Disclaimer: I don't own Jonathan Crane (sadly) nor Batman. I don't claim to own them. I don't make any profit off of this. I'm just having fun.

02

Ugly

The ride to Jonathan's house wasn't bad. It was a little bit out of Atlanta, on a rural road. It actually surprised me, it had to be at least a half an hour away from the school. The area was quiet and secluded. "There's actually a bus that comes out here?"

Jonathan had been quiet since he got back in the car, new glasses in hand. He was wearing them now, staring out the window. Apparently the break in the quiet startled him, he twitched. If I had been watching the road like I should have been, I would have missed it. "No, not quite. I walk to the end of the road and catch a city bus, then go to the school bus."

I raised an eyebrow. "Really? How early do you have to get up to be able to do that?"

"Four." His tone was clipped, like talking to me was the absolute last thing he would ever want to do.

Jesus Christ. "Why don't you get a car? Or a horse?"

He scowled. "Grandmother won't let me get a car and I really don't think a horse would be convenient." That woman sounded lovely.

"How about I rid-er, drive you?" I was gifted a raised eyebrow. "To school?"

He turned to me and I could tell he was guarded again. "Why are you being so nice to me, Dahlia?"

I bit my lip and considered. I already knew that there was something about this guy that I liked, but was it really worth it? I snuck a peak at him. He really was gorgeous, even with the bumps and bruises. His face was sculpted with high cheek bones and full lips. He was extremely thin and for a second I thought of something I had heard Sherry say before I interrupted her. Scarecrow. That was what they had called him. But she was so wrong. Sure, he was thin, but there was an underlying strength. He was also very intelligent, soft-spoken but very articulate. He was different, but it was a refreshing sort of different. Yep, definitely worth it.

"Ugh, if you keep using that name I won't be so nice." I gave him a smile to show that I was joking. I was given a blank stare in return. "But seriously. Why wouldn't I be?"

"No one else is." So his armor did have a tiny little crack. He now looked like he wanted to strangle himself, probably for letting that slip.

"They're all jealous, is all." He gave me another look. "Come on, you're too smart to not realize that."

He nodded. "I know."

"I'm nice because I'm not jealous. I'm not gonna lament over talents I don't have. Okay, you're super smart, you talk like you eat a dictionary everyday for breakfast, and you're really good at pegging people. I'm good at playing violin and cello. I'm smart, not as smart as you granted, but I'm definitely above those jerks that push people around. Oh, and I can work on my car, usually without help. You have your talents and I have mine."

I actually got a smile out of him. It was small, but it was a smile. "Thanks, D.G. My house is right up ahead."

I pulled into the gravel in front of an older home. The siding was cracked and hanging in places and I could see an old church in the distance. The porch looked bowed in some places and it just looked all around depressing. I was suddenly grateful for my tiny apartment. "Do you think we made it?"

Jonathan took a look at the clock on the dash and nodded. It was going on 5 o'clock. "She shouldn't be home for another hour." He moved to get his stuff and paused, thinking. "Are you sure you wouldn't mind coming to pick me up before school?"

I shook my head. "Of course not. I wouldn't have offered if I did. I get up early anyways."

He looked pensive for a moment. "Pick me up at the end of the lane at six. I'll be waiting."

With a nod he was out of the car and making his way to the door. He didn't look back as he disappeared inside, leaving me alone with my racing thoughts.

"Mom! I'm home!" I shut the door behind me and threw my keys on the wooden counter. I heard her call from the bedroom so I rid myself of my sneakers and made my way back to my room.

She was unpacking my two violins and my cello, hanging the violins on my wall with the bows. She smiled at me as she put my cello on it's stand. "I remember when I bought you your first violin. You were six."

I grinned and sat on my bed, pushing the the covers aside. "Yeah, I wanted a drum kit, and you came home with a violin. I was pissed."

Mom shrugged. "Blame your Grannie. She still claims that violins and pianos are the only instruments women should touch." She laughed when I rolled my eyes and fell back on the bed. "So... Jonathan seems nice. And he's pretty cute."

I snorted. "I've only known him for a day, Mom. Don't pry."

She sighed. "Sorry, love. I just get excited. We've been here two weeks and he's the first friend you brought home."

"I didn't really plan on bringing him home. I caught a bunch of kids bullying him." I bit my lip, maybe I should have kept that to myself.

The grin was wiped off her face. "Oh, Dahlia, what did you do?"

"Nothing, Mom!" I tried to look innocent, but her face told me she was having none of it. "Oh, alright. I... dumped my soda down the Sherry Williams' shirt."

Mom sighed and ran a hand over her aging face. "Oh, Dahlia, what am I going to do with you?"

I sat up quickly. "Mom! You saw Jonathan! His face normal doesn't look like that, you know. They broke his glasses."

She sat down next to me and pulled me into a hug. "You know you probably just brought a load of stupid onto your doorstep, right? And for someone you don't know."

I hugged her back and smiled when she kissed my temple. "I know. But I had to do it. They weren't going to leave him alone. And I may not know him well, but he's definitely the most interesting person in Georgia."

Mom pulled back and laughed. "So, what now?"

"I'm gonna pick him up and take him to school... he lives outside the city and his grandmother won't let him have a car. He has to wake up at four to catch two buses to get to school. How ridiculous is that?"

"Hm, that is pretty bad. His grandmother seems like a strict one to me. You need to be careful, hun."

"Yes, Mom."

Mom stood and started to my door but paused. "Oh, and you got something from Gotham University in the mail today."

I was shocked. This early? "What? Where is it?"

Mom seemed to produce it out of thin air. I glared weakly at her and she smirked. She had been hiding it behind her back the whole time. She dangled it in front of me before I just used my height advantage and stood, taking it and making her pout like a toddler. "You're no fun."

"This is my future in a tacky manilla envelope. Of course I'm no fun." But once I had it in my hands, I couldn't open it. The black seal on the front seemed to taunt me, along with the rolling script, Ms. Dahlia Grace Cohen. "It's kind of thick to be a rejection letter, right?"

Mom looked at me sympathetically. "I don't know, love. You should just open it."

I closed my eyes and ripped open the envelope, tossing it to the side. I unfolded it and held it up to show my mom. "Should I just go bawl my eyes out now?"

"Open your eyes, Dahlia." Her voice was serious. Shit. I didn't get in.

I swallowed thickly and opened my eyes. I turned the letter to face me and scanned the first few lines.

'Dear Ms. Cohen,

I am delighted to inform you that the Admissions Committee has voted to offer you a place in the Gotham University Class of 2003. Please accept my personal-'

"Oh my god!" I threw the letter to the side and screamed. "I got in! Oh my god, oh my god, Mom, I got in!" I started jumping and my mom, caught in the excitement, jumped with me.

"Congrats! My baby girl!" She hugged me fiercely, stopping my bouncing. "Your first choice! I'm so proud of you!"

I noticed she had tears in her eyes, so of course I teared up, also. "Mom, don't you cry, or I'm going to cry."

She smiled and wiped the tears away. "Oh my- it's November! This time next year you'll be back in Gotham! We've got to prepare!"

I laughed and pulled my mom into another hug. "I've got to call Dad, too."

"Of course, of course. Go call your asshole of a father and then get dressed, we're going out to dinner to celebrate!" She pranced away, giggling and I could hear her singing.

I smiled and grabbed my phone off the base, dialing my father's number. I was still so pumped that my foot was bouncing like crazy as I listened to the ringing. After the fifth ring, someone finally picked up.

"Cohen residence."

Well, that wasn't my dad. "Er, yeah. I'm looking for my dad, David."

"Oh! D.G.! I'm sorry, I hardly recognized your voice! It's Ms. Taylor, but you can call me Kara now. How are you?"

Oh. It was her. Great. "I'm alright. Is my dad around?"

"Yeah, he's just getting out of the shower, let me get him."

I heard jostling around and I rolled my eyes, especially after hearing the low voices and giggling. This sold it, I'm getting my own apartment when I get to Gotham. No way was I staying with the lovebirds.

After a few more seconds, the phone finally crackled again. "D.G.!"

I smiled. Even if he was a cheating prick, David Cohen is my father and I love him. "Hey, Dad. How are you?"

"I'm great! Though I'm kind of surprised to hear from you this late." I looked at the clock, it was only six-thirty. Really, Dad? "Is something wrong, sweetheart?"

"No, Dad. I'm actually calling 'cause I have some really good news."

"Really? What's going on?"

"I got into Gotham University! I'm coming back next fall!"

I heard him give a little cheer and smiled, my heart feeling lighter. "That's great, baby! Congrats! I'm so proud of you! Does your mom know?"

"Of course! She got the mail today, I didn't get home till about an hour ago."

"And what were you doing, young lady?"

I could just hear the suspicion in his voice. I rolled my eyes. "Nothing, Dad. Just hanging out with a new friend."

"I'm glad to hear you're making friends. Anyways, I've got to go, sweetheart. And I'm sure your mother is waiting not-so-patiently in the hall to take you out to celebrate. Tell you what, you're coming home for Christmas, right?"

I thought about it. "Yeah, I think so. Mom wants to visit Uncle Rick and Aunt Trish."

"Well, while you're up here, we'll go look for apartments for you. I need to see how much of my bank account you're gonna be draining monthly."

I laughed. "Well, I didn't expect you to pay for my apartment, but since you offered."

"Of course I did. But I've got to go. I love you, hun."

"I love you too, Dad." We hung up and I stared at the phone for a long while. It was hard being away from half your family, especially when they refused to even greet each other. Okay, that was more on Mom's end than Dad's, but can you blame her? Homewrecker is only about five years older than me.

I was startled out of my thoughts by my mom. She peeked her head in, her make-up done and her hair pulled up. "Ready to go?"

I looked down at my clothes and blinked. I must have gotten dressed on autopilot. But apparently my blouse and pants fit my mom's expectations because she gave me a blinding smile when I nodded.

Waking up before six should be a crime. But I found myself getting up at five-thirty and rushing around, all to go pick up some boy I barely knew.

I was happy from the night before and I guess it showed, because when I pulled into the entrance of the lane Jonathan shot me a weird look as he climbed into the Charger.

I never noticed how he dressed till now. It was always a button up shirt and vest with a tie and nice denim. His clothes were immaculate, though I'm not sure why it surprised me. Someone as intelligent as him wouldn't let themselves look sloppy. His face also looked better today, his nose was back to normal and only one bruise still showing.

He was, however, rubbing his left wrist like it ached or something. That's weird. "Hello, Dahlia. You appear to be in a fine mood this morning."

It seems I couldn't keep the happiness from showing. Oh well. "Well, I got some pretty nice news last night." I didn't want to throw it in his face or anything, so I figured if he asked I would tell him.

And he did. "Care to share?"

A huge grin broke out on my face and I repeated the words of the letter in my head. I knew them by heart now. "I was accepted into Gotham University. My number one school."

Jonathan looked a little shell shocked at first before he carefully schooled his expression back to it's perfect nonchalance. "That's... interesting."

My brows furrowed together. "What is?"

"I also received my acceptance letter to Gotham University last night. It appears that we'll be going to college together, D.G."

My jaw dropped and I almost slammed on the breaks. "What? Really?"

"Does that bother you?" His voice was calm, but something flashed in those gorgeous eyes of his.

"No! Not at all! It's kind of cool, actually. I mean, how weird is it, we just met yesterday and now we're going to the same school? But, if I may ask, why Gotham? It's a ways away."

"That's exactly why."

Oh, poor guy. He probably wants a fresh start away from this area. "Right. Well, now I'm even more excited. I'm not gonna be able to sit still in Psych now."

Jonathan looked confused and I had to admit, it was kind of cute. "You have Psychology? What block?"

I burst out laughing. I didn't know whether to be insulted or not. "Third. I sit right behind you."

"You do not." That only made me laugh harder. He looked so sure. "I would have noticed you."

"If you don't believe me, look in the glove compartment. My schedule is in there." I notice he did exactly as I told him, cracking open the glove box and grabbing the only loose piece of paper. His eyes narrowed and he looked frustrated as the paper proved me right and him wrong. "To be honest, I'm kind of happy that you didn't notice me. It shows that my previous plans worked."

"What plans?" He glared one last time at my schedule before stuffing it back into the box, shutting the door.

I turned into the school parking lot, pulling into a empty space. "I had planned to keep my head down low and just ride out the school year."I climbed out of the car and put my keys in my pocket. Jonathan walked next to me as we made our way across the crowded parking lot. "You know, be as invisible as I could until I could run back to Gotham. But I kind of ruined that when I dumped my soda on the biggest bully in school."

"What made you change your mind?"

"Well, you, obviously."

"Hm." Jonathan stayed by my side until we reached the hallway where both of our lockers were and again there was a large group in front of my locker. Some of them heard us approach and turned, their eyes widening and the whispers getting louder.

"What the hell?" I pushed my way through the group till I reached my locker and felt my heart stop in my chest.

On my locker, spray painted in black, were the words "SCARECROW FUCKER" and "WHORE".

My mouth went dry and I could feel rage bubbling up within me. I just stood there, staring at the words. It was one thing to go after me, since I was the one who threw pop on her, but of course she had to bring my new friend back into it. People were starting to push into me trying to get a better look and it only made me more angry. I barely noticed Jonathan pulling me out of the crowd until his soft hands were on my face. "Dahlia! Snap out of it."

I blinked and tried to look around him. "Did you-"

He frowned and made me look into his eyes. "Don't. It's not worth it and you know that. They're not worth it. They're jealous, remember?"

I tried to regulate my breathing and was mildly successful until I heard her. Jonathan froze and his eyes looked over my head and I knew she had to be right behind me. His hands dropped to my shoulders.

"Can you believe it? She's only been here two weeks and she's already shacked up with the neighborhood freak. I heard she got kicked out of her old school because she was caught sleeping with the entire football team!" I turned my head. She was standing off to the side, her back to me, surrounded by her usual group of mindless drones. "I even heard that she was pregnant and didn't know who the dad was, so she got-"

Ripping away from Jonathan, I was on her in a second. My fist connected with her jaw and she crashed to the floor.

I heard Jonathan yell for me as I felt two of her minions grab me, pulling me away as the bitch got to her feet. I pulled on my arms, ready to rip her fake blonde hair out of her head. She sneered at me before raising her hand and slapping me across the face. "Did you really think you were going to get away with what you did yesterday? You should have just left it alone, you could have been cool! But no, you had to stick up for the freak. Wrong choice!"

I stopped struggling and smiled. "He's twice the person you'll ever be, and I just met him yesterday. Hatred is ugly, Sherry." With that, I lunged again, taking the drones by surprise and tackled the queen of the school to the floor.

That's when all Hell broke loose.

A/N: Two in one day! I'm pretty pleased with this one, as far as it goes. Being bullied before, I have plenty of experiences to draw on. Also, this is only part one out of a possible four part series. I'm gonna follow the Nolan-Verse with these. This part is (obviously) set before Batman Begins, part two will be Batman Begins, etc. The final movie comes out in summer, so all goes well, part four will coincide with that. I also have to say, I was super surprise when I received all the alerts! I hope you guys are going to enjoy this as much as me, it's going to be an interesting ride!