DesertedMirage Says: Thanks to StormN624 and ORIONSTORM04, as well as Silverquickstar and kolbyirishas always. Thank you for taking the time to read Guardian Angel and review to let me know what you think of it. Your reviews mean a lot to me. I am always grateful for the readers of this story and I hope you guys are enjoying it so far. I also hope you enjoy this chapter!
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
I slowly came out of my sleep and rubbed my eyes. I was laying on the couch. My laptop was open, yet the power was off. I frowned, wondering why I had shut it off while in the middle of homework.
Must have turned it off in my sleep.
I remembered waking up to a knock on the door. I sat up, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was midnight.
Wow, what a nap! It was only 9 when I got back.
Yawning, I rose and walked to the door, glad that the burnt smell had significantly cleared from the previous microwave accident.
Must be McGinnis.
Oddly enough, when I looked through the peephole, the space outside of the door was empty. Frowning, I wondered where I had heard the knock coming from.
KNOCK KNOCK
I turned to the window behind the couch, walked over and opened the curtains. I was met with Batman, crouching on the landing. I was surprised to see that he had one arm wrapped around his stomach, as though he was hurt.
I furrowed my brow and quickly opened the window.
"Terry, what happened?"
Terry first looked over his shoulder into the night, as though he had been followed, then climbed inside and quickly closed the window, panting as he did so.
"Sorry I'm here so late. You're probably busy with homework or something as usual--" he was cut short and winced in pain as he held his side.
"C'mon Ter," I put one of his arms around my shoulders and helped him to lay on the couch, "let's see what's wrong."
"You sure know how to get yourself beat up, McGinnis. That's one heck of a bruise."
"Tell me about it." Terry made a face. "Oww, ow, slag!" He griped with another wince as I placed an ice pack on his bruised side.
"Sorry, but you know the ice will numb it,"
"Yeah," Terry grumbled, "eventually."
"Leave it to you to go out on a mission without telling anybody," I scolded while readying the bandages. "You know you can always call me to cover for you on the communicator--hold your arms up, and stop making faces, you're s'posed to be Batman."
Terry laughed, but quickly stopped to wince.
"Sorry Ter," I apologize for making him laugh.
"I should've known you'd make me laugh. Shoulda' went home and done this myself--oww, sorry!"
I chuckled.
"You had it comin' that time."
Terry scratched his head.
"I just didn't wanna' worry you--figured you'd be studying like all the rest of us should be doing," he paused, staring blankly into space for a moment as I continued to wrap.
"Funny thing is, I got hit so hard that I don't even remember leaving the cave…"
I sighed.
"You need help out there."
"No, I don't." Terry quickly countered. (He was sensitive about doing the job himself.)
"Okay, okay, but still…" I sighed as my voice trailed, deciding not to bother him about it that night. "So what happened?"
"Mmm, I was just going to check on a warehouse in Old Gotham, when I was suddenly jumped and knocked out."
"Same ol' same ol," I commented.
Terry nodded, watching me closely.
"Yeah. But…I guess it's not all that bad, 'cause…I needed to talk to you about something anyway."
I paused in what I was doing, already knowing the news he was about to share with me.
"Well, see, earlier today," he sighed. "Dana and I, uh, you see, what I'm trying to say is…Dana and I broke up."
I bit my lip and looked down. Terry watched me, most likely expecting a surprised reaction.
"You, uh, don't seem to be too surprised or anything,"
I quickly shook my head.
"No, I just…"
Terry frowned.
"What's wrong, Max?"
"Nothing, Terry," I lied. "I'm surprised that something like this, I-I mean that this would happen." I stammered.
Terry didn't respond immediately.
"Either you're lying, or rumors fly around at school quicker than I thought."
I knew he was looking at me questioningly, but there was no way that I could look into his eyes. Every emotion inside me would pour out like a waterfall. And that was exactly what I didn't need.
"How'd you find out? Dana told you, right?"
I had stopped winding the bandage around and now sat there, looking at the floor.
"Max, how did you find out?" he asked again.
"I can't tell you how I found out, Ter." I said quietly.
"Why not?"
I sighed shakily. He could see right through me.
"I-I need to get some more bandages," I stood up to walk away, but Terry swiftly grabbed my hand.
"Please don't walk away from this," he pleaded while struggling to stand up. "You're the reason I broke up with her, Max," Terry confessed.
His words sent a shock through me.
Sighing, he wrapped an arm around my waist and turned me to face him. Placing his hand on my face, he tilted it up to his. I was forced to look into his eyes.
"Slag it Max, can't you see that I'm in love with you?"
I froze.
Terry's voice was painfully sincere and my heart skipped several beats. As soon as the words left his mouth, a tear blurred in my eye.
"I don't believe you," I breathed, letting the tear fall down my cheek.
Terry's eyes reflected hurt at my lie, and he swallowed, nearing to place his lips to the tear.
"Then let me convince you," he whispered in a way that made my knees weaken, his lips moving closer to mine.
I started to protest, but there was absolutely no stopping him, and our lips locked in a soulfully passionate kiss. Involuntarily, my hands slid up his chest and wrapped around his neck. As the kiss grew deeper, my fingers traveled through his dark hair. His arms tightly encircled my waist.
We drew away and Terry dipped his head to my neck, where he placed a few tender kisses. His breath warmed on my neck. I shivered.
Overcome, I rested my head on his shoulder.
What had just happened? What were we doing? I was supposed to be his best friend and best friend alone. What made Terry's feelings change?
And why did I just kiss him back?
"What happened, Terry?" I asked aloud.
Terry didn't reply at once and I felt his chest move in a sigh.
"Nothing happened, Max. I've known this for years. I just…never knew how to tell you. I-I guess it kicked me into action seeing that note on your mirror and worrying about you…" Gently, he removed one of my hands from around his neck to bring it to his lips.
My heart warmed at Terry's words, the sincerity in his voice. But I shook my head, lifting my head off of his shoulder and moving out of his embrace.
"Terry, this can't go anywhere…" I rubbed my forehead as I turned my back to him, walking a few feet away. "I-I mean, we can't just all of the sudden be together after you've broken up with Dana. She wanted to start over, Terry. She was giving you a second chance. You should have-"
Oops.
I swallowed my words, halting in mid-sentence as I realized what I had said.
Terry frowned as he looked at me.
"You…overheard our argument, didn't you?" he questioned worriedly.
I breathed a nervous sigh.
"I…left my flash drive in your car and I was just going to ask you for the keycard when I heard you guys arguing."
Terry listened in silence.
"Max, you should've told me," he spoke softly, gathering me into a hug.
"Well, how do you think I feel when I'm the reason that my two best friends break up, Ter?" trembling, I had to pull away from him, feeling more tears coming. "I never thought I'd hear you and Dana say what you said to each other. I-I just wanted you to be happy. A-and I messed it up because…because I'm the reason you don't wanna' be with her?" my voice caught as my shoulders continued to shake.
I sat on the couch, my face in my hands as I cried freely.
"Max…I-I didn't know you felt that way…" Terry walked over to the couch and sat beside me. Before he could say anymore, his phone began to ring. "Slag it," He spat under his breath while silencing it.
I pulled my palms over my hair and to the back of my neck, trying to get a hold of myself.
The phone went off again. I sighed.
"You'd better get that," I said quietly, wearily, knowing it was probably Bruce. "You need to tell him what happened with you earlier." I got up and started to gather my homework and close my laptop.
"It can wait, though--"
"Terry, forget about this," I interrupted a bit more harshly than I wanted to. "Just…get everything clear with Bruce," I sniffed, still wiping at my tears, ashamed of myself for crying. "I need to get to sleep so I can be awake for school and work tomorrow…and you need to go home and rest."
Terry watched me for a moment, his expression filled with concern, until his phone persisted once more. With a grumble, he finally answered it.
As he talked to Bruce, I put my homework into my backpack, then went to the bathroom to get ready for bed. I shook my head at my reflection in the mirror. My hazel eyes were red and puffy, and my cheeks stained with tears. Leaning my palms on the counter, I tried to forget what had just happened…what Terry had said.
When I returned to the den, Terry had just hung up. He looked exhausted, and carefully pulled the top part of his suit back on.
I winced along with him, remembering his injury.
"Take care of that side," I said quietly as I saw him to the door.
"Yeah," Terry replied blankly as I slowly turned the knob and opened it. "Good thing the hallway's dim," he glanced down at his suit, trying to make light of things. "Wouldn't want anybody knowing Batman came for a visit."
I nodded without speaking.
We both stood in an awkward pause, but before Terry left, he quickly wrapped me in one last hug.
"I love you, Max."
The girl eyed herself in the mirror. Her long, black hair fell over one shoulder, her dark, slanted eyes danced with excitement. She neared the mirror to adjust her deep maroon lip gloss, then backed away with a satisfied smile and opened her purse.
"Wallet, check. Nail file, check. Gum--" she laughed, popping a stick into her mouth, "check…" pausing again, a dark smile lit her face when her fingers found a long, sharp metal object. "Knife…" she snickered, "…check."
With one final smoothing of her hair, she winked and left the room.
"It's payback time."
