Superhero

Chapter 31

"You finished this report pretty fast," Addison noted, checking Jeff's experiment about some catalyst she didn't really know about. "Hey, you're also getting better at making sentences."
"Thanks," Jeff grinned. "That's what I get for having my very own English guru."
Addison rolled her eyes. "Yeah, very funny. Just because I like writing, it doesn't make me a guru."
Jeff smirked. "Maybe it does. By the way, any word about the Superhero? You say he's been missing for a very long time?"
Addison nodded. "Yeah. Been three weeks now. And not a single sighting."
"I'm sure the guy's fine," Jeff snorted. "I just hope I get to see him one day. Kinda jealous that you're getting to see him so often when I haven't met him once."
Addison let out a humourless chuckle. "You really wouldn't think so if you were the one who gets attacked by whackos so often."
Jeff snorted. "Yeah, no kidding. You literally ended up with a concoction."
"Concussion," Addison corrected, rolling her eyes. "I swear, I've heard you say it right. You're messing it up on purpose, aren't you?"
Jeff smirked. "Maaybe?"
Addison shook her head and continued editing his report, eating her burrito. She scrolled and read, trying to spot any petty mistakes. She let out a gasp of awe when she read one part.
"The catalyst increases the rate of reaction by fifty percent?!" Addison read in surprise. "Substance rapidly undergoes sublimation and gas is collected in a gas syringe? How is this experiment even done?!"
"By hand," Jeff deadpanned.
Addison frowned, sitting up straighter with her arms crossed on her chest. "Fine, if you wanna play sarcastic, I won't help you edit this."
Jeff immediately stepped out of the counter and apologised. "Sorry, sorry, I won't say anything."
Addison sighed. "How does this experiment even work?"
"You're reading the report," Jeff pointed out. "It's written in great detail."
Addison nodded and took a big bite off her burrito. "Yeah, I can see that." She frowned at Jeff who still stood in front of her, grinning. "What are you doing here? Go back to the counter."
"Oops," Jeff smirked, slipping behind the counter again. He leaned forward, crossing his arms on the countertop. "Anyway, what are your plans this weekend?"
"Sleep," Addison groaned. "And maybe play the Sims?"
Jeff frowned, shaking his head. "That game has issues..."
"Why?" Addison snorted, interested.
"I made myself in the game and made my Sim advance in the science hobby," Jeff shrugged. "I don't know how, but an alien abducted him and when he came back, he was pregnant."
Addison burst into laughter. "What?! Did he use a telescope?"
Jeff shook his head, frowning. "Nope. He was using a science station though. The house had no space so I put it outside. But mind you, he wasn't outside when he was abducted."
"What was he doing?" Addison asked, interested.
"He was watching tv in PJ's," Jeff deadpanned. "I have no idea how."
"This has never happened to me before, even though I tried forcing my Sim to use the telescope every night," Addison said, surprised. "All that happened was he mastered his Logic skill. Besides that, nothing."
Jeff snorted. "I heard it might be because of the amount of space rocks in a Sim's inventory or something. Sims Jeff had lots."
"That explains it," Addison chuckled. "What you doing with all of that?"
Jeff shrugged. "Just collect them whenever I see 'em lying around."
Addison chuckled, shaking her head. "No wonder..."
Jeff pouted at her but quickly stood straight when a customer walked in.

"Hey, you free tomorrow morning?!" Fiolina exclaimed as soon as she entered the shop, startling Addison.
"Why do you always have to announce your arrival so loudly?" Addison asked, slightly annoyed. She sighed when she saw Fiolina's pitiful face. "Fine... what do you want?"
"Are you free tomorrow morning?" Fiolina asked again, grinning. "My professor only just cancelled her class for tomorrow morning. Wanna hang out?"
Addison groaned slightly. "Where?"
Fiolina smirked mischievously. "I was thinking maybe we could give this Jordan fella a piece of our minds? He lives at your place, right?"
Addison frowned thoughtfully. "He does... but he's always out on weekends..."
"Maybe he goes to work," Fiolina suggested. "Do you know where he works?"
Addison nodded. "Yeah, he's a barista at the Sundeer Café in Alford. Why do you ask?"
Fiolina grinned, rubbing her hands together. "Addie, what do you say we go out for some coffee tomorrow?"
Addison frowned thoughtfully but eventually nodded. After all, the idea of having Fiolina and Jordan meet did sound exciting.
"Let's!" Addison grinned. "How does ten o'clock sound?"
Fiolina nodded with a smile. "It's a deal."

***

Addison waited outside of the Kennedy home, the strong wind making her pull her coat on tighter. The chill had somehow made its way to her skin through the fibres of her clothes. She looked up and frowned at the cloud-filled grey sky.
'Looks like it's gonna rain...' Addison predicted.
The beat of music got louder and louder, making Addison look down at the road just in time to see a metallic red Toyota Yaris pull up in front of her. Addison squinted her eyes slightly and saw Fiolina beckoning to her, sitting behind the wheel. She smiled and went towards the front passenger seat.
"Hey!" Fiolina cheerfully greeted as soon as she got in.
"Hi!" Addison greeted back with a grin.
"So where to?" Fiolina asked, pulling into the road again. "Wanna eat first or go bother this Jordan fella?"
Addison shrugged. "You decide."
Fiolina smirked. "Let's go bother this Jordan dude first."
She drove straight to Alford University, chatting and laughing with Addison all the way.

"Just park here," Addison said, pointing towards a spot on their right. "Yeah. It's the visitors' parking."
Fiolina did and stopped the car. She asked Addison to pass her the steering lock and hooked it onto the steering wheel and brake pedal before getting out of the car.
"So what reason are you gonna give for being here now?" Fiolina asked, walking alongside Addison into the campus.
Addison frowned thoughtfully. "I think I'll say I wanna go to the cooperative to buy some merch. After all, the bookmarks sold there are pretty cute. Besides, it's right next to the Sundeer Cafe."
Fiolina nodded and followed her towards the corporative shop. They entered together and started window shopping. Fiolina couldn't stop herself from buying at least five of the pretty bookmarks.
"There are quite pricey," Addison warned as she watched her choose the dainty tasseled bookmarks on display. "I think it's around five dollars for one."
Fiolina gasped but just clicked her tongue, choosing more. Addison shook her head in surprise. Well, she got one too, followed by a merchandise notebook.
As soon as they were done, they went to the counter and paid before leaving the shop. Addison casually led Fiolina to the cafe, chatting about random things.
"That's him," Addison whispered, discreetly motioning towards Jordan with her head. "The one at the counter."
Fiolina smirked and sashayed past Addison, making her way towards Jordan. She put her hand on the countertop and gave him a sideways smile. To her dismay, Jordan didn't even see her, staring at the screen of the computer with a frown.
"Hi, welcome to Sundeer Cafe, can I take your order?" Jordan said, without looking up from the screen. When he finally did, his eyes popped out of his head as soon as he spotted Addison smirking behind the dark auburn-haired girl in front of him. "Oh... hi, Addie. What brings you here?"
Addison smiled, squeezing herself beside Fiolina. "Hi, Jordan. Didn't know it was your shift. Just came to the cooperative to get something.
Jordan shrugged. "Anyway, what would you have?"
"What do you recommend?" Fiolina grinned, pushing Addison aside.
Addison rolled her eyes and waited for the 'let's give him a piece of our minds' part to come.
"Are you Addison's friend?" Jordan asked, smirking slightly.
Fiolina beamed. "Why, yes I am."
Addison frowned. It seemed like the part she had been waiting for was never gonna come. They were clearly hitting on each other instead of fighting.
She sighed and pushed her aside. "Can I get a hazelnut latte?"
Fiolina shoved her aside with her shoulder and grinned. "And I would like a chocolate milkshake?"
"It's freezing outside," Addison pointed out with a frown.
"Oh..." Fiolina pursed her lips. She turned back to Jordan. "Then, can I have a hot caramel mocha?"
Jordan smirked at her and took their order. "Alright, can I have your names?"
"Addie," Addison smirked. "You know that, don't you? Don't even think about misspelling it."
"I'm Fiolina," Fiolina stated flirtatiously.
Jordan nodded and told them the amount they needed to pay. To their surprise, he only charged for Addison's drink.
"What about Fio?" Addison asked, puzzled. "Doesn't she have to pay?"
"Uh... no, it's on the house," Jordan smirked, giving Fiolina a sideways glance. "Complimentary for first-time buyers."
Addison scowled. "Then what about me? I didn't get that during my first time!"
"We didn't offer that promotion at the time," Jordan smirked back.
Addison grunted and paid before going over to the pickup counter. Fiolina giggled and followed, standing next to her.
Jordan soon came over and put their drinks down in front of them.
"This is for you, Addie," Jordan said, putting the cup of hazelnut latte down. Then he smiled at Fiolina, putting down her cup of caramel mocha next. "And this is for you."
They took their respective cups of coffee and looked at them. Addison scowled when he spelled her name as Ady instead. Fiolina on the other hand, squealed with joy when she saw how he had correctly written her full name.
Together with his phone number.
Fiolina gasped. "Oh my gosh, he gave me his digits!" She exclaimed cheerfully.
"Call me, okay?" Jordan smirked.
Fiolina nodded gleefully. "I will!"
Addison sighed, her plan of giving Jordan a tick off a miserable failure.