your heart race again.

You smiled, trying to act normal, even while feeling every inch of his closeness.

“Ready!” Wally’s friend said.

The click of the camera echoed in the air.

—

Back home, lying on your bed with your phone resting against your ear, you still felt the good kind of exhaustion from a full day at the beach. The sound of Artemis’s voice on the other end of the call filled the room—familiar, comforting… almost like she was there with you.

You wanted to tell her. You really did.

You wanted to tell her about the way Dick looked at you. About the almost-kiss. About how your heart still felt out of rhythm just thinking about it.

But Artemis was so excited.

So happy.

With every detail you shared about the day—especially about Wally—she reacted like it was the best news in the world.

“Really? He said that?”

“Oh my God, I love him!”

“Keep going, keep going!”

You let out a soft laugh, shaking your head, even though she couldn’t see you.

It was impossible not to find it funny.

“Today, Wally, Dick, and I took a picture with my camera…” you said, absentmindedly playing with the bedsheet. “I asked for two copies. I’ll send you one tomorrow morning, before school.”

On the other end, Artemis let out an excited squeal.

“I’m finally going to have a picture of Wally in my room!” she said, practically vibrating.

You smiled automatically, feeling your chest warm with her happiness.

Even though… a part of you had other things it wanted to say.

Other things you chose to keep to yourself.

For now.

The silence that followed was calmer. Softer.

You sighed, letting your gaze drift to the ceiling.

“I miss you.” you said, more quietly this time.

Her answer came quickly—and carried the same feeling.

“I miss you too. A lot.”

Your heart tightened slightly.

It was strange to be living so many new things… and at the same time feel that emptiness because she wasn’t there to see it all up close.

“I have to go now… it’s getting late.” you murmured, shifting on the bed. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” Artemis replied, her voice softer now.

The call ended. And the room fell silent.

You let your phone drop beside you, turning your head to stare at nothing for a few seconds.

And then, inevitably…

Your thoughts went back to him.

To the look. To the touch. To the almost.

You brought a hand to your face, hiding a silly smile that insisted on appearing.

—

The days went by almost without you noticing. One after another, light, fast… good. The routine found a new rhythm once Wally and Dick became part of it. Everything felt easier when you were together—the classes were more bearable, the breaks more fun, and even the simplest moments somehow turned into something special. Wally was like a constant whirlwind, always pulling you into some new idea, some unexpected laugh, some impulsive plan. And Dick… Dick was the balance. Calm, attentive, with that way about him that made everything feel safe. And somehow, you fit right between the two of them. They always included you. Always. It didn’t matter what it was—a silly conversation, a last-minute plan, or even a shared silence—you were there. With them. And that started to mean more than you wanted to admit.

You and Dick… well, you didn’t spend much time alone. Mostly because Wally was almost always around, showing up in the middle of any moment like he had a radar for it. But in the few times when it happened… it was strange. The silence came too easily. It wasn’t truly uncomfortable—but it wasn’t simple either. It was filled with unspoken things, quick glances that were avoided too quickly, words that never quite made it out. Embarrassment took over both of you. And in the end, you always ended up laughing at something random or changing the subject, like it was easier to pretend nothing was there. Even though you both knew it was.

And so, between laughter, glances, almost-moments… and days that felt too good to be just ordinary days… four weeks passed. A month. You and Dick were in the debate room, one of the rare moments when you were actually alone. And every time that happened, it felt like your heart completely forgot how to beat properly. The silence between you wasn’t empty—it was too full. Full of avoided looks, of unspoken things… of desire. The desire to get closer. To touch. To close that distance that, in reality, wasn’t even that big.

“Do you think this topic would work?” you asked, just to break the silence that was starting to feel heavy.

“I think so,” Dick replied, still looking at the computer beside him. “You had a really good idea.”

You smiled, looking away for a second—but when you looked back… he was already looking at you. And he didn’t look away. Time seemed to slow down. The room was completely empty. Just the two of you. The distant noise of the school didn’t matter anymore. You had promised to stay late to finish the assignment. But in that moment… that was the last thing on your mind.

You felt it when he moved. His fingers touched your hair carefully, almost hesitantly, moving a strand away from your face and tucking it behind your ear. The gesture was simple. But it made your entire body react. Your heart raced. Your breathing grew shorter. His gaze dropped… slowly… to your lips. And you couldn’t move. You didn’t want to. He leaned closer. Closer and closer. You could feel his breath now—warm, uneven, just as out of control as yours.

“Ah, fuck it,” he murmured, almost like he was giving up on fighting it.

You sighed into the kiss, your heart racing at his sudden closeness—and then you melted. Your lips crashed against his like you’d been starving for him, your hands gripping the fabric of his clothes. He tasted so good you thought you might pass out, and god, he kissed like he knew exactly how to ruin you. Dick let out a low groan when your tongue met his, one hand sliding to your waist, the other tangling in your hair. He broke the kiss only to leave a trail of warm, open-mouthed bites along your neck.

And then—as if the universe had terrible timing—the loud sound of the school bell echoed through the halls. Cutting everything. The moment. The kiss. The air between you.

You pulled apart almost instantly, like you’d been startled. Both of your breaths were completely uneven, heavy, hard to control. For a second, no one said anything. You just… looked at each other. Still too close. Still feeling the effect of what had just happened. Your heart was beating so fast it felt impossible that he couldn’t hear it. Your lips were still tingling, and your mind tried, unsuccessfully, to keep up with your own emotions.

Then you laughed. Low, nervous, completely awkward. A laugh that slipped out more from tension than anything else. Dick smiled immediately. It wasn’t shy. It wasn’t embarrassed. It was… happy. And for a moment, everything felt lighter again. Like, despite the shock… despite the interruption… neither of you regretted it.

Dick blinked a few times, like he was slowly coming back to reality, pulling himself out of that moment that still felt suspended in the air. He ran a hand quickly through his hair, took a deep breath… and then stood up. For a second, he just stood there, looking at you—like he was organizing his thoughts. Then he held out his hand toward you.

“Come on,” he said, his voice still a little lower than usual. “I’ll ask my driver to take you home.”

There was something different there. Softer. Closer. You didn’t say anything, just nodded, feeling a small flutter in your stomach as you reached for his hand. When your fingers touched, it felt like a light shock—not from surprise, but awareness. Of everything. He closed his hand around yours, firm… natural. Like he should have done it before. And this time, neither of you let go.

You left the room in silence, walking through the nearly empty school hallways. The distant sound of students leaving echoed in the background, but it felt too far away to matter. His hand was still holding yours.

—

The car stopped smoothly in front of your house, the slight jolt almost unnoticeable—but enough to remind you that the ride was over. You let out a quiet sigh, like you didn’t want that moment to end so quickly. You slowly turned your head, meeting Dick beside you. His hand was still intertwined with yours. And somehow, that felt more intimate than anything else that had happened that day.

For a second, you just stayed there, looking at him… trying to memorize every detail.

“See you Monday?” you asked, with a small smile, half shy, half hopeful.

Dick smiled back immediately.

“Of course.”

He leaned slightly toward you, like it was natural now… like he didn’t need to think so much before acting anymore. And then he pressed his lips to yours. A quick peck. But it made your heart race all the same.

When he pulled away, you were already smiling—a bigger smile, impossible to hide.

“Bye, Dick.”

You let go of his hand with some reluctance, opening the door and stepping out of the car. The late afternoon air wrapped around you immediately, but it still felt like part of you had stayed inside. You closed the door and took a few steps toward your house… but you couldn’t resist. You looked back. And he was still looking at you. And smiling. Your heart skipped another beat before you finally went inside.

When you entered the house, the cozy silence wrapped around you for a moment. The living room was lit by the soft light of late afternoon, and your mom was sitting on the couch, distracted by something in her hands. You approached quietly and placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head.

“Hi, Mom!” you said, a light smile forming on your face.

She looked up immediately, returning the smile with a different kind of sparkle—almost knowing.

“There’s a surprise for you in your room,” she said, holding back a small smile that seemed to know more than it should.

“What?” you raised an eyebrow, curious, already feeling your heart speed up a little. Without waiting for an answer, you turned and walked down the hallway, each step filled with anticipation. Your bedroom door was slightly open, like someone had gone in recently. You pushed it open slowly.

And then you stopped. There was a girl standing in the middle of your room, her back turned, blonde hair falling over her shoulders in a way you knew instantly. For a second, you didn’t even believe it.

“Artemis!” you shouted, surprise exploding in your chest as you ran toward her.

When your arms wrapped around her, everything settled. Your best friend was back in your life.

—

You and Artemis were sprawled on the bed, surrounded by empty candy wrappers, the smell of sugar still in the air and that warm feeling of reunion filling everything. It was light, comfortable… like the world had finally fallen back into place.

“Oh my God, I feel like I’m going to explode…” you muttered, placing a hand on your stomach and letting out a dramatic sigh.

Artemis laughed, throwing her head back.

“Seriously, you don’t know when to stop.”

Her laugh was exactly how you remembered it. Maybe even better. It made your chest tighten in a good way. For a few seconds, silence fell between you, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was full. Full of everything you had gone through apart.

“You know…” Artemis started, her voice softer now. “When I was there… in the hospital… and I thought maybe I’d have to stay longer… or that something might go wrong with the surgery…” She paused for a moment, looking down at her hands. “You were one of the only people I was afraid I’d never see again.”

Your heart skipped a beat. You turned toward her, feeling your eyes sting almost instantly.

“Being without my best friend was hard…” your voice came out weaker than you wanted.

“It was for me too,” Artemis replied, looking at you with a small, sincere smile.

That was enough. Enough to say everything. But you blinked a few times, trying to hold back the tears before they fell. You needed to change the subject before you broke down right there.

“So…” you took a deep breath. “Wally, huh? You’re finally going to meet him for real.”

It was instant. Artemis’s eyes lit up, and she practically jumped off the bed, full of energy again.

“WAIT!”

She bent down, grabbing her bag from the floor and already unzipping it quickly.

“I have to show you this.”

You propped yourself up on your elbows, watching curiously. Artemis pulled out a folded photo, handling it carefully—too carefully for something so simple.

“I kept the photo you sent me by my bedside in the hospital,” she said, sitting next to you again. Her voice now had a different tone, almost dreamy. “Every time I felt alone… I looked at it and remembered that my best friend… and my future boyfriend… were here waiting for me.”

Your heart warmed at the first part. But froze at the second.

She unfolded the photo. And showed you. Time… stopped. Your eyes locked onto the image, trying to understand what you were seeing. Hearts. Little hearts drawn all around it. But they weren’t around Wally. They were around Dick. Your Dick.

“What…?” you took the photo from her hand almost automatically, a nervous, confused smile forming out of reflex. “Why is Dick covered in hearts?”

Artemis frowned, tilting her head.

“No… that’s Wally,” she said, pointing directly at him—at Dick.

You let out a small awkward laugh, shaking your head.

“No, Artemis… that’s Dick Grayson. His best friend.” You turned the photo slightly, pointing to the redhead beside him. “This one is Wally.”

She went silent for a second. Two. You saw the exact moment it clicked. Artemis started laughing. Really laughing.

“Oh my God,” she put a hand to her forehead. “All this time I’ve been asking you to find out everything about the wrong guy!” She laughed even more, unable to stop. “I can’t believe this.”

The sound of her laughter echoed through the room. But for you, everything had gone quiet. Because in that moment, something inside you broke. Slowly. Painfully. Into a thousand pieces. The boy Artemis had spent all this time in love with… was the same boy you had, without realizing, fallen for too. And suddenly, the sweet taste still in your mouth… turned bitter.

—

The next day, the memory of the night before came back heavy. You opened your eyes, and within seconds, everything returned: the conversation, the photo, the hearts… and the revelation. Artemis liked Dick. Your chest tightened immediately. You turned your face into the pillow, trying to ignore it—but you couldn’t. The scene kept replaying in your head.

You remembered when you made up an excuse, saying you were tired and needed to sleep. But it wasn’t exhaustion. You were devastated. Because it wasn’t just anyone. It was Artemis. Your best friend. And you weren’t going to take that from her. You just weren’t.

You ran a hand over your face, taking a deep breath, trying to steady yourself.

“I’m not going to do this to her…” you murmured.

And with that came another certainty—worse than the first. Your future with Dick… didn’t exist anymore. Just thinking about it left a strange emptiness. And then you remembered the kiss. That was the worst part. The way it had happened, how real it felt… important. Now it just felt like… something that shouldn’t have happened.

Your eyes filled with tears again, but this time you didn’t even try to stop them. Because deep down, you knew—you were going to have to let it go.

—

On Monday, Artemis showed up early at your house, just like old times. Energetic, light… like nothing had changed. But for you, everything had. You didn’t want to get out of bed. Didn’t want to face that tightness in your chest, that constant feeling that something was wrong. Didn’t want to accept that you couldn’t just… like whoever you wanted. But life didn’t stop.

And now you were there, walking beside Artemis through the school hallways, trying to act normal. Trying to pretend your heart wasn’t in pieces.

“Come on.” You grabbed her hand, gently pulling her along. “I’ll introduce you to Wally… and Dick.”

Your voice faltered when you said his name. You cleared your throat quickly, trying to hide it.

“Oh my God!” Artemis let out an excited squeal, practically bouncing beside you.

You let out a soft laugh, more for her than anything else. Because in the end… she was still your best friend. And that hadn’t changed.

When you finally found the two of them in the hallway, your heart sped up immediately. For a second, you thought about turning around, about leaving. But you couldn’t. So you took a deep breath and pulled Artemis with you.

“Hi, guys!” you said, forcing a smile. “This is Artemis, my best friend.”

“Hi, guys!” she said, full of energy.

Your eyes met Dick’s almost instantly. He was already looking at you. And then he smiled… that smile that used to make everything feel easier. He started to move closer, lifting his arm like he was going to hug you.

Your body reacted before your mind. You stepped back. Quickly. You dodged him and moved to Wally’s side, like it was the most natural thing in the world. But it wasn’t. The movement left a strange silence in the air. When you glanced at him, you saw his expression change—confused… and a little hurt. Your chest tightened instantly. Another piece.

Wally noticed too, looking at you sideways, clearly not understanding anything. You just shrugged, letting out an awkward little smile.

“Hey, I know you!” Artemis suddenly said, looking directly at Dick.

He frowned slightly, confused.

“You do?”

“You helped me carry some bags once,” she said, with a dreamy little smile.

“Oh…” Dick seemed to remember, his expression softening. “Yeah… I remember.”

—

“Dick seemed kind of sad, didn’t he?” Artemis commented as soon as you entered the classroom, tossing her bag onto the desk. “What do you think happened to him?”

You swallowed hard.

“I have no idea…” you replied, with a weak smile—the kind that didn’t even convince yourself.

Artemis narrowed her eyes for a second, curious.

“I’ll find out then,” she said, determined, like it was the simplest thing in the world.

Your chest tightened. You just looked away.

When lunchtime came, you couldn’t stay. You said you had things to take care of for the debate club. It wasn’t a complete lie… but it wasn’t the truth either. You didn’t want to leave Artemis alone. But you couldn’t stay either.

You ended up sitting on the stairs in a quieter hallway, elbows resting on your knees, staring at nothing. The distant noise of the school filled the silence, but your mind was far away. Until a small cough behind you. You didn’t even need to turn around to know who it was.

Wally sat down beside you, casual, like he had planned it. For a few seconds, he didn’t say anything. Just stayed there. Then:

“Spit it out.”

You turned your head, pretending confusion. “What?”

He raised an eyebrow, looking straight at you.

“I’m not stupid,” he said bluntly. “I know you and Dick like each other.” He shrugged. “What happened?”

The words hit hard. You tried to hold it in. You really did. But this time… you couldn’t. The tears came before you could stop them.

“I can’t like him, Wally…” your voice broke, almost disappearing between your sobs. You wiped your face, trying to stop the tears that wouldn’t stop falling.

“I can’t… and it hurts so much.”

His expression changed immediately.

“Hey…” Wally moved a little closer, wrapping an arm around your shoulders and pulling you in gently. “It’s okay.”

You leaned into him without resisting. And then you cried. Really cried. Like you hadn’t before. Time blurred there. It could have been minutes… it could have been hours. Between sobs, you told him everything. About Artemis. About the photo. About the mistake. About Dick. About the kiss. And about how, all of a sudden, you had to give up something that hadn’t even really begun.

Wally didn’t interrupt. Didn’t judge. He just listened.

When you finally calmed down, your face still a little swollen, your eyes burning, you got distracted by Wally. He made some dumb joke, trying to make you smile—and it worked, even if just a little. For a moment, it felt… lighter.

Until a cough cut through the moment. You both looked at the same time. Dick was standing there, right in front of you. Serious. Tense. And looking straight at you.

“Can I talk to you?” he asked, his voice lower than usual.

You opened your mouth, ready to refuse, to make up some excuse. But Wally was faster.

“Got it! I’m out.” He jumped up and left almost running, like he didn’t even want to exist in that situation.

You didn’t even have time to protest. And then… you were alone with him.

Dick sat down beside you on the stairs, letting out a heavy sigh. For a few seconds, silence hung between you.

“Did I do something wrong?” he asked.

That hurt.

“What? No! Of course not…” you replied too quickly, automatically.

He turned to you. “Then what happened?”

Your heart started racing again. You didn’t want this. You really didn’t. But you had to.

“Look… that kiss…” you started, your voice quieter. You took a deep breath. “That kiss was a mistake, okay? I don’t want this.”

You said it fast, without looking at him. Like saying it all at once would hurt less.

“What? I thought that…” he started, confused. His voice faltered a little. “Look at me… please.”

You hesitated. But you looked up. And regretted it instantly. Because he was so close. And when his hand touched your cheek, gently, almost hesitant… your heart hurt even more.

“What happened?” he asked again, softer.

That almost made you give in. Almost. But you couldn’t.

“Look, Dick… I don’t like you, okay?”

The words came out harsher than you meant. And in the next second, you felt it. The impact.

“What?”

You saw it. The exact moment something inside him broke. You took a deep breath, trying to stay firm, even with everything inside you begging you to take it back.

“We don’t match, Dick.”

He shook his head immediately, desperate.

“Of course we do! I like you. A lot!” his voice rose, full of emotion. “I do everything—every time I wake up to come to school, I come hoping to see you. I hate the debate club, but I stay because I get to spend time with you…”

His voice broke at the end. Your chest hurt so much it was hard to breathe.

“Dick…”

“Don’t do this to me, sunshine… please…” he stepped a little closer.

And you stepped back. Again. Like that small space between you was the only thing holding you up. He stopped. And then his expression changed.

“It’s Wally, isn’t it?” he said, cold. “You like him.”

“What? Of course not!” you shot back immediately.

“Then tell me why!” he demanded, almost pleading now.

And that was the worst part. You couldn’t.

“I can’t, Dick…” you stood up, your legs a little weak. “I’m sorry.”

You didn’t wait for an answer. You turned and walked away. Behind you, the sound of something being kicked echoed through the hallway. A trash can, probably. You flinched slightly at the noise, but didn’t stop. Didn’t look back. And only when you were sure he couldn’t see you anymore… you let the tears fall again. Because it hurt. More than you thought it would.

—

The days kept passing, one after the other, with little difference between them.

In the beginning, everything still hurt. Every hallway encounter, every shared class, every time you heard Dick’s voice without directly looking at him.

He changed.

Not in an obvious way for everyone else, but for you… it was impossible not to notice. Dick became quieter, more closed off. He stopped making comments during class, stopped teasing Wally, stopped trying to talk to you.

And, most importantly, he stopped looking for you.

Artemis didn’t see it the same way. To her, he was just more reserved than she expected.

And that didn’t lessen her interest at all.

“He’s kind of quiet, huh?” she commented one day, walking beside you. “But I like that.”

You just agreed.

That was when you started. Small things, almost too natural to seem planned.

You would bring them both into the same conversation. You created opportunities. You gave space.

“Dick, Artemis wanted help with that…”

“Artemis, Dick knows about this…”

Nothing forced enough to raise suspicion.

But it wasn’t spontaneous either. Dick noticed.

You could see it in the way he looked at you sometimes — quick, restrained — and then looked away. Even so, he was never rude to Artemis. He always responded, always helped.

He just didn’t get close. Wally noticed everything from the beginning.

He didn’t say anything directly, but he stayed more present. He kept conversations alive when silence started to grow heavy, pulled people in, included everyone.

Without him, nothing would have flowed at all.

Little by little, without anyone saying it out loud, the four of you started hanging out together.

At first, it was strange.

Short conversations, long pauses, you trying to balance everything without making it obvious. Artemis brought up topics easily, curious, interested. Dick responded, polite, but distant.

Always distant. You watched. You watched more than you participated.

And when you needed to, you stepped in, keeping everything moving. Over time, it became more natural.

Wally was still the most relaxed one, the one who made everyone laugh. Artemis fit in quickly, bringing energy, taking up space without difficulty.

Dick… was still there. But never completely. And you… you kept everything working.

You laughed when you needed to laugh. You spoke when silence started to feel uncomfortable. You avoided looking at him too long.

And when you did look… you looked away. Weeks passed like that. T he group existed, it worked even.

But always with that subtle feeling — almost unnoticeable to anyone from the outside — that something wasn’t in the right place.

And you knew exactly what it was.

—

Time kept passing.

The weeks became filled with tests, assignments, and days that all felt the same. Before you realized it, you weren’t thinking about everything all the time anymore. It still hurt sometimes, especially when you looked at Dick for longer than you should have… but it wasn’t that constant thing anymore.

The group continued.

The four of you started hanging out almost every day. Wally always starting conversations, Artemis as energetic as ever, Dick quieter — but there — and you trying to keep everything normal.

And like that, without much fuss, the last day of school arrived.

Summer vacation.

You were in your room, lying on your bed, scrolling through your phone when it started ringing.

Wally. You answered.

“Hello?”

“Finally, vacation,” he said, not even giving you time to say anything else. “We need to do something.”

You let out a small laugh.

“Like what?”

“Amusement park. Tomorrow.”

You went silent for a second, processing it.

“Who’s going?” you asked, already suspicious.

“Me, you… and Dick,” he replied, as if it was obvious.

Your heart tightened slightly.

Before you could answer, your bedroom door opened and Artemis walked in, throwing herself onto the bed beside you.

“Who is it?” she asked, curious.

“Wally,” you answered, looking at her.

He heard from the other side.

“Is Artemis there?”

“She is.”

“Perfect. Call her too. You two are going.”

You looked back at Artemis.

She was already staring at you, waiting for an answer.

“He’s inviting us to go to an amusement park tomorrow,” you said.

You didn’t even finish the sentence properly.

“What?! Of course we’re going!” she replied immediately, excited.

You put the phone back to your ear.

“So… we’re going,” you said, kind of without a choice.

“Perfect. Tomorrow, ten o’clock,” Wally replied. “Don’t be late.”

And hung up.

You dropped your phone onto the bed.

Artemis was already talking about outfits, rides, everything at once.

You just stayed there, listening.

Until, in the middle of all that, one thought came clearly.

You were going to spend the entire day with Dick. Again.

—

The next day, you arrived at the park almost on time.

Wally was already waiting at the entrance, leaning against the gate, and raised his hand when he saw you.

“You’re late,” he said.

“Two minutes,” Artemis replied, pulling you along.

You let out a small laugh, but your eyes had already gone to him.

Dick was there.

Quieter, like he had been lately. When he noticed you looking, he looked away.

Wally didn’t give anything time to feel awkward.

“Come on. No one’s staying still today.”

—

The park was crowded, loud, alive.

Artemis looked like a different person. Her eyes were shining, looking everywhere at once, already pulling you all from one place to another.

“Slow down!” you laughed. “We have the whole day.”

“I’ve been waiting months for this,” she replied, determined.

You started with the calmer rides.

Carousel, Viking ship — the light version — and then you went straight to the bumper cars.

And there… it turned into war.

Wally decided to mess with you from the very beginning.

He bumped into you, backed up, turned just to hit you again.

“Don’t you have anyone else to hit?!” you shouted, laughing.

“No,” he answered simply, coming at you again.

Artemis joined in, trying to “save” you, but it only made things worse.

And in the middle of all that, Dick joined too.

At first, more quiet.

But when he hit you for the first time, your eyes widened.

“You too?!”

He gave a small smile.

Barely there… but it was there.

And that already made your heart feel a little messy.

—

After that, you went on more calm rides.

The funhouse of mirrors turned into chaos.

Artemis getting lost, Wally laughing, you trying to find the exit… and Dick, somehow, always appearing in the right place.

“This is impossible,” you complained.

“Or maybe you’re just bad at it,” Wally replied.

“I’m going to hit you.”

“Good luck finding me.”

—

You went to eat afterward.

You ended up choosing a random table, one of those slightly crowded ones, with trays full of fries, soda, and cotton candy shared between the four of you.

Artemis started talking the second she sat down.

She was describing everything — what she thought of each ride, what she still wanted to go on, what you all needed to repeat before leaving. Her hands moved along with her words, her eyes shining.

Wally joined in right away, answering everything, teasing, exaggerating stories just to make her laugh more.

And slowly… Dick joined too.

At first, with short comments. But it didn’t take long.

He started responding to Wally, teasing him back, correcting Artemis’ stories, laughing — really laughing — when Wally said something stupid.

“You almost cried on the boat,” Dick said, looking at you.

“I did NOT,” you answered immediately.

“Almost.”

“Lies.”

“I saw it.”

Wally started laughing.

“She screamed louder than everyone else.”

“Shut up!”

Artemis jumped into the argument, taking sides depending on whoever was funnier at the moment, and within seconds the whole table was laughing.

Dick leaned back slightly in his chair, still smiling, shaking his head like everything was kind of ridiculous.

But he was there. Really there. Lighter. More relaxed.

As if, for a few hours, he had set the weight aside.

And you noticed.

You noticed the way he spoke more, the way he laughed, the way he sometimes looked at you in the middle of conversation without looking away immediately.

It affected you.

But you just grabbed another fry, looked away, and joined the conversation again.

Trying not to think too much.

—

The day went on like that. Light. Fun.

Between laughs, playful pushing, silly teasing, and running from one ride to another, for a few hours… everything felt normal again.

Until you passed by the roller coaster.

It stood out in the entire park. Tall, loud, its tracks cutting through the sky and the screams falling along with the speeding carts.

Artemis stopped immediately. She stared at it.

“I wanted to go…” she said quietly, with a small smile that didn’t hide her frustration.

You looked at her.

“You know you can’t.”

She took a deep breath, still looking at the ride… and nodded.

“I know.”

Wally stayed silent for a moment, analyzing the situation. Then he smiled.

“We can fix that easily.”

You didn’t even have time to react.

He grabbed your arm… and Dick’s.

“You two are going.”

“What? No…” you started, already trying to pull away.

“You are,” he cut in simply. “I’ll stay with Artemis.”

“Wally…”

“Trust me,” he said, gently pushing you toward the line.

And he didn’t leave room for discussion.

When you realized it… you were already walking.

Already in line. With Dick.

Alone with him. Again.

The line moved slowly, dragging.

The sound of the roller coaster filled everything — the metal on the tracks, the screams coming from above, the wind cutting too fast to follow with your eyes.

You stood side by side.

Close. But not looking at each other.

Every now and then, a short comment slipped out. Something about the passing cart, about the height, anything to break the silence.

When it was finally your turn, everything felt too fast.

You sat down. Side by side.

The restraint came down with a sharp click. The operator checked it, tapped the structure lightly, and gave the signal.

Your heart was already racing, pounding hard against your chest. And you knew it wasn’t just because of the ride.

The cart started to climb. Slowly. You held the bar tightly, eyes fixed forward, as if looking sideways would make everything worse.

But you felt it.

You felt when he turned his head toward you.

“Hey.”

His voice came low, too close. You turned, even though you didn’t mean to.

“I lied,” Dick said.

You frowned, confused.

“What?”

“I pretended I was fine… after that day,” he continued, voice lower now, more serious. “But I’m not.”

Your chest tightened immediately. The climb continued. Too slowly.

As if it was giving just enough time for everything to get worse.

“Dick…” you tried, almost a whisper.

“No,” he cut in, shaking his head. “Let me talk.”

You stayed quiet.

“I tried to stay away,” he said. “Tried to ignore it, pretend I didn’t feel anything… but I do.”

His voice didn’t break. It was steady.

“I like you.”

Your heart jumped. Hard. Too fast.

“And it’s not a little.”

The cart was near the top now.

The wind hit harder, messing up your hair, cooling your skin.

Everything felt more intense up there.

“I don’t know why you pulled away,” he continued. “But I know that wasn’t a mistake. Not for me.”

You couldn’t answer. The words simply wouldn’t come.

“And I’m not going to pretend I don’t feel it… just because you asked.”

The cart reached the top. Stopped. For a second.

A strange silence, too loud, as if the world was holding its breath with you.

The cart reached the top. Stopped. For a second.

A strange silence, too loud, as if the world was holding its breath with you.

And then… It dropped.

The fall came all at once, pulling everything with it. Air disappeared, your stomach flipped, the world turned into motion.

Speed. Wind. Screams.

And in the middle of it all—

He turned his head slightly toward you, grabbed your hand, and shouted:

“I LIKE YOU!”

The sound almost got lost in the noise. Almost.

But not enough. Your heart skipped a beat. But the cart didn’t.

It kept going down, turning, accelerating, throwing you side to side.

And all you could feel was it. The wind hitting your face.

Your body being pulled in every direction. And your chest tightening in a way that had nothing to do with the ride.

Because those words… didn’t stay up there. They came down with you. And stayed.

—

When the cart finally stopped, you were still feeling everything spinning.

Your heart was still racing, your breathing slightly uneven, your hands still gripping the bar as if the ride hadn’t ended.

But it wasn’t because of the roller coaster.

The restraint clicked open with a sharp sound.

People started standing up, laughing, talking, already returning to normal.

You slowly released the bar and stood up right away.

Without looking to the side. Without looking at him. You knew he was there.

And you knew that if you looked… you wouldn’t be able to pretend nothing had happened. So you just left.

You got off the cart and walked toward the exit with quick steps, passing by people without really paying attention.

You wanted to get out of there. You wanted distance. Before he said anything.

Or before you responded.

“Hey…”

His voice came from behind you, close.

You heard it.

Of course you did.

But you didn’t stop. You didn’t turn around.

You just kept walking, as if you hadn’t heard it. As if that was easier.

—

Part 2 soon.

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

🪼