Arkham High

Chapter 19

"You look just beautiful, sweetie," said Mrs. Quinzel, beaming at her daughter.

"Thanks, Mom," said Harley, smiling as she looked down at her dress. "I hope J agrees with you."

"He will – he's got great taste," replied Mr. Quinzel, emerging from the bedroom with a camera. "Now lemme get a picture. Big smile!"

Harley obliged him – she felt like smiling as she spun around in the beautiful dress. She didn't dress up often, so this made a nice change. She was wearing a black mask to match the black diamonds on the dress, and so she had traded in her glasses for a pair of contact lenses. Her blonde hair was done up in pigtails, and she wore white facepaint and black lipstick to complete the clown look.

"Gosh, you're so pretty and grown up!" said Mr. Quinzel, snapping picture after picture. "I'm gonna need some more film for when J gets here!"

"Oh, we'll get it, sweetie," said Mrs. Quinzel, pulling Harley toward the bedroom. "I just wanna pin Harley's dress a bit more."

She shut the door, and cleared her throat as she reached for the box of pins. "Look, sweetie, I know this is a little awkward, but...I just wanted to talk to you about...what can happen when a boy and girl love each other very much."

Harley gaped at her. "What, now?" she hissed, blushing. "Just before prom?"

"Yes, I can't put it off any longer," said Mrs. Quinzel, fixing her dress. "I mean, I know you know the gist of it, but...well...traditionally prom night is a time when couples think about taking their relationship to the next level..."

"Mom, I really don't wanna talk about this right now!" said Harley, blushing furiously.

"Harley, it's important," she said, looking up at her daughter sincerely. "Look, I'm not gonna tell you what you should or shouldn't do – you're old enough now to make your own decisions. I just wanna make sure that if you and he decide to...explore, well...it's really important that you use protection..."

"Yeah, Mom, I get it," interrupted Harley. "Can we stop talking about this, please?"

"I just want you to be careful, baby," she murmured. "Promise me you'll use protection."

"Yeah, yeah, I promise!" said Harley, hastily. "Now can we please change the subject?"

The doorbell rang. "That'll be Mr. J!" said Harley, racing out to answer it. She pulled open the door and smiled at the Joker, who was dressed in a purple suit with an orange shirt and a green bowtie. He gaped at her in astonishment.

"Wow!" he gasped. "You look great!"

"Thanks. So do you," she murmured, leaning forward to kiss him.

"Here – that's for you," he said, holding out a corsage to her. "Be careful with it. If you press it too hard, it squirts."

"You brought me a trick flower for my corsage?" asked Harley, in disbelief.

"Yeah," he said, his smile falling. "Why? Doncha like it?"

She grinned. "I love it," she murmured, kissing him again and pinning it to her dress. "Now come inside so Mom and Dad can get some pictures."

"J, don't you look handsome!" exclaimed Mrs. Quinzel, emerging from the bedroom with another roll of film.

"Thanks, Mrs. Q," he said, smoothing his hair back. "Though I'm sure a lotta people don't see a guy with green hair in a purple suit and think handsome."

"Well, it suits you," she said.

"Now can we have the Joker and Harley Quinn standing together, please?" asked Mr. Quinzel, holding up the camera. "Big smiles now!"