Bruises, make for better conversation.
My eyes flutter open slowly as if coming out of a deep fog. Where was I? The colors around me were all mixed with one another. Almost as if i knew something bad happened or was about to happen my heart pounding hard inside my chest. Although blurry at first, my vision finally begins to focus on the location. Around me stood what looked to be upside down lockers. How unusual, besides that they were almost exact replicas of the lockers at Gotham High minus the purple marks of course.
A loud bell rings, alarming me. "Eeek!" I jump falling flat on my face. For some reason I fell asleep on top of a storage cabinet, upside down? I groan rubbing the back of my head. This was all so confusing, it didn't even make sense. "What was I doing upside down?" I mutter to myself. Maybe that was the reason for my head throbbing, aching like this.
Groggily I stand up, "Hello is anyone-" I gasp, my vision finally becoming clear. The lockers weren't upside down and they didn't just look like the ones at Gotham High, they WERE the ones in Gotham High. I was in Gotham High! Alone! What was I doing here? There wasn't school today. Think, Harleen think. What happened last night? No luck, I sigh not recalling anything. Last nights events were all still a blur. My eyes widen, seeing lockers vandalized in purple sharpy. Could I have..No! I would never destroy school property. I must have been framed. My gaze trails down to my hand where a purple sharpy was enclosed in the palm of it. "EEEK!" I scream, dropping the marker. "I would never..." Quietly my argument fades into a silence. Unbalance, I stumble forward falling down the hallway, making an effort to move a couple steps. Words written in my bubbly handwriting and another person's scratchy handwriting were spread out across the lockers.
"Look Harleen, you're a big girl. You can handle it. So what if looks like you're basically wrote an essay on the walls, no one will know. No one will know." Slowly I begin to read one or two of them out loud, hoping it would jog my memory. " is a fool?" Why would I say that? It didn't even sound like me, he was a respectable teacher. Sure, he was a little creepy and went off on tangents about different wars and militaries but he most certainly was not a fool. All I could think of was how dead I was as I press my hand against the lockers, working my way towards the girl's bathroom. Desperately I needed to pull myself together, the bathroom was the best place for that. A little ways down showed more purple vandalism along the walls; Selina loves Tony the Tiger, Fatty Wobblepot, Why So Serious?, Strange can go to h-.
I gasp why would anyone write such things about our Principle and on school walls too. He wasn't that bad of a man, just a little creepy. A warm feeling comes across my face as it flashes red with panic, this was all my fault. I close my eyes tightly, not wanting to read anymore. "Come on Harleen, your a smart girl, you have to snap out of this...just get to the bathroom." Using the lockers for guidance, I find my way to the bathroom. Eyes closed tightly to prevent myself from seeing anything any more. "At least things can't get any worse." I sigh, opening my eyes. A shriek escaped my mouth before covering it with my hands. My body was shaking as I gazed upon my reflection, "Much-Much worse..."
Bruises that all I have, from my wrists to my neck was scarn with shades of black, purple and blue. An already fading bruise was in the upper right corner of my forehead. Had someone knocked me out, causing that gap in memory. Sadly, that didn't make any logical sense. The gash wasn't near my prefrontal cortex. Around my left wrist were these red marks, they didn't look like cuts or bruises more like serious indian burns.
Cold water splashes up against my face, rubbing the strange powered that faintly dusted it away. What could have happened? I must not have been alone. Dark circles rested under my eyes with horrifyingly done makeup beside it. It was all over the place as if I had been crying for hours. I use paper towels to fix myself, "Deep Breath Harleen. Everything will be fine." I toss the purple marker into the trash before pausing for a moment. "Wait, they could find it then trace my prints and boom they have me." Pulling the market out of the trash, I tossed it into the toilet. Flush.
My clothes were all wrinkled, scrambled it took me a good few minutes to readjust them. "What the hell?" I pull a small, waded up note from my bra. This day keeps getting weirder. Curious and hoping it would give me a clue to what happen, I open the note.
Hey toots,
Had fun last night -J
J? as in Jack...Jack Napier! What happened after I got into the car last night? My stomach turns as my memory drew a blank. Nothing. Why was it nothing. Focus. I close my eyes tightly, forcing myself to recall anything I could. "We were in the car..." It hits me slowly at first before a memory begins to form. "A purple car..."
Jack Napier shook his head, tugging on Harleen's right pigtail. "Nah, Jack's too boring. Everyone uses these first names and its just bleh." He complained, his voice had a sense of forced steadiness to it.
Harleen was quiet, giggling every now and then from the bubbles that swirled around her. Everything felt so airy, so dreamlike. It must have been a dream for why else would he be next to her, paying attent to her, Harleen thought. She clung to his side, Brooklyn accent slowly resurfacing from her childhood years in the town. "Wait if ya don't want to be Jack, what do you want me to call you?" Her voice sounded so innocent, so naive to what was happening around her. Sirens of a police blared loudly, chasing after the speeding purple car. "What's that?" She asked, slowly going to turn her head back. "Owe!"
Jack yanked her hair aggressively so she wouldn't see the GCPD's flashing red and blue lights directly behind them. "Hmmm what can you call me...well something important, to mock all those officials who try to control us. You know those killjoys that call themselves Sir this, Mister that." He chuckle, leaning back in his seat.
"MisTaH J!" She giggled, clapping her hands together. At that moment he made Harley felt like her idea was brilliant. The smile he gave made her feel so special, no one ever payed attention to her like that. It pulled Harleen deeper into his world, making her feel as if they were destined to be soul mates. She didn't sense the slyness or the dangerous glimmer behind Jack's smile.
"Mister J huh?" He smirked, tapping his chin as if to ponder it. A bold, fun loving laugh escaped him as if to say it worked. The mischievous boys' mind ran with ideas on what the night could hold, all starting at Gotham High where the driver was headed. Jack's arm swung around the light headed Harley, pulling her onto his lap. "Come on toots, we've got a lot of fun ahead of us."
"So I wasn't alone..." I think aloud, trying to walk myself through what had happened. My mind couldn't actually remember getting to the school "Well maybe this isn't that bad. I was with Jack and he'd never let anything bad happen to me. We must have came here to do something fun like writing or sneaking into the library to read the seniors private collection or something. This must be a misunderstanding." Although I don't exactly believe what I'm telling myself I try to sound confident in my explanation. My stomach growls, reminding me how long it's been since I ate. "Maybe more will come to me when I get some food."
I walk down the halls until stopping at a small dented locker. HQ+J 4ever was written along it in my handwriting. I smile, ignoring the fact the 4 had been smeared so it looked like an N. The vandalized initials must have stood for Harleen Quinn and Jack. 4 ever? He loved me! Ooo! Would we be a couple from now on. I could see it holding hands, homecoming, snuggling up together with a warm book. "Eek!" My excitement isn't containable causing me to squeal. TAKE THAT METROPOLIS! I want to yell, none of them would ever think nerdy little Harleen or glasses face would ever EVER have a boyfriend, but the hottest guy in the school?! This was like a fairytale! Hunger seemed not an issue to me anymore so I go for clothing. My hands reach out, grabbing the bag filled with gym clothes and a spare sweatshirt. I couldn't just go back in public looking like how I was dressed yesterday. What if someone saw me? Totally embarrassing. My locker seemed to be rattled, a complete mess with everything crashed and smashed around. Usually I was perfectly organized, something was up. I gasp, finding my homework gone. Friday, I finished it early so I left it above my gym bag in a color coordinated folder. Now it's missing, "I doubt it's reason to worry...maybe...maybe J took it to study from." I spoke reassuringly.
Happily I skip back to the bathroom, thoughts of Jack full in my mind. His beautiful green hair, how he went wherever the wind took him just having fun. I wish I could be like that, not stressed out and flustered 24/7. I pull my hair back into a high pigtail. All I had to change into were black soffe shorts and a red Metropolis Crusaders sweatshirt. Luckily the sweatshirt hid most of my scars. I threw Friday night's clothes into the gym bag before tossing the bag over my shoulder. Now for the door, I had to get home before someone found me.
"HARLEEN!" A shocked voice gasps behind me, I instantly freeze. Uh oh, how much trouble was I in now? Who was it? principal? superintendent? Would I be expelled! Slowly I turn around to find a surprised looking Eddie. He looked like he'd seen a ghost. Of course it was Eddie, Selina told me he practically lived at school to avoid his dad. He pokes me in the shoulder, tilting his head in confusion. "Harleen, its you."
"Yeah...its me." I spoke, not understanding where he was going with this. Why wouldn't I be myself?
"What are you doing here on a Sunday? John's been worrying all weekend about you. Why haven't you been answering him."
"It's Sunday!" My voice snaps not even able to hide the shock, no that couldn't be. The party was Friday. Had I been passed out in the school for two full days? God, no wonder I looked like a wreck when I woke up. Nervous, I run a hand through my blonde tangled hair. SUNDAY! I tell you! The party was friday, I've been knocked out for days, why wasn't anyone looking for me. My face went pale, I felt my head throbbing as the room began to spin. "A-Are you sure?" The sound of my voice cracked as I tried to make sense of all this.
"Yes of course it's Sunday, why? What's the matter? Harleen?" He saw my confused expression and started firing questions at me. Most people would just fliter they're questions. Go slow until I was able to answer but not Eddie. When he didn't get an answer he asked everything thought that popped into mind. "What's wrong? Didn't you hear me? Where have you been?" His questions wasn't helping my state. I felt the room spinning faster, my body rocking in attempts to not fall down. A strong pressure built up in my stomach, creating this queasy feeling. Edward finally caught on to my gestures and became nervous, stepping backwards. "Do you need to sit down?"
I nod, slowly placing myself onto the floor. My gut tells me something bad happened this weekend, friday night to be exact. Something really bad. The marks and bruises all became suspicious, sending me into panic. My face flushed feeling spiking hot to the touch. Edward's mouth kept moving yet I couldn't focus on any of his words. I need Jack, he can explain this all to me. I need Jack. Where is he? Could he be passed out somewhere to? Three words of Eddie's broke through my daze, "I'm calling John-"
"Please don't!" My voice cracked, still trying to calm myself down. It's not that I didn't trust Johnny or want to talk to him. I didn't want Jonathan to be mad at me. That night of the party, I left him. Didn't even say goodbye. Now Eddie says I've ignored his calls all weekend, creating this worry in him. He would hate to find out I was only asleep in school these few short days. Eddie had his phone out dialing despite my protest. I would have reached my hand out to stop him but physically I couldn't. My hand was shaking too much for movement. "I don't want him to think I'm avoiding him." I call out louder, hoping if I gave him a reason he would put the phone down. His finger lingered over the call button still making me nervous.
He paused a moment, thinking about what I had said. Eddie looked up from the phone, speaking in an inquisitive tone. "Then why haven't you answered him?"
"I haven't been home." I sigh, playing with the ends of my hair. Talking out loud wasn't helping. It only made me feel sicker. The sweatshirt had this heavy weight against me, a burning feeling against my body. Although steaming hot I'd rather sweat than have Eddie catch a glimpse of the scars. He'd only ask more questions.
"Since the party?" Edward looked at me, concerned. The way he phrased it I wasn't sure if he believed me or not."Where have you been?"
"Umm...I don't know..." My voice gets super quiet, mumbling the words under my breath. I was hoping, praying he wouldn't hear.
"How can you not know?" The way he asked didn't sound mean or as if he was getting ready to make fun of me. I could tell he honestly wanted to know, to help. He seemed curious to why I couldn't recall or answer such a question.
I look up at him, "I just don't, okay? I must have fallen and hit my head really hard on the way down.." My hands pull back the blonde hair, revealing a fading blue bruise along the crown of my head. Eddies eyes widen, moving closer to get a better look. It looked bad, I wasn't a doctor or anything but whatever hit me had a lot of force behind it.
"What happened!?" His hand gently ran along it, studying the scar carefully. The pressure against it making me wince.
"I-I don't know."
"When did you hit it?" Eddie asked sounding as desperate as I was for answers.
"Friday...maybe." Obviously I was unsure of myself.
In that moment, Eddie looked like a detective trying to figure out the answer to my case. He tapped his chin before sitting next to me. "What's the last thing you remember."
Silence. I couldn't tell him. He didn't like Jack already, mentioning him it will only making things worse.
He sighed, almost annoyed that I didn't respond. "Harleen. What's the last-"
"Laughing with a friend of mine, we were going to have some fun." I cut him off, not wanting him to have to repeat the question again.
"Laughing?" A weird look of disapproval came across his face as something clicks. Whatever he had just thought caused a frown to form on his face. After a second, his eyes gazed down at me. The blue color appeared concern, almost sad for me. "When do you recall doing this, Friday?" He sounded like a parent, getting ready to scold me for doing something childish.
"Yes, Friday." Lately all my dates were messed up so I at least think it was on Friday.
"And Harleen was this friend Jack Napier?"
My mouth drops in shock, how'd he guess that. He was as smart as they say. I never spoke a word of Jack. Had Eddie seen me before? Of course not he was in pure shock when he first saw me here. Did he know something I did not? Of course he knew a lot more then me, on everything but still could he know what happened last night or Friday's? I couldn't look in his eyes. They were full of pity and way too sorry for me. "Harleen? An answer."
My voice got quiet, "ummm yeah." I spoke sheepishly, eyes focused on the hallway's tile floor. Interesting, the creases kinda looked like squiggly lines. I knew Eddie would be mad, disapproving.
He looked angry, throwing his hands up in the air. "What did I say! Didn't I warn you he was bad news!" He snapped, exploding in frustration. A small pout came across my face. I hate when people get angry with me. It hurt and I couldn't help but break down. "I'm-I'm sorry Eddie." I whimper causing his anger to disappear. He looked sorry for me. Eddie went to wrap his arm around me or console me in one way or another. However he was really bad in social situations. Obviously, he didn't know how to comfort a person. Eddie pets me on the head, "Don't worry, I'm going to call John. He ca-"
"No!"
"Why not?" He asked puzzled.
"Please don't" I whisper even though there was no one around to hear us.
"Why not?"
"Please, I'll owe you one."
"I'll do it if you tell me why not."
"I don't want Johnny to look down at me, be angry at me for ditching him at Sel's party. He might get mad, or not speak to me anymore...just can you please not tell him."
He ponders my request, "Alright. Do you think you can stand?"
I nod, "Y-yes."
He helps me up anyways, staying close by my side to help me stand. "Come on, let's take you home so you can get cleaned up."
"Eddie?" I spoke quietly as he helped me towards the front door.
"Yes Harleen?"
"Thank you for being so kind."
Eddie turns towards me, smiling. "Miss Quinzel, you can always count on me for help." He sounded so official it made me laugh. No matter how caring Edward was the question still rested in my mind: What happened last Friday night?