Curiosity Killed the Cat

Chapter 3. A Couple of Lurking Bruce Waynes

Spring break was approaching ever so quickly and I was ever so thrilled to finally go home to visit my family. My parents could never have any children so I was adopted at the young age of two. My birth mother couldn't take care of me due to her income.

In an odd way I was not cross at her decision to give me up. Maybe I wouldn't have given my child up but she felt that someone better could provide for me and therefore I'm not mad at her.

We all have our reasons and she was nineteen years old living in a homeless shelter when she gave me away. Shannon, my birth mom has made it tradition to come to at least every holiday to come over to eat with me and my family. I used to think she was some god awful witch who'd randomly showed up every Christmas and Thanksgiving giving me the world's most bizarre gifts.

She's chill now and actually got herself back on her feet. Last I heard she's about to open up her very own hair salon.

"So are you going to Mr. goody two-shoes' party this friday?" Connor slides smoothly over next to me.

"Perhaps," I mumble as I redo my ponytail into a bun. I wished I brought my brush with me to work today, these monstrous curls are a pain to put up without it.

"What's with you and your friend are always being so indecisive," Connor states plainly. "What do you mean by that?" My eyebrows pinch together unamused. "Look I meant nothing by it, Lanes I just was curious if you're going."  Oh so he wants to ask me to go with him. I see his train of thought.

"I'm not interested in you that way, Connor." I go back to the kitchen to clock in for the day. "I meant as friends, Laney." Connor's loud steps follow me back. "Besides you're not my type," smirks my coworker hoping to offend me.

"Thank God for that!" I chuckle to myself. Connor places a hand over his heart as if he was just brutally shot. "Funny." I roll my eyes before grabbing a tray of food to deliver to a customer's table.

About a few hours later I find myself feeling overwhelmed due to the small amount of workers on today's shift and the large crowd of hungry people.

Georgia and Jasmine arrive shortly after the fourth hour from my never ending shift. Saturdays are always the busiest. "Hey Laney, how be it?"

"It be hell," I release breathlessly before taking a sip of my lukewarm water. Georgia suddenly slides over a very cold iced tea. It sits in a tall, silver thermos cup.

"Is it from?" Jasmine nods before I can finish my sentence.

"I love you guys!"

"Yeah my shift is coming up in an hour and expect a whole ass milkshake from you miss girlie!" Jasmine eyes Georgia jokinging. "Sure, sure!"

"So, have you seen Nadine yet? She texted the group chat and said that she wanted to talk to us after she met up with Kelvin." She met up with Kelvin and didn't tell me first. I know she's not required to tell me this stuff but we're best friends and we tell each other everything before we do it. Especially when it comes to boys.

"Oh, I haven't looked at my phone since my shift started. She must be having a good time I guess.

An hour later I get off of work and decide to text Nadine. I sit in the cafeteria eating a late lunch alone before I decide that maybe Nadine is distracted back at our dorm.

On the way back I decided to make a shortcut through the library. It's raining crazy today and I forgot my umbrella.

I weave my way through the tall, wooden bookcases trying to find my way out of this maze of a library. Don't get me wrong, my university's library is a work of art with many sculptures of inspirational people from history and its large window frames that provide enough sun to cause a sunburn.

Before I exit into the sitting area I catch two voices, female and male arguing in a loud whisper. Peering through the cracks of the books of the library I expect to see my first college fight but am shocked when I see who it is.

Nadine and Kelvin. They seem to be in a heated argument but I can't tell what it's about. At a long table closest to me I find none other than a lurking Wesley. He has a textbook laid out in front of him and earbuds stuck into his ears but his attention is drawn to the two's argument.

No one appears to be paying attention to the fight other than Wesley than I. Hoping to be able to hear them better I slide into the empty chair next to Wesley.

Wesley jumps up a bit as if someone caught him doing something that he wasn't supposed to be doing. A second later he regains himself.

"What can I do for you now?" His voice has an edge of sarcasm in it. "Do you always lurk in the shadows like this?" My eyes remain on my friend and Kelvin who seem to have calmed down a bit.

"I don't lurk and I'm not in any shadow," pouts Wesley with a defensive tone. "Besides I saw you lurking over there by the bookshelf a second ago."

My eyes shoot up in amusement. "Oh, then my apologies to you, Bruce Wayne. Anyways, what happened to them anyways? I thought they were starting to get closer." Wesley finally relaxes his body since I've first arrived. He appeared a bit on edge before.

"Uh no, clue. Kelvin and I were talking and then a second later she asked to speak with him privately and then boom!"

This past week Nadine had told me the two of them had been texting non stop. Although, when we had class, the most interaction they'd have is a "hey" or "what's up".

"Perhaps your matchmaking skills aren't as good as you thought," comments Wesley as he begins flipping through his work book.

"You're so blunt." I roll my eyes standing up. "Hey, have fun at the party next week!" Not only was Kelvin proving to be a dick but also his best friend. No wonder why they get along so well.

But what puzzled me was that I wasn't the only one concerned for a friend. The look on Wesley's face when I caught him lurking just seemed off. Even for him. He seemed concerned for his friend. As was I.

Nadine always avoided a fight. Especially when her family fought, which was almost daily. She had a soft voice and reaction when it came to these kinds of things. But today in the library there wasn't anything close to it.

What I need to do the next time I see Nadine is just rip the bandaid off clean and fast. I'll ask if everything is okay with her and Kelvin.

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Chapter posted: 4/06/2022

What do guys think is up with Kelvin and Nadine? Let me know what you thought of the chapter. I always enjoy reading everyone's comments!