chapter three: exceeding expectations
song: lush life by zara larsson
— ✘ —

"Do you think you'll be fine, sweetheart?" Paula Crock asked for what Artemis thought was the millionth time this morning.
She nodded in response, adjusting her skirt again.

"I promise, mom." She assured as they finally reached the high school.
"Are you sure?" her mother repeated, "If not, I can go in there with you if you like-"

"Mom, I'm fine." Artemis quickly replied, fetching her bag from the back.
Her mother gave her another quick look before taking a deep breath and gripping her daughter's shoulders.

"..Alright, but if anything bad happens just text me or your dad, alright?" She said hesitantly, "I know you miss Star City, and we do too. I know it's gonna take some time to adjust but.."

"Mom, we're holding up the car line."

"...Maybe we should park, I should go with you inside to make sure we find you a guide to help you around and-"

"Mom, it's okay!" Artemis giggled, pecking her worried mom's cheek and opening the passenger door.
This felt embarrassing for Artemis since the fact her parents always panicked about their daughter 'growing up too fast' when the first day of school happened.

Her parents panicked too much that it mainly led to her uncle Oliver being the voice of responsibility and taking her to school instead.

"If anything happens, I promise on my heart to text you. My lunch is around 12:00ish, so I will make sure to immediately contact you."

Paula Crock soon sighed in defeat, kissing her daughter's forehead.
"Fine," she smiled, "but I better see that text around 12."

"Will do. See you later, mom! Love you!" Artemis replied, getting out of the white car.

"Have a good day at school sweetie!" Her mother quickly yelled back before hearing the car behind her honk and began driving away.

As Artemis watched the car line begin to diminish and the yellow school buses begin to file in, she gulped nervously.

Usually, she would have her school friends already waiting for her near the school sign waving her over.

But this wasn't Star City.

This was Gotham.

Artemis originally wanted to go to Gotham North High School, but her mother immediately declined her choice for the sake of her safety.

Now, she was at Justice High.

And she needed to get a grip on herself.

Gripping onto her white backpack, she walked slowly towards the double doors and soon found herself inside the packed hallway.

From left and right were cliques, friends reuniting, students piling in, lockers opening and slamming shut, and janitors trying to sweep up new messes created.

Artemis managed to squeeze her way through the large crowd with quiet phrases such as "Excuse me!" and "Sorry!" through the packed entrance, trying to find the main office.
Fortunately for her, she immediately caught a glance at the large "MAIN OFFICE" sign and rushed inside the small doorway.

Entering quickly, the secretary immediately glanced at her.

"And who are you, dear?" The older woman asked, pushing up her glasses.

"Oh.. Me?" Artemis asked for re clarification.

"Yes, dear, you." She told the nervous girl.

"Right! Uh.. I'm Artemis Crock.. The new eleventh grader I think?"

The office secretary gave her a long pause to study her face before turning to shuffle the papers in her desk.

"Right. Ms. Crock, is it?" The woman asked, pulling out a slip of yellow paper. Artemis immediately gave her a positive smile and a nod.

"Good. This is your schedule, hon. Since you're a new student I'll call on one of our student guides to help you the entire first week. That alright?"

Well, that's good. Artemis is going to freak out if she's by herself to face this alone.

"Sounds nice. Thank you."

"You're welcome, hon." The lady answered, picking up a large black office phone and holding it to her ear.
"Hi, Mr. Wayne? Front desk speaking. Please send Ms. Zatara immediately, I assigned her a student in her grade."

This guide of hers is also a junior? That's pretty relieving in an honest opinion.

The office secretary soon quickly put down the phone and told Artemis with a polite smile, "Your student guide is on her way."

Artemis nodded as the lady also gestured her to go ahead and sit down on one of the benches in the office.

Just as Artemis was about to place her butt down, she soon saw a medium-sized teenage girl with a "STUDENT GUIDE" sash run inside.

"Ah, Ms. Zatara!" The secretary exclaimed outloud, causing Artemis to immediately stand back up properly.

"Hi!" The guide replied cheerily with a huge smile.

Oh god, she's one of those girls.
But Artemis likes those types of people.

As the new girl approached the desk once more, the secretary already took it in her hands to introduce each other.

"Artemis Crock, this is Zatanna Zatara, your student guide. Zatanna Zatara, this is Artemis Crock, the student you're guiding today."

Zatanna clapped her hands in delight as Artemis raised an eyebrow at her.
"Wonderful!" She exclaimed, "Wanna get started?"

Artemis nodded.

"Great, come on then!" Zatanna told her, excitement still intact as she pushed the both of them out of the office.

"You're pretty excited to guide someone." Artemis told her with a smile, clutching her bag.
Zatanna simply smiled at the response, tucking an extra hair strand behind her ear.

"I assure you that I will be the coolest tour guide you've ever had for the rest of your life." She grinned, "And if you don't like the tour, I have a few tricks up my sleeve."

"I trust your judgement, but do you have the yelp reviews as proof?" The new girl joked to her enthusiastic guide, causing a wide fit of giggles between the two.

"Unfortunately, I don't! But let me see that locker number of yours to start things off, cause obviously you'll need a place to keep your books and all."

Artemis quickly handed Zatanna the smaller slip of paper as the guide took a quick glance at it before smiling and leading her back into the flood of students.

"Your locker is actually right next to mine! I'm locker 292, and you're 294!" She exclaimed as Artemis watched the guide shove a student out of the way.
When Zatanna turned to look at Artemis, the girl only smiled and defended herself with a, "We're running behind a little."

Zatanna soon showed the skeptical blonde a row of dark blue lockers pointing at two specific numbers.

"This is my locker?" Artemis asked, pointing at 294. The guide nodded. "My locker is on the left of you, so we'll be locker buddies the entire year!" Zatanna cheerily smiled, "Now, you know how to open a locker, right?"

She nodded, opening the combination in front of the guide and successfully hearing a click from the blue locker. "Glad you do," Zatanna joked, "It takes so many new kids at least 10 or 20 minutes to take a Locker Opening 101 Tutorial with me."

Artemis giggled at the comment before being able to open the locker at ease, making Zatanna do a happy squeal.

"Oh good! You're one of the smart ones. Once we visit the library and grab your text books, you can stash it in whenever. I promise, that part is the easiest."

Artemis nodded. "Any questions while we're on our way?" Zatanna asked.

The blonde thought of one for a moment
"Yeah, where can I get first day friends?" Artemis laughed, which made Zatanna smile even brighter.

"Well, I, for once, can be your first day friend. Ill even take the spot of your best friend with all the gossip. All the time." The guide giggled.

"Then that settles it, friends?" Artemis said, still laughing at this hilarious interaction and the fun she was having.

"Of course, Artemis! And look, we're here! Ready?"

Artemis nodded in approval.
For she was excited for what was to come.
— ✘ —