Cracking An Enigma (a YJ fanfic) COMPLETED

Chapter Twenty Six: Exposed

"I have scaled these city walls."
U2, Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

AFTER THAT FATEFUL NIGHT with Dick, I was a little distant for a few days, before I finally decided to try and block it out if my head. By that, I of course mean the fact that I was in love.

I can't believe it. Just... Oh my God, I'm ruined.

I was actually, genuinely upset. I couldn't be in love, this was just unbelievable. I didn't want to be in love, I hadn't asked for it or anything. It had just... Happened.

Goddamn it!

At the cave, I was doing absolutely nothing, simply sitting down and thinking. "You ok, Em?" Asked Arty, who came to sit next to me.

"Yes! Of course! I am the picture of health!" I gabbled, a little too fast. "Just... Daydreaming."

"You've been zoning out a lot, these days," she spoke, staring at me hard.

Woooow, totally not intimidating.

"Have not," I muttered, pushing my head into my arms, with a retired groan.

"When you zone out, it's a bad sign," she continued. "Something's happened, Em. I just know it."

"Am I that easy to read?" I mumbled, my voice muffled by my jumper.

"You are an avid reader," Arty commented, raising an eyebrow.

"Ha ha," I mocked, poking my head out. "First off, don't make a mockery of books, and second off, yes, something has happened."

"Spill the tea," she stated, folding her arms.

"I don't really want to," I sighed. "... besides, who wants a good cuppa on the floor?"

"Whyyyyyy!" Arty whined. "C'mon Em, you never tell me anything!"

I grunted, and said, "Look, I just need some thinking time Arty. I'll tell you soon, alright?"

"Alright," she grumbled. "But you promised!"

"I never-" I huffed annoyedly, she was already gone. "Bloody hell," I wailed, smacking my head on the kitchen counter.

"Hey, Shady!" M'gann's cheerful voice came from the other side of the room. "You wanna make cookies with me?"

I shrugged, "Well, I don't have anything better to do, so... Ok."

We began to set out the ingredients, M'gann humming happily as we did. A question was out of my mouth, before I could stop it.
"M'gann? How are you so happy?"

She looked at me, a little surprised, before smiling and answering, "Well, I think that I am just a positive person on the whole. And the fact that Connor cares for me always makes me feel better."

"Right," I muttered, taking the eggs out of the fridge. She looked at me, concerned by my behavior.

"Are you alright, Shady? Do you want to go out with someone?"

My eyes widened, closely followed by my loud laughing. "Oh, sweet M'gann, I really have no interest in men at the moment. Or well, anyone," I added hastily, recalling the brief crush I had on a girl in my school back in London.

"You don't?" She asked quizzically. "But I think that you and Robin had some sort of connection."

My gaze shifted to her, as I watched her mix the butter in. "What do you mean?" I questioned.

"You just seem to really like each other, you know?" She hummed happily. "I just like to think that's there's something going on behind the scenes."