~Harley's POV~
"Harleen!"
"Hmm? Oh-Uhh Hi Johnny..." Drat. I thought I successfully avoided him all day. Well until now that is, Lunch block. Although half way through the day wasn't bad. I needed an excuse for my avoidance so I spoke the first thing that came to my mind. "Sorry I broke my phone." The words quickly left my lips, it sounded like an obvious lie. My face felt warm as a light blush came across it. He gave me a strange look, I tried to explain further, "uhh-Eddie told me how you were trying to get a hold of me this weekend." A smile at the end, as if that makes anything better.
He nods, getting into the lunch line. I follow him, picking up a green tray from the rack. Honestly, I really have to start packing my lunch. I swear this stuff is like prison food. The moment I sit back down, I will put a sticky note on my binder for tomorrow morning. "Yeah, he told me." Jonathan spoke casually, being kind. He didn't seem insulted at the fact I totally ditched him at Selina's party. Johnny adjusted his spectacles, turning his head to face me. "You're okay though, right?"
Awe, was he concern for my well being or just being nice. Crap, why am I taking this long pause to think. What should I say! Think Harleen, Think. "Of course, why wouldn't I be?" The words fumble out of my mouth. Talk about embarrassing.
"No reason."
Before I could make even more of a fool of myself, a tiny nerd with bright ruffled orange hair bolted down the halls. Notes and miscellaneous paper flew out from Eddie's books. My first guess was he was running away from a bully like Diego yet no one followed him. Eddie had a cocky grin on his face, "Did you hear the news?"
Jonathan sighed, "Edward you've already told me." His voice was beginning to sound a bit annoyed with his good friend. Eddie looked over to me to see if I understood and for once I did. Usually their conversations went over my head or I tuned out because I honestly don't care about Riddles. But this time? This time I was actually excited for it, Eddie was about to inform us all of the Halloween ball. I heard Pamela talking about it in biology. It's a dance where everyone dresses up in costume and there are games, punch, and after parties.
Let me say, knowing something before Eddie was a wonderful thing because for the first time yet I was able to not be surprised by the puzzling boy's actions. "Yes! The school's having a Halloween ball!" I squealed happily. Both boys generated the same confused expression on their face, "What?" A pile of slop was dropped on the tray before me. Maybe it was chicken, or mashed potatoes. "Wasn't that what you two were talking about?"
"No." Both boys said simultaneously.
"Oh."
Edward smirked, pushing up the rim of his glasses. "The Mayor has passed a petition to open the old Asylum again."
"Arkham?" I gasp, wondering how soon I could possibly apply for an internship. High school? college? "I thought they've been road blocking the project for years." I may not be from Gotham but it was no secret that Arkham was a project of the Waynes. The two sounded like royals of Gotham from what everyone said about them. The project just got tossed aside when the two billionaires past away. No matter the case, if Arkham were to re-open that would give me perfect positioning for work. Imagine, me, Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel becoming some sort of evaluating doctor or therapist there. Having a study to myself, getting to know each patient as I figure out why they did whatever it was to get them here and help them. Sure, they would most likely tell me to wait a few years but the moment I'm old enough the world will have the greatest doctor and author on there hands. What? A doctor has to make her living some way. "When is it opening?"
"Who knows?" Johnny shrugged, not really seeming that excited about it.
"A least a year or two, for now they are just going to send the over crowded psych inmates there."
Why did Edward always know what was going on? Two steps ahead for any question I threw at him. I look over him shocked, "Do I want to know how you know this stuff?"
"What? Doesn't everyone listen in on their radio frequency from time to time?"
I pause. Eddie wasn't one to joke, even when he did his humor was...well... weird. It got silent for a moment as I hesitant to be the next to talk. "Uh Eddie, I think thats a crime..."
"You think? I'm not so sure, why would they make it so easy to get into if it was?"
"Oh- I guess so.." I spoke, trying to sound not weirded out by it. I didn't picture Eddie as the break the rules type of guy. Jonathan must have seen my uncertainty. He rolled his eyes.
"Eddie's just messing you, he has a part time job over at the GCPD working as crime scene investigator."
"What! How?"
"I help them from time to time because their idiotic brain-"
"Eddie."
"I kept pestering Detective Bullock for just one case. Once they finally needed my intellect I came and saved the day with my perceive calculations."
"So you were their calculator?"
Eddie made a face, disturbed by me putting his actions into such simple words."Nonetheless it made some rather impactful impressions on Gordon."
"Yeah because he was too cheap to buy one at the dollar store."
Both me and Johnny erupt into laughter. Eddie's face broke out into a bright fire truck red color. He mumbled something under his breath as has hands clenched embarrassed. He paused a moment, terrible a social cues. You could see him rocking back and forth trying to make his mind if he should leave or not. The 'genius' huffed, leaving me and Johnny laughing.
Pamela and Selina both decided to cut school today, or at least the lunch portion. It wasn't a bad thing and if anything I was grateful for such an occurrence. Them ditching school left me more time to hang out with Johnny. Unlike Pamela, Johnny wasn't pushy on where to sit. Red always had to have it be outside, to the left of the tree in the courtyard. Pamela would throw a fit otherwise.
Today, Gotham High's courtyard was almost completely empty. The chilling cold of winter was creeping up on Gotham in a fast pace making more and more students retreat indoors each day . My eyes trail over to a small, fragile looking boy who sat on the outside ledge doodling. I never saw someone with such a pale complexion before. Johnny had one but it was nothing compared to this boy's. His skin was pure crystallized white.
"That is Victor Fries, he never speaks to anyone." Johnny informed me, noticing my gaze had focused on Victor. He looked so sad, so lonely. I felt bad for the poor guy. Why was he outside? The windows were frosted it was so cold?
"Come on. Lets go out there." I pull a red jacket on over my outfit.
Jonathan looked at me like I was crazy. "That's not a good idea Harleen, it is warm inside..." His voice sounded quiet, nervous.
I eye him closely, confused why he didn't want to even go outside. Curious, I ask the simple words, "Why not?" hoping to find some new details out. Jonathan's only reply was a small shrug. I pout, crossing my arms. He must be keeping something from me. "Tell me."
"He's sick Harleen."
"What?"
"Doctors are surprised he's lasted this long, his skin is as cold as ice, lost all his hair a couple months ago. The pale complexion is from a lack of oxygen."
"It's not catchable is it?" I ask, sounding concerned.
Johnny shook his head no, "Doctors wouldn't let him come to school if it were."
"Then lets go, we shouldn't let someone be left out just because he looks a little silly, different."
"but he's sick."
"Johnny we're all a little sick."
Jonathan cowards inside, sitting at a table with Eddie and Ozzie. I pick up my lunch tray and much to Jonathan's shock I didn't follow him to the table. Instead I went outdoors. The brisk wind nipped at my nose as I headed outside. Victor didn't even notice me approach as I sat down next to him. I smile, "Hello."
He looks up from his notebook, remaining quiet. The poor boy looked confused to why I was talking to him. I smile, trying to be friendly, "Hi, I'm Harleen."
He nods, still remaining speechless.
"Why are you sitting here all alone?"
He shrugs, despite knowing exactly why. Everyone here seemed to avoid him like the plague. The longer we 'talked', the more judgmental the glances came from students in the lunch room. Some were in shock, others looked disturbed.
"Do you speak?" He nods before going back down to his drawing. His journal had sketching of a girl who seemed familiar. The faint detail in them reminded me of a girl in my bio class...What was her name? Nora? "Is that Nora?" I ask quietly, leaning over to look at his sketch. The girl in the photo's hair was a light, snowy blonde just like Nora. Nora was a quiet but friendly girl, nothing unusual about her. She was one of the most innocent, kind souls I ever met at Gotham High. I look up to see her lunch table which was inside, next to the two big doors that lead outside. She was laughing with her friend Barbara Gordon. My gaze shifts over to Victor. His eyes had this glassed over look on them as he watched her laugh.
"Yes." His voice set me in a state of shock. HE SPOKE! Had I actually gotten him to open up? I smile, definitely wanting to continue this conversation.
"You like her, don't you?" No response came from the boy to confirm my suspicion. OMG! so cute, Victor and Nora totally shipping right now if you know what I mean. He looked lovestruck at Nora as if she was the most beautiful thing he's ever seen. I wonder if Jack looks at me like that when I'm not looking. I hope he does. "Why don't you invite her to the Halloween ball next week?"
Victor shook his head no, looking down at the ground. Faint snowflakes began to fall from the grey clouds. Only in Gotham would it begin to snow in October.
"Why not?"
He didn't speak.
"You know I won't stop bothering you until you tell me, right?"
Victor smiled softly at my joke. His mouth opened to speak but nothing came out. That was it, he didn't have the social skills to speak to people very well. With all the girls around Nora and his sickness keeping everyone away, I doubt he ever got the chance to speak to her alone. Or maybe he had gotten her alone, he wasn't the most outspoken person there is. "You want me to talk to her?"
His eyes widen, his hands shake slightly creating a squiggly line on the image below. Victor seemed frighten at the thought of confronting her. "It's okay." He spoke softly, his voice cracking as each word came out. "I-I'll figure something out."
A part of me understood why he didn't want me to say anything. Victor probably was too scared of rejection, that with his shy attitude I'd say he had cold feet when talking to Miss Nora. "Don't worry, I won't say anything to her." I smile, acting like I zip my lips together and threw away the key. After a moment of Victor not talking, I got this sense that I overstayed my welcome. "Oh well, it was nice meeting you Victor." I wave goodbye.
His voice was just loud enough for me to hear, "Harleen?" Victor looked up slowly from his drawing, his eyes locked from Nora to his sketch then back to me. The boy was at a lost for words.
"Yes Victor?"
"Thanks."
"No problem, if you need any help in asking her to the dance or anything, I'd love to get involved. Just ask."
Victor smiled before going back to his drawing of Nora.
The bell rings just as I get back inside, so much for spending time with Jonathan. I toss out the plop of lunch on my tray, not like I was gonna eat it anyways. A soft tap on my shoulder alerts me that someone wished to speak. A boy in a dark blue prep school jacket, tie and khakis was standing behind me. His voice spoke in a formal, gentlemen like tone. "Miss, do you know where Room 117 is?"
My mind races trying to picture the room. I had a genuine layout of the place but was still confused to some more finer details. For instances some of the classes upstairs and downstairs. I twirl a curl of my blonde hair as I think, "Isn't that History?" The boy just shrugged. He must have been a new student too. Yet, I could help feel a familiar vibe with his brown hair. Where had I seen him before? "uumm...I think its upstairs." I honestly had no clue, there were only 2 floors in the high school so it was a fifty-fifty shot.
"Alright, thank you for your assistants. In which direction is the elevator located."
"The elevator?" I chuckle lightly, "Gotham High, have an elevator? Ha, like what kind of public school could afford such things." Not even Metropolis or Brooklyn had those fancy contraptions in it. Then it occurred to me that this prep school like kid wasn't joking. My face blushed bright red, in no way had I meant to insult him. Hopefully he knew that. "What I meant to say was instead we have stairs."
"Oh." He said with a understanding expression on his face. The boy didn't seemed phased by much but his smile was sincere. He adjusted the straps to his satchel, before looking up. "So these steps. Are they through that door?" The boy gazed all around, noticing the two doors to the left of him. He pointed to them. However, those doors only lead straight to the exit. Unless his next class was in the middle of the bus loop this boy's sense of direction was as off.
I shake my head no. How was I going to show him? I wasn't exactly the best at explaining things. Then it hits me, my next class wasn't too far from the steps. If we left now I wouldn't be tardy, "I can show you where they are if you want."
"Thank you." The teen spoke with a kind smile, placing his hand out in front of him in a business like form. "Pardon my manners, I have not properly introduced myself. The names Bruce Wayne."
A/N: Two quick questions; is anyone reading this? and if so how do you guys like it so far? Any input or suggestions would be nice, still trying to get use to the Fanfiction website cause I've been using Wattpad for a year now. (and if you do have Wattpad I have pictures to go with each chapter which relates to the cartoons which were originally going to be made into a pilot.) Oh well, anyways, Thanks for reading this!-E