Chapter 2: Phone Call
It was late one night, probably around 2 a.m. Harley guessed, almost in the outskirts of Gotham. She was in one of her favorite hideouts, a rundown movie theater known only to her and Mr. J, where they came to be alone from time to time. Harley sat on the couch mindlessly watching some boring TV show while distressing over the man she loved, the most fearsome criminal mastermind in all of Gotham, her puddin, The Joker. She could tell her eyes were bright red and her eyelids were dropping, she was so tired but she couldn't fall asleep, not with Mr. J still out there.
He had left for a heist set up with Batman hours ago. She remembered that he had been so happy he almost forgot his keys.
"It's gonna be a great night!" he sang in his usual sing-song voice. His face was bursting with happiness and his curved up in his famous smile that radiated just how excited he was for the night. He was dressed in his usual tailored purple suit with a green shirt and orange vest, not to mention his favorite green tie and trick flower no doubt full of lethal joker venom.
"What's your plan puddin?" she asked with sincere intent.
"That's a surprise, pumpkin." He stated with enthusiasm behind his voice. If she had a million dollars she would bet that he was going to burst with excitement right then and there, but who knew for sure. Mr. J could be happy one minute and then turn to violently cutting your throat open in the next. That's one thing that was so fun about him, being near him was like being in a horror movie full of suspense, with the viewer sitting on the edge of their seat waiting for what was about to happen, jumping out of their seat with popcorn flying everywhere when that next scene finally came.
"Ahh can't I come too?" she asked a little disappointment flashing in her face.
"Maybe next time, pooh." he said while pulling her close by her pigtail. "Unfortunately it's a one man job tonight."
"Yeah I know but..." she started but was interpreted."No buts, now I really must be going sweets. I don't want to be late! You know how Bats gets when that happens!" He chuckled and started for the door.
"Ok... but please just don't forget to call me, just so I know you're alright, ok puddin?" She replied with a hint of hesitation.
"What have I said about telling me what to do?" he hissed. "I know, I know, I'm just a stupid waste of space that has no right to even stand in the shadow of a smart and gorgeous being such as you, let alone tell you what to do." She stated as quickly as she could. She didn't want to upset him while he was in such a good mood.
"And don't you forget it." He said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice and a slight smile as he turned the doorknob to leave.
"Puddin…" he turned to face her one more time."Please..." she continued staring at him with big puppy dog eyes.
"Oh all right." He said in a hushed tone. It was like if the paparazzi were close by and he couldn't have them hear that he, The Joker, the most feared criminal mastermind in all of Gotham, was being sweet to his girlfriend.
It had been hours since he left and there hadn't been a single phone call. It was taking all her determination to not jump from the couch and stand next to the phone waiting for Mr. J's theme song ringtone to start playing, signaling that he had remembered something so small yet so meaningful to her.
After what seemed like hours, but was actually only a few minutes Harley decided she finally had enough. "Screw him! I am going to bed!" she shouted to no one in particular. She turned off the TV, grabbed a pillow and blanket from the closet and lay down on the couch.
It wasn't until the moment she had finally closed her eyes and felt herself drifting off that she heard the upbeat tune of the ringing phone. She ripped off her blanket and dived headfirst over the couch to where the phone was sitting. Picking it up, she took a calming deep breath and said "Hello?"