Gotham High: Story Of The Dark Siders
10
You Think This Is The Last Straw
"Hello Wayne", The teen said as he smiled brightly at Bruce.
"Hello Stark", Bruce smiled back.
Tony and Bruce shook hands as they walked up the steps towards Bruce's mansion.
"How's... school?", Tony asks.
"Ok. How's... being a teen genius?"
"Good one. I wanted to see you because there's some weird stuff happening around New York and I really needed your help".
"Well, with what exactly is it you need?" The stepped inside the Wayne Mansion sat on one of the foyer couches.
"Well", Tony started. "I got this letter a couple of days ago and it was talking about all these weird things that were all going to happen in Gotham".
Tony pulled out an envelope from his pocket and handed it to Bruce.
"And why was this sent to you?"
"Read it".
"Calm down-".
"Shut up, James", Harley snarled.
"It's Logan", Logan Howlett said stepping a bit closer. Harley could see that Logan had a little stubble growing. God that looked hot on him.
"You'll always be James to me. You didn't answer my question".
"Just calm down. I'm looking for Jake".
"I don't know where he is". Logan gave Harley a hard look before sitting down at her desk chair. Harley glared at Logan as she slowly sat on her bed.
"You're lying Harley", Logan started
"I'm not", Harley countered
"You know where he is".
"I don't".
"You were never good at lying".
"I'm not lying".
"Then tell me the truth".
"I can't!"
"Why not!?"
...
"Harley". Harley looked solemnly at the floor before standing up.
"Did you bring your motorcycle?"
"Always".
"I'll bring you to him".
"No, Victor", Julian sneered. "You don't understand! I'm not one of Jake's stupid puppets that he can just control around". Victor (F) growled lowly looking up at Julian from the hole.
"I'm not a puppet, Day!" Victor spat. "And if you've forgotten, Jake knows a few of yours secrets so if you don't help me I'll just call Jake". Julian glared at Victor as he continued to dig before grabbing a shovel.
"I just don't get why he doesn't have the others dig up the damn guy. They did kill him!"
"Yeah, well, Jake said the others are working on better things".
"Like what?"
"Well, Harley's not talking to him", Victor started. "Bane is out-of-town to visit some dude in some prison in some country. And Jonathan is being hassled by some punks and he's working on a fucking experiment for the loony toon".
"What the hell is Harley's problem now?" Victor did a loud grunt before looking at the ground panting.
"You're looking at it".
'Good evening, Rich Boy,
On the eve of New Years a bomb will go off in a local high school in Gotham City. A very 'popular' local high school. I know you're wondering why this letter is being sent to you and not your good friend Bruce Wayne. What I need you to do my sweet friend is to visit that boy for me. Give him the letter and watch the confusion on his face. If you don't. Hundreds of people will de in a fire. Good boy.
Now Bruce if you got this letter of course,
What I need you to do is take 500,000 dollars from any of your bank accounts and give it to my good black mailed friend behind the Gotham High Stadium. You can call the police. But they can't trace me back to him. I'll see you later.
P.S. It's tonight by the way. Don't ask how I know.
"Where the hell are we Harley?" Logan asked as he parked his motorcycle in a parking space.
"Can't you read?" She pointed a finger towards a sign. "It's the Gotham High Stadium. J said he'll be here tonight".
"Why?"
"I didn't bother to ask". Logan shook his head.
The two stood by the parking lot for a few minutes. This gave Logan enough time to look Harley over. She didn't look too different from last year. He hasn't seen her in almost nine mouths. Her hair was down though and she was wearing sweats. Logan didn't even know Harley owned sweats. Her and Jake might be fighting. Logan didn't even think they would still be a couple. If they're still a couple.
"You still dating Jake?"
"We broke up".
"Really?". Harley shot a look at him.
"Yes. God, is it that hard to believe!?"
"Yes".
Harley shook her head looking away from Logan.
Buzz!
Harley sighed loudly before grabbing her phone out of her jacket pocket.
Behind the stadium you nitwit!
"Follow me"
"This is Gotham High?", Tony asked as they walked up to the building.
"Yep. How does it look?", Bruce asked as Tony stared at the building for a few moments. And then another moment. A another moment more.
"It's...modern".
"My parents went to school here".
"Retro modern".
"It's shit Tony".
"It still has potential".
"Let's just go".
Tony looked over the school for a few more seconds before following Bruce. They walked around the school towards the football stadium where a motorcycle was parked in the parking lot. Bruce gave a good look at it as they passed. They stopped and looked around to see where the owner of the bike was.
"I. Don't. Know!" Someone screamed. Tony visibly jumped and looked over at one of the stands.
"Behind the bleachers", He said. Bruce and Tony quickly walked over to the bleachers and stopped short. "What if it's a trap?"
"What?"
"What if their aren't any bombs?" Tony asked.
"Then why send you and I a letter?"
"For the money?"
"Bruce?", Bruce snapped his head up and looked over at the bleachers where Harley was standing. "Bruce, what are you doing here?"
"Harley?", Bruce asked just as confused. Tony looked between the two of them seeing the huge confusion on their faces. "What are you doing here?"
"My friend", She said pointing behind her. A guy walked out from behind who looked like he was ready to high tale it out of there. "Logan. He needed to see Ja...huh..someone". Bruce looked at her and knew she was lying.
"Sorry Harley", Logan said patting her shoulder before walking towards the two teenagers. "I'm actually here for Bruce".
"What?"
"Me?", Bruce said. "Why?"
"I was sent by Jake to collect the money from you", Bruce looked at him in shock. Jake. It was Jake that sent that letter. What for? Yeah, Jake didn't seem to have the best life but would he really bomb a school if Bruce didn't do this. Was he really that crazy? "The money Wayne". Yeah. He probably is that crazy.
"Here", He said taking the bag from his shoulder and handing it to Logan. "Can I ask you something though?"
"Sure", Logan said slugging the bag behind him.
"Was Jake...really gonna..blow up a school?" Bruce asked. It was dark but you could still see the fright shadow over Bruce's face as he asked. Logan gave a Bruce a look before answering.
"Of course not. He's crazy, but not stupid crazy".
"You're crazy you know that?", Julian said as he dropped the body on the dinning table of Victor's dinning room.
"Oh I know", Jake answered from the kitchen. He came out with Jonathan who was holding a tray of surgical tools. "Why do think I'm doing this?" He giggled.
"You're not doing this. I am!" Jonathan whined setting the tray down.
"But you enjoy it!"
"You're black mailing me Jake", Jonathan sighed. "I wouldn't do this if you weren't black mailing me".
"We're friends!".
"Just shut up and let me concentrate", Jonathan finally said. Jake smiled and lifted his hand before walking out the room. "Fucker".
"Need anything else before I throw up?" Victor asked leaning against the archway.
"Got anymore towels?" Victor sighed before opening a closet and throwing four more towels next to the other pile. "Thanks again Victor". Victor nodded before heading back upstairs.
"So what exactly are we doing?" Julian asked.
"Before the guy died we put a chemical gas in his body. He didn't react the way Jake wanted him to in the beginning so we buried his body. But, Jake realized he didn't want someone to find the body so he blackmailed you guys to dig it up", Julian grumbled. "And then you guys found him like this".
The teens looked down at the body that pale and had no skin in some places to see a smile plastered on its face.
"We just needed to wait", Jonathan said. "With just more testing. Jake will have what he needs".
"What does he need?"
Jonathan looked at Julian with a blank face.
"I don't even think Jake knows".
"Harley who was that guy?" Bruce asked as Logan drove away from the school.
"An old friend of mine", Harley grumbled. "I'm sorry Bruce".
"Bruce?" Tony asked. "Are you planning to stay at this school?"
"Maybe.. next year", Bruce sighed. Harley stiffed and bowed her head. "I think I'll go back to Metropolis High".
"Bruce", Harley called "What will I tell everyone?"
"Just", Bruce sighed looking at Harley. "Tell them whatever. I gotta go".
"Jesus, you look like shit", Oswald said as he stood in front of Jonathan's front door.
"Thanks", Jonathan sneered shutting the door behind Oswald. "They're in there". He said before walking upstairs. Oswald stared warily after him before slowly walking over to the living room.
"Ozzy, my boy!", Jake shouted as Oswald walked into the room. Inside sat Jake, Julian, Victor, a guy he didn't recognize and Jervis. "Come in, come in. Take a sit". Oswald stared at Jake before taking a sit on the couch next to Jervis.
"Why am I here?" Jake smiled at him, ignoring his question.
"We all have a job to do tonight. Some of you have already finished", Jake looked around at them before looking back Oswald. "Except you my friend".
"What!"
"Hand this to him Peter", Peter took the envelope Jake was holding and handed it To Oswald. Oswald looking at the envelope before taking it. "Go on Ozzy! It won't bite ya".
Oswald eyed the envelope before slowly opening it.
"Jake", Jonathan called from upstairs. "My parents are coming back hurry the fuck up!"
"Sure thing friend!" Jake shouted back.
"Jake what is this?" Oswald asked, shaking as he looked at the papers in his hand.
"That my friend is blackmail. Everyone here, including Johnny, is being blackmailed by me".
"Why?"
"Because I need to go into hiding for awhile...more. What-".
"What about school?"
"I'm taking online classes. Don't interrupt me".Jake growled. Oswald nodded as the others sunk deeper in their seats.
"Jake", Everyone looked up to Jonathan standing in the archway. "My parents are three minutes away you gotta leave". Jake sighed deeply before standing up.
"I'll call you all later", He grumbled. While the others quickly got up Oswald was still staring at Jake. "And I'll talk to you later". Jake patted Jonathan on the shoulder before running out the front door. Oswald stayed sitting where he was staring at the paper. Jonathan walked over to him and sat down on the floor.
"Listing Oswald, we all know Jake's a pretty crazy guy. But he's a man with a plan. He's not doing this just willy-nilly, he knows what he's doing. He says it's going to make life better".
"Do you even believe that?" Oswald asked. Jonathan shook his head.
"No", He glared at Oswald and stood up. "But you secret is nothing compared to mine. Now leave". Oswald jumped up and ran out of the house. Jonathan sat back down and sniffed his fingers.
"Jesus, I can still smell it".
Jake walked leisurely to his house, humming a little tune. The air felt fresh, the sun is for once shining through the clouds and the dogs are barking. What a peaceful.
"Wish I could change that", He chuckled quietly.
"You!" Jake smiled when he realized what voice was calling him. He turned around slowly and saw Harley standing on her porch.
"Well", He said leaning against a fence. "Hello there, pretty lady". Harley gave him a hard glare, crossing her arms.
"Why did you need Bruce's money?" Jake laughed and started walking towards Harley. "Don't you dare come near me!"
"But Harley", Jake said as he stood next to her porch steps. "I thought you were my girlfriend?"
"We broke up Jake". Jake smiled before quickly running up the stairs and pinning Harley to the front door.
"Did we Harls?" Jake asked as he clenched hard on Harley's arms.
"Get off me", She said struggling to push him off, but Jake was always stronger than her.
"Harley". Jake said softly. Harley stopped moving and looked up at him.
This was why. This was why Haley fell for Jake. He had the goddamn affect on her. Whatever he needs from her she's do it and he knows it. Jake may never be in love with Harley. But Harley was in love with Jake.
"You're still my girlfriend?" Jake smiled. Harley looked at him for a few seconds before sighing and nodding her head. "Good to have you back".
Then he kissed her.
End Of Book One