Chapter 1

Veronica Hale was just sixteen when she first met Jonathan Crane. She was a new student, transferring late into his first period class. Jonathan was a tall, thin, and sickly pale child back then, when everyone had bullied him. He heard the teacher's voice to pay attention as he introduced the new student to the class. Jonathan could care less; but the lonesome side of him was hopeful. He sighed and gazed up to see a young girl with light brown hair and light, possibly mint green eyes and petite with a her guard up based on her body language. Her head was down as she clutched her hands together. Something about the way she was gasping her delicate, thin fingers was perplexing; as if it was to comfort herself.

"Ah, Veronica Hale isn't it?" The teacher, Mr. Ford, started. The girl, Veronica, nodded. Mr. Ford smiled at her, "Good, why don't you sit in the back, next to Mr. Crane," He said, pointing to the back of the room, where Jonathan was. She let out a shakily sigh and nodded, proceeding to the back of the room. She took a seat next to Jonathan, who took a glance at her. She was pretty, he denounced. If he didn't already have a crush on Sherry Squires, then maybe he would make attempts to get to know her. He sighed mentally, remembering that Sherry was with Bo Griggs, his tormentor. His eyes flickered towards the new girl and saw her staring down at her notebook, seemingly bored. He was tempted to make sme sort of a conversation with her, but he stopped when some of his classmates whispering among themselves.

"Can't believe that she's forced to sit next to that Crane kid!" "Yeah, he's such a freak!" "I feel sorry for her already..." And there it was. Even without doing anything, they were already planting ideas in her mind. Veronica remained unfazed, as if she wasn't even listening to them. She merely glanced up at the clock hanging above the door, waiting for this period to end. The bell rung Jonathan gathered his material and looked to see that Veronica was the first to leave the classroom. As if staying in this room would be the end of her.

Veronica hastily exited the classroom and headed to her next class, which was a free period. From what she saw from her first period, they were all ignoramus infidels. It was mean for what they said about the boy she was sitting next to, he was different from what she heard. But what was wrong with that? She asked herself. Since she had free period, Veronica headed to the library. She loved books just as much as she loved her instruments. Upon entering the library, she saw no one in sight. Perfect.

Jonathan decided to head to the library, he prefer not to be in the presence of any of his classmates. Especially since he had recently recovered from the beatings his tormentors gave him. The library was vacant as usual, he sighed in contempt and walked inside, setting aside his bag. All was silence until he heard the sound a violin stings. He was perplexed at first. There should be no one in the library. Curious, he followed the sound of the violin strings and turned around the corner to see Veronica sitting on a chair as she played the viola. Jonathan leaned against the shelf listening to her play. It was, strangely, peaceful, Jonathan closed his eyes. The music came to abrupt stop, making him open his eyes as she stared at him. He leaned off of the shelf and stared back at her.

"Hi," He said, awkwardly. She nodded at him, not saying anything, "Uh, I heard you playing, it was nice..." He said. She smiled softly and turned away to hide the small blush. She then gaze back at him. He had messy, dark brown hair, the bangs slightly covering his icy blue eyes that were hidden behind a pair of black framed glasses. His clothes were significantly worn out as there were patches that covered the holes in his pants and sweater vest. There was a fresh bruise on his left cheek. Did someone punch him? She thought, knowing that he didn't had that bruise before.

"Thank you," She replied. Her voice was soft and soothing. He was surprised to hear how quiet her voice was.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, "Don't you have class?"

"Don't you?" She retorted. He swore that he could hear a slight sass in her quiet voice.

"I rather not..." He trailed off, trying to find the right words, "...Be near my classmates at the moment..."

"I see..." She nodded in understanding. It was quite obvious that he was being bullied, why by the whispers she heard in class and that bruise confirmed it all, "What's your name?" She asked.

"Uh, Jonathan, Jonathan Crane..."He trailed off, "What about you?"

"Veronica Hale," She replied. There was a small silence before Jonathan broke it.

"You didn't really answered my question," He said, "About why you're here..."

"I have free period, I finished most of my major classes except for a few," She replied, she continued to stare at him; specifically his bruise, "Are you alright?" She asked, "I would get that bruise treated if I were you..." Jonathan immediately placed a hand on the bruise he had received and looked away.

"It's nothing," He denied.

"It certainly does not look like nothing," She said, now standing up, adjusting her bag as she made her way towards him, "Here, why don't we head to the nurse's office to get you treated."

"I'm fine," He sighed, stubbornly. Veronica merely shook her head.

"Obviously you're not," She then, although hesitantly, grasp his wrist and tugged him along to follow her. Jonathan stopped as he pulled out of her grasp.

"I said I'm fine!" He snapped, Veronica just gave him a hard stare before retorting.

"Oh yes, so you say, but that atrocious bruise says otherwise," She grasped his wrist once again and lead him to the nurse. Jonathan scowled at her, but reluctantly followed after the girl. They reached the nurse's office and saw a kind, elderly woman sitting in the corner of the room, reviewing over some paper.

"Uh, miss," Veronica started, the nurse gazed over to see Veronica and Jonathan at the door. She was about to greet the girl but noticed Jonathan with his nasty bruise.

"Oh, not again Jonathan!" She sighed and went over to him. Veronica gave the nurse a quizzical expression.

"This isn't the first time?" She questioned Jonathan, but he remained silent.

"Unfortunately, dear, no," The nurse replied, "Thank you for being him in, miss..."

"Hale. Veronica Hale," She said, "I just started today..." She replied.

"I see," The nurse nodded, "You can both take a seat over there, I'll be there in a minute," Veronica nodded and took a seat next to Jonathan.

"You know you didn't have to stay here," He muttered softly, "This is a daily thing for me."

"Well then maybe we should change that..." She replied. Jonathan gave her puzzled expression.

"'We'?" He asked.

"From the way I see it, you have no friends and neither do I, it's only logical that I stick with someone I'm already aquatinted," She said and gave him a sideward glance, "Besides, I kinda like you," She said. Jonathan looked at her, mildly surprise. Jonathan remained silent as he adjusted his glasses. Veronica saw that he was taken a back by her words as she saw him try to hide behind his glasses. He had the typical cute, nerd look though there were some acne and scars prominent on his face. She giggled to herself. Cute, she thought. He was adorable looking in her mind. Although sickly pale, she didn't mind. Jonathan flickered his blue eyes towards her, taking in features. Although he hated to admit it, she was defiantly prettier and cuter than Sherry Squires he thought to himself, she had the innocent, smart, violinist girl vibe in comparison to Sherry's preppy, cheerleader one. It was quite...refreshing to Jonathan. The bell for next period rung, snapping him from his thoughts. Veronica stood.

"I have to head to my next class now," She said. Jonathan looked back down at his hands, clutching his slightly teared pants, "Maybe I'll see you at lunch," She added and grabbed her bag before leaving. Jonathan watched after her as she left the nurse's office. Maybe today's wasn't so bad as he thought.

So first Jonathan Crane fic, not really sure if this is good enough for all of you. In my mind I had this little head canon that a young Jonathan is slightly awkward around girls and is the type to get his hopes when he sees a new student but that's but me. The first couple of chapters will show how they got together and then follow the events of Batman Begins/ The Dark Knight and I apologize for any mistakes.