I was running late, so I tugged on the clothes closest to me on the floor and I whipped my blonde hair into neat pig tails.
"Why do you go to school every day dressed as a hooker?" Grandma spouted as I quickly past her seat in front of the TV.
I glanced down at my jean shorts and my old red tank top. I looked back up at her smug face and glared. I didn't have time for her this morning, I had to catch the bus; I had to see Jack again. He invaded my dreams last night, making me wake up twice, panting and in a warm sweat. I threw things in my bag as I listened to the chatter of the staticy TV set.
…And in other news, we have another Narrow Update; Gotham General was robbed last night…
I froze. Memories of last night sprang to my mind; my stomach started to churn, but I stopped myself. I mean, who hasn't broken a few rules here or there? And it's not like it's the first time Gotham General's gotten hit up. The more I convinced myself, the better I felt. All I really had to do was think about Jack's smile, about the glint in his eyes when he looked at me, about the complete confidence that radiated off of him, and somehow, any worry I might have had, melted away.
The bus's horn honked loudly, sending me out of my daze. I rushed out into the cool morning air, the screen door slamming shut behind me, and headed towards the faded yellow of the bus. I was usually one of the first stops on the route, so I wasn't expecting many people to be on there as I climbed the stairs. I zoned out and flopped into a seat in the middle of the bus, wishing I had brought a jacket.
Suddenly I was surrounded by them, a short Oswald and skinny Edward in the seat in front of me, a meek Jonathan slid in beside me, and a silent Bane settled in the seat behind me. Did they all ride my bus? No. I would have noticed them, surely.
"What are you guys doing here?" I asked, pressing my shoulder against the window, slightly uncomfortable.
"Oh, don't be afraid," Jonathan said a bit too quickly.
Edward chuckled, "Trust me, Krane here is much more afraid of you than you'll ever be of him."
Jonathan shot him a dark look before turning back to me.
"Jack asked us to…..look out for you," he explained.
I remembered the way Jack stood up for me yesterday and a smile played on my face. But sending his whole group of friends as my bodyguards? That's a little too far.
"I don't need protection," I piped up, even though I probably did.
They ignored me. I sighed. Jonathan looked down and spotted my Psychology book just as Jack did before. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see his face light up.
"I took that course a couple years back," he said, almost sounding astonished that we had something in common.
I gave him a smile, "A couple years back? But this is a college level course…aren't you my age?"
"I'm probably a little bit older than you, but…I guess you can say that I'm a bit of a nerd," he muttered and adjusted his glasses.
He was a cute nerd though, his dark framed glasses really brought out his deep blue eyes, that were only a little bit darker than mine. I wondered how he fit into this crew.
"Where is Jack?" I blurted out, the thought suddenly striking me.
They all exchanged looks around me; that's usually not a good sign.
"He decided to…stay low, err, I mean stay home for today," Edward said carefully.
"Oh," I tried not to let my disappointment show.
Suddenly Bane grunted from behind us and I saw why. The jock that Jack had yelled at the day before just walked on the bus, and, of course, his icy gaze fell on me. I hugged my knees to my chest and snapped my attention to out the window. I made myself as invisible as I could, but I knew he had already seen me.
"Where's your freaky-ass friend now, nerd?" he smirked as he flopped into the seat across from me and Jonathan.
I tried to ignore him, but he reached across Jonathan and flicked my temple..hard. I flinched and forced myself to look at him.
"Don't. Do. That," Bane's deep voice rumbled.
The jock's smile slid off his face when he laid eyes on Bane's hulking frame. I smiled and giggled, even though I was sad that I wasn't going to see Jack today.
"But don't worry, we'll take you to him later," Edward said with a wave of his hand.
"Oh, how cute, are the freak and the nerd getting together now?" The jock sneered.
"Don't call him that," I snapped, surprising myself.
I looked up at the idiot's shocked expression; he hadn't expected me to talk back…I've never done that before. He quickly regained his composure though.
"Call him what? A stupid, dirty, fucking ugly, little dick of a FREAK?"
He laughed an obnoxious rich-boy laugh as he slapped hands with his little jock minions. Watching him, something inside of me burned with hatred.
"Funny you should mention that, wasn't that the main reason Shelly Mcgarth broke it off with you? Because of your tini-tiny dick; which, according to her, is smaller than her thumb?" My voice turned icy.
He stopped laughing and his face was turning a deep red as the people around us tried to suppress their snickers. But I wasn't done yet.
"Oh and by the way, how's your mother doing? I saw her last night at her usual street corner, this time with a sign that said: 40% off….now are you guys strapped for cash or did her costumers find out what all diseases she has?"
I knew I was being a bitch, but I didn't care. At this point, everyone was laughing openly and Edward gave me a nod of approval. The jock shrugged it off like he didn't care and stuck earphones in his ears to zone out the laughing. I smiled as his cheeks still burned red.
I turned to the guys, "Take me to him now."
"You have school," Jonathan nodded to my books.
"I'm ahead in all my classes…I can skip a day," I said struggling to maintain my new confidence.
I had won for, what seems like, the first time in my life. I had stood up, not for myself, but for Jack and I felt proud of myself. I hoped this feeling would last at least until I saw Jack.
The bus had come to a slowing stop as we reached the school, but instead of heading towards the commons, we made a beeline towards the same beaten up car Jack was sitting on last night.
…..
The brakes screeched to a stop in front of an abandoned chemical factory. I hesitated before climbing out though, we were deep in the Narrows, deeper than I've even been.
"Uhh this is where you guys hang out?" I asked timidly, slamming the door shut behind me.
"Home, sweet, home," Oswald squawked, already heading towards the building.
I could feel my confidence dwindle away as we walked down the dark, musty halls, passing the graffiti covered walls and stepping over abandoned hazmat suits. Sometimes, we would pass under a working light, but even then they would flicker on and off, sending you into darkness unexpectedly. The whole place could double as a haunted house.
"I think I want to go back to school now," I said, but they ignored me and pushed onwards.
"Boys? You better have a good reason as to why you're back so early," I heard Jack growl from the end of the hall.
A smile sprung to my face as I was reminded why I came here in the first place. Jack.
I rushed ahead of the group and pushed the heavy double doors open as fast as I could. I blinked a couple times from the sharp light and looked around. It was a big room, filled with couches, a king-sized bed, a huge TV, a pool table, and a couple old arcade games. I was impressed.
"Harls?" he said with a degree of surprise in his voice.
He spun around from the desk he was stooping over and the smile on his face sent excited chills down my spine.
"Jack!" I smiled and skipped over to him.
I threw my arms around him and after a pause, he returned the hug.
"You're supposed to be in your classes, young lady," he said shaking a finger at me.
I giggled in my stupid high pitched voice, but he seemed to like it.
"You should have seen her on the bus, Jack," Edward chuckled, stretching out on one of the couches.
"It was quite thrilling," Jonathan said with a small smile as he and Oswald set up at the pool table.
Jack raised his eyebrows at me and I blushed.
"What'd you do?" He smiled playfully as he led me over to the bed.
"Oh, nothin'," I replied a little too quickly.
"Nothing?" Edward snorted and told Jack about the entire bus ride.
Jack listened intently as he sat down by me in the middle of the fluffy bed. I tried not to think of all the times and ways this bed had been used as I settled in cross-legged. Through the story, I saw Jonathan stealing glances at me from the pool table, and they weren't always of my face. I scooted closer to Jack, my leg brushing against his.
"Well aren't you feisty for your size?" He purred turning to me, "All of that for little ole me?"
I nodded my head, him being so close to me made everything cloudy.
"Hey, Ozzie, what's black and white and red all over?" Edward suddenly snickered.
"Newspaper," Oswald responded, lining up for a shot.
"Nope, a penguin in a blender," Edward snorted.
Oswald suddenly picked up the cue ball and chunked it at him, making me jump.
"Oswald there has a soft spot for penguins," Jack muttered into my ear.
The heavy white ball connected with Edward's head and instantly made his body go limp. I squirmed, not knowing how to react. Should I go help him? No one else seemed to be the least bit fazed by what just happened.
Jack gently grabbed my chin and turned my head towards him, putting my attention back on his handsome face.
"Don't worry about them. I'm interested in hearing more about you," his velvety voice swam into my ears.
He gently placed his hands on my leg; the moment his skin touched mine, the fog seemed to snap clear. My senses seemed to be sharpened.
I slowly started to tell him about me. How my mom left me after I was born and how my dad got into jail. How I wasn't going to be like the rest of my family, I was going places; I had plans to become a doctor and maybe even work at the Arkham Asylum when I got older. How most guys take advantage of me because of my small size. How I live with my grandma, the only relative I have that would take me in.
When I finished I looked back up at him to study his reaction, I found that he was staring almost lovingly back down at me.
"Why do you do that?" I asked him.
"Do what?" his eyebrows raised.
"Stare at me that way…like you…well in a way that seems like…" my voice trailed off, the thought seemed stupid now.
"…Like I love you?" he finished for me, smiling.
I nodded and I found myself scooting closer to him.
"Well, I wonder why," he chuckled and brushed some of my bangs out of my face.
"BOYS? Disappear!" He suddenly growled, making me flinch.
I bit my lip and giggled. Oh Jack.