[ 40 ] 2013

Harley looked into her bedroom mirror, which at one point was the place where Ashton always was, and she adjusted her short shorts, pulling them down her legs. They kept riding up every time she moved. She had gone through a lot of work to get the black out of her hair, back to its blonde color. She pulled her hair up into two pig tails and died one blue while the other was done red. There was white make up on her face to make her look pale and red color on her lips. 

Her shirt was red and white with the words 'Daddy's Lil Monster' written across. Strapped around her waist was a belt with a holster, where she put her Diamond Rose. It was the one time she could be able to show it off.

By her bedroom door was the baseball bat her brother had used when he barged into her room the first day they arrived in Sydney and he thought she was in danger. 

She had dressed up as Harley Quinn from Suicide squad, and the Batman comics.

Phoenix walked up behind her friend, dressed in her costume as well. She had gone with Catwoman and her costume was skin tight and black from top to bottom with cat ears that she wore on her head.

With her cellphone, she put it into camera mode and said to Harley, "A picture for twitter!"

Harley rolled her eyes.

The girl with dark hair posted it on the internet and gasped when her phone rang with immediate notifications. "I can't believe guys from the basketball team back in Perth are retweeting this. They never retweet me." She informed Harley with excitement. "And one of them just asked me if you have a twitter account."

The blonde shook her head. "I don't." 

She had no time to be on social media when she was too busy solving shifter problems, and getting into trouble all the time.

"You should get one, puddin." Phoenix said, trying to sound like Harley Quinn from the cartoons.

"I'd rather not." Harley shook her head. 

Harley stepped away from the mirror and Phoenix stayed, looking at herself. The girl with blonde hair went to grab her phone off the night stand. It was seven and she knew people would be arriving at Niall and Andrea's party by now. 

Unlokcing her phone, she searched in her contacts for Calum's number and opened up a conversation.

harley: hey calum, will you be going to the party?

calum: idk if im ready to go in that house yet :/

harley: i understand. you dont have to go if it still brings you bad memories.

calum: it will always bring me bad memories.

calum: are u going?

harley: yea...i kinda have to. i dont want to ruin it now that im on semi-good terms with andrea.

calum: i might go too, only if youre going..

harley: okay, just let me know. text me.

With her phone in hand, Harley and Phoenix walked out into the hallway. Billy was just coming out of his bedroom as well. From what Harley could see, she knew exactly what he had dressed up as. Especially when she saw the guitar hanging from a strap at his shoulder and the harmonica head piece. But Phoenix didn't. Crinkling up her nose in confusion, she asked him, "What are you supposed to be, Billy?"

"Billy Quinn." Harley quickly replied. 

"Exactly." Her older brother smiled.

"I'm lost." Phoenix scratched the back of her head.

That was when Billy began to explain, "Back then, there was a singer named Billy Quinn. He was very famous and our mum was really into his music, so she named me after him. He was like an American Justin Bieber, only he sang a different style of music. He had a girlfriend named Edie who was blonde and very pretty, and tonight, Cindy will be my Edie."

"Where'd you get the guitar and harmonica from?" Harley wondered. Her brother Billy was good at a lot of things, but he was not musically gifted. It was one of the few things he was tragically horrible at doing, unlike his namesake.

Gesturing to the instruments, he told her, "There's this new guy at St. Genevieve's who's working at the administration office. His name is John and we became friends, and he said I could borrow his instruments whenever I needed them. You probably don't know him though. He recently arrived from Mexico." Billy explained.

"I know John." Harley pointed out.

The three walked down the stairs, where their parents were watching a movie together, cuddled on the livingroom couch. 

Harleen turned to see the three of them and jumped out of her spot on the couch.  "Oh, you three look so cute. Let mumsy take a picture of you!" Before rushing to their side, she grabbed her cell phone out of her pocket and switched it to camera mode. Phoenix and Billy smiled into the camera, while Harley stood in between them, lacking the enthusiasm.

Her dad, Aaron Quinn, looked away from the television for a moment, and nearly choked on the popcorn in his mouth when he saw Harley. "Sweetheart, what are you wearing?" He asked, still in shock.

"My Harley Quinn costume." Harley shrugged.

He shook his head. "You can't leave dressed like that. Go put some pants on, Harley Lizbeth Quinn."

Harleen gasped, "Its just a costume, Aaron. Relax."

"She's going to be walking around in her underwear!" Aaron exclaimed, looking at his wife.

"Dad," Harley whined, "They are shorts, not underwear. And we're leaving because the party started already. We'll see you later."

Her dad tried to stop her, calling after his daughter once more, but Harleen grabbed him by the arm and dragged him back to the couch. Billy left the two girls and went across the street, where the party was happening. He wanted to see Cindy as soon as possible. 

Harley and Phoenix went to the house a few doors down the street, where the hunters lived. Harley felt more comfortable arriving with a group of people.

When she knocked on their door, Dempsey went to answer it. Harley smiled when she saw her friend's costume. She had chosen to dress up as Enchantress, also from the Suicide Squad. "Hey Harley." She greeted. "I knew you were going to dress up as your namesake."

"I kind of had to." Harley shrugged.

How could a girl named Harley Quinn not dress up as Harley Quinn at a costume party?

Dempsey invited the two girls inside her house and Phoenix went to the living room to talk to John, who had dressed up as a mariachi. 

Michael walked up to Harley, leaning in to whisper into her ear, "Why so serious?" 

Harley jumped, startled. "Geez, Michael!"

And when she turned to look at him, she saw he had dressed up as the joker. He had the same white face paint that she did and his hair was dyed bright green. 

"Your costume is very cool." Michael grinned at her.

"Yours too." Harley replied with a smile.

Leaning close to her again, he whispered to her, "Why do we have to act normal for her sake?" He asked. By her, he meant Phoenix who didn't know about the special abilities they all had. "When is she going to leave?" He soon added another question.

Harley whispered her reply, "If she doesn't leave in a few days, I'll ask her to go home." Personally, Harley wanted Phoenix to leave as much as everyone else did. All she did was cause problems for everyone.

"How about you and I get rid of her?" He suggested, "Like villain and sidekick."

"Are you suggesting we kill Phoenix?" Harley gasped.

"Not kill her." He shrugged, "Just hurt her really, really bad, so she'll go away."

"Just have patience." She patted her half-brother on the shoulder. "She'll be gone in a few days. She can't stay in Sydney forever."

While John and Phoenix continued talking in the living room, the rest joined Michael and Harley by the front door. It seemed that most of them had chosen to dress up as villains from the Batman comics, no doubt at the suggestion of Michael. 

They were all gathered in a small circle and Harley told Paúl, "I need you to do me a favor."

"What?" The hunter eyed her suspiciously.

"Can you ask your brother to keep Phoenix company?" Harley asked, biting down on her lip. She had heard from Dempsey that Paúl didn't want his brother to get involved in shifter business. And Harley wanted to keep Phoenix out of it as well.

"Why?" He asked her another question.

"Because," Harley began, "At one point during the party, I want us all to get together somewhere private, where no one will hear us. I need to ask you all a favor, and the only time I can think to get rid of Phoenix momentarily is at the party. I need your brother to watch her so she won't cause any more trouble." She wanted to ask all of them for their help in their plan to get rid of Claire. She knew that with all of them by her side, there was a smaller chance of something going wrong.

Paúl nodded, "Okay, I'll tell Jairo to keep your friend busy."

"Thank you." Harley smiled at him.

They all turned in the direction of the living room to see Phoenix and John. Harley waved them both over. 

"Come on." She told them, "We're going to the party."

-

the costume party is about to begin. and its going to get good, so stay tuned for the next update. i know im updating a bit too fast now, but im feeling inspired, so what the hay? anyway, thank you all so much for reading and supporting me. it means a lot.

question of the day: what time is is where you are right now? here in los angeles its 10:48pm and i can hear my neighbors across the street having a party. what a coincidence that harley's neighbors from across the street are also having a party. 

i love youuu. extra 'u's mean extra love. lol

-clary xx