Monster

The Crowd

       I wore my turquoise-blue dress with black pumps and shortly arrived at Trellis Gardens by bus. It didn't take me long to get in, and I found a seat nearest to the stage. There was no way I was getting in the back to wish him luck (which I wish I would've done before) but my heart was with him.
       "Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?" A tall, handsome figure arrived in an all-black tux. His features were masculine and detailed, eyes a deep navy, his hair was brown and neatly cut back. Was it?
        "No, no not at all. I'm by myself, actually." Blushing, I managed to mumble. He took a seat and I made my voice a bit more clear. "Are you..?"
        "Bruce Wayne? Guilty. What's a beautiful girl like you doing all by herself?" I tucked my bangs behind my left ear and shyly looked up at him.
         "I'm just here to see my boyf-I mean my friend's act tonight-he's a comedian."
          "Oh. I presume you're referring to Henry?"
           "Yup." He looked me up and down, analyzing, and turned away.
            "Isn't he a bit...out of your age?" I giggled a bit, shrugging my shoulders.
             "As I said, Henry is only a friend of mine. Is that an issue?" Acknowledging this, Bruce nodded and continued to push my buttons.
             "Miss Pinocchio, you retracted your statements of 'boyfriend' when I asked you a question. I'm sure there's something there. No need to feel embarrassed. It's just that you're such a dream girl, I mean he's old enough to be your dad. Isn't that weird for you? You could have anyone, you're stunning and sound intelligent. He's...barely making a living."
               I took my glasses out of their case and put them on.
               "I met him. He was nice to me. He cares, and I care for him as well. I didn't realize that was any crime, or is it?" I tilted my head, before hearing an announcement via a man dressed as a ringmaster. A bit melodramatic if you ask me, but I like it.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure you're all aware of our weekly events where we will be hosting various individuals with different talents for all of us to enjoy. Think of it as a...competition. You all get to see which ones will be winning and...losing." There were various laughs in the crowd, yet I didn't find his statement that funny. He continued to ramble on and I sighed, but the man finally announced the "rising comedian of Gotham City," and I knew it was him.
               Clapping my hands and cheering, I was probably the loudest one showing my enthusiasm for Henry. I piped down after a few seconds, and Henry smiled down at me before taking a deep breath and beginning his joke.

                 "I've always been fascinated by true crime. The complexity, how it's carried out, and so on...but it all starts with the mind. That brings me to Ed Gein. Ever heard of him? I'm sure you've heard of leatherface-the man who thinks wearing an old woman is fashionable. Better warm than frozen-"
                   "Hey you suck!" A deep voice shouted, followed by throwing food and full champagne glasses at Henry from multiple crowd member. I never thought that Henry was very talented in the realm of jokes, but I liked his passion for it. I never thought anyone would be so rude at least, so cruel. He wanted to make people smile but they hated him. I stood up, turning around to scold the bullies hiding within the masses of people.
                   "Shame on all of you! Supposedly well-educated, wealthy individuals! All you are is a large lot of disrespectful fools! Are you all sure you weren't raised in Arkham?" They quieted down, before a plate of spaghetti was aimed towards Henry, landing on his face, shirt, then floor. The laughter in the room grew, along with harsher insults. I turned to face Henry, still standing. He made tight fists with his finger, body shaking.

           "He wanted to know if she'd look prettier on his own body as a coat or with her head impaled  on a stick." There were gasps at the horrific statement, and Henry left in shame, head down, shoulders low. I rushed passed the security guard. No on tried stopping me. I caught up with Henry near a dressing room, he couldn't handle looking me down in the eyes.
            "Henry they don't know you like I do! They don't get it, they just don't understand! Just a buncha imbeciles!" I could hear a gulp, and he finally managed to look down into my face.
             "Why didn't you ever tell me that I was the joke?" I shook my head, following him as he entered the dressing room. Henry took a seat, so I managed to find a clean towel while I wiped the red sauce from his face.
                "You're not a joke, out of all people they should be the ones to know better. Goes to show how spoiled brats continuously express distasteful behaviors in various areas, disputed age of adulthood. You'd think they were raised by Neanderthals." I finished wiping the spaghetti sauce, unbuttoning his stained shirt.
                 "What are you doing?" He was still shaking, looking at me in confusion.
                "Just trying to help. Wanna get something to eat later?"
"No...I'm sorry." He was on the brink of tears, I finished cleaning up the sauce and he turned away. "You should go. I'll see you later." I stared at him, stepping away, closer towards the door.
"I'm proud of you, Henry." He nodded, and I left the room hesitantly. I exited the building after going through what seemed like mazes of halls and doors, surprised I didn't get lost.
The streets of Gotham were cold, I could see my frost breath every time I let out a sigh. The homeless junkies didn't bother me, with their endless ramblings and begging. I was used to it. I frequented Gotham quite often, even though I was raised in Devil's Meadow I was born here in this city. Actually, I needed to leave because I needed to be at Arkham early in the morning.
"Harleen!" A man shouted from behind. I turned to see, and it was Henry, standing at a distance. He waved, breaking a pained smile.
             "Henry!" I paced back towards him. "What's going on?"
              "I want you to know I care about you. I always have...it doesn't matter what. I'm going to go home now, I'll see you tomorrow?" Nodding, I smiled and kisses his cheek.
               "Tomorrow." I pecked him on the cheek, and we both parted in opposite directions.