章節 47: Royal Homecoming Rivalry
The next morning, Gotham Prep was alive with chatter and excitement as students filled the halls,Maggie trudged toward her locker, her eyelids heavy and her body sore from the previous night. Between the grueling training session and staying up late to finish her college applications, she felt like a barely functioning zombie.
She fiddled with the lock, stifling a yawn as the morning announcements crackled over the PA system. She barely registered the usual reminders and sports updates until the voice on the speaker shifted to something new.
"…and now, the nominees for this year's Homecoming King and Queen…"
Maggie froze, mid-reach for her books. Her friends had been buzzing about the nominations for weeks, but she hadn't paid much attention. Still, the announcement caught her ear, mostly because Emily and Stephanie had been relentless about hyping it up.
"…Alexis Kaye and Kyle Daniels…"
Maggie rolled her eyes, unsurprised. Of course Alexis would be on the list. She was practically Gotham Prep royalty—beautiful and vicious. Maggie had been on the receiving end of her sharp tongue more times than she cared to count.
"…Maggie Wayne and Jason Todd…"
Her hand stopped, the words sinking in slowly, almost too slowly. She blinked and turned toward the speaker, certain she must have misheard. But the sudden eruption of whispers and stares from the students around her confirmed it.
"What the fuck?" she muttered under her breath.
Emily and Stephanie appeared almost out of thin air, both of them beaming as if Christmas had come early. "Maggie!" Emily squealed, grabbing her arm. "Did you hear that? You and Jason are nominated for Homecoming Queen and King! This is amazing!"
Maggie stared at her, still processing. "Wait… Are you serious?"
"Dead serious," Stephanie said, practically bouncing. "You're *officially* on the ballot. This is huge!"
Maggie frowned, her mind racing. "I didn't even know I was in the running."
"Because you don't pay attention," Stephanie said, rolling her eyes. "But people love you, Maggie. And you and Jason? Cutest couple around."
Maggie opened her mouth to argue, but Emily jumped in first. "Also, Alexis is going to *lose her mind* when she realizes you're her competition. She's been bragging all week about how she's a shoo-in for Queen."
The mention of Alexis made Maggie's stomach twist. The thought of going up against her—especially for something as public as Homecoming—was the last thing she wanted. "Great," she muttered, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "This is exactly what I need."
Before she could dwell on it further, Jason appeared, weaving through the crowd with his usual casual swagger. He raised an eyebrow at the commotion around Maggie's locker. "What's going on?" he asked, looking between Maggie and her friends.
Maggie sighed, closing her locker with more force than necessary. "Apparently, we've been nominated for Homecoming King and Queen."
Jason blinked, his expression shifting from confusion to amusement in an instant. "You're kidding."
"I wish I was," Maggie said, crossing her arms. "And guess who else is nominated? Alexis."
Jason let out a low whistle, leaning against the locker beside her. "Well, this just got interesting."
Emily grinned. "Right? Maggie versus Alexis for Queen? This is going to be legendary."
"Legendary isn't the word I'd use," Maggie muttered, her tone flat.
Jason smirked, his gaze flicking between Maggie and her friends. "So, how are we handling this, Mags? You want to go full campaign mode? Posters? Slogans? Maybe bribe the lunch staff for votes?"
Maggie shot him a withering look. "Don't even."
"Why not?" Jason teased, clearly enjoying her discomfort. "I mean, if we're going to be nominated, we might as well win, right?"
Stephanie clapped her hands together. "See? Jason gets it!"
Maggie groaned, burying her face in her hands. "This is a nightmare."
"It's not that bad," Jason said, his tone softening slightly. "Besides, it'll drive Alexis crazy, and that's always a bonus."
Maggie peeked out from between her fingers, her expression skeptical. "You really think this is a good idea?"
Jason shrugged, his grin turning mischievous. "I think we should own it."
Maggie sighed, reluctantly.
Emily and Stephanie squealed with excitement, practically bouncing on their heels. "We have to make posters!" Emily exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Something bold, something fun. Oh! Maybe something like, 'Vote Maggie and Jason: The Dream Team!'"
Stephanie gasped, clapping her hands together. "Yes! Or, 'Maggie Wayne: The Queen Gotham Prep Deserves!' It's perfect."
Maggie groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You guys are seriously going to make posters?"
"Of course we are!" Emily said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "This is huge, Maggie. We can't just sit back and let Alexis and Kyle sweep the votes without a fight."
Stephanie nodded fervently. "Yeah, Alexis already has her army of minions hyping her up. You need us to level the playing field."
Maggie rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "I don't even want to be Homecoming Queen. This whole thing is so pointless."
Emily grabbed Maggie's shoulders, staring at her with wide, pleading eyes. "Maggie! If Alexis wins, we're never going to hear the end of it. You'd be doing the entire school a favor by taking her down."
"Well, well, well," Alexis's voice rang out, dripping with mock sweetness. "If it isn't Gotham Prep's newest charity case and her cheer squad."
Maggie sighed, reluctantly turning to face Alexis, who was flanked by her usual entourage. Alexis stood with her arms crossed, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against her elbow. Her icy blue eyes scanned Maggie and her friends, landing on Jason for a moment before smirking.
"Oh, look, Jason's here too," Alexis added with a saccharine smile. "How cute. Is this a *strategy meeting* for your little Homecoming campaign?"
Maggie's jaw tightened, and she forced herself to keep calm. "We were just talking. Not that it's any of your business."
Alexis gave a light, fake laugh, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. "Oh, but it is. See, you and Jason getting nominated? That's hilarious. I mean, you didn't even try, and somehow your names ended up on the ballot. It's almost insulting to the people who actually care."
Stephanie bristled, stepping forward. "Insulting? You mean to you, right? Because you thought you had this in the bag?"
Alexis's smile faltered for a fraction of a second, but she quickly recovered. "Don't be ridiculous," she said, her tone sharp. "Kyle and I are the obvious choice. We're basically already royalty around here."
Maggie couldn't help it—a small laugh slipped out. "Royalty? Is that what you call terrorizing half the school population ?"
Alexis's friends gasped theatrically, but Alexis didn't flinch. Instead, her smile turned icy. "Careful, Maggie. You wouldn't want people to think you're bitter about being out of your league."
Jason, who had been leaning casually against the lockers, straightened, his expression darkening. "Out of her league?" he said, his voice low and steady. "Maggie's in a league of her own. You should be worried about keeping up."
Alexis's smirk faltered again, and this time it didn't recover as quickly. "Oh, please," she snapped. "You really think she stands a chance? This whole nomination thing is just a joke. Everyone knows who's going to win."
Emily jumped in, her voice cutting through the tension. "You're right, Alexis. Everyone *does* know who's going to win—and it's not you."
The hallway filled with murmurs from nearby students, many of whom were now watching the exchange with keen interest. Alexis's cheeks flushed slightly as she glanced around, her confident facade beginning to crack.
"We'll see about that," Alexis said through gritted teeth. She turned to Maggie, her glare sharp enough to cut. "Good luck, Wayne. Todd...You're going to need it."
With that, Alexis spun on her heel, her friends scrambling to follow her as she stalked down the hallway.
Emily clapped her hands together. "That was amazing! Did you see her face when Jason called her out? She looked like she was about to explode!"
Maggie shook her head, still processing. "I wasn't trying to start anything."
Stephanie waved her off. "Doesn't matter. You stood your ground, and now she knows you're not going to roll over. This is war, Maggie. Glitter, posters, balloons—everything. We're going all in."
Jason chuckled, nudging Maggie. "You heard them, Mags. Looks like you've got yourself a campaign team."
Maggie groaned, running a hand through her hair. "Why do I feel like this is going to be a disaster?"
Jason smirked, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Because this is Gotham, Mags. Disaster is basically the city motto." Before Maggie could roll her eyes, he suddenly bent down and scooped her up into his arms as if she weighed nothing.
"Jason!" Maggie shrieked, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck. "Put me down!"
"Not a chance," Jason said with a wicked grin. "I'm personally escorting the future Homecoming Queen to her classroom."
Students in the hallway stopped to stare, some whispering, some laughing, and a few pulling out their phones. Maggie's face turned beet red as she glanced around. "Jason, I'm serious. Put me down! Everyone's *watching!*"
"Good," Jason said cheerfully, striding down the hallway with exaggerated confidence. "Let them witness my chivalry. You deserve to be carried in style, Your Majesty."
Maggie groaned, hiding her face against his shoulder. "You're so embarrassing."
"Embarrassing? Or unforgettable?" Jason quipped, his smirk widening.
By the time they reached her classroom, Maggie could barely keep her head up from the sheer mortification. Jason finally set her down right outside the door, but not before giving her a quick kiss on the forehead. "There you go, Mags. Safe and sound."
Maggie swatted his chest, her cheeks still burning. "You're impossible."
Jason laughed, stepping back and giving her a mock bow. "All in a day's work. Now go rule your kingdom, Queen Maggie."
As he strolled off, still grinning like he'd won the lottery, Maggie caught a glimpse of a few of her classmates gawking at the scene. She groaned, brushing her hair out of her face as she slipped into her seat.
As Maggie sat down in her classroom, still recovering from Jason's antics, the whispers and giggles around her refused to die down. A couple of classmates gave her teasing looks, and one leaned over with a knowing grin.
"So, Queen Maggie," a girl named Claire whispered, "do you guys always make such an entrance, or was that just for us?"
Maggie rolled her eyes, pulling out her notebook. "Don't start, Claire."
"I mean, it's kind of cute," Claire said, still grinning. "Annoying as hell, but cute."
Maggie didn't bother responding, choosing to focus on her notebook instead. She had just started jotting down some notes when her phone buzzed in her pocket. Sneaking a quick glance, she saw a text from Jason.
**Jason:** *So how's my Queen doing? Still mad I carried you?*
Maggie shook her head, typing back quickly.
**Maggie:** *Still mortified. You're lucky I haven't filed for a restraining order.*
**Jason:** *Restraining order? Nah.*
**Jason:** *P.S. Alexis walked by smirking like she just won the lottery. She's probably plotting our downfall as we speak.*
Maggie frowned, her fingers hesitating over the keyboard. Alexis *would* take something as trivial as Homecoming Queen as a personal war. She sighed, putting her phone away.
At lunch, Maggie met up with Emily and Stephanie at their usual table. As soon as she sat down, Stephanie launched into a tirade.
"Did you see Alexis's *post?*" she asked, shoving her phone in Maggie's face.
Maggie squinted at the screen, where Alexis had posted a picture of herself with Kyle, both of them looking like they'd just stepped off a magazine cover. The caption read: *"Some people are meant to wear the crown. Others? Well…Not. 💋 #Royalty #HomecomingGoals."*
Emily groaned. "She's insufferable. She's already acting like she's won."
Stephanie nodded, her face flushed with indignation. "We *have* to come up with something to knock her down a peg. Maybe a campaign video? Or we could make some amazing posters—"
"Guys," Maggie interrupted, holding up her hands. "We don't need to turn this into some epic battle. It's just Homecoming."
Emily raised an eyebrow. "*Just* Homecoming? Maggie, this isn't about the title. This is about standing up to Alexis. She's been a nightmare for years."
Stephanie nodded vigorously. "Exactly. Plus, it's not like we're going to let her trash-talk you and Jason without fighting back."
Maggie sighed, leaning back in her chair. As much as she hated drama, they weren't wrong. Alexis had spent years making Maggie's life miserable, and seeing her smug face plastered all over social media was enough to spark a flicker of competitive fire in her chest.
"Fine," Maggie said reluctantly. "But no glitter bombs or obnoxious posters with my face on them."
Stephanie and Emily exchanged mischievous grins. "We'll see about that," Stephanie said, already jotting notes down in her planner.
After school, Maggie headed to her locker, only to find Jason leaning casually against it, his backpack slung over one shoulder. He greeted her with his usual smirk.
"So, how'd your day go?" he asked.
"About as well as you'd expect," Maggie replied, opening her locker. "Everyone's either teasing me or treating me like I'm suddenly in some reality show competition."
Jason chuckled. "Welcome to high school politics. It's brutal."
She glanced at him, narrowing her eyes. "Speaking of brutal, Alexis is already gloating online. Emily and Stephanie are determined to fight back."
Jason's smirk faded slightly, and he straightened. "Alexis is messing with you again?"
"Not directly," Maggie said, shrugging. "Just her usual backhanded nonsense. It's fine."
Jason's expression darkened. "She needs to back off."
Maggie placed a hand on his arm, giving him a reassuring smile. "It's not a big deal, Jay. I can handle Alexis."
Jason's gaze softened, but the protective glint in his eyes didn't fade entirely. "Yeah, I know you can. But she's still a bitch."
Maggie shut her locker, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Anyway, I'm ready to head home. Let's just hope Emily and Stephanie haven't gone full campaign manager by the time I check my phone."
Jason grinned, falling into step beside her. "You know they have. You might as well start practicing your acceptance speech."
Maggie laughed, shaking her head. " No speeches."
As they walked out of the school together, Maggie couldn't help but feel a strange mix of dread and anticipation. The Homecoming drama was far from over. As Jason navigated the streets of Gotham, the low hum of the car's engine filled the silence. Maggie stared out the window, her phone in her lap, the day's events still swirling in her mind. Finally, she unlocked her phone and opened a group chat with Barbara and Dick.
Maggie: You guys won't believe this. Jason and I got nominated for Homecoming King and Queen.
A response came almost instantly. It was Dick.
Dick: Wait, what?! The two of you? As in you AND Jason?
Maggie smirked, typing back.
Maggie: Yes, both of us. Somehow the school thought this was a good idea.
Barbara chimed in next.
Barbara: "Somehow"? Please. You two are practically Gotham Prep's "it" couple.
Maggie groaned and shook her head, muttering, "Not you too, Babs."
Jason glanced over at her. "What's that look for?"
"Dick and Barbara are weighing in," Maggie replied. "Babs just called us the 'it' couple."
Jason grinned. "Smart woman."
Maggie rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips as she turned back to her phone.
Maggie: We are NOT the 'it' couple. Also, Alexis is one of the other nominees.
Dick's response came with a string of laughing emojis.
Dick: Oh, this is gonna be good. How's she handling the competition?
Maggie: About as well as you'd expect. She's already gloating and acting like she's got it in the bag.
Barbara: Classic Alexis. So, what's the plan? Are you going to let Emily and Stephanie go full campaign mode?
Maggie sighed.
Maggie: I don't really care about this whole thing, but Emily and Stephanie are taking it seriously. They're already planning posters.
Dick: Let them. Plus, I'm imagining Jason in a crown, and it's hilarious.
Maggie pocketed her phone, shaking her head. "They're ridiculous."
"That's why you love 'em," Jason said with a grin as he parked the car.
Maggie couldn't argue with that. As Maggie stepped through the doors of Wayne Manor, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out to see a text from Emily, accompanied by a picture of one of the posters her friends had made. The design was colorful and loud, with bold letters reading: "Vote Maggie and Jason for Homecoming! A Team You Can Believe In!"
Maggie groaned softly, holding up her phone to show Jason. "They're really doing this."
Jason chuckled, leaning in to look. "You've gotta admit, it's not bad. They're definitely committed."
Before Maggie could respond, her phone buzzed again—this time, in rapid succession. Jason's phone chimed at nearly the same moment. She frowned, glancing down as a new message came through in her group chat with Emily and Stephanie.
Stephanie: You guys need to see this. Maggie tapped the link Stephanie had sent, and her heart sank as the page loaded. It led to a social media post from none other than Alexis. She read the caption, her stomach twisting with anger:
"Jason Todd: Your Homecoming King? Really? Maybe Gotham Prep should ask why he has a sealed juvenile record. Is this who we want representing our school? #KnowYourKing #TransparencyMatters"
Below the caption was a image of what appeared to be Jason's sealed juvenile record, partially redacted but still revealing enough to spark rumors. The bold, glaring words "Juvenile Detention Facility" jumped out from the page, and beneath them was a bulleted list of Jason's alleged offenses during his years living in the Narrows:
Petty Theft: Multiple counts .
Breaking and Entering: Multiple counts.
Possession of Stolen Property: Multiple counts.
Assault: Multiple counts.
Auto Thrift: Multiple counts.
Trespassing: Multiple counts.
Vandalism: Multiple counts.
While the document lacked any context, it painted an incriminating picture for anyone unfamiliar with Jason. Maggie's grip on her phone tightened as her anger flared.
Jason's hands trembled slightly as he scrolled through the post. His jaw clenched, and a mix of anger and hurt flashed across his eyes.
"Are you seeing this?" Maggie asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yeah," he replied tersely, his gaze fixed on the screen. "I see it."
They both began scrolling through the comments beneath the post, each one hitting harder than the last.
@GothamGirl89: "A sealed record? Yikes. Maybe Alexis is onto something. Can't believe he's even at Gotham Prep."
@TruthSeeker77: "This is the guy Maggie Wayne's dating? Guess money can't buy taste."
@Justice4Gotham: "Wait, how does Alexis even have access to this? Isn't that, like, illegal? #ShadyQueen"
@KyleRules22: "Jason Todd? More like Jason Fraud."
@GothamPrepGal: "Wow, didn't know we had a criminal running for Homecoming King."
@EliteGotham: "Is this true? How did he even get into our school?"
@AlexisFan99: "Good job, Alexis! We deserve to know who we're voting for."
Maggie's anger flared as she read the cruel remarks. "This is disgusting."
Jason let out a bitter laugh. "It's not like they needed much convincing. I never really fit in here anyway."
"Don't say that," Maggie insisted, her eyes pleading. "You belong here just as much as anyone else."
He shook his head, slipping his phone back into his pocket. "It doesn't matter."
Maggie reached out and grabbed his hand. "No, we're not letting her get away with this. We can go to the school administration, tell them what she did."
Jason sighed, his shoulders slumping. "And what? They'll give her a slap on the wrist? She's untouchable—rich parents, good grades."
"And leaking sealed juvenile records has to violate some kind of policy—or even laws."
Before Jason could reply, Alfred's calm, familiar voice. "I do hate to intrude," he said, standing a few steps away with his usual impeccable poise, "but Master Bruce has requested both of you meet him in the study. It seems the matter at hand is, shall we say, gaining traction."
Maggie sighed, rubbing her temple. "Of course it is."
Jason shot Alfred a look, his smirk attempting to mask the tension in his posture. "Great timing, Alfie."
"Thank you, Master Jason," Alfred replied with a slight bow of his head, entirely unbothered by the sarcasm. "Now, if you'd kindly join Master Bruce, I believe he's handling calls related to… certain unfortunate developments."
Jason muttered under his breath, "Yeah, I bet he is."
Maggie touched Jason's arm gently. "Come on."
With Alfred leading the way, they made their way to Bruce's study. The heavy door was slightly ajar, and they could already hear Bruce's low, commanding voice inside, clipped with frustration.
"…yes, I understand the seriousness of the leak," Bruce was saying into the phone as they stepped in. He stood behind his desk, his face impassive but his eyes sharp with irritation. "No, I don't care about the politics of a high school. What I care about is the unlawful release of sealed juvenile records. Handle it."
He hung up with a decisive click, his focus shifting immediately to Jason and Maggie. "I'm glad you're here," he said, gesturing for them to take a seat. "This has already escalated faster than I anticipated."
Maggie took a seat, her fingers gripping the armrests. "What's the fallout so far?"
Bruce leaned on the edge of his desk, his jaw tight. "I've already received calls from the school administration and legal counsel. They're scrambling to figure out how this happened, but Alexis's post is spreading fast. It's not just students talking about it anymore—it's reaching local forums, and if we're not careful, the media might pick it up."
Jason's fists clenched at his sides. "So what are they doing about it? Are they actually going to hold her accountable?"
"They're investigating," Bruce said evenly, though his tone carried an edge of skepticism.
"she leaked sealed records. That's illegal... right?"
Bruce nodded. "And that's where we'll have leverage. I've already set the legal wheels in motion. If Alexis or anyone close to her accessed those records improperly, we'll find out."
Jason scoffed. "Great."
We'll strategize a response, but it has to be calculated. No impulsive moves." Bruce said.
Jason glanced at Maggie, his lips twitching into a faint smirk. "Good thing I've got her to keep me in line."
Maggie squeezed his hand, rolling her eyes with a smile. "Damn right."
In the meantime, both of you keep your heads down at school. If Alexis makes another move, let me know immediately." Bruce said.
They nodded in unison, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on them as they left the study. Jason exhaled sharply once they were back in the hallway. "Well, that went about as expected."
Maggie slid her arm through his, resting her head briefly against his shoulder as they walked.
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