Superhero

Chapter 77

"Jake, Jordan didn't come to classes or work today," Addison informed as soon as she got into the car. "His boss told me he called in sick, I tried texting him, but he left me on read!"
"I know," Jake frowned, not taking his eyes off the road as he drove. "He wouldn't text me either. Mom says he's been locked up in his room all day."
Addison gulped. "Do you think he's okay? Superhero looked pretty bummed out last night. If he really is Superhero like we suspect, I mean."
Jake shrugged. "Well, looks like there's only one way to find out."
"You sure that's a good idea?" Addison doubtfully asked. "Jake..."
"We have no choice, Addie," Jake stated as he drove on. "We have to know what's going on in his head."
Addison nodded. "Okay. I wanna know too."
"Whatever it is, I'm sure we can handle this," Jake assured. "Don't get too worked up."
"Please say this to Jordan," Addison worriedly said. "He might blow up."
This made Jake laugh.

Jake and Addison entered the living room and saw Felicia watching tv on the couch. She pointed up the stairs as soon as they gave her a look that demanded an answer.
"He's in his room," Felicia informed. "He hasn't left since morning."
The two nodded and ran up the stairs.
"Jordan!" Jake called as he rapped on the door. "Jordan, you okay in there?"
All that came was a groan.
"Jordan! We were worried, you wouldn't answer our texts!" Addison chimed in next.
"What the heck do the two of you want right now?!" Jordan's muffled voice spat behind the door. "Can't you leave a guy alone?"
"Darn..." Addison gulped.
Jake scowled. "Jordan. I know you're going through something but we won't be able to help you until you tell us what it is!"
"Yeah, Jordan, you need help!" Addison added. "We're all in this together, we can help!"
"You sound like some mental health commercial," Jake snorted before turning back to the door. "Jordan, we just want to know if you're okay."
The door sprang open with no warning, revealing Jordan in a tank top and shorts. Dark circles lined the bottom of his bloodshot eyes and his red hair was a mess.
"There. I'm okay," Jordan's frown deepened. "You see me, right? Is this enough or do I have to show my back too?"
Jake gasped. "Jordan, you look horrible!"
"Yeah, I wonder how you'd look and smell if you had explosive diarrhoea," Jordan retorted, pointing a finger at him. "Now, leave me alone. I need to take some medicine."
The door slammed behind him as he retreated into the room.
"He has diarrhoea?!" Addison said in surprise. "I mean... we've all been there, but I don't remember being this cranky..."
Jake shook his head, his frown deepening. "That's not the only thing he's going through, Addie. The diarrhoea is just a cherry on top of this messed up cake."
Addison nodded. "I don't know what he's going through, but I feel terrible for him, poor guy."
Jake frowned thoughtfully. "I know just the way to cheer him up. You check if he's at college tomorrow, then we'll surprise him."
"I don't have Academic Writing tomorrow, but I do share Speaking with him," Addison nodded. "I'll meet him then."
Jake nodded. "Go freshen up. Giuseppe's gonna be here any time for class."
Addison inwardly groaned but nodded, hurrying off to her room to shower and have dinner.

"Maybe you guys should just leave him alone?" Madison suggested, eating a bowl of cereal as she spoke to her sister. "In mean... who knows what's going on inside his head, right?"
"That's the thing," Addison sighed. "We don't know either. But what if... what if we leave him alone and then we regret it in the future?"
"You're going in too deep, Addie," Edgar added, also eating a bowl of cereal. "What if... what if it's just nothing?"
"Doesn't seem like nothing, Ed," Addison sighed. "There's definitely something."
Madison nodded and started adding more cereal into her bowl before passing it to Edgar.
"What's this, breakfast for dinner?" Addison snorted.
"Yeah, nothing wrong with having cereal for dinner, right?" Edgar grinned. "It's really good."
Addison chuckled and finished her own dinner. "Anyway, bye. See you guys tomorrow."
"Bye!" The siblings cheerfully waved as their big sister hung up.
Addison sighed and went downstairs for Galante Class.

"Have you found out why Jordan didn't come to class today?" Giuseppe asked as soon as he sat down.
"He has explosive diarrhoea, apparently," Jake shrugged. "Poor guy looks like... like trash..."
"That sounds mean..." Giuseppe frowned.
"That's the only way I could describe it," Jake sighed, resting his head on the table. "Poor Jordan... he looks horrible."
"We think he needs some cheering up," Addison cut in. "What should we do?"
"You know what his favourite food is?" Galante asked, pouring himself some juice.
"Chicken," the two students said at once.
"He likes Mom's food," Jake pointed out. "Have you tried it, Giuseppe?"
Giuseppe shook his head. "Haven't."
"I'm hosting dinner tomorrow night right here," Felicia suddenly chimed in, entering through the kitchen. "How does stuffed turkey sound?"
"He likes that better," Jake nodded. "Thanks, Mom. Why didn't we think of this before."
"Well, I didn't know that whatever that Jordan is going through was this serious," Felicia shrugged. "We need to fix this, and do whatever we can to cheer him up."
Addison smirked. "Especially if he's the Superhero."
"What do you mean if? It is him. I can tell," Giuseppe piped up. "Just look at him. Yesterday he crashed into Addie's shop, and now he's exhausted. Isn't that evidence enough?"
Felicia nodded thoughtfully. "You're right. We need to do all we can to make him feel better."
"Yeah!" Addison exclaimed cheerfully.
"Alright, now study!" Felicia got up and left.
They watched her go to the living room to watch tv again.
"Well, you heard the lady," Galante turned back to his students. "Let's study."

***

Addison held onto her flask and made her way to the kitchen to see if Jordan was there. She spotted him by the counter, making himself some coffee.
"Good morning, Jordan," Addison greeted as she made her way to the water dispenser. "How's your diarrhoea?"
"It's fine..." Jordan answered, much to her surprise.
Addison heaved a sigh of relief and dropped a green teabag into her flask of hot water. "I'm glad that you're better."
Jordan nodded, mixing his coffee. "Thanks."
Giuseppe came in, dressed in his neat white suit like always.
"Jordan!" Giuseppe greeted enthusiastically. "Good morning!"
Jordan turned around and nodded at him. "Hi, Sir."
"Feeling better now?" Giuseppe asked.
Jordan nodded. "Yes, Sir."
"Make sure to come to class later, okay?" Giuseppe said.
Jordan nodded and sipped his coffee. Addison had no idea how he could do it without scorching his throat.
"Addie, you coming with me?" Giuseppe asked, smirking.
Addison gulped and turned to Jordan, a pleading look in her eyes. The redhead sighed and turned to the lecturer.
"Sorry, Sir, but I told Addie that she can carpool with me today," Jordan said before going back to his coffee.
Galante nodded. "Alright, then. See you at Alford."
He gave them finger guns and left.
Addison heaved a sigh of relief and turned to Jordan. "Ugh, thank you, Jordan. You have no idea how torturous it was to hitch in his car yesterday."
Jordan shrugged. "Let me guess, he spoke nineteen to a dozen while an Italian song played in the background?"
"Yes, and he practically forced me to have breakfast with him," Addison groaned. "There was no way I could dodge that..."
"Oh wow... lots of stuff happened when I was behind the scenes," Jordan sighed. "I heard the Superhero appeared in your shop again?"
Addison nodded. "Yeah. How did you know?"
"A little birdie told me," Jordan smirked before downing his entire cup of coffee. "Alright, let's go."