Superhero

Chapter 113

Jordan parked his car in the driveway and Addison got out with her keys while the redhead was still busy rummaging in his car for this and that. Addison waited for him in the porch and he soon came up with his backpack.
"You think Galante is home yet?" Addison asked as she jiggled the key into the lock.
Jordan shrugged. "Who knows?"
They entered the house and spotted Giuseppe sitting in the living room.
"Yeah, he's home," Jordan sighed. "Hi, Sir."
Giuseppe simply waved a hand at him without looking away from his phone.
"What brings you to the living room?" Addison asked. "I mean, it's just unusual to see you here, Giuseppe."
"Well, I was here when I broke the coffee table," Giuseppe shrugged. He finally put his phone away and turned to them. "Did you apologise to her?"
Jordan groaned softly. "Jake told you, huh?"
Giuseppe nodded. "Yes. And that was not cool, Ginger."
Addison chuckled and held up the paper bag that she was holding. "He got me hot chocolate to compensate."
"Good," Giuseppe turned back to his phone. "Make sure not to do it again, Giordano."
Addison shrugged and started making her way up the stairs. "Still didn't say why he's in the living room." She muttered under her breath.
She went to her room and closed the door before leaning against it. The day was a wild one and she was finally home. She gazed around her room, a mess with a pile of laundry building beside the bed. Addison made it a point to take it over to the laundrette tomorrow since it was Friday now. She quickly went to the bathroom and took a shower before going back down.

This time, Felicia treated them to some boneless roasted fish, baked potatoes, and coleslaw with some muffins for dessert. Addison rubbed her hands together in glee as she started her meal.
"I'll have a guest tomorrow," Giuseppe suddenly announced. "I mean, not exactly guest, they're just coming to collect me."
"Who?" Jordan asked as if it was any of his business. "And where are you going?"
Giuseppe just looked at him before resuming his meal.
Felicia chuckled. "Sure, I'll invite them in for a while. Maybe serve them a drink?"
"I don't think that's necessary," Giuseppe shook his head. "We'll be going out together. I probably won't come home tomorrow night since were planning to go somewhere the weekend."
Jordan perked up at that. "Out with the homies, I see?"
Giuseppe shook his head and continued to eat in silence. Jake decided to start another conversation, asking Jordan why he would tell Addison such a thing in the first place. She was suddenly reminded of how Jeff actually went all the way to Alford to knock some sense into Jordan for insulting her earlier. Addison was yet to give him a call to thank him for that.
And maybe she should treat him to some lunch as well.

As soon as Addison was done with dinner, hardly being able to move as she went back to her room, she sat down and called Jeff. As usual, it took a few tries before he finally picked up and just groaned instead of saying hello.
"Jeff, it's me," Addison said.
"Me who?" Jeff groaned again, a shuffling noise in the background.
Addison sighed. "It's Addie."
"Oh, it's you," Jeff instantly sounded more sober. "Did that prick apologise?"
"Yeah," Addison chuckled. "You didn't have to go all the way and talk sense into him."
"Well, I would've knocked some sense into him, but he was at work," Jeff grumbled.
"Oh, Jeff," Addison snorted. "Thanks for that. Feels nice to know that you stood up for me."
"It's alright, but shouldn't you be doing that instead?"
Addison frowned. "I was in college, and I did shout at him before leaving the scene since he invaded my alone time just to body-shame me like that."
"Yeah, that was a little cold," Jeff yawned. "Anyway, wanna get back to sleep. I'll see you tomorrow."
Addison bade farewell and hung up, then sat and tried to think of how she can treat him the next day. She ended up giving her parents a call, finally being answered by them instead of her siblings.
"What?!" Edward exclaimed in shock. "Why are you still friends with him?"
"Disown him!" Alison added. "You guys baby him and this is his response?"
Addison sighed. "But he did apologise, even got me a drink."
"Keep him at an arm's length," Edward added. "It seems like he's only using you guys for his own gain."
Addison didn't see how that was inaccurate and nodded. "Yeah, you're right. That's actually very true. But I feel bad for Jake."
"Well, he shouldn't for Jordan," Alison piped up.
She then began to tell them about how Jeff actually went over to knock some sense into the redhead.
"So, he only apologised because that boy went over?" Edward quipped. "Bad Hoodie guy."
Addison snorted. "Actually, he tried to apologise to me at school, but I didn't stick around to listen since I didn't want to have a conflict before work."
Alison sighed. "Just keep some distance with him, honey. We've noticed how he only comes to you guys for help but doesn't offer much in return."
"Yeah," Addison leaned back in her seat. "I knew that. It's just that I feel bad for Jake, the guy has been besties with this Jordan for like a decade or something, and apparently Jordan helped him through depression. So, he feels the need to check on him from time to time."
"Let him do that, then," Alison pointed out. "Addison, Jordan may have helped Jake emotionally, but he's certainly not helping you. Just try to keep some distance with him."
Addison shrugged. "He drops me off for school every morning."
"Then keep it within that limit," Edward piped up. "Keep your efforts towards him within that same effort."
"I'll try," Addison nodded.

Addison woke up fairly early and packed her laundry before making her way to the laundrette near the shop, barely managing to dodge Giuseppe and Jordan. Since it would take thirty minutes for the wash cycle to complete, Addison sat and looked through Benny Dodgers' menu to see what she can get for Jeff. She remembered him mentioning that he liked their food, maybe she can treat him to some now.
Or maybe she can get him a drink like what Jordan had suggested. But from Sundeer? Addison frowned as she looked through the prices on their mobile app. With those prices, Addison is better off getting Jeff a whole meal. She decided to spend the rest of the time reading a book before switching the clothes to the dryer.