Itzels alarm blared her awake - the noise alerting her to start her day. Rubbing her eyes tiredly, she tried to snuggle back into her sheets, trying to capture the warmth they provided.

It's too early for this.

The alarm went off again, this time the sound was enough to get her moving and out of bed. She picked up her phone, turned off the alarm, and lowered the screen's brightness. Once the grogginess began to subside, Itzel focused on the text messages she had received.

Ma
How was your first day mija? Call me when you get a chance.

Raul
Mija, do you have 300 dollars you can lend me? I'll pay you back next week.

Itzel groaned, pulling the blanket over her head. Tears threatened to spill as her anger easily consumed her. Taking a deep breath, she threw the blanket off, jumped off the bed, and began to get ready for her day.

She was thankful that today was at least a lighter day of classes, with practice in the afternoon. Then she would be free to grab a few outfits and meet Aurora at her place.

Ready for the day, Itzel steps out of her apartment, headphones on and multiple bags in her arms: backpack, camera bag, gym bag.

Her first class was political philosophy in the Gordon building. Scaling the steps two at a time, she pulled her phone out to see the specific layout of the building when she ran into something, someone, sturdy which caused her to drop her phone.

"Again?" she muttered to herself bending down to pick it up.

"I'm sorry—,"

"Itzel?" The voice asked.

Itzel finally looked up from the ground and her phone to the voice.

Her heartbeat skipped a beat, her cheeks flushing red. Dick Grayson was also knelt down, his hand hovering over her own as he tried to help the girl who had bumped into him.

"Dick, hey."

Dick smiled, standing up and offering Itzel a hand to also get her off her feet.

"Sorry about that. I swear I have a somewhat better self-awareness than I'm letting on. First Aurora and now you."

"Aurora?" Dick questioned.

Itzel chuckled, sliding her phone away. "Yeah... I was taking some pictures around campus and wasn't watching where I was going and that's how I bumped into her."

Dick laughed, getting Itzel to laugh too.

"Wouldn't put it past Aurora to also be the cause of your last fall."

Itzel raised an eyebrow, silently asking for him to elaborate. Dick stretched his arm out, shaking his watch to position itself to get a read on the time. "I have a class right now that I need to get to. We can talk after?"

"What time is it?"

"Like five minutes till-"

"FIVE MINUTES? I have to go."

"Wait!" Dick called out. "You looked lost earlier. Do you know where you're going?"

"Uh," Itzel hesitated, pulling her phone out once more to check the classroom number. "I just know I am in this building for political philosophy."

"No way, me too! With Professor Prince?"

"Yes!"

Dick grinned and tilted his head. "Small world. Let's walk together. Her class is just around the bend."

The two walk silently, the clutter that Itzel carried with her being the only sound between them. Dick looked down at her, noticing all three bags. With a sigh, he held a hand out, "I can help carry one of those you know."

Itzel raised an eyebrow, her eyes flickering to his gym bag, his own practice gear for practice later. "I'm fine, thank you very much."

Dick raised his hands in a mock surrender. "Hey, I'm just offering my services to my best friends, best friend."

"Oh, so Aurora is your best friend?"

Dick dragged his tongue against his teeth, giving her a smirk. "Jealous?"

She shook her head, "Not at all. I'm glad she was able to find friends after I moved."

He smiled and nodded, pointing to the lecture hall, "There's the class."

She held the door open as they reached the classroom door, her eyes caught his gaze for a beat longer than necessary. He flashed a grin as he walked past. "See you in there," he said, and she caught herself glancing back, just for a second, before following him inside.

Itzel and Dick had sat next to each other for the class and he was nice enough to point her in the correct direction for her next class after philosophy. The class went by in a blur, the professor launching straight into a lecture about something that Itzel couldn't be bothered to absorb in that moment. Her mind drifted back to her conversation with Dick. She couldn't remember the last time someone made her feel so comfortable.

With classes done and over with, Itzel felt like she could breathe for the first time in a minute. However, as she headed to tennis practice, the weight of her backpack felt mentally heavier as her mind began to walk through the steps of what homework she needed to prioritize first. It wasn't much since it was syllabus week, but the need to get it done sooner than later still daunted on her.

As Itzel crossed the courtyard toward the gym, the sun was dipping lower, casing a warm glow over campus. Perfect - she thought as her hands worked on their own to pull her camera out. She slowed her pace, allowing the sun to do all the work for her while capturing the scenery around her.

As she moved towards the gym, her camera landed on Aurora near the administration building, just finishing what seemed to be a conversation. Aurora was with an older man, probably thirties or forties, dressed too sharply to be a student. He looked vaguely familiar–Itzel recognized him as one of the academic advisors who assisted her with her transfer.

Itzel moved behind a line of trees to not be seen as she watched them. Aurora tugged at the hem of her dress and her cheeks flushed with a look of admiration. Itzel raised an eyebrow as she watched her friend tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, seeming almost nervous which was rare for her. Normally so self-assured, Aurora looked caught up in the moment, her gaze lingering a bit too long for Itzels liking on the advisor's face.

The man, however, was the opposite of Aurora. His eyes drifted around her, his eyes scanning everywhere but landing on the girl in front of him as he kept giving her a curt nod. His body was angled away, ready to bolt if needed. He glanced at his watch again, clearly ready to move on, and Itzel bit her lip down hard at his noticeable disinterest. Itzel captured the picture, her fingers working to capture the scene in front of her. If he noticed her friend's extra effort, it didn't show; to him, this was just another conversation in a long day.

Itzel lowered her camera, watching as he gave Aurora a final nod and strode off without a second glance. Aurora smoothed out her dress once more, brushing her hand through her hair and blinking a few times as if trying to regain her composure. A small pang of curiosity tugged at her, and for a moment, she considered walking over to ask her friend about it. But she stopped herself. Instead, Itzel decided to let it be, opting to bring it up casually later on, maybe after practice when she was a bit more relaxed.

Standing out from the tree line and speed walking to the gym, her mind buzzed with questions. A teacher? Seriously Aurora? However, she pushed it aside when she reached the double doors.

In the locker room, Itzel changed into her tennis gear, tying her hair up and out of her face and tightening her laces. In photography, she was able to find peace within the chaos in her heart but tennis allowed her to ground her emotions and use the anger she had in her head to go onto the court.

Itzel stretched with the team, feeling her muscles ease into the routine, the sounds of rackets hitting balls echoing in the background. She was stronger in singles, and relished the control and precision it allowed her. She was agile, fast, and had a knack for reading her opponent's next move. After a few warm-up rounds, Coach paired her with another player for singles practice, tossing her a fresh pack of tennis balls as she settled into the baseline position. She opened the pack, taking two to bounce on the line before finding her favorite and tossing the other against the fence. With all her strength, she served, the ball flying over the net. Her opponent barely managed to return it, and she moved swiftly, returning each shot with sharp accuracy. She won the rally in no time, and a few of her teammates cheered from the sidelines.

Just as she was settling into the groove of her next match, a quick movement caught her eye from the bleachers. She glanced over and nearly did a double-take. Aurora was sitting there, waving with an encouraging smile, and beside her were Dick and Jason, both leaning forward with interest. It took her by surprise; she hasn't expected any of them to show up, let alone both Dick and Jason – weren't they supposed to be at football practice?

The distraction was brief but almost costly as the ball whizzed past her, just narrowly missing her shoulder. She shook off the lapse and readied herself, feeling her focus drift slightly now that she knew they were watching. As they cheered her on, their presence made her self-conscious, yet a small part of her couldn't deny the confidence boost they brought her.

Returning her focus, her opponent switched up their shots to keep her on their toes. She chased down a hard-to-reach volley, lunging to meet it but slipping on the slick edge of the court. She stumbled, her racket almost falling from her grip as she regained her balance at the last second. Her ankle felt the strain, a sharp twinge as she braced herself, but she brushed it off, waving off her coach's concerned look. She didn't want to quit the rally – not with her friends watching. The two went back and forth for another ten minutes to finish their set. Before they could start another, their coach blew the whistle, signaling the end of practice. Itzel let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, grateful to finish. As she wiped her face with a towel and listened to her coach tell them about their games next week, she spotted Aurora, Dick and Jason gather their things and wait for her to finish.

"You looked amazing out there!" Aurora grinned, nudging her.

Dick gave her a smirk, nodding in agreement. "She's right. Didn't realize you had that kind of power behind your swings."

"Awh shucks," she playfully said, "You're just saying that. I was all over the place honestly."

Jason shook his head firmly, his expression sincere. "Seriously, Itzel. You're good. Don't sell yourself short."

A soft blush crept over her cheeks as she let their words settle over her. Once her items were gathered, the group left the court, Itzel swung her bag over her shoulder, catching her breath as she looked between her new friends. "So, what's the move?"

"Dick and I are driving over to our dads to set up with the rest of the team - I'm assuming you girls will need a bit to get ready so we'll see you all there."

"Or," Dick interjected casually, "You guys can always get ready there. Dad dated enough girls that there's a whole wardrobe and arrange of girls clothes. Different sizes and everything."

Aurora giggled while Itzel rolled her eyes. "No thank you, I prefer showering at my apartment." She said as she began to pull Aurora towards her apartments direction.

"Well, let us drive you, you're on our way-,"

"No, they're not," Jason interjected. Dick coughed, elbowing his brother, his eyes screaming dude!

This time, Auror and Itzel giggled, waving goodbye to the boys as they made the walk to Riverview Apartments. The two caught up on their day, talking about classes, and finding out more about each other's past since their separation.

Once inside her home, Aurora gave her a sly look. "Alright, so what's going on with you and Dick?"

"What? Nothing's going on! We only just met."

"Mmhmm," Aurora teased her, taking a seat on the couch. "It didn't look like nothing to me."

Itzel rolled her eyes, though she couldn't hide the amused smile. She pretended to zip her lips and lock it, throwing the invisible key over her shoulder.

"Alright, I'll let it slide—for now. But I expect details if anything changes."

As Itzel packed a few things for her shower, she glanced back over her shoulder with a nervous look. Now seemed appropriate to ask, right?

"Well, what about you, Miss 'Blushing Around Advisors'?"

Aurora froze, her cheeks going pink as she looked away, scrunching her eyes shut. "Did Dick tell you about it?"

Itzel gaped her mouth open like a fish. "No! He knows? Who else knows?!"

Aurora sighed, "Well the whole crew-,"

"Crew?"

"Oh yeah! Dick, Jason, and I grew up together after you left. Around a year or two after them, Wally joined the group. He's so funny. You'll love him. Then there are the friends we met once we settled in here in Bludhaven. Kaldur, Artemis, Zatanna, Megan, Conner, and Annika. But anyways yeah, Dick caught me leaving Zander's office once. Wait, how did you know if Dick didn't tell you?"

"Well, you see what had happened..." Itzel sheepishly began, spewing out quickly how she was walking from her last class to practice and spotted them while taking pictures.

"I didn't mean to find out if it helps," She muttered, giving her a sad smile while shrugging her shoulders to try to ease any tension. Aurora sighed, playing with a loose thread.

"Not mad at you. I just thought I was better at hiding it."

Itzel sighed and kneeled in front of Aurora. All Itzel wanted to do was take a shower and get out of her clothes. The sweat was drying in places that were uncomfortable, but nothing more uncomfortable than the places it wasn't drying in. However, friends were for forever and she would endure this uncomfortableness for as long as it was needed.

"Sweetie, you do know he's married right?" Itzel asked softly, holding Aurora's hands in hers. Aurora nodded.

"Yes, but he says they've been unhappy for a long time. And I make him happy. He swears they're separated but they are still married for legality reasons."

Aurora continued to spew excuses for him, and Itzel tried her hardest to not snap. After all, Aurora was happy and who was Itzel to ruin her friend's happiness? But the man was married, that much was certain as he still wore his wedding ring, despite what Aurora was saying.

"Ro, I love you, so I say this with so much kindness. Please be careful."

It was all Itzel could say to her. She had barely reintroduced herself back into Aurora's life. Who was she to say anything to her?

Aurora smiled. "I am, don't worry." Both girls gave each other hand squeezes as reassurances before Itzel got up and stepped into the shower to wash off the day and prepare herself for the night ahead.

As the Uber pulled up to Wayne Manor, Itzel and Aurora exchanged glances, both finning art the thumping bass echoing through the night. The music was loud enough to be heard before the doors even opened, and from the car, they could see different crowds outside. The football players were spread out across the sprawling lawn, talking and laughing while the cheerleaders and dance squad mingled, spinning their drinks and posing for photos under the house's bright exterior lights. More students, dressed in their best were filling into the other areas.

Itzel stepped out of the car first, the night breeze catching the loose waves of her dark hair, which cascaded over her bare shoulders. She had chosen a cropped black tank top that showed just a hint of her stomach, paired with high-waisted ripped jeans that hugged her hips just right. The dark denim highlighted her toned figure, and she had chosen low, sleek black boots to keep things effortless yet, put together. A think gold chain and small golden hoop earrings added a touch of glam while her makeup wrapped her up nicely.

Aurora followed, rocking a fitted white tee that read biology ninja was tucked into her dark green mini skirt, the slight A-line cut giving her a casual but cute vibe. She paired it with her favorite white sneakers, though Itzel knew they would not be white by the end of the night. Aurora's hair was loose, with a touch of waves, and she added a light pink gloss and a dusting of highlighter on her cheekbones that caught the light whenever she moved. A small gold bracelet on her wrist finished her own look.

With so many people heading both in and outside the house, Itzel followed Aurora closely as she entered and made her way around the crowd. Students packed every corner of the house, Bad Bunny playing loudly with laughter layering it. The two finally made it to the kitchen where Dick and Jason stood together near the kitchen island conversating with a blonde girl and a redhead.

As Dick looked up, his gaze fell on Itzel and Aurora and his face broke into a grin. He waved them over and they threaded through the crowd to join the group.

"Finally!" Dick said, giving both girls a quick once over before presenting the Itzel to the crew. "Itzel, this is Artemis," he said gesturing to the blonde who gave a causal nod and a smirk, "and Megan," he finished, nodding to the redhead who offered a warm smile.

Artemis's blonde hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail and she wore a fitted jacket over her top. Megan looked softer in an oversized sweater and jeans.

Aurora pulled them each into hugs while Itzel waved and smiled at both of them. "Hello."

"We've already heard a bit about you," Artemis said with a playful grin, glancing at Dick. "Seems you made quite an impression at tennis practice."

"Oh?" Itzel raised an eyebrow, looking at Dick, who was quick to clear his throat with a sheepish smile.

"Purely professional admiration," he said with a laugh, nudging Jason beside him. "Jason's the one who wouldn't stop going on about it."

Jason rolled his eyes, giving Itzel a wink. "I mean, I was just saying the team could use a few more athletes like you, that's all."

"Just for the record, don't let them get too competitive over you," Megan said, grinning as she handed Itzel a cup. "This house can barely handle one Jason."

Itzel barked a laugh taking a sip of her drink, "Noted!"

"Anyways, want the grand tour?" he offered casually, one hand tucked into his front pockets as he nodded toward the winding staircase.

Itzel's brows raised, a little taken aback. "The tour?" She cast a quick look at the others, but Artemis and Megan exchanged knowing smiles, giving her obvious thumbs-ups while Aurora, trying to be subtle, nearly spilled her drink in her eagerness to nod.

Jason said nothing, just raised his cup to his lips, hiding a smirk as he took a long sip, his eyes twinkling with barely-contained amusement.

"Okay then, lead the way." She answered. Dick flashed a pleased smile and motioned her to follow him. The beginning of the tour was basic, showing her the normal areas. It was the staircase where it was more secluded and where Itzel was drawn to the family portraits. They weren't like the stiff, formal family portraits she'd expected to see in an old manor—each frame seemed to capture a moment filled with a certain chaotic warmth. In one, a younger Dick grinned mid-laugh with a mischievous glint in his eye. Beside him, a smaller boy with a shock of black hair looked up in awe, while a surly teen who could only be Jason stood a few steps back, arms crossed, his gaze bored but amused. Other pictures followed, each adding a new face to the family.

Dick smiled as he stepped up behind her, just close enough that she could feel the warmth of his body. Reaching over her shoulder, he pointed to each face, recounting names and little snippets of memory. "That's Damian, the youngest. A bit intense but fiercely loyal once you get through that tough exterior. And that's Tim—brainiac of the bunch, always on some tech gadget or deep in his latest project. They're all brilliant in their own way," he said.

"And here," he continued, gesturing to another photo, "is Jason and me, back when we first joined the family. Bruce... well, he took both of us in at different times, and helped us find our footing. Jason especially—he had a rough start, but Bruce has been there through everything, even the bad patches."

"You guys seem close," she said gently. "Bruce sounds like he's done a lot to be there for everyone."

For a brief second, Dick's eyes lingered on the portraits, something bittersweet flashing in his gaze. "Yeah, he has," he replied softly. "It's funny. People always think someone like Bruce Wayne couldn't be a great dad. But he really is. He's been through so much, and he's had to put up with us—all our ups and downs. Somehow, he always makes time for us."

She reached out as if to offer some kind of reassurance, but he quickly brushed off her hand with a light chuckle and wave. "Don't worry about it. Come on, let's head back."

He was quick to lead Itzel back down the stairs, the party's energy filling around them once more. As they reached the main hallway, he spotted someone across the room waving him over.

"Be right back," he said, nodding toward his friends. "Save me a dance?"

"Guess we'll see," Itzel teased as he moved off into the crowd.

With Dick gone, she headed for the kitchen, hoping to find something to snack on to balance out the drink she'd been nursing. The counters were lined with bowls of chips, finger foods, and a range of party snacks, but as she reached for a mini sandwich, another hand moved in at the same time, grabbing the last one before her fingers could even touch it.

She blinked, pulling her hand back slightly, letting out an involuntary, silent pout as she watched the mini sandwich disappear from reach. The boy beside her noticed and turned, holding the snack out with a slight smile.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to steal it," he offered. "Here you go."

Itzel looked up, ready to say a quick thanks but her eyes widened in surprise. It was him – the boy from the campus quad where she had captured his image.

"Oh, thank you," she said trying to keep her surprised look locked away.

"You look familiar. Have we met before?" He asked, tilting his head and narrowing his eyes on her. Itzels heart skipped a beat but she shrugged, taking a bite out of the sandwich.

"Nope - Probably just a party thing. You know where all the faces blend in together?"

"Probably right. I would remember a gorgeous face like yours every day." He said. "I'm Wally, by the way."

"Itzel," She introduced herself, her cheeks flushed at his compliment.

"You know," Itzel started, trying to ease the tension and start a conversation, "I think the best thing about the parties is the food and pantry raid."

"You read my mind!" Wally grinned, leaning over the island his warm waving around him as he gestured to the food. "I'm always torn between the sandwiches and chips and dip. Like we can definitely do better, yes. I mean, on the one hand, chips are classics, but then you get fancy with the gourmet stuff. What's a guy to do?"

She laughed, nodding along. "Tough choice. My vote is the sandwich. They go with everything."

He raised an eyebrow. "Alright, you've made a solid point. But you have to admit, chips have that satisfying crunch. It's a vibe."

"If you want crunchy, you could always crush up the chips and sprinkle them on top of the sandwiches."

Wally laughed, a genuine, infectious sound. "Now that's a culinary innovation I can get behind! You're a genius. I'll make sure to tell my chef at home that I've discovered the next big thing in party snacks."

The pair laughed again, ignoring the looks around them that grabbed attention. At some point, Dick tried to go into the kitchen to get her out, but Aurora stopped him, pulling his attention off of Itzel and Wally's laughter to a fight that had broken out somewhere in the manor.

Just as Itzel started to feel more relaxed, Wally snapped his fingers, his eyes lighting up with sudden recognition. "Wait, now I remember!" he exclaimed, looking genuinely pleased. "You're on the tennis team, right? I think I saw you practicing over the summer!"

She blinked, a bit taken aback but relieved. "Yep, that's me. Guilty as charged," she laughed, hoping the flush in her cheeks wasn't too obvious.

Wally casually leaned against the counter, glancing down at her with a grin. "So tennis, huh? It seems like an easy enough sport. Just hitting a ball over a net all day, right?" He said not even looking up as he sipped his drink.

Itzel's smile faltered, her irritation flaring at his comment. She clenched her jaw, trying to brush it off, but the dismissal stung more than she cared to admit. "Yup," she replied, her voice clipped.

Wally, oblivious to her shift in tone, only grinned wider. "Well, maybe you could teach me some time—I'd love to see if I can keep up with you on the court," he said, his tone laced with a flirty challenge.

She rolled her eyes, taking a sip of her new drink. I need something stronger than this to continue this dumb conversation.

"Sure, you wanna risk a stray ball hitting you? It'll save us both the trouble."

Wally shook his head, ignoring the look of annoyance that Itzel was giving him. "Don't worry, I can keep up if you coach me. We'd make a good team, don't you think?" He nudged her lightly, smirking.

Itzel looked at him flabbergasted. Once more rolling her eyes, she took a step away from him and left the room to find Aurora.

Wally was left alone, his smile faltering while his eyes watched her retreat. He began to rerun their conversation in his head, half expecting Itzel to come back to the kitchen. Though when it was clear to see she wasn't his mind clicked on his words, and he groaned loudly, slapping the base of his palm against the brow of his head several times as he kicked himself for making fun of something that she clearly cared about.