Artemis hitched her IPod to the dock, switching on a song.

She got along with the team [mostly]. Just because she likes to spend some time alone with her thoughts doesn't make her secretive, or dangerous. Wally seemed to think that, though.

Idiot.

Why did he constantly have to annoy the crap out of her! He just needed to suck it up and accept Roy's decision. But no. He just had to take it out on her. Every. Day.

But the dancing did help. She was in the worst of moods, especially since she totally screwed up the last mission. Let the target get away and got a nice, six-inch gash between her shoulder blades to commemorate her wonderful contributions to the team.

And the second Batman left, Wally wouldn't shut his mouth.

The vicious words turned to vicious screams, and then, just like that, she couldn't take it anymore. She snapped.

Wally certainly didn't expect it when Artemis knocked him in the gut. After that, she left, Wally on the floor writhing in pain and the looks of complete shock plastered on the numerous faces of her team.

She wanted to say sorry. So badly. But then again, even though it wasn't the best way she could've reacted, he deserved it. The tears were already starting to stain her shirt by the time she reached the portal.

It's been two days since she's been to HQ. She had sat at home, reading, listening to music, trying to cool off. She told her mother about it, wrapping the situation in lies like whom they were (just her friends) and where they were (at the mall). When she was finished, her mom simply said:

"You like him."

Since Artemis knew better than to raise her voice at her mother, she commenced in silently strolling to her room and slamming the door behind her.

Yeah, he was GORGEOUS, but he always said things to get under her skin. And when he started going on about physics, it was funny, in an adorable kind of way. But that didn't mean she liked him. These thoughts unintentionally led to her thinking of Bialya, which then made her think of what could have been.

Are you freaking kidding me? If Wally and I met under different circumstances I could have a boyfriend by now!

No she didn't. She DID NOT think of Wally West as a potential boyfriend. What is this, Alternate Universe Day?

She squeezed her eyes shut, facing her head towards the ceiling and pinching the bridge of her nose. Stop thinking about Wally. Stop…

Somehow the thought of kissing him burrowed its way into her mind.

She stamped her foot hard on the floor, knowing no one would be there to see her mini-tantrum. Then she took a deep breath, focusing on what she knew.

She knew that Wally hated her. She knew she didn't exactly like him. She knew that she had the training room to herself. Most of the team was at their respective homes. Conner and Megan went to a bookstore in town. That means she had a good three, maybe four hours before they got back. Especially since the bookstore is on the boardwalk.

Poor Conner.

She knew she was safe. Safe, in the training room of a dormant volcano, with her music, her zebra print foot undies, and a cropped white t-shirt with her name on it in olive green letters.

What she didn't know was that a redhead had fallen asleep in a room a few steps away.

When Wally first woke up, he thought there was a radio on somewhere. There was no doubt in his mind that he heard Lupe Fiasco drifting from somewhere in the team base. But then he realized that there wasn't anyone there, last he checked.

He was disappointed when, after greeting Megan early that Saturday morning with his flirtatious signature, that she'd later take Supey on the boardwalk for books. BOOKS!

How many movie kissing scenes happen in library or bookstore? More importantly, how many in real life? The answer is, sadly, a LOT.

He was doomed.

He quickly got out of bed and stretched, the physics book he was reading falling to the ground with a soft thud. Not caring enough to put a shirt on or change out of his pajama pants (you know where this is going) he headed out in search of the source of the music.

He drowsily walked down a few hallways until he reached one that overlooked the training room. The entire room was lit, lighting the section of hallway that didn't have a wall on both sides. He gripped his left hand right where the railing began, the cold metal contrasting his sweaty palms. And there, on the level below him, he saw girl with long, blond wavy hair, with her back to him. He quickly crouched down; the last thing he wanted was to be caught staring.

Who's that?

He ruled out Black Canary immediately. She always seemed perfect, not a hair out of place. But the girl he was watching; everything about her screamed natural. And her body seemed – angelic. Like she was a surfer, or… an archer.

The bright green IPod instantly caught his eye; the same one he hid from the blond archer a week ago, just to tick her off. That couldn't be Artemis. It couldn't be!

The mystery girl did a triple pirouette, facing the wall to her right. Her face, in profile, confirmed Wally's fears: Artemis.

But he had to give her credit, that crop top that ended just above her belly button made her upper torso look uamazing/u. And the shorts weren't bad either.

…Who was he kidding? She was beautiful.

Wally sat on the floor, feeling the cool of the wall against his back. He squeezed his eyes shut, balled up his fist and forced it quietly into his head. He didn't want to think that way about Artemis! He couldn't!

Too late, he thought with a small sigh. More than one dream of them kissing, usually preceded wihth a dream date, didn't help the lie he was fervently telling himself.

This… is just... perfect. I have a crush on the ONE girl that hates my guts!

He turned to look at her again. She was bent over her IPod dock, scrolling through songs. It took all his strength to look away again.

The music changed. A sad song, that started with a lonely piano.

Artemis started with a fouette into a pirouette, stopping to extend her leg in front of her, then lightly bend it into attitude. Wally didn't know how to describe anything that she had did, but he knew it mad him like her even more.

A voice filled the air, a strong voice that overlapped the piano and spilled out lyrics

Close enough to start a war

All that I have – is on the floor

God only knows what we're fi-ghting for

All that I say- you always say mo-ore

She slid into a split, turning around and rising from it. A run into an aerial, wherein she swung her left leg up, grabbing her calf, and spun around five times.

Perfect, he thought.

And the song continued on.

I can't keep up with your turning tables

Under your thumb I can't breathe…

In just a handful of words, Wally watched Artemis perform an effortless switch leap, do another aerial, roll through a strattle, and rise from her knees to her feet using nothing but her toes.

The song continued as such: Artemis dancing, while Wally silently observed and praised.

She was so into it, Wally felt like he was intruding. The song was half-done and he saw her crying, and her tears dropping carelessly to the floor as she continued on. Wally continued to watch, though. This is a good thing, actually. If he hadn't, he wouldn't have noticed the red spot on the back of her shirt that was getting larger as she kept dancing.

It was the last move that did it. Wally noticed that her face screamed of her pain, but he didn't know what to make of it. The red dot was now the size of a softball.

If she's in pain, why doesn't she stop?

But then it happened. A quadruple pirouette, while in a jazz layout? Her abdomen twisted awkwardly toward the floor, landing her on her hands and knees. The blood stain was now the size of a Frisbee.

In an instant Wally was at her side, picking her up in his arms asking her if she was okay as he set her down gently on the kitchen counter, disappearing, then reappearing with a first aid kit in his hands.

I have to be dreaming. Wally is not holding me in his arms like we just got married.

…He doesn't have a shirt on...

Did he just ask me if I was okay?

What's wrong with him? Is he high? Did he make a bad bet?

Omigosh he arms are perfect. He's so warm. His eyes…

Breathe, Artemis.

He hates me though. Doesn't he? It's not like he likes me …right?

Make back hurts so much. I knew I shouldn't have done that layout.

OWWW!

I can feelthe stitches tearing...