"Can I sit here?" a velvety voice reached my ears.

I looked up at an abnormally pale, smiling face, my heart-beat quickened as I stared into his dark eyes. I felt myself nod and I slid over, making room on the torn bus seat. I bit my lip and stared out the window, hugging my text book close against my chest. No one ever asked to sit by me before; no one's ever really talked to me before him.

I sneaked a glance at him, watching his chest rise and fall under his green and purple form fitting shirt. His brown messy hair hung in his face and his tongue rolled slowly over his slightly red lips, like he was deep in thought. His neck muscles twitched like he was about to turn his head towards me, so I snapped my attention back out the window. I watched the blur of green trees and yellow grass pass by the speeding school bus, settling in for another silent ride.

"What's your book about?" he nudged my shoulder, causing me to look back at him in surprise.

He stared, almost lovingly, into my face, waiting patiently on my answer.

"Uhh," I stammered out in my squeaky voice and he nodded to the book I was clutching onto, "Oh! This book…it's just for my Psychology class I'm taking."

I unwillingly relaxed my grasp on it to show him. He took it from my hands; I suppressed a squeak as his hand brushed against mine. He nodded as he leafed through it, an impressed look played in his eyes.

"The human mind can be a dangerous thing…," he read off one of the pages before he snapped it shut, making me jump.

"Isn't that the dark truth?" he snickered.

Something about his laugh made me relax, made me feel happy that he was happy. I smiled at him and he smiled back.

"I like your smile," he purred, reaching up to tuck a stray blonde lock behind my ear.

I blushed and my high-pitched nervous giggle rose from my throat, causing the football player sitting across from us to shoot me an annoyed look.

"Shut the fuck up, nerd!" the burly player spat and received a high five from one of his like-minded friends.

My face burned in embarrassment and I instantly shut up, but the sweet stranger beside me didn't. His eyes grew dangerous as he turned his lean body towards the football jerk.

"Why don't you shut up before I force a gallon of gasoline down your throat and shoot a fire-cracker up your ass," he hissed through clenched teeth.

He turned back to me with a hint of danger still in his eyes…but I liked it.

"You stood up for me," I smiled.

"Of course, I'd do anything to get a smile back on that pretty face."

I cast my eyes down, inwardly squealing for joy, and adjusted my red and black plaid skirt as the bus came squealing to a stop. I looked up and saw the familiar surroundings of my street. I sighed and stood up, pulling my bag over my shoulder. I stepped over him into the aisle, constantly aware of how close his body was to mine. As I walked away, a rough hand catch my wrist and I looked back at him.

"Tell me your name…sweetheart," he ran his tongue over his chapped lips.

"Harleen, what's yours?"

"Call me..Jack…Jack the Joker."