It had been a full day since Adrian had stormed out of the hockey rink. Left humiliated on the ground he was the most comfortable on, he couldn't stand the idea of being tormented by any of the players.

He also couldn't stand the idea that his nemesis was the cause of everything that's been going wrong with him recently. From the confusing feelings, to the stolen praise that boosted his self-esteem, to the embarrassment that made people think he was a washed up excuse of a player.

Adrian could admit to being a tad narcissistic and arrogant at times, but he was also a vulnerable human being. And like any human being all he wanted was to be praised for his genuine talent and efforts.

Adrian had just left the school parking lot when he put his headphones in his ears. Blocking out other sounds, he turned the music up to mellow himself out.

It wasn't until several minutes later when Adrian was interrupted by a tap on his shoulder.

"Didn't you hear me? I was calling you since you walked past the car dealership." Adam asked his best friend.

Adrian pointed at his headphones whilst staying mute, face left dumbfounded and blank at the lack of obviousness.

"Well I didn't see the headphones did I dummy?" Adam grinned.

Adrian continued walking when Adam threw his arm around Adrian's shoulder. "You're not still sulking after yesterday are you?"

Adrian hummed in annoyance before continuing walking ahead.

"Ah right, the classic silent treatment. Ever since we were little you would do this when you were brooding." Adam laughed out loud before scrunching Adrian's cheek.

Adrian smacked Adam's hand out of his face. "I'm not brooding!" Adrian whined.

Adam was quick to laugh at his best friend. "Yeah right, and I'm a millionaire who is also married to Kylie Jenner. Don't tell anyone but we also have a secret love child and a pet koala called Barnaby..."

"Barnaby?"

"That's the only thing wrong with that statement? And what's wrong with Barnaby?" Adam laughed as he asked.

Adrian shrugged his shoulders. "Sounds a bit pretentious for a koala bear."

"Enough about the cute Barnaby, let's eat. I'm starving." Adam patted his stomach before ushering them to the Diner.

~~~~~~~~~

When they walked in together, they saw that the Diner was packed much more than usual. They made their way to their booth that Adrian claimed as his ever since he was young.

"It's not usually this busy at this time of day." Adam spoke out loud.

Sally came round their booth with a pitcher of water. "Yeah, most of them tourists. They got lost and ended up eating here waiting for their tour guide." After pouring out the water, she pulled out a notepad and pencil that was held by her hair. "You guys ready to order or is it just the usual."

"Just the usua-"

"We need a couple of minutes please." Adam interrupted Adrian at the same time he spoke. Sally nodded before walking away.

Turning to look at Adrian, "Okay so don't be mad... but I kind of invited some people to join us..."

Adrian looked confused. "Mad? Why would I be mad?"

Adam was hesitant before continuing. "Well since you skipped practice today as well as yesterday, I was hanging out with Ashley... and umm... Brody..."

Adam noted a little vein popping out of Adrian's temple. "I was paired with Brody today and he's actually not that bad of a guy. Ashley was there after practice and I thought it would be cool if we all hung out together."

"Not that bad?!" Adrian bursted out loud before coming in closer. "That freaking demon is out to get me, him and all of those Eagles despite me - all of us!"

Adam chuckled at Adrian's paranoia. "Don't exaggerate like that..." Adam saw Adrian's face morph into being pissed off at him. "Okay maybe some of them hate us but I'm pretty sure those two can be excused from your bizarre conspiracy theory."

"He's the worst! Watch him worm his way through the whole team and pick us off one by one. He's already in my head, mentally and physically tormenting me." Adrian bickered at Adam over the table.

Their conversation was interrupted by Ashley and Brody who soon stood at their booth.

"Sorry we're late, Brody took longer than expected to get ready." Ashley smiled as she pointed towards Brody who was standing behind her.

"Nope, nope, no way..." Adrian shook his head in disbelief. Adrian got up from his seat without even looking at Ashley and Brody.

"You're delusional!" Adam sang out loud as they all watched Adrian walk away.

~~~~~~~~~~

Adrian had just walked down the steps of the Diner before he was grabbed on the arm.

"Hey, we can leave instead if you want?" Ashley earnestly offered to Adrian. "I'm kind of getting the vibe that you don't really like us - like at all..."

Adrian was quick to reply, "Look I'm sorry if I came across like that but I really don't have a problem with you."

Ashley tilted her head as she raised her eyebrow, "And Brody?"

Adrian looked down at his shoe, praying they could end this conversation so he could just leave.

"I know you don't know us - like at all, but for what it's worth I promise that Brody is just genuinely a kind person with a big heart."

Adrian sneered as a response.

"Really! Like ever since we grew up together he would always protect me from bullies who would make fun of us for being in care. When we joined a new school he would walk me to classes and he made sure I was never alone during lunch time."

Adrian nodded his head as he briefly smiled. 'That is pretty sweet of him.'

"He may be a bit cocky at times and has a horrible taste when picking movies but he's never ill-intentioned and he is the best person I know."

Ashley continued. "So just come back inside?"

~~~~~~~~~~

Adrian walked back inside with Ashley and saw Adam and Brody sitting next to each other. They were both laughing at something on Brody's phone. Ashley slid in the opposite side of the booth with Adrian being left to sit opposite Brody.

Looking up from the screen, "So glad you guys could join us!" Brody grinned at them. "Didn't think you could convince him to come back."

Adrian grinned sarcastically at Brody. 'Asshole...'

"Oh please we came to join Adam, we'll just have to put up with you." Ashley joked with Brody.

Brody feigned shock and hurt. "Ouch Ash, my heart!" He said as he clutched it.

Ashley smiled back. "What were you guys watching?"

Adam quickly showed them Brody's phone. "Look at the hamsters!" Adam replayed the video of one hamster happily munching on a tiny broccoli while the other hamster stared at disbelief, unhappy with their carrot.

"Aww that poor hamster looks like it lost its soul." Ashley sympathised.

"They're so cute!" Adrian squealed out loud.

Brody watched Adrian's reaction and saw the wholesomeness from his reaction. Sensing the pair of eyes on him, Adrian looked back and saw Brody holding a slight grin.

Adrian attempted to dismiss Brody's gaze by pretending to cough and looking elsewhere, "Have you guys seen the video of the tourist and the monkeys having sex on her leg?"

Adrian's question was met with silence.

"What on Earth do you watch in your spare time Adrian?" Brody had asked.

"It's pretty funny, let me get the video for you." Ashley told Brody who only looked back at her confused.

"Have you seen this video?" Brody nudged Adam with his shoulder.

Adam laughed back. "I'm the one that showed it to Adrian."

~~~~~~~~~~

Fifteen minutes later Sally came to their booth with an array of food. "Here you go kids, enjoy your food."

"Awesome. Thanks mom."

Sally placed an extra plate of chicken wings on the table. She batted away Adrian's hands when he reached to grab them. "These are for Brody and make sure he gets them, these are an I.O.U from the last time he was here."

"Since how long have you known him?" Adrian asked his mother.

"Brody? Well he comes here a lot like the rest of you. The last time he was here he helped me with this rowdy customer." Sally informed the group. "He also insisted on bussing the tables for me when I sprained my wrist the other day. Such a nice boy!"

'The wolf in sheep's clothing striking again and making everyone sing his praise...' Adrian thought in his head.

Adrian watched his mother leave the group and run into Brody outside the toilets. He saw the exchange between them and how she also squeezed his arm.

'I guess my mom likes Brody like everyone else he meets...'

By the time Brody joined the group, they were already half way through their meal. Adam and Ashley were talking about Stranger Things which Adrian had never seen.

As he began to dig into his food, Adrian wanted to ask. "So my mom seems to like you, do you always act this nice to everyone?"

Brody just shrugged his shoulders. "There's no act, I just believe that a small kind act goes a long way." Brody told Adrian honestly. "Wait, how does your mom know me?"

After Adrian told Brody who his mom was, "That's your mom?!" Adrian nodded as he sipped his milkshake.

"Why can't you be as sweet and kind like her?"

Adrian choked into his milkshake. "I am sweet and kind like her!" Adrian clapped back.

Brody smiled at Adrian. "Most of the time I see you all tense and cocky. Frankly it's like a default for you to be all broody and icy."

Adrian laughed with Brody. "Okay maybe that's pretty close to my image but I can be deep with emotions and all that as well!"

"Your image also has a bit of whipped cream on their chin."

Adrian swiped his chin with his index finger, "Did I get it?"

Brody only replied back by gently grabbing Adrian's chin and wiping the cream off with his own fingers. Adrian's eyes never left Brody's who didn't even wait for permission and he suddenly felt something was caught in his throat.

Brody retreated back to his personal space without even looking back at Adrian, acting like everything was normal. The same couldn't be said for Adrian who felt electricity bubbling through his veins.

~~~~~~~~~~

The group had just finished eating dessert when Ashley got a message on her phone.

"Kelsey's throwing a party tomorrow, her family is away and she told her parents that it's going to be a 'small gathering' of friends." Ashley told Brody.

Brody connected the dots. "Which means a big blow out party I'm guessing."

Nodding her head, "Typical Kelsey. At least we know the party is going to be fun like always." Ashley turned to Adrian and Adam. "You guys can probably come too you know. I doubt she would notice an extra two people tagging along."

"Won't like half the people at the party hate us, you know with the school rivalry and what not?" Adrian questioned.

"Everyone's going to be too drunk to notice, plus her house is massive so you can just slip right in. Worst case scenario is that you both just dodge everyone from time to time."

Adrian wanted to think about it but Adam had already made up his mind.

"Looks like our plans for tomorrow are sorted!" Adam beamed.

==========