Hehe…I'm trying to make the most of my winter break to update on this story…

Aren't you readers lucky :P

Enjoy!

*Disclaimer: I do not own the JL, maybe just the teens in this fanfic

O~O~O

Chapter Twenty-eight: Questions and Concerns

Maddox's P.O.V.

The Gotham City skyline holds me in a trance as a stare out of my bedroom window into the evening sky. There have been countless nights when I would just spend my time sitting by my window with the window slightly ajar, feeling the breeze softly stream into my room. After the events that had taken place within the last few weeks and especially today, I have begun to see Gotham in a new perspective. Growing up in the well-off part of Gotham, my parents have shielded me from the crime that's constantly creating havoc in the city. Now I see Gotham for the crime-infested city it truly is. I am now aware of the numerous bank robberies, gang activity, and murders that take place on the very streets I walk.

Within a short span of hours, everything has changed for me and my friends. Our concerns, the significance of who we are, and our very lives have been altered. Now I am left to question everything…

'Will the villains be caught? Will we be found out? Do I need a secret identity now? What does this mean for tomorrow? Is my life ever going to be normal? Is this all some weird dream? Who am I? Are my parents really who they say they are? Is everything in my life…a lie?'

With all of these questions swarming in my head I begin to anxiously pace the room. I can feel my palms being sweaty, my stomach doing back flips, and cold sweat beginning to run down my face. I try to put these thoughts to rest by thinking of other things that put my mind at ease. I begin thinking about the rush I love so much whenever I get on stage for a debate. I think about the joy I feel whenever I work alone in the art studio. I begin to think about…her.

I chuckle softly to myself, finding some humor in this. The irony in this moment is that I'm trying to think of things that calm me; however, thinking of her usually makes me feel anxious on a daily basis. But this time, it has an opposite effect.

I started remembering the times I rode home with her, those small blessings in disguise before any of this happened-before the incident at the museum, before Damien, before Penelope and her clique, before my jealousy took hold of me thus causing the friction between us now…

I began to reminisce about the past. There was this one fond memory I had of her…

(---O~O---)

It was a cloudy Friday afternoon and the group of friends were about to make their way over to Valen's house afterschool. However, Ophelia had to go on her routine Friday sale shopping splurge before meeting with the rest of her friends. Once again she had brought Maddox along to accompany her, which he secretly didn't mind as long as they spent time alone. He had been developing feelings for her for a while now, which he thought was strange at first since they've known each other for practically their whole lives. But he didn't see any reason why he couldn't feel anything more than a friend towards her.

'She's beautiful, yet humble, has a charming personality, a gorgeous smile, she's highly ambitious, charismatic, has a heart of gold…'

He would spend hours alone coming up with multiple reasons as to why she appealed to him. Unfortunately though, he knew that most of the boys in their school noticed these qualities about her too. He knew that most of the boys wanted to get with her and heard them talk about what they wanted to do with her in the locker room, which always made his blood boil. So whenever they spent time alone with each other, even though it was shopping, he cherished every moment of it.

He sat in the passenger seat of her sports car as they drove down the streets of Metropolis. They roof was drawn over the car since it looked like it was about to rain. They drove into the parking lot of this little, posh boutique. They walk into the store and about an hour later they both come out, carrying an armful of bags. They plop the bags of luxury into the trunk and backseat and drive off, finally heading towards their friend's house.

Maddox was calmly looking out the window, watching the scenery pass by. It began to rain and he was watching the drops of water stream down against the window's exterior. He quickly glances over at Ophelia and notes a worried look plastered on her face.

"Crap…" she mutters beneath her breath.

"What's wrong?" I ask a little worried.

"I forgot to get gas," she simply puts it. "The tank is near empty. I don't think I have enough to get to Valen's place."

'Great…' he mentally complains. "Pull up by that diner," he points.

Just as they pulled over into the right lane, the car begins to slow down and comes to a complete stop three blocks away from the diner. 'Greaattt…can things just get any better?' he mentally groans. He pinches the bridge of his nose with his forefinger and thumb, releasing a sigh of frustration.

"Oh Maddie, I'm so sorry," Ophelia whispers.

He looks over to her face and sees her chocolate brown eyes begin to water. He mentally slaps himself for visibly showing his frustration. "Let's just call someone to pick us up," he suggests.

"Good idea," she replies as she rummages around in her purse. Suddenly a look of realization comes over her face as she closes her eyes and grips the wheel. "I left my cell phone at home," she hisses.

He quickly counted backwards from ten and calmly took a hold of the situation.

"It's alright," he softly coos, trying to make her feel better. "Look, there's a phone booth at the corner. C'mon let's get out and try to make a call."

The rain began to pour on them as they exited the car and made a dash for the phone booth. They were soaked by the time they made it. There was enough room for the both of them as long as they stood closely to each other. Maddox felt her every movement as she tried to move around, searching for quarters in her wallet. "Who are you going to call?" he inquired.

"Hopefully Roy is free," she states. He scoots over that way she can put the coins into the slot and reach for the phone. She punches in the numbers a little roughly, praying for Roy to pick up his phone. "Hello, Roy, my car ran out of gas and now I'm stranded…I'm with Maddie…we're three blocks away from Frankie's Diner…on Court St. and Metro Ave. Can you please come? Uh-huh…ok…fifteen minutes, alright then. Thanks so much."

She puts the phone back on the receiver; feeling a bit more relieved knowing that help would soon come on its way. She begins to shiver, the water seeped into her clothes causing a chill to go down to her bones. Maddox glances at her and then quickly turns his head away with a slight blush creeping up his neck and face. He remembered how revealing a wet white shirt can be. He shrugs his uniform jacket off his shoulders and hands his jacket to her without turning his face.

"Here…" he mumbles barely audibly, holding it out to her waiting for her to accept it.

Ophelia was quizzical at his odd behavior but then looks down at her shirt and realizes the cause for his discomfort. She blushes a beet red and she takes the jacket from him. "Thank you," she softly replies. She slips it on, feeling comfort of the heat left from his body. Ophelia turns to look at his face and notices the light pink blush still on his cheeks. She smiles, finding amusement in seeing her usually cool and collected friend flustered.

Maddox could feel her palpable gaze on his face, causing his blush to deepen. Standing so close in her in a small, closed proximity, after catching a glimpse of her in such a state, had made him feel uneasy. He continued to look out of the phone booth, hoping to see Roy drive up soon. He had to wipe the glass because their hot breaths fogged up the glass. Car after car passed, and none of them seemed to be Roy's.

He felt a slight trembling next to him and finally turned around to see Ophelia shivering harder. Maddox began to feel worried, hoping that she wasn't catching a cold. He wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her closer to his body. Ophelia was surprised by his bold move but was comforted by the body heat radiating from him. She felt him rub his hand on her arm, trying to create friction to generate more body heat.

She looks up to see his gaze match hers. All of a sudden she was lost in the forest of his green eyes. Butterflies were fluttering in her stomach and an alarm went off in her head, reminding her that this was her life-long best friend. He gives a small smile, the dimple showing in his cheek and suddenly those thoughts were abashed. She began to melt as they continued to fiercely look into each other's eyes. A small wave of electricity passed through the both of them as if they had just been connected.

They were both simultaneously about to lean in when all of a sudden a bright, blinding yellow light pours into the phone booth and then a car horn honks twice. Maddox quickly drops his arm from around Ophelia's waist and he takes a step back from her, as if he had been caught doing something bad. He doesn't meet her gaze and the connection between them diminishes. They both run into the safety of Roy's car as he finishes loading his car with the last of Ophelia's purchases. Ophelia scrambles to the front seat, not being able to have to courage to sit next to Maddox in the back. Maddox recalls the events that had happened and tried to wrap his mind around the weight of it all. He stares out the window while his mind begins to wander.

'Maybe it wasn't that bad after all…' he thought before he got lost in the pitter-patter of the rain.

(---O~O---)

The low rumbling of thunder brings me back to the here and now. I look outside and notice that it was softly raining. My thoughts drift back to what happened tonight. The tension radiated off the walls of the Wayne library and was enough to choke me. Everyone was pretty tense and on edge, except for one.

Ophelia…

For some reason she looked calm. The news didn't seem to faze her. I tried to attune myself to her feelings and realized that deep down, beneath the façade of her cool surface, was an indescribable pain mixed with anger. At the time I was too engulfed in my own concerns and questions to actually do anything about it. We were also on negative terms this afternoon. Now that I think about it, I never got the chance to resolve the issues between us. Despite the worry about my world possibly turning upside down, my worry for Ophelia outweighs them all.

On impulse I sneak out of my room and out of the apartment, heading straight for the garage. Just as I soon step out of the elevator, I come face to face with my father.

"What do you want?" I ask coldly. I still haven't made amends with my parents. That can wait 'til later, one thing at a time for now…

"Sneaking out son?" he says, making it sound more like a statement rather than a question. He looks intently at me and I don't answer him out of defiance. He continues to search my face for answers for a little bit longer. "I'm The Question, son, your steely looks don't fool me," he coolly retaliates. He reaches into his coat pocket and flicks his wrist. As a reflex, I catch his car keys. I stare dumbfounded at the keys and then at him.

"Go," he gently urges. "I know that you need to get out of here and in light of all that's happened I don't blame you. Just be careful, it's raining and the roads are wet. Settle what you need to settle and try to be back before morning son."

I give him a quick nod as I walk over to his car. I put the keys into the ignition, and the engine purrs to life as I drive off into the night…

O~O~O

Gee, I wonder where he's off to *wink, wink* it wouldn't hurt to guess…

Tee-hee now we have a little bit of Maddie-Phee fluff (say thank you lol)

Read & review for the next chapter readers, especially if you want to see what's going to happen next!