I had a Joker story before this but I deleted it because I wasn't happy with it and didn't see it going anywhere. This one will definately stay up because I have planned far ahead for it. This story won't really be exactly about the Joker but more about the process of Jack Napier turning into the Joker. In the sequel, he will be the full fledged Joker. This story will have romance in it but I'm not sure how much there will be or how fast the romantic relationship will develop. So could you guys give me your preferences about the romantic relationship in the comments? That would help me so, so much. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Joker/ Jack Napier or anything DC related.

...

"Naomi, Courtney was saying that you were checking out the new senior guy. What's that about? He seems pretty weird." Nick laughed, his blue eyes sparkling in amusement as he put his arm around his younger sister.

Naomi pulled away from her brother in annoyance, it was so obvious they were siblings with their light skin, black hair and equally striking blue eyes. "I'm so sick of your criticism, Nicholas. Jack seems like a nice boy, he's quiet but it's probably just because this is his first day at a new school. Cut him some slack."

Nick rolled his eyes as he continued walking towards the school cafeteria with his sister. "Courtney's your best friend, would you listen to her if she called him a freak?"

Naomi bit on the inside of her jaw, her annoyance growing. "No, I wouldn't. For one, she's also your girlfriend. Two, no one knows him so no one should be jumping to conclusions about him and calling him names."

Upon reaching their lunch table, Nick and Naomi sat down in their usual chairs among their group of friends. As soon as Courtney opened her mouth towards Naomi, Naomi cut her off. "If you're going to say anything about the new boy then don't even bother speaking."

Courtney shook her head, "I'm not saying anything bad about him but in crafts today you couldn't take your eyes off him. What is it about him? You haven't even spoken to him but you act so interested with him."

Naomi shrugged as she unzipped her lunch box and pulled out her can of mountain dew. "I don't know, he just seems interesting and he's pretty good looking in my opinion."

Spencer, the slightly chubby boy with blonde hair and green eyes spoke up. "Nick, Jack is a senior, right? Have you had any classes with him?"

Nick nodded as he pulled his lunch money out of his pants pocket. "I've had pre-calculus, chemistry 2, and English 12 with him. I've hardly heard him talk and he always picks a seat as far away from others as he can get."

Tyler, the only other senior at the table leaned forwards, the muscles in his arms becoming obvious. He flipped his brown hair out of his dark eyes before speaking quietly, "Have you guys heard the story about why he's even here?"

Naomi sighed, sitting back in her chair. "You guys are ridiculous."

Nick, Courtney and Spencer all turned their attention to Tyler who resumed talking. "I heard that he brought a knife to school and when he got in a fight with another guy, he threatened him with it. Not only did he threaten him but he almost beat him to death with his fists."

Nick turned his attention to his sister who still had another year of high school to go through. "I want you to stay away from him, Naomi, I mean it."

Naomi scoffed, "Whatever, it's just what people are saying, that doesn't make it true."

Courtney butted in, "I know that it's not too often a guy actually catches your attention. Really though, you should do your best to stay a way from Jack, none of us have a good feeling about him." She took a deep breath. "We're just trying to look out for you because we love you."

Naomi twisted one of the several rings she wore around on her finger, trying not to say anything hurtful to the friends that had been by her side as long as she could remember. "I appreciate your concern but I'm a big girl, I can make my own decisions."

All four of Naomi's friends, her brother included shot her looks of concern. Spencer spoke up, "We're not saying that you can't make your own decisions... We're just saying that hanging around the new boy is probably not a good one."

Naomi didn't respond to Spencer, seeing no point in arguing over something that she wasn't going to change her mind about. The dark haired girl turned her head when she caught a glimpse of Jack out of the corner of her eye. She followed him with her eyes as he sat at an empty table by the window. Naomi averted her eyes from him when Courtney spoke, turning her own head towards where Jack was sitting. "You have got to be kidding me, Naomi, he looks like a thug."

Naomi narrowed her eyes, "No he don't, he just looks beaten down like he has no confidence or much money."

Nick laughed shortly, "So are you gonna go bang him to give him confidence and then also give him your paycheck from work?"

Naomi stood up from her seat and pushed it in roughly, having enough of her brother and their friends. "No, I'm going to go talk to him and there's nothing any of you can do about it."

Disregarding any and all complaints from her friends, Naomi took a deep breath before walking over to the table that the new boy was sitting alone at. She could feel several pairs of eyes on her as she scooted a chair out and sat down across from Jack.

She felt her heart stop momentarily as Jack looked up at her, his dirty blonde hair falling over his right eye as he did so. It was his eyes that had caused her heart to falter- they were such a dark brown that they were black, it was as if they could see right through her, into her soul and uncover everything about her. The looked to have an endless depth to them, a dark abyss.

He didn't didn't say anything, only stared at her which admittedly made Naomi more nervous than it should have. Naomi hesitantly reached her hand out to him in greeting. Luckily, he grasped it in his own and shook it slowly. Naomi smiled at that, "My name's Naomi."

The boy smiled slightly, "I'm Jack."

They let go of each others hands and brought them back into their own personal space. Naomi smiled still, "So why are you sitting by yourself? Surely someone has invited you to sit with them."

Jack shook his head and his smile fell as he looked down at the lunch table. "Nope, believe it or not I definitely did not get any invites. It seems that I will be one of the outcasts at this school too."

Naomi shook her head, "You don't have to be, you can come sit with me and my friends."

Jack smiled tightly as the smile was obviously forced, "That's kind of you but I wouldn't want to ruin any good reputation you might have. If you're seen with me then no one will think anything good of it, they'll judge you."

Naomi didn't hide her confusion. "What? Why would they judge me for being seen with you? I doubt you'd hurt my reputation."

Jack laughed, a harsh laugh that could have made someone jump out of their seats. Naomi could feel people's attention on them now. "They may not judge you at first but they will eventually. You seem like a nice girl, Naomi so just stay away from me and you won't have to find out exactly what I mean."

Naomi shook her head, not about to let the lonely boy shut her out just because of some self-esteem issue. She swallowed almost nervously, "Maybe I don't want to stay away from you, maybe I want to find our exactly what you mean."

Jack met her eyes and just stared for what felt like several minutes. "That would not be a wise idea for you."

Naomi shrugged. "You're just going to have to learn to accept that I'm good at making bad ideas work."

Jack smiled genuinely and shook his head half heartedly, "Suit yourself then."

People walked past the table to go get their lunch but Naomi did not bother to acknowledge her friends when they glanced her way as they walked by. "So, why did you move here? It's like half way through your senior year."

Jack shifted in his seat. "My dad had to move out here because of his job so of course I tagged along with him."

Naomi nodded. "...Your mom?"

"Gone. She left when I was a toddler."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

Jack shook his head. "Don't be."

Naomi nodded and bit down on her bottom lip for a second. "Do you care if I start sitting here with you every day?"

Jack narrowed his eyes in an almost suspicious manner. "Why?"

Naomi looked away awkwardly. "I just want to, I like talking to you."

Jack was silent for a moment. "What about your friends?"

Naomi shrugged, "I see them in class and out of school all the time. I need a break from them anyways, especially at lunch. It annoys me how they're always acting like they're better than ever one else half the time."

Jack nodded once, slowly. "So, you would rather sit with me than them?"

Naomi glanced over at her lunch table to sew her friends talking amongst themselves. Looking back at Jack, she nodded. "I really would."

He licked his lips quickly. "Would you also want to- uh, hang out with me out of school sometime instead of them?"

Naomi nodded, trying to hide a smile but failing as she cast her gaze onto the table. She looked back up at Jack after having got her smile under control. "Yea, I'd really like to hang out with you sometime, what would you like to do?"

Jack shrugged, "Isn't the last football game this Friday?"

Naomi nodded with a smile, "See you at the football game?"

Jack looked past Naomi in the direction of Naomi's friends who were all four staring at them. "Sure, but... Are those your friends staring at us?"

Naomi took a deep breath before turning around to see that the people staring were definitely her friends. Upon her looking at them, they began motioning to her, trying to get her to go over to them. She looked back at Jack to see a blank expression on the boy's face. "Yea, that's them."

He nodded, "You'd better go back to them then, you're obviously wanted."

Naomi glanced back in their direction to see Nick approaching her. She rolled her eyes, turning her attention back to Jack. "I'm sorry, that's my brother I don't know what he wants."

Jack still held a blank expression. "It's ok, I see your friends really approve of me."

Naomi opened her mouth, "Jack, I-"

Nick cut her off, "Come back to our table, we need to talk to you."

Naomi refused, "I'm talking to Jack, I'm sure whatever you guys have to talk to me about can wait."

Nick's expression became stony, his voice sharp. "No, it can't, come to our table NOW so we can talk." When Naomi didn't budge, Nick spoke again. "Don't make me pull you over there."

As Nick reached for Naomi's wrist, Jack stood up suddenly. "She obviously don't want to go with you, don't you even think about laying a hand on her."

Nick raised his eyebrows in amusement. "She's my sister, freak. I'm looking out for her, protecting her from creeps like you. Do you have a problem with that?"

Naomi butted in, "Nick, stop, he didn't do anything, we were just talking."

Neither boy paid her attention, Jack spoke. "I have a problem with you laying a forceful hand on your sister, yes. She don't have to do anything she don't want to."

At the raised voices of the teenage boys, one of the school staff came over to the scene. "Is there a problem here?"

A slow smile spread across Jack's handsome face. "No problem sir, just a misunderstanding."