11 ❥Like Batman

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I made the cheerleading squad.

I was expecting to make it but at the same time, I wasn't. I was sure Naomi or one of her close friends was going to sabotage my auditions somehow to make me look incompetent.

They didn't, but I couldn't help but think that was for a reason I didn't yet understand.

I was staring at my name on the board when I tensed at a voice that came up from beside me.

"Congrats, Briar." I look with relief when I see Myles. The smile on his face for me made his dimple shine. I greeted his smile with one of my own.

"Thank you, Myles! Congrats to you as well." I didn't need to look at the board to know his name was on the basketball team list. I already knew he was a skilled player.

"How have you been?" He asked me. Something about his careful tone struck me as uncharacteristic. I think he was specifically asking me because he wanted to know.

"I've been good," I say genuinely. "I never thanked you for checking up on me before. I really do appreciate it."

"Axel's a slimeball, I knew something had to be shady with what went down. Wesley's not any better, it would probably be best to stay away from both of them."

I study him for a moment as he looks at the rest of the names on the list. Just last year, both Axel and Wesley had been part of his friend group. He really could be friends with anybody, but I noticed that he had kept his distance from those two for a while now.

When he looks at me, I nod at him in response to his last words. Then we both turn back to the board of names.

"You know making the team means schedule changes, right?" I ask. "Maybe you and Val are going to be in the same class after this."

His eyes light up at the mention of Valentina's name. I saw it in the way his eyebrows raised and the small smile that came over his mouth. He turns to me suddenly. "Okay be honest. Do you think I have a chance with her?"

I take a big inhale at his question to give myself time to think about my next words. My immediate answer? Yes. But I didn't want to say anything that could potentially steer him off course.

"I think that Val likes attention so you're on the right track so far. Just as long as she never feels disrespected by you, I'd say you have a shot eventually." I make sure to say the last part as casually as I can and add a shoulder shrug for good measure. "She's absolutely going to make you work for it though."

He tries to hide his smile but he fails miserably. "I'd never disrespect her. Part because she scares me but partly because I like her a lot."

"But mainly because she scares you?"

"Yeah absolutely," he says with no hesitation.

I laugh openly at that. Valentina shows up shortly after to look at the board herself. "You made it didn't you?" She asks as she searches. "Obviously you made it- YES THERE YOU ARE! YAY!" Her finger drags down only a few names to find her own and her excitement becomes contagious.

She drags me into a hug. "This is going to be so much fun, Briar! I can't wait to be on the team with you again."

"This is going to be fun," I say and I think I just might believe myself.

"Hi Valentine," Myles greets. He holds his arms open towards us. "I made a  team too."

"Congrats Deaton," Val responds. She takes me by the hand and walks past him. But not before giving him a weak smack to the abdomen to which he dramatically doubles over.

"If you wanted to touch my abs, you should have just said so!" He calls after us. I don't miss the smirk that Val tries to hide. 

>><<>><<>><<>><<

This schedule change doesn't affect my English class with Roman. It was one of the three classes that weren't moved around.

He was always one of the last ones to come to class, so I still had a minute or two to kill before it was my time to annoy him.

"I saw your name on the team list, congratulations."

She hadn't spoken a word to me since the start of the school year. Naomi stood by the desk, standing tall in her confidence and cold stone demeanor towards me.

She leaned down so those around us couldn't hear. "You're going to want to watch your back from here on out. Some girls don't take kindly to boyfriend stealers babe."

She stood straight again and already walked back to where her seat was. I found myself standing to talk to her.

"Naomi I-" I was forced back into my chair when a hand at my shoulder pulled me back down. I didn't think Roman was in class yet, but I still wasn't expecting Wesley to be sitting in his chair.

"Ouch. She doesn't really like you much, huh?" He teased.

"That's not your spot." I ignore his comment and shrug his hand from my shoulder.

"I know. It's kind of comfy up here though," he says as he adjusts himself in Roman's seat.

I don't say anything to him. I only hope he'll grow bored and go back to his seat. "How's it going with the new kid? He's kind of rude, isn't he? Planning on making a move on him too?" He asks.

"Why? Are you planning on dating him?" I regretted the words as soon as they slipped out of my mouth.

It was not a good idea to provoke Wesley. When in holy hell did I ever provoke people in the first place? Never, that's the answer. It's because of the anxious feelings that followed. Now all I wanted to do was stuff myself in my backpack and never see the daylight again.

Not only that, but they already thought I slept with somebody else's boyfriend and what did I go and do with those few words? Dug myself a deeper hole, that's what.

He laughs, an actual smile breaking out on his face. "Wow, Briar. I didn't know you were funny." But the way he said it was like a threat, telling me his amusement was only an act. The smile dies off his face and I feel my palms slick with sweat as he leans in a bit closer.

"You're lost," says a cold tone beside us.

We turn to find Roman standing above his desk. He throws his backpack down in his space and waits for Wesley to move.

"Are you slow too?" Roman asks him when he doesn't move right away.

"What?"

"You're in my chair," Roman replies, taking his time with each word. "Move."

Wesley gives a halfhearted chuckle and only hesitates a second before getting up. "See you around, Briar."

"No, you won't," Roman responds sternly. He nods his head towards the back of the classroom when Wesley pauses. "Fuck off."

Wesley smirks to put up a tough front. He finally leaves us and I let out a breath I had been holding. I wipe my palms on my clothes, an action that doesn't seem to pass Roman. He watches quietly from my left as he settles beside me.

It only takes me a second to gather myself again. Something about having him here is strangely comforting in a way. A thought occurs to me and I feel a smile flicker at the corner of my mouth when I look at him.

He looks back with a blank stare. "I swear if you're about to say some stupid shit-"

"You're like batman," I cut him off.

He looks at me almost disgusted with the idea. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"You're always in dark clothes and your voice is all like you're in my chair," I say with a dramatic deepening of my voice.

"Bear-"

"Yeah, yeah. I'll shut up now."

A/N: Batman is my favorite superhero in all the superhero universes.

But like only if Spider-Man didn't exist.

Also, Andrew Garfield is and always will be my fav spiderman, yes you can fight me on this.  (also yes I still love Tom)


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