By The Icehole

(Front cover. We see Cissie dressed in her school uniform. On one side, her mother has a firm grip on her left arm, and is trying to pull her away from Principal Foster, who has a firm grip on her right arm. Frank the agent is with Bonnie, and Traya is with Principal Foster.)

Foster: She is a ward of the state!

Bonnie: She’s my daughter!

(Page 1, panel 1. Splash panel. Leave room for credits here. The dorm room of Cissie King-Jones. She is sitting on a chair, reading a book. She is dressed in her school uniform. The book she is reading is Little Women.)

Cap (N1): For Cissie King-Jones, life has never been easy.

Cap (N2): She has been the heroine Arrowette.

Cap (N3): She won a gold medal in Sydney for her country.

Cap (N4): But the problem she faces isn’t something she can shoot down with an arrow.

Cap (N5): However, she has been given respite, and now tries to catch up on her required reading.

(Panel 2. Cissie continues to read.)

Cap (C): I think I have it now. You know, I can sympathize with these characters.

(Page 2, panel 1. We see only the face of a very angry Bonnie King-Jones shouting at someone.)

Bonnie: What in the #@*% do you think you’re doing!?

(Panel 2. Pull back to see that Bonnie is in the office of Principal Foster, confronting the principal. Both of them are dressed in nice dresses. They stand on opposite sides of the desk. Foster is in a defensive position, with her arms folded across her chest; Bonnie is in full attack mode, rabidly hammering away with her words. Frank the agent stands near Bonnie. He is in a suit and tie.)

Foster: Ms. King-Jones, you have attempted to wrestle control of your daughter from the state. I had no alternative. The court order states you must stay away from your daughter.

Bonnie: But she’s my daughter! I have a right to see her!

(Panel 3. Foster waves a finger at Bonnie, keeping her other arm crossed in front of her.)

Foster: Your daughter would not be here if you were a competent parent. Ms. King-Jones, I have your daughter’s best interests at heart. Her grades are slipping even lower than they already are since you butted in and tried to make your daughter a supermodel and an actress. I’m afraid that she’s going to have to restrict her career as a model to the summer.

Bonnie: (Rabidly) You are one sick witch! This is a gold mine we have here! Cissie can make millions! She’ll bring prestige and positive attention to this place!

(Panel 4. Foster puts her hands on her desk, leaning forward.)

Foster: Not if she flunks out! Ms. King-Jones, your daughter may earn a lot of money as a supermodel, but that scene does not last – in four years, she’ll be a has-been and your boy-toy agent there will be looking for another client!

Bonnie: Frank is not my boyfriend and I think you just don’t want to see me bonding with my daughter!

(Page 3, panel 1. Foster and Bonnie are face-to-face.)

Foster: We have standards of quality here, Ms. King-Jones… and if your daughter doesn’t improve her grades soon, she’s going to fail. I don’t want to keep her back a year. That will certainly not look good in the eyes of anyone who wants her to endorse their products.

(Panel 2. The two have a standoff. Panel 3. Bonnie grits her teeth at Principal Foster.)

Bonnie: You interfering witch! This is far from over! I have a lawyer too, you know….

Foster: Fine. We’ll continue this in court.

(Panel 4. Bonnie storms out of the place.)

Bonnie: Come on, Frank… we’re going to get this settled in court.

(Page 4, panel 1. The next day, at Young Justice headquarters. Impulse briefs the rest of the team about what has happened.)

Robin: This turn of events sounds like something that would only happen in a bad comic book.

Superboy: I believe it was Mark Twain who first said "Truth is stranger than fiction."

Impulse: I can’t explain it all, either. I just know that my daughter is still up there trying to convince Cissie to return being Arrowette again.

(Panel 2. Robin thinks.)

Robin: There’s got to be something we can do here. I think we should pay Cissie a visit.

(Panel 3. Go back to Bonnie and Frank. Bonnie has anger written all over her as she and Frank walk away. The two of them are in a stairwell, climbing the stairs.)

Frank: Don't worry, Bonnie. The injunction only affects you, not me. I'll get all the messages to Cissie.

Bonnie: (stewing) I can't believe she'd do this to me. I should have had a chance to defend myself!

(Panel 4. Bonnie stops as Frank goes on.)

Frank: I'll be back soon.

Bonnie: A girl needs her mother. I'm her role model, fer crissakes!

(Page 5, panel 1. Cissie's room. Cissie is finishing the book Little Women.)

Cap (N): And so…

Cissie's thoughts: Whew! Finally done with this. Man, I need a break.

(Panel 2. There is a knock on the door.)

SFX: Knock knock!

(Panel 3. Cissie answers the door to see Frank there.)

Cissie: Frank?

Frank: Cissie! Good to see you again! Have we got some good news for you!

(Panel 4. Cissie rolls her eyes.)

Cissie: Whatever my mother wants, I don't want it. Go away.

Frank: But Cissie! We've got a date for you.

(Page 6, panel 1. Cissie's face is written with exasperation.)

Cissie: But I'm already dating Impulse! I don't want to date someone else!

Frank: C'mon! Dating a superhero is so 1990's! Now, I got you a date with a real star – Justin Thomas.

(Panel 2. Cissie is surprised and wide-eyed at this.)

Cissie: The Justin Thomas?

Frank: The lead singer of 360 degrees himself. He said he saw you on Wendy the Werewolf Slayer and has been eager to meet you ever since.

(Panel 3. Still stunned, Cissie is taken aback.)

Cissie: Well, I don't know… I… I'll have to think on it.

Frank: Well, think fast, because it's set for this Saturday night.

(Panel 4.)

Cissie: Saturday? Well… I'll do it.

Frank: Wonderful! Justin will be here about 7ish. Be ready then, o.k.?

(Page 7, panel 1. Frank exits.)

Frank: Well, I'd better get back to managing your career. We'll meal sometime, o.k.? See ya!

(Panel 2. Traya enters to see a stunned Cissie there.)

Traya: Cissie? What's wrong?

Cissie: I don't believe it… I have a date with Justin Thomas.

(Panel 3. Traya smiles, holding up a "thumb's up" gesture.)

Traya: All right! Way to go Cis! He's really handsome.

Cissie: Yea, I know… but I can't help wonder if I'm making a mistake.

(Panel 4. The house of Justin Thomas. He is lounging around, talking on a cellular phone. He wears a bathrobe and shorts.)

Cap (N): Later on…

Justin: Hey! Whassup?

(Panel 5. Justin continues to talk.)

Justin: You got me King-Jones? Kewl! Well, gotta motor…

(Panel 6. Justin hangs up the phone.)

Justin: I wonder if she's naturally blonde? Well, I'll find out Saturday….

(Page 8, panel 1. That Saturday. Cissie is dressed in a pleasant red dress, similar to the one she wore in Impulse #41 or thereabouts. We see her fixing her earring while staring into a mirror. Nearby, Traya is sitting in a chair. Traya is dressed in her school uniform.)

Cap (N): That Saturday, Cissie King-Jones prepares for her date with Justin Thomas…

Cap (C1): Got to look my best…

Cap (C2): I really feel bad about this, though.

Cap (C3): I mean, what would Bart think if he found out I went out on a date with someone else?

(Panel 2. Cissie checks herself over in the mirror.)

Cissie: Traya, how do I look?

Traya: You look good, Cissie. Man, I wish I was the one going out with Justin.

(Panel 3. Cissie turns around to Traya.)

Cissie: You know, I can't help but feel that I'm cheating on Bart. I really don’t feel comfortable doing this.

Traya: Come on! A chance with a superstar like this comes once in a lifetime! You should go for it.

(Panel 4. Traya pulls out a teen oriented magazine. On the cover it shows Superboy embracing Wonder Girl.)

Traya: Did you see the latest issue of Young and Proud? Cassie and K'on are on the cover!

Cissie: Huh?

(Panel 5. Cissie takes the magazine, and reads it.)

Cissie: (reading) Young Justice members Superboy and Wonder Girl were seen embracing each other a few days ago near Gotham City. Judging by the photo, the two look very happy. The experts comment that it was natural that both of them would gravitate toward each other – after all, he was voted most desirable male teen last year, and she was voted most desirable female teen last year. Hmm…

(Page 9, panel 1. Cissie gives the magazine back to Traya.)

Cissie: Yea whatever.

(Panel 2. There is a knock on the door.)

Cissie: Now what? If it's more bad news, I'm going to go ballistic.

(Panel 3. Cissie opens the door to see the members of Young Justice there.)

Cissie: Whatever you want, I want nothing to do with it.

Robin: Cis, calm down. We don't want anything from you. We're here to help you out.

Impulse: We know the events of the last few days have been really difficult on you, and we're here for you.

(Panel 4.Cissie breathes a sigh of relief.)

Cissie: Thanks guys. Why don't you come on in, I'll fill you in on what's happened to me since then.

(Page 10, panel 1. Focus on Impulse's angered and panic-stricken face.)

Cap (N): And so…

Impulse: YOU'RE GOING TO DO WHAT!?

(Panel 2. Go to a general perspective. The members of Young Justice are sitting around with Cissie in her room. Traya is there as well.)

Cissie: Believe me, Bart, this wasn't my idea. I'm being coerced into going on this date.

Impulse: I thought we had something special here, Cis… why didn't you say no?

(Panel 3. Cissie takes Impulse's hand.)

Cissie: We do, Bart. I really love you, not him. I've never me him before. My agent said that I had to do this… Believe me, I never wanted to hurt you, but I thought it would be better to hear my side before it happened.

Impulse: I don't know what to think anymore.

Superboy: Ah, those boy-groups are all here today, gone tomorrow. Superheroes, now we're around for a long time.

(Panel 4. Robin intervenes in the situation.)

Robin: I understand how you feel, Cis. We're still behind you.

Traya: You forgot the best part. The school got a court order against your mother, and she has to stay 500 feet away from you.

(Panel 5. Wonder Girl grimaces at this.)

Wonder Girl: Right. Like that's going to stop her.

Cissie: Well, so far, she hasn't broken it.

(Panel 6. The YJ members have beepers go off.)

SFX: Beep! Beep! Beep!

Robin: Sorry Cis. Duty calls…

Cissie: I understand. Have fun!

(Page 11, panel 1. That Saturday, Cissie gets ready for the date. She is dressed in a modest blouse and a pair of blue jeans, along with some shoes and target earrings. She looks herself over in the mirror.)

Cap (N1): Saturday night comes,

Cap (N2): and Cissie prepares for the date.

Cap (C1): This has disaster written all over it.

Cap (C2): I don't know why I agreed to this.

(Panel 2. Traya enters. She is dressed in the school uniform.)

Traya: Well, today's the big day! All ready?

Cissie: (nervous) I don't know, Traya. I still feel like I'm making a mistake doing this. I want to say "I want to be friends."

(Panel 3. Traya approaches Cissie.)

Traya: If he's the typical teenage male, he'll get angry, but eventually he'll understand.

(Panel 4. There is a knock at the door.)

SFX: Knock! Knock!

Cissie: That's him. I hope this works out…

(Page 12, panel 1. Cissie answers the door to see Justin Thomas there. He is a typical boy-band lead singer, dressed in a moderately nice shirt and blue jeans. He holds up a single red rose for Cissie.)

Justin: (Singing) Where is that lovely young lady/ Who has shot an arrow through my heart? I'm hoping that maybe/ We never will again part…

Cissie: Oh, thank you…

(Panel 2. Cissie takes the rose.)

Cissie: I just finished getting ready.

Justin: Well then, let's go.

(Panel 3. Cissie and Justin go off together.)

Cissie: Curfew is at 10. I have to be back by then.

Justin: I'll have you back in plenty of time.

Justin's thoughts: Give or take a few days…

(Panel 4. They continue to walk out the building. Cissie now is thinking of a picture of Justin crying, with a picture of a broken heart over him.)

Justin: I must say, you look a lot better in life than you do on television.

Cissie: Thank you.

Justin's thoughts: She's eating this up.

(Panel 5. Now outside, Justin opens the car door for Cissie.)

Justin: After you, mademoiselle.

Cissie: Thank you.

Cap (C): This is not easy… I know he's going to be hurt.

(Panel 6. Cissie and Justin are riding around in his sportscar.)

Justin: You'll love tonight. I've got a lot in store for you.

(Page 13, panel 1. Justin and Cissie are at a fancy restaurant, sitting at a cozy table for two.)

Cissie: So tell me about yourself.

Justin: Not much to tell. Most of my time is spent in the band rehearsing. I rarely get nights off like this.

(Panel 2.)

Cissie: I know what you mean. On top of schoolwork, I have to suffer endless requests for product endorsements, guest appearances on shows, and the like.

Justin: Yea, I saw you on Wendy the Werewolf Slayer.

(Panel 3. Later on, Cissie and Justin are riding around in Justin's sportscar. It is past sunset now.)

Cap (N): Later still…

Justin: We've got some fun in store now! 

(Panel 3. Justin stops his sports car beneath several large oak trees.)

Justin: Well, here we are…

Cissie: Yea.

(Panel 4. Justin turns to face Cissie. His body posture is one of an attempt to convince Cissie to do something for him.)

Justin: So you ever done it before?

Cissie: Been kissed? Oh yea, several times.

(Panel 5. Justin smiles slightly.)

Justin: No no, not that…

Cissie: (confused) What are you talking about?

(Page 14, panel 1. Justin stares Cissie straight in the eye. A look of shock, terror and confusion is splattered all over Cissie.)

Justin: Look babe, put out or get out. I don't date frigid women.

Cissie: (Shocked) You want me to do what!? Are you out of your mind!?

(Panel 2. Justin stares coldly at Cissie as she turns away from him. Cissie also crosses her arms over her chest in a defensive maneuver, wearing a sour expression.)

Cissie: I'd like to go home now. 

Justin: You want to go home now, then get out and walk.

(Panel 3. Cissie, shocked, hurt, and angered, turns back to Justin.)

Cissie: I can't believe you! Both of us are under 18! You have some nerve dragging me out to the middle of nowhere just so you can make me another one of your "conquests!"

Justin: Get out and walk, bimbo. This date is over.

(Panel 4. Justin reaches over, and opens Cissie's door.)

Justin: Out. Now.

Cissie: Take me home now.

(Panel 5. Justin pushes Cissie out of the car.)

Cissie: HEY!

SFX: Whump!

(Page 15, panel 1. Justin starts the car up, and drives off. Cissie reaches out for Justin.)

Cissie: You can't just leave me here!

Justin: Get lost, witch.

(Panel 2. Cissie strikes the ground with her fist.)

Cissie: I knew this was a bad idea. I don't think I've had a worse date in my life. 

(Panel 3. Cissie stands up, and brushes herself off.)

Cissie: I think I saw a telephone a few miles back…

(Panel 4. Cissie starts walking.)

Cissie: If I get my hands on Justin, I'm gonna make Lorena Bobbitt look friendly to her ex.

(Panel 5. Go back to Justin. He is driving down the road, talking on a cellular phone on the same time.)

Cap (N): Poetic justice in action.

Justin: God, she was a prude! Can you believe that? A hot babe like that and she's as cold as ice! I'm going out to the local scene and see if I can find me a babe to bang. 

(Page 16, panel 1. Justin, not looking where he's going, continues to talk on the phone.)

Justin: Whadaya mean I should have waited? Come on, I know she could have been a good bang! (Panel 2. Justin continues to drive, talk, and not look where he's going.)

Justin: I can’t believe a babe wouldn't want to get it on with me.

(Panel 3. Justin runs his car off the road and into a tree.)

SFX: CRASH!

(Panel 4. We see Justin sitting in his seat, hurt. He has several cuts on himself, and has lost the cellular phone he was holding. He appears to be pinned in the car.)

Justin: Uh… damn…

(Panel 5. Cissie enters, walking up to Justin.)

Cissie: Well, isn't this an interesting turn of events.

Justin: Oh no….

(Page 17, panel 1. Cissie finds the cellular phone Justin has dropped.)

Cissie: I suppose I could just leave you here…

Justin: Aw, man…

(Panel 2. Cissie picks up the phone, and dials.)

Justin: Okay, okay! I'm sorry I asked you to put out.

(Panel 3. Cissie talks on the cellular phone.)

Cissie: 911? I'd like to report an accident here. Seems that my date decided to run his car into a tree.

(Panel 4.)

Cissie: Oh, I'm fine. He's stuck in the car though. You'd better send an ambulance. We're on Route 25 just east of route 46.

(Panel 5.)

Cissie: (1) My name? Cissie King-Jones.

Cissie: (2) Yes, I'm that Cissie King-Jones.

(Page 18, panel 1. Cissie continues to talk on the cellular phone.)

Cissie: Wounded? Yea, he looks like he's hurt. I don't think I could get to the wounds, though.

(Panel 2. Cissie hangs up the phone.)

Cissie: Just sit tight, they'll have an ambulance out in about 20 minutes.

Justin: Wh-why did you call 911?

(Panel 3. Cissie smiles sinisterly.)

Cissie: Well, what are you going to say to your parents when they find out about this? I'm pretty sure it's going to be splattered all over every paper tomorrow.

Justin: Uh-oh. I never thought of that…

(Panel 4. Cissie sits down on the car, in a part that isn't mangled or broken.)

Cissie: You know, I have a friend who is prone to acting without thinking… he had to learn the hard way too.

(Page 19, panel 1. Later on, the ambulance has arrived, and Justin is being put on the gurney in the background. Nearby, Cissie is talking to a policeman who is holding a notepad and pen, ready to write down what she says.)

Policeman: Just how did this accident happen?

Cissie: I'm not really sure. You see, he threw me out of the car because I wouldn't have sex with him. While I was walking back to town, I came across him like this. I did hear a crash, though.

(Panel 2. The policeman writes down what Cissie is saying.)

Policeman: And when you found him, did you call 911 immediately?

Cissie: Yea. Although I was sorely tempted to wait awhile…

(Panel 3. The policeman lowers his notepad and pen.)

Policeman: Well, we're going to take you back home, Ms. King-Jones.

Cissie: Thanks, officer.

(Panel 4. The policeman gestures to his car.)

Policeman: So where do you live?

Cissie: At Marion Ross Hall in the school.

(Page 20, panel 1. Late that night, Cissie arrives back at the school. She is greeted by an older young woman wearing a school uniform.)

Woman: Nice of you to come back to us, Ms. King-Jones.

Cissie: I've had a very bad night, you have the policeman explain it. I just want to go to sleep.

(Panel 2. Cissie walks off as the woman is stunned.)

Woman: Policeman!?

Policeman: (From off panel) The car she was riding in was involved in an accident.

(Panel 3. Later on, Cissie is talking to Frank. We see only Cissie's angry face.)

Cap (N): Several days later…

Cissie: Don't ever set me up on a date again!!

(Panel 4.Frank is taken aback by this.)

Frank: Well, how was I supposed to know what would happen?

Cissie: I did some research on this. I found out he's dumped several women out on backroads because they wouldn't make love to him! You could have warned me!

(Panel 5. Frank nervously stares around the room as Cissie presses her attack.)

Cissie: And another thing, you didn't even ask me first! Next time, ASK ME!!

Frank: Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time…

(Page 21, panel 1. Outside the dorm room, the members of Young Justice are lounging around. Quickshot is with them.)

Impulse: Man, she's really tearing into him…

Superboy: Makes me glad she's your girlfriend and not mine.

(Panel 2. Wonder Girl rolls her eyes.)

Wonder Girl: K'on…

Superboy: (Taken aback, 1) Oh, don't get me wrong, I understand what she's feeling. I've heard all the stories all before.

Superboy: (2, quietly) Though I can't say I blame him for wanting that from her… but it wasn't right for him to ask for it on the first date.

(Panel 3. Wonder Girl sighs, assuming a defensive posture.)

Wonder Girl: You are impossible.

Superboy: Aw, relax, Cass. You know I would never ask that from you until we were married.

(Panel 3. Enter Bonnie King-Jones.)

Bonnie: Is Cissie in? I want to see her.

Robin: The courts said stay away, Ms. King-Jones.

(Panel 4. Bonnie is face-to-face with Robin.)

Bonnie: I' m seeing my daughter whether you like it or not. Now get out of my way.

(Page 22, panel 1. Robin points a finger at Bonnie. Behind him, the shadow of Batman appears.)

Robin: I said stay put.

Bonnie: (angry) Who do you think you are, ordering me around like that, you brat! I demand to see my daughter!

(Panel 2. Bonnie pushes Robin aside. There is a look of shock over Robin’s face.)

Bonnie: I’m seeing my daughter whether you like it or not!

(Panel 3. Empress concentrates and her eyes glow.)

Empress: This has gone on far enough. Stop right where you are.

(Panel 4. Bonnie stops dead in her tracks.)

Bonnie: She's my daughter. I demand to see her.

Empress: She'll see you when you decide to stop controlling her life.

(Page 23, panel 1. Cissie opens the door.) 

Cissie: It's all right, gang. Go ahead and let her in.

(Panel 2. Everyone enters the room. Frank and Traya are there as well. Cissie is holding a coat in her hands.)

Cissie: Everyone is pulling me in opposite directions now. Be a model, be a heroine, be something else…

(Panel 3. Cissie goes over to the closet.)

Cissie: This is not a decision I have taken lightly. It's my life, and I really want to be in control of it all.

(Panel 4. Cissie opens the closet door, and puts the jacket in there.)

Cissie: Well, I've decided what I want to do now…

 If you want Cissie to be a heroine again, click this.

If you want Cissie to be a model, click this.

If you want Cissie to wait until she's 18, click this.

If you want Cissie to be something else entirely, click here.