I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my disheveled appearance. I had done it again, I got too caught up in the moment, in the love of the guy. We had sex and of course, it was the best experience I've ever had, being so close to him….but this is the part where the guy leaves. I did my best to smooth out my pig tails and to clean up my makeup, but in the end I still looked like the hooker Grandma had always claimed I was.

The screams had become more faded and far in between now, I forced myself to push my thoughts away from it.

"You're an idiot, you know that?" I scolded myself.

I wanted to be with him, I needed to be with him. I wanted to make him as happy as I possibly could. I wanted to love him, and him to love me back. I had what my textbooks called an unhealthy infatuation with him, triggered by who knows what. I sighed and held my face in my hands, I was arguing within myself. My heart and my brain. I wondered who was going to win.

"Trouble in paradise?" a voice asked behind me and I spun around, surprised.

I didn't hear Jonathan walk up, but there he was, studying me behind his glasses.

"No, I'm fine," I smiled an airy smile.

"Hmm," he walked a little closer, "You're a good liar, but not the best."

He pushed up his crisp white sleeves under his light gray vest and then stuck his hands in his pockets. He was possibly the best dressed teenager I've ever seen. I didn't know what to say back to him.

"Uhh thank you?" I finally settled on, I slid my hand into my back pockets.

"Oh, it's a compliment, I assure you. Care to join me in a game of pool?" he smiled and nodded behind him towards the pool table.

I don't think Jack would like that. I shook my head and moved towards the door I came in at.

"I don't think so, I have to get back…maybe I can make it for my Psychology class."

"You want to break back into school? For class? You're smarter than you look," he chuckled.

Did I look dumb? I stopped in my tracks and wheeled around to face him.

"Was that meant to be a compliment too?" I snapped with a hand on my hip.

He suddenly looked flustered, like he didn't know what to say to that.

"Oh, of course, I—I uh didn't mean—" he cleared his throat before carrying on, "I didn't mean to offend you. Its just that, you're so beautiful…I just didn't expect you to be interested in academics."

"So what? A pretty girl can't be smart?" my voice getting more and more high pitch as I got more annoyed.

I walked over to the pool table and grabbed one of the pool cues that were resting on the fuzzy green tabletop. I pointed it at him and debated on using it as a weapon or not.

"So now you want to play pool?" he asked slightly puzzled.

"Why? You afraid to lose against a ditsy little girl?"

"Of course not," he said regaining his cool.

"Then rack em up, four-eyes."

Little did he know, I spent most of my Saturday nights breaking into bars and hussling money out of old biker guys. I knew how to calculate how hard to hit it with the angle of where to bank it off the sides. He lost the moment I fell into my zone. I heard the others trickle in, but I was focusing on the clacking sound of the cue ball knocking all of my striped balls in the pockets.

Finally, I set my sights on the faded black 8 ball, the last one. I banked it off the side, avoiding the solid balls, and sunk it in the right corner pocket. I straightened up smiling as the other guys in the room cheered.

"Alright, pay up boys! I had fifty bucks on the blonde!" Jack said clapping his hands together.

I laughed at the thought of him placing bets on me. As him, Bane, and Oswald exchanged bills, I spotted Edward's red hair lurking in the background. I took a couple steps towards him and stopped in my tracks as I took in his appearance. Everything looked relatively normal, except the dark stain seeping through the green of his shirt on his chest. His eyes purposely averted mine and he held his arms close to his sides, with his fists clenched so hard, his fingers turned white.

"What happened?" I whispered to him, but he firmly ignored me.

Or so I thought. He still didn't speak, but he slowly pulled up his shirt, pain flashing through his face at the slightest movement. I screamed when I saw his carved skin and everyone's attention quickly fell on me.

"Admiring my handy work, Harls?" Jack cackled and sauntered over to where I was.

He folded his new wad of money and tucked it into his pocket before slinging an arm over my shoulder. What I did next shocked me. I knew Jack was a monster, I saw the proof right in front of my face…but still I couldn't help but lean into him, my body needing to be close to his. I couldn't stop myself, even if my mind screamed at me to run away.

In the middle of his chest, carved into his skin, was a big question mark and below it, instead of a dot, was an evil looking smiley face. As his chest rose and fell with every breath, the fresh wound would rip open and a trickle of angry blood would fall. Tears shimmered in Edward's eyes, but he wouldn't dare cry in front of Jack.

"He'll need stitches," I said numbly.

"What?" Jack's voice was laced with suspicion, he wondered why my reaction was so subdue.

I pointed to the gashes, Edward flinched, thinking I was about to touch them. Just the thought of doing so made me shudder inwardly.

"You cut too deep…he's gonna need stitches or they won't heal."

"Hmmm," he leaned down, further inspecting his work, "So you're right."

I couldn't help but beam feeling like I won a small prize.

He bent down and nuzzled my neck; I was slightly surprised by the sudden display of affection, but I happily ran my fingers through his hair.

"I guess my mind was..uh..a little foggy thanks to a certain someone," he softly growled into my neck.

Nervous giggles erupted from my throat as a smile spread across my blushing face.

"Jonathan!" He snapped, pulling away from my neck, "Patch Edward up. And don't think I don't see the way you look Harleen….i think we both know you don't want to piss me off," his eyes looked from Edward's chest then slowly looked back at Jonathan's flustered face.

I could see the terror in Jonathan's eyes and I hate to say it, but I found it almost comical. This was so opposite of my normal boring life. Right now, id probably be alone in my room, reading and re-reading my books, studying as hard as my little mind could. Being with Jack was like taking a fresh air, my worries lifted away.

But suddenly, as I looked around the same old room, I found myself growing bored.

"J?" I chirped.

"Hmm?" he tilted his head down at me, the dangerous glint still in his eyes.

"I was just kinda sorta wonderin…."

"Spit it out Harls," he grew impatient, his eyes fluttering over to where Jonathan tended to Edward.

"Can we go somewhere else? A little change of scenery never hurts," I smiled a real sweet smile and batted my eyes.

"No."

I slumped my shoulders and pouted my lip. He leaned down and pressed a kiss into my forehead.

"Pout all you want, my little minx…I'm not one who can be persuaded," He cackled.

I sighed, wondering how late it was. I had to get back soon, before Grandma…..did absolutely nothing.

"Time to go so soon?" He observed, seemingly reading my mind.

"Yeah, I guess," I shrugged, my heart already aching at the thought of leaving him.

I wrapped my arms around his waist, hugging him tight against me. The heat of my body mixing with his comforted me. Jack the Joker.

"Oh don't look so down, Baby," he laughed and twirled a finger through my pig tails.

"I had so much fun…I don't really want to leave. I don't want to go back to Grandma," I muttered into his shirt.

"Hmmm," he said thoughtfully and I looked up at him. His tongue darted over his lips as he mulled something over, "I'm not ready to leave you either…how about I drive you there?"

The corners of his mouth stretched upwards into his smile; I happily returned it. He took my hand, his long fingers completely overpowering mine, and lead me out the door. As we walked, I turned around to wave a goodbye to the guys. In doing so, I caught sight of the alarmed and worried-for-me faces.

"Don't worry…I've had many people tell me what a good driver I am," His cackles echoed throughout the halls.

I squeaked. Great…

- Hey! Thanks for reading! Review please! I'll try to update soon!