Step number three! Get a boyfriend.

The logic behind this was simple: if I started liking someone else, I could slowly stop loving Dick. Foolproof, right? I was so confident this plan would work!

Just as I was about to sneak out, my dad's voice boomed through the house. "Whoa there, Charlie!"

I froze, wide-eyed. So close!

"Yes, Daddy?" I replied, putting on my sweetest smile and turning to face Bruce and Dick, both giving me raised eyebrows.

"Where are you off to, all dressed up?" Dick asked, a slight frown forming on his face.

"Just... places," I said quickly. "With a person. None of your concern, boys. Go back to whatever you were doing before you decided to interrogate me about my whereabouts." I smiled again, edging toward the door.

"Nah, not so fast, young lady," Bruce said, crossing his arms and giving me that look. "I invented that. Now, tell me, where are you going?"

I sighed, defeated. "Well, Daddy... I have a date."

Three.

Two.

One.

"A DATE?!" Dick and Bruce yelled in unison. They both started talking over each other, demanding answers, freaking out about my safety, while I stood there, waiting for them to calm down.

"Are you both done?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at their flustered expressions. "Yes, I'm going on a date. We're just getting ice cream. I'll be gone for an hour tops. And Alfred's driving me."

"You told Alfred and not us?" Dick asked, incredulous.

"Of course! I tell Alfred everything."

"It's true. She does," Alfred said, appearing with his jacket and car keys. "Miss Charlie, we best be off, or we might be late to meet Chad at the parlor."

"Chad?" Dick repeated, his eyes wide. "Chad? Seriously, Charlie? The guy's a total tool!"

"Oh, calm down. He's nice to me," I said, rolling my eyes.

Bruce sighed. "I haven't even met the boy. I don't think you should be going."

"By 'met' you mean you haven't had the chance to dig into every little detail about his life and stalk him yet," I retorted. "This isn't the 1600s, Daddy. People date. It's normal."

With a wink, I flounced out the door, leaving both of them standing there, slack-jawed.

Hopping into the car, Alfred sped off toward the ice cream parlor, muttering about tardiness and how it was rude. As soon as we pulled in, I scooted out of the car with a quick "Thank you!" and "I'll text when I'm done!" before heading into the shop.

"Hey, Chad!" I called as I spotted the blonde-headed boy sitting at a table. He smiled brightly, standing up to greet me with a hug, which I half-heartedly returned.

Chad was the typical boy-next-door type—football player, nice green eyes, and dimples that could shelter a population. He was a year ahead of me and had a car, so that was a bonus, I guess.

"I thought you stood me up for a second," he joked, though his eyes held an odd edge that I quickly pushed to the back of my mind.

"Only ten minutes late," I said, glancing at my phone. "My dad's a bit overprotective." I shrugged. "Ready to order?"

"Sure thing." He threw an arm over my shoulder and smiled. "What'll the lady have?"

Dick wouldn't have had to ask me what I wanted. He would've known. Ugh, stop thinking about Dick, Charlie! Focus on Chad!

"I'm pretty simple. Just vanilla," I said with a playful smile, but all he did was nod. My smile faltered for a second before it returned as I took the ice cream cone from him. We sat down, and for the next hour, Chad happily talked about... himself.

And talked.

And talked.

I nodded along, half-listening, while mentally filing away my escape plan. Chad didn't ask me a single question about myself. Not once.

I was... bored.

As he finished yet another story about his latest football game heroics, Chad finally asked, "You done with your ice cream?"

The first real question he'd asked me in an hour.

"Yep," I said, holding back my laughter.

"Let me show you something."

"I think Alfred's going to be here soon," I said, hesitating.

"It's just down the road," he insisted, grabbing my hand and pulling me along.

We walked for a bit until he led me toward an alleyway. I dug my heels into the ground and stopped him in his tracks.

"Chad, stop," I said with a sigh. "Look, I'm going to be real with you. I'm not really feeling this. I'm sorry, but I don't think it's going to work out."

His expression darkened for a moment before a smirk replaced it. He grabbed me roughly, pushing me a few feet into the alley, my back lightly hitting the wall.

"Chad, what are you doing?" I asked, my voice calm but firm as he leaned in like he was going to kiss me.

I turned my head, glaring at him. "I just told you this isn't working. That doesn't mean I want you to kiss me."

"Come on, Charlie. I know girls like to play hard to get. It's okay. I know you want to get with me."

I pushed him off me, anger bubbling up. "I don't know what's going on in your head, but when I say 'no,' it means NO. I don't like you. Get it?"

Before I could walk away, his hand shot out, yanking me back against the wall, his grip tight.

"Listen, you little orphan bitc—"

"I wouldn't finish that sentence if I were you," a gravely voice interrupted from behind Chad, making him freeze.

"B-B-Batman?" Chad stammered, his grip on me loosening as he snapped his head around.

I smirked, stepping away from the wall. "I told you it wasn't going to work."

"You should probably run," Robin said, swooping down from the rooftop above.

Chad let out a squeal that could rival a preteen girl's, before taking off like his life depended on it, jumping into his car and speeding away.

"Quite the show you two put on," I said with a laugh. "You do know I had that handled, right?"

"Of course Tweety had it handled," Bruce said, his stern eyes softening just a little. "But Charlotte Wayne wouldn't."

He gave me a look. "I've called Alfred. He's waiting for you down the street. I'm going to have a word with that boy about how to treat my daughter. Robin, stay with her."

Robin and I both nodded as Batman shot his grappling hook off after Chad's car. I smiled to myself, imagining all the ways my dad was about to make Chad regret his existence.

"Sorry your date sucked," Dick said with a grin.

"You don't sound that sorry," I laughed.

"That's because I'm not. The guy was a total tool."

"A total Dick," I joked, watching as Dick rolled his eyes under his mask.

"You're totally out of his league anyway," Dick said with a serious tone. "I mean, have you looked in the mirror? You're probably the most beautiful person I've ever met, inside and out."

I felt my face flush at his words. Was he serious?

"I wouldn't say that," I mumbled, ringing my hands together.

"I would," Dick said, his voice softer now. "You're hilarious, and you have an amazing personality. Any guy would be lucky to be with you."

My heart skipped a beat as I looked up at him, my nerves buzzing. "Anyone?" I whispered, my eyes searching his.

"Anyone," he whispered back, his breath warm as he leaned in just a little. We were standing so close now, my heart hammering in my chest.

"Would you be included in that?" I asked softly, my voice trembling with nerves.

For a second, Dick stood frozen, his lips parting as if to say something, but nothing came out. He cleared his throat, looking flustered.

"Yeah," he finally said, his voice breathless. "Yeah, I guess I would."

A smile spread across my face as I leaned up, placing a soft kiss on his cheek. "Thanks, Dick," I whispered before hugging him tightly.

When we pulled apart, we continued walking toward Alfred's car, where he stood waiting for me. Dick opened the door for me, and I noticed his cheeks were flushed as he gazed off into the distance, a bit of a dreamy smile on his face.

"Hey, you okay?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Never better," he sighed with a grin. "I'll see you at home."

With that, he grappled off into the night, and I swear I heard him yell, "YES!" in the distance, making me laugh. He always was a goofy one.

The next day, Chad didn't show up at school. Word was he transferred to another private school. My guess? Bruce Wayne had something to do with that. As for Batman, let's just say Chad won't be hitting on any girls anytime soon.

And as for me? Well, Step Three fell through, but there are still two steps left! Let's hope they work, or I'm seriously screwed.

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Heyyoooo I update go team!

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