The heart of the joker

Chapter 16

"Do I look okay?"I ask Ash, wiping imaginary dust off my skirt, which was paired with a white and black jumper, 

She grins widely at me and nods, 

"you look beautiful" 

"thank you"I giggle, 

"c'mon your gonna be late!!"

I quickly shove my black boots on and my black shoulder bag, 

"right remember go to 11th street."Ash fusses as she pushes my purse and phone into m hand, 

"yes, yes i know, stop worrying"I laugh, 

she cups my face and gives me a gentle smile, 

"im happy for you, thats all"

"i know"I smile, "ill see you later, okay?"

Ash nods and I rush out the door and manage to get on the bus just on time. I sit next to a man on the first row of seats and push my hair to one side of my head, 

"going somewhere nice?"The man asks, his voice a little raspy but smooth, i couldn't figure were I had heard it, 

"yeah.. I urm, have a date with someone"I say tucking a piece of my fringe behind my ear, 

I looked at him and he had slicked back, blonde hair, with a few strands sitting on his forehead. His hazel eyes looking at mine. 

"awh thats lovely, darling. Who's the lucky guy?"

"ah.. i cant say, sorry"

"ah, what would I be able to do with his name? a little guy like me?"he chuckles,

"a lot"i chuckle, 

he laughs then extends his hand towards me, 

"the names Jack.."

suddenly i freeze, 

"your so beautiful Ryder. You know that I love you don't you?"

"Yes.."I breathed, 

"..so much"he finishes, 

"I love you too"I reply, 

I come back and Jack's hand is lowering and his face is frowning, 

"are you okay?"he asks, 

"y-yeah..I just...I think i recognize you?"

His face falters and he puts his hand down, 

"well, uh, Gotham is a small place, you might of, um, seen me around"He chuckles, 

"thats true"I extend my hand out to him this time, "my name is Ryder, its nice to meet you Jack"

He shakes my hand and it makes my skin tingle. The bus stops and I stand, 

"well it was nice but this is my stop"

"well enjoy your date, maybe ill see you around"

"yeah"I smile, 

I walk off the bus and a weird feeling sits on my shoulders but I ignore it. As soon as I walk into the coffee lounge I see Bruce and i go and sit opposite him, 

"hello again mystery lady."He grins, reaching out and kissing the back of my hand, 

I blush and giggle, 

"My name is Ryder"

"That's a beautiful name!"

I giggle and he smiles softly at me.

Ash's POV

I pace the living room, phone held to my ear. 

"ugh why wont he pick-"

"what?"

"Joker."

"Ahh Ash.. hello again"

"after our last meeting you said you would leave her alone and let her leave normally again"

"and i have been?"

I fist my hair and grit my teeth, pacing faster,

"i saw her sit next to you on the bus this morning! stop lying!!"

"so i cant use the bus now? if i do re-call she sat next to me."

"why would you need to use the bus?and you were blatantly doing it! you were disguise!"

"maybe because i wanted to? sheesh! if i were go get on a bus dressed as my usual stuff, everyone would scream and run off!"

I sit down on the couch, 

"Joker."

"how do you expect me to be okay with her going on a date with the man who caused this problem in the first place!!"

"im sure he didnt mean to hurt her."

"you are just loving this. keeping her away from me."

"shes better this way. she wont get hurt"

"still going back to this are we? well the night she was kidnapped by Wayne she was begging me through her ear piece for me to come get her, repeating that she loves me over and over. and when she was changed up in the basement she was calling my name not even knowing if i was there, just hoping."

"if you didnt make her go on that robbery this wouldnt of happened."

his harsh laugh screams through the phones speaker, 

Joker's POV

"you think i made her?! hahaha!! she asked to come, she wanted to help, she was also free to leave the house whenever she wanted, she could of left and never come back, but she didnt. she had her own free choice and i would never of forced her to do anything."I laugh through the phone angrily,

"i bet you miss the sex. because you now have no one to fuck."she spits, 

my heart cracks once more, 

"you really think that? well sorry to break it to you but Ryder never had sex with any of her boyfriends as you should know, and this includes me, any time we got close, she would always have choice and i would never push. she is still virgin darling."

"your lying, just stay the fuck away from her."

I go to speak but the line goes dead. 

"argh!! fuck!"

I stand up, lift my desk chair and throw it at the wall, 

"who the fuck does that whore think she is?!"

Ryder's POV

I walk out the coffee shop laughing, Bruce is hlding my waist. We walk for a little bit longer but we get to a bus stop and i stop walking. 

"today was fun, thank you"I say, 

"no, thank you"Burce grins, 

I chuckle and he cups my cheek, 

"tuesday night, 7pm ill pick you up?"

"o-okay"I blush, 

He leans down, and my heart pounds, suddenly theres clicks and shouting, "Mr Wayne!! Mr Wayne!!"

theres flashes everywhere and the bus arrives, 

"go, ill text you"he says and hands me a piece of paper,

I get on the bus and pay. He runs down the street covering his face. Laying my head against the window I accidentally fall asleep.