Chapter Two: Above The Ever-Judging World

Fourth period Advanced Psychopharmacology could not go any slower for Jonathan Crane. For the first time in a long time, he was anxious as a drug addict anticipating the next hit.

'Maybe not so anxious,' he thought to himself, 'But close.'

To calm his nerves, Jonathan twisted his black onyx ballpoint pen through his fingers, as if the pen traveling back and forth would make time go faster. But then he noticed the professor, a forty-something year old woman, Victoria Berking, flashing him warning looks to pay attention. With a little irritation, Jonathan went back to copying notes of information he already knew. Previously, in the summer, Jonathan had attending post-graduate classes on psychiatry, psychopharmacology and sociology. There, he had been tutored by a man he had assumed been from France or some other place in continental Europe. But, just like his tutor had instructed, he had not asked questions. It took him self control to not ask questions when the mystery instructor had presented Jonathan with a deep royal blue flower and asked him to somehow create a gas out of it. It has been little over a month since he had accepted the offer, but yet he had not touched the flower since. There was something about the man's eyes that, Jonathan felt out of his skin to admit, afraid. So he did not make a move to create anything from the flower.

Catching him off guard, the bell that would dismiss the students to lunch rang out and, again, interrupted Jonathan's random thoughts.

Quickly, he carelessly threw his belongings into his briefcase carrying case and actually lightly jogged out of the room, muttering "excuse me" to all the people he would bump into along the way.

It took Jonathan about a minute to get to the front doors, for he was back on the lower level of the building. By the time he had reached the stairs, he slowed down and opened the doors with a calm demeanor. His eyes scanned both sides of the stairs and on the left side, there was Eva, standing alone.

Clutching his case just a little bit more, Jonathan walked down the stone stairs to meet up with the waiting girl.

With a voice that sounded a little out of breath, Jonathan greeted Eva with a brisk, "Hey."

Eva turned her head in the direction of the voice and when she saw that it was Jonathan, a warm smile came to her face, "Hey, stranger. What's new and exciting with you?"

Jonathan shrugged. In all honestly, the chance to meet Eva, someone who didn't seem like every other girl he had come across, was quite new and exciting. Other than that, life for Jonathan had been pretty dull – same shit, different day. Except for the flower.

'Damn that flower,' Jonathan cursed it. What was so great about it? Why was he chosen to try and create a gas out of it? Jonathan tossed thoughts of the flower out of his head and his mind returned to the matter at hand.

"Nothing great, really. Just anticipating to know where we might be going for lunch," Jonathan replied with a smile.

Eva rolled her green eyes playfully and she too shrugged. "Doesn't matter, Jonathan. No need to treat me just because I was stupid," she said.

But Jonathan countered her comment by telling her that it was only right that he be the gentleman and take her out. So, on that note, the two medical school students decided on lunch at a restaurant calling Noodles and Company. There, only noodles and salad were sold.

That day, Jonathan Crane and Eva Daniels discovered a lot of things they had common. For instance, they were both vegetarians for the reasons of saving animals and also the health benefits. They also both adored animals as well. In her small apartment she lived with by herself, Eva had two cats, a female Siamese and a female Calico, who she adored with every passion. Jonathan had a two year old Dachshund male. He and his puppy shared a small townhouse that he had inherited from his grandmother. The two had also both discovered that they were pretty well off. The Crane family was one of the many prominent families in Gotham City and Eva's family was a wealthy one back in her homeland of England. Jonathan and Eva also shared an interest for the human mind and how it worked: why people did the things they did. Both believing the mind had a greater power over the body than the physical aspect, they had coincidentally deciding to go into careers that dealt with that matter.

Jonathan was on his way to become a psychiatrist, while Eva was just starting down the down to become a criminal psychologist.

The hour that the two had for lunch flew by like minutes. Before they knew it, Jonathan and Eva had five minutes to get back to Gotham Med before the bell sounded.

As the two sped walked down the hall, Eva said, "You know, that lunch was pretty damn lovely."

Jonathan gave her a surprised look, "Well, thanks. I have to say I enjoyed it, too."

As they came to a halt, Eva suggested, "Maybe we could do that again some day." She turned to grab something out of her purse. Jonathan discovered that it was a pen and a scrap piece of paper. Quickly, she scratched something down and handed it to Jonathan. He took it from her hand and read it.

It was her number.

Jonathan attempted to hide a smile but he found it hard. "Well, I suppose it's only nice to give you mine, eh?"

But Eva shook it off, "No, hey. Just meet me down by the stairs where I was waiting for you at lunch. You can give it to me then, because I don't know if you noticed, Jonathan, but we're going to be late." As she was about to turn away, Eva said, "Thanks for the lunch!" and rushed to her next class.

Jonathan did the same as well, but at a bit slower pace. A girl had never given him her number before.

'Wow,' Jonathan thought gleefully, 'Maybe this year won't be so bland after all.'

Coming to his senses, Jonathan, for the second time that day, jogged to his next class.

And Jonathan Crane never jogged.

--

Medical School dragged on hopelessly for Jonathan. But as all days come to an end, this one did as well. Trying to stay collected, Jonathan took a simple left turn to go out the doors. He did not expect Eva to be there yet. The bell had only just rang a few seconds ago. So he took his time to take out a clean sheet of paper and copy down his house and cell phone number. Feeling satisfied with just his name and numbers, Jonathan placed the little piece of paper in his pocket. Just as he did this, he caught sight of Eva walking out of one set of glass doors. She looked worn and a little worn out from her first day. Jonathan felt her pain; it happened to the good.

A look of relief flashed on her face when she saw Jonathan, but the tiredness in her eyes could not be concealed.

When she reached him, she uttered a quiet, "Hey," rubbing her eyes as she did.

Jonathan tsked her, "Tired much, Eva?"

Eva shrugged, smiling a little, "Just a little much." Adding to her tiredness, she yawned a huge yawn and screamed she needed some rest.

At the moment, Jonathan's eyes widened in remembrance and he pulled out the piece of paper from his suit jacket pocket. "I believe I was to give this to you after lunch," he informed her as he handed Eva the numbers.

Eva nodded her head as she quickly scanned Jonathan's numbers.

"Sounds like a deal," she said. Before Jonathan could say anything, Eva added, "So if I ever wanted to get a hold of you, which of these could I call?"

That took Jonathan by surprise. He wasn't much of a socialite. He did not do a lot of talking besides it having to do with school, his parents, his pets and well.. whatever else was needed to be talked about at the time. It only made sense to Jonathan when he replied, "Cell phone, most likely. I don't go out that much so you could call either one."

Eva rolled her eyes and chuckled, "You're impossible, Jonathan, utterly impossible. But yeah, I'll give you a call tonight, that's a guarantee."

Jonathan tilted his head to the side a little bit and smiled, "But aren't you a little tired, Eva? You look exhausted."

"Thanks!" Eva responded seriously, but her wide smile countered it. "No, you're right. I am really tired. Who knew after getting threw twelve years of elementary, middle and high school, plus four grueling years of college, I could find medical school hard?" to answer her own question, Eva shrugged. "I'll probably nap until supper and perhaps call you when I'm done?"

'Why couldn't there be other girls like her?' Jonathan thought, 'So open and honest, with nothing to hide. In addition, pretty easy on the eyes.'

He snapped back to reality, "You could call after dinner, after dessert or at midnight, Eva. It really doesn't matter."

"Well, I'd have to say even with your wide variety of options, Jonathan, I think I'm still going to call after dinner," Eva replied. She crossed her arms across her chest, as if she was challenging him in some secret fashion.

Jonathan did the same motion, challenging her, "Well, after dinner it is, Ms. Daniels."

Eva reached into her purse and dug in it for a few seconds before fishing out a set of keys. She also pulled out a stick of gum and stuck it in her mouth. "Well, Sir Crane, I'm going to be off to take my much anticipated nap. I shall call you when my dinner is over."

"Until then, my lady," Jonathan said to her as she departed with a slight curtsy.

As she looked back, Eva smiled, blushing just a little bit, "Until then."

Jonathan watched Eva's retreating form until he could not see her anymore. When she was out of eye sight, Jonathan took his keys out of his briefcase and went to his Beemer. After unlocking it and sticking the key in the ignition, he did not drive off as he usually did. Instead, Jonathan sat and thought. It was something he did quite commonly but it was typically on pointless things that normal people don't go into deep thought about. This time, he thought about Eva and how much better he felt meeting someone who radiated kindness, yet intelligence at the same time. She was beautiful, Jonathan admitted to himself, but it was natural.

Feeling chipper, Jonathan clicked a button he had not clicked since, well, he had purchased his BMW: the radio. The song playing currently sounded like one of the disco feel good love songs he had heard his mother play the words talked about a man not meaning to hurt his "sugar baby love" and making mistakes saying sorry and love who you have. As much as his ego was telling him to turn the whiny beg for forgiveness off, Jonathan kept it on. It made him feel good, like something had been awakened. He smiled as he drove and the feeling didn't leave for a long, long time.

--

So the song Jonathan hears when he turns on the radio is "Sugar Baby Love" by the Rubettes. It is on the Breakfast on Pluto soundtrack and I adore that song.

Thank you for reading, dears. NO FLAMES, PLEASE. Constructive criticism, if you may. Thank you!