As Melissa and Daniel headed out, Dick watched them go, shaking his head. Always the same routine. He made his way upstairs, ignoring the sound of Jessica's obnoxious laughter echoing through the hall. He threw his gym bag to the floor after tossing his sweaty clothes into the hamper.
His phone buzzed with a new notification.
Paige: Don't be late tomorrow.
Dick smirked but ignored Paige's text. He tossed his phone onto the bed and started to strip down for a shower. Barely a minute passed before his phone buzzed again.
Paige: "Don't you dare leave me on read!"
Dick let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. The girl couldn't handle being ignored for even a second. He ignored the text again and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. By the time he got out, the phone buzzed yet again. A quick glance at the screen confirmed it: another message from Paige.
Paige: What are you doing? I have priority with you.
Dick smirked as he dried off, picking up his phone. He could feel her frustration seeping through the screen.
Dick: In the gym.
Her response was almost instant, like she'd been waiting by her phone.
Paige: Don't tell me you're working out without me.
Dick: It's called having a life. You should try it.
A few seconds passed, and another message popped up.
Paige: Asshole. Don't forget, you're mine tomorrow.
Dick: Wouldn't dream of it.
He tossed the phone back onto the bed and pulled on a fresh shirt. Paige's possessiveness wasn't new. She liked control, expecting everyone to fall in line the moment she snapped her fingers. It amused him more than anything. He'd play along, for now. It suited his needs, and she was useful. But eventually, she'd realize that this wasn't going to go the way she planned.
The week passed in a blur, a mix of gym sessions, training Paige, and keeping to his own routine. By the time Monday rolled around, Dick felt the rhythm settling into place. He took the day off from work, knowing he'd need the time to get acquainted with the college campus and pick up his timetable.
Arriving at the university, the energy was different. It wasn't like the aimless shuffle of high school. People here had places to be, goals to reach. Students milled around in groups or buried their heads in books.
Dick didn't bother with small talk or pleasantries. He made his way to the administration building, walking past a line of first-year students waiting for their registration forms. Once inside, the room buzzed with chatter. Students leaned over counters, handing in paperwork, while others crowded around cork boards to check their schedules.
The secretary at the front desk glanced up, disinterested, as he approached. "Name?"
"Dick Graves," he said.
She typed something into her computer, then handed him a folder without looking up. "Your timetable's in there. Orientation's in Lecture Hall B at noon. Don't be late."
"Thanks," Dick muttered, turning on his heel and heading out as she had a face that was end of conversation. Outside, he flipped through the papers, his eyes scanning the timetable. The classes seemed straightforward—psychology, history, biology, the usual.
He glanced at his watch. Still had time before orientation. He found a bench near the main courtyard and sat, watching the flow of students. They came in all shapes and sizes, a buffet of social dynamics just waiting to be exploited.
A group of preppy-looking guys strolled by, laughing obnoxiously. A few girls trailed behind them, hanging on their every word. Typical. They were probably athletes or frat boys, the kind who got by on charm and connections rather than merit. Dick filed that away for later—people like them were often useful, but only in the right way.
Across the courtyard, a girl sat alone, typing furiously on her laptop. Her hair was messy, glasses slipping down her nose, but she was absorbed in whatever was on the screen. She barely looked up when someone bumped into her. Interesting. The loners were always underestimated, but they had potential—quiet, observant, often overlooked.
At noon, Dick made his way to Lecture Hall B. The room was already filling up with students, some chatting in hushed tones, others nervously flipping through the orientation packet. He slipped into a seat near the back.
The orientation was standard fare. A professor droned on about the university's history, the expectations of students, and the importance of balancing work and study. Dick barely listened. He was too busy scanning the room, taking mental notes on the students around him. The professor finished with the usual encouragement about seizing opportunities and forging one's path.
As the lecture ended, students shuffled out of the hall, some heading to their next class, others gathering in small clusters, already forming their cliques. Dick hung back, waiting for the crowd to thin before making his way out.
He was halfway across the courtyard when a voice called out behind him. "Hey, wait up!"
Dick turned to see a guy jogging toward him. He was average height, maybe a little stocky, with dark hair and a friendly smile. His clothes were a bit too neat for someone who'd just sat through a boring orientation—probably one of those eager-to-please types.
"Sorry, didn't mean to run up on you," the guy said, slightly out of breath. "I'm Nate. We were in the same orientation. Thought I'd introduce myself."
Dick raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Dick."
Nate grinned. "Yeah, I caught that. Figured we might have some of the same classes. You a freshman too?"
"Yeah," Dick replied, not sure where to put this person.
"Cool, cool. So, what's your major?" Nate asked, falling into step beside him.
"Undeclared," Dick said. "Figured I'd see what sticks."
"Same," Nate said with a chuckle. "No clue what I'm doing here, but, you know, everyone says it'll figure itself out."
They walked in silence for a bit, Nate clearly struggling to find something else to say. "You, uh, from around here?"
Dick nodded his head. "Yeah, pretty much for my whole life."
"Ah, gotcha," Nate said, nodding like that explained everything. "Well, if you ever wanna hang out or anything, let me know. I know a few neat places in the area."
"Appreciate it," Dick replied. Nata was playing cool, but by the book. It seemed as if he looked up "How to act cool on my first day of college" on google, and was now reading his lines.
As they reached the main campus building, Nate waved awkwardly. "I'll catch you around, man. Good luck with classes."
"Yeah, see you," Dick said, turning away and heading to his next class. Mostly oriantaitons as well.
After school, as Dick was heading home, his phone buzzed. A text from Lana.
Lana: Can we meet?
He stopped mid-step, the message catching him off guard. It had been weeks since he paid off her debt, and in all that time, she'd kept her distance. He figured she needed space, but now... maybe she was ready to talk.
Dick: Where?
Lana: The park. By the lake.
He slipped the phone back into his pocket, changing direction without a second thought. It wasn't like he had anything better to do. Plus, this would give him a chance to see where things stood between them.
The park was nearly empty when he arrived, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows over the grass. Lana was already there, sitting on a bench near the edge of the lake, her arms wrapped around herself like she was trying to ward off the chill. She didn't look up as he approached, her gaze fixed on the water.
"You wanted to talk?" Dick said, keeping his tone neutral as he sat down beside her.
Lana stayed quiet for a moment, her fingers tracing the edge of the bench. "I never thanked you," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"For paying off your debt?" Dick asked, leaning back and stretching his legs. "You don't owe me thanks. You owe me five grand."
She glanced at him, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Yeah, I know... but it's more than that."
Dick didn't respond, just waited for her to continue. She looked back at the lake, her shoulders tensing slightly.
"Jared hasn't bothered me since that night," Lana said quietly. "He hasn't even called."
"That was the point," Dick replied. He wasn't going to sugarcoat it. He'd done it because it suited him, not out of some noble desire to play the hero.
"I just... I don't know why you did it," she said, her voice strained, like she'd been turning this over in her head for days. "I treated you like shit for years. You could've let him have his way, and no one would've blamed you."
Dick shrugged. "Whatever." He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, staring at the lake without really seeing it. Lana was overcomplicating things, twisting herself into knots over a situation he'd already put behind him.
"You're making this harder than it is," he continued, his tone flat. "I needed Jared out of the way. You were a bonus."
Lana flinched at that, like she hadn't expected the bluntness. She bit her lip, looking down at her hands. "I didn't ask for help."
Dick shot her a sidelong glance. "I didn't need you to."
Silence hung between them, the only sound the occasional rustling of leaves in the breeze. Lana shifted uncomfortably on the bench, wrapping her arms tighter around herself.
"Do you think... we can just move past it?" Her voice was hesitant, like she didn't know if she wanted the answer.
Dick let out a slow breath, eyes still on the water. "You can. I already have."
Lana blinked, surprised. "Just like that?"
"Yeah, just like that. It's over, Lana. I'm not interested in dragging this out or having some deep conversation about it." He glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "You owe me five grands, plain and simple. Anything else?"
She shook her head quickly, almost too quickly. "No, I don't... I just..." She trailed off, searching for words. "I guess I thought you might hold it over me."
"I'm not Jared."
The weight of those words settled on her chest. Lana looked away, her hands twisting in her lap. She wasn't used to this, someone who didn't need to use her for leverage. It threw her off balance.
"You still owe me," Dick said after a moment, his voice matter-of-fact. "But that's business. We'll settle it when the time's right. Nothing more, nothing less."
Lana gave a weak nod, her fingers tightening their grip on the edge of the bench. "Right. Of course."
They sat in silence for a long minute, neither of them moving. The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting an orange glow over the park. Finally, Lana stood, brushing off her jeans. "We are going in the same direction. Wanna go together?"
Dick stood up, stretching his legs. "No," he said flatly, turning away without another glance. He didn't wait for a reaction—just started walking. Looking at his retreating figure, Lana kicked the ground. "Asshole." She muttered under her breath, arms crossed, watching him disappear into the fading light.
Dick walked toward home, taking the familiar shortcut through the back alleys, hands shoved into his pockets. Mrs. Avery's place was right next to his, the dim light from her living room filtering through the curtains. He'd been visiting her twice a week now, each time for different reasons. Sometimes he'd help her with the little things—moving furniture, fixing something minor—but most of the time, it was for her company.
He didn't mind. She was lonely, starved for attention in that big, empty house. Rick was never home, and the girls were out living their lives, leaving Rebecca in a bubble of forced smiles and echoing silence. When Dick was there, though, the quiet didn't feel so heavy. She smiled more, relaxed a little.
Tonight, though, it felt different.