This one's a long one, children. So grab your blankets, get comfy on the floor, and enjoy ;)
The next month and half seemed to fly by quickly. Willow had finally nailed down acting as though she was on the right track, though deep down she wasn't so sure she was acting. She no longer tossed and turned at night, thinking of Joker. She no longer deeply analyzed the night he had left her. She simply had accepted that Joker was a random man, and nobody in the world would ever understand why he did the things that he did, and drew the conclusion that it was for this reason that he had left her that night. Obviously he didn't want her, so why should she waste her time wanting him?
She showered everyday, and she couldn't ever explain in words how amazing it felt to finally feel... clean again. Whenever she talked to her doctor or Jonathan, all she could do was finger strands of her hair, and run them through the long, wavy brown locks, and even toss it behind her shoulder. While she loved the feeling, she still missed the scent of her fruity and tropical shampoos. Unknowingly to her, these somewhat stunning actions always left Jon and even her doctor speechless. But while she continued to stay clean and request new clothes, she still couldn't bring herself to eat normally. The food was just too disgusting, and she honestly didn't have an appetite. But once her doctor and some of the nurses realized all the progress she was making even without eating, they left the issue alone, making sure to at least ask her everyday if she would like anything.
Her doctor was stunned at how much progress she had made. It almost seemed as though she had woken up one day a new woman, which he found odd. But as she opened up and talked to him about not only Joker, but even some of her childhood, he didn't question it, and tried to help her as best as he could. Though to Willow it seemed all he did was sit there and nod, and express the occasional 'mhmm' every now and again, it felt good to finally just talk, out loud about her life, and she was glad he didn't really respond too much. She now verbalized her somewhat uncaring emotions towards the Joker, and told him how she was ready to move on with her life. She even told him about her uncle and the whole story behind that. Dr. Hiram had finally given up on asking Willow questions about Joker's operation, especially when he saw how well she was moving on. So rather, he paid close attention to the stories behind her uncle, unable to believe what a creep he was towards her. But to this he told her how that was the kind of person Joker was attracted to; someone who was broken, who was corruptible. This would have once set Willow off in a rage of tears, but now she realized he was actually somewhat correct with his theory.
Now Willow sat at the chess table, staring at the TV. In just one week she would finally be released, and she eagerly drummed her fingers on the table. She was proud of herself for all the progress she had made, and while she felt as though she was somewhat over Joker, she couldn't help but still think of him occasionally. It was only natural to her at this point. The truth was she had literally nowhere to go once she was released, and she spent a lot of time thinking about what she was going to do. Ninety percent of her figured Joker wouldn't come looking for her, and it made her slightly nervous to realize she was completely on her own now...
The door behind her opened, and Jonathan now sat down in front of her. Willow watched him as he situated himself in his chair, and he cleared his throat as he peered at her from over the ridge of his glasses.
"So you get out in one week," he stated somewhat blandly. "Excited?"
"Yeah," Willow said as she rubbed her palms over her thighs. "I'm kind of... scared though."
"Why?" Jonathan asked as he cocked an eyebrow. He seemed awfully calm and in somewhat of a bad mood, but Willow figured he was just tired.
"I don't know," she said. "Because I'm just going to be... alone, you know? Like I have to start over with nothing."
"That's good though," he said. "It's an opportunity for you to become the person you've always wanted to be."
Willow wanted to be excited over his statement, but she only frowned slightly and looked down. At this point she really didn't know who she was anymore, and she didn't know who she wanted to become.
"And you'll at least have a roof over your head," he said. "See, what they do is rent you some tiny apartment," he explained. "They pay the first month or two of your rent, and they get you a job somewhere, usually as a grocery-bagger or cart collector, something very mediocre. But it's a good start, and you can only build off from there, I suppose..."
"Really?" Willow asked. "I didn't know they did that..."
"Well, they do if you tell them you have no family around, a family that they could do an extensive background check on, anyway. Which... I'm guessing... you don't..."
"Yeah," Willow said as she raised her eyebrows before she forced a smile. "But it's probably better that way."
"Where are your parents?" Jonathan asked as he cocked his head to the side.
"Well," she said. "I don't know... my mom left when I was really, really little, and after my dad left me at my uncles, he just sort of disappeared."
"Have you ever looked into hiring an investigator to find them?"
Willow wrinkled her nose in disgust. "No," she said. "I couldn't afford that, and obviously they don't care to see me. Why should I care to see them?"
Jonathan shrugged and looked away for a moment before he cleared his throat, and an uneasy silence fell between them for a moment.
"Well, just be careful," Jonathan warned somewhat wholeheartedly as he looked at her now. He removed his glasses and used his shirt to clean off the left lens, moving his thumb and index finger in small circles. "Gotham's a pretty dangerous city, and now you don't have Joker to, well, I guess you could say 'protect' you anymore."
Willow nodded as she remained silent.
–
Joker audibly sighed as he opened the door to Line of Jewels. Music blared as he scanned all the stages, his eyes wandering lazily over all the dancers. Nothing seemed to catch his interest, and he made his way passed the tables and headed through the curtain of the private room. A few people stopped and nervously stared, but he ignored them and started up the stairs towards Joey's office.
The door was shut, as always, and Joker left three heavy knocks on the dark wooden door. He waited as he stared at the gold colored handle, before he heard it rattle and the door opened. Joey paused from behind the door, and he rose an eyebrow as he stared at Joker, Joker absentmindedly staring back.
"Um, hey?" Joey half asked as he opened the door more. "Whats... up?"
Joker opened his mouth to speak, but his breath hitched in his throat. Suddenly he wasn't so sure why he had come. He had just been in his apartment, idly watching TV as Loc blasted some sort of music from below him, making Joker realize how badly he wanted to get out of the house.
"I was uh... bored?" Joker asked, and Joey laughed at this and he stepped aside to let his friend inside.
"Obviously," he mumbled once his laughter had died down. He closed his door behind him. "You want a drink?"
"Sure," Joker said in a flat voice.
Naturally Joey reached for his favorite rum, and he poured himself and Joker half a small glass after he put ice in them.
"How have things... been?" He asked as he handed Joker his glass, Joker instantly taking a large sip from it. Joker shrugged as he nodded his head, moving it side to side.
"Fine," he answered, feeling somewhat awkward, but he shrugged the feeling off, though he couldn't help but still wonder why, exactly, he had come. He knew Joey assumed that he came to talk about Willow, which, on the surface, hadn't been Joker's intentions. But now he had gotten himself stuck.
Joey cleared his throat as he leaned against his desk, leaving Joker to walk over to the couch, where he set his glass down before he shrugged of his coat, keeping his gloves on, and he placed it carefully on the couch.
"So... Willow gets out in a week, right?" Joey asked as casually as he could.
"Does she?" Joker asked in a bit of a louder voice as he picked up his glass. "I uh, haven't been keeping track."
This was probably the biggest lie he had told in a while. Despite him trying to convince himself he didn't care, he had always kept track of her time in Arkham in the back of his mind since day one.
"Yeah," Joey said. "This coming Thursday." He took another sip as he watched his friend lean against the arm of the couch, idly swishing around his drink in his glass as he stared at it. Joey nodded his head to the faint beat of the music he could hear below them, until finally he couldn't hold his question in any longer. "What are you going to do when she's out?"
Joker slowly raised his eyes up to him and glared, before he lowered them back down. He growled slightly, and Joey knew he had somewhat upset him with the question, but he had to know. He could also tell how bothered Joker had been. Granted he hadn't seen him in person over the passed few months, there was absolutely no coverage of Joker on the news. Only outdated comments on the bridge innocent and Willow being shut away in Arkham, and the incident leading up to it, as well as her court cases.
"Nothing," Joker finally forced himself to say, and he cleared his throat, now cursing to himself in his head for how that sounded; so forced, so... untrue. It angered him to realize how hard he had to try to sound uninterested, and he got even more angry at himself for realizing that he had to try.
"Really?" Joey asked as he lowered his head, frowning. "You and I both know that's not true, bro."
"What am I supposed to do, Joey?" Joker finally said as he raised his free hand to the air before he let his drop down to hit his side. "I can't just... just go find her." He leaned over and stared at Joey in the eye as he held his hand out to side as if making a point. "I don't want to. I don't want her around me."
"Can I be honest with you?" Joey asked somewhat randomly as he set his drink down.
"No," Joker said flatly as he took another sip of his drink.
"Okay, well," Joey went on anyway. "I have a question first..."
Joker rolled his eyes as he took an ice cube into his mouth, and he nosily bit down on it.
"Why can't you just... be honest with yourself?" Joey asked as he crossed his arms, his leather pants shining in the light next to him. "You're already chaotic life would go smoother if you were."
Joker raised his eyes to him and wrinkled his nose as he frowned.
"What exactly do you mean, Joseph?"
Joey frowned at him. "Dude, it's obvious. And you know it."
"I don't know what your talking about..." Joker started as he looked away. Joey rolled his eyes now as he sighed in an irritated manner.
"Man, you miss her." Joey swallowed, nervous as to what Joker would do upon hearing these words, but Jack had to hear it. It was painfully obvious, and he couldn't stand to see his friend deny it any longer.
"Miss her?" Joker asked as he narrowed his eyes at him, and he leaned forward as he took a step towards Joey. Joey held his ground, his arms still crossed, and he nodded once. Joker sighed loudly to himself, and he couldn't help but grin slightly as he shook his head, picturing himself strangling Joey for even thinking that.
"See what I mean about not being honest with yourself? Jack, you know it, I know it. Fuck, even Gotham knows it!"
Joker remained quiet as he looked at his friend who had uncrossed his arms and leaned forward now.
"You haven't done anything in the passed three months. And that's incredibly odd for you, and you know that. There's only been two reported people missing, one found dead, which I'll assume was you, but for what reason? To keep yourself busy? You'll kill me for saying this, but admit it. You felt something for that girl, man. And I'm not talking about strong dislike, it was something more. So of course you're going to pathetically mope around your damn apartment, Jack, and that's really unlike you. You fucking left her dude, just laying there," Joey recalled from what he had heard on the news from a police officer that had been on the scene. "When she needed you the most, you left her. And obviously you do feel something for her, otherwise you wouldn't be so deep in regret right now. Just fucking accept this and move on."
With that Joey leaned back against the desk and crossed his arms, and he watched Joker's still frame before he grinned slightly and rolled his eyes towards the ceiling.
"Okay," Joker finally admitted, feeling lightheaded. "You caught me," he said in a raspy voice, feeling almost slightly embarrassed. "I regret what I did. And I don't fucking regret things, Joey, you know that." Joker sighed as he shook his head. "But what am I supposed to do, hmm? Go- go find her? And do what? Apologize? Am I supposed to break down in front of her, get on my knees and beg her forgiveness?"
Joey swallowed nervously as he switched his weight from side to side before he sat all the way now on his desk.
"It doesn't matter," Joker said as he turned his back to him as he threw his hand back as if tossing something away. "The damn lunatics there have already brainwashed her," he guessed. "It's a lost cause."
"You don't know that," Joey said. "Willow's not an idiot, and man I saw the way she'd look at you. And..." he started to laugh as he shook his head. "The things she'd say about you to the other chicks. Like a fucking little girl with a crush, man."
Joker raised an eyebrow, but kept his back turned to Joey.
"Always saying how you weren't that bad of a guy when alone, and that you were actually sort of..." Joey giggled again. "Sweet?"
Now Joker tightly closed his eyes as he breathed out of his nose. She did not say that, he thought to himself. How could she? But he took a deep breath, deciding that maybe this was good for his... chances. And if he ever saw her again, he'd have to have a little talk about her terrible choice of words to describe him. He did not need the word 'sweet' to be listed under his reputation. Joey could sense how annoyed Joker was as he continued to laugh.
"No one believed her, dude," he assured, his eyes squinted as he laughed. "And no one ever will. Though obviously now..."
"Shut up," Joker commanded as he slowly turned around. He licked his lips slowly before he bit down on both of his scars. "I do not care for Willow, and I do not like Willow," he started. "And I will never, ever admit that I feel something for her," he forced himself to say through gritted teeth. "But..." he started up again, "this gets out to no one," he warned as he finally looked at Joey once he had taken a step closer to him. "I'm not above killing a friend," he added with a clownly grin, and Joey just grinned back, proud of himself for being right and making The Joker realize it.
"Secret's safe with me," Joey said truthfully. Joker glared at him a moment longer before he growled.
"Whatever happens, happens," he continued now. "I'm not going to waste my time with finding her, because for the most part... I don't want to. In fact, the further away she is from me, the better."
Joey continued to smirk at him as he nodded.
"She was... distracting, Joey, you don't understand... and wipe that damn smirk off your face!" Joker commanded again, and Joey only grinned wider, holding back the roar of laughter he wanted to let out. Joker shook his head as he mumbled something to himself about Joey being an idiot and an asshole as he went about collecting his coat.
"I mean it," Joker said once he put his coat on and he had reached the door. "Not. A. Word."
And with that he tossed open the door and let it slam behind him, Joey listening to him pound his feet heavily down the stairs. Joey continued to grin as he finished off the last of the rum in his glass, knowing he was the only person in the world right now who knew, and would ever know, Joker's deep, dark secret...
–
At long last the day had arrived. Willow's last week had gone painfully slow, and it felt as though more time had passed her by in a week than it ever had a month. She now stood in the front building of Arkham in one of the main reception areas, and she crossed her arms, trying to somewhat hide her appearance. She was clad in the clothes she had worn the night of blowing the bridges: black tank top, black, ripped stripper shorts, and those damn flip flops. She felt embarrassed and somewhat uneasy about wearing them, but it wasn't like she had a choice, and this made her doctor upset, since he had spent so much time trying to lead Willow's mind away from it all. She was also baffled at the amount of weight she had lost; her shorts were loose around her hips and her shirt no longer fit snugly around her middle.
"Well, here we go," the lady behind the desk said as she approached Willow from the back room. "Your release papers." She smiled at Willow before she looked up at her doctor.
"I know the deal," he said jokingly before the lady could speak. He winked at Willow before he leaned down, quickly flipping through the papers, signing his name on the provided lines, before he passed over the stack to Willow.
"I need you sign on each line where marked," the lady started as she tucked a strand of her white hair behind her ear. "Date where provided, and initial all down here, and," she flipped ahead three pages, "here."
Willow swallowed nervously as she bent down awkwardly, making sure to keep her pants as low on her waist as she could so her ass wouldn't show beneath them. It seemed as though it took an eternity, but finally a good five minutes later she had finished all the signing, dating, and initialing, and she smiled slightly as she slid the stack of paper back towards the old lady.
"And Dr. Hiram and Mr. Arkham himself did go over the living arrangements, correct?" The old lady asked, and Willow nodded. "Okay," she said. "There's a bus outside that will drive you into town, and drop you off at Berkshire," she explained anyway. "Talk to the desk clerk, Ron, he'll fill you in on everything you want to know from there." She smiled widely. "Good luck, Willow," she said. "And congratulations."
Willow tried hard not to smirk as she started away from the desk, and she turned towards her doctor, and he stood proudly before her, his hands on his hips.
"Well," he said. "Think you can handle it out there?"
"I think so," Willow said as she forced a smile, truthfully just really wanting to leave. She exchanged a few more words with her doctor before she finally shook his hand, and finally, after what seemed like years, she took her first step outside of Arkham's main doors.
A cold breeze of air instantly blew passed her, and she shivered slightly, finally realizing she had completely missed Gotham's warm summer completely. She frowned slightly as she started towards the bus, her hair flowing behind her wildly, until it seemed to finally hit her; she was released. She was free.
On the way into town she thought about her last conversation with Jonathan, though it had been a week ago. Unfortunately, even with her all her progress, some real and some fake, she couldn't help but wonder if Joker even wondered if she had been released. She almost, almost wanted to see him at these apartments, secretly waiting for her I the shadows, but she shook the thought out of her mind, reminding herself it was useless to even think of his name.
A good hour later, the bus finally stopped in front of the small apartments. Willow's heart pounded against her chest, and she swallowed the lump that had risen in her throat. She looked out the window at the old, somewhat run down building, and she felt a tad lightheaded. Once the bus doors had opened she forced herself up and walked slowly off the bus and onto the sidewalk. Without a word the bus driver closed the door and took off, and just like that, Willow was all alone, again.
She continued to frown as she stood still on the sidewalk in the front of the building. The sky above threatened rain and the wind blew passed her. She continued to stare up at the building, noticing how badly in need it was of a new paint job, and she tried to picture herself living here. She pictured using the old, crappy furniture inside, and she wondered how many other inmates, both from Arkham and jail had resided in her room. She tried to picture herself getting up every morning to do a job she'd know she hate, and she tried to picture herself talking to new people, and making new friends. But the longer she thought, the more she realized she wasn't capable of any of this, and she didn't want any of it, for that matter. Her eyes burned as tears threatened to fall passed, and she sniffled them back as she hung her head. What was she to do?
She swallowed back the lump that had risen in her throat, again, as a tear finally slid down her cheek. In Arkham during her last few weeks she had felt pretty strong, so sure, for the most part, of having a new life. But now, standing in front of her pathetic future, she felt like she couldn't handle it, and didn't want it. She needed to be surrounded by the familiar...
It was because of this reason she wiped away the second tear that had fallen as she started in towards the building. The old man behind the desk, Ron, smiled at her. He noticed the red lined around her eyes, but he continued to smile. He had seen a lot of people walk through those doors, and he knew it was never easy.
"Are you Willow Fox?" He asked as nicely as he could to her. "I saw the bus and we've been expecting you."
Willow felt lightheaded again as she forced a small smile.
"Um, yeah," she said.
"Well I have your key right here," Ron started. "Room number-"
"Do you have a phone book?" Willow interrupted as she leaned slightly on the light brown desk, eagerly looking into his gray eyes. He paused for a moment, confused, before he cleared his throat.
"Yes," he said as he reached down, and he pushed across a giant phone book towards her. "The phone's right over there if you-"
"Thank you," Willow said as she grabbed the heavy phone book, and she made a beeline towards the corded phone. She sat down on the chair next to the end table the phone sat on in the lobby, and she set the book on her tiny lap before she flipped it open. Ron watched as Willow flipped though the pages vigorously, her head moving side to side, up and down as she looked for whatever it was she was looking for. At long last, she had found the number, and with a shaky hand she picked up the white phone and dialed.
"Line of Jewels Gentleman's Club," some woman started after four rings.
"Hi, um... is... Joey there...?" Willow asked slowly, tripping over her words and stuttering, and she closed her eyes tight, realizing how pathetic and desperate she sounded. But then again, she was... The line was quiet for moment before she heard the girl sigh.
"One minute," she breathed, and Willow heard her set the phone down. She waited, feeling Ron staring at her, and she was breathless once she heard Joey's soft yet rough voice answer.
"This is Joey," he said.
"Hey, uh... it's me. Willow," she said in a small voice, and that lump rose in her throat yet again as she waited it seemed for minutes on end for Joey to say something.
"Oh, hey," he said sounding somewhat causal, but unknown to Willow he looked as though he had seen a ghost as he shifted his weight anxiously. "You got released today," he stated the obvious, unsure of what else to say. He was completely baffled by her call.
"Yeah," Willow said. "I really hate to ask this, but can you... I mean..." Willow wasn't sure what she was trying to say. "See there's this apartment that the inmates are supposed to stay at..." she felt her eyes burn again and she found it hard to speak as she started to get choked up, but she did not want Joey to hear her cry, and she tried as hard as she could not to. She had never felt so confused and so helpless in her life. "And, I can't..." she tried to force herself to say, her voice high and squeaky. On the other end of the line Joey frowned as he stared at the floor, it somewhat paining him to hear her sound so sad. It was eerie hearing her voice, in real time, for the first time in months, and he himself wasn't so sure what to say. He was slightly confused, thinking that maybe Willow wouldn't want contact with everyone she knew pre-Arkham so quickly, especially the day she had gotten out. He cleared his throat now as he stood up straight.
"Do you want me to come get you?" He offered. He didn't know what else to say or do, and his eyebrows furrowed as he waited for a response, and he ran his hand over his bald head. He wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do, instantly rush her back into everything so quickly, even just by helping her out. But what else could he do? Joker wouldn't have to exactly know...
Willow took a deep breath now as she raised her eyes towards the ceiling, still trying hard not to burst out in tears. "I couldn't ask that," she started. "I don't even know why I-"
"You don't have to," Joey said. "Give me the name of the apartments."
Willow remained quiet trying to think it over, but all her fuzzy mind would allow her to do was tell him the name.
"Berkshire Apartments," she said. "I-I don't know where it is..."
"It's fine," Joey said. "I'll have to take a ferry though since your-" he stopped mid-joke, quickly realizing that joking about the Joker wasn't the best thing to do right now. "I'll try to be there within three hours. Think you can wait 'till then?" His tone was all business again.
"Yeah," Willow said as she nodded her head. "Yeah," she repeated.
"Alright then," Joey said. He sounded irritated to Willow, and she wanted to cry at the thought of being such a burden already.
"Thank you," she said as sincerely as she could.
"Hey, it's okay," Joey said. "I'll be there in a bit." And on this last word, he hung up, leaving the line dead. Willow sniffled as she hung up the phone, and she slowly closed the book before she walked back up to the desk.
"Is everything okay?" Ron asked as he frowned, and Willow nodded, the urge to cry slightly going away, inch by inch now that she knew Joey was on his way.
"Yeah," Willow said. "I have other arrangements, though," she said nervously at Ron, and he frowned even more.
"Other arrangements?" He asked. "I don't, well... I don't know if the asylum would..." he tripped over his words, and Willow found it hard to believe that no one else had ever opted out of the pre-determined living arrangements that the doctors just assumed were okay. No matter what the man told her, Willow knew she was not going to stay here, she was going with Joey either way. Suddenly she regretted even telling the man this, and she wondered what would have happened if she just didn't say anything.
"Released inmates can't just up and leave," he finally told her. "Mr. Arkham wants to be sure they don't instantly enter a... relapse?" He said slowly. "Who were you on the phone with?"
"An old friend," Willow said. "I've know hi- her since I was in high school."
Ron continued to frown at her, unsure of whether he should believe her or not. He recognized her, Dr. Hiram himself had told him all about her, and something in the back of his mind told him she was lying.
"And where does she live?" Ron pushed on. Willow opened her mouth to speak, but no words came. "Look," he said. "I'm sorry, but I can't have you leave. You're going to need to call your doctor if you want to arrange for-"
"Okay," Willow said, her mind instantly turned upside down. "Just forget it. Can I get the key?" She started into Ron's eyes as she placed her hand on her hip, and he stared back before he nervously bent down and handed her the key to room thirty three. Without a word Willow took the key and started towards the crappy stairs and she quickly walked up them.
After a short trip down the hallway, the floor full of crumbs and trash, she finally reached the door. She angrily pushed the key in and turned it, the door clicking before she pulled the key out and pushed the door open.
The tiny apartment smelled like a dirty diaper as she walked inside, and she frowned, wanting to cry again. Did the doctors even know how terrible this place was?
No, she thought to herself. There was no way in Hell she was staying here. She gently closed the door behind her, scowling at the stains on the carpet and the walls, and she wondered how dirty her tiny bed, that was barely a step up from the cots at Arkham, was. She spotted a white envelope on the desk, and she walked over to it, looking out the window and down towards the street before she opened it.
It was a letter written by someone from Arkham, explaining which grocery store she was to work at and at what time, and doing what. Enclosed inside the envelope was a pre-paid bus card, but she paid no attention to this as she threw the letter into the trash on the side of the desk. Barely able to breath now she instantly turned and walked out of the room, leaving the key on the desk. She closed her door behind her and glanced down either side of the hallway. Nothing on Earth could make her live there, and no force could drive her to do what Arkham had arranged for her to do with the beginning of her new life. She didn't necessarily want to go to Joker, that hadn't been the reason she had called Joey. She needed a familiar face, a familiar place to go where she felt safe, at least, and at the moment she was feeling low enough to even admit that if she had to, she would have even called Loc...
She walked down the hall now in search of a back staircase so she could secretly exit the building. She figured Ron, or some other apartment worker would be up to check on her since she had left Ron so hastily and angrily, and her heart started to nervously pound again. She walked all through the halls until finally she came across an old, metal door with a small 'exit' sign above it. She threw it open and started down the narrow and steep stairs until she finally reached another metal door, and she opened it, relived when the cold Gotham air blew in her face.
She quickly exited the building and started down the street and she crossed it. She looked around frantically; she had to stay close so she could see when Joey arrived, but she couldn't risk letting anyone from the apartment see her. She noticed a laundromat across the street and down a little from Berkshire, and she headed towards the building.
Nobody even looked at her as she walked inside, regardless of what she was wearing, and she sat down in one of the chairs across from the tinted windows. She looked anxiously out of them before she picked up a magazine, her plan being to just wait inside until she spotted Joey...
–
Willow had just finished looking through her sixth Home and Garden magazine when she glanced out the window, and her heart froze for a second. She saw Joey walking up the hill, clad in his famous and normal attire: black muscle shirt and dark pants. She swallowed nervously before she threw the magazine down and she up and leaned out of the doorway, a fat lady staring at her from behind as she folded a pair of giant pants.
"Joey!" Willow called to him. Joey continued to walk towards the apartment but his head snapped over to across the street, and for a second he felt as though he couldn't breath once he saw her. He confusedly looked from Berkshire back over to Willow before he crossed the street, and he walked inside the laundromat as Willow backed away from the open door. They both stared at each other, unsure of what to say. She appeared the same yet so different to Joey. Her hair was a little longer, her face was the same though it wore non of her usual make-up, and he noticed how incredibly skinny she looked. He also recognized those shorts from his club... But regardless, he cleared his throat finally to break the silence.
"Hi," Willow finally said, and she smiled slightly as Joey grinned.
"Hey," he said, his grin fully stretched out now. "How's it... goin'?"
"Okay," Willow said, her smile still stuck on her face. She had no idea that it would feel this good and comforting to be standing there with Joey, and she had never appreciated him more than she did now for being in her life. Her stomach fluttered, a feeling she had experienced in a long time, as she anticipated going with him back to his club. She wasn't sure where she would stay, but at least seeing Joey, and knowing he was there to help, calmed her more than anything else could at this point.
"Thank you," she finally said. "Like really, I don't know what I-"
"It's cool," Joey said as he reassuringly placed his hand on the top of her back, right in between her shoulder blades. "I would have been surprised if you didn't call."
He smiled at her and Willow smiled back up at him, and they both started outside. Willow walked down the street passed Berkshire on his left so she wouldn't be seen by Ron, and finally she felt like she could breath once the apartments had disappeared behind them.
Willow was surprised to see that Joey had taken a bus from the ferry, he didn't seem like the bus type, and after waiting for a good twenty minutes, they finally boarded. She followed Joey all the way to the back of the bus and she sat down on the aisle seat next to him and deeply sighed.
"What's wrong?" Joey asked as he frowned at her, and Willow looked over to him as the bus started down the street.
"Nothing," she said, her eyes widening slightly. "It just feels so good to be... out."
"Yeah, I bet," Joey said as he nodded slightly. Joey had so many questions buzzing around in his head, as did Willow, but Joey didn't want to bring around any awkwardness or unwanted tears, and Willow was scared of the answers she'd receive. So rather they both sat in the silence for a good five minutes until Joey turned back to her.
"Hey," he started. "I don't know what your plans are, but you can stay in Jack's old apartment at the club, if you want..."
Willow stared at the seat in front of her. It felt good to be told she had a place to stay, but Joker's old apartment? She had always wanted to go in there, but now she felt as though it wasn't a good time. But where else would she go?
"Yeah," Willow said. "Thanks," she added slowly as she forced a smile.
"I mean, Jack's shit is still in there," he said. "And I don't go in there much, ya feel me?"
"Yeah," Willow said. "I get it."
"Sorry to mention... him... but-"
"It's okay," Willow said quickly as she looked up to look into his dark eyes. "I mean, his name is bound to come up," she explained. "And I'm sure he's been to the club..." she added and she rolled her eyes as she looked away. Joey knew how she meant that, and it was at the tip of his tongue to tell her what had happened just a week prior, but he forced himself, as hard as it was, to hold it back. "... but I don't care," Willow went on. "I'm over it."
Joey could tell by her tone that clearly, she wasn't, but he didn't want to be the one to bring to it up. In truth, he didn't want to be the one she'd talk to about it with, either.
"So, about rent..." Willow started, and Joey looked over to her. "I can pay it, if you want."
"You don't have to," Joey said.
"No, I want to," Willow stated back.
"Okay," Joey finally said as he shrugged. "You can start dancing again immediately, but I don't think we should rush into your-"
"Actually," Willow started. "I... don't want to dance..."
"Why?" Joey instantly asked as he turned his whole body towards her now. "Tell me you're kidding, baby," he said, and Willow couldn't help but smile. Now this was the Joey she knew. Loud, spoke the first thing that was on his mind, and uncaring. Not all quiet and uneasy.
"You're the best dancer I got!"
"I know," Willow started. "Wait... really?" She asked and her eyes widened as she looked up to Joey, who chuckled.
"Fuck yeah," he said. "I don't lie."
Willow smiled. She had always thought Joey just said that because she was with Joker. While this compliment made her feel good, she still felt unsure about it.
"Thank you," she said. "But I just... I don't want to dance. At least right now," she added as Joey stared at her with a small but noticeable scowl on his face. "I want to still work at the club though. Is there anything else I can do?"
"Man," Joey started as he bowed his head for a short second before he looked back to her. "You're killin' me, girl." He thought for a moment, and Willow waited anxiously. "Bartender?" he said. "Do you have any experience?"
Willow slowly shook her head, and the thought of working with the current bartender there, Britney, made her skin crawl. She severely disliked her. But it beat anything else at this point.
"Britney could show you the ropes," he said. "It's easy once you get used to it. I'll tell ya though, you won't make nearly as much as you were. You'll make enough for the rent and have a little extra, but that ain't sayin' much..."
"It's fine," Willow said. "Thank you."
"No problem," Joey said. "But we gotta get you back to dancin', girl. The club needs you!"
All Willow could do was smile as she rolled her eyes, and she turned away from him to look out the window. Finally, it felt as though she was on her way home.
–
After a walking a short quarter mile from the bus stop, they had finally reached the overly crowded docks. Willow followed Joey, weaving passed all the people, and she realized that the aftermath of Joker's destruction of the bridges was still pretty heavy. Then again, she knew it would take long time to repair them.
"Looks like it'll only be about a twenty minute wait," Joey said as he walked back to Willow, who had taken a seat on a bench as he went to check the schedule.
"That's good," Willow said as she nervously glanced around. It was crazy how many people were staring at her.
"Do you think they all recognize me?" She asked as she stood up next to Joey now, taking her ticket from him, and he glanced around for a moment before he looked down to her.
"Yeah," he said. "You were all over the news, a fuck ton." he said. "And that outfit you stole looks pretty good, too," he added with a wink, and Willow laughed slightly. It sounded weird to her, she hadn't laughed – a real laugh – in a long time. "Which is real good for me, being seen with you," he added sarcastically. Willow grinned slightly as she rolled her eyes, but she realized he was right. "So when we get back into town, keep it on the down low, right?" He commanded as he leaned in closer to her. "Because we, or, I don't need people knowing where you are. It won't end well."
"Yeah," Willow agreed. "Especially since I totally suck out of that apartment." She grinned proudly up at him, and couldn't help but think, in the back of her mind, how maybe somewhat proud that would have made Joker.
"You what?" He asked as he looked down to her again, his dark eyebrows raised. Willow frowned as she looked at him.
"H-he said released inmates couldn't just, not stay there," she explained. "They have to talk it over with their doctor. So I... left?"
Joey sighed as he shook his head.
"Figures," he said, only to grin a second later. Of course Jack would have rubbed off on her like that, even if just slightly.
"You should have seen it in there, Joey," she went onto explain. "It was terrible. I don't even know if the doctors know how bad it is."
"They probably do," Joey stated as he nodded. "See, what they want is for all those inmates to come back." Willow gave him a confused stare, so he explained further. "They want you to start with a shitty life outside of their gates. That way when you break down, they have another excuse to take you back in."
"Sounds like a lot of trouble," Willow said as Joey stared at some blond that walked by. "Couldn't they just lie and say people need to be there longer than what was arranged?"
"Yeah, but where's the fun in that?" Joey asked, and Willow rolled her eyes. "You were good to call me," he said seriously now as he looked back towards her. "Despite what the doctors there tried to convince you, most likely."
Willow didn't say anything as she looked away. Truthfully, doctors hadn't really convinced her anything. She pretended that they had, pretending to suddenly hate the Joker, never think about him, and want to be as far away from him as possible and everything she had once known with him. When in reality he was still priority in her mind, and she just couldn't bring herself to say she hated him, even though there was times where she did feel over him. But she hated how he had left her, and she still didn't understand it, but she figured she'd never have the chance to. But still, as she had found out beside that, Joker was still an okay guy, behind all the craziness and chaos. Joey took her looking away as some sort of deep awkward sadness, and he cleared his throat.
"I won't say anything to Jack," he offered, and Willow looked back over to him. "I mean, if you don't want. You know, it's probably best he just doesn't know," Joey rattled on.
"Yeah," Willow said, feeling that lump rise in her throat. She didn't necessarily want to see Joker, she was angry at him, after all, but hearing Joey say he was going to keep everything a secret somewhat saddened Willow. It was almost as if she wanted to be forced to see him...
They were both quiet as they now started walking towards the archway that served as the entrance to board the trolly. They stopped now in the long line, and Willow watched as Joey looked around before he suddenly stood still, something catching his attention. She rolled her eyes as she looked behind her, figuring it was some girl again, when she saw that his line of sight was looking directly at a hotdog stand. She looked back over to him, her stomach suddenly grumbling.
"Hey, do you want a-"
"Yes!" Willow said, and she instantly felt her face redden. "I mean, uh. Sure."
Joey stared at her for a moment, an eyebrow arched before he finally started over towards the stand without a word. Willow watched his broad, muscular back as he conversed with the man behind the stand, and Willow grinned when she realized he hadn't even bothered asking what she wanted on it. But at this point, she didn't care. She was starving and one hundred percent eager to eat real food.
Joey started back to her a moment later, holding in each hand a hotdog inside a thin piece of white and red checkered paper. "Got the classics," Joey stated somewhat proudly once he had reached her. Willow eyed his left hand hungrily as he started to lower it towards her. "Ketchup and mustard, that's gonna have to be-"
He was interrupted by Willow snatching the classic American snack out of his hand, and without thinking she took a large and somewhat sloppy bite. It wasn't until she felt ketchup lingering on the corner of her lip she she finally lower the hotdog, and she guiltily looked up at Joey. He cocked an eyebrow at her, slightly confused and taken off by her act, but for a split second he couldn't help but feel the urge to kneel down and lick the ketchup off of her lips. He blinked slowly as Willow started to explain herself.
"Sorry," she started as she used the paper the hotdog had come in as a napkin, and she wiped the condiment from her face. "I barely ate in Arkham."
Joey had barely heard her, for his mind had continued to wander, until finally he forced himself out of his daze. "Why?"
"The food was terrible," Willow said. "I rarely ate," she repeated.
"Yeah, I can tell," Joey said as he finally took a bite of his own hotdog.
"These clothes don't even fit," Willow went on to complain now. Joey nodded, forcing himself not to let his eyes wander down her body, and instead turned away slightly, pretending to look out over the water.
The ride on the trolly had been simple and short, and now Willow felt as though she was having a hard time keeping up with Joey as he made his way through the masses of people towards the parking lot where he had left his car.
"Listen," he started once Willow had approached him. "Keep it on the down low," he said. "Just keep your head down," he continued.
Willow listened and she bowed her head slightly, not making eye contact with anyone, though as she continued to quickly walk with Joey, she wished she had different clothes that weren't so... attention grabbing.
At long last they had finally reached Joey's beautiful black Camaro. He quickly unlocked it and got inside, leaving Willow to open the passenger side door. She got in as quickly as Joey did and she let out a sigh of relief once she shut the door, noticing how darkly tinted all the windows were. She allowed herself to sink down in the cool, black leather seat as Joey started the car, the engine roaring to life, and with a swift jerk of his arm to the side, he spun the car around and quickly took off out of the parking lot and onto the main road while Willow clutched onto the door. She should have know Joey would be a crazy driver...
Willow allowed herself to look all around his car. The interior was all different shades of black and gray, and completely spotless. She felt as though she couldn't touch anything, let alone sit in it. She looked back into the backseat, finding a single leather jacket laying on the seat in the middle. Other than that, there were no stray objects.
Joey didn't speak a single word as he sped down the street, one hand clutching the top of the wheel while the other held the shifter. He had a somewhat angry look on his face, but Willow recognized that as the same look Joker wore when he drove. She turned her head away and looked out the window at all the buildings and people whooshing by, and she couldn't help but wonder what Joker was doing, or where he was. It was about three thirty in the afternoon, but she couldn't think of anything particular thing he'd be doing. She once had always been watching TV at this time while Joker hid away in his office or room, so she figured he was most likely doing that now as well.
Raindrops dripped onto the windshield now, and Willow idly watched as one ran down the length of it. Finally she recognized the area they were in, for she had taken the route every time she drove to work. Rain started to fall heavier from the clouds until it was suddenly pouring just as they pulled into the parking lot. Joey parked his car right in the front by the door and without a word they both got out and rushed to it. Willow threw it open and held it open for Joey, but the quickness was useless; she was soaked, as was Joey. She grinned slightly at him as water from her hair dripped onto the floor, and a few of the guests turned and looked over to them, eying Willow, naturally. It felt so odd being back in the club, and she took a moment to glance around. Everything seemed exactly as it had been before she left, and she smiled at this, loving that feeling of familiarity.
Joey had started off towards what she assumed was his office, and she followed closely behind him. Her shorts started to fall from her hips and she quickly brought her hands to the top of them and held them in place. Joey tossed back the curtain, and a few of the girls who had been currently giving lap dances all froze once they saw Willow. Willow stared back at them as their look of shock turned into scowls, and she grinned slightly at them, glad to see she was still so intimidating to the other girls. She climbed the stairs behind Joey and waited as he unlocked his office door, and she followed him inside, closing it behind her. Just as she turned a white towel was thrown at her, and she caught it before she glanced up at Joey and watched as he rubbed his face with a matching one. She undid the folding and she held it to her own face before she ruffled it through her hair, then proceeded to pat her clothes with it.
"Alright, lemme find that key..." Joey started to trail off as he headed to his desk. "You want a drink?" He suddenly asked as he turned, pointing at her.
"No, thanks," Willow said as she rolled her eyes. Joey quickly went on to make himself a quick a drink, and he took a sip as he headed over to his giant desk again. He unlocked one of the drawers on it with another key from his keyring and he shuffled around some of the objects for a moment before he finally closed it. Willow watched as he started towards her, something gleaming in his hand, and once he approached her, she realized it was a key.
"Here ya go," he said. Willow slowly took it, her eyes wide as she eyed it, having a hard time believing she was actually going to stay where Joker had once lived. She followed Joey as he walked passed his desk and further into his office until they turned the corner, and there it was. Willow stared at the dark wooden door in front of her. She swallowed as she stared at it until she finally took a step forward. She felt lightheaded as she put the key in the handle and she turned it, the door clicking softly. She hesitated before she finally pushed the door open.
She slowly stepped into the small apartment room, her feet now on old, hardwood floors, and Joey lingered in the doorway behind her. Willow snapped on the light beside her before she looked all around the room, taking everything in. Directly in front of her a good distance away sat a small, white, lone sink and a mirror directly above it. To the right she eyed a small kitchen, all the appliances painted a faded brown color. To the right of the sink was another small door that she figured was the bathroom, and in front of that a small living room area, the couch of choice a dark green color. Directly next to her on her right sat a queen sized bed, the bed spread a dark green hue, much like the couch. Willow swallowed; she felt as though she shouldn't be in the room. There was something eerie about it, like the vibe was off. Joey thought the same thing, he always had ever since Joker had left the place, and he didn't bother walking inside.
"Um," he started as he leaned off the wooden door frame now. "I don't have a spare key for my office..."
"It's fine," Willow said, not bothering to turn to him, and she took another step into the room. "I don't have anywhere to go anyway."
"Alright," Joey said as he placed his hand on the handle of the door. "Is this gonna be okay?"
"Yeah," Willow said as she finally turned to him. "Thank you, so much."
"Not a problem," Joey said. "Come downstairs when you're ready so you can get re-acquainted with Britney, right?"
"Okay," Willow said, and she turned back around once Joey had closed the door. She glanced down at the little silver key in her hand before she placed it on the brown end table beside the bed. She ran her hand over the smooth comforter as she ventured in further to the room. The hardwood floor was dark and squeaky, and a little dusty, but this was to be expected, seeing as how no one had inhabited the place for a while. Willow swallowed as she continued to slowly walk inside further, and she glanced up at the white ceiling. She had reached the random sink and mirror and she paused by it. Her feet now stood on a dark blue rug, and she placed her hands on the front lip of the sink as she looked into the mirror. She stared at her bare reflection before she reached out to the mirror, noticing that it was actually a small medicine cabinet. She slowly opened it, the cabinet bare save for one, stray object, and Willow narrowed her eyes on it on the top shelf. She reached up towards it without thinking, and she touched her finger tips on the wooden handle as she strained to slide it closer to her. Finally she grabbed the object and she brought it down, only to gasp loudly and toss it away from her. The object landed with a loud thunk! in the sink, and her heart raced as she leaned over to peer down at it.
She saw that she had reached down a very tiny knife from the shelf. The handle was a light wooden color and the blade was out, and she felt dizzy as she stared at the traces of blood on it. She finally reached back out and picked it up, reminding herself that it was obviously Joker's, but she continued to wonder why a bloody knife had been in the cabinet. Suddenly she froze, her eyes wide, when realization dawned on her; had this been the knife he had used towards his scars?
Her heart raced as she slowly set the blade down on the rim of the sink and she took a step back as she remembered what Joey had once told her. Joker had been in this very apartment when it happened...
She glanced down now and something under the light caught her attention on the floor. She swallowed nervously again as she leaned down, sliding the rug away from the sink, and she about fell over from shock. The entire floor that had been covered by the rug was stained in old blood, the spots all a dark, dark red color. The bass from the music thumped below her as she stared, somewhat horrified at the floor below her. She finally allowed herself to fall back, her butt hitting the floor as she realized she had been standing in the very spot where Joker had gone crazy on his face.
She couldn't fathom a single thought as she sat there, just staring, though she wasn't seeing anything. She sat there for minutes on end, just blankly staring at the floor, until a burst of tears flowed out from her eyes. She closed them tightly as her body shook with all the held in frustration she had felt. Suddenly being in Joker's old apartment seemed so wrong, but Willow was stuck yet again. Being in there was practically the same as actually being with him in person. Willow had no escape from him...
She wiped her eyes as she stood up now, not bothering to replace the rug. She headed across the small living room towards the bathroom, and she pushed the stubborn door open, angrily kicking away the rug that had been blocking it. Another shock ran through her when she realized she was standing on yet even more blood stains, the splatters on the floor leading directly to the bathtub. She breathed in and out deeply as she turned to look out of the bathroom, and as she retraced her steps she noticed a few more blood stains that led towards the bathroom from the sink. She could now picture in her mind what she had assumed had happened that fatal night, and she shut her eyes tight, trying to erase the images from her mind. She took a few long steps over to the bed before she finally plopped down onto it, the bed slightly bouncy. The bounces only added to her frustration and she took a pillow from next to her and threw it as hard as she could across the room. It touched wall and fell pathetically to the ground, the tossing of the pillow having no soothing effect on Willow's rage whatsoever, and she leaned down to the side of the bed, burying her face in the sheet. She sobbed for a few more seconds as nothing but thoughts of Joker ran through her mind, until finally she leaned up, staring at the wet spot she had created on the white sheets of the bed. She sniffled as she wiped her tears away. Her body ached and her mind continued to race, and she wished it would all just stop.
She took a few deep breaths, unsure of how much more crying her body could handle. She thought she had gotten it all out at Arkham, when obviously she hadn't. She was so sick of thinking about Joker all the time. Hadn't she convinced herself that she no longer cared? If he didn't want to see her, then she didn't want to see him?
She finally slowly rose from the bed and started back over to the bathroom. She ignored the stains on the floor as best she could as she started the shower, and she took a towel down from the rack above the toilet. She felt that maybe, just maybe, if she knew how he had been and what he had been doing, these random crying fits over him would stop. Maybe that was all she wanted to know to finally stop these spiraling thoughts and confusing emotions. All she knew was that she desperately wanted to be over it, and finally feel at ease again.
–
Willow stepped down the small steps from the stage and looked out into the bustling strip club. It was nearly ten o' clock now and was getting pretty busy. All sorts of men sat at tables, some with dates though most were alone, while all different dancers danced on stage to the bass-full beats. A few dancers walked around, conversing with one another, and through the organized mess Willow spotted Joey leaning again the bar, talking to Britney. Willow watched as she laughed as she looked down, tucking a piece of light blond hair behind her ear. Willow rolled her eyes as she fixed her ripped tank top, only one of the many items of clothing Joey told her she could steal, for now, from the dressing rooms. She started towards the bar, and she smiled slightly at Joey once she approached him.
"Hey," he grinned as he placed an arm around her shoulders, and Willow couldn't help but smirk at Britney before she looked up to Joey.
"Hey," she said back. "I feel asleep," she explained the reason why she was so late. She had only meant to shut her eyes for a minute, but found the bed to be usually comfortable, and as thoughts of Joker laying in that exact spot faded from her mind, she had dozed off.
"It's cool," Joey said. "So Britney, Willow. Willow, Britney," Joey started as he slid his arm off of Willow, and he used his other hand to point back and forth between the two girls.
"I know," Britney said as she glared at Willow.
"We've met," Willow added. Joey paused, and either didn't notice the tension that existed here or chose to ignore it.
"Well Britney said she's good with teachin' you the ropes," Joey said as he turned to Willow, and he nodded and grinned at some behind Willow before he looked back down to her. "I'll pay you for the training but I need you to be useable by Sunday night, ya feel me?"
"Yes," Willow said routinely.
"Alright," he said. He patted Willow once on the back before he started away with a sort of a man-strut towards the stage, and he disappeared behind the curtain. Willow grinned and rolled her eyes but her smile faded once she noticed how Britney was staring at him. Her face had paused in a sort of dreamy smile, and she didn't blink as she watched him go. Willow smirked to herself for a moment, feeling the need to brag about her private 'experience' she had once had with Joey, until she suddenly realized she probably wasn't all that special... Lot's of the girls at Line of Jewels probably already knew.
Willow cleared her throat now, feeling the need to be somewhat rude. "We going to get started?" She asked as she rose her eyebrows. Britney blinked rapidly a few times before she leaned off the counter and she glared at Willow.
"I'm so happy to see the loony-house didn't change you a bit," Britney said sarcastically.
"It'll take more than a few psychiatrists and straightjackets to do the deed," Willow said as he rounded the bar to stand next to Britney. She forced air through her nose as she glared at Willow from the corner of her eye before she rolled them and bent down.
"Unfortunately," she mumbled, though it was loud enough for Willow to hear, and Willow rolled her eyes. She wanted to think that at this point, dancing didn't seem all that bad, but as she watched the girls on stage, she couldn't help but feel a nervous patter in her heart. She just wasn't ready to do it.
"You have to wear this," Britney said as she handed Willow a small black apron.
"You're not," Willow pointed out as she reached behind her, tying the strands over her lower back.
"Because I'm not dressed like a whore," Britney said in a false happy voice, and she even flashed her a quick smile before she turned around towards a stack of shot glasses.
No need to be jealous, Willow thought sourly in her head. She was above sinking down to Britney's level, and honestly Britney's childish attitude towards her was humorous. Since day one she could never figure out why Britney disliked her so much, but she didn't let it bother her. Britney was just another one to add to the list.
"And also," Britney started as she stared at Willow, her light blue eyes quickly roaming over Willow's hair before she looked back into her eyes. "Do you have something you can tie your hair back with?" Willow rose an eyebrow at her, and Britney sighed. "Bartenders are supposed to look somewhat professional. Sexy, but professional," she added as she protruded out her hip, placing her hand on it, obviously talking about herself. "You strippers may be able to get away your sex hair, but behind the counter it's not acceptable." She looked back to Willow wavy hair, a few curls sprung out here and there and her part was all messed up. Willow didn't mind; she had come to like the crazed look.
Willow felt her teeth clench in anger as she glared at Britney. She thought to her knife sitting in her old room, and all she could picture was herself 'acquainting' Britney with it.
"So you got a hair tie?" She snapped, and Willow shook her head. Britney sighed heavily as she rolled eyes, and she took off a spare one from her wrist and dropped it onto Willow's opened hand. "Have your hair straight again for tomorrow night," she said as a couple of fat guys started towards the bar. "It suits you better, trust me."
–
After a long three hours of what Britney considered to be 'training' Willow was finally plopping down onto the bed. She sighed as she stared up at the ceiling, her arms stretched on either side of her as he legs hung off from the bed from her knees. Willow's first night of training consisted of more bitching from Britney, watching her flirt with nearly ever single guy, and simply just watch what she did. Throughout that time, Willow couldn't help but always smirk at Britney when a good majority of the perverts wanted to talk to her, for it always made Britney angry. But now all Willow wanted to do was bunch up in the bed and go to sleep, though she had a feeling the pounding music from below would make it awfully hard.
She sighed again as she arched her back, forcing herself up, and she pulled at the hair tie, letting her waves and curls fall loosely and freely over her shoulders. She threw the rubber band to the grand and ran her fingers over her scalp as she stood up, heading towards the bathroom.
As she brushed her teeth with her cheap new toothbrush Joey, for some random reason or another, had lying around, she let her eyes roam over the apartment. She allowed herself to picture Joker sitting on that couch, pre-scars, watching TV, and sleeping in the bed. She pictured him in the kitchen, though she had a rather hard time imagining him cooking anything, and figured he was most likely the type to always go out and pick something up to eat. Her eyes wandered away from the kitchen and now narrowed on a rather large stereo that sat on a dark wooden, long table directly in front of her on the opposite wall. Once she was finished brushing and was all rinsed, she headed towards the stereo.
It appeared to be fairly new Willow decided as she inspected it. She backed away from it and continued to stare at it, wondering how often Joker had used it. She couldn't help but want to deeply explore the apartment, and all night as she 'worked' she couldn't help but wonder if Joker had left behind any more 'clues' to his past, such as that little knife and bloodstains. She felt so confused; on one hand she really did just want to be over him, but on the other she felt like she wanted to take the opportunity to learn more about him, since she figured she'd never find out any other way. She absentmindedly started pushing buttons on the radio, and she jumped slightly when a radio station came on. She grinned stupidly at herself for being so jumpy, and she continued to play around with the menu on the stereo, wondering if this was the last station Joker had listened to, or if Joey had changed it for whatever reason one of the few times he had been in there. Most likely to clean.
She came across an option that read 'alarm clock' and she selected it, an eyebrow cocked. She saw that the alarm was set for five in the morning, and she wondered greatly what Joker had been doing to wake up so early, and she wondered how often he did. She exited the menu now and was just about to turn the stereo off and heat up that can of soup Joey had given her, when she pushed one final button, just to see. She placed her thumb on the eject button, and the CD tray opened up, reveling a single CD in slot number one. Her eyes widened as she took the CD out, and she read what was sloppily written on the top, "'311' Songs".
Her curiosity got the best of her and she put the CD back and closed the tray, and after hitting the 'CD' button and adjusting the volume, she sat down on the right corner of the bed, waiting for something to start.
She waited for one of either three things: some random rap beat, some weird noise, or a heavy blaring metal guitar. But rather, just faintly she heard a normal sounding guitar for a few seconds, until a soft and unique male voice started singing. Without warning the song instantly dove into one of it's main beats. She couldn't help but tap her foot to the beat; the music was chill and calming, but also fun and something you could easily move your body along to. Willow listened to the song more, and as she sat there, staring at the blue numbers on the small screen of the stereo, she had a rather hard time picturing Joker listening to that certain song. She leaned over and skipped ahead to song number two, but it, much like the rest of the songs that were on there, sounded about the same as the first, some heavier, some softer. Willow had never heard of the band, and she wrinkled her nose in slight disgust as she wondered why Joker had been listening to them.
For hours Willow had tried to keep herself busy. She had eaten her soup, and after she did the dishes, she wandered around the apartment some more, though found nothing of interest, not that she was looking too closely. It felt odd being so alone, and she was a little nervous to be staying all alone in that big club all by herself once everyone had gone home, but she had forgotten this thought once she had fallen asleep, and all she could do was worry about what was to come the next day.
Reviews make my day. Seriously, I have nothing else to live for, so please submit them! Next chapter is already half way done, so leave me those reviews if you want it!