Primadonna

4|Visitor at the Apartment

That night I waited with Barbara for Jim to come home, he had caught another criminal today called the Balloonman, and we were both worried about him.

When he came home he looked tired and worn down.

"You're okay.", Barbara says as she hugs him.

"We were so worried. Are you okay?" I ask, searching his body for injuries.

"Yeah. I fell is all. I'm fine." He groans as he sits down on the couch.

"I'll go get you some aspirin." I turn around and go to my room for the aspirin before he can object.

When I come back with two pills and a glass of water someone knocks on the door.

"I'll get it.", Barbara says as I walk over and hand the water and pills to Jim.

I sit down next to him, "I hope you know I'm very proud to call you my brother Jim. I can tell there's a lot on your mind right now, and I understand if you don't want to tell me what's bothering you. But I'll always be here for you when you're ready to talk."

"Angela, I-"

"Jim." We both looked over to Barbara as she opened the door wide.

A man in a black suit and bird hairstyle stood outside the door, "Hello, James. Old friend."

Jim had a shocked look on his face as he slowly stood up.

"Jim?" I whisper.

"You must be Barbara." The man said as he greeted her.

"Yes, please come in."

"James, hi." He quickly walks over to Jim. "And I must apologize, I haven't had the pleasure to know who you are." He smiles in my direction.

I smiled politely, "I suppose Jim doesn't mention me often. I just moved here from Metropolis. I'm Angeline, his sister." I shake his hand.

"I'm Peter. Peter... Humboldt. Lovely to meet you both at last. You're even more beautiful than I imagined, Barbara." He waves his hand over to her.

She laughs, "Sush."

"And I see good looks run in the family as well." He points at me, smiling.

I let out a polite laugh, "Thank you."

"Nice to meet you, Peter. We never get to meet any of Jim's friends, 'cause he never tells us anything." Barbara shakes her head.

"Mm. Men." He rolls his eyes.

I laugh, "Don't we know."

"Would you like a drink?" Barbara offers, about to walk to the kitchen.

"No, uh... he's a work friend. It's a work thing." Jim says.

"I'm just recently back in Gotham, and I had an idea to pop by out of the blue. But now is clearly not a good time." Peter nods.

"I'll walk you out." Jim smiles.

They both quickly walk out the door.

"That was a tad strange, wasn't it?"

"Probably a tough day at work. So, what's this about men? Are you talking to anyone right now?" She nudges me, smiling.

"No. I was just reminiscing about old exes." I shake my head.

She laughs as we walk to the kitchen and she takes out a bottle of wine, "Oh, like that one guy, what was his name? Chris? Christian?"

"Ugh, Christopher." I roll my eyes as she hands me a glass of wine.

"Yes, he was the worst, I don't know what you saw in him. Men who don't have the guts to break up with you in person are the worst."

"I'm just glad Jim doesn't know about any of them. It's embarrassing the things I let these men put me through. Never again. I need to have a long break from them. Especially after the last one."

"Don't even mention him, Angie. He's not worth any space in your mind. Honestly, if I had a brother like Jim, I would've told him about all these guys already so they could get their deserved payback. You're kinder than I am."

"I... I had my faults, too, though. I was always so persistent that I could fix these guys. A better person would let them go if they're not compatible. I tried so hard to make them stay."

"Hey, you're a wonderful girl, and any man would be lucky to have you. Don't let a few dumb guys make you think differently."

We finish our glass of wine together and then I settle into bed for the night.