Superhero

Chapter 128

Addison walked into the house with Jake and found Felicia sitting in the living room, looking rather thoughtful.
"Everything okay, Mom?" Jake asked as he went to her.
Felicia turned to him, jumping slightly at the question, but relaxed when she saw that it was just them. "Oh, you guys are home."
"Everything alright?" Jake asked again.
"Well..." Felicia shrugged. "Just thinking about how I'm gonna confront Fleurette."
"What did she do this time?" Addison asked, groaning slightly at the memory of having breakfast with her.
Felicia frowned. "She came in very late again last night. It's becoming scary. Especially since she's always dressed in black, and then she comes in like an intruder too."
"She breaks in each time?" Jake couldn't help but ask.
"Seems like it, just that she uses a key to do so instead. What am I gonna do with that girl."
Addison decided to step into the conversation. "Maybe you can tell her gently or something."
Jake nodded. "Yeah, Mom. You're literally the landlady. Tell her about it."
Felicia hesitated slightly. "Well, I guess you can say that. I've just never had problems like this before. I mean, sure, I've seen drunks and people who come late, but not this late."
"She's also drunk?" Addison asked, surprised.
"Yeah," Felicia gulped before continuing. "Maybe that's why I'm scared to confront her because the last time I came across a drunk person, they nearly threw a vase at my head."
"Giuseppe..." the two of them groaned together.
"Yeah, but at least he's stopped after that incident," Felicia said. "That was the last time he ever came home drunk and even gave me this table for compensation." She pointed at the sturdy wooden coffee table in front of her. "So yeah..."
"Maybe we should just try to talk to her," Addison said.
"You need backup?" Jake piped up. "Just wake me when she comes home. I can back you up."
Felicia cracked a smile at that. "Sure, I guess that would be good."
"I'll come in as well," everyone turned to see Giuseppe coming down the stairs. "After all, I did also cause the drunken scene."
Jake sighed. "You heard us?"
"Only because you guys called my name," Giuseppe shrugged. He turned to Felicia. "I'd be happy to back you up tonight."
Felicia smiled. "Thanks, Giuseppe."
Addison smirked. So more stuff was about to unfold today? How interesting.
But then another set of footprints came from the staircase and they all turned to see a person wearing a glowing white mask descending. Most of them screamed, but Addison sort of knew who it was.
"Fleurette?" Addison called, just slightly uncertain.
"What are you guys talking about?" It really was Fleurette. "Seems like you guys are having a big meeting here, loudly too."
"What is that thing?" Jake asked, eyes wide in shock.
Addison chuckled. "Do those things even work? I've seen a lot of people using those light therapy masks, but do they actually work?"
"They do," Fleurette nodded, finally arriving at the living room landing. "Light penetrates deep into the skin and promotes heeling. Light is more powerful than you think when it comes to skin care, but you have to do this before applying anything on your face since bright light can trigger a bad reaction with substances like retinol or glycolic acid."
"So that's the secret to flawless skin, then," Felicia nodded approvingly. "Maybe I should get some tips from you."
Fleurette looked at Felicia, a glowing mask of white void of any expression. "I don't think you need any of this, Mrs Kennedy. Your skin looks good as it is."
With that, she left and went back to her room upstairs.
"Well, so much for our heist tonight," Addison sighed and turned to leave. "I'll be in my room."
"And I'll be down for class later," Giuseppe added. "Bye, everyone."

Addison slowly snuck out of her room and crept downstairs. She didn't plan on meeting Fleurette today after the breakfast incident. She was lucky to skip yesterday since Fleurette had left for work a little later, but Addison was still not fully aware of her schedule.
So she slowly went down to see if Fleurette was in the living room so that she can escape through the front door instead of going to the kitchen. After all, Alford did have water coolers everywhere that also offered piping hot water.
"Hey, Addie!" Addison nearly fell off the stairs when Fleurette appeared behind her instead. "Whatcha sneaking around for?"
Addison inwardly groaned and turned to her. "Oh, hey Fleurette. I was just watching if my lecturer was downstairs. I just wanna skip the awkwardness, if you get what I mean."
Fleurette chuckled, practically forcing Addison down the steps without even laying a finger on her. "Yes, I do. I'm surprised that you guys were able to have breakfast with him and whatnot. I don't think I could've pulled that off back in college."
Addison laughed sheepishly as she tried to spring away.
"Aww, that laugh is so cute!" Fleurette piped up, much to her dismay.
"Thanks," Addison said and quickly rushed off to the kitchen. The rest were gathered there, Jordan with hot cocoa, Giuseppe at the hot water machine, and Jake with an Itchy-Bun beside the redhead. "Do we have a back door?" She asked, gaining all of their attention at once.
"Sure, it's over there, but it's a long walk to get back to the front," Jake said. "What's up?"
Addison sighed, going over to the hot water machine to make her flask of tea. "Fleurette is in the living room. I was trying to sneak downstairs to see if she's in the living room, but then she ambushed me from behind."
"Oof," Jordan shook his head. "That's gonna leave a mark."
"Yeah, the breakfast incident also a permanent scar," Giuseppe added. "But maybe we can try to sneak past her in the living room?"
"Back door is still an option, right?" Addison nodded to Jake.
Jake shrugged. "Keys are over there."
But then they heard Fleurette's bike starting. They went to the front to see her riding off.
"Good," Jordan sighed. "Let's get to the car, Addie."
Addison nodded. "Yeah, let's blow this joint."
"And don't leave me behind," Giuseppe added.
It was still so strange how they didn't in the least feel awkward about Giuseppe having breakfast with them when they used to squirm at this very thought not long before. Maybe it's because of the new Fleurette character emerging. Addison still thought that she might actually be the Superhero, seeing how... extra she was. After all, they both wear black, they both apparently drink, and she did appear with a mask last night. It was unlikely that it was the same mask, but it was still a lead for Addison.
And now, she just needed proof.