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Steph hated Mondays. They meant having to get up early, meant having to sit and pay attention in class all day, but worst of all they meant having to put up with the population of Gotham Academy.
Make no mistake, the scholarship she’d gotten made a world of difference. Having Gotham Academy on her transcript would open a lot of doors come time to apply to university. But that didn’t mean being around her classmates didn’t make her want to commit assault.
She knew the way they laughed about her behind her back. The charity case from the bowery, the one whose dad was in and out of Gotham’s mess of a prison system, not because he was able to bribe his way out of trouble the way some of her peers’ parents could, but because he kept escaping right along with the rest of the city’s contingent of borderline cartoonish criminals. At least in crime alley no one had cared about that, too many all too familiar with that rigamarole.
Just like every Monday (every school day ending in y really) she tuned out the whispers as she shoved her gym stuff in her locker. The movement twinged her shoulder- she’d moved it wrong while she was out the night before. Spoiler wasn’t much, certainly nothing compared to the Bats (though she had almost snuck up on Robin before and she was pretty proud of that), but it was hers. A way to do something about her dad, hopefully help someone.
She was honestly just glad it wasn’t anything more serious than a pulled muscle. The last time she’d sprained something it’d been damn impossible to explain to anyone- especially since she couldn’t get a doctor’s note, and all her teachers assumed she was faking to get out of gym. That had made for a painful 6 weeks, though she’d gotten very good at wrapping her ankle to give a little extra support.
There had been one person who hadn’t questioned her though. Tim had taken one look at her when she’d walked into the cafeteria after that first hellish gym class and offered her an emergency icepack and some extra strength Tylenol. She’d taken him up on the icepack but left the painkillers. They might have been tentative friends by then, but she was a tried-and-true Gothamite, she wouldn’t trust any meds she’d not gone out and bought herself. But that had been the moment the two of them had gone from tentative friends who sat together at lunch because no one else wanted to sit with them to actual friends.
That was another thing about this Monday in particular she was dreading- Tim had told her he’d like for her to meet his sister. That she would be starting at Gotham academy too, that he was worried about her finding friends. Now Steph loved meeting new people, it was always fun getting to know someone, but just because Tim had turned out a surprisingly normal (normal being a relative term, Steph wasn’t sure how he was still alive with some of the stunts he pulled) dork didn’t mean that anyone else in his family would be that accepting.
After all, look at Brucie Wayne. Sure, the man was known to be nice, but at the same time he’d gone on record saying something or other about how he’d gone lowkey regarding his clothes for the event, sticking to vintage Balenciaga rather than commissioning something new for the evening. Like that wasn’t absolutely unattainable for anyone not filthy rich.
She grabbed the books she needed and closed her locker. She’d just have to wait and see, couldn’t judge a book if she hadn’t even read the synopsis yet. She waved to Tim as she walked by him but didn’t stop to talk considering her first class was clear on the other side of campus. She’d still make it in time, but Steph also couldn’t afford to get sidetracked.
Except that’s when she saw her. One of the prettiest girls Steph had ever seen, stood by the same block of lockers Tim had his looking lost and confused. Steph didn’t even stop to consider the consequences when she stopped, she could be late to class. It wasn’t like her teachers didn’t already expect that from her anyways. Her time would be better spent helping a stunning stranger (and maybe getting a name and number out of the whole ordeal if she was really lucky).
“Hey, you look lost. Need a hand?” She said, before she could talk herself out of it.
The other girl looked up and for a moment it felt like time had stopped. Steph had already realized she was beautiful, but something about the way the other girl tucked her bob-length black hair back behind her ear as part of the movement took her breath away. Not to even get started on the feeling the stranger’s intensely focused gaze brought up, it felt for a moment like they were the only two people in the world.
“I- no it’s-”
Steph just watched as she struggled to speak for a moment before continuing, “Really, it’s no problem. I’m happy to help and god knows you need someone here who doesn’t give a fuck about cliques and all that shit. Some of the kids here are so focused on who knows who it makes you want to scream.” Without thinking about it, she winked and nudged her side. “Us outsiders gotta stick together you know.”
The laugh she got in response made the brief moment of panicked mortification more than worth it. Steph would do anything if it meant she’d get to hear that sound again.
“Ok, lead the way.” She responded after a moment, nodding her head.
“Well- if we’re going to be friends, I’m Steph. Or well, Stephanie technically, but really only my mom calls me that- or my dad when he bothers to show up. I’ve only been here since the start of the year but honestly most of the people here have been in the same schools and social circles since they were in diapers, so getting an in is both a pipe dream, and honestly a waste of time.”
Luckily, it seemed new girl was supposed to head the same was as Steph, so while at the rate they were going, she was definitely going to be late, she could have been much later. Plus, she’d get to claim she had been helping out a new student. No one would have to know that along with helping a new student out, Steph also felt like she’d handed off her heart to a complete and utter stranger.
“You going to introduce yourself? Or am I gonna have to guess? I mean, that’s fine too but we might be going a while considering how many names there are.”
“Cass” she responded, offering Steph a small smile.
Stephs’ heart did another little skip. So, this was Cass. Cass who she’d heard so much about from Tim. The same Cass he’d been so excited to get to introduce her to. The same Cass she’d been so concerned about meeting.
“Well Cass, I think you and I are going to be great together.”
Steph was well and truly fucked. Her heart wasn’t hers anymore. If anyone asked, she’d have to tell them she’d developed a heart condition with how fast it felt like it was beating in her chest. There was no way she was ever getting away from Cass ever again. And from where she stood, that sounded far more like a dream than a problem.