Chapter 48

All that could be heard was the soft pad of Addison's feet as she crept from the trailer. She didn't like even that as she entered the darkness outside. It made her wonder why she was meeting the girl who had tried to kill her boyfriend out in the middle of the night, but she decided not to question it as she stepped into the night. When she stepped into the night, she felt instantly chilled, but only for a moment as she searched for the girl, they called Selina.

"Over here" said Selina then her voice reaching for her out of the darkness even as Addison turned only seeing her eyes again until the girl jumped out of it to stand in front of her.

"What took you so long?" said Selina her voice hard and quick like the crack of a whip not waiting for an answer as she turned on her heel to walk away clearly expecting her to follow. Addison wasn't sure if she should at first. She was tempted to scurry back inside, but she decided to be bold. She would follow her she decided, but even as she thought it, she didn't move.

"Are you coming or not?" snapped Selina then clearly expecting her to follow giving her a look of annoyance. Only then did she realize she hadn't moved, but still she stood there. It wasn't that she was afraid to follow, but she wanted to know what this girl wanted with her. She suspected she wouldn't find out though until she dared to follow the girl into the night.

Addison hurried to catch up to her and when she did, they walked in silence. All that could be heard was the crunch of gravel beneath their feet as Addison watched the girl from the corner of her eye, looking away just before she caught her.

"What do you want?" said Addison suddenly, halting them.

"I don't want anything" said Selina suddenly turning so they faced one another, but Addison didn't believe her as she looked into her eyes seeing something else there.

"You were prepared to die for him, even after everything he's done. Why?" said Selina surprising her with the look in her eyes.

It was like she was trying to understand something, something more then the question she was asking.

"Because I love him" said Addison simply wanting to laugh when the answer seemed not to appease her.

"That's it?" exclaimed Selina crossing her arms in a way that made Addison feel like she was being accused of lying.

"Yes, that's the truth. I love him and that's the only reason I need. I'm sorry if you expected something else, but that's why. Jerome and I, we love each other deeply and truly and would do anything for each other" whispered Addison smiling as she let herself laugh now. Selina didn't answer her.

She became distant then as she turned to look off into the distance where the trailer was.

"Why are you asking? Why did you come all the way back here after everything that happened today with detective Gordan, why did you come back just to ask that? What is it you want?" exclaimed Addison suddenly surprising even herself. She hadn't meant it to come out, but somehow it did. When it did, she knew immediately that it had caught Selina by surprise because she looked at her as if surprised, she even had the guts to ask. Addison didn't back down though, she stared her down waiting for an answer.

"What do you mean?" whispered Selina instantly telling her that she didn't want to answer. The question came, sounding like it was just falling out of her mouth without her knowing it, and Addison didn't respond. She only stared still waiting for an answer to the question she had asked until a long silence fell without one.

"Why do you care why I kept you from committing murder? I did it for my own reasons why isn't that enough?" whispered Addison her voice suddenly hard and slick like a knife even daring to rise to ring like a bell into the night. Selina still didn't answer. Instead, she started to move back the way they had come kicking dirt up as she went. Addison found herself hurrying after her once more until suddenly she stopped not turning to face her as she did.

Finally, though, she said something, Addison didn't know if it was an answer or not. She could barely hear what she said at first until she repeated herself much louder. When she did though, Addison was taken aback. Selina didn't sound tough like she usually did, but like a normal girl, full of indecision. A little scared, a little vulnerable, and very uncertain of herself.

"If you're willing to die for someone, if you care enough to protect them like that does that always mean you love them?" whispered Selina not looking at her as she said it.

"No, not necessarily…it depends, I guess. Why?" whispered Addison stepping closer to the girl, finding she wasn't afraid of her anymore.

"What if you're willing to kill for someone? Is that the same thing?" whispered Selina looking down at the ground now.

"Yeah, I think it is. I don't think love knows any bounds, I mean, whatever he may be, I know Jerome loves me because he would never let anyone hurt me. He'd fight to protect me and as twisted as it might seem, I know he'd kill for me. I'd never want him to do it, but it is a sign of his love that he would" said Addison making Selina look at her almost in disbelief.

"I was gonna kill him for Bruce Wayne. He wouldn't have wanted that, but I still would have done that" exclaimed Selina continuing.

"I don't know what that means though, I mean, I don't think I love him. I can't love him…we're too different…from complete different worlds. He's good, I mean really good, and I'm…I don't know, not. He doesn't understand the way I have to live. The things I've done to survive, he just doesn't understand, but I still would have killed him to keep him from trying to hurt Bruce again" said Selina almost trying to convince herself. Addison could see the uncertainty in her eyes. She looked ready to give all of this up and run into the darkness, but she didn't. She only looked at her expecting answers.

"That may all be true, but even if you don't love him the way I love Jerome, he's your friend. He's your best friend and that is the same thing. You can still love him enough to want to protect him" exclaimed Addison finding suddenly she was a mentor to the girl who had tried to kill her boyfriend. She brought her hands to touch both her shoulders afraid as she did that, she would shrug them away, but she didn't. She stood before her then feeling wiser then she had her whole life and it shook her even as it thrilled her.

Selina didn't step away though, she actually looked her right in the eyes. She found a unique type of understanding there.

"You do know there's more then one type of love, don't you?" whispered Addison.

"Someone can be your best friend or the love of your life or both and you'd still protect them. You'd still do whatever you had to so you could protect them and keep them safe" whispered Addison part of her remembering a time when she too had been figuring out her feelings for Jerome.

"I don't want to love him though. I can't. It will just mess everything up" exclaimed Selina stepping away making Addison's hands fall from her shoulders. Addison didn't let her get away though as she followed her seeing that vulnerable side once more. She was suddenly small and weak when compared to every other time before and Addison almost felt sorry for her. Only almost though.

"It doesn't have to be that way, not if you don't let it. Jerome and I, when we first met, we were only nine, and we were just friends. The best of friends. It was years before we got to where we are now and even now, we're still best friends. I think we always will be. You can have the same thing if you try" whispered Addison smiling at the girl seeing a flicker of understanding sparkle in her eyes.

"Is that what you were looking for? Did I answer all your questions?" whispered Addison suddenly finding she cared for the girl almost as she would have a sister. Selina didn't answer, not at first, but Addison saw the answer in her eyes. There was a clear understanding, like a weight had been lifted from her, and Addison smiled. She was glad she could clarify things for her.

"Yeah, you did…I guess you kind of clarified what exactly was happening. I didn't know who else to talk to and I know we don't know each other, but I didn't know who else would know. I didn't plan anything that happened today, not stowing away, not trying to kill your boyfriend…I just happened. I just saw red" exclaimed Selina finding she felt the need to explain herself to her even as she realized she'd never felt the need to do it for anyone else.

"That happens, it just shows you care about Bruce Wayne, and Jerome did try to kill him" said Addison a question entering her mind as they started back towards the trailer.

"Why did you come back here this late at night just to ask me that?" said Addison receiving a shrug.

"I don't know…I thought you'd be able to explain it" said Selina.

"So, does this make us friends now, maybe?" asked Addison as they got back. Selina looked at her a moment before giving her another shrug.

"I don't have a lot of friends" said Selina meeting her gaze.

"Well, I'd like it if you considered me one" said Addison. She held her hand out to the girl then unsure if she would accept. When she did, they shared a smile, and Addison watched her walk away. Until she turned back to face her.

"Just make sure your boyfriend doesn't try to kill Bruce again. I might have to kill him" said Selina completely serious.

"I will, don't worry. If he does, I might let you" said Addison knowing that was something she didn't have to worry about as she went back inside. She found Jerome sitting on the bed waiting for her, he jumped to his feet immediately.

"What happened?" whispered Jerome receiving no response. Addy only closed the door, kissed his cheek, and climbed back into bed. When he joined her, she snuggled into his chest?

"What were you two talking about out there?" whispered Jerome his arms around her.

"Girl talk" said Addison simply.

"That's it, you're not gonna— "whispered Jerome.

"No, just go to sleep, Jerome" said Addison leaving him confused even as he did.