Re: Me and Yoda c:

[ofmiceandbrynne]

"Well, probably not, but you can still try, right?" Zack said, still trying to maintain the character of whoever-the-hell he was supposed to be. He continued flipping through the magazine (which now, he had discovered was not about trucks, but naked woman on trucks -- you can take it from there) while he listened. He looked up at her as she finished, and then identified him. He pursed his lips. "Damn, was it really that easy?" He hesitated, still gripping the magazine and ignoring the feeling in his stomach as the plane took off. He wasn't ever really one for flying -- planes freaked him the fuck out. He'd told Nella that numerous times, and he wondered if she remembered that as they ascended higher and higher into the air. "Well." But then, as the words clicked in his head, he threw the sunglasses to the ground and grinned.



"I knew it! You love me! You still do, you never stopped, you're not as big of a fucktard as I thought you were!" He chewed his bottom lip, scratching the back of his head. "Erm, I mean, love you. Anyway. I knew it! It was so obvious, I mean --"



"Sir, sit down, the plane is still ascending." A flight attendant patted the messy haired boy's shoulder, grimacing. "Also, I was coming around to start offering the beverages, and I was going to ask if you'd like anything alcoholic, but at this point, I'm thinkin' you don't need any of that, buddy." Zack glared at her.



"Sorry, ma'am." He said, blushing and sitting back down. He turned back to Nella. "What were those papers for? Fuck, let's ignore all those people. We can get away, right now. This flight? It's not a mistake. We can get away from this damn town, and everything in it. We can go buy a big house, and start over. I swear to God, Nella." He gripped her hands, sighing. "If you still want me to sign those papers, if it'll make you happy, I'll do it. I'll set you free if that's what you need, but I can't handle that thought. I can't handle knowing that if I sign those papers, you could leave and I'd never see you again. Because, honestly? There's no me without you. Fuck, without you I dunno what I'm here for." He ran his fingers through his hair. "We're not too young, give me a month, yeah? Give or take. Just, give me a month, I'll buy you a house, I'll buy us a house and we can live there. And if you're not happy, I'll sign those damn papers for you and leave. Because, fuck, I want you to be okay for once whether it's with me or without." He gripped her hands, tightly. "But, damn, if it was my choice, I'd stay here forever with you."

[bokangavemeabeauner]

‘That was easier than I expected it to be.’ Christian thought to himself, as he sat up, his eyes following Storm as she walked into the other room. Part of him wanted to run after her and say how sorry he was, even if he didn’t love her anymore, a part of him still wanted to tell her that he was sorry for leading her on for the past month.

As Christian moved to stand up, Juliet pushed him back on the couch and curled up on his chest. “No, stay here with me. You heard Storm. She doesn’t care anymore. It’s just me and you from now on. Okay? You can talk to her about it later, or something. I don’t care. But I want to cuddle right now.” Juliet closed her eyes and buried her face in the crook of his neck, placing small, gentle kisses here and there. “I love you Christian. Fuck, I’m so glad that I don’t have to feel guilty saying that anymore but, god dammit, I love you.”

Christian hesitated before he wrapped his arms back around Juliet. This is what he wanted, right? Why wasn’t he happy? Why didn’t it feel right anymore? Christian shook his head and kissed the top of Juliet’s head. Maybe he could sleep this feeling off.

Something was wrong, it had almost been two months since Storm had walked out and Christian still couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. When she was here, and he was fooling around with Juliet behind her back, it felt normal because, well, Storm was still here. Even though he had fallen for Juliet and it had been fun, but, that’s all it had been. Fun. Sure, he had been fooling himself with the false feelings of him ‘loving her’ but he knew that it was just an excuse to make what they were doing seem right. All the more reason to leave Storm right?

It was a warm summer morning when Christian finally realized what was wrong.

Juliet wasn’t Storm. As fun as it had been to make out and sleep with Juliet, she wasn’t Storm.

Juliet stirred in the bed next to him. Lifting her arms above her head, she stretched, curving her bare back.
“Hey.” She murmured, rolling over next to Christian and hooking her arm around his stomach. “Hey.” Christian muttered, kissing the top of her head. “Listen. I need to go somewhere today. It’s for work and I don’t know when I’ll be back but I’ll call you alright? I’m sorry it’s short notice but I just got the call. It’s for some sort of convention or some shit that my boss wants me to go too. I’m sorry.”

Juliet pouted, rolling on top of him. “Do you really have to go? Why does it have to be you? Why can’t he have someone else go or something.” She leaned down, pressing her lips to Christians jaw, to his neck and his shoulder. Christian shuddered and wrapped his arms around her. “We can’t do this right now.” Christian whispered in her ear. “I’m sorry but I have to start packing.”

She sat up, obviously angry now. “This is total bullshit. Come on Christian just one more time before you go. I’ll miss you like hell.”

Christian sighed, sitting up, Juliet still in his lap. “Babe, I’m sorry. I’ll call you or skype you or whatever you want, ok? I promise I’ll be back. Why are you getting all pissed off? You know I love you.” Cupping her face in his hands, Christian brought her in for a kiss. “I love you, okay?” But he knew that the words coming out of his mouth were no more than a lie.
An hour later, Christian had a bag packed and he was in his car heading god knows where. All he knew was that he had to find Storm. He didn’t care where he had to go or how long he was going to be gone but he had to find Storm. Even if she wanted nothing to do with him or if she was with another guy, he had to find her. He missed her. He loved her.

Helplessly, Christian dialed Storm’s number, “Pick up, Pick up.” He whispered, but it went straight to voicemail. Like he didn’t know that was going to happen. Then he called Rage, who, thankfully answered his god damn phone for once. “Rage, I need to talk to you. I need to know were Storm is. Do you have any idea or anyone who has any idea?”

[bokangavemeabeauner]

Here he was. Here was Zack. Here was the man that had, not even three hours ago, told her that he had loved her. The man that she had married and the man she was so intent on divorcing. The man she had had sex with while he was with another woman. The man that had told his ‘girlfriend’ that everything was a mistake. The man that had agreed to sign the divorce papers. And now, here he was, following her to Arizona. Here was Zack, her Zack. He was back. Zack had left Rae. Zack had agreed to sign the papers. Zack had spent $300 on a plane ticket to Arizona to be with her even with the small chance that she might say no. Here he was, the man she loved. The man she had always loved. And here he was, telling her that everything was a mistake. That they should just put it all behind them and start over again. He wanted another chance.

Shouldn't she be the one begging for another chance? He wasn't the one that had ruined the relationship after all. It was her, it was Nella. Zack knew that. She knew that. It wasn't a secret. Sure, they had both fucked up here and there, but they eventually had gotten over it. Zack had gone over the edge when she had agreed to let her father back into their lives, though. Her father and Zack had never really gotten along to begin with. Especially after all the shit he had put Nella and her family through. In a way, it was like Zack was trying to protect her from him, and, everything they had done to push him out of their lives had seemed pointless when she had agreed to his offer. Maybe he felt that if Nella didn't even want to try to protect herself and Maria from him, why did he have to? He had left her, for someone better. Fuck, he had found Rae and she was everything he could have ever wanted. She was funny, beautiful, and everything Nella had aspired to be. But, he had chosen her. In the end, Zack had chosen Nella. Here was, telling her that everything for the past year had been a mistake and he wanted her back. Even though she had fucked everything up, he was trying to fix it. He wanted to fix it. Even though there was a lot of shit they had to figure out and a lot of shit they were leaving behind, Nella didn’t think that it mattered right all. All that mattered was him. All that mattered was that he was here and that he loved her. That’s all that seemed to matter at the moment.

“Zack.” She started, but he shushed her and then got all excited, standing up and yelling throughout the whole plane that he had known it all along. “Zack!” Nella hissed, trying to get him to sit back down. “Shut the fuck up! Come on Zacky, you’re embarrassing me.” She moaned, covering her face with her hands. Leaning down, Nella picked up his magazine and sunglasses and threw his ‘disguise’ back in his lap. “You’re such an idiot. Oh my God, Zack.” Nella shook her head but she couldn’t help but smile. “Fucktard? Thanks, you really know how to flatter a woman.” Nella looked down at his disguise and shook his head, rolling her eyes at his silly-ness. “I can’t believe you actually thought I wouldn’t recognize you either. For fuck’s sake, Zack, I’ve known you for over seven years. You think I wouldn’t even be able to recognize my husband. Come on, give me some credit.” Nella smiled and looked down at his disguise again, this time the magazine he had continued reading had caught her eye and she raised her eyebrows as she confronted him. “Porn? Really Zack? You’re trying to get me back and you’re looking through a magazine full of naked girls?” Nella couldn’t help but laugh, but a part of her was kind of pissed. “Just wow, again, you’re a really classy guy. I’m lucky I have you.” Taking the magazine away, she shoved it in the little holder in front of her. “And if I see you going for that again anytime during the flight you’ll regret it.” It looked like she was joking, but, if Zack even knew her at all, he’d leave that magazine where it was.

To start over. A new house. New life. New town. New state. But still, she’d have the same husband.

Nella bit her lip. The whole point of her moving was to get away from her past. She had fucked a lot up in _____(idk where they live niqqa) and not to mention all the shit she’d put the people she knew through. Zack being number one on that list. He was the main reason she was leaving, but, he had followed her. Maybe he didn’t want to give up his crazy-ass wife after all. Maybe just maybe things would work out this time.

As Zack went on about how he’d make everything better and he would work his ass off to make her happy, Nella couldn't help but smile. Maybe this was when things would finally start going right for the two of them. Maybe this was their chance to fix everything that had happened.

Once he finished, Nella cupped his face in her hands, a small finding his way to her lips. “I. Love. You.” She whispered, putting emphasis on each word, sounding each out. “I want you, Zack. I want you so fucking bad it hurts. Ever since you left me, I kept looking at my phone waiting for you to call or text or something, anything that would tell me that you still loved me or something. Fuck, it took everything in me not to call you first, everything. I couldn’t let you go, Zack, I couldn’t. No matter how hard I tried, no matter how hard I wanted to- I couldn't. I want you Zack, I've always wanted you. It’s always been you.” In response to his offer, Nella pressed her lips lightly, but lovingly, against his, her fingers just brushing the little strands of hair that peeked out of his beanie. “Zack, I fucking love you.” She murmured, pulling away and looking down. As she looked back up again, Nella’s eyes locked with his dark, brown, sexy, chocolate eye. Fuck she had missed those eyes. With her hands still cupping his face she said; “I want more than anything to start over with you. I’m sorry, okay? For everything. I love you..” And with that, her lips were on his again, sealing the deal between the two.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A month later, things had finally settled down. Nella and Zack had bought a studio apartment (omg I’ve always wanted to live in one of those ok they’re so fucking cute ilysm), sure, it was smaller than what they were used to but it had become home just the same. Zack was still pursuing his music career and it made Nella all the more happier that she wasn't just the one getting what she wanted, but he was too. However, thoughts of their old life in ____ started creeping into her mind. Especially, Maria.

Nella knew that leaving Maria behind was wrong. She knew that, by doing this, she was proving to be just like her father. Just like the man that had ruined her life, the man at the source of her depression.

So, on a cool Saturday morning, Nella decided to call her mother. To let her know that she was okay. That she was fine, to check on Maria and break the news that no, she wasn't coming back.

Her mom picked up after three rings;

“Hey Nella! Where have you been? Aaron has been worried sick about you! We've been looking for you everywhere! What happened? Does this have something to do with Zack? Oh my god Zack! Did you get him to sign the papers?”

There was a moments pause and Nella took a deep breath, it was time to come clean. She had to. It was the least she could do.

“Hey Mom, yeah, I’m fine.” She bit her lip, sitting down on the couch and running her fingers through her long dark hair, “I’m fine, don’t worry. I went over Zack’s house to get him to sign the papers a while ago, before I left, and, I don’t know what happened, but, Mom, I’m glad it happened. I love him. Okay? I love him and guess what? He loves me too. I know leaving Aaron behind without an explanation was wrong, but, I couldn't face him. I couldn't tell him the truth. I couldn't. So I’m sorry, but I’m not coming back. I’m finally happy.”

There was a silence on the other end before her mother spoke again; “Nella, what about Maria? I don’t care about Aaron, or anything about that, but, you and Zack can’t just run off like that! You two have an responsibility. A huge one. You guys might be too young to have a child, but, you can’t just up and leave her like this! Nella, your dad did the same thing to you. I thought you would have learned better than to do this! I’m extremelly disappointed in you. You better get you’re a-“

Nella hung up before she could finish. There, it was just comfirmed, what they were doing was wrong. Extremelly wrong. Wronger than anything they had ever done before. It was worse than getting married at 18. Worse than having a baby a year later. Worse than sleeping with a taken man.

It was bad, it was wrong, but the worst part about it was that it felt so fucking right. Waking up next to Zack had never felt so right in her life. Waking up to look into his dark, brown, chocolate eyes and hear him say I love you over and over again until the words were just that- words? It felt amazing. Nella had never wanted something this much than anything before.

Nella knew that eventually they had to go back. This feeling couldn't last forever. It just couldn't. But, couldn't it just last a little bit longer? That’s all she wanted. This needed to last. Just a little big longer.
Only a little bit longer….

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zack got home late Saturday night, and Nella was still curled up on the couch watching reruns of old horror movies. When Zack had walked in, close to midnight, she was already halfway through Scream.

“Hey.” She muttered, sitting up and rubbing her tired eyes. “Come here.” Nella opened her arms and wrapped them around Zack as he sat down on the couch next to her. Her lips connected with his, a messy, hot kiss as her fingers ran through his hair, along his neck and cupping his face; ‘I missed you’s’ and ‘I love you’s’ came out here and there, their lips never breaking away.

Ever since they moved to Arizona, a lot of their days had been like this. Morning kissing. Afternoon cuddling. And late night sex. It had truly been a wild ride since the plane had landed. A lot of old habits sparked up and old feelings flooded them as their hands ran over each others body’s.

“I love you.” Nella murmured, pushing him him down, gently, on the couch, laying her head in the crook of his neck placing kisses here and there as he ran his fingers up and down her spine. “You’re so fucking perfect. Have I told you that?” Nella asked, her fingers playing with the hem of his shirt. “I want you.” She murmured out, her fingers playing with the button on his black jeans.

Nella sat up, moving a leg over him so she was straddling his hips. Leaning down, her lips were on his; messy and hot and his hands were on her, everywhere they touched it felt like she was on fire. Soon his shirt was on the floor, and her jeans were edging their way off when Zack's phone buzzed in his pocket.

“Ignore it.” Nella muttered against a kiss, her fingers fumbling with the buttons on his jeans. her lips “It’s not important.”

As soon as the vibrating stopped, it started up again and Nella groaned, collapsing next to him. “Who the fuck is calling you this late.” Nella complained and as soon as Zack pulled his phone out of his pocket and she saw the name on the screen and immediately there was a change in the mood. Nella's face dropped and her eyes locked on the screen.

Rae.

[ofmiceandbrynne]

Normally, Zack wouldn’t have hitched a ride with someone when going home from a show. It was just too weird. Plus, he thought it was generally a lot more fun to drive home in the van with the guys – he got to talk about the show, and then drunken girl who had jumped onto the stage, and when he broke a string on his acoustic in the middle of a song. Plus, it was just dangerous to go home with someone else – being pretty well known as an artist, the threat of being kidnapped or drugged kind of lingered…especially since the person was a fan.

Rae.

It had been a two hour ride to the show that night – it was a quick gig at a bar for a little over $200 for the each of the guys in the band. It wasn’t very much, but it didn’t really matter because the thrill of playing a show was enough. Sadly enough, Rae had been meeting up with a friend there and had managed to find Zack.

“Baby,” Rae moaned softly, grinding against Zack in the back of the bar. Her whiskey flavored breath made him want to melt as her fingers ran up his bare back. It felt like everyone was watching as she pressed her lips against his drunkenly, murmuring something to herself and rubbing his hand with her thumb. “Oh, shit, Zack. I’m so glad you’re here. This is great. You’re great. Oh, my God.” She said, her voice dripping with seduction as she pressed him against the wall. And, Zack couldn’t argue with it, really. Though it was a bit wrong, God, it felt so right. The flavor of her lips was enough to keep him pressing (ehhe). Nothing else mattered but that.

“I gotta get home,” Zack gasped, looking down at his phone, “Nella’s waiting for me.”

“Ugh, fine.” Rae pouted, leaving the venue quickly with him and falling into the car with him…there wasn’t even time to think…a scrambling of bodies, hot touch, skin against skin. She was on top of him in the back seat, her lips pressing against his as he laughed. “Oh, God, this feels so right.”

Zack peered at the clock through the corner of his eye. He sighed. “Oh, God, Rae. You gotta get me home. I can’t drive.” He mumbled. “Nella’s gonna be worried, I told her I’d be home an hour ago.” She sighed, slipping her shorts back on and tucking a piece of blonde hair behind her ear.

“Fine.” And she drove him home silently.

Once they had gotten to the house, Zack stumbled out. He couldn’t remember what he’d brought with him in that car, dammit, he could hardly remember what had happened 20 minutes ago. He could see himself almost passing out.

Rae honked the horn. “’Ey, babe, call me sometime! We can go get a drink or something.” Zack whooped loudly in response, which was neither a yes nor a no in his defense.

He twisted the doorknob, pushing his hair back into place (although he didn’t really need to – he’d just played a show. He’d be gross regardless). Silently thanking the boner gods that they hadn’t chosen to pick on him today, he twisted the doorknob and strolled inside. Nella was inside, watching movies on TV. As soon as she heard him, she turned around and smiled. He sat on the couch next to her – and, dammit, he felt guilty, but he kissed her. And told her he loved her. And, normal husbands shouldn’t feel bad for that kind of stuff – but Zack did. And the sad thing was, he wasn’t really that drunk when he did what he had done with Rae. She was the drunk one – and that was even sadder.

Zack pulled her on top of him, attaching his lips to her and allowing his tongue to move teasingly along her bottom lip and he moaned softly. He took off his shirt, his arms around her waist and pulling her closer. “God, you’re so gorgeous.”

Suddenly, his phone began buzzing. He sighed, pulling Nella closer to him as she told him to ignore it. And he did. He wanted to, he wanted her. It stopped, and then began again. Nella pulled his phone out of his pocket, he guessed because she was going to put it somewhere else so it wouldn’t distract them. But, as he saw her face, he immediately knew who was on the phone.

“Babe.” He murmured, running his fingers through her hair and trying to pull her back down onto his bare chest. “Nella, c’mere. Please.” He murmured softly. “Nella.” He repeated, pleadingly, as she got up. “What the fuck is more important than this?” He said, a tinge of annoyance in his voice. “Get back here.”

The phone began ringing again. Obviously, it was Rae.

“Look, I know you’re mad. Okay? It’s nothing, I swear to God. I saw her at the show tonight, she said hi, and then gave me a ride home because I had a little to much to drink. And that was all.” Still, she continued to ignore him. “God dammit, Nella! Look. I’ll listen to the voicemail,, and you’ll see, it was nothing.” Although, he wasn’t so sure. Still, he slid the play button and put the phone on speaker phone.

“Zack!” Rae yelled out, giggling to herself. “Zack, you left your hoodie in my car. And your beanie. How could you’ve only remembered to put back on your shirt and jeans? I’m pretty sure you left your socks, too.” She laughed again. “They smell like cigarettes. I didn’t know you smoked. Do ya smoke? Or is it Nella? Dammit, Zack, I thought you were gonna get rid of that bitch. Ugh. Anyway. Um, yeah! Call me back and we can go have that drink you promised me sometime. And you can come back over sometime, or move back in if ya want. I mean, whatever. Yeah! Bye!” She giggled, and then hung up again.

Zack’s face fell. He looked up at Nella. “I…I don’t know what I’m supposed to say.”

[bokangavemeabeauner]

Nella got up, her shirt was on the floor, her pants unbuttoned and unzipped exposing her black, lacy underwear underneath, her lipstick was smeared and her hair a mess. Any girl would have jumped at the chance to be in bed with Zack, regardless if he fucked someone before her. If he cheated on her. Any girl would have been thrilled for him to even look their way, to talk to them. And Nella, well Nella was married to him and she didn't even want to look at him right now. She didn't want to hear him, she didn't want to see him, she didn't even want to think about him. But she couldn't help it. After hearing that voicemail? She wanted to cry. She wanted to know why. She wanted to hit herself for ever believing this relationship would work out. Why didn't she stay with Aaron? She threw out a potential lifetime with him, for one, sex filled, month with Zack.

Zack had slept with Rae. After he had practically begged on hands and knees for her to give him another chance. And she had given him one. Fuck, she had thought that this time it would have worked. That, for once, they would have gotten it right. And, for a while, it had been going great. Well, at least to her it had been. Now he was begging on hands and knees for her to just go back to how things were. After that voicemail from Rae, there was no chance in hell that that was happening.

Maybe he wasn't happy with her anymore. Maybe that was it.

But how? She had done anything and everything he had asked of her and more. Just like before. And he still wasn't happy. What else did he want? What else did she have to do to make sure that he was hers and hers alone?

'Come back here' 'Get back over here' 'I don't know what I was doing' 'I don't know what to say.'

Nella looked down, here dark hair hanging in her face. When she looked back up at Zack's face, she couldn't help but laugh- but it was cold, hard, and filled with hurt. "You know what Zack? I don't even care. You want to be with Rae? Good, I get it. I completely get it. I just wish you hadn't dragged me into this; again. I told you a month ago I was going to leave you alone, for good this time too. I was going to give you what you wanted. But you're the one who followed me. You're the one that wanted to give it another go. It wasn't me who chased after you. Hell, I was giving you divorce papers so we could be out of each others lives for good. If that's what you wanted all along, why did you lead me on all this time? It fucking hurts, Zack. You know? You might say you love me, but I knew you gave up on me a long time ago."

Picking Zack's shirt up off the ground, Nella threw it in his face, "Here. Go find Rae or whatever you want. I'm going to go take a shower. Don't expect me to be here tomorrow morning or whenever the fuck you decide to come back."

Nella picked her shirt up off the floor and started walking to the bathroom, "And you don't need to explain. I don't even want to hear it. I gave you a shot, and you blew it. We're over. For good this time."

She walked out of the living room, leaving Zack, mouth agape, sitting on the couch, holding his phone. Nella walked out, no tears, no argument, no yelling. But, by the time she got to the bathroom, that’s when she lost it.

Locking the door behind her, Nella slid her back down the wall and her hurt came out in muffled cries. What gave her the idea that this ‘thing’ with Zack would ever work out? The worst part of all of this was, Nella didn't know if this had been going on since day one. If he had been going behind her back and hooking up with Rae, and this time, he had gotten caught. This made Nella rethink all the nights Zack had come home late claiming that he was out with the guys. And she had believed him. She had believed him because she had wanted their relationship to work out more than anything. But the sad truth was, it had never worked out. The odds were against them and this time, they couldn't fix it. There wasn't a way they could fix it. As much as she wanted to walk back in the living room and kiss him and tell him that she loved him, she knew she deserved better than this. Everyone had told her she deserved better, but, she had never believed them. She was to blinded by her ‘love’ for Zack. She was to blinded by how much she wanted him.

That’s what this was. That’s what it had been all along. It wasn't love. It was lust. When Zack left Rae, he had never once claimed that he loved her. He had told her that he –wanted- her. That’s all he had ever wanted. Sex. And he could get that from Rae. He didn't need Nella anymore.

Getting up, Nella looked in the mirror and fixed her smeared makeup and ran a brush through her dark hair. She buttoned her jeans and threw her shirt back on. She looked composed..enough. If you looked close enough, though, you could see the betrayal and hurt that she held in her chocolate brown eyes.

Nella unlocked the bathroom door and her eyes darted to the living room, Zack was still sitting on the couch acting like nothing had ever happened. The lack of effort he put into their relationship, and how much he didn't even care made up Nella’s mind.

They were over. For good.

All she had to do was pack the few belongings she had brought from ______ and she could be out of here by midnight and this would truly be the last time Zack would see her.

She could get a new number, move to a new state. Start over. And this time Nella really wanted to. She knew she deserved better. She knew it.

Nella quietly made her way to their bedroom and started throwing the clothes hanging up in her closet onto their bed.

She was packing up her life, again, for what seemed like the millionth. They said it gets easier, but they lied. ((omg MMF reference. Hmuuuuu)

[bokangavemeabeauner]

"See you later!" Maria called to her parents as she ran out the door, almost missing her bus. "Shit." She murmured, running up the stairs, almost tripping on her own two feet. "Sorry I'm late." The bus driver, clearly not a morning person and clearly unhappy with his life, rolled his eyes and muttered a rough and unfriendly, "Just go sit down."

Sighing, Maria made her way to the back of the bus. Before she could sit down, the bus jerked as the bus driver stepped on the gas. "Prick." She said under her breath as she slid into one of the sticky, red, bus seats.

Twenty minutes later, the bus pulled to the stop in front of hell.

High school.

Getting up, Maria tugged her bag along with her, her ear-buds pushed in her ears and blasting 'King for a Day' by Pierce The Veil. She hummed along to it as she trudge up the stairs and too her locker.

"Please won't you push me for the last time, we'll scream until there's nothing left." Maria punched in her combination and grabbed her trig book before slamming it shut behind her.

Five minutes later, the bell rung and she was already sitting in her seat in Mr. Johnson's class. Closing the door behind him, the Mr. Johnson smiled and pushed his glasses up on his nose, "Morning." He said cheerfully tot he class. When he got over to his desk, he picked up his notebook and started calling off the names of students, here's sounding out throughout the classroom.

"Adam Dickinson?"

The room was silent and Mr. Johnson looked up, scrunching his eyebrows together.

"Adam?"

As he called out his name one more time, Adam burst into the classroom, looking as cool and composed as ever. Maria raised her eyebrows and settled back in her seat.

"Nice of you to join us Mr. Dickinson." There was a twinge of annoyance hanging on his words. "Now go take a seat before I write you up for being late."

Adam rolled his eyes and walked over to the only available seat; Next to Maria.

'Shit.' Maria muttered, running her fingers through her hair and trying to look as calm and cool as possible as Adam settled down in the seat next to her. Almost immediately, Maria felt her cheeks warming with a rose colored blush.

Adam was fucking hot.

(I did not know what to put there omg)

[ofmiceandbrynne]

"Shit." Adam Dickinson mumbled, running his fingers through his messy dark hair and rolling out of bed. It was 7:53 and he had just rolled out of bed. It wasn't that he cared that he'd be late -- more that Mr. Johnson would most likely skin him alive and toss him into the fiery depths of hell.

Quickly taking off his pants and stripping down to his plaid boxers, Adam threw his pants across the room
and pulled on a pair of black skinny jeans and a Pierce the Veil shirt. Trying not to give a fuck about his hair, he slung his backpack over his shoulder and ran out the door, not listening to his mom screaming at him to remember his lunch and to give his sister a ride or his dad yelling at him not to get abducted and raped (and to have a good day). His little sister, Emilia, tagged along behind him as Adam hopped into his car. Emilia slid into the passenger seat, visibly nervous.

"Adam, how bad is highschool?"

"Oh, not that bad. You'll probably get picked on a lot for being a freshman, but it'll go by quickly. Hell, I'm almost done. But don't worry about it too much. You might get pushed down the stairs a few times or some asshole might steal your clothes while you're changing out of your gym clothes and some kids might trip you just to watch you cry, but other than that -- oh, who am I kidding? Heh. It's a hellhole there."

Emilia gazed up at her brother as he smirked, gripping the wheel and turning into the parking lot. Her mouth gaped open. "Well, come on." Adam mumbled. The bell rang, signaling that everyone was headed to their classes. Adam sighed deeply, running his fingers through his hair. "Well, fuck." He broke into a sprint, heading towards the school and almost getting hit by two cars. He quickly grabbed his books and ran down the hall into his first class. Mr. Johnson had already started calling attendance.

Adam peered around the classroom, looking for a spot and finally finding one. Luckily, it was next to a fairly
hot girl -- not as hot as his last girlfriend, but he'd make out with her,
given the opportunity. He plopped down in the seat, peering over at her and raising an eyebrow. "This class blows, huh?" He murmured, lounging back in his seat.

[bokangavemeabeauner]

Maria threaded her headphones through her sweatshirt and hid them behind her long blonde hair, which was drawn up in a messy bun. Pulling out her Ipod, while keeping it out of Mr. Johnson's view, Maria unlocked it and scrolled down to Memphis May Fire, clicking on the song 'Miles Away' Ft. Kellin Quinn. Music always helped her focus better on math. It blocked out all the stupid, idiotic kids who never paid attention to the lesson and always ended up asking;

"How do you do this?" "What's the equation for this again?" "Mr. Johnson I don't know what to do." "You never taught us this!"

As the first cords of the song started playing, Adam spoke up next to her. It took her a minute to realize he was actually talking to her.

Maria rose her eyebrows and glanced over, trying to best to pretend like she wasn't freaking out on the inside. She had enough trouble getting people to talk to her to begin with. Having someone like Adam talk to her without her making the first move? There was no doubt that Maria was getting butterflies even at the thought of it.

"I guess." Maria responded, looking back down at her own desk and writing down the practice problem Mr. Johnson had written on the board prior to the beginning of class. "You should have skipped, you were late anyways. It's first period. No one would have noticed."

For the rest of the class, Maria and Adam exchanged words here and there. Making each other laugh even at times. But Maria knew it was just for the day. Adam didn't seem like the type to make 'friends.' He seemed more of the type to play a girl then move on to the next hot one he saw. No commitment. He didn't seem the type to make friends with girls either. He wasn't just some guy you could be friends with. You were either more than friends or nothing at all.

At least that's how it seemed to Maria.

The bell rang signaling the end of class. Getting up, Maria murmured a quick 'Bye' to Adam before shuffling towards the door. Mr. Johnson caught her by the shoulder before she could step a foot out into the hallway. "Can I talk to you, Maria? And you Adam." He called to him before he slipped outside. Adam rolled his eyes and Maria simply nodded.

Walking over to his desk, Mr. Johnson sat down and looked up at the two. "Adam, me and you both know your grades aren't nearly as good as they could be."

Maria rose her eyebrows and opened her mouth to speak. She didn't feel as though she should be here for this conversation, even if Mr. Johnson had asked her to.

"Uh-"

"Let me finish." He said, holding up a hand, "Maria is outstanding in math and she's more than capable helping a student in class when I ask her too." The two stood in front of him, standing there, clueless at what he was trying to say. Mr. Johnson sighed and went on, "Maria, I was wondering if you could offer some of your time after school to tutor Adam. I would really appreciate it and when you need college recommendations, I would be more than happy writing one for you."

With a smile, he folded his hands in front of him on his desk, "So, what do you say?"

Maria looked over at Adam, biting her lip. "I don't mind if you don't mind." She said finally, running her fingers through her hair. "It's not like I have anything better to do."

[ofmiceandbrynne]

Adam raised his eyebrow. "Um. My grades are as good as I want them to be. Who's to say I'm not good at frickin' math? Maybe I just get bad grades so I can piss off my parents. Ah, or, maybe I just don't give a fuck whether or not x is negative. Because that's x's life decision." He pursed his lips as Mr. Johnson scrambled around in his desk, getting out Adam's past tests. Each of them were marked with red slashes here and there.

"Alright, Adam. I don't care if you want to have bad grades, but you're currently failing my class. And I don't want you to fail my class." He hesitated.

Adam gritted his teeth. "Mr. Johnson, I'm warning you. If you fail me, you get me this summer too."

"Dear God." Mr. Johnson said, his eyes growing wide. "Mr. Dickinson, please. I do not want to spend my summer in a hot, stuffy classroom with you all day trying to help you grasp square roots and probability. I don't evem know how you got into this class -- but, it's too far in the year to kick you out. So, please, for the good of both of us, please, PLEASE let Maria tutor you. She's very smart, and I can only imagine that you'd do anything to spend time with her anyway."

Adam rolled his eyes. "Fine."

Mr. Johnson nodded. "Thank you. Now, run along."

That was all Adam needed to hear. He sluggishly picked up his books from his desk, walking out with Maria behind him. He slowed in the hallway, and she caught up, now walking alongside him. "Just so you know,
I'm not into this idea. I don't like it. And I don't like you. Nothing personal, obviously -- just, I'm not
into this. You're fucking hot, don't get me wrong. I'd make out with you right here and cut class with you, but I'd assume that you have a boyfriend. So. Anyway." He rolled his eyes, opening up his notebook and scribbling his number on a piece of paper and ripping it out of his notebook. "Erm, anyway, call me
if you wanna. I can come over to, uh...study." He smirked.

[bokangavemeabeauner]

Maria didn't know weather tutoring Adam was going to be a good thing or a bad thing. Good because she got to hang out with Adam, and come on, he was fucking hot. Maria had heard a lot of girls talking about him, but she had never truly understood what a girl could see that was just so fantastic about some guy. A guy that they had to fight over just to get him to even look their way. But, after seeing him? Talking to him? Maria understood what they saw in him. The hot, sexy, bad boy with that killer smile- a guy any girl would want to lose her virginity to in the back seat of his shitty hand-me-down car. And, right now, Maria wanted to be on top of his 'fuck her' list.

But, this tutoring thing wasn't going to be as easy as Mr. Johnson made it out to be. If Adam wanted good grades, he would be getting good grades. He would stay after school and get extra help from Mr. Johnson or get help from his parents.

If he wanted help.

Mr. Johnson assigning her to be his tutor? Adam didn't want to learn. He wanted to fly by. Bad grades, bad guy. Came with the territory.

Maria blew out a sigh, running her fingers through her long, blonde hair. Not to mention the fact that she probably wouldn't even be able to get him to do work if it was the last thing she did. Adam probably wouldn't even plot a point on a simple graph if she asked him to.

Taking the small piece of paper from him, Maria shoved it in her pocket, rolling her eyes. "You're an A plus flirter. Really know how to make a girl feel good about herself. 'I don't like you but, you're fucking hot.' I don't know weather to be offended or say thank you." Reaching into her bag, Maria pulled out a black sharpie and grabbed Adam's arm, beginning to scrawl out her number. "No, I don't have a boyfriend, not that it really matters. And we can meet up later tonight if you want. I don't have plans but knowing you I bet you do."

"But, can you do me an favor and not make this difficult for me? I don't want to tutor you just as much as you don't want me to tutor you. But we really don't have a choice. So, don't make this miserable for me?" Not waiting for a response, Maria began walking away, throwing a glance over her shoulder. "Call me later." And with that, she was on her way to English.

'You played it cool.' She thought, silently to herself, giving a smile 'You played it cool.'

[ofmiceandbrynne]

"Hey Adam, so, how was school?"

Typical question from Mom after school, Adam decided. Can't blame her. "Fine," Adam responded, with a mouthful of green beans. Emilia squealed, shielding her eyes from her disgusting brother. He rolled his own dark brown eyes. "I met a girl today in math class. Apparently Mr. Johnson says I'm failing and now I'm stuck with a tutor."

"Oh, my God." His Dad, Zack, yelled. "Tell me she's hot. God, for the life of me, tell me she's hot."

Rae set down her fork. "Zack! Our son tells us he's failing math, and you're worried about how hot his tutor is? God, you're so immature. Sometimes I wonder why I ever married you." She stood up from the table, pushing in her chair. "I could dump your ass and find some other guy." The three remaining at the table looked up at her, unblinking. "I'm not hungry anymore." She said, grabbing her plate and heading over to the sink.

Zack chuckled. "Anyway. What's she like?!"

"Erm, well. She's short, up to my chin maybe, with long blonde hair. And these gorgeous brown eyes, and her voice is really cute but extremely sexy at the same time. And she likes the same music I do. Or at least I think so. I saw her listening to her iPod during math, and her music taste is beyond perfect. And she's hilarious, and a rebel and I'm pretty sure she hates me, but God dammit, she's adorable."

Zack grinned. "What's her name?"

"Maria." Adam said, tasting the word on his lips and smirking. "I swear to God this girl's different, like, way different than all the others."

"That's what you say about every girl." Emilia interrupted, rolling her eyes.

"Maria?" Zack questioned, raising an eyebrow. "I had a --"

"Zack, you need to go help me with something upstairs!" Rae exclaimed immediately, interrupting him. "Come on." She urged him, gritting her teeth.

Adam rolled his eyes, sliding his phone out of his pocket and running upstairs to his room, shutting the door behind him. His room was small -- but he made good use of the space. He had posters all over the wall above his bed, of his favorite bands or pictures of girls he'd dated. Christmas lights hung loosely from the ceiling, and music played lowly over his iHome speakers. His laptop sat on his bed where he'd left it, along with an open bag of sunchips. He plopped down, peering at his arm and typing in the numbers carefully. He listened to the phone ring as "These Things I've Done" by Sleeping With Sirens played quietly in the background, until Maria suddenly picked up.

"Hey, babe." Adam said, smirking to himself. "I can call you that, correct? Okay. Anyway. I was thinking, if it's not too late, maybe I could come over to your place? Kinda short notice, but I'm thinking since we have a test tomorrow, and it's not really fair of me to skip the period tomorrow, I should study a bit. And I forgot my book." Lie. He hadn't forgotten his book, but fuck, he'd jump at any opportunity he got to hang out with Maria. She was gorgeous, for God's sake.

[bokangavemeabeauner]

Maria got home, throwing her bag in the corner next to the door.

"Maria is that you?" Aaron's voice called out as she slammed the door behind her.

"Yeah dad, it's me." He strolled in and smiled, bringing her into a big bear hug. "Dad! You're squishing me! I can't breath!" Maria tried to wriggle out of his arms, but he held her tight. "Dad, I was only away for six hours. Not a year. You can put me down now. I'm sure you and mom didn't miss me that much." Rolling his eyes, he ruffled her blonde hair, which made Maria groan even louder than before, and started walking towards the kitchen, "You're such a drama queen, Maria. I'm just trying to have a little fun with my daughter. You're just like your mom was when she was your age. Complain. Complain. Complain." Aaron smiled, hooking his arm around Nella's waist, who was standing at the stove, stirring something in a boiling pot. "Hey!" Nella said, pouting. "I didn't complain that much." Aaron kissed her cheek and went on, "Did I also mention she was also gorgeous like you are too." Nella rolled his eyes and swatted his hands away from her, "Go set the table. Dinner's almost ready."

Maria sat down at the table, propping her head up on her fists. That's when her phone began to ring. It was Adam.

Immediately, a pink blush started spreading over her pale cheeks.

Nella rose her eyebrows and smiled, placing a blow of salad in the middle of the table. "Ohhhh, one day of high school and you already have a boyfriend?" Maria rolled her eyes and walked into the other room, "He's not my boyfriend, mom. He's just a friend."

Unlocking her phone, Maria hit the accept button. "Hey." She murmured, peeking around the corner to make sure her nosy-ass parents weren't ease dropping on her.

Babe? Oh he wasn't holding back on the flirting at all. Maria couldn't help but smile, "Maria's just fine." She said, biting her lip, "No babe." She might have gotten butterflies, but, she couldn't play easy-to-get. Especially since Adam had a reputation of playing girls. As much as she wanted him, she had to hold back. At least for now.

"Yeah, sure, one minute. Lemme just go see if it's okay with my mom." Maria poked her head back in the kitchen, "Mom, can I have a friend come over tonight?" Nella rose her eyebrow and put her hands on her hips, "It's a school night, Maria. No. I don't care if he's your boyfriend or not."

"He's not my boyfriend. And, please? Mr. Johnson wants me to tutor him and we have a huge test tomorrow. If I do this for him it could mean he could get at least a passing grade for this quarter. And he really needs it."

Nella sighed and looked at Aaron, "Fine." He said, shaking his head and smiling. "You can have him over."

"Thanks." Maria called, happily as she walked into the other room, bringing the phone back up to her ear. "You can come over. But stay home if all you plan on doing is flirting with me. I plan on working your ass hard tonight. You need to pass this test." Maria bit her lip, but, she knew that there wouldn't be much studying going on tonight. With Adam? There couldn't be.

An hour later, Adam showed up at the door.

"About time." Maria muttered, leading him upstairs to her room. "Day one of tutoring and I can't believe you forgot your book. I can see you're really committed to this."

Opening the door to her room, Maria flicked on the light. There were CD's scattered on her nightstand and posters covering the wall over her bed. Music was softly playing out of the speakers on her shelf and a half read book was on her bed. (Sounds like mE). "Welcome to my room."

Being in a bedroom never felt so dangerous and tempting with anyone before. Maria felt hot all over, ever now and then she had to wipe her sweaty hands on her jeans. Why was she so nervous?

[ofmiceandbrynne]

An hour after he had called, Adam was at the door of Maria's house. After about .5 seconds, Maria came to the door looking like she had just redone her makeup for the thousandth time and she had most definitely changed her clothes. Adam couldn't blame her -- he was kind of used to being treated as a big deal. Girls would do anything to have him even look their way, or smile at them. He loved the attention. Although, he didn't really see a point in the change of clothes -- they'd be on her bedroom floor in less than an hour. (I HAD TO)

He waved, stepping in through the doorway. Food was cooking, he could tell -- it smelled a lot more healthy than his mother's cooking. Oh, well. Moms are moms. He walked in, observing the house. At the table, he saw a woman, and a man -- who he had assumed to be Nella's parents. Something was a bit off, though -- Maria's mom? He'd seen her before. Adam didn't know where -- maybe a picture on his dad's phone? He didn't know, but wherever, he'd seen her face before. Regardless, he decided to shrug it off -- it couldn't be anything. It was probably just because her and Maria looked so much alike -- that was all. But, the weird thing was, Adam could barely see a trace of her father anywhere in Maria.

"Evening, Mr. and Mrs. _______." He nodded towards Maria's parents. "Erm, I'm Adam. Adam Dickinson. Sure you've heard of my dad, Zack? He did a lot of music back in the day." Adam hesitated. "Well, for a year or two. That's what he told me. Didn't get very big, and never went very far. Ah, well. Anyway." Adam chuckled. "Your daughter's a beauty, by the way. Congrats on the sex." He whispered the last part, winking and then heading upstairs with Maria.

"Yes, I'm pretty focused on this whole thing." He said sarcastically. "Obviously." He chewed his bottom lip, looking down at the pile of CDs on her carpet and gasping. "Oh, my God, you like Never Shout Never? They're so good. I'm more so into their older stuff, though." He blinked, looking down at her and biting his bottom lip. "Wish you liked me so we could just hang out and dim the lights and sit here and just listen to music, y'know? But. Math. Yeah, I get it." He pursed his lips. "Although, I know you'd judge me if the reason I came over here wasn't because I wanted to do math. And, to my credit, I didn't leave my book at school. It's at home. I just, came over because I wanted to hang out. I'm not really one for first impressions, as you could see." He said, chewing on his bottom lip and sighing.

[ofmiceandbrynne]

Zack sighed, creasing his forehead and letting his hair fall into his face. "Nella, I was drunk, dammit! I know this is bad, yes, I fucked up again, but..." He exhaled, shaking his head. "I don't even know what to say. Or do. I just..." But before he could say anything else, Nella had gone up the stairs. He gritted his teeth, collapsing onto the sofa. “You know what?! How do you know I even fucked her?! You know she’s drunk, couldn’t you hear it? You know perfectly well –“ But, before he could say one more word, she had slammed the door on him.

He followed her up to their room, and managed to pick the lock and creeped into the room while he listened to the shower water running. And her stepping into it, and trying her best not to cry – and failing. He heard her cry along with the water, as he sat on their bed. He had fucked up. He was so damn useless. Why had he gotten married so young? He’d never questioned it before, but now, he really was. He could’ve followed his career in music, and not have to worry about kissing a girl on the damn cheek. Or he could have sex with whoever he wanted, and not have to worry about his lunatic wife freaking out. As much as he hated to admit it, he missed being single. He missed being able to stay out late by himself and be young and not give a fuck about bills or his wife or even himself. He missed that and he thought that, maybe, just maybe, letting go of Nella was the best thing to do.

Or not.

He couldn’t let her just leave him like that. He wouldn’t let her walk out like she had so many times in his life, or like he had walked out of hers. He wouldn’t let that happen because, dammit, no matter what, they stuck things out. And, somehow, she always ended up being in Zack’s life whether she wanted to or not. And so, without realizing, Zack actually started crying too.

And Nella came out of the shower.
And she was mad that he had followed her into her room.
And Zack just sat there on her bed helplessly and tried not to cry.
But he ended up doing it anyway.
But she didn’t care. She stood there, her hair wet and yelling at him to get out.
But he couldn’t.

He did anyway.

And then Zack went downstairs, and after a while Nella came down with a bag. That damn bag that she thought she had the right to just carry her life out in. And she didn’t have that right, but she thought she did and that was the tragic part. Zack watched her as she took the bag, but as she was walking out the door, he yelled her name.

“Please don’t leave me. Please.” He sobbed. “It’s too dark. I don’t want you to get hurt. If you have to leave me, do it in the morning. I don’t want you to drive in the dark.” His body shook as he stared at her, and the darkness lingering outside. It could’ve swallowed her. And, if she were to leave him, he wanted to know she’d at least be safe. “God, Nella, I know I’m a fuck-up and I know you probably think I don’t care, but I do. Even when I mess up, I still care. And I’m a human being. I care about you more than I care about myself, dammit. Please, if you’re going to leave, wait until tomorrow morning.” His eyes were filled with tears as he looked up at her. “Please.”

[bokangavemeabeauner]

Nella looked at Aaron and began to stand as Maria led Adam up to her room. Aaron laid his hand on Nella’s and motioned her to sit down. “It’s okay, babe. She’s just tutoring him.” Nonetheless, Nella shook her head and looked back into Aaron’s soft brown eyes. “If I even knew Zack at all, Adam’s going to want more than help on a few math problems. Aaron, I don’t want them to even be talking. I don’t want any trace of Zack in her life. My dad left me, I don’t want Maria to think the same thing happened to her. It’ll fuck her up.” Biting her lip, Nella looked down, letting her graying (omg im crying real tears right now) dark, brown hair cover her eyes. “I mean, look at me. You saw me when my Dad left us. I was a wreck. And I’m sure if I talk to Zack about this he’d agree with me.” Aaron shook his head and placed his fingers on her chin, lifting her face up so he could look her in the eye. “Nella, are you sue you really want to get into that? With him again?” Aaron bit his lip and ran his thumb under his eyes, seeing the tears that began to seep out. “It’s okay. Let’s just see how this plays out first before we do anything. For all we know he has a girlfriend.” With those words, words that didn't even assure her, Nella nodded.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maria collapsed down on her bed, folding her arms behind her head. After hearing Adam’s words, she couldn't help but laugh. “No offense, Adam, but I don’t think you’d want to just ‘hang out.’ Although it does sound tempting, I promised Mr. Johnson I’d help you study for this test.” Getting up, Maria went over to her desk and pushed away papers and drawings aside to find her math textbook. Hesitating, Maria went on, "And I don't hate you. Like, I like you. I don't know what made you think I hated you." She bit her lip and shook her head, "Forget it."

“NeverShoutNever? Of course! They’re perfect.” Maria sat back down on her bed and started flipping through her textbook to the chapter they were on. “No offense but I haven’t even listened to their new album. Christofer Drew is a dick.” Maria sighed and looked down, “I missed him when he smoked weed.(I said that to my friend John the other day and he was like noey you’re so weird omg)” Leaning over, Maria grabbed a few other CD’s from her nightstand, “Pierce the Veil, You Me At Six, oh, and my favorite, All Time Low.” Maria smiled excitedly, pushing off thoughts of math, at least for now. “I’m seeing them in a month.”

This was exactly what Adam wanted. They both knew they didn't want to do math, but, Maria had to play hard to get right? Stand out from the other girls? Already it seemed to be paying off.

After an hour about talking about music, and their favorite bands, Nella poked her head into her room. “Hey Maria, Adam, It’s almost seven. One more hour okay? You both need to get to bed early. It’s a school night.” Nella looked hesitant leaving the room and Maria groaned, “Okay, Mom. I get it. You can leave now.” But the way she looked at Adam. She could tell. Her mom didn't like him. “Okay, goodnight. Just one more hour.”

“Sorry about her.” Maria muttered, covering her face with her hands, “She’s so fucking embarrassing! I never have anyone over my house.” But Maria couldn't help but laugh, are your parents that bad?”

Adam and Maria had wasted the night talking about their parents, music, and everything in between. She never knew that she would have so much in common with that hot, sexy bad-boy that fucked every girl he could get with. And here he was, on a Monday night, in her room, talking to her. Acting like he didn't even give a fuck about anything. Every time he said her name, every time he laughed or looked at her, Maria could feel butterflies.

Before they knew it, an hour had already passed. “Shit.” Maria muttered, sitting up. “It’s almost nine. My mom is going to be pissed if she finds out you’re still here. Come on.”

Handing a few CD’s to Adam, the ones he had asked to borrow, she began to quietly lead him down the stairs. “My place is boring. How about your house tomorrow or something?” Maria leaned on the door pane looking out at Adam in the dark night. The low light made him look all the more sexier and she wanted nothing more than to just kiss him. Right here and right now.

Fuck it.

Maria stood on her tippy-toes and gave him a soft peck on the lips, murmuring an, “I had fun tonight.” Before pulling away.

[bokangavemeabeauner]

I JSUT FOUND THIS GIF OF ALEX AND TAY OH MY FUCK GOING

Nella’s hand was on the the door-knob when Zack told her not to leave. That he didn't want her to get hurt. Oh no, he couldn't play that card on her. Not now. He couldn't. Zack didn't have the right to say these things to her anymore. He didn't, he lost those rights when he walked through that door half an hour ago. He didn't deserve her and she knew, she knew now that she deserved much better than a guy she couldn't trust. Nella deserved so much better than a guy who she didn't know was going to come home smelling like another girls perfume or not.

Turning around, gritting her teeth, Nella closed in on Zack. “You’re a fucking asshole.” Nella whispered as she stood in front of him. “You. Are. A. Fucking. Asshole. If you didn't want me to get hurt you shouldn't have went out tonight and fucked Rae in the back of her shitty car. I don’t even care if you were drunk, I don’t even care. You knew who she was, and you knew you were with me!” Nella ran her fingers through her damp hair, tears running down her cheeks. “Zack, I don’t even know what to say anymore! I don’t even know what to say! You have no idea how much I wanted this to work. I thought it was. I thought we had finally figured things out, I thought we were fucking happy for once.” Shaking her head, Nella looked down at Zack, who had gotten extremely quiet. “I was way off.”

Zack just sat there. He gave her that –look- that fucking look. That look that made him look innocent. That made her look like the bad guy.

That same fucking look that made her love him. That same stupid look that made her want to say sorry and I love you over and over again that she loved him and make out on the coach- skin touching skin, clothes ripped off, hands running through hair, down bodies.

And without realizing what she was doing, Nella had thrown her bag on the ground at her feet and her arms around Zack, her lips crashing against his.

They fell back on the couch, her legs straddling his hips once again and his arms circling her waist, pressing her, rather tight, against his warm chest. It was like nothing had ever happened.

“I hate you.” Nella mumbled against his lips, her fingers running through his hair and down his face, on his chest. “You’re an asshole.” She said, pulling away and looking down at the stunned Zack.

“I don’t even know what I did wrong! I tried, I tried so hard to have things go back to the way they were supposed to be. You have no idea. And you just,” Nella shook her head, her fingers spread out on his chest. “ Zack, you threw me away, again like you didn't even care.”

Nella pushed her hair out of her face and leaned down, placing a kiss on his lips, then his jaw, his neck...

Once again, Nella pulled away, “Did you even mean it?” She asked, tears running down her cheeks again, “When you said you loved me? Because I've begun to think that I mean absolute shit to you, Zack. Like you've been stringing me along all this time. Say it.” Nella said, staring down at him through teary eyes. “Tell me you love me. Or I swear to fucking God I will walk out that door tomorrow morning and you’ll never see me again. I mean it Zack. I deserve better than this. I deserve so much better.”

Nella leaned down, pressing her forehead to his, her lips skimming his, "Say it. Please?" She whispered, closing her eyes tight, and kissing his booze flavored lips. "I love you Zack." She chocked out, "I love you."

[ofmiceandbrynne]

Sure, the night had gone as Adam had planned. He had avoided the math (which was actually pretty good in itself), but also managed to make Maria like him...like, actually like him. Not that he was surprised, really -- just because of his reputation, it was easy to win girls over. Adam would play girls like his dad's old guitar until he got what he wanted from them. But, what surprised Adam was that Maria actually liked him. And he didn't have to pull any of his tricks, all he had to do was be who he actually was. Which was weird.

Adam smiled as she pulled away. And, even though it was late and freezing and he had forgotten a jacket and he knew Maria's mom would come yell at the both of them any second, he wrapped his skinny arms around her, pulling her closer, and kissed her softly again. Normally, he would've let it be -- a kiss in itself from Maria was lucky. At the beginning of the night, Adam would've been lucky to get a "fuck you" and an algebra textbook thrown at his head. But, this? This was better. And, the feeling Adam got when he kissed her...butterflies. It wasn't like when he had pressed that slutty cheerleader Hannah against the locker and kissed her hard because of a dare. Or when he kissed Amanda in the back of his old car, or when he kissed Caroline on her back patio. It was different. Adam brought his hands up, cupping her face in his hands as he pressed gently, their lips moving together -- lips against lips, warm body against (only slightly now) warm body, zero space between them. Not as two seperate pairs of lips, but one.

Adam pulled away, staring into her dark eyes for a moment and then pulling a cheeky smirk. "I'll, erm, seeya tomorrow, ok?" And with a little wink, Adam pulled his keys out of his pocket and walked to his car, getting in and turning the heat on. Maria stood at the door still, her silhouette waving as he started up the car. Adam grinned and waved as he drove away.

"Maybe this won't be as hard as I thought it would." He mumbled, sliding in one of the CDs Maria had loaned him. "In fact, if it all keeps going this well, I'll probably be going out with another girl by next week."

-

"Well, Adam, you're up awfully early, aren't you?" Rae chuckled, looking up from the lunch she was making for Zack for work. Dammit, that woman needs to learn I can take care of myself. Sure, I work in a damn office building - which is extremely unfortunate because I could probably commit three hundred homicides every day if I wouldn't get arrested for it - but that's besides the point. The thing is, I'd prefer greasy McDonalds whatever-the-hell this is supposed to be. He would always say. Adam nodded.

"Well, gotta get to school early today." He murmured, shoving a PopTart down his throat and grabbing his backpack.

Rae raised an eyebrow. "You have to wait for your sister, you know. She needs a ride. And, since when are you concerned about the time you get to school at?"

Adam rolled his eyes. "None of your business, mother."

"What about your sister?"

"Tell her to get her own damn ride."

Rae turned off the sink. "Excuse me, young man?"

But Adam had already left. He had bolted out the door and to his car, driving away and continuing to listen to the album that Maria had loaned to him. He'd never really listened to You Me At Six, but since Maria liked them, Adam had assumed he probably would too. And he did. He hadn't finished listening to the whole thing yet, but from what he had heard, he loved it. He clutched a few CDs in his lap loosely, fidgeting around as he sharply turned into the parking lot of school. He'd spent almost all night burning a CD of his favorite songs for Maria -- some by bands she'd probably heard of, some by bands she might not've heard of. He hoped she'd be in class today, and he wanted to make sure he was there super early so he could give her the CD. He hoped he didn't seem like an ass-kisser.

He got out of his car, and walked into the mostly empty halls. Not many people got here this early, but Adam didn't care. He grabbed his books and watched as people began to flood in. Before he knew it, people were flooding in and Adam was headed to his first class: math.

He sat in the class for a few minutes, watching the clock. It was five past eight, and Maria still hadn't shown up. Was she sick? What if she got in an accident before she could get to school? What if...[i]Stop worrying, Dickinson, she'll be here any minute.[/i ] And, speak of the devil, she suddenly walked in, looking tired but gorgeous. Mr. Johnson followed her in.

Adam slyly put the CD on her desk as Mr. Johnson began talking. "Listen to it," he whispered, "I made a playlist of my favorite songs and put it on there for you. Thought you might like some of 'em." A minute passed before he turned back, and whispered, "You should come over to my place tonight. I mean, only if you want."

[ofmiceandbrynne]

I love you. The words held so little meaning to him anymore; they wore spoken with such nonchalance, that sometimes he doubted he even knew what it meant. Some days, he did love Nella -- she was beautiful, incredible. Even when she rolled over in the morning and was still half asleep and her hair was a mess, she was gorgeous. And when she cried? God, all he wanted to do was wrap her up in a hug and tell her things would get better. Even if he was the source of the problem. Sure, Zack was a douche, but he hated to make Nella so sad. He might not've felt the guilt then, but it definitely came back later. This girl he was supposed to love and cherish forever...he'd hurt her and torn her down so many times -- and when she said she deserved better? It fucking tore Zack apart, but only because he knew it was the truth.

Zack sighed, not even listening, but just holding her close and keeping his eyes shut while he cried. He was the fuckup here. He managed to take things too far, or take things for granted, or just not realize how important Nella was to him. Most days, he thought breaking up with her would be the better option -- just leaving one day, change his number, buy a new house somewhere completely new and just start over. Nella could be happy and go be with someone that made her happy, and things would work out. But in the grand scheme of things? Without Nella, there was no Zack. She was the reason he was alive. She was his purpose. He only wished she could say the same thing about him.

"I wish things were back to the way they used to be," Zack murmured, still holding her in a tight hug but looking straight at the wall. Her cries got softer as she listened. "Back when we were, what, 16? We didn't have to give a fuck about anyone or anything. I think getting married, and having Maria, fucked everything up for us. We're too young for this shit. I shouldn't have ever proposed. I should've waited, because, fuck, whether I want to admit it or not, I'm so fucking scared of commitment. I don't know how to commit, and I don't know how to be a good dad - scratch that, neither of us know how to be good parents - because neither of us really ever had one. And you know what? I promised myself I'd be better parents than my own parents, but what hurts the most is fucking knowing I'm not. I just...fuck, I don't even know." Zack murmured. "I want to give her my world, and I want her to be my world, but I think it's too late. And I want to be your world, but I can't seem to do one thing right and I'm thinking it'd just be better off if I got in some tragic accident or something." Zack choked out. "I'm not necessarily saying I'd kill myself or anything -- I'm just saying that if I saw a truck speeding my general direction, I wouldn't try to step out of its way."

"Just...just stay here with me. Please. I need you here." He pleaded. "I...I guess I've depended on second chances for too long, and I don't realize how goddamn much I actually love you until you say you're gonna leave. And you say you'll leave, and you say it again, and again. But, I swear to God, we can make it if we try." He murmured into her hair.

[bokangavemeabeauner]

When he hesitated, Nella took it upon herself to continue; “Fuck you Zachary Wayne Dickinson. Fuck. You. Fuck you for making me fall in love with you. Fuck you for following me to Arizona. Fuck you for sleeping with Rae. Fuck you for lying to me. Just, fuck you.” And with those, rather harsh, words, their lips connected again, harder and hotter than before. Her tongue wrestled with his, Zack’s hands racking her shirt up and her hands pulling his pants lower and lower, so dangerously low.

And it was dangerous. No matter how much she wanted to stay, Nella wanted to leave even more. And she would. This was different than a month ago when she was determined to leave and never come back. When she had tried leaving, her heart was still attached to Zack. He was all she could think about. God, she felt like she couldn’t breathe without him. Live without him.

She had been pathetic. Aaron knew it, that’s why he took her in. Rae knew it, and she still knew that she was better than her. Even Zack knew it, cheating on her with Rae like the move to Arizona had meant nothing to him. Absolutely nothing.

Nella wondered, as her fingers fumbled with the buttons on Zack’s jeans, how he would feel when he found her side of the bed neatly made and empty. Her side of the closet cleared of all her belongings. Would he feel empty? Guilty? Miserable?

Click. Just one more button.

As her hips grinded against his, Nella could only hoped he would. She hoped from the bottom of her heart that he would. Maybe then he would understand all the pain she went through when he left her all those times. The pain she had felt when she heard Rae’s voice on the other end of that voicemail. Her laughs. He giggles.

She deserved him. Rae deserved Nella’s cheating husband. The man that had once been the love of her life. The man she had spent countless nights whispering sweet ‘I love you’s’ to. The man that had promised her that they would be together forever..

Maybe then he would understand.

A grunt, his fingers unhooking her bra, her nails dragging down his chest.

Nella deserved better. She deserved someone who would love her. Someone she didn't have to worry about, whether they would cheat on her when they stayed out late at night, especially with their ex-girlfriend. She deserved someone who would tell her the truth, not someone who would go to any extent just to lie to her over the littlest things.
Nella deserved better and Zack knew that too.

But that was when he started talking. Explaining. Or reminiscing. Nella didn’t really know, but, she stopped, her fingers halting in their race to pull his boxers off and collapsed down next to him, the tears ceasing to run and her hair matted to her face, her lips numb from kissing him.

Sometimes Zack could be stupid, irresponsible, reckless.

But times like this. Times when it really mattered, times when he talked about something or someone he cared about, when you could see that sparkle in his eyes.

He was beautiful. Nella could see that stupid, awkward boy she had fallen in love with eight years ago. Times like this, she wondered where everything went wrong, how everything had gone wrong. It was like all the problems dissolved and became nonexistent as he stared into his eyes and listened.

Nella cupped his face in her hands when he finished. Both of them had fewer clothes on then preferred at the moment, but, it didn't matter. “Zack.” Nella said, stroking his cheek with the back of his thumb.

But she didn't know what to say, she didn't know what she could say that he hadn't already. That she hadn’t already whined to him before.

“Zack. I-“ She stopped, biting her lip. “Zack, I don’t know what to do anymore.” Nella finally squeaked out, her hair hanging in her face, her hand gripping his so tightly you could see the whites of her knuckles. Nella was shaking. She was shaking. She was scared. Nella had never felt so unsure of herself until now.

“I don’t know what to do, Zack. I thought we were doing the right thing. All this time, I thought we were. And I thought I was doing the right thing by divorcing you and marrying Aaron and giving Maria to stable, loving parents. Fuck, it probably was the right thing, but, I, I just, It wasn't right for me- for us. And this past month I've been tearing myself apart for it. I’m only 21, Zack. I’m only 21 and I feel so much older than I should be. We should be out partying till one in the morning. We shouldn't be married. We shouldn't have a kid. This isn't how things were supposed to be. God, sometimes I wish I never took you away from Rae. I heard how happy you made her, and when I saw you for the first time a month ago? Fuck, that was the happiest I’ve seen you in years, Zack.” Nella chocked on a sob as she continued, “I can’t give you that anymore, Zack. You know that. I’m not the one who deserves better, it’s you.” She couldn’t help but laugh as she looked down at couch, “I ruined your life. Day by day, year by year and you still stuck with me. I couldn’t ask for anyone better. But, you do. Zack, I can’t stay.”

Nella whispered, “You keep saying that we’ll make it if we try but… isn't that what we have been doing?” She looked up into his chocolate eyes. They were dark, scared, unsure, but she saw something in there that she was sure of.
He loved her.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do.” Nella whispered, unblinking. “But, I’m staying.” She sighed, bringing their bounded hands to her lips and brushing a kiss across his knuckles. “And if you want me to leave and if you want to go out with Rae, just tell me, okay? I want you to be happy. Even if it isn’t with me. You deserve at least that.”

“God, I don’t know how many second chances I've given you. And hell, I know you've given me quite a few to. But I can’t bring myself to leave you. No matter how much you deserve someone better. No matter how much I deserve someone better.”
“I love you.”

And with those three words, Nella buried her face into his chest and began softly crying again.

“I just, I love you and I have no idea why I do, but I just can’t leave what we have behind. I can’t leave you behind. I just, I love you. And please don’t say things like that, Zack. Don’t say that you wouldn’t move out of the way of a speeding car, or anything like that. God, I’d be a wreck without you. You have no idea. Please don’t say that, please. It’s killing me.”

[bokangavemeabeauner]

Maria had barely gotten any sleep last night. The kiss with Adam? She kept replying it over and over again in her head. The way his arms wrapped around her waist, the way her body fit perfectly against his, the way their lips moved together, slow, long, meaningfully..

Butterflies. That’s all she could say. She had known Adam one day, but already she knew they had something. She felt something. Maria knew they had something, they had to. That kiss couldn’t have meant nothing to Adam, she knew he felt it to. She saw it.

When he looked in her eyes, that smile, that fucking smile. He had to feel something. It wasn’t just a one-sided feeling. It couldn’t be.

He had to feel those butterflies to, she couldn’t be the only one.

Although, the thought of his reputation lingered in the back of her mind. Adam was known for playing girls. Acting like he was Mr. Perfect, and trust me, he was. Getting any girl he wanted wrapped around his finger in a matter of hours. And getting that same girl pressed up against the wall, their lips pressed together just like the two had been right in front of her house not even half an hour ago.

Was she just like every other girl? A notch on his belt? A name on a list?

Maria laid in bed, staring at the ceiling and listening to All Time Low drift out of her ear buds, rolled this thought over in her head. And the more she thought about it, the more real the possibility seemed.

“I can’t be. I’m different. I have to be. I’m nothing like those other girls. I just can’t be.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Maria! Get up! You’re going to be late! I knew I should have never let you have Adam over.” Her mother, Nella, whispered the last words under her breath, but, not quiet enough that Maria couldn’t hear.

“I’m up, I’m up.” Maria whispered, her eyes peering over to the clock. “Shit.” She muttered, throwing the covers off and pulling a pair of jeans she had thrown on the floor the night before. “What time did Adam leave last night?” Nella asked, leaning against the door pane. “I heard him pull out later than I expected him to.” With that, Nella gave Maria a disappointing gaze.

“I told you, one more hour. Maria I need to know I can trust you. You might be older now, but, I’m trying to protect you. Boys like that want one thing and one thing o-“

“Mom!” Maria squeaked, pulling a black sweatshirt over her head, “I get it I get it! I’m not planning on doing anything with him! He’s just a friend, I was just helping him with math homework. Why can’t you trust me?”

But Nella had every right to be worried about her. Every right. Maria was even worried about what she was getting herself into.

“I’ll see you later.” Maria muttered, grabbing her bag and pushing past Nella.

“This conversation isn’t over, Maria!” And with that, Maria slammed the front door shut.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Twenty minutes later, Maria was at school. It wasn’t until she stepped foot into the crowded hallways that she realized how tired she was. Adam had left around ten last night and she hadn’t fallen asleep until midnight.
Maria opened her locker and threw her English textbook in, and, with a groan, she slammed it shut.

‘What class do I have first again? Math’

A smile spread across Maria’s face as she shuffled towards Mr. Johnson’s class, dodging couples and friends as she pushed her way through the hallway. Adam, she’d get to see Adam again. And after last night? She was excited to see what today would hold.
Maria walked in just as the bell rung and there, low and behold, was Adam. Sitting in the same seat as yesterday, wearing that same cute-ass smile he had when he had left her house late last night.

Maria sat down, hanging her bag over the back of her chair and peering over at Adam. “I wouldn’t peg you for the kid that would be early for math class.” She bit her lip and ran her fingers through her hair trying to appear anything but nervous. “Fuck, yesterday you were ten minutes late for class. I didn’t think you were going to show up.”

Picking up the CD Adam passed at her, Maria couldn’t help but smile. He made her a mix CD? “Thanks.” Maria muttered, her eyes sparkling as she pushed her long, blonde hair behind her ears. And as Mr. Johnson began passing out the three paged math test on chapter five, Maria began singing quietly to herself ‘Lost in the Stereo’ By All Time Low. “Mixed tape of her favorite bands, tearing up the radio lost in the stereo sound.” (I DON’T KNOW THAT’S WHAT IT REMINDED ME OF)

Before the test reached her, Maria smiled, nodding and looking over at him, “Love to.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After the last bell rang, Maria ran to her locker, dropping off her textbooks and looking around for one, familiar face.

Adam’s.

And that’s when she saw him, walking over to her. Fuck, even the way he walked was sexy. Maria smiled as he came up to her and asked if she was ready. “Yeah, let’s go.”

Adam drove them to his house and all the way there, they listened to the mixed CD he had made for her and every song that came one, Maria fell in love with. “This CD is perfect.” Maria finally said, looking over at Adam. “I love it. I’m going to be listening to it all night.”

[ofmiceandbrynne]

Adam grinned crookedly, looking over at Maria in the passenger seat. His dark hair fell slightly into his eyes as he drove with one hand loosely dangling from the wheel. He loved that faraway look Maria had on her face when she listened to the music, how she just seemed to go to her own little world. Like music was her escape from everything. He nodded, chuckling. "Really? I mean, I wasn't sure if you'd like it, I just kinda took what I knew of your music taste and put some stuff on there you might've liked. I dunno. It was just something I threw together." Which was a complete lie, and Adam knew that. He'd spent three hours and forty-seven minutes working on that damn cd. And, seeing her smile and knowing she liked it made him feel beyond amazing. But, the thing that worried him was this -- he'd never actually gone this far to make a girl like him. Still, though, he managed to shrug the thought off. No biggie. If he was lucky, he'd get what he wanted by the time they got back to his house.


As soon as he swerved loosely towards the curb and parked, he grabbed his backpack and got out of the car. Walking inside, Maria by his side, Adam grabbed his key and shoved it in the keyhole, twisting it around until it clicked. Still, it wouldn't open. He leaned up against it, murming, "Damn door." He turned towards Maria, sighing, and chuckling, "It gets stuck a lot. Piece of shit." Suddenly, it opened behind him and he almost fell back. He glared at his little sister who stood, laughing. "Fuck you." He murmured, pushing past her. She continued giggling.


"Adam, hon? You home?" Rae called out, peeking her head out of the kitchen. Zack gazed up, obviously annoyed, from the kitchen table. "Oh! I see you've brought a friend home?" Zack raised an eyebrow, smirking, as Rae walked over and shook the girl's hand.


"This is Maria." Adam murmured, motioning over to her. "And, don't get too excited, Dad. She's just a tutor." Still, Zack held the strangest look on his face.


"Wait, what's your last name?" Zack murmured, standing up from the table.


Adam rolled his eyes, scoffing and grabbing Maria's arm. "'Scuse my dad, Maria. He's a bit of a perv."


"Am not!" Zack exclaimed, pursing his lips. "It's just, uh, I'm interested. Small town, thinking I may know your parents. Curious, I guess." He crossed his arms.


Maria responded, and Zack blinked a few times before going to sit back down. "O-oh. Well, uh, run along and study, kids. Uh, don't have too much fun up there." Although Maria seemed a bit fazed by Zack's strange behavior, Adam didn't seem to have been affected by it in the slightest bit.


"Welcome to my humble adobe." Adam said, smirking as he led Maria to his room. The walls were covered with band posters, large stacks of CDs sitting here and there. Pictures were taped or stuck with a thumbtack onto the wall -- pictures of bands, Adam with bands he had met, Adam with ex-girlfriends or friends or guitar picks he'd caught at concerts. His bed was pressed against a wall, a mess of blankets sitting upon it. "Therapy" by All Time Low played quietly over his iHome speakers as he switched on his Christmas lights. "Er, sorry it's not much. And kinda messy. But...yeah." He chuckled, seating himself on the edge of his bed and patting a spot next to him.


He could talk to that girl for hours and hours. They talked about everything, from their favorite music and how fucking annoying their parents were to how many concerts they'd been to. And the thing was, Adam didn't even have to be someone he wasn't. He was who he actually was around her -- not what some slutty cheerleader wanted him to be. He was him, no mask, just Adam -- totally exposed to the world and, even worse, a girl he barely knew. But at the time, it just felt so right.


And, dammit, so did sitting her on his lips and pressing his lips against hers as cool September breeze came in from his cracked windows. And her tangling her fingers in his hair as he moaned quietly to himself, clutching her tightly to him as if if he let go, the wind would blow her away. And, before he knew it, her bare skin was up against his as he held her up against him and murmured her name softly under his breath. Dammit, it was so wrong, but at the time, it just felt so right.

[bokangavemeabeauner]

Two days.

Maria had only known Adam for two days, but, his lips against hers, her body pressed close up against his, and his fingers tangling in her long blonde hair, God it just felt so right felt so right.

Two days, she had only known him for two days.

But, still, it didn’t stop her from lifting Adam’s shirt up over his head. It didn’t stop him from pressing her down into the comfort of his bed, the bed that Adam had probably brought many before her, and crawling on top of her, his lips quickly finding hers again in the dim light of his room. It felt so wrong, but it didn’t stop either of them from what they were about to do. It was almost as if rational thinking was thrown out the window and the only thing that mattered right now was each other. All Maria could think about was getting as close as she could to Adam, but no matter how close she got, she just wanted to be closer.

Maria murmured Adam’s name under his lips before they were both completely drawn into each other with nothing but their desire.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maria moved closer into the warmth of Adam’s arms as the September breeze blowing in from the cracked window prickled goose bumps across her bare skin.

When she was younger, she never thought she would lose her virginity(ohmgydoa) like this. To a guy she just met. In his room. His parents still home. Especially not to a guy like Adam. He had a reputation, a reputation to get what he wanted from a girl in matter of days and move on to a new one the next week. But, like all the others, Maria couldn’t help herself. The first time she talked to him, when he came over last night, that mixed CD, the way they just connected, she had felt like she had known him forever. Maria felt that Adam knew her and understood her like no one had before. However, in the back of her head, she knew that he was just playing her like one of those slutty cheerleaders the football players couldn’t keep their eyes off of. But, like everyone else, she couldn’t help herself.

“What time is it?”

Maria asked after a while of just lying there in Adam’s arm, listening to music fill the silence in the room. Propping herself up on her elbows, she leaned over him and grabbed her phone off the nightstand. “Shit.” She murmured, crawling out of his arms and pulling her pants up. “I have to get home. My mom will be pissed if I don’t leave now.”

After pulling her shirt back on, Maria looked over at Adam. Should she saw she wanted another ‘study date’ like this again? That he should come over tomorrow? Or how about ‘I’ll call you’?

Or would that seem to clingy?
With a sigh, Maria ran her fingers through her hair and leaned over, giving Adam a quick kiss, her lips lingering a moment longer. “I’ll see you later.” She murmured, slinging her bag over her shoulder and slipping out the door, her lips aching to be on his again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Maria where have you been?!”

Maria sighed, throwing her bag in the corner, “I was over Adam’s house, he needed help, mom. I’m his tutor, remember?” Nella came in, a dish rag in her hands, and folded her arms. “Maria, I don’t want this to become a regular thing. It’s almost eight and me and your father have been worried about you all night. Why didn’t you tell us you were going over his house? Where does he even live? Maria, I don’t feel comfortable with you going over his house without me meeting his parents first.”

Groaning, Maria climbed the stairs, shaking her head. “I’m not five years old anymore. I can take care of myself.” And with that, Maria slammed the door behind her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Nella shook her head, walking back into the kitchen, and looking down at Aaron who was at the table reading the paper. “I don’t know what’s gotten into her but I don’t like it. I don’t know how that Adam kid is making her act.” Nella bit her lip, “Aaron, I have to call Zack. I don’t trust him. I think it’s time to tell the kids.”

Aaron sighed, putting the paper down and getting up. “I know, babe. I know.” He wrapped his arms around Nella and kissed the top of her head. “You know Maria won’t believe you, right? She’ll think you’re just trying to split her and Adam up and that you don’t want her to have friends.” Aaron shook his head and rocked Nella back and forth, “She’s going to hate us.”

“Better for her to hate us than for her to date her brother.”
Nella pulled her phone out of her pocket and scrolled through her contacts, leaning her head back against Aaron’s chest. After all these years, she still hadn’t deleted her number for exactly this reason.

Hesitating, Nella hit the ‘call’ button.

After four rings, he picked up.

“Zack, it’s Nella. We have to talk about our kids.”

[ofmiceandbrynne]

Adam peeked one eye open as Maria slipped out of his arms. He peered up at her through his dark mess of hair, a mess of exhaustion. But, even looking like he did now, he still somehow appealed to her -- he could see it. How his lanky self sat there in nothing but his boxers, his hair tossed upon his head messily and his dark eyes peered at her questioningly. And how one eyebrow raised itself slightly above the other as he peered up at her, his lips curved into a sexy smirk. He got up, too, and slid on his black skinny jeans, but before he could get on his Nirvana t-shirt, she was already headed for the door. "Hey." He murmured as her hand lingered over the doorknob. He twirled her around, pressing her against his door and kissing her messily. "I, uh, I had fun today." But, before he could say or do anything else, she was gone. Adam walked slowly back over to his bed, laying down on his back and listening to "No One Does It Better" by You Me at Six echoing quietly through the speakers. Adam had managed to make a lot of girls fall for him before, he'd managed to kiss a lot of girls and make out with a lot of them and fuck almost all of them. He'd even fallen for a guy once -- god forbid. But that had been a different story, Adam knew. He was different. He was an exception, Adam decided. But not the same kind of exception Maria was.


She was different.


"Adam? We need to talk about Maria." Zack murmured, coming into the room and ignoring that his son was laying half naked on his bed. Zack put his hands on his hips, sighing. "You can't have sex with her anymore because she's your half-sister. Okay, bye, have fun."


Adam bolted up in his bed, peering at his Dad with wide eyes. "Um, Dad, normally I wouldn't swear in front of you, but. What the fuck?"


"You were being awfully loud," Zack admitted, nodding. "I mean, I won't tell your Mom or anything -- I'm not really one to talk. I lost my virginity at 15 or 16, too. Girl I lost it to was a bitch, though -- I don't really know her anymore. Well, kinda. She was Maria's mom. And, uh, that wasn't the time she got pregnant with Maria but -- "


"Whatthehellwhatthehellwhatthehellshutup." Adam's eyes grew wide as he put his hands over his ears, looking like he would almost cry. "Dad. You could've just told me to stop hanging out with her instead of making up this elaborate bullshit. Just. Stop."


Zack pursed his lips. "I made a lot of mistakes, Adam. When Maria's mom, Nella, was like 20 and I was 22 we got married because we'd been dating since highschool and I guess it seemed like the right thing. And I started my music career and went off and we tried to get pregnant once and she got pregnant but we lost the baby. And we kept trying and trying and then we gave up but then I came back from touring and she was really fat and she told me she was pregnant and I was relieved kinda because I was like 'wow I wouldn't really wanna date a fat chick not sorry.' Then she had the baby and it was Maria and then I went back on touring after she turned one and I came back a lot and a lot of things I wish didn't happen happened and basically I cheated on Maria's mom one night in the back of your mom's car after a show and I guess I was really drunk and didn't remember to put a rainjacket on my dick and she got pregnant with you and basically Maria's mom found out and got really pissed off and left me for who I'd assume is who Maria thinks is her dad now. But, he's not, and, um, then you were born and Rae basically used you as a pawn to anchor us together for life and I never wanted to marry her but we somehow did and then we had your sister because no offense but I would've left your mom but the sex was good so I kept her around. And, uh, then --"


"Oh, my god. Dad!" Adam yelled, getting up and covering his ears.


"So, uh, basically, Maria's your half-sister. But, only half. So I dunno if it was incest or not when you had sex with her."


"Dad!" Adam yelped, looking alarmed and like he'd pass out. "Okay, one, stop creeping on my sex life. Two, I really never asked to hear about yours. Ever. And, three, I don't care if Maria's my half-sister because I would've fucked her anyway. But, still, I really don't believe you because the two of you look absolutely nothing alike. Like, with you and Mom, I see it. I got her eyes and your tiny dick."


"It's not tiny!" Zack exclaimed, frowning. "It's moderate."


"Whatever. But, I wouldn't believe you unless we got a freaking blood test or something. And, no offense, but I really don't see you and Mom putting the money in to do that." He rolled his eyes. "Now, I'll stop hanging out with her. Just get out."


Zack frowned, but before either of them could say anything, Zack's phone started ringing. He stepped outside.

"Uh...hello?" The number wasn't recognized.


It was Nella. She wanted to talk about the kids.


"Hey, FYI, Adam fucked Maria. It was pretty loud. Like, I wasn't creeping on them on anything, but, no offense, they're really loud." He mumbled. "And, uh, I think we should get them to stop talking to each other. Because it's incest and it's pretty gross." Zack continued. "Adam's pretty reluctant to it, though -- I told him everything, and, uh, he just said I was making up stories and told me to get out. So I don't know what to do." He chewed his lip.

[ofmiceandbrynne]

And, after tearful 'I love you's," Zack and Nella headed up to bed. And cuddled next to each other, the windows half-cracked open as they laid there together. And, that's how it stayed for the next few months -- average. (Well, if there even was an average for them now.) Getting up at 2 PM, making pancakes, cuddling on the couch, watching a movie, going out to dinner, continuing the movie -- every day was sort of the same, but sort of different. And, as much as Zack hated the lack of variety, with Nella, he didn't mind it. Right now could last forever just as long as he was with her.


And, when Rae's number popped up on Zack's caller ID on a chilly May afternoon, that's when Zack knew the lack of variety would no longer be constant.


"Shit." He murmured, gently sliding Nella out of his arms and walking downstairs and sitting on the couch, putting the phone on speaker. "Uh, hello? Zack Dickinson speaking."


"I knew that, silly!" Rae said. She was obviously excited about something, but Zack couldn't decide what. Dear God, if anything, please let it be that she's met a new guy and wants to leave me behind. Don't get me wrong, Zack liked Rae -- he liked her a lot (but mostly for her boobs). But, she got extremely obnoxious after a while. Especially after things seemed to be settling down with Nella -- Rae calling just seemed to be like a recipe for trouble. And Zack was anything but a good cook.


"Mhmm, okay. So, uh, what is it?" Zack murmured. "Because if you want to hook up again, it's not happening. I'm happy with Nella, and I'm not going to let you fuck that up for me." Rae sighed, obviously annoyed.


"Are you breaking up with me?! Because, I'm not letting that happen, Zack. I'm pregnant with your baby."


"Holy shit!" Zack cried loudly. "What?! No. This isn't happening. You aren't pregnant with my baby. You're a slut. It's gotta be another guy's, oh god. Oh, god, no, it can't be mine. I can't be a dad, no, not now. And not with you. Dear God, of all people I could've had a kid with --"


"Zack!" Rae called out loudly, the speakers on his phone crackling. "Listen, Zack, you can't just back out of this. I waited a long time to tell you this. I'm, like, 28 weeks already. I knew I'd get this reaction, too -- but, you know what? It is yours. Because you were the only guy I'd had sex with, and, that night you got super drunk and we had se --"


"I didn't choose that!" Zack persisted. "Dammit, I was drunk! You should've stopped me, you were in your right mind at least."


"That doesn't matter." Rae insisted. "Zack, I'm carrying your baby boy, and all you can think about is yourself?! God, you're so damn self-absorbed. Ugh. Anyway, I've got some names picked out -- how does Adam Michael sound? -- and I've started painting his room a little bit. But it's kind of hard. But, I seriously need your help with this, Zack. It's your kid, whether you want to face it or not. We can get tests done, but I know it's yours. I know it is. I don't even care if you want to be a shitty parent and not be there while he grows up -- I'll raise him myself. But, you need to be here while I'm pregnant with him. Because it's seriously getting harder to take care of myself anymore and I need you around.


"Anyway, I'm holding a baby shower this Tuesday. I need you to come, because my parents are going to be there and it's seriously important that you show up. And wear something nice, okay?" Zack heard a door open upstairs, and he froze. But Rae continued to talk. "I might need your help finding something nice to wear. Because I've looked everywhere but I can't find anywhere that carries the damn size I am now. But, I'm wearing blue, probably, so wear something like that, okay? Like, maybe a polo and khakis? I don't know. Most of my family doesn't even know the gender yet, so maybe not blue --" Nella came out of the room, coming down the stairs. "--it would hint too much at the gender. Ugh, I dunno. But, just -- "


"HeyRaeIGottaGoByeIllBeThere." Zack hung up, looking at Nella as she walked down the stairs slowly. "Morning, babe."

[bokangavemeabeauner]

Maria collapsed down on her bed, closing her eyes and drifting off to the soft sounds of All Time Low sound through her headphones. As she lay there, Maria couldn’t help but think about Adam. His touch, his lips, his voice, fuck, his everything. There wasn’t one thing about that boy that Maria wasn’t thinking about. Only two days, and she was already head over heels. She was falling- hard- for Adam and she knew that it was dangerous. She knew that this was bad, but she felt drawn to him. That smile, that laugh, the feeling she got in the pit of her stomach when he said her name. Maria couldn’t help but smile at the thought of him.

And just as quickly as she had left him earlier this afternoon, she wanted nothing more than to be curled up in his arms, her head on his chest, his face buried in her hair murmuring her name over and over again in that sexy voice.

Just, Fuck. Holy fucking fuck.

Before she could be completely pulled down into the recesses of her fantasies, her phone vibrated announcing a new text. Maria groaned, reaching over and unlocking it.

‘Speak of the Devil.’ She thought, biting her lip and quickly reaching over the text, getting flutters in her stomach. And then, again, making sure what she was reading wasn’t just a trick of the eyes.

“Wanna meet up somewhere? Anywhere? I don’t care. I’ll be over in five.”

“Park down the street. Mom’s pissed. I’ll sneak out.”

Sneaking out was never something Maria would have done a week ago, fuck, even a few days ago. But, something about sneaking around with Adam, it was sexy. The thought of it was just to alluring to give up.

Maria stood up, quickly pulling on a black sweatshirt over her head and tying her hair up into a messy bun. Slipping on a pair of black vans, Maria checked her phone.

“Here.” Was all what the latest text from Adam read.

Opening up the window, the chill of the September air hugged her body, slipping through the thin sweatshirt and prickling her skin with goose-bumps. Maria shimmied through the window, skillfully placing her feet on the ledge trying not to fall. Once out, she looked down. Her window was only 12 feet from the ground, but, it could have well have been 500.

‘Don’t panic, Don’t panic (hehe atl reference shut up im funny ok)’ She murmured over and over to herself as she slid down shingles on the roof. As she got to the edge, Maria edged her feet off and sent a silent prayer to whatever God was willing to hear, and slipped down, landing on her two feet with a thud.

Maria ran down the street, quickly and quietly, keeping to the shadows. Her eyes landed on Adam’s car and a smile spread across her lips.

“Hey.” Maria muttered, sliding in, her lips quickly connecting with his. A moan slipped out of her mouth and it was like this afternoon all over again. “I want you..” She muttered, nibbling on his lower lip, her body itching for his touch.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nella furrowed her brow, listening to her former husband go on about their kids sex life. “Great.” She murmured, sitting down, Aaron standing behind her, his hands on her shoulders for a bit of comfort.

“Zack, can you act like an adult for once? Were you even acting serious with him? Because I was with you for a long time and, trust me, there was never once a moment when you were serious. I wouldn’t believe you if you told me what had happened either.” Nella sighed, massaging her temples. “It’s alright, babe.” Aaron muttered, leaning her head back and kissing her forehead.

“I think we need to sit them both down and talk about it- together. I don’t want Adam anywhere near Maria again. Fuck, Adam started talking about you the first time he came over the other day and I didn’t want her anywhere near you.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Adam drove to the beach, one arm loosely slung on the wheel, and one around Maria’s shoulders. There was a lot of heat in the car. Every red light they hit, lips crashed against lips and hands explored places they shouldn’t. It seemed all to soon that the light turned green. Maria didn’t think she could wait any longer.

As soon as Adam pulled into the parking lot at the beach, Maria smiled, getting out, quickly meeting Adam at the hood of the car.

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