Natalie sat in a small booth near the back of a small and comfortable diner looking out the window. She had a glass of water next to her and she had just ordered a helping of her favorite comfort food, chili cheese fries. She decided that since she had about another ten minutes or so before she had to get home, she'd stop at one of her favorite places to eat. Although she was slowly beginning to regret it now. As winter was slowly approaching daylight hours were slowly beginning to get shorter and shorter, and if there was one thing to not do in Gotham, it was stay out after dark.

"You just going to sit there and let your fries get cold doll face?" a voice asked her pulling her out of her thoughts making her jump.

Looking up she saw a boy that looked about her age. He was tall and lean with skin just as pale as hers and dark red hair that was messily gelled back. He was also wearing a gray trench coat over a nice button up shirt. So overall, he looked very... nice, for lack of a better word. But the most defining thing she noticed the most was the gleeful smile stretched across his face and the mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Oh, I-I'm sorry," she said sliding a little bit away from him in her seat. She then pulled her legs up to her chest and looked down at her fries feeling awkward. She didn't really know what to do in social situations anymore, which is why she usually tended to avoid them when she could.

"Hey gorgeous, you going to make me stand here all day or am I going to have to invite myself to sit with you?" he asked.

Looking up at him with eyes slightly widened. It's been a long time since anyone has tired to converse with her. Most people in Gotham now seemed to know she wasn't much of a talkative person and hadn't really bothered to try anymore to strike up a conversation. But not knowing what to do she just asked in a small, polite voice, "Would you like to sit with me?"

"Why don't mind if I do gorgeous!" He answered very animatedly, his already big smile seeming to brighten even more as he plopped down in the seat across from her. "So what's a pretty girl like you doing having dinner all alone?" He questioned leaning over the table and setting the side of his face into the palm of his hand.

"I got hungry after I finished my homework," Natalie explained looking down with a pink flush covering her cheeks. She wasn't sure whether she should be flattered or not, though there was no doubt he was flirting with her, usually the guys at school only did it when it's some sick dare to go hit on the 'freak' who never talks to anyone.

But what surprised her the most was how he broke into a cackle when she finished talking; she wasn't trying to be funny. "I like you," he stated joyfully, but then his face abruptly turned more serious and he put his hands back in his lap. "But what I meant was what are you doing going around Gotham alone at this time of day? It's starting to get dark and a pretty girl like you shouldn't be wandering around without a friend to help protect you in this city. I wouldn't want anything bad happening to you," he warned slowly shaking his head. She was noticing how he seems to get very animated when he talks, even when he's not acting as excited and as energetic as he was only a minute ago.

But what he said shocked her and she didn't really know what to make of the words that were coming out of his mouth. Here was this guy she's never met before and he seemed to be insisting that her cared for here safety in some way and something about the way he was saying it actually seemed genuine. Not knowing what else to do, she answered honestly.

"I don't have any friends," she responded looking down. "So I wouldn't have anyone to help protect me anyway," she stated.

"I could help protect you," he concluded seriously, staring straight into her eyes.

She honestly didn't know what to say to that so she tried to simply brush it off. "It's not that big of a deal. Anyway what good could you do against someone who's a murderer?" she asked jokingly. She honestly expected Jerome to break out in laughter, as he had done earlier, but instead just got a small chuckle with a smirk. It seemed almost as if he found some sort of irony in that statement.

"You'd be surprised at what I could do gorgeous," he stated simply, but then his face abruptly changed into one of shock. "I must have forgotten my manners! I've never asked for your name gorgeous," he admitted in mock horror. "My names Jerome by the way," he added

She giggled at his theatrics, which of course brought back his amazing, white smile. He made just a normal conversation so exciting with the ways he expressed his emotions. "It's fine," she assured with a smile spreading across my face. "My name's Natalie, Natalie Garner," she stated.

"Oh, you're the daughter of that politician right? Robert Garner?" He asked curiously tilting his head slightly sideways.

"Sadly," she mumbled under her breath. Then her eyes widened realizing something. "Shit!" she cursed before quickly standing up and throwing some money on the table. "I'm so sorry Jerome, but I really have to go!" she stated in a hurry. Throwing coat on quickly she rushed toward the door of the restaurant.

"Natalie what's wrong?" Jerome asked, his smile fading as he looked at me. At the moment it looked like his confident persona suddenly faded. Now he seemed more soft spoken and even slightly shy, it even seemed like his voice changed a little bit.

Sighing, feeling bad, she turned back toward him. "Nothing's wrong Jerome, I just really need to get home. Maybe we can meet each other here again tomorrow or something," she reassured him. She did really want to meet him again, she hasn't truly enjoyed herself like this in a long time.

Jerome's face brightened a little more. "Could I walk you home?" he asked.

Natalie's eyes widened a little bit. All hell would break loose if her father saw her walking home with Jerome. Her night was already going to be that much worst off since she was late, but if she got caught with Jerome she would probably be at the very least hospitalized the next day.

"No you can't Jerome!" she blurted out, fear filling her voice.

Jerome's eyebrows scrunched up in confusion and... maybe suspicion? Natalie couldn't really tell. "Why not?" he asked seeing her worry.

She looked at him and she honestly didn't know how to answer that. She knew the truth was out of the question, but she never really had to make excuses before. No one really ever cared enough to ask what was going on with her home life. So she did the only thing she could think of at the time. She ran out of the store.

The streets had gotten a lot darker after the time she's spent with Jerome. She ran as fast as she could around vacant buildings, the only noise was her shoes scraping against the concrete. Her breathing became heavy and her legs were aching as she ran and she was still a few minutes away from her home. But then she was abruptly stopped by a hand grabbing her tightly by the elbow.

"Hey little lady, where do you think you're going?"