Superhero

Chapter 52

"No! Allow me to defend myself!" Jordan retorted. "Those were untruths on Felicia's side!"
"Jordan, chill!" Addison groaned. "It's what all mothers fear, Jordan! It's only normal that Felicia thinks you're leading Jake astray!"
"But I didn't!" Jordan pointed out. "I always respect his choice when he chooses to not drink. I don't even force him!"
Addison sighed. "Jordan... just... just don't drink, or show that you're drinking, when Felicia's around. Does Jake come with you to bars or something?"
"Nah, he just hangs out in some mall and I only call him if and only I'm too drunk to get home myself. He's my lookout friend, that's all. In fact, I don't even go to bars that much. I've never gotten drunk as long as I've been staying here, only a few drinks, even that on weekends. Felicia has no reason to accuse me like that. What am I supposed to do if Jake brings himself to a bar and comes home drunk? Like that's my fault."
"Alright, go explain all of this to Felicia and give her that beautiful painting in your hands," Addison started pushing Jordan to the kitchen. "She must be in there, hopefully, she'll forgive you."
Felicia was confused at why Addison was pushing a protesting Jordan into the kitchen.
"Go on!" Addison whisper-shouted, nodding his head towards Felicia.
Jordan gulped and let out a sigh before beginning. "Felicia?"
"What?" Felicia growled.
Jordan shot a pleading look in Addison's way.
Addison sighed and stepped forward. "Felicia, Jordan wants to give you something."
"Give me what?" Felicia demanded again.
Jordan just handed the brown packaging to her and ran away. Felicia looked at it, confused.
"What's this?" Felicia frowned, looking to where Jordan had run off to.
"Open it, Felicia," Addison chuckled. "I'm sure you'll like it."
"What is it?" Felicia asked.
"Open it!" With that, Addison ran off to find Jordan.
Turns out, he was in the living room, sitting hunched over on the couch. Addison snorted and went to him.
"Oi," Addison called. He looked at her for a second and groaned. "Felicia's opening your gift, you better be there to see how she reacts."
"She's gonna fling it out the window," Jordan said with no hope. "Or worse! She's in the kitchen, right? She's gonna burn in in that stove of hers."
Addison sighed and opened her mouth to let out words of comfort when Felicia entered the chat.
"Jordan?" The two youths instantly turned around and saw Felicia coming in with the opened painting in her hands.
Addison grinned and straightened herself. "Oh look! Felicia opened your gift, Jordan!"
"Did you do this?" Felicia asked, holding up the beautiful painting of herself. "Did you paint this yourself?"
Jordan gulped. "Ye-Yes?"
"Yourself?" Felicia said again.
"Yes, I did it myself," Jordan mumbled.
"Yeah, Felicia, he actually painted it right here," Addison grinned, pointing at the seating area. "Saw him after back from work once."
"Really?" Felicia said in surprise. "How come I didn't see?"
"Because you shooed me off, Felicia," Jordan sighed. "I finished it in my room afterwards."
Felicia looked at the portrait again and smiled. "Thanks, Jordan. I really like it. You're a very good artist."
And with that, she went away to her room.
"Well, I guess your relationship has been fixed for now," Addison shrugged. "Don't ruin it by coming home drunk or anything, okay?"
Jordan rolled his eyes. "Addie, like I said. I never came home drunk. Even if I was, only mildly tipsy. Not blackout drunk."
"Oh yeah, because I'd you were blackout drunk, you wouldn't be walking straight, right?"
"Exactly. See, even you know."
Addison chuckled. "Anyway, see ya. I gotta prepare for... Jake tuition..."
"You guys still study like that?" Jordan asked in surprise.
Addison turned smug. "Of course. And I'm getting a discount on rent because of that."
Jordan gasped. "You did not..."
"I did," Addison grinned. "See ya!"
She laughed and went up the stairs, leaving Jordan to gape after her.
"Hey! Wait up!" Jordan shouted. "It's not fair!"
Addison gasped and ran to her room, locking herself up. She heard Jordan arguing outside and laughed.
"I'm the one who started it, I demand a discount too!" Jordan retorted behind the door.
"Go deal with Felicia," Addison smirked.
There was a gasp on Jordan's end, then silence. Addison then heard footsteps walk away and chuckled.

***

"Finally, Saturday," Jeff groaned, clocking out. "I can finally have some fun."
"What, partying?" Addison smirked.
Jeff glared at her. "Addie, I already said. I don't drink."
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean you can't party, right?" Addison pointed out, getting behind the counter as he went to change. "You can dance around, all you need is music."
Jeff frowned thoughtfully, stopping in front of the backroom. "You've got a point there. Anyway, what are your plans? Partying?"
"Nah..." Addison yawned, sitting down on the stool. "I wanna just sit and read. Finally have time for myself."
"Actually, same," Jeff chuckled before entering the room to change.
He eventually came back out and started putting food in the microwave then went to the SlurpSlurp machine. Addison snorted, seeing how he was even making bartender moves as he filled his cup. She ended up laughing hysterically.
"Why are you laughing?" Jeff asked, coming to her with the cold drink.
"Are you a bartender?" Addison couldn't help but ask.
Jeff grinned sheepishly. "No, but I like to pretend I'm one whenever I'm filling drinks."
Addison just laughed and started counting the things he was taking. Since he only took the things that were prepared in the shop, she didn't even have to scan anything when she came to a price. Jeff paid by card.
"Here's your receipt," Addison grinned, handing it to him. "By the way, do you really think Jake's the Superhero?"
Jeff simply shrugged. "Not sure. He's always tired and stuff, rarely talks. It's hard to tell."
"Well, at least he isn't the one that looks like a zombie, right?"
"Yeah, sure, whatever," Jeff sighed.
"Just curious, do you drink coffee?" Addison couldn't help but ask. "You seem to be pretty energetic though you're so zombified."
"I actually don't," Jeff shrugged. "I'm used to it at this point."
Addison just shook her head in disbelief. Jeff snorted and waved at her. "Goodbye, Dietitian. See ya tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow too, SlurpSlurp," Addison waved back with a chuckle.
Jeff smiled and left the shop, getting onto his bike and driving away. Addison sighed and sat down to continue her six-hour-long shift.

Jake stepped in just in time to pick Addison up. At this point, she was only glad to be given a ride home. The night walks around Spring Valley are anything but peaceful, let alone fun.
"I really appreciate you picking me up like this, Jake," Addison smiled as she got into the car next to him. "I told you about the Machete Weirdo, right?"
"Yeah..." Jake nodded, starting the car. "Scary... I hope the police caught him."
"They probably did. The police car was slowly approaching the weirdo. I didn't get to see the arrest since..."
"Since what?"
"You should know."
"I should know what?"
Addison just shrugged. "The Superhero took me home."
"Oh." Jake uttered, sounding completely unimpressed. "I thought some other thing happened."
Addison was sure now. This guy is the Superhero. It's Jake! Jake is the Superhero!