Chapter 2 (Rememberance Pt. I)

Both had known each other for 4 years now, since Alexandra had first become Jonathan's new classmate.

He could still remember very well when and how they first met.

Jonathan was in the hallway at school, opening his locker to get out his books for the next class when suddenly, a hand grabbed the collar of his shirt and pushed him against the locker next to his own.

"Now look who's here!", Jonathan heard the dark, strong voice of a boy.

It was the voice of Gary Merrill, a tall, good-looking guy, quarterback on the Gotham High School Football Team, class swaggerer – and somebody who enjoyed waylaying Jonathan to beat him up frequently. It seemed that today would be one of those days again. Gary didn't care about being seen in the school's hallway, as no one of the passing students would dare interrupt him. Jonathan tried to break away, but Gary kept his hold on him and pushed him back so hard, Jonathan hit the locker's door with a crash. Gary grabbed Jonathan's throat and pushed his head against the locker door. Jonathan gasped for breath. Gary's pal Matt, who was standing next to them the whole time, grinned maliciously. He was on the lookout in the hallway, to warn Gary if one of the teachers should come up.

"You little rat, you freak!", Gary hissed and pushed Jonathan harder against the locker. "I'm sick of seeing your mug and have been, for a long time now."


"Gary, I.. can't breathe...!", gasped Jonathan and tried to break away from Gary's death-grip.

But the more he struggled, the tighter Gary's hold on Jonathan's throat became. Gary grabbed Jonathan's glasses with the other hand, grabbed them off his face and let them fall down on the floor. Jonathan heard the cracking of his glasses under Gary's foot.


"You should take damn good care of yourself, otherwise it won't be only your glasses next time!", Matt bawled and laughed.


"Yeah, exactly!", Gary added and both friends laughed maliciously, as Jonathan's eyes filled up with tears. His face blushed and he gasped for breath.

"Hey! You there! Let the boy go!", a clear voice suddenly yelled behind them.

Gary and Matt turned around. At the entrance, there stood a young girl, looking at them. They had never seen her before.


"Hey, what do you want!", Gary hissed, obviously angry at the fact that someone dared interrupt him, "Mind your own business, you silly girl!"


"I said, let the boy go!", the girl repeated in a firm voice.

Gary loosened his grip around Jonathan's throat, but didn't completely release him. Jonathan gasped for breath and began to cough. The malicious grin had vanished off of Matt and Gary's faces. Matt planted himself squarely before the girl as Gary's eyes blazed with anger.

"I'm sorry, the little chick didn't understand.", Matt said with a glance at Gary. "Maybe we should explain how thing's happen around here." B

oth started to grin again and Matt was about to step forward, towards the girl when he saw her putting her hand on the fire-alarm knob right next to her.


"Well – give it a try then!", the girl said again in a firm voice, still looking at Gary and Matt.

Matt stopped. For a few seconds they looked at each other. Finally Matt said, "You know what, Gary? I think we've had enough fun for today!"


Gary looked first at the girl, then at Matt and finally at Jonathan. He knew that if she were to release the alarm, all the doors of the classrooms would fly open immediately and the hallways would be filled up with students and teachers within seconds. Even if he wanted to, he wouldn't have the chance to "clear up" matters, neither with Jonathan nor with the girl.

Gary nodded, then pulled around Jonathan so hard that he stumbled over Gary's legs and fell on the ground.


"That was a close shave, Scarecrow!", Gary hissed, disgruntled, turning around to the girl. "And you too should take good care of yourself!" he yelled at her.

The girl didn't respond – simply scowled. Her eyes blazed with anger.

The girl still had her hand on the alarm knob as Gary and Matt started to move to leave the hallway. They started laughing maliciously again and kicked at Jonathan's books, which had fallen on the floor, when he was attacked. Jonathan was still lying on the floor, panting. When Gary and Matt were out-of-sight, the girl walked over to Jonathan and knelt down next to him. She put her books on the floor and helped Jonathan get up on his knees. Some of the students passing by were watching them, but no one said anything or even tried to help. Jonathan leaned against the locker door, trying to stand up, rubbing his hurting throat. It burned like hell and Jonathan started to cough again.

"Calm down...", the girl whispered and touched Jonathan's shoulder softly.

Then she began to pick up his books, scattered all over in the hallway. Jonathan paused for a moment and then started to help her.


"Thanks, but I can handle it." It was embarrassing, just sitting here and watching the girl pick up his stuff.


"No problem.", answered the girl, without looking up.

As Jonathan reached out to pick up a book lying next to him, the girl picked up his glasses. Thanks to Gary's kick, a small piece had broken off and one of the glasses was cracked. The girl held Jonathan's glasses in her hands like a precious treasure and put them carefully into Jonathan's hands. Their hands touched lightly for a moment and the girl gazed into Jonathan's eyes.


"Thank you.." Jonathan whispered in a light trembling voice.

He didn't know why, but the girl's gaze made him a bit nervous.

"Who were those idiots, the guys bothering you?", the girl asked and helped Jonathan get up on his feet.


"Our class swaggerer and his best pal.", Jonathan answered.

He glanced shortly at the broken glasses in his hands. Meanwhile the girl had picked up all books from the floor.


"I have to thank you..", started Jonathan. "I think you may have saved my life.."


"You're welcome", the girl said and smiled, and offered him her hand. "My name is Alexandra – Alexandra Wentzler".


"Jonathan Crane", he answered with a light smile, shaking her hand.

Alexandra – what a beautiful name that is!´ Jonathan thought, still holding her hand.

Had all this really happened? Had this girl he had never seen before really helped him, really defended him? This moment was something completely new to Jonathan, but he didn't feel bad - quite the opposite.

Who was she? Where had she come from? Alexandra told Jonathan that she had recently moved here from Germany and today was her first day at Gotham High School.


"I was looking for the math classroom but I think I got lost.", Alexandra said, looking at Jonathan inquiringly.

His face brightened up.


"Hey, you are in my class then!", he said and he noticed a tone of joy in his voice.

Alexandra smiled lightly. Jonathan hated Gary and Matt for what they had done to him today, but although he knew that today he had possibly been in real danger, at the same time he was grateful for today's incident, because it had brought Alexandra into his life – and this was by far the best thing that had happened to him in a long time.