Jennifer perfectly embodied what it meant to be surprised, no, it was true shock.
The shock came when she requested to be transferred to Gotham City.
In fact, it wasn't too long ago, just a month back, Gotham had an honest district attorney, who also happened to be Rachel's boyfriend at the time.
But according to Bruce, that district attorney was dead.
At that time, Kara had sarcastically remarked that Bruce was probably using the tragedy to play the widow card, though it was just a complaint. Rachel wasn't the DA's wife, so she wasn't really a widow.
Now, a month later, due to Jennifer's voluntary request and Gotham's urgent need for a new district attorney, her transfer had been approved.
Jennifer, already the district attorney in Metropolis, could assume the position in Gotham immediately upon her arrival.
When Kara heard the news, she dropped everything and rushed to Jennifer's house that same night.
"Are you crazy?" Kara shouted as soon as she opened the door to Jennifer's house.
Kara had a copy of Jennifer's keys, just like Dani. And of course, Jennifer had copies of theirs as well.
But when Kara entered, she didn't see Jennifer right away. It wasn't that she wasn't home, as Kara quickly realized with her super hearing, Jennifer was in the kitchen.
Temporarily holding back her frustration, Kara headed to the kitchen.
There, she found Jennifer and Dani, both busy preparing dinner. It seemed like they were celebrating something.
"Jennifer! Are you insane?" Kara yelled again.
Jennifer glanced at Kara and then pointed at her feet.
Kara had stormed in with her shoes on.
Though still angry, Kara begrudgingly bent down, took off her sneakers, and held them in her hands.
"Honestly, at your age, you're still so impulsive. You should try wearing heels and dresses, don't you think?" Jennifer quipped, not missing an opportunity to poke fun at her. She spun in her elegant blue dress, letting the skirt float gracefully like a flower.
But Jennifer didn't notice that Dani's expression, already serious, grew even darker.
"I'm really sorry, but I don't wear dresses," Dani snapped, clearly irritated. Her job didn't allow her to dress as stylishly as Jennifer.
Realizing she had unintentionally pulled Dani into the argument, Jennifer quickly hugged her and said, "Don't be mad, you know I'm only teasing Kara."
Kara scoffed. She knew the jab was directed at her.
"Don't change the subject, Jennifer. Do you know what you're doing? Is Bruce the only thing on your mind? Is that why you have to go to Gotham? Haven't you seen what's been happening there?" Kara brought the conversation back to the issue that had her so upset.
Jennifer sighed, exasperated. "I know what you're thinking, Kara. You think I'm going to Gotham because of Bruce, but you're wrong. Metropolis is too peaceful. Do you know what I do most days? I sit in my office, drink coffee, and read the newspaper. That's it."
"Sometimes I envy the stories you write in your column. I wish I could go out and experience something new."
"Gotham needs someone like me. That's why I'm going."
Kara narrowed her eyes, studying Jennifer's face for any signs of doubt.
Jennifer held her gaze.
After a moment, Jennifer smiled wryly. "Come on, Kara, I'm almost thirty. Do you really think I'm just some lovestruck girl? I know Gotham is far more dangerous than Metropolis, but that's exactly where I can make a difference. That's where I belong."
"And besides, didn't you hear what I said on the phone?"
"What?" Kara was curious. Jennifer was right; when she heard about Jennifer's transfer, she had been so shocked that she nearly crashed her car and had completely missed the rest of the conversation.
Jennifer shrugged. "My transfer to Gotham isn't just as district attorney. I've been promoted, Kara. I'm going there as the chief judge."
How could she explain the difference between a prosecutor and a judge?
To sum it up: a prosecutor accuses and presents cases against criminals, but it's the judge who decides whether they are guilty or not.
So even though Harvey Dent had been the district attorney, he always had to present his cases to the chief judge, who made the final ruling.
Jennifer, now the chief judge, held an even higher political status. And she hadn't even turned thirty yet.
If Kara didn't know her so well, she might have wondered if Jennifer had used some underhanded tactics to rise so quickly.
But that wasn't the case. Back in their student days, both Jennifer and Dani were highly talented and had worked hard, partly thanks to Kara's support.
"Do you really have to go?" Kara asked once more, her voice softer.
Jennifer shrugged again. "My application has been approved. I'll be moving in a few days. And who knows? Maybe I'll find something, or someone, interesting there."
"I knew this was all about Bruce," Kara muttered in frustration. In the end, Jennifer was still obsessed with him, despite all her denials.
Jennifer feigned an innocent expression. "Just because you don't like him doesn't mean others feel the same. You can't deny he's very attractive. I don't want to settle for just anyone, Kara. You can't judge me by your standards."
"And besides, do you know who my parents have been setting me up with? A bunch of idiots from the neighborhood, the same ones you used to beat up for fun. Who do you think I'd choose?"
Kara sighed. There wasn't much more to say. Bruce, with his wealth and charm, was irresistible to many, though she couldn't care less.
What concerned her most was that Jennifer had been obsessed with him for ten years. From the age of eighteen to twenty-eight, Kara couldn't understand how a brief relationship had turned into a decade of devotion.
But Kara knew that when Jennifer arrived in Gotham and saw that Bruce was still hung up on Rachel, the heartbreak would be inevitable.
When that happened, Jennifer would realize she and Dani were wrong.
What Kara never imagined was that, in Gotham, Harvey Dent would also be part of the picture, and Rachel would soon fall into his arms.
Kara nearly cursed when she found out. "Really? Are you just going to let go of your childhood love for someone else? Do you think you can beat the odds?"
And as all of this unfolded, Jennifer began to see a new door of hope opening before her.