Chapter 9 Homecoming

It was the day of the Homecoming dance and Blaine had offered her home to everyone to get ready. Lindsey had her dress in a garment bag. Her grandparents told her that the dress she had bought earlier in the summer, was not good enough to wear for a Homecoming at Gotham Academy. They had taken her out shopping earlier this week for a dress.

The dress she got was not one she would have picked out for herself. When she tried it on, she was surprised that is was one of her grandfather's picks. Once Lindsey saw the tears in her grandparents eyes, she knew it was her dress.

Lindsey stepped out of the car, not waiting for Samuel to let her out.

"It's okay Samuel," Lindsey said leaning her head back into the car to talk to the driver. "You head back. I'm pretty sure I'll be staying the night." She held up the overnight bag she packed. "Thank you."

"It's my pleasure, Miss Vindai," Samuel said.

Lindsey closed the door and ran up to the front door.

Blaine's house was on the south side of Gotham. Most of the places she passed were more rundown, but Blaine's home was more Victorian-looking. It was a lovely home and before Lindsey reached the door, it swung open and she was engulfed in hugs.

When she was finally let out from the swarm of hugs, she was inside and in a living room. There was a woman sitting in a high backed chair and a young teenage girl sitting on the floor with a phone in her hand.

"You must be Lindsey!" the teenage girl said.

"I am," Lindsey nodded. "Who are you?"

"That's my little sister Bailey," Blaine said. Lindsey could see the resemblance. They both had the blonde hair and big eyes, except Bailey's eyes were brown. "And that's my mom sitting in the chair."

"I kicked out my husband and sons for the night, so it's just us girls here," Blaine's mom said.

There was a cough from somewhere in the room. Lindsey saw Giovanni and Logan sitting on a loveseat.

"Us girls and your 'friend-dates'," Blaine's mom said. Lindsey could hear the air quotes.

"Two bros chillin' on couch five feet apart cause they're not gay," Bailey sang.

"We're not gay!" the two boys yelled.

The whole room burst into laughter. When the laughter ended, and Giovanni and Logan were fuming in anger Lindsey turned to Blaine.

"Who all are we waiting for?" Lindsey asked.

"Ryeanne had to pick up Noah," Blaine said. "And Abigail texted me telling me she forgot my address. And she was over here last weekend helping Benedict, my older brother, with a partner dance. Benedict teaches some dance classes at a local dance studio. So he asked for some help to figure out some of the lady moves."

"What's your youngest brother's name?" Lindsey asked.

"Timmy."

"That's a lie!" Bailey shouted. "It's Benjamin."

"I tell people it's a different name to freak them out," Blaine said.

"Ryeanne and Noah are here," Logan said as he looked out the window.

Juliet, Blaine, and Kelsey all ran to the door.

"Do not hug me!" Lindsey heard Noah yell. "NO!"

Noah ran inside and jumped onto the loveseat between Giovanni and Logan.

"Three bros chillin' on a loveseat five feet apart cause they're not in a gay threesome!" Bailey sang.

"We're not gay!" the three boys yelled.

"Bailey that's enough," her mom scolded.

"Lindsey!" Ryeanne squealed as she entered the house. Her dress bag flew to the floor and Juliet caught her makeup bag before it fell on the floor as she ran to hug her friend. "This is going to be amazing. We need to start on your makeup and hair before anything. Come on Logan, you're on hair!"

Logan groaned and stood up following Blaine, Ryeanne, and Lindsey through the house to the kitchen where Blaine had all of her beauty stuff set up.

{}-{}-{}-{}-{}-{}

Lindsey looked around at her friends. Juliet was wearing a dark red halter dress with bedazzle on the top and a keyhole back. It ended slightly past her mid-thigh. Kelsey was wearing a navy-blue long sleeve lace dress. The lace had some sequins in the skirt which ended at her mid-thigh. Blaine had a black satin dress with lace on the bodice and spaghetti straps and ended mid-thigh. Abigail wore a two-piece dress with a black halter top and a white poof skirt that ended mid-calf. Ryeanne had a satin green halter dress with a strip across the back. The boys didn't look bad either. Noah wore a white dress shirt with a green bow-tie that matched his hair. Logan wore a white dress shirt underneath a black vest and a black tie. Giovanni wore a baby blue dress shirt with a navy blue tie.

Everyone looked so good and Lindsey stood there looking at the dress that her grandparents made her get, which they paid for. It was light pink dress with a sweetheart neckline and off-the-shoulder see-through sleeves. It was shorter than she would have liked, but it was a beautiful dress.

"Is everyone ready to go?" Kelsey asked. A resounding yes was an answer. The group all got into two cars and drove to the ballroom where the dance was happening.

Upon arrival the boys held out their arms for their 'friend-dates' to grab on to. The group looked amazing as they entered the dance. The music was loud, the only lights were from the disco-ball and the lights on the DJ booth. Decorations were strung up half-heartedly. On the opposite side of the DJ booth was a refreshment table with drinks and snacks.

The group shared a look before jumping onto the dancefloor and enjoying themselves.

An hour into the dance the group finally stopped their energetic dancing and went to get a drink. The group stood in a circle off to the side and started talking.

"Oh my God," Abigail whispered loud enough for the group to hear as she looked past their circle.

"I don't believe it," Noah said underneath his breath. People around them were all gasping and their mouths hung open.

"What's going – " Lindsey said as she turned around. She cut herself off when she saw what was happening.

All the other students in the room had parted like the Red Sea and Moses was Damian Wayne.

Damian Wayne was walking towards the circle of friends that Lindsey had found herself in. He looked so clean-cut. His hair was styled neatly. His black suit was neatly pressed. He was by far the most handsome boy in the room. Lindsey's mouth dropped open.

"He's coming over here," Logan whispered.

"I thought you said he wasn't going to come?" Ryeanne asked Lindsey in a hushed voice.

"He told me he wasn't, but then again we haven't talked at all the rest of this week," Lindsey whispered back. "He wasn't even supposed to be in town."

"Do you think he wants to talk to you?" Juliet asked.

"Why else would he becoming over here?" Blaine asked.

"Shut up," Giovanni whispered.

Damian had walked up to the group and stood in front of Lindsey. Everyone in the group was silent. Damian didn't say a word. Lindsey didn't even look at him.

"How are you, Lindsey?" Damian asked.

"I was having a good time," Lindsey said still not looking at him.

Damian cleared his throat and tried to get into Lindsey's eyeline. "Lindsey do you think the two of us could go somewhere and talk?"

Lindsey looked up at him, "No."

"No?" Damian asked. "I just need to talk to you."

"No, because the last time we talked alone, you insulted me. So, if you want to talk to me you can talk to me with my friends behind me."

Damian looked at the group behind Lindsey. They were all staring at him with looks that could kill. Damian could tell the boys were ready to fight him. He didn't think Lindsey would want to have this conversation with other people listening.

"Are you sure you want to do that?" Damian asked. "This is a private conversation."

"Anything you say can be said in front of my friends," Lindsey said as she folded her arms.

"I don't think that is the best idea-"

"Then you really don't want to talk to me," Lindsey said turning around.

The girls couldn't help but giggle. Damian clenched his fists and took a deep breath.

"Fine, let's talk," Damian said exasperatedly. "I shouldn't have said those things to you."

"You shouldn't have," Lindsey snapped turning back around to face him. "And now you're here asking for forgiveness when I'm trying to have a good time with my friends, aren't you? Damian you are the lowest human being I have ever met. I don't want to have anything to do with you. I thought you were smarter than this. I want nothing to do with you."

"Lindsey, I do want to be your friend. I don't know how to react to people inviting me to things," Damian said.

"I thought you were going out of town?" Lindsey said rolling her eyes.

"I was, but I convinced my father that I should come here instead. He agreed pretty quickly saying that I needed to go to more social activities with people my age."

"Are you sure he said that? And you just didn't make up some story to try to get me to like you again?"

"I really do want to be your friend, Lindsey," Damian said quietly. "What do I need to do to make you believe me?"

Lindsey thought for a minute. She could say anything, and he would agree. She could say that she wanted him to take her out and kiss her underneath the stars and he would do it. She could say that she wanted him to kiss her right now in front of everyone and he would. She could say that Damian could not say a bad thing about anyone for the month and he would. But she knew doing it selfishly made her look bad.

"Okay," Lindsey said. "I have two conditions. The first is once a week we get together outside of school and we talk. Not about school, or family, about anything else."

"Okay, that will be easy," Damian shrugged.

"And the second thing, is that you have to sit with me and my friends and lunch once a week," Lindsey said.

Damian's mouth dropped and Lindsey's friends 'Oo'ed. On one hand, Damian could spend every afternoon with Lindsey after school for the rest of his life. But sitting with people he didn't like for an hour seemed like torture. He had sure been through worse forms of torture, but if it was for Lindsey, he would push through it.

"Fine, I'll do it," Damian said through gritted teeth. "But I pick when I sit with them. I think they'll like me better when I'm in a good mood."

"Deal," Lindsey said. "Well Damian, you have a friend.

Damian sighed and grabbed her hand. "Would you mind if I steal, Lindsey for minute?" he asked the circle of friends.

They all looked at each other before looking at Lindsey. She nodded her head encouraging them to agree.

"Thank you," Damian said. He started pulling her across the room quickly. She barely could keep up her pace.

"Someone should follow them," Kelsey said watching them leave.

"I'm on it," Ryeanne and Noah said at the same time. They shoved their drinks into the closest person and ran after them.

"Damian where are we going?" Lindsey asked as she tried to keep up with his fast pace.

"Outside," he said quickly. He reached the back exit and pushed the door open. They continued until they were far enough from the door not to hear the door not close behind them. Ryeanne and Noah peaked their heads out far enough to see their shadows move further away. They continued to follow them until they knew they wouldn't see them, but close enough to hear what they were saying.

"Damian, what are we doing out here?" Lindsey asked once he finally stopped.

Damian didn't say anything, he didn't even look at her.

"Damian, what is going on? What are we doing out here?" Lindsey asked. He didn't say anything once again. "Damian, look at me." She grabbed his face and turned it to face her.

Damian had tears in his eyes as he looked at Lindsey. "I'm so sorry. Lindsey, I'm so sorry."

"Damian, you're crying," Lindsey said.

"I don't want to lose you again, Lindsey," Damian choked out. "I don't think I can. I didn't know this is what it feels like to miss someone you care about. I never had a friend like you before. You have no idea how precious you are, Lindsey. I wish I could express that, but I don't even know I could react like this. I didn't know how important you were until you were gone. I understand why you were mad at me. Don't let me loose you again."

"Damian," Lindsey said while wiping the tears from Damian's eyes, "You're special to me too. As long as you don't continue acting like complete asshole. I will always be here, Damian. I swear."

"Good," Damian said. He settled into Lindsey's hands. They were so soft and small. He lifted up his hands and placed them over Lindsey's. His hands enveloped Lindsey's completely. He leaned his head onto Lindsey's and rested his forehead against her's.

Ryeanne and Noah watched from their bush the beautiful interaction. Noah tapped Ryeanne's arm and nodded his head toward the door.

They ran quickly and quietly to the door. And of course, Damian heard them. He decided to ignore it and enjoy his time with Lindsey. He wouldn't bring it up Lindsey nor her friends. It didn't matter. What mattered was what was right in front of him.

Once Noah and Ryeanne were inside the building Ryeanne jumped up in down in a circle.

"That was the cutest thing I've ever seen!" she squealed.

"He really cares about her," Noah said. "I though Damian Wayne couldn't care about anyone."

"Our little Lindsey thawed his cold heart," Ryeanne said in a love-struck tone. "We have to go tell everyone!" She grabbed Noah's arm and ran back to the ballroom.

"Damian, can we go back inside?" Lindsey asked.

"Why?" Damian asked.

"Because I'm getting cold," Lindsey said. "And I want to go dance some more."

Damian retracted himself from Lindsey. He looked down at her with a smirk on his face.

"What?" Lindsey asked. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, I was just going to ask you to dance with me when we get back inside," Damian said. "But I guess I can ask you out here and most likely get the same answer."

Lindsey had a smile growing on her face as Damian continued to talk. "Of course, I'll dance with you, Damian. Let's get inside."

Lindsey grabbed his hand only to hear Damian's phone ring. Damian glared into the sky as he reached in his pocket.

"It's my butler," Damian muttered. He answered the phone and spoke into it. "What, Pennyworth? . . . He told me he wouldn't need me. . . . What time? . . . I could be there in time. . . . I'm leaving now. Bye."

Damian hung up the phone and turned to Lindsey. "I'm sorry."

"What happened?" Lindsey asked.

"Father was in a meeting today with his new 'partner' and realized he would need me for another meeting tomorrow," Damian said angrily. "I have to leave for Star City tonight."

"Right now?" Lindsey asked.

"Unfortunately," Damian muttered. "I'll see you in class on Monday. If you want to hear about my trip, you can sit with me at lunch."

"Yeah," Lindsey said. "I'll see you Monday."

Damian scooped Lindsey up in his arms. Lindsey was shocked. Damian was actually hugging her goodbye.

"Goodbye, Lindsey," Damian said in her ear.

"Have a good trip, Damian," Lindsey said back.

Damian let go of her and ran to the parking lot. He reached his bike and slipped on his helmet. He waved to Lindsey who waved back. Damian got on the bike and left, leaving Lindsey standing there, alone.

Once Damian was away from Lindsey, he flipped the front panel between the handlebars on.

"Good, he contacted you," his Father said.

"And it ruined my night," Damian said. "What happened?"

"More than we thought would happen," he said. "We need your help."

"Why don't you get Roy or Dinah to help?" Damian asked.

"We did, and we failed," he said. "So we need you to help on the second raid."

"Is the tube ready?" Damian asked.

"It should be. You should be able to just head straight through and end up here. You have your suit, right?"

"It's in the hidden compartment like always. I just have one question."

"What is it Damian?"

"Why do you always have to interrupt whenever I'm with her?"

"Get here, Damian."

"I am," Damian growled to his father before handing up.

He saw the entrance to the tube and sped up. He was ready to go.