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This book was automatically created by FLAG on March 6th, 2013, based oncontent retrieved from http://www.wattpad.com/story/618095.

The content in this book is copyrighted by Shadypalmtree or their authorisedagent(s). All rights are reserved except where explicitly stated otherwise.

This story was first published on October 6th, 2011, and was last updated onFebruary 26th, 2012.

Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated - please email any bugs, problems,feature requests etc. to flag@erayd.net.

Table of Contents

Summary1. New Chapter, New Troubles2. The Game3. The Mistake That Starts it All4. Lady Killer5. First Date6. The Cost of Freedom7. Midnight Snack8. Friends?9. Trouble Starts with a V10. Midterm Stress Reliever11. The Corruptor of Innocence12. The Uninvited Guest13. The Replacement14. Confessional15. Party of the Century16. Morning After17. When Bad Boys Strike18. Nice Guys Finish Last19. Unfortunate Pasts20. Threats21. Payback22. Post Break-up23. The Not-So Nice Guy24. A Box of Surprises25. Bachelor-ette Pad26. The Reproductive System27. Meeting the Other Lennox28. The Challenge

- 3 -

29. A Night to Remember30. All or Nothing31. Taking Risks32. In Too Deep33. Getting Even34. Stupid Girl35. Morning Visitor36. Epilogue: Adrian's Vow

- 4 -

Summary

Naïve and innocent Cassidy had an ordinary life up until she got drunk one nightand felt up the notorious playboy on campus, Adrian. She wanted to get away fromhim, but he wouldn't let her go that easily.

This story is for 17 years or older. So please, no one younger than 17, especially13. Save your innocence, you don't need to be reading stories like this. If you wantto read it anyways, go for it, I can't stop you. But don't let this story influence youractions. This is just a fictional story.

- 5 -

New Chapter, New Troubles

Copyright © 2011 Shadypalmtree- All Rights Reserved

Cover by: __Clueless

NOTE: Before you guys read this, I want you to know a few things. I wrote this in2010 on fictionpress and decided to put it up on wattpad to protect the story frombeing plagiarized. I have not edited/look over a few things. So if there are mistakes(which I'm sure there is many) point them out so I can fix them thanks!

And another thing. Wattpad placed this story rated R because of the lewdlanguage, sexual encounters. There is no sex scene, despite the rating. And only17 years or older can read this. So please, no one younger than 17, especially13. Save your innocence, you don't need to be reading stories like this. If you wantto read it anyways, go for it, I can't stop you. But don't let this story influence youractions. This is just a fictional story. It is all it will ever be. Thank you for takingthe time to read this and I hope you enjoy the story!

Chapter 1: New Chapter, New Troubles

Cassidy Gordon kept a steady gaze on the school map she was given onorientation in one hand and in the other was her fall semester schedule. College wasa lot more complicating and confusing than High school. As a starting freshman onher first day of school, Cassidy wanted to make sure it went smoothly.

Taking more than twelve credits might've been a bad decision for her firstsemester, but Cassidy wanted to get a head start and graduate early. She wasdetermined, focused, and poised. This was going to be a great first day.

"Cassidy!"

Cassidy turned around and smiled as one of her close friends, Kathleen McGavin,came running up to her. She breathed heavily, wiping the sweat on her foreheadwith the back of her hand.

"Hey," Cassidy said, smiling amusingly. "Out of breath?"

"You don't even know. This place is so confusing. There are so many buildings,class numbers, teachers, and students to keep track of. It's a freaking zoo here!" She

- 6 -

exclaimed, frustrated.

"Tell me about it." A voice commented from behind.

Cassidy and Kathleen whirled around and spotted their short friend, Nina Ruiz.She had her binders ready in her arms and an irritated expression on her face.

"Hey Nina," Cassidy and Kathleen said simultaneously. Nina raised her head up tothem in recognition.

"I can't believe it's the first day of school." Kathleen groaned, twirling her blondehair around her finger.

"Me neither." Nina groaned equally, burying her short light brown hair in herhands. "I wish it was still summer break."

Cassidy rolled her eyes, fixing her long dark brown hair in a pony tale. "Well, I'mexcited to start school. It was time that the break ended, I was getting pretty bored."

"The only things you find exciting is studying your biology book or going toscience camp." Nina retorted in distaste.

"Hey, I met a lot of nice people at science camp and getting ahead in my biologybook is the smartest way to get good grades in class." Cassidy noted firmly. "By theway, everybody does it."

"No," Kathleen denied. "You're the only person I know that starts reading herbooks two months before school starts."

Cassidy rolled her eyes. "Whatever, I'm just trying to get started with my career."

"You're a freshman!" They both exclaimed incredulously.

"In college," Cassidy added, thinking it was the most important detail they forgot.

"Just because you're in college doesn't mean you have to take on everything now."Nina replied clearly. "Relax, enjoy your first semester. Don't stress yourself over somuch."

"I don't," she replied weakly.

- 7 -

Kathleen snorted. "Yeah sure, remember that time you had that big exam forgovernment and you freaked out over it since the beginning of the year?"

"I was trying to prepare for it!" She defended weakly.

"That exam wasn't until April and you had plenty of time to study."

"Try six months to study." Kathleen added.

Cassidy pushed her small rounded spectacles back, frowning. "You know thatgovernment is my weakest subject."

"And you still managed to get an A in the class." Kathleen pointed out."Government is my favorite subject and I pulled a B."

Nina snorted. "I got a C, not my finest moment."

Kathleen rolled her eyes at Nina. "Well, what do you expect? You're an Englishmajor and I'm a political science one. I have to get good grades on this stuff if I wantto become a politician."

Cassidy held her shoulder in comfort. "Don't worry you'll do great this year Ipromise."

"Thanks Cass," Kathleen smiled, looking at them with hope. "Well, ready to startour first day as college freshman?"

Nina groaned and Cassidy beamed. "You know it."

They started walking off into the crowds of people, looking for the exact buildingto which their classes were being held at. Cassidy was busy looking at her schedulewhile Kathleen and Nina were soaking in the new college life.

"I wonder if there's going to be any cute college boys in my class." Nina wonderedenthusiastically, clapping her hands together.

"Is that all you concentrate on?" Cassidy sighed.

Kathleen stopped suddenly, her eyes glazed over as she looked in the distance."Speaking of cute college boys," She said in question.

Nina stopped beside her and followed the direction of her gaze, her mouth- 8 -

dropping unexpectedly. Cassidy continued her course of walk, not noticing.

"I don't know how I'm going to study for my new classes, you guys. Someone saidthat the biology course was going to be-" She stopped in mid-sentence, noticing thatKathleen and Nina weren't walking beside her anymore.

Cassidy frowned, looking back and seeing their dazed expressions. She waved ahand in front of their faces in frustration.

"Hello! Is anybody there?"

Kathleen and Nina's face remained unchanged and Cassidy sighed, following theirgaze. Her eyes searched for the offending thing that grabbed their attention and shefinally saw it, or him to put it clearly.

He was tall with messy dark brown hair, tan skinned from the summer, and aradiant bright smile. He was appropriately dressed for the weather with a gray looset-shirt, dark blue washed jeans that hung tightly at his hips, and dark shades. Hewas currently on his longboard skateboard traveling at a low speed as it waskeeping up with a group of giggling sorority girls that had their printed logobranded on their pink t-shirts.

He dazzled them with his charm which seemed to be affecting Cassidy alsobecause she felt like her heart was pounding in her ears. This guy was beyond hot,he was gorgeous, a fit for a model.

Even though he possessed the daring good looks, she saw what was screaming onthe exterior. Chauvinist, egocentric, arrogant, and whore. It was better to stay awayfrom people like him. He was a shrieking alarm for girls to stay away and many ofthem, actually ninety percent of them, didn't see it.

Luckily, Cassidy was the remaining ten percent that oversaw his features andquickly concluded his real self, his ugly self inside. It was hideous.

She shuddered to get rid of the vibes from him before and looked back at herfriends. They continued to drool as this guy passed them by without a single glancetheir way. He was the definition of jerk.

"Are you guys...ok?" She asked warily, looking at the guy's retreating back.

Kathleen and Nina squealed in excitement, jumping around in a circle as they heldeach other's hands. Cassidy looked at them as though they were deranged and she

- 9 -

took a step back, noticing the strange gazes from other students that they werereceiving.

"Can we please stop the screaming fest!" Cassidy yelled irritably. Kathleen andNina ceased their excitement and looked to Cassidy in confusion with frowningfaces. "What is going on here?"

Kathleen giggled, holding Cassidy's shoulders. "Did you not just see the hottestguy on campus?"

Cassidy looked to Kathleen and Nina's hopeful expressions in confusion. "No..."

"Are your reading glasses on straight?" Nina intervened by taking one of Cassidy'sshoulders, straightening her glasses perched on her nose. "That was Adrian Lennox,womanizer extraordinaire."

"So...?" Cassidy replied puzzled, wondering if this was really importantinformation she should know.

"So!" Kathleen exclaimed, taking Cassidy back in her hands. "He is the sexiest,most seductive guy alive! What's there not to know about?"

Cassidy shrugged, squirming out of their hold. "I've never heard of this AdrianLeonard."

"Lennox." Kathleen and Nina correct simultaneously.

"Whatever," She replied uncaringly. "I just don't bother myself with guys sincestudying in my main priority. Men are a distraction."

"A good distraction." Nina added, smirking.

Kathleen nodded in agreement. "What I wouldn't give to be on a date with him,even in the same classroom! His body was sculpted by Michelangelo himself!"

"Yes, he did." Nina replied with a dreamy sigh.

Cassidy cringed in disgust at their glazed eyes. "How do you guys know himanyways?" She asked curiously, glancing at both of them suspiciously.

Nina bit her lip nervously and Kathleen laughed weakly. "Well, you see we went toa party and-"

- 10 -

"When was this!" Cassidy cut off bewilderedly.

"Our last weekend before school started." Kathleen answered simply. "Anyways,Nina and I kind of invited ourselves to this frat party and we would've asked you tocome, but we know how you are about these sorts of things so we decided against it.But anyways, later on we saw Adrian Lennox and we thought he was the hottest guywe've ever seen since Brad Pitt in his mid twenties."

Nina snorted. "He still looks good now around his forties."

"Did you guys do anything with him?" Cassidy asked warily, ignoring Nina'scomment.

"Oh God no!" Nina replied quickly, laughing. "He was already with a few othergirls and it's pretty hard to get his attention."

"Yeah, no kidding." Kathleen added with a sad sigh. "He was going at it from thestart of the party."

"When you say 'going at it,' do you mean he was..." Cassidy trailed off naively.

"Having sex." Nina answered easily, giggling. "You can be so innocent sometimes,Cassidy."

"I'm not that innocent." She defended weakly.

"Sure, whatever." Nina replied, rolling her eyes as she knew the real truth.

"I heard he has sex five times a day." Kathleen said matter-of-factly, switchingtopics.

"No, it more like ten or twenty." Nina exaggerated.

Cassidy snorted. "How is that even possible? Doesn't he have things to do like eat,sleep, or have a life?"

Nina and Kathleen gave her a look. "Cassidy, this is Adrian Lennox we are talkingabout here. Whatever he wants, he goes after even if it gets in the way of his otherneeds. Then again, he is good at multi-tasking."

She shielded her virgin ears. "Gross, I don't want to know anymore about his'multi tasking' ways. Let's just get to class."

- 11 -

They walked their way to their respectable destinations and once they wishedeach other luck, Cassidy entered into the science building. Though the area was bigmaze, Cassidy eventually found her classroom at the top floor with a heavy breath.Who would know that getting to class would tire someone out so quickly?

Cassidy made her way to the front row of the lecture class and sat in the directionof the board. She brought her binder, pencil, pen, eraser, and glasses case out ontothe revolving small desk that was attached to the chair. Cassidy wanted to be wellprepared for the first day of school and forgetting necessary items was not her style.

As the students started to pile in, a middle aged looking professor took herposition at the front of the class and started to write her name on the board. Cassidylooked on eagerly, knowing it was going to be her favorite class and when theprofessor turned to face the students, the room became silent.

"Hi, I'm Mrs. Chatman and welcome to Biology one hundred." She said with asmile.

Mrs. Chatman began the lesson with the course objects of the class and startedthe first lecture slide. Many students groaned, not wanting to do any work at thefirst day of school, but Cassidy eagerly clicked her ballpoint pen to await thebeneficial notes.

"I would like to start off with a basic question." Mrs. Chatman notified, walking upand down the front. "What consumes most of our brain activity?"

"Sex," A husky voice answered quickly from behind.

The class erupted in laughter and Cassidy fumed, darting her eyes to the culpritthat disturbed her learning experience. Her eyes found a guy with similar brownmessy hair from early and that smile he had on before was an arrogant smirk whichwas currently directed at the professor. Adrian Lennox. He just had to be in herBiology class for the fall semester.

"Very funny young man, but that was not the answer I was looking for." Mrs.Chatman said, unamused. She looked around the room hopefully. "Anyone else?"

Cassidy gaped at her incredulously. Usually if a student said somethingderogatory, he\/she will be punished by the teacher. Though, Mrs. Chatman didn'tdo a thing to Adrian Lennox. College was a lot different from High school after all.

- 12 -

"Anyone?" Mrs. Chatman said again, still looking hopeful.

Cassidy sighed and reluctantly raised her hand. She hated it when students didn'tparticipate in class and teachers were left with no one to answer their questions.

Mrs. Chatman pointed to her eagerly, looking relieved. "Yes?"

"High brain activity includes exercise and problem solving skills such ascrosswords and mathematical problems." She answered efficiently.

Mrs. Chatman beamed. "Right, brain activity occurs most commonly when-"

Cassidy droned out the professor and turned her head a little to the side to lookback at Adrian Lennox. Once she found him in the correct spot he was before, henoticed her stare and gazed back at her with interest. Adrian smirked, winking ather invitingly and Cassidy flushed, turning herself forward in haste. That Adriansure knew how to charm his way to every girl, but this was certainly not going tohappen to her.

Once class was over, Cassidy gathered up her school items and headed out of thebuilding to meet up with her friends. They were waiting for her once she got out andthey both spoke about their first college class experience.

"I was sitting next to this guy who was snoring so loud I couldn't focus!" Kathleencomplained.

"Oh yeah, well try sitting next to a guy who wouldn't stop talking when theteacher was trying to lecture! I barely wrote any notes and I have an exam alreadyon Friday." Nina countered, distraught.

"I guess we will get use to it sooner or later," Kathleen said, glancing to Cassidy."How was Biology, your favorite subject?"

"Huh?" Cassidy said dazedly, sidetracked. Kathleen repeated the question and sherubbed her forehead wearily. "It was ok."

"OK?!" Kathleen exclaimed bewilderedly, grabbing Cassidy's shoulder in worry. "Itwas just OK?"

"Yeah," Cassidy answered, furrowing her eyebrows. "What's the big deal?"

"You never say that biology is just ok," Nina chimed in firmly. "It's either fantastic- 13 -

or worth while or very brain stimulating."

"Right..."

Kathleen eyed her warily. "Is everything ok?"

"Yeah sure, why wouldn't it be?" Cassidy replied, unconvincing.

Kathleen made a face. "No really, what's wrong."

She sighed. "It's just a certain guy in my class who I know is going to be a painthroughout the whole semester, that's all."

"Who is it?" Nina asked curiously.

She looked from Nina to Kathleen knowingly. "That Adrian kid."

Kathleen and Nina gaped at her in shock and then they started their enthusiasticjumping from earlier. Cassidy groaned, rubbing her temples.

"Can you guys please stop doing that? It's nothing to be excited about. This is theworse thing that can ever happen to me."

"Oh cry me a river, Cass. This guy is so worth all the trouble." Kathleen gushed,nudging her shoulder. "You should talk to him!"

Cassidy looked at her bewilderedly. "NO! Why would I do a stupid thing that?"

"Because he's hot." Nina replied obviously.

"I don't care about what he looks like. I just think that it's not a good idea."

"Why not?" Kathleen asked.

"Kathleen, come on. The guy is up to no good, don't you see? He definitely isn'tsomeone I would want to be friends with." She explained.

Nina frowned. "I wish he was in my class. I would definitely make the effort."

"What, by sleeping with him?" Kathleen asked her.

She flushed nervously. "I-I don't know, maybe." - 14 -

Cassidy rolled her eyes. "Face it you guys, there's no way that Adrian guy will talkto the likes of us. No offense, I mean, we are different than all the other girls he'saround, don't you think? We are well rounded, knowledgeable, and-"

"Virgins," Nina finished hopelessly, frowning.

"What's upsetting about that? You should be happy that you're a virgin instead ofa slut sleeping around with a different guy every night." Cassidy pointed out.

"Yeah, but no guy likes an inexperienced girl. Once I say I'm a virgin, theycompletely ignore me and I don't hear from them since. It's just...frustrating."

"I know, but look at it this way. You're saving yourself for someone you'll love inthe future and he will cherish the fact that you're a virgin."

Nina smiled gradually. "Really?"

"Yes, really."

She beamed. "Thanks Cassidy. You sure know how to cheer someone up."

Cassidy shrugged, smiling. "I'm just being a friend."

"Adrian at six o'clock." Kathleen chimed in warningly.

"Where?!" Nina exclaimed, craning her head around the campus to see him.

Cassidy rolled her eyes as she looked at her two friends ogling this guy who wasapparently the hottest single male on campus. She knew that her words to Ninawould soon be forgotten.

"I would love to see him with no clothes on." Kathleen remarked.

Cassidy slapped a hand to her mouth, her cheeks inflating. "Oh God I am going tovomit."

She made dry heaving noises, making Kathleen and Nina shake their heads at herdramatic display.

"Cass, please stop doing that, people are starting to look at us." Nina noted,shaking Cassidy's shoulder as her uneasy eyes darted to the heads that were turningtheir way.

- 15 -

Cassidy stopped, rolling her eyes. "Do you think I care what people think?"

"No, but it certainly gets us in trouble." Kathleen replied.

She snorted. "Oh whatever you guys are such horrible liars, you love it."

"Loving it, is putting it too strongly." Nina noted amusingly.

Cassidy laughed, pulling her friends forward to lay her arms on their shoulders."Come on let's go eat something, I'm starving."

They went into the cafeteria, Kathleen and Nina going a different direction toorder salad while Cassidy was looking at a burger menu above. She couldn't decidewhether she wanted a turkey burger or just a plain old fashioned one. There was somuch to choose from which kept her pretty preoccupied that she didn't notice thefootsteps from behind.

"Would you be interested in giving a bj?" A husky voice said.

Cassidy turned around in confusion and suddenly she was struck with beautifulshiny green eyes and a smug smirk. There in front of her stood Adrian Lennox in allhis arrogant glory. Why had he decided to bother her now with it being the first dayof school? Was it because she answered her question in Biology correctly instead ofhis comically wrong one?

"What did you say?" She asked confusingly, suddenly becoming nervous. Whatwas a hot guy like him talking to a plain girl like her?

Adrian smiled charmingly, making her heart stop. "I said would you be interestedin a bj?"

"BJ as in the restaurant?" She asked curiously, not comprehending.

Adrian chuckled, shaking his head. "No, I meant a bj would you like to try it?"

Cassidy hesitated. "I have no idea what you're talking about so I'm going todecline." She replied nervously, turning back to the menu as she was hoping to hintthat she didn't want to speak to him anymore, but as luck would have it, he didn't.

"You don't know what a bj is?" Adrian asked amusingly, smirking.

"No," Cassidy huffed, feeling idiotic. She hasn't felt this way since she received a- 16 -

B on her math test five years ago.

"Would you like to learn how it's done?" He asked huskily, making her shudder.

"No." She denied firmly, facing him. "And I would like it if you left me alone to myburger choosing, so shoo."

"You're shooing me?" Adrian asked in surprise, pointing to himself in disbelief.

"Yes, I am." Cassidy said boldly, feeling lighter. "Now leave."

"Fine," Adrian replied uncaringly and Cassidy turned her back to him again.

Thankfully, he got the hint and the sound of footsteps walking away proved it. Shewas free of Adrian's seduction that he was trying to penetrate her with and thoselovely green eyes... it was a good thing she wasn't looking at him directly or shewould've definitely said yes to whatever a 'bj' stood for.

"Must be a lesbian." He mumbled under his breath.

"EXCUSE ME?" Cassidy whirled around in sudden fury with accusing eyes. Did hejust called her a-?

"Lesbian," he stated clearly with a smirk. "Nobody can deny me, not even thenerds. So you're probably a lesbian."

"I am not a nerd and I'm not a lesbian either." Cassidy answered strongly, her fistsballing up.

"Sure you aren't," Adrian replied unbelieving, turning to walk away.

"You just hold on a minute there pal," She yelled at his retreating back and Adrianstopped suddenly, turning around as he crossed his arms out of amusement. "Whoare you to come up to me and say all these derogatory things? Have you no pride totreat a lady with respect?"

Adrian snorted. "A lady? You look like a fourteen year old to me."

Cassidy fumed, never been treated so badly such that Adrian has at that moment."You are an arrogant, womanizing man so why don't you go bother someone elsewhile we people of sophistication live our lives in success."

- 17 -

"Oh God you sound like my grandmother." Adrian groaned irritably.

Laughter filled the room and Cassidy looked around, noticing that her andAdrian's little brawl has caught on the attention of the entire cafeteria. She wasbeing verbally bullied in front of the whole school. It brought her back to her highschool nightmares of being teased and Cassidy fumed inwardly.

There was no way that she will be bullied this time. It was a new school, newenvironment. She had planned to be starting off on a new slate, but Adrian Lennoxjust had to ruin it for her. She wasn't going to let her teased past happen again.

"Well then, she must be a smart lady to be compared to unlike you. You'reprobably a disgrace to the family." Cassidy guessed harshly.

Adrian turned dark and the room suddenly went silent. "Don't ever talk aboutsomething you have no idea about. You know nothing, you hear me? Nothing!"

Cassidy flinched at his words, watching him walk out of the cafeteria in a briskmanner that made everybody who stood in his way, to move away from him. Thoughthe encounter ruined her appetite and her first day, she couldn't help feelingaccomplished. If a harsh statement towards his parents made his ego deflate adegree or two, then so be it. She didn't care to be rude to a guy who was one to herback.

"Cassidy, what the hell were you thinking!" Kathleen exclaimed in horror, lookingaround the cafeteria as they stared at Cassidy with hatred.

Cassidy shrugged. "I did what I had to do to get him off my back. You should'veheard what he said to me."

"What did he say?" Nina asked curiously.

"He asked if I would give him a 'bj.' I don't even know what that is." Cassidyanswered innocently.

Kathleen and Mina looked to each other and burst laughing. Cassidy stared atthem in confusion, wondering what she said.

"What is so funny?" She asked irritably.

"He wanted a bj from you!" Nina laughed, slapping her knee with emphasis.

- 18 -

"What the hell is a bj!" Cassidy exclaimed in frustration, ready to tear her hair out.

"A bj is a blow job, Cassidy." Kathleen answered, stifling a laugh.

Cassidy's jaw dropped bewilderedly, her nose wrinkling. "Oh God, he isdisgusting!"

"No kidding." Nina commented.

She sighed heavily. "Can we please end this day?"

Kathleen patted her reassuringly on the back. "Don't worry Cassidy, it's almostover. Now don't you wish we were still on break?"

"More than ever," she grumbled.

"Let's go." Nina replied, walking on the other side of Cassidy as they left thecafeteria.

Cassidy couldn't help but look at the hatred in eyes of the students who attendedthe University. Did she just make enemies with the entire school all because thisAdrian guy happened to win the hearts of many? Cassidy's stomach started to turnuneasily, making her feel sick.

Why did she have to argue with him? She could've ignored him or said that shewas apart of the celibate club, if she knew what a bj meant before. Cassidy had afeeling she would be in trouble soon.

What was going to happen to her now that she managed to piss off the guy whowas said to be the "hottest man on campus?"

A/N: Hey everyone! I'm new to wattpad, but I've been writing for along time,especially on Fictionpress. I have officially moved on this website and I hope you likemy story :)

--To my old readers: I've made some changes on this chapter and I'll continue onwith the rest of them. They are minimal, as of now. I'll let you know if there are anydramatically changes.

- 19 -

The Game

Chapter 2: The Game

Adrian flipped a coin on his thumb, catching it each time with one hand. Hecontinued to flip it until the door opened to their apartment. Jase Reynolds's lankystature entered, shutting the door with the heel of his shoe while carrying a plasticbag full of freshly bought school textbooks.

"Are you just going to sit there all day?" Jase asked, placing the heavy load on thecoffee table.

Adrian shrugged, flipping his coin and catching it again. "Yeah, pretty much."

Jase chuckled, throwing himself in a comfortable armchair. "It's the first day ofschool and already you're slacking off?"

"I'm finished for the day." He answered shortly, tossing the coin on the coffeetable.

"No homework?"

Adrian snorted and wrapped his arms behind his head, lying back against thecouch. "Since when do I do homework? Most of my classes are all about studying.It's going to be a pretty easy semester. This is probably the only week that I'll showup to all my classes and then the next few, I'll just skip."

Jase sighed. "You make it sound so easy. I have so much to do and it's just the firstday. Imagine what tomorrow is going to be like, it'll probably be the same."

"I learn not to sweat these kinds of things, Jase. All you need to do is read yourtextbooks and you're good."

"None of that shit is actually interesting and you know I don't read." Jase retorted,sweeping his blond bangs out of his eyes.

"Then why did you buy them?" Adrian countered slyly.

"For homework," He answered grudgingly.

- 20 -

"You'll need it more than homework."

Jase rolled his eyes. "Whatever man, what are you up to now?"

He shrugged. "Nothing, just hanging out."

"You're not going to see Kim later?" Jase asked with a mischievous look.

Adrian's face scrunched up in distaste. "Why bother? The girl annoys me." Hereplied irritably.

"Who cares if she annoys you! She practically hands herself over to you anytime ofday!" He exclaimed clearly.

"She's boring." Adrian deadpanned.

"Sex is boring now?" Jase said rhetorically in disbelief.

"No, it's just that," Adrian sighed, moving his back more firmly on the couch."There's no excitement to it. I know that whatever I say or do, she will ultimatelygive me what I want."

"And that's a problem?" Jase asked in disbelief.

"Not so much, just boring."

"So what is it that you want? Less sex or more?" He asked confusingly.

Adrian rolled his eyes. "I'm bored, Jase. I'm tired of the same old shit everyday,especially with Kim."

"Ok, so go after some other cute girl in a different sorority, I'm sure you'll findplenty." Jase suggested.

He shook his head. "No."

"Maybe you could pick one up at a bar or a club?"

He shook it again. "No."

"How about a grad student or a professor?"

- 21 -

"No."

Jase groaned in outrage. "What the hell do you want then?"

"I want something new, something exciting!" Adrian exclaimed, trying to make itclear. "Something that keeps my interest!"

"Look around, Adrian. There's nothing interesting in Philadelphia! What do youexpect?"

Adrian hesitated, scratching the back of his neck. "I don't know exactly."

"I understand that you're bored, but that's what life is all about. We get our gooddays and our bad with some fun in between. Sure we get bored of the same oldthing, but you can't do anything about it. That is until you graduate from college andget your life going." Jase explained. "But honestly, our lives aren't that boringcompared to most people. We get away with a lot of shit that nobody else can andthat should be enough for us."

He sighed. "You're right, there's no use in trying to find something that isunattainable. I don't know why I even bother."

"Good, now you start seeing it. I thought you were going to take a vow ofabstinence or something."

Adrian chuckled. "Me? Abstinent? Really?"

Jase shook his head, chucking. "I know. I don't know what I was thinking."

The door suddenly opened and Terry Roberts came in looking bulkier than ever.He hurled his backpack to the floor and kicked off his shoes, falling to the other sideof the couch besides Adrian.

"School's a bitch." Terry announced wearily, scratching the side of his spiky blackhair.

"I know what you mean," Jase commented, pointing at his pile of textbooks on thecoffee table.

Terry craned his neck to Adrian, studying him a little. "How about you? Was yourfirst day worse than ours?"

- 22 -

Adrian shrugged. "It was alright."

"I heard that some chick was bitchin' at you in the cafeteria. What was up withthat?" Terry asked curiously.

"Nothing important. The girl is just another lost freshman carrying a handy schoolmap in her pocket to find her way, just like the others." He commented indifferently.

"Didn't she insult your grandma?"

Adrian snorted. "Yeah, something like that. The girl doesn't know shit, she's aloser."

"I kind of got that nerd vibe too." Terry remarked.

Jase rolled his eyes at Adrian. "You're just mad that she didn't give you a blowjob."

"I didn't really want one from her. I was just teasing because I knew she was afreshman and I wanted to scare her off on her first day." Adrian explained simply,shrugging.

"She still pissed you off." He pointed out.

"Not enough to ruin my day." Adrian replied, whipping out his cell phone from hispocket. "Maybe I'll call Kim to come over."

"Dude, you better not be up all night. I never get any sleep with you making somuch noise." Terry complained.

"Don't tell that to me, it's the girls' fault with all their moaning and groaning."Adrian countered, dialing Kim's number and placing the phone to his ear.

"Hang up the phone." Jase said suddenly, a look of discovery in his brown eyes.

"Why?" He asked, not making a move to do so.

Jase leaped out of the armchair and grabbed Adrian's phone, shutting it off. "Whatthe hell man, I'm trying to get laid tonight!" Adrian exclaimed angrily.

"I have a great idea." Jase announced. - 23 -

"What?"

"Just hear me out, ok?" He replied, seeing Adrian's anger fade a bit. "I have asolution to your boredom with girls."

"Which is?" Adrian asked, not the least bit interested. The idea of findingexcitement already dwindled for him. He knew it was too good to be true so whywaste his time?

"That freshman in the cafeteria." Jase answered with a huge grin. "She's thesolution. Think about it, has any other girl talk to you in the way that she did earliertoday?"

"No, but-"

"But nothing. I got this one in the bag, there's your answer for entertainment. It'sher!" He exclaimed, looking as if it was the best idea in the world.

Adrian gave him an indifferent look. "Jase, there is no way that's happening. Iappreciate you still suggesting what I should do with my boring life, but I'm over it. Idon't care anymore."

"Come on Adrian, just try it out. It might be worthwhile."

"No, it's a dumb idea. Following after some nerd isn't going to make my life anyless boring than it already is." Adrian replied, pausing. "And to be honest with you, itsounds like your making a bet."

Jase snorted. "There's no bet and if there was, I know you would win. But justthink of this as a fun little game or science project."

"I already said no Jase, there's no winning me over." He stood up from the couchand towered over him, extending his hand out. "And give me my phone back, I'mgoing to screw Kim tonight and I'm not about to miss it over some kiddie game oflet's win over the loser."

Jase sighed, tossing his phone to the palm of his hand. "You're seriously no fun."

"Why don't you go have fun with her then if it bothers you so much?" Adriansuggested, walking out of the room as he dialed his cell phone.

Jase looked to Terry with another look of discovery. "You know what he's right, I- 24 -

should get with her instead."

Terry looked at him dumbly. "If you find nerds interesting, more power to you."

"Hey I can get her just as easily as Adrian can." He argued.

"You don't even know the girl's name."

"So? I have connections. I noticed one of her friend's in the cafeteria; they went toour end of the year summer party."

Terry yawned, lounging on the couch. "That's nice, Jase, can you stop talking now?I'm going to take a nap."

Jase rose from his seat, rolling his eyes. "You guys are the boring ones."

Kathleen laughed, holding on to Nina's arm. "That was seriously the best part! It'sdefinitely going to the top five of my most favorite movies."

"Yeah, I don't think I laughed so hard in one straight minute." Nina commented,gigging.

"You remember that one part where-"

"Hello ladies."

Kathleen and Nina stopped dead in front of them, looking up to see whointervened on their conversation. A tall, lanky guy with bushy blond hair and browneyes stood in their way with a bright smile. Kathleen felt her heart drop as shegripped Nina's arm, making her wince.

"Uh...hi." Nina croaked out unsuccessfully.

He barely noticed the tone of her voice and continued on smiling. "I rememberyou guys from our frat party and I think that-"

"We didn't mean to crash it!" Nina exclaimed, panicking.

Kathleen's eyes widened in fright. "Seriously, we thought that since we were nowcollege students, it was ok to go."

"And it's not like we stayed long! Honestly, we were there for like one or two- 25 -

hours."

"Well, more like four, but we didn't do anything wrong. It wasn't specified as aprivate party."

"And if it was, we totally wouldn't have come."

"Yeah, totally." Kathleen finished off with an uneasy exhale.

He glanced at the both of them, erupting in laughter. Kathleen and Nina looked athim strangely and chuckled nervously.

"Relax guys! It's not a big deal. Guests are always welcome to come." He said witha charming smile.

Kathleen and Nina sighed in relief. "Thank God, I thought you were going to throwus to the wolves or something."

"The wolves being?" He trailed off confusingly.

"Sorority girls," Kathleen answered. "They were really rude to us at the party.Who knew they could be so vicious?"

"Oh well, I apologize on behalf of their behavior. I'm sure it won't happen nexttime."

"Next time?" Kathleen and Nina said simultaneously in surprise.

He smiled wider. "That is, if you want to come to our party this Saturday?"

"Oh my gosh we would love to!" Kathleen exclaimed, feeling giddy inside as sheheld onto Nina's arm.

"Great, so it's settled then? This Saturday at the frat house?"

"We will definitely be there...?" She trailed off curiously, not knowing his name.

"Jase." He finished, extending his hand out. "Reynolds."

She shook his hand, feeling the shocking warmth. "Kathleen McGavin."

"Nice to meet you, Kathleen." Jase said suavely, pecking the back of her hand. - 26 -

Nina pushed her aside, extending her hand out as well. "Nina Ruiz."

"It's a pleasure, Nina." He replied, pecking the back of hers as well. Kathleenfumed inwardly, crossing her arms.

Jase let go of her hand, grinning. "Invite all your friends to come too."

Kathleen giggled. "I'm pretty sure it will be the two of us again."

"Why?" He frowned.

Kathleen hesitated, glancing at Nina who shrugged. "Well, it's just that our friendCassidy is not the party type. You know what I mean?"

"Ahh, the stay at home kind of person?" Jase guessed, raising an eyebrow.

She nodded. "Yeah, she hates parties. There is no way she'll come."

"Then lie. I'm sure she'll have fun when she gets there." He suggested.

"I don't know..." Kathleen replied unsurely.

"Invite her. Maybe she will hate you guys for doing it in the beginning, but I'msure she will like it in the end. Believe me, nobody wants to miss this party. It's thebest one out of the whole semester."

"Ok, sure. We'll try to get her to come."

"Yeah or you could lie, that could work."

Kathleen bit her lip. "I think it would be worse to lie about it."

"Then it won't happen." He said point blank.

"If you're not going to do it, Kathleen, I will. Cassidy has been stuck with herbooks for far too long. She needs a little excitement in her life." Nina chimed in.

Jase smirked. "Don't we all?"

Cassidy highlighted a sentence in her biology book, reading it intently. Shepushed her reading glasses to the bridge of her nose and highlighted another part.

- 27 -

"SURPRISE!"

Cassidy jumped in her chair, snapping her neck to see Kathleen and Nina grinningabove her. The people close around Cassidy gave her and her friends dirty looksfrom the disturbance.

"What are you guys doing here?" Cassidy hissed, shutting her book. "This is alibrary, you know."

"Yeah, that's why it was so easy to find you!" Nina exclaimed, popping a squat onthe chair across from her and Kathleen did as well.

"Don't you guys have class soon?" Cassidy said in concern, looking at the clock onthe wall.

"Never mind that, we have some news to tell you!" Nina announcedenthusiastically.

"What is it?" She grumbled under her breath, not in the mood for Nina's happymoods.

Kathleen intervened. "We are going to a par-" Nina nudged her in the stomach."OW!"

"What Kathleen said is that we are going to a pottery class this Saturday night.Want to come with?"

"Pottery class?" Cassidy repeated surprisingly. "Didn't you guys hate ceramics inHigh school?"

"Yeah, but that was all in the past. We're college students now and we want to trya hand at some...pottery." Nina finished with a huge smile.

"That was just last year." Cassidy pointed out.

"Whatever, you should come. It's going to be so much fun. There's going to begreat music and-"

"Music?"

Nina laughed it off. "Yeah, the relaxing kind. So are you up to it?" She asked,avoiding another of her further questioning.

- 28 -

Cassidy deliberated, raising an eyebrow for further questioning. There wassomething off about the way Nina and Kathleen were looking at her. "Where is it?"

"About three blocks from the school." Nina answered surely.

Cassidy scrunched her face. "Isn't that where the sorority people are at?"

"No, of course not." Nina denied, giggling at her insinuation. "Why would it beover there?"

Cassidy bit her lip, glancing from Nina to Kathleen who both had strange smileson their faces. Why did they look so happy? She drummed her fingers on the table,wondering what she should do. She hasn't been out for a while now; she could usesome relaxing pottery to soothe her. She might even make something nice.

"This better be fun." Cassidy sighed, packing her biology book in her backpackand zipping it up.

"That means you'll go?!" Nina exclaimed with surprising wide brown eyes.

She shrugged. "Sure, I could do some pottery."

Nina clapped her hands while Kathleen looked a bit skeptical. "Great! We'll comeby your house around seven to pick you up!"

Cassidy furrowed her eyebrows confusingly from her enthusiasm. "Alright see youthen."

She strapped her school bag on her back and headed out of the huge library to theschool parking lots. Since her first day was officially over, she wanted to get out ofthere as fast as she could. Who knew that it was going to end up being half adisaster?

Cassidy tried to ward off the memories as she twirled her keys in her hands,whistling under her breath. She found her silver plain car in the mist of hundreds,far better looking than hers. She went to unlock the doors with her keypad, until sheheard voices near by.

Cassidy ducked behind her car, taking a peek through her car window. Shespotted a girl with medium length bleached blonde hair and a skimpy outfit. Herback was pressed up against a red sports car with a guy's hands all over her.Cassidy made a noise of disgust, unlocking her car. She opened her door and tossed

- 29 -

her backpack inside, shutting it.

She went to the driver's side and caught a glimpse of the couple again and shefinally could make out the guy's face. He was Adrian Lennox and his mouth was allover the girl's neck while she moaned in ecstasy. Cassidy got inside her car quickly,feeling sickened. She knew that Adrian Lennox wasn't up to any good.

Cassidy started her engine and exited out of the parking lot, taking anotherglimpse at her rearview mirror. She caught the eyes of Adrian Lennox staring backat her and Cassidy looked away quickly.

"He didn't see you." Cassidy said to her self, taking a deep breath. "He didn't seeyou, he didn't see you."

After convincing herself that Adrian didn't see her, Cassidy reached homeexhausted. Her home was one story, nothing too fancy. Cassidy's mother was anurse and her father was a real estate agent. They might have a decent amount ofmoney, but they were frugal in spending it in the right places.

"Hey honey, how did school go?" Her dad Larry, a middle aged man with a talllooking frame and salt pepper hair, said when she came from the door, reading thenewspaper.

She shrugged, holding the strap of her backpack. "The same as any other day inschool, learning and a lot of homework."

Her mother Jenny, a petite woman with her light brown hair held into a bun,carried a plate of chicken in her hands. "Why don't you sit down and eat while youtell us about it?"

Cassidy sighed, placing her backpack gently next to the door and walked to thetable to sit. She picked her helpings of food and placed a napkin on her lap."Nothing special happened today. I just went to Biology, English, and math class.That was it."

"How are your classes so far?" Her dad asked, genuinely interested.

"Good, I really like my Biology class." She responded, eating a piece of chicken.

"When do you think your going to take your upper division classes?"

Her mother groaned. "Larry, this is your daughter's first day of college. I'm sure- 30 -

that will come later, but for now let her relax. She's been working herself too hard."

Cassidy shrugged. "It's fine mom. I'm not sure how it will look yet, but I willgraduate in four years and then I could start med school."

Larry nodded. "You should look into internships just to get a head start."

"Ok." Cassidy replied.

After dinner, Cassidy headed up to her room and started reading over hertextbooks. This was what her day looked like the majority of the time and when shewas studying or reading, she was doing other school related stuff. That was, ifKathleen and Nina didn't persuade her to hang out every once in a while.

They were all three good friends since second grade and though they werecomplete opposites from each other, they still formed a bond that couldn't bebroken. Cassidy didn't know what she would do without them and though her lifewas boring, they made hers a little more interesting. She was even looking forwardto this pottery class.

Once Saturday approached, the door bell rang right at the dot and she opened thedoor to, knowing it was her friends.

"You're going looking like that?" Nina said in disbelief, gesturing to her clothing.

Cassidy pinched the hem of her plain gray shirt and knee length jeans. It was theappropriate clothing on an affair to get dirty. She looked to Nina and Kathleen'soutfits and they were decked out in party attire, including with nice expensive jeansand bright colored tops.

"Aren't we going to pottery?" She asked, puzzled.

Nina opened her mouth as though to deny it, but then a look of discovery filled herfeatures. "Oh yeah, pottery, we sure are."

Cassidy looked at her unconvincing. "What is going on?"

Kathleen laughed softly. "Nothing is, so come on. We have to go or we'll be late."

Cassidy closed the door behind her, descending the steps of her house and lookedat her two friends with suspicion. Something was up indeed, but what?

- 31 -

"Oh, you won't be needing those." Nina said, taking her glasses off out ofnowhere.

"Hey! Give them back!" Cassidy complained, trying to make a grab at herspectacles, but Nina stowed them in her purse.

"Cassidy, these are reading glasses and we're not doing anything like that at uh...pottery class."

Cassidy frowned, feeling the loss of her glasses. "Can I at least put them in mypocket or something?"

"You need to stop using your glasses as a crutch." Kathleen pointed out, gettinginto Nina's car once she unlocked the doors.

"What? I do not." She denied strongly.

She rolled her eyes. "You use them as an excuse. Your vision isn't all that bad, sowhy wear them?"

"I'm just use to having them on." Cassidy mumbled, taking a seat in the back.

Nina ignited her engine, looking at Cassidy in the rearview mirror. "Your glassesmight be your security blanket, but you won't be having them on tonight."

She furrowed her eyebrows, leaning close to Nina and Kathleen. "Like tonight isgoing to be anything special, it's just pottery."

Kathleen let out an awkward laugh and Nina cast a warning glance to her. "I justwant you to feel comfortable there."

Cassidy took notice of their expressions and knew it was the last straw. "What'sgoing on?" She asked, feeling her anger rise.

Nina twisted her body to look at Cassidy, raising her eyebrows. "What?"

"Where are you taking me?" Cassidy inquired strictly, crossing her arms.

"To pottery cla-"

"No, I said. Where.Are.You.Taking.Me." Cassidy enunciated firmly.

- 32 -

"To a frat party!" Kathleen burst out loudly, looking guilty. Cassidy gaped at her inshock and her arms fell to her sides. "I'm sorry, Nina made me lie to you."

Nina snorted, keeping her hands firmly on the wheel. "You still would've sinceJase said to."

"Who's Jase?" Cassidy asked curiously.

Nina and Kathleen looked away nervously, realizing they had said too much."Who's Jase?" She asked again, more firmly.

"He's this sophomore guy that Kathleen has a crush on." Nina revealed with asmile.

"I do not!" Kathleen argued unconvincingly, her blush spreading out her cheeks toher ears.

"Is that the reason why you guys are going to this party?"

"Well, yeah he invited us and he said to invite you too." Nina replied.

"Why me?"

Nina shrugged. "Maybe he was just being nice."

Cassidy sighed, shutting her eyes. "Please take me home."

"Oh come on Cassidy, please come with us. I'm sorry we had to lie to get youthere, but we really want you to come. You're our best friend." Kathleen said softly.

"I told you guys that I hated parties and you still go against what I say? And lookat me, I'm not even dressed decently to be out anywhere!" She exclaimed, pinchingher shirt off her body.

"You don't look that bad." Kathleen replied, seeing Cassidy give her a look. "Ok,maybe a little, but you could do something with your hair. Why don't you try puttingit down? You always have it stuck in that weird bun."

"I'm not taking it down." She replied firmly.

"But your hair is so long and pretty."

- 33 -

"It's staying up in this weird bun." Cassidy said, leaving no room for argument.

"Whatever, just don't come to me later for fashion advice." Kathleen replied,giving up.

Nina turned her head to see Cassidy in the back. "So that means your coming?"

Cassidy sighed, nodding and Kathleen and Nina shrieked with joy. She coveredher ears from their loud cheers. "I might be going, but that doesn't mean I'll stay thewhole time."

"Aren't you going to leave with us?" Nina said, frowning.

"No, I'll probably leave early and take a bus or something." She replied.

Nina sighed in slight disappointment, but expecting this from Cassidy anyways."Ok, but call us when you leave. I don't want to freak out over your disappearance."

"Yes mother, I will." Cassidy replied, rolling her eyes.

They cruised through the highway until they reached three blocks down theirUniversity. As they pulled up to the frat party, Cassidy felt anxiety churning in herstomach. What was she doing here? This wasn't her scene. She's never been to aparty before! Only ones that were considered birthdays!

"I change my mind, I want to leave now." Cassidy announced nervously, feelingsick.

Nina groaned. "Come on, Cassidy. We are here so there's no turning back now."

"Correction, you lied to get me over here."

"So? Is it wrong that I want to hang out with my friend at a place that so happensto be at a party?"

"Filled with intoxicated college students who run rampant?" Cassidy filled in."Yeah that is wrong."

"Cassidy, at least come inside. If you don't like it, you can take the bus home,alright?" Kathleen suggested.

She sighed, unbuckling her seatbelt. "Fine." She saw Nina and Kathleen about to- 34 -

clap with joy, but she held up her hand. "And please, no more cheering. It gives me aheadache."

Nina frowned, unbuckling her seatbelt. "You ruin all the fun."

They all got out of the car and Cassidy hid behind Nina and Kathleen once theywalked up to the house. College students were filtered out in front, puffingcigarettes in their hand while they looked at her with judgmental eyes.

Insecurity was setting in and when it was too late to turn back, Kathleen and Ninagrabbed her arms to pull her inside. The booming loud noise of dance music and thescent of alcohol filled her senses as everyone in the room chattered in their drunk orhigh state.

A game of beer pong was being played in the middle of the walkway of the houseand Cassidy looked on as one of the guys tossed it into the cup across the table andshouted enthusiastically, pumping a fist in the air.

"Where the hell did you guys take me?!" Cassidy exclaimed, appearing as the onlyinnocent person in the household when she saw every female dressed in theskimpiest clothing she has ever seen.

"Relax Cass, be cool. You don't want to look out of place, now do you?" Ninareplied, wrapping an arm around her shoulder to calm her down.

"I don't care about fitting in, especially at this party." She grumbled

Nina opened her mouth to reply, but Kathleen grabbed her arm. "Look its Jase!"

Jase appeared before the three girls, brushing out his blond bangs to the side witha smile. "You guys made it!"

"Yeah, thanks again for the invite." Kathleen gushed, appearing shy.

He winked at her and her eyes glazed over, enamored. "Anytime." Jase glanced atCassidy and smiled. "Who's your friend?"

"Oh! This is Cassidy." Kathleen introduced, holding her arm in answer. "AndCassidy, this is Jase Reynolds. The one I told you about, who invited us?"

Cassidy nodded with a small smile, extending her hand out. "Nice to meet you."

- 35 -

Jase grabbed it softly, making her feel a bit uncomfortable. "You too, Cassidy." Heleaned in to kiss the back of her hand, but Cassidy slid it out of his grasp.

"Um, I'm thirsty. I'm going to get a drink." She announced suddenly.

"I can get it for you. What do you like?" He asked her kindly.

Cassidy forced a smile, shaking her head. She knew better not to let a guy get adrink for her. He could be drugging it! "Never mind, its fine. I don't want anything."

"You sure?" Jase asked, raising an eyebrow.

Cassidy nodded and Kathleen stepped in her way. "I would like something todrink, Jase."

Jase appeared a little annoyed, but smiled anyways. "Ok, what would you like?"

"What kind of beverages do you have?" She inquired, smiling.

"Let me show you." Jase replied. Kathleen offered her arm and he took it, leadingher to the kitchen.

Nina sighed, rolling her eyes. "She is completely head over heels for that guy."

"I don't see how. He's a little too close for comfort for me." Cassidy replied,shaking out the weird vibes she got from him.

Nina held out her arm, smiling. "Come on, let's go find me a guy before this partykicks off."

Cassidy grabbed her arm and let Nina take her wherever she wanted to go.Although the party was not her style, she was trying to make an effort to have a littlebit of fun.

"You brought the nerd here?" Adrian hissed darkly, gripping his cup in his hands.

Jase shrugged, unaffected by his anger. "You told me that I could have fun withher so I invited them over."

"Them?" He repeated irritably, his voice reaching to a high pitch.

"She comes with baggage, her friends." He sighed, annoyed. - 36 -

"What the hell is wrong with you man! We don't need a nerd and her sidekicks atthis party."

"Believe me, her friends are no nerds. One of them is right over there." Jasepointed to a blonde who was currently getting a beverage that looked like beer.

Adrian caught a glimpse of her and saw that she had short blonde curly hair witha nice slim body tone. Jase was right, she wasn't a nerd and he suspected that herother friend wasn't either.

"Ok, maybe your right, but where's the one with the bad mouth?" Adrianremarked, trying to recall the one who argued with him in the cafeteria on the firstday of school.

"Oh, Cassidy? Well, she was around here somewhere." Jase replied, lookingaround the room to spot her, but she was nowhere in sight.

Adrian snickered. "Looks to me like the girl scampered on out, guess you don't getyour fun after all."

Jase glared at him. "I'll go find her and show you you're wrong."

"What is that going to prove?" He asked smugly.

"That I'm going to sleep with her tonight." Jase said boldly.

Adrian narrowed his eyes. "You sound so confident, are you sure you can tame amouth like hers?" He inquired, unbelieving of his capabilities.

"Hey, I'm just as good as you." Adrian gave him a look that said so otherwise. "Okmaybe not that good, but I can play the game pretty well."

"Whatever man, go have fun with your nerd, leaves me more to choose from."Adrian noted, gazing around at all the hot college girls who were eyeing him as well.He winked at them, taking a sip of his drink. This was just too easy.

Cassidy weaved her way through the throng of people, being bumped and pushedabout. She needed to get out of this party now and if that meant leaving without herfriends, she didn't care. Cassidy hated parties and a greyhound bus was the onlyoption of transportation. Once the front door came into view, Cassidy breathed asigh of relief and walked swiftly to it. She was finally going to leave this god awful-

- 37 -

"Well, well, well. Look who decided to show up at the party."

Cassidy whirled around and spotted Adrian Lennox with a red cup in his hand. Hewas daring in a black blazer, white t-shirt, and dark jeans. Though, he probablywould look nice in sweats or gym clothes. Currently, he was also sporting his usualsmirk that completely threw off her attraction to him.

She took a few steps toward him, trying to remember why she didn't like thisgorgeous guy in the first place. Oh right... he made her the laughing stock and themost loathsome person on campus.

"A bj, really?" Cassidy asked in disbelief, sounding crossed.

Adrian chuckled, shrugging. "I thought I'd give it a try."

"Yeah on the wrong girl," she argued with vehemence.

Adrian caught on her sudden anger and his teasing expression disappeared,replacing it with irritation. "Hey if I knew you were so uptight, I wouldn't have askedok."

"For the record, I would never put something in my mouth that piss comes out of."

"It's not dirty."

She sneered at him. "Says the boy that can't go a day without sex."

"Sorry that we can't all be like you, Virgin Cassidy." He replied, smirking.

Cassidy furrowed her eyebrows, knowing that she didn't give her name to thisgorgeous guy. "Who told you my name?"

Adrian smirked. "News travels fast after our little cafeteria showdown. Noweveryone is after your blood for trying to argue with me."

"What? Your pride can't handle all the pressure?"

"No, actually it can. If you were a guy, you would've been on the floor as I beat theliving shit out of you." Cassidy shuddered in fear, gulping. "But I couldn't do thatbecause unfortunately God made you a girl, a very annoying one I give it that."

- 38 -

"Your considerably foul mouthed and rude. Didn't your mother teach you how toact in front of people, especially women?" She inquired harshly.

"I see no woman here."

"You're an asshole." Cassidy said darkly. "I knew this invite was a sham."

"Then why did you come?" Adrian asked rudely.

"Because my friends tricked me," she answered unhappily.

Adrian appeared stunned. "I'm surprised you actually have friends."

"And why is that surprising?"

"Because who would want to be friends with a prissy, know-it-all girl like you?"

"Your not so great either, you're arrogant, derogatory, and a womanizer." Shepointed out, wrinkling her nose.

"That's what the ladies love and they shall receive." He replied, gesturing tohimself as a whole. "Don't think that I didn't see you at the parking lot, staring at melike you wanted it for yourself."

Cassidy's cheeks became hot and she hesitated. "No, I didn't. I was just wonderingwho was causing all the ruckus with their high pitched moans."

Adrian snorted. "Who says ruckus anymore? What are you, fifty?"

She gaped at him, her anger swelling. "Just because my vocabulary is morerefined than your slang words, doesn't mean I'm fifty!"

He yawned, not taking her anger into account. "That's nice. Now if you're done, Iwould like to go back to the party where real people of age have fun."

Cassidy scoffed. "What? Have a reputation for your little friends to uphold? Noteveryone can keep up with their image for so long."

Adrian raised his eyebrow. "I don't have an image, this is who I am."

"I suggest you get a personality check then."

- 39 -

"And I suggest you take out that stick up your ass." He countered coldly.

Cassidy glared at him. "You are so crude."

He shrugged. "You either love or hate me and if you don't love me, than you'rerocking the wrong gender."

"I told you I'm not a lesbian!" She exclaimed furiously.

He chuckled humorlessly. "Hey, you don't need me to prove it to. I already knowthe truth."

"You're a jerk." Cassidy spat out, turning her back to him.

This eruption of anger overwhelmed her and she knew that if she didn't get awayfrom him sooner, bad things would start to happen.

"Who wants a nice guy anyways?" Adrian called from her back, laughing with hisbuddies that suddenly appeared beside him.

Cassidy was fuming, clenching her fists in and out to release her anger. Herfriends popped up and found her like this and looked to her anger in question.Cassidy decided to let go of her grudges of them and focus on something that wasmaking her angrier at the moment.

"Adrian Lennox," she answered their curious gazes.

"What did he do?" Nina asked, worried.

"He just loves to insult my intelligence." Cassidy muttered angrily. "I hate him."

"Here, take this it will make you feel better." Kathleen extended a tequila shot infront of her and Cassidy wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"You think alcohol will solve all my problems?" She said appalled.

Kathleen shrugged. "Well, it sure as hell makes you forget them."

Cassidy deliberated for a second and took out her hand. "Give me that."

"Here." Kathleen smirked as Cassidy grabbed the shot and downed it in onesecond.

- 40 -

Her face puckered up in disgust and her eyes started to water as she coughedfrom the sudden burn of her lungs.

"That's not alcohol, its poison!" She exclaimed.

"Hey, I didn't say it would taste good." Kathleen reasoned, shrugging.

"People are stupid to drink this." Cassidy replied distastefully, slamming the shotglass on the table.

"Want another one?" Kathleen asked, another ready at hand.

Cassidy deliberated as she felt the relaxation already spread throughout her bodyfrom the ethanol mixed liquid. A small smile spread across her face. "Yeah, whydon't you keep them coming?" She replied as she took Kathleen's and downed it fast.

After what seemed like four shots or more, Cassidy was walking around the housein a dizzy haze, stumbling every once in a while. She had way too much to drink andshe didn't know her own body's limits. She found an empty seat on a couch and wentto sit down, trying to keep her brain under control. Everything was just so jumbledand dizzy that she couldn't even recite Newton's three laws of motion correctly.Cassidy looked around the party and saw everybody acting out in their drunkenstupor as well. She laid her head on the arm of the couch and tried to ease thepounding away.

The couch dipped beside her and she felt an arm rest on her shoulders. It waswarm and comforting, especially making the pounding bearable. Cassidy went to theside of the person, laying her head on their shoulder. The person rubbed her back ina soothing manner, making her smile.

She lifted her head to thank the person who was comforting her, but her eyescaught Adrian Lennox. Her surprised reaction was a bit slowed due to the alcoholinfused haze.

"W-What are you doing?" She slurred, trying to rid his arm from her shoulders,but it lay firmly perched.

"Protecting you." He whispered in her ear, a little slurred.

"Why?"

- 41 -

"Someone wants to sleep with you tonight." He answered simply.

"Who?"

"Don't worry about it."

Cassidy was too tired and intoxicated to argue so she just nodded her head. "Ok."

"How much did you have to drink?"

Cassidy smiled secretly. "I lost count after four."

Adrian chuckled. "That makes two of us."

"You're drunk too?" She asked curiously, trying to notice the change in hisattitude, but couldn't by the haze.

"Why would I be so willing to hold you right now?"

"Yeah, you're right." Cassidy said in sudden realization with wide eyes. "I hate youand you hate me." She stated obviously, running her index finger slowly against hiscollared shirt then up to his jaw to flick his nose playfully.

Adrian watched her actions with an indescribable look. "Yup," he replied huskily.

"I don't feel good." Cassidy told him weakly, planting her head on his shoulder. "Iknew resorting to alcohol wasn't a good choice."

He stroked my hair gently, making her smile in content. "It makes you feel good,doesn't it?"

"Yeah, it sure does." Cassidy replied softly, closing her eyes as Adrian continued tostroke her hair. "You're so nice when you're drunk."

Adrian chuckled, tucking her head under his chin. "I tend to be intimate."

"Oddly opposite." Cassidy noted, resting her eyes. "But I like you this way. Whycan't you act like this all the time?"

"It's not who I am." Adrian responded simply.

"You could be if you wanted to." - 42 -

Adrian laughed. "Nobody wants to be with a little bitch."

Cassidy frowned. "I would."

Adrian said nothing in reply and she sighed, taking a whiff of his strong, but sweetcologne. She nuzzled his neck with her nose, making his breathing hitch and hisAdam's apple to bob.

"You smell nice." She commented, pressing closely to Adrian while she tookanother whiff. Adrian's hand wounds its way up to Cassidy's back and up her shirt,caressing her warm skin. Without warning, he pressed his lips against the end of herneck, sending waves of shudders throughout Cassidy's body. She sighed deeply,wrapping her arms around his neck which encouraged him on to spreading out morearound her neck.

Cassidy suppressed a moan when he reached caressed her abdomen, making hershiver. Her hands went to touch his biceps and his toned chest which made hisbreaths come out shorter. Adrian ceased his ministrations and she no longer felt theheat of his hands on her body.

"Let's take this somewhere more private."

Cassidy struggled to understand what he meant, but she nodded anyways due toher haze. He carefully stood up and took her hand in his. Adrian wove through thecrowd with her following close behind, ignoring all the inebriated people aroundthem.

He opened the door to the backyard and he walked around the pool, reaching toone of the pool chairs laid out. Adrian sat down and grabbed Cassidy's waist,bringing her down with him as his lips met hers.

A/N: Here's the second chapter! Thanks to you all for fanning and liking thisstory! I'm still getting the hang of wattpad so excuse my "newbie-ness." But I dohave a question. Does anybody know if you can add page breaks on here?? I can'tseem to find a button on here to do it. Oh well.

- 43 -

The Mistake That Starts it All

Chapter 3: The Mistake That Starts it All

Adrian sat down and grabbed Cassidy's waist, bringing her down with him as hislips met hers. Cassidy gasped in surprise against his lips, having no idea that AdrianLennox of all people was currently kissing her.

Cassidy tried to pull away, but Adrian held a firm grip on her waist and pushed itto lie on the pool chair. She wondered how he could possibly get someone on theirback quickly, but all questions ceased as he went on top of her and crashed his lipsagainst hers again. He moved at a fast pace, devouring her mouth with suchintensity that she struggled to keep up.

"Adrian." She breathed out against his lips.

"Hmmm..." He replied in his throat, not paying much attention.

Cassidy pushed him back a little to stop the kiss, looking into his green lustfuleyes. "I don't know how to do this well." She revealed in her drunken state.

If she was sober, she would never mention this to anyone, ever, especially to agood looking male. It was humiliating and school girlish of her for not experiencinga thorough make out in her teenage years.

She kept all embarrassing details a secret. But since Cassidy was not her usualself, she was easy going and relaxed. It didn't matter to her if he knew or not. Sheliked telling the truth and it was so easy to express one's thoughts while drunk. Iguess drinking really did relax a person.

Adrian smirked, leaning towards her face so that he was an in away from her lips."Just follow my lead." He said softly, his hot breath against her lips. Surprisingly, hedidn't mock her inexperience.

Cassidy frowned a bit, opening her mouth to reply because really it was hard tokeep up with him for going too fast, but his lips were on hers quickly and she waslost again in his passion induced kiss. He again moved at a swift pace and wentahead with his advice, she followed his lead. Cassidy fisted the collar of his shirt andkissed him back fully.

- 44 -

Adrian's hand worked its way up to the back of her head and he pulled out thehair tie that was messily pulled up into a bun. Cassidy's wavy brown locks freeditself passed her shoulders and Adrian ceased the kiss in time to get a good look atit. He smiled drunkenly, running a hand through her soft hair. Cassidy shiveredagainst his touch, tucking a strand under her ear.

"You should put your hair down more often." Adrian suggested huskily.

Cassidy didn't have time to respond because he went in for another deepened kisswhile he stroked her hair. She moaned against his lips, feeling the heat of his bodywhen he firmly pressed himself against her. Adrian trailed his hand seductivelydown her arm, reaching to wrap his fingers around her right hand.

He brought it against his chest and slid it under his shirt, flattening her palm outon his hard rock abdomen. Cassidy wanted to question his actions, but he continuedto distract her with his tongue swirling in her mouth. She moaned softly, unsure ifshe was kissing correctly to begin with, but it felt nice and warm to her.

Adrian guided Cassidy's right hand on his lower stomach, reaching to the hem ofhis jeans. He unzipped them, revealing his black boxers and Cassidy wondered whyhe was doing it. Maybe he was changing into another pair of pants soon, shethought. He kept a firm grip on her wrist and slid her fingers in the inside of hisboxers.

He traveled her hand further within and Cassidy felt hot warmth against the palmof her hand. She tested the area, putting a firm hold on it that made Adrian stockstiff, and his lips immovable. He panted heavily, shutting his eyes as Cassidyprodded it with her fingers. It suddenly jerked in her hand and became stiff in anupright position.

"Damn, you're good at this." Adrian groaned, his breathing ragged as he laid hishead on her chest. "I was wrong to call you a lesbian."

Puzzled, Cassidy was about to ask him what he meant, when she heard voicescome outside to their secluded area.

"Cassidy, where are you?" Kathleen called out in the yard. "Cassidy!"

Cassidy cursed under her breath, pulling her hand out from Adrian's boxers. "Ihave to go."

She made a move to get up, but Adrian grabbed her wrist. "Wait, don't leave." - 45 -

"I have to, they are waiting for me." She tried to get up again, but Adrian pushedher back down.

"So what? Just stay the night here with me."

She shook her head dismissively. "I can't, I'm going."

Cassidy finally moved away from Adrian and sat at the edge of the pool chair,straightening her wrinkled gray shirt. She wanted to look presentable in front of herfriends so they wouldn't suspect what sinful acts she was doing. Though, it wasn'tlike they would believe her. Cassidy was always the righteous one of the group.

"But..." Adrian trailed off softly.

She craned her neck to look back at him, seeing the trouble on his face. "Butwhat?"

"You got me all excited." Adrian answered, sighing in distress.

Cassidy looked squarely at the bulge in his pants and felt queasy. The fire frombefore suddenly became burnt out. How on earth did she not discover the snakeemerging from his pants earlier? She must be completely wasted. "Was it reallynecessary to share that with me?"

"Yes because you can fix it." He pushed his way up from the pool chair and went infor another kiss, but she turned her head away.

"Goodnight." Cassidy got up and left quickly before he could try anything else.

He huffed in frustration, sending his body down on the pool lounge chair. Well,there was a first time for everything, especially being left unsatisfied with no helpfrom another female in sight.

The sun beamed hard against his face, making him flutter his eyes open from themorning heat. Birds chirped in the blue sky and Adrian groaned, sitting in anupright position on the pool chair. How did he get here and how much did he exactlydrink last night?

He rubbed his face from weariness as the waves of a pounding headache camecrashing down on him. He couldn't remember a single thing from last night, except

- 46 -

a few parts when he was tipsy. Adrian shifted the lower part of his jeans with hishand, feeling the uncomfortable wake of his good old friend. He zipped his jeansback up, wondering why it was undone in the first place.

"What the hell did I do last night...?" He said under his breath, looking about at hissurroundings.

Adrian stood up from the chair and whipped out his phone, dialing his best friend.His friends might know what went down.

"Hello?"

"Hey Jase, did you see me with someone last night?" Adrian wondered, walkingaround at the edge of the glistening pool from the sunlight.

"No. Were you?"

He sighed. "I don't know. I woke up this morning on a pool chair with majormorning wood and-"

"Dude, I just woke up." He complained groggily.

"Well, how else am I going to explain it? I don't know how I got here. Do you haveany idea?"

"Nope man, I don't remember anything from last night either."

"Damn." Adrian mumbled under his breath.

"Maybe you should ask around, see what everyone else says."

"Ok, I'll hit you up later."

"See ya."

He ended the call and headed inside the community frat house. It was currentlytrashed with plastic red cups littering the floor and drunken passed out peopleoccupying different parts of the house on the floor. Adrian held his head from hisheadache and exited the house, reaching over to his red spots car. Whatever he didlast night, he was sure to find out from someone.

- 47 -

"Oh God I feel like hell." Cassidy groaned, shutting her eyes as she held herforehead. It was pounding against her skull, making her feel worse. "My head isabout to explode."

"You are currently experiencing a hangover." Kathleen explained, handing her anaspirin and a glass of water. "Which usually occurs after a full night of drinking thatis followed by intoxication. And in conclusion leads to-"

"Ok, I get it." She interrupted. "Save your little speeches for the Union address."

Kathleen chuckled at the thought, pondering it through. "Well, I wouldn't say thatI would get that far into politics, but becoming president isn't such a bad idea."

"You running the country is a bad idea." Nina stated, giving her a dumb look.

Cassidy laughed, popping the aspirin in her mouth and gulping it down withwater. She woke up in Nina and Kathleen's dorm with no recollection of the previousnight. She remembered vaguely that Kathleen called her mother, stating thatCassidy was staying the night for one of their girl nights and her mother being okwith it. Waking up around eleven in the morning however, was not the great start ofa Saturday morning.

"Cassidy, we have something to tell you." Kathleen said gravely as she sat at theedge of the bed, glancing at Nina.

Cassidy sat the glass down on the table, furrowing her eyebrows. "What is it? Did Ithrow up on someone last night?"

Kathleen rolled her eyes and Nina stifled a laugh. "No, its much worse...well foryou that is. To anyone else it would be a godsend." Nina sighed, fluttering herdreamy eyes in a distance.

"What did I do?"

"You were with Adrian last night and though Nina and I weren't there to witnessit, I think you two were kissing." Kathleen concluded quickly.

She gaped at her incredulously. "WHAT?!"

"Yes, as in two sets of lips making in contact with each other for the sake ofpleasure." Kathleen explained.

- 48 -

"That's not true, we didn't kiss!" She argued firmly.

"No, it is. You even confessed it to us in the car, drunk as a homeless man. Ibelieve you said, 'I made out with Adrian Lennox and I want to do it over and overagain!'" Nina exclaimed, looking enthused.

"But I thought it was a dream." Cassidy recalled bewilderedly, wide eyed. "It hasto be a dream!"

"I'm sorry to say this, but that was all real honey."

"NO!" Cassidy slapped her hand to her mouth and all the memories from Saturdaynight flashed in her head in that moment.

She took her hand off quickly and looked at it in horror. She recalled one of themin particular, being the vilest acts she's ever done in her young adult life near theend of their make out. "OH my God, I touched it!"

"Touched what?"

Cassidy ignored her, pacing frantically in the dorm. "I need bleach. Do you havebleach? I need it now!"

"Wait what the hell. What's going on Cassidy?" Kathleen asked in concern, puttinga hand on her shoulder to stop her.

Cassidy waved her right hand in front of her, trying to explain as she looked at itin disgust. "I touched his..." She trailed off, unable to say the word.

Nina and Kathleen gaped at her simultaneously. "No you didn't." They said in alow disbelief tone.

Cassidy nodded guilty, frowning. "Yes, I did."

They squealed in excitement, bouncing up and down and Cassidy gritted herteeth. What the hell, they weren't supposed to be happy for her, they were supposedto be disgusted!

"This is not the time for another one of your stupid screaming fits, I need bleach!"She put her hand behind her back, shameful by the acts it has done.

"You are not going to bleach your hand, Cassidy. That is going way too far."- 49 -

Kathleen replied, shaking her head.

"I have to get rid of the touch, it's sickening! I can't even look at my hand rightnow and I have to because it's the one I write with! Oh God, someone please give mesome soap right now!"

"Calm down Cass, your fine." Kathleen reassured her, turning to Nina. "Nina, canyou please get her some soap before she has a coronary?"

She nodded, heading to the bathroom. "Sure, I'll be back."

Cassidy groaned. "I am never going under the influence of alcohol again!"

"I can't believe you made out with Adrian Lennox last night. How was it?"

"How was it?" Cassidy echoed incredulously. "I don't even remember!"

Kathleen pouted. "That's too bad. Everybody says he's a fabulous kisser."

"I don't care!" She exclaimed furiously, waving her right hand at Kathleen. "I justwant soap!"

"Here it is!" Nina announced happily. She grabbed Cassidy's right hand frombehind her back and doused a dime sized squirt in her palm. "There."

"That's not enough!" Cassidy noted, taking the soap bottle from her hands andpractically pouring the entire liquid into her palm.

She scrubbed her hands together vigorously, turning on the faucet. Her friendslooked at her like she was deranged, but Cassidy didn't care. She just wanted thetouch out of her right hand and never to be reminded of that night again.

"Even though you don't remember and you're freaking out right now, I still thinkyou're lucky. You kissed the hottest guy on campus." Nina noted, smiling widely.

"More like kissed the most disgusting man on campus." Cassidy grumbledunhappily, rinsing her hands under scathing hot water.

Kathleen rolled her eyes. "Your being dramatic, Cassidy. It was one night of fun,big deal. So what if you got drunk and kissed the most sought out guy at school? Sowhat if you felt him up? You're experiencing new things that you never had before. Iknow so many girls that would kill to be in your position, even me and Nina would."

- 50 -

Nina nodded her head in agreement.

"This is not the way I want to live my first year of college!" Cassidy exclaimed,shutting off the water and grabbing a dry cloth. "Do you think I want to rememberthe things I did from that stupid night as a college memory? It's going to plague mefor the rest of my life! This is not what I planned to do for this year and the manyothers in the future!"

Nina rolled her eyes. "Here it goes again."

"Believe me, I would love for any girl to take my place last night, but I can'trewind and redo my horrible mistake." Cassidy grumbled, drying her handsfuriously.

"Oh the tragedies of living." Kathleen mocked dramatically, the back of her handresting on her forehead.

She threw down the cloth on the counter and groaned, burying her head in herhands. "What am I supposed to do you guys? What if he remembers? Should I talk tohim about it?"

"Talking never solves anything, especially with Adrian Lennox." Kathleenintervened. "Just pretend it never happened."

"I agree." Nina voiced equally. "Guys go crazy if you act like it didn't matter."

Cassidy breathed in calmly with closed eyes. "Ok, I'll do it. I hope it works."

"It will work." Kathleen reassured her, reaching for a box of candy in her pocketand handing it to her. "Here, have some of candy. It will make you feel better."

She beamed, taking a piece of candy and unraveling it quickly. "Thanks Kathy, youalways know how to cheer me up.

Cassidy popped the candy in her mouth, before Nina held out her hand to stopher. "Don't forget where that hand has been." She reminded her.

Cassidy shrilled in disgust, spitting the candy out onto the floor. She ran to thesink, turning on the faucet in fill force as she let the water wash over her openmouth in haste.

Kathleen glared at Nina, a hand at her hip. "Thanks for the reminder." - 51 -

Nina shrugged. "Don't mention it."

"Looks like you had a great time last night." Terry commented amusingly, taking aseat next to him.

Adrian half shrugged. "Yeah, but I don't remember half the shit that happened."

"Really? Even the girl you were with?"

He head swiveled quickly to Terry, surprised. "What girl?"

"You know the girl with the brown hair. You guys were all over each other on thecouch." He explained simply.

"Do you know her name?"

"No. I don't think I've ever seen her before."

He pursed his lips, trying to think of the events that happened on Saturday night."What did she look like?"

"Well, like I said she had brown hair. That's all I can think of."

"That sure helps a lot." Adrian said sarcastically.

Terry shrugged. "Hey, I wasn't the one that was all over her last night andcouldn't remember."

"It'll come to me." Adrian said positively.

Terry patted him roughly on the back. "Sure it will man. In the meantime, let's gojoin the others downstairs in the rec room."

Adrian stood up from the couch, following Terry downstairs to another part of thesorority house. The girls were having a little game of pool and decided to call theguys up to join which was just an excuse to have them over. They didn't even knowhow to play pool, much less know how to do anything else besides party and go toclass.

Once the girls saw Adrian come down the steps, they cheered from his presence,

- 52 -

happy that he finally arrived. Adrian smirked charmingly to satisfy them and Terryrolled his eyes, grabbing a pool stick to start a game with another guy.

Adrian hung back behind the pool table, watching the guys about to battle it out.He leaned against the wall and watched Terry rack them up in a neat triangle.

"Not up for a game?" Jase asked, appearing right beside him.

He shrugged. "Not in the mood."

"Finally figured out who you fooled around with last night?"

"No, but apparently it was a girl with brown hair." Adrian answered, smirking ashe glanced at Terry from the latter. Adrian looked to Jase in question. "What aboutyou? Did you finally tame the girl's mouth?"

Jase snorted. "No. She left before I could make any moves on her. The girl isn'tworth the trouble."

"What happened to all that talk about proving me you were going to sleep withher?" He asked amusingly.

"I gave up. I don't need to be wasting my time on a girl that won't put out whenthere are others willing. Besides, I know better not to mess with a virgin." Jaseexplained.

Adrian looked on thoughtfully. "Huh... you're right, virgins are trouble."

"Yeah," he replied, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I'm going to head upstairs,I'll see you later."

Adrian raised a curious eyebrow. "Is there something or someone waiting foryou?"

Jase's eyes glistened slyly. "I'm hoping to get a round two out of the girl from lastnight, wish me luck."

"The best," Adrian replied, holding an imaginary glass up.

Jase laughed, traveling up the stairs with a swift speed. He was whistling on hisway up to the top and Adrian shook his head, a smirk forming his features.

- 53 -

"Adrian."

He turned to his side from his name being called and a girl with bleach blondehair named Kim, skimpy outfit and long legs, came running to his side. She wrappedher arms around his neck and pouted at him and he just stood there unaffected.

"How come you didn't want to have fun with me last night?"

Adrian raised his eyebrow, interested for once in his life with what one of his girlshad to say. "What do you mean?"

"We were supposed to go to your apartment, but I found you with someone else."Kim scoffed, nuzzling her nose on his neck. "I can't believe you were with that loserinstead of me, but it's ok. We can make up for lost time now." She said huskily,trailing her hand down his chest.

Adrian grabbed hold of her wrist to stop her, looking directly in her blues eyes toget her attention. "What loser?"

She pulled her wrist out of his grip, placing her hands on her hips angrily. "Thatvirgin you made fun of at the cafeteria last week, don't you remember?"

"Cassidy?" He recalled bewilderedly, wide eyed.

Kim huffed. "Yeah, I guess that's what they call her. Why were you with her?"

"I have to go." Adrian said quickly, making a move to leave, but Kim grabbed holdof him.

"Where?" She exclaimed incredulously. "You just got here. Aren't we gettingtogether?"

"Why don't you go have fun with Terry instead?" Adrian suggested offhandedly,walking away. Kim huffed, crossing her arms dejectedly. Terry winked in her wayand Kim made a noise of disgust and left.

All the events of last night were coming back to him. Him downing more shotsthan he ever has before, finding Cassidy on the couch by herself when Jase made acomment before about sleeping with her, and going to her instead, making a movewhich she surprisingly reciprocated. Cassidy freaking Gordon of all girls was the onewith him last night and he couldn't contain the shock inside. Adrian was going tofind her and talk about the events of last night's party.

- 54 -

Cassidy was feeling happy inside when she reached half of Monday without thesight of a bothersome, hormonal, but gorgeous guy. Despite having Biology togetherthis morning, Cassidy did everything in her power to be unseen from him whichmeant sitting in the back of the lecture class. Thankfully she got there early andwhen it came time for him to come into the classroom, searching for her in the front,she ducked in her seat so that she could be left out of view once he got a goodlookout for her.

Cassidy was in the clear and though she wished she was sitting in the front so thatshe could learn better, it was all worth the trouble from being discovered by Adrian.

So, when it was almost time to leave school, Cassidy happily skipped her way onto the parking lot through the campus with her keys jingling in hand. This wholeignoring and not talking about issues thing was really starting to turn out great.What hadn't she thought of it before? As she hummed a happy tune under herbreath, a certain voice instantly killed it.

"CASSIDY!"

Without stopping her walk, Cassidy craned her head slightly, catching Adrianadvancing towards her. She snapped her neck to the front, picking up her pace. "OhGod," she muttered under her breath, her heart pounding nervously.

"Cassidy! Wait up!" He called out at her back.

She darted around the corner of one of the school buildings and started to sprint,pumping her fists forward with all her might.

"Cassidy!" Adrian yelled out in disbelief when she disappeared from his sight.

Cassidy knew it was juvenile of her to get away from her problems, but if this wasthe way to achieve her 'ignoring and not talking about it' strategy, she wasn't goingto let it go to waste. Once the air reached short panted breaths into her lungs, sheslowed down a bit, knowing he lost her. Even though she wasn't a world classsprinter, she sure knew how to outwit the womanizer of their University.

As Cassidy smiled at her success and rounded a corner, the person that appearedon the other side was wearing a smile of his own, or more descriptively, a smirk.Cassidy's smile slowly dissolved into a defeated frown. She was so close, so close!!

"Thought you could out run me?" Adrian inquired, placing a hand against the wallto hold his balance.

- 55 -

"It seemed like a good idea at the time." She replied, taking a deep breath for herdeprived lungs.

"Why were you ignoring me when I called your name several times?" He askedmore seriously.

"Uh, what are you talking about?" Cassidy asked, trying to play it cool.

Adrian rolled his eyes. "Don't lie, I know you were."

"No, I wasn't." Cassidy lied ineffectively.

He gave her a frustrated look and she sighed in defeat. "Fine, I was. What's it toyou?"

Adrian took his hand off the wall, looking a little bashful which was quite unusualfor him. "What happened on Saturday night..." He trailed off awkwardly.

"Never happened," she finished indifferently.

Adrian furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "Wait, what are you talking about?"

"It never happened, Adrian." Cassidy said firmly.

He looked at her in frustration. "Why are you trying to deny it? We made out andyou touched me." He announced casually, jabbing a finger at her in accusation.

Cassidy shuddered in disgust. She was still trying to get over that and her righthand itched to be thoroughly washed again. "Don't remind me."

"So you admit to Saturday night."

She shrugged. "Yeah sure, but that doesn't mean I have to acknowledge it."

Adrian groaned irritably. "Can you please cut the bullshit already? I have no ideawhat you're trying to get at."

"Adrian," Cassidy said gravely. "I don't like you ok? In fact, I hate you. Saturdaynight was a big mistake and though it happened, I'm going to forget that it everexisted in my memory. So please do me a favor and don't bring it up again."

Adrian was tempted to gape at her, but he kept his jaw in place. It was unheard of- 56 -

to him when a girl referred a pleasurable night as being a mistake. A night withAdrian was a prize to be won and not every girl got the privilege of having that.Some were even lucky to get his slight attention, but this girl... this girl didn't evencare or bother with his. "How could you say that? Didn't I give you the best night ofyour life?"

She snorted. "Please, it became the worse night of my life thank you very much."

He looked at her, trying to calm his stunned reaction. She was consistentlyshooting down his ego and it was making him incensed. Did he pick up a male indisguise? He was known to be caught up with strange females before in hisintoxicated state. She was certainly acting like a male would in this typical situation.It was different than what he was used too.

"You must not be a girl." He tried to reason himself.

Cassidy gasped softly, glaring at him. "Just because I'm not one of your whores,doesn't mean I'm not a girl so please leave me alone and don't ever bring that nightup. Got it?"

Cassidy walked away before he could answer and Adrian gaped openly at herretreating back. He couldn't grasp what happened and he couldn't let her get awayjust yet.

He ran up to her side and Cassidy glanced at him, quirking an eyebrow. Heshoved his hands in his pockets, rocking back and forth on his heels nonchalantly."Fine, I guess we can forget about what happened on Saturday night." He said,giving her the benefit of the doubt...for now.

Cassidy smirked, appearing happy with herself. "I think that's the best thing thatever came out of your mouth."

"Unless," Adrian said slyly with a smirk. "You want to give me an encore of whatyou did to my-"

"No," Cassidy replied firmly all too quickly in anger, but looking a bit sheepish. "Iwill never touch that thing again for as long as I lived."

Adrian mockingly pouted. "That's too bad because that was the best hand job I'veever had."

Cassidy paled, standing stiffly. Adrian knew he had her where he wanted her so he- 57 -

continued to make her uncomfortable. He might just have a little fun with her to seewhat made her tick. He was already having so much fun with it.

"Your hands were so soft and gentle with me, like a nice massage but on my maleparts. Best way to get me off."

"That's enough." Cassidy announced a little too loudly, feeling the heat of hercheeks emerge. "I will not be reduced to a common whore at this school. You makeme sick and the thought of touching you like that makes me want to vomit, justseeing your face makes me cringe. I would like it if you never discussed the eventsof Saturday night's biggest mistake. Am I clear?"

"Or what?" Adrian defied mischievously, smirking.

Cassidy turned dark, stalking over to him. "Or I will make your life a living hell."

Adrian snorted. "How so? You're just a girl."

"Just because my gender is different from yours doesn't mean I'm incapable ofachieving such a thing."

"You can be capable of other things too." He replied suggestively, winking at her.

"Yes, things that don't involve engaging in sexual activity with you or anyoneelse." She said boldly.

"What are you, saving yourself for marriage?" Adrian inquired incredulously,looking as if he has never heard of such a thing.

"If it's the one I love and I know I'm going to marry, than yes I am." She counteredfirmly.

"Believe me, that whole dream of yours will be far from your mind now." Adrianstated surely, smirking as he started to walk away from her.

Cassidy looked at him, puzzled and walked beside him. "Why?"

"I haven't stopped thinking about what you did to me and my pride and joydownstairs. That's why I have a feeling that we'll finish what we started that night atthe party. I can't wait to cause some trouble," he smirked, tipping his head to herand walked away. She was left confused and ran up to him, keeping his pace ofwalk.

- 58 -

"What trouble?" She asked, becoming nervous of what this 'trouble' entails.

Adrian smirked, grasping her shoulder to stop walking. "Trouble with me."

Her mouth hung agape, confusion and shock in her eyes. He patted her on theshoulder like an owner would with its dog.

"It was nice settling this with you. Now that you know what you got yourself intoonce you decided to get mixed up, you will find the next couple of weeks to bevery...worthwhile." Adrian said huskily, trailing a finger down the column of herthroat sensually which left her shuddering inside. "I'll count on seeing you aroundmore often and don't even think about hiding at the back of the classroom againbecause I will find you."

He left without another word and Cassidy continued to stand there, shock stiff.Apparently ignoring the situation with Adrian was not only unhelpful, but it did moredamage than she could even think of. What the hell did she get herself into and howwas she supposed to get out?

"I thought you said you wanted nothing to do with her." Jase said, furrowing hiseyebrows.

Adrian smirked. "I'm going to have fun with this one."

"How? She couldn't wait to get away from me at the party."

"It's easy, Jase, once I put the charm on, she fell for it. The alcohol might've playeda part, but it worked. Though she denies what we did at the party, I can get her todo whatever I want despite how she feels initially."

Jase laughed humorlessly. "You're sounding way too cocky there."

"Why not? I know it will work, she's going to be easy."

"I don't know about you Adrian, but I think Cassidy is going to be a little morework than what you might perceive."

Adrian snorted. "I already have this one in the bag. It's me we're talking about."

"Good luck then, I hope it's all worth it."

- 59 -

"It will." Adrian replied confidently, a smirk growing at his face. "I finally get tohave my fun after all."

Kathleen and Nina were laughing as they listened to music in the background.Nina was almost finished explaining the story about some kid in her class when aknock was heard at the door. Kathleen got up from her chair and opened the door,her laughing marks vanishing as she took sight of the person.

"Cassidy, what on earth happened to you? You look like you've seen a ghost."Kathleen expressed as she opened the door wider to let Cassidy through.

Cassidy walked in robotically, standing root at the spot beside the door and Ninatook in her shocked features in confusion.

"Cassidy what happened?"

Cassidy swallowed at her dry throat, her stunned eyes on them. "You guys... Ithink I'm in trouble."

"Why?" Nina pressed, concerned. "What's going on?"

"I think Adrian Lennox wants to kill me."

A/N: Dun dun, dun!!! This is where Cassidy's naive nature comes in. She's way tooinnocent as you can tell. Well, I hope you guys like this chapter, another update tocome this weekend!

- 60 -

Lady Killer

Chapter 4: Lady killer

Kathleen and Nina stared at her for a good ten seconds before erupting into fits oflaughter which left Cassidy puzzled. Didn't they know that death wasn't a laughingmatter? Nina slapped her knee consistently and Kathleen was holding onto herstomach like she was going to puke.

"How can you guys be so insensitive? This is my life we are talking about here. It'sa serious issue." Cassidy exclaimed irritably.

Kathleen and Nina ceased their laughs, giving Cassidy a blank look before settingoff into laughter once again. Cassidy groaned, walking over to Kathleen's bed tothrow herself on it. Why couldn't she have normal friends? Cassidy threw a blanketover her head, fed up with them making fun of her.

"I'm sorry, Cassidy, but come on." Nina said, chuckling. "Adrian Lennox wants tokill you? Where the hell did that come from?"

She pulled the blanket slightly over her head and frowned. "He told me sohimself."

"Really?" Kathleen replied, unbelieving. "In those exact words?"

"Well..." Cassidy trailed off, sitting upright on the bed. "He implied it through themeaning of his words and actions."

"How so?" Kathleen pressed, coming to sit on the bed next to her.

"He uh, said that I was in trouble because I was hiding from him all day." Cassidyburied her head in her hands. "I shouldn't have listened to your guys' advice! Nowlook at where it got me!"

Nina stifled a laugh, rubbing her back. "Come on Cassidy, seriously?"

"Yes seriously!" She exclaimed, rising back up angrily. "It might sound dumb toyou right now, but you should've seen his face! He looked deadly."

"Demonstrate this look if you will." Kathleen asked curiously.

- 61 -

"Ok, he did something like this." Cassidy replied, giving her a blank look beforeshe started. She narrowed her eyes and lifted her eyebrow slightly, leaning towardsKathleen in the way that Adrian did towards the end of their conversation.

Nina laughed and Kathleen furrowed her eyebrows. "Are you sure he did that."

"Yes!" Cassidy exclaimed in frustration.

"That didn't look deadly at all." She noted, smiling a bit. "It actually looked like hewas trying to flirt with you."

Cassidy wrinkled her nose, shaking her head with denial. "No, no I'm sure itwasn't that. He also did something like this." Cassidy extended her finger out toKathleen and trailed a finger down the column of her throat slowly in the way thatAdrian did. Kathleen slapped her hand away and Nina was on the floor, laughingloudly as she turned red.

"Ok I get it." Kathleen replied, rolling her eyes. "You are something, Cassidy..."

"I'm smart and cautious, that's what I am."

"No, you're naive and a little stupid." Cassidy gaped in surprise. "Actually, reallystupid."

"Why is that?"

"Adrian Lennox didn't want to kill you." Kathleen said firmly, clearing her throat."He was trying to seduce you."

"Seduce? ME?" Cassidy called out incredulously, jabbing a finger to her chest.

Kathleen sighed from her incomprehension. "Yes. Those little touches and wordsthat he told you were all provocative moves to get you to appeal to him."

"Meaning, he wanted to turn you on." Nina explained simply, rising from the floor.

Cassidy opened and closed her mouth, out of words. How did she not get this?Adrian couldn't be in the least bit interested in her, could he? No one was. That'swhy she has never had a boyfriend before.

"That can't be right. It just can't." Cassidy denied, shaking her head. - 62 -

"Cassidy, open your eyes. Adrian Lennox is not a killer, he's a womanizer and hewants you." Kathleen stated clearly, emphasizing the latter words.

"Wants me for what?" She asked innocently.

"Sex," Nina answered simply.

Cassidy gaped in surprise, glancing at her two friends back to back. "But I-Idon't-"

Kathleen sighed, grasping her arm in a friendly manner. "Cassidy, I'm sorry, butshe's right. He's only interested because he wants to get you in bed. That's the onlytrouble you're really in."

Cassidy shook her head, shaking out of her hold. "No, I don't believe it. Who wouldwant to have sex with me? It's not true."

Nina sighed. "For the love of God, Cassidy stop being so damn naive and listen tous for once!"

"No!" Cassidy exclaimed, leaping out of the bed. "None of you know what Adrianmeant because you weren't there and besides, you both don't know anything aboutwhat guys really mean. We all haven't been with a real guy yet!"

"Cassidy, I might not have that much experience with men, but I do know this."Nina said, pausing. "Adrian is interested whether you like it or not so stop trying todeny it."

Cassidy opened her mouth to reject her idea again, but Kathleen put a hand up tostop her. "If you're so convinced that we're wrong, why don't you go tell Adrian whathe meant? Then you will know we were right all along."

Cassidy looked at them in silence, balling her hands up in frustration. "Fine, I willand when I find out you guys were wrong, you owe me."

Kathleen snorted, rolling her eyes. "Alright, now go."

Cassidy left their dorm, determined to find out the truth, but did she really wantto? Her forehead creased in fear and she picked up her pace down the studentcorridor. Maybe she will find him tomorrow to demand an explanation, but for nowshe was going to go home and rest.

- 63 -

"You haven't been home lately." Larry notified simply, eating a piece of slicedchicken.

She shrugged, stirring her mash potatoes with her fork. "I've been with Kathleenand Nina. You know how they are."

"Maybe you should cut down your free time." He noted.

Cassidy frowned, leaving her fork on the plate. "But I haven't done anythingwrong. I get my work done and I'm home right after school."

"Yes, but if you continue to go out like you are now, those polished grades youhave are going to drop if you make one mistake. And it's all because of theseshenanigans your getting into."

"It's not shenanigans, dad, it's just three girls going out to a movie or hanging outat the college dorm." Cassidy lied.

"Cassidy, college is different from high school. There are parties with drugs andalcohol involved and I don't want you to partake in these events."

"Dad, you don't have to worry about me. I know better than that." She repliedfirmly. "I don't know why you don't trust me."

"I trust you Cassidy, I just don't trust them."

"Larry, I'm sure our daughter knows what is right from wrong." Jenny intervened."You should have a little more faith in her."

"Jenny, I've been through the college scene and I don't want our daughter to getinvolved."

"Cassidy knows what she's doing," Jenny said surely, looking towards herdaughter. "Don't you Cassidy?"

Cassidy glanced at both of her parents, knowing this topic of conversation wasway past due. Her sinful acts have already been committed and there was no turningback.

However, she could learn from these actions and know not to execute them in thefuture. She should look at this past weekend as a learning experience rather than ahorrible mistake, though it still was one to her. Cassidy would just have to deal with

- 64 -

it and move on, despite Adrian's wishes.

"Yeah, I do." Cassidy said boldly, smiling at both her parents.

They nodded in satisfaction and continued eating, discussing other topics besidesthose of college parties, drinking, and drugs. She welcomed the topic change andengaged in conversation more lively than before.

The next day during lunch at school, Cassidy set off to find Adrian Lennox. Theplayboy on campus couldn't be that hard to find, could he?

She walked through the student union dozen of times, not finding the gorgeousman anywhere. She sighed deeply as she came across the same corridor again forthe thirteenth time. Where could he be?

Cassidy walked downstairs dejectedly, glancing at the cafeteria of the union. Shenoticed a small group of guys in a corner, shielded from the rest of the lounge.

Interested, Cassidy walked into their direction and once she came closer, shefound who she was looking for. With a smile on her face, she walked boldly up tohim and his friends, but a member of their group made her stop in her steps whenthey all looked in her direction.

"Terry?"

"Cassidy?" He replied back, equally shock. "What are you doing here?"

Adrian glanced at both of them, puzzled. "You guys know each other?"

Cassidy ignored him. "You're friends with Adrian?"

Terry snorted. "Yeah, what's it to you?"

"I don't know, I thought you would be in a much better crowd than his."

"Oooh burn!" Jase exclaimed, chuckling.

"And what's so wrong with me?" Adrian inquired, facing her in a dark manner.

She shrugged. "What isn't?"

Jase burst out laughing. "She's got you there." - 65 -

"No, she's just upset that I haven't given her much attention lately." Adrian repliedsmoothly, raising a charming eyebrow. "Aren't you?"

Cassidy snorted and crossed her arms. "No, I'm actually welcoming it."

Adrian leaned back in his chair, dissatisfied by her remark. "Then why are youhere? I don't need you right now."

"What are you talking about? I don't want you to need me ever."

"I told you my sweet little Cassidy that I'll be seeing you for the next couple ofweeks. You're mine, remember?"

"I don't belong to anyone!" She exclaimed furiously.

"Wait, hold up." Terry chimed in, glancing at Cassidy incredulously. "Are you thegirl that Adrian is interested in?"

She shook her head frantically. "No, I'm not involved with that womanizer."

"Yes, she is." Adrian rolled his eyes.

"Were you also the one who bitched out Adrian in the cafeteria last week?" Terryinquired in disbelief.

"Yes, what's it to you?"

Terry gaped at Adrian. "Dude seriously? You're going after my cousin's bestfriend?"

"Who's your cousin?" Adrian asked curiously, looking interested.

"Nina, you don't know her and you don't need to." He replied in a warning tone.

"Yeah, so? What's your point?"

"My point is that-" He stopped himself, knowing that Cassidy would overhearthem. "Excuse me for a moment, I'm going to have a little chat with my friend here,we'll be right back."

He grabbed the strap of Adrian's backpack and forced him across the room to aquiet corner. "Dude what's your deal? Don't try to man handle me, that's what the

- 66 -

women are for."

"Adrian, are you out of your goddamn mind? Why are you going after CassidyGordon of all people?"

"She's just for entertainment Terry, relax." Adrian replied, grasping his shoulderin reassurance.

Terry pushed his hand off. "This isn't funny, Adrian. That girl is my cousin's bestfriend and I don't want you fucking around with her."

"Dude what's your damage, she's just a girl."

"This girl is innocent, Adrian. She's not like the other girls you shack up with."

"I know, that's why I'm interested. I just want to have a little fun."

"Go find it somewhere else." Terry barked out. "I don't want you messing withCassidy's innocence. You'll ruin her."

"No I won't."

Terry sighed from Adrian's infamous stubbornness. "I'm not going to tell youagain, man. Stay the hell away from her."

"Terry, come on. Do you really think that bad of me?" He said, holding a hand up."I promise I won't defile her or mess with her innocence. I'm just going to play withher a bit, nothing else."

"I swear to God Adrian if I hear one bad thing come out of that girl's mouth aboutyou, I will make you wish you never decided to touch her again, you understandme?"

He furrowed his eyebrows, puzzled. "Why are you defending her so much, Terry?She's just your cousin's friend."

"Yeah, but that's the worse part. My cousin will bitch at me and go tell my momabout all the shit you've done. I'll be the one to blame."

"Relax. I got this, don't worry."

"Just have your stupid fun and be done with it, ok?" - 67 -

He nodded. "Yeah."

"No overtime."

"Got it," Adrian smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Are we good?"

"Yeah," he clapped Adrian on the back, making him lose his footing a little. "Goand entertain yourself."

"Will do," Adrian chuckled.

He walked over to Cassidy who was impatiently waiting for him, tapping her shoeon the floor. When he finally reached her, she gave him a calculating eyebrow."What was so interesting to talk about over there?"

He shrugged. "Just about your innocence."

"I'm not innocent." Cassidy exclaimed, snorting.

Adrian narrowed his eyes, smirking. "Yes, you are."

She rolled her eyes. She knew he was right and she wasn't going to deny again. "Ineed to talk to you."

"Ok, about what?"

"What you said yesterday, what did you mean?" Cassidy asked, her tone soundingsheepish and soft.

Adrian chuckled a little. "Didn't you get the hint?"

She swallowed at her throat, paling slightly. "So you were telling the truth allalong?"

"Yeah, of course I was." He replied huskily, his eyes glistening with mischief.

"Why me? I haven't done anything to you." She exclaimed softly, backing a stepaway from him nervously.

"Maybe because I want to see what its like."

"You mean you've never done it before?" Cassidy inquired in disbelief. - 68 -

He snorted. "Yeah, I've done it many times. It never ends."

Her eyes widened in horror. "You're sick, you're really sick."

Adrian chuckled. "No, I just like to have fun."

"Stay away from me you psycho!" Cassidy exclaimed, about to bolt, but Adriangrabbed her wrist and wrenched her right back to him.

She struggled against his hold, yanking her arm out, but was having difficulty inachieving it. She panted in fright, her heart beat skyrocketing. "Let me go, please."She urged in fear.

"Why am I psychopath?"

Cassidy ignored him, swallowing at her dry throat. "Please don't kill me. Yourright, I am innocent and I don't deserve to die. I have so much I want to do with mylife so please, let me go."

Adrian stared at her, baffled. He blinked a few times, letting her wrist free. Shetore away from him, rubbing her arm.

"Thank you," she replied softly, turning around to walk away.

Adrian's eyes were glued to her retreating back and his feet were immobile on thefloor. He was shocked, but most importantly very confused. What the hell justhappened?

He walked slowly up to her, his thoughts jumbled up in confusion. Cassidy heardhis footsteps and gasped, darting to a corner. Adrian ran after her and grabbed herby the arm once more, pinning her to the wall.

Cassidy breathed sharply, squeezing her eyes shut. She felt him lean closer to herand his hot breath raked over her neck. She shuddered in fear, bowing her head tothe floor.

"Cassidy, what the hell were you talking about just now." Adrian inquired,sounding angry and confused.

Cassidy lifted her head up to him, eyes wide. "Aren't you going to kill me?"

"What the fuck?" He exclaimed, perplexed. "Why the hell would I want to do that?- 69 -

Do I look like a killer to you?"

She gulped nervously. "I don't know, do you?"

He sighed deeply, leaning against the side of the wall beside her. "For Christ sakeCassidy why are you saying this?"

"Yesterday you said I was in trouble." She noted shortly.

Adrian furrowed his eyebrows. "So you think trouble immediately implies that Iwant to kill you?"

"Well, it sounded like it."

Adrian opened his mouth and closed it, clearly confused and frustrated. "I don'teven know what to say."

"Say that you won't kill me," she replied flatly, holding in a breath.

He rolled his eyes. "Jesus Cassidy, I'm not going to kill you. Are you really thatdense?"

"No," she exclaimed angrily, not liking that he was implying she was dumb. "I'mjust good at analyzing situations."

"No because if you were, then you would know what I said yesterday didn't mean Iwanted to kill you."

"Then what did it?"

He laughed to himself, looking thoughtful. "Terry's right, you really are innocent...and kind of stupid."

She gaped at him, pushing his shoulder away. "No I'm not."

"Ok, ok so defensive." He muttered under his breath, his eyes appearing amused."What I meant yesterday is that... I want to have fun with you. You know, foolaround."

"Fool around?" She repeated, confused. "Like pranks and immature stuff?"

"No," he denied, chuckling. This girl really didn't know anything about obvious- 70 -

hints and gestures. She was like a little kid in college. Inexperienced and innocent."It's more of a sexual nature."

She wrinkled her nose, revolted. "Yeah, dream on."

"Why would I, when I know it will come true?"

"I think I liked it better when I thought you wanted to kill me," she mumbled.

Adrian pursed his lips, trying to keep his laughter inside, but one escaped from hismouth. He couldn't keep it in any longer so finally erupted in laughter, banging a fistto the wall. "I can't believe you thought I wanted to kill you!" He exclaimed throughchuckles. "Me? Of all people!"

Adrian continued to laugh and she sighed, flushing from embarrassment. Maybeshe was stupid. She could've prevented all this humiliation if she just listened to hertwo best friends. Why was she so stubborn and naive!

"Are you done making a fool of me and yourself?"

"Almost," he replied, chuckling.

Cassidy rolled her eyes and groaned, walking away from him. She heard his lightfootsteps following her, the echo of laughter mocking her ears.

"Adrian, stop." She demanded weakly, knowing his laughter wouldn't end. Shewould laugh at her own stupidity too.

He ignored her, unsurprisingly. "This is the first time a girl didn't understand myintentions...all because she thought I wanted to kill her!" He howled in laughter,patting his abdomen. "That's a first!"

"Shut up!" Cassidy exclaimed, annoyed.

"I am going to have fun with this one, that's for sure." Adrian ceased his laughter,taking a gulp of fresh air. "And you know what? I'm glad it's you. You'll definitelymake things interesting around here."

She glared at him. "I'm not your little show puppet."

"Baby, you just made yourself that once you agreed to hook up with me at theparty."

- 71 -

Cassidy flushed, gritting her teeth. "For the last time, I was thoroughlyintoxicated! I didn't know what I was doing."

Adrian stepped closer her, making her take an uneasy step back. "You know whatthey say. A drunk man's words are a sober man's thoughts."

"I'm not a man," she said obviously.

Adrian burst out laughing, grasping her shoulder to stay upright. He waschuckling again from her innocence and it amazed him how sheltered she was. Whoon earth were her parents in raising her to be this perfect little saint?

Cassidy glanced at his hand, looking back at him with an expression of "personalspace." He apparently didn't get the memo when he stopped laughing and looked inher eyes, his hand tightening around it.

"It applies to everyone."

She frowned momentarily at his hand on her shoulder, not bothering to mention it."Then why do they use 'man' instead of 'women'?"

He shrugged, lowering his hand to her elbow in a way that made Cassidy's armcover in goose bumps. "Does it really matter? What it comes down to is that, youwant me. I know you do."

She snorted. "No I don't."

Adrian opened his mouth to deny her response, but he stopped, smirking. "Thetime will come just you wait." He paused, his smirk spreading wider. "Until then, I'mgoing to show you what its like to be a regular young adult."

"How?" Cassidy asked, puzzled.

He rubbed her elbow, making her draw away from his touch with a flush on hercheeks. "Show you to all the hot spots on the town, take you out on adventures, andshow you college life just in general." He bent down, his face only inches away fromhers. "I'm your mentor."

Cassidy took a step away from him, crossing her arms. "Who said I wanted allthose things? I'm perfectly fine where I'm at."

"The thing is Cassidy, people like you think your fine, but once you get a taste of- 72 -

what life is really like out there, you won't be coming back to your old ways. Trustme."

"Learned from experience?" She guessed.

Adrian shrugged, smirking. "You could say that."

A part of her wanted Adrian to show her what these "adventures" her, but thebetter half knew well enough with guys like him. Adrian was bad news and with therecent talk with her parents still fresh on her mind, she was clear headed. There wasno alcohol plaguing her rationality or motor skills. Cassidy was one hundred percentsensible.

"I don't need your adventures nor do I need your mentorship." She said harshly,getting up in his face. "That mistakable night that you call a 'hook up' won't befollowed with an encore, so I suggest you get over it, Adrian."

Adrian stared at her long and hard, surprised by her outspoken nature. He hadn'texcept that from her. His women were usually obedient and too friendly. Thoughthis one... he couldn't quite decide what she was yet.

He raised his hand and stroked her cheek, making her jump a little from thecontact. She gave him a puzzled look when he leaned in and out of nowhere he gaveher an open mouth kiss on the neck without any notice. Her breath got caught in herthroat, feeling the warmth of his lips.

Cassidy stood there, stock stiff and unsure of what to do. Before she could react,Adrian pulled away from a satisfying smirk and brushed her cheek with the back ofhis fingers.

"The day I get over it is when I finally get you." He stated firmly, walking awaypromptly after.

Cassidy stared at his retreating back, dumbfounded as her hand reached up to herneck that was dried up with his saliva. Did that really happen?

Cassidy knocked on Kathleen and Nina's dorm room, uncertain on how to react towhat happened a moment ago. The door opened, revealing Nina in sweats with herhair tied up messily.

- 73 -

"Hey." Nina smiled, opening the door wider.

Cassidy entered, taking a seat next to Nina's computer table. Nina sat beside her,studying her curiously.

"Where's Kathleen?" Cassidy asked, playing with the hem of her shirt.

Nina looked over at their table clock behind Cassidy's head. "She's probably stillin class. What's up?"

"Oh..." Cassidy trailed off in reply, ignoring the latter part of her question.

"So, what's on your mind? It looks like something is bothering you?"

She bit her lip, meeting Nina's gaze. "Can you help me with something?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"How do you get rid of someone you don't want around?" She asked hesitantly.

Nina narrowed her eyes, pondering over her question. "Umm well, you can alwaysignore them."

"Done that." Cassidy replied shortly.

"Ok, how about tell them yourself?"

"Done that." She replied again.

"Threaten them?"

"Done that." Cassidy recalled, thinking of when she told Adrian that she will makehis life a living hell. That obviously didn't work.

"Avoid where they usually go?"

"Done that."

"Get a restraining order?"

Cassidy sighed, burying her head in her hands. That was going too far andbesides, her parents might find out. "What am I going to do? Why can't he just leave

- 74 -

me alone?!"

"Who?"

She raised her head a little, frowning. "Who else? Adrian."

Nina smiled. "Why? I would love to get his attention."

"I hate it, Nina. Can you please tell him to stop?" She asked hopefully.

Nina frowned, shrugging. "Sorry, Cassidy I don't think I have much power to stophim. Once he goes for something he wants, he never stops to get it. You see what Imean?"

She groaned, splaying her head against the computer table. "I'm never going toget away from him."

"Did you finally find out that he didn't want to kill you?" Nina inquired amusingly.

"Yes," she replied, rising up dejectedly. "I was positive he was. He has that look ofdeath."

"Or the look of seduction." Nina corrected, giggling.

Cassidy rolled her eyes, her mind replaying the afternoon. Before she actuallyspoke with Adrian, she remembered seeing Terry and being surprised. There was nodoubt that he knew of her and Adrian's hookup, even the 'hand-in-pants' details.

She grew angry, shocked by how many people knew what happened betweenthem. Here she was trying to keep it all a secret, but Adrian lets it out like the truemale he was to gain points with his friends.

"Guess who Terry hangs out with?" Cassidy asked her unexpectedly.

Nina furrowed her eyebrows. "Who?"

"Adrian Lennox." Cassidy answered.

She nodded, unperturbed. "I know."

"You know?!" Cassidy exclaimed in disbelief. "You know and you didn't tell me?"

- 75 -

"Why would you care who my cousin hangs out with?"

"I don't know, maybe because ever since Adrian has stepped in and ruined my life,I would like to know what friends he talks to about me!"

"Terry knows?" Nina asked bewilderedly, her eyes wide.

"Yes HE knows!" She flailed her arms out frantically. "EVERYONE knows!"

"Damn, I'm sorry Cassidy. I wasn't thinking, I mean who pegs Adrian as thegossiping type?"

"Of course guys gossip! They love to talk about their sex stories with everyone!Even the hookups so they can receive praise from their friends! Do you not watchmovies?"

"Ok, ok I get it!" Nina sighed unhappily. "Well, the damage is already done. Youhooked up with Adrian and touched him. Also his friends know about it, includingTerry. I mean, how was I supposed to know that was going to happen?"

Cassidy sighed. "Your right, but you should've mentioned something after."

"Come on Cassidy, I'm a forgetful person. What Terry does with his life is none ofmy business."

"But both of your family's hang out all the time. His mom and your mom are closesisters. I mean, wouldn't he blab all this to her and then tell your mom?"

"Get a hold of yourself. That's not going to happen. Terry keeps his life privatefrom her, don't worry."

Cassidy sighed in relief. "Can you tell Terry to shut his trap with other peoplethen? I don't want anybody else knowing I hooked up with Adrian, it'sembarrassing."

She snorted. "Embarrassing? Most girls flaunt at the fact that they slept withhim."

"Yeah, well I'm not most girls. I actually have manners."

"Don't worry, I'll warn Terry. You're safe."

- 76 -

"Thank you, Nina."

"No problem, but for future reference," She paused, giving her a warning look."Don't touch anymore schlongs."

Cassidy made a noise of disgust. "Never, what do you take me for?"

She laughed. "I'm sorry, I had to."

"You have a sick humor."

They both laughed when suddenly Nina's door opened and out came Kathleenlooking flushed, giggling with a companion beside her. Once the person came intoview, Cassidy and Nina gaped at the sight of him.

Kathleen stopped her giggles, looking shocked as she glanced from Cassidy toNina. "Nina, I thought you were in class?"

"I skipped. I need to prepare for a test tomorrow." Nina explained, raising aneyebrow at her. "I thought you were in class?"

"I met up with Jase instead." She giggled as he hung an arm around her. "Uh, howare you Cassidy?"

"Kathleen, why are you with Jase?" Cassidy blurted confusingly, rising from herseat.

She giggled to cover her nerves. "I told you I met up with him."

"You can't be with him. He's friends with the devil." Cassidy pointed out, shootingglares at Jase.

Jase held his hands up in defense. "Hey, what my friend does is none of mybusiness."

"Yes, but you associate with him and he tells you his deepest secrets. I'm sure youknow more about him than the whole school." She said positively.

Jase snorted. "Sure he tells me about his little games, but not his personal life. Theguy is a rock. I don't know anything."

Cassidy frowned slightly, wondering why Adrian's friend doesn't know him too- 77 -

well, but decided against asking. "Still... I don't like that you're with my friend."

"And I don't like that your with mine either."

She widened her eyes in surprise, wondering why he cared, but didn't ask."Believe me, I'm trying to get away."

"If you wanted help, then why didn't you ask?" Jase inquired, smirking.

"You mean you can help me get rid of him?" Cassidy asked in wonder, soundinghopeful.

He nodded surely. "He's one of my good friends, of course I can."

Cassidy smirked, starting to like Adrian's right hand man more than before. "Whatdo you have in mind?"

A/N: Totally almost forgot to update this weekend, sorry guys. I had a bunch ofexams this week and I have more to come next week as well. I'll try and updateagain soon. Thanks to everyone who commented/fanned!!

- 78 -

First Date

Chapter 5: First Date

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Cassidy asked unsurely, straightening hersmall oval shaped glasses on her nose.

"Yeah, he'll believe you." Jase replied confidently.

"How about if he doesn't?" She inquired in concern, glancing at Adrian acrosscampus. He was currently charming one of the sorority girls and she was gigglinglike mad. What an obscene sight.

Jase sighed. "There's no if's, and's, or but's, Cassidy. If you make it soundconvincing, than you've got it in the bag alright?"

Cassidy frowned, nodding at his suggestion. He plotted the idea to her and thoughit was way out of her comfort zone, she went ahead and agreed. If it meant gettingher life back in line, she would do anything to get Adrian off her back.

"I'm going to head out," Jase noted, pulling his backpack strap closer to him. "Andremember sound-"

"Convincing," she filled in, rolling her eyes.

"Good, I'll catch you later," he smirked, pausing. "Without Adrian."

Jase walked off in the opposite direction, leaving her to go ahead with the plan.Cassidy took a deep breath before advancing towards Adrian and the current blondehe had pinning against a wall. She felt like she was going to throw up in her mouth,both from the scene and with the plan. Why couldn't her life stay simple and boringper usual?

Adrian stopped his caressing with the blonde once he heard steps coming towardshim and when he turned around, he saw his favorite nerd.

"Cassidy, what brings you to these parts?" Adrian inquired amusingly.

"I go to this school," she said in an obvious tone, glancing at the blonde still in hisarms. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

- 79 -

"Yeah, sure." Adrian replied, letting go of the blonde. The girl pouted at him, bringhis arm back. "Now Tracy, you know I always finish what I start."

Tracy smiled seductively, straightening herself off the wall as she caressed hisabdomen. "Then I'll be seeing you very soon."

He winked at her. "You can count on it."

Tracy gave him one last smile before turning to Cassidy and giving her theultimate death glare of the century. Cassidy almost flinched, watching Tracy walkoff with attitude.

"Somebody's having a bad day." Cassidy commented.

Adrian leaned against the wall, smirking. "She's just disappointed that she didn'tget what she wanted," he paused, taking a step closer to Cassidy. "I can't say thesame for myself though."

Before Adrian could make another tempting step, Cassidy held out her hand tostop him. She needed to get the plan over with now before he decided to "turn heron" again.

"Adrian, I have something to tell you." Cassidy said in a serious tone, hoping itwas convincing.

Adrian stared at her curiously, ceasing his advances. "Ok, shoot."

"I don't think I've been very honest with you during our short time as..." Cassidytrailed off, wondering what they were exactly. "People together." She finishedlamely.

"Oh yeah?" Adrian smirked. "How so?"

"Well, you see Adrian, you were right all along." She paused, taking a deep breath."I'm gay."

Adrian's smirk fell and his eyes widened slightly in shock. "You are?"

Cassidy nodded, liking the reaction she was receiving from him. This wasdefinitely going to work. "Yeah, totally. Like really gay." She replied with addedemphasize.

- 80 -

Adrian looked pensive. "So, how did this happen?"

Cassidy didn't hesitate one moment to cook up a lie for him. "Oh, it's been a whilenow. It all started when I was in middle school. My favorite class was PE when weall undressed in the locker room to do some physical activity."

His eyes twinkled with amusement. "You were kind of a peeping tom, eh?"

She half shrugged for his benefit. "Uh yeah."

Adrian sighed dejectedly, glancing at Cassidy with sad eyes. "I guess ourfoolishness has been put to a short end."

Cassidy nodded, happy inside. It finally worked, Jase was right all along! "Yes,sadly it has." She replied, not sounding sad at all.

Adrian studied her for a while, leaning against the wall. "Will you still enjoy it?Even though you're a lesbian? I always liked threesomes."

She shook her head frantically, holding in the nausea. "No, men disgust me."

"Ahh," Adrian replied, knowingly. His eyes shifted to a woman walking towardsthem, conversing with a friend beside her. He suddenly smirked and eyed thewoman. "Take a look at that girl over there."

Cassidy tried to find who he was looking at, but then Adrian gestured his head inthe girl's direction, nudging Cassidy's side with his elbow. "Do you like them?"

Cassidy furrowed her eyebrows, surprised by the quick topic change, but lookedat the girl nonetheless. She was just another blonde bimbo with a skimpy outfit.

She hesitated, unsure of what he meant. "Like what?"

"Her rack," he replied obviously. "Aren't they nice?"

Cassidy grimaced inwardly, glancing only at the girl's face to appear that she waslooking below the neck. "Sure."

"You didn't look correctly." Adrian sighed, rolling his eyes. "They must've been adouble D, I'm sure."

"Yeah, probably," she replied. - 81 -

Adrian smirked, staring at Cassidy with interest. "You know, just because we can'tfool around doesn't mean we can't talk about women. We both like the same thing."

Inwardly, she panicked. Cassidy wanted to get away from him, not discuss womenwhen she was nowhere near interested. "I like to keep this stuff to myself. I'm not asopen as you are."

"Hmm," he muttered under his breath, pondering. He gave her a calculating stare."Are you sure you're gay?"

Cassidy laughed nervously, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, of course I am."

"If you really are gay, why don't you kiss that girl over there?" He said, subtlypointing to a girl across campus with a short skirt and top. The girl looked likeAdrian's type: trashy, easy, and blonde. Cassidy didn't want to kiss her. She didn'twant to kiss anyone for that matter.

Cassidy grimaced inwardly. "Uh, no I don't like her."

"Why not?" He asked simply, seeming confused. Cassidy supposed he thought thatsince she was "into girls," she automatically liked the majority of the same gender.

"She's not my type." Cassidy said smoothly.

"Then who is your type?"

She hesitated. Adrian was trying to catch her off guard, but she wasn't going tofall for it. "Uh, the smart ones."

Adrian laughed. "I could've guessed."

"Yup."

Adrian became silent, searching through the crowds of people. "So, why don't yougo ask that one out on a date?" He inquired, pointing to a more conservativelydressed girl carrying books in her arms.

"Why?"

"Well, you're gay aren't you?" Adrian stated obviously.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean that girl is." Cassidy replied. If he was going to- 82 -

believe that she was "gay," she might as well confirm that she had a crush on somegirl.

"Oh yeah she is, total carpet muncher."

Cassidy looked at him confusingly. "She likes carpets?"

Adrian chuckled in reply. "Just go talk to her."

Cassidy wrung her hands, smiling sheepishly. "You know what, I'm kind of shy. Idon't think I can."

"Ok, I'll come with you."

Cassidy's eyes widened bewilderedly. "What, no. I don't think that's best-"

"Let's go." He replied, grabbing the crook of her arm and dragging her over to thegirl. Cassidy tried to break free from his grasp, but he was determined to bring herover. After a little struggle and a great tug from Adrian, he was finally able to getthe girl's attention when they suddenly blocked her path of walk.

"Hi," Adrian said charmingly, extending his free arm out as he kept the other onetight on Cassidy's arm. "My name is Adrian and you are?"

The girl flushed, appearing nervous as she brought a trembling hand to shake his."I'm Valerie."

"What a pretty name for a pretty girl." He winked, making her cheeks spread intoa deeper red.

"T-Thanks," she stuttered, glancing down briefly and meeting his eyes with herhopeful ones. Cassidy noticed those expressions. They were usually given to Adrianfrom all his admirers. Cassidy could tell that she wasn't gay by the looks she wasgiving him. She definitely wanted him.

Adrian smirked, pushing Cassidy forward which she made a noise of disapproval."My friend Cassidy here wants to go out with you, but she's too afraid to ask." Hetold her briefly. "So, will you?"

Valerie grimaced, glancing at Cassidy. "She's gay?"

"Yeah, so? You're gay too." Adrian remarked certainly. - 83 -

"No, I'm not!" She denied firmly, appalled.

He raised his eyebrow. "Then why were you staring at that chick's ass a fewminutes ago?"

Valerie gaped in horror. "No I wasn't!"

"Sure... You just don't know it yet." He rolled his eyes, settling his hands onCassidy's shoulders. "So, why don't you go out on a date with her?"

Valerie frowned, giving Cassidy a once over. "She's a nerd."

"So are you," he countered.

Her frown deepened. "I don't want to."

Cassidy inwardly cheered, hoping that this Valerie girl would be smart enoughand leave. She didn't want to be stuck in this mess that she made with Adrian. Allshe wanted was for him to let it go, but of course he didn't.

"Yes, you do." Adrian said firmly.

Valeria raised her eyebrow and opened her mouth to deny it, but Adrian leftCassidy's side and whispered in her ear. Cassidy strained to hear a word of it, but hewas done all too quickly, smirking in satisfaction.

Valerie's facial expression showed one of shock, but it was gone when she lookedover at Cassidy with enthusiasm.

"So what time is good for you?" Valerie asked happily.

"What?" Cassidy frowned, not comprehending.

"Our date," she replied obviously.

Cassidy's jaw dropped. "What?!" She exclaimed, glancing at Adrian.

He shrugged, looking successful. "Hey, you wanted her and I got it for you. Soyou're welcome."

She hesitated, unsure whether to tell the truth. "But I-"

- 84 -

"Have fun." Adrian replied, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he left them alone.Cassidy glanced at her awkwardly, berating herself for getting into more of a messthan before. Why did she agree to this stupid idea that Jase said would work? Adrianwas more stubborn than she could imagine! He just couldn't let it go!

Cassidy turned red with anger, stomping her foot to the ground. "Why I ought to-"

"Is Saturday night good?" Valerie piped up.

Cassidy turned to Valerie, puzzled. "No," she replied flatly.

Valerie frowned. "Why not?"

Cassidy hesitated, not wanting to hurt the girl's feelings with her real sexuality.She'll just play along until Valeria left. "Because... I don't want to go out anymore."

Valerie crossed her arms in defiance. "Adrian said that if you don't, he'll tell thewhole university that you're gay," she noted gravely.

Cassidy looked at her incredulously, unbelieving that he would do such a horriblething. She looked across campus and unmistakable caught Adrian's eye and saw thefrightening gleam in them. He could be capable of other things though, that was ifshe didn't go through with it.

Cassidy found herself nodding her head. "Saturday's nights great, what time?"

"You WHAT?" Kathleen exclaimed, unbelieving.

Cassidy sighed, throwing herself on Nina's bed. "I know, I'm so stupid."

"Cassidy, I'm beginning to question your intelligence lately."

She bit her bottom lip. "I didn't want to upset her. What if she really is gay?"

"You just said that she was eyeing Adrian the whole time you were there."Kathleen pointed out flatly.

"Yeah, but she might like both genders, it's possible in this day and age."

"It's obvious that she isn't. Adrian must've said something to her to make the date

- 85 -

happen." Nina chimed in, half engrossed in her history book.

"Why would a straight girl date another one all because a guy said something?"Cassidy asked, puzzled.

"If its Adrian than it is possible."

Cassidy groaned. "I can't believe my first date is with a girl," she sighed, buryingher head in her hands.

"Pull yourself together Cass. It's not the first time you've got yourself in a messwhen it involved Adrian." Kathleen remarked, smirking.

Cassidy shook her balled fists up in the air in fury. "I hate him!"

"If you're really that upset about it, why don't you call her and cancel?" Ninasuggested plainly.

"I can't... It's already Saturday and maybe she was looking forward to it all week."

Kathleen and Nina both glanced at each other and laughed. Cassidy slapped herforehead with her palm repeatedly.

"Really? A straight person looking forward to a date with the same gender?"Kathleen said rhetorically, stifling a chuckle. "I don't think so."

Cassidy groaned. "You guys aren't helping."

Kathleen stood up, walking over to her. "Ok, you're right. I'll make it up to you byhelping you get ready for your first date...with a girl."

Kathleen and Nina burst out laughing and Cassidy shrieked, stomping to theirdoor. "I've had enough of your jokes, I'm leaving."

"Wait Cassidy," Nina said, running up to stop her from leaving. "I'm sorry. It's justthat... I wonder why you get yourself into these messes in first place."

"I don't know, I guess I'm not a good liar."

"We'll have to fix on that, but first let's get you fixed up." Nina said, pulling outher styling comb.

- 86 -

"Why would I look nice for someone that I don't even like or not even interested inthe same sex?"

"Because though you got yourself in this mess, you might as well make the best ofit!" She countered cheerfully.

Cassidy groaned, pulling her hair back to allow Nina do whatever she wanted. Shewas right though. Cassidy was the one who decided to go along with Jase's idea andthough it proved to be half effective, she still had to play her part.

Nina brought her cosmetics bag to the front and Cassidy shook her head. "I don'twant any make up on."

Nina frowned. "Why not?"

"Because it exaggerates one's features."

"No it doesn't. It just enhances one's beauty," she countered.

Cassidy rolled her eyes, knowing that if she retorted, an argument would start."Whatever. I just don't like all that caked on crap on my face. It makes my eyes feelitchy."

She shrugged and put the cosmetics bag away. "That's fine, but I am letting yourhair down."

"Great," Cassidy mumbled under her breath.

"Oh and one more thing," Nina replied, swiping Cassidy's glasses off her facebefore she could complain. "I'm taking these."

"What! Oh come on, Nina! This is stupid. There's no reason for you to take myglasses."

"This is your first date and you aren't going to use them."

Cassidy gaped. "This isn't a real date!"

"Well, you are actively pursuing this role to get Adrian away aren't you?" Cassidynodded unhappily. "Then play your part."

Cassidy held her hands up in surrender. "Fine, fine. Go ahead, I don't even care- 87 -

anymore."

"Good." Nina smiled. "Now that you're not going to complain anymore, let's getyou ready."

Cassidy walked into the restaurant, pulling the hem of her black blouse down forfear of showing any skin. Her attire was casual wear complimented with dark jeans.Strangely, she felt exposed and uncomfortable. Without her glasses and her usualcomfortable clothing, Cassidy felt like a different person. It wasn't a dramaticchange, but it was still not her preferred style.

Cassidy reached up to the front desk of the restaurant, about to ask the younghostess where she was supposed to be seated at, but Valerie stood up and waved herover.

"Right here Cassidy!" She called out.

Cassidy waved sheepishly, giving her a half smile. The hostess glanced from her toValerie, raising a confused eyebrow. Cassidy flushed and bowed her head, swiftlymoving to Valerie's booth. Any moment now the hostess would figure out that their"outing" was more of a date rather than a friendly dinner.

"You made it!" Valerie exclaimed, pulling Cassidy into a tight hug. Cassidy wentstiff, unable to breathe until she let go.

"Uh yeah," Cassidy replied, taking a seat opposite to Valerie. She was wearing ashort top and jean skirt, showing off way too much skin. She certainly lookeddifferent than when she saw her at school in her "nerd' apparel.

Valerie took her seat, smiling widely. "So, what do you think of this place?"

Cassidy looked around the room and nodded her head a little. It wasn't a fancyrestaurant and the preferred dress wear was casual. The age group consisted of oldand young, but mainly around the adolescent setting. "Yeah, it's good."

She beamed. "Great because Adrian wasn't sure you would."

Cassidy furrowed her eyebrows. "Adrian?"

"Oh yeah, he was the one that picked this place for us," she filled in, scanning the

- 88 -

menu.

"Why?" Cassidy asked with interest.

"He just wanted us to have a good time, that's all." Valerie replied shortly.

Cassidy had more questions to ask, but wondered if Valerie would actually answerthem fully. She was giving her short responses which didn't satisfy Cassidy'scuriosity. She picked her menu up, briefly looking over it. Why was Adrian trying toget in the middle of their date, even as going far as to picking the location?

"So what are you going to get?"

Cassidy shrugged. "Maybe a cheeseburger. What about you?"

"Oh, well the sushi here is great." Valerie said with a huge smile, putting hermenu down. She leaned in towards the table, holding her head up by the support ofher elbow. "So, what do you like to do for fun?"

Cassidy took a sip of her lemon water, shrugging. "Oh well, just a little readinghere or there and hanging out with my friends Kathleen and Nina."

"Do they know that you're gay?" Valerie asked, genuinely interested.

Cassidy choked on her water, surprise by her candidness as she coughed torelieve her throat. "Um, yeah we don't keep secrets in our group," she said, pausing."What about your friends?"

"What about them?"

"What do they think of you coming out of the closet?" She asked curiously.

Valerie laughed, tucking a piece of her brown short hair. "What are you talkingabout? The only thing that comes out of my closet is clothes."

Cassidy sighed. This girl was an airhead. "No I meant, about you being gay."

Valerie widened her eyes in recognition. "Ohhh, yeah. Umm... they were cool."

"So they weren't creeped out?"

"No." - 89 -

"Hmm..." Cassidy pondered, analyzing Valerie's true gender interest. She didn'tseem to care for answering any of her questions and again, she was very short.

"Have you ladies decided what to order yet?"

Cassidy stiffened, raising her head up in horror. She knew that voice so well thatit made her wake up in the middle of the night from nightmares. Adrian Lennox helda smirk so bright that it could cause blindness. The questions that were unansweredbefore seemed to have unraveled at that very moment and she wanted to get out.

"You work here?" She asked incredulously.

Adrian nodded, holding his pad of paper casually in his hand. "Yeah."

"How come you never told me?" Cassidy inquired, feeling cheated and stupid bygiving Valerie the choice to pick the restaurant.

"You never asked," he replied smoothly, holding his pen poised above the paper."Now, are you ready?"

Cassidy gaped at him, unable to reply, but Valerie quickly did. "Oh I would like thetuna fish sushi rolls. I love them here."

Adrian jotted them down, laughing. "Yeah, they are pretty good." He glanced atCassidy, smirking. "What about you? Are you going to get the same thing as yourdate?"

Cassidy sat there flabbergast and frustrated, still shocked from seeing him here.Valerie smiled at him, shaking her head. "No, she wants a cheeseburger." Shewrinkled her nose in disgust.

Adrian scribbled her order down and flipped the cover right on top. "Ok, I'll beback with your orders, but until then enjoy your date."

He winked at Cassidy with a smirk and left to the kitchen side of the restaurant.Cassidy stared at his retreating back, surprised that the encounter happened. Shethought she was going to have a nice, quick dinner with Valerie, but it turned outthat they had a third party.

"Isn't Adrian wonderful?" Valerie said with a heavy sigh, staring back at himdreamily.

- 90 -

Cassidy raised her eyebrow. "No, he's the puppet master that holds the ends of mystrings at the moment."

"I know, isn't he great?"

She sighed, taking a rather long gulp of lemon water. If she was going to sufferthrough this date, two could play this game. Cassidy slammed her glass on the tableand smiled at Valerie, extending a hand out to her. Valerie furrowed her eyebrows atthe action and Cassidy took her hand in hers, grasping it.

"You know, I'm so glad you agreed to go on a date with me." Cassidy smiled,noticing her discomfort. "It's been great so far."

Valerie tried to shake her hand off, her smile fake. "Yeah, sure."

Cassidy saw Adrian in her peripheral vision, knowing he was watching the scene.She leaned in closer, grasping Valerie's hand with both of hers. "I just wanted you toknow that I really like you."

"Really?" Valerie replied, gulping with fear. "T-Thanks."

"And I was wondering that if you wanted to go out again sometime?" Cassidyinquired, smiling.

Valerie untangled her hand, rubbing it against her thigh. "I'll get back to you onthat later."

She feigned a frown. "But I thought you liked me?"

Valerie hesitated, glancing passed her. "I-I do, but I don't think-"

"Is it because of the way I dress? Or my hair?" Cassidy asked, pulling a longstrand. "It is really long, I should cut it don't you think?"

"N-No, I just..." She trailed off confusingly.

"Well, what is it?"

Valerie suddenly stood up from her seat, taking her purse with her. "You knowwhat, I really have to go to the bathroom. Excuse me."

She left without giving Cassidy time to respond and Cassidy fell back on her seat,- 91 -

smiling hugely. She was finally winning against Adrian and now nothing could beather happiness. Acting wasn't so hard after all.

Cassidy was busily looking through her phone to pass time, wondering if Valeriawas really in the bathroom or not.

Valerie popped up again, waving enthusiastically. "Sorry about that."

Cassidy furrowed her eyebrows by her quickness, putting her phone away. "Thatwas fast," she commented.

"Oh well, I realized I didn't have to go anymore."

Cassidy stared at her suspiciously, but held her questions off for later whenAdrian suddenly came beside them with their trays of food.

"Here are your sushi rolls," he said curtly, handing her plate. He picked upCassidy's, smirking. "And here is your cheeseburger."

Once he set the plate down, Cassidy inspected it. "I hope you didn't do anything toit."

Adrian laughed. "No, I've done far worse things than that."

He picked up his serving tray and left, leaving Valerie and Cassidy to eat theirfood in silence. Cassidy glanced at Valerie, watching her eat her food quietly andwondering what was going on with her. She was about to ask until Valerie openedher mouth to speak.

"You know, I was thinking that it really is a good idea that we go on another date."She smiled, popping in a sushi roll.

Cassidy let the lettuce from her mouth hang low. "What?"

"Yeah I mean you like me and," she paused for a moment. "I could like you in thefuture. We could work out, right?"

Cassidy's heart sunk and she cleared her throat, setting her burger down. "Whythe sudden change of heart?"

"I realized that you're really cool and I want to get to know you."

- 92 -

"Why?" Cassidy blurted out, realizing her mistake. "I'm not that great."

"No, you really are and..." She trailed off, holding Cassidy's hand. "You're smart,pretty, fun to talk to. I'm having a really great time."

Cassidy smiled slightly, trying to remove her hand. "That's nice."

Valerie gazed at her deeply, leaning closer. "You're wonderful, amazing, sobright." She continued to lean in close, cupping Cassidy's jaw. "And I want to bewith you."

She glanced at Cassidy's lips and bent her head, an inch away. Cassidy pursed herlips, breathing heavily as she was getting closer and closer.

"I can't do this!" Cassidy exclaimed, pulling away from her. "I'm NOT gay!"

Valerie stared at her for a moment and then suddenly laughed, leaving Cassidypuzzled. "I know."

"Are you?"

She snorted. "No."

"Then why are we out on a date?"

Valerie smiled. "Adrian said if I went out with you then he would go out with me."

Cassidy's jaw dropped. "He said that?"

"Yeah, and I agreed because well, have you seen him? He's hot!"

"What else did he say?"

"Well, he told me that if you didn't want to go out on a date, then to say to you hewould tell everyone you were gay. I think he was joking though."

"So this is all a hoax brought up by Adrian's doing?" Cassidy said in a few curtwords.

She nodded. "Pretty much."

Cassidy balled up her fists, gritting her teeth. "When I get my hands on that guy,- 93 -

I'm going to strangle the living daylights out of him!"

"Oh please don't. We're going on a date soon and I'd like him to be in one piece."Valerie begged.

Cassidy glared at her. "If I was ever gay, I would never go out with someone likeyou."

Valeria opened and closed her mouth, struggling to get her words out. Cassidystood up and walked away from their table, sighing from the disastrous night.

"O-Oh yeah, well... right back at you!" Valerie replied weakly, making Cassidylaugh at her lame attempt at a comeback. Could the girl be more empty-headed?

Cassidy pushed the glass doors opened and stormed out, hugging herself as thebreeze swept passed her. She was furious with herself for letting this get out ofhand and for Adrian controlling the situation. She balled up her fists to contain heranger inside.

"Cassidy wait!"

Cassidy whirled around and saw Adrian take off his apron, running up to her. Shecrossed her arms unhappily. "You got what you wanted now I'm leaving."

She made a move to leave, but Adrian grabbed her wrist. "Not so fast."

Cassidy pulled her hand free angrily. "What do you want?"

"You lied to me," he said point blank, looking heated. "Why?"

"Don't you get it, Adrian?" She exclaimed. "I want you to leave me alone!"

Adrian stared at her surprisingly. "You really find me to be such a bother to you?"

"YES!" Cassidy shouted, taking a deep breath to keep her cool. "I can't be aroundpeople like you."

He raised an eyebrow. "What, the bad influenced ones?"

"Exactly."

Adrian looked at her for a moment, finally nodding his head. "Fine, I'll stay away- 94 -

from you, but let me be the judge of that once you decide to come running back."

Cassidy snorted in disbelief. "Oh believe me I will never EVER come running toyou."

"Let's see about that," he said surely, pulling his apron on over his head.

"Yeah, let's see." Cassidy replied in an equal tone.

Adrian smirked, tucking a long strand of hair behind her ear. Cassidy flushed,looking away from him. "I'll miss you and your hand jobs."

Her head shot up to him, glaring. "You disgust me."

"And you amuse me."

Adrian turned his back on her to leave, making Cassidy even more furious withhim. Why did he act so confident in believing that she would come to him of allpeople? She welcomed his absence and was going to enjoy the time of finally beingalone. For good.

A/N: Out of all the EMA chapters, this was one of them that I had the most funwriting. I hope you guys enjoyed it and I'll update again this weekend!

- 95 -

The Cost of Freedom

Chapter 6: The Cost of Freedom

Cassidy arrived at school early, walking out of the parking lot to get to class at agood time which would be about ten to fifteen minutes until it started. She believedin being punctual to every event or class, that was until she spotted someonefaraway walking in front of her.

Cassidy picked up her pace in walking, weaving her way through the crowd untilshe finally reached to his side. Jase glanced at her in surprise, furrowing hiseyebrows at her presence. Cassidy wasn't one to initiate contact between people,especially ones that she didn't particularly favor, but this was an urgent matter.

"You told me it would work." Cassidy said with a hardened tone, referring to hisidea to rid Adrian.

"Well maybe you're not a great actor." He reasoned nonchalantly.

"No, maybe you just wanted me to make a fool out of myself." She spat back.

"Whatever," he mumbled under his breath, moving swiftly away from her.

"I wasn't finished talking to you!" She called out at his retreating back, irritatedthat he just left in the middle of conversing. It was rude, inconsiderate, anddisrespectful.

Jase turned around, walking backwards. "Well, I was." He faced his back to heragain and Cassidy clenched her teeth.

"JERK!" Cassidy yelled at the top of her lungs, startling the people walking aroundher.

They stared at her as if she was crazy, but she didn't care. Jase was a manipulativesnake and she should've known better than to associate with one who wasconnected to the mother of them all.

Adrian flipped through a sport's magazine, skimming over each section withindifference. Jase saw him sitting there casually on the sofa in the student center ofthe university, completely at ease.

- 96 -

"What are you doing?"

Adrian looked passed his magazine to Jase. "Reading a magazine."

"I see that, but what are you doing?" Jase repeated more firmly, sounding angry.

He furrowed his eyebrows uncaringly. "I don't follow."

"Your supposed to be putting the charms on that virgin, but instead your righthere sitting down, reading a magazine?"

"So," Adrian replied, flipping to a different page.

"It won't work." Jase blurted out.

"What?" He asked.

"The plan."

"Sure it will." Adrian replied, sounding positive.

Jase eyed him. "Do you even care?"

Adrian sighed, putting away his magazine. "I'm trying to read and all you do iskeep asking me these stupid questions."

"Because I'm trying to see what is going on in that mind of yours!" Jase exclaimed."Adrian, we've been friends for what, five years? The least you could do is show alittle interest about something."

Adrian's face remained blank, ignoring the latter part of his sentence. "Jase, it's atrivial matter. The girl will come, they all do."

Jase snorted, making a motion to leave. "I'll see you later."

"Alright," Adrian replied, picking his magazine and starting at the spot where helast left off.

Cassidy stalked off, wanting to blow off some steam. She saw Kathleen and Ninawaiting for her by the student center and she quickly joined them. By the look ofCassidy's current irritated face, they immediately knew something was wrong.

- 97 -

"Who was it this time?" Nina inquired.

"Jase," Cassidy spat out, crossing her arms. "The devil's right hand man."

Kathleen frowned, not commenting on Cassidy's reference to Jase. "So, what'sgoing on with you and Adrian then?"

Cassidy discussed her "first date" event to her friends, explaining Adrian'sinvolvement in the process and his vow to stay away from her.

"So, he's really going to leave you alone? Just like that?"

She shrugged. "I hope so. Though, I'm not expecting much out of it. I don't thinkAdrian keeps his promises."

"Yeah, I agree. Adrian doesn't seem like the type to grant people their wishes."Nina chimed in.

"Well, whatever happens, I'll come up with a plan b on my own. Jase wasn't muchof a help." She remarked bitterly.

Kathleen frowned. "At least he tried."

Cassidy gritted her teeth, remembering her interaction with him that verymorning. "Don't defend him. Since he's associated with Adrian, they are one of thesame."

"He's not that bad," she countered weakly, rubbing the side of her arm.

"Kathleen, please." Cassidy sighed, holding her head. "I don't want to talk about it.I just need to get to class I'm already five minutes late."

Nina looked down at cell phone's time, frowning. "But it doesn't start in fiveminutes."

"To everybody else it's early, but for me it's late." Cassidy explained, walking awayfrom them as she headed to the direction of her classes' building. "I'll see you guyslater."

Cassidy entered the building, heading to one of the door's where her classroomwas being held at. She sat at the front of the huge lecture room, taking out thenecessary items from her backpack. She placed her pencils and pen neatly beside

- 98 -

her notebook and when she was finished arranging them, she took a sigh of relief.Thankfully, she had time to set up before the professor arrived because she wouldbe a huge mess.

Suddenly becoming bored, Cassidy inspected her surroundings and found herselflooking back at her seat. Her eyes came to Adrian and he was sitting there listlessly,staring ahead of the classroom. He was definitely acting strange once she came intoclass because for once, Adrian didn't get out of his way to wink at her that sentsuggestive remarks. He was being normal and Cassidy didn't know if that was agood thing or bad.

Cassidy turned herself over to the front and once the professor arrived, shestarted her lecture. The class was informative and interesting per usual and once itwas over, Cassidy packed her things in their rightful place in her backpack andheaded out.

She headed out the door and noticed Adrian walking beside her in the samestride. Cassidy tried to make eye contact with him, but he didn't. He just ignored herand left when the students filed out of the room before them. Cassidy got out in adaze and when her friends met up with her, they gave her questioning expressions.

"What's wrong?" Kathleen asked.

Cassidy stared at Adrian's retreating back, her mouth agape. "I think AdrianLennox just ignored me."

Nina and Kathleen frowned at her, feeling apologetic. "I'm sorry, Cassidy. I didn'tknow you wanted him around. You should have never said that you wanted to be leftalone-"

"I'M FREE!" Cassidy shouted at the top of her lungs in ecstasy, jumping up anddown. "I'm finally FREE!"

Nina and Kathleen glanced at each other, wondering if their friend was mentallyunstable. Cassidy laughed, knocking her hip against Nina and Kathleen's out ofenjoyment. She was twirling around happily, singing a happy tune to herself.

"No more Adrian, no more Adrian." Cassidy sang to herself, grabbing Kathleen'shand to twirl her. "I'm finally going to be left alone!"

Nina stifled a laugh, seeing Kathleen's desperate call of help as she untangledCassidy's hand from Kathleen's. "Cassidy, I think you need to calm down."

- 99 -

"But I don't want to!" She exclaimed, smiling widely. "Because you know why? I'mFREE!"

"Yeah, I heard you the first time."

"Oh my God! I can do so many things now and I don't know where to start!" Sheexclaimed enthusiastically.

"Wasn't that possible when Adrian was around?" Nina asked confusingly.

She snorted. "No, he always got in the way."

"Well, what are you planning to do?"

Cassidy stared at in a distance in thought. "I don't know. I was thinking aboutgetting a book from the library."

Nina gave her a dumb look. "Really? That's all you wanted to do?"

"Yeah, I think so." She nodded eagerly.

She squinted her eyes, feigning confusion. "Why am I friends with you again?"

Cassidy smiled, grabbing her hand to twirl her around. "Because you love me."

Nina was forcefully turned around unhappily, grumbling from Cassidy's overlyenthusiastic mood. Cassidy continued to jump around, running towards the bushesto smell the fresh flowers or greeting a stranger here or there who completelyignored her. But Cassidy didn't care because she was free! Free from Adrian'sclutches and his immodest behavior!

Jase shut the door once he reached into his apartment, finding Adrian munchingon a turkey sandwich. Jase tossed his keys on the side table, throwing his backpacksomewhere in the middle of the walkway of their front door. Adrian glanced at him,giving him a nod of acknowledgement.

"Good fuckin' plan genius. She was singing the happy dance when you ignoredher. It's obviously not going to work."

Adrian dropped his sandwich, wiping his hands off with a napkin. "No, it will. It'sme we're talking about here."

- 100 -

Jase sighed, sinking into one of their couches. "Come on man, there is a time to beconceited and a time to admit the truth. You're not going to get her."

"You're just bitter about me taking her from you. Its fine, I know it was a badmove on my part, but it just happened. There are other nerds out there for you tochoose from." He said in a mock hopeful tone.

Jase scowled. "Yeah it was a bad move and I don't appreciate you taking over whatI wanted."

"Like I said, it just happened." Adrian replied, unaffected.

"You think just because you're practically worshipped on this campus that you canget whatever you want?"

"Yeah, I think I do." He responded smugly, taking another bite of his sandwich.

Jase's eyes flashed with anger. "You're such a cocky motherfucker."

"If you can't stand it, then don't be around me." Adrian replied flatly, resuming hislunch.

Jase's eyes burned with fury, watching Adrian's uncaring movements. The guydidn't have a compassionate bone in his body, even for his friends. It didn't meanmuch to him how long they've known each other. Jase knew that if he didn't keeptheir friendship alive, Adrian would be gone at any moment. He didn't know why hewas this way, but he was sure it had to do with some personal reasons by his lack ofexposure on the topic.

Adrian was currently in his own little world and he didn't acknowledge Jase'spresence at all. Jase sensed what was starting to happen. He was beginning to closeup on him, even with their petty argument. Adrian always avoided those whobrought up personal things or decided to fight against him. Jase glanced at hisfriend, sighing inwardly. He didn't want to let go of their friendship. Even if Adriandidn't care, he still did.

"Have her for all I care. You marked your claim and there's nothing I can do aboutit."

Adrian craned his neck to face him, smirking in satisfaction. "I knew you wouldsee it my way."

- 101 -

And just like that, everything was back to normal. Adrian continued eating andJase lounged on the couch, watching the sports channel. A part of Jase wanted toknow more about Adrian than he let on, but if it cost losing his friendship over it,then he was going to forget about it. It wasn't his business after all and he knew thatAdrian would never make it his.

Cassidy arrived at home, humming happily to herself. Her parents watched heramusingly from across the room and when she noticed their stares, she started tolaugh from embarrassment.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that." She chuckled, hauling her backpack tothe family room.

"Why is your backpack so heavy?" Jenny inquired in concern, glancing at herbulgy book bag.

Cassidy smiled sheepishly, unzipping it to reveal the large amount of books thatwere stacked inside. "I got carried away at the library."

Larry chuckled. "You were always a literature nut."

"I get it from you." Cassidy replied, grabbing one of the books from the middle ofher stack and joining her parents on their old fashioned couch.

"You seem happy." Jenny noted, stitching a piece of fabric on a worn out t-shirt."Was it a good day at school?"

"Very." Cassidy emphasized enthusiastically, opening the first page of her book.

"Would you like to explain to us why?" Larry asked curiously.

Cassidy looked up to her parents from her book and smiled. "Oh, I just got rid of apest that seemed to be popping up everywhere I went at school."

"What sort of pest was this?"

"The annoying kind," she replied, going back to her novel.

"You mean, insects dear?" Jenny questioned.

Cassidy stifled a laugh, nodding to go along. "Yes mother, those kind."

- 102 -

Jenny frowned, dropping her stitching to her lap. "I didn't know the school wasfilthy." She glanced to Larry at her side. "Larry, should we call the school aboutthis?"

"Oh no, no, it's fine." Cassidy said quickly, holding a hand up to stop her. "Reallymom, it's nothing."

"But honey, I don't think I feel comfortable with you going to an unsanitaryschool." She protested, frowning to Larry. "The university was a nice, cleanenvironment when we toured with you, wasn't it Larry?"

"Yes, it was." Larry replied sternly. "Cassidy, I agree with your mother. If thereare insects crawling everywhere at the school then they need to call pest control. Ishould notify them with this."

Larry went to stand up, but Cassidy pushed him back down, feeling panicked."Mom, dad, the school doesn't have an insect problem ok? I was just using that as ametaphor."

"For what?" He asked confusingly.

Cassidy hesitated. "There was this... person that wouldn't leave me alone, but Itook care of it."

"What did this person do?" Larry inquired strictly. "And is this person a girl or aboy?"

"Nothing! He was just teasing me, but it's-"

"HE?" Larry echoed bewilderedly, turning red with anger.

Cassidy mentally slapped herself on the forehead twelve times over. "Yes dad, thisperson was a he, but I swear to you that he didn't do anything ok?"

"I don't want you to be around this he person anymore, you understand me?"Larry demanded.

She sighed, nodding. "Yes."

"I don't care if you are a legal adult, Cassidy. You are still under my roof and yougo by my rules." Larry said with an authoritarian tone. "You are still too young todate and-"

- 103 -

Her eyes widened bewilderedly. "Who said I was dating?"

"With any boy your around, there is bound to be interest involved. The only manyou should be talking to is me, alright?"

"Yes, dad."

"Good, now I don't want to have to talk to you about this again. You know myfeelings about the subject and you need to honor that."

She rolled her eyes unnoticeably. This was why she never had any guy friends orhad a decent conversation with the male sex. Her father always got in the way. Sheloved and cared for him, but sometimes he was too overbearing. If he knew aboutAdrian and what they have done, he would castrate him and ground her for the restof her life.

"Dad, I've always honored your rules and opinions. I'm a big girl now and I canhandle these things sufficiently on my own."

"I understand that honey, but I am your father and I'm doing what's best for yourfuture." Larry replied.

Cassidy sighed, knowing it was a lost cause to even defend herself. "Ok."

Larry stood up from the couch. "Now that we got that out of the way, ready fordinner?"

After having a long, excruciating dinner where her father started to lecture heragain, Cassidy went upstairs to do some homework. She reviewed her biology notesand kept her other classes well organized. Once she was done, she decided to callNina to see what she was up to.

"Hello?"

Cassidy smiled. "Hey Nina, what's up?"

"Not much, Cassidy. What are you doing?" Nina replied, her voice barely audible.

There were loud noises in the background which involved music and crowdedpeople speaking over their conversation. Cassidy frowned, wondering what thecommotion was about.

- 104 -

"Where are you at right now?"

Nina laughed. "Oh, I'm at a party with Kathleen. We got invited by Jase again."

Her frown deepened. "Why are you guys over there for? It's a school night."

"We wanted to take a break from the books and have some fun." Nina replied,pausing. "I hope you're not mad. We already know you wouldn't come, especiallyconsidering what happened last time."

Cassidy chuckled humorlessly, her face scrunched up in disappointment. "It's fineand you're right. I wouldn't have."

"See I knew it and besides, Adrian is here. I'm pretty sure you want to keep yourdistance from him since your free and all."

"Yeah, right..." She trailed off softly.

"Well, I better get going. I'll see you tomorrow, alright?"

"Ok, bye."

"Bye."

Cassidy ended the call, sighing as she fell straight against her pillows. Her friendswere out having fun and here she was, in her room studying and doing homework.This was what she chose. It was better to stay away from trouble than be around it.She couldn't imagine what horrors would be behind that. Still, she couldn't help butbe a little upset at the fact that her friends failed to tell her about the party tonight,even if she wasn't going to go.

For the past three weeks, everything was plain, simple, and boring just likeCassidy wanted. She did her homework and studied everyday. Cassidy barely hungout with her friends and it seemed like as the days passed on, she began to liveunder a rock.

Her friends stopped inviting her places because she declined one too many timesand Cassidy didn't do much with her free time. It was always studying, reading,homework, eating or sleeping. Her parents loved it, especially her dad, but Cassidywas getting bored.

- 105 -

Adrian kept to his vow and stayed away from Cassidy which meant ignoring her.She didn't see much of him and she didn't care. Adrian unsettled her life andCassidy didn't like that. However, she felt like she was losing her friends because ofAdrian and his stupid frat parties. Her friends were always there almost every nightand though Cassidy hung out with them occasionally at school, she didn't outside ofit.

Cassidy sighed, sensing another boring Saturday night. The novel she wascurrently reading was grasping her attention and she started to read the samesentence over and over again. Cassidy picked up her phone and dialed Kathleen'scell, waiting impatiently for her to pick up.

"Hey Cassidy!"

She smiled. "Kathleen, how are you?"

"I'm good, where have you been?"

Cassidy picked at the brittle edges of her novel. "Oh you know, at home reading."

"Fun..." Kathleen replied, sounding unenthusiastic.

"So, what are you doing?"

"Oh, Nina and I are going to a frat party right now. It's Terry's birthday."

"That sounds like...fun." Cassidy replied, lacking enthusiasm also.

"Yeah, it will be. There's going to be a DJ, lots of food, drinking, cake, and-"

"Cake?" Cassidy inquired with interest, pushing her novel to the side. "What kindof cake?"

"Only the best, chocolate." Kathleen revealed.

"Hmm..." She pondered thoughtfully.

"I mean... would you like to come?" Kathleen asked, hesitating a little.

"Well..." Cassidy trailed off unsurely. "I don't know. Where is it at?"

"Terry's apartment. It's pretty sweet and huge." - 106 -

"What kind of people will be there?" Cassidy asked again, drumming her fingerson the table.

"Some sorority and frat people, maybe others. Don't know yet."

"Hmm..."

Kathleen sighed. "Listen Cassidy if you want to come, Nina and I will pick you up.It's no problem."

"Well... if it's not any trouble..."

"We'll be there in five, so get ready."

"Ok."

Cassidy turned off her phone, leaping out of her chair. She walked over to hercloset and pushed some hangers out of the way, deciding what to wear. Cassidysuddenly felt excited and thrilled that she was finally doing something in over amonth.

Cassidy picked off a regular white button up dress shirt from the closet and blackpants to pair with it. Kathleen and Nina were going to arrive soon so she hurriedand dressed up.

By the time her friends arrived, Cassidy told her parents that she was going to seea "movie" with them and hopped in Nina's car.

"I'm so glad your coming with us Cassidy." Kathleen noted, smiling.

Cassidy smiled back. "Me too."

"We haven't hung out in so long." Nina chimed in, cruising down towards Jase'sapartment. "It feels like forever."

"Yeah, it has and it's partly my fault. I'm sorry guys." She apologized guiltily.

"It's not a big deal. You wanted to get away from all the partying and weunderstand that."

"Yeah, but it doesn't mean I should forget about you guys also..." Cassidy repliedsoftly.

- 107 -

Kathleen turned around in her passenger seat to face her. "Listen Cassidy, we getit and its fine. We're going to have some fun so please, enjoy yourself. That's all wewant."

Cassidy grinned, nodding. "Alright, I will."

They arrived at the party some time later and once Nina parked her car fartherover to the crowded hot spot of the apartment complex, Cassidy panicked. What wasshe doing at a party, again? Why did she always make stupid decisions? She did thisinvoluntarily and nobody pushed her to the idea, but she was bored and she wantedsomething to do.

Nina and Kathleen got out of the car and Cassidy follow, wringing her hands asshe stepped off. Their apartment was on the top floor and she could tell because itwas illuminated with colorful lights. Music and loud voices also echoed the place.

"Looks like a packed night." Nina commented, standing beside Cassidy.

She nodded. "Yeah it does."

Nina frowned. "Listen Cassidy, if you want to leave-"

"No, no. I'm fine." Cassidy replied quickly, plastering on a smile for her benefit."Let's head up."

Nina nodded and together they went inside the apartment complex. They reachedthe elevators and Kathleen pressed the number for the fortieth floor. Cassidy leanedagainst the elevator wall, tapping her shoe against the floor. Her heart waspounding hard against her chest and she felt the saliva dry up in her mouth. Sheknew Adrian was going to be at that party and because he lived there with Jase andTerry.

The elevator doors opened and they exited out, heading down the hall to thecorner where the noises were growing louder and louder. Nina opened the doorwithout knocking and the booming sound of music enveloped the hallway.

Cassidy watched the party from behind the doorstep with fear as she sawintoxicated college students dancing, drinking, and getting all over each other. Ofcourse she's seen this at the last party before, but this party was a lot wilder. Itseemed that everybody was acting on their hormones and that made Cassidy wrinkleher nose in disgust.

- 108 -

Cassidy followed her friends inside the huge apartment and barged through thecrowded areas. The smell of alcohol made her want to vomit and she was clearheaded enough not to drink again.

Terry was in the kitchen being surrounded by random people giving him theirbirthday hugs and kisses. Nina tapped his shoulder and Terry turned around insurprise.

"You guys made it!" He exclaimed, hugging Nina and Kathleen. He glanced atCassidy, an amusing eyebrow rising. "I haven't seen you in a while."

She shrugged like it was no big deal. "Nobody has."

"Well, I'm glad that you're here to celebrate my birthday." He wrapped his armsaround her in a quick hug and she embraced him back.

"Happy birthday by the way."

Terry released her, grinning. "Thank you," he paused, taking a sip of his drink."So, there's food, drinks, and cake. Help yourself to anything you guys want."

"Thanks cuz," Nina replied, walking off to grab a plate for food.

"Hey Terry," Kathleen called out, trying to get his attention. He looked at her,raising an eyebrow. "Do you know where...Jase is at?"

"He should be around here somewhere. Just keep your eyes peeled." He smiled.

"Thanks." Kathleen replied, turning to Cassidy. "I'll just be gone for a second. Getsome cake."

Cassidy nodded. "Ok."

Terry smiled at her once Kathleen left and extended his drink to her. She shookher head, declining his offer. "Don't drink anymore?"

"I'm staying away from alcohol for awhile." She explained loudly over the loudmusic.

"May I ask why?"

Cassidy hesitated. "Well, the first time wasn't a really good experience." - 109 -

"Yeah, I heard." Terry replied, sipping on his beverage.

She rolled her eyes. "I expected that."

"Don't worry, he only told me and Jase." Terry revealed, pausing. "And besides,are you guys not talking anymore?"

"It's complicated." Cassidy responded, sighing.

"That's Adrian for you." He remarked, chugging down his drink and placing it onthe countertop. "I'm going to take a leak, are you fine by yourself over here?"

Cassidy nodded, smiling. "Yeah."

"Ok, I'll be right back." Terry left the crowded kitchen and Cassidy drummed herfingers on the counter top. She glanced at Terry's cup and picked it up, taking awhiff of it. She was hit with an overwhelming strong, stale aroma that almost madeher choke and she quickly put the cup back to its original place. The smell of alcoholbrought her back to memories that she didn't want to uncover again.

Cassidy wondered where he was, even though he was supposedly ignoring her.She hasn't seen him when she walked in the door and he wasn't around the dancearea of the living room. However, it was best if she didn't see him.

Cassidy went over to grab a piece of chocolate cake and once she took a bite, thesmooth creamy textures engulfed her taste buds. The cake was amazingly good andshe continued to take more bites.

"Is the cake good?"

Cassidy whirled around and saw a rather stout, bulky guy with dirty blonde hairand brown eyes. He had facial hair around his jaw line and a football jersey. Shedidn't know who he was, but she nodded anyways.

"Yeah, it is."

The guy grabbed a fork and took a bite out of the cake, nodding his head inagreement. "That's some good chocolate cake." He paused, looking over at Cassidywhich made her feel rather uncomfortable. "What's your name?"

"Cassidy."

- 110 -

He shook her hand, smiling. "I'm Brad."

Cassidy nodded, going back to her cake, but Brad lingered beside her. "So, do youlike the party?"

"It's pretty good," she responded, shoveling more cake in her mouth to get him tostop asking questions.

"Do you want to dance?"

Cassidy's eyes widened in surprise, almost choking on her cake. She rarely gotasked to dance, even when it was a school function. "Umm... I don't know how."

He smiled, leaning closer to her. "I'll teach you."

She smelt the alcohol on his breath and knew the offer wasn't as genuine as shewould've liked it. He was intoxicated and probably would dance with an elephant ifthere was one at the party.

"No it's ok," she declined politely, inching away from him.

Brad shrugged. "Ok, how about we ditched this place and go to mine?"

Cassidy scowled at his forwardness. Were all guys this way? All hormonal drivenand blunt? "I'll take a rain check."

"Come on, don't be a tease." Brad replied, chuckling. "I don't have time to playgames."

"I said no." Cassidy replied firmly, getting heated.

Brad moved dangerously close to retort and Cassidy was ready for it, but someonestepped in the way.

"O'Grady, they want you at the beer pong table."

Cassidy glanced at the back of Adrian's head, surprised to see him within closeproximity. He looked good as always, which made Cassidy continue to stare afterhim. Brad clapped Adrian on the back like they were old pals. "Did Fields alreadylose?"

"Yeah, now you have to play against winner." - 111 -

"Alright man, I'm there. Are you going to come watch?" Brad asked, completelyignoring Cassidy which was to her relief.

Adrian shrugged. "Sure, I'm playing soon anyways."

Brad nodded, leaving the kitchen in haste which left her and Adrian by the caketable. He still had his back to her and Cassidy went to open her mouth to saysomething, but he walked away. She frowned at his retreating back, sighing.

As of now, Cassidy couldn't tell if she was happy about it or a little disappointmentby his lack of acknowledgement. He practically saved her from rejecting Brad andthough she could've handled it herself, Adrian made it easier for her. There was apart of her that wanted to know him and she was debating whether or not to go talkto him.

However, Cassidy didn't want him to win. If she went back to him, then he wouldget all conceited and brag to his friends about how great he is. But she could playhis game, even better than he could.

Once she finished off her cake, Cassidy walked out of the kitchen and to thecorner of the living room where they were currently playing beer pong. She didn'tsee Adrian in sight and peered above everybody's heads to find him.

She turned around to walk off, but she ran into someone. Cassidy was about to fallto the side, but he steadied her. "Thank you."

Cassidy looked up and saw Jase Reynolds. Her anger flared up, but she kept herbiting comments to herself. "Do you know where Adrian is?"

"Why? About to throw the towel in?" He asked, sounding harsh.

"I just want to know where he is," she snapped back.

Jase sighed, gesturing his head to the left. "He's in his room."

Cassidy nodded, leaving Jase and walking to the left of the apartment where heindicated. She walked down a small empty dark hallway and found a lone door withlights illuminating underneath. Cassidy knew what she was doing and she wasn'tgoing to back down.

Cassidy sighed, knocking twice to get his attention. She heard a small crash in theroom and when the door knob unlocked and opened, Adrian was revealed at the

- 112 -

other side. He looked surprised to see her, but covered it up with a smirk.

"Adrian." Cassidy said softly, looking down before glancing up at him. "I needyou."

His smirk seemed to become twice enlarged as he opened his door wider. "It'sabout damn time."

- 113 -

Midnight Snack

Chapter 7: Midnight Snack

Cassidy stepped inside his bedroom and he closed the door right after her. Shestudied his room, noting the dark navy bed in the center with two end tables at theside, a small matching blue rug underneath, a study table with a laptop in thecorner, and a closet that was currently shut. He had a small bathroom on to theright as well. There were a few articles of clothing on the floor, but his room wasn'tthat dirty.

Before Cassidy could survey it some more, Adrian pushed her against his door andtrapped her underneath him, caging her with his hands against her sides. Shepanicked, not knowing what to say and was avoiding his gaze.

"How do you want to do this?" Adrian inquired huskily, leaning his head towardsher neck.

Cassidy moved her head away from him, rubbing the sensitive spot in the middle."What do you mean?"

"You said you needed me." Adrian repeated, trailing his fingers down her armwhich caused her to shiver unconsciously. "Do you want to do this now or aftereveryone leaves?"

"Do what?" Cassidy asked confusingly.

Adrian rolled his eyes, temporarily forgetting her naive nature. "Sex."

Cassidy's eyes widened bewilderedly, looking speechless. "Uh... you know, I thinkI should leave."

She turned around and opened the door, but Adrian pushed it back shut. Cassidyfaced him, unable to speak coherently. What was she doing here again? Oh yeah, itwas because she thought she could match up to Adrian's game, but it seemed thatCassidy was failing miserably at it.

"Don't try to get out of this." Adrian said firmly. "You wanted me so here I am."

"I didn't want you for..." Cassidy stopped herself, unable to say the word.

- 114 -

"Sex?" Adrian filled in, smirking at her innocence.

"I needed you for something else."

He sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Ok, what did you need then?"

"I need you to..." She trailed off, trying to think of a something to say. "Take mehome."

Adrian stared at her dumbly. "Your friends can take you."

"But they are busy at the moment. They won't."

"Well, I guess that's your problem." He opened the door, pushing her out. "Seeya."

Adrian shut the door in her face and Cassidy flinched, feeling enraged. He wasacting like a different person that she has never seen before. Why was he being sorude and closed off?

She gritted her teeth, pounding on his door. She was sure going to show him. Asshe kept pounding, the door suddenly swung open with an annoyed Adrian at theother side.

"What the hell!" Cassidy exclaimed furiously. "I asked for a ride and you shut meout of your room like it's no big deal?"

"Yeah," he replied indifferently.

"You have some nerve."

Adrian raised his eyebrow. "Don't think your innocent in all this, Cassidy. Youcame to me, alright? Of course I was going to expect you to give in."

"No, I wasn't."

"Then what the hell do you want?" Adrian asked cruelly.

"I want you to take me home!" She exclaimed clearly.

"God, do you fuckin' quit?"

- 115 -

He got out of his room and slammed the door shut, stalking away from her.Curious, she followed him from behind and continued as he opened the front door tohis apartment. He walked to the elevator hall and pressed the bottom buttonimpatiently.

Cassidy noticed the irritation clearly on his face and once an elevator dinged, hequickly went inside followed by Cassidy right after. Adrian pressed a button to thegarage floor and she glanced at him curiously.

"Does this mean you're taking me?"

"What does it fuckin' look like?" He snapped.

Cassidy flinched at his tone, looking away from his gaze. Adrian didn't sayanything to her in the elevator until they reached to the garage and they were safetybuckled into his red car.

He zoomed out of the apartment garage and Cassidy grabbed onto her seat,glancing at his speedometer. Adrian was going thirty over the speed limit and thatmade her uneasy. She was all about following traffic laws and safety. She glanced athis seatbelt and sighed. Well, at least he put his seatbelt on.

"What?" Adrian asked her coldly.

Cassidy scowled at him, looking away. "Nothing."

"Why were you looking at me?" He pressed, sounding harsh.

"You're going too fast," she informed him with concern.

He snorted. "So?"

"So someone can get hurt."

"That's what hospitals are for." Adrian answered blankly.

Cassidy gaped at him. "Do you have any sort of compassion for the human life?"

Adrian shrugged. "It was their fault they decided to get in front of a movingvehicle."

"That's morbid, even for you." - 116 -

Adrian became silent, not commenting and Cassidy grew irritated. Something wasup with him and it certainly wasn't her.

"What is wrong with you?" She inquired angrily.

"Nothing," he snapped back, gritting his teeth.

"No really. You're acting like a real asshole right now. Not that your aren't atother times, but seriously, what's going on?"

Adrian gave her a sidelong glance, looking unsure. "You really want to know?"

"Yes!" Cassidy exasperated.

Adrian sighed deeply, his irritated expression softening. "Why don't you take agander southward?"

"Huh?" Cassidy replied in confusion. She glanced down at his seat, suspectingnothing out of the norm. She traveled her eyesight towards his pants, furrowing hereyebrows. "I don't see any-"

"OH!" She gasped in surprise and her hand shot up to her mouth, glancing at itagain. "...ohhh."

"Yeah, oh." Adrian replied harshly.

"What is-... How did-?" Cassidy struggled to find the correct words.

"You mean how did it happen?" He corrected bitterly and she nodded at hisquestion, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks. "I was preparing myself to have sexwith someone tonight, but instead you showed up."

"So, now you're stuck...with that." Cassidy said slowly, forbidding her eyes to lookdown at his expanded crotch.

"Yes," he replied, his voice hardening.

Cassidy stared at him blankly, the silence ensuing them in the car. Adrian shiftedawkwardly in his seat and as Cassidy looked on, a few giggles escaped her mouth.Adrian shot her a look of confusion and irritation, wondering if she was laughing athim, but then Cassidy doubled over in laughter.

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Her heart was pounding at rapid speeds and her skin boiled. She chuckled,throwing her head back to escape the laughter that was dying to come out. She heldher stomach to ease the ache inside and she gasped for air, feeling the dryness ather throat.

"What the fuck is so funny?" Adrian snapped, his eyes glaring at her.

She shook her head, laughing. "I don't know!"

"So you think it's amusing seeing me like this?" He said, infuriated. "I'm in fuckin'agony right and all you can do is laugh about it?"

"Yes!" She chuckled, slapping her knee.

Adrian tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his jaw clenching. "This is what'swrong with you women. If you knew how it felt to have a hard on, then you wouldn'tbe laughing right now."

"Poor Adrian's...angry." She spouted out through laughs, continuing. "All becauseof his...wee wee!!"

"Shut up!" Adrian roared out.

Cassidy's body shook violently from her laughter and did nothing to stop it. Adrianwas turning red with anger, gritting his teeth. "I mean it, stop!"

She shook her head, laughing. "I can't!"

Adrian growled, shooting her a furious look. "Cassidy, stop it right now."

Cassidy coughed from her laughter, pounding onto her chest with a balled chest.A huge headache was starting to develop and her stomach turned unpleasantly.Adrian sighed in relief when her laughter ceased, cruising down the road finally inpeace.

"Adrian, I don't feel so good." Cassidy revealed sickly, feeling her insides turnagain.

Adrian scoffed uncaringly, keeping his eyes on the road. Cassidy moved her handonto the dashboard of the car, trying to find some sort of relief for her achingstomach.

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The pain continued and Cassidy's hand left the dashboard, searching forsomething to hold on. Her hand brushed over a thick material and she grasped ontoit for support. Adrian's breath got caught in his throat and he swerved his car off tothe side into another lane.

"Jesus Cassidy, what the hell!" He exclaimed angrily, righting his car back intotheir lane. Thankfully there were no cars occupying the one he swerved into,considering it was dark out.

Cassidy realized her hand was on his thigh and she let go of it, cradling herforehead. The forceful rush of the car swerve and Adrian's yells made her feelqueasy. "Oh God, I think I'm going to-"

Cassidy dunked her head and spewed chunks onto the car floor of her seat. Thecar skidded to a halt and Cassidy was thrown back onto her seat, feeling the burn inher throat.

"WHAT THE FUCK!" Adrian shrieked furiously.

Cassidy plugged her ears, trying to ease her growing headache. Adrian forced hiscar door opened, mumbling profanities under his breath as he got out. He camearound his car to Cassidy's side, yanking hers open. She looked out onto the streetand saw it was deserted with faint street lights. Adrian grabbed onto Cassidy's armand lifted her up out of the car, walking her over to the grass area of the road to sither down. She groaned, feeling the burning acid in her stomach as she lied down.

Adrian sighed wearily, rubbing his eyes with two fingers. "Did you eat somethingbad?"

"I only had cake."

Adrian stared down at her gravely. "Was it Terry's?"

"Yeah..." She trailed off, puzzled.

Adrian cursed, rubbing his forehead in frustration. "I told them not to do it."

Cassidy panicked, feeling her heart race swiftly in her chest as she sat up from theground. The look on his face told her that something bad was going on.

"What? What's happening to me?" Cassidy pressed in concern. "Am I going todie?"

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"No, you're not going to die!" He exclaimed, sounding as if what she said wasstupid.

"Then tell me what the fuck is going on!" Cassidy shouted at the top of her lungsfrom impatience, her heart beating abnormally rapid against her chest. She felt likeit was going to pop out and it was scaring her.

Adrian's eyes widened surprisingly from her sudden outburst, especially since he'snever heard her cuss before. Cassidy slapped a hand to her mouth, suppressing thegiggles that were coming out.

"I'm sorry, I never curse. It's not an appropriate language to be using." She sigheddeeply, rubbing her forehead. "Can you tell me what's wrong?"

"Cassidy," he said ruefully, sighing. "You're high."

She snorted. "Funny, now can you be serious for once?"

Adrian grabbed her shoulders, shaking her. "I am being serious. You're stonedright now!"

Cassidy's mouth hung open incredulously. "I'm WHAT?!"

"The cake you ate at the party was a space cake. There was weed in it." Heinformed her guiltily. "I told the guys not to put it in, but I guess they did anyways."

"But I-" She spluttered, opening her mouth and closing it. "I can't be-I'm fine!"

"How do you explain the uncontrollable laughter or the vomit session you justhad?"

"Severe stomach virus?" Cassidy guessed at the top of her head.

Adrian gave her a look that deemed it wasn't true and Cassidy started to panic,not wanting to be high. The anxiety of what was going on in her body grew and hermind was moving a mile a minute.

"Oh God, I'm going to get cancer!" She exclaimed in concern, rising up from thefloor to pace. "My brain is going to turn into cheese and I might get a heart attack!"

"Will you calm the fuck down?" Adrian exclaimed, stopping in her path. "You'regoing to be fine, alright? It was just one time."

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"But what if I get addicted to the stuff and get cancer? What's going to happenthen?"

Adrian exhaled an irritated breath. "Your not going to get addicted, I'm prettysure of that. So why don't you just sit down and relax. Let the drug take over."

Cassidy was about to protest, but Adrian took her by the shoulders and pushedher down on the ground, forcing her to sit. In a daze, she let him and mulled hisadvice into her thoughts, wondering if it wouldn't be so bad if she decided to let thedrug do its magic just the way it was intended.

"How do you get rid of it?"

"The high?" He asked curiously and she nodded in reply. "It usually passes inabout fifteen to thirty minutes, depending how much you consume. How much didyou eat?"

"I only had one piece."

"Well, that's good. It won't be long then."

She frowned. "Isn't there anything to speed up the process?"

He laughed. "No, once you take it hit, you're in the zone for a while."

"Have you done it before?"

Adrian shrugged. "Yeah a few times, but it's not my thing."

"What is?" Cassidy asked curiously.

He smirked. "Girls."

She rolled her eyes. "I should've known."

Adrian stood up from the ground, dusting his jeans off. "So, are you good to go?"

Cassidy nodded, standing up and walking with him to the car. The doors wereopened so that the smell of vomit would get out, but it still was there once Cassidysat back at the passenger seat. Adrian wrinkled his nose, grabbing a towel from theback of his car and coming around back to Cassidy.

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"What's the towel for?"

"The vomit," Adrian replied, about to hand it to her, but he looked at her closely."So how do you feel about this? You know, the whole stoned thing?"

Cassidy was unresponsive, looking straight out the windshield then glancingdown. The smell of her own vomit was stinging her nostrils, affecting her stomachonce again.

"Cassidy? Cassidy, are you ok?" Adrian asked in concern.

Cassidy slapped a hand to her mouth and puked on the very spot she did last time,the chocolate space cake making its way colorfully on the floor. Adrian groaned,slamming a hand to the top of his car in fury.

"This is just fucking great!" Adrian shouted angrily. "I'm stuck with a fuckin' bonerand now I have vomit all over my car floor because you're fuckin' high off spikedcake!"

Cassidy groaned sickly, rubbing her forehead. "I didn't know it was," she defendedherself weakly.

Adrian walked over to her and shoved the towel in her face. "Here, clean yourselfup and that mess. I'm going to find a carwash or something."

He got back into the car and sped off with all four car windows down. The car wasstench of sickly, acidic vomit and Cassidy tried desperately to rid the puke chunksoff the floor. She sure looked attractive now, covered in chocolate weed cake vomitand smelling absolutely terrible next to a handsome, tempting man. She forcedherself not to care because he's already seen her at her worse and there wasnothing she could do about it.

There were no car washes opened in sight due to the late hours so Adrian askedthe owner of a convenience store to borrow their hose. Once they gave him the ok,Cassidy got out of the car and Adrian sprayed the inside of his car with water. Hecleaned up all the vomit chunks, but when they got back into the car, the smell wasstill present, but not as badly as before.

Adrian mumbled angrily and kept on driving. It was twelve o'clock in the morningand he parked at a nearby diner that was opened during late night hours. Cassidyturned to him in confusion, but he didn't answer as he turned off the engine and gotout of the car. Cassidy followed him out and they went inside, getting a table at a

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booth by a window. A middle aged waitress came up to him, asking for their order.

"Can I get a water, basket of fries, and hot chocolate?" He asked kindly.

The waitress scribbled his order down. "You got it," she left and picked up theirmenus, going to the kitchen to deliver their order.

"What are those for?" Cassidy asked confusingly. She wanted the water, but notthe other things.

"Well, the hot chocolate is for me and the food is for you."

Cassidy didn't feel hungry, so she looked at him in confusion. "Why would I wantfood? I feel sick."

"Believe me, your going to be craving it real soon," he smirked like he knew whatwas going to happen. "There's no need to thank me."

"Good because I wasn't going to anyways."

Adrian suddenly got up from his seat and Cassidy frowned, thinking he wasleaving by her snippy comment. "Where are you going?"

"Well, you see now that we fixed your problem, I still have one of my own."Cassidy furrowed her eyebrows, not comprehending until he gestured to his currentexpanded crotch. Cassidy looked away, flushed. "I'll be in the bathroom... unless youwant to-"

"No." Cassidy replied all too quickly, shaking her head. She kept her flushed faceaway from his gaze. He laughed, walking away.

Cassidy stuffed the fries into her mouth like it was her life line, chewing as fast asshe could to stuff more in. Adrian watched on with amusement, sipping his hot coco.He signaled the waitress to come over to their table and she raised an eyebrow inquestion.

"Can we get another round of fries?"

The waitress glanced at Cassidy with wide eyes, watching her gobble up every frywith such ferocious hunger. "I'll get them started," she walked away, still in awe.

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"These are so good!" Cassidy exclaimed through a mouth full of chewed frieswhich some escaped her mouth. "Why can't anybody make fries like these peoplecan? They should win a trophy or a huge medal!"

Adrian laughed. "You're stoned of course everything is going to taste ten timesbetter."

"When is she coming back with more? Do you know?" Cassidy asked anxiously.

He chuckled again. "No, but I'm sure it won't take long."

Cassidy grabbed her glass and gulped her water, draining it down all the way tothe last drop. She sighed deeply, placing the cup back onto the table and wiping herwet lips with the back of her hand.

"I have a question for you." Adrian said suddenly.

Cassidy stared at him curiously. "Ok, what is it?"

"Why did it take you so long?" He inquired curiously.

From the look of Cassidy's confused face, he elaborated. "I know you only came tome for a ride, but I haven't seen you for about a month. So why now?"

She hesitated, picking up a discard napkin to tear for the sake of her nerves. Shesuddenly wanted those fries to escape this question "You were the only one I knewat the party."

"Try again," he countered, not liking her answer.

"I was high?" She tried weakly, giving him a small smile.

Adrian rolled his eyes and Cassidy laughed sheepishly. "Ok, uh I don't know. I wasbored."

"Really?" He said rhetorically. "So whenever you're bored, you come to me?"

"Yup, just like you." She countered, smirking.

Adrian chuckled softly, grabbing a fry and pointing it at her. "You are something."

He chewed on his fry and Cassidy looked at him curiously, wondering if it was- 124 -

good to be "something" as he said it. When she was about ask her what he meant,the fries suddenly appeared on the table in front of her like magic and she dug in.The fries were extra salty, hot from the oven, and crispier than ever. She moanedfrom their delicious soft texture, grabbing a few more to stuff in her mouth. Cassidycould never get tired of eating those fries.

"I wonder what your friends would think, seeing you like this." Adrian mulled over,laughing. "Especially your parents."

Cassidy's hand stopped dead at her fry tray, dropping it like it was diseased. Shelooked up at Adrian in horror, spitting out the fries from her mouth. "Oh God, theyare going to kill me!"

He furrowed his eyebrows. "Why?"

She buried her head in her hands in frustration. "Oh I don't know, maybe becauseit's the fact that I got high off of some cake which I thought was safe to eat! Not tomention that I'm strongly against the use of controlled substances."

"Chill out, it was only one time. Now you know not to eat shit at a party."

Cassidy groaned, slumping in the booth seat. "I'm new to all this. It's my firsttime."

"Wait, so the first party you went to was the one that Jase invited you to?" Shenodded. "And the first time you got drunk?"

"Yes."

Adrian looked at her blankly, not that surprised. "Huh... Your parents must reallyisolate you."

"No, they just know what's best for me." She defended. "But now look at me. Iwant to eat everything twice my body weight and I have the strongest urge to jumpoff a tree and fly."

Adrian chuckled and Cassidy frowned. "I wish I listened to my parents."

"No, you don't. Trust me, what you're doing right now is much more fun thanstaying at home reading a book."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know I was doing that?" - 125 -

He furrowed his eyebrows. "You were?"

"Damn it, why am I so predictable!"

"Because you like to play it safe, Cassidy. Just by looking at you, anybody can tellyou're innocent and reserved."

"Well, I'm not innocent anymore am I?" Cassidy argued bitterly. "I'm high, I gotdrunk and I made out with you, not to mention touched your privates! That's notinnocence!"

Adrian chuckled at her behavior and words, shaking his head in amazement. "Shit,if I knew you were this funny on drugs, I would've tried something a long time ago."Cassidy glared at him and he held his hands up in surrender. "Kidding. What I wassaying is that, you're much more cool and relaxed, but you're still innocent though."

"Just because I don't screw around and party doesn't mean I'm innocent."

He rolled his eyes. "Cassidy, you know I didn't mean it that way and you know youare so just drop it."

"Well if you're so great, than what's your story, huh? I'm guessing your parentsaren't as suffocating as mine."

"No actually they aren't. My mom is pretty chill and she lets me do whatever Iwant." Adrian answered calmly.

"Ok, what about your dad?"

"My dad?" He repeated, and she nodded in reply. "He's busy with his shit as I amwith mine."

She frowned a bit, noting the slight bitterness of his tone. "Are they-?"

"Together?" He finished, nodding. "Yeah, happily married."

She opened her mouth to ask another question, but he held up a hand to stop her."I didn't ask for an interview alright? Eat your food so we can get you cleaned up."

She stared down at herself and noticed the dark marks of vomit splattered ontoher white dress shirt. Huh, she didn't notice that before.

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After they were done eating, Adrian paid the tab of their bill and they headedstraight towards her house. Cassidy looked up at the ceiling of his car, feeling relax,calm, and at ease. No wonder people use weed to relieve stress. She didn't have asingle worry in her head and that rarely happens.

They pulled up at the curb of her small one story house and Cassidy unbuckledher seatbelt. "Thanks for taking me home, even though you had that-"

"Yeah," he replied quickly. "No problem."

She nodded. "Well, goodnight."

Adrian didn't reply and Cassidy went to open the car door. As she did so, her bodyfelt weightless and she almost fell out of the car due to her haze, but Adrian grabbedher shoulder to prevent her face planting on the floor.

"I'll help you inside."

Adrian got out of his car and went to help Cassidy up. She stumbled a little andAdrian held onto her shoulders firmly. He walked her over to the front door veryslowly and when they reached it, Cassidy turned around with a finger to her lips.

"You have to be quiet. My parents are light sleepers and they can wake up at anymoment." She warned him.

He nodded and Cassidy extracted a key from her pocket, inserting it in the lockand opening the door softly. She stepped inside carefully and Adrian followed after,shutting the door quietly after himself.

He studied the inside of their dark home and noticed the old fashion furniture,rugs, lamps, and small living room. In the entry way, there was an antique glassarmoire filled with porcelain figurines with some being angels and animals.

"What's with this?" Adrian asked curiously.

"My mom is obsessed with collecting hand crafts and antiques." Cassidyanswered, rolling her eyes.

"Talk about old fashion." He chuckled softly.

"You have no idea." She replied, pausing. "Let's hurry up."

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She grabbed his arm and led him down the hall to a small bedroom that wasobviously hers. Cassidy turned on the lights and shut the door while Adrianexamined her room. Her walls were bare with a simple purple colored bed in thecorner, a study table, and a bookshelf with many novels.

"Nice place you got here." He smirked, picking up a few frames to look at of herand her friends.

Cassidy stole it from his grasp and set it back down. "Yeah, it's not that fancy."

Adrian walked over to her study table and took a seat, rocking the chair back inforth. Cassidy grabbed the hem of her white dress shirt and tore it off, throwing itinto her hamper. Adrian ceased his movements and stared at her tank top clad torsoin shock.

He's never had a full view of her body and he liked what he saw. Her body lookedsoft to the touch and at a healthy weight, not overly thin. He continued to watch heras his lust started to take over again when Cassidy turned to face him curiously.

"Do you think I'm still high?"

Adrian cleared his throat, chuckling a bit. "Well, since you took your shirt off rightin front of me, I'd say that's a pretty good guess."

Cassidy looked down at herself, discovering her half nakedness before huggingher body. "I might've temporarily forgotten that there was a boy in my room."

"Doesn't happen to often?" Adrian guessed.

She nodded, putting her back to him and grabbing a large shirt to pull over herbody. "No body comes to my house, unless it's one of my dad's friends."

Adrian furrowed his eyebrows, finding her response strange. "Why not?"

Cassidy shrugged, sitting at the edge of her bed. "He's overly protective andstrict. He doesn't want me to be involved with men until I'm at a mature age."

"Which is?"

"Thirty," she answered.

Adrian's eyes widened in surprise. "What? Thirty? Don't you think that's too old?" - 128 -

"My dad says it's an appropriate age to seek a spouse, get married, and havekids."

"When did your parents marry?" He asked curiously.

"Twenty three."

"Ok, so why can't you have the liberty of dating or marrying around at that age?"

"Because he says that times are different now and all men are looking for is...sex."She looked away from her gaze, starting to flush.

Adrian smirked. "At least he's got something right, but I think thirty is pushing it."

"Well, it doesn't matter what you think because I agree with him." Cassidy repliedstrongly. "Your one of the examples my father says are the bad boys who corruptwomen into their sexual charm."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Does daddy know about me and all the thingsyou've done?"

Cassidy's cheeked reddened. "No and I'd like to keep it that way."

"What, is he going to ground you until you thirty?"

"Most likely or send me to some all girl's college." She answered.

He snorted. "That's where all the lesbians are at." He smirked slyly. "Not thatthat's a bad thing, but I don't think you can fool them into thinking your gay. You'vealready went through that."

"Right..." She trailed off, embarrassed.

"Why don't you break away from your dad? Try something new out for a change?Aren't you tried of living under his roof and being told what to do?"

Cassidy shrugged. "Yeah, but he pays for everything. I need the money for collegebecause if I do end up moving out, he will stop supporting me."

"Why?"

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"He would think I was being rebellious in moving out because I want to do allthese bad things. He doesn't like the idea of me running wild."

Adrian whistled under his breath. "Sounds like you're stuck, huh?"

"Yeah..." Cassidy trailed off sadly, not liking the way your father strains her fromdoing things.

"Never fear, Adrian is here." He smirked widely. "I'll make him change his mind."

"Huh?" She replied, puzzled.

"You see Cassidy," Adrian said, coming by to sit next to her on the bed. Shescooted over to create a gap between them. "Despite your need for me to take youhome, I knew what your initial thought was."

"Which is?"

"You missed me." He replied point blank, laying his hand on her thigh. She pushedit off, setting it to his side. "Women can't get enough of me."

"I'm positive that I didn't want you back ruining things again."

He rolled his eyes. "I didn't ruin anything. You were just surprised by the fact thatyour life was changing and though you thought it was for the worse, it was really theopposite. Your boring life was improving for a change and you didn't know what todo, so you got rid of the only thing that made it exciting which was me."

She looked at him in surprise. "Did you think about this while you ignored me?"

"No, I just see what's right."

"Well, it's not." Cassidy countered weakly. Adrian's smirk grew and she snappedat him. "It isn't!"

"Keep telling yourself that Cassidy, I know the real truth." He stood up from herbed, stretching his upper limbs with a yawn. "I'm going to head out, you going to beok?"

She sighed heavily, nodding. "I guess so. I'll sleep the high off or something."

"That's good, but I think it already wore off." Adrian replied, staring at her for a- 130 -

silent moment. "I'll see you tomorrow."

He went to walk over to her bedroom door, but she grabbed his arm. "Tomorrow?But tomorrow is Sunday."

"So?"

"So, I won't see you. There's no school tomorrow." She pointed out obviously.

Adrian rolled his eyes. "There is a thing called 'hanging out' outside of school,have you heard of it before?" He asked sarcastically.

"We're hanging out?" She recalled in disbelief.

"If you won't stop questioning it, yes."

"But what will we do?" Cassidy asked anxiously, wringing her hands together.

Adrian smirked, pushing a stray tendril away from her face and cupping her jaw."Why don't you leave that up to me?"

Cassidy opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. They werehanging out, but would it be friendly or just another way for Adrian to try and score?

"Don't worry. You'll be in good hands. This is me we're talking about here."

"Yeah, that's what I'm most afraid of." Cassidy muttered.

Adrian laughed. "See you tomorrow?"

Cassidy didn't respond and Adrian made her head shake up and down. "Good, I'lllet you know about the details tomorrow."

Adrian dropped her hand from her cheek and left her room, leaving Cassidystanding there watching after him. Her nerves started to spring up and she noticedshe was starting to become anxious for tomorrow to begin. But it wasn't because shewas excited... she was afraid because of what he might do.

A/N: This chapter is again one of my favorites and I had a fun time writing it! I gotthe idea right in the middle of math class, it was sort of sporadic. Once I got home, Iturned on the computer and started typing it until it was finished. I hope you guys

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enjoyed it! Thanks for the comments/fanning! Still getting the hang out of wattpadas you can tell :)

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Friends?

Chapter 8: Friends?

Cassidy yawned, stretching her arms up in the air. She glanced at her clock andsaw that it was nine thirty three so she got up and readied herself for the day. Afterbrushing her teeth and putting on some clothes, she combed through her longbrown locks and tied it in a messy bun.

Cassidy left her room and headed downstairs, smelling breakfast food in the air.Her mom set a plate of waffles down and she poured herself a cup of orange juice,enjoying the tangy taste.

"How was your day with Nina and Kathleen?" Jenny inquired suddenly, cuttinginto her small waffle.

Cassidy shrugged, popping a piece of waffle in her mouth. "Oh I just hung at theirdorm and watched movies, nothing big."

"That's nice." Jenny smiled, delicately putting a piece of waffle into her mouth.

Larry skimmed the newspaper, sifting through the uninteresting pages. "I heard alot of noise in your room last night."

Cassidy's eyes widened bewilderedly, trying to soften the look with calmness. "Ohyeah? Like what?"

"Voices, a lot of talking." Larry responded simply, reading a section in the paperas he fixed his short rounded spectacles. "Was there someone in your room lastnight?"

Cassidy laughed as if what he was insinuating was insane. "No, why would I bringsomeone in my room in the middle of the night?"

Larry looked up from his paper briefly, eyeing Cassidy. "I heard a man's voice."

Cassidy paled, taking a nervous gulp of orange juice. "That can't be. I don't eventalk to boys... T-They don't even talk to me!"

Larry opened his mouth to reply, but Jenny beat him to it. "Larry, don't you think

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you're going a little overboard on this? Our darling Cassidy would never bring a boyto her room."

Cassidy sighed inwardly in relief, thanking God that her mother lacked the senseof awareness from one's face and tone that involved clear deception. Cassidy hadinsufficient control of her use of facial expressions which has gotten her caughtmultiple times in lying with her parents. Her father could see it, but her motherdidn't. Her mother was naive which Cassidy has also inherited.

Larry stared at Cassidy, his eyes trying to read her as she cowered under his gaze.His former career was a criminal lawyer so it was hard to lie or keep a coolexpression around him. Cassidy hoped he lost his touch since he moved over to realestate.

"Ok, but what was all that noise then?" He asked her curiously.

Cassidy shrugged coolly. "I was talking on the phone with Nina. She had...schooltrouble and asked me for help."

Larry's grave face suddenly turned into a smile as he nodded his head in approval."Atta girl."

She smiled back, feeling a little guilty inside, but nonetheless happy that theinterrogation was over. It could've ended badly and she was glad that she got out ofit smoothly.

As Cassidy went to take another bite out of her waffle, the doorbell rang and Jennyglanced at it confusingly.

"Who would be ringing at this hour?" She asked curiously.

"Do you want me to get it?" Cassidy inquired, setting her fork down on her plate.

Jenny nodded. "Please dear."

Cassidy stood up and went over to the door, tugging the door handle slowly toopen. She smiled automatically at the ringer of her door, but the smile fell shortlyaway when she caught sight of him.

Her eyes bulged out in shock. "What are you doing here?"

Adrian smirked. "I told you we were hanging out today, did you already forget?" - 134 -

"I thought you were joking!" She hissed through her teeth.

"I don't joke about these things, especially with girls."

Cassidy opened her irritated mouth to reply, but her mom cut her off. "Cassidy,who is it?"

"Damn," Cassidy mumbled under her breath, turning her head away from the doorto inside. "Oh it's just the paper boy, he seems lost!"

"Well, help the poor boy out." Jenny called back.

"Ok." Cassidy yelled back, turning towards Adrian as she stepped outside and shutthe door after her.

"Paper boy?" He chuckled in disbelief. "The only thing I'll be delivering is my-"

"Ok, enough of that." Cassidy patted his shoulder, looking more like a push. "Beon your way, lost little one. I can't have you being seen around here."

"Why? I was just here last night."

"Well, to you, you were, but to my parents, you don't even exist." Cassidy repliedclearly. "And I'd like to keep it that way."

Recognition filled Adrian's wide eyes. "Ahh, right. I forgot that your parentsisolate you from the real world."

"No, they just protect me from people like you." Cassidy defended, her tonelacking power.

"Whatever," he rolled his eyes uncaringly. "Are we heading out or not? We have tobe somewhere soon."

"Where?" She asked curiously.

He smirked. "I already told you it's a secret so hurry up and get ready."

"I'm already ready."

Adrian took one long at her plain clothes, a look of distaste in his eyes. "Ok, itdoesn't matter. Let's go."

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He went to grab her wrist, but she kept it away from him. "I can't."

"Why not?"

Cassidy lowered her gaze to the floor. "My parents..."

"Think of an excuse." He answered simply like it was the easiest thing in theworld.

Her eyes shot up to him in anger. "You don't know my dad. He's super strict and-"

"Ok, I'll talk to him." Adrian went to take a grab at the handle of the door, butCassidy blocked his way.

"NO!" She exclaimed bewilderedly. "Are you out of your MIND? Didn't I just tellyou that I didn't want my parents knowing about you?!"

Adrian sighed impatiently. "Cassidy, I don't have time for your shit right now. Justgo inside and think of something before I go in there and tell them I'm screwingyou."

Cassidy's jaw dropped in horror, her mouth opening and closing. She wasspeechless, horrified, and most importantly disgusted. If Adrian were to tell herparents the supposed lie, they would believe him because her dad would realize thatthe 'man's voice' he heard in her room last night was him! Adrian opened the doorand pushed her inside, closing it after her.

Her expression continued to stay stiff with shock and in a daze until her mothersaid something. "Honey, are you ok?"

"Huh?" Cassidy replied confusingly, turning to her.

"I said if you were ok." Jenny said repeatedly, a look of worry on her face.

"Oh, yes I am." She replied quickly, clearing her throat.

"Did the boy find his way?"

Cassidy's eyes widened fearfully, her mind going to Adrian. "What boy?"

"The paper boy? The one you were helping outside?" Jenny reminded her.

- 136 -

Cassidy nodded, forgetting the lie that she told. "Yeah, I helped him. He's fine...alittle shaken up, but fine. He knows where he's going now." She explained in shortbreaths, rubbing her forehead.

"Honey, is something wrong?" Jenny asked with concern.

"No, of course not."

Larry looked up from his newspaper and Cassidy shot him a small smile, showingthem that she was fine. When he saw nothing out of the ordinary, he glanced back athis newspaper and began to read. Cassidy took a few steps forward, hiding hertrembling hands at the back. She would have to think of something quick beforeAdrian lost his patience and barged inside. What excuse could she give so that herparents believed her? Cassidy pondered, thinking of what people actually did onSundays since they weren't that highly recognized because that meant freedom wasover. But what could she say?

"I'm going to church." Cassidy blurted.

Larry and Jenny's head shot up to Cassidy's in surprise. "Since when have youbeen interested in theology?" Her father asked.

"Since I've picked up a book on it and decided that it looked interesting." Sheexplained, pausing. "I've wanted to have a real life experience and church is the bestway to start."

"Oh honey, that's wonderful!" Jenny exclaimed enthusiastically, glancing at Larry."We should go with her Larry I haven't been to church in ages!"

"No, no!" Cassidy denied, smiling innocently to her mother. "It's just that, I wouldlike to go by myself to conclude my own findings. No offense, but I think you guyswould get in the way."

Jenny frowned, but Larry nodded. "Ok, just don't be home late."

"Thank you, dad." Cassidy replied smiling, heading out the door.

"Oh and," Cassidy stopped dead when she almost turned the handle. "I expect afull report when you get home."

Inwardly, Cassidy berated herself for being so stupid to suggest the option, butshe half smiled to her father anyways. "Right, don't worry. I will."

- 137 -

"Have fun."

She opened the door rather angrily, mumbling under her breath. "I sure will."

Cassidy closed the door after her and saw an irritated Adrian waiting for her in hiscar, waving a hand to get her to hurry up. Cassidy sighed, hoping that the lie wasworth the trouble in hanging out with Adrian. She walked over to Adrian's car andopened the door, hopping inside. He glanced over at her curiously, a hand at hisstick shift.

"So, what lie did you come up with?"

Cassidy flushed, buckling her seatbelt. "It's nothing, let's go."

"No, I want to hear this." Adrian pressed, smirking.

She sighed. "I told them I was going to church."

"Church?" Adrian laughed in disbelief. "Really?"

She gritted her teeth. "Yes, now drive."

Adrian continued to laugh, putting his car in drive as he sped away from herneighborhood. Cassidy thought of what her dad said before she left, asking her togive a full report on her findings of church services. She was growing irritated thather dad asked such a thing and that all of this could've been prevented if she hadn'tagreed to hang out with Adrian.

"Tell me where we're going."

Adrian shook his head. "No," he replied firmly, leaving no room for argument.

Cassidy groaned in frustration, turning in her seat to look at him straight on. "Ihad to lie to my dad to get here and he's expecting me to give him a full report onwhat I saw in 'church,' so if your not going to tell me, I might as well just leave rightnow."

Adrian snorted. "No, you're not. The only thing you're going to do is stay in yourseat and be oblivious to where we're going until we get there."

She blew out an irritated breath. "I just want to know if it's not a waste of time.That the lie was worth the trouble."

- 138 -

"It is. You'll like it, trust me." Adrian said with conviction, sounding grave. "It's alife changing experience."

"Life changing?" Cassidy repeated, puzzled.

He smirked, giving her a sidelong glance. "Yeah, this will certainly be the mostdefining moment in your boring life."

"How can you be so sure?" She said with a harsh attitude.

Adrian shrugged. "I just know and you will too once it's over."

"Why would I want my defining moment to be with someone like you?"

His green eyes turned to her, glistening smugly. "Cause you'll never forget it."

Cassidy stared at him softly, pondering over his words. Even though he soundedsmug, she wondered what he meant by them. Did he want her to remember himduring this supposed life changing experience?

Cassidy became silent as Adrian drove onto his destination, having no idea whereit is. He wouldn't even give her a clue so Cassidy searched desperately at the placesthey passed by, trying to find any indication as to where he was leading her.However, each place started to grow scarcer and soon they were in an emptydeserted field.

"Are you planning on killing me here?" Cassidy asked in wonder, sounding casual.

Adrian laughed shortly. "I thought we were over the whole, 'Adrian, don't kill me'spiel."

"I'm starting to reconsider. I mean, there's nothing out here and we're in themiddle of nowhere, so where are you taking me?"

"We're almost there." Adrian smirked, giving her no hints.

After sitting in the car for another half hour, Adrian pulled up to an empty parkinglot beside a huge warehouse. As they got out of the car, Cassidy frowned up at theplace and saw no title or sign indicating what it was.

"Now I know your trying to kill me."

- 139 -

Adrian chuckled. "You'll see."

Adrian locked his car and walked up to it as Cassidy followed from behind. Shekept his stride as they reached up to the place and Adrian opened a door from theback side of the warehouse.

"Are we supposed to be in here?" Cassidy inquired with concern, her eyessearching for any sign that warned them not to trespass, but there was none.

"Yeah," he replied, stepping inside. Adrian gestured for her to come in and with amoment's deliberation, she entered right after him.

He closed the door and the huge room was scarcely lit. She couldn't see much andfollowed the noise of Adrian's soft breathing. He walked further down until they sawan entrance where the light was streaming in.

"This way." Adrian directed her, picking up his pace of walk.

Cassidy kept close and heard murmurs from a distance. Once they came wherethe light was, she saw two men at the center, discussing something to a group ofpeople standing in front of them. The one on the right looked younger than the onewith a mustache who looked about his middle age.

"What is this, some sort of class?" Cassidy inquired, watching the middle age manspeak about precautions.

He nodded, smirking. "You might want to listen in. This is the important part."

Adrian pushed Cassidy lightly on her back and she craned her neck to him inconfusion, seeing him gesture for her to get closer.

Cassidy walked up to the front so she could hear better, squeezing passed a fewpeople. The young guy with blond short hair clapped his hands enthusiasticallytogether, looking out into the crowd.

"Now that that's over with, who's ready to go sky diving?"

Her eyes widened in terror, feeling her heart sink to her stomach. "SKY DIVING?"She squawked unbelieving.

The man glanced at her, nodding. "Yes, would you like to head up first?"

- 140 -

"NO!" Cassidy refused strongly, trying to catch her shaky breath. The manfrowned, looking at her confusingly like she wasn't supposed to be there.

She felt soft hands on her shoulders, rubbing to soothe her. "How's it goin' Matt?"

Matt looked passed Cassidy, a look of recognition in his eyes. "Adrian?! What areyou doing here, my man?"

"I'm here to take her sky diving, mind letting us go first?"

"Yeah, no problem!" Matt replied enthusiastically.

Cassidy shook her head in horror, feeling her throat dry up. "No, I'm not going."

Adrian rolled his eyes, briefly glancing at Matt. "Excuse us for a second."

He wrapped an arm around Cassidy's shoulder and led her a few feet away forprivacy. He let go of her, crossing his arms. "What's this all about?"

"Adrian, I can't go up there!" She exasperated, running a trembling hand throughher hair. "I'm afraid of heights!"

"Don't let your fears get the best of you." He replied kindly, reaching out to touchher shoulder. "I'll be with you so you don't get scared."

"No!" She cried out, letting his hand drop. She turned her back on his, rubbingher arms. "I can't do this. It's not safe and I-I'm going to get a heart attack before Ieven reach the ground."

"Cassidy, listen to me, these are trained professionals. They go up in the air all thetime. They know what their doing! They will keep you safe!"

Cassidy felt the heat of tears starting to form in her eyes before she blinked themaway. "Why did you take me here? I'm not a daredevil and I don't even go on rollercoasters. I shouldn't have lied to get here!"

"Cassidy, come on-"

She whirled around, swallowing at her dry throat. "I want you to take me home."

Adrian stared at her seriously, pursuing his lips as he shook his head. "No."

- 141 -

The rage overcame her senses and she balled her fists, taking a step towards him."Take me home or I'll hurt you."

"You can't hurt me. You might give me a small bruise, but we both know it's notgoing to do any serious damage."

"YOU will fucking take ME home now or I will scream!" Cassidy exasperatedloudly.

Adrian kept a cool face, shrugging. "Go for it."

Cassidy breathed in and out from the exploding fury, unclenching andre-clenching her fists. She started to calm down her rapid heart beats and shedropped to the floor, sighing. She knew better not to throw a tantrum in a publicplace. What was she, five? Adrian knelt beside her one knee, putting a hand on herback.

"Cassidy, you will do this, ok? Don't let the fear of heights psych you out." He saidsoftly. "I'm going to be up there with you."

Cassidy lifted her head up, taking a deep breath. "Will you jump with me?"

Adrian rubbed his neck uncomfortably, looking away. "I don't know if-"

"I will only go if you jump with me." She said firmly.

He sighed. "Fine, I'll see what I can do."

Cassidy and Adrian headed back to Matt and he gave them a few instructionsbefore heading towards the small plane. Apparently Adrian has done this manytimes before so he sat out during most of the important parts of skydiving safety. ToCassidy's disappointment, they didn't allow two people to jump at once so they hadto go separately.

Adrian still continued to persuade her to go and Cassidy knew he wouldn't take nofor an answer so she decided to give it a shot. Once they were harnessed tightly withgoggle glasses and helmets on, they were ready to go. Matt led them up inside thesmall plane and it took off into the air. They sat in a small area at the center of theplane with the instructors to the side, waiting.

"So what are you guys, boyfriend and girlfriend?" Matt smiled, gesturing to thetwo.

- 142 -

Adrian was about to shake his head until Cassidy erupted in laughter, slapping herknee. "Me? And him?" She repeated incredulously, pointing to Adrian."TOGETHER?"

She howled in laughter, holding a hand to her chest from the violent shakes. "Thatis the funniest thing I have ever heard!"

"Cassidy," Adrian hissed in a low tone, giving Matt a half smile. "Are you sure youaren't high."

Cassidy scowled at him, nudging him in the side, before smiling to Matt. "No,Matt. I will never, in a million years, be with this guy right here because you knowwhy? He's a player and I can't stand that. Oh and he's not my type. I try to stay awayfrom the bad boys."

"Then why are you with him?"

"Oh um..." Cassidy trailed off, looking at Adrian to answer the question, but hejust gave her a blank look. She wondered why she was because they certainlyweren't friends were they? Even if Adrian referred to her as a friend a few times,she knew it wasn't genuine. What exactly were they?

"We are just two people that know each other." Cassidy answered the best to herability, giving him a smile.

She looked to Adrian to see if the correct description of them was alright and henodded in satisfaction.

"You guys are weird." Matt said openly. Cassidy laughed while Adrian shot him aglaring look, rolling his eyes.

In the mist of hearing only the plane's jets, Cassidy felt herself start to panic ofwhat was about to come She hugged herself tightly to keep herself from shaking toomuch and she didn't want anybody to know how badly this was affecting her. Inside,Cassidy was terrified and the thought of jumping off a plane off of 15,000 ft wasn'tcomforting either. How did she get into this? Why was she doing this? Was sheinsane? Her throat felt like sandpaper and she tried to find something to make herfeel better.

Cassidy searched her eyes throughout the plane, lastly looking to Adrian at herside and seeing his hand resting on the seat by her leg. She gulped nervously,setting her semi-sweaty hand on top of his to receive some comfort. Adrian snapped

- 143 -

his head to her hand, looking up at her confusingly. He saw the fear in her eyes andCassidy gripped his hand, trying to show him that she needed to hold ontosomething. Adrian turned his hand over, palm up, letting Cassidy slide her hand intohis. Cassidy saw the discomfort in his green eyes and it appeared to her that he'snever done the hand holding thing before because his hand was grasping hersawkwardly. Cassidy didn't care and tightened the grip on his hand, not intertwiningtheir fingers because that would be too weird and... intimate for her. She wasn'tlooking for a boyfriend at her fearful moment; she was looking for a friend. ThoughAdrian lacked the skills of being a companion and she knew that the possibilities ofbefriending him were slim. Still, he was providing the use of his hand to her for thetime being and that was all that mattered to her.

"Alright guys, we're at fifteen thousand feet right now, so it's time to get up andget ready." Matt called through the heavy noise of plane's jets.

Cassidy's breath got caught in her throat and she squeezed Adrian's hand in theprocess. The adrenaline rush was giving her a headache and she hated the feeling.Adrian turned himself towards her, holding her hand in his lap.

"Try to relax." He said softly, griping her hand. "Don't be scared."

"Will you go first?" She croaked fearfully with pleading eyes.

Adrian smiled slightly. "Of course, I was going to anyways."

He gave her hand one last grip before letting go and standing up. Matt opened thesmall plane's large door and the gust of wind entered inside, making Cassidy shiver.Adrian's instructor stood up, strapping himself in the back of him. They walked overto the opened plane door and Adrian gave Cassidy one last glance.

"Meet you at the bottom?"

Cassidy nodded her head. "Yeah."

He smiled at her before looking up at his instructor and he nodded his head,throwing themselves out of the plane. Cassidy gasped loudly, getting up to see, butMatt held her back.

"Wait, you're not strapped in yet."

Cassidy's instructor came up behind her and strapped himself in, giving Matt thego ahead.

- 144 -

"Are you ready?" Matt asked, sensing Cassidy's fear.

She gulped nervously, nodding her head. "Yeah, let's get this over with."

"Have fun."

Cassidy was about to reply, but her instructor leaned back at the opened door andthey fell out of the plane. Cassidy screamed in terror, feeling her stomach turnunpleasantly as the plane was slowly becoming far from her vision.

The instructor turned her over and she faced the entire city of Philadelphia, thewind blasting in her face. She ceased her screams and tried to catch her breath,feeling her blood pumping to her ears. It was like they were floating in midair andshe felt like she was flying. Cassidy's mouth turned into a small smile and sheextended her hands out, playing with the gusts of wind. She looked down and sawAdrian's parachute a couple feet below them.

Before she could take the time to look at it again, her body was being shot uprightand the parachute formed above her, letting them float from the sky. Cassidy smiledand closed her eyes, feeling the breeze against her cheeks. This wasn't so bad afterall even if the worse part was getting off the plane.

A few minutes later, they were descending on the ground and once the instructorgot a good landing, he guided the parachute down and stopped themselves with ashort run on the grassy field. The instructor took off the parachute and unhookedCassidy free.

"Cassidy how did you like it?" Adrian called from a distance, taking his harnessoff.

Cassidy advanced over to him, giving him a wide smile. "It was awesome!"

"I told you it was worth it." He said smugly, adding in a smirk.

Cassidy pushed him aside playfully, laughing. Though he was arrogant about it,she could see in his eyes that he was happy she enjoyed herself, even when he didn'tshow it. She took her harness off as well and gave it to Matt once they went back tothe warehouse. Matt took their harnesses and gave them to the next couple flying upin the air.

"So, Cassidy what's the verdict?" Matt inquired amusingly.

- 145 -

Cassidy grinned. "It was a lot of fun and pretty life changing." She turned toAdrian at the latter, awarding him a smile.

"That's good, I'm glad you liked it." Matt replied. "Wasn't all that worry and frightfor nothing?"

She shrugged. "Pretty much."

"You should've heard her, Matt she was cursing and yelling at me to take herhome. It gave me a huge headache." Adrian complained teasingly.

Matt chuckled and Cassidy gaped at Adrian. "Well, you should've told me wherewe were going first! You didn't even know I was afraid of heights."

"Yeah man, that's not a good start to dating your girl here." Matt replied. Cassidyand Adrian gave him incredulous looks before his mouth shaped into an 'O.' "Ohright I forgot, you guys are people that happen to know each other, got it."

Adrian glanced at her, showing a little discomfort from Matt's comment. "Do youwant to head out now?"

Cassidy nodded frantically. "Definitely."

Adrian and Cassidy waved Matt goodbye and went to the parking lot to his car.They got in and Adrian sped off back home where real civilization was at. He toldher that he was going to stop by somewhere to eat and Cassidy just nodded, lookingout the car window.

It was strange to her to hang out with someone who wasn't a friend, but just aperson with no connection to her whatsoever. She didn't know why, but it botheredher. Why would she waste her time with someone who doesn't want anything out ofher life?

Adrian was there as person that she just knew and there was nothing else. A partof Cassidy wanted to be his friend, but another part said that it would end up to nogood. She didn't like him and though she despised his constant appearances, hiscompany wasn't that bad sometimes. Though, what could she make of them?

Adrian stopped by a local burger joint and they went inside to sit at a booth. Itreminded her of last night at the diner and eating more fries than her body can hold.She was definitely not doing that again.

- 146 -

They ordered their burgers and sat back against their booths, sitting in awkwardsilence. Cassidy drummed her fingers against the table, smiling sheepishly atAdrian.

"Thanks for today, Adrian. I appreciate it."

He smirked. "No problem."

"And also...for putting up with my whining and complaining." She said, ashamedof herself. "I'm sorry you had to see that, I'm not usually like that."

Adrian shrugged coolly. "It happens."

"So, why the sky diving lesson?" She inquired curiously.

"Well, I can tell by the short time that I've been around you that you haven'texperienced much in your life. This is one that shows the change in someone's lifebecause it's dangerous...free....and well fun." He explained.

"Do you take all your girls to these types of things?"

Adrian snorted. "No, I'd think they would be too afraid to mess up their hair. I onlygo with my friends."

Cassidy smiled, realizing that he just referred to her as one of his friends. "Doesthat mean we are-"

"Here are your burgers." The waitress said, setting their plates down in front ofthem.

Adrian dug into his hamburger, forgetting that Cassidy even spoke and she did aswell with disappointment. She was going to have to bring it up to him soon.

After they were done with lunch, Adrian decided to take stroll around the townand he stringed Cassidy along. She wanted the day with him to be over, even thoughshe did have a few questions for him.

They passed by a group of young people laughing outside of a restaurant, enjoyingtheir time together. It looked like they were a bunch of high schoolers and Adrianstarted to sigh.

"I remember that," he said mostly to himself. - 147 -

Cassidy glanced at him, looking back at the group of kids. "What, the idiocy oftoday's youth?"

"No," Adrian chuckled, gesturing his hand to them. "Having fun and living thehigh school experience."

She snorted. "What are you talking about? High school was terrible."

"No, it was the best time of my life." He replied, curiously looking over at her."Why was it bad for you?"

Cassidy lowered her gaze to the floor, kicking a small pebble in front of her. "Iwasn't exactly popular back then. I only focused on grades and getting high marks.To me, high school was the gateway towards college and the start of a career Icouldn't wait to pursue."

"But didn't you enjoy all the games and dances-"

"I never went to a game or a dance." Cassidy cut him off quickly.

"You never went to your high school prom?" Adrian asked incredulously.

Cassidy nodded. "Never."

"Why?"

"Nobody asked me and... I was pretty much an outcast so I didn't bother going."

"Well... that's too bad." He replied awkwardly, rubbing the side of his neck.

Cassidy could tell that the small personal detail of her high school experience wasmaking him feel uncomfortable and she was glad it. Now she could change thesubject from her horrible schooling memories.

"Yeah, sure I'm over it." Cassidy said quickly, pausing. She tried to think of a goodtopic change at the top of her head. "Isn't it...nice outside?"

Adrian furrowed his eyebrows, raising his head slightly up to the sky to inspect it.It was cloudy with barely any sunlight during the afternoon, and the wind wasstarting to pick up. He shrugged indifferently. "Yeah, I guess."

Cassidy smiled slightly, disappointed that it didn't last, but decided on a different- 148 -

approach. "How are your classes going so far?"

"Good." He answered shortly, not elaborating.

Cassidy sighed inwardly, about to pull her hair out. She wanted to be done with allthe asking questions since she was receiving barely any answers. Why was this sohard for her and not for other people?

"What do you like about... uh school?" She tried again, speaking clearly.

"Honestly, I go if there's a hot girl in my class."

"Right..." She dragged her words in defeat, officially giving up.

They walked in silence, neither conversing or about to. It was awkward andCassidy wanted to leave. She studied Adrian's expression and it looked like he wasbored as he flipped and unflipped his phone a few times. Cassidy stared off intospace, watching people walk past them to let the hours go by quickly.

"Are we going to keep doing this?" Adrian asked suddenly.

Cassidy snapped her neck to him, furrowing her eyebrows. "What?"

"Talking," he answered. "Asking questions, discussing the weather, what foods welike and don't like, and getting to know each other basically."

She frowned. "What's wrong with that?"

"Everything," he divulged in a high pitched tone. "It's unnecessary."

"No, it's not. It's what builds friendships, not to mention trust and-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!" Adrian stopped her quickly with a hand out, lookingtaken aback. "What's this talk about?"

Cassidy raised a confused eyebrow. "Aren't we hanging out as potential friends?"

Adrian gave her a confused, uncomprehending look like he's never heard the termbefore. "Huh?"

"Friends," she remarked firmly, gesturing her finger to herself and him. He stilllooked confused and she sighed from his slow comprehension. "You know, as in two

- 149 -

people forming a companionship, a bond."

"I don't want your friendship." He denied outright, sounding sure.

She frowned dejected, feeling stupid for even asking. Nobody has every openlydenied her, even it was a simple request to a friendship. "Why not?"

"I'm not friends with girls." Adrian said matter-of-factly.

"What's so wrong with being friends with a girl?" Cassidy said offended.

"Nothing is, I just prefer not to involve myself in their personal lives. The onlyreason I'm with a girl is either to hook up with them, or get them in the sack. I wantnothing else." He explained simply.

"Then what am I?" Cassidy asked, puzzled.

Adrian smirked. "Why don't you guess for yourself?"

"B-But didn't we already do the first part?" Cassidy questioned, baffled.

"There you go, you catch on quickly, I'm proud of you."

Cassidy gritted her teeth, becoming enraged. "You want to sleep with me?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

"No, not really because if it was, I wouldn't even be talking to you right now."

"Nobody can stay away from me." He said smugly.

"I will never sleep with you, Adrian. You can try all you want, but it's not going towork with me ok? You should stop while you're ahead. You're wasting your time andmine so why don't you go put it in to good use and go for someone a little easier,ok?"

"But that's just it, I could have any girl that I want and believe me, they are alleasy, but you're the only one! You're so put off by me that it turns me on to thefullest extent that I can't control myself around you. So please, continue pushing meaway because I will only come back stronger."

"I told you you're wasting your time." She said firmly through clenched teeth. - 150 -

"And I told you that I'm not going anywhere." He countered with a charmingsmile, leaning his face to hers.

She groaned in outrage, stomping away from him with balled fists. Adrian wasinsufferable and too much for her to handle! This whole day has been a hoax for himto get closer to her, not to be her friend! He just wanted to fool around with her, butwith bad intentions! Cassidy couldn't believe he was starting this all over again!

"Cassidy!"

Cassidy whirled around violently, glaring at him from a distance. "WHAT?!"

"Car's this way." He replied, smirking as he jabbed his thumb at the back of hisshoulder.

Cassidy cursed under her breath, stomping towards him and berating herself fornot bringing her car along. Now she was going to suffer a long half hours drive withhim, but most importantly she could've prevented all of this.

If she didn't stupidly lie to her parents into hanging out with Adrian knowing thathe was only doing it for the benefit of getting closer, she would've never came. Evenif the sky diving experience was worth it in the end.

A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for not updating sooner, I kind of forgot lol. I know that's nota good excuse, but it's true. Anyways, hope everyone has a happy halloween! Besafe! :)

- 151 -

Trouble Starts with a V

Chapter 9: Trouble Starts with a V

Cassidy carried her school books in her hand and a banana in the other, walkingstraight to class the following morning. She hadn't had time to eat breakfastbecause she didn't want her dad interrogating her again.

Right when she got home yesterday, Larry expected a full report on Cassidy's"church findings" and she basically lied through it. Cassidy said that she didn't getto listen to the sermon because she felt it was brainwashing her. He seemed toaccept her lies, but Cassidy felt terrible about it. How long was she going to keephiding things from her parents? She never had to from the beginning.

"Why the long face?"

Cassidy smiled at her friends Nina and Kathleen who stopped short in her path."Hey, guys."

Kathleen frowned. "What's up?"

She blew a stray hair out of her face and sighed. "Everything."

"Ok, start off to the first thing you can think of and work your way from there."

Cassidy paused, looking off into a distance when her eyes stopped at Adrian,laughing with his friends. She frowned, glancing back at Nina and Kathleen. "Adriandoesn't want to be my friend." She winced inwardly, discovering how childish shesounded.

"Oh." Nina replied blankly. "That's not surprising."

"Huh?"

"Adrian doesn't mix his life with women, say's they're too dramatic and nosy."Nina filled, pausing. "He also says that their only valuable use is for the bedroom."

Cassidy gaped, casting her dark eyes at Adrian's arrogant stance with his friendsat a distance. "Such a disgusting, hormone driven idiot in the form of a man. Whydoes he treat women so badly?"

- 152 -

"Well, he thinks that if they constantly disrespect themselves, why shouldn't he dothe same?"

Cassidy directed her attention to Nina, narrowing her eyes. "How do you know allthis?"

Nina smiled secretively. "Terry."

"Does he usually give you the low down on Adrian's opinions?" Cassidy wondered.

She shrugged. "Sometimes when I beg or threaten him."

"Huh...Ok, so what else do you know?" She asked curiously, leaning over withinterest.

Nina noticed her movement and smirked. "Why, do you like him?"

Cassidy gaped incredulously, flushing. "N-No! I just want to know why he's soclosed off."

"He's like that with everyone, Cassidy, even to his friends. It's nothing to worryabout."

"I'm not worried I just think it's a little strange how none of his friends knowanything about his personal life."

Nina rolled her eyes. "So he doesn't share a few details, big deal. It doesn't botherTerry. He never liked getting personal anyways. Our family is already big on that."

"Jase has a problem with it though." Kathleen chimed in.

Nina and Cassidy snapped their necks her way and her eyes widened from herreveal, not expecting to say it out loud. "Why would Jase care?"

"They've been best friends for five years and Jase still doesn't know much of hispersonal life."

"Like what?" Cassidy inquired curiously.

"Like how Adrian never told him that he had an older brother until a few monthsback."

- 153 -

"An older brother?" Cassidy repeated, sounding incredulous. Somewhere outthere, there was another Adrian copy, but in an older form. The world was sure tocome to an end.

"Yeah," Kathleen nodded. "Jase found out through the university's school recordswhen he was researching something for class. Apparently, he graduated top of hisundergrad class back in '06."

"You and Jase seem to be getting serious." Cassidy remarked.

Kathleen flushed, looking away slightly. "Uh, he just tells me things when he'sfrustrated with Adrian. I'm the only who knows so don't tell anybody about what Isaid to you guys, especially Adrian."

"So what else happened that's got you so down?" Nina turned to me, changing thesubject.

Cassidy sighed before giving her the basic details of yesterday's adventure. Ninaand Kathleen thought it was sweet that Adrian took her skydiving, but she found itanything but that. It was a horrifying experience that ended up being wondrous, butthat was short lived due to Adrian's tendency of being a pitiful male.

When the minutes started to tick by close to her class time, she bid her friendsgoodbye and walked into her building. She arrived in the lecture room early andheaded to the front, sitting in the usual spot.

Cassidy was retrieving her necessary items from her backpack when she felt thechair next to her move from someone sitting on it. She turned to look at the person,wondering who would sit beside her since everyone in class kept to their personalspace, and then realized it was Adrian.

"Why don't you go sit in your usual spot? I don't have time to 'fool' around withyou." Cassidy said bitterly.

Adrian chuckled. "Don't be mad, baby. I'm only here for you, no games included."

"Oh." Cassidy replied, feeling dumb. She was glad to know he was going to keephis hands to himself and not bother her.

"But when I say games, I mean immature, prank stuff." He noted, smirking widelyas how familiar that sounded.

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She shot a dark look at him. "So, you're here because of-?"

"Yes, as in the sexual nature kind of fooling around." Adrian corrected her.

Cassidy scowled. "What's wrong with you? I just want to be left alone so I can payattention in class. I don't need your stupid little 'games' right now."

"Well, I guess you're stuck with me like you are with your parents." He teased,laughing.

She narrowed her glare, annoyed by his constant teasing and toying. "At least Idon't have a sibling." She snapped unconsciously.

Adrian snapped his neck to her and Cassidy immediately froze from her slip up.He looked at her curiously. "Who are you referring that to?"

Cassidy swallowed hard at her throat, shrugging. "I don't know."

"Are you hiding something from me?" Adrian asked, leaning closer to her.

Cassidy struggled to breath, feeling the pressure of Adrian's close proximity. Itfelt like she was cornered and she didn't know what to say. Cassidy wasn't supposedto bring up anything of what Cassidy said to her and Nina.

She opened her mouth to reply, but the teacher cut them. "Alright class, let's starton chapter four and don't forget our midterm exam will be next Friday so, beprepared."

Cassidy gasped, turning to Adrian. "It's midterms already?'

Adrian rolled his eyes, focusing his attention on the teacher for once. "This iscollege, Cassidy. Everything is at a fast pace. Did you already forget?"

Cassidy got out her planner, flipping to the pages of next week and scribblingdown the date of the exam. "Oh God, I'm so unprepared! Why didn't she tell ussooner? This is horrible!"

"The exam is next Friday you have all the time in the world." Adrian replied,looking at her stupidly.

"But I like to be notified two weeks in advance so I can be prepared for theupcoming weeks." She explained.

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Adrian furrowed his eyebrows, giving her a weird look. "Are you always thisparanoid?"

"About what?"

"About school or life in general?"

"That depends. If it's important, yeah I am paranoid because I like everything tobe perfect."

He scoffed. "Nothing's perfect in this world." He paused for a moment, his mouthturning into a smirk. "Except for me of course."

Cassidy rolled her eyes, ignoring Adrian as the teacher lectured on the newchapter. She jotted down important key terms and what to expect on the midtermexam all while Adrian casually looked over her concentrated self.

He laughed to himself, earning a glare from her as she continued to listen. Shecouldn't afford distractions and with Adrian sitting next to her, it was going to behard to endure this semester. Cassidy was not going to accept anything less ofherself and so she continued to ignore Adrian once they got out of class and he waswalking beside her.

Her stomach growled, reminding her of a skipped breakfast this morning so shequickly retrieved her banana in her backpack and peeled it open.

Adrian furrowed his eyebrows at her, glancing from the banana to her face. Sheshrugged in return. "What? I didn't have breakfast this morning."

She chewed a small bite of her banana, holding it steadily in her hand as Adrianlooked on. "So, you like bananas?"

Cassidy snorted. "Yeah, why do you think I'm eating one?"

He ignored her retort, eyeing the banana as she took another bite. "Is it one ofyour favorite fruits?"

She narrowed her eyes at his weird questions, but still answered. "Sure."

Adrian's eyes turned cloudy. "For an inexperienced girl, I would say that youwould give a pretty good bj. You should try it out sometime."

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Cassidy choked and spat out her banana remains on the floor, facing Adrian indisbelief. "Are you kidding me right now?"

"No, you had a good grip on that banana and we both know you're not a strangerto that alone." Adrian smirked. "Besides, I want to know what else you're capableof."

Cassidy shrieked, griping her banana so tightly that it broke apart and fell to thefloor in a pile of mush. Adrian winced, glancing down at the dismembered bananasolemnly. "Is that what's going to happen to me, next time you give me a hand job?"

"There's not going to be a next time." She spat out cruelly.

Adrian chuckled, wrapping an arm around her shoulder to bring her close. "Ohbelieve me, it will happen very soon." He said huskily in her ear.

Cassidy flushed, pushing him away. "No, I won't let it."

"Oh please, I know women, Cassidy and even though you're short of one, I'mpositive that something is going to happen between us again."

"No, there isn't," she shot back, shaking her head. "You're already turning me intoa bad person."

"How so?" He countered.

"I'm lying to my parents, but most importantly, I'm sneaking around with you, themother of all bad boys whilst doing it." She exasperated, sighing. "I refuse to let thathappen again."

Adrian stepped in front of her, giving her a curious look. "And why is any of thatso bad? You're already doing more things than you could ever think of and nowyou're arguing with me, being ungrateful?"

"I didn't ask for this." Cassidy snapped.

"Maybe you should of thought about that when you got drunk and agreed to gooutside with me to have a little fun."

"IT was a mistake!" Cassidy exclaimed, flailing her arms out. "I was drunk anddidn't know what I was doing. You should at least give me the benefit of the doubt."

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"No, why should I? Even though you're drunk, you're still aware of your actionseven though the alcohol is clouding the moral part of you."

"Adrian, I don't want to do this with you." Cassidy said softly, beginning to frown."What's so wrong with being friends with me? I don't even act like a girl!"

Adrian smirked. "Friends don't kiss other friends, Cassidy and we've already donethat."

He paused. "Despite what happened, I still wouldn't consider it."

"But I'm a respectable lady! I have goals, morals, and I don't gossip!" Shespluttered, thinking of Nina's reasoning behind Adrian's opposition of having girls asfriends.

He eyed her, puzzled. "That's nice and all, but what it comes down to in the end isthat you're a girl and I'm a boy, specifically with needs. You can fulfill them andthat's why we can't do this friendship thing."

Cassidy huffed angrily, clenching her fists. "I told you that I'm not going to sleepwith you. How many times do I have to say it?"

Adrian smirked, slipping his hands in his pockets. "Enough for me to actuallybelieve you."

Cassidy's eyes grew dark. "You make me sick."

She turned her back to him and walked off, thankful that he didn't follow herwhen she heard him laugh in response. Cassidy gave up on trying to get rid of himand she knew that it was her fault when she decided to knock on his door at Terry'sparty.

If she hadn't made the contact, he would still be ignoring her and then it would beover. But no, she just had to eat that drug infested cake and spend the whole nightwith Adrian. There was no getting out of this and Cassidy understood theconsequences. If he was going to start playing games, she might as well come upwith a few of her own. However, she didn't know where to start because "foolingaround" wasn't exactly her forte.

Adrian rubbed his eyes from exhaustion and the constant bickering between

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himself and Cassidy. When was it all going to end so he could get to the good stuff?He never had trouble with women so why was she being difficult?

He heard someone come into the room and his head snapped up to see ChrisFields, a dirty blond with short spiky hair and an athletic build. He was a fellow fratmember and one of Adrian's friends who was also against being monogamist. Hegave a short nod to Adrian in acknowledgment and took a seat opposite to him at thefrat house.

"Hey man, what's up with you?" Chris asked, furrowing his eyebrows slightly."Why aren't you downstairs trying to score with ladies?"

"I'm tired." Adrian replied with a lame excuse.

Chris snorted unbelieving. "You sure don't look tired with you sitting there,thinking all hard and shit. So, what's going on?"

"I have a problem," he blurted, leaning forward in his seat.

Chris rolled his eyes, not surprised. "No shit. What is it?"

"Ok well, there's this girl and-"

"Isn't it always?" He cut him off, intertwining his fingers together. "What's yourdamage?"

"I'm trying to get her in bed with me, but there is something in the way."

Chris laughed. "You never have trouble with getting someone in bed. What is it anex boyfriend? You know how to deal with those, just fight 'em off like you usuallydo." He suggested lazily.

"No, it's not an ex or anything like that. The problem is that she's a virgin, Chris."

His eyes went wide and all humor from his face vanished. "Did you just say the vword?"

"Yes."

Chris shook his head frantically, looking alarmed. "Oh no, no, no, you're crossingdangerous territory there, Adrian. You know not to mess with v girls. What the hellare you thinking?"

- 159 -

"I'm thinking that I want to have sex with her and be done with it because she isdriving me nuts, pun intended. She's everywhere man, even when I'm asleep! If I dothis, then I'm ending my misery." Adrian explained in frustration.

"You don't want to mess with a virgin you know what happened to the last one."

Adrian sighed, forgetting about the incident momentarily. "Yeah, I had to changemy number seven times and she stalked me until I got a restraining order. Buthonestly, this girl is different."

Chris gave him a dumbfounded look. "How? Virgins are all the same, they all wantrelationships."

"But this one doesn't and get this, she doesn't even like me." Adrian revealed,sounding surprised.

His eyebrows shot up, puzzled. "What? Doesn't like you? Are you sure this girlisn't a lesbian?"

Adrian chuckled under his breath. "That was my initial thought, but she isn't. Shejust doesn't get around."

Chris sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked at the floor in thought."Huh...that is a problem."

"So, what do I do?" Adrian asked, sounding frustrated.

Chris began to smirk as a thought crossed his mind. "Sweet talk your way into herheart. Virgins are easily susceptible to that. They don't have enough experience andthey're all hopeless romantics."

"Huh, you're right." Adrian replied, wondering why he hadn't though of it before.

"Of course I am." Chris said surely. "You'll get her eating at the palm of your handby the end of this week."

A humorless laugh echoed in the corner and Chris and Adrian turned to theperson. It was Terry, shaking his head. "No, you're wrong on that Chris. Cassidyisn't going to fall for his charm that quick. He already showed his true side to her."

"Then what do you think I should do?"

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"Well with your intentions only solely based upon 'fooling' around with her," hebegan, giving him a warning look as he continued. "I would say to make her chaseafter you and keep showing your disinterest. Yeah, you can romance her orwhatever the hell Chris was saying, but it would be easier if you started out slow.Maybe even be her friend."

"No," Adrian denied clearly, leaving no room for argument. "That's a stickysituation I don't want to get myself into."

"I hate to burst your bubble, Adrian, but that's the only way you can get her. Ninatold me that she's upset you denied her friendship."

"She is?" Adrian said, surprised.

"Yeah, it seems she cares more about friendship than anything else."

Adrian pondered over his words, glancing at him. "So, if I start to become herfriend and get her to trust me, your saying it will be easier to fool around?"

"Yeah," Terry replied simply. "There will be no pushing away or arguments. You'llhave no trouble."

Adrian nodded, liking Terry's advice other than Chris's. "Alright, that soundsbetter."

He stood up and started to walk out the door until Chris stopped him. "What areyou doing man?"

"I'm going to make a new friend." Adrian replied, smirking slyly.

Cassidy tapped her pencil against her notebook, watching her friends talk aboutsome party they went to over the weekend. Even though they invited her to anotherparty after Terry's, she denied the invite and said she didn't want to go to anotherparty again.

Something else could go wrong and she would end up even worse than being highor drunk. She wasn't going to figure out the potential consequences and decidedfrom here on out, there will be no more partying.

"Hey girls." Adrian popped up from their table, taking a seat in between Nina and

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Kathleen without their consent. "How is everyone?"

Nina and Kathleen gaped at the sight of him, their desire clearly showing in theirexpressions and eyes. Cassidy glared at him from across the table, choosing toignore him.

"We're fine, Adrian." Nina replied, flushing. "Just on break."

"That's nice." Adrian responded, his eyes on Cassidy other than her friends. "Girls,do you mind if I speak to your friend for a moment?"

"S-Sure," Kathleen replied, picking up her books from the table. Cassidy shot hera disbelieving look and she only smiled in reply. "See ya, Cassidy."

Nina and Kathleen left the table, giggling enthusiastically from the briefconversation with Adrian. Cassidy looked at their retreating backs longingly,wishing she was with them instead of the devil.

"I see you're doing some calculus there." Adrian remarked, gesturing his head toher notebook.

"Yeah, what's it to you?" Cassidy replied harshly, bringing her notebook closer toher so Adrian wouldn't see it.

"Well, I happen to be good at the subject."

"Oh yeah?" She raised a challenging eyebrow. "How do you do this problem then?"

Adrian got up from his seat and went to sit next to her as she pointed a finger tothe current problem she was having trouble with. Math wasn't exactly her strongestsubject and it was an embarrassing fact that she wouldn't share. She knew Adrianwouldn't know how to do the problem because it was the hardest one assigned inher homework.

Adrian leaned his head, facing her. Cassidy felt her heart speed rapidly at hiscloseness, her throat drying up. She noticed a small beauty mark at the corner of hismouth and her breath started to come out short. He held out his hand and Cassidylooked at it in confusion. "Pencil?"

"Oh, here," she replied quickly, dropping the pencil in his hand.

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Adrian held the pencil firm in his grip and started to work out the problem with agood speed. He didn't have to think about the steps he was doing to sort it out andwhen he was finished, he set the pencil back onto her notebook. "Done."

"W-What?" Cassidy replied in shock, grabbing her notebook in her hands andlooking at the circled answer. She looked over his chicken scratch work in detail andthen flipped to the back of the book, seeing the same answer.

Cassidy's eyes widened at him, stunned. "How did you do that? It took me foreverto get through the first step."

"My dad's a big nerd and this was his way of bonding with his family." Heanswered.

"What does your dad do?" She asked curiously.

Adrian shrugged. "He works for an insurance company."

"Oh." Cassidy said softly, pausing. "Do you have any other...family?"

"Huh?" He replied confusingly.

Cassidy wanted to mention his older brother, but she wanted him to admit it firstbefore she felt comfortable in asking. "Like a brother or a sister?"

"No." Adrian replied simply.

"No?" She repeated in a high pitched tone, sounding accusatory.

He nodded, staring at her like she was deranged. "Yeah."

Cassidy frowned, wondering if Jase was lying to Kathleen. She believed everythingwhat people said and it was not surprising that she did with Jase from her obviousinfatuation. Adrian on the other hand hasn't lied to her from what she's gathered.

He was known to being honest and straightforward. Though, the whole situationwas confusing Cassidy even more. Who was telling the truth and who was the onethat was lying?

"I want to be your friend."

Cassidy was pulled out of her reverie and her jaw dropped as her head shot up to- 163 -

Adrian. "What?"

"I've been thinking and it's not fair to you on how badly I treated...us." He said indiscomfort, rubbing the side of his neck. "I want to give this friendship a try, ifyou're still willing to?"

Cassidy was shocked by the sudden one eighty of Adrian's attitude towardsbefriending girls. Didn't he just saw two hours ago that he didn't want it? She knewhe sounded so sure and that nothing or nobody was going to break it. So why was hedoing it now?

"What are you playing at?" She asked suspiciously.

"Nothing," he replied blankly. "I just think you're a decent person and it waswrong of me to treat you like every other girl. You're not like that and I know you'redifferent from the rest of them so I want to be...friends."

Cassidy almost winced on how he struggled to say the word "friends" in referenceto her. She knew this was his first time making initial contact with a girl who wasnot there to give him pleasure, but to be there for him.

She smiled slowly. "Ok, yeah. We can be friends."

"Really?" Adrian said, giving her a small smile. "That's great."

Cassidy nodded, feeling a whole lot better than she was earlier that morning. Shedidn't feel wrong or immoral for hanging out with Adrian.

Now that they were friends and not just "people that knew each other" it would beeasier explaining their connection. No more awkward pauses or explanations.Adrian was her friend and not another girl.

She didn't know why, but she took great pride in knowing that she, a girl, was hisfirst female friend.

A/N: Well things are about to get crazy! Thanks for fanning/commenting/votingand all that jazz. You guys are great!

Btw, just made the cover of the book. It's not that great, but I made do withsomething.

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Midterm Stress Reliever

Chapter 10: Midterm Stress Reliever

With the whole week devoted on studying, reading her textbooks, and makinguseful note cards, Cassidy didn't have time for anyone else, but school. Thankfully,Adrian didn't bother her during her hardcore studying habits which left a goodpeace of mind.

Each midterm exam was on different days of the week and when she finallyreached her last one, Biology, she sat patiently with her seat and an empty scantronon her small chair desk.

Adrian sat next her, giving her a small harmless wink. "Good luck."

She smiled. "Thanks, you too."

Mrs. Chatman began to distribute the exam packets and once it reached to herfront row, Cassidy immediately started. She worked on each answer at a slow pace,reading the question a few times so that she wasn't being fooled by what it actuallymeant.

Cassidy was about halfway through the exam when Adrian stood up and handedhis scantron in to Mrs. Chatman. Cassidy looked up, noticing that he was the firstone to be done and she furrowed her eyebrows. How could he finish faster thaneverybody else when the test started just thirty minutes ago with fifty questions intotal?

Pushing the thought aside, Cassidy refocused on the exam and when she was donean hour later, she handed hers in. She felt confident that she did well and didn'thave a worry about the result. Cassidy knew every single question and maybeguessed on two, but she was sure to get an A.

Cassidy stepped outside of the building and found Adrian sitting at their school'samp theatre on one of the stone steps. She smiled and walked over, taking a seatright next to him. Adrian looked over and saw Cassidy, giving her a small smile.

"So, I see that you had no trouble finishing the test." Cassidy mentioned.

Adrian shrugged. "It wasn't that hard."

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"Did you study?" She asked curiously, wondering about his study habits.

"No."

"Then, what did you do?"

"I just read the textbook." He answered simply.

"Oh..." She trailed off, becoming silent. She read the textbook too, but she alsohad to study the terms over in case she forgot them. Maybe Adrian didn't study at alland guessed every question? Or maybe he cheated? She would know once the testresults came back so she can take a look at his also.

Adrian stood up, glancing above her. "I've got to go, I have one more exam left todo."

"Oh, alright."

"See ya."

Adrian left, leaving Cassidy to stare at his retreating back. He was strangely beinga good friend around her including keeping his dirty thoughts to himself. Thisfriendship could work after all.

Cassidy waited for Nina and Kathleen to be done with their exams. When shechecked the time on her phone, a short brown haired girl walked up to her.

"Hi, would you be interested in two tickets to a play?" She asked kindly.

Cassidy inwardly groaned, despising the daily advertisers that crawled on campus.She usually declined, not wanting to be bothered, but this girl said it was a play.

"What play?" Cassidy asked curiously.

"Shakespeare's' Macbeth." The girl beamed.

She grinned for her love of Shakespeare and was immediately interested. "Yeahsure, how much is it?"

"Oh, you don't have to pay. As long as you're a student at the school and you showyour I.D at the theatre than you're in."

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Cassidy gaped in surprise, nodding. "OH my gosh, yeah! I would love to havethem!"

"Here," The girl replied, handing her the tickets. "It's only valid for this Friday, sodon't be late!"

"Thank you." Cassidy replied, taking the tickets in her hands.

"You're welcome."

The girl walked away and Cassidy suddenly started to feel giddy inside, staring atthe tickets with excitement. Maybe she could make Nina or Kathleen go with hersince she had only one other.

Once they were finished with their exams, Cassidy told them if they would like togo to the play, but both declined. Nina had a family party to go to and Kathleen wasvery vague about where she was going. Cassidy guessed it had something to do withJase and she didn't press on the matter. She would get to the bottom of it later, butnow she had to take someone with her to the play. Cassidy didn't want to be aloneon the excitement. Someone had to come with her.

"Why don't you take Adrian?" Nina suggested.

"Adrian?" Cassidy laughed in disbelief. "That was the best joke you've ever cameup with Nina."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm being serious, Cassidy. Maybe he would like to go."

"Adrian wouldn't like this." Cassidy said surely.

"You never know and besides, isn't he your friend now?"

Cassidy stared off into space. "I could ask and see."

"There you go, problem solved." Nina smiled.

Cassidy was pondering over the thought of bringing Adrian, wondering if it was agood idea. He would find it interesting, right? Cassidy was sure that there werewomen actresses that he could ogle at and it's not the like there were in the 17thcentury where male's played the roles of women. Adrian would enjoy himself, oneway or the other.

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Cassidy spotted him outside the student union of their school, talking to someblonde haired bimbo. She walked up to him despite finding him busy conversingwith one that had an intelligence of a rat. Cassidy slowly advanced towards him,making it known that she was there and wanted to speak to him. However, Adriandidn't take notice and Cassidy cleared her throat.

Adrian turned around, quirking an eyebrow. He faced the girl he was talking toand whispered in her ear. She giggled and walked away, blowing him a kiss. Cassidyrolled her eyes at the display, giving Adrian a smile.

"Hey!" Cassidy exclaimed enthusiastically.

Adrian looked at her oddly, giving her a small wave with two fingers. "Hi," hereplied, monotone.

"So guess what!" She said excitedly, not wanting for Adrian to respond. "I just gottwo tickets to see a play on Shakespeare's Macbeth. Do you want to come? It'ssupposed to be really fun!"

He furrowed his eyebrows. "You want to watch a play? With me?"

"Yeah, why not?" Cassidy replied, still smiling. "We're friends aren't we?"

Adrian held in a grimace and gave her a strained smile. "Yeah..."

"So, do you want to go?" Cassidy asked, waving her two tickets in the air. "It's forfree." She sang.

Adrian became silent, looking as if he was deliberating whether to go or not. Oncehe nodded, Cassidy's eyes lit up. "Ok, yeah I'll go to your little play, under onecondition." She frowned, hating his rules. "I'll go if you come with me somewhere."

Cassidy sighed, not caring where he wanted to take her anymore since hisintentions were now on a friendly level. "Alright, where?"

"To a party this Saturday."

"A party?" She repeated, shaking her head profusely. "No, no I refuse. Parties andI do not mix."

"Come on Cassidy, it's just a kick back and if you're that worried about it, I'll lookafter you to make sure you don't do anything stupid," he paused. "Like a friend

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would."

Cassidy noticed how he was still struggling to come to terms with them beingfriends when he said the word. It wasn't that hard to acknowledge someone as afriend, but maybe he was still trying to get used to the idea.

"You'll warn me if I'm taking a bite out of a weed cake?" He nodded. "And if anyguys decide to bother me? Or if someone spiked my drink?"

Adrian chuckled, holding a hand up. "I promise."

"Fine," she said through all the strength she could give, hating herself for sayingyes.

He smirked in satisfaction. "Nice. Now, when's this play?"

"OH MY GOD it's starting!" Cassidy exclaimed, holding onto the chair's arm with adeath grip.

Adrian winced, sinking into his chair as his eyes uncaringly looked over at thescene that was starting. The lights began to dim and Cassidy eagerly bounced up inher chair like a toddler. Why did he get pushed into going to this stupid play again?Oh yeah because him and Cassidy are now labeled as friends.

He gritted his teeth, hoping that this friendship thing would work or he would giveTerry a punch or two in the face. No guy should be subjected to sitting through anhour long play on Shakespeare, listening to some lame shit about love and war. Itwas as if his ego and reputation lowered from just sitting in the theatre, trying tohide his face with his hair so nobody would notice him.

This wasn't his scene, especially when it came to anything school related like aShakespeare play. Sure he liked some literature, but Macbeth? He read the play inHigh school as a requirement for English and though he liked the fighting scenes,the others were a bore to him.

He hoped that this would work by scoring brownie points with Cassidy. She lookedhappy enough that he was there and it seemed to be working. But how long did thisfriendship thing had to go on?

Adrian drifted off to sleep, cradling his head to his balled fist with the noise of the

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play going on in the background. He was in a deep sleep until Cassidy shook himawake. He grumbled, trying to push her hand away when the lights of the theatreshown brightly. Adrian's eyes opened, glancing around at the theatre and noticingthat everyone has gotten up from their seat to exit out of the building. He glanced atCassidy and she gave him an annoyed expression.

"Were you asleep the whole time?"

Shit, Adrian thought, trying to think of a quick excuse. "No, I saw the whole thing.I was just resting my eyes for a bit."

Cassidy frowned slightly. "Did you like it?"

"Yeah, it was great. Thanks for bringing me along," he lied through his teeth,smiling at her for added measure. In all honesty, he was bored as fuck watching theplay, but he wouldn't mention that to her. The plan would be up in flames and all hiswork would be for nothing.

Cassidy's irritated expression vanished into a smiling one. "You're welcome."

Adrian inwardly sighed in relief, glad that she bought it. They walked to thenearest food restaurant and when they ordered, Cassidy couldn't help but look atAdrian. How would any normal girl act if she was in the presence of a gorgeous boy?

Cassidy decided to take on the study and stare at his features and the way he didthings. Adrian was currently wearing a plaid black and white long sleeve shirt withblack pants. His hair was dangling over his forehead in a messy manner and hisgreen eyes shined clear. Adrian's attention was focused on the menu, deciding whatto get with narrowed eyes. His calculating look made Cassidy's insides flip whichwas unfamiliar to her. His apparel, the refreshing way he smelled, and his rareboyish looks made her heart swell.

Adrian's eyes flitted to Cassidy and he furrowed his eyebrows at her concentratedstare. "Is there something wrong?"

Cassidy opened her mouth and closed it, unable to speak. What was wrong withher? She usually could speak to him, but why couldn't she now? "F-Fine."

"Fine?" He repeated, confused.

She cleared her throat, giving him a clear look. "I'm fine." - 170 -

"Are you sure?"

Cassidy nodded.

Adrian stared at her for a good long second before reverting back to looking at hismenu. Inwardly, Cassidy sighed in relief and decided it was best not to think aboutAdrian in that way. He was her friend and nothing else. Sure he was gorgeous, cute,and had a boyish charm, but that was what fooled every girl who had come intoterms with him. Adrian was a snake and he hypnotized women to his charm. Shewasn't going to be one of them so it was better off not thinking about his good looksin any other way.

Once the waitress came by to take their orders, Adrian gave her the menus andhis sole concentrate was on Cassidy with a secretive smirk on his face. Cassidymoved uncomfortably in her seat under his gaze, wondering what was going on inthat devious boy's head.

"So you like staring at me, don't you?" Adrian asked out of the blue.

Cassidy's eyes widened in shock from being founded out and she tried to play acool look. "W-What are you talking about?" She laughed shortly, hearing the trembleat her throat.

"You're not really subtle when you want to look at someone. I could tell you'relying because your eyes are only showing me the truth."

Cassidy sighed under her breath, giving Adrian a bold look. "Ok, yeah I wasstaring at you. Do you want to know why?"

"Yeah," Adrian replied, smirking in anticipation.

"You're good looking." Cassidy responded bluntly, taking notice of the burn of herears from revealing the truth and the nervous pounding of her heart.

"Really?" He said amusingly, obviously satisfied of her reveal by the wide smirk."So you like me then?"

"No."

Adrian's smirk vanished into confusion. "Huh?"

She rolled his eyes from the sound of his disappointment. "Look, I was just stating- 171 -

an obvious fact. No need to get all smug about it because believe me, even though Ifind you handsome does not mean that I find you attractive. Those are twocompletely different things."

Adrian's smirk started up once again. "But looks often lead to attraction."

"And what idiot said that?"

"Well me of course."

She gave me a blank look. "I stand corrected."

"Ok, so you don't like me in that way." Adrian pointed out from his knowledge ofher. "Is there anything you do like about me?"

"Why, so I can give your ego more of a boost?"

He smirked. "That's always a plus, but no. I just want to see if I'm being a goodfriend."

"You are," Cassidy replied with sure conviction. "You might be into your self waymore than anybody should be and you might do things that aggravate me, butunderneath it all you have a good heart and I can see that."

"Wow," he said in surprise, giving her a smile. "Nobody talks about me like that,besides my looks."

"Yeah, you might be kindhearted and all, but your looks are what got you here inthe first place. You can be chauvinistic, arrogant, and...vulgar."

"I can't help it," he replied, referring to the latter. "When I see a woman, all I canimagine is fucking her."

Cassidy wrinkled her nose in disgust. "I can see that side of you hasn't change, butI understand your need to share these things with me since I am your friend."

He smirked slyly, "A friend that is a girl."

She narrowed her eyes, giving him a warning look. "I'm going to pretend I didn'thear that."

"Good, it saves us both the headaches."- 172 -

The waitress arrived with their meals and after eating over small conversation,the bill came and Cassidy took it in her hands. Adrian extended his hand out to it,signaling that he wanted it.

"I'm going to pay this time." Cassidy said simply, putting the cash inside thepocket of the bill tab. "No," Adrian denied strongly. "This goes against all the rulesof the universe."

"Which is?" She challenged.

"A man always pays," he went to take a grab at the bill, but Cassidy swept it up inher hands again.

"Ah, ah, ah. This situation is different, let me clarify." She paused, smiling. "Weare friends and as friends, we take turns paying for the bill. Now I know you paidboth times for my meals while I was...high and after our sky diving expedition. Sonow it's my turn to repay that debt to you, do you understand?"

"Yeah," Adrian grumbled unhappily, crossing his arms.

"Good." Cassidy said proudly, knowing she won.

The waitress came by and Cassidy handed in the bill before Adrian could tryanything else. She turned to him, smiling.

"We are getting off to a good start, don't you think so?"

"Sure," He replied uncaringly.

"Oh Adrian, don't be upset." She rolled her eyes. "It's just a meal."

He snorted. "I feel like a pansy ass that couldn't pay for dinner."

"Why, because it's weird for a girl to pay?"

"Yeah."

"Well, you're going to have to get used to it if you're going to be around me."

Adrian sighed. "You're full of surprises aren't you?"

"You don't even know." She smiled.- 173 -

After Cassidy received her change, they left the restaurant and Adrian drove herhome. She got out of his car and waved him goodbye, until he rolled down thewindow.

"Don't forget about tomorrow."

She frowned. "Oh, yeah."

"I'll pick you up?"

Cassidy shrugged. "Might as well, I don't know where this party is at."

"Alright, see ya." Adrian drove off into the night and Cassidy walked up to herhouse, going inside.

"Let's get wasted tonight!" A guy shouted at the top of his lungs, raising his bearcan in the air.

"YEAH!" The people in the house cheered, raising their alcoholic beverages in theair.

Cassidy stood stark in the middle of the party, looking on at the scene in horror. Itwas the fist thing she heard since entering inside, and she knew she made thebiggest mistake by coming here. Why did she have to say yes to Adrian's request tocome with him to the party?

She could've said no and went to the play by herself. What was she doing atanother party again! Adrian was nowhere to be seen once they got to the party andCassidy didn't want to go looking for him. She knew it would be impossible andbesides, he might be "going at it" already since he complained to her of hisneglected sexual needs.

However, Adrian met up with his friends at the back of the house who werealready getting thoroughly trashed. Chris Fields glanced at him curiously, taking asip of his beer.

"Aren't you supposed to be with your friend?" He asked amusingly as the guysaround the circle chuckled.

Adrian rolled his eyes, taking a sip of beer. "There's only so much I can take. If I

- 174 -

spend another second with her, I might shoot myself."

"What did she do?" Terry asked curiously.

Adrian glanced at the guys and noticed their attention was focused somewherebesides his "friend" dilemma. "She took me to a fucking play last night." He hissedirritably.

Terry stifled a laugh. "That Macbeth one right?"

"Yeah."

"I heard about that. They were giving away free tickets at school because theirsales were low," he explained.

"No wonder, it was boring as fuck."

Terry shrugged. "You got to do what you got to do if you want to get her to likeyou."

"She told me I was hot last night."

"Really?" Terry raised an interested eyebrow. "What else?"

"And that despite my looks, she still doesn't like me." Adrian rolled his eyes.

"At least you know she likes your physical appearance. Sooner or later, she'lldevelop feelings, you'll see."

"I hope you're right. I'm starting to have doubts."

"That's not surprising, Cassidy is hard to please. She has been sheltered her wholelife and her parents are crazy."

Adrian snorted. "Yeah, tell me about it. I went inside her house and it was like Iwas walking into the seventies."

"You went to her house?" Terry asked in surprise. "When?"

"Well, long story short, she ate your cake that you guys spiked and I helped herbaked ass throughout the whole night. She invited me inside, but nothinghappened."

- 175 -

Terry nodded, taking a sip of his red cup. "At least she trusts you enough to letyou in her room."

"No, she was actually high when she did that."

"Well, you still got in, despite whatever mental state she was at."

"Whatever," Adrian replied uncaringly. "I just want this to be over with. I'malready tired of this friendship shit."

"Then what are you doing out here? Go and do something about it."

"Cassidy, do you want something to drink?" Kathleen asked.

Cassidy hesitated, looking at her friend Kathleen. She was saved at the partywhen she found her friend wandering in the kitchen, looking for something to drink.Cassidy has clung to her side ever since.

"I don't know... My last drinking experience didn't go too well and I don't want arepeated performance."

"Just have a glass of wine or something. I'm sure you'll be fine and besides, Ninaand I are here. We'll look out for you."

"Then who's going to look after you while you guys drink?"

Kathleen paused to think, laughing. "I have no idea."

Cassidy sighed. "Yeah, so I'm pretty much on my own."

"Pace yourself, Cassidy. Don't go overboard, alright?" She advised.

She rolled her eyes. "I learned my mistake. No more shots and no more AdrianLennox."

"Good," she smiled and poured Cassidy a glass of chilled white wine. "Enjoy."

She handed her the glass and Cassidy took it, sipping on the alcoholic beverage. Itwas potent and sweet with a bitter alcoholic after taste, but it was still good. Wineseemed like a safe choice of beverage to drink and it wasn't as stale as pure alcohol.

Cassidy continually took sips as she was at Kathleen's side, listening to her- 176 -

converse with the other party guests. She turned to the others who were having adifferent conversation and decided to listen in.

"Ok dude, serious question." The guy asked gravely, holding his hand out. "Whatwould you choose? Cheese or sex?"

Cassidy's eyes widened at the insanity of such a stupid, disgusting question, buthis friend answered nonetheless. "That's easy bro, cheese."

"Right on."

The two slapped hands and Cassidy had the urge to slap them both in the face forbeing so stupid. Both options were ludicrous and Cassidy felt more disgusted thanever before. Was sex all men ever talked about or was on their minds? She tunedthem out and sighed.

Cassidy was bored and the only thing that made things even a little bit interestingwas the glass of wine in her hand. It wasn't having any sort of affect on her and forthat, Cassidy was grateful until someone took her by the arm and led her away fromKathleen's group.

She looked up to the person who invaded her space and saw Adrian, lookinggorgeous in his black blazer.

"You're seriously drinking wine? At a wild party like this?" Adrian askedincredulously.

"Yes, so what?"

Adrian shook his head, smirking. "You have much to learn, my innocent one."

"Stop calling me that and I'm not yours." She snapped, taking a rather long sip ofwine and letting it go from her lips. She exhaled softly, swishing the glass.

"Great legs," Adrian replied, smirking as he took a sip of his beer.

Cassidy looked at him incredulously, staring down at her jean clad legs. "What?"

He pointed to her glass. "The wine, it has great legs."

"What does that mean?"

- 177 -

He placed his beer on the counter and gestured for her to give him the glass. "Letme show you."

Cassidy gave him her glass cautiously and he took it, swishing the wine in theglass slowly. "See how the wine runs down at the side of the glass when I swish it?"He pointed to a trailing area and she nodded, puzzled. "That's a leg, it's a fancyword for wine drinkers."

"What is it suppose to mean?" She asked, genuinely interested.

"It has a high alcoholic content." He smirked, drinking a swish of his beer andhanding her glass.

Cassidy shook her head in denial. "But this is wine. There's no way that it couldget me drunk."

"Wine is an alcoholic beverage and it still does what any other alcoholic drinks do.It will get you buzzed or if you drink more than one glass, you're wasted."

"I don't want this anymore." Cassidy said hastily, leaving the glass on the counterfor somebody else to grab.

Adrian smirked, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "Great, let's take a shottogether."

"NO!" She exclaimed firmly, throwing his arm off. "I'm not taking anymore shots.It plagued me with a bad experience."

"Come on, it's just one. What's that going to do?" Adrian asked in a pleading tone.

"Get me drunk and make even worse mistakes than before!" Cassidy exclaimedstrongly.

Adrian rolled his eyes. "You know that you want to relax and let free. It's been astressful week for all of us. So just let go."

Adrian was right. This whole week consisted of nonstop studying and Cassidydidn't give herself time to breathe or do other activities. Her back was knotted withstress and she longed for a relaxing time to just be worried free. Though, Cassidydidn't know if alcohol was the right choice to give her that type of relaxation.

Cassidy hesitated. "I-I don't know." - 178 -

Adrian held her by the shoulders, staring into her eyes gravely. "Cassidy, it's justgoing to be one, I promise. What's that going to hurt?"

Cassidy sighed, looking back at Adrian.

"GO! GO! GO! GO! GO!"

Cassidy slammed her shot glass, exhaling heavily from the burning liquid thattrailed down her lungs to the pit of her stomach. Everybody cheered them on, givingthem slaps on the back as they finished the entire bottle of tequila together.

She didn't know how many shots she had, but once they had the first one, it allwent down hill from there and she couldn't stop herself. Adrian sucked on his lemon,winking at her from the side. Once he was done with his, he handed it over to her.

"We're out of lemons, so have mine."

Cassidy took it and sucked it dry, tossing it on the table as she shook off hercurrent floating state. The only time she was relaxed and at ease was with a shot oftequila.

Adrian chuckled, leaning close to her. "How do you feel?"

Cassidy grinned, wrapping an arm around his waist. "Great."

"You sure are. You never touch me like that sober." He said happily, wrapping anarm around her waist as well.

"I'm a different person when I'm drunk," she answered, smiling. "If I was soberright now, I would kill you."

"Well, thank God for that." He laughed.

Cassidy stared at him, feeling her mouth drying up. She didn't know why, but shefelt the urge to be more affectionate than she normally would be sober. Alcohol wassome sort of love potion that could result in either bad or good affects, usuallyending in bad.

For her, Adrian and alcohol were in turn, bad and it just so happened that she waswith both at that moment. Why couldn't she learn from her mistakes? Adrian easily

- 179 -

tempted her and she gave in, again. But that didn't bother her right now. Cassidywas relaxed and didn't have a single worry in her head.

Adrian caught her stare and matched one of his own, running a tantalizing handdown her arm. She resisted the urge to shiver and felt his fingers lightly rub againsther own.

"A-Adrian?" Cassidy slurred confusingly.

"Come here," he said softly, grabbing her hand. "I want to show you something."

Adrian led her out of the kitchen and from the crowd towards an empty hallway.He chose a door at random and once he opened the door, he went inside and shutthe door. Cassidy furrowed her eyebrows, looking around the dark empty room.

"W-What did you want to show me?"

Adrian leaned towards her, inching closely to her lips with his hot breath againsther face. Cassidy felt dizzy as she stumbled nervously and fell to the floor in herdrunken stupor. Adrian laughed at her clumsy movement, hovering over her.

"Are you ok?"

Cassidy pressed her head against the floor to ease her pounding headache. "No."

"Here," he replied, making her rise her head to him. He extended a hand out forher to grab.

Cassidy grabbed it and Adrian lifted her up, stumbling a few steps backward untilhe held her shoulders to stop her. "Easy."

He brought her over to sit on the bed that was present in the room and Cassidysighed, lying back. Adrian lounged beside her, keeping his head up by his elbownext to her head. She stared up at the ceiling, willing herself not to look at thedangerously good looking boy next to her until she felt his nose skim the length ofher arm slowly back and forth.

His lips briefly touched her bare shoulder, making her shudder from his softmovements. Adrian started to kiss her neck, trailing down the length to her collarbone. Cassidy's eyes fluttered closed as she bunched the bed sheets against herclenched fists.

- 180 -

Her body felt heated, especially after the large consumption of alcohol she tookand the twist of her stomach whenever Adrian lightly touched her made herbreathing come short.

Adrian hovered over her and stared into her eyes as she looked back at him,unabashed by his heated gaze. He leaned over and went back to his previousministrations by lightly sucking at her neck. Cassidy was too busy breathing heavilywhen she heard a light zipping noise and then, a hand grabbed hers.

She let her hand be directed all the while Adrian pressed kisses around her neckto her jaw and her hand felt a soft material. He settled her hand against his bulgingcrotch then slipped it inside, working her fingers against it since she was stillinexperienced.

She held it in her hand and Adrian sucked air when he ceased his light kisses. Hebrought his head back up to look at her and before she knew it, his lips were inchingtowards hers. Cassidy's breaths were becoming hard and short, anticipating thedrawl of their lips finally coming together until a thought struck her heavily.

"Wait," she protested strongly, making him stop.

"What?" Adrian asked, sounding a little irritated.

Cassidy gave him a disbelieving look, feeling her mind clear up from its cloudedintoxication. "We're friends! We can't do any of this!"

"Then why is your hand still on my dick?"

She breathed in sharply, hastily removing her hand from his pants and sitting upfrom the bed. He followed the action with a sigh, looking disappointed. She glancedat him shortly, turning her head away when he caught her stare fromembarrassment.

"I thought we were friends." Cassidy said softly.

Adrian sighed deeply. "I can't do it anymore."

"Why?" She asked, craning her neck sharply to him.

"No friend has urges to fuck another friend." He revealed honestly, gesturing tohis peeking erection. "Get the picture?"

- 181 -

Cassidy felt her eyes began to heat up with tears. "Why? Why me? Why nobodyelse?"

He shrugged. "You're the only girl I've spent with the longest without having sex."

"Can't that change?" She asked with hope, blinking her tears away so he wouldn'tnotice.

"As of right now, I don't know."

Cassidy bit her lip. "I don't want to stop being friends with you," she paused inthought. "Is there a way that I can help you out?"

Adrian began to smirk slyly, facing Cassidy. "I can think of a few."

"Not sex related?" She posed her question differently.

"No."

Cassidy sat there in silence, trying to rid her clouded alcohol mind to be moreserious, but she couldn't. The alcohol was settling on her stomach and giving her aweird twisted feeling inside.

"Listen Cassidy, I'm sure there's ways that we can work things out, but for rightnow, let's just have fun and-"

Before Adrian could finish his thought, Cassidy leaped out of the bed when she feltthe bile rise in her throat and found the bathroom door. She ran over to the toiletseat and retch all the alcohol from her system, heaving and spewing some more.Cassidy heard footsteps from behind and felt Adrian's hand rub her back, urging tothrow up some more so that she would feel better.

After vomiting what felt like her guts out, Adrian flushed the toilet and broughther over to the sink to wash her mouth and face.

Adrian sighed, watching her dry herself off with a cloth. "I should've known not tolet you mix drinks. You had a lot of that wine, didn't you?"

Cassidy frowned, nodding her head.

"You'll remember next time." He only replied.

- 182 -

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder to guide her over back to the room.Adrian lifted the covers of the bed and helped Cassidy slide inside, bundling her tokeep warm. He turned his back on her to leave, but Cassidy grabbed his wrist.

"Wait, please stay," she urged softly.

Adrian sighed, nodding his head as he came around to the other side of the bed.He uncovered the bed sheets and slid next to Cassidy, adjusting his head on thepillow. Cassidy turned to face him, laying her head on his shoulder.

"Will you promise me one thing?"

"What?"

She closed her eyes, letting out a sigh. "Don't tell my parents."

A/N: Hey guys! Here's another chapter! Lots of alcohol swarming around in thischapter lol. SO what does everyone think? I'm pretty excited that everyone likes it sofar! Both fp fans/watt pad fans. Thanks for the support! Hope you guys have a niceweek! :)

- 183 -

The Corruptor of Innocence

Chapter 11: Corruptor of Innocence

The sun shone directly on her closed eyes and she turned her body to the side toignore it. She hit against a soft pair of limbs and felt the warmth instantly seepthrough her skin. Cassidy snuggled deeper into the blankets, throwing an armaround it.

She felt it move underneath her and it groaned, turning over which left Cassidy'sdead arm sliding down lower. Her hand caught something stick and uprooted. Byher half conscious self, her hand explored the area by giving it a test squeeze inwhich she heard a sharp hiss fill the silent air. Cassidy's eyes flew open and shelooked at her side to see a sleepy Adrian wincing in pleasure, obviously still in adream.

She gasped audibly, disposing her hand from his private part and Adrian furrowedhis eyebrows. He cracked open an eye and looked around, appearing confused. Hisgaze traveled to Cassidy and once he noticed her in bed, his eyes widened. At thesame time, Cassidy's eyes widened on accord and they both shot upright from thebed.

Cassidy's mouth opened to scream, but her body got caught up in the twist ofsheets from sitting up to quickly and momentum seemed to hurl her off the bed. Thesheets entangled with her and she grunted when she landed on the floor in a heap.Cassidy threw the sheets off her and found Adrian looking above on the bed, a smirkon his lips.

"W-What's going on?" She asked alarmingly. "Why are you in my bed?"

Adrian rolled his eyes, laying his head on the pillow she slept on. "This isn't yourbed, Cassidy. It's the guestrooms."

She gaped, searching the room as it dawned on her. The memories of last night hither like a bus and the pulsing headache came within its wake. She held her head inher hands, groaning.

"Hung over?"

"Yes," she replied sharply, gritting her teeth as she shot a dark look at him. "And

- 184 -

it's all your fault. You got me drunk."

He held his hands up in surrender. "Hey, I only told you to take one, not seven."

"But you encouraged it." She argued strongly.

"The crowd did, not me."

She gaped at him incredulously. "It was a spectacle?"

"Amongst the drunk college students, yes, but who's to say that they willremember? We were all trashed. It was a great party." He replied uncaringly, lyingback down as he scratched his defined abdomen.

Cassidy watched his movements clearly, taking a close look at his athletic build.He wasn't as big as Terry was, but he sure had a nice tone. She would think thatwith all the alcohol he drank that he would be a little chubby, but he wasn't.

Adrian looked like he burned off the calories at the gym and she realized that thiswas her first time seeing him semi-undressed. Her face began to heat up from thatfact and when he noticed her silence, he turned his head to look at her.

"Are you staring at me again?"

"N-No!" She exclaimed, outraged.

Adrian snorted with laughter. "I'm too tired to argue," he yawned.

"Good because I wasn't staring!"

Adrian rolled his eyes, sitting straight up on the bed and rubbing his weary eyes."Sure, Cassidy," he stood up from the bed and Cassidy's wandering gaze traileddown his chest to his-

"OH my GOD!" She cried out in overwhelming shock, hiding her face behind theblanket.

"What?" Adrian replied in confusion.

"Y-Your t-thing!" She stuttered with alarm and embarrassment, keeping her eyesdown. "It's-!"

- 185 -

He looked down at his expanded boxers. "Oh, well what do you know?" Hechuckled. "My best friend has decided to come out to play."

Cassidy wrapped the blanket tighter around herself, her eyes trained on the floor."Keep it away from me!"

Adrian laughed harder. "If I recall, you weren't so shy last night."

Cassidy shot her right hand out from the blanket and looked at it in horror. "Notagain," she muttered in denial and shock.

"It's true. You couldn't keep your hands off of him last night. I'm starting to thinkyou like him more than me."

She shrieked, darting into the bathroom and immediately turning the faucet on.She poured a large amount of soup into her hands and she scrubbed themvigorously under hot water. Adrian's laughter traveled into the bathroom where hewatched her with amusement.

"You're really paranoid." He commented.

"Leave me alone." Cassidy replied harshly, concentrating on her hand washing.Her eyes glanced at the mirror and Adrian's crotch was in full view. "And whileyou're at it, contain your arousal. It's disgusting."

"Hey, you were the one that took a grab at it this morning." Adrian leaned upagainst her back and her breath leaped out of her throat. He grabbed her hips,molding his front to her back. "Why don't you finish the job?"

Cassidy felt something stick at her side and she shrieked, pulling away from him."I don't need this right now."

"Well I do," he replied strongly, watching her dry her hands off a rag. "I'm at thepoint where I can get an erectile dysfunction."

She glanced at his crotch quickly and looked at him, her face growing red. "Well,it looks like that won't be happening anytime soon. You're clearly up and ready to goall the time."

"That's because you make me hot with your good girl acts. It's like a librarianfantasy." He responded huskily, advancing towards her.

- 186 -

She shot a dark look at him, taking a step back. "It's not an act, this is who I am."

Adrian rolled his eyes. "As long as you're around me, that will all change. I've beenaround too many good girls to know that."

"So you think I'm going to throw away my morals and saint hood just because youthink your bad boy persona is going to affect me?" She snorted, crossing her arms."It's not happening. Not today or tomorrow, not ever."

"Then why are you so easily tempted by me?" He asked, smirking. "No good girltouches a guy's penis."

She wrinkled her nose, revolted. "I was under the influence of alcohol and thereasoning part of my brain was affected."

"You still knew what you were doing though."

"It doesn't matter what you say, Adrian. I know myself and I'm positive that if Iwas sober at the time, it wouldn't have happened!"

"I'll make you want me, just you wait." Adrian said surely with a proud smirk.

Cassidy, who was fed up with his constant vulgar talk and smug attitude, glared athim. "Have your parents taught you nothing about treating a girl with respect andgiving her personal space?"

He scoffed, his smirk fading away. "They didn't teach me shit."

"Then what have they done that's beneficial?"

He smirked and looked at the mirror, admiring his looks. "The only thing I owethem for is making me look so damn good."

"Wow, that didn't sound conceited." She replied sarcastically.

Adrian looked thoughtfully at himself in the mirror. "Yeah, it didn't."

"You're such a narcissist." She said with disgust.

He shrugged, turning to her. "If you have the looks, why bother hiding it?"

"There's a thing called an ego, have you heard of it?" - 187 -

Adrian snorted. "Better that than having zero confidence."

"You are the most self-centered man I have ever met."

"Than why bother being friends with me?"

Cassidy stared at him for a moment as her mind replayed to last night'sconversation. She thought it was a dream, but it seemed all too real now with theway he was acting. "So, you don't want to be my friend?" She asked accusingly.

Adrian shook his head as if she was crazy. "I never said that."

"Yes, you did, last night. I remember." Cassidy replied strongly with conviction.

He rolled his eyes. "I was drunk, Cassidy."

"But you said a drunk man's words are a sober man's thoughts."

Shit, she got him there. Adrian gazed at her for a second, not knowing what toreply.

Cassidy narrowed her eyes into a glare, finding the answer in his silence. "Don'tlie to me, Adrian."

"Ok fine, what I said last night was true." Cassidy was about to boast, but he heldhis hand up. "But that doesn't mean anything."

She scoffed. "How does it not mean anything? It makes so much more sense nowwith the way you've been going about our so called friendship! You didn't even careat all!"

"Yeah, I didn't." Adrian replied simply, shrugging his shoulders. "But you got togive me credit here, Cassidy. This is my first time at a female friendship. I don'tknow how it works."

Cassidy stared at him in disbelief. "It's easy! You treat it like you do with your guyfriends, but less forceful! It's not that hard to figure out."

"Since when are you an expert? If I recall, you don't have a male as a friendeither." He countered skillfully.

Cassidy pursed her lips in silence, staring anywhere but Adrian's face and bulged- 188 -

crotch. Adrian laughed harshly at her, leaning against the wall. "That's what Ithought."

"You think you're so wonderful, don't you?" Cassidy snapped, suddenly becomingenraged. "Well, listen here pal, I don't care about being your friend anymore! You'rerude, insensitive, and vulgar! I'm so sick of hearing your sexual comments, but mostimportantly I'm sick of seeing your dick sticking from the inside of your pants!"

"I'm a man, it can't be helped!" He shouted back equally.

"Why don't you control yourself then!"

"You think it's so fucking easy? Try having an erection in the middle of class andnot being able to leave the room because the evidence is below the pants. It'sfucking embarrassing!"

She scowled. "It's not my fault you get off on the smallest things."

Adrian shot a dark look at her. "You're such a prude."

Cassidy scowled. "Well, you're an egotistical, foul mouthed loser who can't thinkabout anything else besides sex all the time!"

She huffed, turning to leave and Adrian followed her from behind, hot on herheels. "At least I've been with someone. All you've experienced is two drunkennights with me that didn't even pass second base. You're an uptight virgin who is asnaive as someone with Alzheimer's."

Cassidy stopped and whirled around violently, shooting daggers at him. "I'm sorrythat I'm not like all the sluts that you've been with. I don't give myself away for onenight and give it to someone else the next."

"Oh right, because you're saving yourself for marriage?" He mocked in a lighttone.

She narrowed her glare. "I have morals Adrian, unlike you. I'll wait until I'm withthe person that I love and who I know I'll be with in the future."

"What, at the age of thirty?" Adrian teased harshly.

Cassidy's anger boiled up and she contained all the emotions she felt in order notto strangle him. "Well, I know for a fact that I won't be alone like you. Nobody wants

- 189 -

a guy that's not willing to commit."

"And why would I want to be involved with someone?" He said rhetorically in abitter tone. "I'm still young and I have my whole life ahead of me, why do I want agirl ruining all that for me?"

"Women don't ruin anything. At the most, all they do is help and be a caretaker forthe one's they love." She defended strongly.

"No, they get in the way of everything like future aspirations, what I want towatch on TV, my single status, or choosing what I eat. I don't want that in my life.Girls are only good for one thing."

"What?" She hissed through gritted teeth.

He smirked suddenly, sensing the rage in Cassidy as she struggled to keep heranger in. "To stick my dick in."

Cassidy snapped and kneed him in the gut, receiving a heavy groan from Adrianas he fell to the floor on his knees. He clutched his stomach painfully, lowering hishead and Cassidy refocused on what she has just done. She couldn't contain heranger anymore when Adrian kept pushing her to her limit. Cassidy never resorted toviolence, but Adrian was really pulling every nerve from left to right.

Cassidy started to panic about what she just done and when she was about toextend a hand out to Adrian, he raised his head up to her brutally.

"You fucking bitch!"

Cassidy gaped at him, appalled, but most importantly furious with his derogatoryremark referring to her. "You're such a bastard."

She whirled around and walked out of the room before Adrian yelled after her. "Bythe way, that play you took me to on Friday night fucking sucked!"

Cassidy turned to face him for a brief moment, her eyes dark. "Good! I'm glad ittortured you to watch it!"

She left him there on the floor while he continued to complain about his abdomen,but most importantly his groin. It seemed that when she kneed him, she not only gotpart of his stomach, but his erection. Cassidy didn't care though because she knewthat he deserved it.

- 190 -

He was cold hearted and an egotistical snake that had his good looks only goingfor him. She felt proud of herself for handling the situation, but she couldn't help butfeel hurt. Adrian messed with her and their friendship, trying to play it off like hecared for her.

He was a heartless being and Cassidy vowed that this was the last time that shewas ever going to see him. There was no way in hell she was going to come acrossAdrian Lennox again.

Cassidy's phone rang and she picked it up, glancing at the caller ID. "Hey Nina."

"Cassidy, where the hell are you!"

She frowned at her angered concern, getting out of the house and walking to thesidewalk. "I'm still at that house from the party last night."

Nina sighed in relief. "Good, I'm coming to pick you up. There's something youneed to know."

The phone went dead and Cassidy looked at it in her palm, trying to figure outwhat she meant. Not too soon, Nina pulled up at the sidewalk and Cassidy hoppedin, glancing at her. She got out of the neighborhood and drove in silence beforeCassidy questioned her.

"What's going on?"

"First tell me what you did last night," she replied firmly.

Cassidy sighed deeply, sinking in her seat. "It was a big mistake, that's all there isto it."

"Adrian again?"

She nodded. "But this time we were arguing not too long ago and he called me abitch."

Nina winced slightly, frowning. "I didn't think he was that rude."

"Well, his true side definitely showed this morning. I'm glad I found out now thanlater." She paused, glancing at her. "What did you want to tell me?"

Nina bit her lip, giving her a sidelong glance. "Your parents called. They wanted- 191 -

to know where you were at so I told them you slept over at our dorm. Well, bad newsis that they actually came and when they found out you weren't there...all hell brokelose."

"Shit!" Cassidy exclaimed, banging against the car door in frustration. "What am Igoing to do?"

She shrugged. "I don't know Cassidy, but they told me to find you and bring youback home."

Cassidy groaned, burying her head in her hands. "I'm so dead."

Nina reached to Cassidy's house and when she went inside, it was silent. Sheclosed the door and took a few steps inside, looking around to find nobody. Cassidywas about to go upstairs, until the stern, sharp voice of her father cut through theair.

"Cassidy, come to the family room."

Cassidy felt her heart pound furiously against her chest, awaiting the trouble thatwas about to be bestowed upon her. Her fear showed greatly on her face when shecame into the room and saw her father casually sitting on the couch, reading thenewspaper.

Once he saw her come in, he folded the paper and set it down on the coffee table.Cassidy stood up with her hands wringing behind her back, feeling like a prisonerabout to get punished.

"You weren't at Kathleen and Nina's dorm." He stated calmly.

She swallowed hard, nodding. "I know."

"Where were you then?" He asked calmly, shooting shivers down her spine fromthe fear that was about to unleash.

"I was at a party last night and-and I stayed the night over there." Cassidyresponded with a quivering voice.

"And why were you at this party?" Larry asked strictly, leaning back against thecouch.

Cassidy searched around to find the aid of her mother, but she was nowhere in- 192 -

sight. There must be a good reason for that because her father would think that shewould cloud his judgment upon punishing her.

"I-I went because it was a friend's birthday and-"

"Do not lie to me," he cut her off sharply, pointing a warning finger at her once hecaught the lie clearly from her face.

She gulped nervously. "I was at a college party."

"Were there alcohol and\/or drugs present at this party?"

"Yes."

"And were there boys also present?"

She exhaled a shallow breath. "Yes."

"And did you interact with any of them?"

Cassidy nodded slowly, feeling her stomach drop. "Yes."

"Did they kiss you?"

She shook her head. "No."

"Did they try to kiss you?"

She gulped. "Yes."

Larry nodded, reaching for his newspaper. "Ok, that will be all."

Cassidy gaped at him, her eyes widening. "You mean that's it, no punishment?"

"Oh no, your punished all right." He replied shortly.

She frowned. "Ok, what's my punishment?"

Larry glanced at her from his newspaper, putting it down. "You are not to indulgein any of these college parties and\/or activities again. You're restricted from goinganywhere besides school and if I hear that you are in close proximity of a maleagain, than I will send you to St. Mary's."

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"St. Mary's?!" Cassidy exclaimed, outraged. "But dad, that's an-"

"All women's college, yes, it's pristine and has an upstanding education. Theyconduct their students well and practice greatly upon moral behavior."

Cassidy swallowed hard, swaying from her spot. "So how long is this punishment?"

"Oh, well until you're married of course." Larry answered simply.

She gaped at him in shock. "DAD! You can't do this to me! It was just one time!"

"What will happen to all the other times that I let you run wild, huh? I cannotcondone your unruly behavior, Cassidy. You need to be disciplined and this is theonly way for you to be under control."

"Dad, please. I haven't done anything that you disapprove of. I'm still keeping upmy high marks in school and I have not engaged in sexual behavior!" Cassidydefended.

Larry narrowed his eyes. "Cassidy, I have given you your punishment. There willbe no further arguments."

Cassidy opened her mouth and closed it, having nothing to say. Her father wouldnot listen to her and if she continued to argue more, the punishment would begreater. If worse came to worse, she would be sent to St. Mary's. She stifled ashudder and went upstairs to her room, forcing the tears away. Her cell phone rangand she answered her, holding in a sob.

"Cassidy, what happened?"

"Nina, it's really bad," she sniffed. "I'm not allowed out of the house besidesschool."

I heard her gasp. "What? He can't do that! You're at the legal age for Pete's sake!He can't keep you cooped up in there."

"He doesn't care. As long as I'm under his roof, it's his rules."

Nina sighed. "I'm sorry, Cassidy. I should've tried to keep them away, but-"

"Don't worry about it. It's my fault. If I didn't stupidly join Adrian and his drunken- 194 -

antics, I wouldn't be in this place right now."

"Is there anything I can do?"

Cassidy sighed heavily. "There's nothing nobody can do."

Adrian hissed as his abdomen made contact with the wall on his way to the couch.After Cassidy kneed him in the gut and part of his dick, he ached for a few minutesbefore feeling ok. Now that he clumsily ran into the wall, this morning's encountersbecame fresh in his mind.

Sure he didn't mean to be that cruel, but Cassidy provoked him enough to revealthe dark part of him. It barely showed, only making rare appearances, but whenCassidy didn't stop her insistent bickering, he snapped which made her becomeviolent. He couldn't believe that she just kneed him like it was no big deal. No girlever laid a finger on him. Cassidy was a ball full of fury.

Adrian yawned from the scarce hours of sleep last night and lied on the couch. Hewas about to shut his eyes before the doorbell rang.

He groaned, sitting upright and grumbling on his way to the door. He opened itand saw a petite girl with brown short hair. She looked familiar to him, but he justcouldn't place her. Adrian rarely could place any of his women so she must be on thelong list of his.

"Yeah?" He said, giving her an obvious once over.

The girl was built, but not overly and she had tan skin. She was pretty cute andAdrian wondered if he actually did hook up with her. Her small stature would'vemade it hard for him to have sex with her since he completely towered over her.

The girl glared at him out of nowhere and he looked at her in shock. It was not asight that he saw on a woman's face, unless it was on Cassidy Gordon's.

"Hello corruptor of innocence."

Adrian furrowed his eyebrows, pointing to himself. "Are you talking to me?"

"You are going after Cassidy Gordon, aren't you?"

- 195 -

He narrowed his eyes, puzzled. After this morning, he didn't think so. "What's it toyou?"

"I'm her best friend this has everything to do with me," she snapped.

Adrian studied her closely, matching her features with someone else he knew."Are you Nina, Terry's cousin?"

She blushed, surprised that Adrian of all people knew her name. "Yes."

He crossed his arms. "Well, then your wasting your breath. I'm done with CassidyGordon."

"I know I heard." Nina commented, stepping inside without being invited byAdrian.

He shrugged, shutting the door and following her to the sitting area. Nina satopposite to Adrian, looking around the room in thought while he tried to figure outwhy she was here, but then his thoughts led back to her cousin

"Terry's not here." Adrian revealed. "He's at work and won't be back for a fewhours."

Nina gave him a confused look. "I'm not here to see Terry."

"Then what are you doing here?" Adrian asked somewhat harshly, thinking ofanother reason of her current presence. "I'm sorry, but I don't fuck around with myfriend's family members. It just gets messy."

Nina stared at him in disbelief, shaking her head. "She was right. You are anasshole."

Adrian lounged on the couch, cradling his head on his hand. "Ahh, the words ofCassidy Gordon herself."

"You want to know why I'm here?" She asked rhetorically, glaring at him. "Youmessed with my best friend's life and I'm here to straighten your ass out."

Adrian snorted with laughter, unaffected. "Your cousin might kick my ass, but Ihighly doubt you can. Plus, I don't involve in physical activity with women in thatsense."

- 196 -

"I can't believe I ever thought you were hot." Nina shook her head in disgust."You're every bit as ugly from that cocky personality you've got."

He rolled his eyes in a tired manner. "Save me the woes, I get it. You and Cassidyare exactly the same, except for the whole innocence thing. You're kind of like anuntamed tiger." He winked suggestively and she looked at him oddly.

"Right, moving on." She replied, clearing her throat for a strict approach. "I haveyou know that Cassidy is under lock down because of your insistent need to push herto alcohol. You may have the limits from the obvious looks of your excessivepartying, but Cassidy doesn't which is why she is in trouble."

"From who?" He asked uncaringly, yawning a bit.

"Her parents, she answered, scowling at his laid back attitude. "Her dad said thatshe couldn't go anywhere besides school until she's married."

Adrian chuckled at the fact. "Only twelve more years to go," he mockedenthusiastically.

"Do you think this is funny? Because I certainly don't." Nina snapped. "This is herlife, Adrian and you ruined it for her. Now she can't do anything because her fatheris so damn strict."

"It would've happened sooner or later," he suggested offhandedly.

"No it wouldn't!" She argued back. "We overused the excuse of her staying thenight at our dorm and when her dad actually came down to check, I knew she wasdone for."

"What is up with this guy anyways? Is he like some patrol cop?" Adrian wondered,referring to Cassidy's father.

"No, actually he's a former criminal lawyer, but now he's in real estate." Sheinformed him.

"So he's a woman?"

Nina gave him a dumb look. "Real estate isn't a women based job."

Adrian rolled his eyes. "Whatever, this guy would definitely be good friends withmy father."

- 197 -

"Why, is he a psycho too?" Nina wondered aloud.

He narrowed his at eyes at her suspiciously. "You could say that."

Nina sighed. "So, I'm guessing you don't care about Cassidy's predicament?"

Adrian shrugged indifferently. "It's not my fault that she's stuck with a father likethat. I suggested her to move out like I did, but apparently she only needs him forfinancial security."

"How else is she going to pay for school?" Nina countered.

"Get a job," he answered flatly.

She snorted. "That wouldn't cover even half the costs."

"Well, I guess she's screwed then."

"Yeah and on her way to St. Mary's." Nina mumbled under her breath.

Adrian furrowed his eyebrows curiously. "What is St. Mary's?"

"An all girl's college out of state. If she screws up one more time, her father issending her there."

He whistled from the extremity. "Talk about restriction," he said. "She was on herway to becoming a lesbian anyways."

Nina narrowed her glare. "You don't care about anything do you?"

"No."

"How do you even have friends?" She asked in disbelief.

"You ask them." He answered plainly.

"Are you always a jackass?"

Adrian shrugged. "Depends on what mood I'm in."

Nina grabbed her purse from the couch, standing up swiftly to leave. "You'reunbelievable."

- 198 -

He rolled his eyes. "I hear it once, I hear it again."

She stopped her walk, turning to face him. "You know, Cassidy was actually happythat you said you wanted to be her friend. She let you into her life, her home andthis is how you repay her? By being smug and arrogant without a care in the world?"

She paused, shaking her head in disappointment. "I'm glad she's done with you. Ican't imagine the damage you would cause with a poor innocent girl like her. Youcorrupt people and toy with their feelings. It's not a game to anyone, Adrian, it'ssomeone's life."

"Jesus Christ, I haven't done anything yet!" Adrian exclaimed in outrage as heleaped off the couch, flailing his arms out.

"Yet is the keyword in that sentence."

She walked out of the door and slammed it forcefully, making the windows shake.Adrian fell back onto the couch, gaining a headache from the friend of CassidyGordon who was equally as crazy. What the hell was he thinking, trying to get intothe pants of a prude all the while her friend and even his are hounding his ass. Wasthis shit even worth it anymore?

"She's right you know."

Adrian groaned, slapping a hand to his eyes. "Oh God, not you too."

Jase came around to sit in Nina's vacant seat, looking serious. "You decided thatyou wanted this from the beginning and now you have to finish it."

"What the fuck?" Adrian exclaimed, removing his hand. "Are you with me or her?"

Jase shrugged. "Neither. I'm just giving you my opinion."

He gritted his teeth. "I can do without it."

"That's fine, but I'm going to give it to you anyways." Jase replied, pausing. "Youwanted the virgin, I let you have her plain and simple. You let things get out of handand now you're in the shit hole. Are you already giving up just because of a minorsetback?"

"Do you think I give a shit about Cassidy? So what if she's screwed because herown father is a hard ass, she needs to deal with it. I never got the good end of the

- 199 -

bargain either."

"Well, you and Cassidy are the same." Jase revealed simply.

Adrian scowled at the idea. "In what sense?"

"I may not know about your problems with your dad, but I kind of have an idea.It's not too opposite of Cassidy's either."

He narrowed his gaze. "Ok, so what? What are you trying to say here, Jase?"

"I'm saying that even though you got out of your situation, Cassidy can't." Jasenoted in a hinting tone. "You see what I'm saying."

Adrian's eyes widened in recognition. "I don't know if I-"

"Think about it." Jase stood up, pausing. "Before you change your mind."

He walked out of the room and left Adrian on the couch, confused and still angry.

Cassidy slowed chewed her food, bowing her head at the dinner table. It was asilent meal all due on Cassidy's part. She was on punishment and her parentsweren't going easy on her. They were close to their last straw when Cassidy hasbeen constantly going out. It didn't seem like that much to Cassidy, but ever sinceher rare absences at home, her parents have been hard on her.

A situation like this has never happened to her before. Cassidy was always thegood, obedient daughter who never argued or said a bad thing. However, at thispoint, her past behavior has shown how much of a disappointment she was being inher parent's eyes and herself.

Cassidy was changing despite what her friends thought. Adrian was harming thegood girl side of her and Cassidy didn't like it. She supposed it was for the best thatshe got punished and had that heated argument with Adrian this morning. Noweverything could go back to normal and she would go on with the rest of her life.

The doorbell rang and Cassidy's head shot up from the table, curiously looking ather parents. They both glanced at her and to themselves, clearly not knowing whatto do. Nobody rang or called during dinnertime, it was forbidden and especiallyunheard of at their home. But now they have a visitor and Cassidy stood up to

- 200 -

answer it.

"Sit down." Larry ordered strictly.

Cassidy sunk in her chair slowly, frowning at the table. She always got to answerthe door and now her dad was punishing her on that privilege.

"Jenny, if you please." Larry asked kindly.

Jenny nodded, rising up from her chair and walking over to the front door whichwas close by. Cassidy looked on as her mother opened the door and kindly smiled atthe visitor. She saw a confused frown spread across her face and unconsciously,Cassidy stood up and walked over to see what was going on. Her father apparentlydidn't care because he was doing the same thing and once they got to the door,Cassidy's eyes widened.

A man with rimmed glasses, a sweater vest over a long sleeved dress shirt andblack slacks appeared at the door way with a kind smile.

His appearance was nerd looking and his hair was tamed at the side in aprofessional manner. Cassidy opened her mouth, but no words came out. She wasutterly speechless, until the man spoke.

"Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. May I take the time tointroduce myself?" He asked politely, continuing once they nodded their confusedheads.

"My name is Adrian Lennox and I have been involved with your daughter for thepast month."

A/N: Hey guys! Crazy chapter right? I bet your mouths are hanging open :) Hopeyou guys like it. Thanks for fanning!! I'm glad you all like it!

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The Uninvited Guest

Chapter 12: The Uninvited Guest

Cassidy's jaw dropped in horror as her parents glanced at her. She panicked,knowing she was completely screwed. This was it, the last straw. She might as wellgo pack her things and be on her way to St. Mary's. Adrian just made everything tentimes worse.

Her father was going to kill her, especially with Adrian's vulgar behavior about tobe known at any moment. She didn't want her father to know about him, she tried toget him away from the beginning and now he's ruining her hard work!

"D-Dad I don't know what he's talking about. I've never seen him before in mylife!" Cassidy denied strongly with an urging look to her father who appeared aboutready to unleash his fury upon her.

Adrian chuckled, straightening his rimmed glasses on the bridge of his sleek nose."Oh, Cassidy, it's ok don't be scared. I'm here to set your dad straight on someinteresting facts about us."

"Us?! There is no us." She hissed vehemently, giving him the most malicious look.She was going to strangle him and then kill him and perhaps throw him in a ditch tobe done with him.

Larry cleared his throat and Cassidy froze, swallowing hard. She saw him take astep in front of the door way, studying Adrian intently. Adrian stayed cool andcollected, offering him a kind smile. Cassidy felt the rapid nervous beatings of herheart and her hands trembled at her sides.

"You say you've been involved with my daughter." Larry stated calmly, narrowinghis eyes. "Would you elaborate on your meaning of involved in that sentence?" Heasked, trying to keep the anger out of his tone.

"Yes, sir, I would love to." Adrian replied coolly, showing off a great smile. "I amthe president of the fundraiser\/charity club at our university. Cassidy wasinterested in what we had to offer and I gave her the necessary details on our club.She has been attending every single meeting and I came here to tell her on what agood job she's done with the drunk driving event we did this weekend."

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"This weekend?" Larry repeated, puzzled.

Adrian nodded. "Cassidy was a part of a college party that occurred last night.There were copious amounts of alcohol and intoxicated college students runningwild. Cassidy got to observe the behavior of a teen under the influence alongside myteam. We educated them on the harmful effects of drinking and driving and heavilyencouraged the use of a designated driver. If they are unable to find one, we haveour own designated driver hotline that they could reach which is free of charge."

He paused before continuing. "During our stay at the college party, things got atad bit out of hand and some guys tried to become intimate with Cassidy. Though, Iwas the one who ward them off and she was saved from there lecherous acts. Weended up staying the night at the place because some of my team were driving theintoxicated college students home and we wanted to ensure their safety. It was avery long night of hard work, but everyone got home safe and sound."

He smiled brightly for added measure and Cassidy glared at him. The onlylecherous man at the party was him and he did nothing to save the day. Adrian wasan evil snake who could only conjure up lie after lie.

Larry looked at Adrian in thought, becoming silent. Cassidy glanced at them backand forth, wondering what the outcome of the situation was going to be. She clearlynever joined a club and what Adrian said was all a lie. She didn't know how muchdeceit her father could take from her.

"Our club looks good on a resume for future references and we do a lot of charityevents." Adrian added, seeing the unresponsive look on Larry's face. He continuedto try and sway him a bit more. "If you think what I said wasn't credible enough foryou sir, I have my card alongside the event pamphlets in my car for you to-"

Larry held his hand up to stop him, which he did and then he turned to faceCassidy. She gulped nervously and saw the slight confusion in his eyes. "How comeyou never told us you joined a club at school?"

Cassidy opened her mouth, unable to speak a word out. "I...I..." Her voicequivered as she glanced at Adrian nervously. He shot her a tense, knowing look andher eyes traveled back to her father's. "I didn't know you would approve."

"Why wouldn't I approve of you joining a charity club?" Larry inquired, like it wasthe craziest thing he's ever heard.

She hesitated, keeping her eyes from looking back at Adrian. "B-Because it takes- 203 -

up most of my time and I'll rarely be at home."

"But Cassidy dear, you still should've told us. We were absolutely worried aboutyou this morning." Jenny expressed with concern.

Cassidy nodded with understanding. "I know mom and I'm sorry for causing youboth the trouble. I should've come clean from the first day."

"Were you afraid to tell us about the college party you were studying?" Larryinquired.

"Yes, I didn't want you to get upset with me because I know how you are aboutcollege parties." She replied, going with the lie since he believed what Adrian said.

"Now do you see the dangers in them?" Larry said knowingly.

She nodded. "Yes, dad it was a good learning experience and I assure you, I willnever go to one again."

"Good, I'm proud of you." He smiled.

Cassidy saw a glimmer of hope and she snagged the opportunity before it fell fromher fingertips. "Does this mean I'm not punished anymore?"

Larry looked over at her closely. "We'll see, but for now let's go back to dinner."

"Oh gee, did I interrupt you supper?" Adrian said guiltily, placing a hand on hischest. "I'm terribly sorry."

Cassidy and her parents both glanced at Adrian simultaneously, forgetting hispresence briefly. She opened her mouth to send him home, but Jenny gave him abright, courteous smile.

"It's not a problem. Please come in and join us." Jenny coaxed kindly, gesturing forhim to come inside.

Adrian stepped in, giving her a smile in return. "Thank you."

"Was it Adrian?" Jenny inquired, puzzled.

He nodded. "Yes ma'am."

- 204 -

They walked into the dining room while Cassidy stood there, shock and positivelymortified. Why was Adrian eating dinner with them, but most importantly why washe here to begin with?

"Cassidy, dear is there something wrong?" Jenny asked, noticing her absencebehind them.

She shook her head, following them back to the dinner table to continue theirdisrupted meal. Jenny grabbed an extra plate from the cupboard for Adrian and hesat beside her at their circular table. Larry and Jenny were engaged in smallconversation before Cassidy twisted her neck bitterly to him.

"What are you doing?" She asked rather harshly in low tone.

Adrian furrowed his eyebrows, pointing to the food on his plate. "I'm eating."

"No, I meant what are you doing here." She stretched the word for him tocomprehend.

"Oh, I came to meet your parents." He answered shortly, forking through hisgreen beans.

"I didn't invite you to come over."

Adrian shrugged. "I know, I invited myself."

Cassidy glared at his casual selfishness. "What are you trying to do?"

He smirked, coming out of disguise. "Nothing, you need to stop worrying and gowith the flow."

She opened her mouth to rudely comment back, but her father interrupted them.

"So, young man, what year are you at?" Larry asked, genuinely interested.

"I'm a sophomore sir." Adrian answered.

"What's your field of study?"

He hesitated, bringing his fork down. "I have yet to come up with a firm decision."

"Oh," Larry replied, rather disappointed by the fact. "What are your interests?- 205 -

Law? Engineer? Political Science? Medicine?"

Cassidy saw Adrian's sitting form tense at the latter and found it odd. "Uh no sir,at the moment, I'm trying to broaden my horizons and explore what the universityhas to offer. I'm taking classes to further my studies and hopefully I will find aparticular interest in one of them."

"Smart man. Always taking the cautious approach and not getting too hasty.That's what I like." Larry noted in satisfaction.

"Really?" He replied with surprised raised eyebrows. "My father doesn't seem tothink so." Adrian revealed unconsciously, widening his eyes slightly from the slip upof information. Cassidy was shock from the sudden fact and stored it for later.

"Well, as fathers we want what's best for our kids. I'm sure he's doing the same."Larry reassured him.

Adrian nodded, appearing tight. "Yes, I suppose."

"What are your hobbies, young man?" Larry asked, not noticing his rigid posture.

Adrian relaxed, smiling. "Oh, well I have many, sir. I enjoy the outdoors, running,being involved in school affairs and-"

Sexual activity, Cassidy added in thought, glaring at his supposed good nature infront of her father when she knew it was all a lie.

"Reading." Adrian finished, giving him a smile.

Larry smiled in return, obviously pleased about his choices. "You seem like a goodman, Adrian, but I have to be honest." Adrian nodded understandingly, giving himthe go ahead, but he appeared nervous. "I don't know if I like you being around mydaughter."

Adrian met Cassidy's gaze and he turned to look at Larry questionably from whichhe continued. "Us being males, we have certain urges that are hard to contain. Idon't want my daughter exposed to that."

Adrian looked at him with relief, obviously expecting the worse. Cassidy grabbedher water glass and drank, wanting to be out of the current topic of conversation. Itwas embarrassing enough for her father to reveal this in front of anyone, but moreembarrassing in front of the notorious playboy at school. Larry had no sense of

- 206 -

privacy when it came to Cassidy, though that didn't stop Adrian from responding.

"Oh, not to worry sir," he grinned, placing his hands neatly on his lap. "I'm avirgin."

Cassidy choked on her water, coughing from the burn of her throat. She poundedher fist to her chest to relieve the ache that started to build up. Adrian stifled achuckle and looked at her with concern, touching her shoulder.

"Are you ok?" He asked in a worried tone, noticing how she shuddered from histouch and moved away from it.

"Cassidy, please contain yourself. We are in front of a guest." Larry instructedsternly.

Cassidy nodded, taking a quick sip of water to cool her throat and looked awayfrom Adrian's amusing gaze. That had to be the worse lie he had ever came up with.He couldn't keep it in his pants for one hour!

"So, you're a virgin?" Larry asked again, sounding interested.

"Yes sir, I believe that one should be able to be intimate with their partner whenmarried." Adrian answered simply, eating a piece of his green beans. She narrowedher eyes at him, knowing he was using her line.

"I like your morals, young man." Larry replied, glancing at Cassidy. "Maybe youcould show my daughter a thing or two about them."

Adrian smiled, glancing at her as well. "Oh, I'll definitely show her. That is, if she'swilling to learn."

Cassidy gulped, feeling the rough pounding of her heart against her chest fromAdrian's comment. It was clear to her that he was talking about something else. "I-Ialready know the basic values and beliefs to be a righteous person. The lesson wouldbe unnecessary."

Larry chuckled. "She is a good girl."

"Indeed." Adrian agreed, a glint of lust in his green eyes.

Cassidy caught the look with a shallow breath and she suddenly stood up from herchair, collecting her plate. "Well, I'm done. I'll just wash this p-plate and...ok."

- 207 -

She rushed out of the dinner table before anything else could be said and shebreathed a sigh of relief when she entered into the kitchen. Adrian was foolingaround with her again and she couldn't take the intensity, even when it was donebefore her parents.

Cassidy disposed the dish in the sink and started to scrub slowly, listening in onher father and Adrian's conversation. Adrian was a smooth talker and with the wholelook he presented himself with that night, it made Cassidy become bashfuland...nervous. Why did she feel this way? It wasn't as if Adrian was actually a nerd,even if those glasses did look good on him.

The whole look was something she was attracted to immensely and she figured hewore it only for her parents to gain their approval. Well, he actually succeededbecause the laughter echoing in the kitchen showed it all. Cassidy's father wasusually wary around males who were around the same age as her.

So why was Adrian any different? Sure, he lied about his virginity status and saida bunch of other lies that Larry liked, but that didn't mean anything. He was still aboy and her father didn't like her around them.

After Cassidy placed her dish in the rack to dry off, she wiped her hands off apaper towel.

"Hey."

Cassidy inhaled a sharp breath and turned to see Adrian leaning against thecounter by the sink. She held a hand to her chest, breathing deeply. "You scaredme."

He smiled sheepishly. "I didn't mean to."

Cassidy looked over at him, throwing her moist paper towel in the garbage can."Becoming buddies with my father?"

Adrian chuckled, shrugging. "You could say that."

"What is your purpose for coming here tonight?" Cassidy asked again, her tonestill harsh.

Adrian sighed. "Look, I get it, I screwed up. I made you get into trouble and it's allmy fault. I'm sorry."

- 208 -

"You're w-what?" Cassidy said with astonishment from his apology.

He rolled his eyes, knowing himself that his prideful nature hindered him fromgiving out an apology, but he knew what he did was wrong. "I said I'm sorry, abouteverything. I'm sorry for calling you a bitch. I just got so angry and I didn't mean it."He paused, his expression softening. "I want to be friends again, that is if you wantto."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "What makes you think I want it after everythingyou said to me?"

"Because deep down, you love me." Adrian chuckled as she rolled her eyes. Hethen looked at her seriously. "And I want to make things right with you."

Cassidy eyed him suspiciously, placing a hand at her hip. "If I take you to anotherplay are you going to lie about liking it for my benefit?"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "No, I'm sure I'll give you a straight answer and tobe honest, I don't think I'll come."

Cassidy nodded in satisfaction, looking at him up and down. "Why are you dressedlike that?"

"Oh this?" Adrian said, pulling the sleeve of his sweater vest. "I wanted to get youout of trouble with your parents and if that meant dressing up as a nerd, then it'sworth it."

Cassidy formed a small smile, giving him a short nod. "Thanks, even though youprobably didn't like looking like that."

He shrugged. "It's grown on me."

"Good because I like it." Cassidy mentioned absentmindedly, beaming at him.Adrian smirked and her smile faded, noticing the minor slip up. She groaned,slapping a hand to her forehead. "Oh great, I'm not going to be able to get out ofthat one, aren't I?"

"Nope." Adrian replied proudly.

Cassidy chuckled shortly, leaning against the countertop. She looked at him insilence, a question on her mind. "So, how did you come up with that lie?"

- 209 -

"What lie?" He asked confusingly.

"You know, how you said you were the president of a charity club and you had allthese pamphlets to prove it."

Adrian furrowed his eyebrows, puzzled. "That wasn't a lie."

She looked at him, equally confused. "Wait, what?"

"I am the president of our charity club at school." He explained, pausing. "Didn'tyou know?"

"No, I didn't." She denied profusely, suddenly realizing that she didn't know muchabout Adrian at all. Just like the time she didn't know he had a job at the restaurantshe went to on her "first" date. "I'm so confused."

"I run the school's charity club and though I may have lied to your father aboutthe drunk driving event, I was generally being truthfully except for the virgin part."

"Yeah, anybody besides my parents can see through that one." Cassidycommented with a laugh, pausing as she raised an eyebrow. "Why do you run thecharity club? You don't come off as charitable to me."

He chuckled, not affected by her comment. "I did it because I was bored and itlooks good on a resume. Oh and there's always hot girls joining."

She rolled her eyes, unsurprised. "Of course."

"Why don't you join?" Adrian asked suddenly.

Cassidy looked at him, stunned. "Uh me? I-I don't know..."

"Yeah, come on. I already told your dad that you were apart of it. Might as welljoin right? And besides, you don't want to actually lie to him. It would be bad enoughif he found out someway and then you'll surely find your way to St. Mary's."

Her eyes widened incredulously. "H-How did you know about St. Mary's?"

"Nina brought the wrath of hell to my apartment earlier today when she told meyou were in trouble. She was trying to guilt trip me."

"Did it work?" - 210 -

Adrian paused in thought, slowly nodding. "Yeah, in some way it did."

"Are you going to treat me like a real friend now?"

He smiled slightly. "I'm going to try and now that I know what your parents arelike, I'll be more cautious in the future." He paused momentarily. "Why, does thatmean you're willing to give me another chance?"

Cassidy began to smile at him, shrugging one shoulder. "It's worth a try since youcame here to save me from punishment."

"Are you in the clear?" He asked curiously.

She frowned faintly. "I don't know, I hope so."

"Me too," he replied wholeheartedly. Cassidy smiled at him, sensing his change ofbecoming a real friend to her now. He was trying to help her and she was grateful ofthat.

"So, what's the verdict on the club join?"

Cassidy deliberated for a moment, shrugging indecisively. "I'll think about it."

"Alright, but if you want to see what it's like, we are going to have a booth set upon Monday. You should check it out." He suggested.

Cassidy nodded. "Ok yeah, I'll come."

"Great."

A rough cough interrupted their conversation and they both turned their heads tothe doorway where Cassidy's father stood. He glanced at Adrian and Cassidy, thedistaste on his expression from the close distance to where they were standing at inthe kitchen. Cassidy took a step back, her face flushing as she lowered her head tothe floor.

"I came here to see if you two would like to join us in the family room." Larry saidsternly, narrowing his strict gaze on Adrian. "But I see that you are alreadyimmersed in deep conversation."

"Oh, it was nothing sir. I was just reminding Cassidy of a very important eventwe're having at school on Monday." Adrian explained simply.

- 211 -

"Right...well we'll be in the family room. Join us."

Adrian nodded, glancing at Cassidy as she followed her father out the kitchen.Though it didn't sound like an order, Cassidy knew it was. Adrian came along as welland they both sat themselves in the family room where Jenny was reading one of herknitting books. Larry sat in his one piece sofa and Adrian and Cassidy shared aloveseat of their own, staring at him.

"Before we go off into conversation, I have something I need to bring up again,just to be clear." Larry started, looking at Adrian serious. "Are you intentions withmy daughter pure?"

"Yes sir, one hundred percent." Adrian answered firmly.

Cassidy held in a snort, wanting to roll her eyes at the lie. Adrian was anything,but pure and so was his intentions for her.

"I'm usually very wary around men when it comes to my daughter, especiallyaround your age, and I don't want her to fall into these college activities, you get mydrift?"

Adrian nodded surely. "Completely."

"Then you know if I find you in any sort of immoral act around her or anywhereelse, I'll have to notify your parents of the severity of these actions." Larry saidsternly.

Adrian, now looking uncomfortable, nodded his head once again without saying aword.

"My daughter is not to be meddled with in any sort of way. And if your parents willnot come through with punishing you in what I see is not right, than I will youngman because believe me I have many connections with the district court and-"

"Larry! You're scaring the poor boy!" Jenny intervened, seeing Adrian rub theback of his neck in discomfort. "He's just a friend of Cassidy's."

Larry nodded, still looking grave. "Right, well you know what I mean, so don't tryanything because I know how you young men are nowadays."

"I assure you sir, my interaction with Cassidy is one of a friendly nature, nothingelse. Your daughter is in good hands." Adrian replied, clearing his throat a bit.

- 212 -

"Good, that's what I like to hear." He responded strictly, continuing with a lightertone. "So, young man, do you play any sports?"

Adrian smiled in relief, fixing his glasses on the bridge of his nose as he told Larrythat he liked to run track and play a little soccer. Cassidy couldn't believe that herfather was so accepting with Adrian, despite his long list of threats.

Though, Cassidy never brought a boy home that was a friend for her parents tomeet so she didn't know how they would act towards it. But seeing her father nowwith Adrian, he treated him like any person that he met which was with kindnessand interest. This was the side of her father that Cassidy adored because he lovedmeeting new people and knowing their full story.

Cassidy watched their interaction with interest, staring at Adrian the majority ofthe time. The way he looked, especially with those glasses against his green eyesstarted to make her feel weird inside.

Nerd or business looking men always attracted her and she couldn't help but stareat the one next to her. Why did he have to wear a nerd-like outfit? Yes, it was part ofhis theatrical performance for her parents, but it was starting to have an affect onher that she didn't like.

He's usual bad boy look attract many, but it did nothing to her. She admitted itlooked good on him, but what was on the outside was clearly written on the inside.Arrogant bad boy out, same within.

But now, this look, this new look on Adrian caused her stomach to flip in ways itnever had before, especially with the intelligent words he was exchanging with herfather. How come she never knew he had an extensive vocabulary?

Usually his words consisted of profanity and slang which completely turned her offfrom the level of stupidity. However, he spoke of an intelligence that compared tohers. How was that possible? He acted completely opposite to Cassidy and proved itto her in the way he carried himself at school. Though, Cassidy concluded it must bepart of the act and he was just trying to impress her father.

Later on, Larry called it a night and Adrian did as well, saying he had things to doat his apartment. The two shook hands and Larry gave him a friendly pat on theback. Jenny went up to hug him, doting on how good of a boy he is. Rolling her eyes,Cassidy stood there until her parents were done saying bye to him. They walked himto the door and Cassidy stepped outside, receiving a confused looks from all three.

- 213 -

"I'm just going to walk him out to his car." Cassidy answered, shruggingcarelessly.

Adrian gave one last goodbye before walking with Cassidy down their stone stepsto his red car. Cassidy glanced at him a few times, a smile creeping its way up.

"You really surprised me tonight."

Adrian looked at her, a smile at his lips. "How?"

"The way you talked, dressed, and acted." She clarified, stopping her walk whenthey reached his car. "It was like I was seeing a different person."

"I'm going to take that as a good thing." Adrian laughed softly, pushing his glassesback a tad bit which made Cassidy's smile grow. "I am sorry about crashing in onyour dinner with your parents. I know you told me how overprotective they are and Isure got a glimpse of that tonight. You certainly didn't lie about your father beingstrict."

"Yeah, he's one of a kind." Cassidy replied, pausing. "I know he's really intense,but he just cares about me a lot. Most dads aren't like that."

"Yeah..." Adrian trailed off softly, not commenting further.

Silence enveloped them and Cassidy tried to think of something to say so that shecould talk to him for a little longer. "Thanks for coming over anyways, even though Iwas a bit harsh to you in the beginning."

"No problem, just helping a friend out."

Cassidy nodded, smiling at how natural he was now sounding when he referred toher as a friend.

"So uh... see you tomorrow?"

"You can count on it."

He smiled. "Goodnight."

Adrian climbed into his car and lowered his window, waving to Cassidy as he spedout of their neighborhood. Cassidy gazed at the rear of his car and felt...unsettledfor some reason. He said goodnight to her, what else did she want?

- 214 -

Cassidy headed back inside her house, yawning as she was about to go upstairsuntil their front lights turned on. She whirled around and saw her father, standingthere in his nightwear.

Inwardly, she sighed from the lecture she knew was about to come. "Dad, wedidn't do any-"

"I've thought it over Cassidy and I realized how strict I was on you earlier aboutyour punishment." Larry said suddenly, making Cassidy shut her mouth.

"You know that I love you and I want you to be protected at all times, especiallywhen I'm not there. So hearing that you were at a college party did nothing toassuage my feelings for it."

She nodded in understanding, silently letting him continue on.

"However when that boy Adrian came over and explained the reasoning behind it,I've grown more accepting. So, I would like to tell you that your punishment hasbeen dropped-" Cassidy's jaw dropped in surprise and before she could dancearound in joy, her father continued to speak.

"-and for future references, please tell me where you are at and where you will begoing at all times. There's nothing worse than not knowing where your child is whenthey've told you where they will be staying previously."

Cassidy nodded in comprehension, holding a blank face. "I assure you next timewill be different dad. You won't be disappointed."

"Good," Larry smiled, pulling her into a hug. "I don't mean to treat you like a child,but I just don't want you to be hurt."

"I know." She replied softly, looking up at her dad. "Sometimes, you can get tooextreme though."

"Sorry, I'll try and tone it down a bit." He noted. "Now, get to bed."

Cassidy went to her room and jumped around, holding in shrieks of joy. Her fatherleft her off the hook, she was now officially free and she can do whatever she wants!Except she did have to notify her dad of her locations. But that didn't bother herbecause she wasn't on lockdown and Adrian helped her out of it.

He was starting to act like a real friend and what he did tonight...words couldn't- 215 -

describe how grateful she was. Cassidy felt that as his friend she would have torepay him back, but how? She could join his club, but first she would have to seewhat it was like on Monday.

Cassidy walked to school the next day in a good mood, surprisingly anxious to seeAdrian. Ever since last night, she had a different view about Adrian. He was sweet,caring, and a good friend. Cassidy couldn't wait to tell him that her punishment hasbeen dropped. He would be very happy about it as she was last night.

Cassidy was on her way to the location of their booth when Adrian told her of thedirections which was near the student union. She could see it in the far center andhad to narrow her eyes to get a clear glimpse. Swarms of students surrounded it andit seemed very popular. Adrian was surprisingly good at what he does, attractingmany people to his booth when usually people had only a few come up to see whatthey had to offer.

Cassidy got up close and something made her walk slowly from her quick pace.The booth was painted pink with words that made Cassidy gasp in horror.

Adrian saw her from a distance and hollered her over, showing a bright smile.Cassidy moved her robotic legs towards the booth and her frozen expression madeAdrian laugh.

"So, how do you like it?" He asked curiously, handing a passerby a pamphlet.

"Please save the ta-tas, we want something to hold?" Cassidy repeated in anincredulous manner, showing him her disbelief.

Adrian chuckled. "I know I came up with the line. It's catchy, aint it?"

"No! It's offensive and deplorable!" She exclaimed.

He frowned faintly. "It's breast cancer awareness month. We are trying to savewomen and their breasts by fundraising for them. There's nothing offensive aboutit."

"The charity part of it, no, but the slogan is horrible!" Cassidy expressed, watchingthe women from the sidelines of the booth with their low cut shirts for everybody tosee their assets.

- 216 -

"Nobody else seems to think so."

She rolled her eyes. "That's because they're all airheads!" Adrian scowled andCassidy sighed, softening her expression. "What happened from last night?"

"What do you mean?" He asked confusingly.

"The you from last night." Cassidy rephrased, frowning a bit. "The one who savedme from disaster and who was so kind to my parents."

Adrian chuckled, giving her a dumb look. "Cassidy, come on. I was acting for yourparents, that's not really who I am."

"B-But," She stuttered, at a loss for words.

"Disappointed?" He smirked.

Cassidy turned dark, nodding. "Yeah, actually I am."

"Don't be. I helped you out didn't I?" Cassidy didn't reply, feeling down. "Are youfree?'

"Yeah." She replied softly, lowering her gaze.

"Well, then there you go." He said smugly, grabbing his chart. "Now, what do yousay about joining our club?"

Cassidy glared, glancing down at the offensive slogan once more, wondering whythe administration didn't object to it. "I changed my mind. I don't want to anymore."

Adrian rolled his eyes. "Fine, but don't come crying to me when your parents findout."

"Why would I want to join a club that has something like this displayed? I'm betteroff joining another one."

"You could join that club, full of Asians." He gestured to the booth across fromthem, receiving a few students that passed by. "I'm sure they would welcome youwith open arms. You guys can compare grades or whatever people like you do."

"You know what? Maybe I will. It's better than being in a club like this which onlyconsists of partying and not the purpose of the event itself."

- 217 -

Cassidy turned her heel, stomping away towards the group that Adrian suggested.They looked like a nice group of people and their club was similar to Adrian's,except less benefits. She stood in front of there booth and waved.

"Hi I'm Cassidy Gordon. Uh, are you accepting members?"

A petite girl with long black hair and brown eyes smiled at her, nodding her head."Yes, would you like to join our charity club?"

"Yeah, this seems better than that one over there." Cassidy pointed to Adrian'sbooth at the front with glaring eyes.

"Oh...them?" The girl replied, her eyes wide. "Their club receives more funds atevery event than ours."

"Well, maybe I can help." Cassidy smiled.

The girl frowned faintly. "Yes maybe you could, but I don't think anything wouldwork. Our club isn't as eccentric or free spirited as they are."

The club members glanced at the group and Cassidy did one more time to seegirls taking off their tops and showing their bra clad chests for everyone to see. Shegaped, mortified. Adrian pumped his fists in the air, holding a microphone to hislips.

"In five minutes, we are going to open an auction for every bra displayed on theline wire and those girls will receive a date with the bidder. Every bid goes tocharity so come and sign up! Time is running out!"

Cassidy's eyes bulged in horror as she saw the girls unclipping the backs of theirbras and handing them to Adrian. He accepted them with a full blown out smirk andhis eyes strayed on each chest. She couldn't believe it! Throwing a charity event thatwas supposed to be respectable to women ends up being degrading!

Cassidy balled her fists and turned to the club she was signing up for, noting howthe guys of the group were staring longing at Adrian's club.

"So, am I in or what?" Cassidy asked, rather harshly to the petite girl.

She nodded in terror from her harsh tone and extended a hand out. "My name isSharon, welcome to our club."

- 218 -

Cassidy shook her hand shortly, nodding her head. "Thank you, but I have to gosomewhere for a second. Is that ok?"

Sharon nodded again. "Yes, of course."

Cassidy stalked away from the group, heading towards Adrian's with fiery in hereyes. She would certainly give him a piece of her mind. Once she was through withhim, he would certainly take down this stupid auction that he proposed.

Cassidy reached up to the booth and found her way standing in front of Adrian. Helooked at her with amusing eyes. She gritted her teeth, opening her mouth tosplutter insults. "Adrian you are such a-"

"Disgusting pig!"

Cassidy whirled to her side to find a beautiful girl with long blonde hair and bluesparkling eyes. She wore a low cut pink top with a short jean skirt, having the tonedslim figure to show it all. Adrian's eyes widened surprisingly at her, assessing thegirl top to bottom. The girl obviously didn't like it because her arms were crossedand she tapped her shoe impatiently.

"Finished?" She snapped.

"Oh wait," Adrian replied, keeping his gaze a moment longer on her chest andthen finding his amusing eyes back to hers. "Ok, now I am."

"What kind of guy are you?"

He smirked. "Your kind."

She scoffed, flipping an unwanted hair to her shoulder. "This booth is insulting towomen, you know that? Breast cancer isn't a joke and you're parading aroundwithout a care, giving it an offensive title!"

Cassidy's jaw dropped at the girl, suddenly liking how fierce and energetic shewas. Cassidy was glad that she wasn't the only girl that felt Adrian's antics wereshameful.

"What's your name, baby?" Adrian said huskily, taking a sensual step towards her.

She glared at him. "Not important enough for you to remember."

- 219 -

"Of course I would." He said softly, twirling a finger around a blonde strand. "Nowwhat is it?"

She slapped Adrian's hands away, pulling her hair back. "It's Laura."

"Laura," He tested huskily, smirking. "I like it."

Laura shook her head. "You don't fool me playboy, I know men like you."

Adrian regarded her coolly, twirling the microphone cord in his hand. "I don't fitin a category, I'm one of a kind."

"I'm sure you are."

Cassidy watched their exchange, noticing the glint of lust in Adrian's eyes and thehatred in Laura's. Adrian didn't even notice Cassidy, which made her feel left outand unimportant. She frowned, wanting to gain his attention for some weird reason.Weren't they friends?

"Listen Laura, why don't you come out with me after I'm done with my duties atthe booth? We can enjoy a nice lunch and than test out my bed, what to you say?"

Laura took a step closer, leaning close enough to kiss him. "I say don't push yourluck." She pushed back his shoulder and walked off with attitude, making Adrianturn back to watch her.

Adrian whistled, smirking in satisfaction. "Definitely going to tap-"

"Adrian?" Cassidy called softly, trying to get his attention.

Adrian whirled around and saw Cassidy, forgetting that she was there. "Oh, hey.What's up?"

She frowned, knowing his attention was solely on the sultry blonde. "Nothing."

"What do you think of that girl? Laura?" He smirked as he said her name. "Think Ican get her?"

Cassidy shrugged uncaringly. "I don't know."

Adrian didn't seem to care for her response as he was in his own little world,staring off from a distance. "I'm going to chase that girl until she wants me." He

- 220 -

mumbled, mostly to himself.

Cassidy frowned, noting how his expression was full of determination. Hadn't hewanted her before they were friends? She couldn't help but feel replaced, but didn'twant this? Not to be seduced by Adrian?

Cassidy was conflicted with her thoughts until she saw Adrian walk off withoutsaying goodbye like she was nobody.

A/N: Seems like Adrian's got a new love or lust interest! Thanks everyone forreading/commenting. It means a lot!

- 221 -

The Replacement

Chapter 13: The Replacement

Cassidy stared off into the distance, watching Adrian get into Laura's personalspace as he tried to put the moves on her like he did with Cassidy not too long agoat school. It's been a week and Adrian has stopped any further contact from hersince Laura got into the picture.

He's been trying to get her to want him and she still wasn't budging whichCassidy was surprisingly happy about. This Laura was not like any of the ones thatAdrian went after and it was nice to know there were some girls out there who couldresist the temptation of Adrian Lennox.

Still, it made Cassidy upset that Adrian rarely acknowledged her anymore. It waslike the past month meant nothing to him and their friendship has taken a hiatus orperhaps, a complete stop.

She waited for him to come up to her or act like the jerk that he was, but he didn'tdo anything. Cassidy didn't know what to feel about the situation. She was tornbetween being happy that she was free from him and hurt because he dropped herlike she was nothing.

"Cassidy?"

"Hmm?" She raised her eyes, meeting the gazes of Nina and Kathleen.

Nina glanced in Cassidy's former gaze and saw Adrian intimately close to ablonde. "Why are you staring at Adrian?"

"Oh, uh it's nothing." Cassidy replied uncaringly.

"It has to be something when there's this sad, depressed look in your eye."Kathleen mentioned. "What did he do this time?"

Cassidy let out a dry laugh from her lips. "It's nothing, can't you believe that? It'sjust that..."

"What?"

- 222 -

"I'm replaced," she admitted, glancing at the blonde who was now walking awayfrom Adrian.

"Replaced?" Kathleen knitted her eyebrows, looking at the blonde as well. "Ithought you didn't care about Adrian and his conquests?"

"I don't, but he's ignoring me and we're friends now. Real friends." She repeatedclearly, sighing in frustration. "I don't even know why I care. I should be happyabout this right?"

Nina gaped, staring at her in shock. "Cassidy, do you have a crush on him?"

Cassidy snorted in disbelief, uttering a laugh. "That's crazy! How could I ever likea guy like that? No, never."

She sighed in relief. "Good, just checking."

Ever since Nina bombarded Adrian with questions about Cassidy the other day,she has grown a fond distaste for him. Sure she still thought he was hot, but Ninathought he was a manipulating jerk. Cassidy couldn't agree more.

"Adrian is my friend. I mean, he finally was when he was at my house. He actedlike he truly cared about our friendship, but now I'm beginning to think it was all alie." Cassidy explained, sighing.

"Why don't you talk to him about it?" Kathleen suggested, glancing back at thescene with Adrian as Laura walked away from him without looking back. "It lookslike the girl finally left."

"I don't know..."

"Just go Cassidy and get your answers." Nina pressed, rolling her eyes.

Cassidy sighed, standing up from her seat. "Alright, alright, I'm going."

She left her two friends and strolled towards Adrian by himself, immersed into hiscell phone on a bench. For once, Cassidy felt nervous to approach him which wasstrange.

Adrian always did the approaching and she couldn't wait to get rid of him. Butnow? It was different. She wanted to see how he was doing and what the deal waswith that girl.

- 223 -

Cassidy took a few more cautious steps towards him and finally she was hoveringabove him, her shadow casting on his sitting form, still not noticing her presence.

"Adrian?"

"Yeah?" He replied without looking at her, typing away in his phone.

Cassidy cleared her throat a little, a hint to get his full attention, but his eyes werestill on his electronic. "Uh...what are you doing?" She asked casually, deciding totake the small talk approach.

"Nothing," he responded shortly.

Cassidy shuffled in her spot, leaning against one leg. "I haven't seen you in awhile."

"Uh huh."

She almost gritted her teeth, forgetting that she despised his uncaring responses."Where have you been lately?"

"Home."

Now Cassidy did grit her teeth, becoming frustrated. As the silence grew and theonly sound that was being heard was Adrian typing away in his phone, she thoughtof something that could get his attention in an instant.

"I have something to tell you." She said softly, trying to keep the anger out of hertone.

"Ok."

Cassidy glared at his head, rolling her eyes. "I just wanted you to know thatI...that I..." She sighed under her breath, unbelieving of what she was about to say."I want to have sex with you."

Adrian's head shot up with wide eyes. "WHAT?"

"Finally," she replied in frustration. "It seems that using the word sex around isthe only way to gain your attention."

He glared at her, obviously not liking what she did. "Of course it's going to get my- 224 -

attention, especially if it's a prude like you. That was uncalled for."

"Well, you weren't paying attention!" She exclaimed in mild anger. "You were onyour damn phone the whole time! Which by the way is extremely rude whensomeone is trying to talk to you."

"What the hell do you want Cassidy, I'm busy." Adrian replied, annoyed.

Cassidy almost frowned, taking the tone of his voice personal. He never spoke toher in that way and it unsettled her. "You know what, forget this. I'm done."

She was about to walk away, but Adrian clasped his hand on her wrist. "Wait, Ididn't mean for it to come off that way." He practically forced her to sit down next tohim on the bench and she glared at him.

"Am I really just an annoyance to you, Adrian? Someone that you can't just wait toget rid of?" She questioned, her anger growing.

"What? No, who said that?" He asked, confused.

"I don't know you ask me." Cassidy replied heatedly. "I'm getting that vibe fromyou."

He rolled his eyes. "Cassidy, you know you're not an annoyance."

"Then what am I?"

"A friend," he replied simply, narrowing his eyes. "Didn't you want it that way?"

"Yes, but your not exactly acting like a friend should."

"Ok then," he leaned his back on the chair, folding his arms. "How should a friendact if you're so knowledgeable in this field?"

"They should-" She stopped herself, glaring at him. "You know what, I don't wantto waste my words on you. You should already know without me having to tell you.

Adrian rolled his eyes, casually leaning his head against his hand. "I'm a guy. Wereally don't know about these things."

Cassidy stared at him, deciding to give him the benefit of the doubt. It wasn't hisfault that he was born a male that lacked the obvious feelings towards any given

- 225 -

situation.

"Ok, well a friend should-"

"Laura!" He leaped out of his seat and ran towards the blonde who was seenwalking in a strict direction.

Cassidy almost shrieked, cursing Adrian of his short attention span and his typicalmale mannerism of not listening. Laura ignored his call and Adrian stopped in herpath. Cassidy got up and walked towards him, wanting to berate him of his illmanners.

"Come on Laura, just one time." Adrian urged, giving her a lustful look.

Laura crossed her arms, lips pursed. "Adrian, I told you to leave me alone. I won'thave sex with you."

Cassidy's jaw dropped in her direction, glancing back at Adrian. So, he was doingwhat he always did with girls which were trying to persuade them into his sexualtendencies.

Cassidy rolled her eyes. "Adrian, you heard the girl. Leave her alone."

Laura sighed in relief, glancing at Cassidy. "Thank you."

"I told you I'm not leaving, Laura. I won't stop until I had you." He took a stepcloser to her, earning a step back from her.

"DO you honestly think about sex all the time?" Laura exasperated to him.

"Yes." Cassidy and Adrian answered at the same time, gaining a look from Laura.

Cassidy flushed, jabbing a finger to Adrian. "I meant him, not me."

Laura laughed, smiling at her. "It sounds like you know from experience." Sheeyed Adrian curiously, looking back at her. "Has he done anything to you?"

Her cheeks burned as Adrian smirked. "N-No. He's done nothing. I just know howhe is with girls."

"Oh...What's your name?" Laura asked.

- 226 -

"Cassidy."

She smiled, extending out a hand. "I'm Laura."

Cassidy took her outstretched hand, shaking it. "Nice to meet you."

"You too." They both let go and Laura studied her closely. "Hey, aren't you in myEnglish class?"

Cassidy's forehead wrinkled in thought, trying to place her. "Do you have it at onein the afternoon?"

"Yeah."

Her eyes widened in recognition, nodding. "Oh yeah, you sit in the back right?"

Laura laughed. "Yes I do," she paused, smiling. "But I've got to go right now I'mon a tight schedule. I'll see you at class?"

"Yeah."

"Alright, bye it was nice meeting you." She said kindly.

"You too," Cassidy waved, smiling at her retreating back. Laura was very sweetand perhaps she could be Cassidy's new friend.

"What do you think your doing?" Adrian inquired in a demanding and yet angeredtone.

Cassidy frowned, shrugging. "I was just talking to your friend or...whatever she isto you."

"You're ruining my chances to get her in bed." He complained harshly, glaring."Why don't you step out of the way and let me live my life?"

"But I haven't done anything." She defended.

Adrian scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Whatever, just leave me alone."

He stalked off and Cassidy gaped at his retreating back. "Adrian, come on! You'rebeing ridiculous!"

- 227 -

Adrian didn't spare her a glance as he continued to walk and she sighed, knowingshe screwed up. Did he really wanted to leave her alone or was he just saying thatout of anger? Cassidy couldn't conclude his feelings on the matter because it wasalmost time for English class.

When Cassidy walked into class early, she took her usual spot at the front. Shewas the first one in like any other day and occupied her whole table, but somehowtoday was different.

Laura walked in right after her and when she spotted Cassidy, she smiled and satnext to her. It caught Cassidy as odd because Laura was usually the last one to walkin late. But whatever the case, Laura was here sitting next to her and not in theback, occupied with her phone.

"Hey," Laura said, taking out her binder.

"Hi." Cassidy smiled tentatively.

"So, what's the deal with you and Adrian?" She wondered.

Cassidy shrugged. "Nothing, we're just friends."

Laura eyed her meticulously. "Friends that haven't done anything?"

"Yeah."

"Somehow, I find that impossible when it concerns Adrian. With any girl he's beenwith, he's at least done something."

She wrung her hands under the table, deliberating whether to tell Laura the truthor not. Cassidy didn't want to be known as one of Adrian's long list of girls. She wasjust Cassidy, shy, innocent, and a little na\u00efve. She didn't know Laura too wellto talk to her about Adrian, so she decided against it.

"Well, Adrian's turned a new leaf. He's finally accepted me as a friend."

"Huh, well I'm glad he has some self control." Laura snorted in laughter.

"I take it you don't like that Adrian is bothering you?" Cassidy guessed, eyeing hercuriously.

Laura sighed deeply. "It's annoying. It's like wherever I go, he's there and trying- 228 -

to seduce me."

"I know how you feel." Cassidy replied absentmindedly, catching a puzzled lookfrom Laura. "I-I mean, I've seen him do this with other girls and I feel bad for them."

"Then how do I get him to stop bothering me?" She asked in frustration.

Cassidy shrugged. "I can't help you there, but from what I've known, girls just giveinto his charm. They fall into it easily."

"But you haven't." Laura noted suddenly.

Cassidy nodded, not explaining further.

"Why not?"

"It's simple. I'm not into the whole bad boy, conceited, vulgar type. Adrian tried towin me over, but I wasn't budging."

"But you said that you guys were just friends." Laura pointed out.

Cassidy bit her lip, realizing her slip up. "Ok, maybe it took us a long time to get tothat point, but Adrian knows I won't be with him."

Laura smiled kindly. "You're not like any other girl."

Cassidy laughed, shrugging. "Yeah, that's what everyone tells me."

"I like that about you."

"Thanks," she smiled, starting to like Laura a bit more as the time went by. "Butyou don't give into Adrian either. You're very different from what he's used to."

"I'm not easy and I think that's what makes him most frustrated."

They both laughed and their professor finally walked through the door, startingthe lesson. Cassidy clicked her ball point pen and almost went straight to work, untilshe felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Laura, smiling.

"We should hang out more and talk about how much we don't like Adrian."

- 229 -

Cassidy smiled in return. She was happy to find that Laura wanted to actuallyhang out with her. Cassidy wasn't exactly beautiful and Laura was way beyondbeautiful, she was gorgeous. Of course Adrian was running after her, but Cassidywas happy she wasn't giving in. Most girls would, by the looks of Laura, but she wasdifferent.

Cassidy knew not to judge one from first appearance, but that's what Adrianmostly got was girls like Laura. But now it was different and with Laura's obviousdistaste of Adrian, they were sure to be good friends in the future.

"That sounds like a good plan."

"What's your deal?" Adrian asked curiously, taking a step closer to her. "Why don'tyou want me?"

Laura sighed heavily, a disapproving look on her face. After Laura's English classwas over, Adrian found her by the school's parking lot and started to put the charmson her again. Though, he was failing again...rather miserably and Adrian wanted toknow what was going on in this girl's head.

It wasn't everyday that he was rejected by a beautiful woman. Of course Cassidyrejected him, but Adrian didn't feel all that bad about it. He just wanted to messwith her head. He usually didn't go for the nerds.

"Adrian, I already told you, I don't have casual sex with men. I do relationships."Laura stated clearly.

"Relationships?" Adrian snorted at the insanity. "Those are for sissies. Nobodydoes that anymore, it's the twenty first century."

"Well, I'm sorry. Some of us like romance." Laura replied sarcastically, scowling athim.

"Did you just say romance? Oh God, I'm going to throw up." He mockingly gagged.

Laura rolled her eyes. "Get over yourself, Adrian. Your immaturity amazes me."

"I'm not immature, I'm sensible. Whoever decides to get in a relationship is askingfor a death wish."

"Just because you have the incapability to feel doesn't mean all of us do." - 230 -

Adrian feigned a shudder. "Oh yes, I can't be with someone because the very ideaof getting involved haunts me in my sleep."

"To love someone is the best feeling in the world." Laura argued, watching Adrianwince at the word 'love.' "Some of us our fortunate enough to have that and it's whatI want."

"So you want love?" Adrian asked, trying to contain the disgust in his tone.

Laura nodded furiously. "Yes, have you not heard a word I've said?"

"How can I when your shirt is distracting me?" Adrian smirked, glancing at herchest.

Laura looked down and saw that her tank top's strap was falling off to the side,revealing her bra. She flushed, fixing it on her shoulder and scowling at Adrian forhis indecency.

"It's true. You are an asshole."

Adrian rolled his eyes. "Let me guess, Cassidy, right?"

"Yeah and she told me to stay away from you, said you were bad news." Laurarevealed.

He gritted his teeth momentarily, trying to hide the anger as he gave Laura astrained smile. "Isn't she the best?" Adrian said, his tone seeping with falsekindness.

"She's just helping out a friend in need."

Adrian's eyes bulged in confusion and shock. "Friend? You mean-?"

"Yeah, we're friends." Laura nodded.

"Oh well, isn't this just fucking great!" He exclaimed, feigning enthusiasm with ascowl. "Don't listen to a word that prude says. She doesn't know anything about me."

Laura frowned, puzzled. "She said you guys were friends and that she knows howyou are with women. I think she knows a lot more than you give her credit for." Shepaused, glancing at something that caught her eye. "Oh look there she is right now."

- 231 -

Adrian held up an impatient hand to her. "Hold on for just a second. I'm going tohave a lovely conversation with my friend." He stressed harshly.

Adrian stalked towards Cassidy, watching the nerdy virgin unlocking her car anddisposing her backpack in the backseat. She opened her driver's seat to get in, butshe caught sight of Adrian and he looked furious.

"Hello, buddy." Adrian said in a rude manner, shoving his hands in his pockets."How was your day today?"

Cassidy looked at him, confused. "Are you really wondering or are you justangry?"

"Of course I'm angry, why would I care about how your doing?" He repliedharshly.

She almost flinched at his tone, narrowing her eyes. "What is wrong with you?"

"Gee, I don't know. Maybe it's because you're screwing up my chances with Lauraby getting in the way when I told you not to earlier!" Adrian exclaimed with built upanger.

"Why are you so stuck on her? She's just another girl who denies your advances.The female population has been approving lately, don't blame it on me." Cassidy saidinnocently.

"No, it is your fault because ever since you stepped foot at this school, I haven'tbeen getting laid at every hour like usual."

She looked at him in disbelief. "Wow, I can't believe your blaming your sexualfrustrations on me. Haven't you ever wondered that you're doing something wrongwith these girls?"

He crossed his arms. "Like what?"

"None of them want to be a one night stand with you. They want a relationship."Cassidy clarified.

Adrian shook his head. "No. I already heard this bullshit from Laura I'm not goingto listen to it again."

"But it's true! Adrian, she doesn't want to be another one of your hook ups. Laura- 232 -

is a nice, respectable girl and maybe you'll get a chance to like-"

"I said no, Cassidy!" Adrian cut her off, enraged. Cassidy flinched at his tone,stifling the need to swallow at her dry throat.

"But-"

"I don't want to hear it!" He snapped, glaring at her. "Just because you're myfriend doesn't mean you get to interfere with my life."

Cassidy went to open her mouth, but Adrian gritted his teeth, beating her to it."Stay out of my fucking business."

He stormed away in the direction he came from, leaving Cassidy to gape at hisretreating back. Adrian usually acted harsh when people got in the way of what hewanted. She wasn't surprised, but she was upset by his words. He hurt her again.

Adrian went back to where he left Laura, but she was nowhere to be found. Hecursed under his breath, getting into his car and speeding out of the school parkinglot. He was already angry anyways and talking to Laura wouldn't assuage it.

Adrian got home and dumped himself on the couch, taking a short nap. It was along, stressful day and he needed to unwind. He didn't know how long he was asleepuntil someone shook him awake, calling out his name.

"What?" Adrian replied, rubbing his eyes and opening them.

Jase hovered above him. "You've been asleep for hours."

He stood up straight on the couch, his eyes searching for a clock. "What time isit?"

"Seven," Jase answered, sitting on the opposite sofa. "When did you get home?"

"After school at like two or something." Adrian responded, yawning a bit.

"So, what's going on with you man?" Jase asked curiously. "How come I haven'tseen you in a while?"

"I've been around." Adrian protested.

"Not when I'm at home." - 233 -

He shrugged. "I've been busy with school and stuff."

Jase snorted. "You don't give a shit about school. Don't feed me that bullshit."

Adrian sighed from his weak attempt of an excuse. Jase got pass everything whichwas why it was hard to lie to him than anybody else he has encountered. He was theonly friend that genuinely cared for his well being, even if he didn't show it. SureTerry cared, but never bothered Adrian about something that he didn't want toshare. Jase was all about pestering and getting right down to business.

"Ok fine, you caught me. I've been trying my best to pursue someone." Adriananswered.

Jase narrowed his curious eyes. "Yeah, Cassidy? Why don't you just say hername?"

"It's not Cassidy." Adrian replied clearly, pausing. "It's someone else. Her name isLaura."

"But I thought that-" Jase stopped himself, looking confused. "What happened withCassidy?"

Adrian rolled his eyes dramatically. "Come on Jase, we all know that nothing wasgoing to come out of it. Like you said before, she won't put out."

"But weren't you trying to prove me wrong?"

"Yeah but it's not working. Ever since I started to become her friend, it's beendownhill from there. That advice Terry gave me was shit." Adrian remarked irritably,suddenly smirking. "Besides, I have someone newer and better to get in bed with.This girl is hot."

"I'm sure." Jase rolled his eyes.

"Anyways," Adrian stood up, stretching his upper limbs. "I should get going. I havework later and I asked Laura to stop by. I'm hoping she'll come."

"Right, well have fun with your latest conquest."

"I'm sure I will." Adrian replied, walking out the door.

Cassidy was about to turn the page of her current book until her cell phone rang,- 234 -

removing her out of her reading world. She answered the phone, pressing it to herear. "Hello?"

"Hey Cassidy! It's Laura."

Cassidy smiled, remembering when she exchanged numbers with her afterEnglish class. "Hey, how's it going?"

"Good." She replied, pausing. "I wanted to ask you something."

Cassidy leaned back on her chair, noting her serious question. "Sure, what is it?"

"Adrian just invited me to stop by his work after his shift was done. What do youthink I should do?"

She rolled her eyes, knowing Adrian's little tricks. "You should go and tell him thatif he keeps stalking you, you're going to call the police." Laura laughed and Cassidychuckled a bit. "No, you should tell him to leave you alone. I'm sure he's getting onyour nerves by now."

Laura groaned. "You don't even know. I mean sure the guy is cute and all, but hedoesn't stop to get what he wants."

"That sounds like Adrian."

"So you think I should go?"

"Yeah, just shake him up a bit." Cassidy replied, swinging in her chair andsmirked. "Make him suffer."

Laura chuckled. "I doubt that's possible." She paused for a moment, speaking in asmall voice. "Would you...I don't know, come with me by chance?"

Cassidy ceased her swinging with wide eyes. "You want me to come?"

"Of course, you know more about Adrian's womanizing ways than I do. You canhelp me out of this."

She rubbed the back of her neck, feeling unsure. "I-I don't know Laura, I don'tthink that's a good id-"

"Come on, please? For me?" Laura pleaded. - 235 -

Cassidy sighed heavily. "Alright, I'll come." Laura cheered at the other end,making her wince a little. "But please do me a favor."

"Yes, anything."

"Don't cheer like that."

Cassidy walked warily to Adrian's work, the memories of her "first date" fresh inher mind. She remembered walking into the restaurant feeling unsettled, especiallywhen Adrian showed up as their waiter. She still couldn't believe that he didn't tellher he had a job. Adrian sure had a lot of his secrets and Cassidy was anxious toknow more about him.

Though it was hard when he was a solid brick wall who didn't gain anybody entry.Maybe Laura would be the girl to break that wall of his and show him affection?They looked perfect for each other, looks wise.

It was common knowledge that beautiful people paired up with their kind and wellpeople like her paired up with ordinary people. It didn't upset Cassidy per say, it justmade her feel disgusted by the hidden rules of modern day society.

Cassidy checked her watch and waited outside the restaurant, trying to peekthrough the window doors. Laura had told Cassidy that she should show up tenminutes after her. It would give Laura enough time to yell at Adrian and his ill ways.Cassidy still didn't see the purpose, but she didn't care. She just wanted to get thisover with and save Laura from Adrian's clutches.

Once she saw the minutes tick by to the end, Cassidy pushed open the doubledoors and searched inside. There was nobody in sight and the restaurant wasobviously closed. Cassidy took a few more steps, studying the place and itssurroundings until she heard an odd moaning noise.

Curious, Cassidy advanced towards it, discovering the heavy breaths of air andcontinuation of multiple moans. She held in the want to vomit and tried to keep hereyes peeled for who the noise makers were.

Cassidy stopped in front of a wall, splitting the restaurant into three sections andwalked around it. What caught her sight was obscene and made her digested foodwant to come right back up from her esophagus.

There they were, Laura and Adrian, pressed up against the wall and engaging inintimate actions which to put it clearer, making out. Their hands were all over each

- 236 -

other and Cassidy couldn't contain her disbelief.

Was this the same Laura that she has just met who declared her hatred for him?What the hell was going on!

It seemed that Laura noticed Cassidy's intrusion because she stopped the kiss,which made Adrian growl with displeasure.

"U-Uh, hi Cassidy." Laura waved, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

Cassidy didn't notice her jaw was dropped until she felt the drool makings it wayto the corner of her mouth. She closed her mouth shut, her eyes still wide. Cassidywas speechless and it was hard to for to come up with words to describe whatfeelings she felt at that exact moment.

Adrian's head shot up to Cassidy, confusion in his eyes. "Cassidy, what are youdoing here?" He demanded, narrowing his eyes. "Didn't I tell you to stay out?"

Laura slapped a playful hand at his chest, chuckling. "That wasn't nice. She's yourfriend."

Adrian brought his curious eyes to her. "Apparently, she's your friend too."

Laura flushed, lowering her head to the floor. Cassidy, who found her voice again,looked at her. "W-What's going on?"

Laura raised her head, a smile coming at her lips. "Well you see Cassidy, when Icame by to see Adrian, he told me all these sweet things and I couldn't help but sayyes because who wouldn't? He is just so sweet and adorable, and I just can't wait tobe with-"

"Yes to what?" Cassidy asked confusingly.

"Oh, right I forgot to tell you." She exclaimed, giving Adrian a loving look."Adrian's my boyfriend."

A/N: Dun, dun dun!! Laura is stirring up quite the trouble. What do you guys thinkof her? :)

- 237 -

Confessional

Chapter 14: Confessional

"Why?"

Adrian furrowed his eyebrows. "Why what?"

"Why are you with her?" Cassidy asked, sounding demanding.

He snorted, laughing a little. "Why do you care? Are you jealous or something?"

"No," she denied adamantly, giving him a serious look. "It strikes me as odd thatyou would be in a relationship with someone this quick after I talked to you aboutit."

Adrian shrugged indifferently. "I like her."

"Do you actually like her or just want to have sex with her?" Cassidy wonderedsuspiciously.

"Both."

Cassidy raised her head to the sky, feeling completely frustrated. "This is gettingnowhere."

"That's because it has nowhere to go."

She snapped her neck to him, narrowing her eyes. "Something's up and I'm goingto find out."

Adrian laughed, giving her a dumb look. "I'm in a relationship and I'm finallylearning how to be committed. That's all that's going on."

"You say that all your strong philosophies about being against relationships andstaying with one girl are all gone after one day?" She asked incredulously.

"Yeah," he responded simply.

Cassidy gave him a stern, eyeing look. Her facial expression coming off as not

- 238 -

believing anything he said. "That's bullshit."

Adrian's eyes widened from the curse word she just blurted, surprised and evenshocked that it came out of her clean, virginal mouth.

"What did you say?" He asked softly, thinking he was in a dream.

"I said that's bullshit." She stretched her words clear, crossing her arms withattitude.

He still couldn't believe it and tried to contain his surprise by actually respondingto her. It was hard when sprouting obscenities made her look different from herusual nerd talk. "No, it's not bullshit."

"Save me the excuses, I know you're playing something." Cassidy pressed, leaningclose to him. "You don't fool me."

"I would think it would be easy to with someone as naive as yourself."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm not that oblivious."

He smirked. "Yes, only when it involves sexual advances or obvious hints."

"Ok, ok. That's enough on the attacking. I only came here to interrogate you, butyou've proved to be of no use."

Adrian leaned closer to her, his warm breath on her ear. "You know I can be veryuseful in other ways." He replied huskily, trailing a hand on her thigh.

Cassidy gulped when she felt a shudder down her spine, pushing his hand away."Yes, but now you have a girlfriend and she wouldn't like it if you kept...doing that."She flushed.

Adrian pulled away slightly, smirking at her. "Kept doing what?" He asked, playingwith a small strand of her brunette hair.

She slapped his hand away, giving him a warning look. "That! It's all very-"

"Tempting?" He guessed, raising his eyebrow.

"NO, flirtatious!" Cassidy argued, pausing. "And did you forget that we werefriends? It's widely known that friends don't flirt."

- 239 -

Adrian's seducing act faded when she brought up the friend topic and he sighed."Friends," he said flatly.

"Yes friends," she stressed firmly.

Adrian looked at her for a moment, holding his head on his hand. "What if...weweren't friends?"

"Huh?" She asked, genuinely confused.

"Say that we didn't decide to do this friend thing and I was still trying to put themoves on you. Would things be different?"

Cassidy snorted, not understanding why he was asking such a ludicrous question."No, because you have a girlfriend, remember?"

"Without the girlfriend," he fixed impatiently, his green eyes glowing in mydirection. "Would it?"

Cassidy paused to formulate her thoughts as she stared at Adrian. Why was heacting so...weird right now? He was being unusual touchy feely and flirty. He hasn'tbeen this way since they've decided to be friends and she surprisingly wasn't all thatannoyed by his advances. It was somewhat-

"Adrian?"

Her eyes fluttered to Laura, coming behind them from their table with a confusedlook. She took in their close proximity and looked at both of them with questionableeyes. Cassidy cleared her throat, moving away from Adrian to stand up.

"Well, I have class. See you guys later."

Laura came up to put an arm around Adrian, but his eyes were still focused onCassidy's when she went to walk away. "Wait!"

She turned around, furrowing her eyebrows. "Yeah?"

He felt Laura tug on his arm and he sighed, becoming annoyed. "Never mind."

Cassidy gave him an odd look and turned to walk away, not questioning hismotives. Adrian was not acting like himself today which caught her off guard. Hewas not in friend mode, but more like his common playboy self.

- 240 -

Adrian has started it up again with her and she was very confused by it. What didit all mean? He finally had Laura so why did he bother with her now? Cassidy shookher head, thinking she was reading too much into it. Adrian was being Adrian andthis was the way he acted towards every girl.

"Babe?"

Adrian stifled the urge to roll his eyes and run away from the endearment. "Yeah?"

"Why were you so close to Cassidy a minute ago?"

He shrugged uncaringly. "She's my friend."

Laura laughed. "Friends don't sit that close together," she paused, eyeing himclosely. "Unless they have feelings for one another."

Adrian scoffed, giving her an incredulous look. "Me and Cassidy? Come on, that'scrazy. It will never happen."

She giggled, giving him a small smile. "You're right. That's impossible."

Laura tugged on his arm and Adrian glanced at Cassidy's retreating back oncemore before turning around. A day of being official was already getting on Adrian'snerves. How do couples do it? It felt like he had a collar and she was pulling him bythe leash.

He also sensed her having some controlling issues, which Adrian was stronglyagainst. There was no way a girl would control him. If anything it would be him. Hewould never let a girl get in the way of what he wanted to do.

Though his single status was currently gone, he knew it wouldn't stay that way.When Adrian called Laura over to his work, he had the intention of "sweeping her offher feet" by feeding her romantic bullshit. Laura believed every word and wascompletely enamored when Adrian confessed his feelings of "love."

She gladly accepted and they were locked into a heated make out session. In allhonesty, Adrian wasn't that confident with Laura believing his newly discovered"feelings." He thought she would call him out on it, saying that he was a playboy andonly wanted her vagina. But miraculously, she believed his bullshit. And here Adrianthought the girl was actually smart, but true to her color, she was dumb.

- 241 -

Thank God he chased after blondes more than brunettes. Sure he like the latter,but blondes were his main attraction. However when chasing after Cassidy for abrief moment, he started to like the brunette color more. It must have been thefierce attitude or the intelligence that came with it when he came across others ofthe same color, but he liked it.

Not that he liked Cassidy in particular. She didn't fit into his criteria of the womenhe actually went for. Cassidy still acted like she was in grade school with herna\u00efve, innocent nature and Adrian couldn't handle that. He liked his womenbold, experienced, and sexual. Cassidy was obviously none of that. Her physicalfeatures and attributes came off as a preteen who hadn't started her menstrual cycleyet.

Cassidy's good, clean nature was not appealing to him. She still had a lot to learnand by making her his friend, he thought he would show her a few tricks of his own.However, when she uttered bullshit to him early, he was surprised by how natural itsounded coming out of her mouth.

It was so much different though hearing it from her and he was wondering whatelse she could say to make him shocked. He recalled one time when she said the fword to him while she was high, but that was due to the affects of drugs. She wassober saying it and it was weird.

"Hello Adrian are you there?" Laura called out, looking frustrated.

Adrian came out of his revere and glanced at her. "What?"

"Did you hear what I said?"

"No," he replied honestly.

Laura sighed, trying to smile though her patience was wearing thin. "Well, I wassaying that it would be nice if we went out on a date tonight, don't you think?"

He snorted. "A date? Who goes on dates anymore?"

"People in relationships," she answered, offended.

Adrian looked at her in confusion, trying to figure out the meaning behind herwords until his eyes widened with recognition. "OH, you want us to go on a datebecause we are together now."

- 242 -

"Yes!" She replied impatiently.

He deliberated at the thought, a smirk coming to his lips. "Will this date have apromising ending to it?"

"By ending you mean, dessert?" She asked, raising her eyebrows.

Adrian narrowed his eyes at her dumbly when she didn't figure out what he washinting at. "Well, it would be kind of like a dessert, for me at least and perhapsmaybe for you."

Laura giggled, playfully slapping him on the shoulder. "Oh Adrian, we haven'treached that point yet."

"When will it be reached?" Adrian asked, rather impatiently.

"When you say that you love me," she answered simply.

Adrian's eyes bulged out of his sockets, a bewildered look on his face. "WHAT?"

Laura was confused about his shocked actions, but decided to explain anyways."You knew coming into this that I expected to be loved by someone. Why are yousurprised?"

"I thought it was just a relationship that you wanted." Adrian muttered with aslight dazed look.

Laura giggled and Adrian had the strong urge to press the palm of his hands to hisears from the shriek sounding laughter. "No, of course not silly I want love."

Adrian mumbled obscenities under his breath, knowing this relationship thing wasa bad thought from the start. Though, maybe he could have a little fun with this one."Seven o'clock tonight."

He took a step away from her, but Laura yelled at his back. "What?"

Adrian turned around, holding in a sigh. "The date, didn't you want it?"

Laura's expression turned of shock and happiness. She beamed like a giddy littleschool girl. "Yeah, but where is it at?"

He shrugged. "Leave it up to me. I'll pick you up." - 243 -

"Ok."

Adrian left her standing there in excitement while he began to curse himself forbeing such an idiot. He didn't know what went on in his head when he decided thisrelationship thing with Laura.

He was thinking with his dick, not his brain, which happened from time to time.He went back to his apartment and saw his two friends Terry and Jase in their livingarea, eating food.

They glanced up at Adrian and greeted him with a nod. Adrian sat back on thecouch, releasing a long, frustrated sigh.

"What's going on with you?" Terry asked, raising his eyebrows.

"I'm an idiot." Adrian replied simply, rubbing his face.

Jase snorted. "You just figured that out now?"

Adrian glared at him through his fingers and dropped his hands. "I am officiallywith someone and I don't know how or why it happened."

Terry and Jase's jaws dropped, their eyes filled with shock. "Dude, are you reallyin a relationship?"

"Do you think I'm fucking stupid?" Adrian countered with mild anger. "The onlyway to get into her pants was if I decided to become her boyfriend."

"So that basically means you are in a relationship which restricts you from havingany freedom." Terry pointed out.

"Look, it won't be long term. I'll have fun with her a little bit, but there's no waythat I'm going to be committed to someone. It isn't happening." Adrian said withstrong refusal.

"Sooner or later, you bound to be with someone." Jase retorted, pausing. "Don'tyou want that?"

Adrian scoffed, putting his crossed arms behind his head. "There's no way that I'llfuck the same girl for the rest of my life."

Terry nodded in agreement. "Yeah I hear ya, but my parents wouldn't like that.- 244 -

They want me to get married, you know have a family. I can't imagine being somekid's dad." He shuddered to get rid of the horrible thought.

"Don't get me started on that." Adrian replied, feeling the need to shudder as well.

"Well, I want to get married." Jase chimed in boldly.

Adrian rolled his eyes, aware of his future ideals. "Yes, we all know that Jase.You're the relationship guy, we get it."

He frowned. "What's wrong with being the relationship guy?"

"You're getting whipped all the time by these controlling girls. They starve forattention and are completely territorial. I'm already getting this shit from Laura. Youwant to know what she said today?" Adrian asked.

"What?"

"She thought that I had a crush on Cassidy. Can you believe that shit?" Adrianlaughed, slapping his hands together. "Who the fuck comes up with that?"

"Well, you were around Cassidy a lot when you tried to get into her pants. Itobviously didn't work out in your favor."

Adrian nodded slowly. "Yeah and it almost didn't work with Laura." He paused,turning grim. "Up until the time I met Cassidy, all these girls suddenly think they aretoo good for me. I don't know what the fuck was going on and Laura was acting thesame way. So, I decided to fix it and that's why I'm her..." He trailed off, scowling.

"Boyfriend," Jase finished, rolling his eyes.

"Yeah, that." Adrian replied lamely.

Terry laughed suddenly, shaking his head in disbelief. "Dude, I can't believe you.Going out of your way for just one girl all because of sex? Are you that driven?"

Adrian shrugged. "So it might've been a mistake getting together with her, bigdeal. She has me and I'll have her by the end of the night so we'll both be happy."

"What are you planning on doing?" Jase asked curiously.

- 245 -

"Take her to a nice restaurant, give her some fake ass bullshit about love and thenmake a homerun by tonight." He said. "Think it will work?"

Jase gave him an unsure look. "I don't know. You're falling off your game a bitthese days."

"So what if I didn't bag Cassidy, she's a prude anyways. I shouldn't have involvedmyself with a virgin to begin with, but now there's Laura. I won't disappoint." Hesaid confidently.

"Whatever man it's your life." Jase replied.

"Which you obviously don't approve of." He stated obviously, shrugging. "But thisis the way I am. You should accept me either way."

"I get the whole playboy lifestyle, but for me it's getting old." Jase noted, sighing."I'm tried of being with girl after girl and having meaningless sex. I want to be withsomeone who cares about me and likes to go out and do things."

"Aren't you going out with Kathleen?" Terry asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

Jase's face scrunched up in distaste. "She's too clingy and honestly, kind ofannoying."

"Do you like anyone then?" Adrian asked, genuinely curious.

Jase's expression softened and he lowered his head a little. "No..."

Terry snorted, catching his act. "What is this, grade school? Tell us."

He sighed, staring at Adrian for a moment then looking back at Terry. "It's no oneyou know."

"Ok, well why don't you bring her to the Halloween party next weekend so we canmeet her?"

Jase shrugged, appearing unsure. "Maybe."

"Whatever, you're too chicken shit." Terry replied, sighing as he looked at Adrian."Well, aren't you going to get ready for the big date?"

Adrian glanced at the clock on the wall and leaped off the couch. "Oh shit." - 246 -

He walked swiftly into his room and got ready for tonight's date. He was sure toadd some extra moves and smooth talking if he wanted to succeed.

Cassidy stared fixated at the television screen, watching the movie that Ninapopped on in her dorm. It was some sort of action packed movie with a littleromance, but Cassidy felt it was unneeded. Did every movie need a romancesegment?

Why did everything involve romance? Before Cassidy could immerse herself in themovie again, the door suddenly opened, revealing the bright shining light of thedorm hallway. Cassidy and Nina glanced at the door and saw Kathleen shutting itwith her back, choking on sobs.

"Kathleen, what's wrong?" Cassidy asked as Nina shut off the T.V and went to turnon the lights.

Cassidy walked up to Kathleen and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder,watching her hide her tears. Nina came up and guided Kathleen to the couch wherethey were sitting at previously, giving her comforting words. They waited untilKathleen was calm and her tears were no longer dripping.

"What happened?" Cassidy asked softly.

Kathleen sniffled, wiping the tears with her fingers. "I hate him."

"Who?"

"Jase," she answered, holding back a sob. "H-He-He..." She choked on her words,continuing on with her sobbing as Cassidy boiled with questions. What did Jase dothat got Kathleen so upset?

"He broke up with me!" Kathleen cried out, burying her head into her hands andsobbing uncontrollably.

Cassidy's jaw dropped, staring at her friend in confusion. She looked up at Ninaand she shrugged, not knowing that Kathleen and Jase were an item until now.

"You guys were together?" Nina blurted absentmindedly as Cassidy shot her awarning look.

- 247 -

Kathleen's head rose from her hands and wiped the tears on her jeans. "S-Sortof...a few weeks ago, but out of nowhere he didn't want to be around me anymore.He said I was too clingy and obsessed!"

Cassidy burned with fury, unconsciously balling up her fists. "Obsessed?"

"Yes!" Kathleen replied as a few tears rolled down her cheeks. "He said I was likeevery other girl and that-that, he liked someone else!"

She sobbed once again and Nina scowled. "That pig."

Cassidy sighed irritably, "Such a guy. No wonder he's friends with Adrian."

"But I like him so much!" Kathleen sniffed, pushing away all the wet blondestrands on her face. "Why did he have to do this to me?"

Cassidy frowned, draping he arm around her. "I'm sorry, Kathleen. I don't knowwhat to tell you. Guys are jerks, plain and simple."

Nina nodded. "Yeah, Kathleen Don't waste your time on Jase, he's a bastard."

Kathleen frowned, sniffling. "He's not a bastard. He's the sweetest guy I've evermet and I-I want to be with him!"

"But look at what he did to you." Cassidy argued, feeling her anger rise. "He madeyou upset, is he really worth it?"

"N-No, but-"

"But nothing, Kathleen, Jase is another Adrian copy. You know what Adrian did tome and what he does with all the girls he's with." Cassidy sighed. "Jase is lying whenhe says he likes someone. He just wants to get them in bed."

Kathleen wiped her tears, looking up at Cassidy with big blue teary eyes. "Really?"

"Yes," she nodded frantically. "All guys want is sex. You don't want to waste it onsome night with a guy who doesn't care."

"You're right, I don't." Kathleen replied, standing up suddenly. "I-I need to getover him. He's been constantly ruling my thoughts and I-I can't let that happenanymore."

- 248 -

"That's great," Cassidy said, smiling. "Why don't you try focusing on school orbeing involved in school activities? I just signed up at this club that is really-"

"I need to have another crush." Kathleen piped up, her eyes widening from herreveal. "IT'S the best solution!"

Inwardly, Cassidy groaned, not agreeing whatsoever, but Nina nodded alongsideher. "Yes! And I know just where you can find him!"

"Where?" Cassidy asked, confused.

"There's this Halloween bash that's coming up and it's supposed to be really bigand crazy." Nina filled in enthusiastically. "Terry tells me that there's a bunch ofpeople that show up and bring a bunch of alcohol, food, and music. Everybody getsall crazy and there are all these drinking games. I think that's the best opportunityto find someone!"

"NO!" Cassidy argued, appalled. "That is the worse thing that you could ever comeup with Nina. Finding a crush at some college party is not the safest way to moveon. I think that other sober activities such as school, clubs, or the mall are your bestbet."

"No offense Cassidy, but I kind of like Nina's idea better." She revealedsheepishly.

Cassidy rolled her eyes, feeling offended despite the warning, but not caringnonetheless. "Fine, if that's your way of moving on then go for it. I just think youshould approach it on a safer level."

"Don't worry, I will." Kathleen replied reassuringly.

Nina stood up from the couch suddenly, slapping a hand to her forehead. "Ohcrap, I forgot to give Terry his laptop." She went to her desk and shuffled throughher backpack, obtaining the electronic.

"Why do you have it?" Cassidy asked curiously.

"I needed it for class because mine is being fixed right now." She explained,grabbing her car keys. "I'll be right back, I'm just going to drop this off."

Nina was about to walk to her door before Cassidy stopped her. "Wait."

- 249 -

"Yeah?"

"Can I come?" She asked curiously.

Nina furrowed her eyebrows and Kathleen gave her a weird look. "Why?"

Cassidy didn't want to tell them that she was going to give Jase Reynolds a pieceof her mind. The fury still remained inside after Kathleen kind of got over it. Cassidywanted to show him not to mess with her friend again.

"I have to...talk to Adrian."

Nina shrugged. "Ok, come on."

Cassidy followed Nina to the door before Kathleen grasped her wrist. "Why do youneed to talk to Adrian?"

Cassidy hesitated. "I just...wanted to talk to him about his charity club, nothingbig."

Kathleen studied her closely. "If you're sure?"

"Yeah, I'm not going to declare my hidden love for him or anything." She snorted."That will never happen."

Kathleen nodded in satisfaction and let her go. Cassidy walked out with one lastgood bye and followed Nina to her car. Once they got on the road, Nina glanced ather from her seat.

"Ok so spill, why are you really coming?"

Cassidy sighed, knowing she couldn't fool Nina as well. "I want to give Jase apiece of my mind. He needs to know that he shouldn't have treated Kathleen likethat."

Nina nodded, frowning a bit. "Don't you think you shouldn't get involved? This isKathleen's business."

"Yeah, but Kathleen is my friend. I'm just telling him how it is." Cassidy shrugged."She would do the same for me and so would you."

"True." Nina replied, smiling. - 250 -

They finally reached to Terry's apartment and Cassidy looked up at the apartmentcomplex, sighing to herself. Last time she was here, she ended up being high.Hopefully this time will be a better experience than last.

Nina and Cassidy got into the elevator and reached up to their floor. Once theygot to their apartment number, Nina knocked on the door and Cassidy hung back.

The door opened, revealing Jase and he smiled at Nina. "Hey Nina, how are you?"

"Go to hell." Nina replied furiously, shoving him out of the way when she wentinside.

Jase's eyes widened in surprise by her actions, but he didn't comment on it. Helooked to the door way and found Cassidy, glaring at him.

"Hi..." He trailed off, raising an eyebrow at her look.

Cassidy didn't say anything and stepped inside, hearing Jase close the front door.She saw Nina go inside Terry's room with his laptop cradled on her arm. Cassidylooked around the room and noticed it was less rowdy than usual.

"Adrian isn't here," Jase said, coming up from behind. "If that's who you're lookingfor."

Cassidy turned around, scowling. "Actually, that isn't why I'm here, but now thatwe are on the subject of Adrian, where is he?"

Jase chuckled, ruffling his hair a bit. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but he's on adate."

"Date?" Cassidy echoed incredulously, feeling her jaw slacken. The playboyactually decided to go on an intimate outing? Maybe he was changing his ways, shethought.

"Yeah, I know. That was my reaction to." He replied, laughing. "He's with somegirl named Laura. Apparently, she has caught his eye and you know he is withwomen."

She nodded knowingly, giving him a grim look. "Yes, I do."

All laughter faded from Jase's expression as he looked at her gravely. "I heardwhat he did to you at the last party. I'm sorry."

- 251 -

"Don't apologize for his actions." Cassidy snapped, sensing her anger. "You're thesame as him."

"Huh?" Jase replied, confused.

"Oh don't give me that look." She remarked harshly, glaring up at him. "You knowwhat you did wrong."

"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about." He said with honestconviction.

"You broke my best friend's heart!" She exclaimed, feeling the rise of her heartbeats due to her anger. "Or did you forget by all the lists of girls you have used andthrown out like yesterday's garbage?"

"I-I didn't-"

"Kathleen didn't do anything to you, Jase. She really liked you and you broke herwithout any care in the world!" Cassidy ranted angrily, throwing her hands up. "Youare just like Adrian."

Jase suddenly glared at Cassidy with the mention of Adrian and he took adangerous step closer. "Why don't you stop pointing fingers and judging me whenyou don't have the slightest fucking clue!"

She flinched at his words, taking in his anger. "Why shouldn't I? You left Kathleenin the dust. You didn't care about her and yet you chase after her, giving her falsehope. What kind of sick person are you?"

"Kathleen chased after me, ok?" Jase snapped, running a frustrated hand throughhis blond hair. "I didn't give her any idea or attention to give off that impression. Inever liked Kathleen and I even told her that straight up, but she didn't get it."

Cassidy frowned at his words, puzzled. "B-But she told me you guys dated a fewweeks ago!"

He snorted with dismissal. "We weren't dating I was trying to be nice to her. Shetook it the wrong way."

"Well, did you tell her you guys weren't together?" Cassidy asked pressingly.

"I didn't know she thought we were." Jase replied honestly, pausing. "I feel bad- 252 -

that she did..."

"Don't give me your fake pity." Cassidy spat out, disgusted. "Kathleen said youcalled her obsessed and clingy. You're not the innocent one here."

Jase scowled. "She called me six times today and I answered it, yelling at her toleave me alone. She always bothered me and never gave me space. Of course she'sobsessed and clingy. I wasn't going to lie to her."

"You could've said it in a nicer way. She was balling her eyes out when she gothome!" Cassidy exclaimed.

He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, maybe I should've, but you don't know how Kathleen iswhen she's around me. She's annoying, constantly trying to argue with me just forlaughs, and whenever she's drunk, she throws herself at me! It's not my fault youcan't control your friend!"

"She can control herself, she just liked you a lot!" Cassidy countered, sighing fromthe headache that was developing. "Look, I'm tired of this back and forth business.You hurt Kathleen and I want to know why you lied to her."

Jase furrowed his eyebrows. "Lied to her about what?"

"You told her you liked someone else." Cassidy answered, scowling. "You could'vesaid you weren't interested or that you liked screwing girls a lot more than being ina relationship."

"But I was telling the truth."

"...what?" Cassidy replied bewilderedly.

"I like someone." He said again, showing a blank face.

"Who?" She asked, not being able to help herself.

Jase hesitated, softening his look. "You."

Cassidy's eyes widened, shocked. "W-What?"

Jase smiled, chuckling at her reaction. "I'll let you in on a little secret." Herevealed, pausing as he turned grave. "I was the one that had my eyes set on youfirst."

- 253 -

"What?" Cassidy replied bewilderedly, her jaw dropping.

"Adrian had no interest in you to begin with. It only started when I told him Iwanted to sleep with you. He just wanted you because I did."

Cassidy was too shock to be angry. Adrian only wanted her because Jase said hesaw her first. If Jase never seen or heard of her, would Adrian ever notice her?Cassidy couldn't believe the great lengths guys would reach in order to be withsomeone.

It felt strange that Cassidy wasn't mad, but it might be the fact that Adrian wasn'tfooling around with her anymore. She knew of Adrian's misdeeds and this kind offact didn't surprise her. Adrian was a pig and this was something up his alleyway.But with Jase, it still confused Cassidy more than ever about his confessional. Whendid he start to like her and how?

"Why are you telling me this?" She asked absentmindedly, her eyes giving off ablank, dazed look.

"Because I'm pissed that he took you away from me." Jase replied honestly,making her eyebrows shoot up. "Which was why I went after your best friend,Kathleen."

"H-How could you-...Why?" She struggled with her words, too stunned to formsentences.

"Kathleen told me she liked me and I decided to be with her to make you jealous."He paused, chuckling humorlessly. "Obviously that didn't work."

Cassidy hesitated, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks and the pounding of herheart playing in her ears. It suddenly made so much sense. Jase would act oddlywhen he was around her and that time when Jase tried to help her get rid of Adrianwas because he was jealous! Cassidy felt her throat dry up and the startling revealwas getting to her. She couldn't be here, she couldn't do this.

"I-I...I..." She gulped nervously, glancing at the door. "I've got to go."

"What?" Jase replied, grabbing her shoulders to keep her from going. "I justconfessed my feelings to you and that's all you have to say?"

"I-I never had to deal with a situation like this before." She replied with a trembleat her tone, swallowing hard with eyes on the floor.

- 254 -

With any difficulty that Cassidy had to face, her only answer would be to run awayfrom it. She wanted to get away at that moment, but Jase held in her place, stoppingher from freedom.

"So...you don't feel the same?" He asked, sounding down.

Cassidy looked up at him, shrugging and shaking her head violently. "I-I don'tknow what to think! I-I'm so confused and-and shocked! What do you want me tosay!"

"Say that you like me back!"

She gave him a hard look. "How can I like someone who treated my friend likedirt?"

Jase sighed, closing his eyes momentarily from frustration. "I told you that itwasn't my fault! Kathleen threw herself at me and I was trying to be a gentleman. Icouldn't take it anymore!"

Cassidy shook her head, her familiar anger rising. "A gentleman would've takenthe situation in a different way. They wouldn't have accused the girl of being clingyor obsessed. They would be genuine, forgiving, and kind. You are none of those Jaseand...I don't like you and I certainly don't like your friend either."

He finally released her and Cassidy walked away, heading to the door. Shedecided to wait for Nina outside by her car whenever she was done with Terrybecause she couldn't stay there anymore. Once she got out, she felt her frustrationsvanish and her building headache start to decrease. Jase and Adrian made her lifedifficult and without them she felt lighter. Maybe it was time to end things withthem once and for all.

Adrian sighed with content, closing his eyes from the feeling of ecstasy. Hisadrenaline was pumping and his skin was hot, forming beads of sweat on hisforehead.

His heart was pounding at the walls of his chest, making his breaths come short.He forgot why he loved to do this so much and now that he reminded himself of it,he was never resorting to brief periods of absence again. And just for a measly girl?There was no way.

- 255 -

Adrian sighed with pleasure and before he could let himself off into the world ofgreat sleep, he felt an arm snake its way to his waist, making his weary eyes snapopen.

"That was great, wasn't it?" She said huskily, giggling from her words.

Adrian glanced at her and then her arm, picking it up with his fingers anddisposing it to her side. "Uh, yeah."

He rose from the bed and scratched his neck, searching the floor for his clothes.He found his boxers close by his feet and pulled them on, picking up his shirt rightafter. Laura watched his actions with a close eye and she furrowed her eyebrows.

"What are you doing?"

"Getting dressed," he answered, zipping his jeans and buttoning the top.

"Why?" She replied, straightening up from the bed and pulling the sheet alongwith it to cover herself. "You can stay the night."

"I'd rather not." He replied, throwing on his black blazer that was left hanging onthe dresser.

"Why not?"

Adrian stopped what he was doing, sighing under his breath. This was the partthat annoyed him the most. He tried to stay clear of it at all possible costs, but withthis one, it was simply unavoidable. He turned around and gave her the best fakesmile that he could conjure up.

"Listen, Lindsey-"

"It's Laura." She fixed with mild anger.

Adrian rolled his eyes, unable to stop the action. "Right. Well, I can't do this thing,whatever it is." He said, waving his hand in the air.

"Dating?" Laura guessed, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, that word." He replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "It was fun while itlasted, but I'm not a one woman man. It's just the facts, sweetheart, you get thatright?"

- 256 -

Laura sat silent, staring ahead blankly at the wall. Adrian took that as her answerand grabbed his keys from his pocket, twirling them around his finger.

"Well it was fun, see ya." He said, turning to walk out the door, but Laura stoppedhim in his tracks.

"I-I thought you said you loved me." She said softly, her voice trembling.

Adrian rolled his eyes and faced her once again, but this time with a smirk. "I do."

Laura's hurt expression faded into one of adoration, giving Adrian a small smile.

"But I meant your vagina."

Her jaw dropped and Adrian walked out of the door with a chuckle under hisbreath. Once he was out of the house, he heard a very distinct, raging shriek frominside.

A/N: I'm terribly sorry for the wait, I haven't been on the computer during myThanksgiving break. But I'm back so here it is!! Hope you guys like it! I'll beuploading again this week! :)

- 257 -

Party of the Century

Chapter 15: Party of the Century

Cassidy watched him from across campus, conversing with his friend. She felt thecorners of her mouth begin to tug, liking the way it looked on him. She continued towatch until his friend disappeared and her stomach twisted into nervous knots.

Cassidy took a deep breath while closing her eyes, trying to calm her nerves. Herheart beats were rapid and she couldn't stop the quick pulse, but she needed tocontain her facial expression. She made her face blank and stepped forward,advancing towards him.

As she got closer, she gulped at her dry throat, wringing her hands at the front.Why was this so hard for her and not other people? Oh right because she's neverbeen in a situation like this before.

No guy has ever proclaimed their feelings, especially one of an intimate nature, toher. Cassidy has always been a reject and for someone to actually like her...it wasstrange and unfamiliar. What does one do when they confess their feelings? Do theytalk about it or try to work out a compromise?

Cassidy shook her thoughts and continued her slow walk, determined to makesomething happen. Whatever the outcome was, she hoped it wouldn't be bad. I meansure she said she didn't like him, but she felt guilty for being rude.

As she started to get closer to him, her courage faltered and she stopped inmid-step. He was standing about seven feet away from her and yet, she couldn'tclose the gap.

When she saw him looking at his phone and about to turn around, she ran to thenearest palm tree planted on sight and hid behind it. She waited for a few secondsto crane her neck slightly and see Jase walking off in the opposite direction.

Cassidy exhaled a shaky breath and closed her eyes. This was harder than shethought. How could she ever break the news to him about his confessional a fewdays ago?

"Cassidy."

- 258 -

Her eyes flew open and she saw Laura standing in front of her with her armscrossed. Cassidy smiled, pushing off the palm tree with her back.

"Hey Laura, how are you?" She asked kindly.

"We need to talk." Laura replied strictly, ignoring her question.

Cassidy's smile faded and she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. She meantbusiness. "About what?"

"Oh Cassidy, when will this act ever end?" Laura asked humorlessly, rolling hereyes. "You're not that innocent."

Now, she was really confused. "Huh?"

Laura faced Cassidy with a blank look. "I know you two are friends, but did youreally have to do this to me?" Her voice sounded hurt and angry.

"Do...what?" She said slowly, wondering if she was going to be accused for beinginnocent again when she really had no idea what she was saying.

Tears started to form in Laura's blue eyes and she gave Cassidy a menacing glare."Adrian doesn't want to be with me anymore and it's your entire fault!"

"What?" Cassidy replied, shock and completely puzzled.

"He told me he loved me and then when we got to my apartment, we made loveand then he left." Laura informed her, choking at her words. "He said he didn't wantme anymore! I was confused as to why his feelings stopped, but my only thoughtscame to you."

Her glare turned on her once again and Cassidy stifled the nerve to flinch. "Youdid something. You ruined my relationship and I knew that you were jealous of itfrom the start."

"I-I had nothing to do with this." Cassidy defended weakly, shaking her head. "Ithink Adrian was using you, I'm sorry."

"NO he wasn't!" Laura denied furiously, stomping her foot. "He loved me! He saidit so himself! I was the only girl he's ever been in a relationship with!"

Cassidy hesitated, holding her hands up in case she had to defend herself. Laura- 259 -

was on a rampage and Cassidy had no idea that a sweet girl like her could everpossess this kind of side.

"I-I didn't do anything." Cassidy replied again, cowering a little.

"Then how do you explain him saying that he loved my vagina more than me?Huh?" Laura inquired pressingly, her nose flaring.

It sounded like what Adrian would say, which didn't surprise Cassidy, but herfrustration was starting to boil. Why when any trouble rose up, it was due toAdrian's ploys? She wouldn't be in any sort of mess if it wasn't for him. She was sosick and tired of it.

"Laura, I haven't spoken to Adrian since you saw us talking the other day. I'msorry for what he said to you because obviously he won't apologize for himself, soplease stop accusing me. I'm innocent in this whole mess." Cassidy explained softly.

Laura erupted in humorless laughter. "There you go again with that innocent bullshit." She paused, the laughter fading. "I know you said something to Adrian and I'mgoing to make you pay for it."

She raised her palm up in the air and Cassidy watched it in horror as it swung inthe direction of her face. Cassidy closed her eyes tightly, waiting for the impact ofthe burn, but when the seconds went by, it never came. She opened a wary eye andlooked up to see Adrian clutching Laura's wrist. Cassidy straightened up fully andglanced at the two, noticing their heated gazes.

"What the HELL do you think you're doing?" Adrian asked in a loud, angered tonethat made Cassidy flinch. His green eyes glowed with a fury that Cassidy has seen atrare moments which was directed at Laura.

Laura pursed her lips, holding in the sobs that were trying to emit from her throat.Her blue eyes glazed with tears at him. "I-I," she replied, her voice stuttering.

"Leave her alone, you hear me?" He demanded, his voice hurting her eardrums.

Laura nodded, sniffling as the tears flooded from her eyes. Adrian dropped herhand and glanced at Cassidy, noting her terrified expression.

He sighed, advancing towards her. "Let's go."

Adrian placed his hand on her lower back and guided her away from Laura,- 260 -

walking in short strides. Cassidy had a hard time keeping up and she glanced athim, being reminded of why she was in this mess.

Adrian screwed up his newfound friendship with Laura because his needs got inthe way. He almost got her sent to St. Mary's for her unruly behavior and she hasgot into more trouble than she's ever had in her eighteen years of existence.

Cassidy stopped her walk and Adrian halted, turning around to look at her. "Comeon."

"No." She replied, her voice hardening.

Adrian sighed, running a hand through his dark brown locks. "I don't have time forthis."

He went to grab her wrist, but Cassidy pulled it away from sight. "I said noAdrian!"

He looked at her with narrowed confused eyes. "Why?"

"You know why." Cassidy replied, trying to keep her voice from cracking. "You'veruined everything."

Adrian looked at her with a questionable look, not replying.

"I was friends with her." She said as she jabbed a thumb behind her shoulder."She was the first one I've made since Nina and Kathleen in grade school."

"Laura is a bitch. You don't want a friend like her."

"Yes I did!" Cassidy proclaimed in frustration, exhaling a breath. "She was so niceto me and nobody's ever been like that with me before." She said, scowling at him."And you had to ruin it for the sake of sex. She blamed the entire break up on me allbecause I was your friend!"

"She used you Cassidy!" Adrian exclaimed in a loud tone, trying to make herunderstand.

Cassidy gave him a confused look, showing off her usual innocence that madeAdrian actually pity her.

"Laura didn't want to be your friend. She was using you to get to me." Adrian- 261 -

explained in a softer tone, frowning a bit. "She didn't give a shit about you."

Cassidy stood there rigid in her spot, taking deep breaths through her nose as hereyes glazed over. Adrian watched her and hated himself for telling the truth. Hecould've let her off being ignorant and be happy, but he couldn't do that.

She had to know the truth about Laura, even if it hurt her. It was obvious thatLaura was leading her on to be her friend because she wanted him. She admitted itto him over the phone while she pleaded for him to take her back. But Adrian wasagainst it and pushed her away.

Laura was annoying and clingy and he couldn't deal with it anymore. He thoughtthat he was done with her, but Cassidy was also involved with this due to Laura'sscheme.

"What does that say about us?" Cassidy asked suddenly, making Adrian glanceback at her.

"What do you mean?"

"About our friendship," she responded, the hurt clear in her brown eyes. "Do younot give a shit to?" She asked angrily, not stopping there. "Are you just using me asa friend to get me in bed like her?"

Adrian didn't want to deny it because it would crush her innocent heart, but shehad to learn that not everyone in this world was like her. He decided to become herfriend because of sex from the start, but it wasn't like that anymore.

He sighed, giving her a pity look. "Cassidy-"

"I'm so sick of you, Adrian." She replied quickly, her voice cracking a bit when shelearned that he wasn't going to oppose it by the honesty in his tone. She felt thetears threatening to emerge and she craned her neck away from his gaze. "I'mdone."

She turned to leave, but Adrian caught up to her by her side. "Wait, what?" Heasked quickly. "What are you saying?"

"I'm not your friend anymore, that's what I'm saying."

Cassidy walked away, leaving Adrian standing there in shock as he gazed at herretreating back.

- 262 -

Cassidy felt terrible when she joined Nina at her dorm for a study session. Shetried reading her textbook for class, but she couldn't focus. The only words playingover and over in her head were, "She didn't give a shit about you." Once she readthe same sentence again for the sixteenth time, she slammed her textbook shut andgroaned, rubbing her eyes. Nina glanced at her, confused.

"What's wrong?"

Cassidy bit her lip, contemplating on telling Nina her dilemma. "Nothing."

"Honestly, Cassidy. We've been friends for how long?"

She sighed. "If I tell you, will you promise not to tell Kathleen? I know it's notgood to keep secrets from each other, but she can't know this. It would crush her."

Nina threw her study packets on the table and nodded, leaning closer to Cassidy."Yeah, sure, I understand. You can trust me."

Cassidy paused for a moment before going over in detail what happened when sheand Jase talked at his apartment. She told her of his hidden feelings for her andNina gasped at the facts, not cutting in on her. Cassidy ended it with coming acrossLaura which explained her unfocused mind at the given time.

"Wow," Nina said, surprised. "I had no idea Jase liked you and I can't believeLaura. What a bitch."

"That's what Adrian said." Cassidy mumbled, frowning.

"So, are you serious about not being his friend anymore?" She asked curiously.

Cassidy nodded. "I am. He betrayed me into thinking the friendship was genuinewhen all this time, he had a hidden motive." She paused, sighing. "All he wanted wassex, he disgusts me."

"Maybe that was his idea from the start, but don't you think it changed after youguys hung out a bit more?"

She shrugged. "I don't know and I honestly don't care right now. He stirs way tomuch trouble in my life that I can handle. Laura was the last straw, I'm absolutelyfed up."

"I don't think it was his fault that Laura was using you. He probably didn't know- 263 -

himself."

Cassidy gave her one, hard look. "Are you defending him?" She askedincredulously.

Nina snorted. "No, I'm playing devil's advocate. I would never defend thatwomanizer."

"Well, your opposing views don't matter. I already told him that I don't want to behis friend anymore so hopefully he will respect my wishes and leave me alone."

Nina snorted once again in disbelief. "This is Adrian we're talking about. He neverleaves anyone alone."

Cassidy buried her head, groaning, knowing she was right even though she hopedit wasn't true.

"Hey, while you're on the verge of an emotional breakdown, are you going to thatHalloween party this Saturday?" Nina asked.

She raised her head in her hands, scowling. "I don't know it depends on who willbe there."

Nina rolled her eyes, distinguishing the person she was referring to. "You know hegoes to every party. Why do you even ask?"

"Because then you know my answer." Cassidy replied haughtily.

"Come on Cassidy, this is the party of the century. Everybody that is anybody isgoing to be there. You have to go, you just have to!" Nina exclaimed, banging a fiston the table to emphasize her point.

Cassidy glanced at her hand, smirking. "If I go, then that means he will definitelybother me."

"You go to school and he bothers you there too." She pointed out.

"You're right." Cassidy deadpanned. "You're totally right, but this doesn't meanI'm going."

"You have to." Nina replied, frowning. "We need to be there for Kathleen for moralsupport. You remember that Jase broke things off with her because of you."

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"Damn," she muttered, biting her lip. "Way to guilt trip me."

Nina grinned, shrugging. "It's the truth."

Cassidy groaned, closing her eyes for a moment before staring back at her friend.She sighed deeply, shaking her head. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'll go."

Adrian yawned, getting out of bed when the sun hit directly in his eyes. Herubbed his face and was about to do his morning routine just like every other day,until someone knocked on his door.

"Come in."

Terry barged in, holding a newspaper in his hand with a grin on his face. "Dude,guess what just came in the mail?"

He tossed the newspaper on Adrian's chest and it bounced back into his hands.Adrian opened it and squinted his eyes at the words, trying to read through the blur.He raised his head and rubbed at his eyes, shrugging.

"It's too early, what does it say?"

Terry rolled his eyes and grabbed the newspaper, pointing at a certain section. "Itsays here that I'm the most eligible bachelor at school, ranking at number two. Isn'tthat awesome?"

Adrian scratched his bare chest, narrowing his eyes. "Who's number one?"

He snorted, throwing the newspaper at his chest again. "You dumb ass, who else?"

"Oh." Adrian replied, heading to his bathroom.

Terry followed him with an incredulous look. "You're the most sought out guy inthe entire university and all you can say is 'oh'?!"

Adrian looked at him oddly, giving him a half shrug. "Uh, yeah."

"What I'd give to have women a phone call away!" Terry exclaimed, throwing hishands out.

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He rolled his eyes. "It's not all that great."

"Why, because you practically boned every girl at this school?"

"Not everyone." Adrian mumbled under his breath.

Terry narrowed his eyes. "I thought you weren't going to with Cassidy?"

"I'm not, but I didn't get the chance to really fool around." He commented,pausing. "She told me she's done with being my friend."

Terry's eyes widened surprisingly. "Wow, way to hit it hard."

"It doesn't matter. I'm over it. I never wanted her as a friend anyways." Adrianreplied coldly.

"Someone sounds bitter." Terry noted, chuckling.

"I'm not. She just doesn't know what she wants from me. First she wants to be myfriend and then a minute later, she doesn't. It's a back and forth game that neverends. I'm tired of it." He sighed out of frustration.

Terry looked at him with reassurance, giving a half smile. "Well, women tend to beindecisive."

Adrian stared at Terry for a moment before laughing, the tension easing off hisshoulders. "You always know how to give the best advice."

"That's what I'm here for." Terry saluted him, grabbing the newspaper off thefloor. "In the mean time, I'm going to post this on my wall."

Adrian chuckled as Terry left the room and he resumed his morning rituals. Afterhe was clean and ready to go, he went into their small kitchen to grab somebreakfast. He picked a random sugary cereal box from the cabinet and poured it intoa bowl, finishing it off with some milk. He stirred the cereal with his spoon and tooka bite, lounging on the couch.

Jase glanced at him from across the room. "Hey."

"Hey man." Adrian replied through the bulk amount of cereal in his mouth.

"So..." Jase trailed off, looking troubled. "Terry told me that Cassidy broke off the- 266 -

friendship. Is that true?"

"Yeah," Adrian responded, wiping the dribble of milk from the corner of his mouth."I should've seen it coming, but whatever."

He went back to eating his cereal and Jase sat straighter in his seat, wringing hishands on his lap. "Then, you don't have any sort of feelings for her?"

"Feelings?" Adrian snorted in disbelief. "I haven't liked a girl since grade school."

Jase rolled his eyes. "I meant like going after her and trying to get her in bed."

"Oh, no, that shits out the window." He replied, stirring his spoon in the milk."She's an uptight prude. There's no way anybody can get that virgin. If I can't do it,nobody can."

"What if uh...someone wanted to go out with her? Would you be jealous?" Jaseasked warily, trying to keep Adrian from his hidden feelings.

"Yeah right," Adrian laughed incredulously. "I don't get jealous of anybody and it'snot like that girl has a line of guys waiting for her. She's a loser." He tipped his bowlto his mouth and slurped at the excess milk.

"She's not a loser." Jase defended sharply, making Adrian pause from drinking andturn to him with furrowed eyebrows.

"Why do you care all of a sudden?" Adrian inquired suspiciously, finding all hisquestions on Cassidy odd. He recalled Jase calling her a nerd a few weeks ago andnow he's going all soft?

"I don't." Jase replied quickly, his eyes widening slightly. "I just think we shouldstop labeling people. It's rude."

"Since when do you think it's wrong to be rude?" Adrian interrogated, sitting upfrom his seat and setting his bowl on the coffee table.

Jase hesitated. "Since my...women's studies class said it was."

"Did they turn you into a pansy ass?" He asked amusingly.

Jase snorted. "No. It's just what's right, Adrian. There's no real use to verballybullying people, especially preying upon virgins who don't take much interest in

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your seductions."

"Cassidy is one of those people who will stay single for the rest of her life, trustme." He said certainly.

"And how do you know?" Jase countered.

"Easy. I've never seen her around a guy before, except for me and she has zeroexperience. No guy out there is going to want her."

"How could you say that about her? She was your friend."

"I just wanted her for sex and she finally found out the truth." He explaineduncaringly. "If it wasn't for Laura, I would still be friends with her because she's sodamn naive."

True, that was his initial idea from the start, but Cassidy was a good friend to himin the short time that they were. He wouldn't admit that to Jase because hisreputation would be deteriorated.

"So you honestly don't give a shit about her whatsoever?"

Adrian narrowed his eyes warily, leaning back. "I'm going to ask again, why doyou care?"

"I'm curious."

"Bull shit, Reynolds." Adrian spat out, crossing his legs on the coffee table. "Whydon't you give me a decent answer and maybe I'll tell you?"

Jase sighed. "It's nothing."

"Then why the constant questioning?"

"I want to know what's going on in your head when you go through these shortfooling around stages."

Adrian eyed him carefully one more time before responding. "Ok, I'll tell you." Hepaused for a moment. "Cassidy is a girl and like any other girl I could care lessabout their problems and them in general. But she was one of a kind and I did havefun with her while she was still oblivious. I mean the only thing I regret is notcovering it up better. I didn't think she would see through the lies since she's so

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obscured by the faults in humanity."

"So all and all, you don't care that the friendship is done?"

Adrian looked thoughtful for a moment, half shrugging. "Pretty much."

"Oh." Jase replied, not knowing what else to say since Adrian basically providedhim with much information than he needed to know. With the silence spreadingbetween him, he stood up and yawned shortly. "Well, I'm going to take a shower."

Jase turned to leave as Adrian was about to ask an important question. "Hey, isthe mystery girl that you happen to like going to be at the Halloween party?"

He stopped dead in his tracks, gulping at his throat before turning to him. "Uh...Ihave no idea."

"Well, tell me who she is if you see her. I don't want to prey upon her myself."Adrian smirk, giving him a seductive wink.

Jase was about to tell him that he pretty much already did, but he gave him a tightsmile, nodding. "Sure man, I will."

Cassidy inwardly groaned as she cast her gaze on the huge house before her,decked out in a Halloween theme filled with many intoxicated people that had themost obscene costumes. This was the time of year where women had the privilege todressing up like a slut and not being called out on it while the men stood there andleered.

She shuddered from the wafting smell of strong alcohol, cigarette smoke, andsweat. This was going to be one interesting night.

"Oh Cassidy, you know not to judge a book by its cover." Nina noted, tugging onher witch hat.

Nina had the decency to stay covered up with a cute witch costume that didn'tpass as childish or slutty. It was a simple costume that made her look approachable,but yet, innocent at the same time.

Kathleen on the other hand, decided to wear a revealing librarian outfit with theglasses and the short pencil skirt. She was on the hunt to find her crush and shemade it her duty to actively search for him while Cassidy and Nina helped. ThoughCassidy's costume was...plain.

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She looked down at her outfit and smiled at the choice. She was a doctor with awhite coat, a stethoscope around her neck, and a nametag pinned on the breastpocket. It was probably the best costume out of everyone's at the whole party, butothers may think differently. It was the only one that was modest.

Cassidy glanced at Nina, smiling. "I've been to three parties already. I think I canjudge whatever way I want."

Nina shrugged, heading inside while Kathleen trailed behind. Cassidy gave onelast sigh before following them in. Once she stepped in, the loud, pounding musicalmost shattered her ear drums and someone almost spilled their drink on her.

Everybody was already thoroughly trashed and it was nine o'clock. Nina wasn'tkidding when she said that this was the biggest party of the year. It was packedinside the frat house with unfamiliar faces. She guessed it was people from differentplaces deciding to join in on the fun.

Halloween wasn't about candy or fun anymore, it was about getting drunk andhooking up. Cassidy felt disgusted and the sooner Kathleen found a safe crush topine on, the quicker she could leave the stench of drunkards.

Cassidy squeezed past the many people crowding certain rooms, walkingaimlessly. Kathleen was looking for the ideal man and when she was done, shewould call Cassidy's cell phone at any minute.

Cassidy looked down at her phone and sighed, putting it back in her pocket. Thatwouldn't be any time soon and Cassidy was hoping she wasn't going to stay herevery long.

She didn't find anybody she knew at the party either which included Adrian andhis buddies. Cassidy hoped it stayed that way and she was doing a good job at hidingfrom them.

As the night drew near and she got restless, Cassidy heard an uproar of applauseand laughter coming from the backyard. Curious, she went to check to see what wasgoing on and once she stepped out, she saw people tossing ping pong balls into redcups on narrow tables.

Cassidy assessed the game with interest, wondering what the hype was about withcups and ping pong balls. As she walked through each table, she noticed that eachcup was filled with a minimum of beer and whoever's ping pong ball landed in thecup, they had to drink it. She rolled her eyes at such a stupid game and was about to

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walk away until someone called after her.

"Hey doctor!"

Cassidy turned around, narrowing her eyes at the dirty blond, spiked haired manthat called her name. She pointed at herself in the chest, confused if he was actuallycalling her.

"Yes, you! You're the only one dressed as one if you don't count the naughtynurses." He said amusingly, waggling his eyebrows.

"Do you want something?" Cassidy asked kindly, raising an eyebrow.

"We're playing beer pong and I need a partner, do you want to be mine?" Heasked curiously.

Cassidy wrinkled her nose. "No, I'm not fond of drinking, especially beer."

"I'll drink your beer for you." He reasoned, giving her a smile. "It's just one game.Come on."

"Fine," Cassidy sighed, not having anything better to do.

"Yes!" He pounded a fist in the air and turned to the partners across from them."Ok guys, I got a partner. Start it up."

Cassidy walked to his side and watched him assembled the red cups in a triangle.He filled each one with a small amount of beer and when he was done, he grabbed aping pong ball.

"You know how to play?" He asked.

Cassidy nodded. "I was watching a few games and I kind of got the gist of it."

"Alright, nice." He replied, staring back at Cassidy and pausing for a moment. Hestretched out his hand to her. "I'm Chris by the way."

Cassidy shook his hand, smiling slightly. "Cassidy."

Chris eyed her closely, looking as if he was trying to discern something about her."That sounds familiar."

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She shrugged. "It's a common name."

He laughed. "I guess it is."

They started the game, tossing the ping pong ball into the opposite side's cups.Chris made it every time like he was a pro, but Cassidy missed whenever it was herturn. She felt bad that Chris was stuck with her as a partner, but he told her hedidn't care.

They lost their first game with Chris drinking all her beer and Cassidy wasstarting to enjoy it. They started their second game and as usually, Chris got everysingle toss and Cassidy missed some of hers. When the opposite side of the teammade the ball into their cup, Chris took it and extended it to Cassidy.

"One won't hurt, right?" Chris asked.

She shook her head. "I don't think-"

"I'm really buzzed right now and I have to drive home." He explained, patting thekeys in his jean pocket. "It doesn't taste that bad after a few, just try it."

Cassidy sighed, taking the cup from his hands and tipping it slowly to her lips. Shefelt bad that he's been drinking all this time and he had other duties to attend to.She didn't want him to get drunk because of her and she might as well drink at leastsome.

Cassidy quickly drank the frothy bitter liquid and placed it back on the table, asour look on her face. They continued on with the game and Cassidy drank her beer,slowly becoming used to the taste. They lost their third game and Chris laughed itoff.

"What happened, doctor? You're supposed to save me from this game!" Heexclaimed amusingly.

Cassidy giggled, feeling the warmth in her body spread. "It's my first time playing,don't blame me."

"Right," Chris replied, grabbing another beer to fill up the next round.

Cassidy watched him arrange the cups and pour the respective amount. She wasstarting to feel light and funny which usually occurred when she drank. It wasstrange to her that she couldn't wait for the next game to drink more.

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Chris finished lining them up until a guy that appeared completely intoxicatedcame up to them, looking at Chris. "Hey man, I've got to go home. Mind giving me aride?"

Chris glanced at Cassidy. "I would, but I'm playing beer pong with my friendhere."

"Find someone else to fill in." He slurred.

Chris was about to reply negatively until Cassidy intervened. "It's ok, Chris. Youcan take him home. I'll look for someone."

She should've said that she was done playing, but he already set up the game andshe wanted more.

He frowned, his eyes wandering from a distance until his facial expressionchanged to one of excitement. "I found your partner for you." He replied, cuppinghis hands. "Hey Lennox! Get your ass over here and play some beer pong!"

Cassidy gaped, shaking her head profusely as she tugged on Chris' arm. "No!What are you doing! You can't bring him over here!"

Chris looked back at her, confused. "Why not?"

It was too late to explain their history because Adrian walked over to their tableand his eyes found Cassidy, looking surprised. She figured it was because he didn'texpect her to be here, playing beer pong and drinking. Cassidy didn't expect iteither. Though, what surprised her when she looked at Adrian was his costume.

He was dressed as a nerd, similar to the one when he arrived at her door step,urging to speak with her father to get her out of trouble. He was wearing a blackand white checkered sweater vest, a long sleeved white dress shirt, and blacktrousers.

His glasses were shiny black square frames that made him look handsome andolder. Cassidy swallowed at her dry throat and was tempted to wash it down with abeer.

"Cassidy," Adrian started casually. "I'm surprised to see you here."

"Same here," she countered.

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"Here's your partner Lennox, I'm going to take this guy home. I'll be back later."

Chris left them standing awkwardly behind the table and they didn't exchange anywords.

"Are we going to play or what?"

Cassidy's eyes shot up to the partners across from them and she temporarilyforgot where she was.

"Yeah, you start." Adrian replied, taking a few steps closer to Cassidy.

They were playing their first game and it was going terrible at Cassidy's part.Adrian showed her a few tricks to get it into the cup and after a while, she got thehang of it.

Soon, they were making more shots into the opposite side's cups and afterdrinking more beer cups than she could remember, Cassidy felt unstoppable andhazy.

They almost won their second game and played a few more after that, dominatingthe other team. Adrian would slap hands with her or give a pat on the back for hersuccessful shots. There was one cup left on the opposite side and it was Cassidy'sturn as she held the ping pong ball firmly in her hands.

"You can do this and remember, toss it in softly." Adrian advised.

Cassidy nodded and held the ball in her finger tips, eyeing the cup across fromher. If she made this one, they would win and finally beat the other team. She tossedthe ping pong ball softly into the air and it bounced on the rim and went right intothe cup.

"WE WON!"

Cassidy and Adrian jumped up and down with victory as the other team groanedin defeat. Cassidy threw her arms around Adrian and he twirled her around,receiving giggles out of her. She felt elated and warm inside, that she wished shewas like this everyday.

When he stopped to put her down, he caught her brown eyes and smiled sweetly,cupping her cheek. She felt her stomach bubble up. His infectious smile made hergrin in return, making his green eyes glisten. Adrian's eyes suddenly looked to her

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lips and she gulped nervously, seeing his dark gaze.

She crashed her lips onto his, wrapping her arms around his neck. Adrian quicklyreciprocated and held her around the waste as he deepened the kiss. His handswere all over her body and hers were in his hair. She was knocked against the walland their hips were fused together with no space in between them.

"Hey, can you two get a room? Ashley and I are starting up a new game here andyou're blocking the table!" Their rival shouted at them.

Adrian pulled away, breathing heavily as he gazed at her. "My place?"

Cassidy took deep breaths, torn between saying yes from the drunk side of herbrain and saying no from the moral part. It was a hard decision for her to makebecause his adorable face made her weak in the knees. His outfit didn't helpbecause that made her even more attracted to him.

She closed her eyes momentarily before opening them. "Yes."

A/N: Hey guys! love all the feedback I'm getting for this story. I'm glad you're allenjoying it! So, do you guys think somethings going to happen or not? ;)

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Morning After

Chapter 16: Morning After

Cassidy didn't remember much of the ride over to Adrian's apartment, but oncethey went inside the elevator, it was deafly silent. There was no one else occupyingthe machine, it was just the two of them. Alone.

She gulped nervously from the realization and could still taste the bitterness ofher beer. Why did she agree to come with him to his apartment? And why did shehave to drink again? If it wasn't for the alcohol she would be at home reading a bookand being the good little girl her parents thought she was.

Adrian looked at her across the elevator and smirked, noticing the way her smallneck bobbed. He looked like a predator about to place his attack on her and shepushed her back against the corner as hard as she could.

She was hoping that the corner would expand and save her from being in thepresence of Adrian, but it didn't work. He watched her amusingly and he pushed hisback against the wall of the elevator to walk slowly up to her. Cassidy gaspedsharply, squeezing herself in the corner quickly, but it didn't do any justice. Adrianstopped in front of her, trapping her in the corner with his tall frame.

"I think I underestimated you," he smirked.

Cassidy blinked twice, surprised. "H-How so?" She stuttered, slurring a bit.

"You play the game better than me." Adrian replied, chuckling under his breath."All this 'I don't want to be your friend' nonsense, you really had me there."

She tried to understand what he was saying, but she was pulling a blank eachtime. The alcohol wasn't helping much. "I'm confused."

"It's ok. I don't want you over thinking this anyways." He said, wrapping his warmhand on the curve of her neck. "I just want you to relax."

Cassidy tried to ignore the gentle feel of his fingers rubbing the back of her necksoftly and focus on what was going at the moment. "Why?"

The elevator dinged to its arrival and Adrian made no such movement to get out

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as he stared down at Cassidy with a growing smirk. "Because you wouldn't let me dowhat I've been wanting to for a while."

Cassidy looked up at him with furrowed eyebrows, wondering what he meant bythe statement until he leaned in closer to her. She noticed the way he tugged herneck closer to his face and she kept glancing at his lips and his humorous eyesbehind framed glasses.

Her lack of comprehension and motor skills were from her intoxicated state andshe tried so hard to get it together to make him stop, but she couldn't. Adrian'swarmth breath fanned against her cheeks and his lips were reaching an inch fromhers until the elevator buzzed obnoxiously.

Adrian stopped in motion and chuckled, releasing the hold of her neck as he tooka step back. Cassidy almost breathed in a sigh of relief until he grasped her forearm,gesturing his head to the hallway.

"Come on."

He strung Cassidy along and brought her to his apartment, opening the door withhis key. They entered inside the dark pad and Adrian kept a firm grip on her arm.He walked towards his room and opened his door, pulling Cassidy inside.

"Adrian-"

Before she knew it, she was pressed up against the back of his door and Adrianheld her in place, a lustful look in his eyes. His fingers glided over her jaw to thepeaking skin of her neck, pushing her white doctor coat off as it landed on the floorbeside her. Cassidy glanced at it momentarily before bringing her eyes back up tohim, his smirk present.

Cassidy was about to open her mouth to speak, but he pressed his index finger toher lips in a shushing motion.

"Don't speak. We wouldn't want to ruin the moment now do we?"

She stood there silent, gazing up at his glowing green eyes behind his framedglasses. She straightened the edge of her reading glasses and furrowed hereyebrows.

"Where did you get your glasses?"

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Adrian raised an eyebrow, all passion in his eyes gone. "What?"

"Your fake glasses, where did you get them?" She repeated.

He touched the frame of his glasses and a look of surprise was on his face. "Oh, Ididn't realize these were still on." Cassidy still looked at him, waiting for his answer,but he held up a finger to her. "I'll be back in a second."

Adrian walked swiftly to the bathroom and shut the door, the light emerge fromthe cracks. Cassidy stared curiously at it, not questioning his strange actions. Sheyawned and looked to his bed, walking over to it. She ran a hand through his navyblue sheets, noting the softness at her finger tips.

Cassidy craned her neck to the bathroom door that was still closed and sighed.Her eyelids were getting heavy and Adrian was taking a while in there. Shewondered what he was doing and figured she would wait on his bed.

She sat down, giving into the urge of lying back on his pillows and shutting hereyes momentarily. Any minute he will come inside and she would be awake, goingback to whatever they were doing before. But until then, she was going to snuggleagainst his soft sheets and wait.

Adrian washed his face with cold water and turned off the faucet once he wasdone. He dabbed his face with a clean wash cloth and placed it back on the rack. Hereached for the door handle and opened it, letting the light from the bathroom floodinto his room.

"Sorry it took so-" He stopped himself when he saw who was sleeping peacefullyon his bed. "Long," he finished lamely.

Adrian walked to the other side of the bed and sat down, looking over his shoulderat her. She breathed softly through her nose and her long brown hair fanned out onhis pillow. He sighed, lying back on the bed with his arms crossed behind his head.

He looked up at the ceiling and realized that she was the only girl that had theprivilege of staying in his room without having sex. That didn't make him too happyand certainly didn't make him fall asleep with the thought troubling his mind.

Cassidy shivered, snuggling closer to the warmth of the bed and searching for theblanket that seemed to fall off her body in the middle of the night. She cracked an

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eye open on the floor and saw no blanket present. Cassidy sighed, closing her eyeand putting her hand behind her back to pat for it. She felt the silk of the blanketand tugged it forward, setting it on her body.

The warmth of the silk protected her from the coldness of the room that felt as ifshe was in Antarctica. She snuggled her cheek against the pillow, falling back asleepuntil the blanket was pulled away from her.

Giving a frustrated groan, Cassidy yanked it back towards her, but it wouldn'tbudge. She tugged harder, grabbing another hand until it came loose and she rolledoff the bed, landing on the floor as her head knocked on the end table.

"Ow!" She cried out, rubbing the back of her head furiously.

"That's what you get for taking what's mine."

Cassidy's hand froze on her head and she rose herself on her knees to see Adrianlying on his bed with eyes closed, looking youthful and dare she say innocent? Hismess of brown hair was almost covering the softness of his closed eyelids.

She looked away, willing herself to concentrate on where she was at other thanthe boy who was sleeping on the same bed as her. It was six in the morning whichmeant it was too early for anyone to be up at this hour, especially during a weekend.

She sighed, standing up with the blanket in her arms and dumping it on his bed. "Idrank last night, didn't I?"

"Yup," he replied simply, unmoving.

Cassidy groaned, rubbing her face. "It's that guy's fault...Chris or whatever."

This time, Adrian's eyes opened and he looked directly at Cassidy in a seriousnature. "Don't blame your drinking on Chris. You wanted to do it or else youwould've said no."

"I did, but he had to drive someone home and I thought I was helping him out bydrinking my beer," she reasoned.

He yawned, turning to the other side of the pillow with his back on Cassidy andpulling the blanket over him. "Don't give me your excuses. They aren't working tosolve your case."

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Cassidy snorted, knowing fully well that she lost and it was her fault for drinkingin the first place. Her pride definitely felt hurt. "Whatever, I'm leaving."

Adrian didn't say anything in reply as he was getting back to sleep and being thenon-gentleman that he was. She went towards the door and saw her white coat lyingon the floor. She furrowed her eyebrows and picked it up, putting it back on. Shesort of remembered Adrian taking it off and she was glad that they didn't doanything further like kissing or even worse...sex.

Cassidy left the room as fast as she could and walked towards their front door.She had to get home quickly so her parents won't find out where she was last night.She didn't want another lecture and then be sent to St. Mary's. It would be definitethis time. Her worry was solely based upon her parent's finding out, not anythingelse.

"Cassidy?"

She stopped dead in place, her eyes widening from alarm of being caught by him.He was the roommate who confessed his feelings to her, the one who she dideverything in her power to hide from.

Cassidy turned around and faced him, trying to act bold. "Jase," she saidsurprisingly, her tone trembling a bit. "Why are y-you up so early?"

"I always go to the gym at this time, especially after a night of drinking." Hereplied, his voice hardening at each word. He was wearing a black cut off shirt andbasketball shorts. Jase looked at her disdainfully, making Cassidy gulp and wringher hands.

"What are you doing here?" He asked in an accusatory voice, his blue eyes glaring.

It was as if he already knew by the mere presence of her in their apartment, buthe still asked. She was too afraid to answer. Cassidy doubted that he would believeher when she said she did nothing with Adrian last night because it was Adrian. Healways got some sort of action from every girl he was with, but that wasn't the caselast night.

"I-I," she started nervously, glancing to his maddening face and the floor. A decentword wouldn't come out of her mouth and she was incapable of speaking correctly.All those years of English class did nothing at that moment. "I..."

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"I'm so fucking tired."

Jase and Cassidy's heads snapped to Adrian, rubbing at his eyelids while heyawned. "I would still be in bed if it wasn't for-"

Cassidy cleared her throat, glaring at him with crossed arms as he stoppedhimself. He chuckled when he saw her. "Oh, I thought you left."

Cassidy's bold demeanor changed when she glanced at Jase, the source to heranswer. "I was going to but-"

"Hitting up the gym?" Adrian asked Jase suddenly, cutting Cassidy off. She fumedinwardly for his rude intervening. He was such a jerk.

Jase nodded. "Yeah, I am."

"You're more dedicated than me and Terry. We would never wake up this early."He yawned.

He nodded again, clearly not paying attention as he grabbed his small gym bagand water. "I've got to go, see ya."

Jase walked passed her without acknowledging her and Cassidy frowned. "Jase,wait!"

He opened the door and shut if after him, leaving Cassidy troubled. She needed totalk to him and she would've if Adrian didn't ruin it with his presence. Jase stillprobably thought she and Adrian did something and she needed to fix that.

"What did you need to talk to Jase about?" Adrian asked curiously.

Cassidy turned around sharply, ignoring his question. "I need a ride home."

He smirked, advancing closer to her. "What do you say?"

She rolled her eyes. "Please?"

"Good, now give me a kiss and we'll be on our way to-"

Cassidy groaned in frustration. "Forget it I'm taking the bus. I knew I couldn't relyon you and your male hormones."

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She went to grab the door, but Adrian stopped her with his hand on it. "Feisty thismorning, are we?"

"I don't have time for your games right now. I just want to go home." She statedfirmly with a troubled sigh.

She felt like crying at that moment because her parents might kill her and Jasewas suspecting something that she would never in her life do. Her anxiety was goingon over drive and her heart was pounding faster than the normal rate. Cassidy wasdistressed, tired, and frustrated. Adrian saw this as he grabbed his keys and openedthe door.

"Come on, I'll take you." He said without questioning any further.

Cassidy felt relieved and half her stress was slowly going away. "Thank you."

She followed Adrian out of their apartment and once they were on the road, theywere both silent. Cassidy didn't feel the need to converse because she was stillworrying if her parents were up or not, discovering she was missing.

She didn't know if Kathleen or Nina covered for her and if they did, her parentsmight make a random check up to their apartment like last time. She didn't want tomake the risk so she thought it would be better just to sneak inside, hoping theywere asleep.

"Is it your parents?" Adrian guessed, his eyes concentrated on the road.

"Yes," she sighed.

"I have my glasses in my glove box." He replied, insinuating that he would helpher again if she was in trouble.

"I don't think it would work this time around." Cassidy responded gravely. "Mydad told me that if it happened again, I would be sent to St. Mary's."

"Well, let's hope that's not the case."

She took a glance at him, appreciating his generosity even though he kept it wellhidden. If he wasn't such a jerk, Cassidy would like him better, but she knew hewould never part that side of him. It didn't annoy her that much because it was therare kind acts that made him seem more human than his regular persona.

- 282 -

"Why do you have those glasses in there anyways?" She asked curiously, glancingat the closed glove box.

"Oh, I left them there after dinner with your parents. I guess I never took themout."

"So, you have two pairs of glasses just for fun?" Cassidy inquired, confused.

He shook his head. "No, the other one I borrowed from someone. I didn't knowwhat to dress as last night so I went with geek. It seemed easier to dress in andsince I made such a good impression with your parents, I figured why the hell not?"

"It worked by the way," Cassidy replied, chuckling. "They believed everything yousaid, especially the way you talked. I didn't know you had such an extensivevocabulary."

He snorted. "Hey, I'm not that dumb."

"It certainly doesn't help when you act all bad boyish and tough." She shrugged."It was like I was seeing two different people that night. There was the goodnatured, virginal Adrian and than the next day, the hardcore bad boy sex-aholic."

"Sex-aholic?" He laughed, his green eyes shining with humor. "I've never got thatone before."

"Yeah, well you are. It seems these days, it's been harder for you to keep it in."Cassidy noted, sounding bitter.

All laughter faded from Adrian's face as he glanced at Cassidy gravely. "You'restill mad at me, huh?"

"Not mad, just disappointed."

"You shouldn't expect much from me." He replied, his tone lowering. "I let down alot of people."

"Does that make you proud?" Cassidy asked with indignation.

"No, I'm just telling it like it is. I'm always used to hearing it so it's nothing out ofthe norm."

"You can change that." Cassidy implied hopefully. "If you didn't act out so much- 283 -

than people would respect you more and not lose faith in you."

Adrian chuckled humorlessly. "Believe me, it's not that easy. I gave up a long timeago."

Cassidy frowned, choosing not to reply as she looked away and stared out thewindow. She could tell Adrian had a lot of secrets that he wasn't willing to share,especially those who were closer to him. Why did he act so rebellious all the time?

It had something to do with someone and Cassidy was curious to know who it was,but she wouldn't have any luck finding out. Adrian was closed tight shut about thesethings. He had issues, especially those involving trust.

"So, are we still friends?" Adrian asked, adding a mock hopeful tone.

Cassidy glanced back at him and crossed her arms boldly. "No."

"No?" He repeated, staring at her with surprise. "Why no?"

"You can't fool me anymore, Adrian. I know your game now. It might've workedbefore, but it certainly isn't going to work now."

"Then...what's going to happen between us?" Adrian asked warily as to notinsinuate anything from his words.

"Nothing," Cassidy replied, smiling wryly when she saw his eyebrows shoot up."Nothing is going to happen because you know why? I don't trust you. You werenever a friend to begin with and I don't want to start anything else with you."

"Ok," Adrian drawled out, pausing for a moment. "Well, are we still going to talk?"

"Oh we'll still talk, but that doesn't mean we'll be friends." Cassidy said clearly,still smiling. "I think I liked it best when we were acquaintances. It was much easier,don't you think?"

Adrian shrugged, smirking. "Yeah, it was never a problem with me."

"Ok, then it's settled. There is no connection between us and we only know eachother on a first name basis. That's it."

"Just like that, huh?" He replied, laughing for a bit. "Somehow, you're not proving- 284 -

it to me much by saying it."

"Oh, things we'll change and you'll see it soon enough. Trust me."

"You know I don't trust people," Adrian countered, giving her a wry smile.

He got her there, but that didn't stop her. "That's fine, but the only person I won'tbe trusting is you."

He nodded in satisfaction, keeping a firm grip on the wheel. "I like thisarrangement. Too bad it was put into affect at such a late stage."

"It doesn't matter to me either way."

Adrian chuckled and continued to drive, letting the silence roll in. Cassidy turnedaway and the smile on her face fell off right away. She didn't know what she wasdoing was right, but she was hoping it would teach him a lesson. Sure she called offtheir friendship, but Cassidy had a motive behind this. She found that if she didn'tput a label between her and Adrian, he would most likely be more receptive.

Hopefully, he would trust her in the future to be able to discuss his problems withher. Cassidy didn't know why she cared so much, but it was worth a try to get toknow who was behind the mask of Adrian Lennox.

She also found that she wanted to change his bad boy attitude into something likethe person she saw at her house with her parents for dinner as a nerd. Cassidy likedthat guy more than the usual one she saw from a day to day basis.

Adrian dropped her off at her house and when Cassidy stepped out without sayinganything, he rolled down the window. "Call me if anything goes wrong."

She turned back to him, surprised that he actually cared, but didn't question it.She was too tired to ask. "Sure."

She waved goodbye and walked up to her door, extracting a key from her pocket.She inserted it into the keyhole and unlocked it. Cassidy slowly opened the door,hearing the faint creaks at the hinges. She tip toed inside and shut it softly, peeringat the kitchen. It was silent and her parents weren't up yet which meant she was inthe safe zone...for now.

- 285 -

Cassidy held onto the straps of her backpack tightly as she walked to schoolMonday morning. The rest of the weekend was uneventful and she was thankful thather father didn't question about her whereabouts on Saturday night.

He thought she came home that night, but little did he know that she was sleepingnext to one of the worse guys on campus. Cassidy was glad to be worried free fromthat, but something was still troubling her.

Her eyes caught the person she was most afraid to talk to ever since Sundaymorning happened. She still didn't give him an explanation and now that he wassitting alone with a textbook open and writing on notebook paper, she figured thiswas the best time.

Cassidy exhaled in determination and walked boldly over to him with confidentstrides. This was going to happen, the long awaited talk. Everything was going to beout in the open and they will be no awkward pauses or glances. It will be a simple,poised conversation.

"Jase." Cassidy said calmly, watching as he snapped his neck behind him and hiseyes slowly widening. He looked surprised to see her there.

Then, Cassidy pulled a nervous blank. She hesitated, forgetting what she wasabout to say when she decided to speak to him. "Uh..." She trailed off into confusion,swallowing at her dry throat. Why did he always render her speechless whenever hewas near?

Jase turned away from her and grabbed his fallen pencil by the table, looking overhis work. "What do you want, Cassidy? You have no business being here. I prettymuch got the hint Sunday morning so there's no need to explain."

"No, Jase, it wasn't like that!" Cassidy exclaimed, finding her voice as she took aseat opposite to him. "Please...listen."

His blue hardened eyes stared at her intensely, making her feel even worse thanbefore. "You hurt me."

Cassidy frowned at his revelation. She never was the one doing the job to hurtpeople it was always others hurting her. She didn't like the feeling of hurting him.

"I'm sorry," she replied softly. "It wasn't my intention to."

"Then what was?" He asked in mild anger. - 286 -

"I'm not proud of what I did." She started, bowing her head in shame. "I thought afew drinks wouldn't hurt and I never had beer before. Next thing I know, one turnedinto six and I was...drunk. My partner for beer pong had to leave so he broughtAdrian to fill in." She stopped, watching his facial expression carefully.

He appeared attentive, but still angry. "We played so many games that I don'teven remember. We finally won a game... and he asked me to go to his apartmentand I agreed." Cassidy sighed, berating herself for being so stupid when it came toalcohol.

"Then you had sex with him." Jase finished angrily, slamming his textbook shutand setting his notebook paper on top. "I get it."

He cradled his stuff to his chest and turned to walk away so fast that Cassidy washaving a hard time registering what happened. "NO, I DIDN'T!"

Jase stopped in mid-step, not turning his back and Cassidy got up from her seat towalk over to him. "I didn't sleep with him. We didn't even kiss nor do anything else. Ifell asleep on his bed. That was it."

He turned his hard eyes at her. "Are you sure?"

"I'm positive." She replied surely.

Jase was quiet for a moment, standing there in thought. He met Cassidy's eyesand she noticed they softened a bit. "I'm having a hard time believing you." Hepaused and Cassidy frowned. "Usually when girls go into Adrian's bed, they havesex. They don't go in there to sleep."

"Well, what else do you want me to say? That's the truth. I don't have any otherproof to show you." She explained, sounding frustrated.

"I do." Jase replied, watching something from a distance. Cassidy followed hisgaze and saw Adrian walking towards them with a girl around his arm. She gaped,looking at Jase.

"You can't be serious. He's-He's," Cassidy stopped, trying to find the word.

"Too prideful?" Jase guessed and she nodded in return. "He'll tell me the truth. Iknow him."

Cassidy stood there and painfully watched as Adrian finally reached them and- 287 -

placed his seduction moves on the innocent blonde girl he had at hand. Cassidy sawhim caress her neck all the way down to the crevice of her v-neck shirt. She lookedaway, about to vomit in her mouth and waited until he sent the girl off. Adrian facedJase and Cassidy with an open smirk.

"What did I miss?" He asked huskily.

Cassidy glanced at Jase, gesturing her head towards Adrian to tell him. Jasebrought his hands out in a serious motion. "Did you and Cassidy have sex?"

Adrian furrowed his eyebrows at the direct question and his eyes landed atCassidy as she couldn't contain the surprise of his bluntness either. "Unfortunately,we didn't. Why do you ask?"

"So, what I saw on Sunday wasn't the aftermath of sex, it was just her sleeping inyour room?"

Adrian rubbed the back of his neck, looking embarrassed to her astonishment."Yeah."

Jase smiled, his blue eyes sparkling when he glanced at Cassidy. She couldn't helpsmiling back and Adrian saw the strange exchange between them.

"I am missing something." He noted, bring their attention back. "What's goingon?"

"Oh, uh..." Jase cleared his throat, looking at Cassidy one more time beforeglancing at his friend. "I haven't told you this yet, but I like Cassidy."

Adrian's eyes widened bewilderedly and his mouth opened and closed, speechless."You...and-and her?"

He looked at Cassidy in question as she swallowed hard at her throat. "This is thegirl?" Adrian asked, unbelieving as he pointed his index finger to Cassidy.

"Yeah, it is." Jase replied boldly, not liking the rudeness of his surprise.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Adrian erupted in laughter, glancing at Cassidy andhim again. "Stop joking with me, Jase. You wouldn't want to hurt poor Cassidy'sfeelings."

"Man, it's the truth alright?" Jase exclaimed roughly. "I like Cassidy." - 288 -

His laughter stopped as he started to turn grim. "When did this happen?"

Jase shrugged. "It started developing ever since you tried to sleep with her."

"You can't-" Adrian stopped, shaking his head in denial. "There's no way that youlike her, no way."

"Why not?" Jase replied harshly.

"Look at her man!" Adrian jabbed a hand at her rudely. "She's the Virgin Mary ofour time, a nerd who doesn't know the meaning of fun. How can you like someonelike that?"

Tears threatened to spike as Cassidy watched them argue about her. It wasn't Jasethat was doing any of the damage, but it was Adrian.

His words hurt her more so than it ever had before. She wanted to leave so badly,but she couldn't. Her feet wouldn't move at will, they just settled there frozen on thefloor, hearing more harsh words being sent her way.

"How can you say that?" Jase exclaimed angrily. "Isn't she supposed to be yourfriend?!"

He snorted. "We aren't friends anymore. The Virgin Cassidy said it so herself.She'd rather have it at an acquaintance level. Aren't I right Cassidy?"

Cassidy didn't reply as she stood rigid in place, looking at them blankly. Adrianraised an eyebrow, looking at her closely.

"Cassidy?"

"Go fuck yourself, Adrian." Cassidy snapped as his eyebrows shot up in surprise.

She left them both standing there and heard Jase called at her retreating back,begging for her to stay. She didn't listen to him, she didn't want to.

Cassidy couldn't stand another second of being around that arrogant asshole thatwas overly praised at her college campus. She was fed up with him and the rudethings he said about her.

Has all their time spent together meant nothing to him? He treated her like dirt ofthe side of the road. He was a selfish slut that thought he was above everyone else.

- 289 -

Cassidy wouldn't take it this time. No sire. She wasn't going to give him the time aday again.

As she walked angrily, she couldn't help but notice someone was near, someonewho listened in on their huge brawl. She turned around and searched for the personuntil her surprised eyes landed at them in question.

Kathleen stood there with a distraught and incredulous look on her pale face.Cassidy glanced at Jase and Adrian from behind than at Kathleen, putting two andtwo together. She listened in. She heard everything.

"Kathleen...it's not what it looks like."

"You were the one that he...liked?" Kathleen said, the hurt evident in her tone. "Allthis time?"

"I didn't know until-" She stopped herself, realizing she dug a deeper hole.

"Until what?"

Cassidy sighed. "Until last week." Kathleen's eyes widened and Cassidy brought ahand to stop it. "But I was going to tell you-"

"When?" She exclaimed, the tears glazing over. "Clearly, you don't tell meanything anymore."

"Kathleen, that's not true. I just didn't want you to get hurt." Cassidy explained.

"I was already hurt to begin with, what makes this any different?"

"I just...wanted you to forget about him. To stop pining after him and move on."She paused. "This was my problem. I had to fix it."

"Well, you're doing a great job of that aren't you?" Kathleen replied harshly,walking passed her. "Save the excuses, I don't want to hear it."

Cassidy felt the hurt of her words struck into her stomach as she watched herformer best friend walk away. Her world was falling apart ever since she steppedfoot on this school and she could only think to blame it on one person. AdrianLennox.

- 290 -

A/N: Crazy, intense chapter huh? Too much drama haha. Thanks for all yourcomments and support! It means a lot! Another update this week!

- 291 -

When Bad Boys Strike

Chapter 17: When Bad Boys Strike

Nothing could get rid of the guilt she felt when Kathleen went off on her aboutJase. Cassidy suspected that she still liked him and hasn't fully gotten over it yet. Ifonly she knew than none of this mess would've happened. Cassidy would've steeredclear from Jase until Kathleen liked someone else, but then it might still be aproblem.

She sighed heavily, glancing down at her cell phone. She tried calling Kathleen acouple times and each ring went straight to voice-mail. She was being ignored forthe first time by her best friend and she hated every second of it. Why did boyscomplicate everything? Including one's friendship?

Cassidy took a bite out of her sandwich, chewing slowly with her back against thestone wall of a school building. She was eating alone which was the first time sinceshe could remember. She felt like an outcast again, being reminded of the memoriesin high school of sitting in the library or at a bench alone, eating her lunch when herKathleen or Nina didn't have her lunch period.

She thought that college would change all that since their school schedules werebasically the same, but it wasn't any different. Nina was busy with homework,always procrastinating until the end while she busily writes up her essays on theschool's computer, but Kathleen was there except for now.

Going a day without talking ate up Cassidy inside and she sighed sadly as shelooked down at her sandwich. The tears blurred her vision from being without herfriends, screwing up her life, and most importantly, being alone.

"If you keep looking at your sandwich like that, it might eat you."

Her head snapped up and she saw Jase smiling until he looked at her face, theglazed appearance of her eyes. His smile drooped as he gave her a concerned look.

"What's wrong?" He asked in a worried tone, sitting next to her.

Cassidy blinked her tears away, stuffing her sandwich back into her bag. "It'snothing, I'm just being stupid."

- 292 -

"Nothing you do constitutes as being stupid." Jase replied kindly, looking up ather. Cassidy felt her insides twist at the softness of his blue eyes. "Why the longface?"

"Kathleen won't talk to me," she revealed quickly, sighing. "Yesterday, she heardeverything we said and now she's upset. I think she still likes you..."

Jase lowered his gaze to the floor, pondering in thought. "I thought she was overme?"

"I thought so too."

They both became silent and Cassidy was wrapped up in her own thoughts,wondering what she was going to do to get Kathleen to talk to her until Jase stoodup off the floor quickly. Cassidy stared at him, alarmed, and saw the look ofdetermination in his eyes. He started to walk away until she called after him.

"What are you doing?"

"I-I have to do something real quick, be right back!" He yelled at the back of hisshoulder, sprinting away.

Cassidy sighed, alone once again. She enjoyed his company from the short time hewas here. Suddenly, her cell phone rang and she took it out of her pocket to open.

"Hello?"

"Hi, is this Cassidy Gordon?"

Cassidy furrowed her eyebrows, standing up against the stone wall. "Yes, this isshe. May I ask who is calling?"

"It's Sharon, from the charity club." Cassidy mumbled a curse, completelyforgetting that she signed up for the club. "I've notified you through email that wewere having a meeting today, but you aren't here. Is something wrong?"

"Oh, no Sharon, nothing's wrong." She mockingly laughed, walking to the nearesttrash can to throw away her food. "I'm just running a bit late. Where is the meetingat again?"

"It's that small building by the science office. You can't miss it."

- 293 -

"Alright, great thanks, I'll be there."

She hung up the phone and clutched onto her backpack straps, heading over tothe science office. She should've never agreed to join the charity club in the firstplace. She only signed up in spite of Adrian. Other than that, she had no reason tobe a member except her parents might question about not actually joining a clubwhen she said she did.

Pushing all thoughts aside, Cassidy entered the small building by the office andsaw her group formed into a circle with a white board in between. Sharon wasstanding up with an erasable marker at hand and once she saw Cassidy, she smiled.

"Glad you can make it."

Cassidy nodded, shielding her face a little by her hair from the distinct stares shewas getting from her club members. It wasn't like her to be late to something andshe obviously interrupted whatever Sharon was talking about. Cassidy found anempty seat and looked around with mock interest.

"As you all know, this week is AIDS awareness." Sharon started, twirling themarker in between her fingers. "We will have a booth set up first thing tomorrowmorning and our main focus will be one thing."

She uncapped the erasable marker and scribbled on the white board, coming outin squeaky noises. She took a step back and everyone looked at what she wrote.

"Celibacy," Sharon smiled, capping her marker. "It's the best form of preventionagainst AIDS and I will like it if you all handed pamphlets tomorrow, educating ourfellow college students."

Everybody nodded robotically instead of Cassidy who didn't want to be there. Itwas a big waste of her time.

"Any questions?" Sharon asked, her eyes sweeping around the room in hope.When nobody raised their hand, she plastered on a fake smile. "Alright, that will beall. I expect to see you guys tomorrow morning at the booth!"

Everyone dispersed the room and Cassidy couldn't get out fast enough. That wasuntil Sharon called her name.

"Cassidy?"

- 294 -

She sighed, turning around with a small fake smile. "Yeah?"

"Can I talk to you for a second?" Sharon asked softly.

She shrugged. "Sure."

Cassidy walked over to her and Sharon watched as the last student exited thesmall building. She faced her, giving a soft sheepish smile.

"So, what did you think?"

Cassidy stifled a laugh. "Why are you asking me?"

"Well, it's your first meeting and I was wondering if it left a great impression toyou."

"Uh..." She trailed off, not wanting to sound rude. It left no impression at all. "Ionly caught the last five minutes of it, but from what I heard it sounded prettygood."

"Do you think it was too preachy?" Sharon inquired, wrinkling her nose in distaste.

Cassidy shook her head. "Not at all, you were fine up there."

She smiled appreciatively. "Thanks," she paused for a moment. "You're going to bethere at the booth tomorrow right?"

Cassidy withheld a sigh. She was planning on not going, but now that Sharonpractically begged her to come by the tone of her voice, she couldn't refuse.

Signing up for the club was a big mistake and maybe after the booth thing wasover tomorrow, she would break Sharon the news. But as for now, she was still amember.

"Yeah, I'll be there."

Sharon beamed. "Great, see you in the morning!"

She nodded, walking out of the building and letting her fake smile fade. As shesaw all the students walking to other buildings, Cassidy suddenly realized that shehad twenty minutes until class started and she needed to get there early.

- 295 -

Cassidy scurried over to the building where her class was at and once she gotthere, Mrs. Chatman, her Biology professor, was about to start the lesson. Sittingrightfully in her desk at the front and setting all her materials on the table desk, shelistened intently to her professor.

Her neck itched to turn around and she couldn't help but glance behind her to seehis desk empty. He hasn't been to class for a few weeks now, only coming in fortests, and she was happy about it. He annoyed her and Cassidy didn't want to see hisface again.

When the lesson was over, Cassidy stepped outside and saw a frantic looking Jase,searching for something. His eyes caught Cassidy's and he breathed a sigh of reliefas he walked towards her.

"Hey, where did you go? When I came back to the wall you were sitting at, youweren't there."

"Oh, I had a meeting I had to go to, sorry." She replied.

"It's fine, um..." He trailed off, grabbing her hand and Cassidy looked at himstrangely from the contact. "Someone's here to see you."

Cassidy furrowed her eyebrows. "Who are you-" She stopped erupted, her eyeswidening at the sight of the person behind Jase. "Kathleen?"

Her head was lowered to the floor in a sheepish manner and her hands weresecurely behind her back. She raised her head a little, staring at Cassidy without aword.

Then suddenly, she took off into a brisk run, making Cassidy wonder if she wasgoing to give her a clear punch in the face, but she didn't. Kathleen threw herselfonto Cassidy, wrapping her arms around her shoulders tightly. Cassidy, awestricken and puzzled, placed her robotic hands on her back.

"I'm so sorry, Cassidy!" Kathleen exclaimed guiltily, sniffling a bit. "It was myfault, I was so jealous that he liked someone other than me and when I heard it wasyou, I just went crazy!"

Cassidy nodded, still stunned that this was all happening as Kathleen continuedher apologetic rant. "I never meant to blame anything on you! You're my best friendand I shouldn't treat you like shit. And God I can't go another day without talking toyou! I didn't mean anything I said yesterday, please forgive me!"

- 296 -

She pulled her head away to look at Cassidy, her hands settled on her shoulders. Afew tears escaped Kathleen's eyes as they were streamed down her cheeks. Cassidysmiled, grasping Kathleen's arm.

"Of course I forgive you."

Kathleen gasped in happiness, throwing her arms around Cassidy again and shedid the same as well. Cassidy looked over her shoulder and saw a beaming Jase withhis hands in his pockets.

Cassidy grinned, mouthing a 'thank you' to him. He shrugged like it was no bigdeal and continued smiling. Cassidy didn't know what Jase did, but whatever he saidto Kathleen sure made her feel bad about what she did.

"How did you do it?"

Jase took a sip of his coffee, setting it down on the table to answer. "Do what?"

After her reunited session with Kathleen, they discussed their problems and wentback to the way things were. Cassidy was glad to have her friend back, but she wasskeptical because her friend absolutely detested her the day before and was nowextremely apologetic the next.

She knew Jase did something to sway her, but what? She had a strong desire toknow the truth behind her friend's immediate behavior change.

"Kathleen hated my guts to the point where she didn't want to talk to me." Cassidyexplained. "What did you say to make her apologize?"

"Nothing really," he smiled, sipping on his coffee.

"Now, you're just being modest." She mocked in mild anger, sighing. "Please, tellme."

Jase chuckled. "Why? You don't think your friend is capable of apologizing on herown?"

She nodded. "Yeah, and I know you did something to change her mind."

He was silent, twirling the coffee cup in his hands. "I told her the truth," hereplied. "I said that I used her and I felt really bad about it. Also, the reasoningbehind why she was angry with you wasn't justified and that the way she reacted

- 297 -

was because she was jealous. She wanted me to like her, but I didn't and that's whatupset her the most."

Jase paused again, looking up at Cassidy. "I couldn't lie about my feelings. Iconfessed everything to her and when I was done, she was actually happy that Icame clean. Kathleen thought it was her fault that she wasn't good enough for me,but it wasn't true. I just liked someone else."

The burning intensity of his gaze on her made Cassidy flush, looking away. Hiscomment clearly indicated that it was her that he liked. It made Cassidy feel weirdand nervous that someone could like her. Nobody has had a crush on her before. Itnever happened until now. She still didn't know how to deal with it and she admittedto ignoring it, but it wasn't doing any good.

"I guess I'm good at persuasion because next thing I know, she wanted toapologize to you right then and there." He continued, smiling softly. "It was a reliefreally because she was finally over me and you got your best friend back."

Cassidy smiled faintly, meeting his eyes. "Thank you again."

Jase shrugged. "I didn't do anything. It was all Kathleen."

"But you talked to her about it and explained everything." She replied, frowning abit. "You didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to." Jase responded quickly. "You should know partly the reason why Idid it was because of you."

She swallowed at her dry throat, pushing a stray hair behind her ear. "Thanks, Iappreciate it."

Jase nodded, his smile growing faint and the happiness in his blue eyes fading. Helowered his gaze on the floor, silent in thought as Cassidy tried to find a reason toleave. The awkwardness was eating her away and she needed to go fast. When asubstantial excuse was close at her lips, Jase's eyes snapped at hers.

"I know that you already know this, but I do like you Cassidy and I..." He trailedoff nervously, running a quick hand through his blond hair. "I was wondering if youwanted to go out sometime."

Cassidy felt her stomach drop, her excuse erased from her mind. She neverexpected him to ask her out. She thought that he would get over his feelings for her,

- 298 -

but it seemed that it was clearly present. Cassidy didn't know what to do or say. Shedidn't want to hurt him because she had no interest whatsoever to go on a date, butthen at the same time she wanted to know what it was like.

Before she could answer, Jase saw the uncertainty in her eyes and gave her areassuring, sad smile. "It's ok if you don't want to. I-I shouldn't have askedanyways."

He went to make a move to stand, but Cassidy intervened. "Wait, Jase don't leave."

He obeyed as he lowered back into his seat, studying her intently. Cassidy clearedher throat a bit, feeling the rack of trembles. "I-I'm not good at this whole thing. Inever had someone confess their feelings to me." She paused, wary about his gazeon her as she continued. "I'm not rejecting you or anything I'm jut having a hardtime believing all this."

"How?" He replied, puzzled. "I mean I've told you how I felt a couple of days ago,but why don't you understand still?"

"I'm not used to being liked... in that way." She revealed, feeling embarrassed forherself for being an outcast.

The air was silent and Cassidy had her eyes on the floor as her fingers twistedtogether tightly on the table. She shouldn't have told him the truth. Now she wasmaking things more awkward than before and it reminded her of how she toldAdrian that she was an outcast. His response to it was short and distant like his bodymovements sending vibes that he was embarrassed to be around her.

She didn't like to feel like that. It reminded her of high school and how the onlytwo people that could bear to be around were her two best friends Nina andKathleen. No one else tried or wanted to get to know her. She was a loner and anobody to others in her graduating class.

But now it was different. She was gaining special attention to a nice, cute guysitting opposite to her and she just had to blow it with her honesty. Cassidy tried tocome up with another excuse to get out of her current situation, but a hand wassettled on her intertwined ones, stopping her from wringing them. Her head shot upto look at Jase with alarm from his action.

"I don't care, Cassidy, you shouldn't feel embarrassed. What matters to me themost is what you feel about me in return." Jase explained, squeezing her hand before

- 299 -

letting go. "I don't want to push you into dating me, but if you don't feel comfortablewith it then-"

"I want to." Cassidy replied adamantly.

He stopped himself, looking surprised. "Really?"

She smiled, nodding. "Yeah, it would be nice to get out and experience new thingsright?"

His smile faded. "So you see this as an experience?"

"No," Cassidy laughed, shaking her head. "I see this as something new and I'msaying that I like to try it out, this dating thing."

Jase beamed, his blue eyes shining. "How about this Friday around noon? We canstart off with lunch?"

"That sounds great," Cassidy replied, actually feeling good about the whole datingthing.

"It's settled then," Jase said, standing up from his seat. "I have to head to classsoon, so I'll see you around?"

Cassidy nodded, getting up as well. "Before you go..." She trailed off, hurrying tohis side. "I wanted to...give you something for helping me get back Kathleen'sfriendship, even though you're too modest to admit it."

Jase smiled and without hesitating, Cassidy wrapped her arms around him. Hisresponse was surprised by the stiffness of his body, but then he relaxed and huggedher back. She didn't know how long she was standing there, but when the big clockof their University chimed, signaling the start of another hour passed, Jase pulledaway unhappily.

He apologized, saying he was late to class and Cassidy understood, apologizing forkeeping him up too late. She stared at his retreating back, the corners of her lipspulling up into a smile.

She liked the feeling of being liked by someone other than her parents andfriends. It made her feel warm and weird inside. Cassidy hoped the feeling wouldlast. She was starting to like Jase and was anxious to start their date this Friday.

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Loud knocks pounded against the door and Adrian groaned, waking up from hisslumber. He was irritated from being constantly woken up when he took a small napin the living room. Adrian found that he could never get any peace and quiet unlesshe was in his own room.

As the loud knocks continued, he walked slowly over to the front door, cursing theperson behind the door for waking him up. He opened the door and the cursesstopped abruptly until he saw who it was.

Adrian's jaw dropped, shocked at the girl standing before him. His green eyesraked her slowly from top to bottom, admiring the short black skirt, the tightness ofher white dress shirt with the first few buttons undone to reveal a very nice, fullcleavage.

Her long brown hair was down in soft natural waves and her reading glasses weresettled on her small shaped nose, her brown eyes revealing a lustful look. Shelooked like a hot bookworm wanting to study his body parts.

"Can I come in?" She asked softly, pushing her hair back to accentuate hercleavage.

Adrian's tongue dried up as he nodded robotically, opening the door wider for herto enter. She giggled, stepping inside as Adrian quickly shut it right after, coming upto face her.

"W-What-" He cleared his throat from the tremble, surprised to find himselfunable to speak properly. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, Adrian, why are you even asking?" She inquired huskily, placing a hand onhis chest. "I thought you liked me around."

He was quick to agree. "I-I do, but I'm always the one trying to get to you."

"Not this time." She replied definite, trailing her hand down the length of his tonechest. "I'm tired of acting like I'm not interested."

His breathing hitched when she reached to the button of his jeans. "So all thistime you've liked me?"

She smirked slyly, unbuttoning the top. "I thought it was obvious?" She repliedsoftly, the warmth of her breath on his cheek. "Now, take me to your room."

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Adrian practically hauled her over to the door of his room by the pull of her armand when they were alone inside, she shut the door after her, taking slow sensualsteps towards him.

"You've been a very, very bad boy." Cassidy said seductively, stopping when shewas close to face him. She pushed him back and he landed on his bed, keepinghimself upright with his hands on the edge.

"Oh God, I've been bad, so fucking bad." He replied with short breaths, watchingher stand in between his legs. "You should punish me."

"Yes, you need to learn a lesson." She grabbed the hem of his shirt, pulling it offfrom his body. She threw it on the floor, pushing him to lie on the bed as shestraddled him. He felt himself go hard at the look of her passionate movements."Now what do naughty boys get for being so bad?"

Her hands skimmed the areas of his chest, working its way down until hisbreathing became more erotic. "A spanking?" He guessed uncaringly.

Cassidy zipped his pants down and loosened the waist of jeans. Her fingersgrasped the hem of his boxers and lightly touched his most private area, making himbreath sharply. "Why don't you guess again?"

Adrian struggled to breath through the torture, wanting so badly for her hand torelease his current hard on. His heart pounded against the walls of his chest and hishands grasped her waist tightly.

"Sex?" He responded breathlessly.

She leaned in closer to him, her chest pressed up against his as she lowered hermouth to his ear. "Good boy."

She brought her face up close and crashed her lips to his, plunging her tonguedown his throat. Adrian pulled her body closer to him, trailing his hands up herwhite dress shirt.

He unbuttoned the rest of it, his lips still fused to hers until her hand suddenlygrasped his penis in a strong, tight hold and he shrieked painfully in her mouth.

Adrian gasped sharply, shooting upright from his bed. Sweat trailed down histemple and he panted, patting the area around his bed and himself. It was just adream. He sighed in relief and dropped back down, breathing in deeply.

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For a second, he thought the dream was real. Every touch, kiss, and feeling in hisbody almost seemed real. The way she looked made him grow hard and somehow hewished it wasn't a dream.

If she ever dressed like that, he would jump her in a second. Too bad hismovements were slow in the dream. There was no way that he would act like that ifit ever happened.

Adrian took another calming breath, closing his eyes to go back to sleep. Hefurrowed his eyebrows, feeling a stiffness between his legs and when he opened hiseyes to look down, he saw a huge tent cast inside his bed sheets. It looked like hewas affected from the erotic dream.

He sighed and got out of his bed, on a mission to get a bag of ice from the freezerto minimize the ache. That was until he ran face first into the wall and cursedhimself for thinking it was the door.

Cassidy grumbled as she walked towards the booth that was opened from hercharity club, berating herself for not thinking of an excuse to get out of it.

She really didn't want to go, but then again she felt bad because it looked likebarely anyone was going to show up. Sharon practically begged her to come and shehad to because she wanted to support her fellow club member.

She beamed at Cassidy from her arrival, bringing her behind the booth. "I'm soglad you made it!"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world." Cassidy replied, giving a small smile.

Sharon believed her lie as her smile got bigger and picked up a few pamphlets."Here is what we'll be passing to the students. I also have some posters that arepasted up around school so it looks like we'll be doing fine today. If anybody has anyquestions, answer to the best of your ability. Like I said, celibacy over sex."

Cassidy nodded, grabbing the pamphlets, stifling a groan. "Got it."

She joined her other club members outside the booth, trying to pass it out tooncoming students. None of them would take her pamphlet and those that did,threw it away in the nearest trash can.

Cassidy groaned, stomping over the trash can to retrieve the crumbled pamphletsand smoothing them out. It was a waste of valuable paper if they weren't going to

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use it.

As she dug out the last crumbled pamphlet, her ears perked as she heard shoutscoming from a distance. She turned around and saw a booth across from her club's,surrounded with a crowd of people. Cassidy walked to it curiously, peering over theheads to see the booth. She stopped suddenly when she heard his voice echothrough the megaphone.

"If you like sex, but don't want to contract AIDS, take a condom and pass it on!"His proclaimed.

The crowd started digging their hands through the boxes of condoms at the frontof the booth, shoving it in their pockets or stowing them in their backpacks.Cassidy's jaw dropped from the obscenity of the booth, knowing it was the workingsof Adrian.

"Why would anyone want to take up celibacy to stop the spread of AIDS? The onlygreat protection to solve all this is condoms so stay protected!"

Shouts of approval played out in the audience and Cassidy couldn't believe hereyes. They were buying into his talk and though he was right on some levels, it wasstill wrong.

Yes, condoms do protect against AIDS, but he was actually encouraging studentsto act upon sex. The best alternative to stop AIDS was celibacy and if one couldn'thelp it, a condom would be used, but Adrian's encouragement wasn't helping.

"Why listen to that other club over there?" He pointed a finger at their boothacross from his and the others looked in its direction. "All of them are virgins andthey don't know anything about sex. How can they go against intercourse when theyhaven't even done it themselves?"

The crowd laughed, taunting the group with their amusing chatter and stares.Cassidy felt the rush of anger wash over her and her gaze burned through Adrian'sas he continued.

"That's why celibacy is for the nerds and losers over there. If you actually have alife and know how to have fun, come and grab a condom. They're all free so take asmany as you like!"

The crowd went wild as the hands frantically grabbed as many as possible, makingAdrian chuckled in his megaphone. Cassidy stalked through the crowd and reached

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up front at his booth, making Adrian's head turned towards her. His eye widened insurprise, making him smirk.

"Well, well, well, ladies and gentleman, look at what we have here." Adrianannounced as Cassidy fumed. "An actual club member from the celibacy booth hasdecided to cross over. What a nice surprise," he said, leaning towards Cassidy. "Nowwhat would you like sweetheart? A condom for your first time?" He paused, his voicesounding husky. "With me?"

Cassidy glared at him as the crowd laughed, watching their interaction withamusement. She grabbed the megaphone from his hands, turning towards the crowdand pressing the button.

"Actually, I don't want any of your condoms and do you want to know why?" Shesaid, not wanting for his response. "Because I know better not to have sex now whenthe spread of AIDS is most crucial around our age group. I'd rather wait until it's theright time with the person that I would like to give myself to."

Adrian rolled his eyes, taking the megaphone back into his hands and pressing thebutton. "What, your soul mate?"

She grabbed it back from him, replying in a snippy tone. "Yes. It's so much betterwaking up next to the person you love rather than a complete stranger you just metthe night before."

A round of 'oooooos' replied in the crowd as Cassidy gave Adrian a challengingglare. He grabbed the megaphone slowly, looking back at her with blank look andturning towards the crowd.

"This girl right here doesn't know what she's talking about. She's a virgin whodoesn't know the first thing about sex. No one wants someone inexperienced." Heshot back, giving Cassidy a challenging stare.

Cassidy took the megaphone back, glaring directly into his green eyes. "Andnobody wants someone as pitiful and uncommitted as you."

She dropped the megaphone on the booth table, stalking away from the crowd asshe made her dramatic exit. She walked back to the booth with short, angry breathsand her fellow club members looked at her in shock.

"What?" Cassidy asked irritably.

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"That....was...." Some guy trailed off, his eye's suddenly bulging enthusiastically."AWESOME!"

Their group cheered around Cassidy, giving her recognition and praise. Shebeamed at them, soaking up the attention at every kind comment and pat on theback.

Sharon squealed happily, pulling her into a hug which made Cassidy laughed. Shechuckled with her club members more and unexpectedly, a few college studentscame up to their booth and asked about their opinion on the subject of AIDS.

Cassidy started passing out the pamphlets left and right, enjoying how the manystrangers gave her recognition of what they overhead by Adrian's booth. She spokeup celibacy briefly, educating them of her take on it and some of them agreed.

She was overwhelmed with happiness when many of them shared their problemswith their boyfriends or one night stands. Cassidy suggested that they take a breakon sex and focus their drive somewhere else like academics.

As the many people flooded in and accepted pamphlets and club memberapplications, Cassidy felt elated. Her bright smile radiated around the campus andwhen she turned around to see Adrian's booth across from hers, she saw him glaringcoldly at her. A few people, mainly being guys, were at his booth, but not as many asbefore.

Cassidy stretched her smile to him, waving a hand. His glare increased as hebrought his middle finger up, flipping her off.

She shrugged at him, still smiling as to show how unaffected she was by hisblatant rudeness. Cassidy turned away from him and focused on her group, actuallyliking it for a change. Maybe she would stay after all.

A/N: Sorry this came out a bit late, finals are here and I'm focused on school.Hope you guys liked it!

P.S: I know you guys get really anxious and want me to update quickly, but youhave to understand that I'm currently busy at the moment. I'll try and update when Ican so you have to wait patiently. That's all I'm asking :)

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Nice Guys Finish Last

Chapter 18: Nice Guys Finish Last

Adrian shut the door after himself, throwing his keys on the nearest table. He wasabout to head to the kitchen to get a small snack, but stopped himself. The firstthing he heard inside was silence and that usually didn't happen in his apartmentwith his two roommates.

He searched for them in the living room, wondering if they were dozed off, butnobody was there. Confused, Adrian walked to Jase's door and opened it, notbothering to knock.

Jase was seen buttoning a nice long white dress shirt with dark jeans, lookingfrazzled and irked in the mirror. Adrian raised an eyebrow, leaning against theopened door that Jase has yet to notice.

"Having trouble?"

Jase glanced at him in the floor length mirror, a sudden surprised look on his facewhich then turned sour as he went back to his task. "I don't know what to wear."

"What's wrong with what you're wearing now?"

"It's too plain." Jase sighed, unbuttoning the dress shirt and tossing it on his bed."Can you help me find something?"

"What am I, a girl?" Adrian snorted, crossing his arms all manly to shed hisremark.

"No, but you're good at this." Jase replied, sitting at the edge of his bed when hesaw the confused look on Adrian's face. "You're an expert at choosing the rightthings to wear and don't deny it because you know it's true. All the ladies go crazyabout your clothes, not to mention your looks."

"You do have a point there." He smirked, pushing off against the door and walkingtowards his closet with a critical eye. "Now, is this outing casual or dress up?"

Jase furrowed his eyebrows in thinking, hesitating for a moment. "Casual."

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Adrian turned back to his closet, skimming through each hanger. "Ok, so you wantto go with something nice, but not too nice because it will look like you're tryinghard." He picked up a plain white t-shirt and a gray blazer for the chilly weather."This one looks good. Try it on and leave the pants on."

Jase nodded, taking the shirt and pulling it on his body. He took the gray blazer offthe hanger and put his arms through the designated holes, buttoning a few in themiddle.

He dusted the blazer at the hem, testing it out as he looked at himself in themirror. It did look good on him and he had to give Adrian props. He knew his stuffwhen it came to clothes.

"Thanks man, I owe you."

Adrian half shrugged. "No problem," he paused, glancing at Jase's current contentlook about the outfit choice and stood beside the door. "So, where are you going?"

Jase smiled, his blue eyes lighting up as he continued to fix his outfit in some way."I have a lunch date with Cassidy soon."

His eyes widened, surprised. "You're still doing that?"

"Yeah," he said, looking at him oddly.

"Uh, have fun." Adrian replied quickly, walking out of the room.

Jase looked out his doorway in confusion by his erratic behavior. He shrugged, notbothering to know what it was because he knew that he wouldn't get a definiteanswer.

Cassidy walked swiftly, unconsciously bringing her shoulder bag closer to herbody with sweaty palms. She was nervous. Very nervous. After all it was her firstdate, excluding the false girl-on-girl one with Valerie who only went due to Adrian'srequest.

Cassidy had no rules or guidelines to follow on what to expect on a first date.Basically, she threw herself into the shark pit and blindly decided to figure a way outto this dating system. Cassidy tried to calm herself down with deep breathing, butthe more she thought about the date, the increase anxiety and heart rate made her

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feel close to vomiting.

Her insides were turning and her mind was going a mile per minute with all thenervous thoughts going on in her head. What if he decides he doesn't like her? Whatif he's not there and stood her up? What if there's awkward silences and theycouldn't go through one conversation? But worse of all, what if he turns out to bejust like Adrian?

Cassidy swallowed hard at her sandpaper throat, walking towards the restaurantthat Jase had suggested. Once she made her stop with the intense desire to leave,someone called her name.

"Cassidy!"

She whirled around and saw Jase waving her over outside on the restaurant'spatio. She gave him a tentative smile, walking over to his table. He stood up, givingher a quick, warm embrace. She took a long look at his outfit, admiring the wayeverything fit together from the gray blazer to the dark jeans.

"You look nice," she commented, taking a seat opposite to him.

Jase beamed, taking his seat. "Thanks, you do too."

Cassidy stared down at her outfit, noticing how plain her navy shirt and blue pantswere. She didn't argue, but accepted the comment as a nice gesture. "Thank you."

They were silent for a moment and Cassidy felt herself panic, noting theawkwardness edging their way. She had to break it somehow.

"Hi," Cassidy said sheepishly.

"Hey yourself," Jase smiled. "You made it."

She raised an eyebrow teasingly. "What, didn't think I'd show?"

He laughed, looking embarrassed. "Yeah, kind of."

Suddenly, Cassidy frowned, having the same thought as well, but didn't expect itfrom him also. "Why?"

"I don't know. I guess because I thought you said yes out of pity and I wasexpecting a phone call to say you couldn't make it."

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"That's terrible. I would never do that." Cassidy replied adamantly, making herfeel guilty inside for almost leaving the date. "Besides, I didn't say yes out of pity. Iwanted to go out on a date with you."

Jase smiled. "That's nice to hear."

She smiled in return, a thought suddenly troubling her mind. "I have a confessionto make too." Jase raised his eyebrow, waiting for her to continue. "I thought youwere going to stood me up."

"What?"

"Yeah," Cassidy nodded at his outraged reply. "I still doubted your feelings for meand I thought this date was some prank for you and your buddies to laugh aboutlater."

Jase looked speechless, a stunned, unbelieving expression on his face. "I can'tbelieve you thought about it that way."

"My thoughts tend to get a hold of me, more so the worse ones."

"I would never do that to you, Cassidy." He replied matter-of-factly, leaningforward. "It's horrible and a sick way to get a laugh. I'm sorry you thought I woulddo something like that."

"It doesn't matter anymore. You're here, I'm here. Everything's good." She smiled.

Jase nodded, smiling faintly. "Yeah, let's forget about all these bad thoughts andhave a good time."

"I couldn't say it better myself."

They ordered their food, laughing and talking together like they were old friends.Cassidy was gradually learning new things about Jase as well as he was with her. Hewas funny, sweet, and kind to her and Cassidy liked those qualities in a guy.

He wasn't afraid to be something that other's didn't approve of and that madeCassidy smile. Jase wasn't fake at all. He was his own person and if nobody liked it,then that was their loss. Cassidy couldn't help but compare him to Adrian.

They were so unalike that it confused her as to why they were friends to begin- 310 -

with. Jase was the sweet, caring one while Adrian was the rude, arrogant jerk. Whywere they friends? She wanted to ask him so badly, but she stopped herself.

It was an invasion of privacy and it was rude to intrude on personal matters,especially on a first date like this. Perhaps she would bring it up on their otherdates. That brought a smile upon Cassidy's face and she quite liked the idea of beingwith him.

Suddenly, a shrill cut their conversation and Jase furrowed his eyebrows,retrieving his phone from his pocket. He glanced at the caller id and looked atCassidy, pointing at the phone.

"Is it ok if I-?"

She nodded quickly. "Yeah, yeah go ahead."

Jase smiled gratefully, and received the call in front of her. "Hello?"

He furrowed his eyebrows, the caller speaking to him for a long, stretched time.Jase looked concentrated, nodding even though the person couldn't see it andfrowning a bit.

"Can't someone else do it?" He complained, looking frustrated.

The caller responded, making Jase look even more irritated than before. "I'm busyright now." He glanced at Cassidy briefly, a guilty look in his eyes.

Jase sighed, listening to the caller as he rolled his eyes. "Yeah, ok fine. I'll bethere." He paused, pursing his lips. "You better make up for this."

Cassidy wrung her hands, wondering who he was speaking to and watching thewaitress come back with their meals. She set them down to their rightful spots,giving them both a kind smile.

"Can I get you guys anything else?"

She shook her head, looking to Jase in question. He shook his head as well,turning back to the phone conversation. "No thank you." Cassidy replied, smiling.

The waitress left, leaving Cassidy took pick up her fork and start eating while Jasewas on the phone. He finally hung up and sighed heavily, a sad look on his face.

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"What happened?" She asked curiously, twirling her fork into her pasta.

"I forgot I had to help out with Adrian's upcoming fundraiser. I signed up for it along time ago just to support him, but I overlooked it. I didn't know it was today." Hefrowned.

"Do you have to leave now?" She guessed by the expression on his face.

Jase nodded. "Yeah, but I don't want to. We're having such a good time and this isour first date. It's entirely inappropriate to be leaving in the middle of it."

"It's ok, I don't mind." Cassidy said, giving him a reassuring smile. "It's just lunch.We'll have many others."

"You mean you want to go on another date with me?" He asked gradually inenthusiasm.

"Yeah," she replied, pausing. "That is if you want to."

"Of course I do." Jase beamed. "Are you free this weekend?"

"Yeah."

"Great. We'll go out to dinner and have a real date," he said. "I mean this was adate, but it was meant to release any awkwardness that would come."

She laughed, liking his smart thought process over how the date would start. Jasetook out his wallet and grabbed two bills, one twenty and the other ten.

Cassidy frowned as he laid it on the table. "What are you doing?"

"I'm paying for lunch. It's only right for me to do it since we're on a date."

She didn't know how to take a guy paying for her meal, or anything else for thatmatter, because it never happened before. She let it slide since he was so short ontime, but she would bring it up on the next date.

"You're not going to take your lunch with you?"

Jase glanced at his plate, sighing. "I can't. I'm on a tight schedule. You can have itif you want or maybe give it to someone else?"

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She nodded. "I'll think of something."

He frowned. "I don't know if I like you being all by yourself here. It makes me feellike I actually stood you up."

Cassidy laughed, waving a hand off. "No, it's fine. I eat by myself all the time."

Jase stared at her for a moment, a sad half smile on his face by the fact. He stoodup and leaned across the table, reaching for her cheek.

Cassidy watched his movements with alarm and confusion, his face close to hers.He brushed his lips gently across her cheek and she felt her heart race from theintimate contact, flushing. Jase moved away slightly, staring into her brown eyes.

"Thank you for coming out with me, even if it was for a short while. I apologizeonce again."

Cassidy nodded nervously, the heat on her cheeks present. "I-It's ok."

He smiled, caressing her cheek with his thumb before dropping it to his side."You're lovely."

Jase left before giving Cassidy a time to respond, but it was better that he wasgone anyways. Her mouth couldn't move after he said those beautiful words to herand the butterflies in her stomach multiplied.

She hasn't been called lovely before or has been romantically treated like that.She was starting to like him and it excited and frightened her at the same time. Shewas excited because she never experienced such a thing and frightened because shedidn't know what to expect from it.

Would it turn good or bad? Cassidy took off her small reading glasses and wipedthe lens at the hem of her shirt, placing them back on. She's seen failedrelationships and she thought she wasn't mature enough to handle one.

That's why her father suggested around the age of thirty because men were moreresponsible. Even if her parents didn't agree to her dating at the age of eighteen,she was just trying it out for future experience and because she liked Jase. Whateverled to their dating route, she hoped there would be no conflicts.

After eating there in silence by herself in the restaurant for a few minutes,Cassidy couldn't take another forkful of food into her mouth.

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The thought of being alone saddened her once again and she felt that customerswere staring at her like she's been walked out on from her date.

It troubled her and it spread into more bad thoughts that Jase just received a fakephone call to get him out of the date because Cassidy was plain and inexperienced.She exhaled deeply, taking a long gulp of water from her straw to relieve the knotsin her stomach.

As she closed her eyes and felt the cool, refreshing liquid travel down her throat,she heard footsteps walking behind her. Curious, she opened her eyes and wasabout to turn her head when she found the person already standing before her table.

Her eyes widened bewilderedly and she was at a loss for words which seemed tohappen every time he suddenly sprang up in her presence. She swallowed theremaining liquid in one gulp, tasting the warmth from sitting in her mouth for toolong.

"Surprised?" He smirked.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Cassidy snapped, her scowl forming. She didnot forget how rudely he treated her over the AIDS fundraiser at school.

Adrian chuckled, swiveling the chair out from the table and taking a seat. She wasfuming and noticed that he took Jase's spot when he was there just ten minutes ago.

"Who said you can sit there? Did I invite you over?" Cassidy interrogated, herburning glare directed solely for him.

"Chill, Cassidy. I'm a stand in for your bailed out date. It would be embarrassingfor you to be alone."

"Jase didn't bail. He had to help with your stupid fundraiser." She spat out, seeinghim as the one to blame for Jase's absence.

"It's not my fault that he signed up and forgot about it. He had to fulfill his duties."Adrian explained, unaffected by her anger.

"Then why are you sitting your ass down instead of fulfilling your duties aspresident?"

His eyes widened amusingly, chuckling. "Whoa, no need to begin using your bad- 314 -

words on me, virgin. I've done my duties for the day and now I have the liberty torelax and do what I want."

"This doesn't include being here when you weren't invited in the first place." Shesaid, furrowing her eyebrows. "How did you even know I was here?"

"Jase told me about the date and this is his favorite restaurant."

"That's nice, now you need to leave." Cassidy pressed irritably. "This was a datebetween me and Jase. Not you and me." She cringed from the latter, never wantingto say those words in terms of him again.

"Too bad, I'm staying." Before Cassidy could protest, Adrian signaled the nearbywaitress with a snap of his fingers. "Excuse me, miss?"

The waitress walked over, smiling at Adrian. "What can I get for you dear?"

He pushed Jase's plate away from him, wrinkling his nose in distaste. "I will havethe chicken tacos rather than this tuna plate. Fish makes me nauseous."

"Ok right away, hon." She replied, scribbling his order down and taking the plateaway from him.

Adrian sat there, pleased as he watched Cassidy glare at him with such fury. "Themore you push me away, the worse for you it's going to be."

Her glare loosened into one of confusion. "Will you like to explain why that is?"She countered, raising a keen eyebrow.

"I'm going to be frank with you, Cassidy." He said, placing his clasped hands onthe table as he leaned in fixedly. Unconsciously, she leaned forward as well,expecting something serious come out of his mouth. "I've been waiting for you to failat keeping away from my advances and to be honest, I'm quite surprise."

Cassidy's eyes widened slightly, having no words to say in return as he continued."Usually for the average woman when it comes to my charm, it takes one minute oreven a week in Lauren's case, to give in."

"Laura." Cassidy corrected angrily, still not over the mishap.

"Whatever," he shrugged, uncaring. "The point is that the moment you startresponding, I will finally leave you alone."

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She narrowed her eyes, glaring. "It won't happen."

"I don't think so sweetheart, in the end you'll lose." He smirked.

"I'm with Jase now. It will be despicable of you to keep hitting on me when I'mdating your best friend."

"Hey, I won't be doing the cheating," Adrian defended. "You would."

Cassidy snorted. "Your confidence amazes me."

"It will happen."

"No, it won't," she shot back. "And do you want to know why? Because I like Jase,not you so get over yourself."

Cassidy was all but ready to leave and when she started to rise from her chair,leaving her delicious, half eaten pasta, Adrian started to laugh. She whirled around,watching him incredulously as he continued to chuckle in increased volumes.Dumbstruck, she sat back down, waiting for the playboy to end his erupt laughterbecause she was curious to know what started all of it.

His cheeks were slightly red and his straight row of perfect white teeth showed,still laughing. When he noticed her watching him, he slowed his laughter, taking aninhale of amusing breath.

"Why are you laughing?"

"There's one thing you should know about what women like, Cassidy and that'sbad boys like me." He said smugly, pointing at himself. "You might like Jase now, butthat will soon change. It happens to all of them."

"You're delusional," she retorted, glaring.

"I'm telling the truth." Adrian smirked. "Nice guys don't finish last, it's always thejerks that win. Women like the mean ones. It sounds crazy, but its true and a provenfact."

"I don't believe it." Cassidy snapped.

He shrugged. "Fine, but just know this. Even you, Cassidy Gordon, will fall underthis category." He said confidently, smirking. "And me? I always get what I want."

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Cassidy was about to snap back, but the waitress glided towards them with asteaming plate of food. "Here you go dear."

She settled the plate in front of him and Adrian smiled at her. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

The waitress left and Cassidy glared at him as he picked up the first taco. Heopened his mouth to take a bite, but then stopped when he saw her eyes on him.

"Eat, your food is getting cold and we wouldn't want to waste Jase's money now dowe?"

She scowled at him, grumbling as she grabbed the forgotten fork on her plate andstarted eating. Cassidy thought this lunch date with Jase would turn out wonderful,but in the end, it was one of her worse nightmares.

She didn't know how much she can take sitting across from this arrogant, cockyboy who believed that she would fall under his charm in a matter of time. There wasno way that was going to happen and she was going to make sure it wouldn't. Sheliked Jase.

He was nice, sweet, caring. He was so opposite from Adrian which was why shewas having a hard time understanding how they were friends to begin with. Adrianwas just plain rotten, mean, jerky, and chauvinistic. Cassidy hated him and tried herbest to get away, but he was always there.

She watched him as he rubbed his eyes furiously, blinking a couple of times. Shenoticed that they were slightly pink and dry.

"What's wrong with your eyes?"

Adrian stopped rubbing, not looking at her directly. "Nothing."

Cassidy didn't press because she didn't care to know and continued to finish hermeal. After they finished eating, the waitress came to clear the table and handed thecheck to Adrian. He smiled, taking it in his hands and placing Jase's money inside.Cassidy looked away from him, scowling until the waitress came back to retrieve it.

"You're such a nice young man." She revealed, picking up the check from him. "Somuch better than that other one who left this poor young lady sitting by herself."

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"It's such a shame how badly men treat women these days, isn't it?" He replied,going along with her statement as Cassidy's eyes widened in disbelief.

The waitress nodded sadly. "It really is," she faced the both of them, suddenlysmiling. "I hope you enjoyed your date."

Her jaw dropped. "It wasn't a-"

Adrian cut her off. "Thank you ma'am."

She beamed. "Have a nice day."

The waitress left and Cassidy snapped her neck to Adrian furiously. "What the hellwas that about?"

"Nothing, I was just telling her how it is." Adrian grabbed his wallet, setting a fewdollars on the table. "I can't believe Jase didn't leave a tip, what a disgrace. I hatewhen customers don't tip me well."

"Jase did leave a tip, but you decided to barge in and order yourself something aswell!" She defended strongly.

Adrian looked at her like she was deranged. "Why don't you take a breather,virgin?"

"You're such an insensitive ass-"

"Hey," Adrian stopped her, suddenly standing up at the table. "Save your cursewords. We wouldn't want you to be kicked out of the nunnery when you haven't evenjoined yet."

Cassidy gritted her teeth, about to lay the worse insults on him yet, until he laidhis hand against her cheek. She froze from the contact, relaxing the tight grip of hermouth. Adrian stroked her jaw, leaning towards her at a few inches away. Cassidylowered her eyes to the floor, unable to stare into his striking green eyes that madeher fall victim to his hypnosis.

"Stop forcing yourself away from me. I know you want it." He whispered softly, hiswarm breath lingering on her cheek.

Cassidy raised her eyes slowly to his, staring into his green orbs that made herthroat dry up. Without notice, Adrian pressed his lips against hers, giving her a

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short peck. Her eyes widened in surprise, seeing the amusement evolve in his.

"We should do this again." He said huskily.

Adrian tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and let his fingers linger, caressingher. He dropped his hand and walked away, leaving a very shocked and disbelievedCassidy behind.

Cassidy sat there, looking straight ahead in a daze as Kathleen and Nina weregetting dressed to go out that night for a movie. Cassidy said she was going to past,giving the regular excuse of homework and studying. They didn't press her andbegan their focus on what they were going to wear.

Both of them had double blind dates and Kathleen was more excited than Ninawas. She started to ramble on and on about how it was going to be wonderful andthat she hoped he was going to be cute. Nina went ahead with the date for moralsupport because Kathleen's mind was still preoccupied with thoughts of Jase.

Cassidy frowned, knowing how much of a bad friend she was. Wasn't it againstgirl code not to go after the guy that your friend crushed\/dated on? Cassidy hadn'tknown about that until after Kathleen's strong reaction. She didn't tell her abouttheir small lunch date and she was going to keep it that way, for now.

"How do I look?" Kathleen asked, gesturing to her clothes.

Cassidy smiled, liking the casual look of jeans and a nice t-shirt. "Great. This guyis not going to be able to take his eyes off you."

"You think so?" She replied with strong curiosity and hope.

"I know so." Cassidy smiled.

"Why don't you hang out with us for a little while, Cassidy?" Nina inquired, comingup beside Kathleen. "You should take a break from the books."

"I would, but I've been distracted lately. I need to focus."

"Why have you been distracted?" Kathleen asked.

Inwardly, Cassidy slapped herself on the face for revealing such a fact. "Um, it's

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nothing don't worry."

"Is it Adrian again?" Nina questioned, leaving Cassidy no choice, but to answer.

"Somewhat..." She trailed off.

Kathleen sighed heavily. "What did he do now?"

"It's nothing, nothing." Cassidy said promptly, shaking her head.

"Come on, tell us." Nina intervened.

Cassidy glanced from Nina to Kathleen, swallowing hard at her throat. Could shelie to them and be figured out afterwards? She didn't think she wanted to take thechance from how badly Kathleen reacted before. So she told them, every last bit oftoday's lunch date.

They listened intently, following after every word that came out of her mouth. Shesaw a frown form on Kathleen's lips when she mentioned Jase kissing her on thecheek and Cassidy wanted to stop then, but Nina encouraged her to go on. Once shewas done explaining what Adrian said about her somehow falling for his charm, shelooked at her two friends anxiously.

"So...what do you think?"

"I think he's right." Kathleen revealed, frowning a bit. "Girls do like guys who arerough around the edges. I mean look at me, I'm the prime example. Jase treated melike shit and I kept coming back."

Cassidy frowned, forgetting how harshly Jase use to treat Kathleen back when shewas trying to pursue him. Without Jase telling her straightforward that he didn't likeher, he just kept leading her on. Cassidy began to feel doubtful of him and wonderedif his good acts would fade in the long run.

"I'm sorry, Kathleen. I shouldn't have-"

"No it's ok." Kathleen smiled faintly. "I need to get over it which is why I'm goingon this date with Nina."

Nina gave her a small smile, glancing at Cassidy. "I hate to break it to you,Cassidy, but Adrian's right. It makes sense because why else would every girl in thisschool go after him? Yeah, sure he's cute, but his jerky attitude takes the cake. He's

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the ultimate bad boy package that girls can't wait to get their hands on."

"But I don't understand why he's still after me." Cassidy replied in frustration. "I'mdating his best friend. Wouldn't he back off?"

Nina shrugged. "It's Adrian. He doesn't care."

"What would Jase think if he knew what he was doing?"

"Jase would be pissed off and probably yell at Adrian, but that's not going to stophim." Kathleen responded.

Cassidy buried her head into her hands, groaning. "I'm so sick and tired of this.What do you guys think I should do to get rid of him?"

"You really want to know?"

She raised her head, sighing deeply. "Yes."

"Ok, but you're not going to like what I'm going to say." Nina assured me andCassidy nodded in return.

"Give in."

"What?" Cassidy exclaimed incredulously, her eyes bulging out from her sockets.

"Give in," Nina repeated irritably. "He said that there was no way for you to stophim unless you responded right?" Cassidy nodded slowly. "So give in to him."

"If you're saying that I should have sex with him then-"

"No, I'm not saying that." She reassured her, sighing. "What I'm saying is let himkiss you or charm you. Make him believe that you're falling for it and then just sayyou love him or something. I'm sure he'll be running away after that."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive." Nina replied with every ounce of certainty in her voice.

"What about Jase?"

"What about him?" She retorted, rather angrily. - 321 -

She frowned. "He would be upset."

"Don't let him know." Nina advised.

Cassidy sighed. "I don't like lying, Nina."

"Well, how else are you going to get rid of Adrian for good?"

Cassidy stared at her for a moment, knowing that she was right. It pained her tothink that she was actually considering going through this all because she wantedone guy to leave her alone.

But what about Jase? She liked him a lot and she didn't want to let him go allbecause of Adrian. Though, it would crush him if he found out that is if she didn'tcover it up good. It was from then on that Cassidy ultimately decided what to do.

"I'll do it."

Adrian looked at himself in his bathroom mirror, inspecting his eyes. They weregetting irritated and he knew the cause of it. He turned to open his medicine cabinetand reached for his case behind the deodorant and cologne obscuring it. He twistedopen both the lids and poured solution in each one.

Adrian looked back in the mirror and opened his eyelids a little, his index fingertouching the surface of his cornea. The lens slid off, propped on his finger and hedisposed it in one lids.

He did the same with the other eye and once he was done, he closed the lids andplaced it into his drawer. He blinked at his blurry vision and there, he saw a pair ofhis square black frames and he picked them up. Adrian unfolded the temple armsand slipped them onto his nose, seeing clear again.

Cassidy knocked at the door a third time, still receiving no answer. Was anybodyhome? Usually one of them was there and she assumed they might be sleeping.Though, it was too early for them to. Sighing as nobody came to the door, sheopened it, taking a step inside.

"Hello?" She called out, shutting the door softly behind her.

She walked in, peering through the rooms to find nobody there sleeping or eating.

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Cassidy had wanted to come over to see Jase and give him the small cheesecakedessert in her hand, but he was no where in sight. Was he still working on Adrian'sproject? She looked to a nearby watch and furrowed her eyebrows. It was a littlelate to be out and she was sure he would be done.

She turned around and sighed, about to leave until her eyes caught a shine oflight underneath Adrian's door. Biting her bottom lip, she debated whether to askhim if Jase was home or not. If he wasn't then, she kind of wanted to know where hewas.

Before she could stop herself, Cassidy let her feet take her up to Adrian's door andwithout knocking, she opened it.

"Adrian, are you in-"

She stopped abruptly once she saw the man come out from the bathroom and lookat her in surprise. Her stare were fixed on his face, more towards his eyes and shewas rendered speechless.

Here he was, wearing the same glasses like he did when he visited her house andthe night on Halloween. Did he just wear them for amusement?

A/N: Sorry this is a really bad way to end a chapter. It's no real cliff hanger, butyou'll find out what it is, if it wasn't so obvious. Anyways, thanks for your patience! Igot one more exam left!! Yes!! I'll update this weekend!

--To my previous readers of this story, I tweaked the ending of this chapter a bit tomake it look less stupid.

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Unfortunate Pasts

Chapter 19: Unfortunate Pasts

"Why are you wearing glasses?" Cassidy asked, sounding more of a demand toknow the real reason behind it.

Adrian sighed, lowering his gaze before looking back at her. "Isn't it obvious?"

She looked at him, puzzled. "What? Is this a new look?"

He stared at her, dumbly. "If I was trying on a new look, do you think I would bewearing this?" He said, pointing to the offending object on his face.

"Yes?" She guessed unsurely.

"You're a lost cause," he shook his head, staring back at her. "Since there's nogetting around it, I might as well tell you, but you have to promise you won't sayanything to anyone about it."

She nodded unconsciously, her curiosity getting the best of her. His grave eyescontinued to stare at her. "I'm serious, Cassidy."

"I won't tell, I promise." She replied softly. "Now what is it?"

"I'm not as perfect as you perceive me to be."

"What do you mean?" She asked, confused.

Adrian was silent, watching her as if he was deciding whether to tell her or not.Cassidy matched his gaze, unwavering, to show him that she could be confided withwhatever he needed to say. A change of look in his eyes told her that he wasconfirming something and she stood ready to hear.

"I don't have twenty, twenty vision."

She looked at him oddly. "Ok, so?"

Adrian sighed irritably. "I'm farsighted, Cassidy."

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"Farsighted?" Cassidy repeated, puzzled. "Doesn't that mean-"

"Yes I can't fucking see shit that's close to me." Adrian finished, aggravated.

She almost flinched from his harsh tone, but contained herself. "So, you wearcontacts?" She guessed obviously.

He sighed exasperated. "Would I be wearing these fucking glasses in public?"

Cassidy frowned irritably, sensing his anger. "You don't have to be so mean aboutit."

"Yeah I can," he said cruelly, pushing his glasses back on the bridge of his nose."Nobody knows about this, except my family of course. I kept it pretty well hidden,but you." He laughed bitterly. "You just had to come in my fucking room, uninvited,and find out. If it weren't for my fucking lenses acting up like shit today, I wouldn'tbe wearing these fucking glasses."

Adrian tore off the glasses from his face, hurling them against the wall nearCassidy. She flinched and heard one of the lenses crack. She went to pick them upand the crack pieces fell to the floor.

"Are you out of your mind?" Cassidy exclaimed furiously, shoving the brokenglasses up. "These cost a lot of money!"

"Who gives a shit!" Adrian countered back equally, blinking and narrowing hiseyes. "I look like a fucking idiot wearing those!"

"Does your image really mean that much to you?" She asked in disbelief.

"Yes! It does!" He shouted, rubbing the corner of his eye.

She scoffed. "You're so shallow."

"I don't expect you to understand." Adrian snapped back.

Cassidy gaped, offended. "What does that suppose to mean?"

"You believe in inner beauty, intelligence, and personality. That's all bull shit." Hespat out, continuing. "Every guy and girl out there wants someone attractivelooking. A good personality is an added bonus."

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"You're the one to talk!" She shouted back. "You run around with these slutty girlswho don't even know their times table!"

"So? What matters most is that they want me and I want them too."

"That's because your only driven by sex and not knowing the real person who isinside."

Adrian sighed heavily, rubbing his eyes. "I need a fucking drink," he saidsuddenly, walking towards the door.

Cassidy saw him narrow his eyes in concentration and before she could stop him,he crushed his hip against the doorway. "MOTHER OF-" He breathed out painfully,his face contorting in suffering as he bit his lip. "FUCK!"

"You shouldn't have broken your glasses or else that wouldn't have happened."Cassidy revealed, taking him by the arm. "Come on."

Adrian snatched his arm back, angered. "I can do it myself," he pressed a hand athis hip and walked towards the kitchen all the while patting his hand to the passingwalls.

Cassidy followed him with a sigh, stepping behind the counter as he opened up acabinet and grabbed a bottle of tequila. He closed the cabinet and opened adifferent one, taking a shot glass from one of the rows.

Adrian left the kitchen with Cassidy following from behind, glancing from thealcohol to his face. She was worried that he might drop it by crashing intosomething again, but he safely sat on the couch, taking an exhale of tired breath.

Adrian set the shot glass on the table with the tequila and unscrewed the cap withnarrow, concentrated eyes. He brought the shot glass close to his face and thetequila bottle, tilting it to pour. Cassidy looked on in worry, grabbing the bottle fromhim when she saw his grip loosen.

"Here let me do it, you might spill." Adrian almost grumbled in protest, but shetook the shot glass from his hand.

She poured the strong, bitter clear alcohol into the glass and settled it back ontothe table, bringing the glass to Adrian's hands. He took it and lifted his head,dunking the shot glass back as the liquid quickly entered his mouth.

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Adrian swallowed, clenching his teeth as he slammed it on the table. Cassidybegan to pour another round and he quickly downed that one right after. She wasbeginning to think that he was an alcoholic, but the trouble look on his face madeher thought otherwise.

"My fucking head hurts." Adrian complained, rubbing furiously at his forehead ashe closed his eyes.

"Maybe you should take it easy." Cassidy replied softly, not wanting to show or beconcerned of his well being.

He shook his head, gesturing to the shot glass. "No, I'm fine."

Cassidy sighed and poured again, handing it to Adrian as he gulped it in one go.He was drinking it like it was a simple taste of mineral water! She continuedpouring glass after glass until Adrian laid his head back into the cushions of thecouch with closed eyes, not bothering to say he wanted another round. He breatheddeeply, appearing as if he was struggling to breathe and that finally worried her.

She tugged on his shoulder, disgusted with herself to hand him all those shots."Adrian, are you alright?" He didn't respond, making her tug harder. "Adrian?"

He opened his eyes, looking lazily to her at his side. "Do you know what the kidsused to call me back in grade school?" Cassidy didn't answer, pursuing her lips."Four eyes, loser, nerd, you name it, they said it." He took a deep breath, rubbing athis eyes. "I was a fucking nobody."

Cassidy frowned and stayed quiet, fearing that he would stop if she saidsomething. She was surprised that he opened up to her in the first place, even if thealcohol was a factor. She wanted to hear more and was burning to know anythingelse about his past, but Adrian lifted his back off the couch, glancing at her. "I'mgetting a headache. Can you get my glasses in the drawer of my bathroom? I haveanother pair."

Cassidy deliberated, wondering if she should give into his request, but the look ofhis troubled mind and deep settled eyebrows did it for her. She nodded, rising fromthe couch and heading to his room, walking swiftly to his bathroom.

She opened up two drawers, finding nothing, and than opened up the last one,digging into his useless crap. There she found another pair, exactly the same of theone he broke earlier, and she went back to the room to give it to him.

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Adrian took them from her hand, hastily slipping them on and sighed in relief."Thanks, now I can finally see." He said, a smirk growing. "I'm wasted."

"Why didn't you put those glasses on before?" Cassidy wondered.

Adrian laughed humorlessly. "I look fucking stupid. I didn't want anybody to seeme with them on, including you."

She frowned, confused. "You didn't have such a problem with it before at myparent's house or the Halloween party."

"That's because it was an act and everybody knew that wasn't me or how Ilooked."

"But you don't look any different!" Cassidy exclaimed, coming to his defense. "Ifanything it makes you look even hotter than before!"

Her jaw dropped and quickly, her mouth snapped back up, forbidding her toreveal any more information that she was willing to allow.

Apparently, Adrian didn't notice her slip up because he still looked as troubled asbefore. "Whenever I put these glasses on, I'm still the same loser as I was in gradeschool. Nothing can change that."

"You're not a loser, Adrian." Cassidy reasoned. "You're an asshole."

He chuckled, making the corners of Cassidy's mouth lift up slightly. He tilted hishead to look at her. "I am an asshole, aren't I?"

She nodded wholeheartedly. "Yes, you are."

His humor quickly faded as he looked away. "At least it isn't loser or four eyes. I'dmuch rather take asshole any day."

Adrian grabbed the tequila bottle and poured himself another shot, taking a grabat it and quickly finishing it up. He leaned back against the couch, exhaling a deepbreath. Cassidy took the bottle, placing it hidden beside the couch.

"I think you should pace yourself." She said.

Adrian glanced at her with hooded eyes. "Do you want some?"

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She shook her head. "No, I'm good."

"You're missing out," he replied, stretching his limbs before looking at the table.He furrowed his eyebrows. "Where did it go?"

"It's taken a small trip to Mexico, but listen," Cassidy said, trying to get hisattention and met her gaze. "There's no need for you to be drinking right now."

"Yes, there is. It clears my mind of any difficulties." Adrian answered, crossing hislegs on the coffee table.

"What difficulties? Your glasses?" She guessed offhandedly.

"Yeah, nobody was supposed to know about them."

Cassidy furrowed her eyebrows. "Why do you care so much?"

"Because I don't want anybody to know." Adrian repeated again, not explaining hisreasoning as he looked on in a daze.

She sighed in frustration. "Can't you just tell me!"

Adrian looked at her in thought, becoming silent for a moment before opening hismouth. "After grade school, the bullying got worse. I used to be tormented in sixthgrade and one day I couldn't take it anymore which landed me into my first fight."

He sighed heavily, closing his eyes for one brief moment before opening them."The kid took my glasses, dropped it on the floor and stomped on them. I couldn'tsee which, was a disadvantage for me because all of a sudden the kid swung his fistinto my face and all I saw were stars."

Adrian pressed his lips in a grim line, the look of anger clearly in his eyes from thememory. "He kicked the shit out of me until I was on the floor in a fetal position,begging for him to stop. The kid and his buddies left me stranded on a desertedparking lot and after a few hours of just laying there, I picked myself up and walkedhome." He paused before continuing. "My mom was scared to death when she foundme with a pair of broken ribs, busted lip, and black eye. She took me to the hospitaland asked me what happened."

"What did you say?" Cassidy asked, sucked into his traumatizing memory.

Adrian laughed coldly. "What any scared eleven year-old would do. I lied." He- 329 -

answered. "I told her that when I rode my bike home, I lost control on a steep hilland ended up tumbling over it. She bought it and I was saved from explaining to herabout the humiliation of losing because of a stupid pair of fucking glasses."

He rubbed hard at his eyes underneath his glasses, making them fall a bit off hisnose before he picked it back up and set them to its rightful place. Cassidy movedher hand to touch him on the shoulder out of comfort, but she stopped, placing itback on the couch.

Adrian didn't react well with people comforting him, though it still saddened herto see him so troubled, especially after hearing him get beat up. She couldn't pictureit, seeing as he was now, all cocky and daring. But experiences in the past alwayschange a person into what they are now.

"After I healed up, I got my parents into buying me contact lenses and I worethem once I got back to school." He smiled faintly. "Everyone was surprised to seeme with no glasses on and I felt strong and confident which was why after school, Iwent in search for the kid who landed me in the hospital." A dark smirk appeared athis lips as a sudden memory struck. "I found him by the same empty parking lot andonce he saw me, I punched him square in the face. We got into another fight and Iended up winning this time."

Adrian sighed in relief, as if he was going through the experience once again."From then on, nobody could touch me and everybody was afraid."

Adrian suddenly turned his eyes to her and Cassidy almost flinched, not expectingit. "That's why I don't want anybody to know about this." He said harshly the thirdtime, pointing to his glasses.

She raised her eyebrow, puzzled. "Why because you think you will go throughwhat you did back in middle school?" He didn't respond, which provided her withthe answer already. "People grow up from the petty bullying and teasing, Adrian.Believe me, it's not the same anymore, I should know."

"You?!" Adrian exclaimed incredulously out of nowhere, making her flinch thistime. "You don't know the first thing about being bullied."

She gaped at him in disbelief. "And how the hell would you know? You didn't go toschool with me. The popular girls in middle school used to taunt me because I likedto keep to myself and hide behind a textbook. They would purposefully shove intome when I walked through the hallways with an armful of books, knowing that Iwould drop them in a second because they were so heavy and that nobody would

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help me.

They would also laugh at what I was wearing or how plain I looked to thembecause all they were concerned about was boosting their egos. You didn't see anyof that!" She exclaimed fiercely, taking short, harsh breaths. "I might not have beenattacked or in a fight, but verbal abuse is the same as any abuse."

Cassidy turned her head away from him, embarrassed and horrified by sharingher little fact of how she felt in the past. She thought she kept it safe, locked, hiddenaway from her mind, but once she started to relive the memories, the woundsstarted to open up again.

She felt hurt again, like she was back in middle school and even high school, eventhough the taunts were minimized. All her life, she's been the reject, the book worm,the nerd, the loner, the everything!

Cassidy's labels were never good and the one sitting next to her referred to her asall of them. Despite his torments back in middle school, it still didn't match up thepain that Cassidy felt in middle school and some parts of high school. At least Adrianstood up to his bully. Cassidy didn't have the strength to do even that.

"I'm sorry."

Cassidy's neck snapped to Adrian in surprise, seeing the remorse in his face. Hisgreen eyes were fixed on the floor, as if ashamed to look at her. "I shouldn't haveassumed things. We all have our fucked up pasts."

"It's ok," she replied, avoiding looking at him again.

"No, it's not." His hand was suddenly on her knee and she stifled a jolt of surprise.She craned her neck to face him and found that Adrian was very, very close to hers.His green eyes behind the short black frame glasses glowed underneath, making herthroat dry up. "I feel that I've done some of that bullying or teasing to you and Iwant to apologize for all of it. I didn't mean it."

Cassidy swallowed hard. "It's ok," she repeated again, but this time fainter.

"You don't deserve it and I know that everybody has been taunting you at schoolabout being a nerdy virgin all because of me," she rolled her eyes as he continued,"And I want to say I'm sorry for it."

"Really, Adrian it's fine." She replied, a tremble at the back of her throat from his- 331 -

proximity.

His hand on her knee drifted closer to her inner thigh which made her gulpnervously. "I want to make it up to you."

"You don't have to." Cassidy denied quickly, her heart racing as she felt his handget near to her sacred place.

"Yes, I do." He replied back, kneading her thigh with his smooth hands that madeher breath sharply.

"Adrian," she began nervously, glancing from his hand to his face. "What are youdoing?"

Adrian sighed, trying to mask his irritation by her naive comments. "I'm offeringyou oral sex."

She gasped, horrified as she quickly slapped his hand away. "Disgusting! I don'twant that!"

"Then what do you want?" He asked, stowing his hand to his side. "I'm trying toshow you how sorry I am and you're turning it down?"

"Who said I wanted that?" Cassidy exclaimed, wrinkling her nose. "Oral sexcontains many sexual transmitted diseases and I'd like to stay clean if you don'tmind."

Adrian snorted. "There would be no transmitting of any diseases and yourprecious virginity will still be intact. This is how all the abstinent couples do it."

"Well, it's not me." Cassidy replied strongly, dusting the imaginary dirt off herpants. "It's dirty, disgusting, and weird. There's no way I'll ever do that."

He laughed. "Have you ever tried it, sweetheart?"

"No," she flushed, turning away. "And don't call me that."

Adrian smirked, setting his hand on her shoulder and trailing his finger tips up herneck and down. "I can teach you if you want," he said in a low husky tone. Her spinesprouted in a wave of tingles, making her shudder and he traveled his finger tips onthe edge of her bra line.

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"Consider this one step closer to becoming experienced."

Cassidy gulped, pushing his hand off her chest and moving over to the side of thecouch. "I'm fine with being the way I am."

Adrian scooted over, his hip pressed up against hers. He brought his arm to wraparound hers and caressed her shoulder. "No, you're not. You're looking for anescape and I can provide you with that. I am the best there is." He whispered intoher ear, the warmth of his breath sending shudders to her body.

Her breaths became short and she found it harder to breath. He was too close andshe could smell his sweet cologne and the alcohol on his tongue. This wasn't good.He was drunk. She was thankfully sober. She had to get out now, but her legswouldn't move.

They were frozen in place, due to Adrian's advances. It made her feel nervous andher stomach constantly did back flips. This wasn't good at all.

"A-Adrian...I-I... no." She stammered, keeping her hands tight on her lap.

"You know you want to." He whispered again, his lips skimmed across her ear anddown to her neck, leaving Cassidy with short, hard breaths.

Adrian brushed his lips on her neck, continuing his way down to the curve andreleasing his tongue out. Cassidy stifled a moan, making it harder for the path ofoxygen to provide her with much needed air.

Adrian sucked and bit the area of her shoulder, trailing a subtle hand down to herwaist and moving to the front of her jeans. She closed her eyes, her mind becomingsmoky and her body stuffy from being in so many layers.

Adrian worked on her neck, unbuttoning the top of her jeans and taking the zipperin his finger tips. He slowly brought it down and his fingers feathered across the lineof her underwear.

Cassidy wanted to him continue. She was dying inside from all the torture of whather body was going through. Her insides were knotted together, her heart waspounding so hard, it rang in her ears, and her body felt hot.

When Adrian slipped his fingers inside her underwear, the sound of the doorjingling was brought in Cassidy's wake. Her eyes fluttered wide open and the noisebegan to increase, sounding like someone was inserting a key to the door. Her body

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stiffened and she got a good look at what was going on at the current moment.

Adrian almost had his hands down her pants and her jaw dropped in horror. Sheleaped off the couch, but most importantly off him, and his body tumbled down onthe side of the couch she was recently occupying.

"What the hell are you doing!" Cassidy exclaimed with wide eyes, bewildered.

Adrian groaned, his face planted in the couch as he rubbed his head. The doorknob rustled and Cassidy's eyes snapped to it, watching it slowly begin to open.

She panicked, fixing her state of dress and zipping back up her pants, buttoningthe top. The door opened and a very tired Jase walked through, closing it behindhim. He walked in and his eyes caught Cassidy, stunned.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" He said, giving her a tired smile.

Cassidy's troubled eyes glanced from him to Adrian, then back to him. She offeredhim a tight smile. "Nothing, I just wanted to see if you were in and you weren't in."She replied quickly, producing a nervous laugh.

"Yeah, I was at the fundraiser all day. I'm sorry." Jase said, advancing towards herand giving a hug. "I'll make it up to you tomorrow night, if you still want to go."

"Of course I do." Cassidy said, hugging him back and enjoying the fresh smell ofhim.

They were wrapped up in each other, silent and enjoying the other's presenceuntil a groan was heard. She felt Jase turn his head and unlock his arms, a confusedlook on his face.

"Adrian?"

He groaned again in the cushion of the couch, not sparing at glance towardsthem. Jase spotted the tequila bottle beside the couch and he looked back atCassidy, giving her a questioning look.

"Uh, he was having an off night. Some girl said that he had a small penis."

"No, I don't!" Adrian grumbled into the couch, turning his back fully to them.

Cassidy gave Jase a knowing look. "See, I told you. The subject is a bit touchy for- 334 -

him so, don't bring it up."

He nodded. "I'll be sure not to."

"Anyways, I have to go. There's a slice of cheesecake on the counter that I broughtfor you so if you want...you can eat it." She said awkwardly.

Jase grinned. "You brought me cheesecake?"

"Yeah, I was uh grocery shopping and I stopped by the dessert aisle. I saw thecheesecake and thought you might like it so I got it."

"Thank you," He replied, his mouth still pulled in a smile.

"You're uh welcome." Cassidy said softly, glancing around before looking back athim. "Well, I should go its late."

"Right," Jase said, pausing to look at her. He pushed a strand a hair from her faceand tucked it neatly behind her ear, leaving her flushed. "Good night."

He pecked her on the cheek and caressed it, making her somewhat disappointed.She was hoping for a kiss, but he was being a gentleman. These things take timeand she needed to learn that with her being new to this dating experience. Of courseif it was Adrian, he would drive right into it, probably suggesting sex the minutethey walk into a restaurant.

"What's on your neck?"

Cassidy stopped in her thoughts, her eyes widening. "W-What?"

"There," Jase replied, pointing a finger to the curve of her neck. "It's all red and-"

"OH!" She exclaimed, slapping her hand on the spot and swallowing nervously."It's um, a rash! I wore some fake jewelry and my neck reacted to it. The doctor saidit would go away in a few days."

Jase gave her a stern look for a moment and Cassidy felt like she was shrinking insize. He was going to notice! He would be sure to notice that it wasn't just a regularrash! She panicked inwardly, displaying a tight smile. Oh God, she just wanted to besucked in right there.

"Did he give you some anti-itch cream?"- 335 -

Cassidy stifled the urge to breathe a sigh of relief, but she nodded. "Yeah, I did soI'll be fine."

"That's good. It looks like it hurts."

She still had her hand over it and she rubbed it to put on a show. She winced,discovering that it actually hurt. Adrian bit way too hard. "It does."

"Well, I hope it gets better by tomorrow night. Do you want me to pick you up?"

"Sure," she smiled.

"I'll call you before then."

They exchanged their goodbyes once more with Cassidy's hand still on her neck.She was growing self-conscious about it, especially around Jase, but he saw nothingwrong with the way she was acting. Once she left, she actually breathed a sigh ofrelief. That was one night she didn't want to repeat ever.

He was such a gentleman, pulling her seat out for her once they got a table andasking her what she wanted to eat instead of ordering for her. The night waswonderful, sweet, and memorable. And Cassidy wanted it to stay that way once theyreached up to her front door and she found herself realizing that this was the most,overused endings of dates.

But for some reason, with Jase it didn't seem that way. He wanted to open thedoor for her. He wanted to walk her to her door. It was sweet and kind. As she wasprepared to go inside, he touched her shoulder and she stopped in place.

Jase bent his head and leaned in towards her. Cassidy stood there in anticipation,waiting for his lips to meet hers and when the time came to close her eyes, she feltthose lips peck her cheek. Jase pulled back and Cassidy tried to hide herdisappointment behind her small smile. She wanted it. She wanted him to kiss her,but why was he pushing himself away?

Cassidy understood that he was a gentleman, but how long was it going to take forhim to kiss her? It was agonizing. She liked him a lot and that kiss would've endedthe night perfectly, but a peck on the cheek? It was more than overused, it was notright!

Jase gave her one last hug before returning to his car and she stifled the urge togroan from his lack of intimacy. Since when did she beg for a simple kiss? It

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would've been nice to have, considering that she actually liked him, and shewould've enjoyed it. She was positive that she would. She liked him. He liked her.The kiss would be fantastic right?

Cassidy opened her door and Jase waved at her through his car window once shewent inside. She shut the door softly behind her and was grateful that her parentswere asleep and didn't wait up for her. They were becoming lenient nowadays so shewas hoping that the streak would continue.

Cassidy trudged to her room, still disappointed, but content that the date wassuccessful.

"So, how did your date with Cassidy go last night?"

Jase smiled in thought, bringing the coffee up to his lips before responding. "Itwas great."

"Did you kiss her?" Adrian asked warily, tightening the hold on his backpack.

"No, just on the cheek." He replied simply.

Adrian narrowed his eyes in slight disbelief. "The cheek?"

"Yeah, man. It was nice."

"Nice?" He repeated, his tone doubling over incredulously.

Jase furrowed his eyebrows. "What gives?"

"Dude, have you lost your manhood?" Adrian exclaimed.

He shook his head. "No, it's still there."

"Then what the hell are you doing, kissing her on the cheek like some nervousvirgin having sex for the first time?"

"I thought that was what she wanted." Jase explained in defense.

"Believe me man a girl does not want a kiss on the cheek if the night ended wellfor both of you," he said surely. "Even if it's the virgin Cassidy."

- 337 -

"But I-" Jase started, opening his mouth and closing it. "I didn't know."

Adrian sighed, clapping him on the shoulder. "You need to brush up on yourdating skills."

"Well, I would be an expert if it weren't for your influences." He grumbled.

"My influences were the reasons why you have so much experience in thebedroom." Adrian raised his eyebrows up and down out of insinuation. "If it weren'tfor me, you would still be a virgin."

"Whatever, I'm tired of hooking up with girls. I want to have a girlfriend, is that acrime?"

"No, but if this girlfriend your thinking of is Cassidy Gordon, than yes it is."

Jase narrowed his eyes. "How?"

Adrian stopped himself from walking, pulling Jase close to him. "Listen man, nooffense here or anything, but Cassidy Gordon isn't exactly the one you want to bewith."

He frowned. "Why not?"

"Dude, she's too innocent for you and if by any chance you feel the sexual urgescome on, she's not going to provide you with that. I should know, I tried to get her inbed, but she wasn't budging. I even tried oral sex and she wasn't-"

"Ok man, that's enough." Jase cut in when he was getting too informative. "I getthat she doesn't want to have sex and I don't really care. I just want to be with her."

"Are you serious?" Adrian exclaimed, his eyes bulging out in shock. "You don'tcare about sex?!"

He nodded, unashamed. "Yeah."

Adrian stared at him like he was the most deranged person on the planet. "Youhave some serious issues."

They continued walking again and both were silent in their thoughts, especiallyAdrian. How could a guy drop sex for a girl? That was just out of the question forhim. If a girl didn't put out, he didn't bother with them. Sure, he would play their

- 338 -

game and do the whole chase thing, but if they still weren't budging, he was done.

Cassidy was one of those people that he was finished with. She was the mostuptight virgin he has ever met. Even the idea of oral sex made her cringe and cryout to the priest in confession from hearing the words. She was undoubtedly a totalprude. There was no way getting around it.

Let Jase handle her and see if he could break her shell, but Adrian didn't havemuch hope in him. If he couldn't do it, nobody could. That girl was a lost cause tothe sexual world.

Cassidy was filled with high spirits when she walked to school on Mondaymorning. The overall good weekend was probably due to her uplifting mood and shecouldn't wait to see one person. That person being Jase Reynolds.

She couldn't believe she was saying that after all this time. The first time she methim, she thought he was going to spike her drink at a party he invited them to. Herinitial judgments were creep, man whore, and party animal.

But now she knew the truth. Jase was none of those things. He was sweet, kind,caring, and such a gentleman. He was absolutely wonderful and cute too.

Her happy thoughts sent a smile to her face as she held her head up high and keptwalking. That was, until she was receiving all these glares from people walkingpassed her, mostly being all women.

They glared at her with such disdain that it almost brought tears to her eyes. Whywere they looking at her like that? Last time she checked, she didn't try anything tomake anyone hate her. So what was up with these girls giving her scowls andglares?

Cassidy continued to walk and tried to ignore the hateful stares. But it wasn't soeasy when the not so subtle shoves were sent her way.

She pushed her way through them, becoming irritated and angry for being treatedunequally for no valid reason. She shoved passed to girls who were passing her andwhen she almost lost her footing from her stumble, she saw two blonde girls withcrossed arms, in front of her.

Cassidy stood up straight, glancing from one girl to the other. They were roughly

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the same, big hair, big chest area, short skimpy attire. One of them looked familiar,but she couldn't place her. They belonged to some kind of sorority that Cassidydidn't bother to know and when she tried to walk away from them, they sidesteppedher.

"Not so fast." One of the girls's said bitterly.

Cassidy stopped, looking back at them nervously. "What?"

"You know what." The other girl spat out.

She furrowed her eyebrows. "Huh?"

"So you're the one dating him, aren't you?" She said, walking around her like shewas regarded superior over her.

Cassidy swallowed hard, hesitating. "By him you mean-"

"Cut the crap girl. You took him from us and we want him back."

"I-I didn't take him, he wanted to date me in the first place. I didn't have the heartto say no!" She exclaimed in defense.

The girl snickered. "That's such bull shit. He's had his eye on you the moment yougot here and you know what? I'm sick of it. I don't know what's so special about youanyways, you're just a nerd."

Cassidy gulped nervously, suddenly being reminded of middle school and partyhigh school. Why has her confidence dwindled when it came to bitchy girls? Whycouldn't she fight back?

"Look at what she's wearing Tracy." The girl laughed, pointing at Cassidy's attire."She looks like my grandma."

Tracy that was it, the girl Adrian was with a long time ago. But why did Tracy careabout who Jase was with? She thought that Adrian was the one she liked.

Tracy shot the girl an irritated look before turning back to Cassidy. "You shouldlet him go and let us more experienced, fully developed girls handle it." She replied,scanning rudely at Cassidy's figure. "He wants a woman, not a preteen."

Both of the girls laughed, causing the glazed look of Cassidy's eyes. She blinked- 340 -

back tears, fighting hard to not let these girls affect her, but she couldn't do it. Atear trailed down her cheek, making them laugh even harder.

"Aww look she's crying!" Tracy exclaimed, cackling at her. "Does the little bittygirl want a tissue to make it all better?"

Her friend laughed at her joke, producing more tears from Cassidy as she loweredher head to the floor in shame. What was she doing, crying at school? She was incollege, not middle school. Still, nothing could make her stop. The silent tears keptshedding and the knot in her throat kept growing.

"What's going on here?"

Her eyes shot up at the familiar voice and her heart broke into two when shefound out who it was. Jase.

"Oh, hey Jase." Tracy's friend waved, winking suggestively at him.

Jase ignored her, advancing towards Cassidy in concern. "What happened? Whyare you crying?"

He held her shoulders gently and Cassidy turned away, embarrassed. She didn'toffer him an explanation or any words. She was mortified.

"Tracy, what's going on?"

Cassidy looked up and saw Adrian passed Jase's shoulder, a mixture of emotion onhis expression that she couldn't make up.

"Adrian, where have you been!" Tracy exclaimed, giving him a tight hug. Adrianpushed her off of him, looking disgusted.

"What did you do?" He asked in mild anger.

"Nothing!" She replied innocently. "I was just telling your little friend there thatshe should stop dating you. You're not a one woman man after all."

"What business is it of yours about what I do?" Adrian exclaimed, looking angrierthan before. "You mean nothing to me!"

"But Adrian I thought that-"

- 341 -

"You thought wrong!" He cut her off furiously. "And I'm not dating her, Jase is."

Tracy looked back between Jase and Cassidy, a look of discovery in her eyes. "Butyou were with her."

"For a short while, but we're just friends."

Cassidy looked at him, eyes wide from explaining the connection between them.She denied their friendship now, but it looked like Adrian didn't.

"Adrian, I didn't know-"

"Just get out of my sight Tracy." He barked out.

Tracy burst into tears, running the opposite direction with her friend in tow.Adrian sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. Cassidy continued to watch him untilJase settled a snug arm around her.

"Are you ok?" He asked softly, brushing the tears from her cheeks.

She nodded, not bothering to smile. "Now I am."

Adrian looked at her finally and Cassidy met his eyes, sensing his frustration. Thecorners of her lips moved upwards and she graced him with a smile of appreciation.He looked taken aback when his eyes widened suddenly, but stopped himself. Heremoved his stare from her and looked to Jase.

"See ya."

He left, not waiting to hear Jase's reply and Cassidy stared at his retreating back.What was going on with him? He was acting so strange.

"I'm sorry about what happened." Jase said softly, rubbing her shoulder incomfort. "Do you want to get some coffee?"

She lifted her head up to him and smiled. "Sure."

They walked beside each other, on the way to the coffee shop and Jase caught herhand from her side. He intertwined their fingers together and Cassidy held in a hugegrin from the sudden warmth wrapping around her arm.

This was what it was like to have someone who cared for you.- 342 -

A/N: Aww Jase & Adrian came to her rescue. How sweet. What does everybodythink of this chapter? :) More to come soon!

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Threats

Chapter 20: Threats

Adrian threaded through the crowds, continually running his hand through hisdark brown locks as his legs took him to no decided destination. His mind wastroubled with a certain someone he hasn't seen for a few days because he wasavoiding her.

He wanted to stop thinking about it. He wanted to get over it, but he couldn't. Theonly scene playing in his head over and over again was him staring at Cassidy afterhe yelled at Tracy. Why did he do it? Sure he defended his close friends when theyfelt threatened, but a girl?

He never spoke up for a girl, ever! Adrian could care less about them and theirfeelings, but why did he had the sudden overwhelming urge to defend Cassidy? Shecould handle herself. She wasn't a little girl anymore. But the problem was that hestill did it. He tried to think of ways that made him to do such a chivalrous act-onethat was completely unheard of to him until now-and he came up with two.

First, it could've been the display of emotions on her face, counting the wet nose,tear stained cheeks, and rosy tinted eyes. He might've felt bad which thus made himfeel like he should do his duty as a friend and stand up for her.

Secondly, it was that he knew Tracy because he's been on numerous sexualescapades with her in the past. Though what angered him the most was Tracy tryingto tell Cassidy that she owned him and that no girl could get to his clutches. Hertone reeked possessiveness and if it's one thing that Adrian hated about women, itwas their jealousy and claim. No girl controlled him. Like he said before, he was nota one woman man and would never succumb to that in the future. He would be abachelor for as long as he had the sexual drive to.

But then there was a third reason that he had yet to acknowledge. One that wasserious which for him was out of the norm since he avoided situations like those.When Adrian was stupid and drunk, he revealed to Cassidy his pre adolescenttraumas that he had never discussed with anyone else in his lifetime.

He was disappointed in himself for revealing such deep memories that by the nextday, he wanted to tell her that all he said was hoax because that meant showing hera side to him that nobody else has seen before. However, he never got the chance to

- 344 -

when he saw her being verbally abused. It was in the moment that her awkwardstage in middle school from all the bullying was resurfaced and he saw through hersad innocent brown eyes that it still affected her, all the harsh words, the teasing,mocking. To this day, she was vulnerable to it and that's what made him snap.

He hated seeing it. Her being bullied while she stood there silently, taking theverbal abuse. It reminded him of his bullying days when the kids would pick on himbecause of his glasses and isolation. But what made him even angrier was to findthat she didn't say anything back. It wasn't like her. At least she was never like thatwith him. Cassidy always had something to say, but this time she didn't and he hadto make it right. He couldn't stand seeing them bully her any longer.

Adrian's mind troubled him with these thoughts and the only way to get rid ofthem was a good round of meaningless sex which found him skipping class andgoing to his apartment with some girl who was more than willing.

He worked her hard and rough, pounding his frustration into the girl underneathhim. Basically, he was giving his troubles to her and she took it without a word ofprotest. After going on and on like he's training for a triathlon, he finished her offand fell to the side of the bed, out of breath. He was satisfied, free of his thoughts,and most of all fully pleasured. Adrian felt the beads of sweat trail down from hisneck and he laid there in silent bliss.

"You sure know how to give it rough," The girl said amusingly under a breathlesstone, propping her elbow on his bed to look down on him.

"Get out." Adrian replied irritably, not bothering to look at her.

The girl huffed, getting off the bed and shuffling around in his room. She retrievedher strewn clothes, tugged them back on, and shut the door loudly right after her.Adrian covered his face into his pillow and groaned. Women were so dramatic. Whydid they think that one good fuck implied a relationship? That's not the way heworked.

Adrian sat up on his bed and pulled on his boxers. He didn't bother cleaning upthe mess of his sheets and used condom on the floor. He would get to that later, butright now, he didn't want to do anything. He just wanted to relax and eat something.

Adrian left his room and passed the living room on his way to the kitchen until heheard someone gasp. He whirled around at the noise alarmingly and found aninnocent covered, virginal Cassidy sitting on the couch, reading some book.

- 345 -

Her eyes were wide as she glanced from his half naked body-mainly his torso-tohis face. She craned her neck to the front door and looked back at him, giving aquestionable, yet somewhat disappointed look.

"How long were you here?" Adrian inquired, scratching his neck.

Cassidy stayed silent for a moment before answering. "Long enough to see yourgirlfriend walk out the door."

He snorted, walking over to the couch opposite to her and taking a seat. "Youknow I don't do girlfriends."

She frowned, closing her book and putting it aside. "Then who was that?"

Adrian shrugged, "Just some girl."

"What's her name?"

He laughed. "I don't know."

Cassidy furrowed her eyebrows at this, finding it odd. "Do you make it a habit toforget people's names?"

"No, just the sluts."

She snorted and looked at him. The sight of him, half naked, surprised her. She'srarely seen him like that and her eyes kept wandering to his broad shoulders andwell sculpted chest. The fact that he was only wearing boxers made her flush aswell. He was the only half naked man she's ever seen before, not counting the healthtextbooks in class.

Though, she still had one more question left that she wanted answered. "What wasshe doing here?"

"The one you just saw leave?" Adrian asked, seeing her nod in return. "I fuckedher."

Cassidy choked on air and her eyes bulged out, shooting forward in her seat."Excuse me?"

Adrian sunk in his chair, arms lazily crossed. "You heard me, I had sex with her."

- 346 -

"But-But," Cassidy stammered, unable to comprehend. "Why?"

For a second there, she forgot that Adrian was a playboy. It just didn't seem rightfor him to be sleeping around. To her, it wasn't like him.

"Why?" Adrian countered, laughing as if her question was ludicrous. "Because I'ma man and we have urges. I needed the sex. I got it within a minute."

"You don't even know her name." Cassidy said mostly to herself, in a daze.

He snorted. "Does that matter?"

"Yes, it does." She snapped, suddenly enraged. "That girl has feelings likeeveryone else. She's not just some toy!"

"She'll get over it. They all do." He shrugged, unaffected.

Cassidy gasped bewilderedly, shaking her head. "I can't believe you! Using girlslike that. You're entering into their sacred place. It's not just some meaningless onenight stand to them. It will affect them, whether you believe me or not."

"If they're going to disrespect themselves, I'll disrespect them right back." Heanswered.

"They act like that because guys only want girls who wear make up and trashyclothing!" She exclaimed strongly.

Adrian scoffed, scowling at her in disappointment and anger. "Look at you,defending the slutty girls who didn't give two shits about you the other day. It makesme sick."

Cassidy looked away in shame.

"Why do you care what they do with their time with me?" Adrian asked harshly."They were the ones who agreed to the sex. And if you ask me, they deserve all thedisrespect from guys for treating people like shit."

She was silent, keeping her eyes trained on the floor as Adrian went on.

"Does it make you feel any better by standing up for these sluts who don't evencare about what you say in the first place?" He questioned, his tone rising in higheranger. When she was still unresponsive, he fumed. "Answer me!"

- 347 -

Cassidy's body language was stiff as a board and Adrian finally noticed hersilence. He went too far and tried to keep his self under control. It looked like shewas recognizing the harsh reality of his words and she wasn't taking it well. Hedidn't care much about how low her self-esteem was. He needed to speak the truth.He wasn't a sugar coater, but she did look upset.

Adrian's eyes softened as he looked at her fragile, innocent figure, sitting there onthe couch looking lonely.

"Why did you just stand there?" Adrian asked softly through the thick silence.

Cassidy's eyes shot up at him. "What was I supposed to do? Fight them off likeyou?" She exclaimed incredulously.

"Yeah, you could've done something! Anything!" He shouted, flailing his arms outin emphasize.

Cassidy's face scrunched up in distress. "Well, I'm not you ok? I can't do that!"She explained, her tone rough.

"Why not?"

She sighed heavily, looking away from him. "I can't just insult them right backbecause-because..." She trailed off, biting her lip. "What they said was true. I mean,look at me. The plain clothes I wear, my looks, and everything else. I'm nothing likethose girls and I never will be."

"Why would you want to be them anyways?" Adrian inquired.

Cassidy looked up at him. "They go on dates with guys like you and are treatedbetter by everyone else, even the teachers. Who wouldn't want that?"

"That lifestyle isn't all that great, I should know."

"Than why do you encourage it?" Cassidy inquired exasperatingly.

Adrian hesitated, averting his gaze to the wall. "It's just the way things are."

She scowled at his response. "That's not a good enough answer for me."

Suddenly he got up, his eyes still far away. "Well, that's too bad. It's all you'regoing to get." He turned to walk away, but then stopped as he craned his neck to

- 348 -

look at her. "Oh and, I wouldn't be spreading around last week's drunken confessionand my little sight problem. If word gets out, I'll make your life miserable."

He walked out of the room, leaving her conflicted with her emotions and his. Shewas stunned, by the lack of response and his cold shoulder attitude. She shouldn'tbe surprised to see it by how often he acted that way with others, but it still caughther off guard. Adrian wasn't meant to keep his emotions hidden. He just needed tosomeone to talk to about them and even though Cassidy tried to coax it out of him,his brick wall was still up.

She wanted to talk to him. She wanted to be in his life, but he wasn't letting her.She needed to find another way to get in, but how?

"Ready to go?"

Her eyes snapped up to Jase's figure standing a few feet away from her with hishair semi-wet from the shower. She stood up from the couch and smiled at him,temporarily forgetting her encounter with his best friend.

"Yeah."

The pair went to a nice, low key restaurant with soft music playing in thebackground. They conversed over school, good books, music, and life. Cassidy wasenjoying the night until the topics they would talk about would lead her back toearly events with Adrian which made her bring him up unconsciously.

"Why do you think Adrian keeps to himself?" Cassidy wondered, twirling her forkon the table top.

Jase shrugged. "He's a private person with limited trust. I'm assuming somethinghappened to make him be that way." He replied, taking a sip of his water.

"It's not healthy to be like that. Everybody needs to unload their frustrations onsomeone, whether it's a friend, parent, or counselor."

"Adrian rarely talks about his parents and as for the counselor part, don't evenbring it up. He hates when people try to pick him apart. There's nothing wrong withhim, but others might deny that."

Cassidy became silent for a moment. "Has he talked to you about some things thatbother him?"

- 349 -

"No just usual frustrations, nothing big." Jase replied shortly.

"Does it upset you that he doesn't share these things with you?"

Jase hesitated, lowering his gaze to the table. "Sometimes, but I get over it. I knowthat he won't share things with me and I thought that over the years he wouldloosen up, but he's still the same. I've accepted his short answers."

"Doesn't it frustrate you though?" Cassidy asked incredulously.

"Not as much as it used to. I only listen to what he gives me and if he doesn't wantto talk about it, I lay off."

"But it has to bother you! I know it does! It already frustrates me and I'm not evenhis friend."

Jase furrowed his eyebrows at her. "You've talked to him about his personal life?"

She hesitated, wondering if by saying yes it would bother Jase, but she wanted tostay truthful so she nodded. "Yeah, but it didn't get me anywhere."

"And what did he do?" He asked gravely, leaning towards the table.

"Uh nothing, he just gave me the cold shoulder." She answered, noticing his sternmanner. "Why? What has he done?"

He shrugged. "He just starts acting up, yells a little, and then ignores you. That'show it goes for everyone." Jase answered.

Cassidy nodded, taking in this newfound information. "Do you think his problemshave to do with his parents?"

"Probably, I'm not hundred percent sure though. He doesn't talk much about hisfamily and I've only seen his mom once when she showed up to one of his crosscountry competitions in high school. He was pretty happy that she was there fromwhat I saw."

"Hmm," Cassidy replied, digesting the facts as her thoughts continued to travelwith the faraway look in her eyes.

Jase sighed heavily. "Look, are we going to do this all night?"

- 350 -

She blinked and looked at him, frowning at his irritated tone. "What?"

"Talk about Adrian," he responded. "I mean I love the guy, but can we just focuson us?"

Jase reached for her hand across the table, squeezing it in return to imply hisfrustration over the topic. Cassidy smiled, gripping his hand back.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. It's just that, I haven't seen him lately and he's been acting alittle strange."

He snorted, letting go of her hand. "When hasn't he?"

"No, this is different. He's actually ignoring me." She replied in disbelief.

Jase raised a confused eyebrow. "And you're upset because...?"

"Well, he's never the one to stop bothering me, if you don't count the period wherehe ignored me because he thought I was going to come back to him." She rambled inone breath, exhaling. "But it's weird. Don't you find it strange?"

He shook his head, disinterested. "No, not really."

"I think he's trying to pull something. He always has some sort of trick up hissleeve." Cassidy said, pausing to mumble harshly under her breath. "I'm going tofind out what that jerk is up to and then I'll-"

"Cassidy," Jase sighed tiredly. "Are we really doing this again?"

She bit her lip. "Right sorry, I'm done now."

Cassidy switched topics and they enjoyed both their meals. Her thoughts onAdrian have flown out of her mind and her whole concentration was on Jase andtheir date. The dinner was finished of with scrumptious cheesecake for dessert andJase drove her home.

He walked her up to her porch like always, and with every ending to their date, hewould kiss her on the cheek or linger long enough to decide whether he was goingto kiss her or not. It usually ended with him not kissing her and he would leave.Cassidy was growing rather tired of this repeated scenario and so when he saidgoodnight to her with that cute smile of his, she turned around and went to open thedoor. However, Jase grabbed her wrist and she stopped all movement.

- 351 -

"Wait," he said softly, making her turn around slowly.

"Yeah?"

Jase smiled, bringing his hand up to caress her cheek. "You're forgettingsomething."

She was confused by his statement until recognition flooded through her wideeyes. He didn't kiss her on the cheek yet, that's what she forgot. Cassidy gave him ahalf smile, obviously not caring much for the chaste kiss on the cheek. She turnedher face a little to the side so he could reach it easier, but when he made no suchmovement she raised her head to look at him, puzzled.

"Um... what am I forgetting?" She asked kindly.

Jase smiled at her innocence, cradling her jaw and leaning closer to her. "This," hereplied huskily.

His lips were suddenly on hers and Cassidy gasped with wide eyes, trying tocontain her surprise. Jase's lips kept moving along her non-responding ones, goingat a slow pace and Cassidy finally closed her eyes in the kiss. Her stomach wasdoing flips as he held her cheek softly against his warm hands, kissing her deeply.

She found her arms weaving up to his shoulders and around his neck, pulling himcloser to her. His kiss was soft and sweet, just like his personality. She certainlywasn't expecting a kiss from soon, least of all tonight. But she liked it and Jase'sfingers moved into her hair, tangling themselves in it. Cassidy sighed through thegentle sensations of his rubbing fingers and a few minutes later, Jase pulled himselfaway with a sheepish smile.

"That was..." Cassidy trailed off, flushing. "Nice."

Jase chuckled, pressing one more kiss on to her lips. "I'm glad you liked it."

She smiled, biting her lip to ease the bruising he bestowed on her earlier. Shelowered her gaze to the floor, becoming shy. "Um...well I-I... thanks for tonight."

His eyes twinkled in amusement. "You're welcome."

"Right...uh, bye!" She replied, opening the front door as quickly as possible andrushing inside.

- 352 -

She shut the door after herself and sighed dreamily, closing her eyes with a smileon her face. Cassidy heard Jase chuckle from outside the door and then the distantfootsteps walking away. She stayed there leaning against the door until she heardsomeone clearing their throat roughly in front of her. Her eyes flew open and shesaw her father standing before her, not looking pleased.

"Would you explain to me why you have that look on your face tonight?"

Inwardly, she groaned, pushing herself off the door. She knew this happinessinside her stomach would fade all too soon.

"Dude, can I talk to you for a second?"

Adrian furrowed his eyebrows. If Terry wanted to talk to him, he would've justpulled him aside despite his protest, but by the sound of this tone, this was serious.

Terry took him to his room and once the door was fully shut-inspected by Terryhimself-he turned to Adrian with a frustrated look.

"I have a problem."

Adrian looked at him dumbly. "Which is the reason why you called me over," hepointed out obviously.

"Yeah," Terry replied, looking at a distance. He shuffled in his spot, moving to siton the bed, but then changing his mind the second he almost touched it. He stood upstraightly, his back to Adrian.

"What's going on?" Adrian asked on edge.

Terry whirled around, looking nervous. "You know that girl I brought who's in theliving room right now?"

He nodded knowingly with furrowed eyebrows. "Yes...the point?"

"Right, well I had full intentions on having sex tonight and by doing that I had toclean up a bit, downstairs." Terry trailed off, his gaze falling to his private area.

Adrian narrowed his eyes. "Since when do you get shy around the word penis?"

"Because I-" He stopped himself, biting his bottom lip. "I haven't done it in a whileand I got carried away with all the cutting."

- 353 -

"What did you do?"

"I'm going fucking crazy man. I'm itching like a madman down there and it's all Ican focus on right now. It's red and rashy-"

"Dude, lay off the details." Adrian grimaced.

"I can't have sex looking like this." He exclaimed in frustration, running a handthrough his spiky hair. "Do you know how to get rid of it?"

Adrian walked up to him, patting him on the shoulder. "You asked the right man,come with me."

Adrian left Terry's room with him walking behind, striding across the apartment.Terry's girl, sitting wearily in the living room looked up at him questionably.

"We'll be right back, sweetheart." Adrian smirked, winking at her.

They reached his room and Adrian walked inside his bathroom, shuffling throughhis drawers. He came back out and tossed a bottle of liquid to Terry, which hecaught clumsily.

"That's some soothing oil. It should get rid of the itch and the rash for a half hour."

Terry nodded, looking down at the bottle. "Thanks man, you saved me for tonight."

"I'm just doing my job for my helpless friends to get some action." He replied,snickering.

Terry rolled his eyes, walking to his door. "I'm not helpless, just uncoordinated."

"Try not to take out so much next time." He advised.

"I'll remember that." Terry grumbled, turning to him by his doorway. "Got anyplans for yourself?" He asked, suggesting something under his words.

Adrian sighed, knowing it was his problem for not receiving any action tonight."No."

"Where did Jase go?" - 354 -

He snorted. "Off with his date."

"Ahh Cassidy." Terry answered, looking at him in thought. "Does it bother you?"

"What?" Adrian asked, puzzled.

"That he's with her all the time."

He laughed incredulously. "Why would that bother me?"

Terry shrugged. "I don't know because she was kind of yours to begin with, right?"

He rolled his eyes. "I'm done trying with that virgin. I've moved on to new andbetter things."

"Right..." Terry drawled out, tapping his heel to the doorway. "Well, I'm going to-"

Adrian waved him off, fully understanding his prompt actions. "Go on, entertainyour lady friend. We all know your dick needs it."

"It's been too long." Terry replied in an agonizing tone.

He chuckled. "Have fun."

"Oh, I will and if I were you, I would go somewhere. It's going to get loud prettysoon. I heard she's a screamer."

Adrian grimaced, dusting the imaginary dust on his hands. He hated when his sexpartners had a loud mouth of them. It made them look unattractive and foolish. Healways had the urge to slap tape on their mouths. Adrian knew they couldn't help it,but they could at least tone it down a little or give the courtesy to his sleepingroommates. "Thanks for the warning, but I'm going to stay here. I have a lot of shitto do."

Terry shrugged. "Fine, but don't come complaining to me tomorrow from yourlack of sleep."

He left his doorway and Adrian sighed, shutting his door. He walked over to hisdesk and started up his computer, beginning his homework for once in his life. Hedidn't feel like having sex tonight because he didn't have the energy to deal withairheads at the moment. They always wanted to cuddle or the intimacy after sex, but

- 355 -

he didn't do things like that.

To get close to someone in that sense made him feel uncomfortable and annoyed.Adrian tried to do the whole dating, girlfriend\/boyfriend thing, but it wasn't hisscene. He was meant to live a life of bachelorhood whether his parents or friendsaccepted it or not. He couldn't devote himself to one woman. It was insane to eventhink about that. It made him cringe. There was no way he would get married. Hecouldn't make a long commitment like that, especially when the pastor says, "Forlong as you both shall live."

It made him sick, weird, and nauseated. He would never find himself at the altar,maybe a guest at a ceremony to pick up girls, but never standing beside the pastorto await the bride who was about to come down the aisle.

Marriage just wasn't in the cards for him and it didn't bother him at all. He didn'twant a family. He didn't want kids because they annoyed him and he didn't want awife.

It wasn't going to happen, at all.

"If you want to find out your score from all your previous tests, you just need tocalculate your first exam, your midterm, and your-"

Cassidy tuned Mrs. Chatman out, turning towards Adrian in her seat. "Hey, Iforgot to ask you. What did you get on your midterm?"

He hesitated, not looking back at her. "I did...average."

"Average?" She whispered, puzzled. "What is average supposed to mean?"

"It means that I got an average score." Adrian answered, still looking ahead.

She was about to open her mouth, but Mrs. Chatman ended class and all thestudents were standing up and zipping their book bags. Adrian was probably thefirst one to get up and seemed eager to get out, but Cassidy stood in his way.

"Let me see your test."

Adrian sighed. "Why?"

"I just want to see what I got wrong and what you did too. That's it." Sheexplained simply, trying to sway him.

- 356 -

He rolled his eyes, zipping open his backpack and shuffling through his papers.He pulled out the midterm exam and handed it to her, averting his gaze.

Cassidy skimmed over his test and her eyes widened in shock at the red markingabove, declaring his midterm grade. "How did you get a ninety eight?" She askedbewilderedly.

Adrian shrugged. "I read."

"I did too and I got a ninety six!" She complained.

"So what that's two points below mine, it's still an A."

"But you got the best grade in the class." Cassidy pointed out.

He scoffed. "So?"

"So, that's what I wanted!" She expressed in frustration. "Do you even care aboutyour grade?"

"No." Adrian answered shortly.

"What are you even planning to do with your life, Adrian?"

"What is this, an intervention?" He exclaimed, glaring at her with such intensitythat it made her take an unconscious step back. "What I do with my life is none ofyour business, Cassidy. If I want to fail, I will, but if I want to get an A, then hell I'llget that too. I don't need someone to tell me what I should do with my future."

"Then why are you in school for if you don't?" Cassidy countered back.

"Like I said, it's none of your business."

She exhaled irritably. "Why can't you tell me?"

"I keep things personal. You're not the first so drop it alright? I don't need youpsychoanalytic bullshit. I already get that enough."

"From who?" Cassidy asked curiously, unable to help herself.

Adrian sneered. "I said stay out of my business."

- 357 -

He snatched his test from her hands and walked out of the lecture room, makingCassidy gape at his retreating back. In the past, she would've let him storm out andget the last word, but she wasn't about to do it this time.

She wanted to know about his problems and secrets, even if he still pushed heraway. So, she found herself sprinting towards him out of the building and once shereached outside close enough to him, she stopped in front of him. Adrian glared ather, taking a step to the right, but she sidestepped him in return.

"What the hell is it now?" He shouted angrily, shoving his crumbled test into hisbackpack.

"Who are you?"

Adrian's glare loosened as he furrowed his eyebrows at her question. "What?"

"I said who are you?" She tried again. "Nobody knows anything about you, Adrian.Why do you keep pushing people away?"

He gritted his teeth, taking a step closer to her. "I don't do that," he seethedcoldly.

"Yes, you do." Cassidy replied, standing her ground even though she was frightfulof her life at that very moment. "You push people away, your girls away, me away,and even your friends."

"Why the fuck do you care? You're not in my life. You're nobody to me."

She bit her lip, watching him fume. "I know that, but-"

"But nothing. Stay out of my business, alright? You don't see me bothering youanymore so I would like you to give me the same courtesy."

Adrian started to walk away, but she followed after him, knowing it was a badidea. His anger was nothing like she's seen before and it practically radiated off him."I want to get to know you, Adrian. Please, just let me in."

Adrian whirled violently towards her and Cassidy almost stumbled from hissudden movement. "Leave me the fuck alone, Cassidy. I'm already done with youand you should be happy about that, so move on with your life. You have Jase now.I'm sure he can show you how to fuck correctly."

- 358 -

He walked away without waiting for her response and her jaw dropped at hiscrude comment. Her hands gripped involuntarily into a tight fist and she wasstalking towards him. Now, she was angry.

She saw him stand in a circle beside a group of his guy friends and the famoussluts of the university. They were well known people, like Adrian was, and shespotted Jase in the crowd. She didn't have time to talk to him just yet. She hadunfinished business to deal with a rather arrogant, vile jerk.

Cassidy infiltrated into their prized circle by squeezing in between two guys andwhen everyone's eyes were on the newcomer who joined the group, theirexpressions showed surprised. Her eyes traveled to Jase's shocked look and withoutgiving him a word, she looked to Adrian in the middle. His eyes were filled withanger. Cassidy stepped towards him boldly and she saw all the girls of the groupscowl at her presence.

She cleared her trembling throat-even though she had everyone's attention-andturned herself to face the group.

"Many of you might not know this, but Adrian is not who he appears to be." Sheinformed loudly, avoiding him and Jase's eyes.

Everyone unconsciously leaned forward to hear what she had to say and she wasglad to see that they were attentive, for now at least. She noticed she receivedattention from outsiders, but that didn't stop her on what she was going to say next.

Cassidy took a deep breath and smirked.

"He wears contacts."

The crowd's eyes widened and looked to Adrian's stiff form. Cassidy turnedaround to see his response and saw him pale dramatically. His eyes began to shiftaround his group and an uproar of questions started. Cassidy saw Jase walk towardsthem with an unhappy look on his face, but before she could speak to him, her wristwas being dragged out of the crowd painfully.

She winced, tugging her hand to free herself from the offender, but when hestopped, he let go of her wrist. Cassidy rubbed her current red marked arm and shelooked up at the person who took her away from everybody.

It was Adrian looking murderous, practically lethal as his face started to turn red.She cowered from him, huddling to herself as he took a dangerous step towards her.

- 359 -

"You've asked for it." He spat out coldly, bringing his face up a few inches awayfrom hers. "I'm going to make your life fucking miserable, starting with yourrelationship."

Cassidy gulped nervously, the fear spelled out in her eyes. She knew she shouldn'thave done it and now she wanted so badly to rewind and redo her mistake, but shecouldn't. It was done and everyone knew a piece of Adrian's secret, starting with hiseyesight.

It was the most traumatic memory that still affected him to this day and sherevealed it because she wanted to hurt him and possibly see how he would react toit. But now, she knew her life was in danger because of her stupidity of wanting toknow him better. Cassidy should've let him be, especially when he said he wasn'tgoing to bother her anymore. But she just had to ruin things.

"Cassidy!"

She turned around and saw Jase walking towards her, a look of concern andunhappiness of his face. Her frightened beating heart slowed down a little when shesaw the sight of him. Now Adrian was sure not to touch her.

Cassidy whirled around to look at Adrian, but he was gone.

A/N: Hey guys! So it seems like cassidy's relationship with jase is progressing, butadrian is threatening to break them! Do you think he'll actually go through with it? ;)

- 360 -

Payback

Chapter 21: Payback

Adrian tugged his baseball cap closer to his face, the shadow shielding his eyes.The rumors have been getting really bad after word broke out of his surprising fact.He wore glasses, big deal. But it hit him close to home more than anything else.Growing up with those wide rimmed specks made him the outcast of his preadolescent years.

He was teased, mocked, ridiculed, and bullied. After he made the decision to putcontacts on, he erased the past from his memory, never going back to it again untilnow. It still angered him that everybody knew of his small secret.

He was stupid and not cautious with his words when he got drunk while Cassidywas around. For some reason, when he told her his terrible memory, he wasconfident that she wouldn't tell a soul. Boy, how he was wrong.

Adrian wanted the bloodthirsty revenge that has been rattling him every since sheuttered the words to his crowd of friends and some other people at school. CassidyGordon was going to pay and there was no way he was going to handle it lightly. Hewas going to strike it where it hurt just like she did with him.

She was done for.

As Adrian continued to walk through the campus with his head-for once-loweredto the floor, he heard someone call his name.

"Look! It's the playboy that wears glasses!" He called out, chuckling.

Adrian gritted his teeth, whirling around swiftly in front of the kid that directedthe comment his way. He stalked towards him, watching the kid stand there withoutcowering before his presence.

"What the fuck did you just say?" Adrian hissed, grabbing the guy's collar.

The guy whimpered, choking from his strong hold. "N-Nothing!"

"I better not hear that again, you hear me?" He shouted furiously, his voice closeto his ear. "Or I will beat the living shit out of you."

- 361 -

The guy trembled under his grasp, nodding frantically without a word. Adrian letgo of his collar and shoved the kid out of his way, making him stumble and fall to thefloor on his butt.

Adrian snickered, taking his baseball cap off and hurling it to the side. Why washe trying so hard to conceal his identity? He much rather prefer to become violentwith stupid kids who tried to insult him with their meaningless words.

Adrian walked briskly, glaring at those who looked at him in shock or whisperedto their friends in a small circle, obviously talking about him. If it was just anotherusual day in the life of Adrian Lennox, he wouldn't care if anybody was talking abouthim. Hell, he encouraged it by giving a wink or two for the ladies and a heads up theguys.

He was cherished and praised as a deity, but this wasn't any normal day. No,these people weren't talking about his good looks, alcohol game championships, ornotable skills in the bedroom. They were talking about one of his flaws that seemedto have gotten extensive news about the school's campus. Adrian was no longerperfect. He was now considered flawed and it irked him that people knew.

Adrian balled a tight fist, the muscles in his biceps clenching along with it. Hellwas going to be paid soon and he made sure of that.

"Adrian!"

He groaned, not bothering to suppress his annoyance as he came across one ofthe many of his sexual partners. She had long dyed beach blonde hair, fried at theends from hot hair styling tools, and dark brown roots showing. She was fake, easy,and a nice ride.

"Hello..." Adrian trailed off, unable to figure out her name as he quirked aneyebrow. "Kiley, is it?"

"Kim," she fixed sharply, looking a little irritated, but it vanished quickly into abright smile. "So, word on the street is that you wear glasses. Is it true?"

"If I said no, would you believe me?" He retorted, crossing his arms indifferently.

"No." Kim replied back.

Adrian furrowed his eyebrows, peeved. "Then why are you asking?"

- 362 -

"I wanted to hear it from you." She answered, pausing before looking up at himwith hope. "So, it's true then?"

Adrian exhaled deeply, aggravated. "You really have to ask?" He replied, takingnote of her anticipated expression. He rolled his eyes at her slow intellect. "Yes, Iwear glasses. There I said it, you happy now?"

Kim frowned slightly. "You could've said it nicely and a little less loud."

"Well, it's not my fault that your head is as empty as a canister."

"What's a canister?" She asked, furrowing her eyebrows.

Adrian looked up at the sky, his hands pleading towards it. "For the love of God,just end me right now." He urged strongly.

Why did he ever have sex with the girl? Her head was so empty that he couldpractically see the cobwebs inside. Was he that desperate to get laid by a girl,especially one's intelligence comparing to a small organism? He must be stupid forpicking them.

Then again, he never had a problem with how unintelligent his sexual partnerswere. He usually tuned them out and thought of himself or other things. But now, hecouldn't take it anymore and he wondered why he felt like this so strongly. Didsomeone affect him to become this way?

"Adrian? Hello!" Kim said loudly, waving a hand to his face.

He blinked his eyes and lowered his gaze at her, scowling. "What?"

"I wanted to ask you another question."

Adrian groaned in agony. "Jesus, what is it now?"

Kim rolled her eyes briefly, looking back at him. She opened her mouth, but closedit, hesitant. "I...was wondering if you could..."

"Could what?" He asked impatiently.

"Wear your glasses for me?" She replied in one quick breath, giving him a shy lookthat seemed out of place for her.

- 363 -

"What?" Adrian inquired in disbelief, narrowing his eyes.

"I want you to wear your glasses to see how you look in them." Kim finished,intertwining her hands.

"Fuck no." He retorted quickly and firmly.

Adrian walked away from her, cursing under his breath when he heard herfollowing after him.

"Wait! Please! Just this once!" She pleaded.

"I said no, alright? Now leave me alone." Adrian snapped, picking up the pace inhis walk.

Kim sprinted beside him, struggling to keep his brisk walk. "Come on! I'll doanything!"

Adrian stopped, turning to face her as she stopped herself, breathing deeply."Why do you care?"

She shrugged. "I want to see how you look."

Adrian mulled over this, eyeing her skimpy outfit up and down with detail. Miniskirt, low cut top, his lower part approved. It brought the surge of lust within him.He needed a good fuck and he didn't care about how he was going to get it. "Whatwill you do for me?"

"Anything you want." Kim replied, biting her bottom lip seductively as she took astep closer to him. "I'm all yours, baby." She said huskily.

Adrian stroked the line of her jaw with his index finger, smirking. "Ok, you've gotyourself a deal."

Her eyes lit up as she gasped. "Really?"

He nodded. "Yeah, but you've got to keep up with your promise."

"Of course," she replied softly, grabbing hold of his index finger. "Anything foryou."

Kim brought his index finger into her petite mouth, sucking on it thoroughly, back- 364 -

and forth. Adrian stifled a moan, trying to contain the growing hardness below hispants. He extracted his finger out and wiped her saliva off the sleeve of her shirt,breathing out deeply.

"Ok, not here." Adrian rushed out, his head swiveling back and forth. "Let's go tomy car."

Kim smiled lustfully, grasping his waist and lowering her hand to his ass. "Oh, myfavorite place."

She gave it a little squeeze and Adrian felt the jolt from down under, about to loseit. He grabbed Kim's arm and walked her all the way to the school's parking lotquickly, that she was complaining about trying to keep up with him.

"Believe me sweetheart, if you stop me right now, I'll fuck you right here." Adrianreplied back, not bothering to censor himself.

Kim gasped, allowing him to string her along until he got to his car and pushedher up against the door, placing his body close to hers. She shook her head, givinghim a sly smile.

"Not right now. You have to show me what you look like with them on first."

He rolled his eyes, unlocking the car doors with his key pad and opening it. Kimpeered inside and was puzzled at what he was doing.

"Do you have any on hand?" She asked, watching him shuffle through his things inhis compartments.

Adrian picked up one of his emergency glasses pair and brought it up to her face,jerking it in his hand. "I keep an extra pair in here."

"Oh, good!" Kim exclaimed happily, leaning against his car with her elbow on thehood. "Put them on."

He narrowed his eyes at her elbow, an unhappy look on his face. "Keep off themerchandise."

Kim rolled her eyes and lowered her elbow at his demand. Adrian unfolded thetemple arms and placed it neatly on his ears, fixing the frames on the bridge of hisnose. Kim watched with wide-eyed in such utter fascination at his movements andwhen he let go of hiss glasses, she gave him one long, shocked look.

- 365 -

She studied the glasses and his face as a whole and saw a slight difference inappearance. He was still the same, but the glasses added something into affect thatit made her hot with desire.

"There, happy?" Adrian said, sighing. He reached up to take the glasses off, butKim shot her hand forth to it, preventing him from doing so.

"No, don't." She replied in a low tone, swallowing hard. "It's so..."

"What?" He inquired harshly, shedding her hand of. "Fucking dorky?"

"No." Kim protested, sounding appalled. She paused for a moment, smilingseductively. "You make me hot."

Adrian's eyebrows shot up, stunned. "Hot?"

"Yeah," she said breathlessly, taking a step closer to him. "It makes me want to dothings that I've never done before." She breathed into his ear, making him shiver.

Adrian inhaled raggedly, gripping her waist. "By all means, do it."

Kim grabbed the collar of his shirt roughly and brought him down to crash his lipsagainst hers, plunging her tongue into his mouth. Adrian was met with such fiercesurprise that he almost choked on it, but he contained himself and kissed her withequal passion and force.

He slammed her body against the car door and searched the handle of the cardoor, yanking it open. Kim giggled as he moved her over to the open door andpushed her inside, going right on top of her.

Kim licked her lips and pushed her hands inside his shirt, feeling his taut muscles."I'm going to make your wildest dreams come true."

He smirked, taking his glasses off and tossing them up at the front. "It better belong and hard."

"I know the way you like it." Kim replied huskily, pulling him down for another hotand heavy kiss.

Adrian reciprocated and started to take her shirt off. It was going to be one hell ofa ride.

- 366 -

He panted, feeling the sweat beads travel alongside his chest as she caressed hisside. He didn't know how long he kept going for, but it felt like hours. He was tired,sweaty, and aching. Adrian closed his eyes and breathed through his nose, feelingthe edge of sleep come.

He heard her shuffle around as she picked up her articles of clothing strewn onthe car floor, chairs, and her bra on the steering wheel. Adrian stayed lying at theback, pulling his arms to rest at the back of his head. When he heard the shuffleend, he felt a small dip at the side of his head and she stroked his torso.

"So, how good was it, Adrian?" She asked huskily, bringing shudders at his body.

His eyes were still closed as he smirked dreamily. "It was great, Cassidy."

The stroking stopped abruptly. "WHAT?"

Adrian's eyelids flew open and he looked up to see an offended Kim with her jawdropped.

"What?" He replied back, puzzled.

"Cassidy?!" She exclaimed in outrage, her eyes glowing maddeningly. "Youfucking called me Cassidy!"

He snorted, sitting in an upright position. "No I didn't."

"Yes, you did I heard you!" Kim countered strongly, jabbing a finger at him. "Iasked you if it was good and you said, 'it was great, Cassidy.'"

Adrian shook his head, unbelieving. "There's no way that I said that."

"I'm not lying. I heard it come out of your mouth!" She said clearly, pulling hershirt over her head. "My name is Kim, not fucking Cassidy!"

Kim went to grab the car handle and she wrenched it open, huffing furiously. Shegot out of the car and slammed the door shut, stalking away. Adrian didn't even tryto stop her. He wanted the bitch gone anyways, but what surprised him was whatshe said. She claimed that he called her Cassidy, but he didn't even hear it come outof his mouth. Was she lying?

He sighed and pulled on all his clothing, finding them in different spots of the car.Kim really did a number on him. He definitely skipped all his classes today which

- 367 -

meant he had nothing else to do besides go home and rest.

Adrian got to the driver's seat and sped out of the parking lot to his apartment.His thoughts were still clouded by Kim's accusation of him calling her Cassidy. Hewas probably half asleep, half awake and in another wet dream where Cassidy wasnot her usual innocent self. He has had the dream a few times after the first one andhe figured he might've had it again when he was done having sex with Kim.

It didn't matter to him. Kim was just a girl that he fucked occasionally, but hecouldn't believe he said Cassidy's name. It was strange and not like him to call out adifferent girl's name after sex. He's never done that before because he didn't botherto remember any girl's names besides his mother's.

Adrian felt conflicted and angry. Cassidy was plaguing his thoughts and he neededto get rid of it and her, most importantly. She was going to regret that she everdeclared his secret to the whole school.

Adrian got home and tossed his keys on the table, dropping his backpack on thefloor. He was about to make his way into the kitchen, until he heard his name beingcalled.

"Adrian?"

He peered into the living room and saw Terry lying on the couch with the remotein his hands. "Hey man, what's up?"

"Nothing, did you just get done with school?"

Adrian smirked, walking over to sit on the opposite couch. "Yeah, I was learningabout the female anatomy, my favorite."

He rolled his eyes. "You're already an expert on that. It's a waste to learn aboutit."

"True," he replied, lying down and propping his shoes on the arm. "I could be agood teacher."

Terry chuckled. "Yeah, no doubt about that."

They lied there in silence, watching the latest episode on a home renovating show.Adrian was drawled in immediately, his eyes glued to the television as he saw thehouse's blueprints, the process of building it, and the final product. He was so

- 368 -

fixated on the show that he didn't see Terry sneaking looks at him every once in awhile, wanting to say something or not.

"So, you wear glasses huh?"

Adrian stiffened, his absorption on the show vanishing within an instance. Hepanicked inwardly, trying to appear indifferent as he kept his eyes on the television.He thought that Terry of all people wouldn't bring something like that up, but it wasbound to happen. Here goes the unwanted interrogation. "Yeah."

Terry nodded slowly, gazing back at the television. "Cool."

Adrian snapped his neck back to his friend with wide eyes, not expecting hiscasual answer. He didn't say anything more and that surprised him. Terry waslounging on the couch, immersed into the world of television. He smiled faintly,looking back at the T.V.

He was glad to know that his friends didn't care for his vision problem or thatTerry would take it personal and tell him why he's never told him before. Terry knewAdrian was private about his life and he didn't interfere. That was one of the mainthings he liked about his friend. Jase on the other hand, was very different.

He got into everyone's business, including Adrian's. Jase still hasn't spoken to himabout it which was unusual for him. At any rate, he would've jumped the chance totalk to Adrian about it, but he hasn't yet and it's already been two days. It wasn't likehe was upset that Jase hasn't talked to him, it was just surprising.

"Where's Jase?"

"He's with Cassidy at some late afternoon date." Terry answered, his eyes glued tothe television.

Adrian scowled from a distance from hearing her name. He should've known itwas her who stole his best friend. Sure he wanted nothing more than to avoid thesubject of his vision from Jase, but not hearing from him soon enough was strangeand it was all because of that girl. That same girl who told almost half the schoolabout it and Jase was with her!

He balled his fists, suddenly rising from the couch and about to stalk towards hisroom before Terry craned his neck to him.

"Where are you going?" - 369 -

"I'm going to catch up with someone that I haven't seen in a while." He smirkedslyly, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Don't wait up."

Terry rolled his eyes, thinking of something else from his hidden words. "Yeah, Iknow the drill. Good to know that you will be having sex somewhere else."

Adrian furrowed his eyebrows and then they were loosened, stifling a laugh. Terrythought that he was going for a late night sex call. Better he think that thananything else. Saved him a lot of time from explaining.

"Why did you have to say it out in the open?"

Cassidy sighed deeply, already been asked this question five times from him sincetwo days ago. Jase was upset with her because she humiliated his best friend, butthey didn't argue about it which made her happy.

She liked Jase too much to let something like telling half the school that Adrianwears glasses, get in the way of their relationship. Though, Cassidy still didn't knowwhat they were to each other. They were still dating, but haven't reached togirlfriend\/boyfriend status.

Did she want that? A part of her did because she liked Jase and he already treatedher like a boyfriend did. However, they were not to that level. She wanted to bring itup, but she was going to wait for him and see what he thought about it. Cassidydidn't want to seem too pushy on the subject.

"Cassidy?" Jase said, furrowing his eyebrows at her daze look.

Cassidy looked up at him and smiled. "Jase, I already told you. Adrian needed toget a dose of his own medicine. He cares too much of his image and I felt like tellingthe world he isn't the perfect guy that he appears to be."

"That made him angry, though."

She shrugged uncaringly. "So what? He'll get over it. This whole gossip on campusabout his faulty vision will fade. Trust me."

"I don't know..." Jase trailed off uncertainly. "He seems that Adrian has caught onmore attention now than he ever has before. Even the teachers' talk about it, it'sweird."

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Her eyes widened slightly. "Wow, I didn't know it was that serious. I mean, comeon. At some point in everyone's life, they get terrible vision and have to wearglasses. It's not that bad."

"It's Adrian. Everything that concerns him is a big deal." He pointed out.

She rolled her eyes. "Right, I forgot that his ego ruled this school."

Jase laughed, staring at Cassidy for a moment with sparkling blue eyes. "Well,putting Adrian aside, I'm wondering if you want to come over to my apartmenttomorrow night for a nice dinner. I'll cook the meal, we'll make dessert, and thenwatch a movie afterwards. How does that sound?"

Cassidy grinned widely, her eyes shocked. "You cook?"

He nodded. "Yeah, there's a lot about me that you don't know."

She beamed. "Well, we should change that."

"Starting tomorrow for dinner," Jase filled in, smiling. "You in?"

Cassidy nodded eagerly, leaning into him. "I think that's the best plan you haveever came up with."

Jase beamed, grabbing her hand from across the table. He stared at her for amoment, deliberating something in his head before he opened his mouth. "I've beenmeaning to tell you something." He said gravely.

Cassidy frowned faintly, not liking the tone of his voice. "Yes?"

"Well, I've been thinking about this for a few days and..." Jase trailed off, loweringhis eyes to the floor.

"Is it...bad?" She asked hesitantly, feeling alarmed. What if he wanted to break upwith her? But how could he when they weren't even going out yet!

Jase laughed. "No, no it's not bad at all." He replied, squeezing her hand toreassure her. "You know what, I'll just save it for tomorrow night."

He let go of her hand, but Cassidy grabbed hold of it again as if to urge him tocontinue with what he was about to say. "No! You have to tell me now. I'm alreadycurious about it!"

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Jase chuckled, intertwining their fingers and gazing at her softly. "Ok, fine. I'll tellyou." He replied, caressing her knuckles. "For the past few days, I've been thinkingabout this and I was wondering if you-"

A loud ring cut through his sentence and Cassidy gave him an apologetic look,letting go of his hand. "Sorry, I should've put it on silent."

She reached for her phone in her pocket to shut it off, but Jase shook his head."No, take it."

Cassidy looked back at him and shrugged, flipping her phone open and notbothering to look at the caller I.D. "Hello?"

"Cassidy dear."

She furrowed her eyebrows, giving Jase a puzzled look. He mouthed the words'who is it,' but she ignored him. "Yeah, mom?"

"You need to come home now. Your father wants to speak to you."

Cassidy frowned, sensing the slight strict tone of her voice. Her mother was apleasant and kind person. She never ordered Cassidy around, unless it was urgent."Ok, I'll be there soon."

Her mother hung up and Cassidy closed her phone, coming into a daze likenature.

"Cassidy?"

She looked back at Jase, seeing the concern on his face. "Can you take me home?"

"Is everything ok?" He asked, worried.

She smiled slightly, nodding her head for him not to worry. She wasn't sure ifanything was fine, but it couldn't be that bad. "Yeah."

"Ok, let's go."

Jase wrapped up the bill for their late lunch and he took Cassidy home. On theway there, Cassidy was twiddling her thumbs and hoping everything was ok backhome. She told her parents earlier that she was at a charity meeting with her club.It was an obvious lie, but they didn't know that. Cassidy hasn't been involved in the

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group for quite some time now and she suddenly felt bad. Maybe she would changethat on Monday.

Jase came to a stop next to her house and Cassidy turned to smile at him. "Youdon't have to walk me up."

He shook his head firmly, leaving no room for argument. "No, I want to."

They got out of the car and Jase walked her up the steps of her house, his hand ather lower back. She smiled at his sweet gestures. He was such a gentleman and sheloved that about him. Any girl would be lucky to have him and he was the one thatchose her. Cassidy was very lucky indeed.

They reached to her door and Jase turned to face her, a smile at his lips. "I had agreat time."

"Me too," she replied, smiling.

He reached to cup her jaw and leaned in for their after-date kiss until the frontdoor suddenly opened. Cassidy broke away from him before he could lay one on her,and she whirled around to face who was at the door.

Cassidy prayed it was her mom rather than her father, but to her utter jawdropping disbelief, it was neither of them. Adrian stepped down on to the welcomingdoormat and he fixed his square frames on the bridge of his nose, a widemischievously smirk on his lips. His nerd disguise was back in action and that leftCassidy paralyzed with shock. Her whole body was trembling with alarm and herwide eyes couldn't believe the sight of him. Did Adrian really step out of her houseor was she imagining it?

"What are you doing here?" Jase asked accusingly, looking him up top to down.

Adrian gave him a smirk in reply, not bothering to respond and his eyes traveledto Cassidy. Her stomach dropped by the sly look he gave her. This wasn't good. Itwasn't good at all.

"Your dad is waiting for you." Adrian noted with amusement, taking off his glassesand settling them in his coat pocket as if stripping away his disguise and puttingback his permanent bad boy nature. He walked away from them without anotherword.

Cassidy paled and they both stared back at his retreating back bewilderedly,- 373 -

leaving them speechless. They were both silent for a while until Jase turned to faceher with concern.

"What was that about?"

She looked at him, swallowing hard. "I-I don't know."

Jase settled his hand on her shoulder, looking serious. "Do you want me to comeinside with you?"

"No, no." Cassidy replied quickly, shaking off her nerves with a laugh. "I'll befine."

"Why was Adrian here?" Jase inquired, sounding jealous and confused.

She shrugged. "I have no idea. I guess I'll find out once I get in."

Cassidy turned to take a step towards her door, but Jase's hand was back on hershoulder. "Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"

She smiled at him, pressing a quick kiss on his lips. "I'm sure. I'll call you latertonight."

He nodded, looking satisfied. "Ok."

Jase gave her one last, longing look before giving her a brief hug and walkingtowards his car. Cassidy sighed as she stared back at him, hoping that whateverAdrian did, wasn't bad. Her fate was sealed inside those doors and she turned toface it boldly with her grip on the handle. She opened it softly and stepped inside,turning her head back and forth.

The area was quiet and once she shut the door behind her, she walked over to thefamily room. Cassidy saw her dad sitting quietly in his arm chair, reading thenewspaper as her mother was knitting. She took a few steps before them and hermother looked up to see her, a faint smile at her lips.

"Hello dear." Jenny said, gesturing to the couch beside her. "Please have a seat."

Cassidy walked over to sit beside her mom and her eyes traveled to her father'sstern gaze at the paper. He didn't offer her a single glance once she walked in andher heart was pumping rapidly against her chest. Sometimes it was not a good sightto see her dad reading the newspaper. That meant she was in big trouble.

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"D-Dad?" Cassidy spoke softly, wringing her hands in her lap.

Her dad lowered his newspaper and peered at her, a stern look in his eyes. "Whowas that boy who walked you up to the house?" He asked casually. Whenever herfather gave her the casual approach, it didn't end well.

She swallowed at her throat. "He's j-just a friend."

"Now, Cassidy, you don't want to lie to your father, especially when you're alreadyin so deep." Larry warned, folding his newspaper and setting it to the side. "Thetruth please."

Cassidy's hand started to shake and she lowered her gaze to the floor. "We'redating." She replied under her breath.

"What was that?" Larry asked, obviously getting the drift of her words from thecreases of his forehead.

Cassidy looked up at him guiltily. "I'm dating him," she said clearly.

Larry drummed his fingers against the arm of his chair, staring sternly at Cassidy."Didn't I forbid you to date until you are at a mature, responsible age?"

"Dad, I'm not going to wait until I'm thirty." Cassidy countered firmly.

Larry raised a surprised eyebrow. "What is this? Are you talking back to me?"

She pursued her lips, shaking her head. "No, I'm just providing you with myopinion."

"It sounded like you were trying to talk back to me, Cassidy and that isunacceptable." Larry said with a raised voice, standing up from his chair. "It seemsthat this boy has corrupted your mind."

Her jaw dropped and she stood up as well. "No he hasn't! He has been nothing butsweet and kind to me!"

"You were always such a good girl before. I didn't hear you once complain aboutfinding someone at the age of thirty and now since you've entered into college,you've been going out nearly every single night and running off with boys who onlythink about the bird and the bees."

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"I'm not a child anymore, dad!" She exclaimed in a high pitched tone. "I'mperfectly capable of handling things on my own, along with a relationship."

Larry stared at her in thought, giving a disapproving look. "It looks like whatAdrian said is true. Your behavior is out of control."

She gaped at him, her eyes growing wide. She forgot that Adrian was over whenshe first stepped into her house and found it eerily quiet. But the reason for Adrian'sintervene was because of his threat to her. He was going to ruin her relationshipand he didn't care that his best friend was involved.

"A-Adrian doesn't know the first thing about me. He is a liar and a con artist! Thatguy isn't a virgin! He has sex with a lot of girls, practically everyday!" Cassidyannounced.

"I don't like your choice of words, Cassidy." Larry condemned strictly. Inwardly,Cassidy rolled her eyes. Her father didn't like when she threw the word "sex"around. He found it vulgar and scandalous.

Larry pressed on further. "I think Adrian is an upstanding young man who hasbeen misjudged his whole life. I can see the good in him."

Cassidy couldn't believe what she was hearing. Adrian has sucked his parents intohis theatrics and they've always had a good judge of character. But Adrian wasn'tone of them and she needed to tell him straight. "Dad, you have to listen to me.Adrian is not a good guy, it's all an act! He's a bad person and the only reason whyhe came to dinner a few weeks ago is because he was feeding you bullshit."

"Cassidy!" Jenny gasped in disapproval.

"Sorry mom." Cassidy said apologetically, bowing her head in shame.

"I've had enough, Cassidy." Larry piped up sharply, pressing his lips in a grim line."Your language is dirty, you haven't been home in a while, and you've neglectedyour studies."

Cassidy opened her mouth to retort, but Larry held a hand up. "Do not interruptme." He snapped furiously, making Cassidy shut her mouth fully. "Your mother and Iare worried about you and Adrian is even concerned when he stopped by earlier toconfess about your bad behavior."

Cassidy stood there fuming, balling up her fists. It was Adrian's fault that she had- 376 -

this supposed bad behavior. True, she rarely cussed, especially in front of herparents, but she needed them to know the truth about Adrian. She knew that he wasno good from the start. She was warned many times, but kept ignoring thembecause she wanted to get to know Adrian. How she wished she could turn backtime now.

"Which is why I'm giving you two options." Larry said gravely, pausing for amoment. "Either you break up with that boy and stay here for school or go to St.Mary's for the rest of the semester."

She took a sharp intake of breath. "DAD! You can't-!"

He cut her off, shaking his head. "No back talk. This is your final punishment,choose wisely."

Larry walked out of the room and Cassidy stood there, stranded with a decision.She breathed in and out deeply, feeling the pricks of tears forcing its way out. Itwasn't fair. She didn't do anything wrong. Her father picked the worse ultimatumand neither one suited her best. Cassidy was trying to figure out what to do tochange her dad's mind when someone cleared their throat in the room.

She whirled around, finding her mother still seated on the couch with her knittingleft on the table. Her mother looked worried and she gently patted the seat next toher. Cassidy slowly walked over and sunk in the seat, turning to face her mothersadly.

"Oh honey, please don't be upset." Jenny said, cupping both her cheeks. "Yourfather and I want what's best for you and you might not like it right now, but youwill in the long run."

Cassidy turned her head away, blinking the tears back. "No, I won't mom. I reallylike him. It's not fair that I have to do this. I haven't done anything with him!"

"Cassidy, you're still young and naive. You might like the boy now, but what if heexpects something from you in the future? Are you going to give him what hewants?"

She frowned, sniffling. "No."

"He might break up with you because of that answer." Jenny repliedmatter-of-factly.

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"But he's different mom. He would never do that to me."

She shrugged. "Boys will be boys. In the end, all they think about is what'sdownstairs. Your father was like that once upon a time and I gave into him."

Cassidy's frown deepened. "What happened?"

"Well, we weren't careful and I ended up pregnant with you." She answered,making Cassidy gasp. "I know that your father and I have told you that you weremade during our honeymoon, but it's not the truth. We were just trying to protectyou."

"But by protecting me, you're not showing me the dangers of early pregnancy."Cassidy reasoned, pausing. "What else have you and dad lied about to me?"

Jenny sighed. "Nothing else, we married when we were both mature andresponsible enough to deal with our relationship. Before, it was just me caring foryou and than handing you off for the weekend with your dad. He was fed up with thehassle of traveling you around and he decided to propose." She paused for amoment. "You have to know that your father and I came from two very conservativefamilies. It was looked down upon to have a child out of wedlock."

Cassidy nodded. "I understand."

Jenny turned and gave her a small smile, setting a hand on her shoulder. "Thenplease make the right choice, Cassidy. I don't want you to leave me so soon."

She got up from the couch and walked out of the room, leaving Cassidy by herselfto think things over. She sunk deeper into the couch and sighed. Cassidy promisedto call Jase tonight, but at the back of her mind she knew that wasn't going tohappen.

Cassidy sat silently in her car, her hands still gripped on the steering wheel eventhough she cut the ignition ten minutes ago. She looked over at the apartmentcomplex. She was supposed to be at his apartment like she promised him yesterdayevening, but she couldn't get out of her car. The silence pleased her and she wantedsome more time to think.

After a few moments, Cassidy got out of the car and locked her doors. She wasn'taccomplishing anything sitting around. She headed inside, went up the elevator tohis floor and got out, walking slowly down the hallway.

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Cassidy reached to his door and was about to knock with her balled fist hovered inthe air until she saw a note on the handle. Curious, she saw that the front wasaddressed to her and opened it. It read, open the door. Cassidy turned the handleand slowly opened it, taking a step inside. She closed it after herself and noticed thedimly lit apartment.

Walking in a slow pace, she looked around the apartment to sight if anyone waspresent, and saw the living room flourished in light. Cassidy walked more quickly tothe room with furrowed eyebrows and when she turned the corner, she gasped atthe sight.

The room was beautifully decorated with candles on the circular table, a whitelinen cloth dressing it, two wonderfully cooked plates, shining silverware, and rosepetals scattered about the room. Jase occupied one of the seats and he smiled whenhe saw her walk in.

"I didn't know if you would come." He said, standing up from his seat.

He was wearing a nice black button down shirt with dark washed jeans to matchit. His hand was holding a dark colored red rose and he extended it to her. "Foryou."

Cassidy pursued her lips and took a few steps closer to him, taking the rose."Thank you." She paused, looking at the dinner table. "I'm sorry I'm late. Everythinglooks beautiful."

Jase beamed. "I knew you would like it, come on." He said, taking her hand in hisas he led her to a seat at the opposite side. "Tonight's special is vodka pasta withchicken." He chuckled, pulling out the seat from under the table. "I know you hatealcohol, but there's no vodka in it. The alcohol was burned off the pan. It's just aspecial thing that chefs do and I thought I'd try it out. It was pretty fun, especiallyseeing the flames go up in the pan."

Cassidy stood in her spot-not moving to sit in the seat-and Jase furrowed hiseyebrows. "Is there something wrong?"

She swallowed hard at her dry throat, her eyes on the floor. "I-I can't stay."

"Why not?"

"Jase I-" Cassidy stopped herself, taking in a small breath. "I need to tell yousomething."

- 379 -

"Good, I want to tell you something to so sit down." Jase said kindly, not in anordering tone and she complied.

Jase took a seat in his chair and smiled at her. "So, what did you want to tell me?"

Cassidy looked up at him briefly, turning her gaze to the candles on the table."I-I," She stuttered apprehensively. She stood there quiet, unable to get the wordsout and Jase understood her anxiety.

"I'll go first." He piped up, folding his hands on the table with a brilliant smile."Cassidy, I've been thinking about this a lot lately and well here it goes." He laughednervously, pausing for a moment as his face became serious when he stared at herwith his blue eyes. "I want you to be with you, permanently."

"A-As in...?" She trailed off, surprised.

"As in a relationship, boyfriend and girlfriend." Jase finished, staring at herexpectantly. "Don't you feel the same?"

Cassidy's stomach dropped and her eyes widened in panic. "O-Oh God."

"What?" He asked in concern, furrowing his eyebrows. "What's the matter?"

Her hand was on her forehead as her eyes shifted back and forth to the floor."This wasn't the way it was supposed to be. I-I was supposed to say-"

"Say what?" Jase inquired pressingly, appearing mildly frazzled.

Cassidy's eyes snapped up to him and she breathed in shakily. "I can't be withyou."

The color drained from his face and he shot up from his chair. "Why?"

The tears that were begging to force itself out the night before finally pricked upand she saw her vision blur. "It's complicating."

"What?" He countered furiously, his eyes mad. "Are you serious? You're not goingto give me a definite answer?"

Cassidy wanted to tell him the truth about her father giving the ultimatum, butshe couldn't. He wouldn't forgive her for choosing to break up with him than goingto St. Mary's. And if he did, he wouldn't let her go and than her father would most

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likely find out and drag her to St. Mary's.

In the end, the outcome wasn't good and this was the only way of resolving it. Bybreaking up with Jase and providing no explanation. He would hate her with passionand it killed Cassidy to see that, but it was for the best. Or that's what she toldherself.

"I-I have to go." Cassidy replied with a trembled tone, pushing back her chair witha loud screech across the floor and standing up.

"Wait!" He called back at her, grabbing her arm and turning her to face him. "Whyare you doing this? Just yesterday we were happy as can be, but now you're so coldand closed off. What changed?"

She blinked her tears back just for now and raised her head to him. "Jase, I can'tbe what you want. I don't want a relationship."

Cassidy took a step forward, but he sidestepped her, looking determined. "That'sfine! We can go back to dating, whatever you like!"

She shook her head as the wave a tears swarmed her vision. "No. I just, can't ok? Ijust can't!"

She bowed her head and walked quickly away from him, ignoring his calls afterher. The tears fell to her cheeks as she struggled to keep her control together, butshe couldn't. The damage was done and she broke his heart, hers included.

Cassidy reached to the door and yanked it open, rushing out of the apartment asfast as she can, but a hard weight blocked her exit. She bumped into it when sheclosed the door and almost stumbled to the floor, but she caught herself just in time.

She looked up at the offending person who blocked her way and her breath gotcaught in her throat. Adrian was standing there, staring at her tear-stricken facewith no interest or emotion. Cassidy's rage exploded within her and she turned livid.Absolutely livid.

"YOU ASSHOLE!" Cassidy shouted out at the top of her lungs, making his eyeswiden in surprise.

"You've ruined everything!" Cassidy cried out in outrage, tears springing up in hereyes again as she jabbed an accusing finger his way. "He was the only guy that has

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ever liked me and you had to ruin it!"

"You know why I did it." Adrian snapped back, his eyes glaring. "I fucking warnedyou, and you still pulled that shit on me. You shouldn't have taken my threats lightly.I mean everything I say."

"You had no right to go to my parents and tell them about my relationship! It'snone of your business!" She exclaimed furiously.

"Just like how you told half the school that I wear contacts when it was meant tobe kept private for no else to know, but me?" Adrian countered, raising an eyebrow.Cassidy pursued her lips in a grim line, not replying in return. "Yeah, it was none ofyour fucking business either."

Cassidy held her head, feeling furious with herself for proclaiming his secret tothe school and for him with his threat. "I don't know what to think of you anymore!You're awful and cruel. I can't believe you did that to me!"

"Cassidy, stop fucking placing the guilt trip on me, I told you not to tell anyoneand you did the exact opposite." He said coldly, taking a dangerous step towardsher. "If anyone's to blame, it's you sweetheart. You're the fucking bitch here."

Her back landed heavily on the wall and Adrian towered over her, his face a fewinches away from hers. He was angry with her for making him out to be the bad guyand her the saint. Cassidy clenched her teeth and stared boldly right back at him.

"You know what I think, Adrian?" She said with mock kindness, smirking. "I thinkyou're jealous." He opened his mouth to reject her statement, but she overrode him."Yes, I do and you know why? Because I had someone who actually likes me forwhom I am and you don't have anyone to share with in that sort of level."

"Really?" Adrian replied sarcastically, moving his face closer to hers that shecould feel his breath. "I suppose you have me all figured out now, don't you?"

She nodded confidently. "Yes, I'm positive."

"Hmm," he muttered, raising his index finger up and lightly pressed it at the frontof her throat. She took in a shallow breath and gulped as he felt it bob underneathhis finger. He brought it slowly down in a circular motion and stopped at theneckline. "Let's see how well you know me after I'm through with you."

Cassidy's eyes stretched out bewilderedly. Wasn't he done bothering her? "B-But I- 382 -

thought that-"

He chuckled humorlessly, caressing the neckline of her shirt. "No. It's on now."

Adrian's finger vanished from her shirt and he let himself inside, shutting the doorafter him. Cassidy tried to catch her breath.

She should've known it was a mistake crossing him.

A/N: Sorry guys, I was planning on updating earlier, but the holidays got me busy.Hope you like it! :)

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Post Break-up

Chapter 22: Post Break-up

Post break-up was hard and Cassidy was agonizing the school week. When itfinally rolled around, she stood rigid at the front of the school with her handclutched on her backpack strap, unmoving. She didn't want to be at school for thefirst time in her life because there were two people she didn't want to see. One wasthe devil's son, Adrian and two was Jase, their break up still unresolved from hisside.

She knew that he would have more unanswered questions to ask her andtruthfully, she didn't want to answer them because she didn't have an explanation.Cassidy was torn between telling the truth and lying. They both didn't seem easierto her. She sighed and looked up at the school. She couldn't face the dayconfidently. Cassidy was a coward and she didn't care to admit it.

She started to walk on to campus with wary eyes, being careful not to run into twocertain people. Her mind was so focused on them, that she didn't see what wasgoing around her, or who.

"Cassidy!"

Cassidy turned around and saw Nina and Kathleen at her side with confusedexpressions. "Why aren't you answering us? We called your name like twice."Kathleen said.

"Oh, sorry guys, I'm just a little preoccupied at the moment." She blurted, notmeaning to share her thoughts out loud.

Nina raised an eyebrow. "With what?"

"Oh, uh-" Cassidy started, pausing for a moment. "I have an exam in Biology todayand I've been quizzing myself in my head." She replied, tapping a finger to hertemple.

Nina looked at her oddly, nodding her head. "Nice..."

She was partially lying. Cassidy did have an exam for Biology, but it wasn't whatshe was thinking about. She didn't want to share her break up to them just yet

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because it still stung, but when Nina suddenly gave her a grave look-which wasunbecoming of her, especially early in the morning-she knew something was up.

"Cassidy, we heard what happened between you and Jase." Nina frowned.

She gaped at both of them in disbelief. "From who?"

"At a party we went to Saturday night." Kathleen answered. "Apparently there wasa girl staying over with Terry and she heard the entire break up. She spread thenews life wildfire and now everyone knows."

Cassidy groaned, hiding her face behind her palms. "Why does this have tohappen to me?"

"It's ok, everything will get better soon." Kathleen reassured her with a smile.

Cassidy peeked at her behind her fingers and dropped them from her face,frowning faintly. She remembered the time that Jase broke up with Kathleen. Shehad to pick up the pieces that he left. And though she was angry about hearing herand Jase get together, she got over it.

Cassidy couldn't imagine how betrayed she felt when she started dating Jase. Shefelt horrible now and wondered why she didn't think of this before. No wonderfriends didn't date their friend's exes. It was against everything friendship stood for.

However, Cassidy really did like Jase. Even now she still liked him. It was wrongof her to go after him when her best friend was practically in love with him. As ofnow, Kathleen didn't care, but it still saddened Cassidy of the whole situation.

"So, why did you guys break up?" Nina inquired, breaking her out of her sadthoughts.

Cassidy sighed and started to tell them of the pre-break up, beginning with Adrianwalking out of her house like it was nothing out of the ordinary. She told him of herfather's ultimatum and the "concerned" words of Adrian which got her into the messin the first place and then ended it with Jase's apartment for dinner that wentcompletely wrong.

"Wow, I don't know what to tell you." Nina replied, whistling under her breath."Your dad sure is strict. Thank god my parents aren't like that."

Cassidy rolled her eyes. "Thanks." - 385 -

"Are you going to tell him the truth?" Nina questioned.

She became silent, shuffling in her spot. She didn't know if it was a good idea totell Jase about why she broke up with him. "I-I don't know. He might hate me for it."

"He already hates you now." She pointed out, rolling her eyes.

"You're right on that one." Cassidy replied, frowning. "I just don't know what todo. I'm feeling conflicted right now."

"You'll know once you see him. It might not be today or tomorrow, but you'll talkto him about it. Just go with your instinct." Nina advised.

Cassidy smiled softly. "I guess I'll try."

The three of them became silent until Kathleen spoke up. "So, did you still havefeelings for him?" She asked hesitantly.

Cassidy nodded slowly. "Yeah, I do."

"I remember feeling like that." Kathleen voiced under her breath, suddenlysmiling. "Things will turn up, trust me."

Her smile dimmed. "Yeah..."

Cassidy wasn't sure if things will ever turn up. She was positive that Jase hatedher for breaking up with him and not giving him a reason for it. She knew that shehandled it badly, but there was nothing she could do. Cassidy couldn't be with him.It wasn't that he was a bad guy-though her parents might think so due to her alteredbehavior-but her parents didn't approve of anyone.

They didn't want her to be in a relationship at such a young age and though theycompromised to thirty four a few years ago, she disagreed now. After being in arelationship for a brief amount of time, she experienced new things that she neverwould've known being single for the rest of her life. Jase was a good man andCassidy still liked him, but it was all bad timing.

Dating was supposed to be put off until she was done with grad school, but nowshe found herself wanting to be in a relationship at the moment. She wanted to bewith Jase, she really did, but her parents disapproved. She understood now why theywere so strict on her with her mom's early pregnancy, but they should know wellenough that Cassidy wasn't going to do that. As in, engage in sexual activities. It

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didn't appeal to her.

The whole thing just seemed dirty and wrong. However, her morals seemed tobecome absent around Adrian and she didn't know why. He was a hypnotizing snakeand she needed to get in control of herself now more than ever.

"Cassidy?" She looked up at Nina and saw the confusion in her eyes. "Don't youhave class right now?"

Cassidy's eyes widened alarmingly. "Oh crap! You're right!" She tugged herbackpack closer to her, waving at her friends as she walked away. "I'll see you guyslater!'

Cassidy practically ran all the way to class because one, she had an importantexam, and two she was never late. Once she got inside breathlessly, she sat at thefront of the lecture room and took out her necessary items. The professor came in afew minutes later and administered the exams out right away.

The whole class was quiet and the only sounds being heard were the softmarkings being made on a number two pencil of a scantron. Cassidy read eachquestion slowly and spent about five minutes on each one. It was moderate andsome of the questions she had to think it through.

By the time it was half way into the class, she saw students getting up andhanding in their tests to the teacher. Cassidy raised her head each time she sawsomeone hand in their test, thinking it was Adrian, but surprisingly enough, it wasnever him. She wondered if he showed up to take the test, realizing that she didn'tsee him when she came in to class.

Cassidy went back to her test to finish up the last couple of questions and onceshe was done, she was the only few left in class. She went up to the professor andhanded in her test with a smile. When she turned back to get her backpack andzipped her stuff up, she saw Adrian sitting at the back of the room, still working onthe exam.

Cassidy raised her eyebrow at this and wondered if he was having a difficult time.His eyebrows were set with a hard crease and he appeared to be concentratinghard. Maybe he didn't have any good luck with the exam this time around. Shedoubted he even studied since he was too busy partying and having sex.

Cassidy got out of class and brushed her thoughts away from Adrian. Who cared ifhe did bad, it was his own fault that he didn't concentrate on school. Though,

- 387 -

Cassidy felt like she was being a hypocrite because she hasn't been focusing at alleither. Ever since she started dating Jase, her time and energy has been devoted tohim or her homework. She hated herself for spending so much time on a guy and notwhat's important. She liked Jase, but he took too much of her time and her focus wasput off. Her parents were semi-right, but at the same time, ridiculous.

Next time she got into a relationship, she would make sure to divide her timebetween school, her boyfriend, friends, and extracurricular activities. That was, ifshe did end up dating in the future, which was very slim in her case.

Cassidy started walking around the campus, admiring its beautiful sunny, butchilly weather in Philadelphia. She had a lot of time before her next class and shewondered what she was going to do. Her stomach rumbled and she almost let out alaugh. She was pretty hungry and a nice small lunch would be good.

As she headed to the student union where all the small cafes sold lunch, shespotted someone from far away and stopped herself. It was Jase, leaning against awall and conversing with a tall redhead, holding a book in her hand. She wasgiggling at something he said and she pushed him on the shoulder in a flirty motion,making Jase laugh.

The jealousy shot out like angry waves in Cassidy as she saw the redhead noddingand smiling up at him. It wasn't even a week after breaking up and he was alreadygoing after girls. It angered Cassidy that he didn't care about her feelings. He didn'tlook torn up at all. He looked like the same Jase as he did before. His hair was stillstyled perfectly and his facial appearance was glowing as always. It seemed that thebreak up didn't affect him at all.

Frowning, she saw him whip out his phone as she recited something slowly to him.He punched it on his phone while nodding and when he was done, he put his phoneback with a smile. The redhead waved at him and he gave her a brief hug, makingCassidy incense. She walked away from him and Jase took out his phone, smiling ashe started punching a few buttons.

Cassidy felt the hardness of her throat and started to walk away, not feelinghungry anymore. Seeing Jase with someone else tore her up and she couldn't bear toput any food down at the moment.

She lowered her head to the floor and walked aimlessly about until she heardsomeone call after her.

"Cassidy!" - 388 -

She turned around and saw Terry, smiling at her. "Hey, what's going on? I haven'tseen you in a while."

Cassidy tried to smile, but failed and just shrugged. "I know, I've been working onschool stuff. What about you?"

"I'm just about to meet up with Jase for lunch. Want to come with?" He askedcuriously.

She shook her head furiously. "Oh no, it's ok I-"

"Here, I'll call him over." Terry replied, ignoring Cassidy's decline of invitation."JASE! Look who's here!"

Cassidy buried her head in her hands, trying to obscure herself, but Terry grabbedher arm. "Come on, don't be so shy. I thought you guys were over that stage ofdating."

She let go of her face and gaped at him. Apparently, he didn't get the memo thather and Jase broke up. After all, it was the girl who he was fooling around with thatspread the rumors. How come it didn't get sent his way?

Terry brought Cassidy over to Jase and she stayed behind him, lookingeverywhere but at him. Terry noticed the silence between them, but didn't sayanything. He figured this was how they usually act in front around one another. Shyand nervous.

"Ok, so ready for lunch?" He asked, glancing at both of them.

Cassidy and Jase shrugged, not looking at each other. Terry clapped his hands,sensing the awkwardness. "Alright... let's go then."

Terry led them inside the student union and Jase walked beside him, while Cassidycame to the other side. Terry didn't get their silence and wasn't about to startquestioning it. Cassidy looked at a tasty sandwich shop and started to part awayfrom them.

"Um, I'm going to get a sandwich from here."

Terry nodded his head. "Ok, we'll be sitting at one of those booths." He said,pointing to the corner of the cafeteria.

- 389 -

She nodded and caught Jase staring at her blankly. She turned her head away andwent to order her sandwich. After getting in line and receiving her food, she walkedslowly to the one of the booth's Terry pointed to. Maybe if he didn't see her, shecould just walk away and eat by herself. When Cassidy made up her mind andwalked towards the exit, she heard Terry call her name again.

"We're right here Cassidy!"

She groaned, turning around and pasting on a faint smile. She walked up to thebooth and was happy to see that Terry was sitting beside Jase. She took the emptyspot opposite to them and unraveled her sandwich. Terry stood up from his spot andlooked at his receipt.

"I'm going to check on our food, Jase. I'll be right back."

He turned and left and Cassidy screamed inwardly. She was left alone with himand now the awkwardness started to creep up on her. This was not how she wantedto spend her lunch time.

Cassidy sighed and started chewing on her sandwich, focusing on the table orsometimes people watching to seem like she was preoccupied with doing something.

"It's funny how we went from talking to each other nonstop to saying nothing atall." Jase commented, an empty smile showing.

Cassidy looked up at him, frowning at his wistful tone. "I'm sorry for everythingthat's happened."

"Sorry? You're sorry?" He repeated in disbelief, snorting rudely. "Yeah, I'm sorrythat you dumped me too."

"It's complicating," she tried in a small voice, pursuing her lips.

"So you've said." Jase replied, rolling his eyes with bitterness.

"Jase please," Cassidy said desperately. "My parents-they aren't accepting of mehaving a boyfriend." She explained shortly.

She decided from that moment she was going to tell the truth and hopefully hewould understand. She didn't want to lose him as a friend and just seeing himlooking glum made her heart wrench.

- 390 -

"Why? Because they don't approve? They haven't even met me yet." He argued.

"I know, but-" Cassidy stopped herself from revealing the reason why Adrian wasthere. She didn't want to bring any unwanted drama, so she kept it light. "Theyheard I was with someone and I wasn't supposed to be dating in the first place. Theywant me to concentrate on school, graduate, get a job, and then find someone."

"Cassidy, you're in college for God's sake. Why the hell are your parents stilldeciding what you should or shouldn't be doing?" He asked incredulously.

"They are paying for my tuition and if they find something they won't like, then Iwon't have a future." She answered softly.

Jase shook his head in disappointment. "I get that you have these issues with yourparents, but that doesn't mean you should've given up on us. If you cared enoughabout me, you would've done anything in your power to let us be together."

"D-Don't you understand?!" Cassidy said in a frustrated high-pitched voice, feelingthe tears threatening to invade her vision. "I can't be with you! My parents don'twant me to be with anyone and I had to break up with you! If I didn't, then Iwould've been sent away to some all girls' college out of state!"

Jase became silent, pressing his lips in a firm line. "I'm sorry, Cassidy, but thatstill doesn't mean anything to me. If you like someone, you would fight for them asmuch as you can. And what I'm hearing right now, it doesn't seem like you foughtfor me at all. I know that if it was me in your position, I would've disobeyed myparents and still done whatever I liked, even if that meant being sent way becauseyou know why?" He said softly, looking into her eyes seriously. "I would've been withyou because that showed how much I liked you."

She was rendered speechless and swallowed hard at her dry throat. She noticedthat he said liked instead of like and that made the break up all the more real andofficial. They were done and Jase didn't buy her explanation as to why she had tobreak up with him.

He was right though. If she truly liked him, she would've fought with her parentsuntil she got her way or ended up being sent to St. Mary's. The emptiness in herstomach became more present and it wasn't because she barely had any food in hersystem. It was over.

"I don't want to end like this." She said under her breath, feeling the hardnesscreep up again at her throat.

- 391 -

"Then what do you want? Because if you're asking me to be your friend, then I'mgoing to say no right now because I can't do it." Jase pressed strongly, leaving noroom for argument.

She wanted to be his friend and a part of her hoped that he would, but it lookedlike it hurt him too much for her to even suggest it.

Cassidy swallowed hard at her throat, nodding her head. "I'm sorry for makingthings end as badly as it did. You're a good person, Jase and I wish that-" Shestopped herself, about to choke up. "I wish it wasn't like this. I feel like I'm losing agreat friend."

"And I do too, but in my case, not as a friend." Jase fixed softly, turning his headaway from her as he left another part of his sentence unspoken.

Cassidy felt her stomach drop at his revelation and she knew that he was badlyhurt from what he was letting on. She crushed him and he really liked her, maybeeven loved her, but didn't want to admit it. His silence was the only thing she wasgoing to get out of him and she started wrapping up her half eaten sandwich backup.

Cassidy stowed it in her backpack and suddenly stood up from her booth andwalked away without saying goodbye. It just seemed too real to part with thosewords and she didn't want to say it. She wished that he would forgive her in thefuture so they could become friends again, but it was obvious that wasn't going tohappen anytime soon.

As she walked off, someone grabbed hold of her shoulder and turned her around."Hey, where are you going?"

Cassidy looked up at Terry and frowned. "I have to get somewhere, but I hope youenjoy your lunch."

She turned around to walk off, but he kept a firm on her shoulder, not letting go.She raised a puzzling eyebrow at him.

"I'm sorry about what happened between you two, I didn't know." He trailed offdifficultly. "I kind of overheard you guys fighting and I waited until it was over."

Cassidy sensed his awkwardness and found that he wasn't used to bringing uppeople's personal lives. Terry always kept to himself and Cassidy was appreciativethat he at least showed that he cared, even though it was slightly uncomfortable.

- 392 -

"It's ok. It's for the best anyways." She replied, giving him a small smile.

Terry nodded and waved her goodbye as he went back to the booth with the foodcontainers in his hands. She felt bad that he had to wait until they were donesettling their break up, but he was respectful enough not to intervene. Terry was agood friend and she was glad that she still had him at least.

Adrian grabbed a book from the shelf, his eyes fleeting over the title and thentossing it on the floor. He took another and when he found the book irrelevant, hedid the same with the previous ones. There was a pile of books scattered behind himand he did nothing to place them back. He was intent on finding a book for aresearch essay in his English class and the sources required him to have at least onebook from the library.

His fingers skimmed each spine bounded book and then when he came across amoderate sized one, he sighed in relief. He took the book out from the shelf and allthe other books that were held from the support of it, topped over. Adrian shruggedat the mess, knowing it was the job of the librarians to clean up, and left the aisle.He rarely came to the library, especially the schools'. Adrian wasn't much of areader and when he did, it was usually assigned in class.

He twirled the book in between his hands, whistling under his breath. Irritatedlooks were given at him when he passed by, seeing students with opened textbooksas they scribbled or studied away. Adrian ignored the looks and continued on withhis loud disturbances. When he was about to reach to the elevator, he spotted afamiliar figure hunched over a textbook with small reading glasses. A smirk playedat his lips and once the elevator dinged ready, he left it and walked in the directionof her.

Adrian hasn't seen her since she left his apartment in tears. He wasn't surprisedat all to find her there or the horrid display of emotions because he knew she had toobey her father's commands. Sure he "tattle telled' on her, but he liked to think of itas just pure revenge for making his life miserable when she proclaimed hisglasses-wearing secret.

He came to stop at the opposite of the desk she was studying at, towering overwith a pleased smile. She didn't notice him, too engrossed in her textbook so hetapped his fingers against the top of the chair he was holding.

"Want to have sex?"

Cassidy's head shot up from her textbook to him and gasped loudly, earning- 393 -

hushes from the people near by. She offered an apologetic glance towards them andyanked her face back to Adrian with ferocity.

"What are you doing here?" She inquired, outraged.

He smirked, popping out the chair from the under the table and taking a seatwithout invitation. "I had to get some lame ass book for class." He replied, tossinghis book on the table. "Believe me I don't come here at will."

Cassidy glanced at it with narrowed eyes before looking back at him. "I'mstudying," she said sternly, hinting for him to leave.

Adrian shrugged, not receiving the memo. "So study."

She sighed irritably, dropping her pen on her written notebook. "Adrian, I don'thave time for your little games. I'm really busy and frankly, I don't want to talk toyou ever again so leave."

He lounged on his chair, placing his legs on the table and crossing them together.Cassidy's glare burned at the sight of his relaxation. "I'm not going anywhere,sweetheart."

"Don't call me that!" Cassidy shouted in frustration, hating his use of endearmentsbecause they were only meant for pure sexual reasons. She earned another round ofirritated hushes around her, but becoming louder. She gave them another apologeticglance and turned her head to Adrian, narrowing her glare. "I have a name. Don'ttreat me like one of your one night stands."

Adrian smirked, leaning in towards the table. "But baby, you didn't know?" Heinquired mock incredulity, feigning a surprised look. "You're my next one nightstand."

She gaped at him, appalled and utterly disgusted. "That's not going to happen,"she drawled out firmly.

"Sure it is," Adrian replied, easing into his chair as he crossed his arms at theback of his head. He looked at his surroundings in strong thought. "I wonder whatit's like to have sex in a library. I can't believe I haven't done it before."

Adrian sighed longingly, making Cassidy's jaw drop further at his insinuation."You are disgusting!"

- 394 -

"Will you two shut the fuck up!" A guy exclaimed near by at the table, an openbook in front of him and a pencil in hand. "Why don't you leave and fuck already?!"

Cassidy's face burned with humiliation as she bowed her head to the floor,ashamed. Adrian chuckled amusingly. "Don't you see me trying?" He replied,suddenly turning dark at the guy. "And stay out of our business. If you love yourbooks so much go fuck them in the bathroom."

The guy's jaw tightened as he slammed his book shut and carried his belongingsin his arms, walking away to find another spot to study. Adrian mumbled "fucker"under his breath and looked at Cassidy's shocked face.

"What? The little bitch had it coming." He shrugged simply.

She shook her head, disapproving. "That was rude."

Adrian snorted. "And he wasn't to us?"

"So? That doesn't mean you have to be mean back. You could always be the biggerperson and take it or tell him it was wrong to say things like that."

"What am I, a fucking baby?" He retorted incredulously, scowling. "Why the hellwould I let some idiot walk all over me and let him get away with it? That's not theway I operate."

Cassidy sighed irritably. "You're such a prideful jerk."

"I'll take that as a compliment," He replied uncaringly, rolling his eyes beforestaring at her briefly. "So, how is post break up treating you?"

"You actually care? Considering that you were the one to ruin my relationship inthe first place." She added, rubbing her eyes under her small reading glasses andfocusing her vision on him. "I'm holding up, not that you should bother to know."

"Why?"

Cassidy looked at him strangely. "You were the cause of it, that's why. And, youdon't care about how people feel."

"Well, I was curious. I mean, I knew the relationship was destined to fail in thefirst place-you being the prude and him the impatient one. It just wouldn't workout."

- 395 -

"You sound so sure of yourself." She replied sarcastically.

"I am," Adrian said truthfully, leaning back on his chair. "Did you guys ever havesex?"

Her eyes bulged out of her sockets. He had no filter when it came to asking aboutpersonal subjects, especially ones regarding of a sexual nature. "W-What?! No!"

"Did you fool around?" He asked again, watching her jaw drop bewilderedly andtaking that as no for an answer. "What about touching? Any fondling?"

She continued to gape at him, wide eyed in a catatonic state. It seemed hisquestions were touching more of an uncomfortable spot for her which didn'tsurprise him. She was very conservative.

"Anything?" Adrian called out incredulously, feeling so bad for Jase and his dick.

Cassidy flushed, unable to get the words out as she opened and closed her mouth."N-No! How could you say that?!"

"Because that's what happens when people get into their relationship. It ends upgetting sexual, no matter how holy or conservative the person is." He explained,pausing for a moment. "Sure the relationship was off to a good start, but what wasgoing to happen in the future? Jase would get impatient with you because you're toomuch of a prude. He likes sex-all guys do. Whatever situation you get yourself into,their dick does the thinking. Soon enough, he will grow tired of you and move on. Itjust happens."

"But-but-" She stuttered, not accepting his statement. "Jase is different! He isn'tlike that!"

He snorted. "No he isn't. He's a guy just like me who has had sex with manydifferent girls. Trust me, he's my room mate. I hear that shit going all the time...orwell I used to until he started dating you."

Cassidy frowned, not responding as she stared back at her History textbook. Shesuddenly didn't feel like studying anymore because of the distractions and Jase'strack record with girls.

"Did he ever tell you?"

She raised her head up slightly, shaking her head. "No." - 396 -

Adrian shrugged it off simply. "Eh, well he was probably embarrassed. Maybe hewanted to be different with you since you're not like other girls."

She sighed deeply. "It doesn't matter anymore, we're not together."

"You don't sound that upset." He pointed out.

Cassidy pouted a bit. "I am."

"I don't think it was much of a relationship, it was more of a 'friends with benefits'thing." Adrian said, taking his legs off the table and leaning closer to the table."Girls tend to cry and bitch for days about break ups and sweetheart I'm not seeingany of that from you." He paused in thought. "Well, you did cry after you left myapartment, but that doesn't count. Girls are overemotional."

She gaped at him irritably. "Hey! I am not moody! And I did care about our breakup a lot."

Adrian chuckled humorlessly, standing up from the table and moving closer toher. Cassidy leaned back away from him and studied his movements warily as he saton the table next to her.

"Who are you trying to convince? Me or you?" He asked, raising a tauntingeyebrow.

Cassidy swallowed at her throat, looking straight ahead into a daze as she thoughtabout what Adrian said. She wasn't particularly sad about it, but she missed talkingto Jase and hanging out with him.

He was a good friend and though they kissed a few times, her feelings still didn'tchange. She didn't know what it felt like to actually like someone. Jase was likable,but not her type. A part of her felt like she dated him because she didn't want toupset him if she turned him down.

Cassidy mulled over this, rubbing her tense shoulder and then her chest from thefrustration. Was Adrian right for once? Did she not care about the break up?

Adrian cleared his throat gruffly. "You should stop doing that."

She raised her head up to him, furrowing her eyebrows. "Doing what?"

His heated gaze traveled down to where her hand was settled and she looked- 397 -

down herself. It was near the swell of her breasts and her shirt was exposing an inchof her bra. Gasping in shock, she ripped her hand away and fixed her shirt, pulling itnear her throat to ward off Adrian's leering eyes.

"I still think we should do it in the library." He whispered huskily in her ear,making her stop and stay rigid. "Behind the books...Quiet, but hard... You'd like thatwouldn't you? Seeing as this is your favorite place and you love books more thanyour own friends...I don't care where we do it as long as it happens."

She suddenly stopped breathing and her ears rang in her head. Adrian caressedher shoulder, moving his fingers to the collar of her shirt near her neck and hepinched the fabric to push it down slowly. Breaking out of her reverie, Cassidyslapped a hand on his to stop his movements and gripped it. His hand was warm, butrough against her skin.

"In your dreams," she said breathlessly.

Adrian chuckled softly, removing his hand from hers and jumping off the table."Oh, you really don't want to know what you do in my dreams."

He walked away boldly from her table and Cassidy stared after him, letting out ashaky breath. Her heart was pounding at increasing speeds and she touched herchest to feel it. The beats were fast at her palm and she felt it jerk through it. Shedidn't know why Adrian made her feel that way, but it had to stop before it got out ofhand.

Jase was sitting alone at the booth in the cafeteria, Terry long gone after lunch.He decided to stay and possibly study for his class, but he didn't have the energy to.His thoughts traveled to Cassidy and how they ended.

He missed her and wanted her back, but he wasn't getting the same vibe from her.She followed her parent's orders when they told her to break up with him and shedidn't care at the ending result. Sure, she was upset about losing him since he wasadamant about not being friends with her, but some part of him knew that whenthey were dating, she was always thinking of something else or in this case someoneelse.

He thought it was just her bringing up Adrian because of genuine curiosity. Yeah,he was very private and personal about his life, but it never made Jase want to rattleit out of him. Maybe sometimes in the past, but he's given it up a long time ago.

- 398 -

Cassidy on the other hand, wanted to know everything about him. His past, goals,family life, interests. Just everything.

Their usual topic of conversation was Adrian and though it didn't bother him inthe beginning, he started to question it as they went on more dates. What was thefascination about his best friend? He was just a person with a lot of problems that heneeded to deal with himself. There wasn't anything special except for the fact thathe wears glasses which Jase was caught by surprise.

He didn't bother confronting Adrian on it because he knew he would get the usualshort answers. He was private, Jase got that, but Cassidy didn't. She madeeverything of his, her business and by her proclaiming to half the school that hewore glasses wasn't going to end well for her.

Cassidy was just asking for trouble and he wondered if Adrian did anything tosought revenge on her. That was his usual tactic when someone went against him.He found anyway to make them pay.

Growing bored, Jase started to get up from his chair until a blonde someone slid atthe opposite side of him. He raised his eyebrow at her, not expecting to see or hearfrom her since their last terrible encounter.

"Kathleen?" Jase said, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. "What are you doinghere?"

"I'm here to talk to you about your relationship with Cassidy." She explained,watching him sit back down slowly.

"We're not in a relationship." He announced firmly.

She frowned. "I know and...she's upset."

Jase snorted. "Why? She seemed fine to me earlier."

"She's not, Jase. She feels like she's lost her best friend and it hurts me to see herupset because I know I felt like that."

He winced, feeling awkward. "Yeah..."

"So please Jase. Be her friend again, if not now, then possibly in the futurebecause she really enjoys your company."

- 399 -

Jase drummed his fingers on the table, pondering for a bit as he looked fromKathleen to the floor. He did feel bad about ending things badly with her and theleast he could do was grant her this plea. He missed Cassidy too and even thoughher feelings weren't the same, he still wanted to be around her. That was until hegot over her.

"I guess-" Kathleen squealed in delight, clapping her hands which made Jasefurrow his eyebrows. "But I need to get over her and that may take a while."

"Yeah, I get it. You guys just got out of a relationship it's expected." Kathleen said,smiling. "I mean what Adrian did wasn't right, but at least you're willing to be her-"

"Wait, what?" Jase asked with a rising tone, stopping her abruptly. "What aboutAdrian?"

Kathleen looked at him oddly, thinking that he knew. "He sabotaged yourrelationship by going to her parents and saying that you were a bad guy and did allthese sexual things with girls." She explained, raising a puzzled eyebrow"Remember?"

Jase stared at her bewilderedly, mouth agape. His mind tried to formulate thebasic things she said because she spoke way too fast and he caught on a few things.Adrian sabotaged his relationship.

The reason why he was at her house was because he wanted to end everythingbetween him and Cassidy. That was his revenge. He ruined them because of whatshe did and he did everything in his power to get back at her which was why he wasdressed so professionally at her house, glasses and all.

Jase stood up abruptly, making Kathleen's eyes widen warily. "What's wrong?"

"I need to go find Adrian."

He stalked away from the booth, leaving Kathleen alone and his knuckles crackedas he balled them tightly into fists. Adrian was going to get what's coming to him.

A/N: Hey guys! Happy new year!! :) Hope you enjoy this chapter, tell me what youthink! I'll update again this week!

- 400 -

The Not-So Nice Guy

Chapter 23: The Not-So Nice Guy

Adrian chuckled at the TV, taking a huge amount of cereal on his spoon andshoveling it in his mouth while he watched some trashy reality show. Heoutstretched his legs on the couch, getting comfortable after a full day of school. Itwas finally the weekend and he wanted to enjoy it in every possible way whichmeant being lazy on the couch and eating whatever he desired.

He heard the door creak open and then slam against its hinges, echoingthroughout the apartment. Adrian perked up, raising an eyebrow at the sound.

"Terry?"

Nobody responded and Adrian sat upright, holding his cereal bowl in his hands tosee who the person was. Terry was supposed to be home from the gym soon so thatthey could go to a party tonight. He was going to be the designated driver whileAdrian has a full night of drinking and sex. He couldn't wait for it to begin. His bestfriend hidden underneath his jeans was begging for a nice long ride. He's beenhaving all these dirty dreams of Cassidy in the library and it was really starting tomake him tick.

Why was the little virgin making him so hot when she didn't do anything? It wasonly in his dreams where she was masking innocence underneath the true vixen. Inreal life, she was boring and dull as she appeared which made Adrian feel hopelessthat nothing was ever going to happen with the girl. She was an uptight virgin.There was no temptress inside.

Footsteps sounded towards the room and the one who walked in was not Terry,but their other roommate, Jase.

Jase continued his way into the living area, a grim determined look on his face ashe stared down at Adrian. Adrian nudged his head up at him as a way ofacknowledgment and lied against the sofa again, looking back at the TV.

It was a surprise to see Jase since he's been in and out of the apartment every day.He's been absent and that bothered Adrian because he wasn't spending enough timewith his friends. Though, he didn't say anything or showed it. He played it off like itwas nothing. If Jase chose to be somewhere else other than being around his true

- 401 -

friends, than he was really no friend at all.

"Oh hey man, where've you been?" He inquired uninterested, taking a bite of hiscereal.

"Stand up." Jase demanded strictly, ignoring his greeting.

Adrian snapped his head up confusingly, furrowing his eyebrows. "What?" Heasked through his chewed up food, gulping it down.

"I said stand up." He ordered again with a hard accelerated tone.

Adrian's eyebrows creased at his insistence. "Excuse me?" He drawled outincredulously, setting the cereal bowl down effectively on the coffee table, stillseated on the couch.

"You heard me." Jase replied in a hardened tone, jerking his hand up. "Get up!"

Adrian glared at Jase and stood up, not liking his tone of voice that sounded like acommand. Nothing made Adrian angrier than someone telling him what to do. Hedidn't go by anyone's orders and if he did, he usually did the opposite. He onlyfollowed his own direction.

By standing up, he wasn't exactly going by Jase's orders, just sizing him up,showing him who he's dealing with so he didn't do it again. He reached close beforeJase, eyeing him up closely.

"Dude, what's your prob-"

A fist struck across his face and Adrian reeled over from the blow, holding hisbalance from the sudden swipe. The throbbing heat emerged from his cheek andmouth and he slapped a hand on it in surprise. Did his best friend of more than fouryears just punch him? On the face? He looked up at Jase with wide set, disbelievingeyes. He saw the anger on Jase's face, hungry for blood and Adrian gritted his teeth.

"What the fuck man!" He barked out furiously, feeling the moisture of blood dripdown on the edge of his bottom lip.

Jase didn't respond as he coldly stalked up to Adrian with his red knuckled fisthigh in the air, aiming for another shot. When he swung towards him, Adrian duckedout of the way and grabbed his arm from behind, twisting it to his back. Jase

- 402 -

protested with loud growl, trying to shift his way out of Adrian's iron grip, butAdrian kept a steady hand.

"What the fuck is wrong with you!" He exclaimed in outrage, gripping his armfrom Jase's struggles.

"Let me go!" Jase roared out, trying to twist his way out, but Adrian grabbed hisother hand and kept it tightly locked.

"Not until you tell me why the fuck you punched me in the face for no goddamnreason!" He countered equally.

"You know what you did." Jase snapped, twisting his arm out of Adrian's grip andwhirling around furiously. He jabbed his index finger to his face, shaking it. "Youcouldn't just leave us the fuck alone, could you?"

"Us?" Adrian repeated confusingly, scratching his dark brown head. "What?"

"Don't fucking do that-play the innocent act." He spat out coldly. "You're a fuckingasshole Lennox and I should've beaten your ass a long time ago!"

Jase grabbed him by the collar, flinging him to the floor like a rag doll. Adriantumbled on the carpet, surprised by the sudden move which he didn't see coming,and suddenly Jase was on top of him, throwing his fists freely at his face. Adriancovered his face with his arms, blocking a few of his jabs.

The continuous punching was grating his nerves into a heated rage and whenAdrian blocked one of his punches, he sent one of his own sailing in Jase's direction.He swiped him in the face and Jase's head flew back, causing a major blood flowfrom his nose. He held his nose, glaring down at Adrian with such a strong intensity.

"Now you're fucking dead."

Jase threw more punches at him, not holding back and Adrian cradled his head tothe floor to avoid the heavy hits. For some odd reason, he couldn't bring himself tofight back. This was his friend or well he used to be until he started hitting himblindly.

Adrian had no reason to hit him since he didn't do anything wrong, but what wasthe cause of the fight? He was still confused about it and Jase wouldn't cool downhis anger long enough to answer. This wasn't like him at all. Jase was usually the

- 403 -

level headed one and now he was acting like a madman.

The door flew open and a few moments later, someone came rushing in, cursingunder the breath.

"What the hell is going?!" Terry exclaimed, racing over to Jase and peeling him offof Adrian. Jase struggled against his hold, but Terry was much stronger than him soit didn't last.

Jase was panting heavily, his eyes smoldering towards Adrian as he clenched andunclenched his fists. Adrian raised himself up from the floor, holding himself in aweak sitting position as he coughed from his labored breathing.

Terry stood in between them, holding his hand out to Jase as he looked ready totear him up again. Blood was running down the edge of Adrian's mouth and therewas a clear red cut dripping underneath his right eye. He was a mess. Jase onlysported a bloody nose which was starting to dry up.

"Can someone explain to me what's going on in here?" Terry announced infrustration, looking to Jase for the answer. He stood there tight lipped, crossing hisarms. Terry glanced at Adrian, raising his eyebrow. "What about you?"

Adrian shrugged, coughing once more. "Don't ask me. The guy comes in here andstarts punching me into a bloody pulp."

"Don't blame this shit on me! I didn't have to if you weren't such a betraying,mother fucker!" Jase roared, gunning towards Adrian with full intentions to hit himonce more, but Terry held him back.

"Hey! There's no need for name calling, calm down." Terry advised forcefully in ahigh pitched tone, holding his shoulder. Jase took a deep breath as if to calmhimself, still feeling tense. "What's going on, man? Why are you hitting him of allpeople? I thought you were friends?"

"That double-crossing sack of shit is not my friend." Jase stated clearly, glaringdaggers at Adrian.

"What did he do?" Terry asked, looking back at Adrian with confusion.

"I'll tell you what he did," Jase laughed humorlessly, jabbing an accusing finger athim. "That asshole goes to my ex-girlfriend's house, complaining to her parents howmuch of a bad person I am to be dating her." He explained, continuing with false

- 404 -

amusement. "He tells them that I sleep around and I'm a bad influence on her. Whata cock of bullshit." He shook his head, chuckling.

"So then her dad gives her the ultimatum of breaking up with me or she'll be sentto some Catholic school in a different state. And not very surprisingly, she choosesto break up with me."

"You know why I did it." Adrian mumbled under his breath, wiping the blood offhis lip with the back of his hand.

"NO, I don't why. Please explain this to me Adrian." Jase spat out cruelly.

Adrian flashed his eyes to him, rising up from the floor. "Your little girlfriendfucked up my life by telling the whole school that I wear glasses. I had to getrevenge somewhere so I used your relationship. I don't regret doing it."

"That's because you're an unfeeling, selfish bastard." Jase finished icily, scowling."Who gives a fuck about you wearing glasses? You say it like it's the worse thingaside from open heart surgery. Just because people found something imperfectabout you, doesn't mean it's the end of the world."

"You don't know what the fuck that means to me, ok? Don't fucking assumethings." Adrian snapped back, glaring.

Jase smirked indifferently. "What can I do, but assume? You don't tell me shit, sohow am I supposed to know how it makes you feel?"

Adrian stood there, silent as Jase waited for him to answer. Secretly, Jase washoping that he would spill something of a hidden feeling behind him wearingglasses, but like every "personal" conversation he had with him, he got nothing.

"I've been dealing with this shit far too long." Jase exasperated, shaking his headwearily. "I'm out."

He was about to walk out of the room, but Terry held him by the arm. "What areyou saying man?"

Jase sighed irritably, turning around to face him. "I'm moving out. This shit isgetting old and I need to branch out, do new things. I can't deal with this."

He turned to leave again, but Terry grabbed his arm again. "But where will yougo?" Terry asked with concern.

- 405 -

"I don't know, but I'll find somewhere. I'm not that hopeless." Jase replied, as heglared towards Adrian, directing the latter to him.

Jase shook off Terry's arm, walking out of the room and heading into his own. Theheavy slam of his door signified that he was still pretty furious and Terry wasaggravated. Jase was one of his good friends and Adrian had to screw it up bymessing with him. He turned around and found Adrian looking into the mirror on thewall and inspecting his growing black eye.

"Why did you have to do that?" Terry exclaimed, throwing his hands out inemphasis.

"Do what?" He replied, looking back at him in the mirror.

"Screw up everything?" Terry answered in frustration.

Adrian just shrugged, not saying anything more as he continued to look at hisright eye, wondering what he could do to make it heal faster.

"Your best friend is moving out in any second and you're not going to do anythingabout it?" Terry said incredulously, his eyebrows rose.

"What can I do, Terry?" He snorted, pressing his finger to the cut on his lip. "Hewants to leave so let him leave."

"But you can go in there and talk to him or apologize." Terry offered pressingly.

"I don't do apologies unless I did something wrong and I didn't." Adrian repliednonchalantly, looking away from the mirror and to Terry. "I have no regrets aboutwhat I did."

Silence filled the tense room between the two of them. If Terry was disappointedor angry about Adrian's reply, he didn't show it. All he did was stared at him blanklyand traveled his eyes to the mirror beside him. "Maybe you should look in the mirrora little more clearly."

He left the room, leaving Adrian standing beside the mirror with a confused look.It was rare for Terry to be angry with him and it was a real surprise. Sure enough,Adrian did glance at the mirror by Terry's request and only saw his growing bruisesmarring his flawless skin. That was the only thing he could see.

Terry let himself in Jase's room, finding him rustling about with fury, a pair of- 406 -

shorts in his hand and a half empty open luggage, spread on his bed. He waspacking his belongings and it seemed evident that he was really leaving.

"Dude, hold up for a second." Terry said, shutting the door after him.

Jase stopped beside his luggage, placing the shorts inside. "You can't stop me,Terry."

"Just calm down and think about this rationally. I understand you're angry and weall do some crazy shit when we are, so why don't you sit down for a second and takea breather?"

He faced him sternly. "No, I won't." He replied firmly, continuing. "Yeah, I'mangry, but I'm level headed right now. I'm making the right decision in leaving."

He proceeded to his packing by going to his closet and removing some of thehangers. Terry sighed, moving over to sit on the edge of his bed.

"I get it. You're mad at him and you know what, so am I, but he's our friend. Heneeds us, even though he doesn't show it."

Jase growled, throwing his clothes carelessly to the luggage. "I'm tired of it, Terry!I can't take it anymore! I've been dealing with his shit since high school and this wasthe final straw. He went and deliberated destroyed my relationship with the one girlI actually cared about. And you know what he did after he did it?" He asked,chuckling bitterly.

"Nothing, absolutely nothing which leads me to believe that our friendship doesn'tmean anything so I'm done. I'm not going to be his fucking side kick anymore and heisn't going to push me around. I'm all on my own without him interfering with mybusiness, even when I don't let him. Adrian's not a real friend. He's never been oneto me anyways. All he cares about is himself."

Jase threw more clothes into his luggage, sighing heavily from the heavy load. Hetook a silent moment to recollect his thoughts and exhaled a breath. "It's not evenabout the fucking relationship anymore. It was the fact that he doesn't care so I'mgoing to do the same and not care either."

He closed the top of the luggage and zipped it shut, placing it on the floor. Hepopped up the handle at the top, ready to roll it out.

"I'll send someone by to pick up the rest of my stuff." Jase notified, looking around- 407 -

his room.

He really was going to miss the place, but it was better to leave than stay. Adrianwas aggravating him more so than ever before and he didn't want to resort toviolence again in dealing with him. He's just going to take himself out of theequation which meant leaving the apartment all three of them shared.

Jase remembered when they were excited to buy the place, finally starting lives oftheir own without the overbearing parents. That was a year and a half ago and manythings have changed since then, including his sudden departure. He certainly didn'tthink he would leave the place, not so soon anyways, but it was time for a changeand he needed it.

Jase noticed the silence in the room and his eyes traveled to Terry, his eyes on thefloor. He frowned slightly, forgetting that he was leaving his important friendbehind. He didn't want to make Terry suffer alone.

"Look, I'm sorry I had to do this man. I hope you understand."

Terry looked up, giving him a reassuring smile. "It's cool just don't forget to hit meup."

"Dude, of course not." Jase replied, extending his hand up from his bent elbow.

Terry stood up, slapping his hand and giving him a half hug. Jase patted himroughly on the back and let go, grabbing on to his handle of the luggage.

"I'll see you later."

He left the room with the sound of his luggage rolling out behind. Terry followedhim to the front door-with no sign of Adrian-and waved Jase off. Jase bumped hishead up and stepped outside the doorway, walking out. Terry sighed and closed thedoor, feeling a sense of sadness and loss. He hoped that Jase would regain hissenses and come back soon because there was no way that he could handle Adrianalone.

Cassidy was engrossed in her school work, finishing up a worksheet that was duethe next day. She liked to get a head start of things so she could do other things orstudy for some class. At the bench outside the student union by herself, she saw afew students pass by her, talking amongst themselves.

Cassidy took a moment from her homework to people watch since she was getting- 408 -

tired of it. She saw some people here and there, slapping hands with their friends orspeaking in different languages that made their mouths move at the speed of light.She wondered how anybody could understand what they were saying because ofhow fast they spoke.

Then there were students who were sitting alone, reading a book or working onhomework like she was. Her eyes traveled to a tousled, dark brown haired guy on along board with papers in his hand, sunglasses shielding his eyes.

She saw him stop by a nearby wall and tack the paper on, moving over to the nextspot to place his papers. Cassidy narrowed her eyes by how familiar he looked andwhen she saw him whistle to a group of scantily girls walking by who then giggled inresponse, she knew it was him.

Cassidy got up and packed her things in her bag-homework forgotten, andmarched over to him, tacking on another paper.

"Adrian?"

Adrian jumped up from alarm, whirling around to face her. His body relaxed andhe chuckled. "Sneaking up on people now?"

She narrowed her eyes at the fresh cut on the corner of his lip. "What happened toyour lip?"

Adrian scratched the side of his neck, chuckling again. "Some chick bit me whenwe were making out last night."

Cassidy rolled her eyes and looked at the papers in his hand. "What are the papersfor?"

"You're awfully nosy today." He commented, moving his papers to his hide toobscure them from view. "It's nothing, just an ad for a party."

Cassidy noticed his hesitance and saw a paper he tacked up nearby. Doublingchecking to see if he was telling the truth, she took a few steps towards it andrealized it wasn't an ad for a party, but for a new roommate.

She yanked the paper off and held it out in the air incredulously. "A newroommate?"

Adrian sighed, taking the paper from her hands. "It's nothing," he replied, starting- 409 -

to walk away.

Cassidy walked up beside him, not letting it go. "Why are you getting a newroommate?"

He stopped and turned to face her with a grave look. "Cassidy, it's none of yourbusiness."

Adrian walked back around and Cassidy followed after him with determination,wondering what he was keeping secret. "Adrian I just want to-"

When she got close enough behind him, Adrian whirled around furiously andknocked into her, not realizing the near proximity. His sunglasses slipped off fromhis face and landed on to the floor. Adrian cursed under his breath and Cassidy wasabout to mumble an apology when she looked up at his face. Her stomach droppedand a loud gasp echoed from her lips as she slapped a hand on her mouth, eyesbulging out bewilderedly.

His right eye was swollen, encircled with a bluish-purple bruise outside and theinner corner of his sclera was red. Adrian covered his bruised eye with his hand,reaching on the floor to pick up his sunglasses and placing them back on his face.Cassidy still stared at him, horror stricken and speechless.

"W-What-" she began in shock.

He cut her off quickly. "I don't want to talk about it."

"But Adrian," Cassidy breathed out, her tone frantic. "Y-You're a mess!"

"Thanks," he replied dryly.

"Did you get into a fight with someone?" She inquired in concern.

Adrian just nodded his head, lips pursued.

"Who did this to you?"

"No one you know," he answered shortly, seeing Cassidy about to object. Hesighed irritably, taking his long board in his hands. "It's nothing, alright? I have togo."

Before she could get out another word, Adrian dropped his long board on the floor- 410 -

and took off on it, skating away around campus. Why couldn't he tell her about thisfight he had? Was it really that important?

Cassidy twirled around in Nina's computer chair, watching her books on the tabledisappearing from view with each turn. Nina was busily working on her school workuntil she groaned in frustration, shutting her book. Cassidy ceased her twirling andlooked at her in awe.

"Ok, what is it?" Nina demanded-an irritable look on her face.

"What is it what?" Cassidy replied in confusion.

"You haven't started your homework," she pointed out as her eyes landed on herbooks on the table, forgotten. "And you not doing homework is not normal for you,so what's on your mind?"

Cassidy sighed. "Adrian is acting...weird."

"Weird?" Nina replied, furrowing her eyebrows. "Weird as in how?"

"I don't know that's the thing!" She exclaimed, puzzled. "Ever since I found outabout his black eye, he's been avoiding me."

"Wait, a black eye?"

She nodded. "He got into a fight and he wouldn't tell me what happened or whodid it."

"You mean, you don't know?" Nina responded in surprise.

She nodded again, furrowing her eyebrows. "Wait, do you?"

Nina pushed her textbook off her lap, sitting up straight in her bed. It was only thetwo of them in the dorm room working on homework on a Friday night. Kathleenwas off somewhere with a guy she met in class a few days ago. Apparently they werehitting it off because they saw less and less of her each day.

Cassidy moved to the edge of her seat and leaned in unconsciously, waiting forNina to speak.

- 411 -

"I know the whole story on the fight, Terry told me." Nina started, watchingCassidy's jaw drop. "It was Jase who hit Adrian on the face."

She gasped in surprise, holding her head. "What? How could-? I thought they werefriends?"

Nina drummed her fingers on her lap, frowning. "Well, they were, but our littlefriend Kathleen spilled the beans to Jase that Adrian was the one who messed withyour guys' relationship. Kathleen said he was fuming when she told him and that itwas her fault. She had no idea that he didn't know."

"Oh God, what else happened between them?" Cassidy replied, referring to Jaseand Adrian.

"Well, Jase walked in and punched him square in the face. He kept doing that untilTerry came in to break it up. Apparently, Adrian didn't fight back. He only punchedhim once." She informed her.

"Why?"

Nina shrugged. "I don't know. Terry said he tried to ask him, but Adrian wouldn'tsay anything. He's been bottled up tightly ever since Jase upped and left."

"Just like that?"

She nodded, "Just like that."

"That's what those papers were for." Cassidy mumbled under her breath.

"What papers?" Nina asked curiously.

"Adrian was placing ads around campus about a new roommate. I asked him aboutit, but he didn't say anything."

"Maybe he didn't want you to know." She guessed.

"But why?" Cassidy replied in frustration. "I saw his black eye and he wouldn't tellme who hit him."

"I think it's because you dated just for a few weeks and he didn't want the perfectimage you had of him to be corrupted." Nina filled in.

- 412 -

"You think so?"

She shrugged. "It's a good guess."

Cassidy stayed silent, pondering over the facts that Nina just told her. If it wastrue that

Adrian didn't reveal Jase's name because of her, than that would put things on awhole different level, especially between them. Why would Adrian care if Cassidyknew?

He did destroy her relationship and though she wasn't that upset about it, it stillmade her mad. Adrian confused her all the time and she wondered what was goingin that bad boy's head. He was so cut off from everyone and it made her want to playdetective to figure out why.

Then there was the subject of Jase. She didn't know what to make of it. Itsurprised her that the kind, caring, sweet boy that she dated was now the violent,uncaring soul. It was no question that he would be angry if he found out that Adrianwas the one who messed up their relationship, but to get violent? That wasunbecoming of him! She thought Jase was the peacemaker, not the war starter.

Cassidy was disappointed in him. She thought that Jase was better than that, butit seemed he was just like every other boy out there.

"Ok, you need to stop looking all sad like that. You're even making me depressed."Nina voiced out, jumping off her bed. "Come on, let's go out."

"Out?" Cassidy repeated incredulously. "What do you mean out?"

Nina rolled her eyes. "It's been a long time since you've been to a party."

"Maybe that's because I hate parties." She answered haughtily.

"Don't give me attitude, you're going alright? You have a lot on your mind and youneed to let it go. What better way than go to a party?"

Cassidy shook her head firmly. "No-no, I refuse."

"Come on, Cassidy. Live a little. This is college, this is what we do." Nina replied,coming up to stand in front of her. "Please?"

- 413 -

Cassidy crossed her arms, her answer unwavering.

"Adrian will be there."

Her eyes shot up to Nina's in a flash. "What makes you think that I'll go justbecause he's there?"

"Because you want all the answers from him and what's the only way that's goingto get it out of him?" She left hung in the air, smirking deviously. "By getting himdrunk!"

Cassidy thought it over, finding Nina's answer more and more appealing. She wasright. The only way to get answers from Adrian was to get him drunk and it was justlike he said, 'a drunk man's words are a sober man's thoughts,' right? A growingsmirk emerged from Cassidy's lips and she stood up from her chair.

"Alright I'm in."

Nina cheered, pumping a fist in the air. "Yes! I knew that was the kicker!"

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah," She replied, pausing for a moment. "Where isthis party at?"

"Some frat house and it starts-" Nina paused, looking down at the alarm clock onher table. "Oh it already started!"

Nina rushed over to her closet, throwing a shirt or a pair of jeans left from right.Cassidy ducked out of the flying articles of clothing and covered her eyes.

"What are you doing?"

"Finding something to wear, duh!" Nina answered obviously, pulling out a pair ofdark jeans and a black top. "How does this look?"

She displayed it on herself and Cassidy nodded, giving her a thumbs up. "Great."She drawled out unenthusiastically. Cassidy didn't know anything about fashion andshe didn't really care.

Nina looked from her face to her outfit, seeing the plain blue shirt and pair ofshorts, complimented with tennis shoes. She shook her head disapprovingly, makingCassidy raise an eyebrow.

- 414 -

"What?" She asked, looking down at her clothes and pinched her shirt from hertorso. "Is there something on my shirt?"

"What do you think is wrong with your shirt?"

Cassidy looked at it closely, fixing her spectacles on her nose. "Um, the washerbrightened it too much?"

"No!" Nina exclaimed, sighing. "It's not in the party scene!"

"So?" She replied, uncaringly.

"So," Nina drawled out haughtily. "If you want to get Adrian drunk, you're going tohave to show up in something a little more...eye catching."

Cassidy frowned, letting go of her shirt. "What do you mean, eye catching?"

She rolled her eyes, extending her clothes from her hands. "A little something likethis maybe? Or perhaps a skirt and a nice blouse?"

Cassidy shook her head frantically. "Oh no no, there is no way that I'm going towear anything slutty! There is no way that's going to happen! Not in this lifetimepal!"

"I'm not saying sluttly, I'm saying-" Nina stopped, trying to find the correct word."Crowd stopping."

She raised a firm eyebrow. "What are you saying?"

Nina smirked slyly, going back to her closet and shuffling through a bunch of herstuff. She came out with a few articles of clothing and came back to Cassidy, holdingthem out.

"This is perfect."

Cassidy picked them up one by one, the horror clearly shown of her face. "OH no."

"Oh yes." Nina replied mischievously.

- 415 -

Adrian checked his eye again in the mirror, satisfied by the way the concealercovered his hideous bruise. He was at the mall, looking at the make up aisle when askimpy looking girl stopped him. She worked at the place and offered herservices-both make up and pleasure, and he showed her his black eye. The reactionhe got from her was very surprising.

She was aroused. The girl told him that he liked a tough man that could fight andshe went out of her way to cover it up for him. She even gave him the supplies forfree, saying it was just between him and her so it wouldn't get out that he didn't pay.He gave her a nice long kiss and he was out on his way, feeling bold again. So theblack eye wasn't a big deal, but he still didn't want to show it to anybody. He hatedthe questions and didn't bother to answer them.

Adrian got out of the bathroom and was back into the party crowd, watchingpeople drink from left to right. He would indulge himself in a beer or two, but hedidn't want to get intoxicated tonight. His mood was still bitter from the fight he hadyesterday with Jase and he just wanted to be by himself. It wasn't easy though whenhe was around a dozen drunk and horny girls, throwing themselves at him. Hepeeled each and every one of them off, giving off the excuse that his dick neededrest.

He sighed wearily and walked down a dark hallway, seeking solace. It was rare forhim to be away from people, but he needed sometime alone. As he walked to thedoor, someone grabbed him from behind and pulled him inside the room, shuttingthe door swiftly after.

Alarmed, Adrian opened his mouth to the offender, but he quickly snapped it shut.She turned on the lights with a satisfied smirk on her face and Adrian's eyeswidened at her, unbelieving of what he was seeing. Was this another one of hisdreams playing a trick on him? Did he sleep somewhere at the party or was hepassed out at some girl's bed after a long night of sex?

Cassidy continued to smirk at his reaction and bit her bottom lip suggestively."Like what you see?"

He gulped, bracing himself on the door as she got closer. "Is this real?"

She chuckled softly, laying her hand on his bicep. "What do you think?"

Adrian breathed in and out to calm his rattled nerves, scenting her flora perfumeand almost groaning at the sweet smell.

- 416 -

"Oh God, I hope it is."

A/N: Hey again! what does everyone think of this chapter? I love a good fight, andwriting that part was one of my favorites. I would've updated this chapter sooner,but I've been partying and getting intoxicated in several occassions. Better now thenwhen school starts to get it out of my system. Anyways, let me know what you think!

- 417 -

A Box of Surprises

Chapter 24: A Box of Surprises

Cassidy smiled provocatively, hoping it was portrayed sexy as she hoped it wouldbe. She has never done anything like this before. She was a virgin for Pete's sake!Virgins do not seduce horny, college guys who have sex on their mind every twentyseconds! What in the world was she doing, going through with this? She wasthrowing herself into a pit of flames! There was no way she could get out of thisalive. She hoped and prayed that the alcohol she was about to induce on Adrianwould get him off.

But then she hoped more than ever that she could get this done quickly andthoroughly and most importantly, get the facts she needed. Was she really thatdesperate to go all out just for a simple piece of information? Cassidy grumbledinwardly. Yes, she was. She wanted to know more details about the fight that Terrydidn't disclose to Nina and the motivation behind it all.

Though, in doing this seduction act, Cassidy got scared out of her wits. Nina triedto assuage the nerves, but nothing worked until she brought something to her thatcould solve the problem. Alcohol or to put it more clearly tequila was the ultimateenemy. She displayed the bottle in her hands, meant solely for Adrian, but now itwas being sent her way too. When Cassidy was about to shake her head "no" toNina, she held a hand up, not accepting it.

"Look Cassidy, if you're going to do this, you need all the courage you can get.Alcohol is the only way to do it." Nina explained, pushing it into her hands. "Wheredo you think girls get all the confidence when they approaching a hot guy at a party?It's because of the alcohol! I'm a testimony to that too. It's the only way I could shedoff my shyness to guys and you need to do it too, if you want to get what you want."

Accepting her impending fate, she grabbed the tequila bottle in her hand and tooka few quick, nasty, gut-burning gulps before she felt the ease. It struck her quickand the nerves were gone in an instant. Maybe Cassidy was a lightweight, but shewas glad that she wasn't thoroughly drunk like the past few times. She still knewwhat the goal was in mind and she was going to fulfill it, this time with confidence.

That's why she found herself, shut in a room with Adrian Lennox, pinning him tohis back against the door, laying a hand on his bicep. He looked shocked and dazedabout what was happening and he didn't seem to believe it.

- 418 -

Apparently, he's been having all these dirty dreams about her. She snortedinwardly and commented how sex-crazed he was in her head and then focused thetask at hand. She needed to get him drunk fast so she could be over with theseducing. Though, maybe she could skip the seduction and head straight to thedrinking.

"Adrian, why don't you sit down?" Cassidy suggested softly, bringing her handdown on his chest. His stiff body response was worrying her. Was this seductionthing working or did he found her out? He wasn't responding to her at all. "Youlook...tense."

Adrian's clouded eyes looked over at her. "I do?"

She nodded slowly, taking his arm in her hands and bringing him over to the edgeof the bed. He followed her like a dazed puppy. "You need to relax."

Adrian sat down on the bed, his Adam's apple bobbing, providing no answer.Cassidy smiled slyly, picking up her lone tequila bottle at the foot of the bed whereshe left earlier, and showed it to him.

"Maybe you should drink a little, just to get the edge off?" She suggested softly,tucking the bottle in between his hands on his thighs, not waiting for him to decline.He seemed to accept as he held the bottle, but did no such movements as to drink it.

"Drink up." Cassidy encouraged, smiling a little as she gestured her head to thetequila.

Adrian looked down at the bottle in his hands and just stared at it. She furrowedher eyebrows, wondering why he was not comprehending such a simple task that hetook part daily at these parties. Has he lost his party drive?

He couldn't have. Adrian was all about parties, getting drunk, and hooking up withgirls. So why did she see him alone before she kidnapped him into this room?

"Uh, what's up with you?" She asked casually. "Why aren't you drinking?"

Adrian raised his head slowly to her, setting the tequila bottle next to him,untouched. Her eyes glanced at it in defeat than looked back at him.

"Why drink when nothing is going to happen?" He explained simply.

- 419 -

Cassidy raised an eyebrow, stepping closer to him. "What do you mean?"

"This is a dream so there's no point getting drunk in it."

She resisted the urge to sigh irritably at his face. Sure, she liked it better that hethought it was a dream, but he was taking it too far. He needed to keep his mind offof it. And by doing that, she had to go with her first plan after all, seduction.

Cassidy tipped the edges of her lips up, taking another step closer to his kneesand running a hand through her long brown straight tresses. She watched as Adriantrained his eyes on her, the lust swirling in the depths of his green eyes as he rakedthe top half of her body. Disgusted as she felt for what she was wearing, she wasglad to see it was giving the effect it was supposed to.

Though, her nerves were creeping up again from her stomach and when she triedto lift her hand up to his shoulder, she found it shaking. Sticking her hand behindher back out of Adrian's view, she let out a nervous giggle and her eyes found thetequila bottle.

"I'll be right back."

Before he could say anything, she snatched the tequila bottle from his side andwent straight to the bathroom, shutting the door quickly after. Cassidy put thetequila bottle on the counter and let out a loud, shaky exhale, closing her eyes asshe shook the nerves from her upper limbs. Her eyes opened and she found herselfstaring into her reflection.

Her apparel, or what was scarcely covering her body, was a white collared shirtwith the buttons undone at the top. There was some cleavage showing to herdistaste, but it was a minor problem to what the purpose of her outfit was about todo to her opponent. The dark blue shorts she was wearing were too short and sheconstantly fisted the edges to bring them down.

This was not her. The only thing that only had some sort of semblance to herpersonality was her reading glasses. She refused to take them off, no matter howmuch Nina complained. She had to hold on to some sort of sanity whilst doing thischarade.

"Come on, you can do this." Cassidy said to herself, taking another breath torelieve the knots in her stomach. "You can be s-sexy. Just do it!"

She ruffled her hair up a bit, trying to calm her nerves, but nothing was working.- 420 -

Her eyes traveling to the lone tequila bottle on the counter. Without any hesitation,she grabbed it and uncapped the top, taking long heavy gulps of the burning liquidtraveling down her throat. She almost choked through the chug and brought thebottle down from her lips, coughing from the fire within. Cassidy shook her headfuriously to get rid of the strong taste from her tongue and capped the bottle back.

Now as she looked in the mirror, the nerves faded and she smirked at herreflection. It was time.

Stepping out of the bathroom with the bottle in hand, she walked slowly back tothe bedroom with staggering steps, she surprisingly found Adrian back to where hewas before and she leaned against the wall with her temple pressed up against it.

Cassidy smiled in a sultry way, seeing him face her way. "What are you thinkingabout?" She asked huskily.

He shrugged, quickly looking away. "Nothing."

Her smile widened over his shyness and she left the bottle at a nearby table.Removing herself from the wall, she edged closer to him and felt the confidenceseep through every part of her body. She was on fire.

"Tell me, Adrian," Cassidy said softly, stopping in front of him and laying a handon his shoulder. "Do I attract you?"

His eyes moving fast as it reached her face. "Attract as in...?"

"Do I make you feel good?" She filled in, letting her fingers trail sensually downhis black collared shirt.

He only nodded, keeping his eyes trained anywhere else, but besides her.

"What do I do that makes you feel that way?" Cassidy inquired, having no idea whyshe even cared to ask, but the haze wanted to know.

"Y-Your innocence, it makes me think of dirty things. Things I wish wouldhappen." He revealed under a quick breath, finally looking up at her.

She smirked, gripping his shoulder. "Really..." She replied amusingly. "And mightI ask, what are these dirty things you think of?"

"Where to I start?" He let out a deep sigh, his eyes creased in thought. "Through- 421 -

your innocent act, it reveals a sort of temptress inside that's been hiding in there allalong. We do a bunch of foreplay and I get hot enough for you to want to grab my-"

"Alright, I get it." Cassidy cut in, laughing shortly to cover her need to gag. Shetook a good look at him and moved her hand to the edge of his neck. "Do you wantthat to happen?"

Adrian hesitated, his Adam's apple bobbing as he gulped. "Yeah."

Cassidy smirked, leaning in towards Adrian as he stared at her with wide eyes.She couldn't believe what she was about to do, but truth be told, the alcohol gaveher confidence. She was so close to his body that she could smell his sweet, notoverly heavy, cologne. She was about to go in for it. If her sober self saw her doingthis, she would cry out in disbelief. But this was a different Cassidy and for the timebeing, she liked it.

Once she bent her head close to his lips, he held his hands up to her shoulders."Wait."

Cassidy furrowed her eyebrows, irritated by him stopping. "What?"

Adrian peeled himself slightly away, raising his head up unhappily, a few strandsof dark hair covering his eyes. "Are you going to pull my dick off again?"

Her jaw dropped, moreover confused. "WHAT?"

"You know how the dream goes. We make out heavily and then you grab my dickand almost rip it off." He explained calmly, like it was no big deal.

Cassidy took a few steps back, suddenly feeling the haze wash away. "You stillthink this is a dream?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I mean...isn't it?"

She swallowed hard at her throat, putting a hand to her temple to ease thebuilding tension. What was she doing? This was stupid for her to even try toattempt! It was way beyond her comfort zone and beliefs, but all for what? Somedumb facts that she knew she wouldn't get out of by parading around in a skimpyoutfit, while trying her best to seduce him? Who was she kidding, this wasn'tbelievable. It wasn't even believable to her and he still thought it was a dream. Shegroaned inwardly. This was wrong. She needed to get out.

- 422 -

"I-I have to go." Cassidy blurted out, turning around to scamper off to the closeddoor.

"Wait!" Adrian called out, standing up from the bed with his hand out. Cassidystopped with her hand on the door handle. "Why?"

"I don't know why I'm doing this. I'm sorry." She apologized in a low tone.

"It's ok, Cassidy. Why are you freaking out?" Adrian asked, walking over to her.

Cassidy turned around, her back to the door. "This isn't a dream, Adrian. Don'tyou see? I'm not that temptress you thought of or experienced asleep. I'm just thesame old Cassidy and that's what I'll ever be."

He shrugged. "So?"

"So!" She drawled out in a huff, frustrated by his lack of response. "I'll never wantto be any of those girls who throw themselves at you. I refuse to degrade myself likethat and if you're waiting for me to give into you like they do, I'm sorry but it won'thappen. It will never happen."

Adrian stood silent, putting his hands in his pockets. He looked to the floor inthought and when his eyes finally traveled its way up to Cassidy's face, it revealedno emotion.

"Ok."

"Ok, what?" She asked, annoyed.

Adrian laughed. "I don't care."

Cassidy sighed heavily. "You're speaking in circles. What do you mean?"

"It means that," he paused, closing the gap between them. "I don't care if you area slut or a nerd. I'm still around you, aren't I?"

"But why?" She inquired in a small voice.

Adrian shrugged again. "You're different."

Cassidy looked at him for a moment, wanting to ask why again, but knowing thathe wouldn't give her a sufficient response. Instead he walked away from her and

- 423 -

grabbed the bottle of tequila from the table, uncapping it. He tipped the bottle at hislips and took a few gulps, making a sour look. Cassidy watched him as he finally letgo and exhaled a raspy breath, coughing.

"That's some strong shit." He commented, coughing again with a closed fist at hismouth.

She nodded in agreement. "Tell me about it."

Adrian stepped next to the bed and sat at the edge, tipping the bottle every fewminutes until Cassidy left her spot at the door and sat next to him. She watched ashe continued to drink the tequila, almost ruining out and she did nothing to stophim. He wasn't going to listen to her even if she told him to stop.

Her thoughts went away with her to what she heard about the fight between himand Jase. It still bothered her and she wasn't going to push Adrian for information.But she wanted to know how he felt about it to at least see if he had some sort ofheart in replace of that black hole of his.

"I don't think it was right for Jase to hit you." Cassidy mumbled softly, frowning ather words. She always was the one against violence. She didn't seem it wasnecessary for any situation. The only solution was to talk it out. But these were twoboys. They usually didn't seek the right method.

Adrian laughed humorlessly, cradling the bottle in his hands. "Are you kidding me,Cassidy? I fucking deserved every punch he threw at me."

Her head snapped at him in awe. "What?" She replied in disbelief.

"I ruined your guys' relationship." Adrian answered, continuing. "He really likedyou, you know, probably still does now. And I just-took that away from him."

"Why?" Cassidy inquired softly, looking up at him. "Why did you do it?"

He burst out in one laugh, shaking his head. "I really don't know."

Before she could delve more in depth, he spoke again. "I'm the worse fuckingfriend in the world." Adrian sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead. "I miss the fuckeralready."

She furrowed her eyebrows. "Then why didn't you say anything to him?"

- 424 -

He shrugged. "I don't know. I guess it had something to do with my pride and thefact that I don't openly express my emotions."

"Why are you so keen to keep it all in?" Cassidy asked.

Adrian slowly looked up at her, silent for a moment. "It gets me in trouble."

"With who?"

He paused. "Myself."

"You're confusing me." She noted, puzzled.

Adrian didn't reply as his eyes were glued to the tequila bottle in his hands,deciding to finish the last remnants of it. Cassidy sat there in silence, wonderingwhat to say or do while Adrian brooded over his thoughts. He was unusually openfor being slightly intoxicated. He dropped the tequila bottle on the floor and laidback on the bed, sighing.

"You know, your relationship had nothing to do with our fight. It just startedsomething that should've happened years ago." Adrian revealed softly.

Cassidy twisted her back to see him, frowning a bit. "What was it then?"

"It was about me and him." He replied, exhaling a breath. "And how closed off Iam. He doesn't like that I don't share things with him, but I can't. He just doesn'tunderstand."

"Well, why do you do it then?"

Adrian's eyes were directed up at her. "It's better to keep personal things,personal."

Cassidy sighed, getting nowhere with him, and scooted up closer on the bed nextto him. "There's a point in a friendship or even a relationship where you have toshare things. They just want to get to know you better because they feel they aremissing out a part of you."

"He isn't though, there's nothing special about my life back home." He argued in alow tone.

"What is your life back home?" Cassidy asked slowly, raising an eyebrow. - 425 -

He looked up at her with blank green eyes. "Nothing."

She resisted the urge to sigh and instead, stared at him. Half of his face wascovered by his brown tousled hair and without hesitating; she pushed his hair backto his side. Adrian's eyes darted towards hers in surprise and confusion, but didn'tcomment on it.

Cassidy got a better look of his face and saw his right eye. It was concealed withmake up which almost made her laugh out loud, but she didn't. Instead, she took hertwo fingers to his face and smeared the concealer away, displaying his bluish bruiseunderneath. She didn't know why she had the urge to do it, but she bent down andbrushed her lips on it, receiving a soft sigh from him.

Cassidy moved back a few inches and saw the serene look on his face with eyesclosed. She laid her head close to his and continued to stare at him.

"Don't put on the concealer."

Adrian kept his eyes closed. "Why?"

"It makes you look like a girl."

He laughed, the sounds traveling like a melody to her ears. It was not void ofhumor or smug. It was real and that made Cassidy's stomach tie up in knots. Adrianturned his face to the side, his green eyes sparking with humor, locked on to hers.

"It will be in the trash first thing tomorrow morning." He said, grinning.

Cassidy couldn't help it. Her heart was pounding furiously against her chest. Theway he was looking at her was...captivating in some way. For the first time, hewasn't staring at her with lust or disdain. He wasn't looking down her shirt, butright at her. Furthermore, he was taking in her opinion and applying it. She didn'tcare if it was something stupid and miniscule like make up, but it was something.

"Can I tell you something?" Adrian questioned softly, surprising her for askingpermission.

She only nodded.

He brought his hand up to her cheek, warming her skin. "I knew this wasn't adream all along."

- 426 -

Cassidy inhaled a shallow breath when he started to move closer to her, his eyesat her lips. She waited, as the beating of her heart playing anxiously at her eardrums. She kissed him before, in her intoxicated state, and though she didn'tremember much, she knew one thing. Adrian was a brilliant kisser and she hasn'thad many experiences with it. She wanted him to kiss. She was waiting for him to doit. But suddenly, as his lips inched away from hers, the door opened abruptly.

"Oh you're so bad Chris!" The girl giggled, slapping him on the shoulder.

"Baby, you won't know the meaning of bad once I'm through with you." He repliedhuskily, crushing his body to hers and kissing her soundly.

The pull, the magic, everything was broken between her and Adrian. Heimmediately sat up straight, avoiding eye contact with her and Cassidy was left onthe bed, cursing the intruder.

As the couple stumbled towards the bed, Adrian cleared his throat to get theirattention. Chris Fields halted his lips and looked at him with irritation. Once he sawthat it was Adrian, his look vanished, replacing it with a smile.

"Adrian, where have you been all night?!" Chris exclaimed, peeling himself off thegirl despite her groaning protest.

Adrian was about to comment until Chris's eyes traveled over to Cassidy's figurelying on the bed. His smile suddenly turned into a mega watt grin, implying thatsomething was going on between them.

"Man, if you were busy, why didn't you lock the door?" Chris asked, looking fromhim to Cassidy in a suggestive manner, smirking.

Cassidy sat up strictly, a horrified look on her face. "That's because nothing wasgoing on."

"Oh really?" Chris replied, his eyes roaming towards her unbuttoned blouse on thetop, revealing a small bit of cleavage. "Because, that didn't seem like it to me."

Cassidy clutched the top of shirt, hiding her exposed skin. Adrian got off of thebed and dusted his pants off, still clearly ignoring her.

"She's right, Chris. Nothing happened." He commented, making Cassidy relievedthat he was telling the truth. Suddenly, a smirk appeared on his face. "It's sort ofimpossible with her."

- 427 -

She gaped at him, unbelieving of his words until Chris laughed along and lookedat her in distaste like she was some prude. All the feelings that happened previouslywere suddenly far from her mind and replaced with a strong desire of hatred andanger. Adrian would never change. He will always be an asshole or a show offaround his friends. His reputation was all that mattered and nothing else.

"Well, I'll be leaving." Cassidy announced sternly, scooting off the bed in theopposite direction and heading towards the door.

Chris groaned in plea. "Ah come on, Cassidy. Don't be like that."

She turned around, crossing her arms. "Like what?"

"A bitch," He answered plainly, glancing at Adrian. "If you wanted some from him,you should've said so."

"I don't want anything from him." She declared matter-of-factly, glaring in hisdirection. His mood was unchanged.

Chris sighed deeply, sounding frustrated. "Well, I'm sorry for disrupting whateverwas going on here. I think it was well on over to second base, but if you say nothinghappened-"

"Nothing did!" She almost shrieked, opening the door furiously. "Goodbye."

"Dude she totally wants you." Chris remarked, chuckling.

Adrian laughed along, watching Cassidy finally shriek and storming out the room.She was going to find Nina and get the hell out of this party as quick as possible.

Adrian yawned, holding his clipboard sturdily in his hands. The lanky guy sittingacross from him droned on and on forever about his cleanliness, bad\/good habits,and pet peeves. Waking up with an agonizing hangover and then meeting up with apotential roommate was not what he was looking forward to today. But it had tohappen.

The flyers were already posted around campus and within a few hours, he alreadyreceived numerous calls, wanting to move in. Terry suggested they do an interviewfor each guy to see if they were legitimate or not and so far, nobody made the cut.The guy was either too messy, had a history of criminal activity, or was...gay.

Adrian wasn't homophobic, he just didn't feel comfortable living with homosexuals- 428 -

because they tend to give him these stares that are all too familiar whenever helooked at a woman he was interested in, primarily for sexual activities. And he didn'twant to hear a bunch of dudes going at it in the next room.

Adrian tried to pay attention to the interview, but he was dozing off fromboredom. Terry would elbow him in the side to keep him up, but Adrian couldalready tell this guy was already cut.

His body odor reeked throughout the room and there was a piece of cabbagestuck to his front teeth. It made it hard for Adrian to concentrate when he couldn'thelp but look at the gross food particle left off from today's lunch. He even went asfar as to figure out what he had to eat and that made Adrian cut the guy off inmid-sentence.

"Alright Louis, we'll give you a call or not to see if we want you to move in." Adrianinformed him.

The guy furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "My name is Arthur."

"Arthur, Louis, same difference." He replied, looking at the invisible watch on hiswrist. "Sorry, but we have a long day ahead of us. The door is on your left."

Arthur stood up abruptly, leaving without a word and slamming the front door.Terry jolted from the loud echo, glancing at Adrian.

"Why did you do that? He was good."

Adrian snorted. "Please. That guy needs a long shower and brush his teeth whilehe's at it."

Terry sighed heavily, dropping the clipboard to the floor. "You can't keep doingthis, Adrian. We have to find someone to move in. I can't afford to pay this high forrent."

Adrian watched his friend's face scrunch up in worry. Terry had a decent job as afront desk man at the student union, but his income was scarce. He wasn't frugalwith his money so whenever he got a paycheck, he would splurge it on uselessentertainment crap. Some of it was cool and high tech, but Terry could be withoutthe items.

He didn't need multiple DVD players, video games or surround sound systems inhis room. It only provided a better feel of the movie watching on screen that seemed

- 429 -

like you were in a movie theatre. Terry was all about the "new and improved" hotitems in stores. Despite his obsession, he never failed to pay for rent. Though, nowthat it was higher since Jase moved, he had to pay double the amount which meantno new goodies for him.

"Don't sweat it Terry, we'll find someone."

"Not if you keep sending them away," he said, pausing for a moment. "None ofthem exceed to your expectations. Some are too clean, dirty, not clean, have a badtaste in clothing, or just weird."

"Hey, I'm just saving us from months of suffering." Adrian defended.

Terry kept silent, his face blank. "If Jase didn't move out, we wouldn't have to dealwith this."

Adrian's jaw tightened from the mention of his former best friend. Ever since heleft, Terry has made little comments about Jase's sudden departure and it hasannoyed him to no end. Though, Adrian didn't want to drive out Terry too so he triedto keep his mouth shut.

"You know what, why don't you interview the next guy?" Adrian inquired,dropping his clipboard on the coffee table. "I'm no help giving you feedback. It'll justbe better if you chose the roommate."

Terry's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"

He nodded. "That is if you don't mind."

"I don't at all." He replied. "I think it's best if you're not there for the interviews.No offense, but you're a major distraction."

Adrian shrugged. "None taken, I got to shower anyways after that last guy. I thinkhis bad hygiene moved on me."

Terry rolled his eyes. "Sometimes you act like a girl."

"I do not." He argued.

"Well, if that didn't sound any girly, I don't know what is." He laughed.

"Whatever, I'm leaving. Have fun with the interviews." - 430 -

"I will and you know what?" Terry said, smirking. "I'm going to pick one today."

Adrian nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Maybe we can get him to move in bySunday."

Cassidy headed towards the exit of the library, yawning as she made her way out.She had to catch up on her studying, but most importantly, her parents werestarting to suspect her gallivanting around the town again. It was partly true, butshe needed a good excuse to get out of the house before her father decided tointerrogate her and the library at school was a good excuse.

After a few hours at the library, she decided to head home. It was nice being ableto sit quietly without being disturbed by unwanted intruders, namely Adrian. Shewould surely not find him at the library today, especially since its Saturday. Peoplemight think she had a sad life by having her life consumed with school and studying,but it didn't bother her.

She couldn't help, but comment at the barren areas at school. Nobody was here,except for a few over achievers like herself and a couple of girls from differentsororities who were setting up for next week's events.

Cassidy retrieved her keys from her backpack and was close to get off campus,but someone stopped her, specially a sorority girl passing by.

"Hey," The sorority girl said suddenly, making Cassidy halt in her walk. A sense offamiliarity was in the girl's eyes and Cassidy felt bad for not knowing who she was."You're the one that's always around Adrian Lennox right?"

Cassidy was surprised by the random question, but she shrugged unsurely, notknowing what "being around Adrian Lennox" entailed. "Uh yeah, I guess."

"Here," The girl handed her a small brown cardboard box, shoving it in her hands."You might need this. He doesn't have any of his own and we like to keep everyonesafe."

"What are you talking about?" Cassidy asked confusingly, looking down at the boxwith a puzzled look.

"Just open it." The girl insisted, walking away without another word.

Cassidy stared at her retreating back and mumbled under her breath, "That wasweird."

- 431 -

She glanced at the box again and deliberated what was in it. What if the girl gaveher a bomb? Inwardly, she chuckled. There was no way a dainty girl like her wouldbe capable of doing such a thing.

Curious, Cassidy opened the box and found tissue paper filled inside. She toreaway at it, moving it to the side and dug her hand around. Cassidy felt somethingthin and rectangular and she brought it out to view. In her hand was a small silverwrapper and she turned it around to the side. She still had no clue what it was andbrought it up closer to her small specs. There were no words written at the front andshe sighed, deciding to open the little package.

Cassidy tore open the rigged sides and when the wrapper opened, she saw arounded tinted white rubber revealed inside.

A loud, horrified shriek emitted out from her lungs, straining her throat to thequiet lone campus unseen by anyone of her bewildered misfortune.

The girl gave her a box of condoms.

The door opened suddenly from his bedroom and a furious Cassidy stormed in,making Adrian whirl around in surprise with his towel tucked around his waist.

"Care to explain this?" Cassidy asked angrily, flinging a small cardboard box onhis bed.

Adrian looked at her confusingly and walked over to his bed, retrieving the box.He opened it up and looked inside with puzzled eyes. Suddenly, he erupted inlaughter and the box fell from his grip.

"There is no need to laugh." Cassidy snapped, flushing from embarrassment. "Iwant to know why a sorority girl would bother giving me one of these things whenI'm not even involved with you!"

Adrian clutched his naked chest, coughing from the many chuckles that hinderedhis breathing. He raised his head up at her smugly, giving her a smirk. "You've got itall wrong. We are involved."

"No, we're not." She retorted firmly.

"You call hooking up on a daily basis and feeling them up, not involved?" He askedslyly, making her cheeks warm.

- 432 -

"Yes..." Cassidy trailed off in a low embarrassing tone.

Adrian hurled the box to his desk carelessly, advancing towards Cassidy. Her eyeslooked from his naked chest to his face, becoming distracted by his well definedtorso. "We might not be having sex, but at least we're having fun working our waytowards it right?"

"It will never happen." She said clearly with affirmation.

He shrugged. "Fine, go ahead and deny the truth, but at soon as you take a sip ofalcohol or are close enough to me, your inhibitions will be far from your mind."

"You seem so confident would you like to test the theory?"

"Baby, I already have." Adrian said huskily, twirling a strand of Cassidy's hairaround his finger.

Cassidy slapped his hand away. "Don't you 'baby' me."

"Aww, don't get angry. I wasn't the one who gave you all those condoms." Hejoked, resting his hands at her hips. "Look at it as an investment. At least we didn'thave to go out and buy some of our own. We have a whole supply that'll last us formonths."

"Where is all this 'we' coming from?" Cassidy inquired irritably, moving his handsfrom her hips. "To my knowledge, I hadn't agreed to have sex with you."

"Not yet," He smirked, pulling her body against his. Cassidy gasped in surprise,feeling his taut naked upper body against hers. "Don't you like the feel of my bodyagainst yours? Imagine us with no clothes on and you underneath. It'll feel twice asbetter as this."

She shrieked, pushing him away from her. "For God's sake, can't you just leave italone already!"

"Why when I know it's going to happen?" He replied, gripping the sides of hershoulders.

Cassidy squirmed her way out, pushing his hands away. "Will you stop theconsistent touching?"

"Nope." His smirk broadened as he placed his hands on her shoulders again,- 433 -

moving down to her elbows. "Not a chance."

She groaned, slapping them away. "Stop."

"No." He replied, grabbing her waist.

Cassidy gritted her teeth. "I said stop!"

She shoved his chest and he stumbled a few steps back, almost losing his footing.The towel that was securely wrapped around his waist, suddenly dropped to thefloor from all the pushing and shoving and Adrian was stark naked.

Cassidy inhaled a sharp breath, her wide rounded eyes unexpectedly glued on tohis male anatomy. This was her first time seeing one live, in full frontal view. Shedidn't know how to take it so she just stared. It was different from all the healthbooks she read in class because his was so much...bigger.

"T-That is-" She stopped herself, gulping at her dry sand paper throat. "Um..."

"First time seeing one huh?" Adrian smirked, making it more of a statement than aquestion. Her virginal, interested and horrified eyes gave it away. He appeared to bevery comfortable in the nude and he didn't do anything to hide it. He left his towelon the floor, not bothering to cover up.

Cassidy nodded furiously, her cheeks heating up by the second.

He raised an amusing eyebrow, padding towards her. "Would you like to touch it?"

Cassidy's eyes widened in alarm, looking from his anatomy to his face. "U-uh..."

"It's not like you haven't before." Adrian laughed.

"I-I have to go."

Cassidy whirled around and practically ran towards the door until Adrian grabbedher by the arm. "What's all the rush, sweetheart? You can stay in here and enjoy theview. I don't mind."

Her betraying eyes wandered to his anatomy and she gulped. "B-But I-"

"Stay." Adrian said softly, pulling her away from the door and closing it shut. "I- 434 -

won't make you feel uncomfortable."

"I think you've already achieved that." She muttered, looking away from him.

"You like him don't you?" He asked, smirking as her eyes laid on his best friendonce again. "Everybody else does."

"I-I'm just observing the ones from the heath textbook to a real live one." Cassidyreplied, stuttering a bit.

Adrian snorted. "Those books don't have anything on me."

"Yeah, they don't." She blurted out incredulously. Adrian's eyes shined with smugamusement and Cassidy flushed. "I-I mean-"

"I know what you mean." He replied, bringing her over to the edge of his bed. Shelet him sit her down and he stood in between her knees, his male parts up close. Hereached for her trembling hand on her lap and brought it over to his shaft.

"Touch me." Adrian said huskily, spreading her fingers out to wrap it around.

She did so and moved them along top to bottom in a slow motion. She watched itjerk underneath her hold as she continued her ministrations. It was long, in need ofa shave and quite smooth.

Cassidy pinched the edges as if testing for stability and found that it was soft, buthard at the same time. It was starting to erect and Cassidy dropped her hands inhorror, thinking she did something wrong to change the direction of his maleanatomy. It looked painful to her to see it struck in a straight, horizontal course.

"D-Don't stop." He groaned, his eyes firmly shut in ecstasy.

"B-But I hurt you." She replied guiltily.

"You're hurting me by stopping." Adrian breathed out in raspy tones.

Cassidy quickly put her hands back and rubbed the back areas of his shaft,making him moan. She continued on for a while until someone knocked on the door.

"Adrian?" Terry called out, his voice muffled from behind. "Are you done with yourshower?"

- 435 -

"Shit!" Cassidy hissed under her breath, taking her hands off of him and leapingoff the bed.

Adrian struggled to breathe as he slowly turned to face her. "Why did you stop?"

"Terry's at the door!" She exclaimed, horrified as she jabbed a finger towards it.

"ADRIAN!" Terry shouted, pounding insistently. "I found a roommate! Hurry upand open the door before I open it for you!"

"C-Coming," Adrian replied back breathlessly, walking to the door. Cassidy gaspedin fright, pushing him away from getting to the handle. "What?"

"You can't answer the door naked!" She hissed again in disbelief.

He shrugged. "It doesn't matter."

Before she could stop him, Adrian opened the door, revealing a rather distressedTerry on the other side. Thankfully, Cassidy was hidden away from view behind thedoor. "What's up man?"

Terry groaned in disgust. "Dude, could you put some clothes on? The newroommate is here and you can't go out looking like that."

"Why, is he gay?" Adrian asked, scratching his chest.

"No-just put some clothes on and while you're at it, do something about thaterection." He sighed deeply. "I don't want you scaring the roommate away already."

"Fine, I'll be out in two minutes." Adrian shut the door and walked to his closet,pulling out a few items of clothing. Cassidy just stood there, watching him as he laidthem on the bed and pulled on a dark blue shirt. He saw her stare and gave her asmug grin. "Do you want to help me with this?" He asked, gesturing to his dick.

She shook her head furiously, turning bright red. "I-I don't-"

"Calm down, Cassidy. It was only a joke." He sighed, pulling on his boxers, sadlyhiding away his precious parts. "Besides, I know that it will take a while to get youin that mood again."

She gasped bewilderedly. "What mood?"

- 436 -

Adrian chuckled, grabbing his pants and putting them on. "That lustful mood youhad a few minutes ago. I saw it in your eyes, you want me."

Cassidy shook her head frantically. "You're lying. There is no way that I lookedlike that."

"Believe me, I know what a woman looks like before it's time for sex and youdefinitely had the same." He explained, walking over to her in a smug manner. "I'vehad lots of experience with this, so you're not going to be winning this argument.Sorry."

"B-But I-"

"Save it, Cassidy." He cut her off, gesturing to the doorway. "Let's go see this newroommate of mine and decide if he's good enough for this place."

Cassidy stood strict in her spot before Adrian grabbed her arm and dragged herover to the living room where Terry was currently speaking with the new roommate.Bags were lying on the floor and it looked like he was moving in that day.

Surprisingly, Terry came through with his words. He was very quick about findingsomeone. Adrian bet he really wanted to spend his money badly on some sort of newtechnology.

When Terry heard him walking through, he turned his head and smiled. "You'rejust in time! Meet our new roommate!"

Adrian and Cassidy walked further into the room to get a better look of him beingblocked by Terry's head, but once he stepped away, the guy, or to put it moreclearly, girl was revealed.

Adrian's eyes widened at the sight of her and Cassidy gasped in shock.

"NINA?!"

A/N: Hello everyone, I hope you guys like this chapter! It's pretty funny if I do sayso myself ;) Thanks for all the encouraging comments and fanning. It means a lot!!

--Just a side note to all the impatient readers who aren't happy with Cassidy andAdrian's slow romantic pace. I know it's taking a while, but romance doesn't happen

- 437 -

overnight. These things take time, especially with two completely oppositecharacters. I think it would be unnatural if they got together so quickly, it justdoesn't seem right and if you're not happy with the development my story is going,you can go read a trashy romance story instead or write your own. Not to soundharsh, but it's kind of irritating when I get those sort of comments... I'm the writer ofthis story so it's bashing it in a way. This is how I feel for these characters todevelop and I'm going to write it and do whatever I feel is best. Sorry, I didn't meanto offend anyone in anyway, but that's just how I feel. On another note, I'll see younext update.

- 438 -

Bachelor-ette Pad

Chapter 25: Bachelor-ette Pad

"No, there's no way." Adrian shook his head in disbelief, refusing to believe thefact. "This has got to be some sick joke."

"It isn't. Nina is moving in with us and that's that." Terry declared, leaving noroom for argument. "Besides, her mom said it was ok as long as I looked after her."

Adrian gritted his teeth, trying to contain his growing anger. "Can I talk to you inmy room, in private?" he emphasized in a hardened tone.

Terry shrugged. "Sure."

Adrian stalked out the room, leaving Terry trailing behind. Moments later, a loudslam of the door echoed throughout the living room and Cassidy met Nina's calmeyes. She has yet to find out what her best friend's true motive was from moving in.Nina would never willingly live with two guys, even if the other was a familymember.

"Nina, what's going on?" Cassidy inquired in a soft, concerned tone.

"I'm moving in." She replied obviously.

Cassidy rolled her eyes. "I get that, but why?"

Nina looked everywhere, but her, keeping a blank face. "Terry needed a roommateand I offered to stay."

"Nina, do you realize that you are rooming with two guys?" Cassidy statedincredulously, watching as Nina slid her eyes to hers. "One who happens to be yournon-stop partying cousin and the other a sex-driven, hormonal college boy?"

She gulped, nodding slowly. She was beginning to crack, Cassidy could sense it.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Cassidy prompted, eyeing her friend carefully.

She nodded again, providing no further explanation. Nina wouldn't make a drastic

- 439 -

decision like this. She hated guys like Adrian and even ones like her cousin. So, whythe sudden notice? What made her decide to move in?

"Do you like Adrian?" She asked out of nowhere, raising an eyebrow.

Nina's eyes widened in horror. "God NO!"

"Then what is?" Cassidy asked again, becoming frustrated. "Why are you movinghere when we both know that you would never, in a million years, live with yourcousin and his stupid friend?"

Nina became quiet, mulling in her thoughts and Cassidy decided to press nofurther. She didn't want to push her friend into telling her something she wasobviously not comfortable with. There was something going on, Cassidy could sensethat.

Silence filled the room between the two and Cassidy was thinking of bringinganother topic up, until Nina opened her mouth to speak.

"Kathleen is..." Nina trailed of, biting her lower lip. "She's changed in every senseof the way. She started seeing someone and well... he kept coming over a lot and..."she trailed off shyly, flushing.

If there was one thing she knew perfectly about her friend Nina, it was that sherarely got nervous or shy. Seeing her like this sparked immense curiosity throughCassidy. Kathleen wasn't known to bring guys over. Well, when she last checked.

"And what?"

Nina avoided Cassidy's stare, lowering her gaze to the floor. "He stays over almostevery night and when I'm trying to fall asleep, I hear...noises."

Cassidy furrowed her eyebrows. "Noises? What like, snoring?"

"No," Nina sighed in frustration, raising her head up. "They-they, you know..." sheraised her eyebrows up with knowing eyes, trying to imply something that Cassidywasn't following. When she saw the confused look on her face, she frowned. "Pleasedon't make me say it." She pleaded in a small voice.

"Come on, Nina. Whatever it is, I'm sure it's nothing worse than-" Cassidy stoppeddead in mid-sentence when it struck her and her eyes gradually enlarged in full,bewildered circles. "Sex?"

- 440 -

Nina sighed in relief, grateful to not utter the three letters in the same sentence ofKathleen. "It's true."

"What?" She snapped her head, unbelieving. "It can't be. Kathleen doesn't dothat."

"Kathleen used to not do a lot of things until she met someone who did becauseshe thinks she's in love." Nina explained in one quick sentence.

"How did this happen?" Cassidy asked with disappointment, frowning.

Nina shrugged. "She hid it from us."

"Is that why you're moving out from your dorm?" she guessed curiously. "Becauseof her?"

"Yeah, we fight almost everyday because I tell her I don't want that guy stayingover and she never listens. She's barely at the dorm during the day and when I askher where she's been, she always says she's with her parents." Nina suddenlyfrowned. "She lied to me. I called her parent's house phone the other day and theysaid she wasn't there."

Cassidy's frowned deepened, saddened by the thought that her friend was goingbehind their back with some guy they never met.

"He's changing her, I know it. She never used to be like this," Nina mulled.

She nodded in agreement. "You're right. She never acts this out of control."

"He's a really bad influence on her." Nina replied, sighing. "If only she could seeit. She's too blindly by her lust for him."

Cassidy looked at Nina's disappointment, feeling the same way as her. They wereclose to losing their friend and it was like they didn't know her anymore. It alwaysused to be the three of them and now, a guy was getting in the middle of theirfriendship circle. Something had to be done.

"I'll go and talk to her," Cassidy decided, feeling determined. "Maybe knock somesense...Is that a good idea?"

"You would do that?" Nina asked in amazement.

- 441 -

Cassidy nodded obviously. "Well of course, she's my friend and I'm worried abouther."

"Oh thank you! Thank you!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms around her neck."You have no idea what this means to me!"

"Whoa," Cassidy replied in surprise, putting her hands on Nina's back. "How comeyou never told me about this if it bothered you so much?"

Nina sighed, still keeping her arms around her. "I didn't think it was a problemuntil I heard them last night under her covers, making a bunch of...weird noises."

"Ok, I don't need to know the rest of the details." Cassidy stopped her, wrinklingher nose.

They stood there hugging each other until Cassidy pulled her off slowly and restedher hands on her shoulders.

"Whatever this is that Kathleen is going through, we'll fix it. I promise." shereassured her, smiling softly. "I'm sure it's nothing big and I have a feeling she'lllisten to me."

Nina nodded in return with hope glistening in her eyes. Suddenly, her eyebrowsfurrowed and she sniffed the air around her oddly. When her nose got close to hershoulders, Nina stared back at her, puzzled.

"Umm, Cassidy?"

"Yeah?" She replied, confused by Nina's odd sniffing action.

"You're hands smell kind of...weird."

Cassidy's eyes bulged out and she immediately let go of Nina's shoulders,swinging her hands behind her back in a tight knot. "Oh gosh they do? I guess I'll gowash them then."

Cassidy darted towards the bathroom down the hall without hearing another wordfrom Nina, closing the door behind her. Immediately she turned on the knob of thesink and dosed her hands with mounds full of soap. How could she forget about hermini live nudity showing with Adrian a couple minutes ago? Now her hands weregoing to be soiled for days on end!

- 442 -

"Cassidy?"

Cassidy spun around in alarm, catching Nina's worried gaze. "Yeah?"

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah," She laughed softly, hiding her nerves. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"I don't know..." Nina trailed off, staring at her suspiciously. "Did somethinghappen between you and Adrian?"

Cassidy's throat bobbed, trying to play it cool. "No, why do you ask?"

"I saw you walk out of his room with him and her face was all pink." She clarified.

Cassidy turned off the sink, grabbing a nearby towel cloth and drying her handson it furiously. She dropped it back on the counter and gripped the edge with herhand, lowering her head to the floor to avoid her friend's puzzled gaze.

"I touched his penis."

A bewildered gasp cut through the air like a sharp knife and Cassidy cringed uponhearing it. Now Nina was going to think she was some sort of slut like Kathleen.

"You didn't!" She exclaimed in disbelief, wide eyes.

Cassidy looked up at her, nodding shamefully. "Yeah, I did and this time I wassober."

"Why did you do it?" Nina asked curiously.

Cassidy paled, rendered speechless. She didn't know what to say, she hadn't beenput under the spot before. Her last excuse for touching it was because she wasdrunk, but she couldn't use that again. She was sober this time and that didn'tprovide her the liberty of using the drunken card again.

"To be honest, I have no idea." She answered, pursuing her lips. "I think it wasbecause it was my first time seeing it live."

Nina stared at her for a moment and than nodded her head, inwardly makingCassidy sigh in relief. She hoped her friend wouldn't ask any more questions aboutit. She was already humiliated enough.

- 443 -

"How was it?" Nina asked suddenly, making Cassidy's eyes widen.

"What?" She inquired in a high pitched tone, unbelieving of her words.

"How. Was. It.?" Nina repeated again, the tone of her voice a little nervous thanbefore. It seemed as though she was embarrassing for even asking.

"It was..." Cassidy trailed off, equally nervous. "Ok?"

"Ok?" Nina echoed, raising an eyebrow. "It wasn't great or anything?"

"No?" She replied, wondering why Nina was asking all these questions. "It's just amale part. There's nothing special about it." She paused, a thought coming acrossher. "Actually it's pretty weird looking."

Nina looked at her with a blank look. "Oh."

"Ok, what's with all the questions?" Cassidy blurted out.

She leaned against the door casually, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm just curious. Ihaven't seen one before and now that both of my friends have, I wondered what kindof experience they went through."

Cassidy chuckled. "Believe me, it's nothing exciting. You don't want to see itor...touch it. It doesn't smell good."

"Yeah, I've noticed." Nina replied, her brown eyes sparking with humor.

Cassidy's chuckles stopped abruptly and she dusted her hands off, feeling Adrian'sdick germs crawling on her skin. "Ok, well I have to go. Have a nice move in."

She tried to move pass her friend from the doorway, but Nina stopped in themiddle. "Wait, you don't want to help me out?"

Cassidy frowned. "I kind of have some school work to finish, can we do it later?"

"How about you sleep over tonight?" Nina asked.

She shrugged. "Sure, we haven't had one of those in a while."

Nina smiled. "Alright, good."

- 444 -

"Are you fucked in the head?!" Adrian exasperated in a high pitched tone, pokinghis temple repeatedly with his finger. "Why the hell would you let a girl move in withus, Terry? What the fuck were you thinking!"

"She's my cousin." He explained shortly, not elaborating.

"I don't give a shit if she's your goddamn sister, why the fuck is she here!"

"We needed a roommate and she was the only one who was willing to move onshort notice." Terry said calmly, unaffected by his anger.

"We didn't have to pick anyone that soon! I could've waited all fucking monthlong!"

Terry went over to Adrian's desk to sit on his computer chair. "I can't afford therent, Adrian. I thought we already went over this."

"You can pay for the fucking rent, Terry. You just care about your goddamngadgets too much."

He shrugged, knowing it was true. "Yeah, so? I like to splurge a little on myself,doesn't everyone else?"

"You couldn't wait for a few more weeks with just the two of us?" Adrian shouted,amazed by his friend's lack of care in the situation. "When I asked you to pick aroommate, I didn't mean a damn girl!"

Terry sunk deeper into his chair, remaining calm. "How was I supposed to know?You didn't specify."

"I fucking assumed that you were logical enough to pick a guy!" He exasperated,arms spread out. "This is a fucking bachelor pad, not a day at the goddamn spa!"

"Nina isn't like that, trust me. She won't get in the way." Terry reassured himcoolly.

"I don't give a fuck!" He refused profusely, continuing. "She's a fucking girl with afucking vagina, and that isn't welcomed here unless it's used for a damn one nightstand!"

Terry's face of calm suddenly took a turn for the worse. Anger was written all overand his large biceps bulged from under his shirt. His eyebrows creased and his eyes

- 445 -

narrowed, glaring at Adrian with such fiery. He stood up and walked up in front ofhis friend with a feigning calm attitude.

"Look, my cousin is going through a rough time right now and I'd appreciate it ifyou get the fuck over yourself and accept the fact that she's going to be staying herefor the time being." Terry spat out. "It's not permanent, so keep yourself undercontrol."

"What do you mean it's not permanent?" Adrian asked surprisingly, his angerdwindling.

"It's temporary for now until she can figure some shit out." He clarified in ahardened tone.

Adrian became tight lipped, looking back at Terry than to the areas of his room.He knew he went over board about the roommate situation. Terry was his only closefriend and he didn't want to push his buttons either.

But having a girl stay over was something that put him on the edge. Women wereallowed in his sanctuary that he called home unless it was for getting the businessdone. However, maybe Nina was different. After all, she was related to Terry andshe was more of a man than he was by the looks of it.

"Sorry, Terry I was being a dick. I didn't mean to say all those things about yourcousin." Adrian said softly. Terry nodded his head in appreciation of his apology."But you should've told me beforehand instead of blowing it up in my face."

"Well, she was in desperate need of a place to stay and I had a room open." Heshrugged. "If someone in my family needs help, I help them."

He nodded, "Right."

Terry stared at Adrian for a moment and he crossed his arms across his bulkychest, feeling defensive. "Let's get some things clear, Adrian." He said in a gravetone. "While my cousin is staying here, there are certain barriers you won't crosswith her."

"Like...?"

He held out his fingers to him, listing off things one by one. "No sexual advances,no vulgar behavior, no drinking, no nudity, no cussing, no fucking-"

- 446 -

"HOLD UP!" Adrian cut in with disbelief, palm in the air. "No fucking? Come onman, there is no way I'll hold that end of the bargain."

Terry thought it over, sighing heavily. "Fuck, you're right. I can't even do that." heraked a hand through his spiky black hair, pondering briefly. "Ok, what about this.When you're inviting a girl over, make sure they keep their damn mouth shut ormaybe head over their place."

"What about you?"

He shrugged. "I'll do the same."

"Ok, is that it?"

Terry looked thoughtful, finally nodding. "Yeah, that about sums it up. OH anddon't go into her room without her permission or I'll kick your ass."

Adrian nodded. "Alright, good talk." He made a move to walk off, until Terry calledout to him.

"Nah ah ah," Terry called out, grabbing his arm before he could get away. "Firstyou're going to apologize to my cousin."

"WHAT?!" Adrian exclaimed in disbelief.

Terry nodded. "Yes, you need to. After the disgusted look on your face when I toldyou she was moving in might've made her not feel welcome here. So, you're going toapologize."

Adrian mumbled obscenities as Terry led him to the front room. They saw Ninaarranging her boxes on top of one another and when she heard them come into theroom, she turned around and smiled.

"Hey Nina, Adrian here wanted to say something to you." Terry said, pushingAdrian in front of her.

Adrian shot Terry a disgruntled look and went to face Nina. "Sorry."

"For what?" Nina asked confusingly.

Adrian looked back at Terry, puzzled, and glanced at his cousin. "For you know,being rude to you when I heard you were going to be our new roommate."

- 447 -

"Oh, that?" She replied, suddenly laughing. "It's ok I don't care. In fact, I was kindof expecting you to act like that with you being an asshole and all."

"Ok..." Adrian said in clear surprise, not denying her accusation.

"But if you want to make it up to me, you can start by helping me move my stuffin." She asked, smirking. "That is, if you're not strong enough to handle-"

"I'll help." He cut her off, seeing Terry nod in approval at his start of change.

Nina grinned, clapping her hands. "Great, let's get started."

"I didn't think you'd show up." Cassidy commented, watching as she took a seatopposite to her.

Kathleen put her overstuffed bag down on the table and scooted her chairforward, planting a smile on her face. "Why wouldn't I?"

She shrugged, taking a sip of her ice tea. Cassidy asked Kathleen to meet up withher at a local coffee shop nearby and she declined three times until Cassidy picked amore suitable time for her to better fit their schedules.

"You're hard to get a hold of these days." Cassidy remarked, placing her cup backon the table.

"Well, you would be too if you had a part time job." She replied, mumbling 'thanks'to the waitress who brought over her coffee.

"Oh, where do you work?" Cassidy inquired, surprised that this was news to her.Kathleen wasn't much of a worker.

Kathleen perked up, grinning. "At the small pub downtown, I'm a waitress there."

Cassidy's eyes widened. The downtown area was a shady part of town and itwasn't safe, especially for a young girl like Kathleen. "What are you doing overthere?"

"Oh Cassidy, it's not as bad as it seems." She said offhandedly, giggling. "Myboyfriend's band plays there every night so it's pretty cool."

- 448 -

"Boyfriend?" Cassidy repeated, raising her eyebrows. She knew she had aboyfriend with the facts that Nina provided, but she wanted Kathleen to say itherself.

"I didn't tell you?" She asked, gasping in shock. "I'm such a bad friend! I thoughtyou already knew."

"Well, I did, but not from you."

"Oh, well I didn't mean to keep it from you. I've just been so busy with everythingthat I guess I forgot to tell you," Kathleen replied, continuing on. "His name is Gabe,he's really great. We met at one of the college parties when his band was playingthere. I thought he went to the same college as us, but he dropped out a year ago topursue his dreams." She sighed dreamily. "Isn't that amazing?"

Cassidy stared at her blankly, baffled by her stupidity. She was with some collegedrop out to pursue his dreams of becoming a rock star? The chances of him makingit big were very slim. There are many people out there looking to have their namesin lights, but it was unrealistic. It wasn't a goal, just a foolish dream. And whatwould his setback be if he didn't make it? He would have no credentials to back himup.

"What does he do besides playing in his little band?" Cassidy inquired curiously,holding back her judgments.

She shrugged. "He stays at home and writes songs or hangs out with his bandmates."

"Hmm..." Cassidy mumbled in thought, taking a quick sip of her ice tea to passtime. "So, you really like him?"

"Like him?" Kathleen echoed incredulously, shaking her head. "I love him."

Cassidy almost choked on the remaining liquid at her tongue, forcing it down herthroat unpleasantly. "Love?" She croaked.

Kathleen nodded rapidly. "Yeah, he's the best thing in my life. He's always therefor me and helps me out with school. Sometimes he tells me to drop out too-"

"Oh God, please tell me you aren't." Cassidy intervened dramatically.

She laughed, shaking her head. "No, for now I'm not. My parents already paid for- 449 -

this semester's tuition. I was thinking of taking a semester off so that I could go tourwith his band next year."

Cassidy sighed in disappointment, frowning. "Kathleen..."

"What?"

"This isn't right." She blurted out drastically. "He is trying to control your life. Doyou really want those things?"

"Of course I do." Kathleen replied incredulously, dismayed by Cassidy's words.

"But you don't, you're just following him around because you're blinded by love."Cassidy pointed out, shaking her head. "He's changing you."

Kathleen pursued her lips unhappily. "He's not changing me, Cassidy."

"Then how come Nina said you were?"

She snorted. "She's just jealous that I got a boyfriend before her."

"I think there's another side that you don't know about."

"Who cares? Nina was trying to control my life. She was acting like my mother,always asking me where I was at and telling my boyfriend to leave our dorm. I lefthome for a reason."

"She just cares about you." Cassidy reasoned.

"I know, but she needs to understand that I can take care of myself."

"Well, she was worried that your boyfriend had something to do with your alteredbehavior."

"He didn't do anything!" She exclaimed in frustration, sighing. "I'm just in love."

"Maybe you should take it slow." Cassidy advised gravely.

Kathleen laughed humorlessly, "I've been taking it slow my whole damn life! Thisis my first relationship and I want to experience every aspect of it."

"But you're approaching it without any proper precautions and-" - 450 -

Kathleen cut in. "This isn't a science experiment, Cassidy. It's a relationship and Iknow what I'm doing."

Cassidy sighed, giving up on convincing her. She was becoming so stubborn andusually, she was the understanding one. "I just don't want to see you get hurt."

"I won't be," Kathleen reassured her, touching her shoulder. "He's a great guy.You'd really like him."

"I'm sure he is," She replied sardonically, unconvinced.

Kathleen didn't take notice of her sarcasm as she smiled. "Would you like to meethim?"

"I...uh..." She drawled out, tapping her shoe on the floor to think of a lie. In truth,she didn't want to meet Kathleen's boyfriend. She was afraid that she might explodeon him and say to leave her friend alone. "I have to be somewhere soon, sorry."

The two friends sat there in silence, neither one saying a single thing to the other.Before, it wasn't like this at all. They would chatter until their ears would fall off, butnow things were different. They were both different.

"We've both changed haven't we?" Kathleen inquired softly, looking up at Cassidy.

Cassidy slowly nodded, a growing frown on her face. "It doesn't have to be thisway."

"It's college, Cassidy, a new step from high school. We're bound to change at somepoint."

"Are you sure what you're doing is right?"

"Yes, I haven't been so positive about this in anything I do." she pressed softly."I'm in love with him, Cassidy and you won't know how that feels until you actuallymeet the right person."

Cassidy thought it over, regarding Kathleen's relationship. "What if the rightperson can be the wrong person at the same time?"

Kathleen shrugged. "Then I would say go for it, even though the outcome might befor the worse. It's worth a try, right?"

- 451 -

"I guess so."

"You'll figure it out soon enough." She smiled, patting a hand on her shoulder."But hey, I have to go meet up with my boyfriend in a few. We should do a doubledate whenever you get your lucky man."

Cassidy laughed, knowing the possibility was slim. She never had any luck withthe male department, even if Adrian was seducing her. He only wanted sex, not arelationship. "Yeah, I'll be sure to take you up on that offer."

"Great, see you soon?"

She nodded.

Kathleen's smile widened. "Bye Cassidy!"

She waved at her friend, giving her a weak smile. She watched as Kathleen wavedback and headed out of the coffee shop, pulling her gloves on. Cassidy got up fromher chair and walked up to the large window of the coffee shop.

There she saw Kathleen walking up to her boyfriend with a huge grin on her face.Her boyfriend, Gabe, with a lanky figure and tattoos crawling alongside the sleevesof his arms, flicked his cigarette to the floor and stomped on it. Cassidy wrinkled hernose at his ghastly sight and saw Kathleen pull him into a hug. Gabe patted herawkwardly on the shoulder, appearing not to be one for affection.

Cassidy sighed heavily, frowning. "Bye Kathleen."

"Do I smell..." Adrian trailed off, sniffing the air. "Quesadillas?"

"Yeah, you want some?" Nina asked over her shoulder, flipping a quesadilla on thestove.

"Hell yeah!" He exclaimed enthusiastically, pumping a fist in the air. Nina lookedat him oddly over her shoulder and he lowered his fist, coughing a bit. He wasn'tsuppose to cuss in front of her "I mean, heck yeah?"

"How many do you want?"

"Five." He said simply, sitting himself on the kitchen counter as he watched her.

- 452 -

"Five?!" She cried out incredulously, whirling around. "You want five quesadillas?"She repeated with short gaps.

"Yeah, I'm hungry." He answered, seeing her look at him strangely again. "What?"

"You must be one of the lucky ones." Nina said, twirling her spatula in her handand piling the already made quesadillas on a plate. "God has graced you with fastmetabolism."

"It's not called fast metabolism sweetheart, its called exercise and lots of sex. Youshould try it sometime." Adrian blurted out, watching her eyes widen at the mentionof sex when she carried his plate over to him. He realized his slip up when Terrysaid not to be vulgar around her and he cursed inwardly. "I mean, just exercise...nosex."

Nina sighed, shoving the plate into his chest. He grabbed it hastily, making surenone of the quesadillas fell. "Listen, Adrian. I know that Terry warned you about notbeing 'inappropriate' with me, but there's no need to act like a saint when I alreadyknow your long history with women. You can't fool me."

Adrian smirked, grateful that he didn't have to put up the bull shit act for thatlong. "Hey, I'm just preserving your virginity and innocence for you. I already dothat enough with Cassidy so I know the drill." He said, chewing on a quesadilla.

"Oh get off it, Adrian. We both know that you're not preserving her virginity orinnocence. You want her really bad and it frustrates you because she's not giving into your petty little schemes."

"I wouldn't say they were petty because they're working," He commenting,winking at her.

Nina made a noise of disgust, a sour look on her face. "She would never hand hervirginity over to a man whore like you."

"Aww that's cute, you're jealous." Adrian mocked fondly, chewing off anotherquesadilla and wiping the excess cheese off his bottom lip. "If you weren't Terry'scousin, I would gladly give you a private session with my dick."

"Oh really?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. "So, you don't mind if I give yourfriend a nice little kick at this so called session?"

Adrian sighed dejectedly, dropping his fourth quesadilla on his plate. "You really- 453 -

are related to Terry."

Nina smirked in satisfaction, chewing off a piece of her quesadilla. "That's right."

The doorbell rang and Adrian perked up, furrowing his eyebrows at Nina. Ninawent back to her cooking and hurriedly placed all her cooked quesadillas on a plate,mumbling to herself.

Figuring that she wasn't going to answer the door, Adrian got up and walked overto the door, opening it. Cassidy stood at the other side, carrying a small duffle bagover her shoulder. He raised an eyebrow at her appearance.

"What are you doing here?"

Cassidy looked at him stupidly. "Nina invited me to sleepover."

She walked past him without gaining permission, her duffle bag held tightly to herside. Since Nina was living here, it looked like she would be doing that more often.Adrian followed her close behind, his eyes widening.

"Can I get in on this sleepover?"

She snorted. "No."

"Come on, we can all sleep in the same bed and have a massive orgy." He said in ahopeful, enticing tone.

Cassidy gagged, her face scrunching in distaste. "There goes my appetite."

She walked into the kitchen and saw Nina placing two plates down on the counterof the kitchen. Cassidy beamed at the sight.

"You made dinner?"

Nina smiled. "Yeah, I thought I'd cook up something for my first night here."

"Nice, I love your quesadillas," She commented, grabbing her plate from thecounter. She looked around the kitchen with curious eyes, trying to find something."Are there no tables at this place?"

"Nope," Adrian replied, jumping on the counter in a sitting motion, grabbing hislast quesadilla. "We usually eat in front of the TV."

- 454 -

Nina sighed. "That needs to change."

"Hey, this is an all male's pad. We don't need tables to sit down and eat. There'sno use for manners here." He remarked, gobbling down on his quesadilla messily.

Nina and Cassidy looked on in disgust. "Well, since I'm living here and I'm a girl, Ineed a table to sit on so I'll get one for myself."

Adrian snorted, chewing his food. "Whatever, just don't expect us to sit there withyou."

Nina rolled her eyes at him, glancing at Cassidy. "Do you want to eat this in myroom?"

She nodded. "Sure."

They were about to leave the room, until Adrian hollered out to them. "Hey, whatabout me? I thought we were eating together?"

Nina whirled around, smirking. "You can eat alone."

Cassidy chuckled and they both left a stunned Adrian, shaking his head as heswallowed his last piece of quesadilla. Sure a girl around was going to be a majorpain in the ass, but maybe she'll cook for him and Terry every night. He hasn't had ahome cooked meal since he left home for college and independence. He sure missedthe smell of food cooking in the kitchen.

"So, has he bothered you yet?" Cassidy asked curiously, putting her finished plateon Nina's end table.

"Who?" She inquired in confusion, unpacking one of her boxes. She still had moreunpacking to do, but she was glad that her bed was set up. Her clothes were still intheir boxes and so were her toiletries.

"Adrian," Cassidy responded knowingly, shuffling in her spot on the floor.

Nina laughed, taking out a pair of her pajamas. "No, not really, but he has madesome sexual comments."

She snorted. "Typical."

"It's ok though, I don't mind." She smiled to herself, looking on in a daze. "He's- 455 -

actually pretty funny."

Cassidy snapped her fingers in front of her face, seeing the dazed expression onher friend. She hoped he wasn't luring her in to his snake like charm. "Snap out ofit! Adrian is anything but funny."

Nina rolled her eyes, throwing Cassidy a pair of extra pajamas. "Oh Cassidy, whenare you going to stop all this? Adrian is not a bad person and I am anxious to findout what he's like to live with."

"Hello, earth to Nina!" She exclaimed, unbelieving of her friend's graciouscomments towards the sexual demon. "This is Adrian we're talking about. You know,the one that's been trying to get into my pants since the first day of school? Do youremember that?"

"Boys will be boys," She shrugged offhandedly.

Cassidy gaped at her uncaring movements, not wanting to realize that Adrian hasalready won the heart of her friend and only after living here for a couple of hours.How could he do it so quick? Was he really that manipulating?

"Nina, please tell me that you're joking." She pleaded with urgency, sitting on herknees. "Adrian has made my life miserable and he still is! Don't you see the damagehe is causing to you at this very moment! You're defending him for Pete's sake!"

Nina sighed, closing her box back up and giving Cassidy a look. "Cassidy, chill out,Adrian isn't doing anything to me. This is my own judgment. He may have flaws, buthe has his own reasoning for doing the things that he does. It's not my business andI won't make it mine either." She paused, taking a long breath. "And since I'm livingunder this roof, I'm going to do my best to get along with him because I have nowhere else to go."

She furrowed her eyebrows, frowning faintly. "What about your parents?"

"They live two hours away, there's no way I can live with them. I have school tothink of." She explained.

"...oh." Cassidy said softly, her frown deepening. "I'm sorry for what I said early.You can think whatever you want with Adrian, but that doesn't mean I'll stop mine."

"Maybe you should give an open mind to him at least. You don't know what he'sbeen through so give him the benefit of the doubt." She shrugged. "That's what

- 456 -

Terry told me."

Cassidy sat quietly, mulling over her thoughts. Adrian was a mystery and shewanted to solve him. Maybe all this pushing wouldn't give her the answers, but she'strying. It's not like she's really losing anything by asking him of his past life. He's notimportant to her after all...or was he?

She saw the way Nina talked about him and something stirred inside of her. Theway she spoke about him with such defensive and praise. It made her feel angry fortaking his side, but then a little something else.

Could she have possibly developed a crush on him already? Adrian was one of thebest looking guys she's ever seen and she wouldn't doubt that Nina would soon fallfor him now that they lived in the same apartment. Should it surprise her that ithappened so quickly? She had no idea. Nina despised him after what he did to her,but now she has gone soft. Too soft.

A loud knock alarmed both of them and their heads swiveled over to the door.Nina cleared her throat, raising an eyebrow.

"Who is it?"

"It's Adrian." His response muffled from the other side of the door.

Nina sighed, looking back at Cassidy's surprised expression. "Come in."

Adrian opened the door slowly and a wide set smirk was settled on his face. Helooked at the two sitting on the floor close together, in some sort of huddled way. Hewanted in on this.

"Yes?" Nina asked, raising an expected eyebrow.

"I think we should have a three-some." He announced proudly, like it was the bestidea in the word.

Nina and Cassidy both gaped at him in horror, the disgust gradually coming on totheir face. The shock baffled them to speechlessness and Adrian settled himself onthe floor beside them, face to face.

"What do you say?" He smirked charmingly, raising an eyebrow.

Nina pushed his shoulder in revulsion, her face scrunched up in distaste. "Get- 457 -

out!"

"So, is that a no?" Adrian inquired curiously, straightening his posture from thepush.

"You must be seriously demented if you think that'll ever happened." Cassidysnapped, glaring at him.

Adrian's smirk widened as he leaned up closer to her. "I know you don't likesharing, but look at this as a learning experience for the both of you."

"LEAVE!" They both shouted at him.

Adrian got up, taking a few steps back with his hands out in defense. "Ok, ok. Ijust wanted to make sure." He paused, chuckling. "I've always liked sleepovers withwomen."

They growled in aggravation and Adrian darted to the door, opening it up hastily."I'm leaving, geesh!"

He left the room and closed it shut, smirking to himself. Adrian enjoyed thetorment he put the girls through. He hasn't had that much fun in a long time. Maybehe will like Nina living with them after all.

A/N: Hey everyone!! I hope you guys liked this chapter! Things will pick up soonso don't worry. I like to incorporate everyone else's problems instead of Cassidy andAdrian's. Their friends play a great deal in their lives so it's important for me toshow that in this story. Cassidy's friend Kathleen is kind of like a friend I used tohave in high school, but drifted away from in college because of a boy. Friends don'talways stick together, that's reality and its something that Cassidy didn't expectbecause they've always been a threesome. Anyways, tell me what you think of thischapter! Love all the feedback, fanning, and votes!! You guys are great :) :) :)

- 458 -

The Reproductive System

Chapter 26: The Reproductive System

A loud piercing shriek woke up Adrian from his slumber and tumbling out of bed.He cursed when his head hit the side table and his hands searched for his glasses onthe top. When he felt the edges of his frames, he hastily pushed them on to thebridge of his nose and leaped off the floor.

The screams sounded like Nina and it couldn't be good. What if someone brokeinto the house or was trying to kidnap her? That made Adrian run out of the doorfaster and the shriek sounded more prominent, echoing out of Jase's old room.

Adrian ran to towards it and opened the door, seeing a very flustered andhorrified Nina.

She continued to scream, unaware of Adrian's presence and he pressed the heelsof his hands to his ears from the pulsating noise. There was no danger lurkingbeside her or anybody trying to kidnap her. She didn't look hurt either and she kepton screaming.

"WILL YOU SHUT UP!" Adrian shouted at the top of his lungs, seeing Nina whirlaround in alarm. Her screams began to fade into a very short yell and he sighed,rubbing the bridge of his nose which pushed up his glasses a bit.

"What the fuck is going on?" He exclaimed, searching his eyes for the clock on theend table. "It's eight in the fucking morning!"

Now he was even angrier. Adrian usually didn't wake up until ten. He hated beingwoken up early, especially if it was at eight. Terry was lucky that he didn't have tohear her screams. He was usually at the gym working out at this time.

"T-There-T-here-" Nina said, breaking out in short breaths. "There's something inmy room!"

He rolled his eyes, too tired to deal with this shit. "What the hell is it that has youscreaming bloody murder?"

"I don't know!" She responded in a flustered tone, turning her back on him. "Comeover here and see for yourself."

- 459 -

Adrian walked over in a few short steps, peering over Nina's shoulder. There,lying on the floor where Jase's bed used to be at in a hidden dark corner was acondom. A used, dark yellowish condom. Adrian let out a howl of laughter, holdinghis bare chest from the sight. It seemed that Jase left a souvenir in his room withoutnoticing it and Nina appeared clueless by his amusement.

Adrian took a long breath, chuckling under his breath as he turned to Nina. "Doyou know what that is?"

Nina pursed her lips, shaking her head in denial.

"It's a used condom." He deadpanned.

Nina sucked in a gasp of breath, her eyes growing wider by the second. Suddenly,a loud shriek echoed out of her throat and Adrian raised his hands up to his earsagain, closing his eyes.

"WILL YOU STOP DOING THAT!" He exclaimed loudly from the noise, her screamcontinuing. Adrian sighed and brought his hands up to close Nina's open mouth, herscreams muffling from behind.

She lifted her hand up to peel his from her mouth and she took several deepbreaths, restoring the color back into her face. "What is that doing in my room?" Shedemanded to know, her eyes avoiding the area.

Adrian shrugged. "Jase probably forgot it was there."

"Why can't you boys clean up after yourselves?" Nina barked in frustration.

"Hey, that's not mine. Why don't you ask him for yourself?" He replied defensively.

Nina glared at him, glancing at the sight of the used condom. Her eyes strayed onit a little longer than before and the sour look was still present on her face. "What'sall that crusty stuff on the edges?" She pointed out in disgust.

"Oh that?" He said, answering plainly. "It's dried up sperm."

"UGH!" She cried out in outrage, peeling her eyes off of the used condom andslapping a hand on her mouth to keep from vomiting. "Please take it out before Ithrow up!"

- 460 -

"What?" He snorted, shaking his head. "No, I'm not touching Jase's moldy sexprotection, you do it. It's your room."

"But I can't!" Nina reasoned in a high pitched voice, arms out. "It's d-disgustingand I've never seen one before!"

Adrian's eyes brightened with mischief. "Well, better start now."

He headed out of the room with laughter trailing after him and Nina unwillinglystared down at the used condom again. This was by far the most disgusting thingshe's ever experienced. If that's what months old sex looked like, she vowed never todo it.

After slipping on latex gloves, grabbing a broom and a dust pin, she swept up theused condom into the dust bin with a gagged look and ran towards the kitchen.Adrian watched with amusement as she disposed of the condom and peeled off hergloves, shaking off the imaginary germs from her body.

"You're paranoid." Adrian commented, chuckling.

Nina glared at him. "No. I'm sure that anybody would find that disgusting."

"Maybe you should sex proof your room and turn it into something more-" hepaused, trying to find the word as his eyes scaled Nina's petite, fully clothed body."Saint Mary-esque."

She gaped at him. "Do you think there's still more of that stuff in my room?"

Adrian smirked at her choice of words. "By stuff you mean condoms, then mostlikely. Jase wasn't one to clean up after himself from a long night of sex."

Nina let out a short shriek and ran out of the kitchen, darting towards her room.He chuckled under his breath when he saw her leave and found out one thing abouther. She really didn't know what sarcasm was.

Adrian headed to her room, not wanting the laughter to discontinue, but when hecame to a stop at her doorway, he wasn't expecting her almost tearful state.

"Uh-" He paused, scratching the side of his face, thinking it was his fault she wassad. Terry would surely kick his ass if he found out about this. "You know I didn'tmean that. I was joking. Jase does clean up after himself, it was just this one time-"

- 461 -

"I'll always be alone." She mumbled under her breath hopelessly.

Adrian stopped, raising an eyebrow. "Huh?"

Nina looked up at him, exhaling a deep breath. "If I'm going to freak out over acondom, how am I going to get a boyfriend?"

Oh shit, Adrian panicked. She was upset because of that? This was not what hesigned up. Nina stared at him to answer, but he couldn't move his lips. He didn'tknow what to say.

"Online dating?" He suggested unsurely, shrugging.

Nina groaned, throwing herself on her bed. Adrian might've given her the wronganswer because she didn't look to happy, but then again, he wasn't one to giveadvice.

"Do you think I'm hopeless in the dating world?" She asked him, looking up at theceiling.

Adrian leaned up against the doorway, studying her. He would've said yes, by theoverwhelming amount of stuff animals crowding her bed that made any guy runhome to safety, but there was this nagging feeling to hold his words.

"You're not hopeless," he blurted out suddenly, surprising himself as he continued."Why do you want a boyfriend anyways?"

"So my friends would stop bothering me for never having one," she answered,pursuing her lips. "And to prove to them that I'm not a lesbian."

He raised an eyebrow at this. "Who's calling you a lesbian?"

Nina shrugged. "People, mainly guys, they would come up and ask me if I was alesbian. I felt like they were encouraging me to be one."

Adrian rolled his eyes, finally walking inside her room to stare down at her. "Guysalways need a reason to see some action. It's stupid, don't listen to them."

Nina got up, supporting herself on her elbows. "I remember you called Cassidy alesbian."

He sighed, sitting at the edge of her bed. "I said it because she didn't want to give- 462 -

me a blow job."

"Why?"

"Guys can't handle rejection so they say whatever they want to get back at theperson." Adrian replied softly.

"Why are guys such assholes?" Nina asked in wonder, making Adrian laugh.

"Because some girls like assholes."

She gaped at him, amazed. "So, guys are assholes because girls like that?" Sheasked him again and he nodded his head. "What the hell is wrong with this world?"

Adrian laughed again. "I have no idea."

Nina sat up, staring over at him in silence. "You're an asshole."

Adrian glanced at her with a blank look, nodding softly. "I am."

"But I don't understand why." Nina said, looking at him in confusion. "You aren'tone just for girls. You can be anybody you want and still get them, so why are you anasshole?"

"You're right, I don't act like an asshole to get girls I just am." Adrian responded,clearly not answering her question. "That's why you don't want a bad guy like me,get someone worthy of your time and attention."

Nina frowned. "If you know you're bad, why don't you change and be someonebetter?"

"You can't change someone that doesn't want it." He answered simply.

She stared at him for a moment, raising an eyebrow. "Why don't you want it?"

Adrian suddenly clapped his hands together, standing up. "Ok, I think that'senough questions for one day."

"But-"

He cut her off. "I have to get ready for class so if you don't see any other objects inthe room, I'll be on my way."

- 463 -

"Adrian-"

"Bye."

He left her room before she could stop him and she sighed, dropping down on herbed once again. No wonder Cassidy said it was hard to get through to him. Now shewanted to know what he was hiding.

"Cassidy!"

She turned around and saw Adrian running up to her. It was surprising becausehe usually didn't start a conversation with her, especially when he looked so earnestto speak with her.

"Hey," she said when he reached her.

"Can I talk to you about something?" He asked, skipping greeting formalities.

Cassidy furrowed her eyebrows, curious to know what he wanted. "Sure."

They both walked into their lecture hall and found their seats at the front. Cassidyturned in her chair to regard him fully and Adrian reached inside his backpack topull out a card, handing it over to her. Curious, she grabbed the card and skimmedover the first few sentences. They were the dates of an event coming the week afterschool was over.

"It's the biggest charity event that my club hosts every year for cancer research."He explained, pointed to the card in her hands. "There's food, drinks, dancing, andart auctions from our graduating fine art students at this school. It's formal attire soeveryone that comes has to dress up."

She looked up from the card, furrowing her eyebrows. "Why are you giving this tome?"

He snorted. "Because you're invited."

"Why?" Cassidy asked curiously. Adrian wasn't known to voluntarily invite hersomewhere unless he wanted to go with her as a potential date...

Adrian sighed, leaning back against his chair. "Look, I'm supposed to invite all the

- 464 -

clubs at this school and since you're a member of that nerdy one, I had to invite you.Club director's orders."

She frowned, from saying that he was obligated to invite her to the way hereferred her club. They might be nerdy, but they were a nice group of people. Sheblamed herself for not being able to attend her club's regular meetings due toschoolwork. "Did you invite them too?"

He nodded. "Yeah, but they declined. They don't like my club or me, so it wasexpected. But I heard they had some comic thing to go to and they rather miss thishighly publicized event for that." He responded, wrinkling his nose.

Cassidy looked down at the card, debating internally whether she should go ornot. If she did decide to go, wouldn't she turn her back on her club? Even thoughshe hasn't been to a single meeting since the breast cancer awareness booth? Sheput the card into her backpack and Adrian raised a single eyebrow.

"So, you're going?" He asked in anticipation.

Cassidy shrugged. "I'll think about it."

Adrian rolled his eyes. "Look, if you think you're betraying your fellow clubmembers, you're not. It's an event that everyone goes to and it's for a great cause.There's no harm in showing up."

"I don't know yet, Adrian. I'll give you an answer when I come up with one."

He shrugged, turning his attention to the front as the professor came bustling in."Whatever."

Cassidy wondered why he cared so much and pressed the matter to her. Did heactually want her to come or feel something for her? "Why do you care?"

His eyes swiveled over to hers lazily. "I have to reach a certain amount of peoplein order for this event to be a success. I need all the invites I can get."

Inwardly she sighed, nodding at his answer. She should've known better, so whydid she feel disappointment when he told her? Maybe she wouldn't go, just to pisshim off.

Mrs. Chatman stood in front of the class, smiling as the loud chatter dimmed downwhen she waited. "Sorry for my lateness, class. Everyone pick up your books and

- 465 -

turn to chapter thirty one."

The room was filled with shuffling as everyone went to get their books out of theirbackpack and turn to the directed page. Cassidy already had her book on her deskso she flipped through the pages and reached to the directed page. What she saw atthe chapter's heading wasn't what she expected and it left her cheeks burning.

"Ok, today we are going to start on the Reproductive system." She saidenthusiastically, clasping her hands and turning to the projector of her notes. Hervoice drone on about what they would be learning and Cassidy sunk lower in herdesk when she saw the image of a penis glaring down at her on the screen. It waslike the teacher knew she touched a penis before and was mocking her for it.

"Great, my favorite chapter." Adrian revealed, smirking.

Cassidy gave him a look. "I'm sure. You certainly know your way around thefemale reproductive organ."

"Don't act like you don't know anything about the male anatomy also." Hecountered, smirking.

Cassidy flushed, turning her head away. "I guess I have you to thank for that." Shesaid bitterly.

"For providing you with the best experience of your life?" Adrian guessed smugly,sporting a proud smirk. "You're welcome."

Cassidy scoffed. "I didn't mean it like that."

"Sure... But don't come yapping to me when you get a good grade on thischapter." He smiled mischievously. "I taught you well."

"You didn't teach me anything."

"Of course I did. You know how to give the best hand jobs and the areas prettywell around mine."

"I was intoxicated when it happened." She mumbled weakly.

"Ah, ah, ah. I think you've got it all wrong, sweetheart. You were sober when youtouched me last and don't you dare deny it." He smirked. "You wanted it, sober anddrunk."

- 466 -

She shot him a glare. "It doesn't matter anymore, because it won't happen again.It's dirty, diseased, and sick. It's probably been in more uteruses than I could eventhink of."

Adrian chuckled. "Well, it can't help to bond with it."

Cassidy fought the urge to dry heave. "No kidding."

"Don't look hurt, Cassidy. You'll get your turn with him soon. I'm sure they will getalong just great." He replied, nudging her on the side as if to suggest it.

"Not in your lifetime." She countered.

Adrian frowned, lowering his eyes to his crotch. "You know, your making himpretty upset right now. You should say sorry."

Cassidy gaped at him incredulously, doing a quick search around the room to seeif anybody was looking at him in the way she was when he stared openly at hiscrotch. Though, nobody was because they were either texting away on their cellphones or falling asleep. "Are you out of your mind? You're clearly unstable."

"I'm perfectly fine, but he is still upset. You should cheer him up a bit, you knowgive him a little pat on the back or maybe a massage would do the trick." He winked.

"Can you please stop referring to your penis as a real person?" Cassidy hissedloudly.

The room suddenly became silent and she looked around again, noticing that hervoice wasn't actually quiet this time. Curious eyes were staring at her and Cassidygulped, turning her body straight to the front. Mrs. Chatman stopped speaking andher eyes found Cassidy at the front row.

"Is there a problem, young lady?" Mrs. Chatman asked, raising a stern eyebrow.

"No, sorry." She mumbled embarrassingly, her eyes on the floor.

The professor stared at her one last time before proceeding on to the rest of herlecture. Cassidy flushed, sinking in her chair from embarrassment and Adrianchuckled under his breath.

"Shut up." Cassidy whispered angrily with red tinted cheeks, bowing her head in- 467 -

shame from the pressing stares around her.

"Hey, I did nothing." Adrian defended amusingly, leaning close to her. "But youwant to know something?"

"What." She said through gritted teeth, making sure her voice was toned down.

"After what you practically announced in front of the class, you've got him prettyhot right now. You're forgiven."

Cassidy shrieked, leaping out of her chair. Mrs. Chatman raised both of hereyebrows at her action, stopping her lecture once again. She turned around to theteacher, pointing at Adrian.

"I can't sit next to him." Cassidy announced angrily. "He's disturbing my learningexperience."

"I'll give you some real experience." Adrian commented in a low tone only for herto hear.

Cassidy glared at him. "Do you ever quit?"

"Not when I'm around you, baby." He replied, winking at her.

"Young lady, I advise you to take your seat and be quiet. You're just going to haveto tough it out." Mrs. Chatman said strictly.

"Aren't you going to move his seat or something?" She asked in disbelief.

"This isn't grade school."

"Right..." Cassidy replied, reluctantly sitting back into her seat.

"If I hear one more peep out of you again, I'm kicking you out of class. I can'tafford anymore of your disruptions."

Cassidy nodded her head, gulping. She never got in trouble at school before; allher past teachers loved her. It was Adrian's sexual comments that caused thewarning. If he never knew who she was, she wouldn't be in this problem right now.Her entire career was going to fall because of him.

Mrs. Chatman started the lecture once again and Cassidy didn't bother picking up- 468 -

her pen as she was too afraid to cause another disruption.

Adrian glanced at her, smirking. "There's really no use of getting rid of me,Cassidy."

Cassidy kept her face straight ahead, frowning. "Why not? I'm trying to payattention and you're bothering me."

He shrugged. "I want to have some fun."

"Go have it somewhere else." She hissed, her eyebrows creasing.

"I rather have it with you." Adrian revealed huskily.

Cassidy swiveled her head to him, irritated. She was fed up with his stubbornnature, but more so his incomprehension of the word 'no.' Did he always get what hewanted growing up? Even now? He had some sort of problem.

"Have you ever thought about checking yourself into sex rehab?"

Adrian snorted at the stupidity of the question. "I don't have a sex addiction."

"Then why do you do it all the time?"

He shrugged. "For pleasure."

"Do you do anything else besides sex?"

"Sure. I play some sports, watch it on TV, eat, and sleep." He listed off lazily.

Cassidy scoffed. "You're such a guy."

"Why does it sound so bad when you say it?" He smirked.

"Because it's true." She said, giving him a sidelong glance. "I like guys withintelligence, can keep a conversation, make me laugh, and are genuine."

"That sounds like a little bitch to me." Adrian snorted, chuckling under his breath.

She shot a glare to him. "You don't understand because you don't want anything todo with the female population besides have sex with them."

- 469 -

Adrian turned his head towards her, his green eyes suggestive. "I'm doingsomething with you though."

"Which is? She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm talking to you, aren't I?"

"That's not the point." Cassidy sighed at his misunderstanding. "Yes, we might betalking, but it's nothing informative. I don't know anything about you Adrian becauseyou won't let me."

Adrian's smirk faltered and he gave her a half shrug. "I like to keep my distance."

"Why?"

"Let's just say that I rather be a mystery than an experiment."

She narrowed her eyes, frowning faintly. "I don't treat you like that."

"Yes, you do." Adrian said defensively. "What's wrong with having a good time andnot being all serious?"

"Life is not all fun and games." Cassidy whispered, glancing at the teachercautiously so she wouldn't be caught talking. "There is a time for fun and a time tobe serious."

"You need to loosen up, Cassidy. You're too serious." Adrian said, raising aneyebrow. "Was there a time at all where you had any fun?"

She hesitated. "Yes...No-I don't know."

He rolled his eyes. "See, that's your problem. You don't even know for sure, but Ican take a wild guess. It's a no, isn't it?"

Cassidy didn't respond with a reply, giving him a blank look.

"That's where I come into the picture, Cassidy." Adrian said, twirling his pencil inhis hand. "I'm here to bring you the fun that you never knew existed. Why do youthink I took you sky diving or to all those parties? To get you to loosen up and actlike a young adult in college."

"Sure you did your fair share of taking me to activities that I've never done before,- 470 -

but none of those things to me were fun." Cassidy replied bitterly.

"That's the college experience. You have to do things you don't like sometimes."He shrugged.

"It doesn't matter that I'm socially inept to you or your friends. This conversationisn't about me anyways."

"Then what is it about?" Adrian inquired, noticing her pointed stare. "Me?"

She hesitated slightly, sensing his anger. "Yes."

Cassidy was hitting the touchy subject and he knew that if she continued, itwouldn't end well for her.

"As much as I love talking about myself, you're heading it in a different direction."Adrian mocked playfully, his tone meant as a warning. "I'm not going to tell youanything, Cassidy, so stop questioning me. You won't get anywhere."

"I just want to understand why you perceive things differently from most people."

"I don't want you to," He snapped.

"Why not?"

"It's none of your business."

Cassidy sighed, turning away from him. She didn't want to fight with him again,but she wanted him to open up to her.

"Talking to you is like talking to a wall." She remarked under her breath.

Adrian had his head turned away from her and was actually paying attention tothe professor for once. He was doing it again, giving her the silent treatment. Shefelt like she was so close to knowing who he really was, but he quickly retreatedinside his head. Why did she even care? Cassidy thought she wanted him to get outof her life, but now she didn't know what to think anymore.

"I need help." Cassidy announced upon entering Nina's doorway, sensing hersurprise as she looked up at her at the desk of her computer with wide eyes.

- 471 -

"Geez, Cassidy! Can you not do that?" Nina exclaimed, running a frazzled handthrough her hair. "You scared the crap out of me!"

Cassidy, ignoring her shock, shut the door and sat at the edge of her bed. Ninaswiveled her computer chair to face her and watched as Cassidy's leg sprang up anddown anxiously.

"Ok, what's going on?" Nina inquired curiously, glancing from her jumpy legs toher frustrated face.

"I don't know," Cassidy replied, rubbing her forehead.

Nina rolled her eyes, obviously knowing the source of her frustration. "Is itAdrian?"

Her eyes darted to her friend, shocked by the reply. "Yeah, how did you-?"

"You're always frustrated because of him, so what did he do this time?"

Cassidy told her about the invite of his charity event and how he pressed about ifshe was going or not. Skipping the embarrassing parts of Adrian talking about hispenis, she said the rest about him not opening up and ignoring her at the end ofclass.

"He likes to shut people out a lot, doesn't he?" Nina said.

Cassidy nodded. "Yeah, has he been doing that a lot with you?"

She shrugged. "Somewhat. I tried to tell him why he won't change for the bettereven though he knows he's bad, but he didn't say much. He only told me that youcan't change someone who doesn't want it."

"Sounds like him."

Nina nodded. "Yeah..." She trailed off, staring back at Cassidy. "So, are you goingto that charity event?"

She sighed. "I don't know. It seemed like he only invited me because he wasforced to and to reach his maximum quota."

"Well, forced or not, I think you should go. It sounds cool."

- 472 -

Cassidy turned to face her. "I'll go only if you go with me."

Nina smiled. "Sure."

"Great."

The two were silent for a while, staring off into the distance of the room. Athought crossed Nina and she swiveled her chair back and forth.

"Can I ask you something?"

Cassidy turned her head, furrowing her eyebrows. "Sure, what is it?"

"Do you like Adrian?" She asked, somewhat hesitantly.

Cassidy blanched, dropping her eyes to the floor. Her cheeks started heating up attheir own accord without her consent. "W-Why do you ask?"

Nina shrugged. "I don't know, I mean usually when Adrian bothers you, you getreally annoyed and tell him to leave you alone, but lately it's not like that." Shereplied. "You're interested in his life and you want to get in, but he's not letting youand that frustrates you. Though, you keep doing it, so there could only be onereason for that."

"I don't like him," Cassidy stated immediately, looking up at Nina and then to thefloor. "I just want to know more about him."

"Usually when someone wants to get to know someone that means they areinterested in said person."

"You think that I Iike him?" Cassidy asked incredulously, both eyebrows rose.

Nina nodded. "Yeah, even though you don't want to admit it."

"I-I can't-" She stopped herself, shaking her head. "No, it can't be. Adrian is-"

"Bad? Vulgar? Out of control?" Nina guessed, raising an eyebrow. "You want tochange that."

Cassidy laughed at the hilarity. "I do not."

"Yes, you do." Nina pressed. - 473 -

She stopped laughing and all humor wiped from her face. "So, you're saying that Ilike him and I want to change him?"

"Yup," Nina replied, nodding.

"What if, hypothetically you're right, what do you think I should do?" Cassidyasked.

"Hypothetically speaking." She added in quickly.

"I'm not really good at giving advice, but this is the only thing I'm going to tellyou." Nina started, edging from her chair. "Proceed with caution."

Cassidy raised her eyebrow at this and Nina continued.

"You don't know him well enough, Cassidy. He could be playing you right underyour nose and you wouldn't even know it. Guys have the tendency to trick womenand you need to be careful, especially with Adrian. He has trouble written all over."

"But it could be just a face he's putting on. He's not really trouble, that's just theimage he is putting out to get girls to like him."

"Yes, but you don't." Nina clarified and sighed softly. "Cassidy, don't let yourselfget into deep ok? Take it one step at a time and if you feel that he is what you say heis, than go ahead and pursue him."

Cassidy bit her bottom lip, knowing now that they weren't speaking inhypothetical terms anymore. "Do you think that I'm in trouble with this right now?"

"I would say that you are close to it." Nina whispered, frowning faintly. Cassidysaw the sadness in her eyes and she knew it had something to do with Kathleen.Their friend was lost and Nina didn't want the same happening to her, though Ninashouldn't worry because Cassidy was a lot stronger than that.

"Ok, well it's easy to get rid of these feelings. I just won't see him in that wayanymore." Cassidy said offhandedly, shrugging like it's no big deal.

"You can't just wish away your feelings like that, Cassidy, it's not that easy. Thesethings take time." Nina stared at her seriously. "Trust me. I should know. I've hadway too many crushes in the past and they only ended when I found the guy waseither a cheating bastard or was gay."

- 474 -

Cassidy laughed at that, feeling the tension lighten a bit. Her mood sobered upand she smiled slightly. "Like or not, I don't think I could ever get close to Adrian ina romantic level. The potential of getting my heart crushed is high. He could do a lotof damage on me and not care so that's why I can't like him."

Nina frowned, clasping her hands together. "But you already do, Cassidy. You justdon't want to admit it to yourself for fear of getting hurt."

Cassidy lowered her head down, staring down at her legs. Nina was right. All thistime, she's liked Adrian, but never fully revealed it to herself. Now it seemed all tooreal and she didn't know how to handle it. Should she follow through with thelikeness or just go about her days as normal? She sighed. Liking someone was hardwork.

"Don't stress yourself out, Cassidy. You might like him now, but that can change.So, go with the flow and keep doing what you're doing."

Cassidy chuckled softly. "For someone who sucks at giving advice, you reallyhelped me out a lot. Thank you Nina."

Nina smiled. "No need for thanks, just trying to help a friend out."

Cassidy opened her mouth to reply, but then she heard argumentative voicesoutside of Nina's door. One sounded very much like Adrian and the other wasdistinctly a woman's voice. Cassidy snapped her neck to Nina in confusion and fearshowed in her eyes. What if Adrian was bringing a woman to the apartment to havesex with her? Nina sensed her fear and gestured her head to the door.

"Go see who it is." Nina said softly.

Cassidy rose up from her bed and softly padded across her room, opening the doorslightly. There she saw Adrian's back with his hand gripping the door handle,arguing at someone from the doorway. Cassidy tried to peer over his shoulder, butshe couldn't see the person.

Cassidy gave Nina one last glance before leaving her room and slowly trekkingdown the front of the apartment. The words were becoming more audible andCassidy stood beside the wall, hidden from their view to hear.

"What are you doing?" Adrian hissed harshly. "I told you only to come here whenthere's an emergency."

- 475 -

"It is an emergency, Adrian." The woman replied urgently, pausing for a moment."You didn't show up to dinner last week."

Silence filled the air and Adrian spoke softly. "I didn't want to come."

"Adrian, I haven't seen you for almost a year." The woman said sadly, sighing.

Cassidy stepped out of her hiding spot and edged closer to the front, trying to geta look at the upset woman who was desperately wanting to see Adrian. If she wasbeing honest with herself, she was a little jealous. It seemed she and Adrian had alittle bit of history together.

"Please, come by and see-"

"No, I won't." Adrian said immediately. "Now leave me alone like you have beendoing."

Adrian was about to swing the door close, but the woman stopped it fromslamming and she took a step inside. Cassidy caught a glimpse of her dark short hairand took a few steps closer. "You know, you are taking this too far. I had to come allthe way over here just to-" The woman stopped when her eyes met Cassidy's inmid-lecture and Cassidy's stomach dropped. Unconsciously, her body was movingforward and she didn't mean to be found out.

The woman dropped her pointed finger at Adrian and smiled at Cassidy. Her kindeyes were cerulean blue and her short dark hair reached to her shoulders. She had afew wrinkles at the edges of her eyelids, but she was beautiful nonetheless. Adrianwhirled around and found Cassidy frozen in spot with wide eyes. He glared at herwith such intensity that she wanted to run out the apartment at that moment, buther immobile legs wouldn't let her.

"Well, hello there. Who are you?" The lady asked enthusiastically.

Cassidy gulped at her dry mouth and cleared her throat. "C-Cassidy."

"It's nice to meet you, Cassidy." The woman kept a keen eye on Adrian, obviouslywaiting for him to say something, but when he didn't she turned back to smile atCassidy. "Forgive Adrian for his bad manners, my name is Karen."

Karen walked passed Adrian and extended her hand out to Cassidy.

"I'm his mother."- 476 -

A/N: Hey guys, I didn't mean to not update. School is a pain in the ass right nowand it's hard juggling everything at once. To get the ball rolling with this story, I'lludpate again either later on today or tomorrow morning! Thanks for reading! :)

P.S: For those of you who can't read chapter 25, there's a link on my wall to readit! I think you have to fan me first, I don't know. I'm still a newbie here.

- 477 -

Meeting the Other Lennox

Chapter 27: Meeting the Other Lennox

Cassidy shook her hand robotically, glancing from her to Adrian. The similaritiesin hair and facial structure were definitely the same, but Adrian's was more rugged.Karen smiled at her warmly and Cassidy forgot that she had yet to respond.

"It's nice to meet you too," she piped up when they were done shaking hands.

It was a weak reply, but Cassidy didn't know what else to say. From herknowledge, Adrian didn't talk about his family unless he was drunk, but even then itstill wasn't enough. Why was Adrian keeping his family away from his life? Hismother seemed like a good person to be around. Cassidy wondered if she wasstaying over for a little while. Maybe she could get to know his mom a little bitbetter.

"So, are you-"

Adrian budged between the two quickly, pushing Cassidy aside and she grunted."Ok, sorry to cut this introduction short, but you have to go mom I have somewhereto be soon."

Karen frowned. "Where?"

"Out," He replied shortly, not elaborating as he brought her over to the door. "I'llcall you tomorrow and-"

"Adrian, whatever you have to do it can wait." Karen said sternly, sidesteppinghim. "I have to speak to you now and besides, I know you won't call me. You have ahorrible way of reaching out to others."

Karen walked off down the hall into the living room, her heels clicking after.Cassidy couldn't help but laugh at her response because she was right. Adrian onlycontacted people when he felt like it. He never went by orders from someone else.When Karen was out of their sight, Adrian growled and turned his head sharply toCassidy, making her flinch.

"Go back to Nina's room and stay out of my way." Adrian ordered keenly, glaringat her. He walked away when she didn't reply back and he took her silence as his

- 478 -

answer.

Furious with the way she was handled by him, she did as he said and went back toNina's room. Nina swiveled her chair around and furrowed her eyebrows atCassidy's frustrated expression.

"What happened?" She asked. "Who was it?"

"It's Adrian's mom." Cassidy answered softly.

"What do you want, mom?" Adrian asked suspiciously, sitting at the opposite sideof the room.

Karen raised her eyebrow. "I thought I made it clear when I came over. I miss youand I want you to come back home."

"Not a chance in hell," He replied quickly in anger.

"Honey, do you really have to use those words?" Karen asked wearily, rubbing hertemples. "We all thought you were coming over to Thanksgiving last week, but whenyou didn't show up, it really hurt me and your father."

Adrian scoffed, crossing his arms. "Oh really? That's rich. Dad isn't usual the oneto care."

"You know that he loves you," Karen said softly. "He just has a different way ofshowing it."

"Whatever," he mumbled harshly, looking up at her. "Are we done here?"

"No," Karen denied furiously, tired of his insolence. "We are not done until I saywe're done. You hear me?"

Adrian sat back into his couch, uncrossing his arms and putting them to his sides.Whenever his mother was reaching to her breaking point, he knew when to stop andobey her. She was the only woman that could do that.

Karen brushed a stray strand of her hair behind her ear and frowned to herself. "Ithurts me, as your mother, to hear you say things like that to me."

"I'm sorry," Adrian said softly.

- 479 -

She looked at her son, giving him a light smile. She got up from her seat andwalked over to sit on the other side of his couch. "I miss you honey, please comeover this weekend for dinner."

Adrian opened his mouth to object, but Karen cut him off. "Your father will be outof town for business. It'll just be the two of us."

He sighed, knowing there wasn't any other way to get rid of her. "Fine."

Karen grinned. "I better see you."

He rolled his eyes. "You will."

Karen wrapped her arms around him and he hugged her back. She gave him anice soft pat on the back and released him.

"So, who was that lovely girl at the door?" Karen asked curiously. "Cassie, was it?"

"It's Cassidy and she's no one." Adrian replied hastily.

She furrowed her eyebrows. "Then why is she staying at your apartment?"

"Oh, her friend lives here. Her name is Nina." He filled in.

"Why is there a girl living here?" Karen inquired, quite shockingly.

"She needed a place to stay on short notice and Terry offered her a room sincetheir cousins."

"What happened to Jase honey?" She said curiously. "I thought he lived here?"

Adrian's jaw tightened. "He moved out."

"Why?"

"I don't know." He shrugged uncaringly.

Karen sighed under her breath, but didn't press no further. It seemed thateveryone had a problem with Adrian's short answers.

A distant noise of a door being shut down the hall caught their attention and they- 480 -

both turned their necks to see who it was. Cassidy walked out timidly from Nina'sroom, noticing their stares as she came by.

"Sorry I didn't mean to interrupt, I was just leaving."

Karen laughed, swatting her hand in the air. "Oh nonsense dear, come sit withus."

Cassidy unconsciously glanced to Adrian and she saw the warning glare in hisgreen eyes. Obviously he didn't want her there and she wasn't going to stay if shedidn't feel welcomed. Cassidy faced Karen with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Ican't. I'm expected at home any time soon."

Karen smiled in return. "It's quite alright dear, I understand." She paused,glancing at Adrian's current glare towards Cassidy.

She furrowed her eyebrows, wondering what the poor girl did to make her son soangry than an idea struck. A beaming grin came upon her lips as she stood up fromher seat to walk towards Cassidy.

Cassidy swallowed at her throat, wringing her hands behind her back. There wassomething in Adrian's mom's eyes that she found odd.

"What are your plans for this weekend?" Karen asked curiously.

She hesitated. "Um, well since it's the last week of school, I assume I won't bedoing much." She paused, her nerves clearly shown in her tone. "W-Why do youask?"

"I want to invite you over to my house for dinner," Karen declared, smiling. "It'lljust be the three of us."

Cassidy hesitated again, chancing a look at Adrian. His face darkened, lookingalmost murderous. Again, she didn't feel like she was welcomed so it was better todecline even though Karen was such a sweet woman.

"I-I don't know," She stuttered, out of excuses.

"Oh sure you do!" Karen exclaimed, glancing at Adrian. "Wouldn't you like her tocome, Adrian?"

Adrian rose slowly from the couch, stalking towards Cassidy. She took a step back- 481 -

and almost flinched, not liking this new, scary attitude he was presenting. It was likehe was a different person, a much terrifying one.

"Yeah mom, I would love for her to come." Adrian drawled out bitterly, toweringover her.

Whether Karen couldn't hear the malice in his tone or not, clapped her handstogether. "Great! Well, I have to go, there's a bunch of errands that I need to getdone, but I'll see you both at the house on Saturday and don't forget to take her withyou Adrian."

She patted him on the shoulder and smiled at both of them. "See you thisweekend!"

Karen let herself out of the apartment and once the door shut, Adrian snapped hisneck to Cassidy.

"I dare you to even think about coming to my house this Friday." He hissedfuriously.

Cassidy narrowed her eyes into a glare. "I guess that's too bad because I am." Shesaid strongly, smirking as she saw the shock in his eyes.

She was getting tired of his rudeness and ordering her around like she was somemaid. It was time that she turned things around and had the upper hand.

"Don't forget to pick me up on Saturday. You wouldn't want to upset your mom."

Cassidy left the apartment before he could say anything back, but she knew hewasn't going to. His jaw was dropped to the floor when she turned her back on him.

When the weekend was over, Cassidy's mind was on one thing, school. She wasliving and breathing her school textbooks, studying up on material for her finalexams. It still came to her as a shock that the first semester of her college year wasalmost over. It seemed like just yesterday she was wandering around campus, tryingto figure out what buildings correlate with which classes she had. Now, it wasending and she needed to end the semester flawlessly.

There was no time for fooling around or thinking about things, specifically"people," she wasn't supposed to be thinking about. She would see Adrian in class orsometimes around campus, but she did her best to avoid him and it seemed he wastoo. He didn't make any attempt to acknowledge her since that day at his house

- 482 -

when his mother made a surprise visit. It wasn't like it was her fault that she wasasked to dinner.

His mom was very insistent and there was no way she could get out of it. Besides,Adrian made her angry with all his ordering around and she had to put her footdown. Cassidy wasn't some stupid girl who followed other's demands. She did thingson her own and now, she was going to Adrian's house for dinner this weekend. Ahuge part of her was really nervous, not knowing what to expect, but the other partwas oddly excited. Who knew what she was going to expect when she went overthere.

Cassidy explained this all to Nina when they met up for lunch on campus, inbetween studying and eating for final exams.

"It's weird how sweet is mom is, you would think that her children would be too."She snorted. "He was even yelling at her once I came into your room."

Nina sipped on her water bottle, capping the top. "Well, it doesn't surprise memuch. He is generally rude."

"Yeah I know. He practically threatened me not to come to his house for dinnerwhen his mom asked me too. He is so childish." She replied, taking a bite out of hersandwich.

Nina frowned, a sudden thought occurring to her. "I wouldn't go if I were you."

"Why?" Cassidy asked, somewhat surprised that she would say something likethat.

"What if he doesn't show to pick you up? Even though his mom told him too, thatdoesn't he's going to."

Cassidy mewed over her response, a concentrating line forming on her forehead.Why would Adrian accept what his mom said and take her to his house? He was veryprivate about everything and it only made sense that he wouldn't pick her up. Thelast thing he would want to do was open up his home to her.

"You're right." Cassidy sighed, pushing her textbook aside to gather her troubledthoughts. "You're completely right. How could I be so stupid?"

"You're not stupid, Cassidy." Nina replied firmly. "You like him. Of course youwant to go to dinner at his house. It's not your fault you feel this way."

- 483 -

Cassidy frowned, bowing her head to the table. "There's no way I can deny it now,is there?"

"No."

She sighed, raising her head a little to look at Nina. "You must think I'm crazy forliking him."

Nina chuckled, shrugging. "You can't help who you like."

"Still, it is stupid. The guy has girls practically running after him every second ofthe day. It's impossible to even have him like me back. There is just no way."

"Don't write yourself off like that," Nina shook her head in disapproval. "You don'tknow, so don't make judgments."

"But you have to admit that nobody can claim his interest, not even me." Shegestured to herself in exclamation. "I'm a virgin for Pete's sake. He loves sex and Idon't think I can give him that."

"So what? You shouldn't give him your virginity. God knows what he will do afterhe does the deed," Nina sighed sadly.

"You think he would...ignore me?" Cassidy trailed off softly.

Nina nodded. "With his track record and the many broken heart stories I hearfrom Terry, there is no doubt in my mind that would happen."

"It doesn't matter anymore, it's not like I'm going to do anything aboutthis...crush." Cassidy remarked, looking down at her watch. "I have to go though, myexam is in twenty minutes."

Cassidy started to pack her textbook in her bag and Nina replied, "But you stillhave enough time to stay."

"All the good seats get taken," She clarified, zipping up her backpack andthrowing it over her shoulder. "Good luck with your exams."

Nina smiled. "You too."

Cassidy turned to leave, but stopped at Nina's voice. "And hey, don't worry aboutthis crush so much. It's ok to like someone."

- 484 -

Cassidy craned her neck, smiling sadly. "Not if that likeness isn't received."

She walked off to the direction of her class, being muddled by her thoughts of theexam and Adrian. It wasn't healthy for her to like someone as bad and dangerous ashim. She would have to do something in order to get rid of her feelings. Even ifsomething were to happen between them, the ending result will be painful. Cassidyhasn't experienced anything like that before and she didn't want to.

When the anxiety of studying each piece of material from every class was over,Cassidy couldn't believe her first semester of college was done. Her exams wentsmoothly and she used her time wisely by going back through each of her questions,making sure she made the right marks. Adrian still ignored her when she made it to

Biology and even after she was done, he wasn't there. She didn't notice hefinished early and that made her wonder about his grade. Was he doing well in theclass, even though he finished before two hundred students in the lectureclassroom?

Cassidy rubbed her temples to ease her headache of thinking about Adrian. Shereally needed to stop the obsession. It was getting ridiculous.

To busy herself, she sat in front of the television eating popcorn and watching atrashy reality show. School was over and it was the weekend, she didn't haveanymore priorities. It was weird to not do anything because she had this itchingfeeling to do something. Cassidy concentrated on the show to get rid of her thoughtsand when she was finally getting immersed into it, the doorbell rang.

She sighed, getting up from her wonderful lounging spot on the couch and placingthe popcorn bowl on the coffee table.

"I'll get it." She shouted down the hall to her parent's room, walking over to thedoor.

Cassidy brushed the popcorn kernels off her wide t-shirt and opened the door. Theperson or guy, that stood on the other side made her blink repeatedly, thinking itwas all a dream and she might've slept through the trashy reality show she put on.

"W-What are you doing here?" She asked in surprise, wiping her kernel stainedhands at the hem on her shirt.

Adrian narrowed his eyes at her outfit, looking at her in disapproval. "I come topick you up and you're wearing that?"

- 485 -

"Huh?" She replied, getting confused.

He looked irritated as he stared down at her. "It's Saturday, my mom's stupiddinner party. Did you forget already?"

"I-I thought that," Cassidy stopped herself, balling up the hem of her shirt. "Ithought you weren't going to take me."

Adrian rolled his eyes, leaning against the doorway. "And why did you think that?"

"Because you ignored me the whole week," she answered in accusation, crossingher arms.

He sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Look, I don't have time to listen to yourstuttering, just get dressed into something less grandma-ish and meet me at thecar."

Adrian walked away before she could answer and she stood watching hisretreating back, debating whether she should change her clothes. He was acting likehis usual rude self and a part of her didn't want to get ready just to spite him. Butshe couldn't ignore the way he made her heart flutter when she saw him at herdoorstep so she closed the door and hurried to her room to change.

After she was done, she told her parents that she was going to the movies withNina and once they believed her fib, she walked outside to Adrian's car. Once shegot in, she put her seat belt on and Adrian gunned the engine, glancing at her. Hiseyes traveled to her white dress skirt all the way to her black knee length skirt,going agonizingly slow. Cassidy flushed under his gaze, pulling the hem of her skirtfarther down.

"What?" She asked, referring to his stare.

Adrian blinked his eyes, facing forward. "Nothing."

"You told me to put something on that didn't resemble a grandma." She pointedout.

"I know," he muttered, not bothering to comment further.

He drove out of her neighborhood and Cassidy kept her eyes on him, curiousabout his moody behavior. She turned her head to focus elsewhere and fixed the

- 486 -

hem of her skirt again. The way he looked at her made her feel weird but warminside for some reason.

The car ride was quiet and it was making her feel uncomfortable. She bet hewasn't having much of a hard time like she was. Cassidy glanced at him and saw hisconcentrated gaze, focused on the road and nothing else. Light conversationwouldn't be that bad, right?

"So, how's your winter break so far?" Cassidy asked through the thick silence.

"Uneventful." He replied, not looking at her when he spoke.

She wanted to roll her eyes at his short answers, but continued anyways. "Howdid you do on your exams?"

"Average."

"What about Biology?"

He just shrugged, keeping one hand on the wheel as he drove with ease. Cassidystifled a frustrated sigh and sunk in her seat, crossing over "light conversation." Hewas the most infuriating person to talk to because he didn't say anything! He barelysaid two words!

Cassidy decided to take a different approach, a more personal one. "So, whyhaven't you seen your mom for almost a year?"

Adrian whipped his neck to her in surprise, forgetting that she was spying on himand his mom when she came to visit last week. "It's none of your business."

"Oh come on," Cassidy exclaimed irritably, ignoring his anger. "We don't stoptalking to our parents because we want to. You must've done something wrong topiss them off."

"Why don't you just lay off, ok?" He snapped.

"It can't be that bad," she rolled her eyes.

Adrian tightened his grip on the steering wheel, the veins of his arms popping up."Not if the cops show up on Christmas day."

"W-Were you-" She swallowed hard at her throat. "Arrested?" - 487 -

He chuckled darkly, sending shivers down her spine. "Oh yeah."

"D-Did you-" her voiced trembled as she edged closer to the car door. "Killsomeone?"

Adrian turned his head to hers, his eyes grave. "Yeah, my own father."

Cassidy gasped, her stomach dropping as her hand flew to the handle of the door.She tried to open it, but it was locked. She knew all along he was a murderer andnow he was going to kill her next.

"You're not going anywhere," he said, snickering. "Because you're next."

Cassidy couldn't breath. Her heart was racing with fear and sweat was beginningto form on her forehead. "Let me go," she replied in terror, gripping the handle sohard that she thought her hand might bleed. "LET ME GO!"

Adrian stopped behind a car at the red light, erupting in laughter. He let his headfall behind the seat as more chuckles emitted out of his throat in sheer pleasure,holding a hand to his chest.

Cassidy watched him with bewilderment, debating whether she should call thepolice to send him to a mental institution. Once the light turned green, Adrianbreathed deeply through a laugh, pressing the gas.

"You are so easy to fool," He said breathlessly, sounding suffocated.

Her jaw dropped and the anger started to seep through. "You mean-"

"Of course none of that shit was true," Adrian said, his eyes twinkling withamusement. "I can't believe you still think I'm capable of murder."

Cassidy shrieked in frustration in the car, shaking her fists at him. He laughed ather anger, not bothering to conceal his enjoyment.

"You asshole!" She exclaimed furiously, clenching and unclenching her fists. "Ifyou weren't driving right now, I would've punched you in the face."

Adrian rolled his eyes at the insignificant threat. "I'm pretty sure I would'vestopped that from happening. You're too small and innocent to do anythingdangerous."

- 488 -

She huffed, crossing her arms around her chest and glaring out the windshield.Now she really wasn't looking forward to dinner with his mom.

"Why did you do that?" She asked in a snippy tone. "Do you think it's funny to lieabout killing someone?"

"You were asking too many questions and I wanted you to shut up."

"Why didn't you say so?" Cassidy exclaimed, throwing her hands out in front ofher. "I would've stopped since you're obviously the worse conversationalist in theworld!"

"I am not!" He countered, appalled.

"You think one word answers make good conversation?"

Adrian paused to consider it for a moment, than nodded his head. "Yeah."

Cassidy sighed, sinking back into her seat. "You have a lot to learn."

"And you don't?" He snorted, giving her a sidelong glance. "How about this, youteach me how to talk properly and I'll show you all the great sex positions."

Cassidy wrinkled her nose in disgust. "I'll take a rain check," she paused, lookingat the clock and noticing that thirty minutes have passed. "Where do your parent'slive?"

"A half an hour away from campus," He answered, turning on his signal to anapproaching neighborhood. "We're here so don't complain."

"I wasn't going to," Cassidy said defensively, looking out the car window to see theresidential area.

The houses they passed by we're like any other neighborhood. It wasmedium-sized with each house resembling the next. Nothing screamed wealthy orlower class. It was a suburban area where the lawns were clean cut and the carsparked on the driveway.

Adrian stopped his car by a well lit house with rose bushes at the front and gravelsurrounding it. A small, green lawn was to the left with no dead reed in sight.

They both got out of the car and walked up the door by a few concrete steps.- 489 -

Adrian rung the doorbell and hung back, his shoe tapping against the floor. Cassidyglanced at him and wondered if he was nervous. He wasn't showing any kind ofexpression, but his legs were jittery.

Karen opened the door and beamed at the sight of both of them, holding herhands to her chest. "I'm so glad you two showed up!" She exclaimed, moving thedoor wider. "Come in!"

Cassidy smiled in return and Adrian nodded to his mom, shoving his hands in hispockets as they went inside. Karen closed the door and stood in front of them.

"I'm almost finished with dinner so until then, make yourselves at home!"

Karen walked off towards the kitchen and Cassidy could tell she was excited fortheir arrival. There was a little bounce in her step when she walked away.

"Your mom is..." she trailed off, trying to find the right word.

"Weird? I know." He filled in, exasperated.

"No, nice." Cassidy said, smiling.

Adrian looked at her blankly, not knowing how to answer. "...oh"

"You don't think so?" She questioned, noticing his features.

"No, it's just... let's go to the kitchen."

Adrian walked away strictly, leaving her at the front. His abrupt change of topicbaffled her, but she followed him anyways. Karen was bustling in the kitchen with awooden spoon in her hand and a baking glove in the other. Her eyes lit up when shesaw us walk in.

"I hope you like chicken alfredo, Cassidy."

She smiled, nodding. "I do."

Karen smiled back, going to the stove and stirring her ingredients around. Adrianstood there awkwardly, pursuing his lips shut and watching his mom at work.

"I'll be in the bathroom," He said suddenly.

- 490 -

Karen turned her head, nodding. "Ok."

Adrian left the kitchen, not bothering to take Cassidy with him. She glared at hisretreating back and went to sit on a bar stool near the kitchen.

"Thanks for inviting me to dinner." Cassidy said, smiling.

Karen beamed. "Oh dear, you are certainly most welcome! Guests are alwayswelcome at my home."

"Thank you."

Karen put her wooden spoon on the counter, placing a hand on her hip. "So, howdid you and my son meet?"

Cassidy hesitated, not expecting the question as it caught her off guard. Shecouldn't tell his mom that he asked her for a blow job and the rest was history. Itwas best to keep it simple and short. "Um, we share the same class and we just kindof...met."

"Oh that's nice." She replied, her eyebrows creasing in thought. "I've never seenAdrian have a friend as a girl before. He's actually never had a girlfriend, much toour knowledge."

"Really?" Cassidy said in surprise, her eyebrows shooting up. "He's very suavewith the ladies."

Karen chuckled, grabbing the spoon back to mix the ingredients. "Yes, a trait fromhis father's, but I have yet to meet any of them except for you dear."

"Well, I'm not his girlfriend." Cassidy assured her flatly.

"It looks to me that you're on your way up to becoming it," Karen winked.

Cassidy laughed sheepishly, her cheek warming. "No, it's not like that."

"Sure it is, you two just haven't noticed it yet."

Cassidy flushed and bowed her head to hide the pink tint forming at her cheeks.Adrian walked into the kitchen, folding the cuffs of his black blazer.

"What did I miss?" - 491 -

Her head shot up at Adrian in surprise and Karen smiled. "Nothing, Cassidy wasjust telling me about herself."

Adrian turned to Cassidy and saw the rosy blush at her cheeks, but he didn'tcomment further. Cassidy was grateful that Adrian's mom didn't say anything abouttheir short conversation.

Karen wiped her hands on a dish towel. "Why don't you two set up the table? Thefood will be out in a minute."

He nodded, taking the plates and silverware that were out on the counter andCassidy took the stacked cups. She followed him to the circular dinner table andthey started to place the dinnerware on the table cloths. Cassidy glanced at Adrianever so often, noting the fall of his dark brown hair on his forehead and his softgreen eyes. He was...beautiful to her and yet so unattainable. She didn't understandwhy he wouldn't be open with anyone. Was he burned by trust or did he just like tokeep to himself?

Adrian caught her stare and Cassidy quickly turned her head away, placing thelast glass beside a plate. "Where's your dad?" She asked, trying to alleviate herembarrassment.

Adrian bristled, hesitating. "Uh, he couldn't make it, something about a businesstrip."

Cassidy eyed him intently, noticing his negative reaction to her question. Karencame into the dining area and placed the bowl of chicken alfredo on the table. Shegrabbed a basket of rolls and set them on the side.

"Alright, it's ready." Karen said, taking a seat in the middle.

Cassidy and Adrian sat on opposite sides and Karen didn't comment on theobvious holes in between each person. Adrian went ahead and grabbed a hot breadroll, bringing it to his lips to bite into it before Karen held up her hand.

"Ah ah, you know better not to eat before a prayer, Adrian." Karen chided, eyeinghis bread roll in accusation.

He sighed, placing it on his plate. Cassidy glanced at Adrian, not knowing hisfamily was somewhat religious. He never gave that impression since he committedso many sinful acts.

- 492 -

"Ok, are you all ready?" Karen asked, glancing at both of them.

Cassidy nodded her head and Adrian sulked, rolling his eyes. "Bow your heads."

Cassidy bowed her head and closed her eyes. Karen looked at Adrian and sighed,seeing his bored expression.

"That means you too, Adrian."

Reluctantly, he bowed his head and Karen smiled, starting her prayer.

"Dear Father, we thank you for this delicious meal You have provided for us.Thank you for my wonderful family who I love so dearly. But most importantly, thankyou for my youngest son for finally catching a great girl." Cassidy's eyes flared open,her head snapping bewilderedly at Karen. She saw Adrian do the same and whentheir eyes met, they quickly bowed their heads from embarrassment. "We ask thatyou bless this meal, in Your name, Amen."

Karen and Cassidy chorused an "amen," but Adrian didn't bother as he alreadywent to spoon handfuls of pasta.

All three ate in silence and Cassidy didn't know whether to start a conversation orjust continue eating. Karen made light conversation with her, asking how her daywas which Cassidy happily answered. Adrian just sat there taking large bites of hisfood and not involving himself whatsoever. It seemed he enjoyed the food more thanspeaking to the both of them. It was obvious that he missed his mom's homecooking.

Once they were done, Cassidy helped Karen clear the table and Adrian justlounged on the couch, closing his eyes. She rolled his eyes at his lazy behavior andinsisted to Karen that she would clean the table too.

"The food was really delicious, Mrs. Lennox." Cassidy said, smiling. "Thank you."

Karen beamed, scrubbing on a dish. "Oh dear you're so very welcome, but call meKaren!"

She nodded. "Ok, Karen."

In the middle of cleaning, the doorbell rang, stopping both of them from theiractivities, including Adrian. Adrian stood up from the couch quickly and flashedglaring eyes at his mother.

- 493 -

"Who else did you invite?" He asked in a demanding tone.

Karen shrugged, setting her clean dish on the dry rack and walking out of thekitchen. Adrian followed close by, his anger clearly showing. Not knowing what todo, Cassidy went after them and heard Karen open the door, gasping in surprise.

"OH I thought I wasn't going to see you this week!" Karen said, throwing her armsat a very tall man.

"I got off of work early and decided to stop by," He replied, hugging her back.

Cassidy tried to peer over Karen's head, but it was blocking the man's face. Sheglanced at Adrian and his face was dark with raging anger. His fists were tightlyballed up, shaking to his sides.

The man released his mother and they both smiled at each other. Cassidy finallygot a good look at him and almost gasped. He was breathtakingly beautiful, thelocks of his jet black hair curled to his temples in a cute, but sophisticated manner.

His aqua blue eyes shined, matching the glow of his bright smile. The man waswearing a white coat with a name tag pinned at his breast pocket that she didn'tmake a move to see. Her legs were locked to the floor, afraid to take a step forwardto gain attention from the man. She only wanted to look at him, not speak. Her vocalcords would fail her which would be humiliating.

The man's gaze followed her anyways and he smiled, making her heart stop. If hedidn't cease his look, then she was sure that her legs would give out and land on thefloor. To her luck, his eyes let hers and landed on Adrian's. His smile faded andCassidy begged for it to come back.

"Adrian," The man said in a smooth tone, causing Cassidy's heart to beat rapidly.

Adrian snapped his head up to face him, his eyes narrowed in a glare. The manstepped forward and stood in front of him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Adrianglared at the offending hand, but the man didn't stop to move it. They were the sameheight, but the man looked to be a few years older than him.

"It's good to see you," The man said softly.

Adrian's jaw clenched. "You knew I would be here, didn't you?"

"No, I just got done with my shift at the hospital." - 494 -

Hospital? Cassidy thought, narrowing her eyes at the man. The pinned name tagon his hospital coat said, Dr. Lennox. Was he a family member?

"Whatever, I'm leaving." Adrian announced as he walked away from him, makinghis hand drop. "Thanks for dinner."

"You can't leave now," Karen said, looking close to tears. "I didn't get to talk toyou."

"And say what mom?" Adrian exclaimed, practically yelling. "That you're ashamedof me for almost burning down the house on Christmas and that I would've killedmyself because I was too high to even notice? I've heard it once, I don't need to hearit again."

"It's not like that, Adrian." The man said sadly, shaking his head.

"Shut up, Eric." Adrian snapped, gritting his teeth. "Just because you're mybrother, doesn't mean you get to involve yourself."

Brother? Cassidy almost gasped, her eyes widening. She glanced from the two,noting the resemblance. Why didn't she see it before? Adrian denied that he had abrother, so why did he lie to her?

"Just calm down, Adrian there's no need to leave when you're already angry, youcan get into a bad accident." Eric said, walking towards his brother to put his armaround his shoulders. "Sit for a while and then you can leave." He paused, his eyessuddenly on Cassidy again. "Besides, you don't want to scare your girlfriend away."

Adrian shrugged his hand off, glaring at Cassidy before walking away. "She's notmy girlfriend."

A/N: Hey guys! I decided to update again, I want to finish getting the rest of thisstory up so expect more! What did you think of Eric, Adrian's brother? Surprised,eh? There's more to come soo stick with me!

- 495 -

The Challenge

Chapter 28: The Challenge

"I thought you said you didn't have a brother."

Adrian's eyes glanced at her swiftly as she broke the silence between them. Theywere sitting in his parent's living room without the company of his mom and brother.Adrian decided to stay for a little while, due to his mother's plea, and awaited herpresence once she was done fixing her brother's meal.

Having no where else to go, she followed Adrian to the living room and he saidnothing when he saw her come in to sit. Cassidy didn't know why she bothered,since he openly refused any romantic relation with her-which was still true, but ithurt. She didn't say anything about it and he was too much preoccupied with histhoughts until she interrupted them.

"In terms of genetics, we are." Adrian replied in a low tone. "But to me personally,he isn't."

"You lied when I asked if you did." Cassidy mentioned, sounding a bit betrayed.

"It's not lying when I don't consider my own blood, family." He clarified by his ownphilosophy, narrowing his eyes at her. "And who cares if I lied to you. You're not thefirst."

Cassidy sighed, rather angrily and sat up straighter in her seat. For spending afew months with him, not even being considered a friend, she still didn't knowanything about him. The overflowing news was getting to her. "What else have youlied about?"

Adrian sat back coolly in thought and shrugged. "Not much that I know of."

She stared at him quietly, thinking back to their conversation in the car ride overhere. "Did you really get arrested on Christmas?"

He glanced at her blankly, then after a few moments of silence, he nodded hishead. Trying to contain her surprise of his honesty and slight openness about thesubject, she continued.

- 496 -

"Was it because you almost burned your house down?" She asked hesitantly.

Adrian drew an annoyed breath and flashed his glaring eyes at her. "I might aswell tell you since you already heard the first half of the fucking story." He repliedangrily.

"My family holds this stupid annual Christmas party at our house with all of ourfriends and family. I didn't want to go, but I did anyways because of my mom. Shewanted the whole family together." He elaborated, rolling his eyes at such an"absurd" idea.

"My dad goes off about how 'great' my older brother is to his co-workers andanybody else that actually cared to listen to him. His only response for me is myprize worthy failures and my inability to make a decision in anything I try to get intoso I got tired of his bullshit comments and got drunk from any liquor available."

"Being drunk wasn't even enough," Adrian noted, his eyes hard from the memory."I remembered I had a stash of weed in my room so I went to grab some and smokedit next to the Christmas tree downstairs where nobody was at. What happened nextwas all a blank."

He stopped himself, looking down at his intertwined fingers. "From what I wastold, I had passed out on the couch and my joint fell from my fingers on to the lowerbranches of our freshly, pine Christmas tree."

Adrian swallowed hard at his throat, looking conflicted. "It caught fire anddestroyed all the presents, including the wall and floor. The fire got a hold of thesleeve of my jacket and once my mom noticed the smell of smoke, she came into theroom and started screaming bloody murder." He laughed grimly. "I didn't hear ornotice a thing. They called the fire department and my brother managed to get meout of the fire. I only suffered minor burns so it wasn't that bad."

"Once the firefighters came, half of the side of our house was gone and the policeshowed up. I was finally conscious after they tried to wake me up a few times andthe police asked me a bunch of questions."

"They noticed the glassy look in my eyes and the way I stumbled over my words orjust didn't answer because I couldn't formulate a clear sentence." Adrian smirked atthe thought. "I took a breathalyzer and was way over the legal limit. They startedsearching my pockets and found the stash of weed. They arrested me right on spotfor several accounts including arson, underage drinking, and illegal drugpossession."

- 497 -

Cassidy gasped from the illegal acts he committed and he did nothing to stop hisstory from her surprise.

"I spent the night in prison and it scared me enough to stop smoking." He sighed,lowering his gaze to the floor. "My father didn't bail me out because I was too muchof a disgrace for him so my brother did."

"After that, I lost all contact with my family and I haven't seen them since lastyear." Adrian finished, raising his head up to her.

Cassidy was at a loss for words. First, with the terrible mess he made onChristmas and the second was how he didn't stop at anytime to keep his hiddensecrets. She didn't know what to think of him. There was one thing that she felt andit was disappointment for what he caused to his family. Though, he did have somesort of motive for acting out besides his father's ignorance towards him so what wasit?

"Why do you hate your brother so much?"

His eyes flashed with anger. "Just because I told you about my fuck up onChristmas, doesn't mean you have the right to know everything else." Adriansnapped, and stood up from the couch. "I'm going to go check on my mom, stayhere." He ordered, leaving her by herself in the living room

Cassidy wasn't getting irritated with his demands, but she decided to stay. Shecouldn't go anywhere else. It would be weird to walk aimlessly around his housewithout him. She was a guest after all.

Cassidy kept herself busy by looking at each family photo of the Lennox's. Adrianwas quite the adorable kid with his wide set grin and tousled hair, posing next to hisolder brother in suits with both his parents smiling in return for the camera. Shefigured Adrian was around five years old in the photo. Cassidy skimmed across otherphotos on the wall and each one, she saw Adrian looking as happy as ever. If only hewas like that now.

"Enjoying yourself so far?"

Cassidy whirled around and found Eric leaning casually against the wall with alopsided grin. She tried to contain the overwhelming amount of butterflies flutteringin her stomach, but it didn't work out that easily. She resorted to nodding than usingactual words.

- 498 -

"I apologize on behalf of my brother's ill-manners. He has a reputation for causingdistress wherever he goes."

She nodded again, silent in thought. His way of speaking captivated her intospeechlessness.

Eric pushed himself off of the wall and advanced towards Cassidy. "What is yourrelation with Adrian since he denied any sort of attachment to you?"

"I-I," She hesitated, laughing nervously. "I don't know. For a while, I thought wewere friends, but we always start back on square one."

"I don't mean to be so forward with my curiosity, but you must know that Adriandoesn't befriend girls. He only uses them for his pleasurable gain."

Cassidy nodded. "I know."

"You do?" Eric asked in surprise with an eyebrow raised. "And yet you still sleepwith him?"

"What?!" She exclaimed, coughing from surprise. "I've never slept with him, ever."

"Then what are you doing with him?" He asked curiously. "You look like a smartgirl. Hanging out with the likes of Adrian is detrimental to one's physical andemotional well-being."

"He's not poisonous," Cassidy muttered under her breath.

"I know, but he's uncontrollable. There's no telling what kind of damage he will donext." Eric remarked, almost bitterly. "Though he is my younger brother and I willdo anything to ensure his safety."

Cassidy wanted to ask about the rift between the brothers, but she felt it wasn'ther right. She barely knew Eric and asking him such a personal question might sethim off in a negative way.

"Anyways, I came in here to formerly introduce myself since I didn't get thechance because my brother thought of it wise to bring up the mess of last year'sdrama," He said, extending his hand forth to her. "I'm Eric Lennox."

She brought up her shaky hand and shook it, feeling the warmth and strong grip.- 499 -

"Cassidy Gordon."

Eric smiled. "So, Cassidy," He started, sitting down on the plush couch. "Whatexactly are you doing with my brother?"

"Nothing," Cassidy answered uneasily, feeling as if she was being interrogated. Hewas somewhat intimidating if you get pass the daring looks.

"I'm not going to get a straight answer from you, am I?" Eric guessed, grinning.Cassidy didn't respond and he shrugged. "Ok, well tell me about yourself. What doyou like to do? What are you interests or goals in life?"

Cassidy didn't know why he wanted to know about her future or desires, but shedecided to tell him anyways. She brought up how she was majoring in biology andthat she wanted to be a physician. Her parents might've given her a small push onthe future career, but that's what she wanted to do.

Eric then animatedly went on into a discussion about the great achievementsinvolving in the field of medicine and Cassidy was immediately drawn in. She didn'tknow how long they conversed for, but it didn't matter. She was getting first handexperience from a guy who went through the footsteps she was walking in rightnow.

"You know if you want, I can give a good word to my hospital once you graduate."Eric said

Cassidy's eyes lit up. "You would do that?"

He smiled, nodding. "Yeah, definitely."

"That would be great!" She exclaimed, her heart beating rapidly. Eric would bethe best source and recommendation to get a foot in the door to medicine.

"So, it's settled then. What's your contact information?"

She looked around the coffee table in search of something. "Do you have a pen?"

Eric nodded, grabbing a pen from inside his pocket and giving it to her. "Paper?"

He stuck out his palm to her. "You can just write it on my hand. I'll put it in myaddress book when I get home."

- 500 -

Cassidy scribbled her number in the inside of his palm and when she was finished,she smiled, handing his pen back. It was odd how her rushed feelings of attractiontowards Eric faded away.

He was like some sort of mentor to her and she couldn't like someone who wasgoing to aid her through her future career. Besides, it was just a small meaninglesscrush towards an older man. It was bound to dim anyways. This one had just pastafter a few hours.

"Thanks."

He shrugged, grabbing the pen and putting it back in his pocket. "Just helping afuture physician out."

They heard a shuffle in the room and glanced at the noise. Adrian and Karen stoodbeside the entrance, looking at both of them with different expressions. Karen wassmiling and Adrian didn't look too happy. He was seemed to have that look whereverhe went.

"Hey little bro," Eric called out, standing up from the couch and jerking his thumbto Cassidy. "Cassidy here is quite the catch."

Adrian narrowed his eyes at him. "You don't say?"

Eric stretched his arms behind his back, fixing his white coat. "Well, I got to headout. Busy day tomorrow. There's an open heart surgery scheduled and I'm scrubbingin."

Cassidy gaped in amazement. "That's wonderful!"

"Yeah," Eric smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Well, I'll be on my way. Be good little broand it was nice meeting you Cassidy."

"You too," Cassidy beamed.

"I'll call you for any news."

She nodded, waving. "Thanks again!"

Eric winked at her. "No problem."

Karen patted his back in a motherly manner and walked out with him to the front- 501 -

door. Cassidy stood up from the couch as well, chancing a glance at Adrian. His eyeswere burning with anger and she stood strict in her spot, not daring to move.

"You and my brother huh?" He whipped.

"What?" Cassidy asked, confused.

"You two sure looked acquainted." Adrian pointed out, making it sound worse thanit actually was.

Cassidy shrugged. "We were just talking."

"Talking, huh?" Adrian replied, unbelieving.

"Yes, we were." She replied firmly, fed up with his rudeness. She didn'tunderstand why he was being so cold and harsh to her.

"Plan a date yet?"

"What?" Cassidy asked, puzzled.

"I'm sure you guys will be on the market in no time."

Cassidy narrowed her eyes, trying to figure out the underlining meaning of hissentences. "What are you talking about?"

"You know what." Adrian deadpanned.

"No, I don't." Cassidy said sternly in a high pitched tone. "What is with you?"

He laughed humorlessly. "This is just like you to do this."

"Do what, Adrian? I was just having a harmless conversation with your brother."

"It didn't seem that way to me." He sneered.

"Then what did it look like?"

"You were all over him!" Adrian suddenly exclaimed furiously, not able to containthe anger much longer.

Cassidy gaped at him bewilderedly; appalled that he would think that. "No I- 502 -

wasn't! We were just talking about biology and the hospital he works at!"

"Bull shit." He called out. "You know what Cassidy if you want him, go get him. I'mnot stopping you. He's obviously your perfect match."

"What do you mean!" She flustered, throwing her hands in the air.

"My brother is a better candidate for you so you might want to hurry up and geton that before some other nerd picks him up."

Cassidy tried to contain her anger and inhaled a deep breath. "Adrian, listen. Idon't want to be with anyone. What's gotten into you?"

Adrian stalked towards her, coming dangerously close to her face that it almostmade her flinch. "I want you to know one thing, Cassidy. I'm not like my brother,alright? I'm not a pre-med student or a science whiz nor will I ever be. I fool arounda lot and I'm not serious about school. I don't even know what I want in life. So, ifyou're serious about wanting someone, stop wasting my time. I'm not boyfriendmaterial."

"But I don't want those things!" Cassidy exclaimed loudly enough for him to fullycomprehend. "Your brother might have all the qualities I like in a guy, but he's notwhat I want."

"Then what do you want?" Adrian asked with sudden interest.

"Nothing, I don't want to get in a relationship Adrian, I thought you understoodthat." She replied, calmly than before.

She could see the anger fade from his eyes as he pondered. "I do, but tonight itseemed like you were thinking otherwise."

"When?"

He shrugged. "I don't know, the way you were with my brother mainly."

"He was just helping me out with some tips on how to apply for an internship atthe hospital." Cassidy explained.

"How about when you said that my mom was nice? What was up with that?"Adrian asked oddly.

- 503 -

She couldn't help but laugh at how weird the question was. "I can't like your momnow?"

"No, it's weird."

"Your mom is a genuinely nice person, why can't I like her?" She inquiredsomewhat sadly.

"Because I don't want you to like my family."

Cassidy narrowed her eyes, scowling. "Why not? Is it wrong for me to like them?"She pressed, not letting the subject go.

"Yes." Adrian replied stiffly.

"Why?"

"I don't need to explain myself."

"Yes you do. It's not everyday you hear a person say they don't want you to liketheir family so just tell me."

Adrian stared at her, looking as if he was pondering on what to say. Cassidywaited patiently to hear his explanation. His strange behavior was catching her offguard and she felt uneasy. He wasn't normal, she was sure of it.

"Cassidy... I don't want this thing between us to get any more personal than itshould be. You understand right?"

Cassidy felt the pang below her stomach and looked at him in surprised. She surewasn't expecting that. It hurt to know he didn't appreciate her coming into his homelife, knowing his secrets and past. She thought he was starting to change, but eachtime he made a small step towards it, he retreated back instantly. It wasoverwhelming and...hurtful.

"Yeah, yeah." Cassidy replied quickly, replacing her surprise with a cool and calmfa\u00e7ade, even adding a hint of smile. "Sure."

"Ok." Adrian replied, looking relieved and his self again. "Are we good?"

She plastered on the fake smile until her cheeks hurt. "Yeah, don't sweat it."

- 504 -

"Alright, let's go home."

They both walked out of the house after saying goodbye to Mrs. Lennox and oncethey entered into the car, neither of them said a word on the way home.

Once he reached her house, he placed the car in park and the car unlockedimmediately. He turned his face to see her.

"See you soon?"

Cassidy nodded, opening the door and stepping out of the car. "Yeah."

She shut the door and turned around to walk to her front door. Adrian grasped thestick shift in preparation to leave, but she whirled around to stop him.

"Hey." She called out, trying to get his attention.

Adrian let go of the stick shift, looking up at her curiously when he rolled downthe window. "Thanks for bringing me, even though you didn't want to. I stillappreciate it."

He gave her a small smile, nodding. "Anytime." He paused, looking as if to saysomething else. "Oh and don't forget about that formal next Saturday."

"I won't."

"Ok, see you then."

He waited in his car before she was safely inside her house and once she was, hedrove off. Cassidy leaned against the door, breathing through her nose deeply. Heremotions were affecting her worse than before, especially when he blatantly said hewanted nothing to do with her.

"But you said you would go!"

Nina frowned, lowering her head to the floor shamefully. "I know, I'm sorry."

Cassidy stared at her friend in disappointment. The formal charity event was daysaway and Nina decided to ditch out on her because her family was throwing a smallwedding for an extended family member who didn't really matter, the wholeweekend.

- 505 -

She had no choice in the matter because if she didn't show up, her parents wouldscold her for her disobedience and lack of care for her family. Now Cassidy wasalone to face up the event by herself.

"I don't mean to skip out on you because of some stupid wedding, but I reallydidn't want to go to the charity event in the first place." She confessed, pausing for amoment to look at her guiltily. "Are you mad?"

"No, I just don't want to go either." Cassidy huffed.

"You have to go, you promised Adrian."

"So did you." Cassidy pointed out firmly.

Nina rolled her eyes. "I did, but only to you." She paused, biting her lower lip."Sorry."

"It's fine." Cassidy sighed deeply, dropping her back to Nina's bed hopelessly."What am I going to do now?" She asked softly.

"You could still go?" Nina mentioned, shrugging.

"And be alone?" She snorted. "No thank you."

"You won't. Adrian will be there, he'll keep you company."

Cassidy snorted. "You mean, ditch me to be with a bunch of sluts? Yeah, sureNina."

"Well, if you really don't want to go, why don't you just tell Adrian?" Ninasuggested, raising her eyebrows. "You might get out of it."

"And say what?"

Nina shrugged. "Family emergency?" She paused in thought. "Or maybe try beinghonest?"

She considered the former, wondering if it might work. Honesty never gave anytrouble right? She might be able to have her way.

"Yeah, maybe." Cassidy replied quietly.

- 506 -

Cassidy and Nina fell into silence, each in their own thoughts. Cassidy wasdebating whether she should tell Adrian the truth about her declined invitation,stating she had no desire to go, or lie...somehow. She was busily arranging herthoughts when Nina came to sit on the edge of the bed, looking grave.

"Kathleen called me the other day."

This made Cassidy pull up with her elbows supporting her on the bed, furrowingher eyebrows. "What did she say?"

Nina sighed. "She told me how unhappy she was right now, with her job and herboyfriend." She stopped herself, frowning. "I told her to leave him, but she said shecouldn't do it. She can't imagine her life without him."

Cassidy rolled her eyes and reframed from puking at the teenage angst of love."She's so melodramatic."

"I think we should help her," Nina started, touching Cassidy's arm to get her fullattention. "We're still her friends."

Cassidy sighed, rising to sit straight up on the bed. "Yeah, but Kathleen ditched usNina. She can't just come back into our lives and expect everything to be ok whenwe tried to force reason on her."

"This is her first boyfriend, Cass. It's bound to get messy."

"I know, but she needs to understand to balance her social life and stop puttingher boyfriend first before others." She replied, jaw clenching. "She forgot about us.Her only life is him and if she wants it that way, then so be it."

Nina sighed, nodding slowly in agreement. "I guess you're right. She can't rely onus when she gets in an argument with her boyfriend and expects us to be there forher when she lost contact."

"Exactly."

She was quiet, shifting her spot on the edge when she whirled around quickly. "Istill think we should talk her."

Cassidy groaned, falling back on the bed again. Nina wasn't going to let it go andshe always tried her best to make peace with everyone, even if they tried tomanipulate her. "Fine, but don't expect anything out of it."

- 507 -

Nina sighed, grabbing her keys and her packed bag. She was staying over herparent's house because it was a long drive and the wedding wasn't until theweekend. "Try not to be bitter. She was one of our good friends once about a time."

"I know, but that doesn't mean I'm going to forget about what she's done." Cassidyfinished.

"We all make mistakes, Cassidy and once I get back, we're going to get together."Nina said, twirling her keys in her hand.

Cassidy nodded, following her out of her room and to the front door. They huggedgoodbye and once Nina opened the door, Adrian was on the other side fumbling withhis keys while talking on the phone. He glanced at them both and sighed in dismay.

"Change of my plans, sweetheart." He said with an unhappy frown. "My virginroommate and her prude friend are here, maybe some other time."

Nina rolled her eyes and Cassidy glared at him for the reference. The person onthe other line responded back and he shut off the phone when he was done. Heglanced down at Nina's bag and quirked an eyebrow.

"Where the hell are you going?"

Nina sighed. "I already told you, I'm going to a wedding and I'll be gone the entireweekend. Terry is going too."

"Oh," Adrian replied and suddenly a wide set smirk sprang up at his lips. "I get thewhole apartment to myself. This is fucking sweet!"

She rolled her eyes. "I guess that's as far as a goodbye I'm going to get." Sheturned to smile at Cassidy. "See yeah, Cass."

Cassidy waved. "Get home safe."

Nina walked out of the door and Adrian furrowed his eyebrows, glancing at herretreating back and then to Cassidy.

"Why are you still here?"

"I need to talk to you." Cassidy announced sternly with a serious face.

There wasn't any better time to lay down her decline of the invitation. The formal- 508 -

event was creeping up close and she needed the rid the stress of telling him beforeprocrastination got a hold of her.

Adrian groaned and shut the door. "What is it now?"

"I'm not going to your charity event this Saturday." Cassidy said straightforwardly.There was no reason to beat around the bush.

His jaw dropped in shock and madness. "WHAT?"

She sighed. "I said I'm not going, ok?"

"Like hell you aren't!" He shot back, scowling at her.

"Look, I can do whatever I want. This is my decision, you can't control me."Cassidy snapped.

"It's a little too late to be making a decision." Adrian replied, walking away fromher.

Anger bubbled up inside Cassidy and she stalked after her into the living room."What do you mean, it's too late?"

Adrian sat back on the couch, looking relaxed, but still a little angry. "I alreadyadded your name on the guest list and the food orders have been made. You have togo."

"I'm not going!" Cassidy exasperated, crossing her arms. "And I have nothing towear. I don't have an old formal dress lying around in my closet because all I ownare skirts."

He snorted. "You can easily fix that."

"How?" She exclaimed, towering over him at his seat. "I don't have that kind ofmoney to spend for a dress."

"Why don't you wear your old prom dress?" Adrian suggested dully.

"I never went to prom, I already told you!"

"...oh." He replied back in thought. "Well, you'll figure something out."

- 509 -

"No, I'm not because I'm not going!"

Adrian rolled his eyes. "Cassidy, you're already expected there. The club directorwill be present at the charity event too so it wouldn't look good on your club if youdidn't show up since half of them decline the invitation."

Cassidy sighed, throwing herself at the opposite sofa. "Damn..."

"So, there's no getting out of it." He said firmly.

She shot a glare his way. "I kind of figured."

Adrian rolled his eyes, getting up from the couch to move over to sit next to her."Don't get mad at me for something that you agreed on a month in advance."

"Whatever," Cassidy grumbled. "I'll go to your stupid formal, but I'm not stayingthere long."

"Believe me, you will be when I'm there." He said, winking.

Cassidy glanced down at their close proximity, his knee almost touching hers.Since when did he sit next to her? She hadn't even noticed. The silence throughoutthe apartment was getting to her and she realized that it was only the two of them,all alone.

She cleared her throat. "Alright, well since I didn't get what I came here for, I'll beleaving."

Cassidy made a move to get up, but Adrian clamped his hand down on her wrist,sending her back down. "What's the rush? I just got here."

"So? Wouldn't you be glad that I was leaving? You did make some plans withsomeone when Nina and I caught you at the door." Cassidy mentioned.

Adrian chuckled. "Jealous? It was nothing. The girl was begging me to screw her,but something better came my way."

The look in his eyes made Cassidy's throat dry up. She was almost scared to askwhat it was. "Which is?"

"You, sweetheart." He answered, lightly stroking her cheek with the back of hishand to push a stray hair out of the way.

- 510 -

She narrowed her eyes on him. "Why me?"

His hand drifted to the collar of her shirt, pulling it slightly away to reveal someskin of her collar bone. "I've never met someone who pushes me away and that's aturn on for me."

Adrian leaned towards her and Cassidy panicked, edging to the arm of her seat."So you want to use me?"

He masked his irritation, putting his hand down from her. "Not use, just playaround with."

"And this playing around thing has to do with...kissing right?"

Adrian snorted through a chuckle. "I don't kiss girls for nothing, Cassidy. One kissalways leads to sex. I only do it because of that. It's not like I actually enjoy it."

"So, you've never been intimate with someone in front of others?" She askedcuriously.

Adrian looked horrified by that idea. "No, never. Kissing in public equalsrelationship and I don't want that."

"So, you basically kiss girls for sex." She deadpanned.

He nodded happily. "Yup, that's pretty much it and nothing else."

"Has it always been like that?"

"Maybe not in middle school, but yeah it has."

Cassidy couldn't help but ask her next question. She wanted to get to know himbetter and if it meant his sexual life, then so be it. "When did you lose yourvirginity?"

He looked at me in thought. "Hmm, well let's see. I've experimented a lot in eightgrade, but freshman year was the big one and from then on, I haven't stopped."

"Clearly." She replied, snorting. "So, 14 huh?"

"Yup at 14."

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"Wow, I haven't even gotten my first kiss at that age." Cassidy revealed, mainly toherself in surprise.

Adrian smirked amusingly. "When did you?"

"Don't laugh, but I was seventeen and it was truth or dare."

"Isn't that a middle school game?" He inquired, embarrassing her from the fact.

She flushed, lowering her gaze to the floor. "Yes, but everyone wanted to play andI got pushed into it."

"Ok, so spill. Who was the lucky guy?"

"His name was Joey and he was my lab partner in chemistry. It was soembarrassing, the worse kiss I've ever had. It wasn't a kiss really, it was more of apeck like kissing my grandmother and he had the worse breath ever." Cassidywrinkled her nose from being reminded of the horrible memory. She was neverplaying that game again.

Adrian grimaced. "Well, who was the next guy? Was he any better?"

Cassidy looked away, humiliated. "There wasn't really a next guy."

"What?" Adrian questioned in disbelief with raised eyebrows. The shy look onCassidy's face confirmed everything. Sure she kissed Jase, but never made out. Hestarted to smirk. "You've never made out with a guy before?"

"No."

"So, I guess I was the first one huh?" He smirked fully, looking smug.

Cassidy resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Don't get all cocky on me, but yes youwere."

"So what do you think? Am I good or what?" Adrian asked, sounding conceited.

"I am not answering that." She said flatly.

"Alright fine, I know I was and you just don't want to admit it." Cassidy opened hermouth to deny it, but Adrian cut her off. "Hmm, I can't remember being a girl's firstkiss anymore, just their first sexual experience."

- 512 -

"Yes well, there are girls out there like me who are innocent and proper. Sorry fornot conforming to society's ideals that we need to lose our virginity at the night ofsenior prom."

Adrian threw his hands up in defense. "Hey, I'm not saying to lose it. Keep it forall I care, but you need to watch what you do to guys. If you make one wrong move,it will set them off into a state that you can't get them out of."

"Maybe they need to learn some self control and keep it in their pants." Shepointed out clearly.

"No, I think it's the women who should learn not to mess with a man because theyknow exactly what makes us tick and horny."

"I hate men." Cassidy declared, shaking her head. "I should've become a lesbian."

Adrian laughed. "Why play with scissors when you can have a stick?"

Cassidy gave him a look. "I'm not going to even reply to that." Adrian laughedharder, which made her irritation flare up. "Do you ever stop with the sexualcomments?"

"When it comes to you, sweetheart not a chance." He replied, his eyes glitteringwith mischief.

"Why do you say things like that to me?"

The shift in Adrian's eyes became serious and he closed the few inches betweenthemselves on the couch, not bothering to make it subtle. Her heart sped up and shelooked at every object in the room besides him.

"I thought I made it clear many times before," He said huskily, leaning his lips toher ear. "I want you."

Cassidy resisted the urge to shudder and she gulped, looking to the floor. "I-Ithought you were joking."

"No," He said, slinging an arm around her and suddenly, the tension in the roomvanished. "I guarantee you that you'll sleep with me by the end of this year." Adriansaid confidently

She snorted, pushing his arm away. "If you haven't noticed, there's not many days- 513 -

left."

Adrian smirked knowingly. "I know."

"What is this some sort of bet?"

He shrugged. "Sure, why not?"

"Why tell me in front of my face? Don't guys usually keep this stuff secret?"

"I see no use in hiding it when I know for a fact it will happen."

Cassidy snorted, crossing her arms. "You will never find me in that disgusting,male diseased area that you call a bed. It probably has more STDs then a brothel."

"It would, if I didn't clean my sheets every week."

"You're still disgusting even if you are clean on the outside. You're probablyracked with all kinds of diseases that you don't even know yet." Cassidy said,scowling at him.

He rolled his eyes. "Oh please Cassidy, I get tested every month and besides I useprotection. I don't trust women."

"And I don't trust men."

Adrian smirked. "Well, at least that's one thing we have in common besides ourobvious dislike of one another."

"I would've gone with hate, but dislike is fine too."

He chuckled. "You know your pretty fun to be around when you're not being abitch."

"I am not a bitch. I just have a good head on my shoulders."

"Why don't you put that head into good use then?"

"Jesus, Adrian. For once, can you please stop referring everything I say as aninnuendo? God, you make me sick."

Adrian laid his head against the headrest. "You make it too easy. You can't say- 514 -

something like that and expect me not to say anything in return."

"I don't know what the hell is wrong with you, but you sure have a lot of problems.I've never met a man so-"

"Hot? Tempting? Lustful? Sexy?"

"IRRITATING!" She exclaimed in frustration, shaking her hands. He frowned ather response. "You make me go crazy!"

"In a good way?" He said, his eyes glistening with mischief.

"No, in the I-want-to-pull-all-my-hair-out sort of way."

Adrian looked at her innocently, frowning. "Why? Your hair is beautiful."

She sighed, willing herself not to blush. How can he be so disgusting and irritatingin one minute and then be so sweet the next?

"That's not the point." Cassidy breathed out, trying to get a hold of her feelings."The point is that I will not have sex with you, Adrian. EVER."

Adrian looked at her gravely, touching her arm with his warm soft paddedfingertips. It caused her skin to erupt into goose bumps and she couldn't turn away."Is it wrong for me to want to have sex with you? To see what it will be like? ShitCassidy, I think about it everyday and it even haunts me in my dreams. I neverwanted something so bad in my life."

"Then get it from someone else. I'm not some game, Adrian, girls are people too.We have feelings and some of us are not as strong as others."

Adrian rolled his eyes and his fingers left her arm, turning away from her. "Yeah,yeah, yeah. I don't need to hear you dish out your emotions to me. You have yourfriends for that."

"I wasn't implying that I was weak. I'm probably one of the few that can keep myemotions in check."

"You're sure sounding like it."

Cassidy huffed, standing up from the couch. "I don't why I even bother withsomeone like you."

- 515 -

"Then why are you?"

She hesitated. "See you later."

"You didn't answer my question." He mentioned at her retreating back.

She whirled around, flailing her arms out. "And maybe I don't want to. Have youever thought of that?"

Adrian stood up from the couch, walking towards her. "Why? You always havesomething to say, so say it. You have the choice to stop being around me, so whycontinue doing it if you don't want to?"

"Why do you continue when you say you want to stop hanging around me?" Sheretorted back.

"Easy, I like being around someone who keeps my interest." She looked at him indisbelief and he shrugged. "What, at least I'm telling the truth."

"Ok, fine you want to know the truth Adrian?" Cassidy said in a high tone, notwaiting for him to answer. "I want to fix you. There's a part of me that knows yourbetter than the shit you get yourself into and I want to know why you are the wayyou are. There, happy?"

Adrian looked away, his face grim. "You're wasting your time, it's never going tohappen. You can't change someone who doesn't want it for themselves."

She looked at him softly. "Yes it could. Adrian if you at least talk to me-"

"I'm not your fucking science project." He snapped, his eyes glaring at her.

She flinched at his harsh words, but then suddenly became angry for hisunnecessary snap. "And I'm not yours either."

Adrian looked at her in shock and confusion.

"You heard me. I'm not that naive, Adrian, I know what you're doing." She saidfirmly, continuing. "You might be using me to get in bed with you, but I'm using youtoo. It goes both ways."

Adrian's anger was apparent as he started to stalk towards her, making Cassidygasp. She really shouldn't have said that, but when it came to Adrian, she said a lot

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of things that get her in trouble. She took a few steps back as he came closer andlanded against the wall, stopping her from getting away. Adrian inched dangerously,staring down her face and his musky scent infiltrated her senses. She felt his hotbreath against her flushed cheeks and the air was so thick, she thought she mightcollapse.

"Do you want to be my enemy, Cassidy?" He said in a low, threatening tone.

Cassidy felt the surge of anger strike up and she scowled at him. "Was I implyingthat I wanted to?"

His glaring eyes glanced to the door and then back at me. "You need to leave."

She scoffed, pushing him away from her. "You don't need to tell me that I'malready gone."

Cassidy stalked out of the room and after a few moments later, she slammed thedoor hard, making the windows shake of the apartment. He sighed, rubbing hisforehead. The girl was a crazy bitch who always gave himself a headache, but hecouldn't deny this weird addiction he has for her.

He felt an uncomfortable bulge beneath him and stared down at his pants, grittinghis teeth. "FUCK!"

A/N: I'll be updating again this weekend!! Hope you guys liked it! I'm going tofinish uploading the chapters by next week

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A Night to Remember

Chapter 29: A Night to Remember

Cassidy stared at the black dress from her seat by her small vanity, trying to comeup with any reason to skip the formal tonight. She could fake a cold or injury, butthat wouldn't work too well. No matter how many lies she spread, someone catchesher by the look of nervousness in her eyes. Still, she didn't want to go to this formal.It took her a few hours to actually get up to by her dress the same day of the formal.

She didn't know what to look for and opted on a sale's rack department store.After searching drastically for hours, Cassidy started to get desperate. If shecontinued to scavenger, then she would have no time to get ready. It was time forher to stop being picky and start picking out something semi-decent. As she flippedhanger over hanger, her eyes caught on a black dress that she rejected many timesbefore. She didn't know why she stopped at the dress, but she picked it up anywaysto give it a closer inspection.

It was a strapless black satin dress with embroidery at the top, falling scarcely atthe hem that reached to the knee. It was fairly decent and though the nonexistentstraps worried her because of the naked exposure to her collarbone and shoulder,she figured she would give it a try. It was a much better pick than from all the otherones, which were much more exposed at the cleavage.

Once she paid for the dress, she came back home and placed it on her bed,deciding what to do. Her legs ached from standing too long when she stared at it soshe sat on her chair to look at it some more. Wearing a nice dress like that, one shehas never even dreamed or considered wearing, made her nervous. How could sheshow up to a formal dressed like that when she was used to a pair of faded jeans anda t-shirt? It just wasn't her.

Though, Cassidy had no choice. It was her fault for agreeing to go and also herfault for not knowing the full facts of Adrian's pressing persuasion. She hadmistaken his caring attitude for his own selfish satisfaction of the number of peopleshowing up at his formal, promoting his club's awareness for cancer research. Hisreputation was all at stake tonight.

The more numbers that arrived, the more money and publicity he would get fromit. It wasn't some club director threat like he said when he gave her the invitation.She figured it out when her club informed her of the news the other day.

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It was the main reason why her club wasn't going, not some comic event. It madeher furious to find out the true facts and it hurt to learn Adrian would stoop to thatlevel with her. She thought they were passed the lies and betrayal. Now, she didn'tknow what to think of him.

Cassidy didn't want to go to the event, but it was too late to cancel. Adrian wouldgive her hell since he's always popping up in her life. It doesn't help that her bestfriend lived in his apartment. If she wanted to continue visiting her in the future, shewould have to go to the stupid formal and be done with it. A few hours wouldn'thurt, and then she would be on her way home.

A soft knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts and her mother called out toher from the other side. "Cassidy? Are you ready?"

Cassidy sighed deeply. "No."

Her mother opened the door halfway, seeing her still dressed in her normalclothes, and pushed it wider. "Why not?"

"I don't know what to do." Cassidy replied truthfully.

"You don't want to go?" Her mother guessed, seeing her daughter nod her head."Why?"

"It's just...not my thing."

Jenny frowned, walking towards her daughter. "Why would you think thatsweetie?"

"It isn't me, mom. I don't get dressed up. I don't go to formals." Cassidy rested herchin at the palm of her hand. "It's not who I am."

"You haven't been to one, so how do you know for sure?" Jenny said, placing ahand on her daughter's shoulder. "I know this is different for you, but you have totry."

"I don't know mom..."

"Why don't we do this," Jenny started, giving her a small smile. "You put on thatdress and I'll help you get ready. After we're done, then you can decide if you wantto go or not."

- 519 -

Cassidy inhaled a shaky breath, nodding. "Ok."

Jenny left the room momentarily to grab the necessary cosmetics as Cassidyreluctantly stood up from her chair to hold the strapless black dress in her hands.She had no idea why she was so nervous about putting on a dress and going to thisformal.

It was a dress after all, it wouldn't hurt. The fact that she hasn't worn a dresssince she was six years old, did and she couldn't believe she was breaking the streakafter all these years. Her clever way of getting out of fancy parties or formals wasusing a simple line that her parents fed off from consistently, 'I can't go I have tostudy and do homework.'

They wanted her to succeed in life more than going to some lame party for thenight. However, after all these years she couldn't use that same line again because itwouldn't fool Adrian.

For one, school was done for the remaining time of winter break and two, she hadall the time in the world to crack open those books to prepare herself for nextsemester. Plus, she couldn't get out of going because Adrian was persistent and shealready agreed.

Sighing in her distress as she slipped on the dress which settled nicely on herfigure, she turned to the mirror. It was her first time wearing the dress because shebought it spontaneously at the school. Thankfully she got the size right and it lookedok. The satin shined and the embezzlement glittered underneath her bedroom light.

Jenny knocked the door again and Cassidy called her to come in. Once her mothercaught sight of her in the dress, she gasped, one of her hands coming to her lips.

"Cassidy, you look gorgeous." She revealed, becoming teary eyed.

Cassidy resisted the urge to roll her eyes and faced her mother. "It's just a dress,mom."

"I know, but honey, you haven't worn one in years! It fits you so well!" Jennygushed joyfully.

Cassidy could tell she was ecstatic about getting her ready. She never had theopportunity before because of Cassidy's refusals to go to formal parties and herabsence at the prom. Now it was time for Jenny to take this opportunity fully at herhands and Cassidy allowed it. She had no idea what to do with her hair because it

- 520 -

was a frizzy messy and her pale face had no color.

Jenny settled the cosmetics on the table and clasped her hands in an enthusiasticmanner. "Shall we start?"

Cassidy groaned, throwing herself at the chair as she bended herself to hermother's will. "Yes."

Jenny smiled, grabbing a hairbrush and taking it into her hair. The rough strokesstopped repeatedly at the knots, getting stuck through the bristles. It made Cassidycringe and she felt the blood pounding into her head.

If this was what women did everyday to make themselves beautiful, then shewasn't having any of it. Then again, it was her fault that her hair was so knotty. Shealways left it in a messy bun because her hair got in the way.

When the torture was over, Jenny took pieces of her hair and rolled it into acurling rod. Her mother was old-fashioned and still continued to use her set ofcurling rods when she had as a teenager.

Once every strand was rolled up, Jenny took a compact in her hand and smiled."Now to the good stuff."

Jenny blushed, stroked, and curled the necessary areas. After she finishedpainting Cassidy's face, she took out the rolls in her hair and softened them up withher brush, pushing some pieces back. Jenny beamed and turned the chair around soshe could get a better look in the mirror and Cassidy's eyes widened when her eyesfell upon it.

She moved to the edge of her seat and touched her cheek softly with herfingertips, careful not to smear the make up. Her face looked polished, fresh, andnot overly made up. Her hair was done in soft curls that lied passed her shouldersand lower back. It was held up half way in a small up do. Despite all the changes toherself, Cassidy felt somewhat irritated and angry. This wasn't her. It went againsteverything she stood for.

"I'm taking this off." Cassidy blurted, extracting a few clean tissues from a smallbox at her desk.

Jenny gaped at her in surprise. "What? But honey, you look so-"

"Ugly. This isn't me." She shook her head, ashamed of herself for going through- 521 -

with this makeover.

She was about to put the tissue to her face, but Jenny took it from her grasp. "Yesit is! Even with all this makeup and clothes, you are still you on the inside."

"But I don't wear stuff like this. It's a fake exterior of what I really am." Cassidyexclaimed, looking back into the mirror. "There is no way I'm going to that formallooking like this." She declared strongly, shaking her head. The girl in the mirrorwas not her. She couldn't go out in public looking like that. Nobody would recognizeher!

"Sweetie, you are still you on the inside. A little make-up and hairspray doesn'tchange who you are!" Jenny assured her, grasping her shoulders from behind."You're beautiful and that scares you because you've never seen yourself like thisbefore."

"I-I don't know if I can do this." Cassidy said quietly, her voice trembling.

Jenny smiled encouragingly. "Yes you can. Don't let these changes steer you awayfrom facing people." She paused, her tone softer. "You're lovely dear. You alwayshave been, inside and out. I might've put some make up here and there and changedher hair up a bit, but it's no different then what you look like without it. You justnever took the time to really see yourself in the mirror."

Cassidy sighed, raising her eyes slowly to the mirror. Her mother was right, abouteverything. She never knew how insecure she was about her appearance until hermother brought it up. It made it feel all the more real. Ignoring passing mirrors asshe walked by or seeing all these pretty girls look at her in disdain.

She made a pact with herself that she would change and experience new things incollege. And she realized, she wasn't doing any of that. Cassidy was still the same,insecure, quiet girl in high school, sitting in the corner at the back of the classroom.There was no way she was going to continue being that same girl, starting with theformal.

"I should go or I'm going to be late," Cassidy said, standing up from her chair.

Jenny's eyes widened considerably. "You're going?"

She nodded, grabbing her black clutch. "Yeah, I mean I might as well since I gotready and everything. It'll all be for nothing right?"

- 522 -

Jenny's eyes started to fill with tears as nodded at her words. "Oh honey, I'm sohappy for you!"

She pulled Cassidy in a tight hug and Cassidy grunted, rolling her eyes. "It's justthe formal mom, I'm not getting married."

Suddenly, Jenny pulled away from her, gasping. "Wouldn't that be wonderful?! I'vealways dreamed about planning your wedding!"

She threw her arms around Cassidy again and she felt her lungs collapsing."Wedding? But don't you want me to get married at the age of thirty?"

Jenny pulled away again, rolling her eyes. "That's your father's idea dear and I forone think it's ridiculous." She laughed, shaking her head. "I'll be too old by then toplan anything!"

Cassidy laughed. "I'm sorry mom, but I'm still too young to get married."

"That's alright dear, just go to your formal and have fun." She grinned.

"I will."

Cassidy left her house, saying bye to both her parents before she left. Her curfewwas extended since this was Cassidy's first formal outing and she was surprised byhow easily persuaded her father was from her mother. Usually, her words didn'taffect him, but this time it did.

Cassidy got into her car and started it, firing the engine. Her dad would berelieved some hours later to find she came home earlier than her curfew extensionwhich was one o'clock. There was no way she was staying at the formal for longerthan an hour.

She pulled out of her neighborhood and on to the street, thankful there was barelyany traffic. The formal was held at some fancy hotel ballroom and she expected thatit was going to be packed full of people in dresses and tuxedos.

While Cassidy pondered over her thoughts, her phone starting to ring. Shescrambled in her clutch to retrieve her phone and once she saw the caller id, shepaused. It was a private caller. That was an unusual occurrence.

Cassidy answered the phone hesitantly. "Hello?"

- 523 -

"Don't you cancel on me," he said in a firm, hard tone.

"Adrian?" She asked in surprise, sitting up straighter in her seat. She thought thathe was holding a grudge about their little tiff the other day, but here he was callingher like nothing happened. "How did you get my number?"

"Never mind that, I'm just making sure you're coming." Adrian paused, his tonesoftening. "You are coming, right?"

Cassidy sighed, taking his "caring-ness" for self-satisfaction. She knew he didn'tgive two shits about her, just that she showed up. "Yes, I'm coming."

"Good, I'll see you there." He replied in a satisfied tone.

"Yeah."

He hung up the phone and Cassidy flipped hers shut, sighing as she tossed it inthe passenger seat. How he got her number was unknown to her, but it didaggravate her that he was checking up on her arrival. She wasn't a child and shedidn't like being treated like one. If she said she was going to go somewhere, shewould go, even though she really didn't want to.

Cassidy parked her car in the parking lot, extracting her keys from the ignition.She peered through her windshield and saw numerous people dressed in expensivegowns, far flashier then hers. She was right about the formal; it was definitely goingto be crowded. She even had a hard time trying to find a parking spot.

Cassidy got out of her car and locked it before heading to the entrance of thehotel. There was a sign at the front that gave the event's details, calling it "A Nightto Remember." She snorted at the cheesy line, wondering if Adrian came up with it.There was no way he would, it just didn't fit him. He wasn't the sentimental type tocome up with something so overused and romantic.

She reached to the event and a gasp flew out of her lips from the sight. Theballroom was beautifully decked out, streaming with a midnight glow of lights fromthe top and two flashing ones at the center of the dance arena. There were barsavailable at each corner and lounges to sit on if one was restless or eating a meal.Servers walked around with trays of appetizers and complimentary champagne influtes.

The phrase for the event, "A Night to Remember," was stitched across the podiumstage in huge black and white letters. This night would definitely hit the record

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books. Adrian really outdone himself with the event and she wouldn't be surprised ifhe gained enough donors at the end of the night for his charity cause.

As Cassidy aimlessly walked around the place, mesmerized by the sparkle andflash, she started her search for Adrian. She might as well show him in person thatshe was here so that she could leave as quickly as she came. True, the event wasbeautifully made, but she still had no desire to stay.

Cassidy peered through the crowd, trying to find a certain playboy who forced herover here. Once she saw that she came, she could leave fast. Though, finding himproved to be difficult. She couldn't see him anywhere and there were far too manypeople to sort through.

Weaving through the crowd, she started to feel her head spin from passing toomany unknown faces. She stopped, sighing as she put a hand to her forehead tocalm her quick breaths. Once her breathing was sorted out and normal, she raisedher head up and saw a blond haired male turn around and caught her gaze. Shesucked the air back sharp in her lungs, her eyes widening by his appearance,especially at Adrian's event.

"Jase," Cassidy said, trying to contain her surprise. "Uh, hi."

"Hey," Jase replied, bringing a small corner of his mouth up.

"You look..." she trailed off, attempting to find a suitable word. "Good."

His gray colored tuxedo complimented his blue eyes and honey blond hair, addinga similar color tie around his neck. Jase was charming in his formal wear whichmade Cassidy wonder why she ever let him go.

Jase smiled fully. "Thanks," he said, giving her a long once over. "You lookbeautiful, as always."

She flushed, bowing her head a little. "Thank you."

They were quiet, before Jase spoke up. "How have you been?"

"I'm good, just glad school is over." Cassidy admitted, sighing in relief. Shehesitated before asking him a question in return. "And how about you?"

Jase shrugged, taking a sip out of his champagne flute. "Same, enjoying thebreak."

- 525 -

She nodded, silent for a moment. "I didn't expect to see you here."

He glanced over at her, his eyes expressionless. "Just because Adrian and I are nolonger friends, doesn't mean I can't show up to my club's events."

Cassidy felt stupid for saying it, wondering if she hurt his feelings. "Right..."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound rude. It's just that I've been helping Adrian withhis club since he started it and I have every right to be here, even though somepeople don't think so because our given circumstance."

"You're right, you do." Cassidy agreed.

"Thanks," Jase smiled, pleased to find she was on his side from their past history."I have to cut this conversation short to check on the committee. Save a dance forme?"

"Sure," She smiled back.

"I'll find you." He said with a grin right before he disappeared through the crowd,out of Cassidy's sight.

Again she discovered that she was alone and peered over the crowd's heads.Adrian was nowhere in sight and she sighed heavily. She was supposed to leavesooner rather than later, but Jase showed up and wanted a dance from her. Hewould be hurt if she left early without saying goodbye.

Minutes passed and Cassidy lingered over the appetizer table, deciding which oneto eat. There were seafood bites, mini egg rolls, and some odd looking breads with agreen spread. None look too appetizing so she pretended she was still searching topass time.

"Hey babe," An enticing male's voice said from behind.

Cassidy instantly recognized the voice and stifled the urge to roll her eyes at hisflirtation techniques. She thought he would've dropped it by now with thecontinuous rejections she sent his way.

Cassidy finally turned around and saw Adrian at the other side, not surprised.

"Would you like to-"

- 526 -

Adrian stopped in mid-sentence, his smirk falling gradually from his lips as herealized who he was talking to, or actually hitting on. Adrian stood there wearing ablack nicely cut suit that fit him well in all the right places.

He wore a white dress shirt underneath and there was no tie or bow to be found.His dark brown hair was tousled to the side, curled at the ends that appeared freshout of the shower. He looked good, really good.

"Holy," Adrian's eyes widened and he paused for a moment, stunned. "Shit."

Cassidy watched him stare at her, wondering what he was doing. Adrian didn'tsaw a word which was strange for him and his eyes kept raking her from top tobottom. He obviously was looking to mock her attire and that angered Cassidy. Sheshould've never let her mom dress her up.

His Adam's apple bobbed; an action he has never done before as he looked at her."Cassidy?" He asked, unsure if it was really her or not.

"Stupid, right?" Cassidy voiced out his thoughts, scowling.

Adrian blinked his eyes out of his stupor. "Huh?" He asked, clearly puzzled as hiseyes met hers.

"I look stupid." Cassidy repeated, her tone harsher. She turned her back to himand hugged her upper arms, feeling exposed.

"You shouldn't do that." Adrian noted strictly, sounding offended.

"Do what?" She retorted childishly, unmoving.

"Turn around."

"So?"

"You're hiding your beauty." He said softly.

Cassidy swallowed hard, her back still rigid in place. A blush crept up her cheeksout of accord and she willed it to stop. "What are you talking about?"

Adrian touched her shoulder, making her stiffen at the contact. "I can't believethat's really you."

- 527 -

She snorted, turning towards him. "Who else would it be?"

"Some hot girl I was hoping to get in bed with at the end of the night." He saidsimply.

"Charming," she deadpanned.

He stared at her in silence, making her feel uncomfortable and agitated.

"Why are you staring?" Cassidy asked, irritated.

"You look so different." Adrian revealed, appearing in awe of his statement.

Cassidy snorted, taking it offensive. "Don't worry I'm still the same inside."

"No, no not in a bad way." He corrected quickly, stumbling over his words."You're...You're-"

"I'm what?" She inquired in a hardened tone, in a demanding way.

"Sexy," Adrian finished in a husky tone.

Cassidy stared at him, her mouth agape. Was he serious or playing a joke on her?

"You must be joking." She laughed humorlessly under her breath, trying to get ridof the shakiness she felt coming at her tone.

Why would a hot guy like Adrian call boring plain Cassidy, beautiful? It just wasn'tplausible. No one in her lifetime has ever given her a comment about her looks in agood way. She was always used to hearing how lazy, comfortable, or nerdy shelooked. But now she was beautiful? Cassidy didn't know how to handle the commentwell so her only instinct was to deny it.

"I don't joke about how women look." Adrian said seriously.

Her eyes began to prick with hot tears, but she blinked them away when sheturned to face him. She was tired of all his fake compliments and odd kindness. Itwas throwing her off, but most of all, making her furious. He was nothing, but atwo-faced asshole.

"Why did you lie to get me here?" She asked rather rudely, glaring at him.

- 528 -

Adrian blinked his eyes from her sudden anger. "What?"

"I talked to my club members and they said you only invited me to get morenumbers for this event because of publicity." Cassidy explained, ruffled.

"No, I-"

"You don't care about cancer research. All you care about is yourself!" Shecontinued, jabbing her finger to his chest.

Adrian glared at her before scanning the room. Cassidy's outcry had received afew observers, staring at them in shock. Adrian gave them an apologetic smile andwrapped an arm around Cassidy's shoulders, pulling her away from the scene.

"What are you doing?! Let me go!" Cassidy screeched, trying to pull from hisgrasp.

Adrian tightened his arm around her and led them outside to a quiet balcony withno spectators in sight. "Will you chill out?!" He exclaimed, letting her go.

Cassidy rubbed her bare shoulders, scowling as he continued. "You're causing ascene like some little kid!"

She gaped. "Excuse me?"

"Are you trying to ruin my event?" Adrian asked, sighing.

"You don't care about this event, all you care about is looking good for yourself!"

"What the hell is the matter with you?" He inquired, vexed.

"You! That's the matter!" Cassidy proclaimed, extending her arms out. "Thisinvitation was a scam for your own achievements. You want this event to besuccessful and in order to do that, you lied your way through it."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Don't act all innocent," she scoffed. "The club director doesn't care if I show up.You lied to get me here and probably everyone else so that your event will land inthe newspapers."

"Jesus, Cassidy I wasn't trying to sabotage you. I really wanted you to come."- 529 -

Adrian reasoned, raking a frustrated hand through his dark hair. "Those nerdy clubfriends of yours are just jealous because I invited you and not them."

"Y-You what?" Cassidy asked with wide eyes, stunned. "But I thought you saidthat-"

"Yeah, so I lied a little, big deal. I had to find some way for you to come and thatwas all I could think of."

She furrowed her eyebrows, not understanding his motivate behind it. "But whygo through all the trouble?"

He shrugged. "I just wanted you here."

"I'm nothing special." Cassidy stated clearly.

Adrian stared at her, struggling to say something to her, but he didn't. Hecontinued to gaze and let his unknown battle between himself be left silent. Cassidyturned around and stared at the view before her of the city shimmering in lights.She still didn't understand why he invited her. He provided no reasons; just that hesimply wanted her here.

"I'm not trying to gain any sort of fame by this event. I invited those who werewilling to come and they showed up. It has nothing to do with me wanting to get inthe papers." He explained softly.

"Are you...telling me the truth?" Cassidy asked innocently, glancing at him.

Adrian nodded with a grave expression. "I am."

Cassidy kept her focus on the city and not that of the handsome boy who wascurrently standing beside her, looking ever so fresh and unbelievably gorgeous. Justglancing at him made her feel nervous and forget to stay angry with him whichcaused her to get upset with herself for doing so.

"Would you look at me?"

"What are you talking about, I am." Cassidy said, glancing at him for a second andthen bringing them back to the view to make a point.

"I mean really look at me." He replied firmly, pausing for a moment. "You'reavoiding my eyes."

- 530 -

"Have you seen what your eyes could do?" She snorted. "No wonder women of allages bow down to your every command."

"It has had its advantages." Adrian laughed shortly, but then suddenly turnedserious. "Come on Cassidy. Please look at me."

Cassidy closed her eyes, gulping nervously. She slowly turned around and openedher eyes, willing to look at him fully. Adrian grinned, making her stomach turn inknots from his real, genuine smile. Her mouth started to dry up and she found itimpossible to speak. God the things he could do with that smile. He should do itmore often.

Adrian took a few long steps until he stood a few inches away from Cassidy. Shestood rigid at her spot, watching his actions precisely as he brought his hand in theair towards her. He pushed a few strands of curls from her face with his softfingertips and lingered it toward her jaw bone. Cassidy felt another shiver rushdown her spine and her heart started to beat rapidly from his touch.

"Maybe it was a mistake to invite you." Adrian muttered under his breath.

She furrowed her eyebrows, not comprehending his words. He persuaded herheavily to get here and now he regretted it?

He sighed, dropping his hand and stepping away from her. "I'll see you inside." Hesaid, his expression a little frazzled.

Adrian retreated back inside and Cassidy stared after him, her face scrunched upin confusion. His behavior may have been odd, but Cassidy didn't know what she didwrong. He was always pulling tricks on her and frankly, she was getting tired of it.

After a few minutes to herself, Cassidy went back inside and saw half the crowdsurrounding the podium at the stage. The other half was sitting down, listeningintently to the speaker who was standing before everyone.

Cassidy walked up to the floor before the stage, weaving passed people andapologizing as she bumped through. Adrian was giving out a speech, showing hischarming smile and making the women sigh in euphoria at the sight of him. Cassidyrolled her eyes at them and concentrated on his words as he thanked his sponsorsand everyone who came out.

Adrian cleared his throat, his eyes swiftly catching Cassidy's before he turned hisattention to the crowd as a whole. "This event is a treat for all of you by giving my

- 531 -

thanks for your much appreciated donations to cancer research." He said, smiling. "Ihope you have a safe and wonderful night, thank you all for coming!"

A round of applause followed by whistles echoed throughout the room and Adrianwaved at them with a smile before heading off stage. As much of an ass that he is,everybody still loved him and greeted him on his way down. Adrian shook manyhands and Cassidy walked away from the stage, seeking a table to dine on.

She came across when at the back and sat alone. She loved the silence andappreciated the time to herself until others decided to join her. A few of them weremiddle aged and the rest were college kids around her age.

One of them, a creepy shaved head guy, tried to talk to her and she replied inshort answers. Cassidy felt uncomfortable throughout her meal and tried to hint atthe guy that she wasn't interested in talking to him by ignoring him, but he didn'tget the message.

"I brought a bottle of liquor if you want to share some," He said as he wiggled hiseyebrows, showing her the bottle from under the table.

Cassidy sighed, turning her head away from the imbecile. She ignored his offeringand looked around for something more interesting to look at. Her eyesunconsciously stopped at Adrian's table and she sought him at the front, laughing atwhat a middle aged man to his left was saying.

She couldn't help but notice how handsome and attractive he looked in that suitwhich complimented his gorgeous features. His smile made the whole look ten timesbetter. She smiled, tilting her head to the side as she continued to stare at him untilhis green eyes met hers. Cassidy sucked in a sharp breath, whipping her head andbody away from being caught and banged her elbow on the side of the table.

"Damn!" She shouted out painfully, rubbing the sore bone.

Her table stared at her with wide eyes, surprised by the curse word that came outof her mouth. She excused herself to the ladies room and rushed her way there,hiding her face from probing eyes. When she reached inside, she washed her handsand grabbed a sheet of towel paper, drying them up. Cassidy threw the wet balledpaper in the trash and walked out, rubbing her hands together.

"Hey Cassidy."

She whirled around to the voice, the air sucked out from her lungs. "Jase." - 532 -

"Sorry if I scared you," He said sheepishly, smiling.

"It's ok." She replied, chuckling a little. "How was your dinner?"

"Fine," Jase answered simply, pausing for a moment. He looked timid as heglanced from the floor to her repeatedly. "I was wondering if you wanted to dance.They're playing music now."

Cassidy grinned. "Sure."

Jase beamed as she extended her elbow for him to grab and he circled his armaround hers, leading the way. The song happened to be slow and when they reachedto the middle of the dance floor, Jase circled his arm around her waist and Cassidytimidly grabbed his hand, smiling.

They danced in silence, enjoying one's company as they circled on the flooraround other couples. Jase turned his head and met her eyes, giving a small smile.

"I've missed this." He revealed softly, holding her body tight.

Cassidy smiled back, nodding. "Me too," She paused, the smile slowly falling fromher lips. "I wish we didn't end the way that we did."

"I know." Jase replied, his eyes wandering somewhere else. "But we can't changewhat happened."

"I'm sorry," Cassidy blurted out and Jase's eyes darted towards hers. "I know thatyou don't care about my apology, but I really am sorry Jase. You were a great friendto me and I...took advantage of that. I'm sorry."

Jase stared at her gravely as they swayed softly to the music. He gripped her handgently and sighed. "I forgive you." He paused, seeing Cassidy's surprised reaction."I've actually forgiven you for a while now. I just didn't know how to approach youafter all that's happened between us."

Cassidy's eyes filled with tears and she blinked at them, containing heroverwhelming joyful emotion. "You don't know how much it means to me to hear yousay that, thank you."

Jase dropped his hand from her waist, stopping their slow dance. "I still careabout you, Cassidy, no matter what. I've come to the conclusion that it was amistake for us to start dating in the first place. If I knew what I know now, than I

- 533 -

wouldn't have even tried."

Cassidy furrowed her eyebrows. "What are you talking about, you know now?"

"I maybe a clueless guy, but I know a crush when I see one," He smiled, chucklingunder his breath. "Especially one that is given to the guy that everyone vies for theattention for."

She flushed, bowing her head. Jase had known about her crush on Adrian whichmade things slightly embarrassing given that the two were best friends. "Is it reallythat noticeable?"

He laughed, shaking his head. "No, your secret's safe with me. I just noticed itafter we broke things off. I don't know why I didn't see it before."

"I'm sorry," Cassidy mumbled, ashamed.

"Hey," Jase said softly as she raised her head. "Stop apologizing. I was at fault toofor pushing you to date me. I know you didn't see it that way, but it was my plan allalong."

She smiled. "Does this means we're even?"

"Sure, whatever it takes to get my friend back."

Her smile drop as her eyes grew. "Friends? But I thought you said-"

"Forget what I said." He cut in, holding her shoulders. "I've missed talking to youand I know you feel the same way too...Well, at least I hope you do."

Cassidy threw her arms around him, catching him into a sudden hug as hegrunted in surprise. "I do, I've missed you."

"Good," He replied, hugging her back before he released her on her feet to thefloor. "Friends then?"

"Definitely," Cassidy beamed.

A much upbeat song came on and they both danced joyfully, filled with laughterand fun. As a couple of songs passed, Cassidy got tired and said goodbye to Jasebefore he took on another partner on the dance floor.

- 534 -

She was glad they have reconciled and it made her feel better that things weregoing right. Cassidy headed outside the balcony for some fresh, cool air and shesighed deeply once the chill hit her hot skin. The night was surprisingly fun and sheenjoyed every minute of it spent with Jase, especially on the dance floor.

She heard footsteps approach her from behind and thinking it was Jase, shegrinned widely and whirled around to greet him. But that grin quickly vanished onceit came when she saw Adrian come into view under the lights shining above. He hadhis hands in his pockets and he looked more serious than usual.

"I'm guessing you two made up?" Adrian said, gesturing his head to the dancefloor inside.

She furrowed her eyebrows, knowing that he was referring to Jase. "What makesyou think that?"

"Well, it was pretty obvious by the hug display on the dance floor." He commentedrather bitterly, walking beside her. "So, I guess congratulation's is in order?"

"I'm not with him, Adrian." Cassidy deadpanned.

"Then why the cozy look between you two?"

"We're friends again, nothing else." She replied, raising an eyebrow. "Why do youeven care?"

"I don't." Adrian said blankly.

"Really?" Cassidy said, unbelieving. "Then why do you keep asking?"

He shrugged, face turned away. "Curiosity."

Cassidy took a step closer to him, face to face as she eyed him up and down. "Whyare you out here, Adrian? And don't tell me it's because you wanted to say'congratulations.' We both know that's bullshit."

Adrian blinked his eyes from surprise with her bluntness, but kept quiet. "I wantto dance with you."

"Huh?" Cassidy said puzzled, blinking her eyes too as she didn't believe what shejust heard.

- 535 -

He held his hand out, his expression calm. "Dance with me."

"Here?" She inquired, thinking the idea outrageous.

"It's too loud and crowded inside." He explained, shrugging. "We can still hear themusic if that's what you're worried about."

"I-I just-" She stopped herself, trying to contain her shock.

Did Adrian really just ask her to dance? He was still holding his hand out, waitingpatiently for her to take it. It unnerved her because she didn't know how to react.Was he serious? After taking a long good look at him, he didn't budge from his spotwith his hand extended out. Cassidy slowly lifted her hand from her side and placedit inside his palm, enclosing it.

"Ok," She said softly.

Adrian yanked her closed hand towards him and she twirled, landing full frontalon his chest as she gasped surprise. He settled both his hands on her hips andCassidy hesitantly rested hers on his shoulders. They swayed to the music, staring ateach other with each step. It didn't unnerve her in anyway because of the silence.She actually preferred it.

There were no arguments, no smug remarks or lies. It was just the two of themenjoying each other's company like normal people. Cassidy liked it a lot, especiallyseeing this different side of Adrian even if it was small. He wasn't displeasing her orgiving anyone a hard time. He was just like every other person and that made hersmile.

"What are you smiling at?" Adrian asked, pulling from her thoughts.

"Nothing," Cassidy replied, shrugging as it vanished. She eyed him closely, beingreminded of something. "When you said that it was a mistake to invite me, what didyou mean?"

Adrian avoided her eyes, gripping her hips as they continued to sway. "Uh,nothing. I didn't mean it."

"Really, Adrian, what did you mean?" She pressed firmly, not letting the subjectgo.

Adrian sighed. "It means exactly what it meant." - 536 -

"Which is?" Cassidy asked, confused.

He stopped their slow swaying, but kept his hands on her hips. "You confuse me."

She let out a laugh, still puzzled. "Confuse you? How?"

Adrian swallowed at his throat, lowering his eyes to the floor and back to her face.He couldn't say it, whatever he was about to say. It seemed it was hard for him toeven think it.

"I can't...think with you...dressed like that." He finished with struggle, running ahand through his hair.

Cassidy looked down at her dress, not finding anything wrong with the way itlooked. It was decent, not showing any skin where it shouldn't be. She looked backat him with confusion, trying to figure out the words from his head, but she had noluck. He just stared at her with darkened eyes.

"Adrian," She breathed out, forcing the tremble down her throat. "W-What'swrong?"

Adrian stalked towards her with swift movement, startling her as she backed intoa corner to protect herself from his heated look. She gasped as he pressed himselfagainst her, grabbing the back of her neck and crashing his lips to hers.

Her complete shock made her eyes open wide and she didn't know how to react.Adrian growled and moved his lips hard against hers, forcing her to reiterate withhis hands on her waist.

When did she last do this? The memory of her first drunken moment sprang upand she started to remember it all over again.

She started slowly, closing her eyes slowly and letting herself feel rather thanthink. His response was anything, but appreciative. He groaned, pressing herfurther into the wall, which made her moan. He slipped his tongue into her mouth,an entirely different experience that caught her off guard, and he continued to brushit up against her unresponsive one.

Cassidy moved it gradually, brushing against his and feeling the sleekness of theirtongues dueling against each other's. His hand trailed to her thigh and slippedinside her dress, making her moan and pull the front of his tuxedo jacket to her.

- 537 -

His fingers flitted across the band of her underwear, causing trembles to rackinside her stomach. She snaked her hands up to his neck and played with the endsof his hair, eliciting a groan from his side.

His digits slipped inside the back of her underwear and felt the bare of herbottom, squeezing it as she breathed heavily into his mouth.

Adrian left her lips and trailed it down the length of her neck, pressing slippery,hot kisses with each breath. Cassidy moaned and threw her head back as he camebetween the swell of her breasts, slipping his tongue beneath the two. She held onto him tight as he sucked and prodded the area above her strap line, leaving reddelicious marks for the world to see.

"Y-You're making me-" Adrian stopped his panted breathing, moving up to kiss herneck. "Go crazy."

Cassidy exhaled deeply, not being able to form words. Her body was heated like afurnace in every part. She wanted him.

He went back to her lips to kiss her once more, but a voice from far behindstopped him. "Adrian."

Adrian froze midway, removing his hand from her ass and waist. She dropped herhands from his hair, embarrassed and ashamed of her previous immoral acts. Heturned his back to Cassidy and walked out from the corner of the balcony.

"Oh, uh is there something that you wanted Chris?" He asked, somewhatbreathlessly.

"The event is ending. They want your final words."

Adrian shook his head, inhaling a breath. "I'll be there in a minute.

Chris nodded and went back inside, having no idea what had just transpired in thebalcony. Adrian ran a hand through his hair, raising his eyes to meet Cassidy's.

"You kissed me." She announced in soft accusation.

He raised an eyebrow. "Am I not allowed to?"

"You said you don't kiss girls in public." Cassidy clarified, swallowing at herthroat.

- 538 -

Adrian shrugged uncaringly. "Well, I guess I broke that rule."

She breathed through her nose, not knowing if that was a good or bad thing.Though, she wouldn't want to find out either way. The conclusion might be too muchfor her to handle at the moment.

"Do you...uh-" Adrian paused in mid-sentence, his expression nervous which wasunlike him. "Want to go to my place?"

Cassidy's eyes widened in surprise by his invite and suddenly, he mirrored thesame look but out of bewilderment from how the invitation might have sounded. "Imean to hang out. The formal is ending and I don't want to say bye just yet."

She hesitated, and then shrugged one shoulder. "Uh, sure."

He smiled, nodding. "Ok, I'll be right back."

Adrian rushed back inside with quick speed that she didn't see the full of hisretreating back. She sighed and slumped against the wall, covering her foreheadwith her hand. She wasn't thinking clearly.

A million things were going through her head at once, but when Adrian asked herto come over, she couldn't find herself to decline. She didn't want say bye either andshe wanted so much to continue what they were doing before even if it was againsteverything she stood for. When logic tried to reason, her heart overrode it with therapid beats pounding into her ear drums.

She was going to Adrian's apartment and she didn't care what would happen whenthey got there.

A/N: Woahhh that was steamy! :) There's your long awaited action! Hope it wasworth it! But there is still more to come ;) What do you guys think is going tohappen??

- 539 -

All or Nothing

Chapter 30: All or Nothing

Adrian's last speech was anything but quick. He gave a short summary of howmuch money they raised for cancer research, which was a whopping ten thousanddollars, and went on to send his gratitude towards his donors.

His words became even quicker once he saw Cassidy lean against the door,watching him at the podium. When he ended his speech, he jumped down the stepstwo at a time, giving out rushed handshakes and pushing past people in his way.Some he ignored when they wanted a casual conversation and as soon as he reachedCassidy, he grabbed her shoulder.

"Let's go," Adrian said breathlessly, leading her out of the ballroom.

Cassidy craned her neck to see a few irritated looks from his guests, notappreciating his rushed exit. "But don't you want to-"

"No, I don't." He quickly replied, knowing her question already. "I've spoken tomost of them all night and frankly, I'm tired of playing host."

Adrian wrapped his arm around her shoulders and walked her outside to theparking lot, feeling the cold air of the night. She shivered and he pulled her close tohis side, stopping at his car.

"Wait, Adrian." Cassidy said, pulling away from him slightly to get her keys outfrom her clutch. "I brought my car here."

"Oh," he replied, furrowing his eyebrows. "So, do you just want to meet me at myapartment then?"

She nodded. "Sure."

Adrian stared at her in silence and then walked to his car, opening the door to getinside. Cassidy did the same when she found hers in the parking lot and once shegot on the road, her head was preoccupied with her sudden invitation to Adrian'sapartment.

It was a bad idea to accept it, because it was only going to be the two of them.

- 540 -

Nina and Terry were gone for the weekend to attend a wedding and Adrian had thewhole apartment to himself. He was also acting strange with his anxious behavior,especially after leaving his event so sudden like that. What was exactly goingthrough his head?

She sighed after she parked her car right outside his apartment complex. His carwas already here and she'd take a guess that he was inside waiting for her.Reluctantly, Cassidy got of her car and locked it, walking up to the building. Shewent to the elevator and pressed the appropriate floor, wondering how many timesshe's been to his place. Most of the time, she wasn't there to see him. It was eitherfor Nina or Jase.

Once the elevator stopped, she got out and walked to his apartment door, holdinga closed hand to knock. Hesitantly, she knocked on it softly, thinking again if thiswas a bad idea and that she should leave.

She sighed, turning away to walk but suddenly the door opened and Adriansmiled. He saw her retreating back and furrowed his eyebrows. "Hey, where are yougoing?"

Cassidy whirled around, giving him a small smile. His tuxedo jacket was missingwhich left only his white dress shirt that was rolled at the sleeves. "Um, nowhere."

"Ok, come inside." He replied, opening the door wider for her.

Cassidy slipped past him inside and immediately felt the rush of cold hit her. Shewrapped her arms around her torso, turning to face Adrian as he closed the door.

"It's so cold in here." She commented, her teeth chattering.

Adrian winced faintly. "Yeah, about that, we usually don't turn on the heaterduring the winter."

She gaped, thinking it insane. "Why? Do you want to freeze to death?"

"No, we need to save money and adding the cost of the heater would send us backto mom and dads." He explained, taking a step closer to her.

"Well, what do you do to keep warm?" She asked, curious.

Adrian closed the inch between them, smirking. "Hot baths, tons of blankets and,"he reached close to her ear, his faint tone issuing warm breath that made her shiver.

- 541 -

"Body warmth."

Cassidy felt her heart pick up, swallowing at her throat. "O-Oh..."

He settled his hands on her arms, stroking the length back and forth. "I couldwarm you up if you'd like."

She felt the goose bumps prick at the top, relishing the warmth and smooth feel ofhis hands. But she was afraid to say 'yes,' thinking that he might take it the wrongway. "T-That's ok. I'm ok for now."

Adrian raised his eyebrows, stopping in motion. "You sure?"

She only nodded, silently cursing at herself once he dropped his hands. The coldair swirled around her and his warmth faded when he walked away.

"Do you want anything to drink?" He asked kindly, opening the fridge of hiskitchen as he listed the items off. "We have water, beer, more water, beer."

He craned his neck, waiting for an answer when she furrowed her eyebrows."How do you get the beer? You're not even twenty one yet."

Adrian shrugged like it was no big deal. "Fake I.D."

"...oh." She replied blankly, wondering why she didn't come up with that one. Hewould have a fake id. "I'm ok for now."

There was no way she was going to drink alcohol with him around. She was alightweight and even one beer would get her buzzed. She never did like the tasteanyways.

"Mind if I-?" He trailed off, holding out a beer bottle in his hand as he pointed to itwith his other finger.

"Go ahead." Cassidy said, sitting down on one of the couches.

Adrian closed the refrigerator and cracked open the cap of the bottle on the edgeof the counter. He took a quick sip before walking over to sit on the same couch atthe other side of her, leaning back to relax. He was far enough that another personcould fit in between them.

Cassidy didn't know why it bothered her, but she glanced at him when he took a- 542 -

sip of his beer and grabbed the remote, turning on the T.V to put the sport'schannel. Inwardly she groaned, not wanting to sit watching some mindless sport'sentertainment. She wondered why she even came to his apartment in the first place.They weren't doing anything! But what was she expecting when she came here?Inwardly, she sighed, having no idea.

The constant whirl of cold air surrounded her and she hugged herself, trying tofind her own warmth. Adrian took a long drink or two of his beer, not paying anymind to Cassidy as his eyes were glued to the T.V. He wiped the foam with the backof his hand and continued to watch the highlights of the basketball game he misseddue to the formal event he held.

Cassidy had enough. She was cold, a little bit tired, and most importantly boredjust watching the sport's channel. As she turned her body to face him in preparationof coming up with some lie to leave, Adrian threw his arm around her shoulders,pulling her into his side. She gasped with surprise as she was dragged to his side ofthe couch, their hips hitting each other in the process.

Cassidy felt his warm seep through her and she sighed inwardly, moving closer tohim. Adrian washed off the rest of his beer and set it on the coffee table, grabbingthe remote. He shut the T.V off and tossed the remote, turning into Cassidy.

"You're really cold." He noted, brushing his fingers against her arm and watchingthe goose bumps fly right after. "Why didn't you say anything?"

She shrugged, her eyes trained at the floor. "It's not a big deal."

He rolled his eyes, pulling her into his chest and rubbing his hands at the lengthof her bare back to produce heat. Cassidy shivered in his hold and laid her head onhis shoulder, relishing the warmth.

"I'll be right back." Adrian said, removing himself from her.

He stood up from the couch and disappeared down the hallway, making Cassidyfrown. She wasn't complaining about sharing his body warmth and then he had toleave her cold again?

Adrian showed up with a navy blanket in his hands, smiling as he came to sit backdown next to her. "Thought you might need this," he said in low tone, gesturing tothe blanket.

Cassidy's eyes were awestruck at the sense of gratitude and likeness she felt for- 543 -

him. He got her a blanket at his own will and that even surprised her. Doing nicethings for people, especially girls, wasn't his thing and getting a simple thing like ablanket made her heart beat rapidly.

She was speechless, hesitating. "T-Thank you."

He shrugged one shoulder, unrolling the blanket from his hands and draping itaround her bare shoulders. Cassidy shuddered from his soft touch, watching as hebrought the ends of the blanket to her front and tucked it tightly. It made itimpossible for the cold air to hit her skin. He was being so gentle and caringtowards her current state that it made heart soar.

Adrian fingered the ends of the blanket and ran them up to her shoulders slowly,making her breathe quickly. His fingers found their way to her neck and he caressedthe exposed skin, producing a tingle down her spine.

He leaned in towards her with hooded eyes, stopping at her neck as he pressed asoft kiss. Cassidy released a heavy breath, becoming overwhelmed as he continuedspreading them down her neck. Her body was frozen in her spot as she let him kissher neck, but when his tongue slipped out and touched her skin, she jolted upimmediately from the couch.

Taken aback, Adrian raised a confusing eyebrow at her, but she brushed it off bygrabbing the navy blanket that fell off her shoulders and throwing it back on.

"I-I have to go the bathroom." Cassidy explained nervously, gulping after.

She darted out of the room before he had a chance to respond and she scurrieddown the hall to get away from him. Her feet led her to a dark room so she turnedon the lights and closed the door, throwing her back against the wall beside it. Hereyes were closed as she listened to her rapid heart beats pulsating against hereardrums.

Her feelings for Adrian have reached something above likeness. She was startingto fall for him and realizing that made it hard for her to go through with kissing himwhen he didn't reciprocate the feelings. How was she supposed to go through with itwhen she knew his past history involving women? She was just another hook up tohim, nothing more and that hurt. It was even harder to continue hating him becausehe was being so sweet and kind for once. Cassidy didn't know what to do or feelabout it. Could he be tricking her...or was it real?

The door opened and Adrian popped in, smirking as he shut the door. "You are- 544 -

aware that this is my room, not the bathroom." He clarified, casually leaning againstthe door as he took in her ruffled appearance. "Mind telling me what's going on?"

Cassidy turned fully to face him with a nervous look. "What do you-" She pausedmid-sentence, taking a breath before she continued. "What do you think of me?"

"Uh..." Adrian quirked an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "You're a pretty cool chick."

"How cool?" She blurted out, then mentally berating herself for asking such astupid question.

He laughed. "I don't know. Cooler than any other girl I know."

"So...I'm not just some girl to you." Cassidy asked slowly, eyeing him warily. "I'mdifferent."

Adrian nodded slowly with narrowed eyes, trying to see the point of theconversation.

"What I'm trying to say is that I don't want to mean nothing to you." She clarifiedtimidly, looking down.

The corner of his mouth quirked up and he pushed himself off the door, coming upto stand in front of her. She saw his black shoes in her line of vision, still not lookingup.

"You know, you were wrong about what you said tonight." Adrian said softly,making her raise her head and furrow her eyebrows confusingly at his question. Itwas rare that she was ever wrong about anything.

"You are special, Cassidy."

Her eyes widened, feeling her heart rate pick up at the sound of his kind, gentletone from the beautiful words said.

She was gone.

From the way his green eyes were looking at her, to the soft expression of hisface. She was gone and not coming back. No one has made her feel so euphoric andexasperated like he did. Her insides were tangled and she could barely breathe.

- 545 -

Cassidy opened her mouth to speak, about to ruin it by saying something stupidwhen Adrian captured her lips with his quickly. She gasped inside his mouth fromthe blasted passion and held onto his shoulders from falling.

He took advantage of the situation and slipped his tongue into her mouth, slidingit across her own as he gripped her hips tightly. With more practice experience fromearlier, Cassidy reciprocated earlier and moved her arms around his neck to getcloser.

Adrian apparently liked her active involvement as he growled in response, movinghis lips hard and insistently. He shuffled them quickly without stopping over to thebed and the back of her knees hit the edge of the bed. It sent her flying down withAdrian toppling over her and she felt the full impact of his heated turn on poking heron the leg.

A sharp intake of breath left her and Adrian pressed his lips hard on hers again,stopping for a moment to trail down the length of her neck. Her breathing came outin short breaths, panting when they reached again to her collarbone.

He nipped and sucked at the skin, eliciting a moan from her mouth. His handssnaked from her waist to her lower back, moving higher to the top of her dress. Hisfingers fumbled with her zipper and tugged it down, reaching it all the way till itstopped. Adrian's hands weaved inside her bare back, feeling and exploring everysoft curve of her body.

Cassidy swallowed at her dry throat, overcome with a strange desire at the centerof anatomy that she did something completely out of line with everything she stoodfor. Her hands grabbed at the hem of his pants and found his belt, unbuckling it withquick speed. Adrian continued to spread suckling kisses to her neck as she threwthe belt to the floor and ripped off the edge of his shirt from underneath his pants,slipping her hands underneath to feel the planes of his chest.

Adrian shuddered, stopping his ministrations momentarily when he exhaled astruggling breath. Her hands glided across his chest, reaching to his collarbone andtrying to move over to his biceps. The shirt, however, prevented her from doing soand when she removed her hands from his body, Adrian growled.

In a flash, he sat up straight swiftly, tugging the shirt off of him and throwing it tothe floor violently. He went back and crashed his lips to hers again, pressing hisbody against hers. It made her moan and buckle her hips from underneath from allthe heated warmth and desire. Adrian groaned from the shift and grabbed the edgesof her dress, pulling it down from her body. The dress slid down from her body with

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each tug, making its way down to her abdomen as it exposed her strapless blackbra.

Adrian stopped to get a good look at her, his eyes darkening as it trailed everypart of her exposed body.

"I dreamed about what you might look like underneath your clothes so manytimes," He said huskily, stopping to kiss the middle between her breasts. "But Inever thought it would be this good."

His tongue licked the area and her breathing hitched, bunching the blanketunderneath in her fists.

"Oh God," Cassidy breathed out, screwing her eyes shut from the warmth. Herhands found his loose pants again and when she made a move to slip them inside tohis boxers, Adrian grabbed her wrists to stop it from happening.

"Cassidy," Adrian said with a rough, struggling voice. His warm fanned on herchest, making her shudder as his lustful darkened eyes narrowed at hers. "If you'regoing to tease me, I want you to stop."

"Why?" She asked breathlessly, her chest rising up and down.

Adrian sighed, closing his eyes briefly. "Because you're making my dick excited forsomething that's not going to happen."

Cassidy remained quiet, simply looking at him with an innocent face. "Who saidnothing's going to happen?"

Adrian eyes snapped open surprisingly. "But you-" he said in a rushed sentence,stopping himself. "What?"

She smiled, sliding her hands to the back of his neck and pulling his head down tomet her lips in another furiously passionate kiss that left them breathless.

Cassidy moved her lips to his ear, speaking softly. "I want you to teach meeverything you know."

Adrian's body went rigid, groaning at the sound of her hot, lustful voice. "Fuck, Iswear if this is a dream-"

"It isn't." She said firmly, turning her head to face him. "If it was, wouldn't you be- 547 -

awake by now?"

"They usually stop right before we have-" He stopped, not finishing his sentenceas his eyes darkened considerably. "Are you sure about this?"

Cassidy nodded, her heart making the decision for her rather than her head. "Iam."

"This is your last chance to say something." Adrian warned weakly, his breathcoming out short. He sounded so different than his usual overconfident self. "I won'tbe able to control myself after this."

"Ok," she said simply.

Adrian took one look at her and took off the rest of her dress, discarding it on thefloor. His pants soon followed the floor as he showered Cassidy's body with hotkisses.

This was it, all or nothing.

Adrian groaned from his slumber, swatting her hand away. "Stop," he mumbledweakly.

Cassidy giggled, brushing the pad of her thumb to the small moles that werehidden in certain spots such as his upper lip, jaw, and forehead. He looked so cuteand boyishly handsome when he slept that she couldn't help herself. "No, I'mplaying connect the dots."

He opened his eyes and shifted from his sleeping position on top of her, makingher gasp in surprise. "If you really wanted to play, play with me." He said with amischievous grin.

"As tempting as that offer is," She sighed, getting up from underneath him. "I haveto go."

Adrian frowned, glancing at the clock. "It's only four o'clock; we have all the timein the world."

"I have to get home. My parents are going to be worried." Cassidy said, risingfrom the bed and pulling her underwear on.

- 548 -

She was about to clip her bra when Adrian came up from behind, fastening it forher. "Thanks."

He spread a few kisses on her shoulder, rubbing her arms. "See you tomorrow?"

Cassidy laughed, turning around. "You mean today?" She paused, smiling. "Sure."

Adrian grinned and watched as she pulled her dress on slowly. His eyes raked herbody top down, growing lustful. "You know, I prefer you with your clothes off."

"Yes, but I can't be parading in public with nothing on." She replied, giving him aquick kiss on the lips.

That kiss turned into something more desirable as Adrian grabbed the back of herhead and kissed her hard and long. He released her with heavy breaths and hesmirked at the effect he put on her.

"Uh-" She gulped, waving a weak hand. "Bye."

Cassidy left his apartment before he could do anything else and got into her car tohead home. It was still a surprise to her that she had actually done it, done meaningthe deed. She finally had sex with Adrian and she didn't regret it one bit.

At first, it was incredibly awkward because she didn't know how to even start theact they call "sex," but once Adrian thrust into her, her thoughts flew out of herhead. It was wonderful and better than she imagined. After her first time, they did ittwice after and somehow it ended up being four o'clock in the morning. Cassidynever stayed up that late in her life.

She was trying to focus on the road as she drove, her eyelids becoming heavy.When she finally got home, she stripped her clothes off to her pajamas and wentstraight to bed.

Adrian sipped at his dark coffee, feeling the scalding liquid at the base of histongue. He blinked his weary eyes several times as he sat on the stool of a coffeeshop, staring out the window blankly.

"Since when do you drink coffee?"

Adrian turned around in his chair and saw Chris, his frat\/party buddy. He had ato-go coffee cup in his hand as he was ready to go back home from the long formalnight, but since he saw Adrian, he sat down next to him on the other stool.

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"Since today," Adrian yawned, rubbing his droopy eyelids and taking a long sip ofhis coffee. He never spent a full night that went pass morning with a girl in his life.It was bad enough that he was still craving more. His dick was jumping withexcitement just thinking about it.

Chris eyed him curiously. "What's up with you man?"

"Nothing, I'm just tired. I stayed up all night." He revealed, running a handthrough his messy dark hair.

"Doing what?"

"Having sex." He explained point blank.

Chris chuckled. "You just can't get enough?" He said, grinning as he raised hiscoffee cup to his lips. "Who was it this time? Kim? Or that red head you've beeneyeing for a while?"

"No, it was Cassidy."

Chris spat his coffee out in front of him, coughing violently as he pounded his fistto his chest. "C-Cassidy?" He repeated bewilderedly with wide eyes. "CassidyGordon?"

Adrian nodded, bringing the coffee back up to his lips calmly. "Yes."

"How the-" Chris started, his jaw dropping. "How the fuck did that happen?"

"I honestly have no idea," Adrian laughed, rubbing his forehead. "One moment,I'm watching the game with her on T.V and the next we're in my bedroom havingsex."

"I can't believe it." Chris replied, clearly shocked. "You had sex with the VirginMarry of our school. You are a fucking badass!"

He clapped Adrian hard on the back in congratulations, making him wince. "So,what are you going to do now?"

Adrian shrugged, taking a sip of his coffee. "I don't know, am I supposed to dosomething?"

"God, who knows with virgins, she's probably thinking you two are together." - 550 -

"What?" Adrian said incredulously, shaking his head in disbelief. "Not possible. Igave no indication that we were."

"Well, that's what happens after you have sex with a virgin. They think they getsomething more out of it, like a relationship." Chris sighed, patting Adrian on theshoulder. "Believe me man, I have gone and been there. It is not pretty."

"What the fuck should I do?" Adrian asked, starting to feel worried about himselfas he held his head.

He shrugged. "Tell her you're not interested."

"And then have her go crying to my roommate, who happens to be Terry's cousin,and sick her on me?" Adrian said rhetorically, scoffing. "No thanks."

"Look man, who knows what'll happen. If Cassidy shows that she wants more fromyou, than try hinting at her that you don't." Chris explained. "It's that simple."

Adrian exhaled heavily, burying his head on the table. "I'm fucked, aren't I?"

"I daresay you are, man." Chris said in an apologetic tone, getting off of his chairand patting Adrian on the back again. "But nice job sacking the prude."

He snorted, rolling his eyes. "Thanks."

"See ya."

"So, what did you do this weekend while I was away?" Nina asked, taking a bite ofher sandwich at a cafe they were sitting at.

Cassidy hesitated, pushing her food with her fork. "Uh, nothing much."

"How was that formal you were throwing a fit about?"

She shrugged uncaringly. "It was ok."

Nina narrowed her eyes, setting her sandwich back down on her plate. "Is theresomething you should tell me?"

"What?" Cassidy asked quickly, shaking her head frantically. "N-No, nothing."

She sighed in relief, picking her sandwich back up. "Oh good, I thought it was- 551 -

something bad like you had sex or something."

Cassidy's eyes widened at the latter of her sentence, choosing not to speak as sheshoveled food in her mouth. She felt ashamed of herself for keeping this secret toher best friend, but she had to. She didn't want to upset Nina.

There was no telling how she would react. She might think of her differently, likesome slut and Cassidy didn't want that judgment being placed on her. She alreadyfelt bad enough though she didn't regret having sex with Adrian. She enjoyed it, butit went against everything she stood for, believed in. However, in the moment, sheforgot all of it when it was just her and Adrian. Nothing else mattered but them andit felt right.

Nina looked down at her wristwatch, sighing from distress. "Do you think she hittraffic?"

Cassidy shrugged. "I don't know."

"Hey guys, sorry I'm late!"

They both turned around from the voice and saw Kathleen walking towards themwith a huge smile on her face. She took the empty seat between them and sighed,taking her purse off her shoulder and placing it behind the chair.

"I didn't mean to keep you waiting," Kathleen apologized, glancing at the table."But I see you already ordered without me."

"We weren't going to starve to death by your expense." Cassidy mumbled, taking abite of her food.

Nina shot her a warning look and Kathleen bowed her head in shame. "I'm sorry."

Cassidy bit her bottom lip. "It's ok Kathleen, I didn't mean-"

"I know what you guys think of me." Kathleen started, rising her head with glazedeyes. "I've been a bad friend. I don't answer any of your phone calls and I don't makethe effort to answer back. I know I chose my boyfriend over you guys and I'm-" Shechoked on her oncoming tears. "I'm sorry!"

Kathleen bawled into her hands and Nina and Cassidy looked at each other inalarm. Kathleen wasn't this emotional. Nina patted her shoulder awkwardly, tryingto comfort their friend.

- 552 -

"There, there." Nina patted, clearing her throat. "Did something bad happen?"

Kathleen shot her head up with a red tear stricken face, throwing her hands out."YES! He broke up with me!"

She erupted in fits of tears, picking up the tissues from the table and blowing hernose into them. Nina continued patting her shoulder and looked at Cassidy for help.

"Um-" Cassidy hesitated. "What did he do?"

Kathleen sniffled. "He cheated on me with some groupie on tour." She blew hernose once more and placed them on the table, making Nina wrinkle her nose.

"I love him, you know." Kathleen said in grief, holding her hand near her heart. "Igave him everything, even my virginity!"

Nina and Cassidy both jumped in their seats by her exclamation, seeing hercontinue to grieve. "He took everything from me." She continued on, tears falling toher face. "EVERYTHING!"

Cassidy scrunched her face from Kathleen's loud voice, grabbing her hand. "It'sgoing to be ok, Kathleen. Sooner or later, you'll find that he never deserved you inthe first place."

Kathleen turned her chair towards Cassidy, scooting towards her friend withurgency. She grabbed Cassidy's other hand in hers, squeezing them. "PleaseCassidy, I beg of you, don't ever fall in love!" She exclaimed, choking on her voice."You'll end up heart broken and miserable."

Cassidy nodded at Kathleen's expense, finding her quite dramatic. "Ok, Kathleenwhatever you say."

Kathleen was quiet for a moment, exhaling a soft breath. "Keep it."

Cassidy furrowed her eyebrows. "Keep what?"

"Your virginity," Kathleen clarified, squeezing her hands once more. "Whateveryou do, keep it until you find the one you love who loves you back." She paused,closing her eyes shut as to block her bad memories. "I've learned my mistakes fromGabe. I loved him, but he never loved me."

Kathleen burst into tears and her head fell into Cassidy's lap, bawling once more.- 553 -

Cassidy looked up at Nina with a troubling look and rubbed her back soothingly.

Somehow, the words that Kathleen said, whether they were crazy or true, hit herlike a ton of bricks. Will she regret giving up her virginity to the man that wasnotorious for sleeping with dozens of women?

She would take that as a yes.

After calming their heartbroken friend Kathleen, Cassidy took her home alongwith Nina in the car. When they promised Kathleen to meet up once again as theydropped her off, Nina took the front seat when she left and mumbled to herself.

"What a nut."

Cassidy snorted. "Yeah, tell me about it."

"Do you think she did drugs when she was with that guy?" Nina asked, raising aneyebrow.

She shrugged. "Who knows what she did." She paused, giving Nina a sidelongglance. "Are we really hanging out with her again, after all that's she done to us?"

Nina sighed, holding her head. "I don't know. It would be wrong of us not to, she'sour friend."

"Well, I don't know about you, but that girl who just sat with us at lunch certainlydidn't act like the friend we used to know." Cassidy replied, pulling up at Nina'sapartment complex and putting the car in park. "I know that people change, buthers was dramatic."

"You got that right," Nina said, opening her car door before turning to Cassidy."Do you want to come inside?"

Cassidy hesitated, traveling her eyes to the apartment complex back to Nina'sface. Memories of the night two days ago flashed in her mind and she shook herhead. "N-No, I don't-"

"Come on, Cassidy. I need to talk to someone sane after that weird lunch."

She sighed, taking out her keys from the ignition. "Fine."

They walked up to the apartment and Nina dished out the details of the wedding- 554 -

she went to over the weekend. Terry got pissed drunk during the ceremony and herdistant cousin tried to grind with her on the dance floor. It was an odd familyreunion, but she said it was fun nonetheless, besides the grinding part. As theyreached up to the door, Nina shuffled through her purse and emitted curse words.

"Damn, I forgot my keys in my other bag." She sighed, knocking on the door withhaste. "I hope someone's home or we're screwed."

After a few moments, the door knob rattled and Adrian appeared at the doorway.His eyes widened in surprise when he saw Cassidy, but he blinked the emotionaway.

"Hey ladies, what are you up to?"

Nina snorted, shoving passed Adrian. "None of your business."

He laughed, watching Nina's retreating back. "Still reconsidering thatthreesome?"

Nina whirled around, giving him the finger. "Up yours Lennox."

She slammed her door and Adrian whistled, leaning against the door. "That's onewild chick."

Cassidy cleared her throat softly, making him turn to her attention. He cleared histhroat as well, raking a hand through his hair.

"Oh, Cassidy I didn't see you there." Adrian said, sounding timid.

She raised an eyebrow, unbelieving. "Right..."

Cassidy stepped right passed him, aware of his close presence as she felt his bodyheat and the wafting smell of his cologne.

"Listen, Cassidy-"

She turned around, raising her hand up to stop him. "It was a mistake."

"I-What?!" Adrian exclaimed, shutting the door hard. "What was a mistake?"

Cassidy looked back at Nina's closed door and turned her head to face himconfidently. "The sex, it was a mistake." She said softly.

- 555 -

"The fuck?!" He shouted, becoming angry. "Wait so you're saying that having sexwith me, was a mistake?"

She nodded simply.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Adrian said in outrage, jabbing his finger at her. "Igave you the best fucking night of your life!"

Cassidy snapped her head back at Nina's door, reaffirmed that it was still closed,and turned back to Adrian with anger. She brought a finger to her lips and shushedhim. "Could you keep it down?"

"No, this is bull shit!" Adrian started furiously, running a frustrated hand throughhis hair. "You are supposed to say that you want me again, not tell me it was afucking mistake!"

"I'm not talking about this anymore." Cassidy said clearly when Adrian didn't keephis voice down, afraid that her friend might hear.

She turned around to head straight to her door, but Adrian grabbed her wrist tokeep from going. "Wait, just wait."

Cassidy tore her wrist out from his hand, gritting her teeth as she found they wereclose. "No, I will not wait. You are being loud and disrespectful and I won't tolerateit."

"Just hear me out!"

"NO!" Cassidy countered back with equal fervor.

Adrian crashed his lips against hers, gripping her face in his hands to kiss herhard. Cassidy moaned, throwing her hands around his neck to pull him close. Hepushed her up against a wall and devoured her lips, hearing her soft moans anddeep breathing as her chest rubbed up against his.

Adrian ran his hands up her shirt, stroking her abdomen and coming up thebottom of her bra. His fingers sneaked their way inside, fondling her breath andmaking her groan at the crevice of his neck. She nipped him, emitting a rough cursefrom his mouth as she sucked and licked a trail to his collar bone.

Her core was begging with need and desire and from the hardness pressed upagainst her stomach, she felt Adrian's too. Cassidy glided her hands down towards

- 556 -

his belt buckle when a door creaked open.

A sharp intake of breath parted in the air and a loud, clear voice sounded. "Whatthe fuck is going on!"

They broke apart, both breathing hard as they saw Nina look at them with ahorror stricken face. Evidence of bruised lips, flushed faces was the dead give awayand no explanation could be given.

"Oh shit." Cassidy muttered bewilderedly.

A/N: Hey guys!! Here's the long awaited chapter! lol, I love all the eagerness fromthe last chapter. I thought you guys would kill me if I didn't upload soon haha.Anyways, here it is! How do you like it? I know this is a rated r story, but it wasn'tsupposed to be that way in the beginning (wattpad rules). I have a lot of lewdlanguage and that's why it was deemed inappropriate. I'm not comfortable writingsex scenes so I hope you guys are happy with what I have. Until next time!

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Taking Risks

Chapter 31: Taking Risks

Adrian looked to Nina and Cassidy back to back, getting rather bored of thestaring game. This has been going on for a minute now and he was tired of it.

"Well I'll leave you two to talk." He said suddenly, taking a step to leave.

"Oh, no you don't." Cassidy grabbed his bicep and forced him back at his spot,glaring. "You're not going anywhere."

"What do you need me for? You're the one that's friends with her." He complained.

Cassidy leaned towards him, yanking his arm down to her level. "There is no waythat I'm going to explain what happened by myself." She hissed in his ear, quietlyenough for him to hear.

"Ok fine," Adrian replied, straightening himself up to face Nina with a mischiefsmirk. He cleared his throat, shoving his hands in his pockets and keeping a coolattitude. "Nina, Cassidy and I had sex while you and Terry were gone."

Nina's jaw dropped in response, her eyes widening at the both of them. Cassidy'sjaw dropped as well as she turned her head to slowly look at him with his shockinglyblunt reveal. He wasn't supposed to drop the ball just like that. They were supposedto explain their actions and then slowly work their way up to the night they had daysago to Nina. This wasn't how she imagined telling her friend. It was too much forher to handle in one moment.

"There, I'm done." He told her simply, taking his leave out the room.

Cassidy gritted her teeth at his retreating back. "You bastard!"

Adrian chuckled, his laughter echoing from behind as he left. Cassidy rubbed hereyes with distress, her plan of telling Nina suddenly going down the drain. Heruined it.

"Is he telling the truth?" Nina asked quietly through the thick silent, makingCassidy open her eyes to meet hers with hesitation. "Did you guys really...?"

- 558 -

She didn't reply, only looking at her with shame as she readied for the judgmentto begin. By the look of her eyes, she already answered the question. It was clearthat he was telling the truth and that made her friend gasp softly to herself. Ninawas going to be disappointed with her and she knew it. She was when Kathleenslept with her boyfriend.

"How was it?"

Cassidy whipped her head up, eyes bulging out. "WHAT?"

"You know," Nina stammered, motioning her hand in the air. "How was it."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was Nina actually ok with this?Cassidy expected worse. Then again, she was surprisingly calm when Cassidy toldher she touched Adrian's male organ.

"Nina," Cassidy started bewilderedly, unbelieving of her words. "Adrian just toldyou we had sex and all you can say is, how was it?"

"What am I supposed to say?" She asked, confused.

"I don't know?" Cassidy retorted in a high pitched, equally puzzled tone. "Thatyou're disappointed in me? Or how stupid it was to have sex with the town's maleskank? That I need to get my head checked for possible mental illness?"

"...oh, is there something wrong with you?"

"NO!" She shouted, pacing the room. "Well, I don't know! Maybe? Possibly? I justhad sex with Adrian two days ago, I think there might be something wrong upthere."

"So, what, you want me to tell you that I'm disappointed in you?"

Cassidy nodded furiously. "Yes. I would like you to say something!"

She shrugged. "It's surprising. I never thought you would do it with him, but ithappened."

"So you are disappointed in me."

"No, I'm not." Nina said clearly, sighing. "Listen Cassidy, I don't control your lifeand I don't tell you how to live it. You made your decision. Yeah, I'm a little shocked

- 559 -

and freaked out about the news but I don't hate you."

"So you're not disappointed in me."

She rolled her eyes. "Yes, I'm not disappointed in you."

Cassidy paused, staring down at the floor. "I'm not like Kathleen."

Nina frowned. "I never said you were."

She looked at Nina and smiled softly. Thankfully, the details of the past weekenddid not upset Nina. Given what happened between her and Kathleen, Cassidy didn'twant to lose her as a friend just because she had sex with some guy who happenedto be her roommate. Cassidy would just have to be a lot more careful in the future.

"How did it happen?" Nina asked, sounding interested as she went to sit on thecouch with eager eyes.

Cassidy stopped in mid-pace, looking at Nina incredulously. "Really? You reallywant to know?"

"Yeah, I do."

She narrowed her eyes warily. "You're not mad?"

"No."

"You don't think I was stupid?"

She shrugged. "Something wild must've happened to lead you here."

"Uh-" Cassidy hesitated, going over to take a seat next to Nina. She rubbed a handto her forehead, furrowing her eyebrows. "Gosh, I don't know where to start."

"Start at the charity formal." Nina suggested, sinking further into her seat. "That'swhere it all happened, right?"

"Yeah..." She trailed off in thought, her memories retracting to that night.

After a few moments of silence, Cassidy started out from the beginning, detailingher struggles with finding a dress to regaining her friendship back with Jase. Herface flushed when she began talking about how Adrian found her in the balcony and

- 560 -

they ended up pressed against each other in a full make out. Nina's jaw dropped asthe re-telling went on, the facts getting very personal to the end. Once she wasdone, Cassidy swallowed at her throat, staring down at the floor.

"Wow," Nina said in awe, leaning back against the couch.

She nodded, "I know."

"So, you like him?" Nina said quietly, careful not to let Adrian overhear.

Cassidy nodded again, "Yeah."

"You know that you're getting yourself into a bad situation right?"

"Yup."

Nina's eyebrows creased. "And you don't care?"

"I do, but for now I'm fine with it."

"But what about in the future?" She asked, concerned. "What happens then?"

"I'm not focusing on the future right now. I'm taking it day by day."

Nina frowned slightly. "That's a big risk."

"I know, I'm stupid right?"

She sighed, throwing an arm around her shoulder. "You're not stupid. You just likehim a lot and it's ok to feel that way, but at the same time you need to be careful."

Cassidy stared straight ahead, her face expressionless. "I'm ruining my life, I knowit."

"Then why continue?"

"Because like you said, I like him." Cassidy noted, lowering her voice. "I like himtoo much to stop."

Nina looked at her conflicted friend with sympathy, not knowing how to help her.She barely had any experience in men, just ending the relationship once it started.Though it was never her, it was always the guy because she would never put out.

- 561 -

That was something her and Cassidy shared in common, but now that Cassidy hasgone and done the deed, she couldn't help but feel like the only inexperienced one ofthe group.

However, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. She certainly didn't want to be caughtin Cassidy's situation with a man-whore who didn't know the first thing about acommitted relationship. Like any other girl, she looked for long lasting love andhappiness.

After exchanging goodbyes with Nina, Cassidy went home. She didn't see Adrianbefore she left and it didn't really bother her. She was pretty put off by the way heblurted out the truth so plainly and out in the open to Nina. She was innocent likeCassidy and it wasn't the best way to tell something so private and intimate such assex to a virgin.

Though, Cassidy could relate. She was in Nina's shoes before and Adrianconstantly caught her by surprise with his inability to filter the words coming out ofhis mouth. She still couldn't stop herself from blushing or wrinkling her nosewhenever he said something extremely sexual.

Upon arriving to her house, dinner was ready and Cassidy greeted her parents inthe dining room. She took a seat in between them and started to scoop a plate offood.

"So, Cassidy," her dad said casually, making Cassidy feel wary. "How are Nina andKathleen doing?"

Inwardly she sighed in relief, thinking he was going to give her the third degree."They are both doing fine."

"Hmm," Larry replied, chewing on a piece of food as he pondered in thought. "Inever did ask you how the charity ball went."

"It was good. They managed to raise ten thousand dollars for cancer research."Cassidy informed him, taking a bite of food from her plate.

Larry eyed her closely, wiping the corner of his mouth with his napkin. "They?"

"I mean, we-we" Cassidy said quickly, realizing her slip up. Her father still thoughtshe was apart of the club. "We."

"Is Adrian still running the club?" - 562 -

She nodded, feeling the palms of her hands starting to sweat from his stern gaze."Yes, he is."

"What has he been doing lately?" Larry inquired, genuinely interested.

She shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant. "Oh nothing, just you know, enjoying hisbreak."

"Have you been hanging around him?"

Cassidy saw the strict look in his eyes and was about to say no, but she knew herdad didn't see Adrian as a threat.

"Sometimes, we did hang out at the charity ball." She replied, taking a forkful offood into her mouth.

"Has he kept his hands off of you?"

Cassidy almost choked, gulping down her food. "Uh, yes he has."

Larry nodded in satisfaction, picking up his fork to eat. "Good."

She smiled faintly, feeling the guilt eat up at her inside. She hated lying,especially to her parents. It didn't happen often until she met Adrian. It seemed shewas doing it more on a daily basis. Adrian has turned her into a bad egg.

If her parents found out that she had sex with him, they would cast her on thestreet and never look back. She would be cast away or shamed in the family and shedidn't want that. Lying was the only solution to keep her parents happy and if that'swhat she had to do to save herself in the future, then that's the way it was going tobe.

The following day, Cassidy was lounging on her bed with a book in her hand,deeply engrossed. She was about to turn the next page until her phone rang on herend table, startling her out of the literary world. She marked her page and sat herbook aside, grabbing her phone. The number was unknown to her, but she answeredanyways.

"Hello?"

"Cassidy, hey."

- 563 -

"Adrian?" She replied, puzzled. "Why are you calling me? And how did you get myphone number?"

"I got it from Nina a while back ok? And I'm calling you because-" He stoppedhimself, his voice dropping a few octaves. "Nina and Terry are out of the house for afew hours."

She furrowed her eyebrows, seeing as how the fact was irrelevant to her. "Ok,so?"

"So, do you want to come over?"

"Why?"

Adrian sighed at her lack of comprehension. "To have sex."

Her jaw dropped at his response, stunned by his crude bluntness. "Are youkidding me right now?"

"No, I'm completely serious." He said with no hint of amusement.

She raised an eyebrow, unsure. "Is this what they refer to as a booty call?"

"Yes, somewhat." Adrian replied, not even bothering to lie to make her feel better."So are you coming or not?"

Cassidy's jaw tightened, the anger seeping through. "No. You can't just call andexpect me to come over with the full intentions of sleeping with you. That makes mefeel slutty."

"Ok, then how about we forget that I called you and you just came over,unannounced, pretending to see if Nina was here while I answer the door in nothingbut my boxers?" Adrian suggested slyly.

Cassidy hesitated, gripping the phone tightly in her hand. The image struckquickly in her head showing a smirking Adrian holding the door in his glorioustoned, naked abdomen with his lower half being covered. It made her breathingrough and her insides tight and warm. Why she was feeling this way, she couldn'tunderstand. But what she did know was that she was craving something, and it washim.

"Consider this conversation forgotten." She said in a hasty sentence and then- 564 -

hung up the phone, exhaling a deep breath.

He really knew how to persuade people.

It wasn't long before Cassidy arrived on his doorstep, knocking on his dooranxiously. She wondered if he was still serious about the whole booty call thing. Washe really going to go through with the vision he provided for her? Because it wasstill pressing her nerves.

She tapped her shoe against the carpeted floor, waiting for a response at the doorbut it never came. Angered that he was toying with her, she balled up her fists andpounded at the door, about to give him a piece of her mind.

"Adrian, if you don't open the damn door this instant, I swear I'm going to break itdown and-"

The door suddenly swung open with a cocky smirk on Adrian's face, clearlyenjoying her anger. She fumed, opening her mouth to begin her tirade, but it fellshort when she saw what was in front of her.

Wearing only skimpy black and gray boxers, he stood there half naked with adefined abdomen and minimally sprinkles of dark hair in the middle. Cassidydropped her balled hand to her side, swallowing from the scene. Her face grewwarm and she felt her heart pound hard against her chest. This was so much betterthan her vision.

"You were saying, darling?" Adrian remarked, raising an arrogant eyebrow. Heknew he was having an effect on her and he liked watching her squirm for once.

Cassidy cleared her throat, bringing her eyes up to his face. "Nothing."

"No, I don't think it was nothing." He replied, gesturing her to move forward withhis hand. She took a few steps towards the door, leaving an inch between them. "Ibelieve you asked me if Nina was home."

She nodded robotically, actually forgetting their conversation previously. "Y-Yes,is she-?"

"Sadly, she isn't." Adrian said with mock disappointment. "But you could waitinside until she gets back."

Cassidy hesitated, not knowing if he was acting or serious. "Uh, ok." - 565 -

She stepped inside, hearing Adrian shut the door behind and she stayed standingin her spot. Was she going to sit on the couch to wait for Nina or go to her room tohide from Adrian?

"So," Adrian said huskily from behind, his warm breath fanning across my neck."What would you like to do while she's gone?"

Taking in a shallow breath, she realized Adrian was teasing her, making hersuccumb to him. That might've worked before, but it wasn't going to now.

"I think I'm going to watch some T.V." Cassidy answered, trotting away.

"T.V?" Adrian repeated incredulously, following her closely behind. "Why?"

She turned around suddenly, stopping him from knocking into her. "I'm waitingfor Nina."

Adrian sighed in frustration, shaking his head. "I'm trying to role-play here andyou want to watch T.V?"

Cassidy's forehead creased, puzzled. "What's role-play?"

"You know, acting, but in a sexual sense?" Adrian answered, still getting thepuzzled look on her face. He rolled his eyes, forgetting how naive she was."Sometimes when two people are about to have sex, they like to role-play to spicethings up a bit. Like play doctor or house maid."

She flushed, unaware of any 'role-playing' that occurred earlier, but by the look ofhis semi-nakedness, it was starting to become clear. "So you were-"

"Yes, I was role-playing." He finished irritably. "When I told you to pretend that Ididn't call you, I meant it. So the whole, 'Nina's not here' was part of it and you weresupposed to play along."

"Oh-" She replied, the light bulb flashing in her head. "OH!"

He rolled his eyes again, turning to walk away. "Yeah and now I'm not in the moodso you can stay and actually wait for Nina."

Cassidy watched him leave and an unexplained pull seize her chest. She pushedaway all her logic, telling her to say no when she rushed towards him and roundedup in front, making him stop. He furrowed his eyebrows, confused by her actions.

- 566 -

"What are you-"

She grabbed the back of his head and crashed her lips to his, eliciting a strongmoan from him. Taking control, he pushed her up against the wall and deepened thekiss, entering his tongue into her mouth. Cassidy moaned, grinding her hips to hisand wrapping her arms around his neck. Adrian grasped her hips tightly, mashinghis lips with hers as little air came between them.

He groaned, breathing shortly. "Bedroom?"

Cassidy sighed as his lips traveled from her jaw to her neck, sucking and nippingaway. "Y-Yes doctor."

Adrian's lips ceased their ministrations and he looked up at her with glinted greeneyes. "Right this way, my patient."

The rise and fall of their chests were heavy and quick, adding on the sheen ofsweat visible on their foreheads. The sex was rough, hard, and tiring. Cassidy gother daily dosage of workout from it every time she committed the act. It wasexhilarating during it, but in the end, her bones felt weary. All the kissing, biting,and moaning. It was hard on her lips and vocal chords. But this was the price to paywhen it came to sex. It was easy to start, but the final was tiresome.

"It gets easier," Adrian said breathlessly, noting Cassidy's panting as he smirked."Trust me."

Cassidy gulped a breath, pulling his sheets to her naked chest. "I don't know howyou do this all the time."

He shrugged. "It's pleasurable."

She rolled her eyes. "Mostly to you."

"You didn't like it?" Adrian asked, whipping his head to look at her from his pillow.

Cassidy turned to face him, noticing the distraught in his eyes. He didn't even tryto conceal it. She guessed it was the sex that made him too tired to hide hisemotions.

"I did, I'm just tired." Cassidy replied, yawning.

- 567 -

Her eyes fluttered to close and the sleep was begging to immerse her, but then anoisy ring sounded. She opened her eyes fully, darting them to the end table toaccuse it of it's distraction from her sleep.

"Is that your-"

"Yeah," Adrian answered, grabbing his phone to check his caller id. The sheets fellto his hips and Cassidy got a good view of his ass. "It's no one."

He ignored the call, setting it back down and wrapping himself in his sheets. Tootired to question who it was, Cassidy began to close her eyes again until the phonerang a second time, making her eyes widen.

She groaned from the irritating noise, pressing the ends of the pillow to her ears."Adrian, just pick up the phone."

"I already told you it's-"

"Pick up the phone!"

Adrian sighed, grabbing his phone from his end table. He paid no attention to thecaller number as he flipped open the phone, already knowing who it was by the grimlook on his face.

"Hello?"

Adrian's face turned sour and he got out of the bed, pulling his boxers on. Hisphone was squeezed in between his chin and shoulder as he secured them aroundhis waist, walking out of the room as the other person on the line spoke. Cassidywondered who it was and it bugged her. What if it was one of his past bedmates?Would he drop her right now to go be with them?

She sighed, rising from the bed in search of her clothes. She found herundergarments strewn on the floor and quickly put them on. Her pants went nextright after and once she slid them on, she searched for her shirt. Giving a briefsweep around the room, her missing clothing item was nowhere to be found.

Cassidy circled around and looked underneath the bed, not having any luckfinding it there. Getting up slowly, she spotted the hem of her shirt hanging off ofAdrian's desk and she went to grab it. She tugged it over her head and was about toturn around until a paper on his desk caught her eye. Swiveling her head to Adrian'sdoor, she noticed that he was gone so she shuffled through his papers.

- 568 -

Cassidy stopped at a few, finding doodles of small buildings and renderedlandmarks. She noticed a few, one being the Eiffel Tower of Paris and St. Peters inItaly drawn in charcoal and regular pencil. They were all so beautifully drawn andmarked that she considered wanted to take a few to hang up. But she was curious toknow if Adrian really drew these. They were such beautiful creations that it washard to believe he could draw something like it.

Hearing footsteps in the distance towards his room, Cassidy hurriedly placed backthe drawings on his desk and rushed to his bed, sitting on the edge.

He came back into the room, his negative mood clearly showing from the scowl onhis face. He didn't even give her a slight glance when he went over to his drawers,picking up a shirt to tug on.

"Who was it?" Cassidy asked slowly in reference to the phone caller, not wantingto sound like some needy girlfriend.

Adrian rubbed his forehead, closing his eyes. "It was my mom. She wants me tohave dinner at her house on Saturday."

She furrowed her eyebrows. "Isn't Saturday-?"

"Christmas," Adrian finished, nodding knowingly. "Yeah."

"Oh." Cassidy said, surprised. "Are you going?"

"No." He said point blank.

She frowned. "Why not?"

Adrian stared at her for a moment. "After what happened last year, I'd rather not."

She was reminded of the incident that Adrian caused at his parent's house overChristmas a year before, rupturing any close relations he had with them. "But you'rea different person now. You should still go, they're your family." She said, trying toreason with him.

"That hasn't stopped me before."

Her frown deepened at the thought of him alone on the holidays and his momupset when he doesn't show up. "Think of your mom, Adrian. She'll be devastated."

- 569 -

"You're right." Adrian agreed, making Cassidy's widen. He usually didn't agreewith anyone. His eyes suddenly looked up to hers boldly. "That's why you're comingwith me."

If there was any possibility, her eyes got wider. "Huh? But I-"

"Look, you said that I should go to this dinner with my parents. You might as wellcome too."

"I have my own family to spend time with." Cassidy explained.

"Ok, well come after when you're done with them."

Cassidy shook her head. "I don't think my dad will like that."

He shrugged. "I'll talk to him."

She looked at Adrian curiously. "Why the need for me to go?"

He smirked. "You can keep me in check in case I decide to burn the house downagain."

Not liking his choice of words, she frowned. "You made a mistake."

"Not to them." Adrian finished coolly.

Cassidy stared at him in silence, pondering over his predicament. It wouldn't be sobad that she went with him. Her parents would most likely agree, given that Adrianwas a "virgin" in their eyes and he hasn't done anything to defile her. Of course,those were all untrue, but her parents didn't need to know that.

"Ok, I'll go." Cassidy said in a final tone.

Adrian's eyes widened incredulously. "You will?"

"Yes, I mean you want me to come right?"

He nodded. "Yeah, but I wasn't expecting an answer so quickly."

She shrugged. "Well, better soon than never."

He smiled slightly, walking over to her. "Pick you up at eight?" - 570 -

"That sounds nice." Cassidy replied, smiling in return.

He drew her close to him, his mouth reaching to the corner of her jaw. "I liked youbetter with your clothes off."

She rolled her eyes. "So you've said before."

He pressed a light kiss in that area and let her go, his eyes shining. "See you,Saturday."

Cassidy looked up at him and swallowed at her throat. The small gesture, beingintimate to her, left her feeling tingling and warm inside when she left hisapartment. Somehow, she knew right then and there, she was going to be in troublesoon.

Going to Adrian's house the second time around was much more different than thefirst. Reason being was that she was a lot more nervous given that she would finallymeet Adrian's father. It wouldn't be a big deal to most, but this was the man thatinfluenced a lot of Adrian's bad decision-making.

She wondered what he was like at close view. Then there was the fact that Adriancaused a huge blowout the year before so tensions will be high at the Lennoxhousehold. She expected anger, frustration, and uneasiness.

But she was going to get through it with Adrian with a positive spirit. Spendingtime with her parents made her get into the jolly mood and she only hoped that shecould influence the Lennox family.

However, when Adrian came to her house, it was a completely different story. Hismood was silently angry and he barely spoke three words to her. The half an hourcar ride was unbearable and when they finally reached there, Cassidy couldn't waitto get out. His negative mood was suffocating her and she needed to keep her goodspirit alive in order to handle all the drama that was going to rise tonight.

When they stood in front of the door with a Christmas wreath hanging at the front,Adrian didn't make a move to knock or ring the door bell. Sighing, Cassidy took astep forward and rang the door bell. Within moments of standing in their wintercoats outside in the chilly weather, the door opened, revealing a festive, elegantlydressed Karen. She beamed at them, clasping her hands as her eyes started to tearup.

"Oh, I'm so happy you two showed up!" She exclaimed, pulling them into a bone- 571 -

crushing hug.

Cassidy resisted the urge to groan, being squash between Adrian and his mother.She was emotional as it gets. Within a second of seeing them, she already startedcrying.

"Please come in!"

Karen ushered them inside, grabbing the coats from their backs and placing themon a nearby chair. She lightly patted underneath her eyelids, coating them with hertears and appeared freshened up again when she looked back to them.

"Merry Christmas, Mrs. Lennox." Cassidy said, smiling softly.

Karen smiled at her. "Merry Christmas, dear."

They were silent and Cassidy nudged Adrian in the side, making him groan. "Oh,uh Merry Christmas, Mom."

Her eyes started to tear up as she smiled wider. "You too, sweetie." She took adeep breath, chuckling a bit. "Come, your father is here."

Adrian paled, shocking Cassidy as Karen wrapped an arm around his shoulder tobring him forth from his sudden frozen state. Cassidy followed after them to theliving room, seeing all the guests chatting and drinking with each other happily.

Their large Christmas tree glistened in the corner, shining with an assortment ofred and white lights. Strangely, there were no presents under the tree. She caughtsight of Eric who sent her a dazzling smile her way, raising his flute champagne toher. Cassidy waved in return, sending him a smile back. She turned back to Karenand Adrian and saw her stop in the middle of the crowd.

"Carl, hunny." Karen said, trying to gain the attention of a tall man's attentionwith his back facing them. "Look who's here."

He turned away from the man he was speaking with and saw the two standing infront of him. The man, being Carl and Adrian's father, was a good-looking darkhaired man wearing a nicely cut black suit and small framed spectacles.

He aged well, only a few wrinkles sprinkling his face near the edges of his eyesand mouth. His features resembled that of Eric and Adrian, except he had hazelcolored eyes and an air of seriousness around him.

- 572 -

Carl's smile was tight-lipped and forced when he saw Adrian. She sensed thefriction in his eyes. "Adrian, what a surprise," he deadpanned.

"Hi dad," Adrian said in a low tone, bowing his head slightly.

The vulnerability that he was emitting was unreal to Cassidy. She hasn't seen himlooking so down and weak before. He always expressed a sort of boldness to himthat all the ladies adored, but now he looked like a lost puppy.

"How is-" he paused for a brief moment, unsure. "Whatever you're doing thesedays."

"It's good." Adrian answered shortly, avoiding eye contact.

Carl cleared his throat, nodding like he cared. He took a brief sweep around theroom, making sure Karen wasn't in hearing range as he stood close to him.

"I'd like it if you kept away from our Christmas tree this year, and the alcoholcabinets." He reprimanded stiffly, trying to sound calm. It was as if he referred tothe poor decorated tree as apart of "their" family, leaving him out.

Adrian stood silent, nodding slowly. "Yeah," he replied softly, barely audible.

Carl didn't acknowledge him as he turned away from and brought his attention tothe small group in the living room. "Alright, who's ready for dinner?"

The group mumbled 'yes's' and they all walked to the dining area, getting ready tosit down at the table. The food was already displayed and ready, opened foreveryone to dig in and eat. Once the room cleared, it was only Cassidy and Adrianleft and she walked up to him with a sad smile. She didn't like seeing him like this,all down and negative. Nobody should feel like this on Christmas of all days.

"Hey," Cassidy said, touching his shoulder softly. "Let's get something to eat, ok?"

Adrian nodded slowly and let Cassidy lead him to the dining room. They bothgrabbed plates and filled it up with all the food that it could hold. Cassidy found twoempty seats across from his mother and they headed to sit over there.

When they started eating, light conversation was passed and Cassidy felt like shecould finally ease her shoulders. Maybe it wouldn't end up being a bad night overall.Even though the exchange between father and son was short and stiff, things werelooking up now.

- 573 -

"Young lady," Carl said directly to Cassidy.

Cassidy's head swiveled to Adrian's dad as he called on her, surprised. "Yes, sir?"

"I'm sorry, but I didn't catch your name."

She smiled softly. "It's Cassidy."

He smiled slightly, glancing at Adrian. "So, you're Adrian's friend I presume?"

She nodded. "Yes sir, we're school friends."

"Oh," Carl replied, raising an eyebrow. "You two in a class together?"

She nodded again. "Biology."

"Interesting," he commented, cutting into his turkey meat. "What is your major ifyou don't mind me asking?"

"I'm a Biology major sir." Cassidy answered politely.

Carl's eyes lit up. "A pre-med student? Really?" He asked again, seeing Cassidynod. "My eldest son is in medical school right now."

"Yes I know, he told me."

"How do you like it so far?" He inquired, genuinely interested.

She shrugged a shoulder. "Well, it has it's up's and down's. The coursework isextensive and rigorous, but that's the expectation of a career in medicine."

"I bet your parents are proud." Carl stated, smiling.

"They are," Cassidy replied, the corner of her lips turning up.

Carl's eyes flitted to Adrian beside her, his smile falling. "Maybe you'll be a goodinfluence on my other son here." He took his fork and stabbed a piece of turkey onhis fork, sliding it in his mouth. "At least he'll be doing something right for achange."

Adrian's raised his head slowly from his plate, his expression showing silent fury.Carl glanced at him again, swallowing his food. Karen had a look a fright as she

- 574 -

glanced at the two, doing nothing to stop them. Nobody else paid attention as theywere joyfully eating their meals and engaged in their own conversations.

"I'm a bit curious to know, Cassidy." Carl started, wiping the corner of his mouthwith a cloth napkin. "Has he kept himself out of jail this pass year?"

Cassidy swallowed at her throat, sensing the tension arising. She felt obligated toanswer since she didn't respect her elders. "Um, yes he has."

"Ah, a record." He pointed out, chuckling to himself. "It seems that when he livedhere, all he ever did was break the law."

Carl pressed on freely after a pause. "I can't count how many illegal acts he'scommitted, whether it be public intoxication, assaulted battery on school grounds,or burning the house down while under the influence of drugs." He sighed, settlinghis utensils on his plate. "My son is a ticking time bomb, Cassidy. It's best if youstopped hanging around him after tonight. You'll be saving yourself from anypossible endangerment."

Adrian pursed his lips, eyes glaring at his father. "Stop it."

Carl swiveled his head in his direction, finally acknowledging him. "Stop what?Stop listing your criminal record to your friend here, who you are about to ruin?"

"If you have a problem with me, tell me about it directly instead of opening it upabout it in front of everyone."

Carl pressed his lips, mildly angry at his son trying to talk down on him. "Iwouldn't have to if you weren't such a failure to this family."

"I wouldn't be such a failure if you kept on pressuring me in high school." Adrianhissed, gritting his teeth.

"Pressuring you? I was trying to motivate you into becoming a stand up man likeyour older brother!" Carl exclaimed.

"You call that motivation?" Adrian said in disbelief, snorting. "Yelling at me all thetime, bringing me down when I made a small error. I don't call that motivation."

"Well, how else was I supposed to discipline you? You were already turning into amenace!"

- 575 -

Adrian scoffed. "If by menace, you mean getting one B on my report card!"

"You were slacking. I couldn't let you fail yourself!"

"Well, you've done it dad! I'm a failure and it's not because of me, it was you!"

"I've done nothing but try to mold you! It wasn't my fault that you were illmannered and disrespectful!" Carl argued, turning red. "This is what you've becomeby your own actions! You have no goals, no dreams. All you're doing is partying andengaging in whatever illegal substances you kids do nowadays! You have no life!"

"This is why I didn't want to come here." Adrian mumbled furiously, shaking hishead.

"When are you going to start thinking about your future? Look at your brother, hewas the top of his class at your school and is on his way to becoming a heartsurgeon!" Carl shouted, throwing his hand out towards Adrian. "And what are youdoing? Nothing!"

Adrian didn't respond, but Cassidy saw his hands tremble with anger. His lipswere pursed in a thin white line, appearing as if he was having trouble keeping histhoughts inside.

"I'm not going to keep paying for your student loans if all you're doing is foolingaround at that school."

"Damn it dad!" Adrian exclaimed furiously, slamming his fork on the table whichmade the dishware shake as people gasped looking on. "Let it go!"

"Do not speak to me in that tone, young man. I need to knock some sense into youbefore you throw your life away." He jabbed a finger at his son, anger growing onhis facial expressions.

"What if I want that for myself? It seems like an easier way than having youbreathe down my back every fucking second!"

"Watch your language." He warned darkly.

Adrian's jaw tightened, glancing at his brother. "I'm not Eric, dad. I will never belike him and you need to stop comparing us like we are the same." He took a deepbreath, trying to calm his nerves but the anger still shook at his barely containedvoice. "I'm not going to become a lawyer nor will I be in the medical field. I don't

- 576 -

want any of that."

"Then what do you want!" Carl demanded loudly.

"I don't know!" He roared back.

Carl stood up from the table, scowling at Adrian. "You're such a disgrace for ason." He spat out, stalking off.

Adrian dropped his head to the floor, shielding his face when he gazed off to theside with a hurt look. Cassidy widened her eyes in horror as she felt a hard built upat her throat, feeling terrible and low. She remembered calling him a disgrace to hisfamily the first day he walked into her life and even though she was confused abouthis angered feelings towards it then, she understood now. Cassidy wanted to makehim feel better, but she knew that it wouldn't happen. Adrian didn't accept warmfeelings from anyone and liked to be left alone.

He pushed his chair back forcefully, throwing his napkin on the table. "Excuseme."

Adrian stalked off in the opposite direction of his father to the other side of thehouse. Cassidy, Karen, and all the others at the table had no clue on what to do.Everybody was in shock on what happened moments ago.

After a drawn out minute, Cassidy was the first to move when she turned her headto face Karen.

"Should I talk to him?" Cassidy asked in a small timid voice.

Karen sighed sadly, blinking her oncoming tears away. "It's best if you didn't dear.That will get him even more upset."

Cassidy frowned, dissatisfied with the answer. If there was anyway she couldmake his bad mood vanish, she would, but it didn't seem like the best choice to talkto him when he was in such a state of anger. She still wanted to try, despite whatKaren said. So, she decided to make up an excuse to leave.

"I'm going to head to the bathroom." Cassidy noted, getting out of her chair.

Nobody stopped her from moving as she took off going the direction Adrian left offof, heading down a dark hallway. She saw a closed door in the corner with the lightpouring underneath, indicating he might possibly be in there.

- 577 -

Cassidy took a few steps to his door, raising her fist to knock on the door softly."Adrian?" She spoke in a low tone, knocking again. "It's me, Cassidy."

No answer was given on the other side and when she got tired of waiting, sheopened the door. Though what she saw made her wish she never came in.

Adrian was on fire, the complexion of his face a flushed red. He began to pace inhis room on a rampage with his hands trembling in anger to his sides. Cassidy'sheart pounded hard against her chest, actually becoming fearful of him. She neversaw him like this before and it scared her. He was capable of doing any destructiveacts because when anger took over, it blinded logic. She was stupid and knew betternot to disrupt an angry person, but she couldn't leave Adrian by himself.

His head snapped to hers when he caught someone standing in his doorway, hisexpression of pure hatred.

"Cassidy, you should leave." Adrian said harshly.

Despite what he said, she closed the door behind her and placed her hands behindher back. "Why?"

"I don't want you here." He replied flatly, glaring.

"I'm not going anywhere." Cassidy said boldly, gulping at her dry throat.

"I mean it!" He roared out furiously, jabbing his finger to the door. "Get out!"

Cassidy ignored his demand, advancing to him until she was right in front of him.When he saw that she was making no such movement to leave, that left him evenmore enraged.

"Cassidy-!"

She wrapped her arms around him, feeling him instantly stiffen from underneath.Cassidy was playing with fire and knew that she was putting her life at stake bybeing close to someone who had a short fuse, but she was willing to risk it. Shetugged onto him tighter, laying her head on his chest.

"W-What are you doing?" Adrian asked, truly confused.

"I'm hugging you." She replied obviously, closing her eyes as his musky smellwrapped around her.

- 578 -

There was a momentary pause and it seemed he was still struggling tocomprehend her embrace. "Why?"

"Because it's the only thing I can think of doing right now."

There was silence among them, neither saying anything to each other. Though itwas awkward having to hug a person who didn't hug back, Cassidy didn't care. Shewanted to make him feel better somehow.

He sighed heavily, the relaxation coming through his stiff muscles as he let herhug him. He still didn't hug back, but he didn't push her away either.

Cassidy didn't let go and so she stayed there for however long he needed her.

A/N: Hey everyone, sorry I haven't updated in a while. I got sick over the weekendand I'm still feeling sick right now. Also, I apologize for not responding to everyone'scomments. It's just that.. there are a lot of them and it's hard to keep up. Pleasedon't be mad/sad if I don't reply! I don't mean to, promise!

Anyways, I'll be updating again tomorrow since it's vday and all. Also, I hope youguys enjoyed this chapter! Adrian's dad is a nut!

- 579 -

In Too Deep

Chapter 32: In Too Deep

Cassidy didn't hear from Adrian at all after Christmas. After what occurred at hishome, he ignored her phone calls and made no attempts to see her. She wasfrustrated and constantly distracted by waiting for his phone call or making randomvisits to the apartment to see him. But he was never there when she was and itoccurred to her that he might be avoiding her.

Winter break went by fast and before Cassidy knew it, she was back in school andready to crank out her new textbooks. She managed all high grades in each classand was excited to start the year off fresh. Now that she experienced the college lifein her first semester, there was nothing worrying her for spring.

Her first class of the day was simple, consisting of syllabus and what's to beexpected the upcoming semester. Cassidy was excited and yet anxious to start allthe work and studying. Truthfully, she missed doing homework and getting things todo for school. During the break, she had a lot of spare time on her hands which lefther bored constantly. No book could keep her interest for too long.

But now she was at school and almost finished for the day. It was a successful endto a great beginning until she saw Adrian walking the opposite direction of her,wearing dark aviators and a leather jacket. Her heart stopped when she saw himand the frustration from why he didn't reach her was gone. All that mattered wasthat he was still here, going to school.

"Hi," Cassidy said timidly, trying to sound casual.

Adrian stopped walking and turned to her direction, finally noticing her. "Hey."

"How are you?" She asked, worried.

They hadn't talked since the Christmas part two fiasco and she was wonderinghow he was coping after the heated argument between him and his father. Shehoped he hasn't been reckless, given that his family especially his dad, causes mostof his problems.

"Fine."

- 580 -

Cassidy shuffled in her spot, trying not to seem hurt by his short answer. "Whyhaven't you called me?"

"Was I supposed to?" He asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

She shrugged, unsure herself. "Well, you usually do."

"Right, I uh- was busy." Adrian said weakly.

"Ok," Cassidy replied, feeling awkward by their short exchange. "How did the restof your winter break go?"

He shrugged. "Not much just ate and slept."

She sighed heavily, irritated. There was no way she was going to be doing thisagain. The short answers just had to stop. "Adrian why can't you just tell me what'sbeen going on like a normal person?"

"Why should I?" He asked, bothered.

"Because you basically ignored me after Christmas and I haven't heard a wordfrom you since!" Cassidy answered loudly, sighing from distress. "What's going on?"

"Why do you want to know? Are you going to self diagnosis me like some goddamndoctor?" Adrian said, equally annoyed. "Go talk to my dad-hear what he has to offer.I'm sure you two can find something else to say about me."

"Why would I want to talk to your dad?" Cassidy inquired, puzzled.

"I don't know it seemed like you two were getting along at the party."

She sighed. "Adrian, I was only being polite when he asked me all those questions.It would be rude of me not to answer, I wasn't raised that way."

"Oh right, because your righteous parents brought up such a sweet innocent,naive little girl."

Cassidy creased her forehead, aggravated. "What's your deal?"

"You," he replied with a hardened tone, jabbing his finger at her as he got close upto her face. "I thought you were on my side."

- 581 -

"What?" She breathed out, confused.

"You didn't do anything!" Adrian exclaimed, flailing his arms out. "When my dadsaid all those nasty things about me, you just sat there and agreed with him. Youbetrayed me!"

She gaped, unbelieving of what she was hearing. "Adrian, I didn't betray you!"

"Then what were you doing!"

"I-I" She spluttered, jerking her hands in front of her. "I didn't know it mattered!"

He scoffed, shaking his head. "You saw how I looked. I wanted to rip him intopieces!"

"Look, I'm sorry!" Cassidy apologized guiltily. "I had no idea. You know me I don'tpick up on things like that."

"It wasn't that hard to pick up, Cassidy." Adrian pointed out duly. "If your dad wassaying all that bad shit to you, would you like it if I just sat there and didn't sayanything?"

Cassidy pursed her lips, knowing he was right, but not wanting to admit it. Shehated it when she was wrong.

"Exactly," he finished clearly, ending his argument.

She let out a breath, raising hesitant eyes to meet his. "I'm sorry, I didn't know itmeant that much to you. I thought you didn't care what I had to say."

Adrian avoided her gaze, his jaw tightening. "Did I give you any impression that Ididn't?"

"Sometimes," she mumbled softly.

"Well, I do." He said, still looking at the floor as he kicked a small pebble out ofthe way.

Not knowing if he meant it as a compliment since he was still looking irritated,she shuffled in her spot nervously. Cassidy didn't want him to upset him. They weredoing so well a few weeks ago.

- 582 -

"I hope you can forgive me."

Adrian sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead. "Look, I'm not mad at you I'm justaggravated." He said, eyes soft. "I wasn't asking you to stand up for me. I just sort ofwished you said something to get him to shut up about me."

"I know I should've. All those things he said weren't true. You know that, Adrian."She paused, her voice lowering. "You're not a failure."

Adrian chuckled humorlessly. "Yeah, thanks." He said sarcastically.

"It's true." She replied firmly, trying to make him believe it. "Even though yourdad doesn't see it, you've made many accomplishments."

He rolled his eyes. "Name one."

"Ok," Cassidy said boldly, pausing for a moment. "At the charity ball, you raisedten thousand dollars to cancer research. You did that all on your own and nobodypushed you to do it."

Adrian stared at her, not impressed by her answer so she went on.

"You got that A on your Biology test because you read your text book." Shementioned, listing more. "You're involved in extracurriculars, including being thepresident of your charity club. You practice safe sex and you're pretty good at it."

Adrian snorted; rolling his eyes at the latter while she fidgeted. There was one lastthing she had to list.

"And you're really great at sketching." Cassidy piped up, seeing his green eyessnapped to hers bewilderedly and immediately regretting voicing it out loud."Especially Architectural designs," she mumbled, mostly to herself.

Adrian was quiet for a moment, swallowing at his throat. "How did you know," hedrawled out firmly.

Cassidy swallowed at her throat, hoping it he wouldn't get angry. "I umm, kind oflooked through your things when I was trying to find my shirt after we had sex."

When he just stood there blankly and didn't say anything, she brought her handsup to plea. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. It was just there! And I had to look throughthem, they were just so-" She paused, trying to find the right word to fit it perfectly.

- 583 -

"What?"

"Wonderful." Cassidy finished, exhaling a breath.

He furrowed his eyebrows. "Really?"

"Yes, really I want to hang one up on my wall." She noted, pausing. "How did youlearn to draw like that?"

"I used to sketch a lot as a kid and buildings really fascinated me." Adrian toldher, smiling to himself. "It was like some sort of escape out of my own world. Iwanted to create something that could take me there and never let me forget aboutit."

"It sounds like you really love it." Cassidy added, sensing the adoration for it in hiseyes.

He shrugged. "I guess, but it's just a hobby."

"What if you could turn that hobby into a passion?"

Adrian laughed like what she implied was ridiculous. "No, not a chance."

"Why not?"

"Because then it wouldn't be special to me anymore." He revealed softly, lookingdown at the floor. "It would be seen and shared and I don't want that."

"But then you're sharing your love for it to the world, which makes them have thesame feelings for it as you do."

He rubbed his neck, obviously uncomfortable with the topic. "I don't know,Cassidy."

"Just think about it." Cassidy advised strongly, not wanting him to give up on it.

Adrian nodded, not fully considering the idea.

It was silent again and Cassidy checked the time on her phone, realizing that hernext class was starting in almost ten minutes.

"I have to get going to class." She said suddenly, shoving her hands in the pockets- 584 -

of her coat.

Adrian nodded, hesitating. "I'll uh-see you later?"

"Yeah."

Adrian stood there, looking at her when he didn't make a move to leave. Shestared at him, confused as he remained in his spot. His eyes were fixated on her,unnerving her in someway that she couldn't explain.

It made her cheeks heat up so she dropped her eyes to the floor to avoid his stare,thinking he would finally leave if she didn't look at him. When she saw his blacktennis shoes still in place, her head snapped back up.

"Did you want to say something?" She asked softly, puzzled.

Adrian blinked a few times, getting out of his train of thought. His eyes movedwildly about to her and people around them, frazzled. Suddenly, he jerked his legsfrom his spot and swiftly moved close upfront to her, space between them beingnonexistent.

"Bye." He replied back quickly, unexpectedly wrapping his arms around her for asecond and then pulling away jerkily, walking off the opposite direction with speedysteps.

Cassidy whirled around and stared wide eyed at his retreating back, her mouthslowly opening. Did he just-?

Did he just hug her?

The doorbell rang and Nina furrowed her eyebrows, wondering who it was. Shehoped it wasn't some skank that was here to have sex with Terry. He was getting alot more action lately than Adrian with different girls' everyday. It was surprisingthat he could still keep going from all the rounds of sex he had in his bedroom.

When Nina asked him about it, he denied it, saying it was rumors and such. Butwhen Nina was looking for a bedtime snack in the fridge, she saw Terry invite a girlinside to the apartment, unaware that Nina was hiding in the kitchen.

Much to her surprise, he was quiet whenever he brought his women over and in

- 585 -

time, she got used to it so it didn't bother her. But now she was irritated. Nina neverdealt with Terry's women and she refused to help him in any sort of way in gainingthem.

Once she opened the door to get ready to scare the skank off, the person thatappeared on her doorstep wasn't a woman. It was a man. A tall, lanky one withshaggy blond hair and brown kind eyes that made any girl melt. Though, it wasn'tdoing anything to Nina.

"What are you doing here?" Nina spat out, glaring at him.

Jase's eyes widened in surprise from her use of profanity, not expecting it fromsweet little Nina that was friends with the innocence that is Cassidy.

"Hi?" He replied, unsure on what to say. He certainly didn't feel welcome at hisformer home anymore, especially from the spitfire.

"What the hell do you want?" She said rudely, scowling.

Jase raised his hands up, surrendering. "I'm just looking for Terry."

Nina rolled her eyes, leaning against the door. "He's out, doing whoever."

He frowned. "But he told me he was going to be here in the afternoon."

"Yeah, well it looks like he's not done with her yet." Nina replied crudely, openingthe door wider. "You might as well wait for him to come if he's expecting you."

Jase nodded, stepping into the apartment warily. It was weird coming back eversince the fight between him and Adrian. It felt like he didn't belong here, even ifNina did invite him in. For all he knew, she could be planning an attack on him atany moment.

Once she closed the door, she extended her hand out to the couch in the livingroom, motioning him to sit down. As he did so, he looked around the apartment, thememories coming back to him. Jase couldn't believe that it's been months since heleft.

The place was still the same, but with a girl in the apartment, he noticed a few"homey touches" such as a random vase completed with fake red flowers inside.

Nina came to sit at the opposite end, clasping her hands together in her lap. Jase- 586 -

smiled, lounging back on the couch.

"So, you're my replacement." He guessed obviously, smirking.

Nina glared, scoffing. "I don't see how that's any of your business since you uppedand left this place."

"Right..." Jase trailed off, frowning.

"By the way, thank you so much for leaving that parting gift in my room." Ninasaid sarcastically in a spiteful tone. "How did you know I liked used condoms?"

Jase choked on his saliva, coughing roughly from the action. "I-I didn't mean to-"

"What? Keep it there like some dirty, sex maniac?" Nina suggested, snorting. "Ohplease. You disgust me."

"I left it there for a reason, alright?" He countered, getting irritated. "It was tospite Adrian, it has nothing to do with you. If I had known a girl would be movinginto my room, I wouldn't have done it."

She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Whatever."

Jase eyed her carefully, irked. "I don't think I gave you any reason to hate me."

Nina narrowed her eyes, glaring. "You fucked with my friends, of course I have areason to hate you." She spat out, sneering. "The only redeeming quality you havewas kicking Adrian's ass."

The corner of his mouth quirked up at the latter. "Was that supposed to be acompliment?"

Nina shrugged. "I don't know, you tell me."

"Look, I never fucked with Cassidy." He explained, sighing. "She fucked with me."

Knowing this, Nina sunk into her seat. "Well, didn't she apologize?"

"Yeah, but you're outing me as the bad guy in the situation." Jase said, continuing."I admit, I messed up with Kathleen, but I didn't do anything wrong with Cassidy. Itjust wasn't there for her."

- 587 -

She sighed under her breath, nodding. "I know, she told me."

"Did she tell you everything?" He asked, curious.

"Of course she did, we're best friends." She paused for a moment, looking at himwithout hostility. "I know you mean well, Jase, but you've gone out with both myfriends and it failed miserably. That doesn't exactly leave a good impression,especially when I'm the one on the other end listening."

Jase nodded, understanding. "I get it, you hate me."

"I don't hate you," Nina sighed, rolling her eyes. "I just don't like you."

"Isn't that the same thing?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No it isn't." She replied firmly. "It simply means I don't like you enough to beyour friend or anything else. Hate is too extreme, even for me."

He frowned faintly. "I don't like to hear that someone doesn't like me."

Nina raised an eyebrow. "Why? Because you want to be perfect in everyone'seyes?"

"No, it makes me feel disappointed in myself. I'm not used to hearing it, unless Idid something absolutely horrible-in Kathleen's case."

She snorted. "You can't make everyone happy."

"True." Jase agreed, pausing to take another approach of their conversation to amuch lighter note. "So, do you like living here?"

"Sometimes, it's not easy living with two hormonal guys, but it's been fine so far."

He chuckled, rubbing his jaw. "Yeah, they were always bringing girls' home, leftand right."

Nina stared at him for a moment. "I know it's none of my business, but when willyou and Adrian end this feud?"

Jase furrowed his eyebrows. "There is no feud."

She scoffed. "Yeah, sure." - 588 -

Not liking her scoff, irritation rose in Jase, unable to keep it under control. "Youknow what it is none of your business." He said flatly with mild anger.

"What happened between me and Adrian has nothing to do with you or anyoneelse. Just because you live here now doesn't mean you can butt into everybody'sproblems. You understand?"

Nina stood up from her chair, crossing her arms. "Well, bravo. You've managed toturn from a sweet, sensitive guy to a jackass in less than five minutes. I'm so gladthat I didn't get sucked into your whole 'nice guy' look. It's total bull shit."

Jase stood up as well, walking over to her side of the room in an angry manner."Listen, Nina. I don't know who the hell you think you are, but you don't say shit likethat to anybody, especially to people you barely know."

"Oh, but I do know you Jase." Nina replied in mock delight, smirking. "At leastfrom what my friends tell me and they never lie."

He got close up to her face, jaw tightening. "That doesn't mean you really knowme personally."

"And why would I want to?" She stated, getting close up as well with her hands onher hips. "I don't like you. I actually think I'm starting to hate you, so there is no luckin trying to persuade me that you're a gentleman."

"I don't care what you think anymore, because you want to know why?" Jaseinquired, moving his face close to her ear as he spoke softly. "I hate you too."

Nina huffed. "You are such a jackass." She replied coldly, glaring at him. "Nowonder you and Adrian used to be friends."

Jase brown eyes flashed to hers, narrowing them. "How are you and Cassidyfriends?" He asked in wonder, continuing. "She is so sweet and you're like...ademon."

She gasped, outraged. "You jerk! I'm Catholic you know!"

"That doesn't surprise me. Catholics are easily possessed by demons."

Nina gritted her teeth. "I really hate you."

"Same here." - 589 -

"I guess the term 'nice guy finishes last' doesn't apply in your case. You gotrejected over your nymphomaniac friend." She retorted harshly, referring to Adrian.

He shrugged, unaffected by the blow. "At least I'm not a virgin."

She cried out angrily. "Not everything is about sex!"

"Well, you wouldn't really know unless you've tried it."

"Oh yeah?" Nina countered, glaring. "Why don't you show me then?"

Jase whipped his head to look at her with shock. "Are you serious?"

"NO, you idiot!" She exclaimed, pushing his shoulder away. "I swear, even theslightest mention of sex, men go crazy!"

"Well maybe you shouldn't say that to begin with!" He exclaimed, flailing his armsout. "One would think you were coming on to them!"

Nina scoffed. "I definitely wasn't trying to come on to you."

Jase looked at her for a moment, smirking mischievously. "You know what Ithink?"

She raised an eyebrow warily, not liking his sly look. "What?"

"You really do want to have sex with me."

Her mouth opened wide, horrified. "No I don't!"

He chuckled, rolling his eyes. "I was only kidding, you can calm down."

"You jerk!" Nina exclaimed, pushing his shoulder again. "I really hate you!"

"Will you stop with the pushing!" Jase complained, rubbing his shoulder. "It's likeyou and Terry have the same level of strength."

"Oh, so you're calling me a man now?" She said, glaring.

He sighed, rubbing his temples. "I swear women do not know how to takeharmless comments."

- 590 -

She laughed with no humor. "That wasn't harmless, it was rude!"

"I'm rude?" He snorted in disbelief. "I barely had a foot in the door when youstarted snapping at me!"

"That's because you're an asshole!"

"If I'm an asshole, then you're a psycho!"

Nina gritted her teeth, taking a step closer to him. "Take that back."

He closed the distance between them, towering over her closely as he gritted histeeth too. "You first."

Anger was clouding both their minds as they stared at each other, seething. Itdidn't occur to Nina how close they were when Jase's fury faded from his brown eyesand he started looking at her with a different intense emotion.

Nina couldn't tear her eyes away as she stared back, trance. His face was leaningcloser to hers, the warm breath fanning on her face. Nina didn't know what to do orsay. It was as if in her head she was begging him to come even closer and her eyeskept straying on his lips. She was still in her spot, watching as he inched further.

The door slammed shut, making them both jump in their spots in alarm. Terrystrode to the room and stared at them oddly, looking up and down.

"What are you guys doing?"

"NOTHING!" They both shouted at the top of their lungs, casting a surprising lookat each other.

Terry narrowed his eyes, unbelieving. "Ok, sure."

Jase cleared his throat, backing away from Nina several feet away. She stifled aneye roll at how 'subtly' it looked. "Terry, where were you?"

Terry glanced at Nina, then back to Jase. "At the gym."

He frowned, looking at Nina briefly. "But she said you were with someone."

"She did?" Terry replied with surprise, turning his head to Nina. "How do youknow?"

- 591 -

"Adrian," Nina shrugged, walking over to him.

Terry cursed under his breath, scowling. "Damn him."

Jase rolled his eyes. "I'm not surprised."

"Oh please, I'm not five anymore." She replied, annoyed. "And don't think you'reso sly. I see you bringing your little skanks around here at night all the time. I knowabout everything you hide from me."

"Great," Terry said, sighing under his breath. "Now your mom is going to thinkI've corrupted you."

"No, she's not." She rolled her eyes, pausing. "And besides, I'm going to be movingout of here soon."

"What?!" He exclaimed, eyes wide. Jase looked surprised as well. "Why?"

"Kathleen has got over her issues and we'll be sharing a dorm again." Ninainformed him casually.

Terry shot her a warning look. "You know what she did to you last year. You wantit to happen again?"

"She's a different person now." Nina said confidently. "Trust me, I know what I'mdoing."

"Fine." He sighed, glancing at her. "But next time she invites a guy over-"

"I know, I know." Nina replied, looking bored. "I'll tell her to get the fuck out ofthe dorm and never come back. I got it."

"Good." Terry smiled, proud.

Jase cleared his throat, gaining the attention of the two cousins. "I don't mean tobreak a happy moment, but uh Terry we have to get going."

His eyes widened for a moment, remembering. "Oh right, let's go."

The two headed out the door and Nina called behind Terry's back. "Where are yougoing?"

- 592 -

Terry turned his head, smirking as he glanced at Jase and swung an arm aroundhis shoulder. "I'm going to show Jase here the right way to pick up chicks at thesorority\/fraternity welcome back party. It's going to be awesome."

Jase sighed, shrugging his arm off. "Dude, I told you not to tell anyone."

Terry shrugged. "Nina's my cousin, practically one of the guys. She won't care."He looked at her for conformation of his words. "Won't you?"

Swallowing the strong emotion from being referred to as basically a man; sheforced a smile on her lips with the struggling fury she held inside. If another guy orgirl besides Terry called her a tomboy, she would've knocked them out. She knewthat Terry was only looking out for her, so she didn't make it a big deal.

"No." She replied.

"See, I told you." Terry said, slapping him on the back, eliciting a gruff sound fromJase. "Nothing to worry about."

Jase sighed deeply. "Let's just go already."

Terry rolled his eyes. "You need to be more excited, you're about to get laidtonight. You haven't done the dirty in how long?"

"Six months," Jase mumbled, half ashamed.

Terry clicked his tongue. "Not good. I don't know how you lasted this long."

Nina stood there, watching their exchange with amusement. So, Jase came toTerry for help with his lady problems? No wonder he had such bad luck withKathleen and Cassidy.

Noticing her presence, Jase cleared his throat. "Come on, it's about to start."

"You're right." Terry said, glancing at Nina. "See ya, Nins."

Nina waved. "Have fun with the sexual excursions." She paused and looked atJase, winking to tease him. "Especially you, Jase."

Jase gulped. "Jesus, let's go."

He pulled Terry's hand and forced him out the door, as he voiced what he saw.- 593 -

"What was that? Are you flirting with my friend, Nina?"

Nina rolled her eyes. "See you later."

"But I-"

Jase shut the door before he could speak again and Nina sighed, heading to herroom. Once she saw her bed, she threw herself on it and closed her eyes, frowning.There was no possible way she could ever find a guy if she was having a tough timenow. It just wasn't meant to be for her.

Still reeling from the unexpected hug by Adrian, Cassidy sat down on one of theschool benches when class was over, pondering over it. What did it mean? Did hefeel bad that he didn't return the hug on Christmas so he just repaid her? All thiswas confusing to her and she was going over the scene again and again in her head.She analyzed it profusely until her head was aching. Then it finally clicked.

Adrian liked her.

He was starting to like her. It had to be it!

Cassidy jumped for joy, beaming as her heart soared in her chest. Her analysiswas always right. There had to be something there. Why else would he hug her? Hehad to feel something like she did.

When Cassidy kept grinning like an idiot, a sultry bleached blonde girl came up toher, scowling at her happiness. She looked her up and down with disdain, her handat her hip.

"You must be Adrian's new toy." She commented almost sneeringly.

Cassidy grin faded as she narrowed her eyes, recognizing the girl fromsomewhere and a memory flashed. Last year, this girl was constantly at Adrian'sside and she was from a sorority. Her name was Kim.

"I'm not a toy, I'm a human being." Cassidy replied firmly, not particularly likingKim's comment.

"Believe me Adrian won't treat you like one. He's the same with all of us so don'tthink your anything special."

- 594 -

Cassidy stood up straighter, eyeing her. "What do you want?"

Kim raised an eyebrow in a harsh comical way. "Do you really think you couldkeep up with him?"

"What do you mean?"

"Sexual wise," She clarified, continuing. "He has a hefty appetite and I don't thinkyou could give him what he wants."

"I don't really care and I'm not with Adrian so you can have him." Cassidysnapped, promptly regretting the latter of her sentence. She didn't want that, butKim couldn't find out how she felt. It was none of her business.

Kim sighed sadly, lowering her gaze to the floor. "I wish I could, but he doesn'twant me anymore."

Cassidy furrowed her eyebrows, curious. "Why is that?"

Her shoulders rose weakly. "Simple, he lost interest in me. That's what Adriandoes. Once he finds a new toy to play with, he drops the old one like a toddler onChristmas morning." She explained.

Cassidy frowned. "Why?"

Kim let out a humorless laugh. "Why? I don't know, because it's Adrian, its how heworks. He doesn't do relationships. He's not into commitment."

"I'm guessing you don't know the reason behind that?"

She shook her head. "No and don't even try to understand him because you won't.Anything that gets even remotely personal to him, he shuts down and ignores you.It's not going to happen so don't push your luck."

"Why are you telling me this? Aren't you against me because Adrian won't leaveme alone?"

Kim pursed her lips, frowning. "No, I'm not against you, strange as that sounds. Iwant to warn you because... it hurts. I mean, I know what people think when theysee me. Sometimes it's a slut, whore, bitch or all three, but I'm not. I'm just likeevery other girl out there. I want to be with someone and I know it was stupid toeven consider being with Adrian, but he made me feel special. I wanted to be that

- 595 -

one girl in his life, but it wasn't ideal. He ended up throwing me out like he doeswith every other girl and I was crushed. I'm still hurt to this day and I wish I couldget him back."

Cassidy felt sorry for the girl, wanting to console her in some way, but it would bestrange. She felt the same way about Adrian to and trying to comfort the girl whowas also with Adrian wouldn't be right. This girl used to be her competition andnow, she was just heart broken.

"So please, Cassidy. Watch yourself. Don't get too attached or he will break you,simple as that." Kim remarked lastly, walking away without saying anything further.

Cassidy sighed, rubbing her forehead. Despite not knowing how Kim knew shewas "together" with Adrian in the first place, she was right. What on earth wasCassidy thinking, being with Adrian? It was a cause of a future disaster waiting tohappen.

Her phone rang and she grabbed it from her pocket, looking down at her callerI.D.

It was Adrian.

Standing in front of his apartment door, Cassidy slowly knocked, repeating thewords she was going to say to him in her head. Since the "little" talk she had withKim earlier, Cassidy wanted to express her conflicts with Adrian.

Their whole "sex buddy" situation was getting out of hand and Cassidy's feelingswere getting involved. She couldn't keep on doing this if it meant she would be hurtin the end. So, she was going to lay it down to Adrian tonight and ask him how hefelt about her. She was a little nervous about it, but the hug that he gave her todayerased some of it. He had to feel something for her. Adrian doesn't hug just anyone.

The door opened, revealing a smiling Adrian. The oxygen escaped out of her lungsand she couldn't breathe. His smile made her feel things she's never felt beforeincluding the incapability to speak.

"Hey," He said, smiling.

Cassidy gulped. "H-Hi."

Adrian raised his eyebrow, clearly amused by her stutter. "Want to come in?"

- 596 -

She didn't reply as she stepped inside and turned her back to him, taking a deepbreath. She needed to focus. There was no time for her hormones to be raging,especially when she was about to have a serious talk with him. She was going tostart it now and get it over with.

"Adrian I-"

"Can I show you something?" Adrian inquired quickly, making her whirl around.

She looked at him, sensing the uneasiness in his stance that he rarely showedbefore. "Sure."

He led her to his room, going straight to his desk once they walked in. He shuffledthrough his papers, pulling out one piece that was underneath. He glanced at itbriefly before handing it over to Cassidy with hesitation, not meeting her eyes.

Cassidy took the horizontal paper in her hands and stared at the design with awe,her mouth agape. It was a drawing of the New York skyline, showing the EmpireState building and other notable pieces. It was in vivid detail and even colored in,making it seem more real. She couldn't believe he could create something like this.

"Adrian, it's beautiful." She said breathlessly, holding the artwork gently into herhands as if not to ruin it.

He hesitated, rubbing his neck. "I uh-made it for you."

Her eyes darted to his in surprise. "What? For me?"

Adrian nodded.

Cassidy swallowed at the base of her throat, feeling every part of her body warmup. "I don't know what to say." She paused for a moment. "I don't think a 'thank you'is even enough for something like this. I love it."

"You do?" He asked, unsure of himself.

Cassidy gave him a positive look, nodding. "Yes, of course."

Adrian broke out into a dazzling smile, clearly relieved and satisfied. "Great, I washoping you would."

Cassidy's heart stopped at the sight, her insides fluttering from it.- 597 -

Absentmindedly, she settled the paper carefully back on the desk and came up nextto Adrian, gripping his shoulders.

He furrowed his eyebrows, confused. "Cassidy, are you-?"

He never got to finish the end of his sentence because Cassidy crashed her lipsagainst his, receiving a surprising moan from him. Adrian wrapped his arms aroundher waist and stumbled over to his bed, immediately going on top of her.

Her legs cradled around his thighs and he pushed himself up on her, gasping forbreath. He latched his lips against her neck, trailing them down to her clavicle. Shewithered, moaned, and begged for more, telling him not to stop.

"I've missed you for the last half of break." Adrian panted, traveling his hand toher lower back.

She brought his face up to meet hers, smiling. "Me too."

He pressed his lips against hers and continued on with their lost time together.

Cassidy tried to catch her breath, wiping the small sweat beads that were trailingat her temple. Adrian breathed in and out deeply, cracking his back a few times.They were worn out and exhausted from all the spent energy having sex. Cassidywondered how she forgot how good it was when she was with him the last time.

After a few moments of silence between them, she turned her head and saw aquiet Adrian with his eyes closed.

"Adrian?" She called softly, nudging him on the shoulder with her hand. "Adrian,are you awake?"

The sound of his soft snore came through his nose and she sighed, looking up atthe ceiling. He was asleep and all the things she wanted to do and say wasn't goingto happen. The beautiful artwork he gave her was just too much and she didn't wantto ruin it by interrogating him on what he felt.

Though, she knew exactly how she did. It stretched more than anything she hasever felt before and it scared her. The drawing he gave her took the cake, along withthe smile. It made her feel so euphoric and passionate inside that she couldn'texplain it.

But trying to reason what she felt troubled her. Her thoughts were obstructing a- 598 -

peaceful state of mind. They were thoughts that she didn't want to think of, but keptcoming back. She knew clearly what going on with her and she couldn't stop.

Tears started to collect her eyes and she looked to Adrian at her side, sleepingpeacefully. "I didn't know how deep it was when we started all this, but now it's toolate."

Cassidy took a deep breath, easing the ache in her chest.

"I love you." She revealed softly, the tears sliding down her cheeks. "And I wish Ididn't."

Once she saw the three words, she felt the stress lift off her shouldersimmediately. Cassidy loved Adrian. She knew when he took her to his parent's housefor Christmas or maybe earlier even. Cassidy knew that she was the first one tomeet his family.

He didn't like bringing anyone around them and to have him invite her to hishouse willingly struck a chord with her. Then, all the phone calls, random visits,drunken conversations, sweet gestures, and finally the sex brought it all together.She was in love with him and admitted it. Though, she didn't want to feel this way.

Adrian was notorious for being the playboy on campus, alongside the bad boy.What if he didn't want to change his non-committal ways? It would hurt her so muchthat she didn't want to think about it. The pain was too much for her to bear.

But he was asleep and since he didn't hear her, she didn't have to worry about it.For now anyways.

After staring at him once more, Cassidy turned herself to the side of the bed, herback to Adrian. She wiped away the tears and closed her eyes, feeling veryexhausted emotionally and physically.

Suddenly, Adrian opened his eyes wide, looking out blankly in the dark.

A/N: Sorry for the delay, I know I promised I'd update on vday but I got sickagain.. That's what happens when you forget to take your medicine. Anyways, I hopeit was worth the wait :) Hope you guys liked it!!

- 599 -

Getting Even

Chapter 33: Getting Even

Groggily opening her eyes, Cassidy rubbed them and saw the clock on thenightstand. It read six thirty and she was supposed to be at home. Cursing under herbreath, she got up from underneath the covers and started to dress herself, findingrandom articles of her clothing in different places.

Once she was dressed, she headed to the door to leave, but then stopped right infront of it. Faint breathing was heard from behind and she turned a little to look atthe figure immersed in his navy sheets. Adrian was sleeping peacefully with his armcradled underneath his head. Smiling to herself, she silently opened the door andwalked out, leaving with the memory of him.

When she finally got home quietly, she took a shower and dressed for school.Cassidy passed by the mirror and caught a glimpse of her face. The lack of sleep wastaking a toll on her eyelids, making them sag and darken. Doing nothing about it,she went to the kitchen to get something to eat and didn't see her parents in theirusual spots at the table.

Frowning, she called their names out. "Mom? Dad?"

The response was silence and she sighed, going to the fridge to grab an apple.She stopped herself when she saw a note tacked on it with scribbled handwriting,similar to her father's.

Cassidy took it off from the fridge and squinted her eyes. It read, Cassidy, we needto talk soon. Gulping, she reread the note again and felt her stomach drop. Was shein trouble? Did her parents find out she wasn't home last night?

Placing a hand to her forehead, she paced in the kitchen, thinking of what to do orsay. Maybe she wasn't in trouble and her dad wanted to talk to her about schoolbecause they hadn't in a while? Or he found the perfect hospital for her to intern at.

The possibilities ran through her head and she spread out the pros and cons. Ifshe was in trouble, she could say that she was sleeping over at Nina's which wastechnically true, just not in her room. Nina would always back her up on it, eventhough it was a school night. They could say they were keeping up with school workat the first week. Her dad would believe that, right?

- 600 -

Cassidy sighed and felt the knots in her stomach grow. She could be looking farinto this. It could be nothing and she hoped it was.

Upon arriving at school, she went to her classes and found herself becomingbored. Since when was she bored of learning? Trying to concentrate on what theprofessor was saying, she grabbed her lone pen and started jotting down a fewnotes.

Though, every time she tried to focus, thoughts of Adrian would infiltrate her mindand she made a mental note to call him after class so they could hang out. What sheconfessed to him last night kept bugging her and it wouldn't pass.

But when class was over and she sat on a nearby bench to dial his number, it wentstraight to voice-mail. Frowning, Cassidy shut her phone and went about her day.What she didn't know was that it was going to be like this the whole week.

Cassidy didn't see Adrian at school, even when she went to his usual hang outspots. He was nowhere in sight. When she tried calling him, he didn't answer and italways went to voicemail.

She sighed, burying her head in her hands as she clutched her phone. He must beupset about something else she did, but what? She would have to catch him atschool or somewhere else. Before she left him, he seemed happy and she was too.They left on good terms.

Cassidy continued to think about that night and she suddenly gasped. What if heheard her say that she loved him? Was that why he was possibly ignoring her?

"What's wrong with you?" Nina asked, eyeing her frazzled look.

Cassidy dropped her hands, shaking her head. "Nothing."

"Are you sure?" She asked again.

Cassidy nodded. "Yeah."

"Ok..." Nina replied, pausing for a moment. "So, I've been looking for youeverywhere and I was sure you'd be at the library, but you weren't. Where have youbeen?"

"Here and there," Cassidy answered vaguely, narrowing her eyes curiously."Why?"

- 601 -

Nina leaned in on the table, looking eager. "Ok, so I know you don't like parties,but there's going to be one tomorrow at some guy's place named Chris. Are you in?"

She groaned. "No, I hate parties."

"Oh come on! You haven't been to one in forever!" Nina exclaimed. "Live a little!"

"I don't want to." Cassidy pouted, her eyes falling to the floor.

Nina smirked mischievously. "Adrian will be there."

Cassidy perked up, moving to the edge of her seat. "Really?"

"Yeah, so you better come!"

She furrowed her eyebrows, unclear about something. "How do you know he'sgoing?"

Nina shrugged. "I overheard him and Terry talking about it and he said he was."

"You sure?"

She beamed. "Positive, would I ever lie to you?"

The next day, Cassidy and Nina entered into the house, instantly being blownaway by the blast of music, humidity, and smell of alcohol and smoke.

"Want to get a drink?" Nina inquired loudly above the music, getting close to herear.

Cassidy shook her head. "No, I think I'm going to stay sober tonight."

She laughed. "Good idea. But if you don't mind, I'll be getting myself some."

"Go ahead." Cassidy replied.

"I'll be right back." She promised, heading to the throngs of people in the middleof the room.

She weaved her way through, sliding her body towards many sweaty, intoxicatedpartiers. Finally making it to the kitchen, she exhaled a breath of relief and went tothe assortment of liquors presented on the table.

- 602 -

Eyeing carefully at each one, she decided on a simple drink to start her. Ninagrabbed a bottle of margarita mixture and poured it into a plastic cup. Then sheuncapped a bottle of tequila and poured it in, not stopping until it reached the brim.She needed this, especially after the close encounters with a familiar Jase Reynolds.

Everywhere she went, he was there, looking at her with a curious or blankexpression. It confused her. What did he exactly want? He could be staring at all thegirls in the whole school, but he was looking at her? She didn't get it.

Soon enough, Nina found herself lounging on a couch alone in a different room,enjoying the relaxed feeling the alcohol provided. She was definitely feeling the buzzand nothing could stop her serenity now.

"It's interesting how oddly similar you and Terry are."

Nina's eyes darted up to the man who walked into the room, noticing that he too,had a drink in his hand. She continued to sip her drink and ignored him, hoping hewould go away.

"You guys aren't even brother and sister." He commented, glancing at hercuriously. "How does that work?"

Annoyed, Nina whipped her head to him. "We aren't the same ok? I'm a girl, he's aboy. There's nothing similar about that."

"Well, duh." Jase snorted, stumbling over to sit next to her on the couch. Hismovements were staggering and it would appear he was slightly intoxicated as well."I meant your qualities. For instance, Terry drinks like a typical frat boy and so doyou. Also, you're both tough and strong headed. I feel like you might beat me up orsomething."

"SHUT UP!" Nina exclaimed, infuriated. "I'm not a guy!"

Surprised by her anger, he immediately defended himself. "I never said you were!"

"You are listing off things that are categorized as male and saying that I makeeach one of them!" Nina explained, gritting her teeth. "I'm a girl ok? Do you wantme to fucking lift my shirt up to show you?"

Jase's eyes widened, dropping to her bust. "I wouldn't mind," he mumbledincoherently, becoming dazed as he continued to stare.

- 603 -

"STOP STARING!" She barked, making his eyes drop to the floor.

"Sorry," he muttered quickly, looking guilty for being caught.

"Why are you over here anyways? Aren't you supposed to be putting your plan intoaction by hooking up with many girls as possible?"

"Yeah, but-" he stopped himself, ashamed. "It's not going so well."

"Why?"

"I can't do it."

She furrowed her eyebrows, glancing at his crotch as the problem. Oddly enough,she was very courageous when she was drunk. She would never do that sober. "Yourdick isn't working?"

Jase whipped his head to her, gaping at her strange outward-ness. "No! It's notthat!"

"Then what is it, pretty boy?" Nina asked, laying her head back on the couch asshe stared at him.

"I'm not a player, alright!" He exclaimed, jerking his hands out. "I can't just have aone night stand with a girl and have it mean nothing, it's not me!"

"Then what are you?"

"I want to be with someone." Jase said bashfully. "I want a relationship, I wantsomeone that likes me and that I like back. I want someone that cares about the sexand doesn't do it just because I'm nice to look at."

"How vain of you."

He rolled his eyes. "Whatever, then I must be ugly to you. You're the only one thatis turned off by me."

"And with good reason," Nina said, sipping on her drink. "I stay away from guyslike you because I know better. I mean look at what you did to Kathleen, you messedher up and who knows what else you're capable of."

"Kathleen is psychotic!" He exclaimed, frustrated. "She was following me around- 604 -

everywhere and threw herself at me! I didn't even like her and she wouldn't leaveme alone!"

"Hey! That's my friend you're talking about!" She countered defensively.

"I don't mess with girls." He said finally, sighing. "I didn't even mess withKathleen. I haven't kissed her once."

"...what?" Nina replied, stunned. She thought they fooled around a lot, at leastthat's what Kathleen said to her.

"Yeah, we never hooked up." Jase revealed, swishing his cup around. "Well, shewanted to, but I didn't."

Nina narrowed her eyes at him, puzzled. "Why are you explaining this to me?"

"Because I want you to know that I'm not a bad guy!" He exclaimed pressingly,hoping she would understand.

"Why should I matter?"

He frowned. "Is it a crime to try and befriend my best friend's cousin?"

She sighed deeply. "Don't bother, I don't like you."

"Oh, right." Jase said as something clicked in his head, raising an eyebrow. "Don'twe hate each other?"

"Yeah," Nina replied obviously.

"I forgot."

She rolled her eyes. "You don't forget to hate someone. That hate stays with you."

"It does?" He asked, surprised.

"Yes."

"Well, I guess I don't hate you then if I forgot."

Nina sighed. "You're drunk, I don't think you can remember."

- 605 -

"No, when I was sober I never hated you, even though I said it." Jase replied,taking a huge gulp from his drink and exhaling. "I lied."

"Why?"

He shrugged. "Because I was mad that you didn't like me so I said I hated you toget you change your mind about me."

"Obviously that didn't work."

"Yeah..." He trailed off, speaking in a low tone. "I don't think you should hate me."

"You can't change that."

"But I'm not a bad guy, I promise."

"Whatever Jase."

"Does this mean you don't hate me?"

She groaned, wanting to tear her eyes out. "Fine! I don't hate you! Now will youstop asking me that?!"

Jase grinned. "Yeah."

Suddenly, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight into his body on thecouch. Air whooshed out of Nina, becoming speechless by it. Seconds went bywithout them talking and she didn't know how to broach the topic. And well, she wasrather drunk so she didn't care that much.

"Uh, Jase?"

"Hmm?" He replied softly under his throat.

"Why are you hugging me?"

"'Cause I want to." Jase answered, stroking her back up and down. "You feel sonice."

Goosebumps erupted on Nina's skin and her stomach quivered from the touch ofhis hands. This was something new she was experiencing. When she was finallyenjoying the soft caresses, he stopped and pulled away, staring into her eyes

- 606 -

gravely. Something caught Nina's eye and once he started to lean in towards her,she moved her head away.

"Don't." Nina ordered strongly, the defiance in her eyes.

"What?" Jase asked confusingly.

"You're drunk." She stated.

He rolled his eyes as he sidled up closer, eyeing her empty cup. "You are too."

Nina's eyes darted from his eyes to his lips and then back again nervously. "Areyou going to do...what I think you're going to do?"

"And what is that?" He inquired, almost smirking.

She swallowed hard at her throat, noticing how hot he looked when he made thatface. It was so out of character for him, but unbelievably hot. "Are you going to-"

Jase's lips flew to hers and Nina caught them spot on, falling back on the couch ashe went on top of her. He held her jaw softly and deepened the kiss, feeling the heatof their bodies close together. Nina didn't know what she was doing or what wasgoing on, but she did know this. Jase was one damn good kisser and she wasn'tabout to stop it now.

Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she dug them into his hair and felt hishands trail at the bottom of her shirt.

There was no backing out now.

Cassidy was alone, walking around the house to see a glimpse of Adrian. But hewasn't there and she wondered if Nina lied to her to get her here. Sighing, she fellback on a chair in the huge living room where everyone was dancing, having a greattime. She would love to let herself go and have fun, but this Adrian situation wasbothering her.

"Cassidy," Terry said, surprised as he caught her when he walked by. He had abeer in his hand and looked nervous when he saw her. "What are you doing here?"

She shrugged. "I don't even know anymore."

- 607 -

"Are you ok?" He asked, concerned as he moved to sit beside her.

"Adrian won't talk to me." She replied sadly. "I don't know what I did wrong."

Terry's eyes fell to the floor and he took a swig of his beer rigidly. "Cassidy,there's nothing wrong with you. It's all Adrian. He's...a natural screw up. It won'tever change."

Cassidy looked at him, frowning. "Have you talked to him about me?"

"Yeah," He replied, scratching the back of his neck. "He's just uh-confused. I don'tknow what's going on with him, but if I were you I'd let him cool off. Maybe talk tohim later?"

She sighed. "Yeah, maybe."

"Ok," Terry said, getting up. "I'm going to get another beer, you want anything?"

She shook her head. "No, I'm ok."

"Alright, have fun." He replied, giving her a reassuring smile.

Cassidy smiled back and waved as he left, feeling the smile wear out when he wasgone. She hoped he was right about Adrian. Maybe he was going through a difficulttime right now, possibly with his family and didn't want her to know. It all seemedlogical and Cassidy felt the weight lift off her shoulders. She actually thought it hadsomething to do with her. As long as he's ok, that's all she cared about.

Cassidy got up from her seat, deciding to find Nina so that they could go home.They carpooled together and even though they barely stayed for two hours, Cassidywas ready to go home and rest her head. She was thinking way too much aboutAdrian and she needed to clear her mind of it.

Cassidy squeezed through the crowd of people, keeping an eye out for Nina. Therewere so many small, brunette girls, but none of them were her and she groaned infrustration after trying to search for ten minutes. Entering into another filled room,her eyes roamed about to every person and face, not resembling Nina's.

As she was about to leave to check another room, her eyes stopped to a familiarperson. The infamous black leather jacket, dark brown hair, and green eyes.Narrowing her eyes to get a closer look at the person, her stomach dropped at thescene.

- 608 -

That's when she saw it.

Adrian had his hands gripped at the bottom of some red head girl with a shirt thatwas too low cut for the world to see in a secluded corner of the room. He wasflushed against her, moving his hands up and down her ass and smirking as hewhispered in her ear, earning a giggle from the slut.

Cassidy felt numb, still continuing to watch them as he caressed her face andleaned in close, pressing his lips to hers. She responded roughly and grabbed thefront of his jacket and pulled him closer.

The heat of Cassidy's eyes started to burn and a surge of anger raced through herveins, bubbling to the surface of her skin. She didn't know what to say or think. Itfelt like it was some bad dream, but the evidence was right in front of her.

He used her. And he used her good.

Now, he was moving on to a different girl. This was typical Adrian, how he wasalways going to be. Had she known earlier, things would be different. He must'veheard her confessing of her love for him. That's why he was so quick to move onwith a different girl.

Someone came up beside Cassidy and she turned her head slightly to see Kimstaring in the same direction as she did with a disapproving look on her face. Kimmet her gaze and shook her head, pity in her eyes.

"Told you," she said simply before turning away and walking off in a differentdirection in the house.

Cassidy followed her retreating back until she couldn't see her anymore andswallowed hard at the tightness in her throat.

Adrian played the game and Cassidy was the loser. She fell for his charm, hissweet fake words. He used it all against her. She was in love with him and it was alla joke.

Blinking away tears, Cassidy stalked out of the room, pushing people out of theway while she kept the burst of the emotion inside. Once she was out the door, herheart gave out and she cried loudly, holding her head.

- 609 -

"You can stop now."

She let go of his neck, eyeing him seductively. "You know, I wasn't acting and ifyou want, we could take this somewhere else and make it more real." She said,trailing a finger across his jaw line.

Adrian pushed her finger away, backing a few feet from her. "I already said that Ineeded you for a minute. Wasn't that the deal?"

She nodded innocently, rising from her seat to sidle up close to him. "Yes, but Icould do more than a minute."

"No." He refused flatly, looking away. "Just leave."

Her jaw dropped, appalled by his rejection. "Are you losing your touch, Adrian?"

"No." Adrian denied pressingly, scowling. "I'm just using you for what you reallyare, a slut."

Her forehead creased, the anger burning her eyes. "And what was this? Some kindof revenge plot on your ex-girlfriend?"

"Not ex." Adrian corrected firmly, shrugging. "Just someone I know."

"Then why did you need me for?"

He narrowed his eyes, glaring. "Why don't you let me worry about that?"

She sighed. "Come on, Adrian. I know you want the sex, so let's go to a room anddo it already."

As much as he didn't want to admit it, she was right. Adrian was suffering withouthaving sex for almost five days. It was killing him. This girl, whoever she was, wasoffering herself to him on a silver platter. He would be stupid enough not to take theopportunity handed to him so easily. He didn't even have to work at it.

"Fine, let's go." He relented.

Someone cleared their throat loudly in the room and Nina and Jase broke apart,whipping their heads to the intruder. Kim, the platinum blonde sorority girlinfamous for her sleazy behavior had her hands on her hips with a serious look onher face.

- 610 -

"I'd go outside if I were you," Kim ordered, her glaring gaze directed at Nina. "Orare you too busy making out with your boyfriend?"

Nina pulled away from Jase and stood up, wiping the bottom of her lip. "He's notmy boyfriend. What's going on?"

"Your friend is upset. She needs you." Kim explained softly.

Nina glanced back at Jase and he wore a worry expression on, standing up fromthe couch. They both walked quickly to find Cassidy, pushing people out of the way.When they finally reached the front door, they went outside and heard someonesniffling near the porch. They instantly rushed to her side and Nina saw hertear-stricken and bloodshot eyes.

"Jesus, Cassidy what the hell happened!"

"N-Nothing." Cassidy mumbled through tears, hitting the side of her head with theheel of her hand. "I'm just so... fucking stupid!"

"Oh God, come here. Let's take you home." Nina squatted to her level and pulledher up carefully, steadying her as they stood up.

"Jase, can you help me?" Nina asked, looking back at him.

Jase jerked from his position and nodded. "Of course."

He took Cassidy's other arm and they both walked her to Nina's car as shecontinued to cry softly. Nina opened the back door and Jase placed her in, bucklingher seatbelt in the middle. He shut the door and opened the driver's door, gesturingfor Nina to get in.

Nina sighed, going into her car and Jase shut it. She started the engine and pulledher window down, frowning.

"Do you think she's drunk?" She asked with concerned, looking back at Cassidy.

Jase shrugged, peering through the open window. "I have no idea."

They were both quiet and Nina looked up at him uneasily at the thought of whatthey did earlier. "Listen Jase-"

"I know," He replied back quickly, back away from the car. "We'll talk about it- 611 -

later. Now's not the time."

She nodded, waving at him as she put her car in drive.

Nina drove silently, looking back at Cassidy through the rearview mirror. She wasstill quiet as the tears continued to fall from her cheeks.

"Cassidy, what happened?"

Cassidy swallowed at her throat, looking up at Nina to the rearview mirror. "Itwas only a matter of time before he got what he wanted from me."

She raised an eyebrow and was about to question more, but Cassidy closed hereyes wearily. Sighing, Nina dropped it and kept her focus on the wheel.

"Can you drop me off at Kathleen's?" She asked earnestly.

Nina stopped at the red light and turned her head to hers, furrowing hereyebrows. She didn't know why Cassidy wanted to go to Kathleen's. Cassidy barelytalked to her anymore. "Sure."

"Come on," She moaned, arching into him. "Do it!"

Adrian swallowed at the back of his throat, looking down at the girl he was nakedon top of. He tried to get a hard on, but it didn't work. His dick was cooperating withhim and neither was the girl that was begging for it. Kissing her did nothing andalso the touching. He lost his drive and felt like a failure just hovering on top, a gunwith no bullets.

He rolled off of her and sighed heavily, slapping a hand over his eyes. What thehell was wrong with him! It wasn't that hard for him to have sex, so what was theproblem now? Was he getting an erectile dysfunction? Maybe he should get checkedup by the doctor.

"What the hell!" She shouted, yanking the sheet over her bare body. "Is theresomething wrong with you?!"

His jaw tightened at the shrill of her annoying voice, wondering why he everpicked her. "No, I think there is something wrong with you if I'm not getting a damnhard on!"

Adrian shoved the sheets off of him, pulling back his clothes on with anger. The- 612 -

girl glared as she watched him, feeling unsatisfied.

"I don't think I'm the problem here, Adrian." She spat out, leaping out of the bedwith the sheet around her. "You're the one with your head up your ass. You can'teven focus on sex because your mind is somewhere else!"

"No it isn't!" He countered angrily, yanking his jacket on. "I'm never leftunsatisfied with a girl before, so it must be your fault."

"Whatever," She muttered irritably, putting her clothes on. "You're just ashamedthat you failed to have sex. It's your job to get riled up!"

"Hey slut," Adrian shouted, stalking up to her. "I would shut my damn mouth if Iwas you. It could get you in a lot of trouble."

"Not the same trouble that you're having with your dick right now." The girlretorted, pulling her short top on. "Maybe next time it'll be different story."

She walked away from him and Adrian gritted his teeth, scowling at her retreatingback. "There won't be a next time, bitch!"

The girl shut the door after herself, leaving Adrian alone feeling useless in theroom. He sat at the edge of the bed and buried his head, pulling the ends of his curlsin frustration. What the hell was going on with him? Why can't he have sex normallyanymore?

His mind wandered and strayed on an image of a girl with long brown hair andbrown eyes, smiling. He groaned and felt his dick erect, producing a tent in hisjeans. Well, at least he knew one thing for sure. There wasn't anything wrong withhis anatomy.

Kathleen opened the door and narrowed her eyes from the darkness, seeing a girlstand there with her arms around herself. She noticed her features and her eyeswidened.

"Cassidy, what's wrong?" Kathleen asked hastily with worry, touching hershoulder when she didn't respond. "Cassidy?"

The tears flowed down her cheeks and she did nothing to stop them. "I messedup." She choked, biting back a sob. "Really bad."

- 613 -

"Come inside." Kathleen said, placing her hand at the middle of her back to usherher in.

Cassidy stumbled inside, relying on Kathleen's aid to guide her. She sat her on anearby couch and Kathleen rubbed her back.

"I'll go get you some water." Kathleen said.

She exited out of the room and Cassidy dropped her head to her lap, sniffling.When Kathleen came back with the cup of water, she took it and drank greedilyfrom her parched throat.

"What happened?" Kathleen asked softly, taking the empty cup from her handsonce she finished it.

Cassidy rubbed her weary wet eyes, sniffling. "He happened, Kathleen." Sheanswered quietly, looking up at her. "You were right I should've listened to you. Ishould've never fallen in love, but I did and he broke me." Her voice cracked and shepaused, closing her eyes. "I don't know what to do anymore."

Kathleen wrapped her arm around Cassidy, hugging her tightly as she cried softlyinto her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Cassidy. Adrian's a bastard and he'll always be one,but you can't keep this up."

Sniffling, Cassidy raised her head in confusion. "What?"

She grabbed her shoulders, shaking her a little. "Being upset. It's not going to getyou anywhere. I learned that the hard way."

Cassidy sat quiet, pausing for a moment. "So, what should I do?"

The corner of Kathleen's lips turned upward into a smirk. "You get even."

Cassidy walked boldly up to the restaurant, her head held up high and face filledwith fury. After staying the night with Kathleen, going over what she should dobecame all clear to her. Adrian did kiss and grope another girl right in front of herface, but it wasn't like they were an item.

However, the simple gestures such as the drawing he gave her, the kiss at thecharity ball, and taking her to his parent's house showed that it was more than asimple fling. But he messed with her big time and she wasn't going to let him getaway with it.

- 614 -

All the times that he had played with her heart and made fun of her naive naturewas going to end today. She was going to show him that he could never fool aroundwith her like he did with every other girl. Cassidy was different. The crying, sadness,and frustration wasn't her.

Crying was for coward girls who didn't have the balls to stand up to the guy in theface and tell him what he screwed up on. And that's why today, he was going toregret ever messing with Cassidy Gordon on the first day of her college experience.

Pushing open the restaurant door, she strode in and passed the host whohurriedly grabbed a menu from their podium.

"Oh miss! You have to make a reservation first!"

Cassidy stopped, whirling around. "Believe me, I'm not staying." She snappedquickly.

The host backed away, clutching the menu to her chest and Cassidy left her insearch of Adrian. She knew he was working today. What else would he be doing?She snorted inwardly. Possibly screwing another girl, but his job came first beforeanything else.

Walking rather swiftly to the back door of the restaurant, she hesitated before sheopened the door, the sun light shining through inside. She stepped outside andturned around, seeing him sitting on the quiet curb, drinking a bottle of vodka.

Adrian looked up from the bottle at his lips and saw her, drinking a mouthful ofthe alcohol before setting it down beside him. He watched as she took careful stepsin front of him, her expression angered like he predicted.

Cassidy clapped her hands suddenly, making Adrian raise a confused eyebrow."Congratulations." She said bitterly.

"For what?" He questioned, puzzled.

"You won." Cassidy declared maliciously.

Adrian furrowed his eyebrows in incomprehension and Cassidy cleared her hoarsethroat. "You played me and you won."

He dropped his eyes to the floor, taking the bottle of vodka and taking a hugeswig. He knew what he did wrong, but facing it was worse than avoiding it.

- 615 -

"Wasn't that your goal all along? To see if I would give in to you? Because itworked if you wanted to know. It worked because now I'm in love with you."

Adrian scratched his neck again, sighing. "Look Cassidy I-"

"No." Cassidy held her hand up in refusal, furious. "I don't need your excuses.What I want is for you to gloat to your pals that you succeeded in playing me. Youwon fair and square and I was the stupid one to fall for your sick charm, your fakewords and kindness." She scowled, looking down at him like dirt. "Now when I lookat you, you just seem fake to me in every way and I don't know if there's anythingreal inside you."

Adrian just sat there with his hands together, gazing straightforward in a daze.

Cassidy didn't care if he was listening or if he was drunk. She had to get this outonce and for all. "I never intended to like you, even love you for that matter, but forsome stupid fucking reason I thought that maybe... maybe you could love me back."

She laughed bitterly at the latter, reminding her of her past stupidity. "I know nowthat it's too good to be true. You will always be the way you are and it's hard for meto accept it because I want so badly to believe that you could." She hesitated, tryinghard not to choke up. "I've been living in a fantasy world."

Cassidy turned her back on him, the tears spiking up. "I'm such an idiot!" Sheexclaimed furiously, fisting her hand on her face and pounding it to her forehead. "Ishould've never said those four words to you, awake or not. I was stupid-I amstupid."

She took a sharp intake of breath, the tears falling out of her control. "I gavemyself to you." She cracked, whirling around violently to face him. "And you threw itaway like it was nothing!"

Adrian swallowed hard at his throat, standing up slowly. "You know that's nottrue. You wanted me and I wanted you too."

"But you've cheapened me like you did with all the other girls you've been with.I'm just as bad as them."

He pursed his lips, his eyes falling to the floor once again. "You should know bynow what I do to women, Cassidy. You weren't a stranger to that."

"But I thought that you would be different with me!" Cassidy cried out, jabbing a- 616 -

finger to her chest. "You took me skydiving, than invited me to your charity ball, andhell you even brought me to your parent's home whom you hate!"

She stopped herself, taking a deep breath before continuing. "You've ruined mylife."

Adrian looked up at her, his eyes filled with pity.

"I was fine before you ever came crashing in. I was fine with being a regular nerdtrying to get good grades on a test. I was fine with having my books to interact withme instead of my friends. I was fine with everything dull in my life! Why couldn't youjust leave me alone?" She asked hoarsely.

Adrian cleared his throat, clearly uneasy. "You were a challenge and I wanted toplay the game." He revealed in a low tone.

"You wanted to play..." She echoed back bitterly, sounding dark.

He saw the hatred in her eyes and was quick to explain. "But it did become morethan just a fling, Cassidy. I know I was pushing you too hard and I didn't mean tohurt you. I just got carried away and when I tried to stop, I couldn'tbecause...because you're so hard to get rid of."

She huffed out of disbelief, shaking her head. "Is that supposed to make it better?"

"I didn't mean for it to come out that way, but you are." Adrian reasoned, sighingheavily. "God Cassidy, you're so addicting that I can't get enough of you sometimes."

"But the addiction is over because the game is, right?" Cassidy said, her wordstrembling. "You finally have me, but you don't even want me."

Adrian became quiet, mumbling his words. "I don't know what I want right now."

She sighed irritably. "You never know what you want, that's why you don't evenhave a major picked out yet." She pointed out harshly, glaring. "You're clueless,about everything and you don't care."

He shrugged indifferently. "It's not that easy."

"It is, but you're not giving anything a chance!" She exclaimed with her arms out.- 617 -

"You push away everyone that cares about you, even Jase and your poor mom. Theywere just trying to help you and you treated them like they're nothing!"

Adrian's jaw tightened, his eyes glaring. "You don't know anything, alright?"

She laughed humorlessly. "I don't know anything because you won't let me."

Cassidy shook her head, a bitter smile still at her lips as she started to pace. Shelooked up at Adrian with disdain, stopping in her walk.

"You know what you are, Adrian?"

He sighed heavily, tired of all her yelling. "What?"

"You're just nice to look at." She explained shortly, shrugging. "That's what you'llever be to any girl, just an object to everyone's fantasy. If you strip off the looks, youhave nothing."

Adrian stood there quietly, watching her walk up to him and leave a few feet awayin between.

"I must be a fool to think that something could ever happen between us." Shehissed under her breath, glaring at him. "I thought that I could change that, but Irealized it would never work. I can't change you and I was stupid to think that Icould. You'll never change."

He rolled his eyes. "I told you from the start that it wasn't going to happen.Nobody can change me, not even a girl."

Cassidy's fury fell from her face as she took a step back, nodding to herself."Right, well goodbye Adrian."

She turned her back to walk away, but Adrian started to walk after her. "Wait,where are you going?"

"Out of your life," she called coldly over her shoulder, opening the door andslamming it in his face.

A/N: Can anyone feel the intensity or is it just me? :) Pretty sad chapter if I do sayso myself. Thanks to everyone who commented/fanned/voted for me! It means a lot!!

- 618 -

:) Three more chapters left!!

What do you think will happen next??

- 619 -

Stupid Girl

Chapter 34: Stupid Girl

Cassidy had her back at the door once she slammed it, biting back tears. Shefinally laid it all out to him and confessed her feelings. It felt euphoric in the momentas she yelled and cursed him for playing her and proclaiming all his faults in hisface.

But as of this moment, she felt empty. It was like all the yelling she did didn'tmatter anymore. Cassidy was still hurt and sad. Her feelings didn't wash away.Shouting at Adrian for being such an asshole couldn't change it. Getting even didn'twork as Kathleen said it would.

It made her feel worse because he didn't come after her.

And being used by him seemed all the more real.

She pushed her back off against the wall and walked out of the restaurant,blatantly ignoring the cowering host behind the podium who was pestering at herwhen she got there.

Once Cassidy opened the doors, the light breeze swept around her and she sighed,breathing in through her nostrils. Her head ached with all the troubles she wasgoing through the past few days and it had to do with one person she so desperatelytried to avoid from the start.

But it was her fault for giving in. Once he had her, he got over it just like he said.Sniffling as she walked, her phone rang and she reached for it in her pocket toanswer.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Cassidy!" Kathleen said. "How did it go?"

Clearing her throat, she smiled slightly. "You were right, I do feel better."

"See I told you! Once I gave Gabe a piece of my mind, I felt like I could doanything!" She exclaimed happily. "Then as I predicted, he came back andapologized."

- 620 -

"W-What?" Cassidy replied incredulously.

"Yeah, Gabe came back to me after I left." Kathleen sighed dreamily. "He is soperfect. I love him."

"But I-" she started, pausing. "I didn't know you two were back together."

"Of course we are! Why do you think I've been so happy these past few days?" Shetold her. "So, are you with Adrian right now?"

Cassidy swallowed hard at her throat, craning her neck to look back at therestaurant. He was nowhere in sight and the tears spiked up. "No...no I'm not."

"Oh, well he'll be back, they all do!" Kathleen said reassuringly.

"Kathleen, he isn't-" She almost choked on her words, taking a deep breath. "Heisn't going to come after me."

"You don't know that!" Kathleen chuckled.

Cassidy shook her head, the tears falling down. "I do, I know him. He won't. It'sover."

"Cassidy," She called out to her in a soft tone.

"He isn't like Gabe. He doesn't want me."

"But-"

"No, stop." Cassidy exclaimed, growing angry. "It's not going to happen. This isn'treality, Kathleen. I got used and it was my fault for going through with it, alright?He DOESN'T like me! Why can't you understand that?"

"T-That's not how it's supposed to happen." She mumbled.

"Well it did!" She cried out, wiping the tears with the back of her hand. "Ithappened to me! I'm the unlucky one. I get no happy ending!"

"Cassidy-"

"I've got to go." Cassidy said in clipped tones before hanging up the phone.

- 621 -

She placed it back into her pocket and wiped the rest of her tears away, headingto her car in the parking lot. Why did being in love with someone hurt so much?Wasn't it supposed to be joyful and free? How could she feel so empty and hurt?

Opening her car door, she threw herself inside and shut it after her, laying herhead back. Cassidy felt completely and utterly disgusted with herself. She couldn'teven look in the mirror. The shame and disgraceful acts that she has put uponherself was too much for her to handle. She just wanted to get over it, the love andthe hurt. And by doing so, she was going to avoid Adrian at all costs.

After a few minutes, she started the car and headed home. She sighed at just thethought of being there right now. Cassidy really needed to take a nice relaxing bathand maybe after that a nap. It wouldn't hurt.

Once she got home, she parked her car and got to the front of the house, insertingher key in the lock. She twisted it open and entered into her dimly lit home, shuttingthe door after. Narrowing her eyes at the lack of lighting, she turned on the lightsand saw two packed bags at the foot of the door beside her.

"Cassidy."

She turned her head and saw her dad come into view, flicking on the lamp light ofthe living room. He was seated on the couch with a stoic expression and her momsat near, her head buried in her lap with sounds of sniffling breaking through thetension in the air.

Cassidy gulped nervously, taking a wary step towards him. "What's going on?" Sheasked in hesitant tone.

"Cassidy," Her father started off with repressed anger, trying to remain calm."Where have you been these past few days?"

Cassidy wringed her hands behind her back, feeling her throat dry up by hisobvious anger. "At school or with Kathleen and Nina."

"Do not lie to me!" Larry roared as he jumped up, jabbing a finger in her direction.

She fought the urge to shudder, never seeing him so furious with her before. "I'mnot lying, I was with them!"

"You were with that boy, weren't you?" He guessed, eyeing her closely. "Adrian,- 622 -

was it?"

Cassidy opened her mouth and closed it, no sound emitting from her throat. No liecame to thought. She was too scared to even think of any as she shook in her spotbeing interrogated by her father who never raised his voice this high to her. Thiswasn't going to be good.

Larry found her silence to be the answer, so he sat back down and rubbed at hisscruffy chin. "I looked up this Adrian fellow and he seems to have one lengthyrecord."

"You looked at his records?" She repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Why?"

"He's spending all this time with you, isn't he?" Larry said, hard eyes directed ather. He was a criminal lawyer once upon a time, so she guessed it didn't surpriseher that he could still have access to records. "I had to do a background check onhim when I heard you coming home late at night or most frequently, early in themorning. I needed to see if he was who he said he was!"

"And what did you find?" Cassidy asked slowly, already knowing his records due toAdrian's father proclaiming them at the Christmas dinner table. She slowly walkedup to the opposite of the couch and hovered over it, afraid to sit down. Her heartwas beating so fast she could hear it in her ear drums.

"Illegal drug use, deplorable acts of misconduct, intoxication violations," Larrycontinued, wrinkling his nose. "Sexual intercourse with a minor, and the list goes onand on."

"Wait, what?" Cassidy replied confusingly, raising an eyebrow at the latter. Shehadn't known that one. "Sexual intercourse with a minor?"

"Yes, it seems that he couldn't take his hands off the high school freshmen and hegot caught with one in the public bathrooms." He wrinkled his nose, a scowl at hisface. "Absolutely revolting."

"You searched him all the way back to his high school years?" She exclaimedincredulously.

"No, more like elementary, but that's not the point I'm getting out right now."

Cassidy stood there, waiting anxiously for him to continue.

- 623 -

"Was he the same pest you were talking about months ago? When you said you gotrid of him?"

Cassidy gulped and looked at her father straight in the eye, nodding her headslowly. She wasn't going to lie to her parent's anymore. She's been keeping stufffrom them for so long that she couldn't keep up with her own deceit. She wasturning into a bad person because of Adrian and now, she wasn't going to let ithappen anymore. Cassidy needed to be back at where she was and it started bybeing honest.

"I'm going to ask you again." Her father started with a grave tone, looking at herstrictly. "Have you been with him secretly these past few months?"

She nodded again, her fear of keeping the truth slowly washing it away. It wasbecoming easier with each question, until-

"Did you two have sexual relations?"

Cassidy breathed in deeply through her nose, feeling the tight ball in her throat. Ifshe told the truth, she knew her dad wouldn't like it. But if she lied, she would feelremorse and hate herself already than she does now. So, without thinking, sheopened her mouth and said it in one deep breath.

"Yes."

It was dead quiet and she refused to look at her dad. The thick silence was enoughand the storm was headed in their direction. All the lies, the midnight rendezvous',the "sleepovers," it was all coming to an end.

"You're going to St. Mary's." Larry said in a thick, furious tone.

Cassidy's jaw dropped and her head whirled to the bags at the front of the door,finally registering that those were hers.

"What?!" She exclaimed, the emotion tearing up her voice. The tears sprang upand she fought them away with hard blinks. "No! You can't do this to me!"

"I already had!" Her dad shouted, rising up slowly from the couch and comingtowards her. "This is what you get for all your lies and late nights away from home.You're going and that's final!"

"I said no, dad!" Cassidy shouted back as the angry, frustrated tears fell to her- 624 -

face. "All my life I've been doing what you told me and I refuse to do it anymore!"

"I've done things that I'm not proud of, but it's apart of growing up and learningfrom your mistakes. I needed to make them in order to do that and you weren'tletting me."

"I'm not going to let my daughter become a whore!" Larry countered angrily, eyesfurious.

"I wasn't, dad!" Cassidy pleaded with a hand on her chest. "I was just a stupid girlwho fell in love with a stupid boy who promised me things that didn't end up comingtrue! I learned it the hard way and now I need to go on with my life and move pastit! St. Mary's isn't going to help that!"

"Yes, it will." Her dad argued, crossing his arms. "Your behavior has changeddrastically from your first year of college. The only way to fix it is if you go to St.Mary's. They teach you discipline, manners, and how to be an upstanding younglady."

Cassidy huffed, shaking her head in disbelief. "It's almost a month through thesemester. I am not going to that school!"

"Yes you are because if you don't, I will have you kicked out of my house." Larrysaid sternly.

"I'll just stay with Nina and Kathleen." Cassidy replied back fluidly.

He shook his head. "I'll cancel your tuition for the semester than. There is stilltime to drop your classes."

The tears spiked back and the anger rose within her. "Dad, why are you doing thisto me!"

"Because you went against my rules and lied to me, not to mention ran aroundwith this boy who corrupted you!"

"He didn't corrupt me, I did it to myself!" She exclaimed, jabbing a finger to herchest.

"Well, there's only one way to fix that and that's St. Mary's." He said firmlywithout argument.

- 625 -

Cassidy bit back tears, looking passed her father's shoulder to see her mother stillin the same position she saw her in. "Mom, aren't you going to say anything aboutthis?!"

Jenny slowly brought her head up, tears streaked on her face. She sniffed andwiped them off with the back of her hand. "Your father is right. You need to go."

She gaped incredulously, taking a few steps back. "I can't believe this! I haven'tdone anything wrong! You're treating me like a common criminal!"

Larry cleared his throat. "You might as well be treated like one since you wentagainst me." He said, glancing at the bags to the front door. "Now, I suggest youpack up any other belonging you might want to keep for your trip tomorrow. It'sgoing to be a long ride."

"TOMORROW?!" Cassidy shrieked as her hands went up to her hair. "Are youfucking kidding me?!"

"I will not tolerate such crude language! Now GO!" Larry barked, glaring at hisdaughter.

A tear fell down Cassidy's face and she turned around, going to the direction ofher room. She stopped herself halfway through and turned to look at her father oncemore.

"It wasn't my fault that this happened, it was yours." Cassidy said in a soft,frustrated tone. "If you weren't so controlling, I wouldn't have done any of it."

She sniffed, wiping the tears that fell. "I will never forgive you for this."

Cassidy whirled around and walked towards her room, slamming the door hardonce she reached inside. Her hand instantly searched for her phone in her pocketand she dialed the one person who could never fail her.

"Cassidy?" Nina answered in one ring, sounding worried. "Are you ok?"

She sniffed, wondering what she was talking about. "I'll live, but what are youtalking about?"

"Kathleen told me what happened. I can't believe what that piece of shit did toyou, once I get my hands on him, I'll-"

- 626 -

"Don't Nina, I already handled things. I don't want you to interfere." Cassidyordered clearly, swallowing the tightness at the base of her throat.

"But you're my best friend. I would do anything for you."

She sighed softly to herself, closing her eyes. "Then for me, don't bother him. He'snot worth it."

Nina hesitated, noticing the hardness in her tone. "What else is wrong?"

Cassidy opened her eyes, hitting her back to the wall and sliding down."N-Nothing."

"It doesn't sound like nothing."

The tears immediately swarmed in her vision and it made it hard for her to breath."N-Nina, I-" She stopped herself, trying hard not to choke up. "My dad is sending meto St. Mary's."

"WHAT?!" Nina exclaimed loudly through the phone. "Why?!"

"He found out," Cassidy answered, sniffing as the tears fell once again. "Abouteverything between me and Adrian. It was only a matter of time."

"Did you say you weren't going?" Nina asked, her voice growing frustrated. Shewaited, but Cassidy didn't reply. "Cassidy?"

"I'm already on the first flight there tomorrow."

Nina gasped. "What? No! You can't go!"

"I can't do anything about it." Cassidy said thickly, holding her head. "He won'tlisten to me and he said if I don't go, he'll kick me out."

"And you believe that?"

"Yes!" She exclaimed, breathing in and out. "You should've seen him Nina, he wasfurious with me."

"But you can't just go. This is your home! You have to stay!"

"I have no choice." Cassidy said emotionlessly, looking at her half empty closet.- 627 -

She slowly rose up from the floor and fingered the small trinkets on her vanity table,the tears bulging. "I'll call you once I land."

"Cassidy no, you can't-"

Cassidy hung up, exhaling a hard breath. She would be leaving tomorrow so therewas no use for goodbyes. It was for the best anyways since her best friend washaving a hard time believing that she was going. And it was time for her to accepther new life tomorrow.

The door bell rang and Jase's eyes fluttered opened, waking up from his dream.His eyes traveled to the alarm clock and it was seven in the morning. Who would beup at this time so early?

Jase got out of bed and put a shirt over his head, hearing the door bell ring onceagain. If his roommate Chris was home, he wouldn't bother answering the door, butsince he was out partying last night, he went to get it. Heading out of his room, hewalked down the hallway and the person knocked.

Yawning, he dragged his way up to the door and the insistent knocking continuedwithout fail. "I'm coming, I'm coming!" He shouted at the door, annoyed.

Jase grabbed the doorknob and swung it open, raising his weary eyes to theperson. Then, they suddenly grew with shock. "Adrian?"

Adrian gulped, bowing his head with his hands in his pockets. "Jase," He mumbledunder his breath.

Trying to contain his shock, Jase kept his impassive face so that Adrian wouldn'tmanipulate him in any sort of way. He didn't know why he was here, but he was surethat Adrian wanted something from him and Jase wouldn't let it happen this time.But there was still a glimmer of hope that he might want to patch things up with himand that was the only reason why Jase didn't slam the door in his face.

"What do you want?" Jase inquired boldly.

Adrian kept his stance, quiet for a moment. "I need your help."

Jase scoffed, shaking his head with disbelief. "I knew this was too good to betrue." He spat out, grabbing the door and swinging it shut.

- 628 -

Adrian pulled his hand out to keep it from shutting, coming inside on his ownaccord. "No, wait it's not like that. Please just hear me out."

He sighed tiredly, turning around to face him. It was strange to hear him say,'please' because he usually got what he wanted without having to say it. "Adrian,I've been listening to your bullshit for years. What makes you think I want to hear itnow?"

"Because you're my best friend." He stated firmly, frowning a bit. "And I'm sorryfor being such a shitty one to you."

"You think that one little apology is going to make me forgive you?" Jase said inraised tones, glaring. "I haven't spoken to you for a few months now. What makesyou think I'll just forget everything and go back to the way things were?"

"'Cause it won't be the same anymore." Adrian responded quickly, walking up tohim earnestly. "I'm trying here, Jase, I really am. I have no one."

Jase crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes warily. "What do you want from me?"

"I want to talk to you." He told him. "Explain things. If you'll let me."

Jase looked at Adrian long and hard, deciding whether it would be a good or badidea to let his former friend say his piece. He made the decision to be done with hima long time ago, but a part of Jase wanted to listen. This was his best friend. Heshould at least hear what he had to say and second chances should always beconsidered.

"Ok, fine." Jase announced shortly, putting his hands to his sides. "But if I don'tlike it, then I'm kicking you out of my life for good."

Adrian nodded. "That's a fair trade."

They walked over to the sitting area in awkward silence and sat down. They wereboth quiet, staring at each other before Jase brought his hands up and rubbed themtogether.

"So, where do you want to start?"

Adrian chuckled humorlessly, raking a hand through his hair. "Well, I guess I'llstart off by telling you that I'm sorry for the shit I've put you through all theseyears."

- 629 -

Jase nodded in satisfaction. "Ok, anything else?"

He became quiet, staring down at his lap. "Look, Jase you know I'm not good atthis."

"'This' being?" Jase inquired, already knowing what he was talking about.

He just liked watching Adrian squirm because he's never seen it before. Adrianwas usually more confident and sure. Now, he just looked lost and confused.

"Discussing feelings and shit," Adrian answered, looking uncomfortable. "It's notmy thing."

"Ok, well make it your thing."

He frowned, looking up at him. "It's not easy."

"Nothing is."

Adrian was quiet again. "I'm not a good person, I know that. And I've hurt a lotpeople than I can even count."

Jase snorted. "Yeah, you did."

"I'm not happy with the decisions I've made, especially when it comes to youbecause you're my best friend." Adrian said softly.

"Then why did you?" Jase asked, narrowing his eyes. "You lied to Cassidy's fatherabout me vindictively. I don't understand what I did to make you ruin myrelationship."

"You didn't do anything." He muttered.

Jase furrowed his eyebrows, eyes calculating. "Then what was it?"

Adrian stared at Jase, his gaze unwavering. "Jealousy."

He snorted. "Of what? Me?"

"No I-" he stopped himself, lowering his eyes to the floor.

Jase looked at him for a while, sensing his struggle to get his words out. He- 630 -

guessed this was one of Adrian's moments where he couldn't reveal his feelings.Sighing impatiently, Jase put a hand on his shoulder to make him look at him.

"Just say it, Adrian." He told him, irritated. "You said you weren't good atdiscussing your feelings, now is the time to confess. So what is it?"

Adrian opened his mouth, and then shut it quickly, changing his mind.

Jase's jaw clenched at his unwillingness to talk. "You told me you wanted to talk,so talk before I kick you out."

"I like Cassidy." He revealed quickly in one breath.

His jaw dropped and he became speechless. There has never been a moment inAdrian's life where he openly admitted to liking a girl. Not because of her boobs, sexperformance, or appearance, but a genuine likeness.

Jase hesitated, not knowing where to start. "So you..."

"Yes, like her." Adrian replied, becoming more relaxed once he spilled the truth."Not as a friend, but as something else."

"Wow," Jase whistled, stunned. "I thought I'd never hear the day..."

"I know." He agreed, shaking his head. "I don't know how it happened, but it did."

"Did you tell her?" Jase asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

Adrian pursed his lips, his eyes masked. "Uh...not exactly."

He sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead. He somehow knew that Adrian screwedup something. "What happened?"

Adrian chuckled uneasily, scratching the back of his neck. "Well, you see I kind ofkissed a girl in front of her at a party and it really pissed her off."

He frowned. "Why did you do that?"

Adrian hesitated and Jase sighed at his reluctance. "Don't think, just say it." Headded strongly.

"She uh... kind of told me that she loved me." Adrian explained, shifting- 631 -

uncomfortably. "And it freaked me out."

"Why, because the word 'love' is foreign in your English language?" Jase guessed.

He nodded. "Yeah and it's kind of a big deal, right?"

Jase sighed, dropping his head in his hands. For someone so experienced withwomen, he could be so stupidly naive when it came to feelings. "Yes, it's a big deal!And I'm guessing it freaked you out because it meant commitment?"

Adrian nodded again. "There's no way in hell I'm going to be in a relationship."

Jase narrowed his eyes. "Have you ever been in one to judge yourself?"

Adrian pondered thoughtfully, not considering it before. "Well, no but-"

"But nothing man. If you haven't been in a relationship, you don't know shitalright?" Jase snapped. "Just because you hear other people bitching about it,doesn't mean it's going to be the same with you."

"How do you know?" Adrian inquired, furrowing his eyebrows. "You were in arelationship with her and it didn't end so well."

"Gee, I wonder WHY!" Jase exclaimed, yelling out the last part effectively. Adrianlowered his head sheepishly, forgetting that he plotted to destroy their relationshipin the first place.

"Fuck, I really am a shit head, aren't I?" He said, peeking through the strands ofhis brown hair.

Jase nodded. "The worse."

Adrian sighed, frowning a bit. "If you're asking me to change-"

He held up at hand to stop his friend. "I'm not. I just want you to open up a bit andstop hiding things from people, especially me if I'm still going to be your friend."

"You still-?"

"Yeah, I might as well since I've put up with you for this long."

Adrian smiled, nodding. "You're a good friend, man. - 632 -

Jase smiled in reply, slapping him on the back. "Well, luckily for you I believe insecond chances."

"Thanks," He said gratefully with serious eyes. "I don't know what I'd do withoutyou. You keep me in check and put up with my shit. That's a lot to carry."

"Yeah, well I did it because you're my friend and that's what friends do." Jaseexplained. "They look out for each other."

Adrian nodded and was quiet in his thoughts. Jase glanced at him and leaned backin his seat, wrapping his arms at the back of his head.

"So, do you have anything else to tell me?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

Adrian hesitated, looking at him. "Well, since we're already at it, I might as welltell you what's been going on since you've been away."

Jase nodded and soon, Adrian started talking about the difficulties he wentthrough this past semester. It mostly involved Cassidy, his family, and his ownstruggles to accept his feelings and himself. And like the good friend Jase always hasbeen, he listened and cared which made Adrian even more grateful of him.

Adrian got home feeling lighter and a lot better with his Cassidy situation. Talkingthings over with Jase was surprisingly easy and he knew his friend was trying hisbest not to question and pry.

Adrian already let him know everything and it felt great. The stress was lifted offhis shoulders and he wanted to speak with Cassidy soon about his discoveredfeelings for her.

As he made his way to his bedroom to get his phone, he heard shuffling down atthe end of the hallway. Curious, he walked slowly up to the room that was Nina'sand saw it slightly ajar.

He opened it quietly and saw her on the floor, folding her clothes and placingthem into a packed box. His eyes swept the room and saw other ones lying on thefloor already taped and ready to go. Adrian guessed that she was leaving theapartment soon to be roommates with Kathleen again.

"What the hell are you doing in here?" Nina exclaimed furiously, her eyes glaringat him deadly with a balled up folded shirt in her hands.

- 633 -

Adrian held up his hands up in surrender. "I was just wondering what you weredoing.

"Well, get out before I punch you in the face." She threatened, gritting her teeth.

"What the hell has gotten into you?" He asked incredulously.

Nina was always a fiery one, but she didn't snap at him like this. Her look was oneof pure hatred. She might just be ready to kill him right then and there.

"It's your entire fucking fault!" Nina exclaimed furiously, throwing the shirt in thebox without a care and jumped up. "For everything! Now my best friend is leavingand I'm going to be all alone in my dorm room while Kathleen sucks face with herstupid boyfriend!"

"Wait, what?" Adrian asked, raising an eyebrow at one particular sentence. "Whatare you talking about?"

"You haven't heard?" Nina laughed humorlessly, pausing for a moment. "Cassidyis being ship off to St. Mary's."

Adrian's eyes went wide and he felt something inside him drop. "WHAT? No! Shecan't leave!"

"Well, too late! Her dad is psychotic and is making her leave first thing tomorrowmorning." Nina snapped, dropping herself to the floor near her opened box.

She busied herself with folding another first and placing it neatly into the box. Shecontinued, hinting for Adrian to leave, but he never got the message.

Nina sighed angrily, whirling her head to him. "What the hell are you still doinghere? If you care about it so much, go stop her!"

Adrian hesitated, shuffling in his spot. "I don't know."

"What do you mean, 'you don't know?'" Nina repeated rudely, scowling at him."From all the times you guys spent together, you don't care about her even a littlebit?"

"I didn't say that-"

She cut him off curtly. "But it looks like it to me." - 634 -

Adrian swallowed hard at his throat, eyes dropping to the floor. Nina noticed howvulnerable he looked with his eyes downcast and his dark brown hair in his face. Shealmost sympathized with him, but then she shook her head and glared. This wasobviously the "Adrian trap" that most girls fell into, but she wasn't going there.

"I don't think she wants to see me anymore." He said in a soft, innocent tone.

Nina laughed humorlessly, folding her full box and grabbing a roll of tape."Believe me, in some stupid fucked up way, she does. She's just waiting for you to dosomething."

She stripped off a piece of tape and placed it across the box, pressing her hands tofirmly secure it. She was finally done with her last box and all that was left waspacking it into her car and heading to the dorm room.

Nina stood up from the floor and was about to pick up the box until another pair ofhands grabbed it for her, setting it on top of the others by her door.

She stared at Adrian closely, wondering what he was up to. Was he serious aboutCassidy or not? If he didn't care, wouldn't he be fucking some girl in his room whileCassidy was wallowing in misery from tomorrow's fateful day?

"What are you going to do Adrian?" Nina asked with a hardened tone, placing ahand at her hip. Adrian looked at her with rueful green eyes, completely unlike him.

She sighed and softened her eyes, raising her eyebrow. "Are you going to be thesame stupid player and continue being with all these girls or are you going to helpmy friend out for a change?"

Adrian stared at her after a while and dug his hand in his pocket, extracting a pairof keys. Suddenly, Nina smiled and it grew across her face.

"Good answer."

A/N: Another emotionally charged chapter.. Things are definitely heating up!! Ican't believe there's only two more chapters left! I'm sorry I didn't warn you guysearlier, most of you were horrified. But I assure you, I have more stories in thefuture and I just started posting my new one yesterday called the Hortensia. If youhaven't read it yet, go check it out now! It's going to be great! :) OH and I'll beposting another new story, soo look out for that one too!

- 635 -

Anyways, I was going to post this chapter up earlier, but I got busy so I'mupdating at night. Hope you guys like it!

- 636 -

Morning Visitor

Chapter 35: The Morning Visitor

Cassidy stared up at her ceiling in the dark, unable to sleep as she lied in bed. Shegot herself so worked up earlier that even though her eyes were begging for somesleep, she simply couldn't. So many thoughts passed through her head and it wokeher brain up every time. She guessed she would sleep on the plane ride there.

Her stomach rumbled and she sighed, turning over to the side to ease the pain.She had skipped dinner and now she was starving. Earlier, her mother knocked onthe door with a plate ready for her, but Cassidy ignored it.

Surprisingly, she was more so angrier at her mother than her father. She thoughtthat her mother would be on her side and stop her dad from shipping her off. Butshe didn't say a word, only watching on silently and saying that her father was right.She could see it in her mother's eyes that she didn't want her to leave, but didn't sayanything. That hurt more than anything else.

Tired of the drama, her heavy eyelids pleaded for her to close them and shereluctantly allowed it. She dropped her thoughts and felt her dreams about to takeher. The stress she had before was starting to evaporate and when her brain startedto shut down, the doorbell rang.

Her eyes flew open and suddenly she was alert. Who the hell was at the door andwhat did they want at two in the morning?

Cassidy stayed still, listening with baited breath as she heard the creaks ofsomeone walking to the door and opening it. Her ears strained to hear who it was,but all she heard was nothing.

It must've been a false alarm or some bratty kids playing a prank.

Snuggling against her pillow, Cassidy closed her eyes once again and forgot aboutit. That was until she heard her father's muffled shouting.

Cassidy shot out of bed and rushed over to the door, cracking it open to hear theexchange with the stranger. Her father sounded furious and it scared her, remindingher of what happened earlier between them.

- 637 -

"Get the hell off my property NOW! Or I'll call the cops!" Larry threatened, hisvoice ascending with anger.

"That's not going to stop me."

Cassidy's stomach dropped, her hand going up to cover her mouth. Adrian?

She didn't waste anytime getting out of her room and following the angeredvoiced to the front of the house. She stopped dead behind a wall where they couldn'tsee her and she caught a glimpse of Adrian's weary, frustrated face. What the hellwas he doing here?

"I had a feeling you'd be bad news for my daughter and look at what you've doneto her!"

"It's not like she was complaining much." He mumbled.

"SHUT your mouth BOY!" Larry shouted, jabbing a finger in his face. "You'realready in enough trouble as it is with me!"

Adrian shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing I'm not used to."

Larry eyed him up and down, scowling. "I wouldn't be so calm if I were you. I'mabout to call the cops and have you in jail by the time you're thirty!"

He sighed deeply, putting his hands up in truce. "Look sir, I just want to speak toyour daughter. I'm not trespassing or doing anything illegal. All I want is fiveminutes with her."

"I said NO!" Larry yelled vehemently.

"Why not?!" Adrian countered, incensed by his instant dejection and notconsidering his earnest pleas. "You can't make her decisions for her. She's oldenough to do that on her own without you controlling her!"

"That's it! I've had it with you!" Larry barked out, grabbing the phone from anearby table and punching the button on.

Adrian's eye darted to the phone, trying not to show how scared he was of himcalling the cops. "I just want to talk to Cassidy!"

"There's no way in hell that's happening." Larry replied angrily, punching the- 638 -

numbers on the phone without giving him any consideration.

"Sir, please don't do this." Adrian pleaded, knowing his father will certainly havehis head if he did get arrested again. Then his family, even his mom, wouldn't wantanything to do with him.

"Too late," He said uncaringly, placing the phone to his ear readily.

Adrian let out a frustrated growl, throwing his hands up in the air. "I'M IN LOVEWITH YOUR DAUGHTER!"

Larry froze, his hand still gripped on the phone. A man on the other line answeredin a robotic tone, "Philadelphia police department, this is Officer Jim speaking, howmay I help you?"

Larry stared at the boy who was taking rough breaths, waiting for him to make hismove.

Adrian anticipated it, the dread of being reported and then arrested. This wasn'this first run in with the police and he was sure that this time, they wouldn't be solenient with him.

After all, his first record was permanent and once they picked up his file, he wouldbe staying in jail for a long time. He didn't doubt Larry's words. Nobody would comeand bail him out. Not this time.

"Sir?"

Larry cleared his throat, suddenly out of his trance. "Sorry, false alarm."

He hung up the phone and stared at Adrian closely, thinking his ears havedeceived him.

"What did you say?"

A wave of relief washed over him, but he still had to be wary. Larry could callthem back any second. Adrian exhaled a shallow breath as he looked at himseriously. "I said I'm in love with your daughter."

Larry stepped back and crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes. "Are you trying tolie to me again?"

- 639 -

Adrian swallowed hard, frantically shaking his head. "No sir I'm-"

"Because it seems that you're trying to worm your way out of this one and let metell you there son, it won't work on me."

"Mr. Gordon, I'm being serious-"

"Go home Adrian before I actually report you over to the cops." Larry threatened,leaning close to him. "My daughter wants nothing to do with you. Startingtomorrow, her life will be changed for the better at St. Mary's and it won't involveyou."

Adrian matched his steel gaze, opening his mouth to retaliate, but someone beathim to it.

"Dad, stop!"

Larry spun around and Adrian looked over his shoulder, seeing a weary lookingCassidy in her plaid pajamas. She took several cautious steps towards them,stopping before the door as she crossed her arms. Not once did she grace Adrianwith her gaze and that made him frown a bit.

"I'll talk to him and get it over with."

Larry's jaw tightened. "I said no-"

"Let her go, Larry."

Heads turned in the direction of the voice and Jenny stepped out of the hallway.She tightened the strings of her robe, staring at her husband with a stern gaze.

"They will only talk, that's it." She said, crossing her arms. "You owe her thatmuch."

Inwardly, Cassidy smiled, proud that her mom finally stood up for her. She turnedto look at her father and he had an incredulous look on his face. He finally steppedaway from the door and stalked passed Jenny in the direction of their room, grantingher the silent privilege.

Cassidy stared after him and glanced at her mother. She smiled at her andgestured to Adrian at the door before walking in Larry's steps.

- 640 -

Finally, Cassidy turned to face Adrian with a hardened look, expressing how muchhe had hurt her over the past twenty four hours. She walked out of the house andshut the door, glaring at him with deep hatred.

"What the hell are you trying to pull?!" She hissed, taking note that her neighborsare still sleeping.

Adrian was pacing in front of her, raking a hand through his already mussed hair.He stopped in front of her, seeming ruffled.

"Is it true?" He asked softly, looking up at her with soft green eyes. "Are you reallyleaving tomorrow?"

Cassidy sighed, rubbing at her tired eyes. "Not that it's any of your business, butyes I am. My dad is shipping me off to some Catholic girl's school."

"But you can't go." Adrian replied back strongly.

She blinked at him shockingly then glared. "You of all people have no say in it."

"Cassidy," He said quietly, making her spine tremble unconsciously. She cursedherself for still being affected by him. "I'm sorry for screwing up. I didn't mean toruin your life, I wasn't thinking at all. I just wanted you."

"And you got me." Cassidy replied snippily, taking a step towards him. "But thenyou threw me away just like everyone else."

"I'm not!" He said strongly, grasping her shoulders. "I still want you, I do."

She shrugged his shoulders off, scowling. "You have a funny way of showing it atthat party when you were practically having sex with that girl!"

"I didn't, I swear!" Adrian exclaimed, grabbing her hand and holding it tightly."Cassidy, you knew before you met me how fucked up I was. When you told me thatnight-" He stopped suddenly, taking in a difficult breath. "When you said you lovedme, I-"

"Freaked out," Cassidy finished sadly, removing her hand from his grasp andsitting down at the front step.

Adrian hesitated, sitting next to her and keeping a little distance in between. Hedidn't want to aggravate her further.

- 641 -

They didn't say anything to each other for a while as they sat in silence, onlylistening to the sounds of the night's creatures. He craned his neck to look at her,frowning.

"I don't want you to love me."

Cassidy snapped her neck towards him, shocked. "What?" She replied quickly,trying to contain her puzzled expression. "Why?"

"Why do you want to be with a guy like me? I'm fucked up, I don't know what Iwant to do with my life, and I've probably been with more girls than the healthyestimate." He paused, sighing roughly. "You have your whole life ahead of you andyou already know what you want. You're driven, beautiful, outspoken, andintelligent."

"I-I don't deserve you." Adrian told her softly, shuffling a bit. "You deserve somuch better than me."

Cassidy breathed in deeply through her nose, staring at him softly. "But I wantyou."

He chuckled humorlessly. "I don't understand why."

"There is no why or how. You just being you is enough and I'm satisfied with that."She explained. "I've seen you, Adrian, whether it be your bad side or the nice one.As messed up as it sounds, I like both and I don't want you to change that."

"Really?" Adrian said, his eyes perking. "You mean that?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I'm crazy right?"

"No," He replied softly, settling his warm hand on top of hers. "You're perfect."

Cassidy frowned, staring at his hand. She was instantly reminded of what he haddone to her and the pain he caused. "You hurt me."

Adrian swallowed hard, squeezing her hand. "I'm sorry." He paused for a moment,struggling with his words. "I know I shouldn't have hooked up with that girl,especially after you told me you loved me, but I just didn't know what to do. I'venever heard someone say those words to me before and actually mean it."

"Never?" Cassidy asked in disbelief, furrowing her eyebrows. "Not even your- 642 -

parents?"

He shrugged uncaringly. "My mom, but that's pretty much it."

Cassidy frowned, not surprised that his father never gave him the affection hedeserved. It made her heart ache for him.

"I know that doesn't give me an excuse for making out with another girl, but I tendto react badly towards every situation whether it's good or not." He explained,staring out into the dark street. "Take Christmas two years ago. It was supposed tobe a happy time, but I fucked it up because my dad said all this shit about me to hiscolleagues. I didn't know that I'd be burning half the house down all because of onedamn blunt."

"You were hurting," Cassidy pointed out, squeezing his hand. "Your dad had noright to say those wrong things about you."

"But it was true," Adrian said in a raised tone, dropping his head. "Everything wasand I still continue to ruin everyone's lives. I'm not a good person."

He turned his head, frowning. "I'm not good for you."

Cassidy sighed. "Stop it, Adrian. You're so focused on the bad, that you miss allthe good things that you do and it was because of your dad that you're like this. Hefed it into you that you weren't good enough to do anything and that just made youscrew up more. You were doing exactly what he said."

Adrian didn't say anything for a while, just smiling humorlessly to himself. "Yeah, Iguess that was it, but it doesn't change the fact that I was born to fail."

"You're not a failure," Cassidy said softly, touching his arm. "You're here for areason and it's your choice to decide what it is."

He looked over at her with such passion that she felt her heart beating rapidly."After everything that I've done to you, you're still here with me." He sighed heavily,burying his head in his lap. "I don't know why."

"Did you forget what I said to you a few days ago, even though I thought you wereasleep?" Cassidy said, bringing her hand to his back as she started to stroke it. "Ilove you, that's why. I still do after all that's happened."

His head lifted a little from his lap and he gazed at her softly. Cassidy shifted in- 643 -

her spot as the nagging question she wanted to bring up at the start was pressing ather. It was the only reason why she wanted to talk to him. If he didn't say it, shewouldn't bother with him.

"Adrian," She started off quietly, looking away from his burning gaze. "What yousaid earlier to my dad...about you being in love with me was it true? Or were youtrying to stop him from calling the police?"

Adrian stared at her for a moment, his eyes unreadable. "It was true, all of it."

Cassidy met his gaze, eyeing him intently. "I don't believe you."

"What?" He replied back, stunned.

"Why now?" Cassidy demanded, suddenly angered. "Why not yesterday or theweek before that? Why today?"

"It's complicating," Adrian responded in a low tone.

"No, it's not!" She exclaimed, letting out a bitter laugh. "When you fall in love withsomeone, it's unexpected and exciting. You can see it in their face, the way they talk,or show it."

Cassidy paused, her eyebrows creased dissatisfying. "You rarely showed me howyou felt and when you did, I wasn't sure." She explained, rather frustrated. "So, whyis this happening all of a sudden?"

"Because I finally realized my feelings for you." He revealed quietly.

"How?" She inquired sharply. "Why?"

Adrian sighed irritably, holding his head. "I just know, ok?!" He shouted as hishands jerked out. "There is no 'why' and 'how.' I just do and maybe I have for a whileand didn't notice it until recently. I block out every intimate feeling and that's what Iwas doing with you."

Cassidy sat quietly, the frustration gone. "So, when was it un-blocked?"

He craned his neck to look at her with kind soft eyes. "When I found out you wereleaving."

The tears pricked at her eyelids and she turned her face away. "And if I wasn't?- 644 -

Then what?"

Adrian became silent. "...I don't know."

A tear fell down Cassidy's cheek and she wiped it quickly before he could notice.Everything was getting too complicated between them. It was either hot or cold andCassidy didn't know what to say.

It was too late for Adrian's confession, she was leaving that morning. Nothing hesaid made it any easier. She didn't know where they stood and it was best if she justleft it undecided before she got hurt.

Cassidy stood up abruptly, taking a step behind her original spot to the house."It's getting late I should get some sleep before I leave."

Adrian didn't reply or move to look at her. She waited for him to answer and whenhe didn't, she felt the tears come on again. This was so like him. He wasn't evenacknowledging her and who knew when she was going to see him again. Maybe hisfeelings for her were all bull shit after all.

It was just a lie to get her dad from calling the police.

Cassidy turned her back and walked up the steps towards her house, sworn towipe every memory of the crude, unfeeling sex-aholic that is Adrian.

She went to grip the handle of her front door when his voice suddenly piped up.

"Go out with me."

Cassidy went stiff, her hand stopping in mid-air. Were her ears deceiving her? "I-Iwhat?" She replied back breathlessly.

"Be my girlfriend, Cassidy."

Cassidy finally turned around, seeing him rise up from the step and walk towardsher boldly. "But you don't ask girls out. You said it yourself that you would never betied down."

"It's possible that people can change their minds." He countered, smirking.

She snorted. "Yes, but for you, that's an unlikely story."

- 645 -

He rolled his eyes, looking rather impatient. "So, which is it? Yes or no?"

Cassidy stared at him gravely, wondering if he was serious or not. She still didn'tbelieve him so she figured she'd play around with him a little. "If I say yes, does thatmean you will stop going after other girls?"

"Yes."

She almost wanted to snort at that, but stifled it as she continued with herquestions. "Will you remain faithful?"

"Yes."

Again, his answers were proving less and less believable to her. He was a player,how could he dramatically change in one day when he's been keeping up thislifestyle in his teenage years until now? Cassidy still continued with her questions,despite knowing the real truth. At least it amused her, somewhat.

"Will you start changing your vulgar behavior?" She asked, wanting to laugh aftershe said it.

Adrian furrowed his eyebrows, puzzled. "What is this, an exchange of marriagevows?"

Cassidy rolled her eyes. She wouldn't go that far. "No, I just want to see if whatyou're asking me is real."

"It is." He replied back quickly with firmness.

Cassidy hesitated, studying the intense look in his dark green eyes. Maybe, thiswasn't a joke to him. "Are you serious about this?" She asked softly, her amusementdying down.

"I am." Adrian replied firmly, appearing a little frustrated by her lack of trust.

She took a few steps forward, pausing to stare at the ground. "Are you seriousabout me?"

"More than ever."

Cassidy's eyes shot up to his face, at a loss of words. "I-I don't understand. Whatchanged this?"

- 646 -

Adrian closed the gap between them, taking her hand in his. "You," he answeredsimply.

Suddenly, he pulled her hand towards him and she landed on his chest, her mouthagape. His hands made their way to cup her jaw and he brushed his lips on herssweetly, making her stomach flip.

The way he was kissing her was so soft, gentle, and loving. It was so unlike all theother hard, demanding kisses they've had before. This one was slow and nice, butmost importantly it showed love.

The sun blinded her and she groaned, turning her head into the crevice of hisneck to block it. They stayed up for hours, talking, laughing, and kissing. There wasno sex or dirty comments exchanged.

It was all fun and Cassidy enjoyed Adrian thoroughly without getting annoyed.Her eyes cracked open and she saw his sleepy face, looking so serene. She didn'twant to leave, especially him. They were just getting things right. Why was she sounlucky?

Reluctantly, she lifted upright off the ground, twisting her body off to the side torelieve the sores and kinks from sleeping on the grass. She wasn't planning onhaving a small sleepover with Adrian outside. After all the talking, they just fellasleep into each other's arms.

Adrian heard the cracks from Cassidy's body and he opened an eye, smilingwearily.

"If you want, I can give you some real help with that." He said huskily, winking ather suggestively.

Cassidy sighed, standing up. "And the jerk is back."

Adrian got up right after her and held her hand, frowning faintly. "Come on, youknow I'm kidding."

She gave him a mock anger look, but then smiled. "I know, I was just teasing."

He smiled back and kissed her unexpectedly, holding the back of her necktenderly. Cassidy wrapped her arms around him and gave into the kiss, loving this

- 647 -

new affectionate Adrian. He made her feel special for once and she actually felt likehis girlfriend.

Cassidy stopped suddenly, sighing inwardly. Girlfriend...

"What?" Adrian said, furrowing his eyebrows.

She was about to reply when something rather important sprang up in her head.Why couldn't she be Adrian's girlfriend? Oh right, because she was leaving for St.Mary's this morning!

"Crap, what time is it?" Cassidy asked, letting go of him.

Adrian grabbed his phone and checked it. "Eleven thirty, why?"

"Shit!" Cassidy exclaimed, slapping a hand to her forehead. "I was supposed toleave by eight in the morning!"

"What are you talking about? Where?" Adrian demanded, looking agitated.

Cassidy faced him, noticing that he forgot. It made her frown. "St. Mary's," sheanswered quietly.

His face fell and her heart broke into two by the look, unconsciously making herwrap his arms around him into a tight hug. Adrian sighed, burying his head into herneck as he held her. After all the fun they had in the early morning, he completelyforgot about her leaving. He finally had her and now, she was going to be gone.

Suddenly, Cassidy jerked away from him, a look of bright confusion on her face.Adrian stared at her face, puzzled as well.

"What is it?" He asked.

She faced him quickly, losing the blank look. "If I was supposed to leave thismorning, then why didn't my dad come and get me?"

Adrian pondered over her words and mirrored the same look she did earlier. Herdad would certainly come and break up the two in time for her to go. So why didn'the?

Cassidy broke away from him and darted toward the house, becoming concernedfor some reason. Did something happen to her dad that made him not come get her?

- 648 -

She reached for the door and opened it swiftly, noticing it was still unlocked.Adrian followed after her and they both stepped inside the quiet home, searchingaround for her parents.

"Dad," Cassidy called out loudly, poking her head down the hall and to their room."Mom?"

Their room was empty, leaving Cassidy puzzled. Where had they gone? She turnedto Adrian and he shrugged at her questionable look, confused also.

Cassidy sighed, closing their door and walking towards her own room. Maybe ifshe called them on her cell phone they would answer. She hoped nothing badhappened to them, even if she was angry. Cassidy opened her door and froze at thesight of her room. Her mom popped up from her drawers and smiled.

"Hey, you're finally up." She pointed out, opening her drawer and putting herclothes back in.

"Mom," Cassidy said confusingly, taking a wary step in her room. "What are youdoing?"

"What does it look like?" Jenny replied, laughing as she shut the drawer. "I'mputting your stuff back."

"Why?"

Jenny sighed, facing her daughter. "Your father is in the kitchen. He hassomething important to say to you."

She furrowed her eyebrows, wondering what was going on. As she almost left,Jenny suddenly smiled at Adrian behind her.

"Oh hi Adrian!" She said kindly, waving. "Would you be a dear and help meunpack Cassidy's stuff? There's a handful of it."

Adrian hesitated, not knowing what he should do. He smiled back weakly andshrugged. "Sure thing, Mrs. Gordon."

Before he went in to help, he shot Cassidy a confused look. Was she staying afterall? Cassidy left her doorway in search of her father, but could still hear her motherdown the hallway.

- 649 -

"You can unpack her jeans, but make sure you stay out of her underwear drawer."Jenny demanded clearly.

Cassidy chuckled under her breath as did Adrian and he replied back. "I'll try to."

She rolled her eyes and walked towards the kitchen, hearing the faint voices ofthem. When she stepped into the kitchen, it was quiet and it made her feeluncomfortable.

She saw her dad, sitting down on his chair at the table, reading his dailynewspaper. Once he saw her come in, he folded it back and placed it in front of him,ready to talk.

Cassidy took out a chair across the table and it squeaked under the tile floor,being the only noise heard in the room.

She plopped on her seat and matched her dad's stare, trying to read him. "What'sgoing on?"

Larry clasped his fingers in front of him, frowning to himself. "Cassidy, I lied toyou."

Her eyes narrowed, puzzled. "About what?"

"There is no flight to St. Mary's." He said firmly, letting out a wry laugh. "You'renot even admitted to St. Mary's."

"W-What?" She replied incredulously, her mouth agape. "How?"

"You were never going to St. Mary's. I only meant it to teach you a lesson. I didn'tknow you were going to fight with me on it." He sighed, looking distressed as herubbed his eyes. "It wasn't supposed to get out of hand."

"So you lied to punish me?" Cassidy said in disbelief.

Larry nodded remorsefully. "I know it's not the best thing to do, but I had to dosomething. Your behavior was unacceptable."

"Dad, I can't believe you." She said angrily, shaking her head. "Lying to try andcontrol me? How far were you actually going to go?"

He frowned, "Until we reached the airport." - 650 -

"Are you insane?!" Cassidy exclaimed, knocking her chair back. "What were yougoing to say? 'Sorry, Cassidy, but I lied so you can come back home now?''"

"Something of it," He replied, unsure.

"You're such a hypocrite, dad." She said, scowling at him. "You tell me never to lieto you and here you are lying to your own daughter, out of punishment? You'reunbelievable!"

"I'm not happy with the way things transitioned," Larry said, referring to Adrianintervening. "But you have to understand Cassidy I was only doing it for you owngood."

"Well, guess what? You failed!" Cassidy exclaimed in outrage. "The only thing youtaught me was to never trust you!"

"Cassidy-"

"NO!" She shouted, slamming her palms on the table. "I'm not a child anymore,dad! Why can't you understand that?"

"I couldn't!" Larry yelled with equal vigor, shooting up from his chair. Shefurrowed her eyebrows, her anger dissipating to confusion.

He sighed, bowing his head to rub his temples. She waited for him to explain andhe slowly lifted his head up to look at her.

"When you started college I-" He stopped himself, seeming conflicted. "I didn'tknow what to do. You were growing up and practically all on your own now. I feltlike I should be harder and stricter on you."

"Why?"

Larry frowned slightly. "I didn't want you to leave."

Cassidy deflated, slowly sitting back down on her chair as she listened to him.

"I felt like I was losing my daughter and when you stopped staying at home moreoften than before, it had me worried." Larry revealed, rubbing his forehead. "Iwanted you protected from bad people and to keep you sheltered. I felt like collegewas too big for you and you were walking blindly into it with no guidance."

- 651 -

"And when that Adrian kid walked in to the picture, I knew I had to do something."He said, pacing a little. "He was corrupting you."

"Dad," She stopped him, shaking her head. "I'm not corrupted, ok? I'm still thesame me and I always will be. You just have to let me go and live for once."

"But what if you get hurt?" He asked, worried.

She laughed at his tone, unbelieving that he was actually that concerned. "Thanlet me, I need to experience these new things dad or how else am I going to functionin the real world?"

Larry stood silent, thinking to himself. He suddenly looked at his daughter andfrowned. "I apologize for causing you so much distress, Cassidy. It wasn't myintention. I was just concerned."

Cassidy smiled, standing up from her chair and walking over to her dad. "I knowyou were and that's fine, but please tell me if you are without pulling another stuntlike that."

Larry raised an eyebrow amusingly. "Aren't I supposed to be the reprimandingone?"

She laughed again. "Yes, but you were out of line."

He pulled his daughter into a hug, surprising her as she didn't expect it. "I'msorry, Cassidy. You know I don't like to upset you."

Cassidy sighed, hugging him back. "I know you don't, dad, but you need to havemore faith in me. I can take care of myself."

He rubbed her back. "I know you can."

They pulled away from each other and smiled. Things were falling back into placeand Cassidy felt a huge weight lift off her shoulders. It felt good not having to worryabout leaving to some unknown Catholic school faraway from home.

"Oh and one more thing," Larry started, looking stern. "About you and Adrianspending the night outside with each other-"

"Dad," She drawled out in a whiny tone, pleading him to stop with her eyes.

- 652 -

"I just don't want you to get hurt. He has a reputation." Larry said unhappily.

"I know and I'll be ok. Besides, he loves me and-" She paused, smiling widely. "Ilove him too."

Larry looked at his daughter and smiled. As long as she was happy, he didn't carefor anything else.

"Well, that's the last of her stuff!" Jenny called out, entering into the kitchenalongside Adrian. His eyes caught Larry's and he looked uncomfortable.

"You helped?" Larry asked Adrian, shocked.

Adrian nodded, staring at him sheepishly. "Yes."

"Well, it looks like your on the way to becoming an honorable man." He told him,tipping his head.

Adrian's eyes widened in surprise and he smiled, nodding his head.

"Anyways, there's a golf tournament that's on and I don't want to miss it." Larrysaid, narrowing his eyes at Adrian and Cassidy. "No funny business."

Jenny sighed, grabbing her husband's arm. "Hunny, they know."

They exited the kitchen which left Cassidy and Adrian, alone. She turned to himand eyed him curiously, sensing something.

"Did you look in my underwear drawer?"

Adrian chuckled guiltily, "Maybe."

Her jaw dropped, looking offended. "You pervert!"

She went to slap his shoulder, but Adrian got it in his hand, intertwining theirfingers. He kissed her fingers and brought her closer, smiling.

"I like that you're not leaving."

Cassidy smiled back. "I like that I'm not leaving too."

"Now, we can finally be together." He paused, appearing unsure of himself. "If- 653 -

you'll have me."

She suppressed a grin and looked thoughtful, tapping her lip with her finger."Maybe if you're lucky."

He shook his head and chuckled, kissing her. She automatically wrapped her armsaround him and let herself into the intimacy she felt for the stupid boy. Despite theconstant arguing, sex games, and frustrations, it was worth it. Though Adrian couldbe complicated, she still loved him and that was all mattered.

- 654 -

Epilogue: Adrian's Vow

Epilogue: Adrian's Vow

Three months later

"ADRIAN!" She hollered down the hall, growing irritated with her hand cuppedaround her mouth.

Silence answered her and she swore under her breath, rubbing her temples. Allthat talk about women taking longer than men to get ready was complete and utterbull shit. Adrian was worse than any out there!

He takes his sweet ass time staring at his closet, wondering what to wear andwhen he does find it, he makes an excuse to find something wrong with it and goesback again to retrieve something else. He was like an annoying girl going on herfirst date!

"Adrian, are you ready!" Cassidy tried again, so close to busting into his room toquicken his clothing selection.

"I'm right here." Adrian announced behind her, taking a crunchy bite out of a babycarrot.

Cassidy whirled around and sighed, seeing his hazardous appearance. His blacktie was undone, the buttons of his white dress shirt were popped open whichrevealed his toned chest, and it wasn't tucked in his black slacks.

His appearance showed indifference which didn't surprise Cassidy. They wereheading over to his older brother's graduation from medical school. Adrian didn'thave an ounce of care in the world and he was so quick to reject the invitationbefore, but a little persuasion from his mother changed that. Now, Cassidy felt itwas her job to get his ass over there and he wasn't complying in the least.

"Do I need to do everything for you?" She said with frustration, walking over tohim to button his shirt.

Adrian chuckled, chomping on the rest of his vegetable while she finishedbuttoning up his shirt. Her light touches made him almost moan, but he tried tocontain his composure. "You know I love it when you dress me."

- 655 -

She rolled her eyes, grabbing the hem of his dress shirt and tucking it in the seamof his slacks. When she reached to front, she got too close to the middle and Adriantook a sharp intake of breath, feeling a jerk from below.

"Shit! Do you have to get so close to my pride and joy?" He cursed in frustration.

"Shut up," Cassidy muttered under her breath uncaringly, zipping his pants upand buttoning them at the top.

He frowned at her. "You know its super sensitive these days, Cass. We haven't hadsex in months."

She sighed, ignoring him as she focused more at his empty collar to the tie strewnaround it. "I don't know anything about ties, so you can do it."

He smirked, fixing his tie around his neck all the while staring at Cassidy. "But alljokes aside, when are we going to-you know?"

Cassidy snorted. "Have sex, you mean?"

Adrian nodded, tightening the knot up to his neck. She has come along way fromavoiding to say the word 'sex' around. It pleased in him to know she was sheddingthe innocence a tad bit, even though it was funny from the start. "Yeah, the wait hasbeen killer."

She looked at him displeasingly. "You already know why I'm doing this, Adrian. So,why are you bringing it up again?"

"Look, I'm sexually frustrated alright?" He suddenly exclaimed, the ripples of hismuscles showing from his dress shirt. "I've been chewing a lot of ice and it's notgood for my teeth. See right here?"

He opened his mouth, showing her his straight rowed white teeth. "I swear thisone has a chip in it." He said, pointing to a tooth at the bottom row.

Cassidy rolled her eyes at how ridiculous he sounded, slapping his hand awayfrom his mouth. "No, it doesn't."

"Either way, I'm fucking horny!" Adrian proclaimed in frustration. "And it'sembarrassing enough to say that I have to fuck in my hand every day!"

She wrinkled her nose at his vulgar language in distaste. "You're overreacting." - 656 -

"NO, I'm NOT!" He shouted, his green eyed wild with irritation as he held hisforehead. "FUCK! I just want to fuck!"

Anger boiled up inside of her and Cassidy glared at him, fed up with his nonsense."I'll be in the car."

She stomped out of his apartment and wrenched open the door, hearing his replyback. "With clothes off, I hope!"

Cassidy slammed the door, leaving his complex by herself with the keys in herhand. She went to the community garage and found his red car, throwing herselfinside. Shutting the door with another hard slam, she let out a shriek of frustrationand threw his keys on the driver's chair, exasperated with him.

She has been withholding sex for the past three months. It was time for Adrian tofind his inner virgin and stop acting like the horn dog that he was. Each month wentby long and rough, but they made it through. He said it was the longest he has evergone without having sex, his previous record being five days.

Cassidy has been doing it for a reason though. She wanted to see if theirrelationship can handle the absence of sex since it practically started with it. He wasquite supportive from the start, but as the weeks passed by, it took a turn for theworse.

They had a ton of fights and it left them both unsatisfied, physically andemotionally. Though, they got through it and they were still together. But it wasn'teasy, especially having a boyfriend like Adrian who thought about sex more thanwhat he wanted to eat.

Most days he was sweet, caring, and loving towards her, but others such as todayshowed his true frustration over the matter. He reacted strongly, spewing a fewcurse words here and there when she got too close to him or when they were in themidst of a heated make out session.

He wasn't allowed to grope her or do anything sexual. There was barrier betweenthem that aggravated the hell out of him, but she was persistent to keep it up eventhough he wasn't anymore. It made her furious that he was trying to break thecelibacy and that made her feel fearful of the thought of him giving up and screwingsome random girl.

Tears of frustration pricked at her eyes and suddenly she heard the door beingopen on the other side, startling her.

- 657 -

Adrian grabbed his keys off the seat and got in, not acknowledging Cassidy. Hestarted the ignition and sped out of the garage, his body tense from the fight.

Cassidy in return avoided him as she looked out the window, blinking away theonset of tears. Maybe she should break up with him so she could avoid his futureinfidelity. It was clear to her it was coming sooner than later.

His agitation showed more and more as the days passed and she couldn't take itanymore. He didn't even tell her that he loved her. He only confessed it to her fatherand confirmed it to her which meant only one thing.

They had to break up and she was going to be the one to do it. But it'll have to beafter his brother's graduation. She didn't want to cause a stir that might already bepresent from the Lennox men. There were still the issues between them and Cassidyknew it would be a long time from now to get them to resolve it. All three of themwere stubborn to the bone.

Adrian suddenly cleared his throat, looking awkward. "Look Cass, I'm sorry aboutwhat happened back there. I didn't mean for it to get out of hand."

A rush of relief swept inside her and she turned her head to look at him, gracinghim with a small smile. "It's alright," She replied, knowing it wasn't really the truth.It wasn't alright for him to act like an idiot, but she said it to end the dispute.

"I was thinking of some things though," He said thoughtfully, chancing a curiousglance at her.

Cassidy raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Yeah, um I know we started this whole celibacy thing, but if you want, I can godown on you."

She furrowed her eyebrows at the latter, not understanding. "Go down where?"

"You know, down." He said clearly, looking at her still puzzled face. "Down there."

Adrian looked down at her crotch and Cassidy gasped in shock, whipping awayfrom him to cover it. The audacity of him! He was truly obscene! To insinuatesomething so sexual made her feel uneasy and a shy virgin again.

"You pig!" She exclaimed angrily, pulling her dress further over her legs. "I can'tbelieve you would say something like that!"

- 658 -

"Come on! It's at least something besides sex!" He argued. "It'll be benefiting youmore than me!"

"No, because I don't want it!" Cassidy told him, scowling. "You're a fucking pigand I don't want to talk about this anymore. Just get to your brother's graduation sowe can end this already!"

"End it?" Adrian repeated, whipping his head to her in confusion. "End what?"

Cassidy almost slapped her hand to her mouth by her slip up, seeing the intensepuzzled look on his face. "End uh... end the day," She fixed, nodding to herself at theperfect excuse. "I'm not looking forward to how boring it will be."

The grim look on his face showed how unsatisfied he was of her answer andsuddenly, he yanked his car to the right out of the lane, ignoring the blasted hornsfrom behind and stopped with a jerk that pushed Cassidy forward from her seat,beside the side walk.

Adrian pushed his gear shift forward aggressively into park and whirled in his seatto her, his green eyes blazing. "End What." He enunciated firmly, his tone not hidinghis anger.

Cassidy fumbled with her fears, hesitantly looking at him. Truthfully, she didn'tmean it when she said she wanted to break up with him. She didn't have the heart towhich meant that she might suffer in the future because of it.

She loved Adrian deeply and couldn't bear the thought of hurting him. So, ratherthan lying, she was going to be honest with him. Hopefully it wouldn't furtherdamage their relationship. It was already on the sharp rocks.

"I'm not going to lie, I thought about um-" She stopped, glancing at his infuriatedexpression before revealing her thoughts. "Breaking up with you."

His face contorted into a deeper rage that she didn't know ever existed and sheback tracked quickly. "But I-I wasn't going to! It was just a silly thought!"

"A silly thought, huh?" He smirked bitterly, starting up the car once again.

Cassidy sighed inwardly, sinking in her seat. Maybe honesty wasn't a good optionbecause he appeared angrier than he did before.

She stared at him, noticing his rigid posture and tightened jaw. She rubbed her- 659 -

head, closing her eyes at the drama between them. When will it ever end? Breakingup seemed the best fit between them.

"Look Adrian, I obviously can't fulfill your needs so," She sighed, the tearspricking up again. "Maybe you should get them from someone else."

Adrian exhaled in frustration. "How could you say that? With all the shit we'vebeen through!"

"Maybe it was the drama of it all that got us together," Cassidy guessed, feelingthe twinge pain in her chest.

"DON'T!" Adrian shouted, glaring at her. "Don't you fucking go there."

"Too late," She mumbled, staring out the window.

Adrian didn't reply back, if anything he refused to look at her. They got to thegraduation ceremony and sat through it with tension in the air. Cassidy didn't makean attempt to make things right and neither did Adrian.

He actually looked like he didn't care at all, but she knew that he did, if not a littlebit. He covered his emotions easily with the disguise of indifference. She stillcouldn't read him and she didn't try to. If he was going to act like that, then she wastoo.

After the ceremony, they arrived at the Lennox home where the party was beingheld in Eric's honor. He still wasn't getting along with his dad, but a few progresseshave been made when Adrian finally declared his major as an architect. It seemedthat the occupation wasn't deemed unworthy in Carl's eyes, but Adrian was stillbitter.

Maybe after a few years he'll have a better relationship with his father, but as ofnow, he didn't care. For his older brother Eric, Adrian was oddly being nicer to himas he realized how much shit he had to go through to save his ass from his second"almost" run in with the cops because of Cassidy's dad.

They had a better sibling relationship and Adrian kind of liked having an olderbrother to talk to from time to time. However, despite the rifts finally being resolvedin the family, Adrian wanted to leave after Eric's ceremony, but his pesky motherinvited all of his close friends so he was forced to go.

He grumbled inwardly all the way inside, leaving Cassidy trailing behind him. In- 660 -

all honesty, he didn't want to deal with her at the moment. He just wanted a drinkand he wanted it strong.

Cassidy watched him go straight to the bar at the corner that was set up for theparty and she sighed. His drinking was not a good sign, especially since his dad willbe around soon.

She did nothing to stop him and went to the appetizer table, knowing that if shedidn't eat a little now her stomach would be raging by lunch time.

Jase got to the Lennox home just in time with his present in hand. He was greetedat the door by Mrs. Lennox, greatly enthusiastic to see him there. She thanked himfor the present and gestured him towards the house to do whatever he wished.

Jase peered around the home and the first person he caught sight of was Adrian,drinking heavily he might add.

Sighing, Jase walked up to him slowly and sat beside him, showing hisdisappointment. Adrian didn't glance at him and kept sipping at his drink.

"I thought you were taking a break from binge drinking." Jase commented,signaling the bartender for a soda.

"I can't have sex, now I can't drink too?" Adrian said, a little too loudly, withoutrage.

"Calm down, Jesus." He replied, grabbing his soda and popping the can for a quicksip. "What's gotten into you?"

"My fucked up life." He answered, sighing as he pushed the drink out of his reach.If he finished the alcohol, it would end well for him, he was sure of it.

Jase furrowed his eyebrows, peering around the house in search of someone."Where's Cassidy?"

Adrian sighed deeply at the mention of her name, burying his head on thebartender's table. "Probably 'thinking' of ways to dump me."

"Dumping you? She said that?" Jase said incredulously. Cassidy was head overheels for Adrian and if nobody could assume that then they were stupid. Her facelighted up a mile away at the sight of him.

- 661 -

"Kind of, I guess. I don't know." He replied, doubting himself. "She said she wasthinking of breaking up with me and then went on to say that she wasn't. It confusedme, but even more so got me angry. Now we're not speaking."

"Well, fix it then." Jase told him firmly.

Adrian peered at him through his arms. "You say it like it's the easiest thing in theworld."

He rolled his eyes. "Because you're making it harder for yourself. It can be easy ifyou let yourself do it."

"I really want to 'do it' right now," Adrian muttered under his breath.

"Stop with all that bull shit too. It's obviously not making her happy so fuckingdeal with the celibacy. If it's that important to her, then it should be important toyou too."

Adrian grumbled, knowing he was right, but still angered. "How the hell are yougood at this relationship shit? You must be doing great with the ladies."

Jase sighed, shaking his head. "No, actually I'm not. I screwed up too."

"With Nina, huh." Adrian answered, already knowing the full story from being saidover and over again by Jase.

He nodded solemnly. "We never did talk that night after Cassidy caught youmaking out with some chick at that party."

"Well, here's your chance now." Adrian said hopefully, gesturing his head to theside. Jase suddenly turned in that direction and saw Nina enter the Lennox home,hugging Adrian's overzealous mother, Karen.

Adrian shook his head at the display, mumbling to himself. "I'm surprised me andEric didn't inherit that part of her."

Jase chuckled, seeing the uncomfortable look that Nina gave. When Adrian'smother finally pulled away, she looked relieved. He was completely captivated bythe way she looked. She was actually wearing a dress! It was a navy blue sun dresswith straps, stopping at her ankles.

It suited her and Jase couldn't stop staring. Almost as she was feeling his gaze,- 662 -

she looked up and stared back at him. They concentrated on their gaze until Terrystopped in front of her and gave his two buddies a long wave.

He came bustling towards them and Nina turned in the direction of Cassidy,joining her at the appetizer table. He sighed at the broken connection and said hisgreetings to Terry.

"So, how was the shit ceremony?" He asked, signaling the bartender for a beer.Since it was open bar, the drinks went out to everyone.

"Shit," Adrian replied dully.

Terry laughed, grabbing his beer from the bartender and taking a long swish. Hestared Jase curiously and let go of his beer, swallowing thickly. "Don't think I didn'tsee the way you were eyeing up my cousin there, Reynolds."

Jase raised both of his eyebrows. "Referring me to my last name, damn that can'tbe good."

"Yeah, well you deserve it after not coming into contact with her for a fewmonths." Terry replied, looking and sounding calm. He didn't need to worry muchabout Jase. He wasn't the type to use and abuse. That was Adrian's job, or at least itwas until he was with Cassidy.

"I don't know how to approach her," Jase replied shyly, bowing his head a bit.

"Well, how about you stop being a pussy and go talk to her." He advised, taking aswig from his beer and watching his downcast friends. "Shit, just look at you guys!Adrian, you look like your penis stopped working and Jase, you're just a fuckingpansy ass."

Jase gaped at him and Adrian did as well, staring at their friend incredulously."Don't look at me like that, you know it's true."

Adrian got up from his stool, stumbling a bit. "I need some fucking water."

He left the two and Terry cupped his free hand to his mouth. "Yeah, you need ityou drunk ass."

Jase rolled his eyes at him, grabbing his soda. "Whatever, I'm going to getsomething to eat."

- 663 -

Terry watched him leave and left him with a crude remark of his own. "Yeah, youbetter take your soda with you, you pansy."

Jase flipped him the bird and Terry laughed, tipping his beer. It was all and goodfun and Jase knew that Terry didn't mean it or maybe he did. He lived to give a goodlaugh and it was pretty funny if he didn't say so himself.

Jase was actually in the hunt for Adrian, making sure he was ok from the drunkenstumble he saw earlier, but when he went to the kitchen, he was nowhere to befound. He wandered through the house and the last place he arrived to was theappetizer table. Cassidy was there, munching on a baby carrot in thought and hecaught Adrian staring at her in the distance, unseen by everyone except him. Jasesilently urged his friend to go talk to her and make things right, but he wasn'tmoving. This wasn't good.

"You still like her, don't you."

Jase froze, noticing that snippy, yet sweet voice from anywhere. She caught himbefore he could and that could only mean one thing. Nina was completely andutterly pissed off at him. And not only that, she thought that Jase still had feelingsfor Cassidy by the way he was looking at her.

He slowly turned around, seeing the stern look from her, but the disappointmentin her brown eyes. That pained him to look at.

"You've got it all wrong, it's not like that." He said sincerely.

She raised a firm eyebrow, not yet trusting his word. "Then what is it?"

"If you couldn't tell, Cassidy and Adrian are not on good terms right now. I washoping he would talk to her, but it seemed his coward side won over." He explained,glancing at Adrian's looming shadow behind the wall. "Besides, Cassidy and I havebeen over for a long time. It's not like that anymore."

"Why did you date her?" Nina inquired curiously.

Jase looked at her, puzzled as he wondered why she was asking these oddquestions, but answered her anyways. "I thought she was cool and down to earth,which she is and most importantly she was different, but it didn't work out."

"Why?"

- 664 -

"I sort of expected too much out of it because she was someone I didn't think of todate before and we were better off as friends."

Nina nodded, pondering. "So, what is your type then?"

"Hmm," Jase replied in mock thinking, grinning as he took a step forward andultimately closed the distance between them. "Well, I kind of have a thing for badass girls, you know the whole tough and cussing package. It's pretty sexy."

Nina grinned back, crossing her arms. "You don't say?"

Jase suddenly turned serious, cradling her shoulders gently with his hands. "Bewith me."

She swallowed at the back of her throat, staring into his eyes. "Why."

"Because I'm stupid." She looked at him oddly, waiting for him to continue. "I'mstupid for not picking what's been in front of me all this time."

"I-I don't have much experience." Nina pointed out hesitantly.

Jase let out a laugh, pulling her close. "You think I care? I like that about you. It'srefreshing."

"Really?" She asked, surprised with a small smile. "Even if the girl was a little tomboyish?"

"That's the best part," He replied, lips tugging into a wide smile.

Nina tilted her head, grinning. "How are you so charming?"

Jase shrugged mockingly. "I'm one of the gifted ones."

She laughed, rolling her eyes and then turning serious once she looked up into hisblue eyes. "It's a yes."

"A yes for-?" Jase asked, confused.

"I want to be with you." Nina clarified firmly.

His eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"

- 665 -

She chuckled at his expression, nodding. "Yes, really!"

Too pleased to contain his excitement, he impulsively kissed her and she gladlykissed him back with equal fervor, wrapping her arms around him.

Adrian stared at Jase and Nina, wanting to bang his head against the wall. Hecould've sworn she vowed to hate him for eternity with all that talk of how he didn'tget back to her that night after the party. She was hurt by it and now, with a fewwords that Adrian couldn't hear come out of Jase's mouth, they were locking lips likethere was no tomorrow.

How the hell did he did that? It took Adrian forever to get back into Cassidy'sgood graces after a long drawn out argument, but Jase managed to snag Nina in lessthan two. He must really be gifted in the relationship field because Adrian was stillan amateur. Maybe he should ask for tips? It could help his relationship, even if theywere on the brink of ending.

"Alright, dinner is ready!" Karen called out, her hands holding a platter of chicken.

The guests rounded up and got their plates, waiting in a line down the table filledwith delicious smelling food. For once, Adrian didn't concentrate on his mom'swonderful home cooking, his eyes were on Cassidy who was two people in front ofhim. He peered over her, watching every movement as she piled the food on herplate and was particular about which section to put it on. It made him smile and atthe thought of that, he realized it was gay of him to smile at something so small anddropped it, but it really wasn't.

He really liked Cassidy and enjoyed her company more than any other girl he'sbeen with before. Fighting with her was killing him and he tried to think of ways toresolve it, but nothing was coming up. He was hopeless.

When everyone got their food, people were finding places to sit at and Adrianstood by watching. He caught Jase's eye for a second and he point his fingerrepeatedly to a certain spot at the table. Adrian craned his neck to the spot andfound Cassidy about to sit down in the middle.

Getting the hint from Jase, Adrian picked up his pace of walk and made his wayover to Cassidy. Some guy was about to pull the chair out beside her, but Adrianpushed him away forcefully.

"Sorry man, seat's mine. Go get one somewhere else." He said in a hurried- 666 -

sentence, squatting down in the chair before the guy could.

Cassidy looked to her left and scowled at his rudeness, not gracing him with acomment. He should know by now how she felt without saying anything.

She turned to her food and began eating, even though she felt a little nervous allof sudden. The fighting between her and Adrian has left them in a weird situationand she didn't know what to do or say so she chose to not do anything.

But throughout the dinner, Cassidy was growing irritated by a loud obnoxiousnoise to her left. Adrian's leg was jerking up and down in a hyperactive way thatwould diagnose him as having ADD. He could not keep still in his seat and it buggedher. Though, she kept her lips pursed and tried to direct her attention elsewhere buthe was too distracting.

Adrian went to grab his water and drank it greedily, sucking on a few pieces ofice. He chewed them in his mouth, making a grinding and crunching noise that hurtCassidy's ear drums. He continued this for a while until the loud grating of his teethset Cassidy on the edge.

She whipped her head to him, glaring. "Stop."

Adrian stopped chewing, looking innocent. "Sorry," He said through ice piecesbefore swallowing them down.

Cassidy studied him for a moment, noticing how antsy and anxious he was. She'snever seen him like this before. Why was he on edge?

"Is everything ok?" She asked before she could stop herself, concerned.

Adrian nodded frantically, avoiding her stare. Frowning at being ignored, sheturned back to focus on her half eaten plate. She grabbed her fork and pushed a fewof her cooked vegetables aside, stabbing a pea with it. She raised it up to her mouthto eat it when Adrian suddenly turned in his seat eagerly.

"I love you."

The tip of her fork froze in mid air, and Cassidy felt the insides of her body flutterat the sound of those words. She turned her head very slowly to him and stared withwide set, unbelieving eyes. Was it all a dream? Did she really hear him say thosethree words to her that he hasn't uttered to her indirectly?

- 667 -

"You heard me," he said softly, his fond green eyes staring into hers. "I love you."

Cassidy dropped her fork, swallowing at her dry throat. "You're saying this rightnow," She said in disbelief, leaning towards him. "During lunch?" She hissed the lastpart.

Adrian smirked, nodding swiftly in reply. He grabbed Cassidy's hand from underthe table and held it delicately in his own.

"I should've said it a long time ago, but I was a little hesitant. Saying those wordsare a big deal to me and I wanted to mean it when I said it to you." "And I do.Cassidy, damn I love you so much. You're the only girl that's ever made me feel thisway and I'm being honest. I've been with a ton of girls and when I say a ton I mean-"

Cassidy cleared her throat, clearly not happy about the topic change. He smiledapologetically. "Yeah, but what I really mean to say is that I always want to bearound you and I never get sick of you. When you're gone I-" He stopped himself,chuckling sadly. "I'm waiting anxiously to see you again. You must think I'm somewimp, huh?"

"No," Cassidy replied smiling widely, squeezing his hand. "I think that's the cutestthing anyone has ever said to me."

"Cute," He snorted.

She rolled her eyes. "There's nothing wrong with being cute."

Adrian stared at her in argument, but didn't say anything. "Anyways, what I'mtrying to say is that I'm sorry about what happened early between us. I didn't knowthe argument was going to go that far and I was being selfish. I know how much thiscelibacy thing means to you and this time, it's going to be important to me."

"Really?" She asked in surprise, wide eyed.

He nodded. "Yes, for real this time. No joke. There will be zero sex talk from me,promise."

Cassidy was speechless as she stared at her boyfriend, vowing to keep his celibacywalk with her and stop all his vulgar comments. His declaration of love and hisdevotion to the vow, it floored her and it strangely made her feel... turned on.

- 668 -

"Are you sure about this?" She asked, slightly biting her bottom lip.

"Yeah, one hundred percent." Adrian replied positively.

"Because I-" Cassidy paused, inhaling a quick breath from all the heat that waspooling inside her. "We should go somewhere."

"What?" He countered, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Somewhere quiet, so nobody can hear us." Cassidy said quietly, lightly caressingAdrian's forearm.

He looked down, feeling his skin prickle. "Cassidy, what are you doing?"

"Let's go." She said suddenly, getting up from her seat and grabbing his arm topull him along. Adrian pulled her back down, looking at her incredulously.

"Are you crazy?" He asked in disbelief. "We are in the middle of lunch and youwant to leave?"

"Yes." She replied firmly.

"What about-" Adrian paused, noticing that a few people were looking in theirdirection and leaned in towards Cassidy to whisper. "What about our vow ofcelibacy?"

"Screw it." She said simply, smiling. "We got through it this far and now I wantyou."

Adrian gulped, feeling the heat between his legs build up. The way she was talkingto him made him want to do things to her that he's been dreaming about for the pastthree agonizing months.

"Unless you don't want to, which is fine I guess. I might change my mind and staycelibate up to six months or a year-"

"Alright, we're going." Adrian cut her off quickly, pulling her up out of her seat.

Cassidy grinned satisfyingly and let him lead her out of the dining room while theyapologize to the guests for bumping into their seats. He brought her upstairs to hisold room to ravish her like he hadn't in months. And Cassidy, wondering why shehadn't let it happen sooner, grabbed him for an encore.

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A/N: So there you have it, the last chapter of EMA. No sequel guys, I'm sorry. Thisis all there is and I don't want to make a sequel. Cassidy and Adrian had theirending and I don't want to continue to disrupt their fictional lives again hahaha.Anyways, I have other stories coming soon and I already uploaded one of themcalled the Hortensia. If you haven't already done so, check it out! It's pretty great :)Thanks again to all of you who fanned, commented, voted, loved it. It means a lot tome! You guys are great and I hope you enjoy my other stories in the future :)

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