Carnations for Emily

Chapter 11: Reunion

"It's really you!" Jack couldn't help but wrap Emily up in a hug!
Emily didn't speak, her face was a deep crimson.
She can't remember anything about him, yet she was so happy to meet him again.
"Jack-" Emily paused and leaned back to look Jack in the eye.
"Em?"
Emily couldn't help but frown then.
"I...
I don't remember you..." she felt like crying.
"I'm sorry." She fought hard, but could feel tears finding their way down her cheeks.
"Emily?!" Jack got worried.
Back then Emily didn't cry often. She almost always wore a smile. Even when she was sad.
So for her to cry made Jack's heart hurt a little.
"H-hey, what's wrong?" Jack asked her.
"I feel horrible!" Emily shrieked.
"Why?" Jack asked frantically.
Emily hung her head and stared at the ground beneath their feet.
"I... have no memories of you..." she said sadly.
Jack couldn't help but smile and put a hand on her head.
Emily looked back up at him in sorrow.
"Hey, it's okay.
I'll help get your memories back." Jack said.
"Ah...
Y-you will?
All I remember is your name...
But I do want to remember everything about you!" Emily smiled once again with tears continuing to fall from her eyes.

"Now, no more tears Emily.
I'm just glad I got to see you again." Jack wiped the tears from Emily's eyes.
As he did this Emily put her hands on his.
"I want to remember everything." She smiled.
"Ah!
W-wait!
Before we do anything else!"
Emily got inches away from Jack's face as she said this.
Jack's own face turned red from his childhood friend being so close to him.
"W-What?" Jack asked.
Emily jumped back and pulled out a pad and pen from her bag.
"I-I need to have an interview with you!" Emily seemed to have just remembered that she still needed to write a story for the Seattle Gazette in return for letting her come home for a week.

Jack smiled, Emily was always so good at a lot of things when it came to any form of work.
The only thing is she tends to worry and panic if she forgets what it was she had to do.
"Calm down, calm down." Jack grabbed Emily's hand.
"Let's go somewhere and you'll get your interview." He smiled.
"O-okay." Emily spoke little, she blushed at Jack's hand in hers.
Within an hour Jack had led Emily to the upper floors of the clock tower that sat out on the edge of town.
The place had been abandoned long ago even when they were kids.
The bells chimes could be heard all over town, yet strangely enough the tolls were much quieter Within the tower.
"You probably don't remember, but we used to come here a lot as kids." Jack wore a slight smile.
Emily just shook her head.
"No, I remember...
Well I remember being up here.
I just... don't remember being up here with you." She frowned.
"Let's see..." Jack said.
He walked around the floor looking for something.
In a few seconds he found a leather chair with a few cuts in the top.
He walked off again and came back with another comfy looking chair with a carnation shaped design cut into the back of it.
Jack took the carnation chair and sat it in front of the clock window.
"Sit here." He said to Emily.
Emily walked over and did as asked.
Jack flopped into the cut up leather chair.
"Okay, lets start the interview." Jack smiled which made Emily grow a little shy.
"R-right." She stuttered.
As she cleared her throat Jack couldn't help but stare in aww.
The sun was beginning to set and with the light shining in the window behind her, Emily looked positively beautiful within it.
Emily noticed Jack staring, she blushed a red hue and Jack quickly looked away.

...
After sometime had passed and Jack answered each question Emily asked, the two sat in a momentary silence.
"Um, well I feel like I know you a little better." Emily giggled.
"But you don't remember anything do you?" Jack asked.
She shook her head.
"That's Okay.
Even if you never remember me-"
Emily reached over and put a hand over Jack's mouth.
"Don't finish that sentence."
She pouted and put a finger to her lips.
"I told you I want to remember everything about you.
About us and how we used to be.
So don't finish that." She smiled.

Just then the clock towers bell rang.
Once...
Twice...
...
...
Eventually it rang seven times.
It was seven o' clock.
"Hah, I guess it's getting late." Jack laughed.
"Ah! I'm sorry to take up so much of your time!" Emily bowed in apology.
"Huh?
No don't be sorry, silly." Jack said.
"But you're an artist, are you not busy writing music?" Emily blushed in embarrassment.
Emily didn't always get the best responses or kindness from artists she met around Seattle.
"Not really, I do all sorts of things.
Besides I'm home for a break for now." Jack reassured.
"Home?" Emily questioned.
"Yeah like you I lived here too.
My mom and sister still live here." Jack said.
"Who are they if you don't mind me asking?" Emily asked sheepishly.
"Hellen and Jill.
I'd hope you still remember them at least." Jack kinda pouted and crossed his arms in the chair.
"That's your family!?" Emily sounded surprised.
"I always wondered why Hellen sounded so sad when I called her.
I guess she knew that I forgot."
Emily bit her lip.
Jack could tell she was feeling sad again.
Then suddenly it clicked in her head.
"Wait!
That means you live next to me!
Or at least we did." She smiled with light pink cheeks while twiddling her thumbs.
Jack smiled and got up.
He held out his hand and Emily reached for it.
With her hand in his, Jack and Emily began to leave the clock tower.
As they left Emily saw something etched into one of the walls near the exit to the lower floor, it was kinda covered up by some cloth.
"What's that?" She thought to herself.
"I have to find out." she smiled to in excitement.

Before Jack took Emily home he had the two of them take a detour to the local bakery.
There, Jack ran in and bought a bag of cookies.
When he came back out he saw a shivering Emily.
"Here." Jack handed Emily the warm bag of hand made cookies and threw his blazer over her shoulders.
"This should keep you warmer." Jack smiled at her.
"But what about you?" Emily gave a worried expression in return.
Jack shrugged and gave her his classic smile.
"I'll be fine."
Emily just nodded.

As they walked home Emily couldn't help but lean into Jack.
She was worried that he was getting cold so she tried to warm him up by using her body.
Jack noticed this and blushed red.
"What are you doing?"
He laughed.
"You're cold.
I can tell." Emily replied.
"I-I'm Fine." Jack said.
"Hmph." Emily huffed and leaned into him more, wrapping her arms around one of his.
"Just let me do this." She pleaded.
Jack nodded then.

...
After a while of waking in the cold autumn weather they finally reached their homes.
Jack's house sat closer to the stop sign on the street so he was closer to his house.
Though he didn't want to leave Emily again.
Not yet anyway.
"I'll walk you home." He said.
Emily giggled.
"But I live right next to you."
Jack shrugged again.
Soon enough they stopped on Emily's porch.
"Uh, I-I'm so happy I got to see you again.
I'm sorry I don't remember anything." Emily frowned.
Jack put a hand on her head again reassuringly.
"It's okay.
I told you before, I'm going to help you get your memories back." Jack smiled once again.
"Really?" Emily asked.
"Really." Jack repeated.
"Really, really?" Emily asked again.
"Really, Really." Jack smiled.
Emily clasped her hands behind her back and giggled.
"Okay, I'm gonna hold you to that." She smiled her ever warm smile.
"Um, good night."
Emily said as she walked inside closing the door behind her.
"Night." Jack waved a little.
Then Jack turned around and made his way back over home.

...
...
...
Sitting around the buildings of Jack and Emily's homes a small group of four people in black hooded coats, three men and a woman, all in masks, watched as Jack left Emily's.
"You sure that's him?"
"Of course that's him!"
"But his hair and eyes."
"Ain't nothin', I know that damn Joker when I see him."
"But he always wore a mask. Like us."
"Not always.
Not when he first showed up."
"Yeah, besides his eyes and hair stood out."
"I've never seen a brighter pair of red eyes shine through a mask..."

"Well it doesn't matter, we can't make a move until the boss gives the order.
So for now just stick to the shadows you fools, and observe the target."

"Yes sir."

"Right."

"Will do."

When the four ended their conversation they vanished out of sight, without a trace.

"Won't be long now..."

"Joker..."

Chapter 11: End