The Nerd's Secret |Ongoing|

☫ Chapter 22 ☫

☫ Chapter 22 ☫

I didn't quite see where the 'we' in this situation was.

     Of course, I'm no detective. Please condone that time I called myself Sherlock Holmes. I was clearly overestimating myself. It's just, there's something about Dark Wonder that really has me puzzled. See, I'm fully aware that he's actually a really great superhero. Despite his casual and theatrical demeanor —which is strange on its own because one would think these two traits would clash with each other— he knows exactly what to do in every situation. No matter how crazy the situation may appear. At least, that's how it's been.

     The fact is, I'm just a newbie and if we were to weigh everything on a scale, Dark Wonder is overwhelmingly better at this superhero thing. I won't deny the evidence that's so prominent to the extent that I just take a step back and let him do his thing. But even though this is all true, there's one thing that I will never be able to comprehend about Dark Wonder.

     "—then, like, I obviously told them that there was no way," he continued with his rant. "These idiots were all over the place, man. I was gonna count, you know? So I can sound smart or something but I lost count. That's how many people there were!"

     It's the way he's so unpredictable while being so incredibly predictable.

     "Hmm," I hummed in response, glancing at the door every now and then while pressing the earpiece against my ear so it wouldn't fall. That option didn't seem like the worst thing to happen.

     I genuinely didn't know what to expect. Here, I was thinking that I'd have to quickly dress in my costume in one of these small bathroom stalls. However, that wasn't the case at all. Instead, I was standing awkwardly, shifting from side to side and walking along the tiles as he spoke, not necessarily paying attention to what he was saying.

     "Are you even listening?" He clicked his tongue and I was sure an eye roll was his next action.

      "No," I answered truthfully. I looked out the window, pivoting slightly. There's something about talking too Dark Wonder that makes me brutally honest.

     Then there was silence.

     I didn't like it.

     "So what's this problem you were talking about?" I bit down on my lips, smacking them lightly. I was a bit impatient with the sudden and dramatic long pause and just with the entire position I was in.

      "You see," he abruptly began. He stopped again, making me tap my foot against the tiles. He cleared his throat and let out a long sigh, almost like he was annoyed at something. Or someone. Okay, it's probably me. I'm not even going to pretend that I'm that dense. "The problem is," he continued. I refrained myself from doing something stupid as I waited. "That you don't listen to me."

     I blinked. "What?"

      This time his groan was more on the verge of what I assumed to be agonizing and with a breath, he merely answered, "You're the problem."

      "Right," I said, understanding the clarification, holding in my laughter. I folded my arms against my chest while shaking my head. "Of course. Now, what can I do for you?"

     "Well, since you asked so nicely," he replied in almost a condescending manner if that made any sense. "I was just checking on you like a good friend."

       "And that whole other part of the conversation was just for fun?" I questioned him with a frown. "Wait, friend?" I repeated slowly, my heart stuttering for a moment. I attempted to play it cool and picked my head up. "I don't know. I feel like you just want to use the intercom."