《I am the Night》Chapter 16: Prom Queen

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After they left the Jewelry store Selina was quiet. She stared out the window of the car while Wayne looked at his phone. Alfred in the driver's seat decided to break up the tense atmosphere by turning on the radio. The host was talking with a caller about Gotham Renewal, "Caller you are on the air."

The host said followed by an older man's voice, "Yes, thank you, Howard, you are a true blue American. I just wanted to call and talk about this Bruce Wayne fella's plan. I think it doesn't go far enough! I think while he's cleaning up the streets and changing all the light bulbs he should start herding up the Hispanics and the Blacks too!"

The host quickly cut him off and said, "Woah there partner, I know where you are going with that, but I think we shouldn't take this conversation in that direction. I would say, let's just keep it at herd up the Dumbocrats and leave this city to the God Fearin' American conservatives! Am I right? Well, of course, I am after all you're listening to the Howard Levard show!"

Selina spoke up, "Alfred, I'm sorry, but I can't listen to this guy. His racist audience makes me sick."

Alfred changed the channel without needing to hear anymore. Wayne spoke up, "Selina, are you upset about me ambushing you with the Jewelry store?"

Selina shook her head, "Not at you, I am thankful you showed me that. I was very ignorant. I couldn't be allowed to stay like that, so thank you, Wayne." She looked at him and said, "Thank you for everything, the suit, the driving, taking me under your wing... You changed my life."

Wayne reached out his hand and took hers in his squeezing it. "Are you nervous about seeing your old school?"

She nodded, "Once I graduated I never looked back."

Wayne smiled and gave her hand another squeeze, "Well, we're here."

The Rolls pulled up to a fire lane in front of the school's office. Alfred left the car running but got out and walked around to the passenger door and opened it for Selina and Wayne. "Ms. Kyle, Master Bruce." He gave a slight bow and extended his hand out to the school's office.

Selina took a deep breath and then stepped out of the car taking Alfred's hand to stabilize herself. She walked a few steps and then waited for Wayne who stepped out, smoothed out his jacket, and then walked forward extending his elbow for Selina. The two then walked together into the school's office. As Alfred moved the car out onto the street where he parked and waited.

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Once inside the office the school's secretary looked at Selina and then Bruce, "Yes, can I help you?"

Wayne smiled, "I'm here to meet the superintendent. We're a little early, could I speak with the principal, maybe get a quick tour before the meeting?"

The school's secretary frowned and then asked, "Who should I say is here?"

"Bruce Wayne and this is Selina Kyle." Wayne handed her a black business card with gold lettering.

A few seconds later a brightly smiling principal came out of his office, "Mr. Wayne, it's an honor to meet you sir, and... Selina? Selina Kyle? You were a student here what was it, five years ago now?"

Selina smiled, "Seven years, yes."

The principal looked at Wayne and said, "Did you know that Selina here was our Prom Queen? Selina, dear, we lost touch after you left school, did you ever become an actress? You were so good in the school play."

Selina blushed and shook her head no, "No, I didn't pursue an acting career."

"No, well, things change once we finish college I suppose. Judging from the company you keep and your clothing, you must be very important now." The principal looked at Wayne, "I understand you'd like a little tour? Class is in session until 3, but we can go see a class or two before the chaos of the final bell."

"She is," Wayne said before pausing and saying, "She's very important. You are correct."

"Ah? Yes, then right this way Mr. Wayne, Ms. Kyle." The principal wiped his head with his handkerchief.

They walked through the halls of the school. There was graffiti on the walls, smashed empty lockers no longer being used. Trash was all over the ground everywhere you looked. They passed several classrooms where it sounded like a party was happening with music, laughing and kids yelling and screaming. The principal wiped his brow and said, "Those are the remedial classes..."

Wayne stopped walking, "Can we take a look?" He pointed to a classroom door for the loudest class.

The principal nodded and then walked ahead opening the door only to have a book thrown at him as he did so. "Mr. Valentin! What on Earth is going on in here!" The principal yelled.

Once Wayne entered the room followed by Selina the boys of the class exploded into catcalls and whistles. As if it was their first time seeing a woman. The teacher stared at Selina as if she were a living goddess. Then a murmur started and the boys one by one took their seats and looked down at their desks. A smallish boy at the back of the class was pale and urged those around him to shut up. He was visibly shaking causing all the boys around him to take notice.

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Wayne walked to the back of the class behind the boy in question. He squatted down next to the boy and said in a near whisper, "So, this is your class, huh? You run it, right?"

"No sir, Mr. Wayne. It's Mr. Valentin's class."

Wayne nodded and then said, "Sure it is. What's he teach?"

"Chemistry. This is chemistry, Mr. Wayne."

Wayne stood up and asked him, "Where's your book?"

The boy looked up with a terrified expression, "I forgot it, sir."

Wayne looked around and then saw a kid with a book a couple of desks away, "Let me see yours." Wayne walked over and opened the book which was filled with graffiti that matched what he saw out in the halls. He looked around and saw that almost no one in the class had a book. He looked at the principal and asked, "Why don't they have books?"

"They were issued books..."

Wayne asked one of the kids, "Why don't you have books?"

"Man, they don't give us a locker so we have to carry all our books. Bags aren't allowed so we can't carry them all. We got nowhere to put them at lunch or between classes so we leave them at home." One of the boys answered.

Wayne nodded, "Thanks." He walked back to the smallish kid and squatted down again, "What's good for the adults, is good for kids. Do you understand what I am saying?"

"Yes sir, Mr. Wayne."

Wayne nodded, and then leaned closer to whisper, "This school belongs to me, you understand. I pay the taxes that keep this place nice. I don't appreciate it being dirty and painted to look like a dump." He stood up and then said, "Mr. Valentin if you don't mind I'd like to hear the rest of your lecture."

Wayne walked over and stood next to Selina and the principal. Mr. Valentin was still staring at Selina. "Mr. Valentin?" He asked again seeing that the man did not speak.

The principal wiped the sweat from his brow, "Mr. Valentin?"

The teacher realized they were talking and suddenly broke from the trance. Still trying to look at Selina he said, "I had the children read the textbook for self-study."

Wayne frowned and then looked at the principal who looked as if he had just had to eat a plate of shit. "You didn't notice they don't have the book?" He asked.

Mr. Valentin shrugged, "They don't listen when I talk, so I just have them study. We do a review the three days before the exam that usually allows a few to pass the standardized exam."

Wayne clicked his tongue and made a derisive sound. "Thank you, principal...?"

"Ah, it's Edward Sawfish, Mr. Wayne."

He shook the principal's hand and said, "Thank you principal Sawfish this is just what I needed to see." Wayne led Selina out of the classroom and walked out into the hall.

A pretty red-headed girl came out of the bathroom with a small group of equally pretty girls in tow. She looked shocked and said, "Holy shit, my husband is at my school!"

One of the girls laughed, "Why would Bruce Wayne come here?" They all looked down the hall and saw Selina and Wayne standing with Mr. Sawfish.

"Quick let's get an autograph!" The redhead raced over not waiting to see if the others would come too. "Mr. Wayne, Mr. Wayne! Can I get your autograph, or a selfie, or both?"

Wayne smiled, "Don't I know you? You're Barbara Gordon, aren't you?"

"Oh my god, how do you..." Her eyes got huge.

"We met at my charity event last summer, right? You were with your dad." Wayne smiled.

Selina frowned and moved between them as she noticed the young girl getting too close to Wayne. "Who is this, darling?" Selina asked batting her eyelashes at Wayne.

"This is Commissioner Gordon's daughter, Barbara. Barbara, this is Selina Kyle." He once again allowed Selina to hang onto his elbow.

Barbara Gordon gave Selina a dirty look and said under her breath, "Oh, a gold digger huh?" She spoke loudly, "Nice to meet you. So, can I get that selfie?"

Wayne shook his head, "You should get back to class, we have a meeting to attend."

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