Peter and Dick were at the cafeteria. Peter had a pie and salad while Dick settled on chicken nuggets and a burger.

“You have way too much cholesterol on that plate,” Peter noted, taking a bite out of his salad

“Alfred always makes something healthy at home,” Dick said. “So, the cholesterol is balanced out.”

Peter started eating his pie. “Sorry I couldn’t make it to Wayne Manor. Something came up and…”

“Don’t mention it,” Dick said. “Losing someone close to you is hard. Believe me I know.”

Dick took a bite out of his burger. “Take all the time you need, my friend. Besides, Bruce told me to give you this.” Dick shuffled through his pockets and pulled out a ruffled envelope. Peter opened it and, in the envelope, there was a bright blue ticket and written in a neat golden cursive was:

The Annual Wayne Charity Gala

Wayne Manor. Saturday 9 till Dawn

Win a chance for an exclusive drive with Bruce Wayne around Gotham. T and C’s apply

“That’s so awesome!” Peter said, grinning. “Can’t wait to tell May!”

Peter carefully tucked his envelope in his bag and was grinning from ear to ear.

“Still I can’t help but wonder,” Peter said. “Why me? I mean I’m not rich. Why does he want me to come to the gala?”

Dick sighed. “Do you want to see him or not? And please keep it down. I don’t want anyone to know I gave you a ticket. They’ll be at my throats.”

“Sorry,” Peter whispered. “But I mean what would Bruce Wayne want with some dorky kid from Queens? He’s a billionaire. Shouldn’t he be doing billionaire stuff?”

“He said your essay fed his ego,” Dick said. Inwardly, Dick sighed. He wanted to tell Peter the truth so badly. He didn’t want another person that, especially one he considered a friend to be dragged into their mess but he knew that if he did tell Peter they would be scolding from the big man.

“Oh,” Peter said.

“Yeah,” Dick said, smirking.

“Either way I’m glad to be meeting him,” Peter said. “He’s one of my childhood heroes.”

“You told me that before,” Dick said, taking another bite of his burger. “And let me tell you, you wouldn’t be saying that if you knew him as well as I did.”

Boy oh boy, if only you knew him like I did, Dick thought.

They had finished their lunch and left the cafeteria, talking about the classes they had next. They talked about various topics, like their subjects, Wayne Manor until the conversation finally steered to something Peter wanted to avoid talking about.

“Tell me Pete,” Dick said. “How are the girls here?”

Peter was taken aback by this question. “I-I…”

“You’re from New York, right?” Dick asked with a big grin on his face. “Tell me how these Gotham girls compare to the babes over at NYC?”

“I mean they’re fine,” Peter said. “I haven’t talked to any of them…”

“C’mon Pete,” Dick said. “A guy like you should be out there. You should be talking to all the girls you see.”

“That’s easy for you to say,” Peter said. “You’re good-looking and athletic. Girls look at me and they scream.”

“No Pete,” Dick said. “The only reason they run is because of how low your confidence is.”

“Hi Peter,” said a sweet voice.

Peter turned to see a girl who almost exactly looked like MJ if it weren’t for her glasses. She had frizzy red hair and blue eyes, wearing a pair of scarlet glasses. Peter knew that she was Barbara Gordon. Commissioner Gordon’s daughter and one of the three students fighting for the top spot in their class, the other two being Dick and Peter himself.

“Hi, Dick,” said Barbara, though a little less sweetly. She was wearing a pink shirt and jeans that showed off a surprisingly lean body for a girl who spent most of her time in the science lab and typing away at computers.

“What did I say about calling me that?” Dick mumbled.

“You two know each other?” Peter asked, confused.

“Yeah we used to date,” Barbara said.

“Oh,” Peter said, his heart sinking.

“But we broke up,” Barbara said. “Now we’re just friends.”

Peter turned to Dick who, for a brief moment, Peter noticed a flash of sadness in his eyes before it was suddenly replaced by the familiar cockiness.

“So, what are you here for?” Dick asked. “Here to come begging me to come back?”

Barbara scoffed. “No, I’m here to talk to Peter.”

“M-me?” Peter stammered.

Barbara nodded. “Yes.” She suddenly had a serious look on her face. “I uh, I heard about your uncle.”

“Oh,” Peter said, a little dejected at the thought of Uncle Ben.

“I know you probably don’t want my pity or anything,” Barbara said. “But if you need anything, well my door’s open.”

Peter smiled. She looked like MJ and she also acted like MJ. When MJ wasn’t out hanging with her friends or flirting with the prettiest boy she could find, she would always joke around with Pete. And whenever Peter looked down in the dumps, she would always try her best to cheer him up. When she got the news that Uncle Ben had died, both her and Harry called him up the first opportunity they got to ask if he was okay.

“Thanks,” Peter said. “It means a lot.”

Barbara smiled brightly. “You’re welcome,” she checked her watch. “Oh shoot, I have biology. I’ll see you around, Peter.” The pleasant look on her face disappeared. “Dick.”

She waved at Dick and Peter, jogging off with a smile on her face.

After Barbara left, Peter turned to see Dick grinning at him.

“Peter Parker has a crush,” Dick teased.

“Shut up,” Peter said, his face a little red.

“What was that about Gotham girls being “fine”?” Dick said, smirking.

“She was just nice to me, that’s all,” Peter said. “She seems cool a-and…”

“And?” Dick said, his grin growing wider and wider.

“Sweet,” Peter said quickly. “She seems sweet.”

Dick scoffed. “She’s like that at first. But take it from me once you get to know her, she’s well… fiery.”

“I don’t believe you,” Peter said.

Dick smirked. “You’ll believe me soon enough, Pete. Soon enough.”