Arkham High

Chapter 8

Edward Nygma left the empty classroom with a self-satisfied smirk on his face. Whistling, he headed for the library, reaching his hand into his pocket and making sure what he had just stolen was still there.

He was suddenly grabbed and pulled into a corner. "Eddie Nygma, just the guy I wanted to see!" said the Joker, beaming at him. "How ya doing, pal? It's been forever!"

"I just saw you...yesterday afternoon," stammered Nygma.

"Yeah, well, a lot's happened to me since then, Eddie," said Joker. "As you may have heard, I threw my hat into the ring for this whole class president election."

"Y...yes, I did hear...something of the kind," said Nygma, slowly.

"But you weren't there for that assembly, were you, Eddie?" said Joker, grinning. "Everyone else in the whole school was, but you weren't. You've actually been missing out on quite a few assemblies. You've been wandering around the classrooms while the teachers are out and stealing...certain things," he said, reaching into Nygma's pocket and pulling out a test answer sheet. He smiled at him. "It's a little naughty, wouldn't you say? Both the stealing and the cheating. Is the title really worth having if you didn't win it fair and square?"

"I...think so, yes," retorted Nygma.

"Hey, me too!" exclaimed Joker. "You're a man after my own heart, Eddie! I feel kinda bad for beating you up all those times. Not bad enough not to do it again if you ask for it, though," he said, picking him up and slamming him against the lockers. "So here's the deal, Eddie," he hissed. "I don't tell your little nerd friends or anyone else that you're cheating to get your good grades, and you do a little favor for me."

"What...what kinda favor?" gasped Nygma.

"Oh, just a small, little, tiny, unimportant thing, Eddie!" chuckled Joker. "I want you to rig my election."

Nygma stared at him. "I'm...sorry?" he stammered.

"Rig my election," repeated Joker. "I wanna win that class presidency, Eddie, and I don't care how I do it. Kinda like you and this whole valedictorian thing, huh? So I'm gonna keep your secret, and you're gonna win this election for me. That's fair, right?"

"But...but I don't know how to do that...I don't even know where to begin!" exclaimed Nygma.

Joker laughed, dropping him to the ground. "Then I suggest you head off to the library and read some books," he said. "Smart guy like you's gonna have no problem figuring it out. At least, you better not, unless you want me telling Principal Leland what you've been doing, and get you disqualified from this whole valedictorian competition. And I know you, Eddie - you'd never live down the shame of not being named the smartest guy in school. Beaten by the likes of Johnny Crane and Jervis Tetch, no less. Wouldn't that be such a shame?"

"How...how did you know?" demanded Nygma. "About the cheating..."

"Oh, c'mon, Eddie!" laughed Joker. "Hundreds on every test? No one's that smart! Unless they're smart like a fox, if you get my drift. And you and me, we're both smart like a fox. I'm just a little smarter than you!" chuckled Joker, patting him on the head.

"I won't be blackmailed by the likes of you!" snapped Nygma.

"Ok, then," said Joker, shrugging as he pocketed the test answer sheet and headed for the stairs. "I'm just gonna give this to my old pal Leland..."

"J, no!" cried Nygma.

Joker turned to him slowly. "Hmm...I guess you're right," he said, glancing over the sheet. "Much better that I just keep it for myself. In fact, I'll make our little deal even better, Eddie...for me, that is!" he giggled. "You share every little cheat sheet you swipe with me, so I can bring my grades up. After all, it wouldn't do for the class president to be failing outta high school, would it? See, you're already helping me with my image! But I guess it's the votes that really count. And you're gonna get 'em for me, aren't you, Eddie? Or am I gonna go give Leland a little present?"