After being dropped off on my street by the school bus, I took my precious time to look at my lovely neighborhood. It was eight in the evening and the streets were awfully quiet but it was still very relaxing. Going back home and actually seeing some adults was a wish that I never thought I could be making but there I was.

Home sweet home.

Teenage drama almost ate me alive on that freaking trip but thankfully, I survived.

I walked towards my house with my suitcase in hand but I furrowed my eyebrows at the grey car I spotted in my driveway.

I guessed my Dad had company.

I opened the front door and was welcomed by the lovely aroma of lasagna.

My Dad didn't know how lasagna was prepared so it was weird, but then I heard two voices coming from the kitchen.

I shut the door behind me and left my luggage sitting there, slowly walking to the kitchen, I saw my Dad standing next to a blonde woman. They were both stirring whatever was in that pot and they were whispering and giggling to one another.

Well he looked happy.

I faked a cough and crossed my arms over my chest, "What's going on." I asked, drawing attention to myself.

They both looked at me at the same time.

"Oh sweetie, you're home." He quit stirring, wiping his hands and walked to where I was standing, he gave me a hug.

"Yeah, I'm home." I looked at the woman over his shoulder. She tucked her blonde hair behind her ear and dusted her hands.

She looked rather familiar.

"Welcome back, how was New York?" He placed his hands on his hips and sounded really nervous.

"It was fun, I even got engaged." I lifted my hand and showed him the bracelet that Adrian gave me.

"You what? To who?" He asked, sounding shocked. I moved away from him to sit down on the kitchen table.

"To Adrian Mackey, you know him right?" I asked the obvious while I kept my eyes on the woman who was starting to look so out of place.

"Yes, I know Adrian but sweetie, I thought you and Adrian were just friends." He stated, sitting on the chair next to me.

"Why are we still talking about Adrian when you haven't even told me who that woman is." I pointed at the woman.

"Emily, don't point your finger at her." He warned, like I was being a rude brat.

Wow.

"Who is she?" I finally asked.

He looked at her and they did some kind of a stare contest then he looked back at me.

"She's my.. girlfriend." He finally admitted. I stiflled a laugh thinking it was a joke but he was cold serious.

Shit.

I didn't know what to respond, I had no idea if I was happy for him or if I was disappointed that he didn't tell me about it sooner or because I just didn't seem to like the woman.

"Say something?" It was a question.

I anchored my attention on the woman who apparently was also waiting for my response.

"What's your name?" I asked her, so unsure of what to say.

"Lucy." She responded with a nervous smile, she seemed shy as hell.

And I recognized that voice of hers but where from exactly?

"Nice to meet you Lucy, I'm-"

"Emily, I know." She laughed.

"Lucy works at a fancy restaurant in town and she's cooking us a delicious dinner tonight." Said my Dad as he got up and walked back to Lucy.

Fancy restaurant in town?

Holy shit.

"She's the mean lady from that restaurant." I informed myself in a whispery tone.

"What was that?" Asked my Dad.

"Nothing, just forgot to tell Adrian that I'm home safe." I stuttered while I got up from my chair and walked backwards.

"You're seriously dating Adrian? I thought you were just kidding." He said.

"No, I wasn't. He's my new forever." I joked, remembering the time I used to call Charlie my forever. He chuckled and shook his head at me.

"Okay then." He nodded like saying I approve of your new relationship. I quickly marched out of the kitchen, "And tell him I'll kill him if he breaks your heart!" He shouted after me. I got my suitcase and rushed upstairs, trying to get to my room.

I opened my bedroom door and pushed the luggage inside before closing the door behind me and pulling out my phone to call Adrian.

I dialed his number and called him but his phone kept on ringing and ringing, I decided to type a message instead because I knew he was just ignoring my calls.

I sent it.

He immediately replied, I rolled my eyes.

Such an asshole.

I sighed softly and shoved my phone in my back pocket. If that woman really did recognize me then there's a high chance that she's gonna tell my Dad about Adrian and I being handcuffed to each other and looking like zombies, and what if she saw my tattoo and then talks about it with Dad?

"Ugh!" I groaned frustratedly at my own thoughts.

I went out of my room and tiptoed down the stairs, trying not to draw attention to myself this time around.

They were in a deep lovey dovey conversation which made it easier for me to sneak out the back door.

I hadn't been back there in a while, my Dad grew a lot of plants in our backyard which invited a lot of mosquitoes and I wasn't a big fan. I took my phone out and sat on the bench, waiting for Adrian to show up.

If he was even going to show up.

After twenty minutes of flying my hands around as an attempt to chase the mosquitoes, I heard a scrambling noise in the bushes followed by the breaking of a flower pot.

Of course he made an entrance.

I got up and followed the noise, I found him squatting in front of the broken pot, trying to collect what was left of it.

"I won't ask how something like this happens." I said to him, he looked up at me from his hoodie which was covering part of his face. "Leave it, I'll clean it up later." I turned and walked back to the bench, he followed behind me.

He took a seat on the bench while I was still standing.

"Okay so why am I here?" He asked in his deep husky voice.

"Shh!! lower your voice, this is why I wanted to meet up at your place, because that is the safest place we can actually talk about this." I whisper shouted, irritatedly.

"Sorry but it didn't sound like a good idea to me." He whispered back but sarcastically.

I furrowed my brows, "Why not?"

"Because." He removed the hood from his head and rested his elbows on his knees, "I don't think I can handle being alone with you.... in a room." He pointed out.

My heart skipped a beat and I'm pretty sure the air got sucked out of my body. I froze.

I wasn't expecting him to say something like that... Ever. Like who the hell is this guy and where's Adrian Mackey?

"Stop fucking with me Adrian, seriously though." I mumbled underneath my tone as I paced back and forth.

I had an issue which was driving me crazy and then I called for help but then the help drove me nuts. Great.

"I'm not fucking with you Emily, I'm serious. I've been hanging around you way too much and now I think I'm sexually attracted to you and I can't get that kiss out of my head and-"

"Okay that's enough." I cut him off, he rolled his eyes at me and looked everywhere but at me. "Do you remember that day we woke up handcuffed to each other?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah, how could I forget about how you had the handcuff key in your purse the whole time." He leaned his back on the bench.

"Sure but do you also remember that Lady from that fancy restaurant?" I asked anxiously.

"You mean the one that you almost killed with your words?" He chuckled.

"Yeah, the one that said we reeked."

He laughed, "Of course I remember her."

"She's dating my Dad." I dropped the bomb and felt my palms sweating.

"What?" He didn't sound so shocked or alarmed. He was at ease and I hated it.

"Yes, she's in there right now as we speak." I continued pacing back and forth, thinking of the worst.

"Your Dad has a girlfriend?" That seemed to shock him the most.

"Yes, Adrian, now concentrate, if that woman tells my Dad-"

"She won't."

"But if she does."

"She won't. Trust me, she won't. I know because I have a step Dad who has been trying to win me over for three years now." He said.

"Oh God, you're not helping." I was now freaking out.

"Okay cool, can I go now?" He asked me.

"There he is ladies and gentlemen, there's the Adrian I know." I clapped my hands dramatically and stared down at him, he looked at me from head to toe in a way that made him look so... bad. But in the sexiest way.

The look gave me goosebumps.

Jesus. Emily, what have you become?

He came to his feet and his tall height hovered over me with that intense gaze on my face but then he just walked away_slightly bumping into my shoulder.

I turned around with a smirk on my face, "Can I come with you? To your room? We could lock the door and take a shower together if you want." I teased.

He ceased his steps and turned to look at me with his hands tucked in his pockets.

"Don't make me regret it." He shook his head.

"Regret what?"

"Liking your ass."

"Adrian Mackey, are you saying that you like me?" I asked playfully, scooting close to him but not close enough.

"I don't know, am I?" His face and tone sounded serious compared to mine.

"I don't know, are you?" I threw the question back at him.

He gave a sarcastic chuckle as he looked passed me, then he sighed restlessly and stared down at me, looking at my face from part to part.

It was a look that said I'm about to kiss you and you're about to kiss me back.

But then he didn't, he didn't kiss me.

"Goodnight Emily, I hope the bed bugs do bite." He turned around and I watched him walking away from me.

"Thanks for helping. asshole." I murmured.