Tim wasn't really a people person and high school just loved to rub it in his face. He never had been very popular, which he didn't mind at all. Tim would much rather keep to himself, get through the day, and then go straight home. Sure, if someone approached him he'd be friendly and discuss how amazing the weather is for the next thousand years. But if he had the option, he'd prefer to avoid people. Well, most people.

You were the exact opposite of Tim, pretty much the definition of an extrovert. Definitely what people would consider "popular". Tim doesn't think he's met a single person in this school who doesn't adore you. Teachers, classmates- literally everybody. Okay, maybe everybody was a little over the top- but when he overheard people gossip about you it usually involved good things instead of the usual high school drama and slander. Tim sees the way people look at you in the hallways. They either wanted to be you, or be with you. Yet, for some reason unknown reason you insisted on spending time with him of all people. Doing homework together, talking trash about teachers, sharing meals that the lunch ladies passed as "food"- those kinds of things. You'd begged him to skip class with you multiple times, but he'd always the declined. The idea of going off to who knows where with you and a bunch of your friends was not very appeasing. You could afford to skip though. In most of those trashy rom-coms the popular ones are always stupid and ignorant, but you were quite the opposite. Somehow you managed to pull off being popular and exceptionally smart.

Unlike this idiot. Tim glances up at Cody with an unimpressed eyebrow raise as the jerk attempts to insult him. He was just your run of the mill jock; dumb, obsessed with girls and football, having the need to reciprocate hurt just because his dad thinks he's a failure- yikes, okay.. probably too far, Tim. Cody lets out an annoying laugh, slamming his burly hands against the lunch table where Tim was sitting and minding his own business.

"Where'd you get that lunch box, rich boy? Gucci?"

Some of Cody's idiotic football minions snicker. Tim doesn't even blink, staring indifferently at the jock and taking a casual bite of his apple.

"Good one. You need anything else or are you late for remedial spelling?"

He tilts his head slightly, the corners of his lips twitching upward as he chews on the fruit. Cody lets out a gasp, like he'd never been insulted before. Tim was definitely smarter, but Cody was bigger. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to piss him off. It wasn't that Tim couldn't easily take him down, he could, but he wouldn't want to risk blowing his cover in such a public area. A spoiled Wayne adoptee shouldn't have the combat skills of Karate Kid or be able to incapacitate a person in less than five seconds.

"You little-"

Cody grabs Tim by the collar, but before he can land a punch- Tim hears a familiar voice cut through tense air like a knife. Your voice. It was like someone just started singing after years of hearing nails on a chalkboard.

"Excuse me, Cody- I was actually sitting here."

Tim watches as you slide into the seat across from him with that sweet smile plastered on your face. It looked a little forced this time, like you might actually be annoyed with the jock's behavior. Tim wasn't sure if it was because one of his minions had elbowed him in the side, the fact that you could ruin his whole reputation with a few lies and conversations or even that maybe he just fell for that extrovert, friendly thing like everyone else- but he lets Tim's collar go. He gives you a greeting, shoots Tim a dirty look, and then stalks off with his goons. Tim glances back towards you after a moment, scratching the back of his neck and grinning sheepishly.

"Hi. Thanks."