Olivia poked Janet straight in her back as her friend stared at herself in the mirror.
"Why do you look like you're nervous? And who is this guy you going out with?"
"It's because I am nervous…and…no…I shouldn't tell you who it is because you'd make fun of me for it."
"No, I won't! Just tell me!"
Janet sighed as she put the cap to her lipstick and sat it down in front of her.
"Fine! It's the guy who walked into the diner that day."
Olivia gawked at her friend in disbelief as if Janet had said something in a different language.
"Him!? How!? That was your first time seeing him!"
"Yeah. First time seeing him unmasked."
"Unmasked?"
"You've heard of the Red Hood, right?"
"Yes!" Olivia quickly grabbed a stool and sat it next to Janet's makeup station and plopped her butt on it. She definitely wanted to hear everything her friend had to say about the vigilante.
"Remember the night I told you I had almost got robbed? Well, I didn't know Red Hood's name at first but he did ask for mine. And he's been checking up on me ever since that night and last night after he saved my grandpa from being robbed, we talked and before he left he told me what his name is."
"Which is?"
"Jason."
"Janet and Jason. Hehe."
"Shut up."
"Did he wish you a happy birthday at least? Did he even get you a present?"
"Yeah. He radioed me before I had went to sleep and told me happy birthday and today he said that he was going to take me to the bookstore and let me get whatever book I want. Or books. That's the final thing I want."
"That's nice. But...he gave you a radio!?"
Janet shrugged. "I guess he doesn't text. He gave me a little radio…walkie talkie thingy so I can keep in contact with him."
"Clever."
"It is. I'm still surprised he decided to take me out tonight. I guess he had a quick change of heart."
"Well, he likes you and you like him! DUH!"
"Whatever!"
"So, what else did you guys talk about!?"
"Why do you want to know, nosy!?"
"Because I want to know, Miss Janet!"
"Well, give me twenty dollars and I'll tell you."
"I'm going to beat you up when you come home."
"Yeah right."
"But, on a serious note, have fun. This guy sounds like he really cares about you as he's saved both you and your gramps. Just got out and have fun."
"I will. But honestly, if you do want to know more about him you have to pay me twenty dollars."
"I'm going to whip your butt when you come home, young lady!"
Janet stuck out her tongue then picked up her cell phone to check the time.
"Oh, time to go!" she said. She hastily got up to go put on her shoes, grabbed her coat, and put it on.
"You better let me know when you get to the damn place!" Olivia said. "Where are you guys going anyway?"
"Somewhere secret."
"Ha. Ha." Olivia was about to sit down on the couch when she heard a knock on the door. She beat Janet to it asked who was on the other side of the door. "Who is it?"
"It's Jason. I'm here to pick up Janet and take her out to eat for her birthday."
Olivia shot Janet a sly grin as she looked through the peephole at Jason then opened the door and beckoned for him to come in.
"It's nice to meet you, Jason," she said as she extended her hand out to him.
"It's nice to meet you, too, Olivia," Jason said.
"Oh, so you know my name?"
"Yup. Word gets around," Jason said with a wink.
"It seems it does," Olivia said giving Janet another sly grin.
Jason shook Olivia's hand then looked at Janet who took his breath away. She was simple clothes, skinny jeans and a green blouse, but she still looked beautiful to him. He had hoped he wouldn't start blushing as he didn't want to embarrass himself. "You look…very gorgeous…breathtaking…very elegant. You really are a pretty woman."
Janet started to blush at what Jason was telling her. She knew Olivia was soaking up this entire scene like a sponge but she didn't care at the moment. She was ready to go on her birthday date with the man who is her savior and was more than ready to go.
"Thanks, Jason," Janet said. "You ready to go?"
"Ready when you are, birthday girl."
Janet double checked her purse to make sure she had everything she would need for the evening then walked towards the door.
"I'll be back soon," she told Olivia.
"Stay out as long as you want. You two have fun!" Olivia said, slowly closing the door behind both Jason and Janet as they left the apartment.
"I hope you don't mind walking," Jason said. "I don't have a car."
"Well, with the way you get around, you don't need a car. Then again, maybe Batman left behind his Batmobile for you." When Jason looked as if what she said had touched a nerve, she quickly looked down at her feet. "I'm sorry." She pushed the elevator button and simply stared at the lit button.
"No, it's funny you say that…because now I remember that that's how I met Batman. I tried to steal the wheels off his Batmobile but he caught me."
"Wow!" Janet couldn't help but laugh a little at what Jason had said.
"It's true," Jason said with a smile. "After you."
Janet stepped into the elevator and watched as Jason pushed the button for the lobby.
"Is it okay if I…put my arm around yours?" Janet asked.
"Sure thing." Jason held out his right arm and let Janet wrap her small arms around it. "No one messes with you in this building, do they?"
"No. I hope not."
"If anyone does, you know how to alert me."
"I know."
"I wonder how old you are, birthday girl."
"I'm 22."
"I'm only older than you by one year."
"That's cool! I'm glad you're only a year older than me."
"It is good that we're close in age." Jason and Janet stepped out of the elevator, walked out of the apartment building complex, and made their way to a restaurant.
"I wonder where you're taking me."
"It's a surprise."
"I know but I still want to know, hehe."
"Well, we're here now actually."
"Oh, my goodness…this is the new frozen yogurt place I wanted to go to!"
"Well, here we are!" Jason opened the door and watched as Janet eyed all the machines that had frozen yogurt waiting inside to get devoured. Jason grabbed the biggest cup and filled with French Vanilla frozen yogurt then sprinkled whatever topping Janet wanted on the yogurt. He paid for it, grabbed two spoons, and then went to sit down.
"So, this is all you want to eat?" Jason asked as he pulled out a chair for Janet.
"Yup."
"I'm going to buy you some food after this and I won't take no for an answer. I don't want you hungry later."
"I would like a cheeseburger after this," Janet said. "With a chocolate smoothie. That is all."
"Noted. This is good…gummy bears…granola…and chocolate chips. Helluva combo."
"But it's delicious!"
"It is…can't remember the last time I enjoyed something this good."
"Um…do you…like do anything else besides fight crime?"
"I may stroll around the neighborhood…sometimes to ease my mind…sometimes to make sure nothing crazy is going on. I had been through a lot in the past year…" Jason lowered his head, slowly shaking it a little as he poked at a red and blue gummy worm that was sticking out of the yogurt. "Just recently…with what happened in the city and everything…it made me decide to turn over a new leaf. I had to forgive Batman for a lot of things."
"What exactly did you have to forgive him for?"
Jason let go of his spoon then pointed to the scar on his left cheek.
"I was trapped in an abandoned wing in Arkham Asylum. Joker beat my ass, along with the usual crazy folk that were there…the likes of Two Face to Penguin…he then branded me and that's how I got this scar. I blamed Batman for not finding me…even though I had turned off my tracker so I could go after the Joker myself so that I could kill him because I knew Batman wouldn't kill him because of course he didn't kill. When Joker showed me a photo of Batman with a new Robin that's when I thought that Batman didn't waste any time in replacing me. I thought that he simply didn't give a damn about me anymore. But I was wrong. He was in trouble when Scarecrow had gotten ahold of him and I helped him."
"I'm so sorry that happened to you…" Janet dabbed her eyes with the napkin she had been clutching in her hand.
"Don't cry," Jason told her.
"I'm sorry, but I can't help it. How could someone like you get hurt so bad?"
"It happens. That's the life of…a vigilante. Haven't said that word in forever."
Jason grabbed Janet's hand and squeezed it tightly. Janet gazed into Jason's eyes and probably forgot to blink as she felt that if she did, he'd probably disappear from in front of her.
"So, that's why you look after me? Because of what happened to you…you don't want me to suffer like you did…"
"Correct. I…" Jason's voice trailed off when he heard a loud boom that came from down the street. He turned his head to see Penguin's goons rushing out of a bank who's entrance they blew up. They all piled into a car and started to drive off as the police arrived to chase them soon after. "Shit! Janet, listen to me and I want you to listen carefully!"
