Two hours later, Heather is huddled on her couch with Jenna.
Jenna
Do you feel better after getting all the tears out?
Heather
For now, I guess. But I still can’t believe I was blindsided like that. I should’ve known.
Heather
At the bar the other night, Nightwing…CONNOR…said something that should’ve clued me in.
Heather
“A smile like that is a sure sign that you’re thinking about leaving here with me.”
Heather
I should’ve remembered him saying that at the first family dinner!
Jenna
Nightwing must’ve been testing you to see if you knew he was Connor.
Heather
It all makes sense now.
Heather
When I told Nightwing at the costume party that Mom sent me a meetup link for it…
Heather
HE said that his single dad had done the same thing.
Jenna
Your parents must’ve been online together when they sent you guys the links.
Heather
I’m sure they didn’t think we’d run into each other there.
Heather
God, listen to me — “run in to each other.” This is more like a…like a…
Jenna
Like a massive, heart-achy crash. Oh, Heather.
Heather
How could I be so clueless?
Heather
I didn’t recognize Connor as Nightwing at the first dinner because I’d only seen him in the shadows at the costume party.
Jenna
He must not have recognized YOU right away either.
Heather
I didn’t recognize his voice because Nightwing just whispered to me at the party…
Heather
And Connor’s stubble hid some of Nightwing’s features…
Jenna
And you couldn’t see Nightwing that well at the bar.
Heather
I’M a disaster for running away from him tonight.
Jenna
Listen, you and I both run when we’re scared.
Jenna
But has it sunk in yet that Connor already sees you as a supergirl, with or without costumes?
Heather
You know what I’m going to say to that.
Jenna
STOP IT. Think about this a little more.
Jenna
When did Nightwing really start pursuing you?
Heather swallows hard because she knows the answer.
Jenna
It was AFTER you met Connor in person at the first dinner…
Jenna
You had a walls-down conversation with him as YOURSELF.
Jenna
You were never trying to impress him.
Jenna
At that dinner, you weren’t wearing ANY masks, and he responded to YOU.
Heather’s phone dings with a text.
Her heart lodges in her throat as she checks her screen.
Connor
I’m not giving up on you.
Breathless, Heather turns to Jenna again.
Heather
He’s texting me. What should I do?
Jenna
I’m leaving now, because you have someone in need of saving.
After Jenna gets up, gives her best friend a big hug, and lets herself out…
Heather only sits there, frozen by fear.
If she responds to Connor, her security blankets will disappear.
If she doesn’t respond, she won’t have any more Connor OR Nightwing…
Connor
At that dinner, after you said something about saving yourself for a superhero…
Connor
That’s when I knew — and I’m not just talking about knowing your identity, Heather.
Connor
That’s when I knew that I didn’t want you to be just another fling.
Connor
And that’s when I started using Nightwing to steer you to me.
Connor
It was probably shitty to fool you like that.
Connor
I even used a burner phone for “Connor.”
She can’t stand it, so she texts him back.
Heather
Hell of an evil plan.
Connor
Heather, if you’re having a problem with our parents seeing each other, that’s not a factor.
Connor
They called it off after you left.
Heather
That was never a factor.
Connor
Please tell me you’re not pushing me away because you think I have groupies.
Heather
What if that’s only a small part of it?
Connor
Jesus, Heather. Don’t you know how damned beautiful YOU are?
Connor
No other woman holds a candle to you.
She presses a hand to her aching heart and tries not to cry.
He must not have looked too closely at her, especially without her mask.
Connor
Talk to me, Heather.
Connor
No matter who I appeared to be, I’m the guy who’s a great listener. Remember?
Heather
If we’re such straight talkers, then you’ll believe me when I say that this just won’t work.
Heather
Once you get to know me, you’ll realize it.
Heather
I’m super geeky. Overwhelmingly so.
Connor
Geeky is what brought us together.
Connor
Not with me or Nightwing you weren’t.
Heather tosses down her phone to the cushions and shakes her head.
Another text comes through.
Connor
Just give me a chance, Heather.
She walks away from her phone.
She goes to her room and slings on her pj’s, totally miffed by his persistence.
But even in the darkness, a hopeful light is pushing back at the doubt, begging her to let it in…
Fifteen minutes later, she hears the doorbell ring. She looks through the peephole.
No one is there, so she waits a few minutes with her heart pounding, then opens up.
As she discovers a “bouquet” of superhero plush dolls, she bites her lip and brings them inside.
She reads the note attached to the Nightwing doll.
Note
Here are some friends who’ll vouch for Connor.
Note
He really is a decent guy, and he’s ready to take off his own mask to show you everything about who HE really is.
Note
You can find him on shift at the nearest fire station, putting out the flames that burn only for you.
Heather laughs as she plucks the Nightwing doll out from the collection of Batman, Wonder Woman, and all the other heroes.
She stares into his eyes, wishing she could find easy answers there…
